Hartland United

Methodist Church

10300 Maple

Hartland, MI 48353

www.hartlandumc.org

Phone: 810-632-7476

Fax: 810-632-9860

Email:

secretary@hartlandumc.org

pastorpaul@hartlandumc.org

Pastor:

Rev. Paul Gruenberg

Sunday

Worship:

Adult Sunday School:

8:45 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Sunday School:

10:15 a.m.

Coffee Hour:

11:15 a.m.

Inside this Issue:

Pastor’s Message 2

Calendar of Events 3

Birthdays/Anniversaries 4

Other News 5-13

Volume 7, Issue 12

Heavenly Notes

“Helping Others Find, Experience,

and Share God’s Love Through Christ”

December, 2013 CHURCH

The UNITED ME

TH

OD

IST

Events in the Life of our Church

December 2013

Invite a Friend to Church Month Invite a friend to join you at church during the month of December.

For more information, please see page 5.

First Annual All Church Celebration

and State of the Church Lunch Mark Sunday, December 1st, for a celebration meal rejoicing in what God

is doing in our lives through our church. More details on page 5.

Cookie Walk

Let the United Methodist Women do your holiday baking. Come and check out the goodies available on Saturday, December 7th, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. More information is on page 6.

Advent Tea

A relaxing and reflective way to celebrate the Advent season on Friday, December 13th, 7:00 p.m.

Please see page 6 For more information.

Progressive Dinner

The Genesis Adult Fellowship Group invites all adults to join in this annual event on Saturday, December 14th. More information is on page 7.

All Church Christmas Breakfast

Our Hartland United Methodist Men invite you to join them for breakfast and a time of fellowship on Sunday,

December 15th, 8:00 a.m. More details are on page 6.

Christmas Pageant

Our Sunday School brings us a Christmas message on Sunday, December 15th, during the 10:00 a.m. Worship Service.

Christmas Eve Services

7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. More information is on page 7.

Pastor’s Message

WOW! Let me say that again… WOW! November was quite the busy month… Okay… it started with the hayride in late October (close enough) and then there was the Turkey Dinner and just last week our Church Conference. (and I didn’t mention Cass, Men’s furniture ministry, buying presents for Christmas UnWrapped or our newest two ministries… the “Prayers & Squares” on Tuesday mornings and the Praise Band (yet to be named) leading worship on two Sunday mornings each month!) But let’s not kid ourselves… as busy as November is, it is still like an on-ramp to the highway of December! It’s only going to get busier. Just looking at the front page of the newsletter will tell you there is plenty to get involved in during December.

You can get lost in all these activities. It is enough to make your head spin! So I

have three thoughts to keep in mind as we head into and live through the month of December.

As busy as this time may get, first remember the reason for the season is the

celebration of the birth of Jesus. Beyond all the parties and shopping and eating, it is about Jesus, who came into the world to reveal to us not only who God is, but to provide a way for us to come to God the Father. Santa can be fun, but without Jesus, really without faith in Jesus, we would all be lost.

The second thought is that many place a premium on material possessions during

this season. We wonder, “What is underneath the tree for me?” But realize that this season is one of the loneliest seasons of the year. People who have lost loved ones will be missing them, people who have no family have no one or nowhere to go to celebrate. So instead of looking for a present underneath the tree, be the gift of life to someone who needs a friend. I’ll trust the Holy Spirit to show you who in your life needs “you” more than a wrapped present this year.

The final thought is this. It takes a lot of people to lead and coordinate all of the

activities and ministries of our church... SO I WANT TO SAY A BIG “THANK YOU” for

volunteering your time, your talents/gifts and your financial resources to make us function. The reality is churches die because people are unwilling to step out and lead or participate in the ministries that God is calling them to. But not here at HUMC! More people are beginning to become more active in participating in the fellowship, ministry and mission of the church. So THANK YOU!

Sure, life can get busy in this last month of the year. So make sure you spend

some time to focus on the real reason for this season of celebration. May God bless you

and your families with the joy of the Lord.

