The Wonder of Christmas We will have an

Advent-to-Christmas Evening Bible Study on Tuesday evenings beginning November 28

th.

‘The Wonder of Christmas’ is a study of scriptures with helpful thoughts

from Rob Renfroe and Ed Robb. This study will help you to refocus yourself in

expectation of God’s Gift of His Son. We will meet for four weeks, ending on December 19

th.

Minerva United Methodist Church 204 N. Main St., Minerva, OH 44657

Church 330-868-4940, Fax 330-868-4825 e-mail: minervaunc@frontier.com, website: minervaumc.org

Pastor Harley Wheeler

From the Pastor’s Pen

Minerva Messenger

Deadline for the December Newsletter is November 17th. Please have your

newsletter information turned in to the office before that date.

Patiently I Was Waiting Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.”

One of the questions we have for God is why we must wait for the things we pray for. There are needs we have brought to Him in prayer that we know He desires to grant to us, but we do not get them at the time we really hoped. There are the things we often say, “The Lord’s timing is never wrong.” “Sometimes God doesn’t say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, sometimes He says ‘Wait.’” “Waiting will teach you patience.” “The Lord never fails of His promise.” These are all true, except that it is more true to say that waiting will teach you how far in the grace of patience you have come!

One thing we could also say is that we ought not to be surprised. Seeds do not turn into mature plants overnight. Consider a fall apple. It was a long time from a budding flower to your hand, but the wait time was key to making it. And an apple is a delight to the eye and tongue, well worth the wait! No one, even in our days of instant ordering and On-demand video, can order the leaves to change, fruit to ripen, or ask Amazon to bring Spring in January. We encounter God through time, and we experience time as every-thing NOT happening at once. The Bible verse above helps us along. David says it in a way that says that patient waiting was re-warded, and he always knew he could count on the Lord. The lord ‘turned to me’, whatever is happening in your life right now, whether the recent days have been phenomenally good or phenomenally terrible, there is always, ALWAYS something good from the Lord on the way. His Love never changes, His mercies are everlasting, but they will come in fresh ways, and many blessings will be surprising ones.

Enjoy the wait, Pastor Harley Worship in November

11/5 ‘Guardians & Godparents’ Hebrews 11:32-40 All Saints Celebration 11/12 ‘Set Free’ Romans 8:1-11 Holy Communion Veterans Recognition, Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 11/19 Laity Sunday and Harvest Home Celebration 11/26 ‘Getting Organized’ Ephesians 5:21

Pastor’s Bible Study Pastor’s Bible Study in November

will be a study of the Prophecies of the Messiah.

From November 7th through Christmas,

we will look at Old Testament verses in Isaiah, Genesis, the Psalms and elsewhere that point-ed the Jews to the expectation of the Messiah.

Jesus came to bring the Promises of God to

their fullness in our lives. Come and hear how!

The study meets at 10:30am in the Crosstrainers Room on Tuesdays.

There will be no class on November 14th, due to

the Pastor’s vacation.

All Saints Sunday All Saints Day will be observed Sunday, November 5th.We will recognize those who have passed away in the last year, and offer prayer for families and friends. Plan to come and offer thanks to God for all of life, and to be in support of those who have lost loved ones this year.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, cards, and support during this sad time of losing my brother. Louise Criss

Thank you to all who helped in any way to ease the sorrow in the passing of Carl. To Rev. Harley for his visits and comforting words; to all who sent flowers, cards, food and gifts, and to the ladies who prepared and served the dinner. If I have forgotten anybody, you are thanked too. Every act of kindness was deeply appreciated. May God bless all of you! Carl Felger Family

Thank you to all who helped with the Cookout at Skyland Hills Trailer Park on Sunday, October 22. We had a dozen or so folks from Minerva UMC on hand to help, as well as some volunteers representing the Miner-va Mission group. The residents who attended, had a nice picnic, were able to take home food from MUMC and some hygiene and household products from MM. Thank you to all who donated time and/or food/cookies/beverages for the event. We hope to be able to do this again in the spring.

PRAYER CHAIN If you wish to have someone put on the prayer chain, please contact the church office and/or Jennie McClellan (330-868-6834) or Barb Brown (330-868-7691) with your request.

Your request will be handled with great care and will be passed along the chains and referred to the church office for email purposes. Blessings to you all.

