Cedar Springs United Methodist Church We Share the Love and Hope

of Jesus Christ.

December

Advent 2019: “Let Heaven and Nature Sing” Church musicians among us probably know that the great Isaac Watts hymn, “Joy to the World” turns 300 years old this year. (You can look it up – United Methodist Hymnal # 246). They also may know something of the biography of the “father of Christian hymnody.” One legend that survives tells of how Watts as a teenager complained to his father about hymn singing in the church: "To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion.” People don’t talk like that anymore, but you get the picture. Church music bored him to tears. His father proceeded to challenge him to write something better. A week later he produced his first hymn for the church, “Behold the Glories of the Lamb”, and his storied career had begun. Watts grew to be an English preacher with a gift of language. He began to learn Latin at age 4; Greek at 9; French at 11 (he wanted to converse with French refugee neigh-bors); at age 13 he was learning Hebrew. His contemporary John Wesley acknowledged him as a genius. So, there’s that… In 1719 he composed the cherished Christmas hymn, and churches ever since have reveled in "Joy to the world, the Lord is come / Let earth receive her King / Let every heart, prepare him room / And heaven and nature sing." Today we can’t have Christmas without singing it to the top of our voices, and it’s a pretty good bet that as long as there are Christ-mas songs, we’ll be singing this one. In recognition of the momentous birthday we’re taking a cue from United Methodist worship consultant Dr. Marcia McFee, who suggests building an Advent worship series around the song. Here’s the plan:

December 1: Prepare Him Room – Isaiah 2:1-5 and Psalm 122 (On Hopeful Joy) December 8: Repeat the Sounding Joy – Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12 (On Peaceful Joy) December 15: Make the Blessings Known – Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:47-55 (On Magnafied Joy) December 22: With Truth & Grace – Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25 (On Loving Joy) Christmas Eve: The Lord is Come – Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20

December 29: The Wonders of the Love - Isaiah 63:7-9 (Joy is more than Temporary) I hope you’ll join me as we unpack the genius of Isaac Watts, and see how once more the birth of our Savior “comes to make the blessings flow.” See you in church!

Bill

Worship Each Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Christmas Eve Family Style Worship at 7 p.m.

Child Care is provided for all services.

Upcoming Holiday Closures: Christmas & New Years - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 12/24, 12/25 & 12/26 Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 12/31, 01/01 & 01/02

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Prayer is the primary work of God’s people. It is a vital con-nection to God where we can hear from, listen to, and respond to God. We encourage you to pray as part of being a healthy disciple.

Names will remain on the prayer list for 1 month unless notified. Thank you.

Members Friends In Care Facilities

Phil Harrison Norma Curtis The Brook of C.S.-

Marge Covell Julie Baker Albert & Frances Abel

Todd & Marnie Swan Nancy Avery Johnson Metron of C.S. -

Pete Kribbet Brandon Shaw Rose Hunter

Wayne & June Price Lucas Jeffers

Albert & Frances Abel Dale Waller

Hal Ringler Tim Price

Jackie & Madaline Harvey Randy Benedict

Leon Avery

Jerry & Lois Collis

Kids Hope USA: Mentors, Prayer Partners, and Students

In Our Country’s Service:

Jordan Ackerman Aaron Burnside Tyler Hinton

Mitchell Phillips Waylon Carlson Elisabeth Bullen

Nick Segard Peter & Mikelle Noreen

Jenny Jo Collin (Mueller) Russell & Janet (Noreen) Scott-Evelyn, Noah

James & Jackie (Champion) Finley Ben & Sarah (Noreen) Smith- Kate

Mentors Needed

Thank you mentors for your loving attention to a child in the Cedar Springs elementary schools. Thank you to those who have decided to join us. Right now I have signed permission

slips for three more children. At Beach Elementary (2nd/3rd grade) there is a boy and a girl waiting for a mentor, and at Cedar Trails (K/1st grade) there is a boy. If you have been a mentor and have a spare hour, please consider returning. If you have never been a mentor, please consider it. One hour each week. Sup-port from both the national office and me. Short training - one hour on your own computer at home. Can you read to a child? Can you play a game with a child? You will gain just as much as the child from this re-lationship. AND, one hour a week does not translate into 52 weeks. With summer off, spring break, winter break, and other occasional days off, it is more like 24 hours total. That is equal to ONE day a year. Please give it prayerful thought. Thank you. Janis Opperman (616-262-6507)

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WORSHIP MESSAGES: If you were unable to attend worship, and would like to listen to a recorded CD of the week’s service, please contact Mark Scooros to request a copy. Thanks to Cin-dy and Mark Scooros for their leadership in this ministry!

