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Hugoton United Methodist News

Magnify the Lord with me! Psalm 34:3
Advent 101

December 2013

Grace and peace to you this Advent season! We are in Advent, the time of waiting and watching as we prepare for the birth of Jesus into the world. We prepare to be changed because of this little child born into a situation of no power, no prestige, no strings to pull to make it big in life. We prepare to watch for the unexpected in this season because it was the unexpected (yet not unanticipated) birth which changed everything for us. This season of waiting can also be filled with unexpected complications when finances become frayed, family gatherings bring out the worst, and a silent is night isnt possible. During this Advent season set aside some time to reflect and wonder about it all. The shepherds, the star, a journey for a census, and Love appearing. Let the wonder of this season be present without regard to the frantic need to shop or entertain. Find the space of seeking peace instead of keeping up the pace. This is life not a marathon race! Each Sunday in Advent we will light an Advent candle and ponder the possibilities of what is yet to be. This season is filled with love as we turn the pages in the photo albums and remember how it used to be. Some memories fill our eyes with tears and others bring a smile. Yet we also know that we are living in this present moment and have opportunity to make new memories. Maybe we invite someone to church or for fellowship around the table. Maybe we make a donation in memory of a loved one. Or, maybe, we accept the moment for what it is. Because next year it will not be the same. May your season of Advent be filled with hope for the future, joy in the present moment and love beyond measure. Blessings, Pastor Jo Mead

Advent is the season of the church year when we prepare our hearts for Christs coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians. (Liturgical, comes from the word liturgy, which means the forms and functions of public worship.) The dates of Advent vary each year, but it always contains the four Sundays before Christmas Day. The ornaments on the tree are called Chrismons. The word Chrismon is a contraction for Christ monograms. The ornaments were developed by Frances Spencer and the women of Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, VA. These Chrismons were made by members of Hugoton United Methodist Church. The Advent wreath has four candles on a wreath of evergreen which is shaped in a circle to symbolize the eternity of God. The candles may be four purple or three purple and one pink: one for each week in Advent. The one larger white candle in the center is the Christ candle. The lighting of the candle on Christmas Eve is to remember Christ has arrived in our world to bring us light. The other four candles are for hope, peace, joy and love. Each week we light one new candle and read a scripture to center our thoughts in the season of waiting. ````````````````````````````````` December 1: First Sunday in Advent Message: Watchfulness of Gods Gift of Love December 8: Second Sunday in Advent Message: Preparations Made for Gods Gift of Love December 15: Third Sunday in Advent Message: The Source of Love is Gods Gift to Us December 22: Fourth Sunday in Advent Message: Love is the Greatest Gift December 24: Christmas Eve Message: Love is the Light of the World December 29: First Sunday after Christmas Message: Passport Ready?

[Type text]LIVE Nativity Scene The Outreach Committee will be hosting a LIVE Nativity Scene from 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 8th in front of the Hugoton United Methodist Church.

Decorating the Church Contact Eileen Gillespie if you would like to help with decorating during the week of December 1. Eileens email is shoprag@pld.com and her phone number is 544-7799. Christmas Cantata On Sunday, December 15, the HUMC Choir will share the musical joy of the birth of Christ. Under the direction of Trevor Whechter, the group will present selections to enhance your celebration of this joyous event during the morning's worship time. Please join us for this and all Sundays during Advent (and after!). The Jr. High youth has just begun a study of the book of John and the ministry of Jesus and his disciples. This is a continuation from our study on the life of John the Baptist. Please pray for the youth as we study the Word. On December 18th Jaclyn invites all Jr. High UMYF to meet at Pizza Hut at 5:30 for a special meal together before Christmas Break. Please let Jaclyn know if you are going to attend so she can estimate how much to order (jaclyn.yowell@gmail.com). Fellowship Quilting The Fellowship Quilters are preparing for the cold nights ahead by working on quilts to give to those in need. You are welcome to join the group for quilting, conversation and fellowship. The quilt tops are pieced together and tied. The group meets at the church on December 11 at 1:30. Contact Retha Wagner for more information at 544-2576. The Fellowship Quilters blessed 32 people with quilts or lap robes this year. This ministry has been active for many years at Hugoton United Methodist Church. The quilts were given to the Women's Shelter, Project Hope, Christmas project for foster care; and Good Samaritan. Thank you, Quilters, for your most generous use of time and materials to be the hands of caring. United Methodist Men invites all men of the church (friend or member) to join them for breakfast on the third Wednesday of each month for a time of fellowship and sharing a meal together. The UMM will meet December 18 at 6:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. You do not need to make a reservation just show up and enjoy the good company and conversation! Contact Charlie Wagner (544-2576) if you would like more information. Learning Across the Life Span Sunday school classes are offered for all age groups. Three adult classes meet on various topics. We have Sunday school for all children. Join us for great conversation and fun on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m.

Praise!Kids Christmas Program

The kids are hard at work on a Christmas program that is sure to inspire you this Christmas season! They will be performing "We Three Spies" on Sunday, December 8th at 5:30 p.m., with a light supper to follow.

