Hillview United Methodist Church The Connectorhillviewmethodist.org/Newsletter-December-2015.pdf ·...

Hillview United Methodist Church

The Connector

Dec. 2 Wednesday @ Hillview Dec. 5 UMW Luncheon Dec. 6 Christmas Carol Communion Dec. 8 Lady Veterans Luncheon Dec. 10 Lunch Bunch at Olive Garden Dec. 13 Children’s Pageant Night of Music Dec. 20 Christmas Caroling Longest Night Service Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services at 7, 9 & 11 Dec. 30 Community Meal

DECEMBER 2015

December Stewardship Challenges

Choose to do one or all!

*Give a special Christmas gift to the church. *Make a gift of stock or property to the church before the tax year ends. *Share your musical talents in the church choir, bell choir, or praise band. * Adopt a member of the community to make their Christmas brighter.

Advent Schedule

Wednesdays @ Hillview Dec. 2, 6 p.m. “Blessed Beginnings” Advent Study with Pastor Brenda begins. Decorate Church 6:00 p.m. Children’s Christmas Crafts (Dec. 2, 9, 16) Birthday Party for Jesus (Dec. 23). Details on back page! Dec. 6, 8:30 & 10 a.m., Christmas Carol Communion Dec. 13, 10 a.m. Service– Children’s Christmas Pageant 7 p.m., Night of Music—note new date.

Dec. 20, 3 p.m., Christmas Caroling 7:30 p.m., Longest Night Service

Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 7, 9 and 11 p.m.

Holy Communion will be served at the 11 p.m. service.

Offerings ~

This Advent we will be celebrating blessed beginnings. Every child born into our lives is a blessed beginning, whether the child has two parents, one parent, married parents, or single parents. We celebrate the hope that child brings, since each child is filled with the potential of making such a huge difference in our world. For us, each newborn baby is Jesus born into our midst once again. It is difficult to fathom anything closer to purity and perfection, or anything closer to God, than a baby. Each child is filled with innocence, relying on us completely, eager to be loved and to love, waiting for the imprint we will have on its life. As we look upon the baby, we imagine all that is open for this child. What will become of this child’s life? Like Mary, we ponder as we watch the baby sleep. Why is it that as they age, some of the wonder and beauty seems to wear off? No one ever says that a baby is anything other than beautiful or cute. As they get older, people begin to make judgments. My mother used to say, “Why that young man is so homely he’s cute.” I don’t know why we cannot continue looking at each person as full of potential and beauty.

I believe that God looks at each of us much as we look at a newborn baby. God sees the purity and innocence even though we try to hide it under our gruff exteriors, thinking that we need to be less vulnerable. God knows our potential, our goodness, our hopes and our dreams. God knows what is in our hearts even more than we know ourselves. Like young children admiring their own artwork, never dismissing it because of a blemish, God views us as God’s artwork. You are unique. You are special and beautiful. When you were born, people gushed over you. You are God’s amazing creation, just as you are. So sit back and take the time to thank God for your beauty, for your potential, and pray for God to open your eyes to see yourself as God sees you. Lord, this season of Advent and Christmas we give thanks to you for the birth of Jesus into this world. We also thank you for our own birth, and the blessed beginnings of life that we witness. Open our eyes this season to see ourselves in a new way, that we may go forward with a fresh and blessed beginning of accepting ourselves the way you accept and love us. Amen. Grace and Peace, Brenda

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Sermon Schedule December 6: Children’s Story: Elizabeth and John, Suddenly Parents Scripture: Luke 1: 39-45 Sermon: Blessed Beginnings: Redefining Ourselves December 13: Communion in Ballantyne at 8:30: Children’s Pageant at 10:00 December 20: Children’s Story: Mary Scripture: Luke 1: 26-38 Sermon: Blessed Beginnings: Recapturing the Awe December 27: Children’s Story: Solomon Chooses, Uses Wisdom Scripture: Luke 2:41-52 Sermon: The Lost Years

I know that Michelle Ward has already conveyed our appreciation for the years that Hillview carried IIRAH under its fiscal wing. I just want to add my own word of thanks to you and to the other leaders of the congregation. Your church has been a very consistent ally in the search for remedies to hunger. Sincerely, Darcy James, Chair Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger

VOLUME 1 , DECEMBER 2015

Volunteer Opportunities for December

*Learn and prepare Sunday PowerPoint. (Thank you to Cyndy Jonsson)

*Learn the sound system.

