Friendship Connection December 2014 A Monthly Publication of the Honeoye Falls United Methodist Church A Letter from the Pastor "“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20, NRSV) Celebrating the season of Advent means being able to wait. Waiting is a skill that I believe our very impatient and immediate gratification society has all but forgotten. Those of us who don’t know how it feels to struggle anxiously with the deepest questions of life, and to patiently look forward with anticipation until the truth is revealed, can’t even imagine the moment in which clarity is given to us. Yet it’s exactly for these greatest, most profound, and most tender of things in our lives that we must each wait. It happens not on our schedule, yet according to the divine laws of sprouting, growing, and becoming who and what our God desires for each of us. The season of Advent is about expecting the coming of Christmas, the remembrance of Jesus’ first coming. Yet it’s also about expecting Jesus’ second coming, the one that he said he would fix everything. Advent is about not only sinking into the longing and trepidation of that promise, yet also into trust that it will be fulfilled. Jesus is standing at the door knocking. In reality, Jesus comes in the form of the beggar, of a dissolute human child wrapped in ragged clothes, asking for our help. He confronts us in every person that we meet. As long as there are people, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will walk the earth as our neighbor, as the one through whom our God calls each of us, speaks to us, and makes demands on us. That in part is the great seriousness and great blessedness of the Season of Advent. Jesus Christ is standing at the door, and lives in the form of a human being among us. Do we want to close the door or open it? I realize it may seem a bit strange to us to see Jesus Christ in a face so near to us, yet he said it. If we’re tempted to withdraw from the serious reality of the message of the Advent season, we’re also then unable to speak of the coming of Jesus in our hearts either. Jesus Christ is knocking; he’s knocking on the doors to each and every one of our hearts. What will be our answer? The Advent and Christmas season is a time when churchgoers and nonchurchgoers alike tend to experience strong spiritual longings. Whatever the longing looks like on the outside, for most of us, deep down it’s a longing for an experience of something holy, and something beautiful. Something found in and through our God. My prayer is that during this season we, individually and as the Church, may be open and create room and opportunities for our God to show up. The author of 2 Peter puts it this way, “The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.” (2 Peter 3:9, CEB) In other words, our God is giving each of us time to practice seeing God in small ways so that we’ll recognize our God when God arrives in the big ways. God’s being revealed in seemingly random glimpses here and there in all of our everyday lives. Especially during this season of Advent and Christmastide, may we each have the patience to pause and look for these little divine bursts of our God shining in and through our lives. Blessings & Shalom, Pastor Mary Finance Committee Update From the Treasurer Mission & Outreach News Through November 9th, we have made great strides towards our goal, collecting $4094 in additional giving. With the anonymous match, that total is $8,188, which puts us over the halfway point. We would like to thank those who have helped us towards our year end goal, and ask that everyone continue to keep our Church and finances in your prayers. From Nancy Winans Rummage Sale 2014 was a success!! Thank you to all the volunteers who make it happen, especially Ken Forney!! Proceeds will go to the General Fund. Dave Godshall, Treasurer is Saturday December 6th from 5-7 pm. Please come for fellowship, decorating the church and learning about our Advent Project. Memorial Fund “There is little doubt among those who knew him – Harold Hennessy was one of a kind. Although born and brought up in Rochester, attending the U of R for a short time, and serving in World War II, he moved to Lima in 1951, and very soon became an active participant in civic and community affairs. Not long after arriving, he was elected Justice of the Peace in Lima, and most of us knew him as the “common sense” judge who doled out wisdom and kindness, along with creative ‘sentences’ uniquely designed to fit the crime, the individual, and the specific circumstances. The Judge became ‘legendary’ in Lima, touching many lives for the better, and serving in that role for 32 years. But Judge Hennessy had many other interests, including antique furniture, art, and other collectibles, as well as gardening, travel, history, civic affairs and public service. He served on the Lima