PLEASE RECYCLE DEVOTIONALS: Please remember to recycle your used devotional materials (The Upper Room, Our Daily Bread, etc.) in the container under the table outside the sanctuary. They are sent to Love Packages, an organization that ships them to areas in need of Bible teaching materials.

Looking for volunteers who could provide transportation to members/friends who need assistance getting to church, church events and/or appointments. If you would be able to provide this service, please contact the church office with your name and phone number and let us know if you can provide rides for local (surrounding area) or longer distances (Grand Rapids/Greenville).

Christmas Love Offerings: If anyone would like to give a Love Offering for our staff, there are boxes labeled accordingly in the back of the Sanctuary for the next three Sundays.

Winter Snowbirds….Please make sure you give your information to the office of what months you will be gone and your address for the winter. That way we can keep you up-to-date on all the activities and news for the church during the win-ter months! See you next spring!

We had a good turnout for the Halloween Warm-up Center. Approximately 360 children “trick-or-treated” us. Thank you to everyone who gave of the time, monetary donations and support. It was another well

put together event!

Christmas Flower Orders: Orders will be taken again this year “In Remembrance” or “In Honor of” loved ones or special persons in your life. Forms will be included in the November 17 Sunday Bul-letin, on the upstairs table, or can be obtained at the church office. Watch for more details soon!

Wednesday Night Meals

We are still seeking committees/teams/groups to sign up and provide a simple meal for Wednesday night Fellowship dinners.

For information—see Pastor Bill.

Adult Wood Carving: Starts on Monday, January 6th. Classes will be Monday nights from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the parlor. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Davis at 616-696-1939.

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The season of Advent is upon us. We are waiting once again for the promised Messiah. We mark the days and anticipate the joy of hearing, “For unto you a Savior is born.” As we consider our giving, let us consider ways to bless others in ways that do not require boxes and bows. If you have those you wish to gift but are puzzled as they “have everything”, consider extra gifts to a mission, cause or organization such as Heifer International, World Vision or others that are more local.

Be sure you are supporting a cause that has fiscal integrity so your dollars reach the need and not the CEO. You can have that kind of confidence when you give to North Kent Connect or through the agencies of the United Methodist Church or to the Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry. December Special Offerings: December 1--You are encouraged to bring a gift for the North Kent Connect Christmas store. See the tree outside of the sanctuary for suggested items. These will be made available to clients of NKC so they can purchase gifts for their loved ones at low cost. These are due not later than December 9. Also today we begin collecting personal care items for the Food Pantry. Please bring your gifts of shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, laundry detergent and paper goods and place them at the altar. These help the clients pre-serve their dignity and are needed now. We will be doing this each Sunday in December and January. Sundays, December 8-15-22-and 29 —Our mission emphasis is Refugee Relief. This will be shared with Refugee Relief both at our borders and internationally. These situations go in and out of the news but we know there are many people in dire situations in many places where we are called to help supply food, medicine, housing and hope. Give generously to extend God’s love in these places. Christmas Eve offering--Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry. There is no doubt that the early arrival of tem-peratures more typical of mid- winter is causing hardship for those who come to the Pantry. More of their lim-ited dollars are needed for fuel and electricity. Cars seem to break down when the weather is fierce. Having sufficient resources to keep the Pantry shelves well stocked is vitally important. This will be true throughout the winter. All of the Christmas Eve offering will go to the Pantry. Update: Family Promise —Our first week of participation was one of blessings to all who participated. Three homeless families were our guests. Our next time to serve is the week of January 12. Needs are for people to prepare meals, spend time with the families and their children as hosts and to be present overnight on several nights. If you feel called to serve, please let Ann Scott (696-1567) or let Pastor Bill know. We are supporting the Courtland/Oakfield UMC which is a host church. Simply Give, the food pantry support program sponsored by Meijer, is going on now through January 4. Please consider purchasing one or more $10 units. Double match days are December 3 and December 13. Your contri-bution will go three times as far when you make your purchase on these dates. These funds purchase food only. That is why we ask for monetary donations so personal care and paper goods can be purchased as well. Hand 2 Hand continues its ministry of providing food for school children over weekends. During December we are asked for canned meats and fruits. Place your donation in the tubs on the upper and lower levels of the church. If you prefer to give money, just indicate that it is for Hand 2 Hand. Twenty dollars supports one student for one month. There are over 200 students counting on us.

