Monticello United Methodist Church
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Dear Monticello Church family,
Good morning! We are so glad you are a part of our church family! Welcome BACK to the weekly E-Note. After some technical glitches, we're back up and running. And, I am so glad as your pastor that I have this means of communicating with you again!!
In this week's E-Note:
- Special Events during Advent at Monticello
- How to Keep informed at Monticello
- Youth Ministries Christmas Party
- Year-End Gifts and Taxes
- Serving those that Serve Us--Need your help!!
- Pastor's Youth Council Starting--We Need You(th)
On the side-bar to the right...
- This Weekend in Worship
- What's Up in Fellowship Hall?
- UMW News--The Mitten Tree
- Missions News--Congratulations Monticello!!!
- Family Ministries Live Nativity Coming Soon
I look forward as your pastor to sharing lots of news and returning to a place where our congregation is well-informed of all the exciting ministries taking place here.
Know we are here to serve you in any way possible. Blessings to you on the weekend ahead!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Rob
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Special Advent Events at Monticello
 There are so many exciting events taking place during Advent. Join us and bring a friend this Advent season as we experience the birth of Jesus Christ and fellowship as a Christian community. Here's a run-down of all the events...
Sunday, December 4
- 9:00 & 10:45am--Morning worship, "Peace"
- 5:30-7:00pm--Live Nativity (be sure to read about this exciting event in the sidebar to the right)
Saturday, December 10
Sunday, December 11
Sunday, December 18
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9:00 & 10:45am--"Morning worship—Love"
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5:30pm--All Church Dinner
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6:30pm--Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata
Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve
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5:00 & 7:00pm--Christmas Eve Worship
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Both services will be identical, offer Holy Communion, and offer candlelighting. Be sure to join us, bring the family, and bring a friend for this incredible event to experience the birth of Jesus Christ.
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Christmas Eve (as with all our worship services) is family friendly. Please bring your chlildren to worship. But, the nursery will be available for you too from 4:30-8:30pm if you desire it.
Sunday, December 25, Christmas Day
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10:45am only--Christmas Day Worship
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There will be only one service on Christmas morning. The service will be a service of carols and scripture with a short meditation.
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There will be no Sunday school and no nursery care on December 25. Please feel free to bring young ones to worship, even if they are a bit noisy! We love having you here, and your children too!
Sunday, January 1, New Year's Day
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10:45am only--New Year's Day Worship
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There will be only one service on New Year's Day. The service will be a blended service with a guest preacher.
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There is NO Sunday school on January 1.
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There will be no Sunday school and no nursery care on January 1. Please feel free to bring young ones to worship, even if they are a bit noisy! We love having you here, and your children too!
How to Keep Informed at Monticello
I am so excited about the wonderful ministry this church is doing. But, as I look back at the last 8 weeks I have been with you, I see one area where I would personally like to improve. It is one of my goals as your pastor to begin to find better ways to communicate with you about all the exciting ministry options here at Monticello. After all, to participate, you need to know what's going on! So, I plan to start communicating you in four ways:
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Each Friday--now that we have the tech glitches fixed, you'll get this weekly E-Note each week (plus we'll have a limited number of printed copies on Sunday for those without email)..
- Starting today--Candace Shockey has just accept the role of being our "primary upkeeper" of the website. As our media coordinator, she'll keep you informed on our website at www.getGOD.info so be sure to always check there too. Our ministry leaders will add information there too.
- Coming in January--we'll have our projector installed and we'll communicate with you on the big screen in fellowship hall. All morning on Sunday, you'll see announcements running plus you might also see some pictures, maybe even of yourself, so watch close!
- Coming in late Decemeber--we'll communicate with you via the new "Connection Point" in Fellowship Hall. There will be literature there, sign-up forms, and more.
Plus, YOU have a huge role in communcating both within the congregation and beyond. So, help us share the word!! If someone does not get an email from us, the E-Note are always available online. Just go to www.getGOD.info and click on "Pastor" then" E-Notes Archive."
If someone wants to be added to the list, they can do so in three ways...
- Call the office at 913-441-1435
- Email Cindy Hedges, the pastor's administrative assistant, at cindy.hedges@getGOD.info
- Visit our website at www.getGOD.info and click on "Resources" then "Join the Email List."
Youth Ministries Christmas Party
 Join our youth director, Will, and all of us for the special Monticello Youth Christmas Party!!! On Saturday, December 17, our youth in grades 6-12 are invited to an awesome evening of food, fun, and fellowship!
We'll begin with a fun gift exchange and devotional time at church. Then, we'll head out for great food at Cinzetti's. Finally, we'll wrap up watching Will and Pastor Rob fall on their faces while all of us ice skate at the Crown Center Ice Terrace!!! We'll take some Christmas photos around downtown and head home.
Join us for this fun evening as we celebrate Christmas just around the corner!! For more info, click here to go to our youth page...
Year-End Gifts and Taxes
As we approach the end of the year, many parishioners ask about year end gifts to the church. Your gifts of cash or other items toward the mission and ministry of God through Monticello United Methodist Church are always appreciated. As a 501c3 organization, all gifts to the church are tax deductible. And, all parishioners will receive a printed statement of their gifts in January. Those offering a non-cash gift will receive a letter of thanks to use for your taxes.
In order for tithes, offerings, or other monetary gifts to be recorded as a gift in 2011, they must be received in the church office (or the offering plate) by Christmas morning worship, December 25. All gifts received after December 25 will be recorded in 2012.
In order for donations of items to the church (furniture, youth games, etc.) to be included in 2011, please set an appointment with the pastor to determine feasibility of the gift first. Then, deliver it to the church by December 30. You will receive a letter for tax purposes at that time.
