Founded in 1878 To the Glory of God December 1, 2019

Newsletter No. 12-19

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925 West Walnut Street Metamora, Illinois, 61548

Telephone (309) 367-4603 www.christianunionchurch.com

Church Office: mcuc@mtco.com Pastor: Gary Salm pstrgary@mtco.com Youth Pastor: Brandon Bogue brandonbogue1@mtco.com

Update on Roof Replacement Kent Malone, Council Vice President

A few months ago I wrote to let you know Council and the Trustees are working on alternatives

to replacing the leaky roof on the church's main buildings.

Based on preliminary estimates of the roughly $250,000 total cost, Council has also discussed

ways to raise the needed funds. In our meeting on September 9th, Council decided to cover half

of the cost from our long term investments and make an appeal to the congregation for the

remainder.

The Trustees are in the process of obtaining final bids for the project, which we hope to

undertake in 2020. Due to the cost and scope of this project, Council considers it to be an

"extensive repair of the church's property", which per the church's constitution is a decision

reserved for the full congregation. For that reason, Council plans to make a full presentation of

the project at the congregational annual meeting to be held on January 26th and will ask for a

vote to proceed with the project at that meeting.

We are blessed with a very giving congregation that has supported the church for many, many

years without us having to conduct any major fundraising appeals. In fact, some folks who have

been following this roof replacement need have already made donations to that project.

My purpose in writing today is first to let you know where we are with this project and the

expected timing. Secondly, with the end of the year approaching, some folks are thinking about

their giving in the context of their 2019 tax situation. With the recent changes in tax laws

increasing the standard deduction, many people are grouping their deductible expenses in

alternating years to make their giving work most efficiently with their individual tax situation. If

you are in that group and 2019 is the year you are grouping your deductible expenses, we hope

you'll consider including a special gift to the church for the upcoming roof replacement need in

your plan.

Of course, if you have any questions about the project, the funding or giving to the project, please

reach out to any of the Council members. In the meantime, we look forward to talking with you

more about it at the annual meeting.

There are a few Christmas clichés that make sense but can lose their meaning with overuse. “He’s the reason for the season”, “Keep Christ in Christmas” and “Wise men still seek Him” all get put into heavy rotation this time of year.

During the Christmas season I will be preaching from Matthew 2:1-12, the visit of the Magi. I want to get beyond the cliché. I will be exploring the many aspects of their visit and its meaning. We will look at the prophecy fulfilled. False motives for worship. The meaning of gifts. Real joy. Slowing down. And when God issues a plan B. These will be some of the themes we will be

exploring. I am looking forward to sharing and exploring this text as it relates to us today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Daily Bread — the new edition is available for December, January, and February.

Fall Mission Project — through December our Fall Project donations, will be used to support

local, under-resourced families. Every year we meet people who need a little extra help. Thank

you for giving to share the love of Christ as we celebrate His birth. You can donate by using the

Fall Project envelope in your giving packet, or by marking a pew envelope ‘Fall Project.’

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I want to thank all my wonderful church family for your prayers, cards, and expressions of sympathy in the loss of my mother. She lived a long

and happy life and she was ready to go to her eternal home. It all meant

so much to me. Sue Zobrist

Please pray God’s protection and strength for Andrew Dahl, stationed in Italy; Chelsie Heathcoat, stationed

in Fort Benning, GA; Levi Heathcoat, stationed at Fort

Carlson in Colorado Springs, CO. We continually lift up all the faithful men and women in uniform serving throughout the world.

Please continue to pray for:

Jill Frost, Joan Robison’s daughter, diagnosed with leukemia

Family of Bill Bliss, Rich Sledgister’s uncle, who passed on Monday, 11/18 Ken Maurer — recovering from heart by-pass surgery

Donna Miller — in the last stages of life

Family of Lois Strickfaden who passed away on Tuesday, 11/5 Family of Pastor George Hines who passed away on Thursday, 10/31

John Szilvasy, former paster, suffering from Parkinson’s

Noah Gregait, Sue Johnson, Rachel Cook, Abbi Jones, Mike Colty, Clyde Carroll, Joy Bayes, Erin Miller, Elaine Lauffenburger, Bob Mason, Bruce Thompson, Tara Ott, Kath-

leen Minnich, Linda Jones, John Clark, Naomi Anderson, Emily

O’Connor, Richard Parks, Ken Maurer, Becky Jones, Grahm, Julie Parks, Dona Parks, Hazel Dyar, Sue Zobrist, Tia Dye, Ian Wallace, Kyle Wood, Mona Smock, Larry &

Marty Mullins, Mary Dexter, Shirley Lindsay, Mitch Williams, Donna Schifeling, and

Faye Hines as they deal with on-going health issues.

Our Partners in Mission: Guy & Lora McIntire — Wycliffe Bible Translators

Dan & Christi Ucherek — Back2Back Ministries

Thanksgiving Celebration

Thank You!

