HOPEWELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

‘A Place to Find Hope and Be Well’ 20220 Hopewell Road

Mount Vernon, OH 43050

Our mission is to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ and minister to the needs of others in His name.

January – February, 2016

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Pastor’sPonderings–PastorLeeCubie

SeasonsofProvidenceThelastSundayofNovemberbeginsanewyearfortheChristianChurch

whichhasitsowncalendar.TheChristiancalendarisbrokenintodifferentseasons.ThefirstseasonisAdvent.ItisfollowedbytheSeasonofChristmas.FollowingtheChristmasSeasonistheSeasonofEpiphanyfollowedbyLent.AfterLentcomestheEasterSeasonfollowedbytheSeasonofAfterPentecost.TheseseasonsareintendedtoremindusofGod’sprovidence,awordthatmeansGod’sprotectivecare,yearround.Weliveinanationthathasitsowncalendar.Onitscalendarareeventsthatmeetitsnationalconcernssuchasthe4thofJuly,VeteransDay,MemorialDay,Mother’sDay,andThanksgivingDay,allholidaysrootedinournationsstruggletogainandretainthefreedomsweenjoy.InawaybothcalendarscelebratetheprovidenceofGod:onecelebratesGod’sprovidenceforournation,andtheChurchcalendarcelebratesGod’sprovidenceforallthepeopleoftheworldandforhiscreation.

SincewefindourselvesmovingintotheSeasonofChristmasandoutoftheSeasonofAdvent,itisimportanttorememberwhytheChurchcalendarbeginswithAdvent.AstheUnitedMethodistBookofWorshipdescribesit,

Advent“isaseasonoffourweeksincludingfourSundays.AdventderivesfromtheLatinadventus,whichmeans‘coming.’TheseasonproclaimsthecomingsoftheChrist—whosebirthwepreparetocelebrateonceagain,whocomescontinuallyinWordandSpirit,andwhosereturninfinalvictoryweanticipate.EachyearAdventcallsthecommunityoffaithtoprepareforthesecomings;historically,theseasonwasmarkedbyfastsforpreparation.EachSundayofAdventhasitsdistinctivetheme:Christ’scominginfinalvictory,JohntheBaptist[fortwoSundays],andtheeventsimmediatelyprecedingthebirthofJesusChrist.”Tomakeitclearer,AdventisatimewhenwegetreadyforthetwocomingsofJesusChrist.Thefirst

oneisthebirthoftheChristChild,Jesus.ThesecondcomingiswhenJesuscomesinallhisglory--whatwecall‘TheSecondComingofChrist.’

TheSecondComingofChrist,adaythatisdescribedinscriptureasthe‘GreatandTerribleDayoftheLORD.’Thisphrase,‘TheGreatandTerribleDayoftheLORD,’comesoutofthebookofJoel,oneoftheprophetsofGod,calledaminorprophet,notbecausewhathehadtosaywasn’tasimportantasthemajorprophets,butbecausehedidnotwriteasbigabook.Thepassagereads,

“AndIwillgiveportentsintheheavensandontheearth,bloodandfireandcolumnsofsmoke.Thesunshallbeturnedtodarkness,andthegreatandterribledayoftheLORDcomes.”[Joel3:30-31]

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TheApostlePeterquotesJoelinhissermononthedayofPentecost.TherePeter,insteadofusingthewordterrible,usesaGreekwordmeaninggloriousreferringtothejudgmentofGod.[Acts2:20]InbothJoelandActsthereferenceistotheDayofJudgment,whenGodwilljudgethenations.ThisjudgmentisdescribedintheApocalypseofJohn,ortheRevelationofJohn.

Adventincludes,then,thesetwogreateventsdealingwiththejudgmentofGoduponallthenationsoftheearth.Weoftenforget,thatthecomingofJesusasachildinthemangerispartofGod’splantojudgethenations.AsSimeontoldMaryandJosephuponseeingthebabyJesus,“Behold,thischildissetforthefallandrisingofmanyinIsrael,andforasignthatisspokenagainst(andaswordwillpiercethroughyourownsoulalso),thatthethoughtsoutofmanyheartsmayberevealed.”[Luke2:34b-35]

Advent,inthelifeofthechurch,isaseasonofpreparationforthecomingGod’sjudgment.Whatneedstoberememberedintheideaofjudgmentisthehopeofredemption.ItisbecauseofthisredemptionthatthechurchcelebratesthebirthoftheChristChildwithgiftsandsymbolsofjoy.

