The Beacon Newsletter of the United Methodist Church November 2014 PASTOR’S FORUM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 439 PARK AVENUE AUBURN, MAINE 04210 Telephone: (207) 782-3972 www.auburnmethodist.org Church Secretary, Joan Spitzform Email: office@auburnmethodist.org Sunday Worship 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday School Children and Youth 10:00 a.m. Staff Rev. Jackie Brannen, Pastor jlbrannen1957@gmail.com Norma Rice-Gould, Organist Caroline Coffin, Choir Director William Buzza, Bell Choir Director Children’s Choir, Claire Cote Peter Poliquin, Custodian Edith Ellis, Beacon Editor Cherie Downing, SS Superintendent Mitch Thomas, Music Director, early service Email articles to sunnysidegardens@roadrunner.com BEACON deadline for submission is the 10th of the month prior to publication date. Next due date is November 10th And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15–17 Dear Friends, On this magnificent fall day, I am giving thanks to God for so many things. I have been blessed with a healthy family, a wonderful home, good friends and YOU! It is such a joy to be united with you in ministry to our community, knowing that as we dwell in Christ Jesus, we are indeed a thankful people. Last night, I had the privilege of joining so many of you and our community members in a service of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of Saints Paul and Peter. What a marvelous way to worship God; united with our brothers and sisters in Christ! The music was as inspiring as the beauty of the cathedral, but what was most inspiring was the fellowship of so many Christian folks of all denominations and persuasions gathered together. It is at times like this that I have hope for peace in our troubled world. As you read this November newsletter, we will be deep into the giving season. We will be giving thanks to God through our efforts to reach out to folks who may not be as fortunate as we are. Our Thanksgiving baskets and Giving Tree offerings will be in full force. I am so grateful to be among such generous people! This is surely one way that we honor our God and share the gospel with our community members. This Thanksgiving, my joy is already complete. When I sit down to dinner with my family, I will share how grateful I am to be a part of AUMC. God has been good and I thank Him and each and everyone of you for this opportunity to serve together. We are indeed the body of Christ. I pray that you will all have a joyous Thanksgiving; filled with good food, good friends, good fun and mostly our Good God. Thanksgiving Blessings, Pastor Jackie 1 Pastor’s Office Hours Pastor Jackie has Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 to noon for office hours unless a district meeting is scheduled on one of those particular days. Most visitations occur in the afternoons. If you would like to schedule an appointment please feel free to call her cell 242-2770. The door is open! Don’t forget to smile when you shop at Amazon. www.smile.amazon.com ` High Street Food Pantry The following items are needed on a weekly basis: peanut butter, toilet paper, and pasta sauce. Please place items in the grocery cart outside the sanctuary. If you have questions about the pantry or wish to volunteer, please speak with Leroy Brown or Eric Howes. Thank you for supporting this mission and helping local people meet their most basic needs. ` secretary at the Washburn Elementary School, coordinates this endeavor. Please continue to save them- this is a worthy community service! ` Take the Paper Challenge! One of our biggest office expenses is that of paper. Each year, there are 10 issues of the Beacon newsletter to be printed. It is estimated that we use approximately 45 reams of paper (packages of 500) just to print the Beacon. So, we are challenging each church family to donate as many reams of paper as you can to help defray the cost of paper, especially if you prefer a printed copy to the eBeacon. Typically, reams of 8 ½ x 11 paper cost about $6.00 each. When you are out shopping look for a paper bargain and take the “Paper Challenge” and help us save! Donations may be left in the narthex on the table. Thank you all so much for your help!!` E-beacon Invitation To receive your Beacon, send an email to sunnysidegardens@roadrunner.com. If you would like to receive an electronic version of the Beacon and still receive a paper copy please be sure to specify this otherwise you will be removed from the mailing list for the Beacon. Many thanks to those that are already receiving their eBeacon! The group is growing. P.S. You can also find the most recent and the last issues of the Beacon on our web sitewww.auburnmethodist.org so please check it out. ` Soup Labels Box Tops Thank you to all those who have been so faithful in saving Campbell Soup labels and Box Tops for Education. Gail Theberge, ABC Thanksgiving ABCDEFG Thank you God for all I see. HIJKLMNOP Thank you God for my family. QRS and TUV Thank you God for loving me. WX and Y and Z On Thanksgiving I Thank Thee. Sunday School offerings will be given to Hope School this year. This is a place that Pastor Jackie knows about and shared information with the children during a Moment with the Children. 