Sugar Creek United Methodist Church

December 2019

Our Mission—To Bring People to Jesus Christ through Worship, Connection, and Service.

Saturday, December 7th 8:00 am—12:00 pm

We will need a variety of cookies, so please plan now to help with baking cookies and bringing them to the church on or before Friday, Dec. 6th. We will be baking and decorating cookies on Thursday, December 5th from 9 am - 4 pm at the Church...join us!

Don’t forget to stop by the Cookie Walk to pick up some deliciously decorated Christmas cookies.

For One Ministries Presents: Love of the Lamb

Saturday, December 14th @ 7 pm

Come and hear the complete Christmas story that will take you beyond the manger. Learn about Joseph’s journey and Mary’s memories. Follow Jesus from His childhood to the Cross; and from the Resurrection to His return. We believe you will find the true meaning and joy of Christmas as you experience the Love of the Lamb, and are reminded of the real reason He came.

The Men’s & Ladies’ Group invite you to join them on Monday, December 9th at 6 pm for a Christmas Banquet with a special performance by the Rivers of Life Band.

This is a catered event. Check out the December bulletins for more details.

Attention All Ladies! Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 15th for this special time of fellowship. We will meet at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center Bunk House (located next to Sugar Creek) from 2:00 pm—

4:00 pm. Invite a family member, friend, or co-worker to join you!

Christmas Tea

Please bring in a treasured Christmas ornament for our Sugar Creek Family Christmas Tree. The tree is located in the back of the Worship Center. All ornaments will be returned after Advent.

The magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence.

JOURNEYING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Just a Thought...

All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. – Luke 2:3-5 NRSV.

“There’s no place like home.” There’s something about the holidays that stirs a yearning in all of us to journey back home. Whether by plane, train or automobile, many Americans make plans to be home for the holidays, even if it means battling the frigid cold and snowstorms of winter. For those of us blessed with families, the Christmas season just isn’t as joyous or merry if we aren’t able to celebrate it with our loved ones. In a sense, then, journeys are an important part of Christmas.

We could say that Mary and Joseph began the tradition of journeying home for Christmas. The circumstances of their journey, of course, were quite different than ours today. They took their journey home, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, not to celebrate the holidays with family but because they were forced to by a decree from Emperor Augustus to register in their hometown for tax purposes. Joseph, currently living in Nazareth in Galilee and being a descendent of the house and family of David, had no choice but to take his pregnant fiancé Mary on a journey with him to Bethlehem in Judea.

This wasn’t a pleasant journey or an easy one for them to make. Remember that Mary is about to give birth, so the last thing she should be doing is taking a long trip. Remember also, that Mary and Joseph were not able to travel in a comfortable plane, train or automobile. Rather, they had to make do with Joseph walking much of the way and Mary riding a cantankerous, stubborn old donkey. It bears mentioning again that Mary is nine months pregnant! In addition, the route from Nazareth to Bethlehem was not paved in asphalt and wound through harsh climates and hostile territories. The journey home for Mary and Joseph wasn’t an easy one to be sure.

Perhaps, for some of us, our journey home isn’t an easy one either. I’m not referring to the harsh conditions of or unpleasant reasons for our journey. I’m talking about the open wounds of broken relationships, hurt feelings, unresolved conflicts and lost love that make our journey home difficult. And by “home,” I’m not necessarily talking about our parents’ house where we grew up. Although that may be true for some, home is any place where we have left family and loved ones behind amid heartache, sorrow, grief, anger and despair. Thus, our journey home for Christmas could mean traveling back to our birthplaces, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools and even churches.

It’s important to consider journeying home to bring healing and wholeness to our broken relationships, for-giveness and comfort for our hurt feelings, reconciliation and resolution to our unresolved conflicts, and grace and mercy to our lost love. There’s no better time than Christmas for us to take our difficult but necessary journeys of love. And there’s no better inspiration for us to start our journeys home than Mary and Joseph. After all, no one had a more difficult journey than they had, carrying the Savior of the world from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a donkey out of their love for God and family (humankind).

