December 2011
North Lake United Methodist Church
Our Purpose is to provide a Center in the community where people
can gather to live out the example of Jesus Christ
Sunday School Program
Sunday, December 18th at the 10:30 am Worship
HOLIDAY EVENTS AT NORTH LAKE CHURCH
- ADVENT SUNDAY, November 27, Worship 10:30 am
Once again we will center the service around the meaning of several Chrismons that beautify our Chrismon Tree. Chrismons are Christ signatures – every symbol has meaning for the prophecy, birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus. Let us share together in this most meaningful service.
- ADVENT SUNDAY, December 18, Worship 10:30 am
The youth and children will join together to present a musical entitled 3 Wise Men and a Baby. Rehearsals are on-going during the Sunday school hour and on Wednesday evenings. All children and youth are encouraged to participate, and parents may help.
This presentation is through the efforts of Dianne Smith and Dawn Brennan, our music directors, and a special funded grant from the Christian Covenant Endowment.
- CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, 6:00 and 7:30 pm
A service of wonderful music, scripture, and candle light. Offered at two times in hopes that every family will take an hour to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. No child care provided, so families may worship together.
- CHRISTMAS SUNDAY, Worship at 10:30 am
Children are invited to bring a favorite toy, and we will bless the toys. Service will include singing Christmas Carols, a dedication of the Spire and new land, and a consecration of all our buildings and property to the glory of God. With this Sunday, we end our 175th Anniversary Celebration, and we seek God's favor as we move into a new and exciting future.
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL – December 25 or January 1
Please note we do not have Sunday school during the holidays.
Sunday school will resume at 9:30 am on January 8, 2012.
United Methodist Women
Christmas brunch & ornament exchange
Saturday, December 10th at 10:00 am
Bring a treat to share for the brunch and a wrapped ornament if you want to participate in the gift exchange. We will be gathering at Betty Hopkins' home.
2012 photo calendar
People have asked us about a calendar that would show photos from our 175th anniversary celebration year. We are presently
collecting photos, but need them to our printer by November 30th. If you have taken pictures at any events throughout the year,
please give them to Sandy as soon as possible.
We need your help:
- Locate photos of *all* events this year.
- 2012 up-coming event dates, to put on calendar. (Rummage Sale, VBS, Egg Supper, etc.)
- ORDER NOW – A sign up for the 2012 calendars will be in fellowship hall. (Cost will be $11 each) Sign up today.
For more information contact Sandy Eisele <skeisele@yahoo.com>.
Gift Ideas for Christmas Giving:
2012 Calendar
Pictures of our 175th Anniversary year - $11 each - signup at the church or email Sandy Eisele at <skeisele@yahoo.com> to reserve your calendar.
Cookbooks
Want the perfect Christmas gift? North Lake UMC 175th Anniversary Cookbooks are still available! $12.00 per copy
Baptisms and New Members
Danielle Clark and her children -- Alexis, Megan, and Logan -- were baptized on Sunday, November 13. Danielle also took the vows of membership. Please welcome this family into our midst.Danielle's parents are neighbors to Jay and Betty Hopkins, and
the family began attending when they moved across the street from the church.
Cheryl Green became a member on November 13, 2011. Cheryl has been a vital part of our church for several years now. Not
knowing if the family would move, she kept putting off joining. She has been active as our Communion Steward, and has helped with
our Vacation Bible School. She also did a lot of work on the Cookbook.
Shelly Green-Wesley also joined our church on November 13, 2011. Shelly has been hired as our new child-care assistant. She works with Crystal Meads at DTE. Shelly has a seven-year-old daughter, Jessie, adopted from Guatemala.
Aiden Lee, the son of Jonathan and Erin (Collier) Soluk, was baptized on Sunday, November 26, 2011. This is the birthday of
his grandfather, Lee Collier, who was our Lay Leader for many years.
Third Grade Bible Presentations
On Sunday, November 13, four 3rd graders were presented with Bibles by Danna Segrest, Christian Education Chairperson.
