THE BURNING BUSH Vol. 22 December, 2014 Issue: 12 NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Pastor: Rev. Stan Adams Mission Statement: 195 Huntsville Rd . Email: esfumc@sbcglobal.net www.eurekaspringsfumc.org Vision Statement: Office # 479-253-8987 Fax # 479-253-7968 Office Hours: MondayвЂ”Friday 8:30amвЂ”12:30pm TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. Reach out to people wherever they are and receive them as they are. Relate people to God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Nurture and equip people for Christian discipleship, community and world. Go out to be the church in the family, neighborhood, As a reconciling congregation, we are committed to equality and full inclusion in all aspects of The United Methodist Church for all persons, regardless of race, gender, age, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality or economic status VAN DRIVERS NEEDED: NO AGE REQUIREMENTS, but if over 70 will need to have a form signed by your doctor and everyone must have a valid drivers license and is asked to watch a safe driving video from our insurance company. Just stop by the office for more details and pick up the form and get signed up Did you know? Cookies are very important! Wonderful Christmas music is planned. Van trip planners need your input and Rose Anderson info update. Plus so much moreвЂ¦.. On December 21, the fourth Sunday in Advent at 10:00, the Choir, soloists, and narrators will present вЂњThe MagnificatвЂќ by J.S. Bach. The 12 short sections are MaryвЂ™s Song when the Angel announced she would be the Mother of the Son of God. (Luke 1:46-55) Bach wrote this as his first public cantata to вЂњshow offвЂќ to his new employers at Leipzig utilizing 5 choral parts (rather than usual 4), extensive orchestra and difficult (long phrases) solos. This was in 1723 and Bach was to stay in Leipzig St. Thomas Church as Director of Music and Organist until his death in 1750. One musicologist speaks extensively of BachвЂ™s symbolic representations with his compositions; i.e. the closing GLORIA using triplets to illustrate the Trinity and in #10 introducing a familiar advent hymn as obbligato. Annually our choir has presented a cantata in Advent. Members Harry Swarts, Paul Gandy, Loretta Crenshaw, Melva Luker, Ann Reed, Beverly Beard will have solo parts; orchestra will consist of Fred Mayer, Violin II, Indigo Fischer, Ger Van, Tantanya Hetzer. Other soloists are Maura Caldwell of Fayetteville and Beth Withey of Eureka. Maura Caldwell of Fayetteville Soprano, Soloist Indigo Fisher, Flute, of Eureka Springs 12th grader attending Interlochen Fine Arts School Prayer Concerns Rick Sage Tom Marler Mary Kay Our men and women in service ADULT VAN TRIPS If you are interested in church group van trips, please sign up on the sheet provided in the back of the church. DonвЂ™t forget to put down your phone number! Also, you can call Suzanne Williams at 253-6978, Sherry Kerr at 363-6428 or Janet Rose at 253-7051. We would also like to know where you would like to take a little trip!! We are planning to go to Branson to see Jonah when the area appreciation prices are in effect! Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Adult Van Trip Committee 1 3 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 18 19 21 22 23 24 27 28 Rick Sage Linda Lemon Janet Rose Martie Davis Shannon Walton Juanita Williams Ruth Morrison Pam Ward Jonathan Shoffit Ann Martin Rachel Brick Amy Parker Herta Nikolai Judy Slater Lisa Ward Pam Bennett Courtney Scimemi Samantha Bear Chandler Phillips Michelle Beard Michael Beard 2 4 9 10 12 14 15 17 19 20 24 25 Jean Gammie Will Adams Cecilia Niederriter Patsy Brooks Gene Masters Melva Luker Larry George Kathy Gronen Sherry Kerr Kim Knapp Cindy Skaggs Arnie Richter Ted Richter 26 Jack Boesche Chris Holt 29 Nathan Sotelo 30 Evelyn Barton Financial Information as of November 23, 2014 November Goal: $16,782 Month YTD Goal: $184,597 November Contributions: $ 18,466 Contributions to Date $ 177,828 Building Fund Loan balance as of 8/11/14 $149,091 Year to date collected $ 31,559 FLINT STREET FOOD BANK Just a reminder that every month is our time to "feed the hungry" of our community, not just during the holidays. On the third Sunday of each month, we gather your donations and take them on Monday to the Flint Street Food Bank. They can use any non-perishable foods, but especially canned beans (any variety), soups (tomato, vegetable, chicken-noodle), oatmeal (any size and variety), and tuna fish (small cans). Your monetary donations are also always welcomed . Thank you for your continued generosity. We are now adding a request for healthy snacks that appeal to children to help combat childhood hunger in Arkansas. LetвЂ™s make December 2014 a hunger free Christmas in our community. Patsy Brooks 479-253-8857 Rose Anderson sends her best wishes to everyone and would like her friends here to have her new phone number: 815-786-5577 We are looking for someone to adopt our church bulletin boards and information tables. The need is to keep them organized and current so members can easily find material in a timely manner. Contact the church office at 253-8987 if you feel the call to help in this way. LIBRARY UPDATE DECEMBER, 2014 In addition to several Christmas books on display this month, please note the following new library additions: The Pocket Dictionary of North American Denominations (280.0973/Bla) edited by Drew Blankman and Todd Augustine. This is a quick reference guide to over 100 denominations in the U. S. and Canada. C. S. Lewis: A Life. Eccentric Genius. Reluctant Prophet. (B/Lew) by Alister McGrath. This biography honors the 50th anniversary of C. S. LewisвЂ™s death. It recounts the unlikely path of this Oxford don who spent his days teaching English literature and his spare time writing a best-selling fantasy series for children. A Passion for Souls: The Life of D. L. Moody (B/Moo) by Lyle W. Dorsett. The author reveals the heart of this great evangelist and his motivations to be a man after GodвЂ™s own heart. GodвЂ™s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards with the Complete Test of вЂњThe End for Which God Created the World.