For those of us who fear journeying home for Christmas because we feel we’ve strayed too far and there’s just no going back, let’s remember the prodigal son who abandoned his family, squandered everything he inherited, lost all his friends and found himself in a pigsty ankle deep in slop. Instead of giving up, however, “he came to himself,” and took the difficult but important journey home to seek the reconciliation and love of his father.

Even more, remember the astounding response of the prodigal’s father, who never stopped watching for his son’s return on the horizon. And, when that day came, he dropped everything, ran to his son, embraced him, and threw him a party because the love that was lost was found again! Therefore, let’s be assured that not only are our family and loved ones waiting for us at the end of our journeys back home, but also, God our Father, is waiting and watching the horizon, anxious to embrace and throw us a party when we arrive because our love of God and family has been found and renewed.

There’s no place like home; and there’s nothing more important than journeying home for Christmas for the sake of our love of God and family. Just a thought . . .

Agape!

Pastor Paul

Ball Elementary has provided us with a list of families that are in need this Christmas season. Please stop by the Christmas Tree next to the Worship Center doors begin-ning December 1st to pick an angel from our Angel Tree.

Each tag is labeled with a number. So, make sure to take a moment to let us know which number you have on the sign-up sheet. Gifts need to be brought to the Church by December 15th.

December 23—31

Church Office closes at noon

December 25 & January 1

Church Office closed

December 22 & December 29

No Youth Group

December 25 & January 1

No Wonderful Wednesday Program

Family Service—6:00 pm Candlelight Service—11:00 pm

DECK THE HALLS

We will be decorating the church for the Advent

season on Wednesday, December 4th. Dinner

will be served at 5:30 pm followed by decorating!

Come join in the fun and fellowship.

Wonderful Wednesday

Christmas Dinner December 18th at 5:30 pm

The Wonderful Wednesday Kitchen Crew will be serving pork roast, mashed potatoes, dressing, corn, fried apples and dessert. Join us!

Small groups will still meet at 6:30 pm on Dec. 18th.

Our Mission Trees have been selected for

the Advent Season. For more details make

sure to read the March to the Manger

page on the back of the newsletter.

12/02 Judy Plummer

12/03 Debbie Sisk

12/04 Pat Lucas

12/04 Dolores Mobley

12/05 Ted Dowson

12/05 Helen Leanard

12/07 Kyle Johnson

12/09 Wanda Meurer

12/09 Reta Jones

12/12 Derek Midden

12/12 Nathan King

12/13 Cathryn Seifert

12/14 Kay Ealey

12/15 Jean Chase

12/15 Pat Wright

12/17 Ryan Kessler

12/19 Kathy Koch

12/23 Lisa Godfrey

12/23 Alex Johnson

12/24 Bryan Randall

12/28 Glenda Allbright

12/28 Edwina Dowson

12/28 Sarah Frazee

12/29 Cyd Ayers

12/30 Jesse Ayers

12/31 Joe McClure

12/31 Dave Sullivan

Happy Anniversary! 12/1 Darrin & Betsy Bishop

12/4 Steve & Barb Hedinger

12/22 Bill & Marilyn Dickey

12/26 Don & Pat Wright

12/27 Jeff & Megan Brown

12/31 Clark & Barbara Germann

Please let the Church Office know if we missed your special day. 217.697.4643/office@sugarcreek.org

Sojourn House— Women’s Medium—XL sized: Robes, slippers, night gowns, pajamas, bath towels, wash cloths, bath & body (any brand) lotions, sprays, and body-wash Chatham, Auburn, Pawnee, and Divernon Food Pantries—Non-perishable food suggestions, but not limited to: Canned fruit and vegetables, cooking oil, laundry detergent, dish soap, ketchup, mustard, mayo, Hamburger Helper Neighbor Helping Neighbor—Important items collected will be used by the nurse at Ball Elementary for boys and girls: Sweat shirts & pants (small—XL), underwear (x-small, small, medium), socks, gloves, hats, shoes (kids sizes 1-4), girls leggings (girls medium up to junior sizes)

We recently had our baby girl and the Sugar Creek family has completely blown us away with all of the thoughts, prayers, meals and gift bag. I just wanted to express our many thanks for doing something so unexpected to help us out while we transition with our new bundle of joy. It means the world to us and has helped us out in so many ways. We are very grateful to have the Sugar Creek Family in our lives and thank you so much for your

love and generosity.

