OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS

F I RS T
DECEMBER, 2013

N O T ES

Sunday Worship Schedule

9:00 am
Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

WOLF TRACKS
Prepare. Now theres a word. Prepare. What for? What will it cost? How long will it take? Prepare...in order to be ready. Why should I be ready? Is it important to be ready? Ready for what? Ready for change. Prepare. How much change? A little? A lot? Prepare to be transformed. Transformed? Transformation is a big whopping change. Transformation starts at the center and works into every aspect of what is being transformed. So, what is being transformed? You are. I am. We are. Advent is our season of preparation for transformation. But I thought Advent was just the stretch before Christmas. Isnt Christmas the goal? Isnt Christmas what were really waiting for? No. Christmas is the time we remember. Remember what? God entering into history, coming into the world in the fragile form of a newborn baby. We do not need to prepare for that. It is accomplished. Do we celebrate it? Of course! We celebrate it to the nth degree --in the church, the marketplace, the media, the home. And our celebrations involve preparation. Yet the transformation inaugurated by the babe in a manger, comes from the crucified/risen Savior who now reigns in glory, and will come again. We prepare in order to be ready for Christs return! Advents double purpose is to prepare us not just for the celebration of Jesus birth, but for His return. Do we need to be ready? You bet! When we sing the phrase from the carol, be born in us today, we are inviting the living Lord into the center of our selves in order to be transformed into His likeness by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is a whopping big change. That is transformative change. Are you ready? If you are like me you are still a work-in-progress, continuing in a state of preparation. John Wesley called it going on to perfection. You see, it is the journey of a lifetime to

Pastor Paul Wolf open our selves to the transforming power of the Spirit in order to grow into the likeness of Jesus and become little Christs for the world. Advent reminds us, year after year, to be ready, to prepare, to persevere, to never give up, to keep growing Godward each and every day as long as we live. We are on the journey to Jesus every day, and by the grace of God, we are being transformed. Thanks be to God. Lord Jesus Christ, be born in us today!

10:10 am
Sunday School Time

11:00 am
Celebration Worship in the Sanctuary
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

Making Disciples ...Changing the World

May the blessings of Christmas--Peace, Joy and Love be with you and your family now and always, and may the promise of the New Year bring hope and strength to us all!
Grace and peace, Pastor Paul

We uphold the United Methodist Church by our PRAYERS, PRESENCE, GIFTS, SERVICE & WITNESS
9 am 11 am n/a 17 n/a BE HERE Sunday School 74 75 83 BE HERE 2013 Monthly Budget Needs Needs$24,323 November Total Gifts Received to Date $17,709 October Income *$21,503 YearYear-toto-Date Income *$237,978 October Expense *($25,041) YearYear-toto-Date Expense *($235,976) October Net Loss (*$3,538) YearYear-toto-Date Net Gain *$2,002

Attendance for November 2013

3rd 10th 17th 24th

116 116 108 BE HERE

Gifts for November 2013

3rd 10th 17th 24th

$7,185 $7,108 $3,416 GIVE

* As of the end of November 2013

FIRST NOTES

Page 2

Cinda Krenzin Dodie Noland Carl Roush

(brother of Elmer Roush)

LeAnn Wolf Eugene Solomon Brian Viel

(brother-in-law of Charlene Riley)

December Worship Schedule

Q Christmas Pageant R
Sunday, December 15th
Will be held in the Sanctuary at 10:15am.

Brenda Rowe Gary Manbeck Sympathies to the family & friends of: Bill Carter Cleo Rutherford
(father of Lana Lemasters)

Serving in the Military: Jeff Bright (Africa)

(Please be sure to inform the church office if you have a loved one serving in the military and we can include them in this list.)
PLEASE NOTE: NAMES SUBMITTED FOR THE PRAYER CONCERNS LIST
WILL BE REMOVED AFTER TWO WEEKS. PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE @ 431-4240 OR E-MAIL

Q Christmas Eve R Family Worship at 5pm Candlelight / Communion at 10pm Q Fellowship on the Fifth R
Sunday, December 29th
A combined worship service with carol singing will be held at 10am. Sunday school will be held at 9am.

fumcronda@cableone.net
IF YOU NEED TO ADD OR CONTINUE A NAME ON THE PRAYER LIST. THANK YOU!

