204 S. Ninth St. Columbia, MO 65201-4818 573-443-3111 www.moumc.

org January 5, 2017 Volume 30, Number 1

Worship
Services

Breakthrough Prayer Sermon Series

We hope to see you on Jan. 8 at 8am,
9:15am or 10:30am for a new sermon
series on the power of prayer in our lives!

Four unique
worship
opportunities
are offered on
Sunday.

We will give you a prayer card so we can

pray in unison over this season.

8am
McMurry
Chapel

Informal worship
with a personal
touch. Sharing
prayer concerns
is welcomed.

9:15am
Sanctuary

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Worship that
includes a
childrens time
and the Agape
Singers.

Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet

Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 1:30 in the church
parlor. Please bring completed shawls and
those in progress for the blessing.

10:30am
CLC Atrium

New Better Together Groups are forming! indicate the Sunday you want to provide
Book Studies Bible Studies Parent Groups Hobby Groups one of two sets of altar flowers used each
Sunday.
Meeting in Church Homes Community
Choir Resumes
Morning Evening Short-Term Long-Term

Ignite Worship
designed with
college age
worshippers in
mind! (Resumes
Feb. 5)

10:30am
Sanctuary

Worship with
music from the
Chancel Choir.

Altar Flower Signup

There is a signup chart in the Connector to

Get the newest group info from

Laura atlbentley@moumc.org
There is a group for YOU!

Choir rehearsals for Agape Singers and

Chancel Choir resume on Wednesdays
on Jan. 11. New members are always
welcome, so come check it out if you are
interested!

It's easy to join our weekly

email list!
Just send your email address
by text message:
Text

MISSOURIUMC
to 22828 to get started.
Message and data rates may apply.

Seekers Class on Sundays

On Jan. 8 the Seekers Class will begin a 12-week series

called: First Light, Jesus and the Kingdom of God. The
authors of this material are John Dominic Crossan and
Marcus Borg. Dr. Crossan is Professor Emeritus of biblical
studies at De Paul University and is considered the
premier historical Jesus scholar in the world. Marcus
Borg was a Professor of religion and culture at Oregon
State University. Crossan says the study is all I have to
say about Jesus after half a century of study - in succinct
summary. This study was produced by the same publisher
as Living the Questions. This twelve week course will
feature a 20 minute video with the authors, reading
material to study before each session and time within
each class for extended discussion.
All interested adults are welcome to join the Seekers
Class each Sunday at 9:15 AM in room 302.

Letters to MUMC

Thanks to all who contribute to Heifer International.

Your gifts helped Heifer to acheive these results in 2016:
There were 33 new projects involving more than 200,000
families. Altogether, 3.6 million families where directly
or indirectly assisted. Most families assisted are in Asia,
followed by Africa, the Americas, and Europe. For more
information, go to www.heifer.org.
MUMC has helped with the Prison Fellowship Angel
Tree ministry for children with a parent in prison for
30 years. This year, we are again overwhelmed at
the generosity of this church family. We would like to
express our heartfelt thanks to all of you who purchased
and wrapped gifts with loving care; and, also to those
who made monetary donations so we could go shopping.
Special thanks to those that helped deliver gifts: Rich
Howard, Todd & Paula Donoho and Linda Robb. A total
of 54 children received two gifts each (27 households).
Thank you for helping MUMC participate in this
wonderful Prison Fellowship Ministry. Please remember
these angels and their families in your prayers. Thank
you! Greg & Dora Thackery

Concert Series 2016-2017

Hospital Calls/Pastoral Visits

Hospitals do not inform churches/pastors when a

parishioner is admitted. That practice was discontinued
as a consequence of HIPAA legislation. Therefore, we ask
that you alert the church office when you are admitted to
a hospital, when you will have a scheduled hospital stay or
when you would like to receive a pastoral visit. The same
would hold true when you learn of someone else in our
church family experiencing health and/or life challenges.
Your pastoral staff wants to walk with you and remind you
of Gods love and grace at such times. Someone is available
throughout the week to make hospital calls and pastoral
visits. After hours, you can email or leave a voice mail at
443-3111 that we can pick up the next work weekday.

