The Tidings UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

*Christ Centered *Biblical *Compassionate 101 N. Oak, California, MO 65018

Phone: 573-796-4885

December 2020

From the Pastor’s Desk ~

Countdown to Christmas…

It’s hard to believe by the time you read this, we will be less than four weeks till Christmas. Amazing! As a child,

I couldn’t wait till Christmas. I remember at a very early age living in Madison, Indiana, sneaking into the

living room one night and slightly tearing into my

presents to see what I was getting and then sealing

them back up again so mom and dad were not wise to

my covert operation. I can’t remember what those presents were but that was not my only struggle with

the anticipation that leads up to Christmas.

Our sermon series this month for Advent and

Christmas, is called Countdown to Christmas. We are

going to look at variety of prophecies about the

coming of Jesus found in the Old Testament. There are

over 300 prophecies about Jesus found in the OT. The

religious leaders and Jewish people knew these

prophecies and kept waiting for the promised Messiah.

They waited and waited for hundreds of years until

Jesus was born in the little village of Bethlehem.

Thousands of people lived and died and never got to

see the greatest Christmas present of all time. We’ll see the Plan, the Place, the Presents, The Person, and the

Promise of the meaning of Christmas.

From the Pastor’s Desk—continued

We should be back to in-person worship by December 6th.

The number of cases has continued to decline the last two

weeks which is encouraging. The Consistory continues to

make the safety of our congregation and our community, one

of its top priorities. We continue to pray for many of our

members who have been diagnosed with the virus and who

are recovering from the effects of the virus. We also continue

to pray for our schools, medical workers, and nursing home

residents and staff.

Here is one of the most tender and encouraging images from

the prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah:

“See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense

accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He

gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his

heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:10,11

May God bless you with his peace and love during this

Christmas and Advent season,

Yours in Christ,

Russ

Be filled with wonder; Be touched by peace.

California United Church of Christ November 9, 2020 – Consistory Meeting Highlights

The California UCC Consistory met for its regular monthly meeting No-vember 9, 2020 via ZOOM. Pastor Cobb opened the meeting with scripture and prayer.

The minutes of the October 12, 2020 regular meeting and the November 1, 2020 special meeting, Treasurer’s Report, Financial Secretary’s Report, Stewardship Snapshot and Local Benevolence Report were reviewed and approved.

Correspondence was received from the newspapers re: Christmas programs and services. Dates and times of services and programs will be submitted indicating they will be on-line with in-person to be determined. Correspond-ence was received from Keith and Paula Selk re: the update/repair for the outside sign at the back of the church. They had originally paid for that sign and are willing to pay for the update/repair. Thank you Keith and Paula!

Reports and updates were given by several committees and organizations. The Worship Committee reported poinsettias have been ordered from Longfellow’s for the Christmas season. The Building & Grounds Committee continues to work on updating light fixtures to LED. Youth Group is again participating in Operation Christmas Child. Boxes were available to be picked up, filled and returned for distribution. There was no group gathering to pack boxes this year.

Pastor Cobb reported on activities he performed in October, 2020: 2 worship services California; 2 worship services Salem; 2 missed Sundays – vacation / Betty’s Dad’s funeral; 14 DVD deliveries; 25 days at office; 3 prayer cells; 1 UCC of California consistory meeting; 3 recordings of Time of Hope; 2 office visits; 1 Sunday School meeting; 4 Wednesday night meals; 1 funeral (Justin Trimble); 1 funeral visitation; 8 high school/middle school sporting events (football, volleyball, baseball, softball); 1 Ministerial Alliance monthly request; 2 confirmation meetings; 5 signing birthday cards; 1 Ministerial Alliance meeting (First Christian); 1 UCC Cluster luncheon at Central UCC, Jefferson City; 7 home/work visits; 1 Layne Brandes confirmation 10/18/2020; 5 KRLL morning devotions; 2

pre-marital counseling (Deeken/Gratz; Bestgen/Opie); 2 nursing home visits (Ellen Martin & Carol Wolfrum); 1 Brotherhood.