Adventistrulyaseasonofhope.Adventgroundsourlivesandournationtoarealitybeyondourselves.Adventremindsusofwhereourblessingscomefromandwhattheyaretobeusedfor.Itisgoodtorememberhowblessedweareinthisgreatnationofours.Ournationhastrulybeenamiraculousbirth.Wehavebeenblessedwithgreatresources:fertileland,mineralwealth,greatinstitutionsoflearning,aneconomicsystemthattrulyknowsnoequal,andperhapsmostimportantly,asystemofgovernmentthataffordsitscitizensunparalleledfreedoms.TheseresourceshavebeensaltedwithapeoplededicatedtoaGodwhoislovingandjust.Itisthisblessing,ajustandlovingGod,thatbringshope.ItisthisblessingofalovingandjustGodthatgivesmeaningandpurposetoalltheotherblessingsthatGodhasgivenus.

TheSeasonofAdvent,likenootherseason,remindsusofthemightofGodandourplacebeforehim.Isaiah,inproclaiminghopetothepeopleofIsrael,remindsthemofwhotheirGodis,somethingthatwouldbegoodforustoremember.Hewritesinchapter40,

Avoicesays,“Cry!”AndIsaid,“WhatshallIcry?”Allfleshisgrass,andallitsbeautyisliketheflowerofthefield.Thegrasswithers,theflowerfades,whenthebreathoftheLORDblowsuponit;surelythepeopleisgrass.Thegrasswithers,theflowerfades;butthewordofourGodwillstandforever.

Getuptoahighmountain,OZion,heraldofgoodtidings;liftupyourvoicewithstrength,OJerusalem,heraldofgoodtidings,liftitup,fearnot;saytothecitiesofJudah,“BeholdyourGod!”Behold,theLORDGodcomeswithmight,andhisarmrulesforhim;behold,hisrewardiswithhim,andhisrecompensebeforehim.Hewillfeedhisflocklikeashepherd,hewillgatherthelambsinhisarms,hewillcarrytheminhisbosom,andgentlyleadthosethatarewithyoung.

Whohasmeasuredthewatersinthehollowofhishandandmarkedofftheheavenswithaspan,enclosedthedustoftheearthinameasureandweighedthemountainsinscalesandthehillsinabalance?WhohasdirectedtheSpiritoftheLORD,orashiscounselorhasinstructedhim?Whomdidheconsultforhisenlightenment,andwhotaughthimthepathofjustice,andtaughthimknowledge,andshowedhimthewayofunderstanding?Beholdthenationsarelikeadropfromabucket,andareaccountedasthedustonthescales;behold,hetakesuptheisleslikefinedust.Lebanonwouldnotsufficeforfuel,norareitsbeastsenoughforaburntoffering.Allthenationsareasnothingbeforehim,theyareaccountedbyhimaslessthannothingandemptiness.

TowhomthenwillyoulikenGod,orwhatlikenesscomparewithhim?Theidol!Aworkmancastsit,andagoldsmithoverlaysitwithgold,andcastsforitsilverchains.Hewhoisimpoverishedchoosesforanofferingwoodthatwillnotrot;heseeksoutaskillfulcraftsmantosetupanimagethatwillnotmove.

Haveyounotknown?Haveyounotheard?Hasitnotbeentoldyoufromthe

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UMWReport-MarshaClayborne,SecretaryEveryNovembertheUMWhasachurchoutingforthecongregationandtheirfamilies.The

MulletsonDealRoadhasbeentheplacethelastfewyearstoenjoyanAmish-styledinner.DoorprizesweregivenbyBarbButlerfortheeventonNov.10.

TheUMWmetatthehomeofJoanCoonandEleanorDoupfortheDecembermeeting.Aftertheluncheonthemeetingbegan.DevotionswerereadbyJoanCoonandtheprogramwasledbyJoanCoonandEleanorDoup.

