December 2019

I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e :

www.facebook.com/rapidcityfirst

629 Kansas City Street, Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone 605-342-4498

www.rapidcityfirst.org

Messenger

Primetimers, Children’s Ministry

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Youth Information 3

Youth Mission Trip 4

Studies and Information

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Financial News 6

Calendar and Events 7

UMW News 8

UMW News 9

Reflections 10

Announcements 11

Giving to Others Hope Center

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Come to the Table 13

Service of Light and Hope

14

Women’s Retreat 15

Barry’s Thoughts

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 NIV My wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year, and I said peace and quiet. Well that’s not going to happen; with 3 children their spouses and 8 grandchildren filling our home there won’t be much peace this year. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. Family brings a peace like no other. Even on the day Jesus was born there was no peace. There was no room in the inn for a pregnant woman and her husband; they must find shelter among the livestock in a dirty stable, the place God chose for his Son to be born. Today Christmas is filled with so many traditions that we often miss the beauty of the Christ Child. We treasure time with family, we treasure decorating the tree, we treasure exchanging gifts, but do we find time to treasure God’s great love? Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,” this Christmas we must carve out time in the midst of the chaos to embrace God’s love given so that we might have the greatest gift, life eternal. Where is your heart this Christmas? May you find the peace that only Christ can bring. May the chaos of Christmas be turned into the celebration of a Savior born in a lowly stable, the Messiah, God’s Son. In Christ,

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PRIMETIMERS EVENTS 1/3/20– Birthday Party

1/17/20-Dahl Museum and Potluck

2/7/20-Birthday/Valentines Party

2/21/20-Pizza and Bingo

3/6/20-Birthday Party/Alpine Inn

4/3/20-Birthday Party

4/17/20-Adams Museum/Mineral Palace

Join Us!

Children’s Christmas Program

December 8th at 10am

One Church Sunday Brunch in Fellowship Hall following the service.

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Rapid City FUMC YOUTH Wednesday Night Live (WNL)

Youth Group Wednesdays

6:00PM-7:30PM Grades 5-6 and 7-12

Downstairs in the Youth Wing

Come join us on Wednesday for a laidback midweek check-in and grow in your faith.

Fellowship, fun, and faith.

Confirmation Sundays

10:10AM-10:50AM Grade 7 and Above

Downstairs in the Youth Wing

If you are in the 7th grade or above and have not been confirmed, you are invited to join this year’s confirmation class. There is still time to

join in as we learn what it means to be a member of the United Methodist Church.

December 2019 - Youth Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

No Confirma-tion

Thanksgiving Break

Youth Group Game Night

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

No Confirmation Christmas Program

Youth Group

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Confirmation Youth Group Christmas

Party

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

No Confirma-tion Winter

Break

No School Winter Break

No School Winter Break

No School Winter Break

No Youth Group

No School Winter Break

No School Winter Break

29 30 31

No Confirmation Winter Break

No School Winter Break

No School Winter Break

THANK YOU Thank you to the youth who commit to growing in faith every week.

AND Thank you to Ethan V., Margaret T., Ryan M., Ryan C., and Jennifer M. for giving of your time to

be in ministry with the youth of this church.

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Advent Study Sundays in December

Fellowship Hall, Downstairs Join us for an Advent study at 10:10 a.m. Sunday mornings. We be watching and discussing the video segments from the study “Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph” by Rev. Adam Hamilton. No book purchase is required. As always, refreshments are setup downstairs to make it easy for participants! Please join us as often as you can!

Conversations to Come As many of you know, there has been ongoing dissension in the global UM church as to the issues surrounding human sexuality, especially persons who claim LGBTQIA+ status and would want to be married in the church or fill leadership roles, including as clergy and bishop.

Knowing that not all persons at First UMC agree on this issue and acknowledging that we don’t know what direction will be set in May at the next General Conference, we are carefully watching information and trying to prepare for conversations here. There will be plenty of advance notice for these conversations and multiple opportunities and locations to include as many people as possible. We will do everything we can to encourage full participation, but it will require commitment from the people as well to engage in difficult conversations in a loving and humble manner. Dates and times TBD.

Pastor Michele has attended two trainings this fall to gain knowledge and tools for facilitating such conversations and is further investigating best practices. Our goal is to allow everyone in the church to have an equal voice in the conversation and foster greater love and understanding between us with as much unity as possible.

As a reminder, our focus as a church remains always on Jesus Christ, striving to serve Him and be more like Him in how we live our lives.

Thank you for your Dreams and Surrender!!

Thank you from Pastor Michele to all who submitted thoughts through the Dream/Surrender cards on Sunday, November 17. I value where you are each coming from and how we can all move forward together as we begin to dream of a vision for this church and surrender burdens that hold us back from trusting God. I will continue to pray over these cards in future weeks. May Jesus Christ release us from our struggles and the Holy Spirit guide dreams that lead us into the future.

SERVING C. SPRINGS

October 2018 October 2019 October 2019

Actual Actual Budget

$50,734 $50,191 $45,602

October Contributions were above budget and slightly below last year.