Thank you, Andy, Karen, Kaden and Elsie Deen

Elsie Carla Deen Born: Nov. 7, 2019 7lbs & 21 inches long

The 2020 Altar Flower List will be available beginning December 8th. The list will be on the table next to the Church Office. Sign up for flowers to be placed on the altar to celebrate a special date or remember a loved one.

The cost is $25 and needs to be turned in to the Church Office before the date requested. Please contact the church office (office@sugarcreek.org or 697.4643) with questions.

NO

DECEMBER

MEETINGS

Sunday, December 1:

The First Christmas Carols: The Benedictus

Sunday, December 8:

The First Christmas Carols: The Magnificat

Sunday, December 15:

The First Christmas Carols: The Gloria

Sunday, December 22:

The First Christmas Gift of Jesus

Tuesday, December 24, 6:00PM (A Family Christmas Eve Service)

The First Christmas Gift of Grace

Tuesday, December 24, 11:00PM (A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service)

The First Christmas Gift of Light

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND GIFTS

During the Advent and Christmas Seasons this year at Sugar

Creek UMC we will be celebrating “The First Christmas Carols

and Gifts,” with special services, messages and traditions

(Advent candles). For the first three Sundays of Advent we

will hear and celebrate the first Christmas carols: The Bene-

dictus sung by Zechariah, the Magnificat sung by Mary and

the Gloria sung by the angels. On the fourth Sunday of

Advent and on Christmas Eve we will celebrate the first

Christmas gifts: The gift of Jesus, the gift of grace and the gift

of light.

Pastor Paul & Nancy are hosting a holiday open

house at the parsonage on Sunday, January 5th

from 1 pm to 3 pm. Tours will be offered of the

parsonage; and holiday baked goods and drinks

will be available. The parsonage is located at

920 Monarch Dr., Chatham

Sugar Creek Endowment Fund Update October 2019 The Sugar Creek UMC Endowment Fund Committee (Committee) met on August 25, 2019 as part of its annual review in accordance with the Investment and Spending Policy Statement. Current members of the Committee include Clark Germann, Lois Frazee, Pat Wright, Bob Tegeler, and Jeff Koch.

The Sugar Creek UMC Endowment Fund (SCUMCEF) was opened with a generous bequest of $255,259.36 on May 23, 2017. The Committee selected the United Methodist Foundation of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference as its investment vehicle for Endowment Fund Assets, using the American Funds “American Balanced Fund.” As of June 30, 2019, the account showed a balance of $279,643.60. So after two years of market fluctuations and also advisor/management fees, the account had increased by $24,384.24. (There have been no additional contributions to the Fund.)

The Committee reviewed the Investment Fund and Spending Policy; and with the current market fluctuations, determined to consider a maximum of 4.0% spending policy of the portfolio at this time.

The Committee reviewed and approved an endowment fund request for $7,000 for the Trustees to use to assist with parking lot improvements later this fall.

PURPOSE:

The SCUMCEF was established to provide a vehicle for bequests and other gifts from which the income and appreciation will provide long-term benefits to Sugar Creek United Methodist Church (SCUMC), helping to support not for profit causes and organizations which support the special needs of Sugar Creek UMC, and the broader United Methodist Community.

QUESTIONS ON ENDOWMENT FUND BEQUESTS/OR REQUESTS FOR USE OF ENDOWMENT FUNDS:

Can I make a bequest (donation) to the Endowment Fund at any time?

Answer: Yes! You can make a donation to the Endowment Fund at any time. (You don’t have to die to contribute to the Endowment Fund!) You may want to include this fund in your planned year end giving. If interested, please contact any member of the Committee.

