From the Pastor’s Office . . .

Monthly Newsletter First Brethren Church

South Bend, IN

Another Christmas Season is upon us. Where have they all gone? I enjoy reminiscing about most of the past Holidays and what took place during those seasons (We moved on Christmas 1997. That was not fun!) Many times, the traditions overshadow the real meaning of Christmas.

This year we are using the theme, “A Classic Christmas”. When I grew up, some Youngen classic traditions were … 1. We put up the tree and decorations the weekend before Christmas (The tree always had the same nativity & decorations & we used tinsel) 2. Christmas Eve we drove around and looked at Christmas lights, especially a display called “Story Book Lane”. 3. When we returned home, Dad would play a recording of the “Messiah”. 4. On Christmas morning, usually 6am, we were only allowed to sit on the stair landing until mom and dad were ready for us 5. We got to open 1 present at 6am and then had breakfast and devotions. (The Luke 2 Christmas Story was always read Christmas Day). 6. We then opened our stockings and opened whatever presents were left (When Christmas was on a Sunday we opened presents after Church). 7. We then went to the living room with a fire in the fireplace 8. Mom made a feast for lunch and we spent time with family that day.

I know that there were more traditions than that, but those were the ones that are vivid to me. Today, the Fred Youngen family has some different classic traditions: 1. We put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving 2. Christmas Eve we go to church and then drive around to see lights. 3. We have a supper of cheese & crackers, shrimp cocktail, and other goodies in our family room around a roaring fire as we open our presents on Christmas Eve and watch the “Messiah”. 4. Christmas morning, we usually sleep in unless we travel somewhere.

As you can see, our traditions have changed a bit, but some similarities are still there. But one Classic part of Christmas is still the same: the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. That must not change! The Truth is that we need a Savior that became human so that He could take our penalty for sin, and Jesus did that for us. That is the classic truth of Christmas!

Our theme for 2020 will be “Refocusing”. I hope that you will join us in looking at the Truth of God’s Word and evaluating our lives according to it.

I pray that you have a wonderful HolyDay Season remembering the Truth of our Glorious Saviour and Lord. If you have a spiritual need or questions, please contact me at 291-4909 or fyoungen@att.net.

Blessings as you worship the Messiah.

Pastor Fred

Volume 5, Issue 6

December 2019 /

January 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, Dec. 2, Men’s Monday Coffee Club, 10:00am

Saturday, Dec. 14, Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00am

Monday, Dec. 16, Men’s Monday

Coffee Club, 10:00am

Friday, Dec. 20, Friday Night Coffee Bible Study, 6:30pm

Sunday, Dec. 22, CANDLES &

CAROLS, 6:30pm

Tuesday, Dec. 24, WALK-IN

BREAD & CUP, 5:30-6:30pm

Wednesday, Dec. 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Tuesday, Dec. 31, All-Church Movie

& a Meal, 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, January 1, 2020 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Monday, Jan. 6, Men’s Monday Coffee

Club, 10:00am

Monday, Jan.13, Board of Christian

Education Meeting, 6:30pm

Friday, Jan. 17, Friday Night Coffee Bible Study, 6:30pm

Saturday, Jan. 18, Men’s Prayer

Breakfast, 8:00am

Sunday, Jan. 19, Deacon Board Mtg, 12:00pm

Monday, Jan 20, Men’s Monday Coffee Club, 10:00am

Monday, Jan. 20, Board of Directors

Meeting, 6:30pm

Inside this issue:

December Volunteers,

Giving Opportunities 2

Birthdays, Anniversaries,

Youth Events, Various 3

December Calendar 4

January Volunteers,

Library, Updates/Info. 5

January Calendar 6

Op. Christmas Child,

News from Benjamin 7

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SUNDAYS

Greeters

12 - 1 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Kathi Ginter

12 - 8 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Karen Carson

12 - 15 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Evelyn Zigler

12 - 22 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Sally Wagner

12 - 29 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Bev Wolf

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Financial Stewards

12 - 1 Judy Rose-Walley & Linda Kohman

12 - 8 Bev Wolf & Angela Scott

12 - 15 Glen Scott & Becky Reynolds

12 - 22 Jack Kary, Jr. & Kathi Ginter

12 - 29 Jack Kary, Sr. & Jack Kary, Jr.

