FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH , SPARTA ILLINOIS

THE LAMPLIGHTER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE :

SHUT-IN MINISTRY

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

HOLIDAY BAZAAR 2

COMMUNITY CHORUS

CONCERT

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

RINGING BELLS

3

INSERT:

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

CALENDAR

DECEMBER 2019

J O U R N E Y of Christmas

t h e

11-30 Bell Ringing at Walmart 9-3 pm 12-1 First Sunday of Advent 12-7 UMW Bazaar 12-8 Second Sunday of Advent Children’s Christmas Program 12-13 Community Chorus Concert: 7 pm 12-14 Handing out Christmas Baskets 12-15 Third Sunday of Advent Christmas Cantata 12-20 Children’s Sunday School Christmas Party 2-6 pm 12-22 Fourth Sunday of Advent Walk to the Manger 12-24 Candlelight Worship: 6pm 12-25 Christmas Day

PAGE 2 F IRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

SHUT-IN MINISTRY

Have you been wondering what you can do for the

church in the new year???? This ministry will only

take one hour a month out of your busy schedule.

The visitation team desperately needs volunteers to

visit our shut-ins. Our number of shut ins contin-

ues to increase and we don’t have enough church

members to visit them. As a visitor, you will only

be ask to visit two shut ins a month. Please consid-

er volunteering for this much needed ministry.

Contact Sharon Beckley. 443-4247 or 967-9046

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

The children Christmas program is December 8

at 6pm. It is titled Sing a song of Christmas. The

children having been working really hard on this so

mark your calendar and come show support for the

children of our church. There will be refreshments

following the program.

On December 20th we will be having a Christmas

party for the kids. School gets out at 2pm that

day so we will have someone at the school to pick

kids up and bring them to the church. There will be

crafts, movie, games and we will be feeding the

kids dinner. It should be over around 5:30pm.

The Sunday School Department will be hosting a

Trivia night on February 29. Be sure to mark

your calendar and start working on getting your

team ready!!!

I want to thank everyone who has donated items for

the holiday lighted parade it was greatly appreciat-

ed.

Thanks

Brooke Gerlach

2019 HOLIDAY BAZAAR

The 2019 First United Methodist Holiday Ba-

zaar is fast approaching so get those recipes

out, start getting crafty and mark you calen-

dar. This year’s Holiday Bazaar will be Sat-

urday, December 7 from 9 am—1 pm. We

will have our wonderful craft shoppe featur-

ing adorable crafts and gifts created by some

of our very own extremely talented church

folks. Our baker is always a hit with those

delicious homemade goodies. Vendors will

be set up in the Gathering room and you’ll

want to be sure and bring your appetite for

our luncheon (from 11-1) featuring home-

made soups, sandwiches and desserts. So

Mark your calendar and invite all your rela-

tives, friends and neighbors and enjoy this

ear’s Holiday Bazaar.

Still time to donate:

• We are in need of a few more workers for the

kitchen for every shift, especially 11:30 - 1:00.

• Donations for the Bakery, donations can be

brought in the morning of the Bazaar anytime

after 7 am.

This event is always a success due to the over-

whelming support of our Church family. Thanks to

everyone that signed up to donate salads and desserts

for the luncheon and to those that have signed up to

work. Also a big thanks to our “crafters”!

See you all at the Bazaar!!

The “Bazaar” Girls -

Jo, Pat, Abbey, Janet

PAGE 3 THE LAMPLIGHTER

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS

CONCERT Sparta First United Methodist Church will

host a Community Christmas Concert titled

“Christmas Grace” on December 13 at

7:00 pm.

Cookie Donations Needed There will be a sign up sheet for cookie do-

nations for fellowship following the commu-

nity Christmas Concert on December 13.

You may also con-

tact Carol Ashley for

more information.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS! December Youth News:

Sunday, Dec.1 - Youth Group at 6pm

Sunday, Dec. 8 - Youth Group at 6pm

Friday Dec 13. - Help with Christmas concert.

(More details to follow).

Sunday Dec. 15th -Youth Christmas Party!

6 to 8 pm.

Winter break: NO meeting for rest of December.

We will resume our regular Sunday meetings on

January 12.

