Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Newark, Delaware December 2018—January 2019 Then Samuel took a stone, set it up…and said, “The L��� has helped us all the way,”

and he named it Ebenezer [Stone of Help]. 1 Samuel 7:12 GNB

Service of Prayer and Healing for Zach Trexler, his family and members of our community

Sunday, December 16 at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary (following the Live Nativity which begins at 5:00 pm, see page 5)

Blue Christmas/Longest Night Service at Ebenezer Friday, December 21 at 7:00 pm

See page 3 for details

December 24

4:30 pm Family Service for children of all ages with Carols, special music and the ever popular “Do-It-Yourself” Christmas Pageant!

8:00 pm A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols featuring 6 Congregational Carols, 3 Chancel Choir anthems &

Good Chimes Handbell Ensemble, including “Silent Night” sung by candlelight.

In 1880 E. W. Benson, then Anglican Bishop of Truro, England, composed a Festival of Nine Les-sons and Carols, based on ancient sources, for Christmas Eve. In 1918, the year that the First World War ended, it was adapted for the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, by its Dean, Eric Milner–

White, who also wrote The Bidding Prayer. The Blessing after The Lord's Prayer, added by Milner–White, was first included in its present form in 1930. The Nine Lessons service that we use at

Ebenezer is based on this great Christmas tradition.

11:00 pm A brief Holy Communion service with carols and a Christmas sermon, ending with “Silent Night” sung by candlelight.

Christmas Day

10:00 am Monday, December 25

Featuring our annual carol-sing! Delia Irwin sings “The Birthday of the King”

Holy Communion & Christmas Proclamation

The 1st Sunday after Christmas Day, December 30, 10:00 am

Wesley Covenant Renewal Service (see more on page 9) Delia Irwin sings “I Wonder as I Wander”

Epiphany Sunday, January 6, 2018

8:30 & 11:00 am Carols, Chancel Choir & Holy Communion

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 2

The Highlighter is a monthly publication of

525 Polly Drummond Hill Rd. Newark, Delaware 19711

Pastor: Rev. Mary H. Browne

Voice: (302) 731-9495

FAX: (302) 731-9555

E-mail: newarkebenezerumc @verizon.net

Editor: Beverly Shunta

Newsletter deadline: The 15th of each month

Web site: EbenezerUMCNewark.org

In the event of inclement weather which affects a Sun-day morning, please listen to WDEL-

1150AM or 101.7FM or check out Snow-Watch list at www.wdel.com for in-formation regarding the cancella-tion of worship services. You can also call church and when message starts please press 10 to reach church office. This message will be updated with service cancelations or time changes.

Advent Wreath Lighting

We need individuals, couples, and families to sign-up to light the Advent Wreath candles for the 8:30 and 11:00 services on December 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd. We will also need people at the 4:30pm, 8:00pm and 11:00pm services on Christmas Eve.

There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. The litany for the lighting the candles each week will be provided to you prior to the Sunday for which you sign-up. If you have any questions, please con-tact Pastor Mary.

The Cemetery Association requests lot owners to remove

Christmas Decorations from your lots by January 31. Thank you for

your help and cooperation.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

When we join a United Methodist Church as a mem-ber, part of the vow that we affirm is that we will support the church through our service. Our service is the time and talent we give to help the church grow as a vital wit-ness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ where we are planted and in the community beyond our walls.

When we speak of the church as being the Body of Christ, the skeletal framework of the church is the various committees that give vision to, support, and oversee the activities and events that are the lifeblood of the church. I know that being part of a committee and attending meetings isn’t always the most glamorous way to participate in the life of the church, but that function gives guidance so that we can be unified in our goal to live out our motto – “Vital in Spirit – Faithful in Service.”

The most active time for serving the church is on Sunday mornings. Dur-ing his stewardship presentation a couple of weeks ago, Bill Clark, included a slide that listed all the ways that you are vital to the hospitality, worship, and faith development that is the heart and life-blood of our life together as a faith community. In serving together for the honor and glory of our Lord in wor-ship, and sharing love with each other through hospitality and faith develop-ment, our relationships with God and each other broaden and grow deeper.

