Chimes Newsletter

CLARKSTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

CHIMES

Date Mailed: 11/21/14

Core Values: Committed to Christ Worship That Makes a Difference Making Disciples

Biblical Hospitality Transformational Mission

December Issue

1st Sunday of Advent ~ Sunday, November 30 9:00am C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S* Choir 11:00am C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S* Choir

Festival Singers ~ Sunday, November 30 (4pm) This uniquely talented group of performers offers an extensive and varied repertoire of beautiful 5-part a cappella holiday music with Christmas Cookie reception to follow.

Family Advent Night ~ December 3 (5pm-8pm) Join us for a night that is fun for all ages! Sing Christmas carols, eat dinner, cookies and treats, view the live nativity including a camel (named Gunther!), and pet the animals at the petting zoo.

Alternative Christmas Gift Fair & Cookie Sale ~ Dec. 6 (9-4pm) Dec. 7 (10-1pm) Shop for meaningful Christmas gifts by purchasing fair trade handicrafts & donating in a loved one’s name to a mission.

2nd Sunday of Advent ~ Sunday, December 7 9:00am Communion, Wesley Choir & Cherub Choir 11:00am Communion, Youth Choir, Celebration Ringers

3rd Sunday of Advent ~ Sunday, December 14 (9am and 11am) 9:00am & 11:00am Join us for a morning of music and worship as the Chancel Choir sings selections from Handel’s Messiah and the Jubilation Ringers ring.

Longest Night Service ~ Wednesday, December 17 (7:00pm) Are you struggling this Christmas Season from grief, job loss, illness or other difficulty? Join us for a quiet service to rest in God.

4th Sunday of Advent ~ Sunday, December 21 9:00am Classic Christmas Celebration 11:00am Classic Christmas Celebration Christmas Eve ~ Tuesday, December 24 4:30pm Family Service with Children’s Choirs and Candle Lighting 7:00pm Candle Lighting with Youth Choir & Carols 9:00pm Candle Lighting with Adult Choir & Carols 11:00pm Candle Lighting with Communion, Special Music & Carols

* Clarkston, Highly, Regarded, Incredibly, Sensitive, Talented, Methodist, Assembly, of Singers —that’s you

and anyone who’d like to come sing.

December 2014 For Unto Us Is Born a Savior! It sounds like a typical churchy kind of Advent theme. Even the word advent, is church speak to an increasing number of our neighbors. A recent study of the five mile radius around our church tells us that of the 75,392 people living in that area, 20.3% feel that attending religious services is important to them. The same study tells us of that number, 14% state their faith is really important to them. This understanding is the reason we have reason to rejoice when any new person enters our building to worship or attend a program. Someone recently told me that in this culture, no one visits a church by accident. “If they come at all, it is because something happened in their life causing them to come in the doors. They may not know why they came, or what specifically they are looking for, but the fact they came at all is an opportunity to share a faith that is relevant to them.” This season, we will have many stop in to hear an old story. We know our Advent Night (see article inside) will be overflowing with people from the community. We will have many people worship with us in the month of December. Some we will have not seen for a long time. For some it will be their first time here. All are coming this month to hear the good news again. This is our chance to offer friendship and faith to all. I imagine the shepherds were not regular worship attenders. Christmas happened around them and they came to check it out for themselves. They were welcomed into the presence of Christ. They have been part of our Christmas story ever since. Let us make this season a time when all who enter are welcomed and cared for in the way that honors the Christ we worship. Pastor Rick

LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Are you struggling this holiday season? Is it difficult to celebrate because of grief, financial trouble, separation from loved ones, or unwanted changes in your life? You are invited to come and rest in God at our Longest Night Service on Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00 p.m. It is a quiet, meditative service with music, prayer, scriptures, and an uplifting message. Do you know of others who are hurting? Please offer to bring them. The community is welcome and encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Laura Speiran, Minister of Congregational Care—625-2611 x222; [email protected].

Family Advent Devotional available I recently came across this statement, “Your kids will focus on what you focus on, especially during the holidays.” With our busy lives becoming even more busy during Advent, it’s easy to lose our focus. Pastor Amy has put together a devotional booklet with things for families to talk about and do each day of Advent, to help you find meaning in the season. Every child in Sunday School on November 30 will receive them. They will also be available that day in the Narthex, and on Family Advent Night. It’s a self directed study, you can do as many or as few as the activities you’d like. We encourage families to take this time of reflection as we prepare to welcome the Christ Child into our hearts this Christmas.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE TIMES

4:30pm Family Service w/Children’s Choirs & Candle Lighting 7:00pm Candle Lighting with Youth Choir & Carols 9:00pm Candle Lighting with Adult Choir & Carols 11:00pm Candle Lighting with Communion, Special Music & Carols

mailto:[email protected]

Family Ministry - Children What an Amazing Trunk or Treat weekend! We had approximately 275 participants in our 5k/1mile Trunk or Treat Trot and raised a few thousand dollars for missions. And thank you to all who provided trunks and candy for our Community Trunk or Treat. We had +700 hundred people attend! We could not have done it without you.