Q Christmas

Offering R

This years Christmas Offering will be given to Fellowman International of Honduras

Wise Men Still Seek Him
Fellow Man International Mission continues to well-serve the 120,000 persons in 90 villages living in the remote area of northern Honduras. Financial support is necessary for the Mission to: provide medical services, including General Family Medicine, Obstetrical/labor and delivery, Minor surgeries, Respiratory Care and Laboratory services; provide protein-enriched foods through the Agriculture Program to improve the over-all health of the people; and assist in providing school supplies, lunches, uniforms and salary support for one elementary school teacher for the near-by school in Buenos Aires. We are called to serve the poor and needy! Give generously this Christmas!

OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS

Page 3

Attach this tag to a bag of M&Ms for a sweet Christmas gift.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT:

The Story of Christmas

DECEMBER 15, AT 10:15 A.M.
Practices: Wednesdays Nov 27, Dec 4, Dec 11; 66-7 p.m.
Children Grades K-5; preschoolers welcome with a parent. Come hear the story of Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary and Joseph as they await and experience the birth of our Lord Jesus.
(Luke 1:5-2:20, and Matthew 1:18-2:23)

The youth will have the narrator roles. Younger children will participate by reenacting the nativity story as angels and shepherds, singing familiar Christmas carols. Parents of smaller children are invited to stay for practices and join in on the fun.
Help needed with refreshments and setup/cleanup for after pageant on Dec 15. Contact Shari Wendt for more information or if youd like to help.

Childrens Church is coming soonin January!

Do you love kids?? Do you have kids? Have you ever been a kid??! Do you love to tinker with the computer? Do you like to do quick skits without much prep time? Do you have a talent for story telling that keeps kids engaged? Do you want to learn Gods Word in an easier way? Do you like to put on a puppet show? Do you like a relaxed atmosphere in which to worship God? Do you like fun, upbeat worship songs that keep your toes tapping? Want to see kids excited about the Word of God coming to life?? (Pun intended!) If you said Yes even once, consider joining our team for CHILDRENS CHURCH!! Let God transform YOU along with the children Contact Shari Wendt 432432-1342.

As you hold these candies in your hand and turn them, you will see The M becomes a W an E, and then a 3 They tell the Christmas storyIm sure its one you know ...it took place in a stable a long, long time ago The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright The M is for the Manger, where the Baby Jesus slept at night The 3 is for the Wisemen, bearing gifts, with which they came. W is for worship, Hallelujah! Praise His Name! So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend, Remember the meaning of Christmas: Its a love that never ends

s a m t s Chri story

the m&m

Get to Church

PLAYGROUND UPDATE

Fund total to date: $12,915.19 Goal: Goa $25,000 in equipment

Considering Playworld Systems who has offered a 30% discount to us. Installation: $7000 by Playworld OR to SUPERVISE our volunteers to install = $650 + cost of concrete. With 20-30 people can get it installed in one day

Any Way You Can!

IN OTHER NEWS.....

Page 4

OUR CHURCH
Mission Pennies
December Mission Pennies will be given to the Fire Escape Coffee House here in Chanute. with this effort through purchasing or baking treats. Money collected goes towards helping other churches in need.

