Wesley UMC 1322 W. Broadway Blvd.

Sedalia, Missouri, 65301-5302

Sunday Services 8:30 & 10:45

THE WE SL E Y I N QU IRER

We Wan t To Know

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid

PERMIT NO 232 Sedalia, MO

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Leading People to an Active Faith in Christ

The Rev. Dennis Harper, Pastor Telephone Number: 660.826.4502 dharper@wesleyofsedalia.com Fax Number: 660.826.7604 office@wesleyofsedalia.com

Sarah Myers, Youth Ministry Intern

wesleyofsedalia.com Vicki Herrick, Office Manager November 25, 2018 Grant Maledy, Choir Director, Anne Tempel, Pianist, Organist, Bell Choir, Wesley Angels Director

John Knox, Custodian

Prayers: George Scholl (Debi Langdon’s brother-in-law), Mandy Bain (friend of Jennifer Templeton), Alta Barber (Betty Hopkins’ aunt), Jenn Langdon, Katy Holbert, Martha Ross (friend of Carissa Bauer), David Winkler (friend of Wendy Myers), Don Steen, Ed Thompson (Nancy Wakley’s brother), Matt Smith (son of Kathryn Marshall’s friend), Judi Moore, Evan Schear, The Garnik Family, Eileen Brandes, and Jim Lawley.

OUR CALENDAR AND PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Sunday, November 25 Olivia Pyle

8:30 & 10:45. a.m. — Worship Services 8:30 & 10:45. a.m. — Wesley Bell Choir Performs 9:30 a.m. — Sunday School

Monday, November 26 Jackson Levine 4:00 p.m. — Women’s Bible Study/Room 206

6:00 p.m. — Show Me Sound Practice/FH

Tuesday, November 27 Joyce Franklin 12:00 p.m. — Communal Prayer

Wednesday, November 28 Micha Waddle 5:45 p.m. – Bell Choir Practice/Sanc 6:00 p.m. – Wesley Faithful Men Practice/Room 206 7:00 p.m. – Chancel Choir Practice/Sanc

Thursday, November 29 Jan Yokeley 2:00 p.m. — Prayer Shawl/Library

Friday, November 30 Ron Yates 7:00 a.m. — Wesley Way Foundation/Best Western

Saturday, December 1 Emme Plowman

Sunday, December 2 Janice Barton 8:30 & 10:45. a.m. — Worship Services 9:30 a.m. — Sunday School 10:45 a.m. — Chancel Choir Performs

Monday, December 3 Marion Thomas 12:00 p.m. — Sorosis Luncheon/FH 6:00 p.m. — Show Me Sound/FH

Tuesday, December 4 Barbara Schrader 12:00 p.m. — Communal Prayer

Wednesday, December 5 Carey Gutjahr 5:45 p.m. – Bell Choir Practice/Sanc 6:00 p.m. – Wesley Faithful Men Practice/Room 206 7:00 p.m. – Chancel Choir Practice/Sanc

Thursday, December 6 Ann Spurrier 2:00 p.m. — Prayer Shawl/Library

Friday, December 7 Kathryn Marshall 6:00 p.m. – Family Game Night/FH

Saturday, December 8 Jennifer Barnier 9:00 a.m. Birthday Party for Jesus 10:30 a.m. – Dress Rehearsal Children’s Pageant/FH

Faithfulness Affirmed Worship

November 11 115

November 18 158

Church School

November 11 69

November 18 83

Tithing Commitment

November 11 $2,787.32

November 18 $3,048.75

Christmas Pageant Information November in Sunday School, the kids will practice the hymns we will sing. Sunday, December 2nd: during Sunday school the kids will find out the cast list! Saturday, December 8th: will be our annual Birthday Party for Jesus from 9 – 10:30 a.m.– Dress rehearsal with costumes and a party! (Fellowship Hall) We will be collecting children’s activity books, ex. coloring books, connect the dots etc., to donate to some local agencies. Sunday, December 9th: during Sunday School – get in costumes and last run through (Fellowship Hall) 10:45 Worship – Christmas Pageant

A Classical Christmas

At Wesley United Methodist

Saturday, December 8, 2018 3:00 p.m.

Featuring works by:

J.S. Bach Beethoven

G.F. Handel Tchaikovsky

Artists featured include: The Wesley

Bell Choir, Sedalia Chorale, Sacred Heart Children’s Choir, Show Me Sound, members of the Sedalia

Symphony and much more!