News from/for the youth

Praise!Kids 2013-14 is underway on Wednesday afternoons at 3:45 p.m. in a flurry of activity! We are so thankful to again have Richard Barnes driving the bus each week, bringing 35-45 Prekindergarten-6th graders to our church each week. Laurie Crawford serves the hungry crowd a snack before music gets underway with Effie Gaskill. We are so thankful for the many church volunteers who provide snacks for these hungry kids! After the kids finish their snack and music, they are divided up into age groups for their Bible Lessons. Jackie Lewis teaches Pre-K and Kindergarten, Nancy Johnson has the 4th-6th graders, and we rely on church volunteers for the 1st-3rd graders. We appreciate those who have filled in for us with this age group: Susan Ellsaesser, Keri Clark, Morey Mecklenburg and Robin Sullivan, This is an area where we need a lot of prayer that more volunteers will step into this classroom filled with eager kids ready to learn more about God and the Bible. The focus of our lessons each week is learning and understanding the Fruit of the spirit, Galatians 5:22-23. In addition, the 4th-6th graders are learning the Books of the Bible. Anyone is welcome to come on Wednesday afternoons and see what Praise!Kids is all about!! Jr. United Methodist Young Fellowship (UMYF) will be meeting from 5:20-6:15 p.m. until Christmas break. Jr. High UMYF will not meet December 25th or January 1st. Youth group will resume January 8th at 5:30-6:30pm. Senior High United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) meets at 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays. Fundraising meal will be December 15 after church service. Contact Sonja Gayer at 544-4459 for more information. Please pray for each of these groups and the leaders.

Support for College Students [Type text] Have you ever had the stress of being away from home, too little sleep, everything expected at once, and its all riding on this last test or project? College students are feeling this right now and we can help. Our UMC family can ease the stress for our 15 students attending college. There will be a care package assembled and mailed to each student to encourage them and remind them that the Christian support they had while living at home is still available for them today. If you are interested in participating in this outreach, please take a few minutes to write a note of encouragement, a favorite scripture, purchase a bookmark or trinket and bring it to the church to be added to the packages. Be creative! The packages will be mailed on December 04. All items should be at the church or to Susan Ellsaesser by the 3rd. The Specialty Pecans; Caramel Cluster, Chocolate Covered and Cinnamon Glazed are $8.00 a bag until Christmas. The halves and pieces are $11.00 a bag. Inter Church Mail System There are slots labeled for committees and groups. They are inside the wood cabinet (at the east end) in the foyer. If your committee or group was over looked please let the office know 544-8715 there is plenty of room to add. Project Hope Thanks to our generous community project hope distributed 150 family food boxes on November 22. December 1st Project Hope will have an open house from 2-4 to thank everyone for all the holiday support. Cookies and punch will be served with a tour of the recently reorganized building. December 20th Project Hope will be doing a Christmas food basket give away to 150 families. It is happy holidays at Project Hope. New Year's Resolution Time! If you're looking ahead to 2014 and have had a small voice whispering in your head that you should do some mission work, here's an idea-----Join your HUMC McCurdy Ministries Mission Team! We are going to New Mexico the first week in August. Hugoton United Methodist Church, 828 S. Main Hugoton, Kansas 67951 620-544-8715 www.hugotonUMC.com email for church humc@pld.com email for pastor pastorjo@pld.com

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is on the ground in the Philippines providing disaster assistance since the typhoon. 100% of your gift goes directly into disaster relief. The advance number is #982450. Checks may be left in the church office or gifts may be designated online also at UMCOR.org The United Methodist Women of the Johnson First United Methodist Church would like to invite the ladies of this congregation to a Vintage Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 8th from 5:00 - 7:30 PM. We all have traditions that make Christmas a special event. We will share some of our family traditions with each other as we honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each lady is encouraged to bring a covered dish to share with the group. They are also invited to bring their favorite Christmas treat and the recipe unless its a secret. Respectfully, Cathy Fitzgerald and the ladies of the Johnson UMW. (They would like a rough count of those who might attend (620)492-6850.) Mark your calendar December 1 Witness & Nurture Committee Meeting at noon Pizza will be served. This is to discuss the Live Nativity on December 8 December 4 at 6:00 p.m. Christmas Cantata Practice. December 4 at 7:00 PPRC Meeting in the Conference Room December 8 from 3:00-5:00 pm Live Nativity December 8 at 5:30 pm Praise!Kids Christmas Program with soup supper afterwards December 11 Fellowship Quilting at 1:30 p.m. in the Hugoton UMC basement. December 11 at 6:00 p.m. Christmas Cantata Practice. December 11 at 7:00p.m. Administration Council Meeting in the Library December 15 at 11:00 p.m. Christmas Cantata December 15 after worship a free will donation meal by Sr. United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) December 18 at 6:30 a.m. United Methodist Men Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. December 24 at 7:00 Christmas Eve Service Have A Blessed Christmas Early Mug & Muffin Reminder Ladies, mark your new 2014 calendars for January 18's Mug & Muffin. The program will be about the history of HUMC's newly refurbished organ.