Particularly in Sunday School, at this time we have some opportuni-ties to help in nurturing the faith development of our children. We need classroom assistants on two Sundays of the month in our Lower Elementary

Sunday School class (K-2nd grade) to serve with Kathy Gib-ney, the lead teacher. We also need someone(s) to assist Vicki Maynard in the Middle School Sunday School class.

Throughout the year there are ways for you to serve in short-term activities and mission programs such as Vacation Bible School, Family Promise, the Easter Egg Hunt; opportu-nities to offer your time and talent in faith development; and mission and service. Our mission and outreach efforts to Meals on Wheels, Stockings for Soldiers, Friendship House, to name just a few are opportunities to connect our lives with the lives of others to help the Kingdom of God become more visible.

However you may see your vision and passion for serving our Lord to “love one another as I have loved you,” “to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God,” to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” there is a place for you to offer your time and talent through the faith commu-nity at Ebenezer.

In Christ’s Love, Pastor Mary

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 3

Worship with Worship with Worship with Worship with Hearts, Hands Hearts, Hands Hearts, Hands Hearts, Hands

and Voicesand Voicesand Voicesand Voices

With the Christmas season at hand, we are about to start the Christian year with the proclamation of Advent, a time of reflection and anticipation. This is a time of musical wonderment and joy. Throughout the season, the Chancel Choir, Good Chimes Hand Bell Choir and Youth Choir will be present to bring us the best in seasonal Advent and Christmas music. There is still time to join the chancel choir and help sing old and yet-to-be, Christmas favorites.

Here is a look at the music line-up for the Advent/Christmas sea-son: 12-2 Come Emmanuel/Pepper Choplin; 12-9 The Coming of the Lord/Pepper Choplin; 12-16 Advent Alleluia/Jay Althouse; 12-23 Em-manuel/Laura Story-Heather Sorenson. Christmas Eve 12-24 Christmas-time/Michael W. Smith-Heather Sorenson and Love Came Down by David Lantz III. The choir will then take a well-deserved break and be back for rehearsal Thursday, January 3rd at 7:30pm. If you have not been able to participate in our music ministry this past fall, I extend an open invitation for you to do so in the spring season of 2019.

It is hard to imagine how fast the Christmas Season has arrived. I pray that during the many events and activities that take place at this time of year, you will be able to enjoy the mystery of this blessed season. May worship at Ebenezer U.M.C. be part of your Christmas holiday. May the peace of Christ, that passes beyond all understanding, be yours as we cele-brate the birth of Christ.

LOOKING AHEAD to 2019:

Chancel Choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday, January 3 at 7:30 pm

They will sing on Epiphany Sunday, January 6 at 8:30 & 11:00 am

Good Chimes will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, January 9 at 7:30 pm

Youth Singers will resume rehearsals Sunday January 13 at 4:15 pm in the Sanctuary

Soli Deo Gloria, Robert Rudolph

Gifts for the Christ Child

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Matt. 18:5

At all of Ebenezer Church’s worship services on Sunday, De-cember 9th, 16th, and 23rd, and at our three Christmas Eve services you are welcome to bring a gift of baby food for the Christ Child.

The items we collect will be dis-tributed to families in need through St. Stephen’s Food Pantry in Wil-mington. Your food gifts will truly be a blessing to the young innocents among us for whom our Lord has a special place in his heart. Please con-sider this ministry while shopping for your holiday meals and make a visit to the baby food aisle. Thank you and may God’s Peace be with you in this blessed season.

Blue Christmas/ Longest Night Service

at Ebenezer Friday, December 12

7:00 pm

Blue? Yes, blue, as in “the

blues;” as in "I am feeling

blue."

Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, cop-ing with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situa-tions make parties and joviality pain-ful for many people in our congrega-tions and communities.

There is a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas. Increasing numbers of churches are creating sacred space for people living through dark times. Such services are reflective, accept-ing where we really are, and holding out healing and hope.

Ebenezer Church is holding a Blue Christmas (or Longest Night) Service on Friday, December 21 at 7:00 pm. It will include quiet carols, an inspiring message and Holy Com-munion. Please join us in worshiping our God of light, who meets us in our times of darkness and deepest needs.

