GIDEON’S

TRUMPET

12/02

PASTOR’S POINTS

Advent is here with its pointed admonition. WATCH! Watch for what? Watch for the coming of our Lord. Where will you find him this season? In your daily Bible readings, as you follow his directions to learn about him. In your prayer life, as you seek to meet the Lord and have him meet your needs. In your loving those around you, when you send Christmas cards, buy gifts; donate to the food pantry or the jail ministry. Watch for him to appear in the most unlikely places, at the most inconvenient times and with enough love to fill you with joy overflowing. Join your church family in all the expectation activities and for the celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany that are scheduled. Mrs. Dugger and I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS:

Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate. That is what we will be doing for the month of December and January. Mark your calendar now so that you don’t miss a thing.

December 5th 7pm -- Bible Study

December 15th 9am -- Join us for breakfast in the fellowship hall as we celebrate with Father Dugger 40 years of service to the Lord as a priest.

December 22nd 11:15 am -- Greening of the church with a sandwich lunch instead of coffee hour.

December 24th 7pm -- Christmas Eve services pageant from the Sunday school, placing of the nativity by children in the service.

11pm -- Candlelight Eucharist

December 25th 9am -- Christmas Day Eucharist

January 2nd 7pm -- Bible Study

January 5th 5pm -- Epiphany Service and dinner

January 26th 11:30 am -- Annual meeting and dinner

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Outreach: The Outreach committee has a new name -- Discipleship. This group of Christians has as its goal to spread the word about Jesus. The first way will be to allow you to invite someone to the Christmas service to hear about his birth. Enclosed is an invitation for you to pass along to someone that you would like to invite. (There are more at the back of the church) This committee has also started work on the Epiphany service, which will be a community wide event. Watch for the red flyers and posters throughout the community and plan to join us. First we will celebrate the season by the story of the birth of Christ, including scripture readings and carols. Then we will join together for dinner. The menu is still being planned, but venison and turkey look like the main entree.

Restoration: Work is completed for the season.

Building and Grounds: The flower box is planted, thank you to all that donated or helped. What a beautiful display once spring arrives. Work will restart in the sacristy now that Don’s arm is better. Thank you Don.

Finance: Remember to update your tithing prior to 12/31 in order to have those gifts on your 2002 statement.

PRAYER LIST

Alice Campbell recovering at home -- likes tea with a visit- call first. Alice gave us some beautiful crystal ornaments for the bazaar. Thank you Alice.

Ed Van Wormer lives at the assisted living area, contact Father Dugger for directions

Harry McIsaac needs a liver transplant, work up being done for a possible donor

Gail Burgermaster continues under treatment for cancer

Eugenia Browning continues to have treatment for cancer, awaiting test results as of this writing.

Brandon Hendrick grandson of Anneliese & Terry LaCasse

Louis Godfroy IV Le‘, on active duty with the marines somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Turkey.

Virginia French resting at home

Stuart Mosher Active Duty in Marines in Afghanistan

Mike Burnett Active duty in Marines in Afghanistan

Don Faulkner recovered from shoulder injury Praise the Lord

Bev Liebanou continues treatment for cancer

Kathryn Duffy lives at Kimball Farms in Lenox

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

December: Betty Godfroy 04, Jon Spoto 14, Jennifer Bjorkman 18, Mary Lou Olsen 19, Caroline Pelz 20, Julie St Amour 28. Anneliese and Terry LaCasse 19, Bruce and Josie Bates 31

January: Jesse Haley 02, Robert Allard 06, Adam French 21, Starlette Bates 28, Aaron Wever 31

ECW NEWS:

The ECW is now meeting on the first Saturday of the month at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall. Please plan to join us.

The Ladies’ Guild (ECW) sends its many, many thanks to all that helped make the Holiday Bazaar a very successful one. Our Treasurer has reported that we cleared $900.00 and we are still counting. Throughout the day we had a steady stream of guests into the Holiday Village. Santa joined us inside at 11am, as it was so blustery outside. Banner didn’t mind though, and he allowed many of the guests rides around the yard. If you didn’t get to the bazaar and still have some people on your gift list, the items are still available in the Fellowship hall for another week. Contact an ECW member to assist you in your selections.

We are pleased that this sale makes it possible for us to help not only our Church, but also other organizations. At our ECW meeting in Dec. we will take 10% of the net profit and distributed this amount to charities of our choice.

The ECW again collected for and sent twenty shoeboxes to the Samaritans Purse Program. Thank you to all whom donated items or helped wrap the boxes. We will watch for the flyers, and the news. The first boxes left the USA on November 29. Toiletries for the women of the jail will also be collected for one more week. The box is under the Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall.

The ECW will be sponsoring a quiet day on Saturday February 1st from 10am to 2pm. Bishop Bena will lead our meditation. We will share in a bag lunch with beverage provided. Please invite others to join us, as this is a community event.

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

The boys and girls will be preparing for the CHRISTMAS PAGEANT to be celebrated at the Christmas Eve service at 7pm. If you know some young person who you have been waiting to invite why not now? What a fun way to be introduced to our Lord. Rehearsals are Sunday morning at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall.

MEDITATE ON THIS:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, I am the beginning and the end,” says the Lord, “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) As we come to end of a calendar year and start a new church year with the month of December and Advent, what do you pray for in the year to come? May your prayer include bringing those you know, who don’t know Christ, a way to introduce him to them. Watch, for only the Father knows the time and place of Christ‘s return. Will it be 2003? Happy Holidays to you all.

Enclosed is a booklet for the children about Advent. Should you want one and did not receive one, please call the office and leave your name and the request. A booklet will be sent to you.