When I was growing up in the early ‘90’s, there was a show on Nickelodeon called, "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" The show was about a group of teenagers who would gather together to tell scary stories around a camp fire. As the storyteller began, the camera would zoom in on the camp fire, and then zoom back out and show the episode’s scary story. The stories usually revolved around ghosts, monsters, dark

magic, haunted houses, aliens, vampires… you know, the usual topics of any scary story. I freely admit that this show was entirely unhealthy for me, and I don’t entirely know why I kept watching it; I usually was unable to sleep well for a few nights after watching the show. By the time the last graphic, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” flashed across the screen at the end of each episode, my answer was an unequivocal “YES!” I am still drawn to many of the themes the show played on when it comes to books, movies and TV—anyone who knows me well knows I love all things Harry Potter, and my husband and I frequently watch shows like “The X Files” and “Stranger Things.” But these stories of paranormal phenomena, while they might fascinate me as much as they did in childhood, do not frighten me at all in adulthood. Why? Probably because I’ve moved on to more grown-up fears. I may not check my closet for monsters before going to sleep, but I certainly turn on our security alarm before I crawl into bed every night. I may not be afraid of aliens anymore, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing left in this world for me to be afraid of. Fear is a part of our human DNA, it is one of the most basic instincts and emotions we possess. Everyone is afraid of something. Sometimes fear can be a brilliant thing—it helps us survive. Instinctual fears have allowed for the continuation of our species. Fear tells us basic things: “Standing at the edge of a cliff is dangerous. Stay away from that poisonous snake. Avoid large, sharp-toothed, growling animals.” But fear can also be a debilitating and destructive force. Throughout scripture, the Divine speaks, and says “Do not be afraid,” to a wide variety of characters: prophets, young girls, kings, shepherds, and fishermen, just to name a few. As we begin 2018, we will begin a new sermon series called “Do Not Be Afraid.” Through this series, we will explore together, as a community, what it means to be afraid, and how scripture speaks to our multitude of fears. Blessings, Pastor Kara 1

“Looking to Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfector of our faith.” Hebrews 12: 2 “The Crestviewer” is published monthly by: Volume 2017, Issue 12 December 20, 2017

Crestview United Methodist Church 2245 SW Eveningside Dr. Topeka, KS 66614 Phone: (785) 272-3676 or 272-3702 Fax: (785) 271-9551 E-mail: crestviewumc@gmail.com Web address: cumctopeka.org We are also on Facebook; search for us by our name. Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00a-12:30p /1:00p-2:30p

Senior Pastor: Kara Eidson

Organist: Connie Roth

Custodian: Tony Romero

Nursery Director: Vicki Durr

Nursery Assistant: Jennifer Emery

Financial Secretary: Michele Turley

Asst. Financial Secretary: Marilynn Hiegert

Music Director: Jennifer Bahr-Slocum

Secretary/Treasurer: Terresa Mountain

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It’s Your Business: Our financial status through November 30, 2017 Bank Balance: $ 42,543.79 Designated Funds: $ 52,023.74 General Funds: $ -9,479.95 ‘17 Mission Shares {assigned $26,382.00} paid to date: $ 5,386.00 Total Deficit (including unpaid M.S.) through Nov. 30, 2017 $ -30,475.95

Please note: We are refreshing the prayer requests on the white board in the office and in the weekly bulletin & newslet-ter. Prayer requests will be renewed every 2 weeks with the exception of ongoing critical needs. We hope this keeps us updated and brings our attention to new requests. Thank you. Pastor Kara

Ongoing Concerns: Helen Arthur, Robert & Kathy Singer, LaMoyne Smith, Patsy Hubbard, Marilyn Marye, Maxine Menish, June Ghan, Gladys Glogau (Hospice), Bob MacLeay (Hospice), June Christensen’s son (Kevin); RuthAnn Pile’s son (Sam); John Weaver’s cousin (Vivien Hunter)

Our Men and Women currently serving in the Military: Matt Thompson; JoAnn Montgomery’s grand-son, (Jacob Crawshaw); Rick & Laura Anderson’s son (Matt Anderson); Vera Hrabak’s grandsons (Jared Hrabak, Joshua Roe & Bruce Hrabak, Jr.); Gene & Betty Dunn’s great-grandson (Falcon Muril-lo); Oleta Schafer’s grandson (Matt Cavanaugh) & Doris Henderson’s grandson (Sterling Williams)

Monday, January 15th, is the deadline for the February 2018 Crestviewer.