Live Nativity and Community Advent Night is Wednesday, Dec. 3rd. Join us for dinner (5:00-7-pm), walk through our live nativity (5-8pm), feed some animals at the live petting zoo (5-8pm), make an advent craft (5-7pm), and join us for Christmas carols in the sanctuary (7-7:30pm). Enjoy cookies and cocoa/coffee all evening too. Bring friends and neighbors as this event is open to all (and FREE). If you are able, please donate a few dozen of your favorite Christmas cookies to share that night. Angels and Shepherds are needed for our LIVE NATIVITY! We need kids, youth AND adults to sign up for 1 or more 20-minute “shifts” to be angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph and wisemen for our live nativity on Dec. 3rd from 5-8pm. Hang out with live sheep, goats, a cow, llama and Gunther the camel as we re-create the manger scene on the night of Jesus’ birth.

Christmas Sweater Day is Dec. 21st. Wear your favorite Christmas sweater to Sunday school as we celebrate with a brief Christmas party in Children’s church that day.

No Sunday school or Angels on Nov. 30th or Dec. 29th--Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas! Children are encouraged to attend worship with their families. Quiet activities will be available.

Looking Ahead---Family Movie Night on January 9th. Join us at CUMC on Friday, January 9th at 7pm for a movie, some popcorn, and drinks---free of charge, of course! We will show a couple of movies, so you can pick your favorite.

Thank you for an awesome start . . . I want to thank all of our Sunday school families and volunteers for a great start to our 2014-15 Sunday school year. We have worked hard, learned more and more about our loving God, grown closer to Him, and had a great amount of fun along the way. I am looking forward to a magnificent 2015 for our children and families. I wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas ----Annette Siminski

Family Ministry - FUEL Community Advent Night: Live Nativity December 3rd 5-8pm Come out and join us for a night of fun, cookies, dinner, carols, live nativity and of course Gunther the Camel. You can join in the event by signing up for a time slot to be a shepherd, angel, Mary, Joseph or Wiseman on the Family board in the hall. SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH GROUP , 6-7:30PM Sunday Night Youth Group FUEL topics for December: December 7th: Culture Night/Advent night December 14th: Christmas Party No Youth Group November 30, December 21 or December 28th. Happy Holidays! SPRING HILL FUEL RETREAT, JANUARY 23-25 Our Fuel youth are scheduled to go to Spring Hill for our annual retreat in January. To secure a spot please note that a deposit of $50 is due December 5th. The total cost for the event is $135.00. This is a great event that the youth love. We will have a parent meeting update on January 11th at 7:15pm, to discuss the upcoming year’s events including the Spring Hill trip. Youth Breakfast Club Youth Breakfast Club continues at 9 and 11am in our newly painted and carpeted Youth Lounge. A lite breakfast will be provided. Please go on to signup genius to sign up to help supply food. Adult leaders will lead our youth in reading the scripture for that day, praying for our congregation and watching the pastor’s sermon together, as it is stream lined into the classroom. Following the sermon the leaders will guide our youth in discussion questions our pastors have provided related to the sermon that day. This is a great time for our youth to take part in the sermon while connecting with others in their peer group. I hope your youth will join us each Sunday. No Breakfast Club November 30, December 21 and December 28th. Happy Holidays! SAVE THE DATES-LOOKING AHEAD Community Advent Night: Dec. 3th @5-8pm Deposit Due for Spring Hill- December, 5th Parent Meeting- January 11th, 7:15pm Spring Hill FUEL Retreat-January 23-25th Super Bowl Party: Feb. 1st @5pm at Annette Siminski’s house Fuel Mission Trip: June 28 evening-July 2 (1 overnighton Sunday, the rest are day trips)

Family Ministry - High School Youth Sunday, December 7- 6-7:30 Student and Parent meeting to plan for: 30 Hour Famine, Spring Hill and Righteous Mission. Rev. Carl Gladstone of Motown Mission, our 2015 RM Destination, will be with us. Following the meeting, representatives of the building committee will offer a 30 minute town hall presentation for those interested in learning more about our building plans. Sunday, December 14- 6-7:30 Christmas Party! Youth should bring a White Elephant Gift for our party!

