There are many ways in which our lives intersect with one another. Honoring those connections is one of the ways we continue to form the bonds of community. Please keep these concerns in your minds and hearts in the coming days.

•         Those who were unable to worship with us due to their current health limitations, including: Helen Evans, Margie Petry, Gene Snyder and Louise Miller.

•         Louise Shively Daggett recovering at Timbercrest Healthcare following a hospitalization in Wabash.

•         Ella Mae Weaver in Timbercrest Healthcare following a recent hospitalization.

•         Mike Brown recovering at home following a recent hospitalization for pneumonia.

•         Lucile Kinsley in Timbercrest Healthcare.

•         Those among us who wish to keep their concerns close to their hearts.

•         Our sister church in El Salvador, Emanuel Baptist. We pray for the wonderful school children who created Christmas Cards and wrote letters to the children of our congregation sending Christmas Blessings.

•         We pray for peace.

Many thanks to everyone who has made a contribution to this Special Offering. Stewardship Commission has determined that half of the funds collected will go towards the Manchester Early Learning Center. The other half will be divided between the Medical Practicum and IBE. Please be sure all designated 2010 contributions and turned in before the end of the year.

 

Please add these names to the Congregational Christmas Greeting: Doris Miller, Edith Stone, Ruth Tully, John & Ann Hartsough, Susan Klingler & Family, Karl & Bonnie Dee Merritt, Annabel Rupel, Esther Rupel, Robert Tully, Art & Phyllis Hunn, Jo Reinoehl and Brad Yoder

to the Congregational Christmas Greeting

The Family Life Center is open from 8 to 10 am for walking and exercise. Nursery School may use the FLC from 10 to 11.

 

 

12:00 pm       Building closed in the afternoon

5:00 pm         Weight Watchers – Room 220

6:00 pm Yoga – Narthex

7:30 pm    Volleyball

 

5:00 pm Building in use for family dinner

 

10:00 am FLC in use

12:00 pm       Building closed in the afternoon

 

Carol Waggy, Interium District Executive. Grace upon Grace. John 1: 1-18

 10:30 a.m.        Special Called Council Meeting

 10:45 a.m.     Christian Education

 

The church office will be open in the mornings between Christmas and New Year’s, December 27-28-29 and 30 and closed in the afternoons.

 

There will be a special council meeting on Sunday, January 2, immediately after worship. The item on the agenda will be approval of new deacons.         Richard Harshbarger, Moderator

At its meeting on December 15, 2010, the Executive Board:

•      had a conversation with Pastor Jim in which the Board reflected on the themes of the Children’s Christmas program. 

•      received the treasurer’s report as of November 30: bank balance is $103,643; contributions exceeded budgeted expenses in the General Fund by $14,271; other income exceeded other expense by $28,427; cash reserve ratio is 1.98 months. The target is to have 3 months cash in reserve.

•      learned a person is considering the volunteer position of Membership Secretary.

•      set January 2, 2011 as the date for a special called congregational business meeting to affirm the following persons called as deacons: Ernie Barr, Liz Hoffman Bauer, Joan Fahs, Lois Good, Ann Hartsough, Tom Hess, David Kreps, Bev Petry, Amy Shively, Elizabeth Waas Smith, April White, Dorotha Williams, Marie Willoughby, Don Willoughby.

•      approved the names of persons to be contacted to serve as members of the Witness and PMPC Commissions.

•      adopted the recommendation from the Education Commission to approve the Policy for Healthy Relationships, Safety Procedures between Generations. Appreciation was given to the short term committee for their diligent work on writing this policy: Bev Eikenberry, Laura Gable, Ann Hartsough, Kathy Leckrone, Pat Price, LuAnne Harley, and Jim Chinworth.

•      set March 6, 2011 at 3:00 pm as the date for the (almost) Spring congregational business meeting.

•            expressed appreciation to Mel Sautter, Diana Bucher, Theresa Onderko, Sandy Bendsen and Jo Ann Schall who are completing their terms on the Executive Board.

Anne Myers, Executive Board Chair

 

 

The Perfume Fund originated with a sermon on Mark 14:3-9 titled “Foolish Generosity” (November 23, 2008). Here’s a piece of that sermon:

 

The sermon also suggested that we could practice that kind of giving – with joy, generosity – and so we started the fund with an offering on Christmas Eve of 2008 and collected money throughout the next year. On Christmas Eve of 2009, we chose our first recipient from among nominations offered by our children and youth. You may remember that the recipient was the Food Pantry. Over $15,000 was donated to help those in need of food assistance in our community.

Last Friday night, following the Christmas Eve worship service, we selected a recipient for this year’s Perfume Fund. Nominations were received from children, youth, and adults 90 and over. A total of 14 nominations were submitted and Chloe Leckrone’s nomination, The Scout Fuller Fund, was chosen to receive the $5221.16 collected this year.

 

Scout Fuller, who died on July 7, 2007 at the age of 8, is remembered fondly by many in our congregation. The Scout Fuller Fund for Social Justice was established in her memory by her parents, Abby Fuller and Neil Wollman, and her family, to “support individuals and organizations who, in the spirit of Scout Fuller's concern for others and sense of justice, are working to improve the lives of others.” Currently the fund supports a Manchester College student, who would be otherwise unable to afford doing so, to work as a summer intern or volunteer with a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the lives of others. The fund has made awards the last three years. Information about recent recipients can be found at www.scoutfullerfund.org

 

Both Yoga and Zumba-Gold are often flexible, depending on the weather and Holiday Activities. The church office does not always get their last-minute changes, so please call the instructors for information:

Yoga: Adria Pickett, 1-260-774-9336

Zumba-Gold: Mandy Shull, 1-317-431-5744

 

  

We are in desperate need of tutors. Contact the Learn More Center, 603 Bond Street, PO Box 272, or call 982-6138 to become a tutor to an adult learner. www.learnmorecenter.org

 

National Older Adult Conference

September 5-9, 2011

At Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina

Featuring: Philip Gulley, www.philipgulley.org

JonathanWilson-Hartgrove

www.jonathanwilsonhartgrove.com

C. Michael Hawn, www.smu.edu/perkins

Additional conference information will be posted on the Church of the Brethren website as it becomes available, so check it often!

Registration materials will be sent to past NOAC attendees, congregations, and district offices, and will be available at www.brethren.org/NOAC around March 1.

Thank You,

Kim Ebersole, Director of Older Adult Ministries

Church of the Brethren

1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120

800-323-8039 ext. 302

NOAC2011@brethren.org