They included:
Karly Nickels, daughter of John and Lisa Nickels
Megan Clark, daughter of Danielle Clark
Logan Clark, son of Danielle Clark
Savannah Casey, daughter of Tim and Robin Casey
A Bible was also presented to Danielle Clark.
Four Week ADVENT STUDY begins
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, beginning November 28
Wednesdays at 9:00 am beginning November 29
Please join us for Advent's Angels
Session One The Angel in the Garden: Adam and Eve
Session Two The Angel in the Temple: Zechariah and Elizabeth
Session Three The Angel in Nazareth…and Beyond: Mary and Joseph
Session Four The Angels in Bethlehem: The Shepherds
Advent is a time for penitence and preparation, a time of anticipation and great joy. In spite of our sin and sorrow, our loving God has turned the tables on Satan! God kept his promise to save us by sending his Son, Jesus, to be our Savior.
In these four Advent lessons you will hear again how God's grace (his love for undeserving sinners) is always at work. God is at work in the lives of the Bible folk we will study, and God is at work in your own life. You will see how God uses his angels as agents of his grace.
Perhaps a greater appreciation and understanding of angels, these special servants of God, will grow in your heart and mind as you study these accounts of the coming of Jesus. Then, join the choir -- angels and saints alike -- to give God glory.
--Donna Streufert, author
MITTEN TREE
In Fellowship Hall
Once again we are gathering items that will bring joy to families struggling in today's economy. We call it a Mitten Tree, but you are free to bring food, toys, clothing or any gift that can make Christmas bright. Do not wrap them. Mittens, hats, and scarves will decorate the tree. Other items can be placed below it. All items must be at the church by Dec. 18 for delivery to Stockbridge Community Outreach.
KINGDOM ASSIGNMENTS draw to a close!
THE SPIRE IS UP!
If it was a football team, we would carry John Reilly on our shoulders in celebration.
If it was a presidential win, we just might add his profile to Mount Rushmore.
But today we celebrate a new spire, and we humbly thank John for his dedication to a task that was not easy to complete. With
perseverance we moved through the difficulties of township approval, through the raising of funds, through the design and architecture and engineering, through the work done in the garage, to the work done by copper craftsmen, to the preparation of the belfry, and the final placement of the spire.
Today, the work continues as they put the finishing touches on the base of the spire and bell tower. When the work is completed and the scaffolding is down, we will have a spire that will inspire many people as they travel North Territorial Road for years to come.
Many of you have noticed that in doing the work, the shingles on the sanctuary building have been breaking and falling. Reroofing has been a long overdue project. This will be another project, one that we hope to stave off until spring.
We are hoping to have a celebration meal soon, but in the meantime we have made plans to finish the 175th Anniversary year on Christmas Day, when we will dedicate the spire to the glory of God our Father, and consecrate it to our new future as we begin the new year.
Pastor Alice
Historical Committee
The Historical Committee celebrated Halloween by evaluating the past events of this celebration year. We discussed how we might handle similar events in the future. Comments from the church congregation and community were positive and this is one reason we plan to hold future cemetery walks.
We thank Frank Staffan for building our sanctuary in 1866 with a steeple pointing to the heavens. Thank you, John Reilly and crew, for once again restoring the sanctuary to its former glory. The year is not over so celebrating is still allowed. Each new day builds on our history so charge ahead our future will provide even more reason to celebrate our past
NEW ROOF NEEDED!
Friends,
We recently celebrated the installation of our wonderful new spire on our church, and in the spring the sides of the bell tower will be repaired, leaving that portion of the building looking better than ever. However, during this work we determined that the Church building's roof is in critically bad condition; we're going to have to take emergency measures (tar) to make it until spring without additional water damage. In the spring the roof MUST be replaced. We have been watching the roofs on our properties for the last decade and we have been replacing them as it became necessary. This is the only remaining roof to be replaced and though we utilized volunteer labor on the previous projects in order to be as careful with the Church's money as possible, we feel that the difficulty and danger of working on the Church's roof means that it is best handled by professionals.
The trustee committee has gotten estimates and replacing the roof on our historic building will cost just under $11,000 (ask a trustee if you wish to discuss or view the estimate we choose). This is more than double the normal entire annual operating budget for the trustees, so we must turn to you for help. A new roof will protect this building for decades to come.
