December 2011 Issue

   January CHIMES Deadline: December 14; 12:00 Noon.

Mission Possible: Flowers last about a week, gift cards get lost, and cash gifts dissolve into checking accounts. Now, imagine being able to turn your monetary gift into priceless human investments. What better way to honor the holy Christmas season and celebrate important milestones in the lives of people you care most about!  Click images/File/MissionPossible Brochure 2011PDF.pdf to see the Mission Possible Informationional Brochure.

Lay Away Possible with Mission Possible: If you would like to start saving now for your donation to Mission Possible, you can use our convenient “Lay Away Plan.”  Simply pick up one of the containers from the Welcome Center in the Atrium, put it in an appropriate location in your home, and then start setting aside money for your Christmas offering to missions.

Christmas Services at Chester United Methodist Church   

Administrative Council Minutes

The Administrative Council met on October 24, 2011.

·         We briefly reviewed the principles of Simple Church by Eric Geiger.

·         Council approved 2012 Goals, with one addition. (Minutes are available in the church office – goals are attached.)

·         Finance updated the council on 2012 budget projections, and will present a final budget for approval at the December meeting.

·         Staff-Parish reported on changes in staff and staffing goals for 2012.

·         Council approved the recommended list of church leaders for 2012.

·         Council heard reports from the Nursery School Advisory Board and approved the revised Nursery School Policy. (Policy attached to minutes.)

·         Witness, Communications, United Methodist Men, and United Methodist Women gave reports.

·         Council approved recommendations from the Transportation Committee on Chester UMC Transportation and Van Use.

The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 18, at 6:15 p.m. Council meetings are open to all members of the church. We welcome your presence and your prayers.

Beth Moore Study: Ladies, the next session of Monday bible classes begins January 16 at the church. We will be studying the book of James at 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM. Come join us for another wonderful Beth Moore Study! Please contact July Ferry (530-5009) if you would like a book ordered for you or if you have any questions.  

There is a Christmas Tree in the Atrium

that needs YOUR attention! It is the Chester UMC "Sharing Tree." There are ornaments on the tree free for the taking! Each ornament represents an adult with an intellectual disability who lives in Chesterfield County and does not have family or will not receive Christmas gifts without your help. Here's how it works: Choose an ornament from the tree no later than December 11. Bring your items back labeled with the ID# of the ornament you chose & place under the tree by December 18 (wrapped or unwrapped). Gift ideas are on the ornament for your convenience. Even in tough times, there is always enough to share! Help make the difference in the life of someone who is in need this Christmas! Individuals, families, small groups, & Sunday school classes are all welcome to participate! There are also whole families in need! Please contact Melissa Moore (314-6589 / moorem@chesterfield.gov ) with questions or if your class/group would like to sponsor a family.  

Broadwater Children’s Book Drive:  It was noticed recently that the children of Broadwater have very few books available for them to borrow and/or read in their clubhouse (which is also the home of the after-school tutoring program).  Please consider bringing your gently used children’s or young adult books to be donated to our friends.  There is a bin in the Mission Closet designated for Broadwater Books.  If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Hodell at Rebecca_Hodell@ccpsnet.net or Amy Gray at amygray@verizon.net.  Thanks!! 

Santa Wants You to remember to sign up for DINNER FOR 6 + 2! Groups are forming this month for the

January-March 2012 Session. After the Christmas rush is over, lets al relax and get together for some great food and fellowship! Everyone is welcome to our tables! Contact Janis Hargrave (526-4156) or register in the pew pads.

Stephen Ministry: The symbol for the Stephen Ministry is a cross and a circle along with a broken person and a whole person. The broken person behind the cross symbolizes the brokenness in our lives due to our sin and imperfections. The whole person in front of the cross symbolizes the wholeness we can only receive through the cross of Jesus. The circle symbolizes both the wholeness we receive through Christ and God’s unending love for us.  

