e-newsletter 011719A

The Moscow United Methodist Church 126 Church Street Moscow United Methodist Church Moscow, PA 18444 Office: 570 842-7251 Email [email protected] Website www.moscowumc.com e-newsletter January 17th, 2019 In This Newsletter THE MISSON OF THE A Grace Note UNITED METHODIST Scholarships for college CHURCH IS TO MAKE SouperBowl of caring DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST MUMC Finances Sunday School FOR THE Financial Peace U TRANFORMATION OF THE Book Club Learning Tree News WORLD Our vision is to reach new people for Jesus Christ

A New Year’s Grace Note ... “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” ― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine The quote above from A.W. Tozer and the theme of our tuning ourselves to Christ so we might be united in heart and mind was the theme of our 2018 Annual Conference in Hershey, PA in early June and again at our Cluster Charge Conference, December 2. I encourage all Moscow UMC friends to “tune up” every day with Jesus. Together, God calls us to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and to reach many new people for Jesus in the coming year. New Year’s Blessings! Pastor Jean

MUMC’s August and Melba Fleckenstein Scholarship Thanks to the generosity of the Fleckenstein Family, Moscow UMC is pleased to announce applications for the 2019 August and Melba Fleckenstein Memorial Scholarship are open. This scholarship is for active Moscow UMC high school seniors applying to a trade or vocational college or school for higher education. Youth are invited to dress in sports jerseys and help our congregation collect cash donations and items for the NP Food & Dry Goods Pantries. After Church all are invited downstairs for a bowl of hot soup (Take-outs also). Proceeds benefit MUMC Youth Summer Mission trips.

MUMC’s Financing of Ministries for Christ Moscow UMC 2018-2019 January is a busy month at Moscow UMC. It’s the time when ministry bank accounts are balanced in preparation for our annual audit; statistical reports filled out and submitted; and expenses tallied to develop budgets for the new year. It’s a time of taking stock of how we met our ministry goals for the previous year and looking ahead to see what God wants us to accomplish together in ministry this year. 2018 Giving: Thank you to all who have been so generous with their giving in 2018! The final months of the year are the greatest months for financial contributions to the church. Many people faithfully “catch-up” on their yearly pledges at this time and some just prefer to give at this time. In 2018 we received a total income of $141,310 for the general fund and $22,287 for the maintenance fund. We were able to pay 7 months of our ministry shares for 2018 (58%). We are grateful for the generosity of all our Moscow UMC contributors. As our finalized 2018 financial, statistical and audit reports and 2019 budget reports become available, look for copies in the folder hanging from the narthex lobby bulletin board or call the church office 570-842-7251 to receive a copy. Stewardship Update: Our 2018 fall Stewardship program, Consecration Sunday, asked us to consider what God was calling us to give to God through the ministries of our church. Many church friends stepped-up in giving, to work toward a goal of tithing. Our financial secretary, Diane Kanavy, reports that a total of 62 individuals and families turned in their estimate of giving card for 2019, committing themselves to our the vision of growing spiritually and reaching new people for Jesus Christ through the ministries of our church. The number of people who committed to give

in 2019 increased by 20% from 2018. Our estimated total increase in income is anticipated to be approximately 15%. Thank you! When MUMC church members and friends commit to give with an yearly estimate of giving, our church treasurers are assured there will be a steady income with which they can pay monthly utility, staff payroll and other ministry commitments, all year long. A special thank goes to our MUMC friends who give via automatic monthly bank withdrawals, providing our treasurers with added assurance of timely income for ministry expenses. Many MUMC friends give to our church without an estimate of giving. Your giving is very much appreciated. Thank you! MUMC Giving Envelopes: Moscow UMC makes giving envelopes available to any who wish to use them as a way of confidentially giving to God through the ministries of our church. In this way, our financial secretary can keep track of your donations and issue giving statements. Using giving envelopes is entirely optional. Regular contributors are given a new, numbered envelope pack each year with several types of envelopes for their optional use: • Initial Offering Envelope (1): Many contributors use this envelope to make a small donation to help defray costs of the giving envelopes (~$3.50/pack) • Weekly Offering Envelopes (52): For regular weekly/monthly giving to the general and/or maintenance funds. Undesignated contributions go the general fund. • Monthly Capital Improvement Fund Offering Envelopes (12): For gifts beyond regular giving to help with capital improvements and bigger maintenance projects • Quarterly Pastor’s Discretionary Fund (4): For help with local needs for food, heat, clothing, transportation, and mission. • Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter (3): For donations at special times of year • UM Special Sundays (6): Designated giving throughout the year to regional United Methodist ministries: Human Relations Day, UMCOR – disaster relief, Native American Awareness, Peace with Justice, World Communion, and “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11

• wish. Moscow UMC Sunday School returns after Christmas break with Bible fun and games

LEARN HOW TO NOT WORRY ABOUT MONEY Financial Peace University will help you take control of your money, plan for your future, and transform your life. Dave Ramsey created Financial Peace University nearly 25 years ago after learning how to pay off debt, save and spend wisely, and build wealth using Biblical principles for wise money management. Today, millions have used these same principles to transform their lives. https://www.daveramsey.com/ A great gift for adults of any age: newlyweds, college grads, families, individuals, yourself, mid-life, pre-retirement… Coming Soon A new nine week Financial Peace course will be hosted at Moscow United Methodist Church, 126 Church Street, Moscow, PA 18444. Contact John Havenstrite 570-906- 9212 or [email protected] for information on how the course works, to register, or to purchase as a gift.

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2018, 6 pm Thursday, March 7, 2018, 6 pm Manhunt: The 12-day chase Little Women & Little Men For Lincoln’s Killer (nonfiction) By By Louisa May Alcott 150 year anniversary James L. Swanson MUMC’s 2019 Book Discussions All Welcome !! Call 570-842-7251 for more information

The Learning Tree Preschool Children preformed for the Moscow UMC Family on December 16 Now Enrolling for Spring Semester Call (570) 249 - 0200 Scholarships available for application go to www.moscowmuc.com 0

URGENT NEED FOR CHILDREN'S HOME The United Methodist Home for Children, Inc. (UMHC), a program of the Board of Child Care, has an urgent need for comforters (twin size, solid color). The comforters may be delivered to Moscow UMC or shipped to: United Methodist Home for Children 5120 Simpson Ferry Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call 717-766-7652 with any questions. Kim Hanford, Development Manager