If you are leaving town to head south—please contact the church office

248-625-1611 or [email protected]—to update contact information with the dates you will be gone. Thank you.

For more information contact Mary Gladstone-Highland at

[email protected]

ADULT EDUCATION

The Sunday Parlor class for adults (10:05-10:55) will be not be meeting December 7 (Alternative Gift Fair) or December 14 (Christmas Cantata). We are glad to support the mission and music ministries of the church with our presence and hospitality of using the parlor to rest between services.

January 2015 Studies

Tuesday Morning Parlor Study (meets 9:30-11 am)- Mary Gladstone-Highland will be leading the Bridges Out of Poverty study beginning January 6, 2015. This study looks at the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty from an individual to a systemic level and develops strategies and tools for a community to prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty. Class meets January 6,13,20 and February 3,10,17.

New Class! Beginning Wednesday evening, January 7, 2015 from 7pm- 8:30pm in the parlor. Childcare available. Discussion will be on the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) using Timothy Keller’s dvd and book study, The Prodigal God. This is a powerful study that will challenge you to live into this study with a whole new mind-set. Brian Pospy will be facilitating.

February 2015 Study: Luke-Acts Disciple 2 – Study of Luke and Acts with Pastor Rick. Begins February 3, 2015 In Fellowship Hall from 7-8:30 pm. Be sure to sign up to reserve your workbook. This class studies the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts of the Apostles and tells the story of Jesus’ life and ministry and the early church. Sign up at www.clarkstonumc.org, Adult Ed bulletin board.

The next Beth Moore Bible study starting in January 2015 is The Law of Love: Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy. It is a lecture series by Beth Moore including six sessions. The videos are 90 minutes in length, but there will NOT be daily homework with this study. Each participant will need to purchase a listening guide for $10 which will be available the first day of study. The listening guide will also include six supplemental articles by Beth's daughter, Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick. This study will start on January 15, 2015 and end on February 19, 2015. We will continue to meet on Thursday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 am. If you are interested in joining this Beth Moore study, there will be a sign-up sheet placed on the bulletin board by the Cross Roads.

http://www.clarkstonumc.org

CUMC Bookclub – All Readers Welcome!

January 20, 2015 – Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. This book is historical fiction based on the real life story of Sarah Grimke, a woman born in Charleston in 1803. She was the daughter of a South Carolina judge and plantation owner who became a voice for abolition, women’s rights and a Quaker. The book explores race relations, gender roles, the law and belief. Well written and wonderful for discussion!

February 17- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This book is a finalist for the National Book Award.

The Alternative Christmas Gift Fair Is Here!!!

Come join us in Fellowship Hall Saturday, Dec. 6th (9am – 4pm) Sunday, Dec. 7th (10am – 1 pm)

Here are some of the great organizations who will be in the fair this year:

Ten Thousand Villages Equal Exchange Coffee, Tea and Chocolate

HHHH ● OATS ● WAR, International Song & Spirit Institute for Peace ● and many more

Come browse through the unique and beautiful handcrafted items created by

artisans from around the world. Donate in a loved one’s name

to a mission agency that will help others. Have lunch at our café

and make your own unique box of Christmas cookies from our UMW’s selection of handmade goodies!

Don’t miss any of the fun! This year your Visa & Mastercard are welcome.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with this event there are many opportunities available. Please

contact Phyllis Choops at [email protected]

CUMC’s 2014 Alternative Christmas Gift Fair

Give Gifts that Change Lives

Building Committee Throughout 2014, the Building Committee continued to shepherd the Ministry Expansion needs on behalf of the congregation. - Established the Building Committee as well as Finance, Communications, Programming & Design/Architect/Build subcommittees - Toured a number of churches to select an experienced architect - Generated conceptual designs, addressing our Ministry Areas of Focus - Hosted a series of Town Hall information sessions and gained valuable congregational feedback - Hired a Capital Campaign & Stewardship Consultant - Hosted a member interviews and surveys with Horizons Stewardship - Approved a Construction Management Firm, to work with the architect to develop detailed designs Throughout this process, we have received enthusiastic support from our church family through your prayers and participation.