Mission of the Month

When you visit the coffee shop in January

your tips will support Guatemala Medical
Mission.

Saturday Feb. 4, 2017 7pm (Adults $10/Students $5)

An organ concert, with John Walker, Professor Emeritus
at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory, which will
feature a wide variety of music showing the amazing
capabilities of our Skinner organ.
Saturday April 8, 2017 7pm (Adults $10/Students $5)
Four Other Brothers, a jazz trumpet quartet of Illinois
college music professors, will feature a wide variety of
jazz music both contemporary and historical.
Thursday May 18, 2017 7pm (Adults $10/Students $5)
Students from the Missouri Symphony Society (MOSS)
conservatory will amaze and dazzle the audience as they
demonstrate why they are the best of the best and will
someday be performing on stages around the world.
Tickets for all concerts can be purchased online at www.
moumc.org/forms or at the door where we will accept
cash, checks or credit/debit cards.

Church Family News

Congratulations to the family of Logan Benjamin, who was

born on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to parents Megan and Ben Harvey
and siblings Ava and Scottie.
Condolences to the family of Clara Mae Lasky, who died
on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016. She was the mother of MUMC
member Zoe Smith.
Condolences to the family and friends of Virginia Hedrick,
who passed away on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in St. Louis.
She had been a member at MUMC since 1955. Services will
be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 11am in the Sanctuary.
If you would like to announce a church members death or a birth
in a church members family, please send details to messenger@
moumc.org. Submissions will be edited for length and clarity.

2 MISSOURI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

January 5, 2017 - Vol. 30, No. 1

Consider: What shall I leave behind in 2016 ? What shall I carry forth in 2017?
May the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding guard your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Saturday

The year is coming to a close. Im already thinking about new resolutions. May I
resolve to see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day
by day into the New Year. ~ Lyrics from Day by Day

Friday

Are things back to normal yet? Back to work, back to my routineStop me and slow
me down, again to experience and think on the wonder of the Christ Child who lives
on in me.

Thursday

God of all wisdom, whose ways are beyond my own, show me the limitations of
relying on my own plans. Help me wake up to what you are inviting me to a crazy
step of faith, a sweet surrender, an act of blind trust. Like Joseph, give me the
courage to follow you in the obedience of faith wherever it may lead for it is you
I trust [this Christmas]. ~ Ruth Haley Barton, DD

Wednesday

Dear God, help us to focus on you today, remembering that the gift of Christ,
Immanuel, is our most treasured gift for the whole year through. Fill us with
your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you.
Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons
of brokenness, youre still with us. You never leave us. Thank you for your daily
Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes
are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that your surround us
with favor as with a shield, we are safe in your care. We choose to press in close to
you today. ~ Debbie McDaniel

Tuesday

My Notes:

Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow

Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the
glory as of a fathers only son, full of grace and truth.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did
not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept
him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to
become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or
of the will of man, but of God.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness
to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not
the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens
everyone, was coming into the world.

May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the
angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the
peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now
and forever.

Monday

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him
was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.

Scripture: John 1:1-14(NRSV)

Speak Life - December 25

Sunday Sermon

Dear God, sometimes I get too caught in the Christmas commercialism. OK, a lot
of times. Today, Im going to refocus my heart and remember why Im celebrating
this wonderful day in the first place. Im celebrating Jesus todayand every day! In
Jesus name, Amen. ~ Sharon Jaynes

Sunday

A Prayer for Everyday This Christmas Season

Week of December 26 - December 31

a daily scripture guide

Growing Deeply

Missouri United Methodist Church

204 S. Ninth St.
Columbia, MO 65201-4899
573-443-3111

Periodical
Postage
PAID
Columbia, MO
USPS No. 355460

We exist to connect all people with Jesus Christ. We do this by

welcoming enthusiastically, growing deeply and serving courageously.