Many thanks to the following people who helped in some capacity with the Thanksgiving Dinner. It

was wonderful to have so many helping hands! Very gratefully, Mike & Sharol Minger

June Ahrens, John & Mary Armstrong, CUC staff,

CUC youth, Julie Fandel, Rob & Jamie Hackett, Jim

Hicks, Deb Houch, Matt & Angie Kimbro, Jane

Kramer, John Lauffenberger, Doug & Jean Long, John

& Sandy Madsen, Heidi Malone, Darlene McDaniel,

Dewey Newell, Jolene Pelton, Dick Schertz, DJ Smock, Jan Swartz, Donna Woltzen.

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Altar Flower Chart for 2020

The new flower chart is up on the bulletin board near the Fellowship Hall. If you have a special remembrance or occasion to commemorate with altar flowers, please sign up for your special date on that calendar. Thank you for enhancing the beauty of our sanctuary and allowing us to celebrate and remember with you. If you have any questions please call the office.

Ladies Christmas Luncheon

Ladies, if you've reserved your spot for the Ladies Christmas Lunch-eon, don't forget to mark your calendars for 12:30 on Saturday, De-cember 7th! Looking forward to celebrating the Christmas season with food, fellowship, and fun (and maybe a few games)! The Can-nery is located at 201 N. Major Street in Eureka. There is a public parking lot directly across from The Cannery building. From Main St., turn on to Court St., then turn left onto the alley to enter the parking lot. Street parking on the south side of Bullock St. is also permitted, as is parking on the east side of Major St. We will be in ‘The Crate’ room.

Mission Moment in December : Dan and Christi Ucherek will be coming to our church on December 1st to tell us about their new missionary

endeavor. They are no longer with Orphan Outreach, but with a new organization called “Back2Back." They will be in both services, so come and hear what is going on in their lives.

Please have all articles to the office on:

Monday, 12/16 for the January newsletter

Tuesday, 12/17 for December 22 bulletin

Friday, 12/20 for December 29 bulletin

Monday, 1/6 for the 2019 Annual Report

If you have any questions, please call the office.

Giving Envelopes will be available 12/8.

Please have all expense reimbursement

requests to the office by Monday, 12/16.

The office will be closed from 12/24

through 1/1. Please call in advance on 1/2 to

ensure a staff person is in the building.

Dining Out will be at Metamora Fields

Thursday, December 12th

Meet at the restaurant at 6:00 PM. Please make your reservation on

the sheet outside the office by Monday, December 9th. For more

information contact Donna Woltzen.

Philathea will meet Tuesday, December 10th at 7:00 pm in

the Fellowship Hall. Hosts are June Ahrens and Donna Woltzen. Sue Zobrist

will be leading devotions.

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Upcoming Sermons: 12/1 Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 Prophecy Fulfilled 12/8 Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 False Motives in worship 12/15 Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 The Real Meaning of Gifts 12/22 Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 Overjoyed 12/24 Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 When The World Stops -- Silent 12/29 Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 Home By Another Way

December’s Memory Verse : In the beginning was the Word, and

the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1 : 1

Lori and I cannot begin to express how

surprised and overwhelmed we were by the

outpouring of love in your gift for Christmas.

Your timing and the kindness with which it

was offered encouraged our hearts.

Needless to say, you really knocked us off

our feet and we want to thank each and

every one of you that shared in our gift and

the kind words of appreciation that

accompanied the gift. The words

“Thank you” seem inadequate but we

want you to know just how much it

means to serve in a place where

you are loved and appreciated.

Meet In The Middle

Service @ 10am

In December

Are

December 22

AND

December 29

I don’t really know how to even begin to thank all of you for the Christmas gift you have given us. Both Mandi and I were completely speechless at the generosity and love we felt from our congregation. You will likely never know how much this church means to the two of us and how honored we feel in serving Christian Union. “Thank you” doesn’t seem like enough to express the sentiment we are feeling now. It is so humbling and amazing to serve a church that appreciates the hard work we put into things here. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. Brandon, Mandi, Robin, and Adrian.

My family and I say thank you for the gift you gave us at the Thanksgiving

Celebration. We were so surprised we cried! There are no words that can convey the amount of love and support that our hearts feel. We are truly blessed by you!

Thank you! Jenny, Bryant, Kiera & Connor

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The Elevate Christmas Party is Sunday, December 15th from 5-8pm! This is for both Jr. and Sr. High students! Jr. Highers bring

a drink, Sr. Highers bring a dessert, everybody bring a friend!

Elevate will

resume

January 12th

Date A/V Team Lay

Reader 9:00

Nursery 11:00

Nursery Greeters

9am/11am KidZone

12/1 Steve Griffin

/ Angie Kimbro

Denny Hahn

Open and Amanda

Kough

Open and Sarah

Kimbro

Sue Shoff / Kristen

Ward

Kathy Steele and Carolyn

Wilbur

12/8 Gary Barke / Jed Smith

Sarah Kimbro

Audrey Salm and Noah

Ward

Kathy Steele and Noah

Ward

Jane Kramer / Theresa

Braun

Sandi Riggert and Sarah

Kimbro

12/15

Stan Deatherage

/ Denny Hahn

Matt Kimbro

Sandi & Autumn Riggert

Open and Open

Glen & Mary Hamilton

/ Open No KidZone

12/22 MITM

Steve Griffin / Open

Mike Minger

Sheila Boles and Taylor

Hines

Audrey Salm and Carolyn

Wilbur

Marla Gleason

/ Sue Kern

MITM No KidZone

12/24 5 pm

/ 10 pm

Open / Brandon

Bogue N/A No Nursery No Nursery N/A No KidZone

12/29 MITM

Dan Wilbur / Matt Gregait

Bob Harper MITM

No Nursery MITM

No Nursery

Jeff & Lois Jones

/ Sue Kern

MITM No KidZone

December Ministry Leaders

December Ushers and Communion Stewards Sue Devine, Darlene McDaniel, Sandie Moore, Jolene Pelton, and Donna Woltzen

