December 2017
In This Issue
Upcoming



December 3rd
Advent Wreath Workshop

New Sermon Series Starts!

December 10th
Christmas Concert @6p

December 16th & 17th
Living Nativity @ 8pm

December 18th
Blue Christmas

December 24th
Christmas Eve Services @ 5pm, 9pm, & 11pm

Ministry Links
to Website
Anniversaries
Tim & Carol Silver
12/1

Steve & Laura Erickson
12/18

Allan & Erica Hardbarger
12/20

Keir & Julie Karzin
12/26

Jackson & Giannina Vick
12/27

Scott & Christine Mocha
12/28































Birthdays
David Harum
12/1

David Cunningham
12/1

Keith Orduno
12/3

Judy Paul
12/4

Luke Herme
12/6

Randy Seguine
12/7

Danielle Buen
12/8

Emily Boettcher
12/8

Michael Peck
12/8

Sandy Baldwin
12/9

Christian Paterson
12/10

Janice McPhee
12/11

Nancy Chancellor
12/12

Mary Wright
12/13

Ed Langess
12/13

Steve Erickson
12/14

Pat Shipp
12/15

Gary Popejoy
12/16

Chase Dell
12/18

Geraldine Boyles
12/20

Karla Feuer
12/26

Bob Coe
12/27

Alfie Denney
12/28

Randy Kreuzberger
12/28

Keely Young
12/28

Alfred Edwards
12/29

James Barlow
12/29










































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Letter From the Pastor
A few years back when I was serving another church,...    Read more...
Christmas Devotional
In the joyful celebration of Christmas,...   More...
Upcoming Events
Music Ministries
Updates...   Read more...
Small World Preschool Update
Updates...    Read more...
What's Happening...
Find out what's happening in Maturing Ministries, COSROW, and Hospitality Committee.   More...
Update in Ministries
Family Ministries -     Read more...

Youth Ministries -   Read more...
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Letter from Pastor Melissa
Dear Advent & Christmas People,
 
     A few years back when I was serving another church, something happened to the Advent Wreath. That something was me! It was the first Sunday of Advent right before our first service and I was in a rush to move the Advent Wreath. Since I was in a rush, instead of taking all the candles out of their holders as the Advent Wreath was a free- standing large metal stand. I proceeded to slide it over to the correct place. As I was sliding it over, the tall white pillar Christ candle wobbled and pitched over. In slow motion, I watched the candle plunge from its place of honor waiting in anticipation of being lit on Christmas Eve to making a rapid descent to the marble floor. Those few moments felt like an eternity. Smack! The candle hit the marble floor and broke. I stood on the First Sunday of Advent right before service with a broken Christ candle.
     Advent & Christmas can become complicated and filled with so much activity that the simple message of Christ might get sidelined or lost in all the other messages and our busyness. Really what God had intended to bring to God's beloved world was those simple states of being; hope, peace, joy and love to reclaim our original state of being in complete union with God.
     When Christ was born into the world to live as one of us, God worked to bring the very goodness of God into the lives of all humanity and all creation. With the advent of God, a human in Christ; God brought Hope to a world that longs for goodness to overcome the bad and painful, God brought Peace into a world where strife and division destroyed lives, God brought Joy where despair covered the land and people's hearts, God brought Love into a world where hate and loneliness drove people to hurt themselves and those around them.  It really does seem this year we could use what God wants us to have on Christmas.  Slow down and Celebrate with us each week of Advent as we receive and share with each other God's gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  
 
May you know the goodness of God,
 
Pastor Melissa
   

Here are all the wonderful ways to celebrate:
 
Dec. 3, Christmas means Hope; Services 9am & 11am
Advent Wreath Workshop 5pm
 
Dec. 10, Christmas means Peace; Services 9am & 11am
Christmas Concert 6pm
 
Dec. 16 & 17, Living Nativity
 
Dec. 17, Christmas means Joy
 
Dec. 18, Blue Christmas Service
 
Dec. 24, Christmas means Love
 
Christmas Eve Services
 
5pm
9pm
11pm  

  



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Christmas Devotional

The Terrible Beauty of His Birth 

In the joyful celebration of Christmas, there is a certain note of sadness that echoes throughout the ages: Jesus was born to die. His birth brings hope and promise. Yet, it is his death that makes possible our salvation.

Most all of the great Renaissance paintings of Madonna and child reflect the reality of Jesus' life. The loving eyes of Mary look down at the newborn child with happiness and sorrow. She is full of delight and wonder. But her tears of bliss are mingled with mourning, for she knows what he must do. She realizes what his birth means. He must also suffer death.

In the background of the manger scene is the cross, already waiting. All too soon it will hold the body of this tiny, innocent child. All too soon his life on earth will end. He will take the sins of the world with him into death and rise victorious.

We have much to be thankful for this Christmas as we remember our Savior's birth 2,000 years ago. Not only did He come down to earth, but He also allowed Himself to be tortured and crucified - all for our sake. He now looks down on us from His heavenly throne, with his heart full of compassion, and says, "I did all this because I love you."

There was nothing loud or flashy about His birth. Jesus was born in a lonely, dark stable among animals and nearby shepherds. The world barely knew about this event that would change all time and life. There were no colored lights, no Christmas carols, no Santas, no snow and no presents, except the most important gift of all.

What God did on that night is beyond comprehension. Through His Son, He came to earth to reveal what could not be seen by the naked eye, what could not be understood through the rational mind. He showed the world a hope that could be experienced only through the heart by the power of His love and grace.

Behind the tinsel and trees is a light that shines brighter than all of the others. Sadly, many will not see it because they are caught up in all of the decorations and displays. They will not truly realize what they are doing when they give presents to loved ones. Their simple act of love is re-presenting the greatest act of love the world has ever known.