TheChristmasprogramforTrim-a-TreenightonDecember6washostedbytheUMW.Christmasmusic,achildren’sprogram,asilentauction,andfoodtoenjoyhighlightedtheevent.Thesilentauctionnetted$269.WelearnedaboutChristmasastheHopewellcongregationwouldhavecelebratedit100yearsago.AspecialthankyoutoBarbButlerforputtingtheprogramtogetherandtoBobJosephforvolunteeringhistimetobeauctioneer.ThankstoIrmaNewland,BobJoseph,andDonNewlandforthebeautifulChristmashymns.TheUMWgavethechildrenbagsofcandyandhadthemdecoratethetreewithpopcornandcranberriesthatweremadeforthemtoputonthetree.

TherewillbenoJanuaryandFebruarymeetingssincetheweatheriscoldandsnowy.TheUMWladiesinviteallwhowouldliketojoinusinfellowshipatournextMarchmeeting.Thankstoeveryonethisyearwhohasdonatedinourschoolsuppliesandwinterclothingdrive.ThecongregationatHopewellisaverygenerouschurch.

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beginning?Haveyounotunderstoodfromthefoundationsoftheearth?Itishewhositsabovethecircleoftheearth,anditsinhabitantsarelikegrasshoppers;whostretchesouttheheavenslikeacurtain,andspreadsthemlikeatenttodwellin;whobringsprincestonaught,andmakestherulersoftheearthasnothing.

Scarcelyaretheyplanted,scarcelyhastheirstemtakenrootintheearth,whenheblowsuponthem,andtheywither,andthetempestcarriesthemofflikestubble.

Towhomthenwillyoucompareme,thatIshouldbelikehim?SaystheHolyOne.Liftupyoureyesonhighandsee:whocreatedthese?Hewhobringsouttheirhostsbynumber,callingthembyname;bythegreatnessofhismight,andbecauseheisstronginpowernotoneismissing.

Whydoyousay,OJacob,andspeak,OIsrael,“MywayishidfromtheLORD,andmyrightisdisregardedbymyGod”?Haveyounotknown?Haveyounotheard?TheLORDistheeverlastingGod,theCreatoroftheendsoftheearth.Hedoesnotfaintorgrowweary,hisunderstandingisunsearchable.Hegivespowertothefaint,andtohimwhohasnomighthegivesstrength.Evenyouthsshallfaintandbeweary,andyoungmenshallfallexhausted;buttheywhowaitfortheLORDshallrenewtheirstrength,theyshallmountupwithwingslikeeagles,theyshallrunandnotbeweary,theyshallwalkandnotfaint.[Isaiah40:6-31]

Thischapter,likenoother,speaksofGod’smajestyandourpositiontohim.GodsenthisSononChristmasmorningtoremindusofhisterriblemajesty.WonderandhopebeginwhenwerealizethatthisGodwouldsostooptobringusintoalovingrelationshipwithhim.WithoutAdventtherecouldnotbeaChristmasmorning.TherecouldnotbeanEastermorning.Wehavebegunanewyearinthechurch;letusbehumblebeforeourGod.Amen.

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FollowHopewellUMC……ontheWeb: www.mvhopewellumc.org …onFacebook: www.facebook.com/HopewellUMCMtVernonFollowThreeRiversDistrict… http://3riversumc.org

FinancialReport(asofDecember22,2015)–BarbButler,Treasurer

GeneralFund $39,224BuildingCapitalMaintenanceFund $14,828CentennialCapitalCampaignFund: Paidpledges $20,970

BirthdaysJanuary 4D.J.Johnson

5MaryellenAranda 8JeanCampbellFebruary 1DonNewland 1JulieZimmerman

4AnneRussell 9ShadBevington 11BradCoon 11AmyYashnyk 13HowardWorkman 18LeahGourley 20DonnaLybarger 23AliviaZimmerman 28MichaelPadula

NextVisionTeammeeting:Wednesday,February3,7–8:30PM.WewillmeetfordessertanddiscussionatBobEvansrestaurantonCoshoctonRoad.AllmembersandfriendsofHUMCareinvited.