In 2015, we will: - Provide a timeline for the potential design, congregational review, fundraising, and build - Work with SA+A and Rewold on Detailed Design possibilities - Host Several congregational meetings to present the designs & gain approval - Present the master plan for District Approval - Kick-off the Capital Campaign in February - Enhance the information on the church website (Expansion)

We thank you for your continued support and active involvement. Please continue to pray for our ministry expansion and all of the possibilities it brings!

Our thanks to the following committee members for their continued support & participation: Sandy Ballew, Amy Mayo-Moyle, Debbie Bishop, Matt Mellen, Rick Dake, Sandra Peterman, Debi Damico , Jeff Smolek, Collen Godfrey, Annette Siminski, Ric Huttenlocher, Tom Snudden, Neal Hoxsie, Bob Wyatt

CUMC WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY 9:00 —10:00am Worship Service

9:00—10:00am Sunday School 9-10am Youth Breakfast Club (Youth Lounge) 10-11am Angels In Training (201-205) 10:10– 10:50am Parlor Class (Parlor) 10:10– 10:50am Parent’s Circle (Adult Classroom) 11:00—12:00pm Worship Service 11:00—12:00pm Sunday School 11-12pm Youth Breakfast Club (Youth Lounge) 6-7:30pm Fuel & HS Youth Groups (FH)

MONDAY 1-4pm Line Dancing (FH) 1:00—2:30pm Knitting from the Heart (Par) 4pm– 5:30pm Gentle Yoga (Par) 6:00—7:00pm Tai Chi (FH) 7:00—9:00pm AA Meeting (Yth Clr)

TUESDAY 9:30-12PM Caring Hearts Bible Study (Yth Clr) 9:30-11am Tuesday Morning Study (Parlor) 7-8:30pm Disciple II (FH)

WEDNESDAY 7:00—8:30am Optimist Club (FH) 9:15—11:15am Covenant Group (Lib) 4:15-4:45pm Sign Choir (FH) 4:30-5:15pm Angelus Bells ( Music Rm) 5-6pm Wed. Night Youth Dinner (Adult Classroom) 5:15-6pm Cherub Choir (Par) & Wesley Choir (Music Rm) 6-6:45pm Youth Choir (Music Rm) 6:30-8:30pm Companion Group (Library) 6:45-7:30pm Celebration Ringers (Music Rm) 7:30-9pm Jubilation Ringers (Music Rm)

THURSDAY 7:30—9:00am Clarkston Coffee Club (FH)

6:30—7:30pm Men’s Bible Study (Lib) 6:45— 7:45pm DivorceCare (Par) 7:30—8:30 pm Chancel Choir (Music Rm)

FRIDAY

7:00—8:00am Men’s Bible Study 7:00—9:00pm AA Meeting

Sun Mon

1 Building Cmt Mtg

(Brd rm) 5pm

7

ACGF 10am-1pm

Confirmation Mtg (FH) 3pm

8 Trustee Meeting

(Par) 7pm Transitioning

Parents (Lib) 7pm

14 Contata Sunday

Single Parents Lunch 12:15pm

Youth Christmas Party (FH)7pm

15 SPRC Mtg(Par)

7pm Farkle Club (FH)

7pm Ed I Meeting

7:30pm

Mission Mtg (Adl

21

50 & Over: DSO Concert meet at

church at 1:30pm

No Youth group

22

Food Pantry pickup 10am & 7pm

28 No Children/adult

Sunday School No Youth group

29 No Knitting

2014 Christmas Cardsto the Pastoral Emergency Fund. Cards designed by CUMC member, Jan Mayer.

Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

2 Clarkston Comm

Women’s Club (Lib) 6:45pm

3 Susanna Wesley

9:15am

Community Advent Night &

Live Nativity 5-8pm

Alethea Rose Circle (offsite)

4 Clarkston Garden

Club (Nar) 9am

5 Cookie Dropoff for

ACGF (Yth Clr) 8am

6 ACGF (FH)

9-4pm Chancel Choir

Rehearsal (Sanc) 9am

9

10

Memorial Committee

8:45am

Senior Center Luncheon 12pm

CUMC Mtg (Adult Clr) 7pm

11

12

13

MIA Day Bridgewater

(FH) 10am

16 Mission Mtg (Adl

Clr) 7pm

17 Building Cmt (Rm

201) 5pm Longest Night

Worship Service 7pm

18

19 20 Christmas

Connection 10-2pm

Parent’s Night Out (FH) 5pm

23

Christmas Eve24 Worship Services

4:30pm, 7pm, 9pm & 11pm

Christmas 25

Building Closed

26 Building Closed

27

30

2014 Christmas Cards—Cards are sold in packages of 10 for $15.00. Proceeds will go

to the Pastoral Emergency Fund. Cards designed by CUMC member, Jan Mayer.

