700 Balearic Road Hot Springs Village, AR 71909 501-922-4503 Website: www.cohumc.com

November 2018

Etz Chayim (The Tree of Life) America and the world were shocked and saddened by the terroristic act of a deranged man filled with hate who killed 11 and wounded many more at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Faith communities around the world reacted with condemnation of this evil, and were left wondering at the manifestations of hatred toward any people due to their faith or ethnicity. We all suspect, we all know from bitter past experience, that such evil can happen in any region of the world and in any context -- in a church, synagogue, or mosque, or other “soft” targets such as malls and schools, movie theatres and concerts.

The very name of this synagogue which today grieves, The Tree of Life (Hebrew: Etz Chayim), offers hope. I love the image here, a circle surrounding the tree of life which has roots, trunk, and spreading branches. There is promise in this image of the Tree of Life, a promise stretching from its first

mention in the garden paradise of Genesis to the last biblical mention in the heavenly paradise of Revelation.

The sickness of human evil will not prevail over the Etz Chayim. The Tree of Life will win the day. That’s the hope, and the promise, of the Bible’s use of that image.

Even as we grieve and strive for a unity in our nation and our world, a unity which seems beyond our reach at times like these, let us move into November with gratitude and thanksgiving for the hope and the promise of blessing within the human family.

Rev. Siegfried Johnson Sr. Pastor

Join us Sunday,

November 4, as we give

thanks and celebrate

those in our congregation

who have gone before

us in the faith during the

past year.

From the early days of Christianity, there is

a sense that the Church consists of not only all

living believers, but also all who have gone

before us. For example, in Hebrews 12 the author

encourages Christians to remember that a “great

cloud of witnesses” surrounds us, encouraging

us, cheering us on.

HELP WANTED

Christ of the Hills is looking to add a new staff position for The Gathering Worship Service. The Gathering is in need of a pianist to join the Praise Band for the worship service each Sunday morning and Praise Band practice on Wednesday afternoon. The service is an upbeat, non-traditional type worship experience incorporating new music and traditional hymns presented in a more modern way. This position is available now, so if you are interested in being a part of this ministry opportunity, please see Kathy Bracke in the office for an application or call 501-922-4503 for more information.

Many times the caregiver’s task ends with the death of a loved one. The caregiver now needs support in transitioning from taking care to grieving for the loss of a spouse or parent. This group is intended for those who are Caregivers as well as those experience grief from loss. Meetings are on the FIRST and THIRD Thursdays of each month, at 11:00 AM in Classroom 6. Art Jungnickel facilitates the discussions; contact him at 501-922-4888 if you want more information.

From Your Lay Leader….. Be patient with me, just a bit of

personal privilege.

I have been blessed and privileged to be your Lay Leader for the past three years. I have tried to inform you of some of the things you may not know about our church, i.e., stained glass windows, banners, flags, Grace and Memorial Gardens and more. All this information was printed in the monthly Bell Ringers.

Now, 2019, will be the first year in the past 27 plus years that I will not be actively involved in our church. I’m still planning to do some of the behind the scenes work, but won’t be quite so visible.

I have been on committees, commissions, etc. I’ve also participated in missions such as building casitas in Mexico, UMCOR Sager Brown, Rice Depot, Emmaus, Meals on Wheels, delivering food baskets, etc.

So, now it’s your turn!! Don’t wait to serve!

DO NOT wait to be asked.

After being a member for 27 years it is tempting to say this is always the way we did it. But after being a member for all these years at COH, I realize this congregation continues to grow and has many new and good ideas. Now you can

complain, or you can become involved.

Being involved also means supporting the church financially.

I thank Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church for letting me serve and become involved!

Your Lay leader,

Art Jungnickel

The Office will close at noon on

Wednesday November 21 and re-open

at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 26.

In case of emergency, please e-mail

cothumc@cohumc.com or leave a

message on the answering machine.

Caregiver &

Grief Support

Group

Choir Cantata Sunday,

December 9 5:00 p.m.

While the world lies frozen beneath the chilling breath of winter, a spotless Rose blooms. Against

the harsh surroundings, its beauty unfolds, one petal at a time. The Winter Rose is born, so that

the Garden might be restored. The Winter Rose, a cantata by Joseph Martin and orchestrated by Brandt Adams, reminds us of the most precious Rose, the Rose of Sharon, our Savior Jesus Christ, who came as the perfect gift of God. This musical presentation by a 50+ voice Chancel Choir and 20 piece orchestra portrays this beautiful picture in musical form that will inspire and lift your spirits with worshipful presentations of beautiful musical arrangements. Be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to share in this special musical offering for the Christmas season.

