Dear Members and Friends of Waterville United Methodist Church,
Our former member and TFTW Director, Brian Schultz’s father passed away yesterday. Brian’s brother, Jeff, found him at home after being unable to contact him by phone. Brian and his family were able to have a nice visit with him on Dec. 24 and they are grateful for that. Please lift the whole family in your prayers. The loss of a second parent is so heartbreaking. Brian’s address is 5430 Alston Grove Dr., Westerville, OH43082.
Today, Friday, is the final day to turn in any financial giving to be credited to this year’s financial statement. Tom will be stopping by the church to pick up contributions after the mail has been delivered today, but will wait and make a final deposit at the bank on Saturday at Noon. Please call him or email him: financialsec@watervilleumc.org or 419-878-5503 if you need to drop items off at his house either this evening or in the morning.
Our January Mission Focusis The Pregnancy Center of Greater Toledo. Their goal is to lovingly share the truth about life, relationships and faith. They help men and women make life-saving, life-changing decisions by sharing information about options, consequences and available services. With the exception of a small amount of grant funding for abstinence education, all funds come from donations. Over 32,000 women have already received help. The Pregnancy Center continues to be a community outreach committed to expressing the compassion of Christ through support and education in pregnancy related issues. We can help keep the doors open! Mission envelopes are available in the pew racks.
There will not be any small group Bible Study at 9:00 a.m. this Sunday.
The Prayer Group will not be meeting on New Year’s Day at 9:00 a.m. They will resume on Sunday, January 8, 2017.
Worship Service for Sunday, January 1:
Call to Worship
Song of Worship - Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Children’s Moment- There will not be any Sunday School or Nursery this Sunday
Sanctuary Choir Anthem - Now the Holly Bears a Berry
Olga’s selections:
Prelude: Christmas Rejoicing
Offertory: We Three Kings
Postlude: Kling, Glöckchen
Scripture- Matthew 2:13-23
Sermon - God Will Provide the Way
Hymn - Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Choral Benediction -
LiturgistDave Landis
No one has signed up to be Fellowship Hosts for the month of January.
Just a reminder to please pick up your 2017 offering envelopes when you are at church on New Year’s Day. We have moved them onto a kitchen cart and will have them in the sanctuary before and after the service this Sunday. Please pick your set of offering envelopes up to help us save on postage…they will cost close to $5.00 each to mail.
If you receive your statement of giving at the end of the year by email, they will be sent out on Saturday, January 7. If you receive a hard copy, they will be available for you to pick up on the shelf outside the church office on Sunday, January 8.
The Upper Room, a daily devotional book for January and February 2017, is available at both entrances to the sanctuary this Sunday. The cost of each book is $1.00 and may be placed in the offering plate.
The Friendly Centerserves Toledo’s inner city children and is a ministry of The United Methodist Church. During the cold winter months, they have extra need for NEW hats, gloves/mittens and socks. If you would like to support this ministry, there will be a basket in the Fireside room for collecting these items. The final day to donate will be January 15. Our Women’s Ministry will deliver them to the Friendly Center.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY – For the past few years, the M&M Bible Study has been volunteering at the SeaGate Food Bank the first Wednesday of the month packing food boxes for senior citizens. We start at 10:00 a.m. and work until 11:30/Noon. We would like to open this mission project up to the entire congregation, women, men and children. Lunch afterwards at a local restaurant is included but is optional. The work is not hard and we all have a good time, lots of laughter and fellowship. Throughout the year there are other short projects we help with also. You can carpool from the church or meet us there. If you would like to join us, please contact Penny Greenlese at pgreenlese@yahoo.com or 419-206-1602. We would love to have your help and you will be rewarded with a feeling of helping those less fortunate.
A new eight-week small group study will begin on January 8. It is called Unstuck – Moving from the Mundane to the Meaningful.Are you stuck in a rut? It’s easy for Christians to find themselves caught up in the life of cluttered schedules, rhythms, and routines dictated by our culture. Many feel stuck in the routine of life—their jobs, relationships, and daily circumstances. They know it’s not the life they dreamed of. And they feel stuck in a life yearning for deeper meaning. The Unstuck Bible study has been designed to help guide you out of the ruts and pitfalls that so often ensnare us all. You will be inspired and equipped through the powerful biblical teaching of Mark Batterson, Francis Chan, Lisa Harper and Rich Stearns. Each of these teachers will draw from the lessons of the award-winning short film Journey to Jamaa—a true story about two kids who are forced to search for hope in a broken world. The dynamic combination of the film, profound biblical teaching and powerful real-life stories from everyday people will help you and your group get unstuck and back on the path to a life of purpose that God intends for you! Classes will meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room and then again on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the same location. Charlene Hansen will be leading the Sunday morning class and Pastor Mike will be leading the Tuesday evening class.
As the year draws to a close, new opportunities for 2017 are just around the corner. New sign-up sheets are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway for Greeters and Fellowship Hosts. Janet is finished with the 2017 Altar Flower calendar. There is also a new Prayer Partner list on the Prayer Table in the sanctuary. Where is God calling you to serve?