december Good News newsletter 2017Our ministry vision for the Virginia Annual Conference is “to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are lifelong learners, who influence others to serve.”  

From Pastor LizDear Friends,

On behalf of Rick, and Briannah, I want to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We have a great church family, but God has obligated us not just to be Christians, or to make Christians, but to be and make disciples for Jesus. The only thing that can stand in our way of doing that is apathy!

Apathy is defined in the dictionary as “lack of interest or indifference.” When it is present in a congregation it can be disastrous to the church’s mission of glorifying God and making new disciples for Christ. In short, apathy can destroy a church.

What can be done? Be intentional! Plan your week around the worship of God each Sunday. God gives us 168 hours each week, can’t we give 1 or 2 back to God? If you notice that someone has been missing from worship, pick up the phone, call them, and say simply, “I missed you.” If you’re on the Admin. Council attend the meeting. If you’re the parent or grandparent of Sunday School age children please bring them to church to attend the programs. It is that important!

We are not called to be “lukewarm” Christians, but disciples - those set apart to carry the Good News of the Gospel message to our community and our world. How many effective “lukewarm” disciples have you ever known?

May this advent season mark the continue of the new spirit of Chestnut Hill U.M.C. May 2018 be our most blessed year ever. Have a blessed Christmas!

~Blessings, Grace and Peace, LizAnnual Christmas LuncheonSunday, December 17, 2017 11:45 A.M.@ Chestnut Hill United Methodist ChurchOur annual Church-Wide Christmas Luncheon will be covered dish. Be sure to watch upcoming Sunday bulletins for a RSVP form. 

 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

The Lynchburg District Annual Advent Brunch & Meeting is -Saturday, December 2nd @ Rustburg UMC, Rustburg, VA.  Be there @ 8:30 am to check in - the Brunch is served @ 9:00 am & the cost is

$9.00 each. After the Brunch, a short Program will be held - it is always very good.

On Saturday, December 9th our Unit's Luncheon & preparing the Baskets for our ''Shut-ins'' will be held. Don't forget to bake cookies for the Baskets - 6-8 per Zip Lock bag. P lease have your Cookies there by 10:30 am so we can do the Baskets first. As always, bring your dish for all to enjoy! All of you are great cooks - looking forward to our gathering.

My ''SPECIAL THANKS'' TO ALL OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE THIS PAST YEAR !!!

~Love, Blessings & Merry Christmas to all.Linda Wright, President UMW

 

Mark your calendar...Sunday, December 10, 10:30 a.m.

“Worship with Dance”The Great people of the Bible have always danced in worship: David, dressed in a

linen priestly vest, danced with all his strength before the LORD, 2 Samuel 6:14. 20

Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her playing tambourines and dancing, Exodus 15:20. The psalms declare that 7

And while they dance, people sing and 4 Praise God with drum and dance! Praise God with strings and pipe! On December 10th some of the dancers from the Red Shoes Dance academy will join us during worship with two liturgical dances of the season.  

Commitment/Pledge CardsDid you miss Stewardship Sunday? Fear not – you can get a 2018 Commitment/Pledge Card from the church office or from an usher on Sunday. Please search your heart, please be prayerful and just imagine what You can do, working with Others for the future of our church. Thanks! 

Christmas CantataYou are all invited to a Christmas

Cantata on Sunday, December 17th, 2:00 p.m., at Timberlake UMC. Come and be a part of this joyous musical

presentation.

 Children’s MinistryOur children are learning a lot about Advent since the season is upon us. Kingdom Kids will be

finishing up on Sunday, December 10th. They will present “A Night of Wonder!”. The program will be presented at 5:30 pm on this evening. There will be a FREE meal and Desserts for everyone in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m. Support the children and come on out for a wonderful time.

Kingdom Kids will resume on March 4th at 4:00 p.m. for their Spring Session.All of us from the children’s department want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry

Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

~Jody Underwood, Lay Children’s Ministry Coordinator

 The Merry Marthas Circle will not have a regular meeting in December, but we will do the set-up for the UMW luncheon on December 9. Please arrive at 10:00 and bring baggies of cookies for the shut-in baskets, as well as a dish or 2 to share.

