The Beacon Centenary United Methodist Church—Bonne Terre, Missouri

DECEMBER EDITION

In this issue:

Pastor’s Pen 1-2

Service Assignments 3

Birthdays and

Anniversaries

4

Church Calendar 5

Prayer List 6-7

Announcements

8

THE PASTOR’S PEN— DECEMBER

This year is the 300th anniversary of the Christmas hymn “Joy

to the World.” The poem was written by Isaac Watts and is

based on Psalm 98. Watts expanded the language of the Psalm, but

when reading from verses 4-8, you can see some of the familiar language.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and

rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of

a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the

King. Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let

the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the Lord; for he cometh

to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world.

It is one of the most well-known carols and hymns. It has been recorded by count-

less artists over the years. The arrangement has differed slightly, but the most

familiar is a collaboration between several composers. The familiar opening line

“Joy to the World” is borrowed from Handel’s Messiah, as well as the repetitive

segment, which is also borrowed from Handel. These melodies are combined into

the tune we are most familiar with here in North America. Composer Lowell

Mason arranged the version in the United Methodist Hymnal in 1836. Much of this

information is supplied by the UMC communications, who did an excellent job of

research. Their work inspired this year’s Advent series. We will spend Advent

looking at each of the stanzas of the hymn, beginning with four and working for-

ward.

The story is fascinating to me for several reasons. First, that a song about the

celebration of the Christ child is inspired not from the Gospels but the prophetic

voice in the Old Testament. A resounding call for joyful praise of God in all things

comes to full volume at the coming of Emmanuel. The second is how this

compares to the stillness of Silent Night. The transition from silent peace and

“loud noise” as the King James writes in Psalm 98, is drastic! When does this

happen? Can we make a joyful noise silently? We see both of these elements in the

birth narratives as well. The angels praising with heavenly choruses, and the quiet

words, the blessings of God will flow ‘far as the

curse is found,’ and I read this to mean that there is

no boundary that will hold back the blessings of

God in Jesus Christ. We should not fear or worry,

nor “let sins and sorrows grow,” but praise God

from the blessings that redeem all of the punish-

ment humanity has taken on. Our praise in sing-

ing Joy to the World is much more than a witness

to the birth of Christ but is a proclamation of faith

to the unending grace of God offered in this pre-

cious gift.

I offer this; maybe we need to be prepared to re-

ceive all that God is giving us. As our advent candles

represent: Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace, so we might

find these blessings in the coming of Emmanuel. And

in preparation, may we be ready to proclaim Joy to

the World for the love of God in the greatest gift,

Jesus Christ.

ponder in Mary’s heart. Maybe there is a moment

of silence as we marvel in amazement at the arri-

val of the Messiah only to be followed by joyous

praise. Even the words of Silent Night encourage

this in the lyrics, “Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah;

Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is

born!”

Advent is the season of preparation. This is a re-

minder made every year. I think in the past, I have

asked us to consider what are we preparing for?

Are we preparing to welcome the Son of God? If

so, what does that mean for us? Watts’ third stan-

za of Joy to world doesn’t fit within Psalm 98 and

it is suggested it refers to “the curse from Genesis

3:17” (again, from the UMC article) The authors

there write that the stanza, and curse, is the re-

sult of Adam’s sin of eating the fruit and God’s

sentence. “You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the

ground because of you; in toil, you shall eat of it

all the days of your life.” So, in reading Watt’s

THE PASTOR’S PEN -CONTINUED

2

Pastor Dave

Don’t Forget to put December 15 on your

calendar for the choir presentation of

“The Songs of Christmas”! The evening

begins with hot cider and cookies on

the porch of the church starting at

4:15 pm. The program begins at 5:00 pm.