2 November Pre-School collection will be baby wipes and pump hand soap. Thanksgiving Baskets Sunday School students will be collecting stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, and pie crust and fillings. Thank you in advance for helping those in our community have a dinner that would not be available without our assistance and generosity. UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) Until a convenient time to meet is decided, the youth are being asked to meet with the youth Sunday School. Please be thinking about a good time to meet and program ideas or activities for a UMYF group. Any comments or suggestions (from any age--youth/parents/former UMYF members) would be welcomed. Thank you! Nancy Blanchard, Roy Cossey and Marissa Deku. ` Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift of food You've placed upon the table--And help us all to do Your work In any way we're able. PARENTS AND ADULTS HELP US...... We are trying to increase involvement in Sunday School with many exciting activities and programs for our youth but seem to be at a dead end. PLEASE encourage the children in your life to join us for Sunday School and special events. We have an enthusiastic team of teachers and volunteers who are eager to share. SAVE THE DATE December 21 ...The Christmas Pageant is just around the corner. Be watching for details. An inter-generational Christmas program for ALL ages entitled: A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Sunday, December 21st....during the church service Non Speaking roles for Nativity scene, animals, angels and shepherds are needed. •Mark your Calendar: November 16 ...after church to work on scenery. •December 7 and December 14...rehearsal after church. ` Naomi Circle Naomi Circle will meet Tuesday, November 18 at 1:30 when we will wrap our Giving Tree gifts. ` Christmas Wreaths Marjorie Smith and Bob Sprague will be taking orders for wreaths at church through the month of November. The wreaths will be ready for pickup on December 6. Contact Robert Sprague at 207.576.5955 or Marjorie Smith at 207.713.8807. A plain wreath is $9.00, decorated they are $16.00. Bible Saints of Christmas a 4-week study. Would you like to meet some of the faithful who prepared the way for the birth of Christ? Did you ever wonder what life was like for Mary, or how Ruth figured in prophecy? We will be studying the relevant portions of the book Christ in His Saints by Rev Patrick Henry Reardon; he is an orthodox priest who always brings humor and insight. We start Nov. 30 following worship [1st Sunday in Advent] and go the next 3 weeks. We'll probably do BYO for lunch. Book display and signup available in foyer starting in November. Facilitator is Rev. Joe Beardsley 441-5939 jjbear002@gmail.com. _ 3 Hanging of the Greens Sunday afternoon – November 23 November 22nd is our big day!! Many preparations are under way and plans for an outstanding fair are making great progress. Your help is needed!! Whether you make/bake for the fair, come to work in a booth, help set up, help clean up, or just shop with us ... it's all appreciated and part of an invaluable community building event. Please check the narthex area for notices outlining what you can bring to help. There is an yellow poster with ideas, as well as the Country Kitchen needs which will be posted on the poles as always by Gladys. There is a listing of chairpersons of the various booths ~ please contact one if you'd like to help them or have something to donate. The White Elephant rooms take on a life of their own~ wait and see! The jewelry items that are donated are amazing. Some of us will be at the church on Wed., Thurs. and Fri. before the Fair. You may drop off your items at that time. PLEASE mark which booth the items go to. This will make it easier to get items to their proper spot. If you are baking for us, please try to get the items to the church on Friday afternoon, or after the fair opens on Saturday. The Bake Tables will now be located in front of the curtains. Don't miss our Country Store with scrumptious items ... the candy booth ... the Lobster Luncheon ... the Book Room ... the Children's Room ... The Wreath Tables ... The Home and Hearth area and The Christmas area. Lots of new items and delicious food that goes quickly! Again ~ your help is very much appreciated! Thank you. _ Gail Theberge, 2014 Fair Chairperson It will soon be time to begin decorating for Advent and Christmas and we need your participation to “dress up” the church for the holiday. Since the first Sunday of Advent is in November this year, we need to start the process by Sunday, November 23, after church. Folks will meet to put up the Angel Tree and hang the angels, put up wreaths, bows and greenery. This is a fun time to work together with others in the congregation to get things