Pastor Paul

Calendar of Events

Meetings for December, 2013 Monday, December 2: Board of Trustees, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 10: Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee, 6:00 p.m. United Methodist Women, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 11: Design Works, 9:00 a.m. Worship Committee, 12:30 p.m. Master’s Minstrels Rehearse at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 19: Finance Committee, 6:00 p.m. Administrative Council, 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Events Every Tuesday: Prayers & Squares Quilting at 9:00 a.m. Every Wednesday: One Year Bible Discussion Groups at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Choir Practice at 6:45 p.m. Boy Scouts at 7:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous at 7:00 p.m. Every Thursday: Alcoholics Anonymous at 10:00 a.m. Every Saturday: Alcoholics Anonymous at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, December 1: First Annual All Church Celebration & State of the Church Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Friday, December 6: Cookie Walk Set Up, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 7: Cookie Walk, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday, December 13: Advent Tea, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 14: Genesis Adult Fellowship Group Progressive Dinner, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 15: All Church Carol Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. Children’s Christmas Pageant, 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 21: U.M.M. Love INC Furniture Pick Up and Delivery Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Worship Services, 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.

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Special Dates

December Anniversaries 17,1988 - Kip & Tammy Maggert 29,1962 - Ron & Fran Warthman 29, 1967 – Bill & Jan Martin

Note:

We would like to include everyone, so if we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please let the church office know A.S.A.P.!

December Birthdays 6 - Rob Cannaert 8 - Megan Kirkpatrick 10 - Marcie Kanitz 11 - Chris Rice 12 - Terri Preiss 16 – Alexis Clark 18 – Lauri Jerome

December Servants

Greeters Multi Media Specialist 1: Don and Pat Coleman 1: Jeff Jackson 8: Randy and Margaret Melville 8: Christian Muzo 15: The United Methodist Men 15: Michele Cannaert 22: Dan Taylor and Laura Walker 22: Renee Zimmerman 29: Jeff and Laura Walker 29: Gary LaRoy Ushers Acolytes 1: Don and Marty Hansen 1: 8: Bill and Gina Palmer 8: 15: The United Methodist Men 15: 22: Jim and Mary Jo Malott 22: 29: Beckie Wren and Ruth Wyckoff 29: Liturgists Nursery Workers 1: Pat Harton 1: Cherie Kowal 8: Charles Kirkpatrick 8: Pat Schleh 15: Terri Clark 15: Lori Muzo 22: Shelia Daniel 22: 29: Fran Warthman 29: Dani Toth

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December is Invite a Friend Month

When I was attending church years ago, a friend of mine, from growing up days, moved into the area where I was living. He hadn’t been to church in years. He had played little league baseball as a kid, so I invited him to play on our church softball team (which has a requirement of attending at least 3 services a month to participate.) But I didn’t stop there, I invited him to a small summer bible study two other friends and I had started. God got a hold of his heart and he recognized his need for Jesus as his Savior. Today my friend is the Senior Pastor of the Swartz Creek United Methodist Church.

The Holiday seasons are a time of year when a lot of people experience loneliness to a greater degree than at any other time of year. Most people if asked/invited will probably say yes to coming to church. When they say yes, do the following too:

Offer to drive them to church, or minimally wait for them at the entrance to the church so they do not come in alone.

Sit with them in service and introduce them to others simply as “my friend.” Introduce them to others who have the same interests as they do. End by taking them to lunch and listening to whatever they want to talk about. Follow up with them during the week about their experience and let them know you will pick them up again next week, if they’d like. They are more likely to

return if you do. Of course this all needs to be kept in prayer. Pray for God to direct you to the person to be

asked (God is already working on them before you get to them) and to give you the right words to use. Also you know you are fulfilling a part of your purpose in life (mission/evangelism) by inviting others to know God.

