Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 |
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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.
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Happy New Year to our Church Staff
This is the time of year where we like to let the amazing UMCE staff know how much we appreciate their hard work throughout this year. Please consider donating to our UMCE Staff Love Gift.
Checks and cash can be dropped off at the church. If you'd like to make your Staff Love Gift on-line, just go to the church website and click the Donate button at the top of the screen. On the next screen scroll down to the bottom to the box "Make a Donation." Click it. The next screen allows you to select General Operating, Building Fund or Other. Select "Other" and enter the dollar amount. In the blank to the right of "Other" type "Staff Love Gift". You will be asked to choose a donation frequency. Select "one time" if it is for the Staff Love Gift. If you don't select a day it will process it as of the current date. Then it will ask for your name, address and credit/debit card or bank information. Funds are transferred electronically from your designated account to the church’s bank account according to your instructions, generally within two days.
Thank you for helping to recognize our great staff.
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New Years Zoom Fellowship Time – Jan 3 at 4 pm
Welcome the new year with a special New Years Zoom Fellowship Time on Sunday, Jan 3 at 4 pm. Let’s enjoy checking-in and conversation with one another. Pastor Deb will host this gathering. Click here for the Zoom connection information.
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Mt. Evans Home Health and Hospice Gain is Our Loss
Our bookkeeper-payroll officer, Tracy Atlas, has begun a fulltime finance and grant administration position with Mt. Evans Home Health and Hospice. She will be stepping down from her position with us in the next few weeks. She will continue as we seek her replacement and will be available to train the new person. Tracy has been a wonderful addition to our staff and we will greatly miss her. We are blessed that her girls and she will continue to be a part of our church family.
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Job Opening: Bookkeeper-Payroll Officer, 7-10 hours weekly
With Tracy leaving her staff role with us, we have posted the job opening information. Please click here for details. Please spread the word to anyone you think might have the skills and qualifications we are looking for in this position.
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Upper Room Available
The Upper Room devotionals for Jan/Feb 2021 are now available. If you would like one mailed to you or would like a digital copy, please contact the church. |
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Christmas Ornaments
We still have some ornaments and little gift bags left if you haven't gotten one for yourself or your family member yet. We have made $576 on the sale of the ornaments and bags so far. Thanks to all of you who have supported this fundraiser.
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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.
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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.
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Ministry Jottings
Two Babies in a Manger
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics based on biblical principles in some of their public schools and orphanages. At one government run orphanage, they related this story:
“It was nearing the holiday season, time for our orphans to hear for the first time the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in rapt attention as they listened, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was also given a small paper square from yellow napkins. Following the instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel [cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia] were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.
The children were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6-years-old and had finished his project. As I looked into the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. I called for the translator to ask the boy why there were two babies in the manger.
Misha crossed his arms in front of him and looking at his completed manger scene, began to repeat the story very seriously. Having only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately – until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib.
He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift.
I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift. So, I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep You warm will that be a good enough gift?’ And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me.’ So, I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him – for always.”
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that ran down his cheeks. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him—for always.”
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Finances Year to Date through Nov. 30 |
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New Years Zoom Fellowship Time |
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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
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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.
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