RINGING BELLS FOR THE Sparta Community of Christian Churches

Saturday, November 30, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Our church will be responsible for the solicitation

of funds in support for

the Sparta Community

of Christian Churches

(formerly known as the

Sparta Ministerial Alli-

ance). Please sign up to

help! Your support is

greatly appreciated!

ANGEL TREE Once again it is time for helping to make a child’s

Christmas a little brighter.

We have many request that

you may want to help with.

All children sponsored by

our church are from the

Sparta Area. The program

itself has 310 children in it.

The tress, with ornaments

you may choose from, is in

the narthex. Please choose

one or more, sign the sheet

with your name and return the unwrapped gift to

the church by Sunday, December 8. Monetary

donations are very appreciated if you don’t want

to shop - we will. If you have any questions let

me know. Thanks for helping a child, Cindy

Sickmeyer 559-9059.

MEN’S MINISTRY MEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST SUNDAY DECEMBERR 15 AT 8:00 AM

Men’s Fellowship Group Wednesday December 11, at 6:15 am

Date General

Budget

Capital

Campaign

Other Total

For the

Week

Saturday Worship/

Sun Worship/

Sunday School

10.27.19 $3,361.00 $568.39 $201.22 $4,130.61 22/75/49

11.03.19 $2,807.83 $590.00 $375.55 $3,572.16 19/87/44

11.10.19 $5,543.24 $976.51 $220.72 $6,740.47 13/97/58

11.17.19 $3,434.83 $1,425.00 $490.39 $5,350.22 20/133/68

General Budget Received Year to Date: $176,418.43

12/01 Kursten Boucher

Jamie Jeffers

12/02 Gary Henson

David Robinson

12/05 Bertha Becker

12/07 John Becker

12/08 Liam Renner

12/09 Liz Beckley

Terry Nagel

12/10 Randy Haskenhoff

12/12 Owen Butler

Sue Ann Douglas

Fran Hawkins

12/13 Braxton Glodo

12/14 Dan Cowan

12/15 Michael Hall

Jim Haury

John Jeffers. Sr.

Rebecca Nagel

James Neilson

12/16 Kendra Beattie

12/17 Michael Edwards

12/18 Beverly Harms

Travis Heller

Jeff Morrison

12/19 Marsha Schwartz

12/20 Traci Beckley

Kris Clendenin

John Jeffers, Jr.

Linda Presley

Betty Slavens

12/21 Kelsey Cowan

12/24 Lucas Gerlach

12/25 Ella Renner

12/27 Douglas Baue

Elliot Mueller

12/28 Becky McClure

John Wright

12/30 Suzanne Beattie

12/31 Lindsay Schroeder

Each week on Monday a group from our church meets in the Parlor at 9:00 a.m. to send cards of wel-

come, strength, and support as well as to pray for our congregation and for the needs of the church, you

are more than welcome to join them. Please join them in prayer. If you would like to be apart of the

prayer chain please call Elaine Hargis at 443-3205 or email her at ejhargis4@gmail.com. Always re-

member to update us with any email changes.

Joys: Bud Bennett is home; Cameron White (new great-grandson of Don and Carol Ashley) is home;

Baptism –Henry Schupbach, God’s Gifts Singing, Youth Group Fish Fry

Concerns: Jan Weiner; Jack Becker; Fran Hawkins; Linda Mueller, Marilyn Belcher, Bette Bush, Carl

Lewis, Georgia Rezba, Irene Weber, Dot Stephenson, Bud Bennett, Pat Pillers, Doris Arnold, Mike

Miesner, Harry Dennninger, Barb Heil, Jack & Bertha Becker, Bob Koenegstein, Sharon Beckley

Christmas Poinsettia Flower Dedications

This years Poinsettia will be $7.00. Flower Offering envelopes will be

located in the pews. Please fill out “In Honor” or “Memory” of your

name, address, and check. We will be taking orders until December 1.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

12/06 Bruce & Cindy Heck 12/07 Marty & Theresa Patton 12/13 Ryan & Samantha Schupbach 12/15 Stephen & Abbey Miles 12/17 James & Donna McBride 12/18 Ross & Valerie Slaven 12/22 Dave & Cindy Sickmeyer

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

PAGE 4 THE LAMPLIGHTER

DECEMBER 2019 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Communion Sunday 1st Advent Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship 6:00 pm Youth Group