Look for the most recent event listings at our website at : www.clarkstonumc.org

31 New Year’s Eve

Building Closed

UMW United Methodist Women Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From the CUMC United Methodist Women! UMW Circles December meetings. Alethea Rose –Alethea Rose will meet at Nancy Hanna's at 6 p.m. on Wed., December 3 for their annual Christmas Party and gift exchange. Please contact Nancy Hanna for details at 248-340-3941 or [email protected] if you'd like to join us.

Susanna Wesley – Susanna Wesley Circle will met Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 9:15 am in the parlor; we will be preparing gift bags for the girls at Children’s Village and sharing a musical activity. Please bring a small bag of wrapped candy for the girls and tampons and/or instant oatmeal packets for the CUMC Pantry. Call Paula at 248-625-5797 if you have any questions.

United Methodist Men’s Breakfast – A big “Thank You” to Cindy Oltman, Holly Stowers, and Kathy Hardy for volunteering to help Laura Markarian prepare breakfast for the United Methodist Men on November 16 so the regular helpers could have a Sunday off.

UMW Cookie Sale – The Cookies by the Pound sale sponsored by the UMW and part of the Alternative Gift Fair on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, is coming up fast. Please pull out your favorite cookie recipes, put on your apron and start baking! If you have already signed up to bake, thank you. We accept all cookie donations and the proceeds from the sale will go to "Camperships" (camp scholarships) for the youth of the church. Last year over 20 kids received some money toward a camp of their choice. Cookies may be dropped off in the youth classroom starting Friday, December 5.

Crossroads District Christmas Party – Friday, December 6 – Grand Blanc UMC. 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Reception and Dinner. 6:30 – Program. All are welcome. No charge for dinner. Free Will Offering will be taken for Imagine No More Malaria.

SAVE THE DATE—2015 Events

March 14, 2015 - United Methodist Women’s Annual Prayer Breakfast – Davison United Methodist Church.

April 28 – May 3, 2015 - Crossroads District United Methodist Women Mission Trip – This year we will be going to Branson, Missouri.

For further information on any of the above events, please call Suzanne Tinka at (248) 625-3405 or E-mail: [email protected].

Blessings; Suzanne Tinka, President CUMC United Methodist Women

tel:248-340-3941


UMM United Methodist Men

CUMC Men's Bible Study

Thursday evening, 6:30pm-7:30pm - Library (Jeff Smolek)

Friday morning, 7:00am-8:00am (Bob Hoff)

CUMC SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING Dec 6, 13, 20 - 2014 We are signing up for the 2014 CUMC Salvation Army Bell Ringing at all 3 Krogers in Clarkston on Dec 6, 13 & 20 from 9am-5pm & at Neiman's Market on Dec 20 from 9am-5pm (1 hour shifts). There are 38 Open Time Slots left to be filled, so we really need your help ringing this year please! To signup please, email Jay at [email protected]. Send your first choice with your Name, Date,Time,Location, and your second choice too. We will have sign up after both Services on Sunday Nov 23rd & 30th at the Crossroads!!! Ring Locations:

Kroger 6625 Dixie Hwy/Maybee, Clarkston (9a-5p)

Kroger 9741 Dixie Hwy/Davisburg, Clarkston (9a-5p)

Kroger 5990 Sashabaw Rd/Maybee, Clarkston (9a-5p)

Neiman's 7121 Dixie Hwy/White Lake, Clarkston (9a-5p)

December 2014 marks the 28th year that Clarkston United Methodist MEN has sponsored the Salvation Army Bell Ringing in Clarkston. Thanks & Merry Christmas, ~ Jay Bleim 248 625-0875 ([email protected])

The next CUMC Men's Breakfast will be Sunday Jan 18, 2015 at 7:30am in FH - Dan Hays Ministry