TheWorkofChristmasWhenthesongoftheangelsisstilled,Whenthestarintheskyisgone,Whenthekingsandprincesarehome,Whentheshepherdsarebackwiththeirflock,TheworkofChristmasbegins: Tofindthelost, Tohealthebroken, Tofeedthehungry, Toreleasetheprisoner, Torebuildthenations, Tobringpeaceamongbrothers, Tomakemusicintheheart. --HowardThurmanfromWorthingtonUMCnewsletter(TheMessenger)

KrogerCommunityRewardsProgram–BarbButler,Treasurer

SinceenteringtheKrogerCommunityRewardsProgramjustovertwoyearsago,HopewellUMChurchhasreceivedatotalof$1,026.IfyoushopatKroger’sandwishtoparticipate,contactLindaJosephorBarbButler.ThemoneyyouspendongrocerieshelpsHUMCearncash.Yourhelpisappreciated.

NextChurchCouncilmeeting:Sunday,March6,8:30–9:30AM.

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BarbButlerwrites,“ThispoemwaswrittenbyMarshaClayborneandputinourChristmascardsometimeago.WithMarsha’spermission,Iwouldliketoshareitwithallofourreaders.”MyOldCountryChurch

--byMarshaClayborne

DownHopewellRoadsitsanOldCountryChurch inafieldbyitself,trimmedinwhite.FriendsgathereachSundaytoWorshipandPray knowingGodisourstrengthandourLight.Thecoloredglasswindows,asignofthepast, rememberthenamesleftbehind,Achurchthatstoodstillmanyyearsago hasaheartandasoulhardtofind.

ThisOldCountryChurchInowcallmyhome iswaitingforyouandforme.Ourspiritwillalwaysbehereevermore tocontinueHisSon’slegacy.

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VisionTeamUpdate–BobJoseph,TeamleaderTheVisionTeammetfordessertanddiscussionatBobEvansonNov.11.Welookedbackatthepasttwoyearsofvisioning,withafocusontheSWOT(Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats)analysis,andsomeoftheprogressmade.Strengths:Moststrengthsremainevident,with“growingdiversity”addedtothelist.Weaknesses:Someweaknessesarebeingovercome,e.g.,small/agingcongregation,fewinvolved,resistancetochange.Opportunities:(Seebelow)Threats:Potentialthreatsincludeaculturaldeparturefromreligion/church,complacency—andIrma’seventualretirementasorganist.Muchtimewasdevotedtorecallingtheoriginalopportunitiesandheadwaythat’sbeenmade.Followingisapartiallist:• Improvecommunications:HUMChaspublishedayearlycalendar(whichmustbeupdatedfor2016)andabi-monthlynewsletter;themembershiprollhasbeenupdated.

• Attractandretainchildren:YouthYak;youthinvolvedinlightingcandles,receivingoffering,singing;adultspreparedactivitybags;children’spageaddedtonewsletter.

• Improvefinancialstabilityandsecurity:ContinuedCESdinner,fundraisersandsilentauctions;conductedcentennialcampaign

• Increaseinvolvement/commitmentofcurrentmembers:Continued/expandedmissionprojects,e.g.,NursingoutreachministryandRicebowlchallenge;ActivetrusteesandSPPRcommittee

• Improveworshipexperienceformembersandvisitors:Themusicprogramhasbeenenhancedbymemberandguest‘artists’,e.g.,theWolfefamily,TimothyNoble,andtheSciotoRidgeBoys;YouthYak(again)

• Increasechurch‘visibility’:Anewsignboardandexteriorlightingwereadded;worshiptimesareadvertisedinKnoxWaysandCiderPress.HUMChasapresenceonFacebookandaWebsite.

ThenextteammeetingisplannedforFeb.3from7–8:30PMatBobEvans.Thetopicwillbe“HowdoesHopewellserveGodinthecommunityandtheworld.”

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Hoarfrostonthewroughtirongate,andeveryothernon-movingthing,greetedtheHopewell

congregationonDec6.

TheGourleyfamily(fromleft,Bitsi,Natalie,Leah,JesseandMickey)litthe2ndAdvent

candleonDec6.

DuringYouthYakonDec.6,theHopewellyouthbecamebranchesofaChristmastree.

DonnaSpinks’scarisinRudolfmode,thankstohergreat-niecesand-nephews.

JeanRiley,BevLahmon,andEllenKaiserwereAdventreadersandlitthe4thcandle,withan

assistfromPastorLeeonDec.20

Beautiful,redpoinsettias,placedinmemoryofHopewelllovedones,gracedthealtaronDec.20.