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English poet, Anne Bradstreet, wrote, “If you had no winter, the spring

would not be so pleasant...” Right after Christmas, the Church enters into Epiph-any, ‘the season of light’. The true Light has indeed come into the world as John proclaims in the first chapter of his gospel. The Magi followed a brilliant star that guided them to that true Light, the Messiah, Jesus. Interesting that this season of light comes now in January when the days are shorter. But actually, just after the winter solstice on December 21st, the days slowly began getting longer. More light is on the way beginning in the season of Epiphany! Just when you thought the longer, darker days of winter just about had you sink into the winter blues, God begins shortening the hours of darkness at a rate of about a minute a day. Hardly noticeable, right? There is a message for us in the seasons of the sun’s light and the season of the church year. The Light has come to shorten the span of darkness. But the darkness still comes, doesn’t it?

There is a reason for the dark that we probably won’t fully understand in this life. But it is God who created seasons. He created day and night. But the morning always comes, and cold winter is followed by warm spring. We’re right now only 3 months from the vernal or spring equinox. Twelve hours of light, twelve hours of dark. God is the great equalizer. There will always be people in dark winter, and there will always be people in brighter spring, and every season in between. But as a people of God, we are assured of one thing; The brighter days are always ahead. Our problem is linked to that gradual increase of light between the winter and summer solstice. When we are winter’s grip of trouble in our lives, those minute increases of light and warmth are barely noticeable to us. It’s then we have to look to God as the author of our life almanac. For God stepped into our world to bring light to the darkest places. A promise, that no matter how bad it seems, you can believe that better times are ahead. And then finally one day, the darkness will be no more. John the Baptist’s father Zecha-riah said this about the coming Messiah, “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in dark-ness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Our destiny is an eternal summer solstice. Be sure to always notice the increase of light. Never dwell on the darkness.

There is one more layer to all of this. God has called us to be ‘children of light in a dark world.’ (Eph. 5:7-14) We were created to dwell in the light. Better yet, to be the light. We the people of Mocks Church have been that light this past year in many ways. But we should never be satisfied that we have been enough light. There’s no such thing in the kingdom of God. But, people’s lives have been made brighter through the missions of this church.

However, there is darkness here, even in our church. There is in every church, in every state, in every nation around the world. For even as saved, re-deemed people of God, we struggle with our humanity. That’s why God sent his Son. Yes, we are often discouraged. But the days are getting longer and longer. That’s the promise of old. The cross at Lent, and the hope of an empty tomb, both happen in spring. And you know the old saying, ‘hope springs eternal.’ True, so very true. Thanks be to God, it is true.

Epiphany blessings, Gary

The Mocks Messenger Mocks United Methodist Church

Church Staff: Pastor: Gary L. Elrod

Director of Music Ministries: Greg Allen Administrative Assistant: Bonnie Russell mocksumc@yadtel.net

Organist: Greg Allen Messenger Desktop Publisher: Bonnie Russell Website: Mocksumc.org

Church Office

Hours

Monday–Wednesday

8:00 am - Noon

January 22nd

January 2018

One of my favorite songs is an old one by the Moody Blues from way back

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Mocks United Methodist Men

Mark your calendars for January 13, 2018 for our first breakfast of the New Year! Start your day off with a delicious meal and help support the UMM’s mission projects.

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Mocks Young Adults

Thank you for your support of the Youth’s activities and projects in 2017!

. January Meeting: Jan. 14 & 28th at 3:30 pm in the church basement.

Donnie, Tammy, Tanya

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Prayer Shawl Ministry Scrapbooking

Wed. January 17th @ 3:30 pm Sat. January 13th (If you know of someone who would like a shawl, 12 noon until 6pm please contact Sue Groce or Nancy Edwards. If you are interested in learning how to do this, please let us know.)

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Storehouse for Jesus: Items needed for January

Cereal, Oatmeal, Grits, Pancake mix (complete mix) & Syrup, and Toilet paper.

Happy New Year! The beginning of a new year is a time when many of us make resolutions to lead a more meaningful life, or enrich the path we are on. This is the hope of our United Methodist Women. If you are not a member of our group, start off the New Year by joining the United Methodist Women. Our next meeting will be held on Sunday, January 7th @ 3:00 pm. We will be installing our new officers, choosing new prayer partners, and disbursing our monies to local, national, and interna-tional organizations for the upcoming year. Even though our group is small, we can make a differ-ence! Submitted by Sue Johnson

Mocks United Methodist

Women

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Twisted Sisters Book Club December Review – 3.0 Stars

In November, Twisted Sisters Book Club read Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. This is defi-nitely a character driven, not plot driven, relationship drama.