Through October we are behind $68,366 in our apportionment payments.

FYI: The church’s accounting system is called “Fund Accounting”. Under this system we operate under numerous funds. Our main fund is the General Fund, which the majority of our money goes into. This fund is our operating fund which we use to pay all of the church’s expenses. When our members make their annual “estimate of giving” we apply these estimates towards our General Fund annual budget. We also have other funds in the church:

Capital Fund: Designated donations go into this fund to pay off building debt

Missions: Designated donations used for Mission Meals

Memorials: Designated donations for deceased members’ memorials

Restricted Fund: Designated donations to music, education, camp scholarships, furniture, choirs, organ, sabbaticals, etc.

Let’s say a member made an “estimate of giving” of $50.00 per week for this year. Then, when they give the funds to the church they designate $25.00 of that $50.00 to one of the other funds, such as building debt or missions. This shorts the General Operating budget by $25.00. This situation happens on a regular basis and over a period of time has added up to a substantial amount of funds that are not available to operate our General Fund Budget.

If any of you would like more details on Fund Accounting and finances of our church, feel free to stop in my office or give me a call.

This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported our church this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to check out our EFT giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Visit our website or contact the church office for more information.

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION>>>>Donations received at the church on or before December 31st will be deductible in 2019. Donations mailed to the church MUST BE POSTMARKED DEC. 31st or earlier to be deductible in 2019!!!!!!! --Bill Waugh, Business Administrator

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Financial News

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See the rapidcityfirst.org calendar on the website (click the lines at the top right of the home page for the menu) for up-to-date events and more information.

December 2019 Calendar of Weekly Events

Day Time Event Location

Sunday 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship Sanctuary

Sunday 11:00 AM Traditional Worship Sanctuary

3rd Tuesday 5:30 PM Leadership Council Meeting Parlor

Wednesday 7:00 PM Choir Practice Sanctuary

Thursday 6:30 PM Bell Choir Practice Choir Room

Thursday 6:30 PM Contemporary Worship

Team Practice Sanctuary

PASTORS CHALLENGE! READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN 2020

Each day spend 15 minutes in God's Word

Readings each day include: Old Testament - New Testament -

Psalms and Proverbs

Join with others as we place God's word in our Hearts

Sign Up sheet in the Parlor for the "One Year Bible"

Regular Print $10. Large Print $15

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UMW Notes UMW Christmas Party

with

The Well Done Players of Black Hills Community Theatre

Wednesday, December 11, 1:30 pm, parlor

Bring a friend

& Bring a plate of a dozen, or so, treats to share (cookies, crackers, cheese, fruit, or your idea!)

Plan to take a treat plate from the meeting to a shut-in you know.

Esther Circle Hosting

Abbott Foster Homes Project Thank you to those bringing items in response to the wish list for Christmas at the Abbott therapeutic foster homes in Rapid City. (Bridges) We are happy to have found this local project to support. Please continue to supply items on the list up until December 11, 2019, at the time of our UMW Christmas party. Share the wish list available in the parlor with others. Special Announcement As decided by the Leadership Team, there will not be a UMW spring rummage sale. If you have already put things in the UMW room in anticipation of a sale in April, you may retrieve them or leave them to be donated to another group at church wanting to schedule a rummage sale or eventually to Club for Boys thrift store. If you have questions, talk to any member of the Leadership Team. Dates to Remember: December 4--Leadership Team, 9:00 am, Parlor December 5--No Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting December 7--All women invited to CLUMC’s Christmas Celebration “Jesus Warms my Heart” 10:00 am, CLUMC Christian Life Center December 11--UMW Christmas Party, 1:30 pm, Parlor December 24-25--Merry Christmas from your UMW!

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UMW Notes

As part of UMW's continuing Community Outreach, they recently donated funds to have a playground sign repainted at Wilson School. The sign lists. Character Counts points as well as some playground rules. The photos below were displayed in the Staff Lounge along with a tray of assorted cookies. Thanks to bakers, Mary Ann Riker, Ruby Iszler and Mardeena Bentz! Also, before Thanksgiving break, each staff member received a small gift bag of chocolates, caramels and peppermints along with a $5 gift card from Dairy Queen. Thank you UMW members for allowing us to once again "treat" the hard-working Wilson Staff! Several Wilson Staff have expressed on more than one occasion their thanks and appreciation of our generosity.

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Reflections

Oh my goodness, the Feast of Christmas is fast upon us! Even as we speak, gifts are being decided upon and procured. Pantries are becoming well-stocked with the makings of everything from Christmas cookies and caramel corn to tortillas and lefse. As to decorations, might there be, somewhere, someone who has scrapped the notion of a fresh cut tree in favor of an artificial one so that the favorite uncle who sneezed his way through last year’s festivities won’t have to this year? Could be. Could be that, amid so much flurry and commotion, the Christ Child born in Bethlehem and for whom the feast is named might be more than a little ignored? Or forgotten entirely? Could be.