Consistory Highlights—continued

In old business, Rev. Cobb stated we may need to go beyond January, 2021 for his ordination depending on the COVID situation. As COVID cases continue to rise in Moniteau County we continue to discuss concerns re: in-

person worship services, Sunday School, meetings and extra curricular ac-tivities at our church. We had originally decided at our special meeting No-vember 1, that in-person worship and all activities would shut down when the school shut down. However, since the school is still allowing sports and other activities, our decision was revisited. It was decided to:

Offer on-line only services for Sunday, November 15 and re-evaluate re-turning to in-person November 22;

Shut down in-person Sunday School if no in-person worship; Shut down extracurricular activities until after Thanksgiving; Allow choir directors and those who participate to decide if they continue

practices and performances; Recommend adult groups/organizations not meet, but leave the decision

up to their leadership; Suspend Wednesday night meals/activities until after Thanksgiving.

In new business, the Bueker’s Lawn & Care contract was approved for next year; the annual meeting date was set for January 31, 2021; nominees were approved for the Financial Review Committee, Nominating Committee and Salary Committee. Totenfest will be November 22, 2020 whether in-person or on-line. Rev. Cobb will be contacting families who have lost loved ones this past year. Rev. Cobb also shared KRLL has reached out asking our church to record carols or songs for them to play throughout the Christmas season.

The next Communion dates are – November 29, 2020 – First Day of Ab-vent; December 25, 2020 – Christmas.

We continue to keep many members and families in our prayers during this difficult and uncertain time.

Respectfully submitted, Lexi Hall, Secretary

STEWARDSHIP SNAPSHOT

October 2020 October 2019

General Fund

Balance Brought Forward $ 57,660.30 $ 62,808.88

Receipts + 24,703.68 + 24,989.81

Disbursements - 22,475.75 - 26,685.87

Balance – October 31 $ 59,888.23 $ 61,112.82

As of October 31, 2020

Building Fund Balance $ 14,417.15 $ 9,054.12

Local Benevolence Fund $ 12,065.13 $ 14,003.33

Memorial Fund Balance $ 8,816.46 $ 11,821.11

Schnuck Endowment Checking $ 119,623.99 $ 10,674.56

Scholarship Fund $ 8,376.61 $ 6,066.80

Youth Fellowship Fund $ 3,822.46 $ 2,807.27

Total OCWM Received $ 3,965.18 $ 8,250.71

Other Benevolent Offerings $ 13,314.00 $ 19,047.80

Angel Tree All the Angels have been passed out!! Thanks to everyone that helped make that happen. We will still be taking donations to fill in where needed. Please return the gifts with the Angel number on the package by December 13th or before if possible.

~ Mary Oesterly 5573-694-2075.

**The Schnuck Endowment Checking balance is larger this month due to a $100,000 CD that matured. The amount was not reinvested due to the low interest rate environment in July. The $100,000 is part of the original restricted gift and is unable to be expended.

Special Benevolence—December

Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund Offering (formerly Veterans of the Cross) is an important way of sharing our joy at God’s renewing and life-giving grace. The offering, which is administered by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance of the Pension boards on behalf of the UCC, is an expression of joy and gratitude to, and for, those who serve the church. Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assis-tance to the families of clergy and lay employees and Christmas gift checks to hundreds of annuitants. Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your oppor-tunity to participate in God’s promise of renewal by enabling this minis-try of compassion and care. Our joy at Christmas is a response to God’s promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors.

An envelope is attached for your offering. Please make checks pay-able to UCC of California and put Christmas Fund on the memo line.

Christmas Envelope (in the offering envelopes box) goes to Sunday School to

use for Vacation Bible School and for Camp expenses.

2020 Cradle Roll

The Cradle Roll Coordinator is Gerri Howard.

Adley Baker Avery Bolinger August Chambers Rowyn Hindman Johnny Kubesh Fallon Lawson Milo Milligan

Keil Mouse Tate Phoenix Kareigna Pruitt Emelie Reed Kyson Simmons Blayke Wilson

Luke 2:17-20

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Have a merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS REMINDERS

May the Christmas presents remind you of God’s greatest gift—

His only begotten Son. May the Christmas candles remind you of Him who is the light of The world. May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree on which He died

for you. May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him who said, “Be of good cheer.”

May the Christmas feast remind you of Him who is the bread of life. May the Christmas snow remind you of the cleansing power of Christ. May the Christmas bells remind you of the blorious proclamation of His birth. May the Christmas carols remind you of His glad tidings which we are to proclaim to all mankind. May the Christmas season remind you in every way of Jesus Christ your King. (from Church Bulletin Bits #3)

Wishing you peace throughout the new year!