Prayer Concerns: Alice & Family, Doug Anguish & Family, Kelly Berta, Dave Bondurant, Bonnie Booth, Iona Boyce, Barb Bratu, Chloe Bryant, Elizabeth Cal-houn, Cindy Catlett, Debbie (McClellan) Christian & Fam-ily, Bob Cinson, Dale Cogan & Family, Louise Criss &

Family, Cameron Cunningham, Jeff Dine, Skyler Duffie, Gerald Fallot, Ruth Felger & Family, Ruth & Virgil Feiock, Pastor Bracken Foster and Family, Mary Lou Graham, Allen Green, Family of Jack Harsh, Barb Haun, Family of Betty Hawk, Susie Hawk, Family of John Herstine, Crystal Hoagland, Harriet Jones, Paul Kail, Kayla & Baby Everett, Criss Kienzle, Debbie Kraft, John Kress, Linda, Linda Lanham & Family, Cindy Lanning, Dolly Lowry, Jess Lowry, Grace Lutz, Glenn Mar-shall & Family, Marty, Jennie & Rich McClellan & Family, Laurie & Walt McClellan & Family, Jim McCul-ly, Sally McDaniel & Family, Cindy & Louis Mendozza & Family, Dorothy Middleton, Family of Kasey Mikes, Michelle, Family of David Miller, Ed Miller, Richard Miller, Sisters of Velma Mills (Zeta, Alice, Lu-creta), Minerva UMC’s Food Program, Jeff Mitzel, Joni Mitzel, Betty Montgomery, Family of Cindy Mon-roe, Lucas Murphy, Mike Murphy, Doug Myers, Sharon Nennig, Kaye Nightingale, Ron Nightingale, Matt & Kim Oberholtzer, Carl Pearson, Amy Pennock, Richard Phillips, Ronnie Phillips, Rachel, Liam Ram-sell, Tyler Roach, Greg Rorie, Marie Stauffer-Rossi, Corey Sells, Jennifer Smith, Renee Smith, Roland Smith, Sara Smith, Clyde Snider, Abby Stoffer, Lois Threats & Family, Valerie, Mary Vaughan, Sandi Wagner, Steve Warth, Jerry Weber, Jean Wheeler, ReeAnn Whitacre, Family of Mitchell Williams, Fami-ly of Sara Wolf, Kendra Wriston, Pastor Frank Zugara & Family, Norma Zwahlen

Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Marines– AC3 Nicholas G. Albery (Naval Air Station Oceana, VA), AM3 Zachary D. Albery (Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA), Jesse Clark (Fort Polk Louisiana), Lewis Gibson (Korea), Aaron King, Dan Lutz, Eli Maurer (Coast Guard), Josh Miller(USS Mercy, Pacific Ocean), Russell Nero (Air Force Reserves), SA Devin Pennock (Great Lakes, IL; Navy), Kevin Price (California), Mitch Soles (Fort Sam Houston, TX; Navy), John Stehulak (Afghanistan), Justin C. Zeedrich

Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, an The upward glancing of an eye When none but God is near. James Montgomery

Pastor Harley will be on Vacation November 13th-20

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Call the Church office for assistance if you have a pastoral emergency.

November Ushers Dale Cogan, Jim Cogan,

Richard Cogan, Gary Stoffer

November Greeters Nov 5 Jim & Deb Albaugh Nov 12 Rich & Barb Brown Nov 19 Mary Staib Nov 25 Vernon & Lois Deininger

November Nursery Nov 5 Mary Staib Nov 12 Mary O’Brien Nov 19 Jessie & Hannah Kirkpatrick Nov 25 Renee Smith, Shelly Ridzon

Friendship Hour Schedule January None February Advent / Cross trainers classes March Education Committee April Youth Group May Worship Committee June Choir July VBS August None September Men’s Class October Searchers Class November Open December Kid’s Christmas Program

November Anniversaries Nov 1

Jamie & Marlene Fankhauser Nov 5

Ronald III & Laurie Miller Nov 6

Cody & Amie Fankhauser Nov 8

Larry III & Christy Hawk Nov 12

Rudy & Judie Evanich Nov 19

Matthew & Taylor Kaser Nov 24

Paul & Diane Binnig Nov 26

Harry & Donna Neidig

November Birthdays 1 Jim Felger, Caleb Cummings 2 Ruth Felger, Liam Ramsell 3 Zachary Whitmer 4 Penny Zeedrich 5 Mary Ann Hawk, Elaine Clark, Amanda Bates 7 Travis Staib, Justin Muchoney, Emma Debo 8 Dolly Lowry, Mike Marteney 10 Kurt nightingale, Leighton Dieter 11 Ruby Gilliam, David Hale 12 Edith Evans, Larry Dietrich, Jeff Wiley 13 Kristen Herstine, alice Rocco, Noelle Wheeler 14 Jerry Hawk, Carter Kellogg, Steven Felger 15 Blair Briceland 17 Dirk Hollar, Jennifer Timmerman, Chase Sanor 19 Kevin Hying 22 Barb Bratu 24 Marlene Linhart, Lurene Matthews, Danielle Borsh-Vaughan 25 Gary Stoffer 26 Pam Pearson, Linda Miller 27 Bill Staib, Glenn Marshall, Geraldine Clark, Kasey Soles 28 Brock Jackson, Linde Klein 29 Vicki Clifford