The words of  John 3:16 take on new meaning when put into the context of Christmas morning: "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son." Because of His overwhelming compassion for each one of us, God sacrificed His Son both in life and death. We can celebrate with hope in our heart and joy in our soul for Jesus' birth gave us new life now and forever.
             
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Upcoming Events
    
 

T he Living Nativity event will be on Saturday and Sunday, Dec 16th & 17th from 6 - 8pm.  It's an opportunity to tell the story of the birth of Christ.  Volunteers dress in costumes and stand in scenes to depict the events that led up to the Saviors birth while viewers drive through the scenes in the comfort of their vehicles. No acting experience is needed to volunteer as there are no speaking parts, just a desire to be involved in bringing the true meaning of Christmas to the community.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Tom Forletta at tomforletta@yahoo.com.



 
We continue to celebrate our community by tithing our Christmas Eve Offering again this year. A part of your giving on Christmas Eve will go to Bridge to Home, the Santa Clarita Valley Homeless Shelter.
       

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Music Ministries
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Small World Preschool Update
After a busy October, Small World children have enjoyed learning about sharing and being "Thankful".  The children also learned about how early Americans had the first Thanksgiving many, many years ago and shared their food with others.

P astor Melissa brought a wonderful book this month at chapel called, Bear says Thanks.  This book and the wonderful songs that we sing together helped the children learn the value of sharing and being thankful for our blessings.
 
The month concluded with the classrooms hosting their own mini feasts. In the 3-year-old classrooms, all the kids donated to the feast by bringing their favorite snack and sharing it with their friends. In the 4-year-old classrooms everyone brought an apple. A Small World tradition of cooking apple sauce continued this year and the children enjoyed the yummy experience. 
The entire school campus collected a car load of groceries and toiletries for a local charity called, Help the Children. The season of giving is here and Small World will continue to share and to be thankful.

- Michelle Moyer

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What's Happening
Fun Bible Study
Every Tuesday at 0930 in the Fireside Room.

M&M's (Maturing Ministries) 
M&M's meats the second and fourth Friday of each month at 9:30 in the Fireside Room. Good food and companionship.

Blanket Drive at the Senior Center
Thank you so much for all your help! The Blanket Drive was a huge success. We had a total of 47 used blankets and 15 new blankets. With in 20 min all blankets received new homes.

Louise & Frank Willard



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J.A.M. Club

As I write this, I am in the midst of getting things ready for the Advent Wreath Workshop.  I am so excited to see what beautiful advent wreaths everyone creates.  This tradition our church gathers for blows me away, not only do we gather and light the advent candles together each Sunday, there is something more powerful knowing that daily our church family is saying the same prayers and looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ.  What a powerful witness to our families. 

It's not too late to invite a family to join you at the workshop this year.  Give another family the gift of longing and anticipation as we worship together each week.  When Jeff and I joined the Methodist church almost 15 years ago, we came from a tradition that didn't really celebrate advent at all.  We went from Thanksgiving to Christmas and on the 26th it was over.  One of the things I looked forward to each advent was this beautiful little song, I can still hear my God daughter singing it loudly.
  1. 1. Light the Advent candle one
    Now the waiting has begun
    We have started on our way
    Time to think of Christmas day.
    Chorus:
    Candle, candle burning bright
    Shining in the cold winter night
    Candle, candle burning bright
    Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

    2. Light the Advent candle two
    Think of humble shepherds who
    Filled with wonder at the sight
    Of the child on Christmas night.

    3. Light the Advent candle three
    Think of heavenly harmony
    Angels singing "Peace on Earth"
    At the Blessed Savior's birth.

    4. Light the Advent candle four
    Think of Joy forever more
    Christ child in a stable born
    Gift of love that Christmas morn.

    5. Light the Christmas candles now
    Sing of Donkey, Sheep and cow
    Birthday candles for the king
    Let the Alleluias ring.
 
This little song brings back so many memories.  That is my prayer for each of you, make memories in the traditions.  Look forward with great anticipation to what Christ has in store for you.
 
2018 is right around the corner and Family Ministries has great things planned.  I look forward to sharing in the work of the church together. 

Kristi Smith
Director of Family Ministries

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Youth Ministries
Upcoming December Youth Schedule!

Here's a glance at our upcoming youth schedule...as you can see we have a very busy December with many events out of the norm. We love December! :)

The times are a little all over the place, so please pay attention to that schedule for that day, since

11/26 - Thanksgiving Potluck UMYF (5-8pm)

12/2 - Advent Wreath Workshop setup (time TBA)

12/3 - Advent Wreath Workshop (5-7pm)

12/10 - Christmas Concert (6-8pm)

12/16 & 12/17 - Living Nativity (various times; signups are being taken now on the patio!)

12/17 - Youth Christmas Party (7-9pm - important note: youth coming to the Xmas party AND doing the Living Nativity that evening should volunteer to help  before  7pm)

12/19 - Disneyland! (8am-Midnight)

Disneyland!

We are going on our annual Disneyland trip this year on Tuesday, December 19th. We'll get to visit the park during it's most beautiful season, where there are Christmas lights everywhere, snow falling in the evening, and themed rides throughout the park! It's an amazing day together, and a great way to celebrate the end of the semester and our holiday break! :)

Cost is $140 for a park hopper ticket. ($110 for just a single park ticket).
The cost for youth with season passes is $10 (to assist with gas and parking).

Families and friends are invited to join us as well! The more the merrier!!! :)

Please let me know by December 8th if your youth is planning on coming with us, if they have a pass, what kind of ticket they'd like, etc.

Thank you to all the youth, parents, volunteers, and donors that came out and helped at our Goodwill truck! Your help was extremely appreciated, and you helped our youth achieve our biggest Goodwill donation amount yet! We made almost $1,300!