*Staff the PowerPoint clicker.

*Become an usher.

*Do sandwich prep for Saturday Sack Lunches.

*Be a second adult for Youth Group.

*Visit the homebound.

*Join the Prayer Chain.

To volunteer for any of

these opportunities, call the

church office (375-0392).

On November 1, 2015, we welcomed into membership our new Director of Family Ministries, Caltin Cross, and our new Choir Director, Matthew Bonner. We also welcomed Ken and Ginny Miller, Elizabeth Carter, Christi Perkey, Kent and Gale Day, Bob Barr, Richard Cooke, and Bill and Marlys Castle into full membership. Michael Hayhurst, Michelle Morris, and Joel Phipps have rejoined Hillview. Axl Kowilizyk was baptized on November 8. This made November very special in the life of this church.

Welcome New Members

Please be sure to greet our new members! Several of them have found places to volunteer, so to get to know Christi Perkey, you just might need to volunteer to help with the Youth Group, and to get to know Bob Barr, you may need to volunteer to help with the sound system. We see new faces almost every Sunday, and it is wonderful to be able to describe this welcoming community when people contact the office to ask about Hillview. Claudia Flora, Membership Secretary

Wow! What a treat to be able to get a glimpse of Hillview UMC’s Hillview Farm VBS! It looks as though the children had a great time, while exploring Bible stories and engaging in hands-on mission projects for hungry neighbors. I’m glad you found SoSA’s VBS material helpful along the way, and, of course, we are so grateful for your VBS mission giving of $200.32, which will share 8,346 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables with people in greatest need this fall. Thank you! Blessings, Lynette Johnson Director of Church Relations Society of St. Andrew

Notes of Thanks

Thanks to the Youth Group of Hillview who came to rake our leaves on Saturday, November 14. They made fast work of our pile of leaves. A big “Thank you” to them. Dorothy and Mark Friend

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The Purpose of UMW United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

Annual UMW Christmas Lunch

The Annual UMW Christmas Potluck Luncheon will be on Saturday, December 5, at 11:30 a.m. in Ballantyne Hall. Join us for what will be a special surprise program. All women are invited to bring a friend and a dish to share. Daughters and granddaughters are also welcome.

Hillview United Methodist Women offers five circles to participate in fellowship, spiritual growth, and expanding our understanding of mission. Ladies are invited to visit and participate in these small groups. Contact names are listed below. Lydia Circle: Meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month in the Hillview library at 9:30 a.m. We are using The Upper Room devotional booklet for our study. Contact Judy Halverson at 327-0541. Morning Book Club: 2nd Monday at 9:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble. A book to read and discuss is chosen each month. Contact Kristen Guyon at 322-5090.

Evening Book Club: 2nd Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the church parlor. A book to read and discuss is chosen each month. Contact Darlene Smith at 376-5977 or Michelle Ward at 322-0286. Fellowship Circle: Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in members’ homes. Variety of programs. Contact Betsy Baughman at 324-7713. Friends of Phoebe: Study group meets in the evening at Hillview, Room 6. For new schedule, contact Sue Cook at 375-1835.

Hillview United Methodist Women’s Circles (Sub-Units)

Christmas Luncheon: December 5 Lady Veterans Luncheon: Dec. 8

Upcoming UMW Events

The “Angel Tree,” providing gifts for children of incarcerated parents, will be featured. This year we will be serving 50 children. Any tags not taken at the luncheon will be made available to all church members on Sunday, Dec. 6. There will also be tags for gifts for the lady veterans.


February 19-21, 2016: Friday, 6 p.m. through Sunday noon Nampa Civic Center

All ages welcome. All faiths welcome.