All Church Celebration & State of the Church Potluck

Mark Sunday, December 1st, for a celebration meal rejoicing in what God is doing in our lives through our church. During the celebration we will also have a quick presentation on where we are and where we are headed as a church body and the vision God has for us for the future.

Our United Methodist Men will be providing a Soup and Sandwich Lunch.

The men ask that if you will be attending the lunch that you sign up on the bulletin board. Also, the U.M.M. are asking anyone who would like to bring a dessert to share.

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Hartland United Methodist Women’s

Cookie Walk, Craft Sale and Soup Lunch

Saturday, December 7 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Let Us Do Your Holiday Baking!

Cookies, Candy & Breads 9:00 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Craft Tables available—Call the Church Office for details

All profits will go to charities supported by the UMW.

Advent Tea Friday, December 13, 7:00 p.m. Our Annual Ladies Advent Tea is a relaxing and reflective way to celebrate the Advent season. This year’s tea will be specially festive with music provided by “Just Around the Corner” (the same group that you heard at our Turkey Dinner). If you would like to hostess a table, please sign up on the bulletin board. Hostesses decorate/set their table and provide dessert for 6 or 7 guests. We invite all women and Young ladies of our church to attend this enjoyable time of fellowship. Questions? Please call Renee Zimmerman at 517-548-7806.

All Church Christmas Breakfast The United Methodist Men invite you to the All Church Christmas Breakfast on Sunday, December 15th, at 8:00 a.m. Come enjoy a time of fellowship, good food and the singing of your favorite Christmas carols, at 9:00 a.m., with your church family before the Worship Service and Children’s Christmas Pageant. The U.M.M. ask that you sign up on the bulletin board so they can better understand how many will be attending.

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Cass and Christmas UnWrapped

Some prayed. Some gave money. Some gave food, or toys, or gift cards, or more money when the CASS Fund was short. Some cooked, washed pots and pans, baked cookies, made sandwiches, delivered gifts, served food, or made more sandwiches. Some travelled to Detroit or over to the old High School and offered a smile or hug to those we met. Some wrapped presents or showed families around the Christmas UnWrapped activities. The list goes on...and in doing so we touched many of God’s Children. It took ALL of us and I am thankful to God for each and every person in this congregation. I look forward to seeing what Missions God has planned or us in 2014! God’s Blessings to you this Christmas,

Sue LaRoy

Progressive Dinner The Genesis Adult Fellowship Group will be holding the Annual Progressive Dinner on Saturday, December 14th. A progressive Dinner is a meal where you have the various courses at different homes. Hors doeuvres are at one home, the main course is at stop two and dessert follows at a third home. At this time, we are looking for a home and hosts and hostesses for main course. If you would like to host this portion of this year’s dinner, please contact Darcie Westbrook. This is a potluck meal. A sign up sheet will soon be posted so that folks can sign up for the part of the meal that they would like to provide. The Genesis Adult Fellowship Group is for the adults of the Hartland United Methodist Church and provides an opportunity to fellowship with the people we sit next to on Sunday morn-ings. If you have any questions, please talk to Darcie. Everyone is invited to join us for this fun and festive evening!

Christmas Eve Services

7:00 p.m. Traditional service of Carols & Candlelight,

Scripture, Word, Holy Communion and Fellowship 11:00 p.m. A Quiet Gathering to Welcome Christmas

Morning - Carols & Candlelight, Scripture and Reflection

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Special Catch Up Offering

Pastor Paul and the Finance Committee want to thank you for your gifts for the “Special Catch Up Offering” we have taken over the last three weeks of November. Because of you, we have received enough to allow us to catch up on the Pastor’s health insurance and our pension apportionments. If you were not able to give, but would still like to contribute to this “catch up offering”, you still can by putting it in the offering plate, giving electronically through our website (hartlandumc.org and click ‘Online Giving’), sending it or dropping it off to the church. Simply mark it as “Special Catch Up Offering”. Thank YOU once again for your generosity and may God’s blessings rain down upon you.

