Mark your Calendars

De e er , , : Ea h Wed esda the t adiio al eal ill e se ed, egi i g at : p. . T o ad e t eals a e fu d aise s. See a i les else he e i Ce t al Ra s fo o e i fo aio . If a othe g oup ould like to o du t a fu d aise o De e e , please o ta t the Chu h Oi e at - .

Child e ill go to thei egula Wed esda e e i g a i iies a d adults a ate d o e of t o Ad e t s all g oups hi h ega No e e . Pasto Tho Bo she ill lead a - eek sessio , held i the Chapel, itled, Na es fo the Messiah that ill look at the Isaiah : e se: Wo de ful Cou selo , Might God, E e lasi g Fathe , P i e of Pea e. Pasto Melissa Gall ill lead a stud itled Ad e t i Na ia , held i the Li a , hi h is ased o C. S. Le is The Lio , the Wit h, a d the Wa d o e.

De e er : Seaso ed Ciize s ate ed eal a d pa t . See a othe sto else he e i this issue

De e er : The Child e s Ch ist as P og a ill e p ese ted du i g oth the : a. . a d : a. . s

e i es. See a othe sto i this issue a out the p og a .

De e er : Be ause Ch ist as E e is o Su da this ea , the e is a alte ed s hedule of se i es. The Ch ist-

as E e se i es ith the t adiio al Lesso s a d Ca ols ill e p ese ted at : a. ., : p. ., a d : p. . The e ill e o egula Su da o i g se i es o Su da S hool that da . A stafed u se ill e p o ided fo the : a. . & : p. . se i es

Reade s fo a ious pa ts of the se i e fo all th ee se i es a e eeded. Please sig up at the Wel o e Ce te Su da , De e e . S iptu e lesso s ill e dist i uted Pasto Melissa as the se i e i es ea .

De e er -De . : The e a e o a i iies pla ed fo outh o adults.

Birthday Party!

What is the true meaning of Christmas? Take a moment and really think about that question before reading on. Is the true meaning of Christmas found in bypassing Thanksgiving to make sure all the gifts are bought and the lights are up? Is Christmas about black Friday or cyber Monday shopping? Is it about get-ting the perfect picture to put on a fancy and creative card to mail to all your family and friends? Is Christ-mas about vacation time and spending time with family and friends with lots of food and goodies? I am sure you can add to this list and perhaps would even agree with me when I say that one of the greatest parts of Christmas is spending time with family and friends. For some, this cultural understanding of Christmas creates a tremendous amount of stress, including financial stress. It can be a sad time for those who have lost loved ones. It can also be a distraction that di-verts us away from the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is first and foremost a birthday party! It’s a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a time we celebrate and are reminded of the greatest gift we will ever receive. It’s a time of rejoic-ing in the fact that God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but so we could have everlasting life. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, each one of us has inherited sin and the only way to be washed clean of it is through a little baby who was born in a manger. A little baby who would grow up and volun-tarily take up a cross and die for your sins and for mine. This is why we celebrate. We celebrate with praise and thanksgiving at Christmas because we are freed from the bondage of sin. We celebrate the true mean-ing of Christmas because we are blessed by a loving God who desires nothing more than to see his children redeemed. Maybe the opening question should have had a part two. Maybe the question should have been: What is the true meaning of Christmas and how should we celebrate? The reason I say that is because the expectations of our culture is to celebrate Christmas in a way that overshadows its true meaning. What I find interesting about this, is the fact that Jesus Christ, our redeemer, was not about living up to cultural expecta-tions. Instead, he was about living up to Godly expectations, which by the way I am very grateful for. More specifically, I am grateful for Jesus’ faithfulness and ability not to be misled. So, how do you plan on spending Christmas this year? I have heard of people inviting the poor into their homes for a meal and friendship. I know some families take half of what they would have spent on gifts and give it to those in need or to the church? There’s others who are intentional at making Jesus the center of their Christmas celebration by having a birthday cake for Jesus, spending time with their family and friends reading scripture, doing devotionals, or praying together? These are obviously not for everyone; however, they do cause us to think. The way Christmas is celebrated might vary from person to person, but there is one common denomi-nator, Jesus is at the heart of it all. I share all this because there is no greater joy at Christmas time than to celebrate Mary giving birth to the savior of the world. God’s shalom to you and may you have a very Christ centered Christmas!

