The Messenger
First & Wesley United
Methodist Church
89 Center Street
West Haven, Connecticut 06516
203-933-8795
December 2016
I love to officiate at baptisms, especially infant baptisms. The babies are
adorable and loved by all the church family. We thank God for giving them
life and guiding them through their lives.
When a baby is not yet born, the family waits for him/her. Sometimes the baby wants to stay in
his/her mother’s womb longer than expected. Then, every member of the family is concerned,
and the wait seems endless. Finally, when the baby arrives in the world, he/she gives us great
joy.
As the family eagerly waits for the baby, so too, we Christians wait for someone this Advent
season. He is also a baby. Baby Jesus, who was born in a stable in Bethlehem about two
thousand years ago, will be born again in our hearts this Christmas.
While waiting for a baby, his/her parents have a lot of preparation to do. They pray to God and
prepare for a crib, some clothes, and a few toys for him/her. Their nine-month wait is not
tedious but hopeful and active. Because of the hopeful wait, they do their best with joy.
We Christians also need to prepare before baby Jesus is born this Christmas. How do you think
we can prepare for this Advent season? First of all, we need to prepare a bed where Jesus will lie
down. Jesus was born in a humble manger. Thus, our hearts should be like that. If our hearts
are like a luxurious bed in a mansion, baby Jesus will not and cannot be born in our hearts this
Christmas.
Let us make our hearts humble and prepare a small manger for baby Jesus. Then, Jesus will be
born in our hearts this Christmas. When we have confidence that Jesus will come to us, it will be
joyous to wait for him this Advent. Let us have a spiritual, joyful Advent!
Sungmu Lee
Lectionary Readings for December 2016 December 4, 2016 Isaiah 11:1-10 • Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 • Romans 15:4-13 • Matthew 3:1-12
December 11, 2016 Isaiah 35:1-10 • Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55 • James 5:7-10 • Matthew 11:2-11
December 18, 2016 Isaiah 7:10-16 • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 • Romans 1:1-7 • Matthew 1:18-25
December 18, 2016 Isaiah 7:10-16 • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 • Romans 1:1-7 • Matthew 1:18-25
December 24 & 25, 2016 Isaiah 9:2-7 • Psalm 96 • Titus 2:11-14 • Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) Isaiah 62:6-12 • Psalm 97 • Titus 3:4-7 • Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20 Isaiah 52:7-10 • Psalm 98 • Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) • John 1:1-14
LIGHT
Light is a very special thing. It brings life and beauty to our world. The sun which shines upon
us is composed of a spectrum of colors. This is confirmed by light shining through droplets of
water and forming a rainbow in the sky or shining through a triangular glass prism. Light is also
symbolic of spiritual beneficence. As Christians we perceive the great light in Jesus revealing to
us our duty to God, to others and to one’s self. We receive wholesome spiritual instruction
which can improve our quality of life.
Like the moon, by itself, is barren, cold and dead; but it can catch the light of the sun and make
the night beautiful. Likewise, in the dark aspects of our spiritual world, each one of us can be a
beacon of light to radiate the pathway to righteousness.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp
puts under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the
same way, let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to
your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Rev. Benson A. Benton
DECEMBER 2016
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 10 Koinonia Café
6p Bell Choir
7p Adult Choir
2 6p Confirmation
Class
3 8-11 Free Community
Breakfast with
Santa
4 Pledge Dedication Sunday 9:15 Sunday School
10:30 Worship & Communion
11:30 Coffee Hour
11:30 Alternative Christmas
Market
12p Church Council
6p I/M Youth Group
5
6 10–12p Home Prayer Group
(101 Bellevue Ave, West
Haven)
5p Youth Choir
7p Stewardship Meeting
7 7:30p Advent Bible Study
8 10 Koinonia Café
6p Bell Choir
7p Adult Choir
9 10 10 Christmas Pageant
Rehearsal
3:30-5p
The Craft Corner
11 9:15 Sunday School
10:30 Worship
11:30 Coffee Hour
11:30 Alternative Christmas
Market
* “Wish List” Gift Due
* Christmas Altar Flowers
Order Due
12 6p Missions/
Outreach
Meeting
13 5p Youth Choir
7:30p Finance Meeting
14 7:30p Advent Bible Study
15 10 Koinonia Café
6p Bell Choir
7p Adult Choir
16 6p Confirmation
Class
6p Special
Olympics Holiday
Party
17 10 Christmas Pageant
Rehearsal
18 9:15 Sunday School
10:30 Worship &
Christmas Pageant
11:30 Coffee Hour
19 20 * Messenger Articles Due
for January, 2017
21
22 10 Koinonia Café
6p Bell Choir
7p Adult Choir
23 24 Christmas Eve 4p Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
with Communion
25 Christmas 6:30 Christmas Morning Service
09:15 Sunday School
10:30 Worship & Communion
11:30 Anointing for
Healing & Wholeness
11:30 Coffee Hour
26 27
28
29 10 Koinonia Café
6p Bell Choir
7p Adult Choir
30 31
* As of November 20, 2016. For further updates, visit www.firstwesleyumc.org/calendar.