Death We extend our Christian sympathy to the Family & Friends of Bradley James Kueffer who passed away November 4, 2020.

May God bless those who mourn in these days.

Thank You Dear UCC ~ Thank you for the prayers and cards during my hospital stay. Thank you also for offering to help me out! ~ Harley McDaniel

Baby Announcements Congratulations to Brock & Summer Wilson on the birth of their daughter,

Blayke Caroline Wilson, Blayke was born Friday, October 9, 2020. Congratulations to Eric & Lauren Lawson on the birth of their daughter,

Fallon Sloane Lawson. Fallon was born Saturday, October 31, 2020.

December

Lay Readers: 06 Becky Schneider 13 Carole Barbour 20 Alan Chambers

27 Brad Friedrich

Children’s Time: 06 Kendra Hall 13 Ginnie Medlin

20 The Puppets

27 Jo Ann Cantriel

Giving made Easy Online giving is available!

Follow the E-Giving link on our website: calmo-ucc.org to give today or set recurring gifts

Please note ~

Salem UCC Cancellations: The Salem UCC Christmas program &

the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service have been cancelled

December 13th—Bell Choir

December 20th—Cantata by the Sr. Choir

Do you need help with Medicare / Medicaid forms? Darrell Hendrickson works with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program CLAIM. He can be reached at 573-690-4987. You can also call 800-

390-3330 Darrell would also be willing to help with any other questions about

government assistance. Please give him a call..

Read the Bible on your phone. YouVersion Bible app. You can download this app for free at the app store

To get access to Right Now Media for you and your family use the link or text to the number listed below.

Custom Registration Link - https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Invite/CALUCC

There is an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting at the Annunciation Catholic Church, 414 Patrick St., on Mondays at

8 p.m. Contact number: 660-621-2271.

For your viewing and listening opportunities of the weekly worship services, there are two ways of being part of the weekly services. You may request a cd or dvd from the church office. Please let Renée know if you are interested in obtaining one of these versions of the worship service. (796-4885)

Sunday School is in the Ministry of Transforming Lives

NOVEMBER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS & OFFICERS

Those present in Zoom meeting were Brett Hall, Lanny Ash, Laura & Steven Burger, Larry Rohrbach, Carole Barbour, Courtney Cassil, & Judy Burger. Brett opened the meeting with prayer.

The minutes of the October meeting were approved. The treasurer's report was approved.

Sunday School teachers can decide if they wish to do Zoom Sunday School classes while church is only online.

The benevolence organization for this month is the Rape & Abuse Center of Jefferson City

Grace Living was introduced as a possible benevolence project for 2021. Grace Living is an outreach program based in Clarksburg that helps women with ad-diction problems.

Carole will look into Advent mailers that will be sent out soon.

The Giving Tree will be put up by November 29th with the Sock & Glove pro-ject to be on December 6th.

Cookies & Caroles Sunday will be December 20th. Options were discussed since caroles cannot be sung by the group. Cookies can still be offered if do-nors will package cookies in ziploc bags. Watch for sign-up sheets.

Military Christmas packs should be mailed by December 14th in order to arrive timely. Brett will contact Ronda to see what was sent last year.

ROK & God's Singers will begin back in January 2021

Options for Christmas Eve Service was discussed with concerns for children in groups & congregation size. Brett will see what Lisa Robertson may have in mind.

Meeting was adjourned.

The next meeting will be December 1st.

Respectfully submitted, Judy Burger

SOME DEFINITIONS OF CHRISTMAS

(from Church Bulletin Bits)

Christmas is the light that burns eternally. It is a glow that warms the hearts of people wherever the message of “Peace on earth to men of good will” is believed. Christmas is peace in a wor ld where people have been alienated from each other by hatred and jealousy.

Christmas is love that flows from one hear t to another.

Christmas is forgiveness, the time for fresh beginnings, a time to r ight the wrongs of yesterday.

Christmas is giving to those who cannot give to us.

Christmas is sur render of one’s life to Christ in renewed dedication, making Christ the Lord of our lives.