Calling All Middle and High School Youth:               

December is right around the corner and the month is filled with opportunities of fellowship, worship, laughter and love shared with family and friends. This month is perfect for the youth to share in several very special activities. The activities listed below are for middle and high school students!

·         Christmas Decorating Pizza Party: Wednesday, November 30; 6-8 PM at Youth Cottage

We will eat pizza, start up those Christmas carols and decorate your youth cottage!

·         Christmas Open House : Sunday, December 11; 12-1:30 Pm at Youth Cottage

What a wonderful opportunity to show off the Youth Cottage and fellowship with our church family.

·         Caroling Party: Wednesday, Decemberf 21; 5:30-8:30 PM

Meet at the Youth Cottage and together we’ll make a joyful noise!

·         Ice Skating: Sunday, January 1; Time TBA

All middle and high school students are invited to enjoy an afternoon of ice skating which as become a holiday tradition.

 Chester UMC Middle and High School Youth Groups have had a busy fall fostering relationships and making wonderful memories by participating in missions and through our weekly meetings and devotions. If you have not visited our middle and high school youth groups, it is NOT too late! It’s NEVER too late! Middle School Youth meet on Sundays from 4-5 PM at the Youth Cottage. High School Uth meet on Wednesdays from 6-8 PM.

 December is the perfect time to slow down from you rbusy schedule and find time to share in the celebration of Jesus’ birthday! We hope to see you!

 Shout Outs: Thank you to all of the wonderful church family for providing snacks and transportation and for volunteering on youth nights. We are truly blessed to be part of such a loving church!

Young Adults(ages 22ish-35ish) are invited to a Christmas Gathering at Joshua’s condo on Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00 PM.  Bring your favorite cookie, dessert or appetizer/finger food and come prepared to sing Christmas carols around the piano!  You may want to consider carpooling as parking in the city can be a challenge.  (101 W. Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220).  Please send me an email to let me know you’ll be coming!  (music@chesterumc.org)

Children’s Music Ministry will be in high gear this month.  His Kids and Kids Praise will perform along with the Chancel Choir during the Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 11 at 8:30 and 11 AM, Saturday, December 17 at 5 PM and again on Sunday, December 18 a

5 PM.  Please have your children dressed in festive winter wear and in the music suite 20 minutes prior to each performance.  Then on Christmas Eve, the Cherub Choir will open our 4 PM service followed by a mini-musical presented by His Kids and Kids Praise.  Rehearsals are being held on Sunday afternoons at 4 PM.  Watch your e-mail for more information.

Hosts and Facilitators Needed: The next Home Group sessions will begin the week of January 22. This will be a six week study entitled The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns and it is accompanied by a study guide. Home groups provide opportunities to form friendships, to grow in faith and to become more involved in the life of the church. If you are interested in opening your home and/or in leading a group, please contact Stan and Diane Hargraves (706-1454 or dash84@comcast.net).

Needed: Kroger Fundraising Program Coordinator: Kroger has an easy, effective program to raise money. It costs the organization and its members nothing. Kroger gives 5% of the total back to the organization. One church in our area benefited by $10,000 in one year! We just need someone to coordinate this for us. For more information, go to www.Kroger.com. If you are interested in helping the church raise funds for vital ministries through this program please speak with Pastor Marg.

Help Needed to File for 501c3: If you can assist the church with filing to become a 501c3, please contact Jerri Hunter, Financial Administrator.

United Methodist Women News:

·         Saturday, December 3—Petersburg District UMW Advent Retreat--Meet in the CUMC parking lot at 8:30 AM to carpool together. Registration is required. Call Susan Petrey for details.

·         December 4—UMW Sunday and 12 noon Salad Luncheon—All Women of the Church are invited to a luncheon meeting of the UMW on Sunday, December 4 immediately following 11 o’clock worship. Bring a salad or dessert to share. We’ll prepare gift bags for United Methodist Family Services; call your fellowship leader or Susan Petrey to see what you can bring.