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 4

United Methodist Women Circle Meetings

Naomi 12/10 12:00 noon CLC

Naomi 1/14 12:00 noon CLC

Priscilla 12/11 7:00pm, church

Priscilla 1/8 7:00pm, church

S & S 12/12 10:00am, church

S & S 1/9 10:00am, church

Executive Board 1/8 12:30pm church

Meals on Wheels

A Route — December

3 Ben & Sandy Berk

10 Sharon Keeler & Gail Donaldson

17 Paul & Beverly Shunta

24 Garnet Dennis & Donna Sperow B Route — December

3 Paul Kelley

10 Paul Kelley

17 Paul Kelley

24 Sue Connell & Barbara Thurman

A Route — January

7 Ben & Sandy Berk

14 Sharon Keeler & Gail Donaldson

21 Paul & Beverly Shunta

28 Garnet Dennis & Donna Sperow B Route — January

7 Paul Kelley

14 Paul Kelley

21 Paul Kelley

28 Sue Connell & Barbara Thurman

Substitutes

Sandy Berk 410-392-4147

Stephanie Carpenter 302-731-4308

Ron Case 302-737-8567

Gail Lloyd 302-368-4965

Marianne Menghi 302-234-1544

Newark Senior Center 302-737-5747

Paul & Beverly Shunta 302-239-7765

(coordinator)

Need a ride?Need a ride?Need a ride?Need a ride? If you need transportation to doctor appointments, the drug store, etc., call one of the REMMs (retired Ebenezer members and mates) who

have volunteered to drive: Ron Case 302-737-8567, Rick Guretsky 302-

239-4911, Paul Kelley 302-737-

2669, Paul Shunta 302-239-7765, or Reed and Elaine Williams 302-737-

1882.

very Dec 31

Hotel-size toiletries needed for HOPE DINING ROOM

I am Ebenezer’s representative to the Board of Hope Dining Room and I prepare Holiday gift bags for our cli-ents. Small (hotel size) toiletries are needed for the bags. I will place a box in the narthex in early December and would appreciate any travel-size toilet-ries you could donate.

Thank you in advance, Gail Lloyd

UMW Christmas Potluck Dinner & Concert

Wednesday, December 5th

Everyone is invited to attend!

6:30pm – Program by Music School of Delaware Women’s Chorus. 7:00pm – Potluck dinner. Just bring a dish with extra to share for a great evening of fellowship. Circles will provide desserts.

Cookie Walk — Saturday, December 1

Our 1st one at Ebenezer!

Time: 10am – 2 pm or until the cookies are gone!

United Methodist Women are providing a great opportunity to get your homemade holiday cookies! Purchase a cookie container from us for either $5 or $10 and fill your container with cookies that you select from our delectable array. Cookies freeze well and are appreciated as a hostess gift.

Pre-school will have a Santa’s Secret Workshop where your children can shop for small gifts for family members (no items over $5), and they can get photos taken with Santa.

The following groups will have information tables: Youth, Missions & Music.

Connie’s Delicious Rolls $8.00 dozen

Once again Connie Miller (and friends) will be making

delectable yeast rolls for your holiday entertaining.

Christmas – order by Dec. 9 for pick-up on 12/16.

Call Connie to order, or if you would like to help

with the preparation on Dec 10-14.

302-737-4411

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 5

First, we’d like to say thank you to the church for participating in the basket auction at the chili dinner and thank you to the families of the youth for donating items to be auctioned off. It was a real blessing to have a family dinner with everyone and the food was delicious!

The months of November-January seem to be the busiest for our youth program with a large number of service projects and church events. With this, we are reminded by the Bible verse from Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Sometimes service can be difficult, but the reminder of the ulti-mate sacrifice of Jesus puts things into perspective for us all. Jesus died for

us. We give our time and talents be-cause it glorifies God. Our hands are to be used to help others.

Here is what the Youth have planned for the next two months:

On November 18th, we will be doing a service project for one of the winning auctions for youth-helper-yard-

cleanup. We then follow up at the church and put together Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. Hanging of the Greens will be November 25th from 4-7. Children and Youth will be making new Chrismons to be hung on the Chrismon tree.

The weekend of December 2 will be our second yard cleanup service pro-ject. Following that the evening youth group will prepare for the Live Nativity.

December 9th will be the Christmas Pageant for Sunday school between services. (Pageant practices during Sunday school starting Nov. 18th)

December 16th will be the Live Nativi-ty from 5-7. Our youth are in charge of narrating and acting. Arrive at 4:30.