December Welcome Rep June Ahres

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Attention, Snyder Passengers!

Winter is here and the Snyder bus team is eager to continue serving our bus riders! However, we recognize that sometimes inclement weather conditions may make this impossible.

We are leaving the decision up to the individual driver each week as to whether or not to make the trip. If the weather is too bad, the driver will contact Snyder Village and passengers to let them know the bus will not be running. We will also post an announcement on TV and on our website.

If you would like to become a driver, or know someone who might like to ride, please contact .Judy Winkler at 383-4680.

December Schedule

Driver Helper

12/1 Lance Fandel Jill Fandel

12/8 Cathy Gregait Noah Gregait

12/15 Mary Armstrong John Armstrong

12/22 Matt Kimbro Sarah Kimbro

12/29 Jared Barker Zach, Kevin, & Derek Barker

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Community Happenings Information posted on the bulletin board near the Fellowship Hall

Other flyers on the bulletin board: Nutrition Sites by MSW Project; Favored Women April 17-19, 2020; Iron Sharpens Iron Men events 2020 schedule.

December 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 9:00 Worship & KidZone 10:00 Coffee Hr/ Jr&Sr Hi,Adult Sunday School 11:00 CoffeeHouse & KidZone

2 8:30 Morning Joe @ Cornerstone 5:30 Camp Wildwood Reserved 6:00 Finance 7:00 Church & Ministry 7:00 BoyScouts

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10:00 Staff Meeting 6:00 Adult SS Rm Reserved 6:30 Take Two Rehearsal

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Jr Hi Elevate

5 6 8:00 Fellowship Hall reserved 8:30 Living room Reserved

7 9:30 1st Look Rehearsal 12:30 Ladies Christmas Luncheon @ The Cannery

8 9:00 Worship & KidZone 10:00 Coffee Hr/ Jr&Sr Hi,Adult Sunday School 11:00 CoffeeHouse & KidZone 2:30 Camp Rsvd 3:30 Adult SS Reserved

Sr Hi Elevate

9 6:00 Mission Comm. Mtg 7:00 Church Council Mtg 7:00 BoyScouts

10 10:00 Staff Meeting 11:30 Fellowship Hall Reserved

6:00 Adult SS Rm Reserved 6:30 Take Two Rehearsal 7:00 Philathea

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Jr Hi Elevate

12 5:30Fellowship Hall Reserved 6:00 Dining Out @ Metamora Fields

13 14 9:30 1st Look Rehearsal 6:00 KidZone & Elevate Cookie Decorating

15 9:00 Worship 10:00 Coffee Hr/ Jr&Sr Hi,Adult Sunday School 11:00 CoffeeHouse

5:30 Elevate Christmas Party

16 8:00 Sanctuary Reserved 8:30 Morning Joe @ Cummins 5:30 Adult SS Rm Reserved 7:00 BoyScouts

17 10:00 Staff Meeting 6:30 Take Two Rehearsal

18 7:15 1st Look Rehearsal 8:15 Christmas Eve Rehearsal

19 20 21

22 10:00 MITM Service

23

24 Christmas Eve 5:00 Worship 10:00 Worship

25 Christmas Day

26 4:30Fellowship Hall Reserved

27 28

29 8:45 MITM Rehearsal 10:00 MITM Service

30 8:30 Morning Joe @ Busy Corner

31 New Years Eve

Jan 1 New Years Day

Jan 2

Office Closed

Office Closed

12-03 Maci Keller 12-04 Angie Ford 12-07 Nancy Donaldson David Poling 12-09 Elizabeth Keller Terri Schrock 12-10 Eric Benes Lauren Gray 12-11 Jeff Ries 12-12 Amanda Kough 12-14 Sharol Minger 12-17 Rob Hackett 12-18 Carter Brock

12-18 Jordan Herring Jeff Philips 12-19 Carol LaRue Lucille Lotz 12-20 William Vancil III Colton Veatch 12-21 Ben Poling 12-22 Sally Brock Becky Saunders 12-25 Ryan Poeschel 12-26 Julie Fandel 12-27 Deb Hezlep 12-29 Lori Jones 12-30 Rainey Maurer

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12-02 Matt & Cathy Gregait 12-08 Larry & Donna Woltzen 12-15 Jared & Janet Barker 12-20 Matt &Kristyn Kennell 12-22 Dave & Helen Cheek 12-28 Dick & Carol Schertz