CLARKSTON



A FEW WORDS FROM YOUR LAY LEADERS Poverty Gives Rise to God’s Rich Generosities

He was born into poverty – our Lord Jesus Christ. He lived in poverty – the one we adore. He, to whom poverty was no hindrance, had no grandiose dreams of a “better life”, of attaining a promotion or a newer car. His trust in his Father was complete. There were no wandering or confusing thoughts about his purpose on this earth. He knew the why – he was here “to be about his Father’s work.” Each of us is acquainted with poverty in some way, some intimately, others distantly. For some, it is a way of life, either brought on by current circumstances or by the culture of generations. For others, it is only a word. For some, there is the desperate desire to shed the chains of the condition. For others, there is an acceptance that a daily struggle for survival is the reality of life. The pain of our sisters and brothers fighting for survival with limitation of resources - food, water, health care, shelter and employment - is our pain. It should be our pain. When one part of the body suffers, so does the entire body. At a recent Liberia Summit Conference of our United Methodist Church, tears were shed for the suffering in that country: for its history of severe poverty, for the ravaging effects of civil wars, for the devastating Ebola crisis and the long-term effects of it all. I was profoundly moved, however, by the overarching theme of joy and celebration of the United Methodist partnerships with schools, churches, missions and missionaries that are transforming those of Liberia as well as those helping. These are partnerships that are through individuals with a passion for Liberians, through churches in covenant relationships and through the UM General Board of Global Missions - all joined in efforts to do our Father’s work. Many of you understand. You practice extravagant generosity – giving of yourself to service in Christ’s name, giving time to be in prayer for the needs of others, giving from the depths of your pockets. All these efforts in concert bring about the rich generosities of God: touching (which Ebola has brought to a halt), hugging, living in hope, loving, relationships, praying, encouraging each other, forgiveness, working in harmony, sorrow shared, laughter, reconciliation, living in His love. For us, today, the picture is clear – in order to know and extend the generosities of God, we must be about our Father’s work. Brenda DuPree Lay Leader

Announcements

Calling all Bakers!! The Cookies by the Pound sale sponsored by the UMW and part of the Alternative Gift Fair on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, is coming up fast. Please pull out your favorite cookie recipes, put on your apron and start baking! If you have already signed up to bake, thank you. We accept all cookie donations and the proceeds from the sale will go to "Camperships" (camp scholarships) for the youth of the church. Last year over 20 kids received some money toward a camp of their choice. Cookies may be dropped off in the youth classroom starting Friday, December 5.

Additional Volunteers needed in the Nursery and Toddler Rooms for the 4:30pm and 7pm Christmas Eve services. If you are available to help please contact Michele at [email protected] or sign up on the bulletin board outside the Toddler Room.

Mission Candles There are several openings for Mission Candles on December 7,14, 24th (all 4 services) and the 28th. Honor, celebrate or remember someone special. We have also put the new 2015 pages in the book for dedication. The candle book is located in the church office.

Transitioning Aging Parents— will meet on Dec. 8th at 7 pm for our December meeting.

These cards will be available in the church office during the week, between services in the crossroad hallway and at the ACGF on Dec 6 & 7th in Fellowship Hall.

11 x 14 signed & numbered prints are also available for a cost of $35.00 each.


50 and Over 50 and OVER is a vibrant group that enjoys the fun and fellowship of monthly mid-day social gatherings. We meet for potluck lunches, programs and field trips. You are heartily welcomed and encouraged to attend any time! We usually meet on the third Friday of the month. Watch the Bulletin for detailed information and sign up on the 50 and Over bulletin board in the hallway. Contact for questions: Lou and Brenda DuPree, [email protected], 248-625- 5141. December 21, 2014 Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Home for the Holidays Pop Concert, 3pm. Dinner afterwards. We will van and carpool at 1:15pm from the church. January 16, 2014 Program will feature a speaker on Identity Theft from the

Noon office of the Michigan Attorney General. Potluck lunch

will be at noon in the Parlor. We would love for you to join us.

Gift Cards Needed — If you would like to give a gift card that can be used to help others at Christmas time, please drop it off in the Gift Card Box in the office. Gift cards to Meijer, Kroger, Target, Kohl’s, Gas stations etc. are much appreciated.

Christmas Connection — Thank you to all who are sponsoring and buying gifts for our Christmas Connection Families. The distribution day is Saturday, December 20. We will be contacting you regarding your Christmas Family’s distribution time. Questions, see Pastor Amy or Mary Gladstone-Highland.

“Messiah” – Make a Note in your calendar. December 14th the CUMC Chancel Choir will offer selections from the Christmas section of “Messiah” by George Fredrick Handel for the Sunday services. We will have a string quartet, Jubilate Bells, and soloists from the choir. The scripture readings and discussion will center on the verses selected by Charles Jennens (the librettist) for “Messiah”. Join us at either 9:00 or 11:00 and bring your friends. It will be a great way to prepare for Christmas.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Continued

2014 Alternative Christmas Gift Fair — Come join us in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, Dec. 6th (9am – 4pm) and Sunday, Dec, 7nd (10am – 1 pm). See the full page ad on page 10 for more details.

