e-newsletter Dec 6 2018

The Moscow United Methodist Church e-newsletter December 6, 2018 In This Newsletter – Chris Tomlin Concert A Christmas Grace Note Financial Peace University Learning Tree News Bishop’s Mission Appeal Stewardship News Ad Council Minutes 2019 Book Discussions “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace to all who find favor with God.” Luke 2:20

A Christmas Grace Note… We know Christmas is a huge event – we know it because itsmusic, lights and decorations are everywhere around us in this seasonleading up to it. Catalogs in our mailboxes, online special deals, andTV commercials carry the message that love, joy, peace andharmony all come from bigger presents – trucks and cars, moreglamorous purses and clothes, exotic perfumes, and biggerdiamonds. However, the real Christmas story suggests something verydifferent, doesn’t it? It suggests our deepest longings aren’t for thebest and biggest gifts, but for love, joy, peace and harmony in ourhearts, around our dinner tables, and in our work and community life. Deep down we long for the light of justice and understandingamong the races and nations and are sorely in need of a way toresolve the endless conflicts around us that hurt us so and make us livein fear and anxiety. This season’s good news is not about the latest giftbargain but the reality that God’s gift in the baby Jesus is our bestChristmas gift ever. In him we have a vision of peace for our heartsand for the world. God is here with us, at work: taking our ways ofviolence and war, conflict and discord, and changing them into life-sustaining ways of living and deep spiritual nurture. The grace-filledlight that shows us the way to God’s peace is the life and teachingsof Jesus. In the Christ child, God brings to each of us, in every time ofstruggle, a way to “sleep in heavenly peace.” Alleluia! In the warmth of Christ’s Christmas Light, Pastor Jean

LEARN HOW TO NOT WORRY ABOUT MONEYFinancial Peace University will help you take control of your money, planfor your future, and transform your life.Dave Ramsey created Financial Peace University nearly 25 years ago afterlearning how to pay off debt, save and spend wisely, and build wealth usingBiblical principles for wise money management. Today, millions have usedthese 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…A new nine week Financial Peace course will be hosted at Moscow UnitedMethodist Church, 126 Church Street, Moscow, PA 18444, beginningMonday, January 14, 2019, 6:15 pm. Contact John Havenstrite 570-906-9212 or [email protected] for information on how the course works, toregister, or to purchase as a gift.

Moscow UMC’s Learning Tree News!The Learning Tree observed “Fire Prevention Month” by learning about fire safety and taking a walking field trip down to the Moscow Volunteer Fire House. We ended October with our Halloween parties!

 Our students sing Christmas songs: Sunday, Dec. 16 at 11 am  Enrolling now for the spring semester – 570-249-0200  Scholarships are available Dec. 21: Closing date for our Texas Roadhouse giftcard fundraiser

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HARRISBURG AREA – SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light! (Isaiah 9:2) The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:9)Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Susquehanna Conference, Grace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of ourBrokenness, and Hope of the World! As followers of Jesus Christ we are enteringthe seasons of Advent and Christmas. These seasons are filled with expectation andGod’s promise of a Savior! This is a time of anticipation and joy. It is a season ofhope. Indeed, the true light has come and continues to come in Jesus Christ to bringhope to our darkened world. Bishop’s Partners in Mission brings hope and help to many lives. Since theinception of Bishop’s Partners in Mission, you have given $859,317.24 for ImagineNo Malaria and Mission Central! I am humbled and give thanks to God for you andyour gifts. Indeed, your generosity is shining the light of Christ. Because of yourgenerous giving, the darkness of sickness and death has turned to the light ofhealing, health, and new life for so many families in Africa through Imagine NoMalaria. Thousands of lives have been saved. Because of your generosity, thebuilding debt of Mission Central has been cut in half and thus more resources cango directly to the people in need locally, nationally, and globally. The living Hope ofChrist has been given to countless number of people through Mission Central.God’s people of Susquehanna Conference, you have been a beacon of Christ’s lightto so many lives in so many places. Praise God! In this season of Advent and Christmas, I am inviting you and yourcongregation to prayerfully consider giving a gift to further the work of bringinglight to a darkened world by giving to Bishop’s Partners in Mission. Every gift, largeand small, makes a difference.

