December 22, 2011 Volume 16, Number 51

Newsletter

for next week’s

issue is at noon

the preceding

Thursday

(You may e-mail

articles to office@

eastcross.org)

East Cross United Methodist Church 820 SE Madison Blvd. Bartlesville Oklahoma 74006 918-333-0810

Worship Information: Sunday, December 25th, 2011

10:00 a.m. “Jesus is the Light” John 1:1-14 Rev. Jeff Burress

Music led by Ariel Ortega and Emily French

Sunday School classes will not meet today.

Christmas Eve Candlelight

& Communion Service Saturday, Dec. 24th, 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Childcare for children 4 and younger is available for the 6 and 8 p.m. service

Christmas Morning Service Sunday, Dec. 25th, 10 a.m.

A combined service for the entire family where we will celebrate the birth of Christ through song and devotion. Sunday School classes will not meet today.

Childcare is available for children 4 and younger.

New Year’s Day Service Sunday, January 1st, 10a.m.

A combined service to welcome the New Year. Sunday School classes will not meet today. Childcare is available for children 4 and younger.

College Student Sunday Sunday, January 8th, both services

East Cross News East Cross News East Cross News East Cross News ---- page page page page 2222

OUTREACH UPDATE: Massive Mountain of Food...I hope East Cross members watched as the Mountain of

Food grew to 625 cases of food this year. The food was distributed to the Salvation Army,

The Lighthouse Mission, Concern, and Agape Mission by an army of East Cross volunteers. Thank you to everyone who donated food or worked in the effort. A special thank you to Kay

Ruehlen for working tirelessly coordinating the Mountain of Food this year. What an awesome way for East Cross to serve God and celebrate Thanksgiving!

Angels of East Cross...The Angel Tree is empty and 88 children have been provided gifts from the generos-

ity of the East Cross family. The gifts have been delivered to children in foster care, Big Brothers and Sisters, and to Sequoyah Enterprises (special needs girls). Thank you to everyone who selected a child from the Angel

Tree and to Jeretta Amburn for coordinating the effort. East Cross members have unselfishly given in the true

Spirit of God's love and are truly angels to these children.

Manos Juntas Prescription Bottles...Thank you to everyone who has given used prescription bottles for the medical mission in Rio Bravo. Hundreds of bottles have been delivered for reuse and Manos Juntas has expressed great appre-

ciation. They no longer need us to send prescription bottles because they are overwhelmed with dona-tions. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and to Bob Shell for spearheading the effort.

Are you called to Outreach?...The 2012 Outreach Committee needs a few new members to assist with mission

projects. Please contact Chad Perceful or Bill Amburn if God is calling you to serve on this committee.

The Office will be...

OPEN– Monday, Dec. 26th

CLOSED– Tuesday, Dec.27th through Monday, Jan. 2nd.

If you have an emergency, please call: Chad Perceful 918-850-4402 Scott McCrary 918-766-1093 Paula Lindblom 918-335-2133

THANK YOU...We are humbled and touched by your o outpouring of love. It is so appreciated by all of us. We wish to thank the members of our congregation for their thoughtful, generous contributions to our Staff Appreciation gifts.

We are thankful for the opportunities we have had to work with you during the past year. We look forward to the new challenges we will face together in 2012 and wish each of you a New Year full of God’s blessings!

Jeff, Chad, Scott, Tom, Linda, Rita, Paula, Coleen, Mary, Emily, Ariel, Margie & Seth

PLEASE NOTE: If you are mailing a check to the office, that you wish deposited in 2011, please take into consideration the Holiday Schedule. You might wish to drop it by the church office on Dec. 26th just to be sure that it is received on time. Have questions? Call the church office at 918-333-0810.

If you make a gift of stock to the church, please call the Financial Secretary, Clyde Black at 333-7650 or the church office and make them aware of your transaction. Also, now is a good time to check

and make sure you are current on your pledge to the church. If you are unsure where you stand, you may call Clyde at the above number. Thank you!

THANK YOU...Dear East Cross Family, Thank you so much for all the prayers, thoughts and cards. They were very appreciated. The family of Georgia Clayton

Dear East Cross, Thank you all so much for the Mountain of Food donation. Wow!! Praise God!! You all are an answer to our prayers! God always provides our needs through awesome people like you who go above and beyond. Thanks a million, Shelly, Social Service Ministries, The Salvation Army

East Cross News East Cross News East Cross News East Cross News ---- page page page page 3333

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES…

EXPERIENCE IT!

East CrossEast CrossEast CrossEast Cross Church Family NewsChurch Family NewsChurch Family NewsChurch Family News

In the Hospital…In the Hospital…In the Hospital…In the Hospital… Kay Ruehlen Tulsa Spine & Spec. Mike Fugett St. John’s – Tulsa

Pray For…Pray For…Pray For…Pray For…Mary Lou TTTTanzey, Mike Fugett, Jeff Burress, Ben Facker (Fred & Connie’s grandson), Debbie Potter, James Loyd (Sonia Davis’ father-in-law), Frank Pichler, Monte Murnan, Carol Welch (Margaret Howe’s daughter), Donna Dietz (Ken’s mother), Tony Utley (Jean’s son), Betty Sparks, Daniel Lopez (friend of Dave and Michele Holliman), Jim Cyrus, Maxine Moret, Joe Belden, Virginia (Clara Hammer’s sister), Amanda King (friend of Amanda Lindblom), Charlie Bobbitt, Ron Matthews (friend of Bob & Mary Shell), C. J. Hitchcock, Stan Defehr, Bobby Hindman, John Taliaferro (Claudia Rolf’s brother), Heather Rohlfing (granddaughter-in-law of Ray & Bonnie), Dean Collins, Zachary Richards (nephew of Dave and Michele Holliman), Barbara Wegener, Linda Colberg, Greg Mueggenborg, Bill Facker (Fred Facker & Mary Ann Clark’s brother), Kevin Davis (friend of Terry Ary), Patricia Smith, Helen Collins, Jocelyn Morris, Glenn Dale, James Kuntz, Dr. Darrah.