 

We will be combining the January/February 2018 newsletter. All articles are due Thursday, December 21st.

ATTENTION ALL ANGELS!! We will be decorating God’s house on Saturday, December 2nd, at 11:00 a.m. in preparation for the birth of our Savior. Come, help and bring a friend. For more information contact Pat Short.

 

2017 Christmas OfferingDid you know that Chestnut Hill United Methodist reaches around the world in ministry through your Christmas giving? Each year, our Annual Conference and The United Methodist Church though our apportionments ask our church to contribute to ministries that enable us to help persons

around the world.  Everywhere in the gospels we see evidence that the church must reach out and minister to people beyond its members to those in our community, our region, and even to those in the whole world. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” He directed us to feed his sheep and care for his lambs, and in the story of the good Samaritan he taught us that we cannot be selective in who we care for. We see examples of the early church caring for persons beyond their congregation. The church of Acts 2 “gave to anyone who had need.” John

Wesley proclaimed that the world is our parish, and we United Methodists continue that vision.While none of us can go everywhere or be everywhere, through our United Methodist giving

we are able to practice that Acts 2 ministry by sending people around the world to represent us and meet desperate needs. Here are some examples of what we are accomplishing with our giving. We support New Church Development, which starts new churches in our conference every year. Last year our conference started new churches, thanks to our support and the support of the other churches in our conference. Through our contributions to the Ministerial Education Fund we are enabling men and women to enter the ministry so that the Word of God might be preached and proclaimed around the world. We are supporting new seminaries in countries in the former Communist nations of eastern Europe where seminaries were outlawed for 75 years. Those countries are now hungrily receiving the good news from an educated clergy, thanks in part to the gifts given by Chestnut Hill United Methodist.

Our gifts support the ministries performed by our organizational leadership including our bishop, our district superintendent, our conference ministries staff, and the United Methodist organizations that oversee our outreach and ensure that our connection remains fruitful. And our list of ministries around the world goes on and on. In future writings we will tell of other ministries our gifts are funding.

Chestnut Hill United Methodist is reaching out beyond our local church, following the mandate set before us by Christ. We must give 100% toward those challenges given us by the Annual Conference and The United Methodist Church. This year, your Christmas gift will go to help pay 100% of our apportionments! Envelopes will be placed in the bulletin and pew racks.

 

Mission Memo…

The food cart for October was a bounty of food and other goods. The non-food items were 33 rolls of toilet paper, 113 diapers, 3 rolls of paper towels, 1 box dish soap, 4 bars soap 3 deodorants, 2 toothpastes. For food items we collected 16 boxes of stuffing mix, 22 boxes of Hamburger Helper, and 11 cans of misc. items that totaled 28 lbs. of food. Thank -you all for help with this mission.  In the past month we have served almost double the clients than in previous months. Park View Mission is grateful for our continuing help.  They really count on us.

For December we will collect Mac & Cheese, canned meats, Hamburger Helper, Toiletry items, and as always toilet paper. 

~Thank-you from Linda Jessen & the Mission Committee 

CHURCHES FOR URBAN MINISTRY FRUIT SALE

We would like to thank you for all the support we have received this year.We sold 19 boxes of fruit this year and 6 boxes were donated. This is one of

the main fund raisers for Churches for Urban Ministry.**NOTE: Fruit arrival to be announced.

~Thanks Again!! Eleanor Maxham, Tammy Balderson

Thank You…On behalf of Churches for Urban Ministry, we would like to thank everyone who purchased fruit or

made a donation to the Food Bank.The profits from this fundraiser provides money for Camp Timothy (a summer camp for inner city

children). We appreciate your support. 

THE ANGEL TREE HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE COMMONS. BE SURE to include the child’s name on “EVERY” package, item, or bag for your angel and remember to fill out the Angel Tree Information sheet that has been placed in the Commons. Deadline for Angels will be THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 th !! NO later!