Adult Sunday School
The Adult Sunday School class is for anyone too old for the teenage class. We meet in Kendall
Hall during Sunday school hour for lively and wide ranging discussions on how our faith impacts
our daily lives Monday through Saturday. Our current guidebook is Faith is the Answer, But What
Are the Questions? By James W. Moore. The author says “Faith is the answer, of course, but still,
what are the questions, and how do we respond to them honestly, creatively, and redemptively?”
Come and join us for an energetic and enlightening time!
PRAYER GROUP
Prayer Group will meet on first Tuesday, December 6th
in Richard & Thelma
Reid's home, 101 Bellevue Avenue, West Haven, from 10AM to 12:00 Noon.
Please Join Us!!!!
PRAYER: Merciful heavenly Father, as we see in the future the season of Advent open our eyes, that we
may see You clearly,, open our ears that we may hear your voice and open our hearts that we may be a
vessel for your use. We praise your name and lift our thanksgiving to you for the sacrificial gift of your
son, Jesus! Bless this time of learning and celebration. Amen.
ISAIAH: 9-14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son and will call him IMMANUEL.
Do you see a consumer's view of Christmas and do you see the Christian view of Christmas? Has the real
meaning of Christmas gotten lost in the shopping mall?
Jesus was not what most people expected --did not possess worldly wealth or majestic power. He resisted
world's obsessions with wealth, pleasure, power and recognition. Yet we have allowed materialism and
consumerism to distort our view of Jesus.
Have your celebrations charged throughout the years?
Real meaning of Christmas is celebration of a miracle....the birth of the Messiah!
Missions and Outreach
The committee met on Tuesday, November 16 and discussed current and future projects.
Thanks to everyone's generosity, 24 Thanksgiving "baskets" and $300+ in Stop & Shop gift cards were
delivered to our Covenant to Care social worker Lisa Fryer on November 15. These will help to brighten
her clients' holidays, and demonstrate God's Love to them. At that time, Ms. Fryer provided us with her
clients' "wish lists" for Christmas.
These were available, on ornaments for our members to choose from on Sunday, November 20. We
generously signed our names next to the appropriate name on the list, and took the "ornament". These
"gifts" need to be purchased, wrapped, "ornament" attached, and returned to church by Sunday,
December 11.
On Saturday, December 3 we will hold our second annual free breakfast with Santa from 8am to 11am.
There is still time to sign up to help set up or clean up on the lists in Fellowship Hall. You can also make
this a "warm" celebration by donating hats, gloves, and mittens into the red box in Fellowship Hall.
These will be distributed to any children who are in need. We will also be providing singing, crafts, and
small gifts for all the young children who attend. Come and join the fun, and see our "generous church"
at work!