December 23rd Junior and Senior youth will be visiting and caroling for Ebenezer Members in nursing homes. We will gather after 11:00 ser-vice, go to lunch, and then go caroling and drop off poinsettias.

December 24th at the 4pm Service is "Make your Own Pageant.” The youth are in charge of narrating, lead-ing as the head star, head animal, head shepherd, head wise man, and finally Mary and Joseph. Please come at 3:30 for those who plan to help!

January 4-6th we travel to Ocean City, MD for our Youth Rally! We will have a quick bite to eat and then depart from the church after a short prayer circle. Stop by if you’d like to see the youth off and help us pray for safe travels. We have 11 youth members who will be heading down with the 5 fantastic adult chaperones. We need your prayers!

At the end of January, the youth will lead the services.

— Megan and Mike Jones

Live Nativity Sunday December

16th from 5:00 to 7:00pm Readings will be held every

half hour.

Youth of all ages are wel-come and encouraged to partici-pate. Participants should arrive no later than 4:30.

A refreshment table will be located in the Narthex. This has become a very popular community event. We are asking for donations of goodies for the refresh-ment table. Please donate something if you can! Do-nations can be left in the kitchen anytime prior to 4:30 on the 10th.

A healing service for Zach Trexler and others in the community will be held at 7:00pm following the Live Nativity .

Our Sunday School Christmas Pageant is a must see! It will be held

Sunday December 9th in the CLC at 9:45 during the Sunday School hour.

~~~~~

The very popular Family Do-It -Yourself Christmas Pageant will be held December 24th, 4:30pm. Costumes for children and

youth will be available beginning no earlier than 4:00pm.

~~~~~

Please Note-

No Sunday School will be held on Sunday Decem-ber 9th so everyone can enjoy the Sunday School Christmas pageant and reception.

No Sunday School will be held on Sunday Decem-ber 30th (one worship service at 10:00).

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 6

Ebenezer’s Stephen Ministry

Ebenezer UMC has been engaged in Stephen Ministry for over 25 years…

one of the oldest Stephen Ministry outreaches in the nation.

Ebenezer’s Stephen ministers are lay people who complete 5 months of training to become caregivers committed to meeting the needs of those in our congregation who are going through difficult times.

A Stephen minister meets with a person in need, typically once a week for about an hour, to listen and care. The Stephen minister offers encourage-ment, emotional and spiritual support, and an opportunity to process and ex-press feelings.

Persons who might benefit from meeting with a Stephen minister are identified by the pastoral team. The resulting care relationship is totally confi-dential. Stephen ministers don’t provide solutions, rather they point to Christ and His healing love.

Stephen ministers could be in caring relationships with persons who are grieving, are in nursing homes or are home-bound, are faced with family member addictions, are going through divorce or job loss, facing illness, or any number of other difficult situations where Christian support is needed.

The Stephen ministers covet your prayer support.

If you wish to know more about the Stephen Ministry talk to Pastor Mary, Calvin Keeler, Sr., or John Stapleford.

Family Promise is in full swing as we prepare to host families over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Thank you to all who have offered to volun-teer. This is truly a church wide min-istry!

Family Promise of Northern New Castle County continues to be the most successful program in Dela-ware for ending homelessness for families. Their new facility is due to open this month, which will allow Family Promise to help even more families in our area. If you want to find out more, check out their web-site at www.familypromisede.org

Have a Blessed Holiday Season.

Garnet, Jean & Brooksie

Sunday, Dec. 23, 2:00 pm

Meet in the sanctuary. Join a merry group

to deliver poinsettias and sing a few carols

to our homebound members. The more, the merrier, and chil-

dren are especially appreciated by the people we visit.

Mission Thoughts!

Miracles on 34th Street in Wilmington!

I am sure you know the 1947 American Christmas comedy-drama film that stars John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn. The story takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York City, and focuses on the impact of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa.

It is a story of celebration of the Christmas spirit, a heartfelt plea against the "over-commercialism" (even in 1947) of Christmas, an examination of faith itself . . . just to name a few. So what are the miracles we have right here in Wilmington? Well one of them is on B Street—not 34th St! It is Neighbor-hood House (NH)! NH house also has a facility in Middletown and serves thousands of families and children.