When the Church was very young but increasing far and wide, leaders, with no Bibles, did what they could to support and build the Believers’ faith. To ensure that the life of Jesus and His teachings would be covered on a yearly basis, they came up with the idea of a Church calendar. By the fourth century, the Feast of Christmas was established to celebrate the Incarnation of God’s Son Jesus. To prepare for such celebration, Believers were encouraged to engage in fasting and special prayer times. Thus, Advent—from the Latin roots dealing with ‘coming’—emerged as a season of its own. By the Middle Ages, it included the four Sundays before Christmas and marked the beginning of the Church year.

Lo and behold, here we are in December of 2019! The most important of Christmas preparations has begun. It is a good time for asking the Lord to “Search me, O God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” [Psalm 139:23&24] A bit of constructive introspection may call to mind a need to forgive someone and/or repent of some forgotten negligence. We may feel led to fast a meal or two or decline a favorite treat as part of an effort to focus more clearly on our Lord. Setting aside time to ‘just be’ with Him is a very good plan, and He always makes a person glad to have done so. Might this Christmas will be one in which we catch a deeper glimpse into the glory and wonder of Christ-mas? Could be.

Looking ahead, does it not bring joy to your heart that Jesus, whose coming then we now celebrate, has promised to come again? In John 14:2 &3, Jesus said “…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. “

After the Cross and after His resurrection, Jesus took some days in which to touch base with His disciples. When departure time came, He was taken up as they watched. Two angels addressed them: “…ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.” [Acts 1:11]

Believers have been looking for Him to come back ever since He left. We don’t know the when, but we do know that His second coming will be as the King of Kings. Check out Revelation 19:11-16. It’s quite a read. Paul writes [Philippians 2:9-11] “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” [Revelation 4:8b]

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” [Revelation 22:20b]

Love and prayers, Kathy Moose

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YOU ARE INVITED CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

at Pastor Barry and Deb's home (Church Parsonage)

Sunday December 8, from 2 to 5 pm

Come and enjoy Christmas treats and fellowship.

3507 Westridge Rd. Rapid City 57702

Directories will be available this month to purchase. Please sign up in the parlor if you would like a color hard copy( $5 a copy). We will have instructions sheets for those who want to get the app for their phone or download on other electronic devices. We also have a sign up for those who want a 5 x 7 print/s($3 a print) of their directory pictures. If you have any questions please let Destri know at the front church office or email at destri@rapidcityfirst.org

The Primetimers would like to

THANK all those who generously

provided food for the WAVI “dinners”. We

received enough for 10

boxes.

For those of you collecting Family Fare UPCs: Thank you!

• Make sure you save only Family Fare UPCs. The barcode includes “70253.”

• UPCs from other brands sold at Family Fare do not qualify for the Labels for Education pro-gram. Thank you for helping support UMW missions.

• 0 70253 16109 (Sample UPC number)

Donations Needed Rapid Ride Bus tickets

Travel size shampoos & conditioners

Laundry detergent (powder or pods)

Paper cups Small food trays

Mittens/Coats Deodorant Blankets

Toilet Paper Postage Stamps

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Keep The Receipts Coming—- Once we reach $150,000, the church receives $1,000 from Nash Finch to help with church expenses. Please turn in your entire receipts in the metal basket on the red wall by the Welcome Center. To date, we have collected $71,019.

Thank you to Jon and Nila Boone, for totaling the receipts each Sunday.

“We Care” food certificates are a great way to give to your church and your communi-ty! Simply write a check to First UMC and get a food gift certificate (Safeway, Walmart or Family Fare) for the amount of your check. You are given the full amount, but Church Response and First UMC both get a percentage! It is a win-win proposition!!

Cornerstone Rescue Mission Meal

A big THANK YOU to Delane Rains, Gary and Joan Newland, Shirley Huisman, Roger and Ruby Iszler for serving in November. If you’re

interested in helping with this (we serve dinner on the third Sunday of every month), call the office at 605-342-4498 and we’ll help make it happen!

Church Response Please consider bringing Saltine Crackers for our

church response food drive.

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“COME TO THE TABLE” COMMUNITY MEAL

HOPE CENTER AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Thank you to all that volunteered and were a part of this

awesome event. We served over 175 people!

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If you are feeling the sadness of grief as the holidays approach, the folks at Rapid City First United Methodist Church invite you and your family to their “Service of Light and Hope for those who are grieving.” The service will be held at the church at 629 Kansas City Street downtown Rapid City at 2:00 in the afternoon on Sunday, December 15th.

“We want our guests to leave lighter than they came, to experience hope and to know the love of Jesus. We will pray, give thanks, and worship with beautiful music. One of our speakers will share from experience how he came out of the depths of grief and found hope and healing, while a guest speaker from Hospice will share tools to help our guests cope physically and mentally during this time where grief is felt even more deeply.”

This is the church’s fifth year holding this service and they would like to share it with those in the community who are grieving. If you are interested, you can call the Rapid City First United Methodist Church at 342-4498.

AND HOPE

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AND HOPE