Town Board, was a past president of the Lima Rotary and the Livingston County Magistrates Associates, a lifetime member of the Lima Historical Society, and a friend and advisor to anyone in town who sought his help. For many years, he ran a small mail order ‘toy’ business from his stately historic home on East Main Street, surrounded by his collections and family heirlooms. He was particularly proud of having toured China at the age of 84. He died at the Episcopal Home in Rochester in December 2007. Hanging of the Greens If you haven’t heard, we are collecting items to make gift bags for the children at the Refugee Health Clinic in Rochester. We want to make as many bags as possible filled with; warm socks, trial sized toothbrush and paste, crayons, small pad of paper, comb, trial size Band-Aids, small stuffed animal. We will be assembling the bags on the 6th to be distributed at the clinic during December. We will also be collecting gift cards for Wal-Mart and RTS Bus Passes during the month of December for the clinic. Charter Circle The Charter Circle ladies continue to meet quarterly and enjoy the Christian fellowship. Thank you for your generous donations of Market Place and Mendon Meadows tapes over the past year. We were able to give $100 to Riley’s Mission of Peace and $50 to the local Food cupboard and are planning to donate $100 toward Ministries Shares and $50 again to the local Food Cupboard. We are so sorry to hear about the death of one of our wonderful charter members, Eleanor Jones. She was the epitome of a Christian and church member. She will be sorely missed. A donation will be given to the Memorial Fund in memory of her from the Charter Circle. What gifts do we bring? Oct/Nov Attendance Offering Other Oct 26th 63 $1,749 $2,087 Nov 2rd 62 $1,932 0 Nov 9th 52 $3,139 0 Nov 16th 55 $3,947 $303.68 Nov 23rd 69 $1,997 0 Announcements Christmas Flowers It's time to think about ordering your Christmas plants. Order forms will be included in the weekly bulletins on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7. Orders are due to Ginny Winchester by Dec. 7 and payment by Dec. 14. Your plants will be arranged for the Christmas Eve services and you're welcome to take them home after either service. Your plant will be labeled with your name. Christmas Eve Worship Services Please join us to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus in worship on Christmas Eve. We will be holding two worship gatherings on Tuesday night December 24th. Our 7:00 p.m. worship is a family orientated service and the 11:00 p.m. service will be more reflective. Come out to one or both as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Christmas Eve Annual Open House Come join us on Christmas Eve between the two church services. Celebrate the beginning of Christmas with friends, food, and music. Gary and Lynn Albright Date: Dec. 24th, 2014 Time: 8:00p.m.-10:00p.m. Place: 96 W. Main St. Honeoye Falls, NY Questions: 582-1473 #GivingTuesday - Dec. 2 Visit umcom.org/givingtuesday to learn why Imagine No Malaria and ICT4D should top this year's Christmas giving list Community Events! Check out the bulletin boards at church. There are many upcoming events in our community during December for the Holidays! December 6th – Annual Teazaar - First Presbyterian Church of Honeoye Falls December 6th – HF Community Band Concert December 13th - Victorian Tea - East Bloomfield United Methodist Church. Advance tickets required (585)657-7220 or (585)657-7076 to order tickets and for more information. December 21st – Annual Living Nativity – Harry Allen Park 6:30pm Living Nativity The Annual Community "Living Nativity" Pageant remains one of Honeoye Falls cherished traditions. With this being the 32nd annual performance, the community will be able to enjoy the Christmas story as depicted by young people in our area. This year's pageant will be December 21st (Sunday) at 6:30 P.M. in Harry Allen Park. Come dressed for the weather; bring a flashlight, lots of friends and family members to this beloved village tradition. Refreshments following the program. Note: Cookies are needed for the Living Nativity on December 21st. Anyone interested in helping supply cookies of any kind for this community event, please drop them off at the Scout House on December 21st between 5:30p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Save the Date! Beginning in mid-January, a 6 week Adult Bible Study is going to be offered at the home of Duane and Marie Thompson (2630 Clay St., Lima, NY 14485). There have been a number of folks who’ve expressed an interest in learning more about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, and what it means to be United Methodist. The study that we’ll be utilizing is Adam Hamilton’s “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived it”. Over our 6 week study we’ll journey with