Service Directory available—If you’ve ever needed a photographer or electrician or Handyman and didn’t have any names –here’s your answer. We now have a CUMC Directory and copies are available in the office.

Gentle Yoga is having a price break for Christmas! 4 weeks (Nov. 25, Dec. 1, 8, 15) for $20. Drop in rate remains $10 per week. Take some time to relax and stretch during this bustling season. No class the weeks of Dec 22 and 29. Yoga will resume Jan.5th. For any questions contact Mary O'Rourke at [email protected]

DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays is a warm, encouraging and helpful event, featuring video instruction and group discussion to help people deal with the intense pain of separation and divorce during the holiday season. Learn how to take care of yourself and get a sense of hope and healing. Community is welcome and encouraged to attend. Thursday, December 4, 2014, 6:45-8:30 p.m. Single Parent Group will meet for lunch on Sunday, December 14 at 12:15!

Missions

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, we will be carpooling to Ed Noll's workshop near Hadley to fabricate and assemble parts for the PET vehicles. We will meet at the church at 08:15, and be back by about 12:30. You should wear clothing appropriate for the weather that would not be ruined by a little paint. Bring your favorite work gloves. Please let me know by e-mail or phone if you can help with this activity. Thanks & God Bless.... Dave Kauffman [email protected] cell: 248-425-3132 Website: www.petmieastmi.org


http://us.mc301.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]

http://www.petmieastmi.org/

THANK YOU

A BIG THANK YOU to CUMC, who helped make the 2014 Mission Possible, our 5th Fundraiser and Auction, a big success! We raised $15,246.24 - 4,000 over last years count! This money raised will benefit local, regional and global mission work and change many lives. We thank you for your support and wish you and yours a blessed holiday season.

Thank You CUMC from SBFTH Team!!! The Sleeping Bags For The Homeless (SBFTH) Ministry Team would like to thank the CUMC congregation for their generous donations of sleeping bags, winter coats, winter clothing, boots/shoes, hats, mittens/gloves and McDonald gift cards. A group of 80 awesome volunteers from CUMC & St. Dan's Catholic Church (men, women, youth from the Confirmation class, Youth Group, Girl Scouts & Angels In Training) ministered to 247 people (87 men, 93 women & 67 children) at Father Blasko's North End Soup Kitchen in Flint on Sat Nov 15, 2014. We handed out 194 sleeping bags, 10 blankets, 205 winter coats, 50 XXX-L heavy flannel shirt jackets, 247 McDonald gift cards, 81 pair winter boots/shoes, 220 personal care bags (from the AIT & Jr. Optimist) & 265 bags of Halloween candy (assembled by AIT). Jeff Smolek must have lead the song "Happy Birthday" about 6 times to the kids who came through the receiving line. Thanks & God Bless, from the CUMC SBFTH Ministry Team! Thank you to all who took a sack and brought it back. Thanks to your generosity, CUMC provided over 250 sacks of food and over $400 for turkeys for holiday food baskets. Blessings! CUMC Mission Outreach Team

Prayer Requests Prayer Requests for church bulletin and/or Prayer Chain:

Use pew card, contact Suzanne Tinka—email [email protected]. For congregational care contact Rev. Laura Speiran at [email protected]

Your prayers are requested for:

Congregation and their Family Members

Katie Adams, Mary Aleksoff, Todd Arcane, Mary Bannasch, Doris & Bob Beattie, Brian Barthelmes, Blaze Beeson & Family, Jeff Bleim, Diana Bullen, John Bundridge, Erica & Trevor Cale, Ralph Carter, Anne Chen, Linda Clark, The Cobb Family, Cameron Corder, Jean Daab, Steve Dempster, Jenny DuPree, Linda Duddles, Phil Dutton, Judy & Larry Ettinger, Cameron Fortinberry, Bob Greene, Shannon Hanson, Robert & Judith Hempton, Michelle Henry, Elliott Hirn, Illene Kauffman, Tom Hoff, Victor Ison, Ruth Ellsworth Jones, Vineese Kasari, Patricia Kerrick, Casey Knott, Lynne Kristi, Jan Lucich, Laura Madison, Kelley Martin, Bernice McCarrick, Ed McGregor, Kelsey Merz, Lila Miller, Jim Morrison, John Morrison, Florence Nauman, Ed Nagel, Pat Ouellette, Gordan Palmer, Dallas Peterman, Jacques Poirier, Heather Robinson, Bill Samson, Yvonne Sleight, Matt Smolek, Steve Stadler, Kaleb St. Dennis, Carol Stover, Charles & Patricia Sutherland, Arlyce Tague, Armen Tamakian, Jameson Timberlake, Robert & Linda Tudor, Dave Valley, Nancy Vance, Justin Van Hooser, Joan Veale, Maynard White, Leslie Wills, Noah Wills & family, Shawna Wisser, Anne Wohlford, David & Matthew Wood and Bill Zorka.