Some ways you and your congregation might want to participate are •Designate a portion or all of the Christmas Eve offering to Bishop’s Partners inMission. • Invite people to give a monetary gift to Bishop’s Partners as an individualor a family. People can even give gifts in honor of loved ones. • Invite persons totithe the amount they spend on Christmas gifts to Bishop’s Partners in Mission. •Encourage Sunday School classes, Youth Groups, Children’s fellowship, UMW,UMM to give a special financial gift this season to Bishop’s Partners in Mission. •Consider other creative ways to encourage people to give this season. Every gift you give goes directly and completely to the ministries of ImagineNo Malaria and paying off the building debt of Mission Central. A link to thebrochure giving more information about Bishop’s Partners in Mission is included inthis e-mail message. Also, you can click on susumc.org/bishops-partners-in-mission/ to find links to more information, special “In Your Honor” Gift Cards, or todonate online. If you would like to send your gift in by check please make the checkpayable to Susquehanna Conference and put BPIM/7090 in the memo line. Pleasemail checks and pledge cards to Susquehanna Conference, Attn: Finance Office, 303Mulberry Dr, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. In this special and sacred season, I give thanks for the ultimate gift from Godwhich is our Savior, Jesus Christ. I continually give thanks for you and your generousspirit. “In him was life and the life was the light of people.” (John 1:4)In Christ’s Ministry with You,Jeremiah J. Park Moscow UMC Financial Stewardship ReportOn November 18, 2018, at Moscow UMC, we celebrated our firstConsecration Sunday. Our guest speaker was Rev. Jeff Rarich, Pastor ofthe Salem Community UMC and an expert in stewardship and financialconsulting for churches. Forty-one individuals and families completedEstimate of Giving cards with a total of $86,668 committed for nextyear Other known contributors not present have a history of giving

$67,112, cash offerings are anticipated to be $8,802 and other sources ofrevenue should total about $4,118. That gives us an estimated income of$166,702, a 14% increase from the most recent year! Since then, anothereleven individuals and families have returned Estimate of giving cards foran updated total as of November 29 of $100,208 committed for 2019.Periodic updates and final statistics will be tabulated by our financialsecretary, Diane Kanavy, and published in January. Thank you to ourdedicated church members and friends for their generous commitments toGod’s work through the ministries of the Moscow UMC. Moscow United Methodist Church Administrative Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 29, 2018 7:00 P.M. – Approved November 19. 2018Attendees: Pastor Jean Blackie, Jack Carling, Paulette Fotta, Laura Havenstrite, Karen Kobeski, HowardMcIntosh, Pat Verrastro Pastor Jean opened the meeting with a scripture reading, Hebrews 11:8 and Devotion fromBishop Schnase. October 4, 2018 Ad Council meeting minutes were reviewed. Paulette motioned toaccept the minutes. Jack seconded the motion. All were in favor. The Budget Report and PreschoolBudget were reviewed. A month of Ministry Shares were paid. The wording on the bulletin has beenchanged about the basket that is passed during the offering. Discussion held on if it should be announcedweekly during church and who should make the announcement. It was decided to put it up on the screenfor people that may not regularly attend and for guests. Paulette will tell Erin to add it to the slideshow.The preschool looks like it will not be meeting its budget. A grant request is being sent by the preschool.Pat motioned to accept the Budget Reports. Karen seconded the motion. All were in favor.Pastor ReportStewardship ReportNew Consecration Sunday is November 18th with Luncheon. Pre-dinner for committees is Sunday November 11th at 5:00 pm.Possible letter going out before Christmas with Christmas schedule and church events to all church members. Pastor Jean motioned to send this letter out. Paulette seconded the motion. All were in favor.Stewardship Schedule for 2019:1st Quarter – February –March – 9 weeks - Financial Peace U outreach led by John & Laura Havenstrite February – Codicil for donations through wills – one week – led by Glenn Czulada2nd Quarter – Sometime in March-April - send out a Lent/Easter letter with envelope- from office A weekend in May-June – Memorial and Endowment funds education and outreach. Led by the endowment fund and interested church members3rd Quarter – End of August – Capital Improvement appeal – Letter and weekend - led by the trustees4th Quarter – End of Oct- Nov – New Consecration Sunday year 2 – led by administrative committees December – Advent/Christmas letter with envelope – sent from officeAdvent/Christmas/Epiphany Season/Lent Themes - Advent and Christmas theme will be Calm andBright, since it’s the 200th anniversary of Silent Night. Pastor Jean will be away the Sunday afterChristmas. Epiphany season – January and February – Crucial and Critical Conversations, January – No