Church Bazaar 2014

Next years Fall Church Bazaar will be held on Saturday, October 18th from 8am3pm. We will begin collecting items for the K-State and KU baskets that will be auctioned off at 1:00pm the day of the Bazaar. So start collecting NOW! Thanks, Parrian & Linda Thank you to everyone who helped with the Blood Mobile Canteen and to the Boomer Link for providing snacks for this years Church Conference as well as the Parsons District meeting of ministers held here recently. Charlene Riley Dear FUMC, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for being awarded your scholarship. It means so much to have a great community of people doing good for the city of Chanute behind me on my scholarly educational pursuit. I feel good knowing that I will have a church to return to in my breaks back home. Again, thank you so much for the scholarship and may every member and citizen of Chanute be blessed. I miss you all so much. You are in my prayers. God Bless, Jack Martin Dear FUMC, Thank you for the pillows and pillowcases. Your kind gifts will help to rebuild a home for the less fortunate. Thanks & God Bless, The Faith House

Pantry Sunday
December 20th will be Pantry Sunday! Our local pantries continue to have difficulty keeping up with the ever increasing demand. Your help through the donations of food or cash is immensely appreciated!

Dough for Dough

The F.I.S.H. (Fellowship Is Sending Help) Committee reminds you to stop by the parlor and pick up a homemade treat on Sunday, December 8th. All members are welcomed and encouraged to help

OUR COMMUNITY

A C C L

oumcyouth@sbcglobal.net or you can text or call Kaci at 620.305.8096 or the OUMC office at 431.0610.

perishable food item.

(These donations will go to our local food pantries.)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 7:00 P.M. WESTVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH

1415 S. Plummer

Fire Escape Coffee House to Host a Chanute Community Christmas Celebration

The Fire Escape is excited to announce that they will be hosting The Chanute Community Christmas Celebration on Sunday night December 8th. This event will be open to all ages. The hope is to see people from all over Chanute and SE Kansas, from all walks of life, all different churches and denominations come together and enjoy the night which will focus on the hope and joy found in Christ. The heart of this event is our community, the night will not be about any one church or about the Fire Escape but simply about coming together as one for one purpose. The night will be free to attend with the donation of a non

Cherry Street Christmas Store Needs

Cherry Street is in desperate need of new or gently used items for this years Christmas Store. Items may be dropped off between 1:005:00pm at 710 N. Forest, Monday through Friday. They also have a need for toothpaste, Mr. Clean, dish soap and clothes soap for Christmas baskets. The need is GREAT this year. All items are needed by Thanksgiving! THANK YOU!!!!

Otterbein UMC Youth Group Fundraiser

The Otterbein United Methodist Church Youth Group is taking orders for the famous OUMC Cinnamon Rolls. $15 per dozen or $7.50 per dozen. A great idea for Christmas gifts or Christmas morning breakfast! Order deadline is November 29th. They will be made on Friday, December 6th with pick up on Saturday, December 7th. (You can freeze them.) Place your order by emailing Kaci Eccles at

Mobile Food Pantry DECEMBER 19 9-11 A.M. CHANUTE RECREATION COMMISSION BLDG
Anyone in need of assistance can receive food.

OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS

Page 5

I, so very appreciated the visit from Bro. Paul and Bro. Jim this past Tuesday. Going the extra mile in their journey to Bartlesville to pray with me. (Actually, it was a 200 mile round trip. Jump in the auto and go!) The prayer shawl is absolutely beautiful! I want to thank Linda and the Needle-N-Yarn Ministry for the labor of love and prayers that came with the giving of the shawl. I also want to thank everyone for their prayers. At this time, your prayers are welcomed with an open heart. God Bless, Dodie Noland Thanks for your food donation to the Otterbein Food Pantry. We will put it to GOOD use. Charles Follmer Director

December is our churchs month to provide cookies for Cherry Street. your contributions and the name of your loved one with the church They currently need 40 dozen per week. office or place it in an offering Your donations may be left at the church envelope on Sunday marked or taken to directly to Cherry Street. Poinsettia Memorial with the name of your loved Adopt an Applewood one to be Resident for Christmas honored. The Annual Applewood Christmas Party
will be held at the Applewood Care Facility on December 14th at 1:00 pm. A list of names to adopt will be available in the church parlor each Sunday until all names have been taken.