Join us for Caroling on

December 16th

at 2 pm

Advent Study Opportunity

Pastor Dennis will be leading an Advent Study over the book Awaiting the Already by Magrey R. deVega. We will meet on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. beginning November 27th, and a session during Sunday School beginning on November 25th. Cost of the book is $10. Contact the church office if you are interested.

Our next theme Sunday will be

December 2nd “Getting into the Christmas

Spirit – Wear a Christmas Ornament”

We have an opportunity to remember or

honor someone special with Poinsettias, to

make the sanctuary beautiful as we celebrate

Jesus’ birth. The cost for each is $7 and you

can pick them up after Christmas. Make

checks payable to Wesley UMC and

designate “Poinsettias” on your check. ORDERS MUST BE TO CHURCH OFFICE BY

MONDAY, December 3rd

□ In Honor of

___________________________________________________

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□ In Memory of

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Donor’s Name

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We will be decorating the

sanctuary for Advent and

Christmas Saturday, December 1

at 9:00 a.m. We need your help!

Please sign up in the bulletin or

call the church office.

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake,

zucchini bread and pumpkin pie.” —Jim Davis

Donations are being collected

November 25th for our college students as they

prepare for finals. There is a bucket in the library area for

donations.

3rd Scott & Julie Lightfoot 24th David & Sharon Loveland 31st Brian & Julie Mahalovich

Festival of Sharing

2018 Quilt Auction In the recent newsletter from

Festival of Sharing it was

reported that this year’s quilt

auction raised a total of

$20,683.50. Wesley’s “The Very

Hungry Caterpillar” quilt raised

$185. Thanks to all those who

helped and to all who bid and

purchased quilts this year.

From the Pastor’s Desk… The season of Advent begins on Sunday, December

2. The word “advent” literally means “coming.” When

I hear that something is coming, I want to know

when it will arrive. For instance, when I order an item

online, I want to get it fast and cheap. I certainly do

not want to pay extra for shipping, but faster is

better. What would happen if I actually had to go

out to the store?

Advent is the time when we followers of Christ

contemplate Jesus’ coming. We are not only

considering Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem a long time

ago, but his promised return that redeems the whole

world. Jesus never stops coming to us. I wish he

would get here soon.

We want Christmas here quickly, on our own terms.

There are certain rules about when the celebration

begins, how the house is decorated, which worship

attendance the family attends, and what we eat, to

name a few things that have to line up. Advent and

Christmas is traditionally done one way, and those

are the expectations.

My struggle is that I am learning that Jesus’ coming

is rarely done on my terms. Jesus was born in a barn

and placed in a manger because the inn in

Bethlehem was full. The people that came to see the

baby Jesus were shepherds. The angels did not go

to the palaces and rulers, but to lowly and poor to

announce the new Savior.

Mary’s circumstances seem to not make her the first

choice to be Jesus’ mother. She is engaged and

unmarried when the angel tells her she has been

chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. She is

shocked but courageously receives the news. Her

pregnancy is not what she expected. Joseph her

fiancé is shocked by Mary’s pregnancy, but when the

Lord appears to him in a dream and explains what is

happening, he too courageously goes with the plan.

Jesus has come and is still dwelling with us.

Eventually, Jesus will come back and return in all of

his glory. The way Jesus comes to us is surprising.

Jesus can show up in ways we did not plan on.

Advent teaches us that waiting is good. It helps us

slow down and notice what God is doing in the

world. God’s presence surprises us and teaches us

how to work on God’s terms. We courageously move

with God, in the work of bringing joy, peace, and

love into the world. Jesus embodies God’s love and

we carry on that work, not on our own terms, but as

those who wait on the Lord.

In Christ,

Dennis

1st Karen Parker 2nd Connie Chappelle 6th Nathaniel Bolds 7th Barbara White 10th Faye Hunton 11th Jamareon Branch Rick Langdon 12th Ruth Stratman 17th John Meehan 18th Tom Saulbeamer 21st Martha Tuggle 22nd Brian Mahalovich 24th Robert Koffman Timothy Noland 25th Stanley Cox 26th Dennis Harper

Elliott Pyle 28th Frederick Zahn 30th Olivia Pyle 31st John Knox

Emergency Overnight Cold Weather Shelter Opening

Through the cooperative efforts of several local organizations a cold weather shelter is now in place. It is at the Salvation Army on 1200 E. Broadway. In the event of harsh, inclement temperatures (forecast of 15 degrees or lower) the shelter will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. They are asking for volunteers from local churches to man the shelter when open. Please contact the church office for volunteer details.