Volume 13, Issue 12

“IT’s a dreaded word. We don’t like IT. We don’t want to hear about IT. We’ve already had a newsletter edition focused on IT. We get mailings about IT. But what is IT?” - Pastor Jay Regennitter, pg. 3

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Contents 3 Pastor’s Letter

4 Ways to Give

5 Time to Celebrate!

6 Calendar of Events

7 December Servant Schedule

8 Contact Information

Morningstar UMC seeks to share the light and love of Jesus Christ to all we encounter. Morningstar will be a community where each person is offered opportunities and challenged to grow in his/her relationship with God throughout his/her life. As we grow in our love of God, we will increase our growth of healthy relationships by encouraging people of all ages through accountability, study, prayer, fellowship, and service. The more our congregation grows in these primary relationships (with God and our neighbors), we will see ourselves reaching out into the local community, region and world through acts of service – sharing the light of Jesus Christ in hands-on, meaningful ways, and inviting others to experience God’s love for themselves.

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IT’s a dreaded word. We don’t like IT. We don’t want to hear about IT. We’ve already had a newsletter edition focused on IT. We get mailings about IT. But what is IT? IT is extravagant generosity. In the church, we hear those words, and automatically associate them with money. Does that mean that we’re asking you to give money? Absolutely! Is that all that the church is asking of us when we use those words? Absolutely not! Granted, we’ve just finished a long stint about money. We held our annual stewardship campaign in September. We’ve continued to ask you to give toward annexation. But that’s not all there is to extravagant generosity, is it? Extravagant generosity is being raised as a topic again, in part, because it is the focus of Annual Conference 2013. However, it’s also being raised because extravagant generosity isn’t limited to one season of the year. For those who call themselves Christian, we must continually give thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf. We return abundant blessings to God, not just during Thanksgiving, but all year long. The season of extravagant generosity is continuous. Throughout the year, we ask you to give sacrificially of your time, of your God-given talent, as well as your treasure. We invite you to share of your time and your resources to provide food for the needy, both at Home Sweet Home and at the Park UMC food pantry. We invite you to pack shoeboxes for children around the world (we sent 32 this year from our church, by the way). During this season of giving, we invite you to give again sacrificially. Explore the pages of this issue to find out ways that you can give of your time, talents, and treasure to make a difference in the lives of the people of our church and community. Be extravagantly generous! I will see you in worship! Grace and peace, Pastor Jay

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Mitten Tree The mitten tree has returned to the entryway, and it is bare! This year, you can be generous by providing mittens (no gloves), underwear for boys and girls (sizes 3-6) and socks for the students at Sarah Raymond Elementary School. These items are used at school regularly, since accidents happen, and items are lost. Please feel free to fill the tree and the skirt underneath with your items that will make a difference.

Food Pantry

Park UMC food pantry is in continual need of food to stock nearly empty shelves. We challenge you to be generous beyond one item this month. Can you purchase more than one box of cereal? How about buying a case of canned soup, vegetables, or fruit? During a season when people are running low on groceries and other items, we can offer them Christ through the food we bring. Can we fill the basket in the entryway? Show us your extravagant generosity!

Christian Formation Instructor

We're looking for an individual who would be willing to give an extraordinary gift to our elementary (K-5) students one Sunday morning a month. They need a teacher the third Sunday of the month (an adult assistant is already in place), beginning in December and going through the end of the school year. Curriculum is provided for you. Anyone who is interested in working with our children will need to go through a short Safe Sanctuaries training. Please contact Pastor Jay if you would be willing to extend extravagant generosity of time and talents for our kids!

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Lucia Day

On behalf of West Olive Faith United Methodist Church, we invite you to share in Lucia Day. A part of the church’s Swedish heritage, we will gather together for food and fellowship on Saturday, December 8, from 9:30-11:30am at West Olive Faith UMC (1306 West Olive Street in Bloomington). How can you be generous? Give of your time to come and get to know your neighbors and friends in Christian faith. Give of your talent by baking some cookies or breakfast breads to share in fellowship. All of your generosity is welcome!

Ladies Christmas Brunch

On the 14th of December, the women of Morningstar UMC and West Olive Faith UMC are invited to a Christmas Brunch Fellowship at 10:00am. This brunch will be a combination event of both Ladies’ Bible Study groups. All women are invited even if they have not been attending either Bible study. If you would like more information, please contact either Eva DeVore at (309) 452-4534 or Pam Venter at (309) 825-1603.