Gideon’s this year, February – Boy Scout Sunday; Pastor will be away one Sunday forvacation/family. Lent – March and ½ of April: A discipleship Journey, March – Girl Scout SundayCharge conference items:Charge conference will be December 2, 2018 at 1:30 pm at Hemlock Grove UMC.Forms 1 & 2 – In process – no vote needed before charge conference; ministry share issue already discussed and voted on in September 2018. Our plan is to do as much as we can.Form 3 – Lay Member – vote this evening – Muriel Smailes, we don’t have an alternate, but there doesn’t need to be an alternate. All were in favor of Muriel as the new Lay Member.Form 4a – the SPRC Chair and Lay Member have been filled. The Lay Leader and Financial Chair are the critical positions to fill. There are a few ideas, but no one can commit. The “to be elected” positions will be chosen in January.Form 5 – To be completed this Sunday, November 4th – no vote needed until charge conferenceForm 6 – SPPRC – vote this evening. Form 6, Recommendations for 2019 Pastoral Compensation, wasdistributed. The salary increase reflects the mandated salary increase by the conference. Paulette motioned to accept the salary. Pat seconded the motion. All were in favor.Forms 7 & 8 – Completed – no vote needed until charge conferenceSPRC - Still trying to find an organist/choir director. Chris Yevitz’s Safe Sanctuary and background checks are complete and on file.Preschool - The enrollment has not changed since the beginning of October. A scholarship and openhouse flyer will be going home through the elementary schools this week. An Open House is scheduledfor Wednesday, November 14th from 5-7pm and Sunday, November 18th from 1-3pm. The Bell Choir has given up the Santa Breakfast, and the Learning Tree will be doing a “CookieDecorating Drop and Shop” event for ages 3-9. The cost will be $10/child with a max of $25 per family.Kids will decorate cookies, hear a story, make a craft, and play games. A Texas Roadhouse gift card fundraiser will begin this month and run through December. It willbe open to preschool and church families. The permanent sign has been installed. They are working on getting the owl for the top. They are looking into working with or partnering with the United Way programs. They are still looking for additional EITC or tax-deductible scholarship donors if anyone contacts The next board meeting will be January 13th.Youth Choir/ Youth Group - Sharon Kelly is filling in as the choir director. She is also going to betaking the youth group to get a Christmas tree from the McLain Family Tree Farm after Thanksgiving.Permanent Endowment - Jack reviewed the report dated October 29, 2018. The Frontier MUMCEndowment Fund balance is $23,286.69. $20,000.00 of that is loaned to the Learning Tree project. TheIvy Trust Fund is $10,000.00 and loaned to the Learning Tree project. The Fleckenstein EducationEndowment total balance is $48,147.52. The scholarships were paid this year with dividends because thetotal account is below $50,000.00. Discussion held on dividend and how long they can continue payingscholarships from dividends if the stocks don’t go up. Need to make a decision soon if they are going tooffer scholarships this year since the information on applications needs to be advertised soon.Missions - The coat drive has ended. Hugh Miller will announce the amount collected. Dry Goods Pantry is in need of heavy adult socks, coloring books, stuffed animals, scentedcandles, adult gloves, adult hats, $5/10 gift cards for teens. There has also been a request for help insulating a house.Motion to adjourn by Howard, Karen seconded the motion, all were in favor. The next Ad Councilmeeting will be held on Monday, November 19th at 7:00 PM.

MUMC’s 2019 Book Discussions All Welcome !!Call 570-842-7251 for more informationThursday January 3, 2018, 6 pm Thursday, February 7, 2018, 6 pm Thursday, March 7, 2018, 6 pmA Prayer for Owen Meany Manhunt: The 12-day chase Little Women & Little Men For Lincoln’s Killer (nonfiction) By John Irving By James L. Swanson By Louisa May Alcott 150 year anniversary