On Sundays, December 4 and 11, we will hold our annual Alternative Christmas Market. Please take
advantage of the opportunity of remembering your family and friends with a donation to the following
charities: Heifer International, World Service of the United Methodist Church, W.H.E.A.T., Project
Hope, the Pharmacy Fund of the Hill Health Center, and Beth El Shelter.
We are looking forward to several activities for 2017: a free lunch and game afternoon in the Hill
section of New Haven, collecting for personal hygiene items for school girls in Africa, and fundraising
for our UMARMY teams. Come join us to discuss these and other ideas at our next meeting at 6pm on
Monday, December 12.
Our annual Alternative Christmas Market will be held on Sundays, December 4 and 11. The following will
benefit from your generosity: Heifer International, World Service of the United Methodist Church, W.H.E.A.T.,
Beth El Shelter, Project Hope, and the pharmacy fund of the Hill Health Center. Please consider remembering
your family and friends with a donation to one of these charities, and send them a card to notify them of your
generosity!
Pledge Campaign
We will be reaching out to the congregation beginning November 13 and for the next 3 Sundays to make a
commitment (pledge) for your time, talent and treasure. On December 4, we will receive the pledge cards and
give thanks for the generous response. Pledging a set amount each week allows the Finance Committee to be able
to set a plan of action for 2017. More information to follow…
Youth Choir Our Youth Choir is open to anyone in 1st grade and up. Below is our Schedule for December:
December 6th 5:00 PM rehearsal
December 11th SING IN CHURCH
December 13th 5:00 PM rehearsal
December 18th Christmas Pageant at 10:30 AM service
December 20th NO REHEARSAL
December 24th Sing in Christmas Eve service - 4:00 PM
December 27th NO REHEARSAL
January 3rd 5:00 PM rehearsal
Youth Group News Thanks to our youth groups for baking cookies for the church fair on Oct. 30th and for raking leaves on
November 19th. We have five people in our I/M (Intermediate/Middle school) group and 7 in our High School
Youth Group.
Our I/M youth group will meet on Dec. 4th, 6:00 PM - discussion/study on "The Incredibles". All students in 5th
grade through 8th grade are welcome!
The rest of December, there are no meetings. We will start up again on January 8th with our High School Youth
Group at 6:00 PM. All high schoolers are welcome to come!
CHRISTMAS ALTAR FLOWERS
Order Your Poinsettias
I (We) wish to order ___________ Poinsettia Plant(s) for the Altar at a suggested donation of $10.00
each.
Please make checks payable to First & Wesley United Methodist Church and write “flower fund” in the
memo section on the check.
In Memory Of ___________________________________________ or
In Honor of _____________________________________________
Given by _____________________________________________
Telephone # _____________________________________________
Taking plant(s) home __________ yes ____________ no
Plants to be given to shut-in __________ yes ____________ no
Orders must be received by Sunday, December 11th
. Please leave form in the offering plate or hand to
Mary Anne Hawkes (203) 933-1958.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT "Jesus means Christmas to Me"
The children will present a Christmas Pageant, "Jesus means Christmas to me" on December 18th
during our morning worship service.
In order to get this together we will be having 2 rehearsals on the following dates:
Saturday, December 10th 10:00-11:30 AM
Saturday, December 17th 10:00-11:30 AM
If you have a child in the church who would like to be a part of this, come to these rehearsals. The
children need to learn simple songs and we need some to dress up as angels, shepherds, wise men,
Mary, Joseph and some to do narration parts. It's gonna be FUN!
Sunday School News
Sunday School meets weekly on Sunday mornings from
9:15 – 10:15. The younger classes use a program called
Deep Blue. They meet in the sanctuary. The kids listen
to and read bible stories, sing songs, and learn bible
verses. After the opening lesson, students go to their
own classrooms to work on craft projects, play games, read, and talk about the lesson.
The older Sunday School class meets in an upstairs classroom in their comfy chairs. They
use a program called Submerge. They read stories, play games, make craft projects, and
talked about their lessons. Each week has a theme. The theme gives them an opportunity
to talk about issues they face as preteens and teens.
