The Window December 2016 Newsletter

First United Methodist Church 974 6th Street

Windom MN 56101

507-831-3284

umcoffice@windomnet.com

www.windomfumc.org

Church Office Hours

Monday—Friday

9:00am—Noon

1:00—4:00pm exceptions for holidays

Office Staff

Pastor : Michael McInnis

Christian Education & Youth: Robin Snyder

Treasurer: Jody Derickson

Office Manager: Laura Williams

Christmas: Not Our Idea!

Would you cancel Christmas, if you could? Whose idea was this anyway?!

Christmas can be overwhelming … some folks wish they could cancel Christmas … who has the money, the time, the stamina, the “buy-in” to properly celebrate Christmas?

In our current economy, with almost flat growth and wages, rising health care costs, and high unemployment … how do you celebrate Christmas responsibly? Quick—someone call Dave Ramsey!

Christmas has always been inconvenient. Just look at the original Christmas story:

…it wasn’t Mary’s idea… as a matter of fact, she couldn’t swing this on her own if she wanted to… (see Luke 1:34, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”)

…it wasn’t Joseph’s idea… (see Matthew 1:19-21 … if it was Joseph’s idea, he would’ve built Jesus a bed, or built Mary a shelter/home for Jesus to be born in…he had the tools and know-how…but definitely not the idea—not to do it this way!)

…it wasn’t the Magi’s idea… although they followed the star—they are simply passive characters being led along the way (much like the lowly shepherds).

…and Christmas wasn’t our idea… but neither was the personal computer, the cell phone, electricity … what are some other inventions we all ‘need’ today – it wasn’t us who came up with the idea; but a smart or creative person… and aren’t we thankful?!

Christmas—this interruption that comes every December, whether we have time for it or not—Christmas was God’s idea. This Christmas idea resulted from a smart and creative God’s passion for us, and a compassion for our brokenness and lostness.

Even though we find Christmas annoying and inconvenient, it’s like lots of things we need: surgery, exercise, relationships, a job—most of these aren’t convenient, but without them, we would shrivel up in irrelevance and weakness, and eventually die.

God knew precisely what you and I ‘need’ – we didn’t. Christmas was (and still is) God’s idea.

So can we celebrate by giving thanks for God’s great idea? His idea to save us from our selfishness, brokenness and wandering in noisy darkness? Can we celebrate God’s plan to become one of us—to be “converted” to us before any of us were “converted” to him? (Thanks, Fred Vanderwerf for that big idea!)

And can we receive Christmas as a gift rather than plow through it as an obligation? Can we hear the Christmas message differently this year, and soften our hearts toward the God who descended to us so that we could ascend to him? It was all God’s idea … no shopping necessary. God will provide the Gift.

Pastor Mike

December

Festival of Trees

Our congregation has a Christmas tree to represent our church at the Cottonwood County Historical Society. Please visit our tree display weekdays Dec. 1—23, 8am– 4pm.

Our December Sunday driver is Jerry Moon, except for Dec 24-25. If you would like a ride on Sunday morning, please call Jerry at 831-4846. We welcome new drivers! If you are willing to serve in this area of ministry, please contact the church office.

Local Food Shelf

The Cottonwood County Sharing Center Food Shelf is in need of donations. Food donations are always welcome, and donations of money are even more helpful. They have sources where each dollar buys far more than what we can buy. Checks can be written to the church; please mark them for ‘Food Shelf’.

The 10th and Final Christmas Tea

Saturday, December 3

Boutique opens at 9:15am

The Fudge Shoppe opens at 9:15

Program Begins at 10:00am

. For tickets or questions, please contact Judi Ray at 831-4294 or 822-8907

or the church office: 831-3284

Christmas Cheer Box

For Infant to age 18 years old in Cottonwood County

Our church is collecting NEW toys, clothes, mittens, hats, etc. And cash donations for

Cottonwood County children under 18 years old. Cash donations can be made out to the church with Christmas Cheer Box in the memo. The collection deadline at the church is Wednesday, December 7.

Inclement Weather

When Windom schools close due to inclement weather, church activities will also be canceled. A group may decide to meet despite the school closure; that decision will be made by the group leader. If you have any questions about your activity’s status, please contact your group leader. The church will normally close during these winter weather school closures.

For winter weather closings, please listen to the following for information: KDOM Windom 1580am KKOJ Jackson 1190am Windom cable channel 3 Windom cable channel 24

Like our FaceBook page for current information. First United Methodist Church Windom MN

Church Loan

We have established a parsonage remodeling loan which was needed to complete the project. We ask that if you are interested in helping with the loan repayment, please make checks payable to the church with ‘parsonage’ in the memo. There is a thermometer chart in the lobby to keep you informed of our progress in paying off the $23,000 loan. Thank you for helping us keep our church properties in the best possible condition.

Board of Trustees

McPrayer!