Annual Turkey Dinner

Sunday, November 5th right after church

in Wesley Hall

All are Welcome!

On Tuesday, October 3rd

, many of our church members came together to serve the Salvation Army Dinner at the Minerva Community Building. We are surely blessed to have so many who are willing and able to work together to show the love of Christ in our community. Thank you so much to all those who helped to set up, serve, clean up and provide desserts: to Beth Brawley, Charlotte Davies, Mary O’Brien, Rick and Laura Stauffer and Karen Wilson for helping to prepare the room; to Eileen Cogan, Chris Collins, Charlotte Davies, Lois Deininger, Mary O’Brien, Laura Stauffer and Karen Wilson for providing the delicious des-serts; to Carol Allmon, Chloe Bryant, Chris Collins, Alexa Daulbaugh, Jerry Haynam, Karen Jackson, Linde Klein, Todd Kirkpatrick, David Miller, Mary O’Brien, Greg Peach, Laura Stauffer, Cindy and Pastor Harley Wheeler and Karen Wilson for serving and cleaning up after the dinner. We are blessed to have Tom Freeland willing to share his talent in bringing the music during the dinner and Pastor Harley for sharing a message with the folks. Thanks to Joe Herstine for securing the warmer from Kishman’s and for help with the punch and water. . If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me and know that I appreciate each and everyone for your support. I pray that each one felt blessed to be a part of this outreach in our community and that God will bless our efforts as we strive to serve Him. Thank you all so much! Pat Miller

Our September 12th Produce Distribution served 234 fami-lies with 722 family members. Our volunteers once again worked tirelessly to serve God’s families who are in need. A little different item was included with our delivery this time. We received cat food and dog food! I was excited, but I know others were a bit skeptical about it. It took

some time to re-bag these items, but that is part of it. In regards to questions about wasting resources with this item. This is a program through PetSmart, who pays for the pet food and donates it to the foodbank. “Buy a Bag, Give a Meal to a Pet in Need”. This is a wonderful way to help feed those companion animals. A lot of times someone in these situations deals with a lot of depres-sion and loneliness. So their pets are a comfort to them. We helped this time, to feed the hungry bellies of those comfort animals. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me about it. Our Next Produce/Food Distribution is Thursday, November 9, 8am.

Emergency Pantry News We ended the month of September having served 20 families and 89 family members in our Emergency Pantry. So far in October we have served 19 families with 82 family members. I look for November to be a bit bigger month. No matter what, we will serve those who contact us with a need for food assistance. Blessings Cheryl

KIDS! BRING YOUR BIBLES

EVERY SUNDAY. You need them

in Junior Church.

Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our busi-ness and, in fact, it is no-body's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will ren-der both ourselves and our neighbors worthy. Thomas Merton

Monthly Food Help is available at these locations:

Mon-Wed-Fri each week 12-3pm

at Salvation Army (old train depot on Valley St.)

1st Tuesday

Monthly Community Dinner at Community Building

2nd Thursday Free Produce Distribution at Minerva UMC

3rd Wednesday 10a-12p

Emergency Pantry at Minerva UMC … also available by phone call or stop by, any day

4th Friday 8am registration begins

Food Distribution at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Annual Christmas Shop Friday & Saturday, December 1st & 2nd 9a-5p

This is a way to meet a need in our area…

Help those in our community, with limited means, find some nice low cost Christmas gifts for their loved ones.

The Cross Trainers Class is sponsoring this event! Your donated items can be left by the Cross Trainers

classroom door.

We are now taking donations of New or Good Condition Used items

that could be sold as nice Christmas gifts at a very minimal cost.

PLEASE BE SURE YOUR DONATED ITEMS ARE CLEAN AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND CLOTHING THAT IS GENTLY USED.

*WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A NICE SELECTION OF KIDS CLOTHES, BOOKS AND TOYS THIS YEAR.