Keynoters: Tony Campolo, Susan Briehl, David Lose, and Mia Crosthwaite

Music Clinician and Lead: Marty Haugen Band: Alex Street

Fee: $60/adult, $30/child with $180 family cap, includes lunch and dinner on Saturday

Out-of-town attendees:

• We are working on hotel discounts; we'll keep you posted • You may request a host home; local attendees are opening

up their homes • Nine local congregations have opened up their halls for

congregational groups

For more information: idahodiscipleship.blogspot.com Questions: [email protected]

We extend this invitation to singers and instrumentalists to join us!! We meet at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday evenings for a full hour of rehearsal. We sing at both services, usually every Sunday. Our goal is to enhance the worship experience for all. Fixing the overhead main speakers, adding microphones, and using the sound board and monitor speakers helps us find our sound. Come be a part of us!!! Director Duane Conitz

Planning ahead— Idaho Discipleship Conference

Greetings from the Praise Band

Reading Suggestion

Finding God in a Bag of Groceries: Sharing Food, Discovering Grace by Laura Lapins Willis In a tiny food pantry, Laura Willis discovered her own hunger for God and a world of neighbors she never knew: the lonely, the unemployed, chronically poor families and middle-class folks surprised to be struggling in a great recession. To each she offered a bag of groceries, a compassionate ear, and a heart of love.

We would like to extend an opportunity for anyone interested to be able to help out in worship in the following three areas: Sound System (runs the sound board and adjusts microphone volumes) Slide Show advance tech (advances to next slide during worship) Slide Show developer (works with Brenda to develop PowerPoint for worship) No experience necessary; training will be provided. If you are interested, contact Ron Halverson at [email protected] or 954-6202.

Opportunity to Volunteer

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Caregivers Support Group

The next gathering of the Caregivers Support Group will be Saturday, December 5, at 10 a.m.

A person who has been a caregiver will share experiences. If you are a caregiver or may become one in the future, please join us. Questions? Please call Jeannie Swenson at 323-0141.

Community Meal News

The Lunch Bunch will meet on December 10 at Olive Garden at 11:30 a.m. Sign up in the Gathering Area. Come and join us for conversation and good food.

Lunch Bunch

Sunday School Classes

Adults Jesus and Java Journey through the Bible Preacher’s Forum—with a new format! Pastor Brenda will lead discussions from the book Speaking Christian, by Marcus Borg. Youth Junior High (6-8th grade): Fun new program for this age group! High School: Michelle Ward will lead a discussion-type class for high schoolers. Children Preschool-5th graders will meet in Room 10 for stories, activities, and crafts. Be sure to check out the Christian Education bulletin board for more class information, including locations.

Come share a meal with our neighbors on December 30 at the next Community Meal at 6 p.m. The entrée will be baked chicken. Your help is needed in providing salads, side dishes and desserts and helping hands. Please see the sign-up sheet

in the Gathering Area. Questions? Contact Marilesta Nelson at 375-5116 or email her at [email protected].

WANTED:

Vacation Bible School Director If you volunteer NOW, you can choose the program and the dates! Position needs to be filled in January 2016. Please call the church office (375-0392) to apply!


Hillview Youth Group News (by Claire Chambers)

During November we explored the idea of God as a comedian and how we can use the gift of a sense of humor that God gave us to uplift and support each other. And that does NOT include sarcasm. We spent some time discussing the book of Job and read quite a few Psalms. Of course, there were several games of signs, “Veg Head” and dodge darts. The kids

December Youth Calendar 6th 4:15-4:45 Youth Council. Plan the Christmas Party and New Year’s Eve Party.

5:00-6:30 Regular Youth Group. At the Youth House. God is like…a baby?

13th 5:00-6:00 Veterans Footlocker Inventory at the Youth House. Plan to stay for the Night of Music at 7 p.m. 16th Footlocker Delivery! Meet at the Youth House at 4:00. Adult drivers are needed. 20th 5:00-6:30 Christmas Party! Bring a wrapped gift under $5 for a gift exchange.

were offered a friendship challenge and so far (as of November 12), Hayden is leading! A special “Thank you” to Christi Perkey for being a steadfast and reliable volunteer! She has offered valuable insight and fresh ideas as well as just loving on the kids where they are (with her delicious laugh!). She even attends their band concerts, plays, and games when she can.

31st 1:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. Ring in the New Year with your friends at our first-ever Youth Group New Year’s Eve Harry Potter Movie Marathon Party. Unfortunately, we’d need 20 hours to watch all the movies, so we’ll choose our favorites and enjoy butterbeer (don’t worry, it’s non-alcoholic). Bring a friend, snacks to share, and $5 for dinner (pizza? Subway? To be determined).