 

Change of AddressRobbie Perrow Jane Muller1213 Long Meadows Dr., 17621 Evers Ct.Apt. 107 Hamilton, VA 20158Lynchburg, VA 24502

Penny Baunach1003 Misty Mountain Rd., Apt. 823Lynchburg, VA 24502 

The Elium Family wants to express their gratitude to all our Chestnut Hill Family for all the

prayers, cards, and condolences to us during the illness of our daughter, Mary Jo, and her more recent death.~Blessings, The Elium Family

 Many thanks for all my Birthday wishes, love my church family.

~Sylvia Glass 

Exciting Preaching Series Starting Sunday, January 7

We will learn all about the Respectable Sins. Most of us will never murder or commit adultery or steal but that does not mean that we are immune to sin. Come and Learn about how we can make ourselves better Christians and closer to Christ our savior. Don’t know what a respectable sin is? Come and find out.  

Communications TeamWe need a Communications Team to better communicate in our modern world.

We need your help to make this happen. Chris Glass is our new church communications coordinator, but he can’t do it alone. We need individuals who can use Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, like to write newspaper articles, etc. – in short we need you if you like to communicate! Please call Pastor Liz at the church or email her (pastorliz@aol.com) if you can help. This is a vital part of Chestnut

Top of the Hill...We will NOT meet in December. We will resume on Wednesday,

January 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. 

FRIENDS WHO CAREPlease send your reports of visits and phone calls each month to Scottie Nuckols, 1250

Jefferson Oaks Court, # 44, Forest, VA 24551. Or e-mail to mx55566@gmail.com. On your report please note the month and year, names of those visited (or called) and the number of times visited or called that month and any comments of our pastor. Please try to get this information to Scottie by the 5th of the month. We express our appreciation to all the volunteers who participate in this ministry of compassion.

A total of 62 phone calls and 16 visits were made in OCTOBER.  

 

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church extends Christian love and sympathy to the family of the Rev. Nolan Crowder and especially to his wife, Sharon, and children, Christy, Bruce, and Brian. Rev. Crowder passed away on November 5, 2017.And to the family of Shirley C. Wood and especially to her husband, Ken, and their children,

Vickie, Kenneth, Sandra, and David. Mrs. Wood passed away on November 5, 2017. 

Food Cart...We will be collecting items for the Food Cart for Park View Community Mission.

F or the M onth of DECEMBER: “Mac & Cheese, Canned Meats, Hamburger Helper, Toiletry items,

Toilet Paper”

Please place in the food cart, located in the Commons. Help those in need. 

Read AheadEach Sunday The lectionary provides us with readings from the Gospel, the Epistles (Letters) the Old Testament and the Psalms. The lectionary follows a three year cycle, which when finished will have covered the majority of the Bible. Pastor Liz believes that reading ahead will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the service. Dec. 3, 2017 - 1st Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures are Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 12:24-37 & Psalm 80. The sermon text is 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 and the message is “Blameless”.

Dec. 10, 2017 – 2nd Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures are 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8 & Psalm 85. The sermon text is Isaiah 40:1-11 and the message is “Our Comforting God”.

Dec. 17, 2017 - 3rd Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24. The sermon text is Isaiah 35 : 1-10 and the message is “There Will Be Singing”.

Dec. 24, 2017 - 4th Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures are 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; & Romans 16:25-27. The sermon text is Luke 1:26-38 and the message is “Are You Going Down?”.

Dec. 24, 2017 – Christmas Eve - the Scriptures is Luke 2:1-20 & Psalm 96. The sermon text is Isaiah 9:2-7 and the message is “A Child Will Be Born”.

Dec. 31, 2017 – 1st Sunday after Christmas the Scriptures are Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 4:4-7& Psalm The sermon text is Luke 2:22-40 and the message is “Dedication”. 