Our next Mission Team Meeting is: Wednesday, December 4 @ 10:00 a.m.

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Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry Report

Clients for the month of October 2019 Families Served 94 Adults Served 168 Children Served 53 Food Purchased $ 2,263.98 Meijer Gift Cards Used $ 1,495.69 Food Pantry Balance $ 2,809.00

Feeding America, West Michigan Food Bank

Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry can buy food from Feed-ing America for 16 & 18 cents per pound!

If you wish to send a donation directly to them at:

Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank

864 West River Center Dr. NE Comstock Park MI 49321-8955

ADD: CSUMC Community Food Pantry Number 01290 so your gift can be applied to our account. Thank you for your sup-port.

Food Pantry Holiday Closures:

Christmas Holiday—Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday—December 24, 25 & 26 New Year Holiday—Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday—December 31, January 1 & 2

Meijer “Simply Give” Holiday Campaign Continues through Saturday, January 4, 2020—You can triple the donation amount when Meijer matches the giv-en amounts on the Double Match Days—which will be Tuesday, December 3 & Friday, December 13 (all other days will be unmatched by Meijer). Remember—cards have to purchased at Cedar Springs Meijer location. So take advantage of this great program and help support Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry’s needs. Your generous donations and support are the love that keeps this ministry going!

“Givers Like God” 2020 Campaign Report Thank you to all who have completed estimate of giving cards for the 2020 year. So far, we have received 44 estimates totaling $133,000 for the coming year! Our ministry and mission will thrive in 2020 because of these faithful commitments. Giving to our general operating budget will support worship, Christian education, congregational care and welcoming ministries, mission promotion, youth ministry, our choirs, fellowship meals, outreach to the community, staff salaries and of course, the needs of aging facilities. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not

reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abun-

dantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

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All women of the church are welcome to come to the meetings and help with our events. We would love to have you join us in our faith walk. 2020 UMW Board: President: Mari Anne Jones Vice-President: Shari Wesche Secretary: Bonnie Hitchingham Treasurer: Betty VanderWal Devotions and Inspiration: Joyce Hansen Nominations: Awards and Special Recognitions: Carolyn Davis & Joyce Hansen UMW Parsonage Rep: Linda Hagan If you are interested in learning more about UMW, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the ladies listed above. We always welcome questions and interest in what we do and we are always looking to have more ladies join us in our time of gathering. We will be looking for a new Funeral Coordinator for 2020. Thank you to Betty VanderWal for serving in this position for the UMW. 2020 Meeting Schedule – Saturday 10AM in the church Library/Parlor: 1/18, 3/14, 5/16, 7/11, 9/19 and 11/21 Blessings, Mari Anne Jones, UMW President

“We demonstrate the love of Christ by being brothers united in fellowship, good works, recreation, and encouragement. By supporting one another, and motivating one another to develop stronger Christian character as iron sharpens iron."

All men are welcome to attend. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Upcoming Events: Meeting: Saturday, December 21- 9:00 a.m. Come at 8:30 AM for breakfast; the meeting will start 9 AM.

Also contact Tom if you would like to receive email notices of local UMM activities.

Please email me at tomnoreen@aol.com or call 616-260-0881.

Next Blood Drive @ Cedar Springs UMC

Tuesday, Decmeber 17 starting @ 12:30 p.m.

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Sharing Our Commission - Keith Caldwell, CLM, Outreach Chair

The Cedar Springs UMC needs help to extend the Table. This does not mean adding a leaf to the table for the Christmas Holidays; it is taking our Communion Service to people that were unable to attend our regular services. We take Com-munion to 3 assisted living homes on a regular basis, however we need help to visit and take our worship service to peo-ple that are unable to attend because of work requirements, illness, age, in correctional facilities, without transportation and many other unavoidable reasons. Who can do this ministry? Laypeople may distribute the consecrated elements in the congregation and extend them to members who are unavoidably absent . An elder or certified trained person will offer appropriate training, preparation, and supervision for this important task. Training is fun and interesting; it requires about 1 hour. It is necessary because The Holy Mystery is much more than just a remembrance of Our Lord’s Meal. If you would like to serve in this important ministry please contact me at 616 696 1246 or the office at 616 696 1140 to join a group for training.