Christmas Eve Worship Service Morningstar UMC and West Olive Faith UMC will be celebrating with Christmas Eve worship hosted at Morningstar UMC. The service will be held at 7:00pm and will consist of a celebration of the birth of Christ through the singing of carols and the telling of the story. Come and celebrate with us!

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December 2012

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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9:00 Christian Formation

10:10 Prayer Time

10:15 Worship 11:30 Praise

Band Rehearsal

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7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Men’s

Group

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1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study

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Family Night 5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Christian

Formation 7:00 Youth

Handbells and Choir

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6:00 Chancel Choir

7:00 Handbell Choir

9:00 Online Bible Study

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10:00 Ladies’ Bible Study

5:00 Boy Scouts

Lock-in

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9:30 Lucia Day

10:00 Boy

Scouts Lock-in Ends

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9:00 Christian Formation

10:10 Prayer Time

10:15 Worship 11:30 Praise

Band Rehearsal

3:30 Home Sweet Home Meal

10

7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Men’s

Group

11

1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study

12

Family Night 5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Christian

Formation 7:00 Youth

Handbells and Choir

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6:00 Chancel Choir

7:00 Handbell Choir

9:00 Online Bible Study

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10:00 Ladies’ Bible Study

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16

9:00 Christian Formation

10:10 Prayer Time

10:15 Worship 11:30 Praise

Band Rehearsal

1:00 NOW Meeting

2:00 Church Council

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7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Men’s

Group

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1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study

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Family Night 5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Christian

Formation 7:00 Youth

Handbells and Choir

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6:00 Chancel Choir

7:00 Handbell Choir

9:00 Online Bible Study

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9:00 Christian Formation

10:10 Prayer Time

10:15 Worship 11:30 Praise

Band

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(Office Closed) 7:00 Christmas

Eve Service

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(Office Closed) Merry

Christmas!

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9:00 Christian Formation

10:10 Prayer Time

10:15 Worship 11:30 Praise

Band

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December 02 December 09 December 16 December 23 December 24 December 30

Offertory Music

Cello and Piano

Youth Choir Adult Handbells Adult Choir Adult Choir Solo

Liturgist Tom Howe Mark Immke Dean Westpfahl Dave Venter Jim Snow Betty Haag

Children’s Message

Jay Regennitter Dave Venter John Weter Tom Howe Stephanie Soon Adam Drake

Acolyte Riley Fleck Alaysia Peterson Tanner Todd Laura Westpfahl Hannah

Schneider Lillian Wang

Media Technicians

Andy Goveia Joe Kao Mark Immke Dean Westpfahl Joe Kao John Weter

Ushers

Jim Snow (H) Georgia Griffith

Betty Haag Larry Haag

Michelle Giermann (H)

Sue Fetters Andrew Immke

Josh Immke

Dave Wright (H) Sharee Wright

Jeannine McNemee

Mike Schneider

Jim Snow (H) Bill Sheets

Tanner Todd Regan Jimison

Joe Kao (H) Kim Kao

Mary Ann Altine Tom Howe

Mark Immke (H) Tricia Todd

Dean Westpfahl John Weter

Greeters Georgia Griffith Regan Jimison Dave & Pam

Venter Jim Snow Tricia Todd

Jeannine McNemee

Coffee Host Joan Burger Eva DeVore Lori Immke Regan Jimison Teri Peterson Joan Burger

Offering Counters

Sue Fetters Betty Haag Ryan Jimison Dean Westpfahl Ruthann Sheets Mary Ann Altine

Newcomer Callers

Georgia Griffith Bill Sheets Ruthann Sheets Georgia Griffith Bill Sheets

Church Cleaning

Ryan Jimison Teri Peterson Dave & Pam

Venter John Weter Teri Peterson

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Morningstar United Methodist Church

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00am -3:00pm

Office Telephone: (309) 452-6255

Website: www.mymorningstar.org

Worship with us on Sundays at 10:15 am

Contact Information

Rev. Jay Regennitter, Pastor pastor@mymorningstar.org

Pastor Stephanie Soon, Deacon & Pianist music@mymorningstar.org

Andrew Stange, Administrative Assistant office@mymorningstar.org

Adam Drake & Hailey Crozier, Nursery Ministry Staff nursery@mymorningstar.org