GILBERT COMMUNITY CHURCH – UNITED METHODIST
202 Wisconsin Avenue West
www.gilbertcommunityumc.org
NOVEMBER - 2017
Pastor Mary Lou
Home: 218-749-2901
Cell: 218-750-2154
PASTOR’S CORNER
Well, there is no question that winter is on its’ way. As I am typing this, I hear the wind blowing. The threat of snow or should I say the mixture of snow and rain got me moving on bringing in the hoses and furniture for the winter season. I will even admit both snow blowers have been checked and are ready for the season. I am still praying that I won’t have to use them too soon or too often this winter. Halloween we are opening our door again to hand out candy, so I am hoping for the weather to cooperate. It is a great outreach to the kids in our community.
We should all be celebrating a very successful pasty sale again this year. Besides making great pasties, the fellowship itself was worth participating in making the pasties. There was laughter to be heard and one person mentioned it sounds like we were having too much fun doing it. The reports from the public are that the pasties were fantastic! A phone call asking if there were any extras was received, the caller was looking to purchase more after having eaten one of those already obtained. I had mixed feelings, happy that they enjoyed them so much, but sad I had to disappoint them, every pasty was sold. We were able to give every resident in the high rise a pasty, because of a very generous donation for that purpose. Thank you to everyone who brought family and friends with them to help and to those who prayed for us, too.
I was able to attend a workshop on missions in Duluth, which was very interesting. I came back with some ideas for the church and a big surprise. The surprise was that the Conference gave each church, who attended; fifty dollars to jump start a new mission in their home church. We have not decided what we should do yet and are open for ideas. While there, in about 30 minutes, we made up 300 health kits that will be sent to disaster areas. Thinking about all the hurricanes just in this country already this year the number does not sound like that big compared to the need, but they will be used.
Bible study on Wednesday afternoon is going well and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. I for one am being challenged to think as we go through the materials. The discussion is the best part of the study. Looking forward to getting together each Wednesday, please remember you are always welcome.
Right now the church is collecting hats, mittens, scarves, snow pants, jackets, etc. for the elementary school to have available for those in need this winter. There is a crate in back of the church for collecting. We will be taking them to the school later this month.
Advent devotionals are also in the back of the church if you want one. Advent will be starting Sunday, December 3rd, and they provide an easy way for us to take time daily with God during this special season. I will also have a sign up for your favorite Advent hymns on a clipboard in the back starting the first Sunday of this month with the hope to use all the favorites during the season. Several will be used on December 10th when the Sunday School has their program during the service, so please come and support them that Sunday.
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. God Bless each of you. He is always only a prayer away.
Pastor Mary Lou
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School continues as usual during the regular worship service. We are beginning our practice for the Christmas program. The program will be presented to the congregation on December 10th.
Sue Malevich
We had a very successful pasty sale last month. It’s amazing how God works through us as we make and sell pasties. There were enough people to get 908 pasties made. Thank you to all who came to help and those that invited friends and family to join us. It is always a great time of fellowship and community outreach! Thank you everyone!!
HANGING OF THE GREENS
November brings another special Sunday for the life of our church – “Hanging of the Greens”. On Sunday, November 26th we will be decorating our church for the Christmas season. In this special service, we will be singing many of our favorite Christmas hymns and many hands will be needed to help bring the seasonal decorations up front and we will need people willing to read describing everything that is brought forward. Please be willing to help for this service. AND Coffee An’ will be served after the service too.
Praying our way forward – We are one in Christ. Bishop Ough invites all Minnesota United Methodists to join him in Praying our Way Forward. Each Annual Conference will spend one week in intentional prayer for the mission of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and for the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. The Minnesota Conference’s week of prayer will be November 5-11, 2017. Sign up online – https://www.sloted.co/prayingourwayforwardmn - for one or more half-hour time slots when you commit to praying. Both churches and individuals can sign up.
AD COUNCIL/EVA KIEREN CIRCLE
We will be having our next Ad Council meeting on Sunday, November 5th right after the worship service. Everyone is welcome to join us.
SALVATION ARMY SUPPER CLUB
The Vineyard church has asked us to help serve at the Salvation Army Supper Club in Virginia on the third Thursday of every month. We need two volunteers every month to serve supper from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. A list with the dates is in the back….if everyone signs up this would be a wonderful way to support the Vineyard Church and our communities. We will not be helping in October due to the pasty sale…
The last Sunday of each month we will be holding a Noisy Offering…. In this offering we will pass a can and everyone will bring pocketfuls of change to put in the can and make lots of noise. This change will be donated to Range Respite. Range Respite’s mission is “to provide affordable support services for family caregivers across the lifespan”.
COFFEE AN’ will be served on Sunday, November 12th…..
Coffee servers will be Mary and Linda
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
November 11th Dee (Delores) Peterson
November 23rd Mandi Johnson
November 30th Danielle Coy
NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NOVEMBER
5th Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 (UMH 830) 19th Psalm 123 or Psalm 76 (797)
Joshua 3:7-17 Judges 4:1-7
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
12th Psalm 78:1-7 (UMH 799) 26th Psalm 100 (UMH 821)
Joshua 24:1-3, 14-25 Ezekiel 34:11-15, 20-24
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Ephesians 1:15-23
NOVEMBER LITURGIST NOVEMBER USHER
5th John Malevich 5th Jack and Gerri Makela
12th DeEtta Annala 12th DeEtta Annala and Bubs Heitzman
19th Jack Makela 19th Tom Hafdahl and Deanna Kerzie
26th Deborah Ross-Jagunich 26th Mary Thesing and Linda Thesing-Hall
YARD WORK (week runs Monday through Sunday)
October 30th-November 5th Makela
November 6th-12th Kerzie/Hafdahl
November 13th-19th Kern
November 20th-26th Malevich
November 27th-December 3 Makela