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December 12, 2007
Angel Tree Program
Angel Tree recipients are persons participating in the Exodus House Redemption Fellowship Prison Ministry of the Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church. This ministry provides a support system for persons who have been in prison and are trying to reenter society in a positive way. This support includes counseling of many kinds, including 12 step programs, budgeting, Bible study, church services and housing. The persons are carefully selected and have many rules to live up to in order to be allowed to stay in the program. The “Angels” on the tree are families in this program; adults and their children.We will also have angel ornaments for 25 hygiene kits that will be given to participants as needed. The staff at Exodus House Redemption Fellowship will distribute the gifts. THE GIFTS MUST BE AT THE CHURCH BY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16. In addition to the personal items “wished for”they have need of a used computer, used vacuum cleaner, and new or used bunk beds for a family with 11 children living with their mother & grandmother in a 3 bed room house. If you could donate any of these items it would be much appreciated.
Christmas Eve Service
4:30 Organ Prelude
5:00 Worship Service
Welcome on Wednesdays!
Food for Mind, Body & Soul
February 6--March 12
6:30 p.m. Lenten Suppers
7 p.m. Classes & Small Groups
Childcare provided
Sign up today for Disciple Bible
& Weems studies
The Today Show Foundation is giving the Oklahoma United Methodist Church approximately 180,000 toys and other products to distribute to needy children in Oklahoma for Christmas! The OKUMC is only the third organization to receive free toys and gifts through this foundation. This ministry is being called “Project Noel”. You can see the website at this address: http://www.okumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=914. United Methodist churches and agencies (e.g., Skyline) around the state automatically qualify to receive toys for distribution.
A warehouse is being set up at I-40 and Meridian to receive the shipments of toys, and then to fill orders that come in from all over the state. There are lots of volunteer opportunities with this project, because it will take many volunteers to make this happen. NHUMC’s Mission Committee is one of the first to apply to be a distributor of toys for our Conference’s Project Noel. Our Mission Committee has agreed to host our Acolytes in a “Project Noel” to provide 60+ gifts to children, through their social workers, who are the poorest of the poor in our neighborhood. Children’s Council will sponsor a gift wrapping party on Sunday, December 16 at 5:00. All children and youth 3rd grade and older and their parents are invited to come enjoy snacks and wrap presents for Project Noel. If you have questions call Rev. Rebecca Morton, 842-1486.
Project Noel Wrapping Party
Families with children third grade and older are invited to join us in our Gift Wrapping Party for Project Noel on Dec. 16 at 5:00. We will wrap in room 206 in the children’s classroom upstairs.
Come Join the Ladies Bible Study
If you haven’t heard how wonderful the Ladies Bible Study is then you haven’t been around. A new study begins January 9 with Charlette Perryman as the study leader. The cost for the study book, Disciple, is $30. To order your copy please call Karen in the church office, 842-1486, or email her at ksledge@nicholshillsumc.org. You must order and pay for your book before you get your copy from the church office. Charlette requests that you read the first lesson before coming to the Jan. 9 meeting. The study will be taken at a slower, less intense pace, than usually studied.
As a child sitting in evening church services, on occasion during thunder storms the lights in the small sanctuary would be ‘knocked out.’ Darkness would overtake the congregation, adults and children alike.
Since my mother was the church pianist she would have to sit near the piano. I would often sit alone in the congregation. When the storm induced darkness would fall, it would have been real easy for a child, suddenly wrapped in darkness to be frightened. Easy that is had it not been for a simple act by the pastor. It never failed that whenever the lights went out, the pastor would begin singing, and he would also begin singing the same song. The words are these:
We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light,
Come where the dew drops of mercy are bright.
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Years would pass and the song went silent that so often had brought peace in the face of darkness with its words and melody to a young child.
Then one day in Weatherford, OK I was in my office at the church. Evening had come and I was alone . . . I thought. I heard the UPS truck pull outside my office window, and soon I heard the doors of the church open. I thought, “Ezra (the UPS driver) is sure running late today.”
That’s when I heard whistling. Ezra was coming down the hall toward the church office and the tune he was whistling . . . (would you believe?) . . . was the chorus tune I hadn’t heard since a child.
When Ezra cleared the office door I was waiting for him. “Ezra,” I said, “were you whistling ‘We’ll walk in the light?’” He smiled and said, “I sure was. Do you know the song?”
“Do I know the song?!” I repeated.
