׉?ׁB!בCטHHu׉׉ 7cassandra://OtHUWFr_SuoXS4OgswblOqSmnZJAFnnGfY6LVFv83lkHk`$t׉ 7cassandra://YM8JXR8bWjBDj-DwaX_HPMaCy7TPT0xcQcSEAXlAjaQ{`׉ 7cassandra://47bVZyNxvqjxUeFoPuVPDONfnK9c1wl6OdkuX2lsw0Y1`ehh@RטHu׈U׈Eehh@R׉EzWesley United Methodist Church December 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Upcoming Events UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More ׉ 7cassandra://47bVZyNxvqjxUeFoPuVPDONfnK9c1wl6OdkuX2lsw0Y1`ehh@Rفehh@R؁בCטHu׉׉ 7cassandra://r3hawbSJEp4QshAw76gqLbB8PGKiGF1e5RVMt8SQhuc `$t׉ 7cassandra://aS1EN9dqcodUQW9v1ac1qowGwrK8pQKO6rxizvAWYM8ͪm`׉ 7cassandra://zszrGtPHmqRaKGUNZr3obm-BvPi0jfDbToHZkXPn0fI.`ehh@RטHHu׉׉ 7cassandra://RD8ca3Cd48RwGg7h5d-zjU7NdBlmg5cloLV4vxmT838:`$t׉ 7cassandra://Gxi2uroN9_cBt07nhG6-WQohAi8Iz-cr8fZu57H5d3cw`׉ 7cassandra://PVJbwtWbuq2dpWNSjvg5X5pLIs2EEuErUlkjcqzP1Ek- `ehh@R׉ENote from Pastor Jana “A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices…” Has this lyric ever struck you as odd? A weary world rejoices?! The line in question here arises from a familiar Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night.” To be weary is to feel or to show tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep. I would argue that the “excessive exertion” is often not so much physical exertion, but even more so the mental and emotional exertion so many are dealing with on a day-to- day basis. Perhaps many of us live with the myth that joy is not something we deserve—or that it is wholly out of reach. But our joy is rooted in the truth that we belong to God. Can you tether yourself to that deep truth? You deserve to feel joy—fully. The world needs your joy, even if you are weary. Our joy is better when it is shared. The headlines are looking grim: War. Increase in hunger and food insecurity. Mental health issues on the rise. Continued increase in violence. And those are just the national/global headlines. Marital/relationship issues. Family conflict. Health scares and diagnoses. We can’t help wonder from time to time: How does a weary world rejoice? This year the season of Advent begins on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Our worship series this Advent is titled: “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” We will be taking a dive into the Gospel of Luke to address this very question. From the opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel, we will find a few answers: we acknowledge our weariness, we find joy in connection, we allow ourselves to be amazed, we sing stories of hope, we make room, we root ourselves in ritual, and most importantly, we trust our belovedness. In the parallel birth stories of Jesus and John, joy arrives—despite trepidation, fear, or grief. In these stories, we find rhythms for rejoicing. As we move through our series, we hope to create space for acknowledging the weariness of our world while celebrating God’s closeness with great joy. And so, this Advent, we will hold space for our weariness and our joy. We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome joy—even if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways to rejoice. In Christ, Pastor Jana ׉ 7cassandra://zszrGtPHmqRaKGUNZr3obm-BvPi0jfDbToHZkXPn0fI.`ehh@R׉EUpcoming Events ׉ 7cassandra://PVJbwtWbuq2dpWNSjvg5X5pLIs2EEuErUlkjcqzP1Ek- `ehh@Rہehh@RځבCטHu׉׉ 7cassandra://9uJKI00imI2I9usjgsvTkAMhJi5sBOOqF1qWPFVQu8U`$t׉ 7cassandra://xIad1Q4MayE-oE6WIHJHMapeAAxXtOMpGzS6dW_i29E͌#`׉ 7cassandra://dfG2VJjoKrqV_CBKqGze3ou7FE-XHOchHN8IMHSdF_I2`ehh@RטHHu׉׉ 7cassandra://qMPLFTw3o_gGmZI5kwn8LdcIM72jRYvOPjZHHczqhX4ݓ`$t׉ 7cassandra://0XWXlAKizkea_u6wU3AjP7N3MNoNQNW5BLJGAEKOTrQ͞`׉ 7cassandra://zbbGi8os3cODQCCB08bqKxTVotOpPH2izCh1MAx0dE42`ehh@R׉EUMM, UWF Filled the Fence United Women in Faith We have helped the UWF fill the fence this year. They collected a lot of great items for the kids at Carnall Elementary school. 