ready. There will be a sign up sheet on the table in the Narthex on starting on November 2 where you may sign up to volunteer to help in the annual preparation for Christmas. Hope to see YOU there! _ COFFEE AND CONVERSATION MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUPPORT Please join us for coffee and conversation at the Auburn Library Café, 49 Spring St, Auburn, Maine from 10:00-11:30a.m the last Tuesday of every month. People with MS and their family/friends are invited to spend time socializing and meeting people in the area who are living with MS. Coffee, snacks, breakfast and lunch foods are available for purchase or you can just join us for conversation. We meet the LAST Tuesday of every month. No need to register, just drop on by. Any questions: please contact Marcia Akers at 207-998-4944. Bean Supper Saturday, November 29th , 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Cost: $7.00 Menu: Baked Beans, Casseroles, Potato Salad, Hot Dogs, Coleslaw, Breads, Beverage, and Pie. Hope to see you and your friends here for the supper. The money we raise goes to the church to help with expenses. _ 4 6:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 Potluck Luncheon Sunday, November 30th, 2014 Time: 11:30 a.m. Stay for lunch following worship and enjoy leftovers from the Bean Supper! Bring a dish to add to it! This is a great time to see old friends and meet new ones!_ Paint Party! The church will be hosting a paint party on Saturday December 13th at 2:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Our instructor will provide step by step instructions to create a beautiful winter evening scene of trees and the moon. All supplies are included and you will bring home your masterpiece on a 16”x20” canvas. Seating is limited so please register with Marissa (deku.marissa@gmail.com or 207-754-4865) to reserve your seat. The cost is $30.00 for a fun-filled afternoon. _ Church Calender p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. Girl Scout Troop 178 Bell Choir Serenity Group AA/Alanon Tuesday, November 4th 2:00 p.m. UMW Executive Committee 6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1606 Wednesday, November 5th 7:15 a.m. Rotary Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Music Together 5:15 p.m. River Valley Girl Scouts 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group 6:00 p.m. Wesleyan Singers Thursday, November 6th 10:00 a.m. Faith Journey 6:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 121 6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Den 2 6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Wolf 6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Bears 6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Den 1 7:00 p.m. Church Council November 2014 Sunday: 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 9:45 am 10:00 am 11:15 am Early Worship Service Wesleyan Singers Pastor’s Prayer Circle Youth Choir Rehearsal Worship and Sunday School Coffee and Conversation Saturday, November 1st 7:30 a.m. Men’s Breakfast Sunday, November 2nd 11:30 a.m. Nurture Committee 12:00 p.m. OT Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group Monday, November 3rd 1:30 p.m. Auburn Art Club 5:30 p.m. Solutions Group Friday, November 7th 10:15 a.m. Music Together 5:45 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 111 Saturday, November 8th 9:00 a.m. Planning Retreat , Turner Maine Sunday, November 9th 8:30 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Finance Committee 11:00 a.m. Fair Workshop 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group Monday, November 10th – BEACON DEADLINE 5:30 p.m. Solutions Group 6:00 p.m. Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Serenity Group 7:30 p.m. AA/Alanon 5 Tuesday, November 11th 11:00 a.m. Golden Age Club Luncheon 6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1606 Wednesday, November 12th 7:15 a.m. Rotary Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Music Together 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group 6:00 p.m. Wesleyan Singers Thursday, November 13th 10:00 a.m. Faith Journey 6:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 121 6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Den 2 6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Wolf 6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Bears 6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Den 1 Friday, November 14th 10:15 a.m. Music Together Workshop 5:45 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 111 Wednesday, November 19th 7:15 a.m. Rotary Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Music Together 5:30 p.m. Girl Scout River Valley 6:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 121 Committee 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group 6:00 p.m. Wesleyan Singers Thursday, November 20th SET-UP FOR FAIR 5:00 p.m. SPRC 7:00 p.m. Trustee Committee Friday, November 21st SET-UP FOR FAIR – NO ACTIVITIES Saturday, November 22nd CHURCH FAIR Saturday, November 15th Pageant Workday - TBA Sunday, November 23rd 8:30 a.m. Worship 12:00 p.m. Education Committee 12:00 p.m. Hanging of the Greens 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group Sunday, November 16th 8:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Mission Committee 2:00 p.m. Eagle Court of Honor 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group Monday, November 24th 5:30 p.m. Solutions Group 6:00 p.m. Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Serenity Group 7:30 p.m. AA/Alanon Monday, November 17th 1:30 p.m. Auburn Art Clue 5:30 p.m. Solutions Group 6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 178 6:00 p.m. Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Serenity Group 7:30 p.m. AA/Alanon Tuesday, November 25th 6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1606 Tuesday, November 18th 1:30 p.m. Naomi Circle 6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1606 6:30 p.m. Ruth Circle 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 111 Committee Wednesday, November 26th 6:00 p.m. Wesleyan Singers 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group Thursday, November 27th HAPPY THANKSGIVING! CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED Friday, November 28th CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – NO ACTIVITIES 6 Saturday, November 29th 5:00 p.m. Bean Supper Join Jackie and Our Prayer Wheel in prayerful support of our church leaders: Sunday, November 30th 11:30 a.m. Potluck Luncheon 6:00 p.m. Private Men’s Group Claire Cote, Church Council Bruce Hall, recording secretary and Boy scout liaison Barb Jamrog and Pam MacDonald, Nurture Committee November Celebrations! November Birthdays: 2 3 4 6 8 9 11 14 15 16 18 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 Becky Stevens Emily Scholer Nicole Willey Matthew Scholer Clarice Fortier Emily Trafton Elizabeth Randall Gary Atwood David Little James Brann Michelle Kary Heidi Dock Steven Jamrog Natasha Malinski Frank Thomas Nancy Holler Janet Irish Erin Richmond Jennifer Willey Barbara Jamrog Gerry Tinkham Ruth Baxter Viola Gervais Barbara Powers Jeff Beaule Diana MacMahon Danielle Willey Eric Howes Evan Cossey Jessica Veilleux Gary Adams November Anniversaries: Bill Buzza, Bell Choir Cherie Downing, SS Superintendent Dana Coffin and George Matthews, Music Committee David MacMahon, Finance Committee Donna Manson, Outreach Committee Del and Chris Conant Jeff and Dawn Humason Beaule Edith Ellis, Treasurer Gladys Chapman, Mission Committee Janet Irish, Worship Committee Joel Ellis, Trustee Committee Kary Coffin, Choir Kay Little, Education Committee Richard and Muriel Murphy Lucille Weber, SPRC and UMW Maynard Chapman, Finance Secretary Norma Rice-Gould, Organist Pastor Jackie; Nominations Ruth Southworth, Lay leader Elise and John Wiley and our future nursery worker. Also, please keep Pete, our custodian, and Joan, our secretary, in your prayers as well. Marc and Susan Lajoie William Talpey and Carla Burkley Debbie Keene Thank you so much and please excuse me if I have forgotten anyone and bring it to all of our attention so we can add that person. I am convinced that the more we pray, the more blessed we will all be! Thank you again for this important work. I would love to have another get together soon just so we can see each other's faces and encourage each other..... Pastor Jackie Many Happy Returns of the Day! 7 · Please join us on Saturday November 8th for a Fun filled Day of Discovery “Aligning our Sense of God’s Purpose for Auburn UMC” Time: 9am to 3:00pm Location: Turner Highlands Country Club 10B Highland Avenue, Turner Facilitator: Bonnie Marden Consultant to New England Conference UMC Buffet lunch provided at a cost of $15 Deli Buffet: choice of two salads, Sliced roast beef, roasted turkey breast and danish ham, Lettuce, tomato, red onions and pickles, Assorted breads and rolls, Potato chips, Chocolate chip cookies or brownies Childcare and Car-pooling available Please register by Friday, October 31st, using the sign-up sheet outside the Sanctuary Goals for the day: • Team building and skills for trust, effective communication and clear decision-making • Reviewing who we are serving and how to ensure “the parts are connected to the whole” • Setting priorities for the next 1-3 years that serve as a plumb line for programs and ministry with a clearer focus • Explore how to align activities and commitments with our congregational call • Expand leadership knowledge of systems and how congregations respond to change 8 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 439 PARK AVENUE AUBURN, MAINE 04210 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID AUBURN, MAINE 04210 PERMIT NO. 9 The United Methodist Church of Auburn is an inter generational Christian Community whose mission is to embody Christ's love through a commitment to serve God by fulfilling the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of our congregation and of our local and global communities. 9
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