It was started by the Methodist Church (7 out of 16 of its board members are Methodists) and has a great reputation for excellence! That’s why Ebenezer gives $1000 to this great ministry in its Missions Budget every year. Its School Homework Help, Summer Camp, After School Programs, and Fam-ily Assistance (basic food, heat and electricity), Housing information, training and Pre-Purchase, Foreclosure Preventions, Rental Assistance and Financial Empowerment programs are critical to the poor and low income children and families it serves.

So your pledges and Mission donations support this GREAT ministry and provide Miracles on 34th Street — oh, I mean “B street —at NH every day! So thanks Ebenezer and what miracles will you be making this Christmas sea-son in sharing Jesus’ saving grace and love? Merry Christmas from the Mis-sions Team!

— Linda Heller, Missions Chair

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 7

I’d like to thank everyone for their prayers, visits and meals furnished for Phil and me following my recent fall. I’m feeling better each day and will see you back in church.

Love, Shirley Gardner

~~~~

WOW...what a great Soup Sup-per! It is all because of you that the night was a HUGE success.

From the delicous soups/chilis/breads/desserts to the awesome silent auction and crafty Granny's Boutique

(Jeannette Richart), it was an amaz-ing fundraiser. We served 82 people bringing in $700 in proceeds for the UMW, received generous bids at the Silent Auction for the Youth Rally and many purchases were made at Gran-ny's Boutique for Camp Pecometh.

A big thank you to Adele Madden and Pastor Mary for the beautiful placemat designs and the Youth for helping out with the door prizes.

Looking forward to seeing you all at our next fundraiser,

Donna and Kristin

~~~~

Thank you to everyone who con-tributed shoeboxes or shipping costs to Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child mission. We were

able to send 56 gift-filled boxes to children in need around the world. More importantly, we are able to show God’s love to these children and their families. Thank you, also, to Vicki Maynard, Aimee Bouchat, and Be-lita Duncan for helping me get the boxes to the drop off site.