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This Christmas consider an "alternative" way of giving a Christmas gift to someone by supporting a mission project that will make a world of difference to a child in Honduras or to a child in Africa. Alternative giving is easy to do:

Choose your project. Select the matching Alternative

Gift card and envelope found under the Alternative Gift Tree in the Gathering Area.

Place your check (with the project name on the memo line) or cash in the small envelope and place it in the gift bag on the table.

Keep the gift card and matching envelope to give to the recipient whom you are honoring with this gift.

We have selected the following two mission projects this year—Honduras Scholarship Fund and Imagine No Malaria. For more information on these missions, check out the Faith In Action bulletin board in the Ballantyne hallway.

Honduran Scholarship Fund Public schools in Honduras are "free," but many children

are unable to attend because of enrollment fees plus the uniforms and school supplies they are required to buy—about $120 per

Christmas Giving with a Difference—Alternative Christmas Gifts

year. Contributions from Hillview provide assistance to students from Fuerzas Unidas, one of the poorest areas in Honduras. Hillview established a special relationship with the Fuerzas Unidas Methodist Church in 2004 and 2006 when our Volunteer In Mission teams were hosted there. We recently received 17 letters from the students we sponsored this past year—all thanking our church for sending them to school. By helping these students attend school, you will make a difference in their lives.

Imagine No Malaria Fund In Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to kill a person every 60 seconds. But there is hope! Imagine

No Malaria is part of a global partnership and together with our partners, our generation can beat malaria once and for all. United Methodists are committed to bring an end to death and suffering from malaria. Through UMCOR, Imagine No Malaria funding implements health-care strategies, develops infrastructure, and sponsors integrated health campaigns that promote malaria prevention, diagnostics and treatment, and health education across the sub-Saharan region. With your donation to Imagine No Malaria, you can offer hope to end malaria that will make a world of difference.

If you want to give more tangible gifts, you can make a commitment to purchasing Fair Trade items, buying gifts from Dunia Marketplace in Hyde Park, or buying locally produced gifts whenever possible. Make a difference with your giving this Christmas season!


Thanks to Joe Prin, Sam Goodwin, Ron Halverson, Bob Barr, and Elvin Ballance for finishing the new sound cabinet in the sanctuary. Ron and Bob checked out the wiring to the speaker on the west side of the sanctuary, which apparently has never worked. They hired a firm

to access the speaker and wire it correctly. They also fixed the overhead projector that projects onto the back wall of the sanctuary. Ron also installed a desktop computer in the sound cabinet and with the help of Bob and Jared Sene wired the new, donated, larger soundboard

Many of the delegates coming to General Conference 2016 are from climates that are much warmer than Portland’s usual May weather. We want to offer them radical hospitality by anticipating their needs.

The hats and scarves can be from any size, pattern or color. Use your favorite pattern or find lots of free patterns on-line. Keep in mind that the delegates are both men and women, so make some of the hats big enough for men. My knitting books show a circumference of 17” to “22” for women and 18” to 24” for men. Scarves should be 40”-60” in length. If you do not knit, nice scarves can be made by cutting fleece the right length and fringing the ends. Claudia Roberts (503-284-9182 or [email protected])

Please hold on to completed items for now; we will have a place to collect them after the holidays. For questions or more information, contact Debbie Mallis at 853-2740 or [email protected].

Warm Welcome Project

Trustees Report – November

in the sound cabinet. Thanks to all who helped the Trustees clean up the church grounds and also helped Brenda and Dennis clean out the church gardens during the Fall Work Day on October 31.

Poinsettia Order Form Name___________________________________________________ In honor_____ or memory _____ of ________________________________________________________ I will donate the poinsettia to the homebound____ I will pick up my poinsettia after the Christmas Eve Services____ I will help deliver a poinsettia to the homebound____ Please return this form with a check for $12 made out to Hillview UMC and write poinsettia on the memo line.

Calling all knitters, crotcheters, and seamers in the conference to make hats and scarves.

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Veterans Footlocker Drive, November 29 to December 13

Hillview Youth are participating in Hillview’s 15th Annual Veterans Footlocker Drive, where we provide personal care and clothing items to men and women at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise. How can you help? Please see the list of needed items at the footlocker in the Gathering Area and donate what you can on any Sunday between November 29 and December 13. We will gather donations in the footlocker and then store them.