How do I make a request for use of endowment funds? Is this available just once a year?

Answer: Requests for use of endowment funds can be made at any time, as the Committee, while required to conduct an annual review, can also meet as needed to consider a request received during the year. Questions on making a request for use of endow-ment funds can be made to any member of the Committee.

Distributions from the fund will be made in coordination with the Investment Fund and Spending Policy, and the Sugar Creek Board of Trustees.

At the next annual meeting, probably sometime in July – August 2020, the Committee will decide the one, two, and three year term rotations for original members leaving, and new members coming on in accordance with the Endowment Fund Policy.

The Trustee’s would like to thank our Sugar Creek family for their generous donations to

the Building Fund this past year. We were able to complete four major projects totaling

over $20,000.

Exterior painting of the building and parking lot light poles

Patching the parking lot asphalt

Repair/upgrade the remaining exterior lighting

Replacement of a commercial grade garbage disposal

Some landscape plantings, and several other smaller projects and repairs too!

Our building is in excellent condition thanks to your help. Questions or comments? Let the

Church Office (office@sugarcreek.org/697.4643) know, and a member of the Trustees will

contact you.

Sincerely,

Kevin Jones, Trustee Chair.

Leadership Chair ........................................ Bill Allbright

Lay Leader ........................................ Crystal Matthiesen

Vice Chair .................................................... Cheri Hoots

Secretary .......................................................... Jeff Koch

Staff Pastor Parish Relations ........................... Kay Ealey

Finance Team Chair ....................................... Pat Wright

Treasurer ..................................................... Holly Taylor

Trustee Chair ................................................ Kevin Jones

Children & Family Ministries ..........................................

Mission Team Chair .................................... Shelly Lewis

Caregiving Team Chair .................................... Pat Lucas

Hospitality Team Chair ....................................................

Worship Team Chair ................................... Cindy Chase

Youth Council Representative .........................................

Men’s & Ladies’ Group Chair .................. Gail Cannedy

Lay Member of Annual Conference .......... Karen Dozier

Help God’s Kingdom Grow

BE THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Contribute to the Building Fund

An important part of our Advent and Christmas worship services is our

traditional March to the Manger. We will have an opportunity to march

to the manger and offer a special Christmas gift to baby Jesus who offers

hope, peace, joy and love, not just during the Advent season but also eve-

ry day throughout the years. The gifts we bring are a special offering that

go above and beyond our usual tithes and offerings to the church as an

expression of our love to Jesus who was born on Christmas as Emmanu-

el – God with Us.

Please prayerfully consider what gift you can offer to the Christ child this

Christmas. Bring your gift when you attend one of the worship services

on December 22 or 24, to celebrate with us the birth of the Christ Child

and to offer your gift to Emmanuel. If you can’t join us this Christmas, you

can mail your gift to the church or place it in the offering plate anytime

during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

DECEMBER 22nd & 24th WORSHIP SERVICES

1) Kumler Outreach Ministries in Springfield: A local mission that “meets people where they

live, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and helping clothe people.”

2) Heifer International: A global mission effort that “works with communities to increase income,

improve child nutrition, care for the Earth, and ultimately end world hunger and poverty.”

3) Midwest Mission Distribution Center: Since opening for ministry in 2000, the MMDC has

been showing God’s Love in practical ways through the distribution of education, health, micro-

business, and disaster relief supplies meeting basic human needs around the world and around

the corner.

YOUR MONEY

FUNDING GOD’S MINISTRY

December stewardship message: Our tithes and offerings are an expression of gratitude, worship and praise. Giving is an act of faith.

Each year the Christmas gifts received are designated to help fund specific missions. The Mission Team

has designated this year’s Christmas gifts to be divided equally among these three worthy missions:

General Fund

Contributions

Expense

Net Income (-loss)

Building Fund

October 2019

$28,523

$29,618

($1,095)

Year to Date

$246,100

$245,783

$317

$25,275

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be giving to you as well.”

~Proverbs 11:25

Sharing Our Joy in Christ Jesus by Reaching Out to Show God’s Love.