The United Methodist Church of Evergreen
Pastor Russell Fletcher

Sunday, December 24, 2017
Services at 10:30 am / 4:00 pm / 7:00 pm
Christmas Eve


Russell's Ritings....

Abraham Lincoln, the quiet man of few words, was fond of telling a story of a man lost in a dark, dense forest.  Thunder crashed on all sides and, occasionally, a streak of lightning would illuminate his path.  Being very much disconcerted over the infrequency of the lightning and the intensity of the thunder, he turned to heaven and prayed, "If it's all the same with you, O Lord, give us a little more light and a little less noise."

All Christians, as we journey through this dark world, can look with great anticipation to the coming of Christ.  That's the story of the season.  This is not about ho - ho, presents, travel, food, parties, family gatherings, shopping, and all the other things we sometime associate with the season.  It is ONLY about one thing - Jesus Christ.  All the rest is superfluous and secondary.  So - let's see the light breaking in and the Baby coming anew to us.  And let's experience a spiritual Christmas filled with light, love, and peace on earth, good will to all.

This Sunday is CHRISTMAS EVE!  Our days of longing, waiting, and expectation are soon to be over.  This is a joyous and wonderful day and I hope to see all our church family sometime during the day.  Since Christmas Eve is on a Sunday we are adjusting the worship schedule as follows:

10:30 am
A Traditional Worship Service (no 8:30 service).  The sermon is "Hear the Good News" (Romans 1: 2 - 6).

4:00 pm
A Spontaneous Christmas Children's Pageant.  This service, unique to UMCE, involves EVERY child who wishes to participate.  It is something I never saw until I arrived at UMCE, and I love seeing it every year.  Bring your child, grandchild, visitors, and anyone.  It is SUCH fun. 

7:00 pm
A Service of "Carols, Candles, and Communion".  This is sometimes referred to as "the most beautiful service of the year."  Come and worship!  Worship Christ, the newborn King!  The sermon, from Luke 2: 1 - 20, is "A Song, A Star, A Savior". 

The week after Christmas we will have limited hours.  I am encouraging our staff to spend time with their families.  I will be in every morning.  I know I will see staff members during the week, but I hope they will take some well - deserved days of rest and relaxation.  

Should you need anything please call me at 970 - 589 7241.  There will be NO "Happenings" next week.  On December 31 we will resume our regular schedule of two worship services - 8:30 and 10:30.

A very Merry Christmas from Diane and me and all the wonderful staff at UMCE!

Russell
 

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES


 

FINANCE UPDATES


Attendance & Stewardship Report
-------------------------------------------
Sunday School and Nursery 12/17/2017
Worship Services 12/17/20 17
-------------------------------------------
Needed Weekly
Received 12/17/2017
                                                Difference
-------------------------------------------
                     2017 Budget
Needed Year to Date
Received Year to Date
Difference Year to Date
12/22/2017
--------------
34
116
--------------
$5,912
$6,003
$91
--------------
$313,348
$301,512
$317,556
+ $16,044


Great news for you and for our church!!

You could give some of your IRA dollars to support God's Kingdom before the end of 2017.  A few years ago Congress made permanent the opportunity to make a charitable gift from an IRA to a qualifying non-profit.   You can convert your required minimum distribution (RMD) to a charitable distribution by rolling over part of an IRA to UMCE.   In doing this you avoid paying any additional tax.

You must be over age 70 ½.  These tax-free gifts can be up to $100,000 and satisfy the required minimum distribution (RMD).  All you need to do is to contact your IRA custodian and request an amount be transferred to UMCE or to the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation for the benefit of UMCE.  This would be a great way to save on taxes and complete your pledge, increase your gift or create a new gift, at the same time! 
 

ADULT EDUCATION
 
Sunday, December 24, 2017
No Session:  Christmas Holiday
 
Sunday, December 31, 2017   
No Session:  New Year's Holiday
 
Sunday, January 7, 2018
No Session:  Pancake Breakfast and Kick Off for Sunday School
 
Sunday, January 14, 9:30-10:20 am
THE TEN LAWS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION
Facilitator:  Dr. Lorna Idol
When changes in society threaten to isolate us and rob us of the time we need for maintaining and nurturing our relationships, the big challenge is to become more effective communicators. In Hugh Mackay's book,  Why Don't People Listen? , this Australian communications expert shows us a simple yet revolutionary way to improve the quality of our relationships-at home, at church, at work, in social settings-through a more disciplined and sensitive approach to communication. Lorna will share Mackay's ten most basic "laws" of human communication coupled with lively and listening discussion.
 
Sunday, January 21, 9:30-10:20 am
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Facilitator:  Dr. Lorna Idol
We will learn or review how to communicate clearly and effectively. In our personal, professional and church relationships, effective communication is the key to learning from others and to being heard in respectful, caring and Christian ways. We will learn and practice using active on-going listening and responding skills to facilitate effective communication (e.g., acknowledging, paraphrasing, reflecting, clarifying, elaborating and summarizing). We will be utilizing adult education materials from one of Lorna's published professional development programs:  Collaboration in the Schools:  Communicating, Interacting and Problem Solving.
 