Advent Study 4 Thursdays

November 29-December 20 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a man in dire need of a second chance. Is redemption possible for such a greedy,

dark and sad character? The “Redemption of Scrooge”, from Matt Rawle’s The Pop in Culture Series, shows us how the teachings of Jesus can be found in Dickens’ Christmas classic. From the ghosts of Christmas past, to the Life of the present, and the resurrection of Christmas future, this Advent study will “bless us everyone” and reinvigorate our spiritual journeys as we look at this familiar story through the lens of faith.

This 4-week study will be each Thursday morning from November 29 – December 20; 10:00-11:30. The cost for the participant book is $5.00. You may sign up in the Information Center or online and the deadline for registration is November 19. It will be helpful for you to read the Introduction and 1st Chapter prior to the first class. Please join us for this inspiring study. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Sheila at 922-4503.

ALTAR FLOWERS If you would like to give flowers for morning worship services in memory or in honor of a loved one, or to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or special event, here is some helpful information:

There is a book in the Information Center for you to select a date and sign

your name. Pages for 2019 have already been added to the book. You pay the church, which in turn will pay the florist. Flower prices are as follows: $35 for a vase of altar flowers; $35 for flowers on the visitor’s table; and $42 for flowers on the fellowship table. If you wish to give a rosebud, please call the office with the information you wish printed in the bulletin. Cost of the rosebud is $10. Persons who give flowers may take their flowers following the second service, or by noon on Monday. Please return the green sleeve in which the flowers are sent to the church by Wednesday noon of the same week.

Christmas Day Dinner 2:00 p.m.

If you are looking for a place to spend Christmas afternoon, join your friends at Christ of the

Hills for a potluck dinner, fun and fellowship. COH will supply the meat; all you need to bring is your favorite dish to share.

There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center or you may call Art or Cassy Jungnickel, 922-4888 or e-mail jung5cts@sbcglobal.net if you have questions.

MOVIE NIGHT

Wednesday,

November 28

“A Christmas

Carol”

Crotchety Victorian business- man Ebenezer Scrooge has no use for festivity, even at Christmas. After resentfully allowing timid clerk Bob Cratchit to have the holiday to spend with his loving wife and family, Scrooge is swept into a nightmare. The ghost of his late partner, Jacob Marley appears, warning that Ebenezer will be visited by three more spirits who will show the coldhearted man the error of his parsimonious behavior. Join us for this black-and-white version of the classic Dickens Christmas tale, back to the days when this 1951 film brought new meaning to Christmas for Ebenezer Scrooge. Renewing your acquaintance with all the characters will help bring understanding to the Advent study.

Advent Devotional

Daily Journey to the Cradle and the Cross

Beginning Sunday, December 2, a daily devotional will be available by e-mail for you to use during the season of Advent. You may receive it each day via e-mail or you may pick up a printed copy in the Information Center the last week of November. If you wish to receive the e-mail, please sign up in the Information Center or e-mail kathybracke@cohumc.com. There will be a companion devotional available during Lent.

As an introduction to the Advent

Study, you may want to see….

All Christ of the Hills men (members and visitors) are invited to attend our monthly breakfast meetings, the second Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m.

in Fellowship Hall. Come and join us for a great breakfast, a devotion, interesting speakers and good fellowship!

Be sure to join us

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9TH at 7:30 a.m. Our guest speaker will be

Bruce Holstead Bruce is President of Holstead Companies, a firm that maintains high towers

for TV and radio transmission. He has given presentations for COH’s

Emmaus Trainings and the Stephen Ministry retreat. He is an officer for

Arkansas Hospice Foundation and his program will concern End of Life and

Hospice care.

We are looking forward to seeing you for food, fellowship and a very

informative program.

RICE DEPOT

VOLUNTEERS 1st Thursday and Friday

3rd Thursday and Friday

Leave the Upper Parking Lot at 8:00 a.m. All COH men are welcome to come and help

welcome to come and

help

Help support the United Methodist Men in their mission work with these projects:

Used Printer Cartridges Please support the mission work of the United Methodist Men by recycling used printer cartridges. You will find a recycle box in Fellowship Hall (under the table by the office door) for the collection of used cartridges by our church members, friends and neighbors. These cartridges must be genuine cartridges with print Heads (HP, Canon, Dell, Apple, Compaq, Lexmark, etc.). They cannot be damaged, remanufactured, refilled, or ink tanks (without print head).

No laser toners, please.