Adam Hamilton as he travels to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring Wesley’s defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. John Wesley’s story is our story. It defines our faith and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion. Wesley’s message and his faith continue to speak to 21st-century Christians, calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed. Here’s a link to a brief video discussing the upcoming study: http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/Dynamic Content.aspx?id=276&pageid=1807 We hope that you’ll be able to join us FISH (FRIENDS in SERVICE HERE) Call for Volunteer Dispatchers and/or Drivers FISH is a community group organized to serve Honeoye Falls, Lima, North Bloomfield, Mendon and West Bloomfield. Our purpose is not to duplicate services of established social agencies, public and private, only to supplement their work. There is no financial charge made for any services and no financial remuneration for any service rendered. All program costs are supported by donations. The purpose of the program is to provide transportation to doctors, dentists, hospital appointments, etc. Helpers needed We’re in need of adult volunteers to assist as helpers in the children (Kindergarten / 1st Grade Class) and youth (3rd thru 6th Grade Class) Sunday School classes. We’re in need adult helpers for the following dates: Kindergarten/1st Grade Class Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Mar. 1, Mar. 15, Mar. 29, Apr. 2, Apr. 26, May 3, May 17, May 31 3rd thru 6th Grade Class Mar. 1, Mar. 15, Mar. 29, Apr. 2, Apr. 26, May 3, May 17, May 31 If you’re available to help, there will be sign-up sheets in the Sunday Worship Notebooks that are circulated during the Worship Service. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Darlene Vullo via phone (585-624-9058) or email (Vullod@clinassoc.com) Christian Formation is one of our highest priorities in our community of faith, and we’re asking that you prayerfully consider assisting as a helper in our children and youth Sunday School. We are in need of dispatchers and drivers to provide assistance for those in need. Do you have some free time during the weekdays? Dispatchers: These volunteers are given a day a month to handle the phone calls that are relayed to them from the Answering Service. These volunteers should be near their phones from 8:00AM until 5:00 PM Most calls are in the morning. The dispatcher calls the person requesting help. Most of the calls require a driver. The dispatcher working from a list of approved drivers seeks a driver who then in turn calls the requestor to finalize details. (Continued next page) Fish Call for Volunteers Continued Drivers: We ask our drivers to take the training that Lifespan (Give a Life) offers. This training is beneficial as it explains and demonstrates how properly to give aid to clients while transporting. The training is held once a month at Lifespan. Once a month you would give a report to Donald Vogt of the rides you provided, time involved and miles driven and this information is then sent to Lifespan (Give a Lift). Drivers can except or decline each time as your own personal schedule allows. You can also set perimeters on distance. The FISH program has been in existence for forty years and provides a valuable service to the community. Please consider volunteering your time to support this very important program for those individuals in need. For more information, please call Donald Vogt at 585624-8388. The Honeoye Falls-Lima School District is now taking applications for the 2015-2016 Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Program, a FREE NY State Education Department, grant-funded initiative. The UPK program for four-year-olds enhances language, literacy, physical, creative expression and social/emotional attributes through play, learning centers, and investigation. All UPK Teachers are NYS Certified. All children who are residents of the Honeoye Falls-Lima School District, will be four years old by December 1, 2015, are able to attend a 2 1/2 hour program, 5 days a week (regular attendance is mandatory) and have a completed application by the deadline January 9, 2015, are eligible for the program. There is no fee to complete an application. The two community-based sites for the HFL UPK program are Great Expectations Child Care Center in Lima and Mendon Child Care Center in Mendon. A lottery is held in mid-January accepting 28 children into the upcoming 2015-2016 School Year Program. For more information and to obtain an application, please contact Lisa Moosbrugger, Lima School Principal, at 624-7140 or online at HFLCSD. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a Wise Man I would do my part. Yet, what can I give him? Give my heart. -- Christina Rossetti Halloween Connections- Thank yous! (some are also posted on the bulletin board by the Sanctuary door) Thank you so much for the Halloween care package. It was a wonderful surprise to get me through midterms. Hope everything is well at church and everyone has a safe and fun holiday season. Emily Machiele HFUMC Family, Thank you so much for the care package! It definitely brightened the Halloween spirit of my whole floor! Also, thank you to everyone who helped me win the costume contest on Facebook. I couldn’t have done it without you. I am glad to know that I have such a supportive church family behind me as I continue on this adventure! Thanks again, Sarah Dear HFUMC, Thank you so much for the care package! It was a very pleasant surprise on a rainy day. I’m doing well this semester; everything is going wonderfully! I hope everyone is well back home, thanks again. Cole Hello Church Family! Jada & I wanted to say Thank You very much for our Halloween package!!! Jada made sure to share it with the neighborhood kids. She said she loves our "Home Church Family". We love ya'll & thanks again. *Missy & Jada* Dear Church Family, As always, thank you so much for my Halloween care package! I did have to bring some to share at work because my roommate and I were enjoying it a little too much. We set up our decorations right away and were playing with our bat whistles for the rest of the night. It really helped us finally get into the Halloween spirit! Thanks again and I will see you all for the upcoming holidays! Emily Winans We Welcome Valerie Reuman and Willow Finch to Our Community of Faith! Valerie Reuman, and her daughter, Willow Finch, have been coming to church as often as they can for the past two years. Val was brought up in a different Protestant denomination, but when she moved to Fairport in the mid 1990s, she and her family began attending the Fairport United Methodist Church. Val taught Sunday School there. Eight years ago, the family moved to the very southern part of Lima, where they enjoy having a barn and several horses, and when they looked for a Methodist Church, they found HFUMC. Both Val and Willow said they really enjoy our worship service and the way Pastor Mary connects all the different aspects of it. Willow finds the church service interesting, and Val especially loves Mary’s sermons. Val can tell that Mary puts a lot of time and thought into them, and she loves watching the circular nature of them as Mary begins with a certain thought, includes scripture and personal experience, and brings it all back to where it first began. Val and Willow also love the way Darrell changes pews from Sunday to Sunday and talks to people sitting nearby, thus getting to know everyone. Val has worked as a psychotherapist since 1992. She is in private practice and has an office in the South Wedge near the new College Town. She states that she loves her work, and it’s clear that she does. She lights up when she talks about it. Willow, a Junior at HFL, is an active young woman who really likes people and socializing and gets along well with everyone. She participates in track and soccer and is currently on the Nordic ski team. She volunteers extensively and is a member of Interact, a group of students who volunteer for community events. She also works on the yearbook and is a member of the Green Team, which promotes environmentally sound practices. She works part time at Ruck’s Pizza Kitchen in Lima. Willow was very interested in two psychology classes she took at school and is currently thinking about becoming a criminal psychologist. There are two other daughters in the family. Hannah, 18, is a freshman at SUNY Cortland and is interested in Occupational Therapy or possibly Speech Language Pathology. Placid, 14, is a freshman at HFL and is a serious and very successful horseback rider. Another member of the family is Rachel, who works as a secretary in Val’s office, has served as a nanny to the girls, and currently participates in the life of the household as needs arises. Welcome to HFUMC, Val and Willow! Margot Long 12/2 12/10 12/12 12/13 - Phil Dewey Jeff Bastow Liam Lyle Alexis Zwetsch, Debbie Laraway 12/15 - Keith Knox Otis Marlowe 12/6 - Jeff & Jane Endicott Celebrate! 