December 2015

Blessings

Inside This Issue:

Pastor's Pen 1

Dock News 2

How Can You Help? 3

Music and Bell Choir 3

Celebrations & Thanks 4

Calendar of Events 5/6

Fundraising, Fellowship & Worship News 6

Rossford United Methodist ChurchRossford United

Methodist Church270 Dixie Hwy

Rossford, OH 43460

Phone:(419) 666-5323

Office Hours:M-F 8:00am-2:00pm

Facebook:www.facebook.com/RossfordUMC

E-Mail:rossfordumc@yahoo.com

Visit us at:www.rossfordumc.org

Services9:00 am Sunday School (All ages)10:30 am Worship Service

Worship News

From the Pastor's Pen…

Giving for Religious Purposes in Rapid Decline

Experts who examine and study charitable giving in the United States have noticed two trends that exist across the board: religious giving continues to hold the No. 1 slot in charitable giving, and religious giving is rapidly declining as other charitable organizations have become increasingly expert at presenting their case to the giving public. At one time religious giving captured 60% of all charitable giving, today it has dropped to 32%. As giving to non-religious organization grows and to religious organizations fall, it has become apparent that churches too often fail to convince givers that their gifts make a significant difference. Because of these trends, Rossford United Methodist Church wants to find new and different ways to make its case that it truly does change lives and improve our community. With that thought in mind, Pastor Larry Keeler will soon be calling members of our church to ask them what the church and their faith have meant in their life. As a pastor with more than 20 years of experience, he has seen faith change and affect lives again and again. He hopes to shape our church's stories into brief presentations that can be featured regularly on our web page and in our newsletter. He will begin calling members of the church in January, and the life stories will begin appearing shortly after that on our web page at rossfordumc.org. The story of your spiritual journey is very important so let us know if you are willing to share your story and we'll direct Larry to your doorstep.

Grace and Peace,Pastor Bob Ball

from all of the staff at Rossford United Methodist

DOCK News

Thanks to all who participated in our Operation Christmas Child project this year. As of the writing of this article I don’t have a final count. D.O.C.K. alone packed 18 boxes. The boxes will be delivered to the drop off location in Waterville on Nov. 23rd.December will be relatively quiet for D.O.C.K. We’ll be donating canned goods, etc. to help our congregation fill Christmas baskets for needy families. We’ll help with decorating the church for Christmas on Dec. 2nd

and we’ll join the Christmas carolers on Dec. 20th.Throughout the month we’ll be taking time to learn about advent. We will talk about the importance of this season leading up to the birth of Jesus. We’ll discuss ways we can grow closer to God while we wait.Finally, D.O.C.K. members and the confirmation class would like to invite their mentors to join them for a small Christmas celebration before we go caroling on the 20th. If you are mentoring a student, watch for your invitation.Thanks for your support.

Terri SeiboldDirector of Youth Ministry

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UMC #GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 1!

On Dec. 1, United Methodists will once again come together to support the work of Advance projects and missionaries on UMC #GivingTuesday. And once again, every gift made online through The Advance at www.umcmission.org/give on Dec. 1, 2015 will be matched up to $1 milion.* The missionary who receives the highest amount of online donations on UMC #GivingTuesday will be able to direct $10,000 to an Advance project of his/her choice!

The theme for the 2015 UMC #Giving Tuesday campaign is "Activate Love. Transform Lives. Change the World."

Help kick off this event by creating your own team to support a project that is working in an area you care about, such as hunger and poverty, education, or social justice. For a complete list of projects you and your team can support, visit The Advance, or download and share UMC #GivingTuesday resources.

*Global Ministries will allocate matching funds dollar for dollar up to the first $1 million in gifts to Advance projects received online on Dec. 1, 2015, between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. CT. A maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.

Talent ShowWe’ve rescheduled the talent show for January 24th. We will have a potluck following worship with the show beginning at about 12:30. Spread the word and get your acts together!!! There’s no show without you.

I have 3 or 4 group numbers that I’d like to work on. I’m scheduling a few rehearsals hoping that those interested can attend some, if not all. Here are the dates and times I’d like to suggest:

Saturday, Dec. 12th10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, Jan. 10th Noon – 1:00 p.m. (right after church)

Thursday, Jan. 14th 8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. (after choir practice)

Thursday, Jan. 21st 8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. (after choir practice in FLC for staging)

Sunday, Jan. 24th TALENT SHOW

If you have questions call or email me.419-344-3123/terri@seiboldbaker.com

New Membership MeetingsWe will be holding new membership meetings after services on Sunday December 6th and Sunday December 13th. We plan to receive new members on Sunday December

Box Tops, Campbell's, StampsThank you for all your help with the stamps. We are still collecting Box Tops for Education, Campbell's soup labels and cancelled stamps. The boxes are located in the Narthex. Please see Barb Chesson if you have any questions.