As we enter Advent and approach the end of the year, and as we proceed towards spring when this project must be carried out, please consider helping us preserve the building that has been entrusted to us by those who have gone before us, so that it may continue to be a place of worship, shelter, fellowship and joy for our children.
John Ridley, Trustee
Church Council Reports
What a fantastic year this has been! The church council would like to thank all those who contributed to the wonderfully successful 175th anniversary celebrations here at North Lake UMC. We also are very proud of our weekly worship services, music, education classes, mission and outreach programs. May the newly installed spire be a beacon to the community that we are an actively involved congregation! We are truly appreciative of the many hands that keep our buildings and grounds looking attractive and welcoming. Thank you, one and all, for your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
Nancy McKinnon, Church Council Chairperson
ADVENT SONNET
By Waldo Beach
On coming to Christmas, misled, we forget
That the birth of God's son was not lovely at all.
A stench filled the gloom of the bleak manger stall.
There was blood on the straw and a halo of sweat
Around Mary's head. Soon, warned they should flee
To escape Hero's sword, by stealth in the night
The family of God was driven to flight,
As from Bethlehem's inn outcast, refugee.
But as birth of new life is sprung out of pain,
And faith out of fear, so now, once again
If we come to the stable by way of the cross
And dismantle our spirits of tinsel and dross,
We can join with glad hearts and exuberant voice
To sing with the heavenly choir, "Rejoice!"
OF CABBAGES AND KINGS December, 2011
THE FEAR OF THE LORD:
We of the Christian faith are entering the season of Advent. In the Christian faith it is the season of four Sundays before Christmas. Contrary to the secular world, which encourages the worshiping of material things, Advent is a time of prayer and fasting (not feasting). It is a period of reflection, a time when we can pause for a few moments to read those chapters which tell the story of the birth of the Christ child.
Interestingly the birth of Jesus the Christ was foretold in 742 bce in the book of Isaiah chapter 9: verse 6. "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests on his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace".
As we read the Old and New Testaments we come across the phrase "The fear of the Lord". For example in the book of Exodus chapter 18:21 -- "men who fear the Lord are trust worthy"--. And chapter 20:20 -- "and put the fear of the Lord upon you so that you do not sin". In the book of Psalms chapter 19:9 -- "the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever". Paul's letter to the Romans chapter 3:18 -- "There is no fear of God in their eyes". This phrase "the fear of the Lord" occurs throughout the Bible and I've often wondered what this phrase really means. How can we "fear" a loving, forgiving, patient God? In the past I've kind of glossed over this phrase rationalizing that maybe the biblical interpreters got their Hebrew and Greek mixed up. The book of Sirach (Apocryphal Books) chapter 1 is devoted to "the fear of the Lord"; "Fear of the Lord is true wisdom"' "The Fear of the Lord delights the heart". The evaluation of this phrase by the biblical scholars can be found in: "The New Interpreters Study Bible".
"The fear of the Lord is wisdom." Several variations of this familiar saying appear in the wisdom tradition of Israel. The phrase was not intended to foster the troublesome view of God as a stern judge or disciplinarian. On the contrary, "fear of the Lord" is based on the recognition of the HOLINESS of God. This does not deny the presence of an element of terror in those who behold the awesomeness of God and realize their own deficiency. Still, this idea is better characterized by AWE and REVERENCE than by terror and dread.
We are in Awe and Reverence of the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Shalom: Gordon Knight
co-Lay Leader.
Death of long-time member, James L. Page
James L. Page of Jackson, MI, passed away peacefully at age 90 on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. He was born on March 28, 1921 in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
He married Jean Robinson Page in 1945 and they enjoyed a long happy life together with their children, Janice and Jimmy. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together in 1995, and Jean died in 1998. Jim Page worked his entire career as a teacher and professor, and was head of the Instructional Development and Media Department, College of Education, at Michigan State University for 28 years
Following their retirement, Jim and Jean settled in at the family home on Glenbrook Dr. In 1987, they transferred their membership from the Edgewood United Church in East Lansing. They became very active members. Jim served on the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee from 1987 to 2000. Part of that time he chaired the committee. He also served a while on the Membership Care and Outreach committee with his wife, Jean, and was Lay Member to Annual Conference for four years. He and Jean also were faithful in singing in the church choir, Jim having a good bass voice.