(Live plants will not be placed in the Sanctuary.) You may leave

If you would like to honor the memory of a loved one or a special person in your life this year, you are invited to make a donation toward the purchase of nice artificial poinsettias for the sanctuary.

Offering for Philippines

Those who wish to support the relief and recovery work in the Philippines following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) may do so through their website (www.umcor.org) or by making a contribution to FUMC and designating International Disaster Response, Advance #982450 in the memo line of your check. All of your gift, 100 percent, will be used to help those in need. The initial response from UMCOR will involve the distribution of food and water purification tablets. UMCOR expects to provide relief services to at least 1,000 families. In the coming weeks, UMCOR will begin to assess the viability of longer-term rehabilitation projects.

VOLUNTEER
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
TH

NOON IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

This party is for all members who have leant a helping hand at the church in the office, with the youth, with the kids, with the worship service, with funeral dinners, performing maintenance tasks, etc. throughout the year. This is the staffs way of showing our appreciation for all your help. Lunch will be provided by the church staff. We hope you will join us!

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

202 S. LINCOLN CHANUTE, KANSAS 66720
OFFICE HOURS: 8:00AM5:00PM CHURCH PHONE: 620-431-4240 WEB SITE: www.fumcchanute.org CHURCH STAFF: Pastor: Rev. Paul Wolf pastorpaul@cableone.net Director of Adult Ministry & Parish Visitor Linda Arnett fumclinda@cableone.net
In-Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Mornings

First United Methodist Church 202 S. Lincoln Chanute, KS 66720 620.431.4240

U.S. Postage Paid Non-Profit Org. Chanute, KS 66720 Permit #13

Return Service Requested

Youth Director: Sharon Fritch ykics@hotmail.com Director of Children's Ministries: Shari Wendt fumcshari@cableone.net Secretary: Ronda Phillips fumcronda@cableone.net Treasurer: Parrian Hatch parrianh@gmail.com
In-Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Mornings

Custodian: Karen Shields fumcronda@cableone.net Maintenance: Jim Schoenberger Music Director: Russ Vallier rvchoir@hotmail.com Organist: Terri DeGeer jdegeer@erieks.net

UPCOMING EVENTS Sunday, November 24: Hanging of the Greens begins at 4:00pm followed with soup served in the Fellowship Hall. Thursday, November 28: Community Thanksgiving Dinner held in Fellowship Hall Monday, December 9: Volunteer Christmas Party will be held in the Fellowship Hall at Noon. Saturday, December 14: The Applewood Christmas Party will be held at 1:00pm Sunday, December 15: Childrens Christmas Pageant will be held in the Sanctuary at 10:15am. Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Services will be held at 5:00pm & 10:00pm Sunday, December 29: Fellowship on the Fifth with worship at 10:00am and Sunday School at 9:00am.

How to become a member....

You are welcome to attend worship services, member or not. For that matter, you can attend any activity of the church and are invited to do so. Becoming a member is, in faith, saying you want a deeper commitment to the church. Our vows ask us to faithfully participate in the life of the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness. We hope you will be a part of the ministry of the First United Methodist Church. If you would like to become a member, please give us: Name(s), address, phone number, e-mail address, anniversaries, birthdays and if you are already a member of some other church or not. If you are, we also need the name of the church and, if possible, the address. Please give this to the pastor, or leave in the church office.

PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE WHEN SCHEDULING MEETINGS OR EVENTS IN THE CHURCH BUILDING!
(Be sure to check inside for more details on these events!)

