Friday, December 18th, 2020
|
|
Call or Email Reservations for the 5 & 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Services
Please call or email your Christmas Eve reservations to the church office for the 5 or 7 p.m. service. We are able to accommodate 50 at each service. Please turn in your reservations ASAP. Reservations aren’t needed for the 3 p.m. outdoor Children’s Christmas pageant. We are taking reservations through the office rather than using an online sign-up. We will need your name, which service you are attending and the number in your party.
|
|
Happenings Special Edition
Please note that there will be no Happenings on 12/25 or 1/1, rather we will have a special edition on Wednesday, December 30th.
|
|
Calling All Kids to Participate in Our Children’s Christmas Pageant
Our traditional Children’s Christmas Pageant has been adapted. It will a shorter service about 30 minutes and will be held outdoors. Families will be separated by safe distancing. Plan on standing unless for physical reasons you’ll need a chair. We have additional logistics because of COVID restrictions, so please contact Sarah Sailor by December 21 if your child, grandchild or friend is able to be a part of the pageant. Paula Huffaker will be our keyboardist and song leader. If you have a child who would be willing to provide special music for the service, please contact the church office by December 14.
|
|
Ministry Team Members and Church Officer Honoring and Consecration on January 3
We will honor outgoing and continuing ministry team members and church officers, as well as consecrate those who will be new for 2021, on January 3 during both online and onsite worship.
|
|
The Reasoning Behind Less Community Publicity this Year for Christmas Eve
All other years we pride ourselves getting the word into the community about our Christmas Eve services – an ad in the Canyon Courier, postings on community online sites, a banner on the fence and signs by the entrance road. This year is different for a couple of reasons. First, we will only be able to accommodate 1/3 of the number of worshippers we usually have on Christmas Eve. Second, those who are a part of our church are well aware of how we worship with COVID restrictions. We are hesitant those unfamiliar with this might create undo safety issues.
|
|
Words of Life: Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today – Mondays, 7 -8 pm, beginning January 11
“What if the Ten Commandments were not just a set of ancient rules, but a guide to experiencing the good life today?” begins the description of this just released study by Rev. Adam Hamilton. He brings modern eyes to the most important set of ethics in history. The class will begin Monday evening, January 11 from 7 – 8 p.m. via Zoom. There are 10 sessions, which will go through Lent, and is facilitated by Pastor Deb. The class includes a short DVD segment by Rev. Hamilton, review of the reading, and class interaction and discussion. The cost, including the book is $18. A Kindle edition is available for $14 {plus a class fee of $5}. Contact the church office to register for what is sure to be an enlightening time of faith growth and deeper connection with others.
|
|
Presbyterian Church of the Hills’ Invitation to an Outdoor Christmas Eve Worship Service
Evergreen Presbyterian Church of the Hills will be holding an outdoor service of carols, bells, prayer and praise on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. An FM radio frequency will be available for those who remain in their cars.
|
|
Christmas Ornaments
We have another way to help make your home more festive for the holidays. We are selling Christmas ornaments made specifically for our church with the church logo on them. Since they are personalized for the church and the year 2020, they make a nice keepsake. They are also a thoughtful gift for family or friends who were formerly part of our church. The ornaments are being sold for $10. For $2 more you can purchase a gift bag to put it in if you are giving it as a gift.
With so few people actually coming to the church in person at this time, we will probably sell most of them online. You can download an order form HERE.
We will sell them right up until Christmas. Since this is our first year offering ornaments, we didn't purchase very many. They've been selling like "hot cakes", so you'll want to get your order in quickly before they are all gone. The church office hours are very limited at this time due to the covid level. If you want to come to the church during the week to purchase ornaments, please contact the church office first to set up an appointment.
|
|
Women's Bible Study: “Sermon on the Mount” by Amy-Jill Levine
The UMCE Women’s Bible Study will read a study on the “Sermon on the Mount” by Amy-Jill Levine beginning Wednesday, January 13, 2021. We will offer the study on ZOOM from 9:30-11:30.
The book takes a detailed and colorful overview of Jesus’s words from Matthew 5-7. The author gives a solid understanding of the Sermon on the Mount in its historical and theological context and it’s application in today’s world. The cost for the book and DVD study is $13.50.
|
|
Ministry Jottings
In Defense of Santa Claus
Santa {or more properly, St. Nicholas} started in Asia Minor in the fourth century. He was renowned for his compassion. Born into an extremely wealthy family, he very quickly gave away all the money he had. He became a bishop of the church. He did not like to embarrass people in need, so he would sneak up on them and leave gifts for them to find later. His special concerns were the poor and the children. He was a tireless crusader for social justice as well as personal charity.
After his death, he was declared a saint by the church. Yet, death didn’t slow him down very much. He has been seen in countries all over the world ever since. Sometimes he is riding on horseback, sometimes on a camel. In at least a few instances, he had been spotted in a cart pulled by two goats {named Cracker and Gnasher}. His first confirmed sighting in America was recorded in 1823 by a seminary professor, Dr. Clement Moore, in a poem entitled “A Visit from St. Nicholas", more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas". Moore's image of Saint Nicholas was borrowed from his friend Washington Irving.