Friends of the Congregation

Jan Altermatt, Kathy Bacon, Lisa Ballinger, Sandy Balone, Kitty Battaglia, Amy Castell, Baby Collin, Marilyn Campbell, Jim Carpenter & Family, Dorothea Flagg & Family, Betty Cole, Karen Cooper, Dan, Tony Davidge, Bernita Hawes, Abigail Herrmann, Abby Hixson, Jim Hopson, Fritz Kruger, Dawn Lamb, Linda, Joyce Lewis, Tom Lowell, Jim MacDonald, Jaclyn Martini, Baby Maya. Larry Moceri, Cheryl Noll, Rev. Barbara Nolin, Rebekah Oman, Marcia Outlaw, Jean Pachuta, Shirley Pfundter, Rachel Rea, Alicia Riegel, Fred Rohrbach, Russ, Peggy Schroeder, Shawn & Jon Schwarts, Joe Seddon, Matt & Kathleen Shipley, Larry Sholtey, Wendy Sylvain, Cody Sleva, Sue, Jim Terrill, Taryn Tucker, Jim Walker, Robert Ward, Sr., Brian & Lezley Wells and Wendy Wisniewski

In Care Facilities

Golda Cecil, Rev. Jon Clapp, Peggy Dryer, Marilyn Guzzo, Jean Koskela, Freda Meyland, JD Powell, Jan Sutton, and Robert Wickell.

At Home

Jim & Kay Coates, Jean Macklem, Bernice McCarrick, and Bob Morse

Serving Our Country

Maggie Adams, Robert Baird, Aron Bland, Joe Bondy, Madeline Bondy, Josh Brewer, Scott Brewer, Becky Bucar, Tommy Bullen, Tommy John Burbank, Christopher Carbone, Sean Coppinger, Cameron Corder, Shawn Flanigan, Charlie Fulton, Michael Galbraith, Jim Goerss, Joshua Goerss, Ansel Gruenberg, Ariel Gruenberg, Luke Harris, Gentry Herring, Courtney Koskela, Greg LeClaire, Tommy Lewis, Matt Murphy, John Nickerson, Lisa Pasternak, Wendy Pinter, Eric Spieran, Ben Tartell, John Wawruck, Nicholas White, Dennis Wisser, Justin Wisser, and Gabriel Zapata

Church Staff

Main Number: 248-625-1611 Email: [email protected] Website: www.clarkstonumc.org

Richard Dake, Senior Pastor ext. 223 Amy Mayo-Moyle, Associate Pastor ext. 224 Laura Speiran, Minster of Congregational Care ext. 222 Christine Wyatt, Minister of Adult Education ext. 226

Kim Bishop, Choral Director Jeremy Dean, Director of Facilities/Caretaker ext. 234 Michele Ettinger, Children & FUEL Coordinator ext. 235 Mary Gladstone-Highland, Community Outreach Director ext. 222 Collen Godfrey, Executive Director of Ministries ext. 250 Cheryl Kelly, Administrative Assistant ext. 227 Jack McCarrick, Evening Caretaker ext. 252 Judy Mellen, Handbell Choirs Director ext. 253 Stephan Merk, Sunday Morning Audio Visual Tech Carole Meyers, Finance Manager ext. 221 Mike Miller, Sunday Night Worship A/V Coordinator Michele Poirier, Childcare Coordinator ext. 232 Stephanie Polonkey, Cherub Choir Director ext. 251 Annette Siminski, Director of Family Ministries ext. 233 Matt Stachowiak, Sunday Evening Caretaker Holly Stowers, Office Volunteer ext. 220 Kathy Waechter, Finance Assistant ext. 221 Leslie Wills, Principal Organist ext. 229 Neal Wright, Sunday Night Worship Music Leader ext. 255

Submission deadlines Mail date

December Issue/ Tue Nov 18 Fri, Nov 28

January Issue/ Tue., Dec 16 Fri. Dec 19

February Issue/ Mon. Feb 17 Fri. Feb 20

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