813 West Myrtle Street

Stillwater, MN 55082

phone: 651.439.1880

email: firstumc@msn.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

We’re on the web!

www.fumcstillwater.org

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

PERMIT NO. 132

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

STILLWATER, MN 55082 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Dec. 2 Deb Auer, Robert Erickson, Marshall White, Meara White; Dec. 3

Jennifer Bye, Dec. 4 Abraham Anderson, Judy Holst; Dec. 7 Cole Funck; Dec. 8

Ann Haraldson, Gail Martell; Dec. 10 Sharon McAuliffe; Dec. 11 Abby Helwig,

Blair Smith; Dec. 13 Bernie Darling; Dec. 14 Karla Keller; Dec. 20 Drew

Keller; Dec. 23 Natalie Janssen; Dec. 24 Kris Huntley, Diane Jackson, Jane

Krentz, Ray Marshall; Dec. 25 Jessica Holst; Dec. 26 Sue Niethammer; Dec. 27

William Bickner; Dec. 28 Kristine Bruggemann, Erin Hoff; Dec. 30 Maurice

Grogan, Brett Hartman, Jason Haugen, Teresa Myhra, Elias Roll.

Jan. 2 Anita Carter, Mary Harcey; Jan. 4 Ellen Campbell, Angie Deaton, Brett

Keller; Jan. 7 Sabrina Myrah, Jacki Butterfield, Jenny Heaton; Jan.8 Joe Haines,

Sarah Joyal; Jan. 11 Myrtle Potter; Jan. 12 Joe Hibberd; Jan. 17 Jackson Wright;

Jan. 20 Benjamin Tabios; Jan. 21 Doreen Miller, Kathleen Ramsay; Jan. 24 Lor-

raine Weber; Jan. 25 Sarah Norheim; Jan. 26 Diane Petterson; Jan. 27 Allison

Hibberd, Ernie Jones; Jan. 28 Taylor Tabios; Jan. 29 Parker Tabios, Helen To-

relle; Jan. 30 Alan Salmela.

December

January

Pastors: Marty Raths & Donna Buell

Organist: Kathy Hartman

Music Director: Becca Bellman

Youth Director: Cynthia Frederick

Office Manager: Monica Basaker

DEC - JAN 2017/18

From the desk of the Pastors

This Advent season our theme is CHRISTMAS COMES and is inspired by the refrain of “Star Child” which

is a song in The Faith We Sing. We will be singing that refrain as we light our Advent candles of hope,

peace, love and joy this season. This song is a prayer for the day when “Christmas comes for everyone

alive.” We invite you to join us in offering this prayer throughout the Advent season, that all might have

the opportunity to experience the great good news of God’s Word and God’s love made flesh. And in

keeping with our theme, we share with you a poem by Ann Weems called “The Coming of God.”

The Coming of God - by Ann Weems

Our God is the One who comes to us

in a burning bush,

in an angel’s song.

in a newborn child. Our God is the One who cannot be found

locked in the church,

not even in the sanctuary.

Our God will be where God will be

with no constraints,

no predictability.

Our God lives where our God lives,

and destruction has no power

and even death cannot stop

the living.

Our God will be born where God will be born,

but there is no place to look for the One who comes to us.

When God is ready

God will come

even to a godforsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

Watch . . .

for you know not when

God comes.

Watch, that you might be found

whenever

wherever

God comes.

Growing in Love of God and Neighbor,

Pastors Marty and Donna

December 3rd

First Sunday of Advent - Hope

“I’m Dreaming of a _____ Christmas”

Isaiah 11:1-9, I Corinthians 1:3-9 (Prophet Isaiah)

Sacrament of Communion

December 10th

Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

“What’s on Your List?”

Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8

(John the Baptist)

Children’s Program

December17th

Third Sunday of Advent - Love

“Ready or Not, Here it Comes!”

Matthew 1:18-25 (Joseph)

Choral Christmas Sunday

December 24th

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Joy

“What are you doing for Christmas?”

Luke 1:26-38 (Mary)

December 31st

1st Sunday after Christmas

“This year…”

OUR CHIRSTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES

5:00 pm

Come join us for a family-friendly service of worship at 5:00 pm. We will hear the Christmas story as told in

scripture and song. We will light the Christ candle, and we will be sharing a children’s Christmas story.