December 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Communion 2
2:00 pm Worship Service held at the High-rise Apartments 4:00 pm KICS

6
6:00 am Prayer Group, 107

11:00 am Walkercize, 7:00 pm Trustees, 103 11:00 am Walkercize FH 7:00 pm Compassionate 11:00 am Ministry of Friends, 102 Caring, 103 6:30 pm Quilt Guild, FH

* See Regular Sunday Schedule

8 Dough for
Dough
4:00 pm KICS

10

11
11:00 am Walkercize,
FH

12

13
6:00 am Prayer Group, 107

14
1:00 pm Applewood Christmas Party

11:00 am Walkercize, 6:15 pm Education FH Team 7:00 pm Church NOON Volunteer Council, 107 Christmas Party, FH

* See Regular Sunday Schedule

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

11:00 am Walkercize, 11:00 am Todays 10:15 am Christmas FH Concerns, Opies Pageant, Sanctuary 6:30 pm Missions 7:00 pm Boomer Link 4:00 pm KICS Committee Mtg., 112 6:30 pm Church & Society, Applewood

11:00 am Walkercize, 7:00 pm Cub Scout 6:00 am Prayer FH Pack Mtg., FH Group, 107 1:00 pm Newsletter Crew, 107

* See Regular Sunday Schedule

22

Pantry Sunday

23

24

25

26

27
6:00 am Prayer Group, 107

28

4:00 pm KICS

11:00 am Walkercize, 5:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Worship 10:00 pm Candlelight / Communion Christmas Eve Worship

* See Regular Sunday Schedule

29 Fellowship 30 on the Fifth 11:00 am Walkercize,

9:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Combined Worship

31
* Regular Sunday
9:00 am
Traditional Worship Time (Sanctuary)

11:00 am
Celebration Worship Time (Sanctuary)

* See Newsletter, Page 2

10:10 am
Sunday School

December 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Communion 2
Ezekiel 4041 2 Peter 3 Torrie Cain Paula Drybread Marilyn Marts Austin Strack Ezekiel 4244 1 John 1 Race Fogle Tyler Gray

3
Ezekiel 4546 1 John 2 Brandon Hatch Jeana Lawrence Lana Lemasters

4
Ezekiel 4748 1 John 3 Nicholas Pryor

5
Daniel 12 1 John 4 William Helton

6
Daniel 34 1 John 5 Carolyn Block Daniel Gallagher Jr. Ivy Kepley Floyd Ladd

7
Daniel 57 2 John Jared Fiscus
LeElla Mussulman Zachary Pryor Ed Ranz

8 Communion 9
Daniel 810 3 John David Dudley Gary Manbeck Daniel 1112 Jude Joyce Gibson Aaron Pennington Rick Willis

10
Hosea 14 Revelation 1

11
Hosea 58 Revelation 2 Sophie Osborn Derrick Bruenger Alexandra Gwillim

12
Hosea 911 Revelation 3 Brenda Rowe

13
Hosea 1214 Revelation 4 Terri DeGeer John Gard John Gorton Ashley Kepley Braylee Peter Shane Wood

14
Joel Revelation 5 Dale Newton Velma Rogers

Emily Dickinson

15

Dough for Dough

Amos 13 Revelation 6

16
Amos 46 Revelation 7 DeEtta Gibson Bob Haskins

17
Amos 79 Revelation 8

18
Obadiah Revelation 9

19
Jonah Revelation 10

20
Micah 13 Revelation 11

21
Micah 45 Revelation 12 Kylie Chase Chuck Carpenter Emmalee Finley

Harry Disbrow Madison Richard

Kendall Follmer Chip Tiegreen Steven Spielberg

Rhonda Coronado

Harvey Firestone

22
Micah 67 Revelation 13 Glen Bercaw Marsha Carter

23
Nahum Revelation 14 Nathan Woodard

24
Habakkuk Revelation 15 Duke McCune Holly Miller

25
Zephaniah Revelation 16 JESUS

26
Haggai Revelation 17 Jarren Gard

27
Zechariah 14 Revelation 18 Ryan Bearrick Camie Russell

28
Zechariah 58 Revelation 19 Paula Disbrow Daniel Gallagher

29 Pantry Sunday 30
Zechariah 912 Revelation 20 Patty Fox Rudyard Kipling Zechariah 1314 Revelation 21

31
Malachi Revelation 22 Sue Strack Shelley Naughton

Please contact the office if your Birthday has been omitted or misreported. We dont want to forget you! 431431-4240