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December 2015

Grace Notes News from Grace United Methodist Church

Carbondale, Illinois 618-457-8785

Web site: www.carbondalegrace.org

E-mail: carbondalegraceinfo@gmail.com

December 6 Second Sunday of Advent

Candle Lighting Family:

Morthland Family (Early Service)

Ludine & Holly Chamness (Late Worship)

Scripture : Isaiah 52: 7-10, Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon: “The Gift of Peace Through God’s Reign”

Special Program: “The Little Drummer Boy” by Grace Players

December 13 Third Sunday of Advent

Combined Worship at 10:30 a.m. in the Auditorium

Candle Lighting Family: Mowrer Family

Special Christmas Program: “The Gift of Joy Through Songs”

Choir, Praise Team, Bell Choir & Children will bring a joyful

program followed by an all church chili dinner.

December 20 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Candle Lighting Family: Park Family (Early Worship)

Joel Kirby and Jenny Choo (Late Worship)

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:15-17

Sermon: “The Gift of Hope in Darkness”

December 27

Combined Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary

Scripture: 1 John 4:18-21

Sermon: “The Gift We Never Want to Return”

You are encouraged to invite family and friends to our worship

services and Sunday school.!!

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Dear Friends,

“My family is the best Christmas gift.” Someone

posted it on facebook. Several people agreed with her.

It’s a special season to exchange gifts with family, friends

and special people in our lives. Most of us have been

busy with buying, wrapping, packing and mailing Christ-

mas gifts. We might feel joy as we imagine the happiness

that our loved ones experience as they open the gifts that

we sent to them. We want to express our love and caring

spirit through our gifts. However what people really need and

what makes people happy is not those material things, but our

presence, the fellowship and friendship we share with them.

Let’s take time to visit other people, especially those who are

lonely. Parents, set aside your time to be with your children, to

make some simple Christmas crafts with them, or bake cookies

with them to deliver to the lonely people. The church provides

each family an Advent Book-Family Devotion and Activities.

Create fun memories with them. Most of our kids have already

had more material things than they need. Adding more things

don’t make people happy. What people need is genuine friend-

ship and fellowship with other people.

Here is the good news for everyone! God has prepared

the best gift for all of us---Jesus Christ who brings us peace, joy,

hope and love. God who has the riches of goodness, grace, mercy

and love is eager to give his best gift to us, Jesus Christ. Christ

comes to us. But he comes not to be added to our cluttered hearts

and busy lives. He is reborn in humble hearts which have a holy

space. The Advent Season invites us to set aside a special time

and to create a sacred place in our hearts and our lives for Christ

who is coming. A daily devotion book is provided for you and

your family. Special music worship services are prepared for you

and your family to be attentive to His presence and one another.

Come, join to worship the Lord. It is a perfect season to invite

your family and friends who have been drifted away from the

Lord and church. We need to remind ourselves the real reason for

this season---Jesus Christ. We might post on our facebook, “Jesus

Christ is the best Christmas gift for me and for everyone.” Let’s

offer God’s best gift, Jesus Christ to your family and friends as

well as strangers. I pray that you and your family may celebrate

a wonderful Christmas in Jesus Christ!

Shalom, In-Sook

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Circle of Friends Potluck Tuesday– December 8 - Noon

Bring a dish and join the fellowship.

Lights Fantastic Parade Help Needed

On December 5, 2015 Carbondale will host

it's 25th annual lights fantastic parade. Carbon-

dale Grace will be there in the parking lot near

PK's to hand out free stickers and hot choco-

late in cups with a message of God's love for

them.

Things to be done include placing stickers on the cups, hand-

ing out the hot chocolate, prep and clean up. We typically finish

about 1 hour after the parade is over. Anyone old enough to pass

a cup of hot chocolate or give out a sticker is old enough to help,

making this a wonderful opportunity for parents to bring their

children and get them involved in hands on ministry for Jesus

Christ.

If you could help with this ministry, please see Roger Smith,

559-8389.

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service

Wednesday, December 24,

7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

There will be special songs, scripture reading,

and communion. The offering will support

United Methodist Committee on Relief

(UMCOR) Disaster Relief Fund.

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The last mission meal for 2015 will take

place on December 20. We plan to take turkey

vegetable soup to the town square pavilion and

serve from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. We would

welcome your participation, to come and help

with set up and serving these people God

blesses through us or with break down and

clean up afterwards.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank God, and

those responsible for the donations of funds which have contin-

ued to make these meals possible. Looking to 2016, we are pray-

ing to be able to expand this ministry to include more adult

groups in addition to the youth. As we do this, we also are look-

ing for ways to make the project easier. We would like to add

about 4 or 5 folding picnic tables instead of having to move both

tables and chairs. If you might be able to help or would like to

donate to this ministry, please see Roger Smith.

Again thank you all for your support. Through your efforts,

we have provided over 500 meals to individuals and at least that

number more to the Good Samaritan Soup Kitchen.

Mt. 25:40 “And the King will answer and say to them

‘assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least

of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Leadership Workshop:

“Reaching New People”

Saturday, January 30, 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.

At Marion Aldersgate UMC

Workshop Leader: Rev. Mike Crawford,

Illinois Great Rivers Conference

Coordinator of Congregational Development

All church council members, committee members, small group

leaders and worship leaders are invited to participate in this spe-

cial planning retreat. Please mark your calendar and keep pray-

ing for a fruitful retreat. Please call the church office by Decem-

ber 30 if you plan to attend.