Though we will not have a family band this year, there will be special music. The service will end with the

spreading of light throughout the sanctuary as we sing Silent Night. What a lovely way to begin your Christ-

mas Eve!

10:00 pm - Please note the time!

On Christmas Eve night we will gather at 10:00 pm to hear the story of the first Christmas in scripture and

song. Special music will be provided by choir and bells, organ and piano. We will light the Christ candle and

spread the light of Christ throughout the sanctuary as we end the service with Silent Night, then we will be

sent out into the night to share the light of Christ with our neighbors near and far.

Adult Sunday School

The Letter of James

Trip to Israel

During December, we will finish our study of the Letter of James. It is a brief letter, just four chapters, but it

is filled with very wise advice about Christian faith and practice. December 10th Randi and Bryon Torgerson

will share with us about their recent trip to Israel. These studies are open to everyone, so come join us at

9:30 am in the Wesley Room.

Come Caroling! Come Share the Spirit of Christmas!

Sunday, December 10th, at 4:00 pm

We will be going caroling as a way to share a little of the Christmas spirit

with some of the members of our church family. This is an event for all

ages, and children and youth are especially welcome, and especially

appreciated by those whom we visit. We will gather at the church at

4:00 pm, and we should be done caroling around 5:30 pm.

ADVENT WORSHIP Christmas Comes “This year, this year, let the day arrive

when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive.” Star Child

L IFE IN THE CHURCH

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Wednesday Game Nights

We continue our tradition of Church Family Game Nights following

our Wednesday evening meals. People of all ages are encouraged to

stick around and play together after dinner, if they don’t have

another commitment.

Music for the Season

Come enjoy music of the season as presented by The St. Croix Valley Flute Collective in a

concert at Trinity Lutheran Church (1205 6th Street in Hudson, WI) at 2:00 pm on Sunday,

December 10th. FUMC’s own Becca Hallock-Wolff will be playing with this ensemble, as they

present traditional Christmas carols along with other classic seasonal music. All are welcome!

Help Make No-Sew Fleece Blankets

We invite you to gather on Sunday

afternoon, December

3rd at 3:00 pm to assist

in creating no-sew fleece

blankets that will be

distributed to a shelter.

Fleece will be

provided by the Mission Committee,

just bring your good scissors! This is

a project for all ages! We will have hot

cider, tea, goodies, and Christmas music.

Questions? Speak with the pastors or

Heather Donoho.

More….

In this newsletter you will find an Advent Calendar. The calendar was

designed by Rev. Thomas Mousin and Rev. Merry Waters who have collab-

orated on creating illustrated Advent Calendars for nearly 30 years. Thom- as

is a seminary classmate of Pastors Donna and Marty and has given us per-

mission to use this calendar freely in spreading the good news of Advent.

Thank you Thomas! You can find additional information about the calendar

and its creators online at: https://thomasmousin.wordpress.com/

Online advent calendar:

https://thomasmousin.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/2017adventcalendar.pdf

If you ordered Puffins from

the Rivertown Ringers, you

may pick them up at supper on

Wednesday December 13th, or

on Sundays after the 13th.

Thank you so much for your support of our

music ministry!

Also Rivertown Ringers will not rehearse

on December 6 th or 27th.

MUSIC NEWS

L IFE IN THE CHURCH

CHRISTMAS CHORAL MUSIC SUNDAY

December 17th during our 10:30 am worship

This year, rather than purchasing a new Cantata, we have dug into our choir anthem files and selected a

variety of Christmas anthems and Carol arrangements. This music will be woven throughout our wor-

ship service. Something a little different but equally lovely! It isn’t too late to join our rehearsals. Look-

ing ahead, we are planning to purchase an Easter Cantata to share during the Easter season!

We are grateful to all of our musicians for sharing special music through this holy Advent/Christmas sea-

son and all year round!