Year End Offering

When the parsonage furnace went haywire last month, we were first told we were going to have to replace it. We were going to have to put it on our credit card as the church had no emergency funds stored away for such an event. Through the “Enough” campaign over the last month, as a Finance Committee, we realized we have not been setting aside money for an emergency fund. We know that many financial people state you need to have an emergency fund set aside to help out with emergencies so you don’t over-extend yourself and use credit cards. So, for our year end giving, we want to begin building up an emergency savings account so that we are not caught flat footed again. It is something we are encouraging all family units to do as well as the church. So, if you feel God is leading you to help the church in this way, we will use your one-time special year-end offering to build up this emergency account. Envelopes will be provided the first three Sundays in December. The Finance Committee is looking to build this account to about $9,000. We desire to become a more healthy church financially, and this is one of the steps we are taking to get there. So, thank you for your prayerful consideration for this Year-End Offering. (The Offering needs to be received no later than December 29, 2013 to count toward this year’s charitable giving for tax purposes.)

Thank you, Thank you

Thank you for your gifts to help the people in the Philippines that were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. $654.10 was given and sent to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. All of this

money will go to the Philippines to aid in the devastating effects of this storm.

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Enjoy the Convenience of Electronic Giving

Hartland United Methodist Church want to remind you that we offer electronic giving as a way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers convenience for individual congregation members and provides much-needed donation consistency for our congregation. Bill Pay through Online Banking lets you make your offering automatic on a pre-determined schedule either online or through your bank. Online Giving lets you go to hartlandumc.org at anytime to set up an automatic donation plan, change your donation plan, make a one-time donation or view your online donation history. As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving.

Additional information is available from the church office.

Prayer Chain News

Another year has gone by and our Prayer Chain has lifted up more than a hundred people and/or families to the Lord. If you would like to ask for prayer, here’s how it works: Let Fran Warthman know by of one of the following methods:

Filling out a prayer request on Sunday Calling Fran at 517-546-4004 Emailing Fran at franron4004@sbcglobal.net Calling the Church Office at 810-632-7476 Letting the Pastor know

If you would like to serve on the Prayer Chain, call or email Fran. When a request comes in, Fran will either call or email you (you choose the method). You then will lift the person or persons to the Lord in your prayer time. Anyone can include this ministry in his or her life—it takes so little time and means so much.

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Hartland United Methodist Women

Please see the December 7th Cookie Walk announcement on page 6. Along with cookies, breads and candy, there will be craft items Available and a soup and bread lunch. The profit from the Cookie Walk will be given to charities—local and world wide. All ladies and friends of the Hartland UMC are invited to join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, December 10th, 7:00 p.m., at the church. At this meeting, we will disperse the profits from the Turkey Dinner and Cookie Walk. The Hartland United Methodist Women thank you for your continued support and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wifi is now available in our Sanctuary

Wifi is now available in the sanctuary. To connect please go to: HUMC_Guest; password is: hartlandumc

Wedding Coordinators are Needed!

In effort to assist Pastor Paul and those who will be getting married at Hartland United Methodist Church and Pastor Paul, it has been decided to start using Wedding Coordinators. Responsibilities will vary depending on what the bride and groom want. There will be a training session for those interested in helping with this outreach. Date and time is to be determined. If you are interested in helping, please talk with Pastor Paul or let Darcie Westbrook know.

Scrip News

Scrip is a program where gift cards from a variety of companies can be purchased. You pay the full face value of the card. When these cards are ordered, the church just pays a percentage of the face value. There are gas cards, discount store cards, restaurants, department stores and many, many more cards available. Several cards are offered at a table in the Fellowship Hall for immediate purchase. Thank you for supporting our Scrip program. All money made through the Scrip program goes into the General Fund and helps support our church. Hartland UMC has been associated with the Scrip program since 2006. Since that time, over $13,654 has gone into the General Fund. Just in 2013, over $797 has gone into the General Fund. This is with an average of just under 6 families participating each week! Thank you to all of you who shop our Scrip Table! Your support is appreciated! Stop by the Scrip table on Sunday and check out what we can do for you and you can do for our church!