Gifts & MemorialsIn Memory Of:Shirley Wood

Given by: Frances Unruh, Helen Fleck,Jimmy & Barbara Blunt

Mary Jo WoodsGiven by: Robbie Perrow, Georgia Mason,

Jimmy & Barbara Blunt, Fred & Sue Norvelle  

Mitten Tree TrunkDon’t forget we need Mittens too. Place them in the trunk that will be provided in the Commons. DEADLINE for bringing mittens will be after Christmas. 

Paradox What a paradox that a babe in a manger should be called mighty! Yet even as a baby,

Jesus Christ revealed power. His birth affected the heavens as that star appeared. The star affected the Magi, and they left their homes and made that long journey to Jerusalem. Their announcement shook King Herod and his court. Jesus' birth brought angels from heaven and simple shepherds from their flocks on the hillside. Midnight became midday as the glory of the Lord appeared to men.

~Warren W. Wiersbe in His Name is Wonderful 

PRAISE GOD FOR CHRISTMAS Praise Him for the Incarnation for Word made flesh.

I will not sing of shepherds watching flocks on frosty night or angel choristers.I will not sing of stable bare in Bethlehem or lowing oxen

wise men trailing distant star with gold and frankincense and myrrh.Tonight I will sing praise to the Father who stood on heaven's threshold

and said farewell to His Son as He stepped across the stars to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

And I will sing praise to the infinite eternal Son who became most finite a Babywho would one day be executed for my crimes.

Praise Him in the heavens.Praise Him in the stable.Praise Him in my heart.

~Joseph Bayly

     

Did You Know?...About CanticlesIncluded in the Bible are many songs, with the largest collection being the book of Psalms.

However, many are found elsewhere in the Scripture - these are sometimes called canticles. Several canticles are in Luke 1 and 2 and are associated with the Christmas story, though they may be used year round in worship. Canticles may be spoken, chanted, or sung. More elaborate musical settings of them are frequently performed in sacred concerts. Canticles are often referred to by their first words or a Latin title.

The Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) begins, “My soul magnifies the Lord,” and is often called the Magnificat. It is Mary’s song of praise when she visited Elizabeth while pregnant with Jesus. It is often used during Advent. It is also the traditional song of praise at Evening Prayer. (United Methodist Hymnal, numbers 198, 199, and 200).

The Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-70) begins, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,” and is often called the Benedictus. It is Zechariah’s prophecy after the birth of his son, John the Baptizer. It, too, is associated with Advent and is the traditional song of praise at Morning Prayer. (United Methodist Hymnal, numbers 208 and 209).

The Canticle of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32) begins, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,” and is often called the Nunc Dimittis. It is Simeon’s song of praise when he saw the infant Jesus. It may be used at the close of worship and is traditionally used at Night Prayer. (United Methodist Hymnal, numbers 225 and 226).

The Canticle of God’s Glory begins, “Glory to God in the highest,” the angels’ song heard by shepherds at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:14), and continues with words dating from the third or fourth century. It is commonly called the Gloria in Excelsis or the “Greater Doxology ” and is traditionally used in Sunday services where Holy Communion is celebrated.

 

December Birthdays1 Yvonne Fisher3 Hunter Lipscomb6 Rachel Cole

Andrea DodgionDawn HensonJennifer Jessen

7 William Tedder

28 Glynis Ashby20 Dana Ayers

Belinda HarrisTravis Maddox

21 Rev. Becky CloudRebecca Steward

22 Neta Pearson

9 Mark Collins10 Nathan Gunter

Jeffrey Johnson11 Lloyd Smith, Sr.

Rayford Sowell12 Patricia Copes13 Heather Stewart16 Glenn Collins

Christopher Gunter17 Chris Glass

Megan GunterSusan Putnam

18 Frances CallahamLinda Stables

 

Jane White23 Linda Jessen

Loretta MayhewMichael RedwoodShaman Sunderland

26 Jane Muller29 Cookie Fish30  Christopher Woolley

JANUARY Birthdays01 Mary Gibson02 LeAnn Glass

Brenda Torian04 Daniel Kennen05 Gloria Coleman

Ryan Lacy06 Brenda Lyons07 Brian Thomas08 Hylton Glass09 Samantha Allen

Warren ColeMicajah MasonHelen Snow

10 Cindy Hanowitz11 Geoffrey May, Sr.12 Sean Childers

Tara Collins13 Ruth Ann Harris14 Jennifer Witt15 Carl Yates16 Jeanette Levin17 Kyle Kennen

