The witnessThe witnessThe witnessThe witness A PUBLICATION OF TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH– DECEMBER 2016
Toms Brook UMC
Advent & Christmas Schedule
*****
Sunday, December 11
Lebanon-St. Stephens Community Choir
presents its 34th Annual Christmas Concert at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 18
Children’s Christmas Program at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 24
Family Christmas Eve Service at 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 10:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, December 25
Traditional Worship Service at 8:30 a.m.
Modern Service at 11:00 a.m.
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Greetings my friends in the Name of the Lord!
It is a great joy to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. Jesus came to this earth and was born as one
of us, lived His life, taught us how to live this life as a child of God and then gave His life
as a sacrifice for our sins. After Jesus was raised from the dead, He ascended to heaven
from which He will return one day to raise us from the dead and begin His reign upon the
earth for 1,000 years. Then, after all God’s enemies have been defeated, He will make a
new heaven and new earth where we will live forever in peace and harmony with our Savior
and each other.
All this is possible through the birth of a little baby some 2,000 years ago. Knowing
the above is true, gives the Christmas season a significance that is not seen in the temporal
giving of gifts and the commercialization commonly seen in our society. Instead, the signifi-
cance is seen in the coming of eternal life. (1 John 1:2) “And now we testify and proclaim to
you that He is the one who is eternal life.” The true Christmas story is quite dear to the
hearts of those who played parts in the play or enjoy seeing kids dress in costume. But
what I enjoy is seeing God’s love portrayed in a vulnerable little baby of parents not yet
married. God’s love is for all people; it is His will that all be saved. Those who accept Jesus
as Savior will indeed be saved from the penalty of their sins which is eternal separation
from God and instead will receive eternal life and live with Jesus in the new creation forev-
er. The little baby of the Christmas story is now the Savior of the world, and He is eternal
life.
Let us pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thank You for sending
Jesus from heaven to be born as one of us. Thank You for making Him the Savior of the
world and our Savior. Help us to share what our Savior has done for us so that others may
know Him too. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
The peace of God be with you,
Pastor Stan
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Hearts & Hands Christmas PartyHearts & Hands Christmas PartyHearts & Hands Christmas PartyHearts & Hands Christmas Party
Hearts and Hands will meet on Tuesday, December 20, at 7 p.m. for their
annual Christmas Party. Each person is asked to bring a $10 gi$ to exchange
and a snack to share.
UM MenUM MenUM MenUM Men
The United Methodist Men will meet on Tuesday, December 20, at 7 p.m. in the parlor.
The LebanonThe LebanonThe LebanonThe Lebanon----St. Stephen’s Community Choir’s St. Stephen’s Community Choir’s St. Stephen’s Community Choir’s St. Stephen’s Community Choir’s
34343434th th th th Annual Christmas ConcertAnnual Christmas ConcertAnnual Christmas ConcertAnnual Christmas Concert
The Lebanon-St. Stephen’s Community Choir will present their 34th Annual Christmas Con-
cert here at Toms Brook United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m.
You are invited to come out and hear “Just Another Christmas”, “Lo, How A Rose E’er Bloom-
ing” as well as toe-tappers such as: “Look Who Just Checked In” and “Angel Band.”
Refreshments will be served a$er the concert and a free-will offer-
ing will be received. Come, let us prepare your hearts for the com-
ing of our Lord this Christmas season!
Hearts & Hands are asking for dona<ons of finger foods and cookies
for the <me of fellowship and refreshments following the concert.
Children’s Christmas ProgramChildren’s Christmas ProgramChildren’s Christmas ProgramChildren’s Christmas Program
The children will take part in a program en<tled, “The Story of Mary”
on Sunday, December 18, at 7 p.m. There will be familiar Christmas
Carols sung, a narra<ve of the story, along with the children’s recita-
<ons. Refreshments of punch and cookies will be served a$er the
program. Everyone is invited to a?end.
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God Among Us
The claim that Chris<anity makes for Christmas is that at a par<cular <me and place
God came to be with us himself. When Quirinius was governor of Syria, in a town called Beth-
lehem, a child was born who, beyond the power of anyone to account for, was the high and
lo$y One made low and helpless. The One who inhabits eternity comes to dwell in <me. The
One whom none can look upon and live is delivered in a stable under the so$, indifferent gaze
of ca?le. The Father of all mercies puts himself at our mercy.
—Frederick Buechner
+ Christian Symbols +
Cornerstone
The cornerstone is a symbol for Christ. It has Old Testament roots
in Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 28:16). In the New Testament, Christ is
called the cornerstone in Ephesians 2:20. The IHC and XP on the stone’s
sides are abbrevia<ons for “Jesus” and “Christ” in Greek. —Taken from The Newsleer Newsleer
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December Mission OpportunitiesDecember Mission OpportunitiesDecember Mission OpportunitiesDecember Mission Opportunities
Food Collections and Outreach ReportsFood Collections and Outreach ReportsFood Collections and Outreach ReportsFood Collections and Outreach Reports
The Giving Tree
All are invited to trim the tree at the back of the sanctuary with mi?ens, gloves, scarves, and
hats for area children again this December. Items collected will go to A Small Hand and the
Shenandoah Co. Pregnancy Center a$er Christmas.
Alternate Gi�ing – Sunday December 3-17 Don’t know what to buy for those family members and friends who have everything? TBUMC
will be offering some very special gi$ing op<ons. Gi$ cards will be available with dona<ons to:
Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter,
Response Shelter, and
Shenandoah County Pregnancy Center
See Linda Baker, Kathy Church, or Ellen Kern between December 3-17 to make a dona<on and
obtain a gi$ card to present.