12/18 12/19 12/21 12/23 12/25 - Anita Forney Laurel Dettman Glenn Zwetsch Colleen Dunn Robbins Doug Brooks Darrell Rublee 12/30 - Bailey Clark Burdett December 2013 Sunday Monday 1 Tuesday Wednesday 2 3 GivingTuesday 11:45am –1:00pm Thursday 4 Friday 5 HFUMC Visit umcom.org/givingtue Women’s Small sday to learn why Group Bible Study Imagine No Malaria and ICT4D should top this year's Christmas giving list. Worship 10:30am Sunday School: Youth 9:30 Adult 9:15 8 9 10 7:00 pm Operations Team Mtg 7:00 pm Bell Choir 11:45am –1:00pm 11 12 Worship 10:30am Sunday School: Youth 9:30 Adult 9:15 4:00 pm Confirmation Class 6:00 pm Walk to Emmaus gathering 21 Worship 10:30am Sunday School: Youth 9:30 Adult 9:15 Worship 10:30am Sunday School: Youth 9:30 Adult 9:15- 13 5:00 pm Handbell concert 15 16 17 7:00 pm Bell Choir 11:45am –1:00pm 18 19 20 25 26 27 HFUMC Women’s Small Group Bible Study Jan – Feb Newsletter Deadline 22 23 7:00 pm Leadership Team meeting 7:00 pm Bell Choir 28 8:00 am Men's Club 9:00 am Breakfast at the Parsonage HFUMC Women’s Small Group Bible Study 4:00 pm Girl Scout Meeting 14 6 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Hand2Plow Session #2 5:00 pm Hanging of the greens and refugee kit assembly 7:00 pm Bell Choir 7 Saturday 29 December 7 Greeters: Joe Menear & Friend Lector: Carol Hayden Sound: Chris Hunt Hospitality: McCagg & Hunt Counters: Sarah & Lynn Flowers for Altar: Margot Long in memory of Margaret and Parmelee Cusak 30 24 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service 8:00 pm Annual Open House at Albright’s 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Service Joyous Christmas 31 7:00 pm Bell Choir Sunday Volunteers December 14 December 21 Greeters: Carolyn Burt & friend Lector: Riley O’Flynn Sound: Ken Forney Hospitality: Coffee Counters: Lisa & Duane Flowers for Altar: Bill & Jan Connor grandson Issac Demay’s 10th birthday Greeters: Gary & Lynn Albright Lector: Jim Kanaley Sound: Rick Snipe Hospitality: Kanaley & Vullo Counters: Tom & Bob Flowers for Altar: Don & Sharon Barnes in memory of Charles Ferguson Sr. (Sharon’s dad) December 28 Greeters: Richard Parham & family Lector: Margo Long Sound: Drew Moore Hospitality: Coffee Counters: Rick & Ken Flowers for Altar: PRAYER CLOSET The “Prayer Mail” Email Address is hfumcprayer@gmail.com If you notice that you haven’t gotten a prayer email in a while, please check your junk or spam folder to see if they went there. Please add the email address in your contact list to ensure delivery in the future. If you think you may have been dropped from the list or would like to be added, please note this on the blue cards Sunday morning or contact the church office. STRENGTH, HEALING AND GUIDANCE: Rebecca Welsh (Martha Shipe’s sister), Bob Wilkins (Sis Burton’s brother-in-law), Agnes Marlowe, Amy Acampora, Upper New York Annual Conference and our church leaders, Fran Wheeler, Pastor Samuel and Community UMC (Uganda), Susie Sergeant Wright, Mary Versprille (friend of Margot Long), Debbie Bastow, Rhonda Connor (Bill Connor’s sister in law), Marge Kuch (Margot Long’s cousins wife) OUR FRIENDS AT HOME: Hazel Gunzalus and Olive Treat SYMPATHY: The Family of Eleanor Jones The Family of Curt Barker, The Family of Nancy Neubauer, The Family of Hugh Donaldson, The Family of Steve Calos, COLLEGE STUDENTS: Ann Kelly, J. R. O'Flynn, Brenda Mathias, Justin Sellman, Cole Matthews, Zach Terwiliger, Emily Machiele, MEN AND WOMEN IN SERVICE: Stephen Battle USA, Scott Flood USA, Dennis Bonavilla, Cathy Avery Hallett Joseph Bonavilla, USAF, Curtis Clark, USMC, Peter Kester USAF, Cory and Katrina Jeffrey Krulick, Critchley USA, Peter J. Lang USMC, Michael Fanton USN, Becky Lasch, Nathan Fanton USA, The Family of Eric Forney, The Family of Margaret Cusack, The Family of Lois Parsons, The Family of Rich Scholl Patrick Thompson, Emily Winans, Jamie Young, Sarah Forney, Arcadia Fairchild, Joseph Moore Melissa Mantegna USAF, Douglas Ninkovick, Airman Poffard, Michael Pullen USA, John Rider USAF, Colleen Dunn Robbins USN, Scott Robbins USN, Tim Rowlinson USA, Mike and Charniah Smrekar USN, Steven Tschiderer USA, Greg Dewey USN HONEOYE FALLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 31 East Street Honeoye Falls NY 14472 Address Service Requested “Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve” WEEKLY SERVICES ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:15 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 9:30 AM SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:30 AM PASTOR: Rev. Mary Rublee 585-497-7041 rev.maryrublee@gmail.com Christmas Eve Worship Services Please join us to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus in worship on Christmas Eve. We will be holding two worship gatherings on Tuesday night December 24th. Our 7:00 p.m. worship is a family orientated service and the 11:00 p.m. will be more reflective. Come out to one or both as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ If you no longer wish to receive the Newsletter please contact the church office at 624-3387 or office.hfumc@gmail.com Thank you! CHURCH OFFICE: Secretary: Donna Hickling 585-624-3387 office.hfumc@gmail.com Website: www.honeoyefallsumc.org Office hours are posted weekly on the Church St. door and in the Sunday bulletin. DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Joe Blackburn 244-3538 MINISTERS: EVERY MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION LEADERSHIP TEAM: Sue Godshall 582-1351
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