18 Tatum BurgessChristopher HarrisTaylor Hendricks

19 Whitney McGlothlinMichael Thomas

20 Matthew MarshallJeremy VandeBogart

21 Dennis Miller23 Aaron Yost24 Lloyd Smith, Jr.25 Tracy King

Austin King29 Laura Woolley30 Margaret Johnson31 Brice Mattson

Bert Scott, Jr.

Those Who Serve ~ DECEMBERUSHERS: Fred Norvelle, Head Usher

NURSERY CAREGIVERS:Erin Ecklund, Nursery Supervisor

December 3 ~Jody UnderwoodDecember 10 ~Elaine ClarkeDecember 17 ~Linda JessenDecember 24 ~Brenda TorianDecember 31 ~Kirstin Tiller

GREETERS:December 3 ~Linda WrightDecember 10 ~Marsha BurksDecember 17 ~Elaine ClarkeDecember 24 ~Pat ShortDecember 31 ~Barbara LeFew

CHILDREN’S CHURCH (Ages 4-11)

Information will be provided in the bulletins.

OFFERING COUNTERS:

Frank Stewart, Carolyn Stewart, Jane White

GOOD NEWS is published monthly for members a nd friends of Chestnut Hill United Methodist

Church. Send articles to the church office by the 15th of the month.

OUR ATTENDANCE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORSHIP

10/29 30 6611/5 31 5611/12 38 6611/19 37 6411/26 29 54 

Our Church Financial PictureThrough the end of OCTOBER 2017

General Operating Funds:

Needed to meet our 2017 Budget $ 232,777

Needed to meet our budget to date $193,981

Actual receipts to date $161,905

Shortfall to meet budget to date $ 32,076

Actual expenditures to date $ 152,111

Overage meet expenses to date $ 9,794

Joy In Missions Funds:

Our Giving Goal for 2017 $ 11,600

Needed to meet our goal to date $ 9,666

Actual receipts to date $ 9,258

Special Offerings* (not budgeted):

Received to date $ 6,947

Dispersed to date $ 6,385

*Christmas, Easter, Annual Conference,

World Communion, etc.

2017 Joy In Mission Donations

To date, the following amounts have been paid to the missions indicated.

Missionary Covenant Relationship $ 1,875

Interfaith Outreach $ 750

Park View Missions~Food for Families $ 1,322

Society of St. Andrew $ 750

Adult Care Center $ 375

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank $ 375

Camp Timothy $ 500

Churches for Urban Ministry $ 375

Daily Bread $ 375

Free Clinic $ 375

Good Neighbor $ 500

Habitat for Humanity $ 375

Heart Havens $ 375

Heifer $ 0.00

UMCOR-Non-Administrative $ 0.00

Undesignated $ 350

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS:

Meals on Wheels (Souper Bowl) $ 1,260

UMCOR(One Great Hour of Sharing) $ 350

Thank You for Your Generosity

 

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church

4660 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24502

Phone Number: 434-239-8423: FAX: 434-239-7209

E-mail: chestnuthillumc@comcast.net

On the web: www.chestnuthillumc.net

Church Office HoursMonday-Thursday9:00 am—3:30 pm

Friday9:00 am-1:00 pm

DIRECTORY OF CHESTNUT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Sharma Lewis Richmond Area Resident BishopScott Davis Lynchburg District SuperintendentLiz Ecklund MinisterVernie Barrow Minister EmeritusMonica C. Campbell Administrative AssistantWilliam Sperrazza Director of Music MinistryJudy Martin BookkeeperElaine Clarke Lay LeaderJody Underwood Lay Children’s/Youth Ministry Coor.Chris Glass Communications Coor.Erin Ecklund Nursery Supervisor