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Grace UMC Mission Statement

"Love God, love people, make disciples of Jesus Christ."

The Story of Fasa

Fasa is a medical missionary in Indonesia. As a

young lad he lived on the island of Nias. He had a

strong desire to learn, and when an opportunity came

up, he walked 7 miles to the coast and traveled 90 miles

by boat to Sumatra . He swept streets with very little

pay and usually slept where he worked. He learned

about Wesley Methodist Church in Medan and of

classes in English being offered. Later, he worked at a hospi-

tal. Because of severe typhoid fever, he was evicted and brought

to Wesley Church. After recovering, he was given a job at the

church and stayed in a small room there.

Grace and Ed Werner were sent to Wesley Church (in Indone-

sia) by the UMC as missionaries. They met Fasa and saw a very

special young man with great promise. A miracle began. The

Werner’s helped Fasa with pre-entrance exams given at the Meth-

odist Medical School, and promised to raise the needed money to

send him to medical school. The Werner’s and their family paid

his tuition. As they returned to the states, they told everyone

about God's mission at Wesley and especially about this young

Christian man in medical school. This is how GUMC became

involved with Fasa. He received his degree in January, 2001. He

and his wife operate from a small clinic on the island.

Over the years Grace Church has continued to support Fasa in

the needs of his clinic and family. Once a year we send a bank

wire to Fasa with the collected funds.

Fasa—Medical Missionary

On December 16, we will be wiring money

to Dr. Fasa for his use as a medical missionary.

If you want to add to this fund, please put your

check in the offering by December 13. Be sure to write “Fasa”

on the memo line.

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Your Christmas contribution

will be sent to the United Meth-

odist Committee on Relief

(UMCOR) Disaster Relief Fund.

UMCOR has responded to natural disasters in the US and in-

ternationally, providing supplies and care in the immediate after-

math of a disaster and it has supported long-term rebuilding ef-

forts to people within the United Sates as well as internationally

for 75 years. From floods in South Carolina and Texas, fires in

the west and earthquakes in Nepal, UMCOR has been there this

past year.

We do not know when or where a disaster will occur again.

The weather forecasters have predicted El Nino will bring an-

other year of extreme weather events and who knows about

earthquakes. Your contribution to Disaster Relief will enable

UMCOR staff to provide help when a disaster does occur. 100%

of the money collected will go to assist those affected by disas-

ters, not administrative costs.

Financial Peace University

This life-changing class will be taught by

Dave Ramsey and the FPU teaching team on

video and will be coordinated by Monty

Smith at Grace United Methodist Church. It

will help you achieve your financial goals by

showing you how to eliminate debt, save for

the future, and give like never before. You will be challenged

and motivated to make a plan for your money and change your

family tree forever.

* 9 week program

* Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

* begins February 1

* child care is available

* cost is $93 per family

* need based financial assistance available for those who

qualify

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Coffee and Cards Saturday, December 19, 9:00 a.m.

at Grace UMC, Room 11

Short devotional, drink coffee, and write note

cards to new visitors and existing members on behalf of GUMC.

Please have articles for the January 2016 Grace Notes

to the church office by December 21.

Congratulations to Mary Ann Ruph on the

birth of great granddaughter, Shelbi JoAnn

Bost. Shelbi was born November 6 weigh-

ing 6 lb. 5 oz. and was 19 inches long. Her

parents are Caitlyn and A.J. Bost.

Holy Communion:

Some Questions and Answers Should I receive Communion if I feel unworthy?

Two thousand years ago Jesus ate with sinners

and those whom others scorned. He still does.

None of us is worthy, except by God’s grace. Thank God we

don’t have to earn worth in God’s eyes by our goodness or our

faith. Your sacred worth, and ours, is God’s free gift. No matter

what you have done or what your present condition, if you want

Christ in your life you are welcome at his table. Communion pro-

vides the opportunity for you to confess your sins, to receive for-

giveness, and to indicate your intention to lead a new life.

Our heartfelt sympathy is given to Lena

and Orville Hake. Lena’s sister Wilma Stew-

art passed away November 27.

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December Birthdays (by date)

1 - Cheryl Smith

5 - Michael Adams

7 - Raetta Blessing

8 - Laura Morthland

8 - Steve Shappard

11 - Alicia Joens

11 - Elsbeth Sanders

13 - Philip Pease

15 - Gary Hall

22 - Grace Park

24 - Kevin Dettmar

27 - Martha Searcy

27 - Emma Williams

28 - Iris Vana

29 - Anna Schurz

30 - Gary Chamness

31 - Dwight Sanders

Early January Birthdays

1/2 Kathy Manigold

1/2 Chris Smith

1/3 Holly Chamness

1/4 Kevin Frailey

1/7 T. J. Montgomery

Grace United Methodist Church

9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

10:10 a.m. Sunday School

11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship

December Anniversaries

Dec. 16 Brian & Kathy Manigold

Dec. 23 Roy & Marianne Abrahamson (55 yrs.)

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Lenten Study

Theme: “Just Walk Across the Room”

Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m.

5 weeks, February 18– March 16

1. The Single Greatest Gift

2. Living in 3D

3. The Power of the Story

4. Grander Vision Living

5. Celebration & Commitment

Sign-up sheets will be out in January

Hanging of the Greens

UMW Christmas Yard Sale