The Youth Group will inventory all the items on the afternoon of December 13 and deliver them to the State Veterans Home that week. Items such as sweatshirts, sweat pants, gloves, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and crossword puzzle books are always in demand. Please help honor our vets with new or like-new items. Questions? Please contact Claire Chambers at 761-7528.


Please remember to call the church office with any scheduling requests or changes. Just because a day may look available on the calendar, it does not mean that it is! This is our church calendar. We have not included Boy Scout activities, Preschool, outside groups, Fit and Fall-proof, and other activities. Please be considerate and flexible with room use.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

19:30 Lydia Circle 11:00 Sermon Study

25:30 Supper 6:00 Bible Study 6:00 Children’s activities 6:00 Praise Band Practice 7:15 Choir Practice

3 47:30 p.m. Church of God

56:00 a.m. Zion

Korean Methodist Church 8:00-4:00 African Church 10:00 Caregivers Support Group 11:30 UMW Luncheon

68:30 Worship

10:00 Worship 11:00 Korean Church 11:15 Sunday School 1:00 African Church

77:00 Church of God

7:00 Boy Scouts/Troop 40

810:30 Lady Veterans Luncheon at Veterans Home 11:00 Sermon Study


10 11:30 Lunch Bunch at Olive Garden 7

117:30 p.m. Church of God

126:00 a.m. Korean Church 8:00-2:00 African Church 8:00 Men’s b-fast, Moon’s Café

138:30 Worship

10:00 Worship/Children’s Program 11:00 Korean Church 11:15 Sunday School 1:00 African Church 7:00 Night of Music

149:30 Morning Book Group, Barnes & Noble 6:30 p.m. Evening Book Group 7:00 Church of God 7:00 Boy Scouts/Troop 40

159:30 Lydia Circle 11:00 Sermon Study


17 187:30 p.m. Church of God

196:00 a.m. Korean Church 8:00-2:00 African Church 10:30 Whitney Sack Lunch Program

208:30 Worship

10:00 Worship 11:00 Korean Church 11:15 Sunday School 1:00 African Church 3:00 Christmas Caroling 7:30 Longest Night Service

217:00 SPRC 7:00 Trustees 7:00 Church of God 7:00 Boy Scouts/Troop 40

2211:00 Sermon Study

235:30 Supper 6:00 Bible Study 6:00 Birthday party for Jesus 6:00 Praise Band Practice 7:15 Choir Practice

24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 7, 9, & 11 p.m.

257:30 p.m. Church of God

266:00 a.m. Zion

Korean Methodist Church 8:00-4:00 African Church 10:00 Caregivers Support Group

278:30 Worship

10:00 Worship 11:00 Korean Church 11:15 Sunday School 1:00 African Church

287:00 Church of

God 7:00 Boy Scouts/Troop 40

2911:00 Sermon Study

306:00 Praise Band 6:00 Community Meal

31

December 2015

We are a Reconciling Congregation, welcoming all persons into full participation in the life of the congregation regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family configuration, racial or ethnic background, economic status, or mental or physical abilities. As we journey to the reconciliation of all persons as children of God, we celebrate our human family’s diversity.

Hillview United Methodist Church Staff

Pastor Brenda Sene

[email protected]

Administrative Assistant Claudia Flora

[email protected]

Choir Director Matthew Bonner

Praise Band Director

Duane Conitz

Youth Director Claire Chambers

[email protected]

Director of Family Ministries Caltin Cross

Custodian

Mariya Gavrilutsa

Nursery Director Peggy Sheldon

Hillview United Methodist Church 8525 Ustick Road Boise, Idaho 83704 208-375-0392 www.hillviewmethodist.org [email protected]

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. - noon, Friday

It’s a Birthday Party! For: Jesus! Who: Kids ages 3 yrs. to 5th grade

When: Dec. 23, 6-7:30 p.m. (Join us first for dinner

at 5:30!) Where: Hillview UMC, Room 10 If you can, please bring an unwrapped baby gift – we’ll donate the

gifts to the Marian Pritchett School for the young moms to give to their children.

RSVP to the church office by Dec 21 if you’d like to come:

375-0392

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