ALUMINUM BEVERAGE CAN

COLLECTION: Please support the mission work of the United Methodist Men by depositing your empty aluminum cans in the UMM trailer located in the far corner of the upper parking lot. Drive by any day of the week and make your deposit. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

NOTE: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CANS ARE SECURELY BAGGED—- NO LOOSE CANS!!

PLEASE BRING BEVERAGE CANS ONLY. YOU CAN HELP

Recycle Reduce pollution

Raise funds for missions

There are many reasons to update

your estate planning documents.

One is to include a gift to your

church.

Rev. Bubba Smith added to COH Staff

Our Staff-Parish Committee brought a familiar face back on board at Christ of the Hills! Retired Senior Pastor Dr. Walter (Bubba) Smith has been added to our church in the part-time role of assisting our pastoral staff in pastoral care and evangelistic visitation. As most are aware, Bubba and Diane continue to live in the Village. While Rev. Bubba assisted last year at Smackover UMC due to a special need, he is now home and ready to help out in whatever way he can.

Welcome Bubba!

Give Thanks for Your Blessings

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and The UMW Social Action Committee is asking you to share from your abundance and lend a helping hand to those in our area who are less fortunate. We are asking for donations to purchase food for Thanksgiving baskets. Please make your check payable to Christ of the Hills UMW noting it is for Thanksgiving baskets. If you have any questions, call Jeanette Keim at 501-915-9838 or e-mail ljkeim830@sbcglobal.net Please remember those less

fortunate as we start this holiday season.

UMW Volunteer Dates for Arkansas Food Bank

Thursday, November 8 & Tuesday November 13th All women of Christ of the Hills are invited to travel to Little Rock to the Arkansas Food Bank. You are welcome to go on just one of the available days, or both days. In just the few hours we are there we package food items that will literally feed hundreds of people. It is a great way to make a difference! We carpool from the lower parking lot leaving at 8:00 am, and return home after lunch around 2 pm. If you are able to participate, please contact Kristi Chance at 501-915-0357 or KLChance61@gmail.com

Remember to set your

clocks back one hour on

Saturday night,

November 3

For Every Mary, there is a Martha, or Is There?

The unusual thing about the Martha’s in our Martha Circle at COHUMC is that our Marthas have different skill sets. One Martha may measure, cut, and prepare fleece “blankets,” to be serged (serger: a type of sewing machine) to strips of coordinating fleece to

make fringe. Another group (maybe two ladies) serge those pieces together. Then, the really important work begins.

Some Marthas sit and cut the strips into “fringe.” It is easier than giving a grandson his first haircut! And no one in Martha will criticize you, if you don’t get the cut straight!

When a number of blankets are finished, the Marthas present the blankets to Methodist Children’s Family Health in Maumelle for the children who are there.

The Martha’s in our COHUMC circle meet the third Tuesday of the month in the first classroom to the left, as you come into the front of the church. Time is 1:00 P.M. Anyone who likes to sew or cut fabric is welcome to attend!

We are a very small circle, who enjoys hearing a devotional, and putting our scissors and sergers to use to help the little children.

Because we are so small, we could really use a few more “Martha’s,” so please pray about joining us. No homework! Guaranteed!!!

Contact Sandy Williams, 915-8050 if you have any questions.

4

Mark your calendars for Friday, December 7th at 7:30 p.m.

as the time when the

Village Big Band returns to our sanctuary for an evening of Christmas music done in the “big band” style. Traditional carols will be heard in non-traditional settings.

This program is sponsored by the UMM who will use the proceeds from a “free-will” offering to support UMM projects. Come help support these worthwhile projects and enjoy some fun holiday music.

Saturday, November 17 8:45 a.m.-noon

Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock

There's plenty to do:

Receive & sort various relief supply kits to send to Sager Brown

Package meals for Food for Kids and Food for Seniors programs

Affix labels to product packaging (great for those who need to sit while working)

Meet in the lower parking lot of the church no later than 8:45 a.m. and we will carpool from there. There will be a 15-minute worship service at 10 a.m. and our volunteers will work the 10:15-12:00 shift. Deadline to sign up is Wednesday, November 8. Please sign up in the Information Center or call Pastor Sheila at 922-4503 for more information.

PEO Singers & Village Men’s Chorus will present

their annual Christmas Concert at Christ of the Hills on

Friday, December 14th at 7:30 p.m. Both groups use our wonderful music room for rehearsals and are pleased to perform for this

congregation. There are no tickets needed for this

performance but a free-will offering will be taken. Bring your friends and enter into the

spirit of the season.

Demonstrate your thankfulness this season

It is through the donations of every individual and family in the

congregation that we are able to carry on our work now and throughout

the year.