55 pairs of socks, 40 pairs of gloves, and 70 hats! Well done! Picture is from the November meeting ׉ 7cassandra://dfG2VJjoKrqV_CBKqGze3ou7FE-XHOchHN8IMHSdF_I2`ehh@R׉EMissions On Nov. 12th, we had a Thanksgiving potluck. After we broke bread, we filled the sacks for the Thanksgiving bags. The need doubled this year. With your generosity, we provided for 30 families at two schools! The estimated amount to cover all that we gave would be around $700. Thank you all for your dedication to serving the community. BackPack Snack Program Remember to bring your change December 3rd Each week we provide 53 bags to 4 schools in partnership with Clearinghouse. Dec. 6th, we will pack snack bags to finish out the semester. Come help at Cavanaugh at 5:30. Missions If you would like to support this mission, donate money by designating it for the BackPack Program. ׉ 7cassandra://zbbGi8os3cODQCCB08bqKxTVotOpPH2izCh1MAx0dE42`ehh@R݁ehh@R܁בCטHu׉׉ 7cassandra://uNQO86z1ZQFd3UrQcv4f7Uqlq7C_b61hmKJ9DqzxUiYw`$t׉ 7cassandra://yH_CgUowertIlKN4W7fEdjBMcgFOAWckeKK4vCWWlNQͤ`׉ 7cassandra://Li6x6qXyWN3VAuPzsYOYU1sGoHmLPERa56sVaeJsCgE3R`ehh@RטHHu׉׉ 7cassandra://xVVuhJdqe9Fzao0J1Aww5BnfIOzMGY13HSNt2-okWk8`$t׉ 7cassandra://BnlZ-0-f5WkZlD__JfY0KN7dVtD_9YVqYg7zBguCSVc̈́`׉ 7cassandra://MB2iH0guw5r6o0FLY2c4e48OMxRsHy9ALn3xHQnPzsQ+`ehh@R׉EHanging of the Greens, Trustee Report Hanging of the Greens Thank you to Amy, Justin, and Will Cates, Gloria Cates, Steve Christian, Charlie Green, Donna Moreton, and Blanche West for coming out on a cold Sunday evening to help decorate and prepare our church for Advent! ׉ 7cassandra://Li6x6qXyWN3VAuPzsYOYU1sGoHmLPERa56sVaeJsCgE3R`ehh@R׉EAdvent, Worship, Bible Study, & Birthdays! Worship Scriptures 12.3.23 Luke 1:1-23 12.10.23 Luke 1:24-45 12.17.23 Luke 1:57-66 12.24.23 Luke 1:46-55 ׉ 7cassandra://MB2iH0guw5r6o0FLY2c4e48OMxRsHy9ALn3xHQnPzsQ+`ehh@R߁ehh@RށבCטHu׉׉ 7cassandra://O4IdO6jSO1zcUXvbI8MJHMeI-35xhVi7kP89lxZScqM`$t׉ 7cassandra://IpKDKX1wQE-dMmo710Az2R0rM8GymV17RkEOkDrjhtk͉h`׉ 7cassandra://vDyg8UtA4xY02-oXT8es6_ijK7TeAqr2xS8rj_lFo2U*`ehh@R׉ECalendar and Living Out our Membership Vows December Calendar December 2nd United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley UMC December 3rd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 December 5th December 6th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 BackPack Packing 5:30 - Cavanaugh Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 December 10th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 December 12th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 December 14th Cantata Choir Practice 7:00 December 17th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Cantata - 3:00 December 19th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 December 21st Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:30-1:00 December 24th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Christmas Eve Service - 5:00 December 31st Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Nov. 5 29 Nov. 12 30 Nov. 19 37 Nov. 26 34 Gifts: Date 15 44 24 54 29 66 20 54 General Missions Nov. 5 $4,379 $335 Nov. 12 $674 Nov. 19 $2,395 Nov. 26 $363 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. $250 ׉ 7cassandra://vDyg8UtA4xY02-oXT8es6_ijK7TeAqr2xS8rj_lFo2U*`ehh@R׈Eehh@Rehh@R,Wesley Newsletter December 2023ehU%3