Ministry Shares – Another 100% Year in 2019! Did you know that Michigan United Methodists contribute more than $14 million each year to mis-sion and ministry? These gifts are known as “Ministry Shares” because we share some of the gifts with which God has blessed us. 75% of these gifts support connectional ministry and mission in Michigan including programs for children, youth and young people. 25% of the Conference budget supports “General Apportionments” – seven funds that reach across the world. Half of these gifts are used to provide food, water, shelter and response to injustice. We celebrate that our full ministry share obligation for 2019 (over $23,000) has been paid. Any giving earmarked for Ministry Shares will be sent on to the Conference Treasurer as well, helping other congregations to make up their shortfalls if they are unable to reach their obliga-tions. That’s being “connectional.” To learn more about the ways our ministry shares are used, visit umcgiving.org.

Reminders: When paying for holiday flowers, altar flowers, event tickets, etc.—please make a separate payment from contribu-tions because these transactions need to be entered into our accounting system as income due to exchange of goods.

Financial Reports for the church can be obtained by request from the church treasurer. Please contact the church office if you would like information.

Please check out our website, stop by the office or browse the bulletin boards for minutes from the meetings of various Committees and Groups serving CSUMC. Year-end: Please make sure that you are turning in your receipts for reimbursements needed. We ask that you turn them in on a monthly basis so that we can keep our accounting records up-to-date. Donations/Offerings: Please remember that any donations or offerings that you wish to apply to your 2019 taxes need to be in the church office no later than Sunday, December 29, 2019. Anything received after that date will be applied to the year 2020. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at the numbers listed on the back page of this newsletter. Thank you.

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Media Ministry: "Techies" Need-ed: We are expanding our Sunday morning media team to operate our sound and screen programs during worship. If interested, please contact Pastor Bill, or a member of the Lay Leadership Committee: Shari Wesche, Katelyn Johnson, Keith Caldwell. Our goal is for Team members to serve one time per month.

Liturgists: They guide us in the liturgy, which literally means “the work of the people.” We par-ticipate in prayers as a community of faith. Please contact Sue Harrison with questions or to become a Liturgist.

Greeters: This is the first impression and first connection that a long-time at-tendee or visitor has with us. Contact Jo Furhoff or Shirley Neff.

December 2019: 12/01 - Dan & Diane Christie 12/29 - Jo Furhoff & 12/08 - Jerry & Betty VanderWal Shirley Neff 12/15 - Marnie Swan & Nancy Carlson 12/22 - Bob & Bev Hale

Tuesday mornings from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the church parlor– All women are invited! We are currently exploring the

Psalms.

Nursery caregivers: Volunters needed to care for the youngest among us. Both adults & teenagers can be volunteers. Please contact the office with questions.

Contact the Church Office

for detailed information on these or other volunteer

opportunities!

Coffee Fellowship Hosts: We provide a place of touch-ing base and keeping con-nected with each other as the Body of Christ. If you would like to contribute to Coffee Fellowship, we welcome do-nations of packaged cookies. If you would like to get more information, please contact Carolyn Davis or Ann Scott .

The Love & Stitches group: The Love & Stitches group meets once weekly, September through May, on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. in the church parlor/library. We meet at noon on the second Tuesday for lunch at the Cedar Café all year around. Decembr date: Tuesday, 12/10 We are a welcoming group: join us if you can!

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Advent and Christmas 2019: Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

On the 300th birthday of the Isaac Watts hymn, “Joy to the World,” we will focus on four kinds of joy. December 1: “Prepare Him Room” – Matthew 24:36-44 and Psalm 122 (On Hopeful Joy) Jesus tells his followers to get their houses in order and be alert. When you least expect him, expect him. Getting ready for Christ to come is a hopeful act. December 8: “Repeat the Sounding Joy” – Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12 (Peaceful Joy). Strange bedfellows, the wolf and the lamb. But that’s just how radically different the kingdom will be from the current situation. John is right: It won’t happen without some big changes. Peace is hard work. Children will be singing on this Sunday, and we’ll “build” a na-tivity as they sing. December 15: “Make the Blessings Known” – Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:47-55 (Magnified Joy). Mary sings a song of liberation and justice – the blessings of joyful faith. We may not always understand God’s plan, but we can believe the plan is good. When we place our-selves in God’s hands, we are like a magnifying glass for joy. December 22: “With Truth and Grace” – Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25 (Loving Joy). In a world hell-bent on believing that “might makes right”, the sign of God’s righteousness came in the birth of a child instead of a warrior. God used the most vulnerable person he could find – a teenage girl—and a very humble, good man to show there is power in love. Christmas Eve: “The Lord is Come” – Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20 (News of Great Joy) When God chose to come in flesh and bone, the light show frightened courageous shep-herds, and left wise men stunned at the sight. The legends of this birth still amaze us. December 29: “The Wonders of His Love” – Isaiah 63:7-9 (Joy Is More Than Momen-tary) When the wonder of Christmas is past, is that all there is? Isaiah didn’t think so. He main-tained his faith in God’s promise to save his people, by recounting God’s faithful acts.