Men’s Brotherhood

UCC Brotherhood Minutes – Monday, November 23, 2020

The UCC Men’s Brotherhood met at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2020 to decorate the church for Christmas. Approximately 12 members and several guests put up the Christmas tree in the sanctuary, hung wreaths and greens around the church and installed the night lit Christmas Cards at the back parking lot entrance and in the front of the church on Oak Street. When fin-ished decorating, the group enjoyed a terrific meal of hamburgers and the fixin’s.

Following supper, the group had a brief business meeting. We decided to forego our normal Christmas caroling in December and instead gather on Monday, December 14 and record some group carols in the sanctuary for distribution via DVD’s to the nursing homes before Christmas. Our regular chili supper will follow. A letter of thanks for the recent Brotherhood donation to the Australian

Christian Mission was shared with the group.

Norman Rohrbach, Secretary

Notes & News

A Time of Hope

8:15 a.m. Sunday

KRLL Radio ~1420 AM

www.calmo-ucc.org

Please continue to

save

the Best Choice

label bar codes for

the

SHAREFEST

Gathering

NOTE: Please check your address listing & phone numbers in the new pictorial directory. If any corrections need to be made, please contact the office. We will compile a list of corrections at a later date for everyone to add to their directories.

MONITEAU CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES CENTER

Please save your extra plastic shopping bags to use at the MCMC Food Bank.

Drop your bags off at the church. Thanks!

To Watch the California UCC Worship Services Online:

Go to http://www.calmo-ucc.org. Scroll down and click on the

“Online Services” link. (The bulletin is also available)

Or: Go to youtube.com & search California United Church of Christ.

You know you are getting old when “Happy Hour” turns out to be a nap!

01 Lauren Friedrich

01 Kent Hees

02 Mary Keil 02 Tony Barry

02 Luke Burger 03 Hayden Kueffer 04 Bobby Brandes

04 Grayden Gatlin

05 Dorothy Kirchoff 07 Matt Rohrbach

08 Jimmy Ford

08 Damon Mullen

08 Nicole Barnett 10 Stuart Inglish

11 Rowyn Hindman

12 Odin Davis

14 Kenny Knipker 14 John Overbey

14 Garrett Burger 14 Michelle Kissick

15 Betty Swillum

15 Dylan Ratcliff

16 Harold Cashion

16 Wyatt Bestgen

17 Mike Robertson

17 Brynna Hall 17 McKenzie Medlin

18 Patty Bruce

18 Bryan Lutz

18 Anthony Graves

20 Eleanor Hofstetter 20 Morgan Bestgen

22 Pat Kiesling

22 Johnny Cassil 22 Alisha Burger

24 Henry Bieri 24 Ron Gerhart 24 Carol Hall 24 Brenda Farris

24 Toni Kueffer 24 Hunter Carpenter 24 Brad Friedrich

24 Melissa Weis

25 Tori Maurer 26 Carole Schroeder 26 Jerry Wolfrum

26 Kathy Gerlach

26 Hayden Kilmer 27 Jordan Vernon

28 Stephanie Liebi 28 Emma Kissick

29 Ann Spillars

29 Kelly Sedgwick

December Baptisms Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we have been received into the family of Jesus Christ through

the sacrament of Baptism.

The Tidings THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST OF CALIFORNIA

101 N. Oak Street, California, MO 65018 (573)796-4885 Church Office (573)796-3804 Pastor’s Study

Rev. Russell Cobb, Pastor rev.cobb@calmo-ucc.org

Renee` Clifford, Office Manager renee@calmo-ucc.org Barbara Weis, Editor

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.

WEBSITE: calmo-ucc.org

Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Jacob Adams—Dec. 19, 1999

Shonda Archer—Dec. 29, 2002

Devon Bueker—Dec. 24, 1989

Aaron Burger—Dec. 15, 1991

Krystal Davis—Dec., 1978

Stephen Hill—Dec. 5, 2004

Alexandria Larson—Dec. 29, 2002

Jess Medlin—Dec. 17, 1986

David Meyer—Dec., 1961

Shane Meyer—Dec., 1976

David Pearon—Dec. 4, 1988

Peyton Peters—Dec. 5, 1999

Parker Ramsdell—Dec. 10, 2000

Drew Robertson—Dec. 27, 1991

Ross Robertson—Dec. 27, 1991

Scott Robertson—Dec. 27, 1991

Priscella Saldana—Dec. 29, 2002

Robert Schlup—Dec. 5, 1971

Nora Wolford—Dec. 6, 2015

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