Combined Services

At the Cornerstone

Dec. 15,

10:00 am

Dec 24th

5:00 pm & 11:00 pm

Dec. 7th 10am - 1pm

3

SECOND SERVICE

NURSERY HELPERS: 1– Jill Clemons

8– Diane Moore

15– Vicki Weible

22– Beth Pack

29 - Karen LaBrot

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

Pre K - K - 1st:

Kati Hacker/ Kim Gray

2nd - 5th:

Patti O’Connor

6th - 8th:

Audra Wiant

MONEY COUNTERS: Sandy Cottle & Judy LaBruyere

WORSHIP SERVICE

ASSIGNMENTS LITURGISTS:

1– Jackie Berry

8– Chuck Hubbard

15—Nathan Pack

22– Jeff LaBrpt

29 - Donna Jean Weber

Check Signers: 12/4 Linda Skaggs & Bob Powell

12/11 Bob Powell & Wayne Weber

12/18 Wayne Weber & Jamey Wruck

12/25 Jamey Wruck & Jim Sowers

GREETERS: 1st Service

Alicia & Mike Whitwell, Kristen Klein,

Sheila Hacker, & Loel Hickman

2nd Service

Patti O’Connor, Mary Porter &

Diane Moore

Are you on this list? If so, we look forward to serving with you—

and if you cannot, please find a replacement and let the church

office know! Thank you!

Please help keep us with updat-

ed information. If you have a new

address, phone number, email ad-

dress or want to make sure we have

birthdate(s) and your anniversary

date, please send a email. Or you

can update any information of the

attendance sheet and place in the

offering plate. Thank you!

Centenary will be ringing

Bells at Desloge Walmart

on Dec. 5 9am - 4pm &

Dec. 6. 4pm - 7pm.

December 05 Dwayne Hackworth

December 05 Diane Williams

December 10 Jason Wruck

December 11 David Clemons

December 12 Joan Brenon

December 12 James Clay

December 15 Randall Jones

December 15 Dawn Young

December 15 Addison Reed

December 16 Dustin Gray

December 16 Cary Stout

December 18 Sandy Cottle

December 19 Ray Hacker Jr.

December 19 Cody Young

December 22 Kerry Klein

December 25 Kelsey Buscher

December 26 Janet Caudle

December 26 Deborah Sharon

December 28 Marsha Becker

December 28 Vincent DeClue

December 29 Ellie Black

December 31 Shannon Fletcher

Happy Anniversary

December 06 Stephanie & Chris Brenon

December 08 Mary Lee & Lesile Weible

December 14 Paula & Jim Eschenbrenner-

December 17 Dawn & Larry Kekec

December 19 Marsha & Bob Becker

December 20 Donna & Richard Bouchard

December 21 Kassie & Jake Black

December 23 Kristen & Kerry Klein

December 24 Jill & Dave Clemons

December 27 Patricia & Pat Jeske

December 31 Beth & Ron Allen

Happy Birthday!

4

Cornerstone Café @ 5:00 pm

12/4 - Spaghetti

12/11 - Mostaccioli

12/18 - Vegetable Soup

12/25 - Closed

WWW.centenarybonneterre.org

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PRAYER LIST

PRAYER LIST

Joys Thank you for: Prayer request from

Church is so beautiful ! Patti O'Connor

We got to celebrate our daughter Shelley's birthday Vaughts

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our Family Stamms

Anissa has a Job secured and will be gradating soon! Finally! Audra Wiant

Our Church Family Caudle's

The list is too Long for here. Thank you Lord! HH Wansing

The whole family is going to Granddaughter's for Thanksgiving. Stamms

ONGOING

Pray for Reason Prayer request from Myrtle Crisp (mother) Spine Cancer Alicia Whitwell

Barbara Pruitt Health Shirley Gower (café guest)

Casey is going to a specialist Stamms

Packing up and getting ready for the movers on the 16th Caudles

Debbie Guggenburger Ongoing health concerns Porters

Tina Schrum Health

Dwayne Hackworth & Family Health

Jeannie Baird (Step mother) Cancer Pastor Dave

Erica - Daughter In hospital/ hope to be home soon Shirley Gower (café guest)

Sherry Mansfield - Friend Cancer Shirley Pruitt

Travel mercies for us &family Stamms

Wade Jones healing his shoulder Gillam

Son in laws family Loss of Aunt Stamms

Betty - Sister took a hard fall - skinned up and bruised Grace Gillingham

Paul Krause - Step son Stroke Dee Krause

Jerry Hartling Health Grace Gillingham

Linda & Richard Tribout Continue healing Pastor

GREIVING

Pray for Reason Karen LaBrot & Family Passing of Karen's father (Ernest Ray Christopher)