YOUTH EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
Action Pack
Preschool-5th Grades 9:30 am
Youth Group Sunday School
6th-12th Grades 9:30 am
EverKids Early Elementary Sunday School
Preschool-1st Grades 10:30 am
EverKids Upper Elementary Sunday School

2nd-5th Grades 10:30 am
SUNDAY YOUTH GROUP

High School Youth Group
9th-12th Grades Noon - 1:30 pm
Regular Youth Group

6th-12th Grades 1:30 - 3:30 pm
I LOVE GOD'S GREEN EARTH

Wednesdays in UMCE Church Sanctuary
Preschool - 5th Grades 4:00 - 5:00 pm
 

AROUND THE CHURCH


December 25 - January 1
LIMITED OFFICE HOURS DURING THE HOLIDAYS



Sunday, December 31 - Two Services at 8:30 and 10:30 am
NEW YEAR'S EVE SUNDAY - TWO WORSHIP SERVICES



Wednesday, January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - from 9:30 - 11:30 am
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY:
"JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF LIGHT AND LIFE"
Location: UMCE Library (Room 12)
Please join the Women's Bible Study for their new bible study, Adam Hamilton's DVD series "John: The Gospel of Light and Life." The Gospel of John is considered the most deeply spiritual of the four gospels. Experience spiritual growth and life changing renewal with the truths revealed in this Gospel. Contact Jeanne Ambrosier at [email protected]  or 303-674-6377 for a book or more information.



Saturday, January 6 - 8:00 am Breakfast, 8:30 am Program
MEN'S BREAKFAST:  THE CHURCH AS A PLATFORM FOR HEALING, GROWTH AND CHANGE IN AFRICA: KENYA AND RWANDA
Location: UMCE Fellowship Hall
Presenter: Bill Graf
Bill Graf will relate, through his personal experience on the ground in Kenya and Rwanda, how UMCE's UMM, UMW and Missions team have partnered with private donors and the Center for Health and Hope (formerly the Center for the Church and Global AIDS) to promote health and well-being for those infected and affected by HIV-AIDS, women's empowerment, growth of the local UMC and its cousins, and support of education (including clergy and their children) to help develop the next generation of leaders so that love and acceptance will replace tribalism and other forms of separation in a part of the world where genocide and other terrors can still be found.

















Sunday, January 14 from 9:15 - 10:30 am
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
The Membership Team is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast after the holidays. Enjoy fellowship and breakfast in between services on this Sunday in January. 



Tuesday, January 16 - Starting at 6:30 am
THE MEN'S BAGELRY FELLOWSHIP GROUP
Location: The Bagelry in Bergen Park
The Men's Bagelry Fellowship Group is a small, but growing, group of men who meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Bagelry in Bergen Park, across from King Soopers.  Contact Bill Graf (303-246-8330) or Clyde Sacks (805-451-4586) for more information.

 


CHURCH CALENDAR

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
DECEMBER AND JANUARY

Sunday, December 24 10:30 am
4:00 pm
7:00 pm
A Christmas Worship Service
A Spontaneous Christmas Pageant
A Candlelight Service with Choir
Dec. 25 - Jan. 1

LIMITED OFFICE HOURS 
DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Sunday, December 31 8:30 am &
10:30 am
New Year's Eve Sunday -
Two Worship Services
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 10, 
17, 24 and 31

9:30-11:30 am
Women's Bible Study: "John: The Gospel of Light and Life"
Saturday, January 6 8:00 am Men's Breakfast: UMC Missions in Rwanda, Bill Graf Presenting
Sunday, January 14 9:15-10:30 am Pancake Breakfast
Tuesday, January 16 6:30 am Men's Bagelry Fellowship Group

TEAM MEETINGS
JANUARY

Tuesday, January 9 10:30 am Staff Meeting
Tuesday, January 9 7:00 pm Trustees
Thursday, January 11 7:00 pm

Finance

Sunday, January 14 12:00 pm Church Council
Tuesday, January 16 6:30 pm Church & Society
Thursday, January 18 6:00 pm Membership


CHURCH INFORMATION

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fridays: 9:00 am - noon
Please call the office at 303-674-4810, or email [email protected] if you would like to add 
your event to the weekly Happenings.

LARGE PRINT HYMNALS, BIBLES AND BULLETINS are available in the vestibule for Sunday services. Just ask one of the ushers to help you.
 
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES are available for Sunday services. If you would like to try an Assistive Listening device this Sunday just ask one of the ushers or a sound booth technician.

AN OPEN INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP is extended to all persons. Please speak with the pastor about your interest in becoming part of this great Christian Fellowship.

RELOADABLE KING SOOPERS/SAFEWAY GROCERY CARDS  are on sale in Fellowship Hall on the first Sunday of each month following each worship service. 5% of all purchases made with these reloadable cards goes back to UMCE! You can also purchase these cards from the church office during regular office hours. 

 
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF EVERGREEN
Growing a community of faith by serving a world of need and changing lives. We affirm a spirit of openness and hospitality to all, including persons of all races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, financial strata, and abilities who seek a closer walk with God.
 
                                                Visit us on the web:   www.evergreenumc.org