Keenagers will meet on Friday, January 12, 2018 to hear Phil Anderson who is the writer for the Religious Section of the Topeka Capital Journal. Meal reservations

should be turned in by Tuesday evening January 9th to caller or office. Guests are always welcome so invite fellow church members and friends. Cost of lunch will be $7 as per vote this year. If you are unable to attend after your reservation is turned in, please under-stand we still need to pay Chef Ruth for the meal she has prepared, so you’ll need to get your money turned in to John & Marilyn Marye, or to the Church Office. ===============

A gracious "thanks" to the Crestview members who served the noon meal at Topeka Rescue Mission on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The clients were very appreciative of the delicious meal served. Crestview members who served were Debbie Basom, Ila Hewitt, Galen &

Shirley Postier. The next time Crestview UMC is scheduled to serve is Tues., Dec. 26 at 10:30 AM. You can call Shirley Postier, 246-2308, if you are interested in volunteering. Thanks kindly for your consideration. We serve the noon meal at the Rescue Mission each month on the fourth Tuesday. In case you are interested in helping, and would like to mark your 2018 calendar ahead, those dates are: Janu-ary 23, February 27, March 27, April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 27 and we will let you know about December as the fourth Tuesday is Christmas Day.

FOR YOUR UMW CALENDARS: January begins our Soup & Cracker collection for Doorstep, with our final collection date being Feb. 4th when we have our Souper Bowl Sunday! Sunday, January 7th - UMW Executive 12:15p (immediately following Church in the parlor) Wednesday, January 10th - 9:00a JOY Circle Informal meeting at Hy-Vee if weather permits. (We’ll sign valentines for our Shut-Ins, in preparation for Feb. Also bring your donation for Prayer & Self Denial.) 1:00p AGAPE Circle (parlor) (Hostesses: Mary Manley & Helen Lindemann; Devotions: Pat Golden; Program: Mary Manley - Call to Prayer & Self Denial) 5:30p FAITH Circle (parlor) (Hostess: Sandy Biber; Devotions: Kathie Duguid; Program: Julia Marsh - Call to Prayer & Self Denial) Sunday, January 21 - UMW Sunday Saturday, January 27 - District Team Leader Meeting: 9:30a at University UMC

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Doorstep Coordinator’s Report December 7, 2017 Dovetail Shop: Nov. $2,006.35 Still need volunteers for Saturday afternoons. Food Room needs: Canned milk, tuna, canned beans all varieties, ravioli and spaghetti’s, boxed meals. Christmas Store: 261 households, 824 people were adopted. Crestview members who volunteered were: Janell Mc Kinney, Joanne Dow, Jim Banks, Bert Kossler, Jenny James, and Julia Marsh. Thank you for help-ing in this big task. Doorstep closings: no clients: December 22 close at noon, closed Dec. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. Closed January 1, 2018. No clients January 2nd or 3rd. Open for clients on January 4th. Dovetail Store is coming to the Doorstep building: Cathy Butler Company is doing the construction. Target opening date in the Doorstep building is the end of the first quarter of the year.

Upcoming Events: Souperbowl Sunday: February 4; Operation Soupline: February 28 11:00a to 2:00p; Crestview Donations: November: $225.00 and 14 pounds of food - December: $551.00 and 92 pounds of food; 37 Health kits, & extra items; 28 hats, 9 scarves, & 36 mittens/gloves! Julia Marsh, Crestview UMC Doorstep Coordinator

We are still collecting Box Tops for Education. Our own Lois Fowler gathers them up, trims them up and sends them off to Red Bird Mission in the southeastern corner of Kentucky, where they re-deem them for items for their school. The collection site for these labels is just outside Pastor’s office on a little table!

And the aluminum can “tabs” are being gathered and delivered to the Ronald McDonald House here in Topeka. Collection is in the same location! Thank you!

Our “Christmas Card Box” will remain for a short while in the Narthex, but PLEASE only put cards in for folks who are regularly seen at Church. We will NOT be able to mail your Christmas cards out to folks, and if they don’t “attend” Church, eventually the cards end up stored. This is a neat way to exchange cards and save a bit of money on postage, but zero fun for a recipient who never re-ceives their cards!

2nd Lois Smith 4th Carol Weaver Marita Peerenboom 5th RuthAnn Pile 6th Mike Johnson 8th Randy Shannon 9th Doris Swarts Dick Donovan 10th Janet Beffort 13th Rick Felsburg 15th Adam Perry 16th Vicki Durr 17th Betty Larison Charlie McKinney 18th Shirley Halladay 19th Marilynn Hiegert Stephanie Pelton

20th John Weaver 21st Mary Alice Parmley Kayla Supon-Carter 26th Helena Voorhees 28th Katie Miller 29th Julia Marsh Karon Powell 30th Jordan Felsburg 31st Gregg Duguid

January Birthdays! You may need to re-enroll in the pro-

gram after January 1, 2018 in order for your purchases throughout 2018 to credit your Church. “The customer will need to sign in, and make their contribution selection using your 5-digit NPO num-ber or search by organization name.” To register or re-register: log onto www.dillons.com If you are already a registered user, simply sign into your ac-count, select community re-wards (listed under communi-ty) enter our church name and click enroll now. If you have never registered your card you will need to cre-ate an account first before en-rolling. No internet, no email, no problem! Call 1-800-576-4377 option # 3. Give them your card number and our church number, 41597. That’s it, sim-ple right? Thank you for all the ways you support Crestview!