Lend-a-Hand Report—In October, the church had 14 calls or visits and spent $325 for area
outreach to 3 people/families.
Bread of Life Food Pantry distributed 5,636 pounds of food in November to 90 families,
which consisted of 302 people.
Compassion Cupboard—The donations for November were: 8 (14 1/2 oz.) fruit cocktail, and 4
-(14 1/2 oz.) green beans.
Operation Christmas Child Collection—We collected 1,574 boxes overall from our area.
Toms Brook UMC gave 64 boxes. Toms Brook UMC has been a collection center for Operation
Christmas Child since 2011.
Inside Greeters: Leo & Gloria Ryman
Jenn Wieber & Audrey Wieber
Acolyte: Natalee Peterson
_____________
Ushers: Robert Neff, Mary Fay,
Leo Ryman, Gloria Ryman
Fred Frenzel
Visual Creation:
Run Visuals:
J.J. Funkhouser
Brian Funkhouser
Debbie Buckley
Cassidy Richardson
Sound Board : Doug Midkiff Linda Hudgins
Communion: Diana Bauserman—Set-up
Dr. Stan Thompson,
Bobby Funkhouser—Servers
Tina Davis—Set-up
Dr. Stan Thompson,
Rotating—Servers
Traditional Worship-8:30 a.m.
Lay Ministry for DecemberLay Ministry for DecemberLay Ministry for DecemberLay Ministry for December Page 6
Note: This list will be posted on the church bulle(n board for your convenience. Please find a subs(tute if
you are unable to be present on a Sunday when you are scheduled to serve. Devo(on leaders should con-
tact the coordinator at the number provided.
S.S. Devotional Leaders/Pianists:
Coordinator: Diana Bauserman: 465-8199
December 4—Sandee Stickley/Marcy Bauserman
December 11—Diana Bauserman/Marcy Bauserman
December 18—Cindy Hunter/Marcy Bauserman
December 25—Christmas/Marcy Bauserman
Modern Worship-11:00 a.m.
Spiritual Care
Christians who live only for themselves need to re-evaluate their thinking. Christian philos-opher Jacques Maritain said it’s wrong for Christians to aim for piety and holiness while ignoring people who suffer. “The care of another — even material, bodily care — is spiritual in essence,” he wrote. “Bread for myself is a material question; bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one.” —Taken from The Newsletter Newsletter
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December 4 “The God of the Shamed” Luke 1:26-38
December 11 “Joseph” Matthew 1:18-25
December 18 “The Magnificat” Luke 1:39-56
December 25 “The Savior Is Born, Christ the Lord” Luke 2:1-20
December
Birthdays
1 Benton Berghuis
1 Chuck Eagle
3 Wes Burgess
4 Arthur Keller
6 Sully Eagle
8 Connor Peyton
Morefield
9 Jimmy Peterson
11 Grace Healey
11 Jenny Holler
14 Leslie Funkhouser
14 Amanda Kronk
14 Gloria Kronk
15 Alyssa Thorpe
17 Terry Himelright
17 Katherine Haun
18 Donna Huntsberger
19 Kay Cornell
19 Ben King
21 Eddie Lambert
21 Marlyn Hoffman
23 Bob Lively
23 Joshua Seidel
24 Donna Miller
26 Judy Menges
28 Tony Himelright
28 Mark Griffey
30 Allison Sowers
30 Adam Crabill
Anniversaries
1 Mike & Phyllis Fleming
9 Daryl & Tina Mumaw
17 Tom & Connie Cockrell
18 Robert & Kelly Storey
22 Bob & Marcy
Bauserman
26 Paul & Jennifer Wieber
Birthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays & Anniversaries
Church Cancellations:
Church Cancellation Protocol will be used by
Pastor Stan when there needs to be a cancel-
lation of a church function. Cancellations will
be placed on these sites.
WHSV-TV,
Website: http://www.whsv.com/closings ,
WSVG RADIO-790 AM, or our
TBUMC website: http://
www.tomsbrookumc.net/
You may now listen to Pastor Stan
Thompson’s sermons on our web-
site. Just go to:
http://www.tomsbrookumc.net/
and click on the latest media link.
TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
P.O. Box 99 Toms Brook, VA 22660
Toms Brook UMC
3263 N. Main St.,
P.O. Box 99,
Toms Brook, VA 22660
Office Phone: 540-436-9312
Email: [email protected]
Web: tomsbrookumc.net
Minister:
Dr. Stan Thompson
Cell: 540-230-1897
Email: [email protected]
***
~ Sunday Worship Schedule ~
Tradi(onal Worship: 8:30 a.m.
Life Applica(on Classes: 9:45 a.m.
(Sunday School)
Modern Worship: 11:00 a.m.
~Monday thru Friday~
Morning Prayer Service: 7 a.m.
(except on holidays)
POSTMASTER: RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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Christmas is Coming Soon!
A gift idea (under $6) that you may want to consider
is our very own history book called, The Toms Brook Unit-
ed Methodist Church History. You may pick up a copy from
the church office (436-9312), church library, or call Gloria
Ryman (432-3652). The price is $5, and copies are availa-
ble in the library any time and there will be a container for
your money. Make your check out to: Toms Brook UMC
and write “history book” in the memo line.