Laity Sunday will be Celebrated on November 19th with special parts of the worship celebrating

God working through His whole church. Laity Sunday reminds us that ministry is something we all do and not only the professional pastor or preacher. Some of us are called to preach, baptize and serve at the Lord’s Table, but all of us are called to serve God with our prayers, time, talents, gifts and witness. Laurie Peach, Certified Lay Servant will be the Lay Speaker with that morning’s message.

Please Remember to Pray for the Persecuted Church. We will observe the Inter-national Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 12th. More Christians have died for their faith in the last 100 years than in all other centuries combined since the beginning of the church. There are many countries in the world today where Christians are martyred for their faith. Believers in China are having churches bulldozed by the government; Almost all the remaining Christians in Syria have been forced to flee the country. Our brothers and sisters in Jesus in countries all around the world face violence, imprisonment and even death. There are other places in the world such as North Korea where acts of persecution take place, but we don’t see or hear of it. So when you come to your daily time for prayer, pray for these brothers and sisters, and for those who mistreat them. Find out more at these websites: Voice of the Martyrs - www.persecution.com Christian Freedom International -www.christianfreedom.org International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Official Website - www.idop.org

Veterans Day Observance We will recognize our veterans on Sunday, November 12th during

the morning worship service. Thank you to all those who served.

Charge Conference Charge Conference will be held Tuesday, November 7th, at 7pm at Simpson UMC, 4900 Middlebranch Ave NE, Canton. This will be a clustered Charge Conference involving six congregations. Plan to come and hear from our District Superintendent, Rev. Benita Rollins, vote on an-nual matters and the list of Church Officers and fellowship with our other church friends. The Church van will leave for Charge Conference at 6:15pm.

Habitat for Humanity Dedication Wednesday, November 15, 630-730pm, Habitat Ministry Offices, 1400 Raff Rd SW, Canton, OH 44710 7 homes will be dedicated with 7 families being celebrated! Including the Jobes Family whose home we helped build. During this dedication, they will mark milestones (500th house!), see families take hold of their keys and make their first zero interest mortgage payments, and honor the efforts and generosity of so many. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

November 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7p Harmony Handbells

2 7p Choir

3 4 Set Your Clocks Back 1 Hour

5 915a Sunday Schl 1030a Worship—All Saints 1145a Turkey Dinner

6 7 1030a Bible Study

8 7p Harmony Handbells

9 8a Produce Del 9a Produce Dist 7p Choir

10 11

12 915a Sunday Schl 1030a Worship

13 14 12p Sr.Grp Lunch

15 ?p Cross Country Banquet-WH 7p Harmony Handbells

16 7p Choir

17 18 All Day— Wesley Hall reserved

19 915a Sunday Schl 1030a Worship BRING YOUR FILLED GROCERY BAGS

20 Pastor Harley returns today

21 1030a Bible Study 6p Trustees 7p Administrative Council

22 7p Harmony Handbells

23 Thanksgiving Day Building is Closed Wesley Hall reserved

24 25

26 915a Sunday Schl 1030a Worship

27 28 1030a Bible Study

29 7p Harmony Handbells Wesley Hall Reserved

30 7p Choir Wesley Hall Reserved

Mitten tree - Warm ears, heads and hands! Winter is fast approaching and again this year we will be collecting items that will go to the

Minerva Police Dept. for distributuion to those children in need. So for the month of November the Mitten Tree will be up in the Narthex for you to fill with your donations of new

hats, gloves and scarves. This year the deadline is Sunday, November 26th.

Pastor Harley will be away till the 20th—————————————————————————-

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS 2017

$10 Each Please turn in this form with your payment to the church office no later

than Sunday, Nov. 19. Thank you

RED 5-7 blooms ________ WHITE 5-7 blooms ________ Total Number ordered ________ Total Price ________

Please make checks payable to: Minerva United Methodist Church

To be listed in the bulletin:

IN MEMORY OF _______________________________________

IN HONOR OF ________________________________________

If neither of the above is filled in, they will be listed: TO THE GLORY OF GOD

Your name as you wish it to be printed in the bulletin:

________________________________________________

Phone______________should we need to contact you.

The flowers may be taken home

after the service on Christmas Eve.

Thank you

MINERVA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 204 N. Main St. Minerva, OH 44657 Pastor Harley Wheeler ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Sunday School 9:15am – Worship Service 10:30am Church Office Hours 8:30am-12:30pm Monday – Friday

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Louisville, Ohio PERMIT NO. 40536

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