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Blood Pressure Screening

Sunday, December 29 in the Conference Room next to the library from 10:30-11am.

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Friday Night Coffee, Dec. 20 - 6:30pm

Please join us for a great time of fellowship and good discussion on Prophecy. Don’t miss it!!

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Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be on Saturday, December 14 at 8:00am. Mark your calendar so you will be there.

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Sunday, December 1, 9:30am

Annual elections &

Budget approval

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December 24, 2019 5:30 - 6:30pm

Walk-in Bread and Cup You are welcome to come for all or part of this time to remember the gift of our Saviour and thank God for all He has done for us.

Memory Verse – John 5:24 (ESV)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not

come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

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CHRISTMAS OFFERING For our 2019 Christmas offering, we have special envelopes prepared so that you can give a gift to Jesus for Christmas. This year, we once again want to pay down on our mortgage which is now around $55,000. We are excited that we are so close to paying off this debt and by giving a Christmas gift for this, we can pay it off earlier and save money for future ministries. Can you give Jesus a special offering this year? The envelopes are to put the money in that you would have spent on something like eating out, coffee or some other purchase. Join us as we celebrate the Greatest Gift of all in the incarnation of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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DEACON CHRISTMAS CARD MAILBOX

is in the foyer of the church to help you with your distribution of a Christmas card to the church family as a whole. Please remember to donate any money saved in postage to the Deacon Fund to help with benevo-lent needs in our church throughout the year. Thank you for blessing so many people! God bless you!

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EVERYTHING WINTER TREE is available again this year. We are asking for donations of coats, gloves, scarves or socks. We will be partnering with local agencies to benefit those in need. Your gifts are appreciated. Thank you!

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Trustee of the Month - Todd Lange * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

May Volunteer Schedule December Volunteer Schedule & Events

Jan. 5 - Shut-in Visit

Jan. 12 - Lesson & Discussion

> Jan. 19 - Freezer meals

> Jan. 26 - Children’s 2nd Hour Class

Dec. 1 - Decorate for Christmas

Dec. 8 - Friends Christmas Party

Dec. 15 - Real Services Elves for Elders

Dec. 22 - Children’s 2nd Hour Class

Dec. 29 - Take down Christmas décor

We hope to see you every week. You are important to us!

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DECEMBER CELEBRATIONS

Birthdays

12/1 - Brianna Freel 12/2 - Ellen Marie 12/2 - Lynda Snider 12/10 - Amelia Taylor 12/12 - Kathy Spenner 12/14 - Sandy Gawenda 12/16 - Angel English 12/17 - Carolyn Lawson 12/22 - Brian McKee 12/26 - Arthur Barry 12/28 - Chad Freel 12/31 - Andy Holloway

Anniversaries

- - -

Remember one another! ____________________________________________________________

Please don’t forget our shut-ins who are

unable to get out much during this

holiday season. Please consider visiting,

calling or sending them a

Christmas card or card of

encouragement. You will be a

sweet blessing to them.

JANUARY CELEBRATIONS

Birthdays

1/5 - Sue LaGue 1/5 - Barb Metzgar 1/6 - Charlotte Meller 1/9 - Rhonda Touhey 1/10 - Jennifer Baker 1/11 - Win Zaw 1/13 - Merlin Seske 1/16 - Linda Kohman 1/19 - Shirley Ulbricht 1/26 - Becky Reynolds 1/28 - Bev Baker

Anniversaries

1/11 - Win & Michelle Zaw

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Poinsettia Tree

SUNDAYS

Greeters

1 - 5 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Connie Wood

1 - 12 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Evelyn Zigler

1 - 19 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Karen Carson

1 - 26 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Charles Frye

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Financial Stewards

1 - 5 Jack Kary, Sr. & Linda Kohman

1 - 12 Bev Wolf & Angela Scott

1 - 19 Glen Scott & Becky Reynolds

1 - 26 Jack Kary, Jr. & Kathi Ginter

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Blood Pressure Screening

will be available on Sunday, January 26 in the Conference Room next to the library starting at 10:30am.