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2017 Mission Share Poinsettias

Jim Banks

In memory of Delores Banks Gary & Debbie Basom

In memory of Dayle Basom In memory of Alex and Ruth Marie Fromme

Joyce Corbin In memory of my dear husband Norman

Verne & Joanne Dow In memory of our parents

Dick & Pat Gorton In honor of our children

In honor of our grandchildren John & Shirley Halladay

In memory of David Halladay Mary Johnson

In memory of Dorothy Richardson Helen Lindemann

In memory of my beloved husband, Wayne Lindemann In memory of my dear son, Mark Lindemann

John & Marilyn Marye In memory of our daughter Nancy Boyer

Carole & Jack McFarland In memory of Amy Laughlin

Charlie & Janell McKinney In memory of our parents Charles & Dorothy McKinney

Dotty Mead In memory of Pat Mead

Debbie Miller In honor of Oleta Schafer & in memory of Bob Schafer

Tom & Elouise Miller In honor of Larry Miller and Naomi Miller

JoAnn Montgomery In memory of Sam & Thelma McNeal

Bill Nace In memory of Phyllis and loved ones

Galen & Shirley Postier In memory of Parents Alva & Beth Postier

In memory of Parents V. E. “Mac” & Louise McAdams Pat Ripper

In memory of Dick Ripper Oleta Schafer

In honor of my family In memory of Bob Schafer Mike & Cheryl Schuster

In memory of Bennett & Betty Berggren Randy & Mickey Shannon In honor of Patsy Hubbard

In memory of Merle Hubbard Strobel, Condley, Shofe & DiGennaro family

In honor of loved ones. In memory of loved ones. John & Carol Weaver

In honor of June Ghan and Patsy Hubbard

2017 Live Poinsettias

Gary & Debbie Basom In honor of Phyllis Basom

June Christensen In memory of Darrell Christensen & Kim Starbuck

Vicki Durr In memory of Vernon & Helen O’Trimble

Jennifer Emery In memory of George & Lola Jack

MaryLou Irwin In memory of Clarence Irwin & Susan Irwin

The Karlan Family In memory of Charles & Thora Karlan

Charlie & Janell McKinney In memory of our parents Henry & Nellie Allen

Tom & Elouise Miller In honor of our children: Brenda Mills Family

& Scott Miller family JoAnn Montgomery

In memory of Timothy Montgomery Doris Swarts & Pam

In memory of Wayne Swarts

To the Congregation of Crestview -

Thanks to all of you for the cards, gifts,

and Christmas blessings you have

showered on my husband, Mike, and

me. Being your pastor is an honor for which I am truly

grateful. I hope you also have an incredible Christmas

season, and a Happy New Year!

With Love - Pastor Kara

Thank you for the many expressions of

appreciation I’ve received during this Christmas

season. What a blessing it is to continue serving /

working here at Crestview UMC.

In His Grace, Terresa M.

Thank you to the congregation who have sent

me cards, given me gifts & for being so nice.

Tony Romero

DECEMBER 25TH AND 26TH

OFFICE CLOSED

JANUARY 1ST OFFICE CLOSED

JANUARY 2ND,

3RD & 4TH OPEN 9:00A-12:30P

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID Topeka, KS Permit #875

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CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE www.cumctopeka.org

Our e-mail address is: crestviewumc@gmail.com

We do offer our newsletter via e-mail, if you prefer to receive it that way!

Crestview Church is also on Facebook and found by searching for Crestview United Methodist Church

If you would like to be notified by e-mail when there are new pray-er concerns, or if you have a prayer concern you would like others to know about, please call the Church Office at 272-3676 or e-mail your infor-mation to the Church at: Crestviewumc@gmail.com.

All e-mail addresses will be kept confidential.

2245 SW Eveningside Dr. Topeka, KS 66614-1344

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Pg. 1 From the Pastor

Pg. 2 Prayer Concerns

UMW News

Keenagers

Thank you

It’s your business

Pg. 3 January Calendar

Pg. 4 January Birthdays

Dillon's Update

Christmas Cards!!! (check the box!)

Doorstep News

Pg. 5 2017 Poinsettias

Staff Thank yous

Office Hours

TO OUR ELECTRONIC READERS!