Join us Saturday, December 24 4:00pm

for a traditional Christmas Eve canclelight service

United Methodist Women News Pie Social at Sogge Chapel 2pm Thurs. Dec. 1

Executive Meeting 9:30am Tues. Dec. 6

Lois Circle: 3:30pm Wed. Dec. 7

Wesleyan Circle: Noon Thurs. Dec. 8 at Tibodeau home

Friendship Circle: Noon Wed. Dec. 14 potluck at the church

YOUTH BAKE SALE

No time to bake? Do all of your holiday baking the easy way and buy your baked goods from the youth group! We will be having our annual Holiday Bake Sale on Saturday, December 10th. Donations of baked are welcome for the sale; please contact Robin at the church for more information: 831-3284 or umceducation@windomnet.com.

Who: Students in grades 7 through 12 What: McPrayer is a gathering of students who come for breakfast, devotions, and to pray. When: Fridays @ 6:30am during the school year Where: McDonald’s Cost: Free to you

All students are welcome; you do not need to be from our congregation. If you need transportation to or from McPrayer, please call the church office. Adults are also welcome to help with McPrayer!

Did you know that you can provide your financial offerings to the church by automatic withdrawal?

You control the amount and how it is directed (budget, missions, capital, loan, etc), and you can change it at any time. Automatic giving can be set up with any U.S. Bank.

The church office has the form, and we can get it to you by your church mailbox, by mail, or by email. You are welcome to use the yellow pew cards to let us know if you are interested.

First UMC Finance Committee

The Hope 4 Kids Int’l 2016 Giving Guides are available in the church lobby! Please pick one up when you’re at the church next time. There are many ways to help in mission, small and large. Bless a child!

Thank you to Shirley Lyons, her daughter Vicky,

and to the countless First UMC volunteers who have brought us the Christmas Tea for the last 10 years! This fundraiser has brought joy to so many people in the community. The Tea has provided funding toward these projects and many more over the years….

Coffee maker and servers Men’s bathroom remodel Hospitality Shelf Units 2 Round Tables Parsonage remodel Custom Banners Lobby furniture Lobby wall art To all who have helped with or attended the Christmas Tea over the years, Thank You!

Our Staff Parish Relations Committee has announced 2 part-time paid new job openings here at First UMC! Volunteer Coordinator

Nursery Coordinator

Applications and job descriptions are available in the church lobby, or by request they can be sent to you by email or snail mail.

Special points of interest:

KFC will not meet Dec

7th. We will have

Christmas program

practice instead.

Youth Bake Sale

Saturday Dec 10th

from 9:00-11:00

Sunday School

Christmas Program

Dec 11th

Entire congregation

invited to go caroling

to the Good Samaritan

Center on December

18th. Youth group will

meet following pizza.

DECEMBER 2016

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE

November 30th for

3-6th graders.

December 7th for Pre-K

through 6th grade.

We will practice from 5:30

-6:30 each of these

nights. Supper will NOT

be provided this year. If

you are unable to make

it, please let Miranda or

Robin know.

The Sunday School

classes PreK—6th grade

invite you to our

Christmas program to be

held on December 11th

during our church service

at 10:00.

This year’s program is

titled “Signs of Christmas”

The children and Sunday

school volunteers are

busy preparing for this

special day.

Thank you to all who are

sharing their time in

helping to prepare for this

program!

Christian Education

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Christmas Caroling!! Our church family & friends will be caroling after church at the Good Samaritan Campus on December 18th. After we are done caroling we will go back to the church for a pizza lunch.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone

who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Youth Group Youth group will meet on Dec 4th. Please watch for details about this gathering. We will hopefully be doing some new adventures. ALL YOUTH will meet on Sunday Dec 18th after caroling & pizza (around 1:30) for our Christmas party. We will be having a gift exchange.

Book Club Bunch December 6th at 6:30 in the Fireside Room.

The heartwarming tale of an irrepressible donkey who needed a home—and forever changed a family. Rachel Anne Ridge was at the end of her rope. The economy had crashed, taking her formerly thriving business along with it. She had been a successful artist, doing work she loved, but now she felt like a failure. How would her family pay their bills? What would the future hold? If only God would somehow let them know that everything was going to be all right… and then Flash the donkey showed up. Please join us on December 6th!

Youth Bake Sale

December 10th

9:00-11:00

Please join us for some Christmas goodies

Cinnamon rolls and coffee will be served.

Each youth family is asked to bring

baked goods to the church by 3:00 on

Friday, December 9th.

10 junior high youth and 3 chaperones enjoyed a weekend at Cragun’s resort in Brainerd for “the Event”. #Blessed was a success! Everyone had a good time. We would like to thank the congregation for their prayers and support. It is a very inspiring weekend. Huge THANK YOUS to Karla Ambrose and Danny Martinez for chaperoning. It was a great Weekend!

Thank you to everyone who helped with Operation Christmas

Child. Weather you donated items, monies, or helped pack

boxes it was all appreciated. We ended up with 29 boxes.

THANK YOU!!

Sunday School Teacher Spotlights December 2016

Get to know our church’s Sunday School Teachers!