/MissouriUMC

A Note About Groups at MUMC

January is group formation month! Right now Im taking
inventory on the groups we will offer this Spring. Weve
done a great job providing Bible and book study groups,
and those meet a real need for people. But there are
people hesitant to study the Bible or read a book with a
group who still have a desire to connect. That might even
be you, or you might remember what that was like and
think youd like to make connecting easy for people.
The group formation process is built on facilitatorsthey
are key to offering new groups. It sounds intense, but I
promise its not that scary! Facilitators arent experts,
but rather people who journey with a group, set the table
for people to hear and share, and help the group hear
itself by reflecting back whats been said and heard. And
youre not alonefacilitators have a coach supporting
them on the journey.
Here are some ideas for non-Bible and book study groups:
Groups built around a shared hobby or experience:
an example would be an MU Basketball Lovers group.
The group could meet to watch games on tv or in the
bleachers. As relationships develop, they also start
meeting to share where theyve seen God this week, their
joys and concerns, and/or prayer. This could be a cheering
squad for the Tigers and each other!
Lately Ive been using the visual liturgy and lessons from
The Work of the People as part of my personal devotions.
Watching scripture come to life through video and
music gives me a new perspective and allows me to hear
and interpret the Word in surprising ways. Formidable

theologians like Richard

Rohr, Juergen MoltMann,
Rachel Held Evans and more
discuss subjects that weve all
pondered. They open up ideas
to discuss within a group and
allow God to transform lives.
Check out theworkofthepeople.com to get a feel for their
offerings.
If you want more information about this kind of
facilitation experience, you might want to check out the
book we are studying this Lent: The Final Week: What the
Gospel Really Teaches about Jesus Final Days in Jerusalem
by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan
Better Together, Charity Goodwin, Pastor of Discipleship

Key Dates for Groups

Booklet of group offerings will be distributed in worship
on Sunday, Feb. 5
Groups begin meeting the week of Feb. 19
Ash Wednesday March 1
Groups end the week of April 16 (Easter Week)
To start a new group, please fill out the form online at
moumc.org/forms.
What group idea is stirring up in you? Share it here
right now! Complete the online form as best you can
with your new group idea. Ill be in touch to help you
bring your group to life and fill it with participants!

Photo Disclaimer: Services and events hosted by the church are considered public. The church has permission to use images of church members for promotion, publicity and
outreach materials unless advised through a non-consent form. The church will not attach names to the photographs of individuals or groups unless prior permission is given. To obtain a
non-consent form, please contact the church office.

Want to get the Church Newsletter via email? Have you changed email addresses? Go to: www.moumc.org/subscribe to subscribe or update.
The church provides bus transportation to the 10:30am Sunday worship service.
Call 443-3111 before noon on Fridays. Bus service is available to all.
The Messenger (USPS No. 355460) is published weekly except the last week of the year by Missouri United Methodist Church at 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO. Periodical postage paid at Columbia, MO.
POSTMASTER: for change of address, send to Missouri United Methodist Church Messenger, 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO 65201-4818, January 5, 2017

Staff: Laura Bentley, Administrative Assistant; Nancy Cooper, Childrens & Family Life Leader; Dakota Crider, Facility Steward; Joan DeBoe, Pastor of
Worship & Administration; Adriene Floyd, Executive Assistant; Courtney Gaunt, Director, Discovery Days; Teressa Gilbreth, Director of Communications;
Charity Goodwin, Pastor of Discipleship; Hank Jenkins, Pastor of Missions and Youth Ministries; Jo Lee, Events Coordinator;Chris Munsterman,
Administrative Assistant; Kim Parker, Pastor of New Generations; Ashley Thornhill, Nursery Coordinator;Kendall Waller, Lead Pastor;Preston Williams,
Tech & Facility Steward;Anna Zacherl, Assistant Director, Discovery Days. Music Staff: Craig Datz, Organist; Kaye Miller, Director of Wesleyan Ringers;
Rochelle Parker, Associate Organist; Marilyn Rowe, Serendipity Choir; Rachel Blomquist, Grace Notes Choir