Thank you for considering the church in your year-end planning!!! If you have questions, Pastor Rob would be happy to talk with you more about including the church in your financial plans.
Serving Those that Serve Us--Need Your Help
On Veteran's Day, we talked in worship about recognizing and sending care packages to those that serve us in our nation's military. One of our classes, led by Sheila Mefferd, has taken on a part of that challenge. Our Monticello 4th and 5th graders are working hard to prepare cards for those women and men in military service.
There's just one problem though...we need to know who we are contacting! Currently, we have a list in the bulletin of those serving in military service. However, as your pastor, I am embarrassed to say we as a church do not know if that list is 100% accurate. So, we'd like to hear from you!!!
If you have a relative (not a friend please) who is currently serving in the military, please let me know via email to Cindy Hedges, my administrative assistant, at cindy.hedges@getGOD.info. Send your name, address, and phone number. And, send your relative's rank, branch of service, name, and APO address (or other mailing address). I also need to know if it is OK with you that we include your relative in the bulletin and in our care package list..
Using this information, we'll update our database to ensure our list in the bulletin is fully up-to-date. And, we'll begin sending care packages to them on behalf of our whole Monticello Community.
Finally, I am looking for 2 volunteers that would like to assist the Missions team in managing this important program. If you are in interested in helping, please let Pastor Rob know at robert.walters@getGOD.info and we'll get you started.
Pastor's Youth Council--We Need You(th)
As we embark on a new strategic goal of growing our youth program, the first step is to create a strong leadership team. So, Will Demings, our youth director, and I are starting the "Pastor's Youth Council."
This group will come together monthly (and more often at the beginning) to begin to develop a foundation for an all-new youth program. This program has the following components:
- A weekly fellowship and devotional time at 10:00am on Sundays.
- A monthly large group event for devotionals and a a fun event
- An annual summer mission trip
The Pastor's Youth Council will be charged with developing this program, planning the events, and helping us craft a future direction for the youth program. In that light, it will have a huge impact on the future of Monticello UMC. Pastor's Youth Council members should meet these qualifications:
- Be a youth in grades 6-12 or be the parent of a youth in grades 6-12.
- Be willing to attend the planning sessions and put in the work you are assigned (such as phone calls to potential events, etc.)
- Be willing to attend all youth events including the annual mission trip (unless you are sick or out of town).
- Be an example of Christian behavior at school, at church, when you are out with your friends, on the internet, and at home with your family.
We will have our first meeting in December. If you would like to be a part of this team, please contact Pastor Rob at robert.walters@getGOD.info. |
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This Weekend in Worship
Join us as we begin the 4-week season called, "Advent." Advent is a time we "prepare" our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ. I would encourage you to commit yourself and your family to being in worship each week in Advent provided you are healthy and in town.
This weekend, we'll begin a new series entitled, "Mary Did You Know?" where we look at the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christmas. Bring a friend to this joy-filled, uplifting series that looks at Jesus through the eyes of his mother, Mary. Blessings to you during this special season!
Family Ministries Live Nativity This Weekend!!!
This Sunday, December 4, join us for the Live Nativity at Monticello. See actors portraying Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and more. Plus, there will be live animals at the scene. We hope you'll come for this free evening!!! Plus, while you're here, enjoy some hot beverages and refreshments in Fellowship Hall.
Does your family have a unique or meaningful Nativity set that you would like to share with others? Small personal nativity sets will be displayed in the sanctuary. If you would like to share your set on display that day, email Margaret Moore at 73wes-marg36@kc.rr.com or call them at 913-441-6683 for more information.
Nativities should be delivered to the Sanctuary by 4:00pm Sunday, December 4 and picked up by 7:30pm the same day. They will be supervised at all times by Family Ministries.
What's Up in Fellowship Hall??
Some excitement is happening in fellowship hall!! So, pardon our dust while we upgrade a bit.
You'll notice there is much more floor-space in our gathering space now. We've cleared a lot of unused furniture and and in the process of constructing the "Connection Point," a place to find information about our church, it's ministries, and a place to sign-up, donate, or just about anything else. (And, the famous coffee sold by our UMW women will also be moving there as well, so don't worry if you can't find it this weekend!!).
This new "Connection Point" will be a place to get all the information you or a visitor might need. We're looking for volunteers that love Monticello to staff it each weekend. Are you interested? See Pastor Rob to volunteer.
Plus, our own Jay Nichols is working to install a new donated projector in fellowship hall. Each week, we'll be running announcements and pictures so our entire congregation gets the news they need.
So, pardon our dust!! But, we're expanding and working to keep you informed!!! Check back in a couple weeks for the finished product.
UMW News
The Mitten Tree The United Methodist Women are collecting gloves and mittens for those that may be cold this winter. Can you help? Donate on the Mitten Tree at church or get more information here...
Missions News
Our thanks goes out to Janet Williams, our coordinator of missions, for her time and effort in 2011. Janet recently shared the incredible results of 2011 with our congregation. This church gave nearly $10,000 to missions in 2011.
The year came to a close with the deliveries to the Bishop's Round-Up and the CASA shopping which is taking place now. Plus, we still have roughly $1,000 of that 10,000 waiting to serve Habitat for Humanity on an upcoming build.
Monticello UMC, you have done a great job on missions this year and as your pastor, I am so proud of you for serving God's people. And, I am also so proud of Janet for her hours of work coordinating missions this year.
Look for 2012 mission projects coming out in early January. We hope YOU will become a big part of missions in this upcoming year.
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Monticello United Methodist Church