Let’s make sure we remember to tell our children and grandchildren that St. Nicholas does what he does as an expression of Christ’s love. He gives toys with abandon and finds joy in the giving, in the same way God give gives life and love and everything we have. And like God, St. Nicholas gives and then asks us to share with others.
Even the stocking on the mantle finds its way back to St. Nicholas. The tradition of it goes that St. Nicholas {before he became a saint} heard about a very poor man with only one leg. The man was so poor that he could afford only one stocking, which he would wash out each night and hang by the fireplace to dry.
Bishop Nicholas wanted to give the man some money, but he could not find a way into the man’s house. The doors and windows were all locked securely. So, finally, he crawled up on the roof. He knew the man couldn’t afford to keep a fire going in the kitchen fireplace at night, and decided it was safe to drop the purse full of money down the chimney. He expected it to land in the fireplace, but instead it dropped right into the stocking that had been left hanging to dry – where it was found by the one-legged man when he awakened.
|
|
Alternative Christmas at UMCE December 2020
As has been our tradition for more than thirty years, the United Methodist Church of Evergreen is again offering the option of presenting Christmas gifts in the form of honor donations to non-profit organizations we support. In 2020 we won’t be setting out our information and taking donations in person, but we hope this most Christian Christmas celebration gift can still provide a way for the congregation to recognize family and friends in the Christmas spirit.
An order form is provided HERE. The completed form and payment may be left in the Alternative Christmas donations basket in Fellowship Hall on any Sunday in December, or if unable to be in church on those dates, sent in to the church office. Checks should be made out to the United Methodist Church of Evergreen with the note “Alternative Christmas” on the memo line. To ensure contributions are credited to the intended organization, please include your order form with your check.
SPONSORED THIS YEAR: Bethlehem Bible College; Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity; Center for Health and Hope (formerly Center for Church and Global AIDS); Colorado Coalition for the Homeless; Evergreen Christian Outreach; Family Promise; JOY International; Kenya Youth Sponsorship; Mean Street Ministry; Mountain Resource Center; Pura Vida Ministries; and Urban Peak Youth Shelter.
|
|
Income Streams for Our 2021 Budget
At the annual Charge Conference on December 6, the 2021 budget was approved. For a copy of the 2021 budget click here. Here are our budget income streams for the upcoming year:
|
|
Officers, Administrative Teams and Program Teams for 2021
We are fortunate to have outstanding church officers, administrative ministry teams and program ministry teams in place for 2021. New officers and administrative team members were voted on at Charge Conference. Program teams add folk interested in their ministry area throughout the year. Click here for a listing of our 2021 officers, administrative teams and program teams. We will honor outgoing, continuing and new leaders during worship on Sunday, January 3. Throughout the year, please pray for and support these great servants who give of their energies and commitments on our behalf and on behalf of our Lord.
|
|
Congregational Input Around COVID19 & Our Ministry
Thank you to those who provided input over the past couple of weeks around how we have adapted, responded, grieved, celebrated and changed because of how our ministry has been impacted by COVID19. The responses were compiled and presented to D.S. Rev Jessica Rooks and the Charge Conference. For a copy of the responses click here.
|
|
Thank You to All Who Participated in the Charge Conference
Thank you to our Church Council members for their exceptional preparation and participation in this year’s Charge Conference. Thanks to the other folk who joined in Charge Conference, where we heard about the variety of ministry accomplishments of the past year and took time to see what directions we might go in 2021. For those who would like a copy of the complete Charge Conference booklet, which contains the reports and action items click here.
|
|
Lyrics to the Song Bishop Karen Sang on the Charge Conference Video
Bishop Karen played her guitar and sang as part of her video message to us for Charge Conference. Several folk have asked for the lyrics to the song. Here they are:
"We Are Gathered" by Dorie Ellzey Blesoff
We are gathered here together in the presence of the Spirit,
the Spirit that keeps breaking in our lives.
We don’t have all the answers, but we sure do have the questions.
We know that to create is to survive.
Refrain: We’re traveling on a road we’ve never seen before,
and, oh, it’s hard to know which way to go.
But somewhere there’s a promise ‘bout distant shore
that those who seek will someday know.
We are gathered here together with our dusty feet and bodies.
We’re tired and sore and restless and we don’t know how we feel.
Well, we wash each other’s sandals and anoint our heads with water,
and somewhere in the pain there is a place that starts to heal.
Refrain
We are gathered here together; we are strangers in a strange land.
Nomads in the desert, we are exiles meant to roam.
We have left the past behind us and the ones who call us children.
We’re searching out a new frontier, a place to call our own.
Refrain
We are gathered here together just to celebrate the union,
the coming together of our souls in time and space.