CPL Jared Kuntz Adam Cox SSgt. William G. Ware 1st Lt. Neil Gorham Captain Derek Smith Mark Hathaway SSGT William Lummis Sgt. Jared Seat Col. Edward Shock A1C Alex Hedgecock Lt. Roger Knobeloch AB Jared Draney LCPL Michael Fitch

Pray for our Military

LCDR Robert Staten SPC Gary Mabry SPC Josh Cole SPC Craig Courtney Josh Wheatley LTC Darrin Cox, Sgt. Gordon McKeehan MSCT D.D. Halverstadt Lt. Eric Rolfs 1st Lt. Daniel Smith Major Todd Abshire SFC Toby Kirchman SPC Benjamin Uzzell

All persons serving in the military and their families.

There will be a FREE Defensive Driving Course offered on Friday, Dec. 30th, 2011 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at M.U.T.U.A.L. This course is available for anyone who would like to take it. Some insurance companies offer a reduction in rates for those who have taken such a course. If you would like to participate, call M.U.T.U.A.L. (918-336-9151) as soon as possible before Christmas and let them know.

Fall Stop Exercise Class...Will meet on Dec. 21st, but will not meet on Dec. 28th or

January 4th...Will resume Jan. 11th.

Save the Date: Mission Sunday...East Cross will have Mission Sunday on

January 15th in both worship services and an all church dinner. Rev. Jim Jones will be with us to preach and teach about Missions in Haiti. Please

mark your calendars and save the date!

This is the last issue of the East Cross News

for 2011.

Thank you to Our United Methodist Women who make East Cross look so beautiful and “ready” for Christmas each year. A special thanks to…Charolette Hawkins, Lynda Kliewer, Ginny Pahl and Jean Abshire who make sure everything is “just right”...to Bob Pahl and others for putting up the new outside nativity scene recently… also to Jeff Glas-gow for making all the wooden stands proudly displaying the new Advent and Nativity banners. Thank you to all others that helped in any way! Your service is appreciated very much!

We will “undecorate” the

church on Tuesday, Jan. 3rd at 9 a.m. All

help is welcomed and appreciated.

CIA and Transformers made Christmas

cards, wreaths and angel ornaments recently. These

lovingly handmade items were carefully packed in decorated boxes along with lots of

other goodies and mailed to deployed soldiers in Afghanistan for Christmas! Even the

youngest can make a difference!

EAST CROSS NEWS (USPS 164-540) Published weekly except for last week of December Postmaster: Send address changes to:

East Cross United Methodist Church 820 SE Madison Blvd. Bartlesville, OK 74006-8533

PERIODICALS U.S. POSTAGE PAID AT BARTLESVILLE, OK 74003

USPS 164-540

East Cross News East Cross News East Cross News East Cross News ---- page page page page 4 Visit our website at www.eastcross.org4 Visit our website at www.eastcross.org4 Visit our website at www.eastcross.org4 Visit our website at www.eastcross.org

Rev. Jeff Burress

Sr. Pastor

Dwight D. Darrah Pastor Emeritus

Chad Perceful Associate Pastor Scott McCrary

Minister to Students

Linda Smith Children’s Minister

Mary Shell Children’s Worship

Paula Lindblom Ministerial Coordinator

Rita Neff Treasurer-Membership

Coleen Williams Early Childhood Center Director Nursery and Childcare Director

Ariel Ortega Music Director, 1st. Service

Margie Green Pianist/Organist Emily French

Music Director, 2nd & Outlet Service

Seth Weimer Sound Tech

Tom Hedglen

Building Manager

Church Office: 918-333-0810 FAX: 918-335-1664

E-Mail: office@eastcross.org Website: www.eastcross.org

Early Childhood Center 918-333-3814

STUDENT MINISTRY NEWS

The holiday season is upon us so we won’t be meeting the next couple of weeks. We will start back up with S.U.R.G.E. on Jan. 4th! Have a great Christmas and I’ll see you next year! :) THANK YOU!!! I want to begin by thanking the Bilgers and Rigdons for hosting our progressive Dinner and Christmas party this past Sunday. As you can see from the picture below, we had a great group! I also want to thank all of the parents who volunteered their time and money this year to provide a meal for our youth on Sunday nights!

Connections will resume January 4th, 2012.

January calendar

supplements this issue.

Save the Date… Sunday, January 29th 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Training (required) for ALL persons

(volunteers & paid) that work with, or are involved in the care, teaching, or supervision of any children, youth, and vulnerable adults within our church! You will be contacted soon for your reservation!