Jim is fondly remembered by the congregation. He had an impressive appearance, big, bold and genuine. He was always very friendly and welcoming. He opened his home for choir Christmas parties, where Jim would entertain by playing his electronic organ.
In 2001, Jim drove his Corvette in the Chelsea Fair Parade to advertise the church. People would shout, "Sure we will come to your church, if we can drive your Corvette."
Jim went to Florida that winter, and met another Jean. Jean Kaser was from Jackson, MI and the couple was married in 2002. Jim enjoyed his last retirement years with Jean living at the Vista Grande Villa Retirement Community.
Thank You
Dear Friends in Mission:
Thank you for your gift in support of the following missionaries and ministries of the General Board of Global Ministries:
#3021286 PAPA's Ministries Jamaica $1,500.00
(Stove was purchased for an elementary school to
provide meals for the students )
#418790 Hot Lunch Program Haiti 10.00
#901670 Disaster Response United States 150.00
When giving through The Advance, the designated giving channel of the United Methodist Church, 100 percent of your contribution is
applied to the project(s) designated or to missionary support.
May God grant you a sense of hope and joy as you continue your support for mission.
Grace and Peace,
Roland Fenandes, General Treasurer
Across the Miles to You.
Talked to Merritt last week and learned that the steeple is finally going up! Nothing and no one can stop ;those who are determined.
We are thankful to be friends of the North Lake community. This seems like a good time to make a contribution of thanks. May you and your families have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Helena & Stew Robinovitz
Keep in your prayers
Mark and Marci (Collier) Pingaro
We invite everyone to continue sending your loving support of
prayers, cards, and letters to Mark and Marci during this
difficult time.
175th Anniversary
Membership Anniversaries for November:
The following members, who joined the church on a November
Sunday, were recognized on the third Sunday of the month with
certificates of membership:
Janet Knisely, Dale Eisele, Nancy McKinnon, John Tandy II
Answers to Weekly History Quiz by David Knisely
Nov. 6 The church secretary, Sharon Wheeler, is a member of
Dexter UMC.
Nov. 13 Rev. Sondra Willobee was pastor here from 1985-1991.
She currently is pastor at South Lyon UMC.
Nov. 20 Rev. Louis Caister was pastor here from 1954-1959.
Nov. 27 Perry and Bertha Noah farmed and also ran a small
all-purpose store and gas station on N. Territorial Rd
just east of Noah's Landing. Other mid century
businesses include Ferry's Garage (where Wrench One is);
Doug Fraser's Bait and Barber Shop; gas station where
Ugly Dog is; any others?
Dec. 4 The crocheted pieces by Veva Kalmbach that hang in the
sanctuary contain The Ten Commandments and The Lord's
Prayer.
Dec. 11 In 1869 two gallons of oil were purchased for $1.00 and
two brooms for 70 cents. Check with David Knisely for
the current value of these items.
Dec. 18 No question
Dec. 25 In 1936 the church celebrated the 100th anniversary of
its founding. James from California was a special guest.
His relatives include: Bob Eisele, Sandy Eisele, Ellie
(Gilbert) Reynolds, Charlie McDaniels, and yes, even
Jeff Daniels.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
4 Dean Adkins
10 Mary Jane Maze
14 Mary Boyce
16 Irene Bokros
16 Sharon Eisele
21 Jon Soluk
23 Sam Boyce
27 Jimmy Coffey
28 Shannon Wade
28 John Tandy II
31 Danna Segrest
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
27 John & Nancy Tandy
North Lake United Methodist Church
14111 N. Territorial Rd.
Chelsea MI 48118
webmaster@northlakeumc.org
http://www.northlakeumc.org
Alice Sheffield, Pastor. Office (734) 475-9348
Sharon Wheeler, Secretary. Church Office (734) 475-7569