Pam Connelly

~~~~

Thanks to all of you who have donated to Stockings for Soldiers. We will gladly still accept any monetary donations. The stockings are being filled now and packed for shipping. Shipping costs are extremely high. Any help is appreciated. Thank you. This program gives such joy to our service people.

Ann Varey

Trustees Capital Program

The Trustees, with the approval of the Administrative Board, estab-lished a Capital Program several years ago. For a number of years, all projects had been funded through the regular operating budget. That is fine for small purchases, but a very difficult way to budget for major pur-chases.

The Capital Program developed an initial list of major expenditures that would need to be made over the next 25 years, along with an estimat-ed cost. Some items, like replacing the entire parking lot, only need to be done once. Others, like painting, need to be done every 10 years. And things like appliances, where there are many of them, expect to replace 1 item a year on average. The 25 year cost of these projects totals nearly a million dollars – or $40,000 a year. This is not how much money gets spent every year, it is how much is set aside. The money that does not get spent is rolled over in the budget so that when the big ticket items are done, the funds will be there to pay for them.

The biggest project done so far is the repair, patching, and restriping of the parking lot at a cost of $25,000. The current project is to replace the church sign with a modern electronic one that is much easier to read and will allow us to change the message wirelessly from the office by computer. The next project is to identify and repair the source of water leakage in the CLC that is rotting out cemetery side windows in ‘The Room With A View’, and has destroyed a window in the preschool room directly below it. When those windows are replaced, that work will be bundled with other window and door work that is needed, thus allowing us to obtain better prices on a larger amount of work.

The challenge to this program, of course, is obtaining an average of $40,000 every year, plus inflation. As very little of this essential work was covered in the regular operating budget, new funding sources are needed. The Trustees therefore prayerfully request that you donate addi-tional funds to the Capital Budget to support this essential work.

—Dave Hofer

Holy Communion during Advent and Christmas

Since the United Methodist Gen-eral Conference approved the United Methodist Hymnal in 1988, it has been recommended that A Service of Word and Table be the basic pattern or order of worship for United Methodists.

As a means of experiencing God’s grace during the penitential season of Advent and the joyous season of Christ-mas, Holy Communion will be included in our worship services on the following dates:

1st Sunday of Advent, December 2

2nd Sunday of Advent, December 9

3rd Sunday of Advent, December 16

Longest Night (Blue Christmas) Friday, December 21, 7:00pm

4th Sunday of Advent, December 23

Christmas Eve, December 24, 11pm only

Christmas Day, December 25, 10:30 am

Epiphany, Sunday, January 6,2019, 8:30 and 11am services

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 8

The 41st Annual Troop 50 Pancake Breakfast

December 8th

from 7am to 12pm

Limestone Presbyterian Church

$5 for adults and $3 for children

If you can’t attend, donate tick-ets and the Troop will distribute them to Senior Centers, Family Promise, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and oth-er charities in the area. Tickets also will be available from Scouts in the CLC on 11/11, 11/25, and 12/2. Come out and support your troop and see the Scouts in action. It is the best breakfast deal anywhere in Delaware!

Rumor has it that Santa will be showing up for dining on some great pancakes and sausages, and there will be opportunities for pictures!!

Special Announcement: For the first time the Troop is taking orders for their famous breakfast sau-sage. The sausage will come pre-cooked and bagged ready to heat and serve. A signup list is posted on the Events board outside of Pastor Mary’s office and will also be availa-ble in the CLC with the Scouts selling tickets. You can also email Dan White, danwhite@mac.com.

Super Bowl Sub Sale – Sunday, February 3rd!!!

The Education Committee will be taking orders for Casapulla subs

(ham & cheese, Italian or turkey) to be picked up 9:30, 10:45, or 12:00

noon on February 3rd . The cost is $7.50 each for 6- inch subs or

$13.50 each for 12- inch subs, to be paid when the subs are

picked up. This fundraiser bene-fits VBS.

Order forms will be available in the Narthex. Orders must be re-

ceived by Jan 28th. They may be placed in the offering plate, e-

mailed to or dropped off at the church office.

Ebenezer UMC Christmas Ornaments available for $5.00 in both red and blue

from the church office. Your donation will benefit the

Education Committee.

Please save Zingo’s receipts!

The little piece of paper from Zingo’s is worth money to our church. Please save them and put them in slot across from the office. Zingo’s is very generous and donates a percentage of our purchases back to us. UMW uses it towards our missions. Thanks!

As we prepare to celebrate the joy of Christmas, we are blessed to share the love of Jesus with fami-lies caring for children of incarcer-ated parents. This year we will deliver gifts to 18 children living in 14 families in New Castle County. Each child will receive 2 gifts (clothing and toy/activity). Tags are on the tree in the Narthex.