Well, I’m still not through with this song. Or it’s not through with me. For just last year did I discover the song anew while listing to a CD of early American folk Christmas carols. One of the selections started singing the chorus which I knew all too well. But to my surprise, the choral group then started singing a stanza. And to my even greater surprise I learned that in 1890 a man name George Elderkin had taken Charles Wesley’s hymn “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” and using the first phrase of each stanza written by Wesley, Elderkin would then insert the phrase “Jesus, the Light of the world.” The chorus I knew so well was part of a much larger hymn with an even richer history.
Since this song keeps coming around and finding me, I can’t help but wonder where it’ll show up next. -
Grayson L. Lucky
Elementary Children’s Church Moves Upstairs
In order to better meet the needs of our Sunday school in the use of shared classroom space with Children’s Day Out, our worship time with younger elementary will move upstairs to classroom 205 this week. While children are always welcome to remain in our worship services, age-appropriate lessons are offered for children ages K thru 3rd following the Children’s Moment in the 10:50 worship service.
Beginning with the lighting of the first advent candle, our children will learn why this candle is sometimes called the prophet’s candle. And just as those who remain in worship learn about Isaiah’s dream for peace, children who go to Children’s Church, will learn about the hope of the prophet as introduced in the Children’s Moment.
Blessings & Joy!
Rev. Rebecca Morton
2008 Faith Promises
While the stewardship campaign has done very well thus far, it still takes all of us doing our very best to have a successful campaign. We need the support of each and every member of our congregation so the church can meet the opportunities that God will put before it next year. If you have not done so, please complete your card, bring it to the church on Sunday, and place it in the offering basket, or put it in the mail. If either of those options is not convenient for you, call Vicki Gilstrap, Financial Secretary (842-1486, X305) to give a verbal commitment.
Living the Questions
There are still four lessons remaining in the Living the Questions series led by Dr. Jim and Helen Taylor. We will meet January 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the ABC classroom. Supper will be offered at 6:00 p.m. just as during the fall WOW at a cost of $6 for adults. - Rev. Rebecca Morton
No Squirrels Allowed!
There are still some pecans for sale, but varieties are limited. Choose from cinnamon glazed, whole, and pecan pieces. The quality is great and your purchase helps to support the music ministry of our church! All varieties are $10 a bag. - Michael Wylder
Since we will begin a new year soon, it is the perfect time to choose a Sunday to honor or remember someone special in your life by lighting the Mission Candle. Sponsors donate $25 which helps support our missionaries at Exodus House. To sponsor the mission candle lighting call Karen at 842-1486, use the sign-up sheet by the church office, or email Karen at ksledge@nicholshillsumc.org.
Adult Bible Class - This past Sunday’s bad weather kept most folks at home. This Sunday’s lesson is again from Luke, chapter 1:57-80, entitled “Called to Proclaim.” From last week’s scripture to now we see Mary traveling to Elizabeth’s home city which is unnamed but was in the hill country of Judah. Mary and Elizabeth were cousins. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the baby in her womb leaped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months for the birth of John. Mary returned to Nazareth. The folks wanted Elizabeth to name the baby after his father ‘Zechariah’ but she said that he was to be called John. Zechariah wrote the name ‘John’ on a tablet and immediately his tongue was loosened. And John grew and became strong in spirit and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel. Stay tuned until next week for the birth of Jesus, our Savior. - Joe McClendon
Kiva Class - Dr. Don Capra has once again agreed to teach our class and what a treat this topics will be. On Sunday, he will be helping us answer the question “How did Christianity become the dominant religion of the western world in just 300 years after the birth of Christ?” Be sure to mark your calendars and see you on Sunday. - Don Wilson
Open Circle Class - The third Sunday of Advent will bring us to the lesson “What can we Learn from an Innkeeper?” Should be interesting! I don’t remember ever having an Advent Sunday School lesson that discussed the innkeeper. John Marshall is our teacher for the study book, titled What Can We Learn from the Christ Child?, by James W. Moore. Visitors and guests, please join us. We meet in the southernmost classroom. “Our Circle is always Open.” - Karen McLain
Roundtable Class - Well, I have to admit the storm kept us in the house this Sunday. I hope all of you who came had safe trips. The lesson for December 16 is Luke 1:56-80; entitled “Called to Proclaim.” We are located across from the Parlor. See you Sunday! - Ray Greene
Calendar of Events
Nichols Hills United Methodist Church
Church -
405-842-1486 - Fax: 405-843-1835
1212
Bedford Drive
Oklahoma City , Oklahoma 73116
www.nicholshillsumc.org
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