If you need a convenient way to make recurring contributions or plan to make an additional gift before the end of

the year, we encourage you to check out our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up around the

holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. You may also wish to fulfill your

2018 or 2019 pledge amount through electronic giving.

To set up a recurring giving schedule, visit us online at www.cohumc.com and locate the “Donate” button. Or if

it’s easier, complete a paper authorization form and return it to the church office. The forms can be found in the

Information Center or call the office at 922-4503.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Wednesday, November 14 5:45 p.m.

This will be a traditional Thanksgiving dinner catered by the Daily Dish.

Turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable, pumpkin pie……YUM!

Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased by Sunday, November 11. They will be available between services on Sundays or in the office during the week.

Holy Chow

Your caring helps…..

November Food Donations: Teen Challenge Place items in the baskets at the front door and at the Fellowship Hall door.

If you wish, monetary donations are always accepted.

Just put your donation in the offering envelope found in the pew and label it “Food Pantry” or bring it by the office

How Does Stephen Ministry Work? When someone requests a Stephen Minister, Rev. Regina Turner, our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, will meet with that person, explain what Stephen Ministry is, and help determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs. Our Referrals Coordinator then matches that

person with one of our available Stephen Ministers. The Stephen Minister will then call that person and begin meeting with him or her for around an hour each week as long as the need is there. Everything a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept confidential. The Stephen Minister doesn’t try to solve problems; rather, he or she listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness. In Matthew 25, Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…” We have many opportunities to respond to Jesus’ great love by showing that love to others. Stephen

Ministry is one way our congregation shows that love to people who have deep needs for care. You also have many opportunities to show Jesus’ love during the week. As you encounter people this week, try asking yourself, “How Can I show them Jesus today?” If you would like more information on COH Stephen Ministry, call Rev. Regina Turner, Referrals Coordinator, at 922-4503.

Thanks to the generous giving by YOU, Christ of the Hills members, the Missions Committee was able to reach out to the community and the world by donating to the following organization:

November: Habitat For Humanity

Thanks to Rev. Turner and Rev.

Jones for their visits and

prayers during my recent

surgery. Also thanks to the

congregation for their thoughts,

prayers, cards and phone calls.

They are appreciated more than

you know.

Dave DeGraff

I’ve loved all the testimonials, those offered in our worship

services and the many who sent in written testimonies, as to

WHY you and your family have chosen to support the mission

and ministries of Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church.

A special THANK YOU goes out to all who participated in our

October 2018 stewardship emphasis.

Yesterday’s Commitment Sunday was a time of celebrating the

past legacy and the future vision of this amazing church.

Estimate of Giving cards for 2019 are still available in the office

and we encourage our members to use those in order to help our

administrative committees plan ministry objectives and goals for

the coming year.

Thanks so much for your generous

support of your church in our vision

to Bring in, Build up, and Reach out!

Rev. Sieg Johnson

Bell Ringer The monthly newsletter of Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church 700 Balearic Road Hot Springs Village, AR 71909

Rev. Siegfried S. Johnson, Senior Minister Rev. Sheila Jones, Associate Minister Rev Regina Turner, Associate Minister Kenny McKay, Minister of Music

Office telephone: 501-922-4503

Office hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.-Noon

Website – www.cohumc.com e-mail – cothumc@cohumc.com

We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation

Saturday nite, Nov. 4 Set your clocks back 1 hour

Wednesday November 14 5:45 p.m. Holy Chow Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday, November 17 8:45 a.m. (in COH Lot) Ingathering in Little Rock

Thurs. & Fri., Nov. 22 & 23 Thanksgiving - Office Closed

Wednesday, November 28 5:45 p.m. Movie Nite - A Christmas Carol

Monday, December 3 10:30 a.m. UMW Salad Luncheon

Friday, December 7 7:30 p.m. Big Band Concert

Sunday, December 9 3:00 p.m. Charge Conference at 1st UMC Hot Springs

Sunday, December 9 5:00 p.m. Christmas Cantata - “A Winter Rose”

Friday, December 14 7:30 p.m. PEO Singers & HSV Men’s Chorus Concert

Wednesday, December 19 5:45 p.m. Holy Chow Christmas Dinner

Monday, December 24 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion

Office Closed

Tuesday, December 25 2:00 p.m. Christmas Day Potluck

Wed. Dec. 26-Fri., Dec. 28 Office Hours 9-12

RESERVE THESE

DATES!

Sunday Morning Worship Services Traditional Services 8:40 a.m. & 10:10 a.m. The Gathering Praise & Worship Service 11:15 a.m.

Mid-Week Worship & Communion 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening

Sunday Nursery available

Adult & Children Education classes