вЂќ (231.7/Pip) by John Piper. The author demonstrates the relevance of EdwardвЂ™s ideals for the personal and public life of modern evangelicals through this introduction to his incomparable essay. Several copies of Doug ReedвЂ™s book, God is a Gift: Learning to Live in Grace (234.1/Ree) as well as Future Grace (234/Pip) by John Piper are also on display this month. Please check out these books from the bookcase in the fellowship hall, but return them to the library downstairs. вЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦. вЂ¦ Merry Christmas from your Library CommitteeвЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦ Scouting in December вЂ�Tis the Season This really is THE season. For the scouts itвЂ™s time to put away the camping gear, hang up the hiking boots, and concentrate on вЂњthe seasonвЂќ. Our food drive is behind us, and every year it is a major event, a big вЂњpushвЂќ for us to complete. Now itвЂ™s the time for us to take a deep breath and concentrate on what this time of the year is all about. On behalf of the scouts and their families, the scouts that you all so generously support, I would like to say thank you for all of the help and encouragement so many of you have shown us throughout the year. This is the season for being thankful for all that God has blessed us with, and I know that the scouts and their families are feeling so thankful and oh so blessed! Thank you, Bruce Bieschke, Scoutmaster United Methodist Women are really busy and the rumors are flying about up coming changes to be made in January so make sure you carefully read the January, 2015 newsletter for all the details. In December, there will be only one meeting and it will be on Wednesday 12/10/14, at noon, in the fellowship hall. It will be a casual luncheon with drinks and paper products provided. Bring a Christmas Story or Poem to share for the program . There will be NO cookie exchange (more for the Home for Christmas outreach) this year. All women of the church are welcome, so please join us for food, fellowship and fun! 7 Sun 11:15am Congregational meeting 5:30-6:30pm Christian Conversation & prayer 14 2-5pm choir dress rehearsal of Bach 5:30-6:30pm Christian Conversation & prayer 21 Christmas cantata 5:30-6:30pm Christian Conversation & prayer 28 5:30-6:30pm Christian Conversation & prayer 1 8 15 22 29 Mon 2 Tue 5:30pm Jubilee Ringers 9 3 Wed 10:30am Walking in the Spirit Class 10 10:30am Walking in the Spirit Class 10-1 sanctuary reserved for Bach music rehearsal 12pm UMW Christmas luncheon in fellowship hall 5:30pm Jubilee Ringers 17 10:30am Walking in the Spirit Class 24 5:30pm Christmas Eve Service 31 4 11 Thu 5-8pm ECHO Clinic 18 25 Office closed CHRISTMAS Meals on Wheels delivery December 15вЂ”19 16 . 5:30 pm Jubilee Ringers 23 5:30 pm Jubilee Ringers 30 5:30 pm Jubilee Ringers 5 Fri 8:30am Prayer Group 9:00am Coffee Fellowship 10:30am Walking in the Spirit Class 12 8:30 am Prayer Group 9:00 am Coffee Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Walking in the Spirit Class 19 8:30 am Prayer Group 9:00 am Coffee Fellowship 26 8:30 am Prayer Group 9:00 am Coffee Fellowship 6 13 20 27 Sat Each Sunday (More items listed on calendar) 8:15 am Choir Rehearsal 8:55 am Grace Immersion Class. 9:30 am Coffee Fellowship 10:00 am Worship ChildrenвЂ™s Sunday School 11:15 am Adult Classes 5:30 вЂ“6:30pm Christian Conversation & Prayer First United Methodist Church Pastor, Rev. Stan Adams 195 Huntsville RD Eureka Springs, AR 72632 (479)253-8987 THE BURNING BUSH The people of The United Methodist ChurchВ® WHEN WILL THE ANGELS SING? George Kay / 2014 When will we hear the angels sing? So complex an answer is hard to bring. So full of visions and points to ponder, An easy explanation would be a wonder. To envision the angels that may live on high, Beyond the clouds that miraculously fly. With all we do and all we say, The Lord will look down upon us each day. And when He does HeвЂ™ll decide when to bring, A choir of angels prepared to sing. It may not happen when we choose, But with faith and hope we cannot lose. Perhaps weвЂ™ll hear the angels sing, When to the Lord our souls HeвЂ™ll bring . Dear Cookie Baking Congregation, Guess what is coming up in December....right around the corner. We are planning to do the Home for Christmas outreach program for the service organizations in Eureka Springs and Holiday Island on Tuesday, December 16th. You have been so good to help with this in the past and the recipients LOVE getting a plate of yummy cookies for the holidays. We need: Lots of cookies.....you can bake early and put them in the freezer. Lots of help putting the cookies on plates.....Probably be at the fellowship hall the morning of December 16th at 10:00am (Side "perk"...eating any crumbled ones) Folks to deliver the cookies, that same morning. Last year, we had enough help that it didn't take long at all. In fact, it was a fun "fellowship" time. Thanks, in advance, for your participation. Patsy Brooks and Janet Marsh