Give the Gift of Reading

As you are shopping for the elementary age school children in your life (children, grandchildren, nieces,

nephews, neighbors…), please consider giving the gift of reading. And to help you choose a book, our

church-school partnership team has created a brochure, in consultation with the Lily

Lake Media Specialist, with lists of suggested books that Elementary School readers will

enjoy. If you have children grades K-5 in your family, please pick up a copy of the bro-chure at church or print it from the link on our website. We are also making this bro-

chure available to the families of Lily Lake Elementary School

Christmas Project

Sunny Hill Preschool

Christmas is not that far off, and every year our Mission Committee recom-

mends a special project for our congregation to include in our holiday giving.

This Christmas Season they are recommending that we support the special relationship

that we have with our Sunny Hill Preschool.

There are three ways that we can support them:

* We can make a monetary gift (please make the gift out to First UMC) that Sunny Hill can

use to purchase the things that they need.

* We can make a gift of gift cards purchased through our church’s Scrip Program. Preferred

cards would be a Visa gift card or gift cards for Target or WalMart.

* We can give items from Sunny Hill’s wish list which includes the following items: big paint

brushes, tempura paint, watercolor paint, tissue paper, colored sand, kinetic sand (Target),

magnitiles (Amazon), playdough, glue sticks, gallon of glue, white paper plates, construction

trucks, Thomas trains, Cooties game, Operation game, Paw Patrol toys, baby dolls, good

masking tape, bleach, toilet bowl cleaner with bleach, toilet paper, and kitchen size trash bags.

We have a long standing and special relationship with Sunny Hill that we want to nurture in some new

ways. This fall our Welcoming Committee served ice cream at their open house, and recently our Mis-

sion Committee provided gift cards to their teachers (along with the teachers at Lily Lake), so

that they could purchase something special for their classrooms. And our Christmas Project

is another way for us to give our support to their efforts to work with children and families

in our community.

WOMENS MINISTRIES

UNITED METHODIST MEN (UMM)

The UMM will meet for breakfast at the Lowell

Inn on Saturday, December 9th and

January 13th, at 8:00 am. All men of the

church are invited.

The Ada/Ruth Circle will meet on Friday,

December 1st and Friday, January 5th at 9:30

am.

New Beginnings Circle Candy Sale

December 10, before and after Church.

Take part in the traditional Candy Sale

sponsored by the New Beginnings Circle. As

always you will be impressed by the variety

and quality of the candy. A generous free will

offering is encouraged. Proceeds will go to a

mission project.

New Beginnings Circle meets at 1:00 pm

the third Monday of each month at the church

and all are welcome! The January 15th

meeting on “The Art of Listening” will be

hosted by Jeanette Nelson. This is Chapter 8

from the book we’ve been using, “One Simple

Act - Discovering the Power of

Generosity.” The meeting will be held at

church.

Winner’s Circle will sponsor a bake-sale

December 17th before and after church with

all proceeds going to UMCOR.

Winner’s Circle will meet December 14th

10:00 am at church. Sarmita Peterson will

present the program “Jesus Christ, the Light

of My Life”. All are welcome.

A note from VALLEY OUTREACH

“Thank you First United Methodist

Church of Stillwater! You collected 262

pairs of socks or underwear on behalf of

Valley Outreach Clothing Closet! Our

6th annual UNDIE SUNDAY, we collect-

ed over 7,449 pairs of underwear for

people in need. Thank you for making

Valley Outreach a priority in your chari-

table giving.

A note from UMCOR

We are grateful you are partnering with

us through The United Methodist Com-

mittee on Relief (UMCOR). Thank you

for your gift received on 10/25/2017 for

$2,086.00 for the recent Hurricanes

Harvey and Irma flood relief.

MISSION THANK YOU’S

FINANCE

THANK YOU’S

Many thanks to all who helped

out with this year’s Festa di Pasta!

We served 276 people and raised

$3,722

We sold 87 tickets for our beautiful quilt, and raised

$300. Congratulations to Loretta and Ed Allen!

The Country Store raised $1,318

The Silent Auction raised $2,633

Donations received (including for leftover food) $214

Total receipts: $8,187

After expenses, we were able to contribute $7,111 to

our General Fund, in support of the ongoing ministry

and mission of our church here at the corner of Greeley

and Myrtle.