Join us for These Celebrations! Come Be the Church with Us!

Christmas Nativity- All children are invited to participate - Sunday, December 8 during the 10:15 a.m. Worship. Those who can come, may choose to be a Shepherd, Angel or Wiseman. We invite you to join in the celebration of this Christmas Season.

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Dec. 12 Ken & Carol Brooks Dec. 13 Richard & Kathleen Makowski Dec. 20 Roy & Marjorie Covell Dec. 21 Tom & Hazel Palmer Dec. 29 Bill & Judy Johnson

Dec. 1 Richard Makowski Dec. 3 Elizabeth Neiderheide Dec. 5 Woody Avis Carl Brown Mary Brown Nancy Kidder Cameron Janes Dec. 6 Tonnie Smith Bob Ries Jerry VanderWal Dec. 8 Dennis Cassady Dec. 11 Cheryl Viau Dec. 15 Nova Hand Dec. 24 Christian Miller Kathy Percy Dec. 25 Rose Hunter Dec. 29 Tim August Ann Scott Dec. 31 Karen Makarewicz Mark Tabor

If we have missed your Birthday or Anniversary, please let the office know.

Birthdays Anniversaries

December

Merry Christmas

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Weekly 9am-Adult Bible Study in parlor 10:15am-Worship 11:30am-Coffee & Fellowship

Weekly

1pm-6pm Counseling in Quiet Room 7pm-Acoustic Music

Weekly 10am-Women’s Bible Study in parlor

1pm—Love & Stitches

2:40pm-Youth Chimes

3:40pm-Kids’ Choir

Weekly

6:30pm-Worship Review Mtg.

6pm-Christian Ed & Fellowship Meal

6:45pm-Adult Choir Practice

Weekly

1pm-6pm Counseling in Quiet Room 6:30pm-Cub Scouts

Weekly Office closed

Weekly

1 Communion

2

3

Girl Scouts-6pm

Trustee Mtg-7pm

4 Missions Team Mtg-10am Moms’ Group—1pm

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6 7

8 Acoustic Music during Worship Outreach Mtg-12pm The Brook Worship-2pm Green Acres Worship-3pm

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10 Rotary—7:30 am Love & Stitches Cedar Café-12pm

11 Moms’ Group—1pm

12 Metron—10am

13 14

15 Chimes Articles Due!

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17 Blood Drive-12:30pm

18 Moms’ Group—1pm

19 20 21 Men’s Group—8:30am Christie Family-F.Hall

22 23 24 Christmas Eve Office closed Food Pantry Closed

25 Christmas Day Office closed Food Pantry Closed

26 Office closed Food Pantry Closed

27 Office closed Food Pantry Closed

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29 30 31 New Year’s Eve Office closed Food Pantry Closed

Please send your special messages, prayers and “Thank You” notes to the Church Office if you would like them in the Chimes Newsletter. You can drop off or email to: office@cedarspringsumc.org ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— We also welcome photos that we might be able to share! Send photos of Church events to the above email with Subject Line: “Church Photos”. Please include a brief note about the event/photo and we may use it in the newsletter.

December

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OUR VISION AT CEDAR SPRINGS UMC: We share the love and hope of Jesus Christ...

by inviting people of all ages to participate with

openness and sincerity

by worshipping through music and fellowship

by studying God's Word together

by praying and caring for each other

by serving each other, our community, and

our world

by giving of our time, talent, gifts, and resources

Cedar Springs United Methodist Church 140 S. Main St., PO Box K Cedar Springs MI 49319

Pastor Bill Johnson

pastor@cedarspringsumc.org (616) 366-2421

Pastor Office Hours Tues. & Wed.

Ministry Assistant

Jennifer August office@cedarspringsumc.org

Church Office Hours Mon.-Thurs.

9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.

Church Office Phone: 616-696-1140

Website & Email www.cedarspringsumc.org

office@cedarspringsumc.org

Chimes Newsletter Articles:

Send information to office e-mail Subject line

“Chimes” by the 15

th of each month.

Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.

Wednesdays: (September –May)

6:20-7:00pm Christian Education With a 5:30pm dinner

(Ages: 2yrs-High School)

Supervised Nursery Care

Activity Bags & Books Available for services

Find us on Facebook: Cedar Springs United Methodist Church

Chimes

December 2019