Can DriveWe would like to remind you that we are still collecting cans to raise money for our church. If you have any to donate, the container is outside the kitchen door. If you need a pickup, please call Doug Williams at 419-661-9484.

Counters needed for 2016The Finance Committee is looking for volunteers to help count tithes on Sundays in 2016. It usually takes 1 hour after services, and training will be provided. Please see Larry Ulrich if you are interested.

UMC MarketThe United Methodist Church has started a "market." This is a way for our church to earn money. You need to go online to www.umcmarket.org and sign up. Whenever you order from this site our church receives a % of what you purchase. There are 89 pages of participating stores and the amount we receive varies. Any questions, see Sue Perkins.

Kroger Store If you have a Kroger card, PLEASE make sure you are signed up so that our church gets a percentage of what you buy.  This is "Free" money for our church.  You MUST sign up EACH YEAR so our church gets credit for what you buy.  Any questions, see Sue Perkins.

Prayer QuiltsIf you know of anyone who would benefit from a prayer quilt please call or see Nancy Stonerock. She can be reached at 419-874-3504.

Helping Hands of St. LouisPlease contact Jerry Baumgartner at 419-666-7236. The next date is 12/17.

Ushers and GreetersPlease see Bob Baughman to Usher or Betty Dowell or Brenda and Al Weis to Greet.

RehearsalsBell Choir will hold regular Thursday

evening practices at 6:00pm.

HospitalityThe hospitality committee met on Tues Nov 10th.  Lindsay Brant will be resigning as the chair of Fellowship (which is a sub-committee of Hospitality)due to family commitments. A new fellowship chair will be needed. Kim Weyandt will also join us as a staff member to the committee. Caroline and Darrel Eschedor, Carol Kotecki, Betty Dowell round out our committee along with Al and myself. Our committee was busy providing cookies for the drug coalition conference held at our church. We also provided appetizers for the charge conference held Nov 8th. Both events were well attended.At our Dec 8th meeting we plan to address Christmas cards to our shut-ins and I'd also like to send cards to veterans who may not receive anything. Thank you to those who have been helping out with coffee hour after church, we've been able to have something each week in Nov, in part also with having things we are using from the craft bazaar bake sale and other activities where people have sent in food. It's truly appreciated.December valet and greeters are Matt and Christy Foster.May you and your family have a Blessed Christmas and take the time to celebrate the Reason for the season, the birth of our Lord.

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Calling All Carolers!

We will be doing our annual Christmas Caroling Sunday,

December 21. We will meet at the church at 5:00pm and caravan to the selected homes then return to the church for doughnuts and hot chocolate. If you would like us to

carol at your home or know of someone who would enjoy it, please

December Celebrations and ThanksAnniversaries

Ron and Dorothy Lewis 12/2Neil and Elaine MacKinnon 12/18Robert and Shirley Ball 12/24Larry and Sue Perkins 12/29

BirthdaysCandra Boggs 12/13Dorothy Lewis 12/14Jarrett Parker 12/14Dwight Shufeldt 12/15Dave Lawson 12/16Brian Stoffel 12/16Crystal Westfall 12/19Barry Bashaw 12/22Stephen Atkins 12/27Wilma Green 12/30Brenda Zuchowski-Pliska 12/30

Thank YouDear RUMC Family,

On behalf of our family, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the cards, visits, hugs, support and prayers for my Dad. Thank you Pastor Bob and Shirley for praying with us and conducting a beautiful service in Dad's memory. The service truly captured who he was as a person. Thank you to the committee for fixing the lunch following the service. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful church family.God Bless, Laurie Clingo

Q. What do you call the fear of getting stuck in a chimney? 

A. Santaclaustrophobia

Q. What happened when the snowwoman got angry at the snowman?

A. She gave him the cold shoulder.

Q: What goes Ho, Ho, Swoosh, Ho, Ho, Swoosh? 

A: Santa caught in a revolving door!

Q: What nationality is Santa Claus?A: North Polish.

Q: Why was Santa's little helper depressed? A: Because he had low elf esteem. 

Q: What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper? 

A: Ribbon hood.

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Betty Woods on behalf of RUMC has continued to provide winter coats and

mittens for local students at WSOS currently located at The Lutheran

Church of the Master in Perrysburg.

Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.