2 6:30 pm Trustees 7:00 pm Community Chorus

4 2:15 pm God’s Gifts 6 pm NOW Mtg. 7 pm Choir

5 6 Pastor Jerry’s Day Off

7 UMW Bazaar 5pm Worship

8 2nd Advent Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship 6:00 pm Children’s Christmas Program

9 8 am Garden Club 9 am Care & Share 7 pm Ad Council

10 7pm UMW

11 6:15 am Men’s Group 2:15 pm God’s Gifts 7 pm Choir

12 Community Chorus Rehearsal Lamplighter Deadline

13 7 pm Community Chorus Concert

14 5 pm Worship

15 Christmas Cantata 3rd Advent Sunday 8am Men’s Breakfast 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship 6:00 pm Youth Group

16 9 am Care & Share

17

18 2:15 pm God’s Gifts 7 pm Choir

19 9 am Mail out Lamplighter

20 Pastor Jerry’s Day Off

21 5 pm Worship

22 Walk to the Manger 4th Advent Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship 7:00pm Youth Group

23 9 am Care & Share

24 Christmas Eve Worship: 6pm

25

Christmas Day Fellowship Hall in use

26

27 Pastor Jerry’s Day Off

28 Fellowship Hall in use 11-4 5 pm Worship

29 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship

30 9 am Care & Share 7 pm Community Chorus

31 1 New Years Day

Sunday Schedule 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship

Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Friday 8:30 - 1:30 pm Phone (618) 443-3714 Email: spartafumc@yahoo.com

SAVE THE DATES:

Church Office will be closed from December 24 through January 2. For emergencies please call Pastor Jerry. Emails and voicemails will be checked regularly. spartafunc@yahoo.com or 443-3714.

First United Methodist Church 600 W. University Sparta, IL 62286

Return Service Requested Phone: (618) 443-3714 Church Email: spartafumc@yahoo.com

Dated Material - Mailed Out on November 21,2019

Reflecting

The

Light of God!

Audio/Visual Team

12/01 Kelsey Cowan

12/08 Olivia Haskenhoff

12/15 Sam Haury

12/22 Cormac Kloos

12/29 Eli Coop

Nursery

12/01 Beth Coop

12/08 Megan Coop

12/15 Mary Hauskins

12/22 Brooke Gerlach

12/29 Cathy Norton

Acolytes

12/01 Aiden & Andru Stine

12/08 Hailey Heller & Hannah Stine

12/15 Sam Haury & Collin Haury

12/22 Jake Greenhill & Leah Coop

12/29 Aiden & Andru Stine

Liturgist Tom Ashley

Head Usher Dave Hargis

Ushers

12/01 Marty & Theresa Patton

Gary & Jenith Henson

12/08 Carl & Sharon Holland

Dave Sickmeyer, Larry Ashley

12/15 Don & Carol Ashley

Bill & Linda Mueller

12/22 Virgil & Sharon Runge

Ray Ramsey, Jim Sickmeyer

12/24 Roger & Janet Gerlach

12/29 Roberta Guebert, Carol Kilman

Joyce Camp, Rosalie Chandler

Saturday Evening Worship

12/07 Larry Rosenthal & Kathy Ruhmann

12/14 Larry Rosenthal & Kathy Ruhmann

12/21 Brian Belcher & Rhonda Jones

12/28 Larry Rosenthal & Kathy Ruhmann

DECEMBER 2019 WOSRHIP SCHEDULE

On Facebook:

Sparta First United Methodist Church

W ERE ON THE W EB !

www.spartafumc.org

Nonprofit Organization

US Postage Paid

Sparta, Il 62286

PERMIT #37

Sunday Morning Snacks

12/01 Brooke Gerlach

12/08 Volunteer Needed

12/15 Doug Baue

12/22 Volunteer Needed

12/29 Volunteer Needed

We need volunteers to pro-

vide treats and clean up fol-

lowing Sunday Service. This

act of hospitality welcomes

visitors and regular attendees

when they arrive at church.

Our children particular look

forward to this. You may

sign up by week or month.

Sign up sheets will be on a

clipboard in the sanctuary

entrance. Thank you all for

signing up for this ministry. If

you are interested there are

still more dates to be filled.