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Secret Angel We have decided to begin a Secret Angel program. This is an excellent way to get to know the other ladies of our church and to encourage them and be encouraged by them. The fun will begin in December, 2013 and end in December, 2014, when your Secret Angel will identify herself at a special event. We will be signing up to have a Secret Angel in November. There will be forms available on the bulletin board for all ladies who would like to participate. The form needs to be returned to Darcie Westbrook in the Church Office or you can put them

in the offering plates, by Tuesday, December 10th, so we can let you know who your Secret Angel is before Christmas. If you have never been involved in a Secret Angel program, let me tell you how it works: You fill out a form and return it. You will then receive someone else’s form. Then, for one year, do not reveal whose name you have. Send your Secret Angel cards, bookmarks, flowers,

books, CD’s, homemade baked goodies or anything else you can think of to make her smile. Next December we will conclude the program with a special get together. Watch for more information. Secret Angel Coordinators, Marty Hansen and Darcie Westbrook

Christmas Pageant

It’s an exciting time of year—when we get to prepare for the church Christmas

pageant. This year’s pageant will be another great one!

This year’s pageant will be on Sunday, December 15th, during the Worship Service.

Practice for the pageant continues on Sunday mornings during the

Sunday School time as well as on Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30

p.m. The Sanctuary Choir has invited the Sunday School to sing with

them. The song is “Look Who Just Checked In” (we did this song with

them a few years ago). Some of the kids did this song then, but we

really need to practice! There will be pageant practice on Wednesday,

December 11, from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., followed by practice with the

Sanctuary Choir (for those who will be singing).

Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for this exciting

presentation!

Gas Card Ministry People who call Love, INC are often in desperate need of gas, so they can get out to look for work, go to a doctor appointment or bring home the few groceries they can afford. We have joined with other Livingston County churches in supplying prepaid gas cards for Love, INC to give to those who need them. To date in 2013, you have paid $780 toward the money you have pledged to this ministry and we have given out 68 SpeedWay cards this year. Since becoming a part of the Gas Card Ministry, we have given out 140 cards to those less fortunate. THANK YOU as you keep paying on those pledges as we continue to make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors.

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All Saints Sunday

Following the moving presentation of our flowers in memory of the saints in our lives during worship on All Saints Sunday, November 7th, the flowers were taken to Village Manor on M-59. The residents there were extremely happy to be able to enjoy the colorful displays that were put together by the staff at the Manor.

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Prayers and Squares Quilt Ministry, Chapter 1128

Can you touch a prayer? Can you pull it close and feel it’s comfort? You can, if it is part of a prayer quilt. The idea behind these quilts is quite simple, yet very powerful! A heavy thread is used to take stitches through the quilt layers and the ends are left free to be tied with a a square knot. As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is offered for someone in special need—someone who has asked us to pray for them. The quilt is then given to that person What makes each quilt special is not the pattern, color, or workman ship, but the fact that prayer is symbolically tied into each one. These comforters are a statement of faith and a testimony to our belief in God and the power of prayer. We meet in Armstrong Hall on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. until around noon to assemble quilts to be tied. Please join us in this ministry. Don’t worry if you cannot sew, there are many jobs available that don’t entail sewing! If you have any questions regarding the Prayer Quilt Ministry, please call Shelia Daniel at 810-227-6922.

Poinsettia Order

I (We) __________________________________________________________ Would like to purchase ________ Poinsettia(s) Cost per plant is $15.00. Order deadline: Sunday, December 16th. In Honor of: _______________________________________________________ In Memory of: _____________________________________________________

Our first Quilt completed!

Merry Christmas!

Open for Exciting Upcoming Events at H.U.M.C.!!

Hartland United Methodist Church 10300 Maple Street

Hartland, MI 48353