Lisa Ambrose has been teaching Sunday school for 3 years!! She is currently teaching 3rd-4th grade at FUMC. Her favorite thing about teaching Sunday school is seeing all the smiles that greet her in the morning. And when a child really puts a lot of effort being involved in the lesson, so that when she asks what they learned that day, they repeat it! Lisa says “I feel blessed.” Her response when asked her funniest memory involving Sunday school? “We were making Valentine cards, me being careful not forgetting any supplies that we may need, and me being excited about teaching the children how to assemble the card….I assembled my card upside down! The kids pointed this out right away!” Lisa enjoys making greeting cards, baking goodies, and reading when she has time. She loves to listen to bible stories from bible study. You may not know that Lisa’s real name is Margarate Alescia Ambrose. She works at Toro, she lives on a farm by Bingham Lake & has been raising egg laying chickens. Lisa’s family includes Jerry (married 35 years), her sons Brandon (34) & Joshua (26), and her grandbabies Katelyn Nicols (14), Haley Ambrose (13) and Maci Ambrose (4). Thanks Lisa for bringing your enthusiasm to the students at FUMC and for making them excited for more!! Lisa Ambrose

3rd-4th Grade Teacher

Tom Christensen has been teaching Sunday School at FUMC for 29 years!! He started teaching 5th & 6th grade, but for the last 15 years he has been teaching out 7th & 8th graders. Tom’s response to what he enjoys most about teaching Sunday School “The interaction with the kids.” His funniest memory is every time his class plays a wild game of Bible Pictionary. In his free time, Tom enjoys golf, traveling, and reading. One thing you may not know about Tom is that he grew up in SW Iowa. His dad was a hog buyer and his mom a nursery school teacher. He did not enjoy his Saturday job of cleaning out hog pens with a shovel & wheel barrow!! Tom’s family includes his wife Marlys, and his daughters Tara (Windom) and Casey (Mesa, AZ). Thanks Tom for all your years of dedication to our kids!! The laughter and excitement that can be heard from your room is wonderful! We appreciate everything you do for them!

Tom Christensen 7th-8th Grade Teacher

First United Methodist Church ~December 2016

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2:00p UMW

Pie Social

at Sogge Home

Historical Society Tree

Display Dec 1-23

Vote for First UMC Tree

2

6:30a McPrayer

at McDonalds

3

9:15a Boutique

10:00 Christmas Tea

4 9:00a Sun School 9:00 Coffee Fellowshp

10:00 Worship Service

11:30 First Things Radio

5:00p MS Youth

6:30 HS Youth

5

6

9:30a UMW

Executive Meeting

6:00p Worship

Broadcast Ch 3

6:30 Book Club Bunch

7 3:30p Lois Circle 5:30 Program Practice

6:30 Confirmation

6:30 Bible Study

Last day – Christmas

Cheer Box

8

Noon

Ministry Team

Noon Wesleyan

Circle at Tibodeau

Residence

9

6:30a McPrayer

at McDonalds

After school:

Youth Bake Sale

Prep

10

9:00 – 11:00a

Youth Bake Sale

11 9:00a Sun School 9:00 Coffee

10:00 Worship Service

Children’s Christmas

Program

11:30 First Things Radio

12

13

12:30p Missions

Team

6:00 Worship

Broadcast on Cable

Channel 3

14 Noon Friendship

Circle Potluck

6:30 Confirmation

7:00 Trustee Mtg

7:30 Finance Mtg

7:30 Staff Parish Mtg

15

16

6:30a McPrayer

at McDonalds

10:00 Chamber

Coffee – hosted by

and at First UMC.

17

18 9:00a Sun School 9:00 Coffee

10:00 Worship Service

11:30 First Things

11:30 Caroling

12:30 Pizza Lunch

1:30 All Youth

19

20

6:00p Worship

Broadcast on Cable

Channel 3

21

6:30p Confirmation

22

6:30a McPrayer

at McDonalds

23

Our church tree

display at Historical

Society - Last Day

24

4:00p

Christmas Eve

Candlelight

Service

25

Christmas

Day 10:00 Worship Service

11:30 First Things

26

Church Office

Closed

27 6:00p Worship

Broadcast on Cable

Channel 3

28

29

30

31

First UMC Birthdays & Anniversaries ~December 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Updates and

additions are

welcome!

Please let the

church office

know.

1

Abby Elness

2

Anniversary

Jerry & Barb

Torkelson

3

4

Danielle Ambrose

Jan Dehmlow Savannah Hetterich

Lynn Mohlencamp

Jerry Torkelson

5

Mavis Thompson

6

7

8

Tamra Griese

9

Sharron Tibodeau

Anniversary

Jason & Sarah

King

10

11

Jim Glidden

12

Jan Falk

Becky Stevens

13

14

15

16 17

18 19 20

Wayne Wormstadt

21

Betty Haack

22

Harold Johnson

23

Eric Pfeffer

24

Tom Christensen

25

Roger Ambrose

26

Jerry Moon

27

Rebecca Marker

28

Marjorie Eichner

29

Dana Krumrey

30

Jake VanNorman

31

Doris Buhler

Jack Elness

Margaret Grunig

Jamie Thiessen