Many thanks to our coordinating team: Jim Nelson

(chair person and publicity), Mary Harcey and Shelley

Carter (dining room), Anita Carter, Tito Reyna and Tom

Brown (kitchen), Bev Walmar (Country Store), Linda

Ash (Silent Auction), Sandy and Mark Ridgway, Diane

Jackson, Ellen Campbell, Pastors Marty and Donna. We

are also grateful to over 70 volunteers who helped in so

many ways to make this event a great success. The fel-

lowship we shared as we worked together was a blessing

to us all, as well.

SAVE THE DATE for the 13th Annual Festa di

Pasta … October 27, 2018

Church family~

Thank you to all who

helped, made goodies,

made crafts, helped with

set up and take down, sold, and

most of all to everyone who sup-

ported the Country Store.

Bev Walmar

Thanks so much for the expressions of

support during my recent surgery. I ap-

preciate the visits, cards & emails. My

recovery from my total hip replacement

has been smooth & is progressing quickly.

Your loving support played a big part in this success!

Most sincerely,

Sue Niethammer

I want to thank everyone for the cards

and prayers. The ladies, kids club and Pat-

sy for bringing me the cookies.

Angie Deaton

We appreciate the kindness

and support you have shown us

during our grief over the loss

of Frank’s mother. We are

blessed to be part of this com-

passionate church. Frank and

Vicky Anderson

Stewardship Update

We are grateful for the continued financial support of our congregation. Through the month of October we

have had income of $234,418 and expenses of $236,709, leaving us with a modest shortfall of $2291 in our

General Fund. This is encouraging for us so far, and it compares favorably to 2016, when at this same time

we had income of $230,418 and expenses of $237,180. So again, we are grateful to our congregation for its

generous support of our church and its ministries.

Finance Committee

HOLIDAY GIFY CARDS!! Now is the time to purchase

Christmas gift cards. Teenagers, young people and just about

everyone else LOVES getting a gift card. Take the guesswork out of what to give. Tons of

choices, plus Every card purchase provides much needed funding for First UMC pro-

grams. Scrip cards can be ordered in the Fellowship Hall following worship every Sunday.

Click here to view many low denomination cards that give back big percentages. https://shop.shopwithscrip.com/About/WhatsNew/2016/October/1973/free-shipping-bbw

SCRIP PROGRAM

YOUTH NEWS

KID’ S CLUB

Please join us for Kids Club on

December 13h from 6:15 to 7:15

pm. There will be Christmas

decorations to make and take home, fun

games to play and some snacks to eat.

Feel free to bring friends!

Let’s Go Tubing

Youth, families and everyone else­­­­­ you are invited to join in some tubing

fun at Green Acres on Sunday, January 14 from 1:00 - 3:00. Don’t worry, they

make snow! Any questions? Call Cynthia Frederick, 651-214-9323.

Youth News!

On November 1st, we had 8 youth participate in a fun night of games and planning activities for the rest of

the year. The youth want to continue traditions from previous years, including sponsoring a family or two for

Christmas, filling the Easter Eggs for the younger children of the church, Lock – Ins and planning a Youth Sun-

day Service. They also want to bring back preparing a meal for Wednesday night dinner and look for ways to

be of service to the building and grounds. Plus, have fun together and with other youth of the Stillwater area

and the United Methodist Conference! Youth Group will happen at least two Wednesday nights a month and

is open to all youth, 6th grade on up. Cynthia Frederick ~Interim Youth Director

Youth Group meetings for December

6 – A movie night (“Millions”) or Sledding

10 – Caroling (Sunday) – all church event, meet at 4:00 pm at church

20 – All Youth Christmas Party (bring a Secret Santa gift)

Youth Group meetings for January

10 - Church Improvement projects / Movie discussion / Epiphany

14 - Tubing at Green Acres (Sunday) – all church event

17 – All church game night! (Kid’s Club / Youth Group combined, with adults)

26 – Late Night Lock In / Big Thrill Factory

January 17th 2018 – Inter-generational Game Night!

We’re taking over the fellowship hall for fun and games and to beat the winter blues. Kid’s Club, Youth

group and Wednesday night fellowship participants can join in the fun, after dinner. Bring a game, bring a

friend!

Update on Abigail Ozanne

Abigail is settling in to her new home and she is off to a great start with her new congregations. If you want

to keep in touch, her mailing address is: 605 Fifth Avenue West, Sisseton, SD 57262