The Craft Corner, a group of youth grades 5 and up, met on Saturday, November 12 to
make Christmas Cards. We will meet the second Saturday of each month from 3:30 –
5:00. The next date is Saturday, December 10 to make more cards and paint Christmas
ornaments. Contact Gail Bartozzi or Jen Werle for more information.
Fundraiser
Just a reminder that Dave Smith is selling Stop
and Shop cards to members and friends of First
and Wesley. Whether for buying groceries or to
give as a gift, as an added bonus, you can earn
Stop & Shop gas rewards for every $1 spent on
gift cards.
It is hard to believe that more people don’t take
advantage of this marvelous way to raise money
for the church. If you buy a gift card from Dave
Smith you get the full face value at the register
and Stop & Shop sends a percentage to the
church. It couldn’t be simpler and it doesn’t cost
you a dime. The church has raised over $2,000.
Coffee Hour
“Coffee Hour ~ we are always
looking for kindhearted souls
to take a turn at serving coffee
after church. Meet your friends to chat in a
relaxed atmosphere. A sign-up sheet is available
in Fellowship Hall. You can also sign up online
on our website,
www.firstwesleyumc.org/Forms.html
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Articles for the October Newsletter are due
by December 20th. Please mark your calendars.
EVERYONE IS A REPORTER
If you give me the- who, what, when, where
and why, I will write your article for you –
Email to [email protected] or call
203-213-6363 and leave a message. Please
send me your email address to speed up
delivery of the newsletter.
Thank you, Bill Hunt
Pennies From Heaven
The Native American Penny Collection is ongoing
to provide very much needed food and fuel. Please
help the Sunday school students by giving them
your loose change each week to support those in
need.
November Birthdays
3 - Diane Soars
5 - Judy Juzwiakowski 6 - Julia Werle
8 - Hannah Cascio
Shirley Henrie
9 - Christine McGregor 10 - Bill Hunt Hyacinth Young
11 - Lisa Ammon
Tom Mark
Jennifer Skipper 12 - Katelyn Hickman
17 - Michele Sablone Benson A. Benton, Sr.
18 - Matt Heafy
20 - Ann Soule Jayden Abekah
21 - Mark Cascio Isaiah Singleton 29 - Raymond Geissler
30 - Florence Dzikas Stephanie Wilson 31 - Gina Quinn
November Anniversaries
3 - Peggy and Jim Jerrell
11 - Helen and Dave Smith
16 - Becky and Tom Baker
19 - Vera and Edward Marshall
27 - Linda and Dennis Kopec
If you would like to include someone for birthdays or
anniversaries please see below. Example- name change,
address change, marriage, birth, death, etc.
Email: [email protected] or send to church office.
Pastors
Discretionary
Fund:
Please consider giving a “Love Offering” to Pastor’s
discretionary fund. You may place your gift in the
container on the back table of the sanctuary. If you
wish to write check to the church, please write
“Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo section.
Tell us if you have a member information change:
example- name change, address change, marriage,
birth, death, etc.
Email: [email protected] or send to
the Church office.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Prayer Shawl meets the second Tuesday of every
month at the home of Chris McGregor or Linda Kopec.
If you would like to give a shawl to someone, please
see one of the members: Linda Kopec, MaryAnn
Hawkes, Edith Mulligan, Sue McMillian, Sharon Ewen
or Chris McGregor.
Alternately, there are blessed shawls in the church
office as well as letters to go with them and gift bags.
If you take one, please leave a note with the name of
the recipient. We try to keep a list so that we know
how many shawls have been given to friends.
If you don't knit but would like to be part of this
ministry, we would be happy to accept donations
toward the purchase of yarn. If you would like to
choose the yarn yourself, three skeins of Lion Brand
Homespun are needed for each shawl.
Thank you!
The Messenger First & Wesley United Methodist Church
89 Center Street West Haven, CT 06516
Phone (203) 933-8795
www.firstwesleyumc.org
Email: [email protected]
Reverend Sungmu Lee
Sunday Worship Time: 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School: 9:15am
The December Newsletter
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