Wrapped gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 9 to allow time for distribution. For more about this Prison minis-tries outreach and to get involved, please contact Deb August at dau-gust@gmail.com or 302-256-6468.

The Pecans are HERE!!!

The Fresh Pecans are here, all

halves and are $12.00 per

pound. We also have medium

pecan pieces & large cold

storage halves for $11.50.

Questions or orders please

call Brooksie Pruden at

302-239-3191 or brook-

siepru@gmail.com. There is

also a sign-up sheet available

in the Narthex.

All sales benefit the United

Methodist Women’s Missions.

Angel Tree gifts due

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 9

DECEMBER

01 Betty Ann Ainsworth

Barbara Beasley

Elizabeth Peoples

04 Beverly Culver Florence Helms Gregg

Marissa Hohman

Jerome Stewart 05 Aaron Bey

Fredericka Crossan

07 Francis Jamison

08 Mary Minker Beverly Shunta

09 Elaine Williams

Linda Stapleford

12 Jeff Peoples Robert Sylvester

14 Ronald Klein

William Mills

Grace Tackett

15 Mark Hafer 16 Brian McAdams

Meri Ann Spears

17 David Patterson

20 John Castle

Becky Knowles

Dan White

21 Donna Guretsky

22 Rick Beasom

25 Josephine Whiteman

26 Aaron White

28 Makiyah Darby

Cameron Mills

29 Barbara Kryza

Kylie Shelton

Brady Shelton

John Smith

JANUARY 1/1 Judy Hanus

Dennis Williams

1/2 Heather Lumb

Michael Smith

1/3 Henna Castle

Brian Dempsey

Shannon McAdams

1/5 Bill Broelmann

1/6 Alison Gibney

Caleb Wood

1/8 Jimmy Wood

1/9 Lydia Mendenhall Ralph Murray

1/10 Tanya Brownlee

Carolyn Hafer Jase Kennedy

11 Jaylee Logan

12 Robert Ashby

Marty Bienkowski 14 Wayne Anderson

Matthew Devestine

Nicholas LaBonte

Stacy Snyder 15 Irene Dempsey

19 Jennifer Kertis-Simmons Dennis Lindgren

20 Samantha Jamison

Sammie Manchester 21 John Benson

Rick Lloyd

23 Carolyn Mills

Kate Zinn 25 Ryan Schmidt

Tyler Trexler 26 Bill Clark

Zelda Thomas

Heather Wood

27 Debra August Diana Selders

29 Adam Pugh

30 Becky Devestine

31 James Damewood

Joan Haass

Rusty Lomax

2/1 Sarah Harlan

Don LeRoux

Robert Root 2/2 George Fritz

Kathy Gibney

Barbara Lucht Connie Miller 2/3 Clara Brelsford

Ken Johnson

2/4 David Rodeheaver Jen Stout 2/5 Peggy Frymoyer

Glenn Lomax

Margie Pankok

2/6 Pat Grimes

Ronald Van Dan

Joe Wood

2/7 Jeffrey Donovan

James Lumb

In 1663 Richard Alleine, a Puritan, published Vin-

diciae Pietatis: or, “A Vindication of Godliness in the

Greater Strictness and Spirituality of It.” In 1753, it

was again published in John Wesley's A Christian Li-

brary. Wesley used one chapter, "The Application of

the Whole," on Monday, August 11, 1755, in what

probably was the first real celebration of the Covenant

Service in the Methodist movement.

Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as

expressed in his Journal: "Many mourned before God,

and many were comforted" (April 1756); "It was, as

usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October 1765).

"It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experienc-

es ... I do not know that ever we had a greater blessing.

Afterwards many desired to return thanks, either for a

sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh mani-

festation of His graces, healing all their backslid-

ings" (January 1, 1775). In London these services were

usually held on New Year's Day. Around the country

the Covenant Service was conducted whenever John

Wesley visited the Methodist Societies.

Wesley Covenant Renewal Service

The 1st Sunday after Christmas Day, December 30, 10:00 am — one service

The Angels Held Their Breath

What must that moment have

been like? When heaven’s great

Treasure shed His kingly grandeur

and donned mere clay, did the angels

for a moment hold their breath and

look on in astonishment? When He

who was from the beginning took up-

on Himself the form of a servant, did the eternal realm

halt—just for a heartbeat—and stand speechless with won-

der? When the King of kings exchanged His majestic robes

for swaddling clothes, surely it was the most beautiful, awe

-inspiring moment in all eternity.

On earth, it was a little-noticed event. A young peas-

ant couple and a few poor shepherds were the only witness-

es to an ordinary birth in an ordinary place at an ordinary

time. No pomp or ceremony. No grand announcement to a

waiting crowd. No dancing in the streets.

In the heavens, that which looked ordinary from the

earth was the spark for unparalleled celebration (Hebrews

1:6). It was something never before seen and never to be

seen again—when the King became a servant.

— Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Pursuing the Christ

THE HIGHLIGHTER December 2018—January 2019 Page 10

Calendar

Calendar page

Need 2 pages Dec/Jan and July/Aug

EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

525 Polly Drummond Hill Road

Newark, Delaware 19711

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

P A I D

Permit No. 120

Newark, DE 19711

Inside

Advent/Christmas schedule p. 1

A word from the Pastor p. 2

Advent Wreath Lighting p. 2

Gifts for the Christ Child p. 3

Music and Worship p. 3

Blue Christmas Service p. 3

Cookie Walk and Christmas Potluck Dinner p. 4

Live Nativity, Children’s programs, Youth news p. 5

Caroling and Poinsettia Delivery p. 6

Mission Thoughts p. 6

Ebenezer’s Stephen Ministry p. 6

Trustees Capital Program p. 7

Hoy Communion during Advent & Christmas p. 7

Troop 50 Pancake Breakfast p. 8

Super Bowl Sub Sale p. 8

Wesley Covenant Renewal Service p. 9

The Angels Held Their Breath p. 9