Well, we know God’s reign is coming and we know it won’t come easy,
but still we trust our vision of the smile on Future’s face.
Refrain
|
|
Finances Year to Date through Nov. 30
|
|
Great News for you and for our church
Here’s an idea of how you could complete your 2020 pledge. Give some of your IRA dollars to support God’s Kingdom before the end of 2020. A few years ago Congress made permanent the opportunity to make a charitable gift from an IRA to a qualifying non-profit. UMCE is 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. If you’ve fulfilled your RMD for 2020, keep this in mind for next year to pay your 2021 pledge. The IRS web site provides guidance relating to the waiver of required minimum distributions (RMDs) from certain retirement plans and IRAs in 2020 due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, P.L. 116-136. Please consult your accountant for additional information.
Although the age limit has been raised to 72, you may still make this kind of gift if you are age 70 ½ or older. 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 Mountain Sky 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!
|
|
Ways to Support the Church
With Christmas almost upon us a lot of us are doing more online shopping especially this year when it is not as safe to go out shopping. When you order from Amazon be sure to use Amazon Smile and select our church as your charity of choice. By using Amazon Smile a portion of most items purchased gets paid to our church.
The Christmas season is a time when many of us do more cooking and baking. Plus many of us are eating at home more now with restaurant indoor dining being limited and colder weather making outdoor dining not as comfortable. When you buy groceries be sure to use your Safeway card or ensure that your King Soopers rewards card is linked to our church in their community rewards program. Safeway cards can be purchased at the church and they are reloadable at the store. King Soopers process is different. You need to go online to the community rewards section of the King Soopers website and select our church as the preferred organization that you want to receive benefits. It is a simple process; however, if you have trouble doing it or don’t have a computer, please contact the church office for assistance. Written instructions are available at the church. The church gets 5% of everything you buy at Safeway and King Soopers, including gasoline.
|
|
The Beautiful Carols of Advent and Christmas
There are so many beautiful hymns and carols for Advent and Christmas. Here is when they will be part of online and onsite worship in the coming weeks.
|
|
|
Nov 29
O Come, O Come Emmanuel 211
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming 216
In the Bleak Midwinter 221
People, Look East 202
Dec 6
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 196
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates 213
There’s a Song in the Air 249
What Child is This? 219
Dec 13
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 236
Sing We Now of Christmas 237
He Is Born 228
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 240
|
|
|
|
Dec 20
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 218
O Little Town of Bethlehem 230
Angels From the Realms of Glory 220
Away in a Manger 217
Dec 24 Christmas Eve
O Come, All Ye Faithful 234
The First Noel 245
Angels We Have Heard on High 238
We Three Kings 254
Joy to the World 246
Silent Night 239
Dec 27
Go Tell It On the Mountain 251
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy TFWS 2098
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly 229
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! 224
|
|
|
|
Christmas Toys from UMCE Delivered
The Missions Team delivered our full boxes of children’s Christmas toys to Mountain Resource Center and Evergreen Christian Outreach this past week. The number of gifts we were able to provide was amazing, especially this year! Very special thanks to Marcia Loomis for organizing a neighborhood collection for Veterans home furnishings and children’s Christmas toys! Though MRC and EChO requested the toys be delivered by last week, our boxes will be in Fellowship Hall through Christmas for any additional donations and the Missions Team will ensure they are delivered! Thank you!
|
|
Mean Street Ministry Updates
We have remained open with all services throughout this entire strange year and we plan to continue to do so, God willing. We continue to covet your prayers and your continued support in all areas. We are such a small staff that without our faithful volunteers, donors and prayer partners, we would not be able to operate!
We are still open four days per week serving a hot meal each day and our food bank is still open two days per week. We serve approximately 500 meals per month in our café, and have approximately 300 shoppers through our food bank per month.
Our Outreach to the motels on East and West Colfax is still going strong and lives are being touched. We still take burritos and other goodies out as well as bibles, resource guides, coats, toys, toiletries and much more to tearful, thankful eyes.
As our client numbers have increased, so has our need for volunteers in every area of the ministry. We have many current volunteer opportunities, and will be having a new one soon that will require much help. We are remodeling both a men’s and women’s shower that are in our building so that we may begin to offer showers to our clients since literally every other shower avenue has shut down for them. This will be a large undertaking but much needed for our clients. If you feel that God is calling you to come join us in this capacity, please give us a call! We would love to give you a tour of our facility if you’ve never been here before to see what you might want to do!
Learn more about how to get involved at their site HERE.
|
|
|
|
Children's Christmas Eve Program
|
|
|
|
Online Christmas Eve Service
|
|
|
|
Christmas Eve Service with Communion
|
|
Thursday, December 24th & Friday, December 25th
|
|
|
|
|
Onsite worship: 8:30 & 10:30
Online worship: Available from 9 on
Online Kid's Sunday School: 9:30
Onsite Kid’s Sunday School: 10:30
Online Youth Group: 1:30 - 2:30
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|