Issue 1

Franklin GroveUnited Methodist Church

223 W. Middle St.P.O. Box 348

Franklin Grove, IL 61 031

phone: 847-722-6357

www.franklingroveumc.com

Pastor Jin-Ho Hongemail : hjhj lm66@hotmail .com

Sunday School 9:00 a.m.Church Service 1 0:1 5 a.m.

F r a n k l i n G r o v e U n i t e dM e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

The Cross & Flame

Page 1

Franklin Grove United

Methodist Church is

Gathering

Growing

Going

If your heart is where ours

is, come and join us!

Please let us

know your Bits

of News and

prayer requests

so we can keep

you in our

thoughts and

prayers.

December 201 2

2012 Charge Conference

Thursday,December 13that 7 pm.

SPRC will meetwith the D.S. at6:30 pm. †

F r a n k l i n G r o v e U n i t e dM e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

The Cross & Flame

Come join us for

music, scriptures

and fellowship as

we prepare for

the celebration of

our Savior. †

Christmas Eve ServiceDecember 24th

7:00 p.m.

StillneedtofinishChristmas

shopping? OnDecember2,

startingafterchurchuntil3:30,

babysittingwillbeprovidedsoyou

canfinishyourChristmas

shopping! Lunchwillalsobe

providedforthekids. †

Issue 1

Look at the Candy Cane

What do you see?

Stripes that are red

Like the blood shed for me

White is for my Savior

Who’s sinless and pure!

“J” is for Jesus My Lord,

that’s for sure!

Turn it around

And a staffyou will see

Jesus my shepherd

Was born for Me!

Christmas Candy CanePoem about Jesus

Shalom!

I want to del iver a greeting of peace

to you. The Advent season is coming to

us. From last Sunday, we have already

started a Christmas miracle project in our

church. During this Advent season, our

fifteen miracle workers, including Sunday

School chi ldren, would try to make God’s

miracle, as wel l as change the world. I

eagerly hope that gracious God wi l l lead

their way with the Spirit of wisdom and

bless their l i fe abundantly.

For a long time, we have celebrated

the birth of a baby, Jesus, in our Christmas

traditions. However, at the same time we

have found a meaningful Christmas with

our fami ly or friends in mindless spending,

eating, and partying. Before I start

Advent’s journey of this year, a question

strikes my mind: “Who is the real

master of Christmas?” Undoubtedly,

the real master of Christmas is not Santa

Claus, but a baby Jesus. God incarnated

God’s vision and grace in the baby Jesus

to save human beings as Messiah. I

bel ieve that many people may know this

truth. But, everyone does not seem to

find a real meaning of Christmas in our

faith, because we are used to celebrating

Santa Claus Jesus whom we created in our

own expectation.

Issue 1

I have already started making big Christmas deals with my

chi ldren. Many big stores displayed various Christmas trees,

toys, and gifts and they have already been tempting our chi ldren

and our consuming desire. Our chi ldren, even ourselves have

already focused our minds on Santa Claus and Christmas gifts.

In other words, Christians of the 21st Century experienced new

tension between the real wi l l of God and material ism &

secularism. We might expect meaningful Christmas miracles:

our secular wants and wishes, the rewards of material wealth

and physical health, and others through the Santa Claus Jesus.

However, we must remember that the baby Jesus came to the

world for the poor, the prisoners, the bl ind, and the oppressed.

At that point, a real Christmas miracle is not for us, but for those

people who are in need. Therefore, if we want to experience a

Christmas miracle, we have to change our viewpoint not toward

l ife's comfort and material luxuries for ourselves, but toward

those in need through our sacrificia l g ifts on this Christmas

season. We don’t need prominent abi l i ty, money of many

charitable amounts, sacrificia l times, and others to birth God’s

miracle on this Advent season. Only God expects our avai labi l i ty

and commitment to act. Let us break our comfort zones. Let us

try to open our spiritual eyes and ears to see our neighbors who

are in need. God will make Christmas miracles through us,

and we can find a real meaning of our lives during this

Advent season. God of Immanuel is within us.

In Christ,

Pastor J in-Ho Hong

The Hub Cluster welcomes everyone to

join them December 9, 2:00 pm for the

play "Christmissed?" at Ashton UMC.

“Christmissed?”, is a play ofwhat ifs.

The play is based on our ever-busy lives

and the hectic-ness that tends to

surround the holiday. Please "take time"

to attend a meaningful play, reminding

us ofthe true meaning ofChristmas. †

A simple story that changeda complicated world.

A simple story that changeda complicated world.

AHolidayFestivaland

CommunityTradition

Ifyouarelookingtoexperiencethespiritand

joyofChristmas, youwillfinditattheFranklin

GroveChristmasWalk, onFriday, December

14th from 5:00 - 8:00pm. Ourchurchwill

beservingcomplimentary soup andbrownies,

sopleasestop bytoseeusattheAmerican

LegionHall. Whatagreatwaytoringinthe

seasonwithfriendsandfamily. †

Children's Christmas Program

"Miracle in the Manger"

Mark your calendar for the Sunday School ChristmasProgram, December 16th , during the churchservice. The children wil l be performing, "Miracle inthe Manger." Join us fol lowing church for a lunchconsisting of chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes,sides and dessert! Also, check out the selection ofornaments that the students have made. †

"Miracle in the Manger"

Check out the Mission Fair in the

dining room ofthe church. UMCOR,

RedBirdMission, Heifer, and Joy in

the Harvest are all represented.

Consider donating to one ofthese

missions. Pick up a list ofpossible

items for donation for Joy in the

Harvest and there are also products

for purchase available from Heifer

and RedBird. †

Issue 1

Words of thanks prior to the turkey supper. Thanks to all of the dedicatedworkers as well as the blessings God has provided for all of us!

A HUGE thankyou foreveryonewho helped

clean, prepare food, work, serve, anddonate

to ourannualTurkey Supper. Even though

numberswere down a bit in howmanywe

served, we stilltouchedlives ofthose who

came to be servedawarm, delicious supperof

turkey, dressing, potatoes, cranberries andcole

slaw! Andas always, it was two days filled

with love andfellowship aswe preparedthe

meal! Thankyou to EVERYONEbecause

this suppercan only come togetherwith the

help ofmany hands! †

AnotherSuccessfulYear

with the help ofmany!

Cookies, cookies, cookies! We had some very talentedbakers in our church who provided us with a wonderfulassortment of cookies for the cookie walk held during theTurkey Supper. This is a wonderful fundraiser for ourchurch and I thank each and everyone for taking the timeout of their very busy scheduled to make and donatecookies that helped make our dinner a success! Hopeful lyyou were able to stash some in the freezer to bring outwhen you have guests during the holiday and did not givein and sample al l those cookies ti l there were none left! (Iam not talking from experience or anything. . . ! ) Again,thank you all for your talented hands that were put to gooduse for the benefit of our church! Cheri Kemp

Many hours of hard work and preparation!

Behind the scenes: Charlene, elevatorassistant, Susie, chi ld care and Yun Hee,piano player for the congregation as theywaited for their del icious turkey dinner!

Issue 1

The family ofWanda Yocumwould like to thank the peopleofthe church for all oftheirprayers, cards and food.Everyone has been so caring,words can not express howmuch that means.Pastor Hong, your message atmom's service was just right,your songs beautiful. Also,thank you for visiting mom sooften, she loved your visits.Thank you Gary Cater forreading scripture at mom'sservice. It truly meant a lot.Lastly, the funeral luncheonwas very much appreciated, toall who contributed and theworkers who were there -may God bless you as youhave blessed us. †

With Great Appreciation

With Great Appreciation