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Centre UMC Newsletter, Vol. I, Issue 4
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CentreNews Rev. Mark Gorman, Pastor
** In the beginning was the Word
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** John 1:1
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It may be the last month of the calendar year, but for Christians it is time to celebrate the beginning. The Word who was with God in the beginning, as John 1 says, is also the Word who became flesh in Jesus Christ. Everything begins with Jesus Christ.
The creation of the entire world begins with Jesus Christ. Not with the Big Bang. Not with Intelligent Design. With the Word, the Son of God, through whom all things came into being.
The history of the human race begins with Jesus Christ. Not with Adam and Eve. Not with Neanderthal ancestors. Not even with Abraham and Sarah. With the Word, the life of the world who is the light of all people.
The salvation of the cosmos begins with Jesus Christ. Not with our human sin. Not with an emotional decision made on a mountaintop one night in high school. With the Word, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Christmas begins with Jesus Christ. Not with the ever-growing shopping list for family and friends. Not with decorations and carols and lights and crackling fires. Not with holiday parties or even Christmas Eve worship services. With the Word, who comes to dwell among us.
Jesus Christ is the beginning, the Alpha, the One Who Is. He is also the end, the Omega, the One Who Is to Come. We begin with Jesus Christ, and we must always be moving closer to him, through prayer and worship, through love and service.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:1-5). Glory to God! May he bless you richly this Advent and Christmas Season!
Pastor Mark
In Brief…
*Looking for the calendar? Please visit www.centreumc.org
*Our Winter Tea is December 6th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
*Christmas Eve Services will be at 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on December 24.
*Judy Potts will be collecting holiday candy for the Welcome One Shelter. Bring a bag by December 7^th.
* See below for important announcements about the church’s finances and an exciting outreach opportunity for Christmas.
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Announcements
A weekly Advent devotion has been posted online ** here (http://centreumc.blogspot.com/p/advent-2014-devotions.html)
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The Winter Tea is December 6^th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Tickets are available from Kathy Johnson. Proceeds will benefit the Welcome One Shelter.
The Youth Group will meet December 21^st from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (note time change) at the parsonage. Pastor Mark’s family will provide a light supper. Please bring a plate of Christmas cookies to share.
We will be collecting Christmas gifts for a family from our God Provides Food Pantry. Gift tags will be on the Christmas tree in the gathering space by December 7^th. Please take a tag, purchase the item(s) on the tag, and bring the item(s) to the church, wrapped and with the tag on the outside, by December 21^st.
Stocking cards for the Board of Child Care were handed out on November 16^th. Please return the cards, filled with quarters, by December 21^st. You may also write a check payable to Centre UMC with “Board of Child Care” in the “for” line.
New and returning members of the Church Council, SPRC/LLDC, and Trustees should mark their calendars for a Leadership Retreat on the morning of January 17^th.
Our Christmas Eve offering this year will go to Mason-Dixon Community Services. Please give generously for this vital community service.
Readers are needed for both Christmas Eve services. Contact Pastor Mark if you would like to read at either 7:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m.
There is a signup sheet for the Flower Chart at the back of the sanctuary. Please consider giving flowers in honor or memory of a loved one.
Christmas Eve poinsettias will be available. Order forms will be at the back of the church. Orders must be placed by Sunday December 7th. Colors are red, white and marble and the pot size is either 4.5 (with one bloom) or 6 inches (with 3 to 4 blooms). Price is $4.95 or $9.95. Put your order form with check or cash in the offering plate or give to Sandy Barthel. Please make check to Centre UMC with “poinsettias” on the “for” line.
The January Newsletter Deadline is December 19^th.
Centre’s 2015 Budget
On November 17^th the Church Council approved a proposed budget of $137,419.70 for fiscal year 2015. On paper, this represents a significant increase over the 2014 budget. In fact, many of the items in the budget for 2015 are things the church already spends money on. In an effort to be clearer about the church’s regular expenses, several items were moved into the budget that had previously not been included.
Please take a few minutes to look at the pie chart and summary below. They show where we intend for money to be spent in 2015, as well as what we need each month and week to meet our budget.
Some parts of the budget, including the pastor’s and conference’s portions, are beyond the church’s control. Other parts, like the building portions, are budgeted based on actual spending from the past few years.
The single biggest increase in the budget is the Missions portion. While the church has spent money on missions every year, a decision was made to include missions in our regular budget. We must be good stewards of our resources, but Centre UMC does not exist to pay the light bills or fix the roof. We are here to see healing take place, lives transformed, and disciples made. This only happens when we follow Jesus Christ in mission to our community and our world.
What can you do? First, pray for our congregation. Pray for our leaders to act wisely next year when making financial decisions. Pray for God to provide exciting opportunities to serve him faithfully.
Second, take a moment to evaluate your own giving. Do you give 5% of your income to the church? Maybe you can consider giving 7%. Do you give 8%? Maybe you can give 10% in 2015. Do you have experience fixing small maintenance problems? Contact Jeff Smart or another trustee to offer to help around the church. Do you give all you can? Then consider setting aside an hour each week to pray for Centre.
A special word of thanks is due to the entire finance team: finance chair John Griffin, who created both the pie chart and the summary while working tirelessly to modernize our budget; Sandy Barthel, the church treasurer, and Rick Barthel, who helps keep the books; finance secretary Carolyn Crawford, who tracks our giving; and Jeff Smart, who as chair of three major church committees (Church Council, Trustees, and SPRC) works behind the scenes of almost everything that happens at Centre.
If you have any questions about the 2015 budget, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Pastor Mark
Total budgeted: $137,419.70
Average amount needed each month: $11,451.64
Average amount needed each week: $2,642.69
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