·         Fellowships:

o   Frances Allen Fellowship will meet on Tuesday, December 13 at the home of Sarah Jane Mick for covered dish dinner. All women of the church are welcome. Call Janis Hargrave, 526-4156, for details.

o   Ada Mae Bookman Fellowship will meet Thursday, December 8, 10 AM at the home of Linda Large to prepare cookies for shut-ins. Call Martha Miles, 748-5476, for details.

o   Jean Craig Fellowship will meet Monday, December 5, 6:00 PM at the home of Susan Petrey for dinner, wrapping Christmas family presents and Cookie Swap! Call Susan Petrey, 275-9258, for details and to learn what you can bring.

Call Susan Petrey, 275-9258, to learn more about UMW, our three participating fellowships, and how you can become involved.

Join the Fresh Start Sunday School Class in Study, Fellowship and Service:

·         Advent Series—The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem—Beginning Sunday, November 27 journey with us as author and pastor Adam Hamilton leads us from Nazareth to Bethlehem in this fascinating look at the birth of Jesus Christ. Using historical information, archaeological data, and a personal look at some of the stories surrounding the birth, the most amazing moment in history will become more real and heart-felt as you walk along this road.

·         Join us as we plan our Class Christmas Gathering--We’ll decorate the CUMC Chrismon Tree, gather for dinner together and wrap presents for our Chesterfield-Colonial Height Christmas Mother children.

The Fresh Start Class meets every Sunday morning at 9:45 in room 207. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Call Susan Petrey, 275-9258, for more information.

Blocktober Fest 2011 Follow-Up:

Broadwater Townhomes wishes to thank all partners that participated in our abbreviated versions of Blocktober Fest. In spite of the cold and rainy weather, Bloctober Fest 2011 was a major success in its abbreviated indoor format. All that were present had a lot of fun eating popcorn and candy apples and participating in games and activities. We look forward to partnering with everyone again next year…hopefully under better weather conditions.Click images/File/Blocktober Fest 2011 Photo Insert PDF.pdf to see the Blocktoberfest 2011 Photo Gallery.

CARITAS FOLLOW-UP:

We had a wonderful week with our CARITAS Family guests this year. We were so blessed to have them at CUMC.

Our youth put on a wonderful Halloween Party with outside games and trunk or treating in the parking lot.

Thanks to all of our gracious volunteers, our guests enjoyed warm and filling dinners and breakfasts and took lunches with them each day. We had committed volunteers who took home laundry and spent the night at the church. To each of our volunteers, a heartfelt thank you.

We look forward to hosting CARITAS again; however, we will need to form a team to effectively disperse the responsibilities. If you are interested in being on the team for the next CARITAS event, please contact Julie Ferry (530-5009 or juliejferry@gmail.com) or register in the pew pad.

Choir CD’s Make Great Stocking Stuffers We have a limited stash of Chancel Choir Tour CD’s from our 2006, 2008 and 2010 tours.  These albums are full of some our favorite anthems.  At just $10 each, these make great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.  Stop by the music suite to pick up your copies today!  Email Joshua to reserve your order in advance (music@chesterumc.org). Checks should be made payable to CUMC with “Tour CD” on the memo line.

Congratulations to Dollie and Malcolm Stone who will celebrate their 60^th Wedding Anniversary on December 2! Let’s honor their special day by showering them with cards from their church family! Their mailing address is:

Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Stone

12437 Petersburg Street; Chester

Chester, VA 23831

Memorial Donations Received:                                                                                               

In Memory of Virginia Woodbury

Susan Payes

Bellwood Woman’s Club, Defense Supply Center Richmond

The Hermitage Country Store will be open to the public on Friday, December 2, from 11 AM to 3 PM. The Hermitage is located at 1600 Westwood Avenue. Direct your questions to the Hermitage at 474-1800.