1 2 3 4 5

6:30pm Cub Scouts6:30pm Ladies Evening Bible Study

5:30pm Hanging of the Greens6:30pm Boy Scouts6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:00pm Bells7:00pm Choir8:30pm AA

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

9:00am Sunday School10:30am Worship(New Member Mtgs)Lighting of the Tree5:00pm DOCK

6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:00pm Hospitality6:30pm SPRC, Trustees, Finance6:30pm Cub Scouts7:30pm Admin

6:30pm Boy Scouts6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:00pm Bells7:00pm Choir8:30pm AA

9:00am Men's Breakfast Silver Moon Diner7:00pm Contra Dance

13 14 15 16 17 18 199:00 am Sunday School10:30am Worship (New Member Mtgs)4:00-5:00pm5:00pm DOCK Christmas Party

6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:30pm Cub Scouts6:30pm Ladies Evening Bible Study

6:30pm Boy Scouts6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:00pm Bells7:00pm Choir8:30pm AA

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

9:00 am Sunday School10:30am Worship(Receiving New Members)NO DOCK

6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:30pm Cub Scouts6:30pm Ladies Evening Bible Study

6:30pm Boy Scouts6:30pm Cardio Drumming

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

27 28 29 30 31

9:00 am Sunday School10:30am Youth Led WorshipNO DOCK

6:30pm Cardio Drumming

6:30pm Cub Scouts6:30pm Ladies Evening Bible Study

6:30pm Boy Scouts6:30pm Cardio Drumming

New Year's Eve

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Page 6

Worship NewsWe were treated to a very special musical event when the choir sang the cantata “Dance” at the Oct.25th service. It was beautifully done! Thank you, Choir, Sarah, Jeannie, and Zander Comley who narrated the spoken message. The good news is that we may get to hear the cantata, or at least parts of it, again during Lent.

We also were treated to a special service for the Veterans on Nov.8. The highlight was seeing each of our veterans displayed and learning which branch of the service he or she had served in. Special music from the choir and a bagpiper added to the service. Each veteran received a flag lapel pin too thanks to the Rust Family.We appreciate our bell choir too and the music they are playing for our services.As we enter the Advent Season, our church services will be full of Christmas music, scripture, and messages about excitement of the birth of our Lord. We hope you will attend and participate in as many of the activities as possible this year.

Schedule for December:

Nov. 29th – First Sunday of Advent. Youth ServiceDec. 6th – Second Sunday of Advent, Lighting and Decorating the TreeDec. 13th– Third Sunday of AdventDec. 20th – Fourth Sunday of AdventDec. 24th - 7:00PM, Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

HANGING OF THE GREENS PARTYPlease join us at 6PM on Wednesday, Dec.2 to help decorate the church. It is lots of fun and we will

provide a free supper for all who attend. Hope to see you there!

ADVENT FOOD BASKETS FOR THE NEEDYWe will collect canned goods for the needy beginning Sunday, Dec.7th. Please see the schedule below. We ask you just to bring in one item each week. The past few years we’ve been able to make 8-10 baskets which were very much appreciated. Let’s do it again this year and celebrate the spirit of giving.Nov. 29th: Any food that comes in a boxDec. 6th:  Cans of vegetables and fruits, jelly and jamDec. 13th:  Cans of soup and meats (such as tuna, salmon, corned beef, etc.) and peanut butter.Dec. 20th:  TBD (Based on if we are short items)

Fundraising NewsWe have had 2 successful Fund raisers in the last month.  We made 170 Apple Dumplings and sold all of them.  We made a profit of $388.  Our Craft Bazaar was a huge success!!!A BIG THANK YOU to Nancy Rust and her committee.  It was a wonderful day and we made $6,216.65 profit.This has been a very busy, very successful year for the Fund Raisers done in our church.  I want to thank everyone who helped in any way.  The success is due to many people, in our church,  working together.  Without each of you, we couldn't do the rummage sales, BBQs, craft bazaars and other events that are planned.Next year, we will once again plan events that help our church financially.  A list of events and dates will be published as soon as they are set.  I hope you will put these dates on your 2016 calendar  and plan on helping in any way you can.Once again, thank you to all who helped this past year.  

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ROSSFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH270 DIXIE HWYROSSFORD, OH 43460

StaffPastor: Rev. Dr. Robert BallMinisters: Every MemberChildren’s Ministry: Kim WeyandtYouth Ministry: Terri SeiboldSecretary: Jenny GraffiusMusic Program Director: Sarah BuehrerOrganist: JeanE WaggonerCustodians: Steve Agler

Jenny RiehmNursery: Kaitlin Moore

Lay LeadershipLay Leader: Tom RidenourHead Usher: Bob BaughmanMedia Directors: Troy Westfall

Jeff Comley