ASSISTED LIVING/HOMEBOUND

Pray for Location Reason

Bobby Ayres (nephew to Sally Skiles) Nursing Home

Evelyn Morris Homebound

7

NURSING HOME/REHAB

Pray for Location Reason

Arlene Roberts St. Joe Manor Rehabilitation

Andy Duckett NCH Desloge3 Rehabilitation

Ethel Loehr Rehab Facility Alzheimer's

Debbie - Diane Moore's Sister Nursing Home Belleville IL

SERVING IN THE MILITARY

Pray for Location Prayer requested by Andy Vaughan (grandson) Home but deploying 01/2020 for 12mos Grace Gillingham

Rosa Prewitt National Guard Prewitt family

Jacob Sutton Air force - LA Jill & Dave Clemons - grandson

Anthony Verde Air force-In Guam for 2 years Dee Krause

Matthew LaBrot Army Jeff and Karen - Son

Anna Husted Deal & Husband Jeffrey

Deal Marine Prayer Team

Todd Mabery Navy Vicki Weible

Rebecca Jones South Korea Dean (café diner)

SERVING AS MISSIONARIES

Pray for Location

Rev. Geraldo Nathaniel Matsinhe Micas Madonele UMC in Mozambique Our Partner Church

Brian Tucker & Family (cousins) In Haiti `

**Please update the Church Office regularly with status** ( Names are on the list for 30 days unless church office is notified)

Church Office (573) 358-2238

Email: admin@centenarybonneterre.org

Sign up on the Website

Christmas Gift

Wrapping

Dec. 11

4:30-7:00 Sign up on the Website

Don’t Forget

to Pay $20.00

If you ordered

a wreath.

Centenary UMC

Pastor: Rev. David Wiant Tel: 573 358-2238

Fax: 573 358-2909

E-mail: admin@centenarybonneterre.org

20 Park Ave

Bonne Terre, MO 63628

Monday:

6:00 pm - Knitting Shawl

Ministry

6:30 pm - Deborah Circle

(Woman’s Group) 1st Mon.

7:30 pm AA/Al-Anon

Tuesday:

10:30 am - Centenary Circle

(Woman's Group) 4th Tues

6:30 pm - Bible Study

Wednesday:

5:00 Cornerstone Café

6:00 Chamber Choir

7:00 Praise Team Rehearsal

Saturday:

8:00 am - Men’s Breakfast

2nd Sat.

Sunday:

9:00 am - Worship Service

10:00 am - Sunday School

11:00 am - Worship Service

12:00 pm - Phoebe Circle

(Woman's Group) 3rd Sun.

6:30 pm - Youth Group

Weekly events

@ Centenary

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday

9:00-3:00

8

100 ACTS OF SERVICE

100 ACTS OF SERVICE

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

SIGN UP TO HELP

ANGEL TREES ARE UP IN THE SANCTUARY AND THE COR-

NERSTONE! Christmas trees with gift tags as ornaments are ready for

you! Please take a gift tag (or 2 or 3), purchase the gift on the tag, and bring

the gift(s) along with the tag and a gift bag to the church no later than De-

cember 18 (sooner if possible). We will distribute the gifts to folks who have

been identified as needing a little boost this year. Becky Petty is the point of

contact for this project.

DECEMBER 11, 4:30-7:00 – GIFT WRAP EVENT! Bring up to 5 gifts

and we will wrap them free (or we will accept a love offering to help defray

100 acts expenses). If you let us know ahead of time that you will be com-

ing (https://centenary.breezechms.com/form/a9d9e3), we can guarantee the

wrapping. Otherwise, first come first served!

DECEMBER 14, 9:00 – 4:00 – Bring your kids to us and we will provide

games, snacks, lunch, singing, and merry making! First two hours free, after

that a love offering will be accepted. Reservations required: (https://

centenary.breezechms.com/form/a9d9e3

ST. JOE MANOR ACTIVITIES. Volunteers are needed to help deco-

rate rooms, send cards, teach simple crafts, provide music and call bingo.

Contact Donna Jean Weber to help with senior activities.

Contact Patti O’Connor (call or text 314-541-4952:

patticarr333@hotmail.com) or use the sign-up sheets in the cornerstone

and church sanctuary to be part of any and/or all these fun and exciting

events! You will be blessed!

New Year’s Day Pot Luck

Jan. 1st _ 5:00 pm

Bring your favorite New Year’s dish to share with

our Café Guests.