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Friday Night Coffee Bible Study

Jan. 17 - 6:30pm

Please join us for a great time of fellowship and discussion on Prophecy.

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Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday,

Jan. 18 at 8:00am. This is a great time for the men of our church to connect and encour-age one another.

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Nursery

We are blessed to have nursery workers available to care for our children during the services. If you would like to be part of this ministry, please contact the church office.

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Trustee of the Month - Barry Wright

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Monday Morning Mailers

This ministry mails Sunday bulletins to our shut-ins or others facing health chal-lenges. If you would like to be part of this ministry, please contact the church office.

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With so many new faces and some infor-mation corrections, a new phone directory is being released early in December. Please check the table in the foyer for

your copy. As always, please let Janna know in the office if you have any additions or corrections to your information.

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LIBRARY NEWS

For those of you that like to remi-nisce about the “old days”, take a walk down memory lane with Mar-jorie Holmes. Marjorie lived about the time that my mother did and some of the memories that she shared are ones that I’ve heard told and some I even remember. Life was simpler then and one that we wish our children could have known. Take time to read this small and yet thoughtful book by Marjorie Holmes called You and I and Yesterday. I’d like to suggest that maybe you read it to some-one that you know that might not be able to read it to themselves. I do believe that would be a blessing to both of you. You can find the book in the 242 section in the library or ask me to get it for you. I hope you all have a truly wonderful holiday with your family. Remember you are making memories. These will be the “good old days.”

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FINANCE CORNER

Thank you for your continuous support of the ministry here at

First Brethren Church South Bend. Each dollar you give makes a difference!! If you ever have questions about the church’s finances, please feel free to talk to Jen Kary or Pastor Fred. Thank you for your faithful support of God’s work through this ministry!

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January Volunteer Schedule & Events

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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD - THANK YOU!!!!

THANK YOU to everyone that participated with the Operation Christmas Child

boxes this year. We were able to deliver 49 boxes plus additional monies to cover the

shipping costs. Thank you to everyone who gave of their time and resources for this

wonderful ministry! Please keep praying for those that will be packing the containers for shipment

overseas or wherever their destination is. Also pray for God’s Spirit to be free to minister to the

needy hearts that will be receiving these wonderful boxes!

Wishing everyone a blessed ADVENT!

I am excited that Christmas is almost here and that you are already giving gifts to others. A big thank you to everyone who packed boxes or gave money for Operation Christmas Child. You show the love of Jesus to children everywhere. Being a mouse, I don’t shop but I overheard someone say that they like to shop all year for these boxes

when they find good deals on things.

The Christmas present for Jesus this year will be an offering to pay down the church mortgage. This year, there are special envelopes prepared. If I understand correctly, if we pay off the mortgage early, we save money. Remember, Jesus’ coming was the greatest gift ever. He came as a baby Who later died on a cross for us.

Another way to give gifts is the Everything Winter Tree. If you feel cold and dress warmly, think of people who don’t have gloves, warm socks, etc. Please buy things if you can to meet the special needs as you hear about them.

Also, when you give money for the Deacon Christmas cards, remember, the Deacon Fund helps all year, so give extra. Keep up the good work with the Hay School weekend food bags and our own Food Pantry.

The Candles and Carols service will be December 22 at 6:30pm. Please come to this special service. We are celebrating Jesus’ birthday. This will be a great service to invite family and friends.

Remember, I am only sharing some of the events. Read everything printed here and come every Sunday so you don’t miss anything.

Boy, it’s hard to believe it’s going to be 2020. I know I’m only a church mouse but I have some good ideas for the New Year:

- Come to worship every week and, since you are already here, stay and fellowship with each other while enjoying coffee and snacks. Then join us for 2nd hour study classes.

- If you’re not already doing it, read the Bible every day. Pray and memorize Bible verses. Come to a Bible Study, and, when they are offered, join a Discipleship group.

I hope to see all of you every week. Please, if the weather gets bad, check on each other and your neighbors.

As you are out shopping, if you want to buy a present for your church mouse, I love cheese! But no traps, please!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Benjamin

4909 S. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 291-4909

E-mail: firstbrethren@att.net

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"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’.”

~ Matthew 1:23