Opening with a christening party in the 1960s crashed by an uninvited acquaintance who with one kiss changes everything; the lives of 10 people will be irrevocably changed. The book moves back in forth in time over 40 years and reveals the lives of the Keating and Cousins families. When Bert Cousins and Beverly Keating begin an affair, little do they realize the changes the two families’ lives will go through over the next 40 years.

With 6 children and the four parents/step-parents in this story, it was difficult to keep everyone straight. Additionally, the story moves in time forward and then backward again, but with little guidance so you’re left with trying to figure out who is who, what is what, and when the storyline is taking place. The storyline is good, but the book just ends; without any real resolutions. But that is the point with a good character driven novel. The storyline is a good description of blended families, even today! It also had a number of amusing (and horrifying) stories to tell of six children going up in the 1960s and 1970s, running wild in the summer months when they were all together.

For our January meeting, we will be discussing The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman. We will be meeting at Nicole Martin’s house on January 6th at 9:00! Note the change of place for this meeting. Everyone should bring some Christmas cookies to share! And, in January, we will be reading Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford, one of the authors we saw at Bookmarks in September. We even had the author to read a portion of the story to us….it sounds like a winner! See you in 2018!!

Submitted by Nicole Martin

Note: If you have had any changes in your contact information, please let the office know. Also, if you have not been receiving church emails and electronic newsletter and would like to, please contact the office with your email address. (336-998-5518) Thank you.

The Jolly 60's met on Tuesday, December 12th with the United Adult Sun-day School Class joining to celebrate the Annual Christmas Luncheon and Party. Nancy Hartman led the devotions on "Moments of Grace". Two members cele-brated December birthdays, and Mrs. Susie Anderson was recognized for celebrating a very special birthday. We enjoyed playing the "Cousins Version of Let's Make A Deal". Thank you to Anna Hancock and Nancy Hartman for organizing this activity. We sang Christmas Carols after the meal. Thank you to Nancy Brewer for playing the piano. The next meeting will be on Tues. Jan. 9, 2018 at 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. Why not start 2018 by joining the Jolly 60's for fellowship, food, and fun? Happy New Year! Submitted by Pat Jones

Submitted by Pat Jones

Submitted by Pat Jones

Girl Scout Troop

Meeting: January 15th @ 6:30 – 7:30 pm in the Mocks UMC fellowship hall. If you know of anyone that might be interested, contact Ashley Kimel @ 336-488-0064. **************************************************************************************************************

1/1 Rummage, Bill 1/18 Myers, Pauline 1/31 Carter, Mitzi 1/12 Allen, Rosalie 1/25 Mock, Jackie Phelps, Tim 1/14 Doub, Suzanne

For the New Year, all names except ones received in December, will be removed and a new list started. Names will remain on the list for approximately one month, then removed unless re-submitted. Please call the office (336-998-5518) to update. Thank you!

Prayer Concerns

Bill Rummage, Bob & Maxine Bailey, Eddie & Lucy Hartman, Inez Hartman, Jane Whitaker, Joe Brewer, Joyce Butner, Lee &, Nancy Mock, Maxine Bailey, Roger & Carol Mock, Jack McCoy’s grandson Everett and family.

Beyond us: May our prayer be as the prayer of old Simeon, who, as he beheld the Christ Child prayed, “Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised. For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior whom you have prepared for all the world to see. A light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

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Inclement Weather Policy

As we enter the winter season, please have your group or committee establish an “Inclement Weather” policy for your various meetings. Consider: “if the schools are out, we will not meet”. This will

save multiple phone calls or unsafe trips. The phone tree will be used for church schedule.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Each Sunday: 9:45a Sunday School 10:50a Worship

New Year’s Day (office closed)

7p Choir Practice

9a Book Club @ the home of Nicole Martin

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

8:30a UMM 3:00p UMW

11a Jolly Sixties 6:30p SPRT – church office

7p Choir Practice

7p Finance Mtg. - Church office

UMM Breakfast 6:30-10:00a 12-6p Scrap booking

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

6p Trustees 7p Church Council

MLK Holiday – No mail / bank 6:30p Girl Scouts

3:30p Prayer Shawl 7p Choir Practice

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

12 noon UMW sponscored Soup & Sandwich

7p Choir Practice

28 29 30 31 February 1 2 3 2p Worship Committee Mtg. – fellowship hall

7p Choir Practice

Mocks United Methodist Church

Corner of Mocks Church & Beauchamp Roads Office: 336.998-5518

PO Box 2122, Advance NC 27006 Emergencies: 336.416-7915

Sunday Worship @ 10:50 am MocksUMC@yadtel.net

Sunday School @ 9:45 am Website: Mocksumc.org

The Mocks Messenger

January 2017