Pastor Thom

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”. John 3:16 (NRSV)

Articles for the November issue of Central Rays are due Monday, December 18.

SEASONED CITI)ENS PLAN HOLIDAY MEAL

The Seasoned Citizens of Central Church will meet Thursday, December 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the

Fellowship Hall. Group singing and special music will be provided by Paul and Verla Peterson, and Pastor DeVern Schwenn will share “The Christmas Story”. If you are 55 and older, come share a time of fellow-ship and Christmas celebration, followed by a ca-

tered noon meal with a suggested donation of $5. Chicken Kiev, cheesy hash browns, honey glazed carrots, dinner rolls, and goodies will be served

along with apple cider and coffee. Please call the church, 432-4766, for meal reservations or if you

need a ride.

Tee s Pla Fu draiser for Care Ce ter Christ as Gits

Je Seehafe a d A gela Hoeke ill se e a hili suppe o Wed esda , De e e , as a Ad e t Fu d aise . The gi ls hope to aise e ough o e to pu hase ate ial fo dou le-

la e la kets to gi e as gits to the eside ts of Mil a k Ca e a d Reha Ce te . This p oje t ill e to fulil thei espo si iliies fo high s hool o u it se i e as a pa t of the Naio al Ho o

So iet to hi h the e e e e tl i du ted. You suppo t fo thei p oje t ill e app e iated.

The fa il of Ve la Mille ould like to tha k e e o e fo thei ki d o ds, thoughts, p a e s, a d a a ts of ki d ess ate the death of ou Mo . We ill iss he g eatl , ut a e happ fo he uz she gets to e i hea e o . God less ou all.

Haiti to Benefit The Cal i S hulte a d Chad Thue fa ilies ill se e a Ad e t fu d aise suppe o Wed esda , De e e , e-gi i g at : p. ., as pa t of egula Wed esda ight a i iies. Both fa ilies, i ludi g thei hild e , hope to ake the su e t ip to Haii ith Missio of Hope. As a egi i g efo t to aise fu ds fo the t ip, the fa ilies ill p o ide a d se e the

eal that e e i g. Je a S hulte a d daughte Madi ade the t ip last su e a d fell i lo e ith the people the e ut

e e hea t oke the e dless eeds i that ou t . You do aio ill help the fa ilies i a e the t ip a d p o ide eed-ed goods a d supplies to the Haiia s.

JAM in DECEMBER

We will be walking through the Christmas story throughout the month of De-cember. As we learn about the Christmas story, we will also be doing fun activities like candy cane bombing, practicing for the Christmas program, and hopefully a special fun event! (See article on page 7) There will be NO Wednesday Night JAM on the following dates: December 27, January 3, January 10. We will resume JAM activities with a fun event on January 17th!

We hope you have an amazing holiday season and look forward to an exciting new year!

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17

WITH 8:30 AND 10:30 A.M. SERVICES

Once again we will be presenting our “impromptu” Christmas Program on Sunday, De-cember 17. There will be two worship services that Sunday to accommodate seating for every-one who wishes to attend. The services will be at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. The kids will lead us in worship that day, while presenting the Christmas story. There will not be regular Sunday School for the kids that morning. We ask that you, as a family, pick a service to attend that morn-ing. Unless the kids are playing hand chimes or have a major part in the service, you only need to attend one service (unless you really want to go to more than one). All children are asked to go to the chapel to pick out their “part” for the program before they go into the sanctuary. We ask that the kids sit with their families. At the appointed time, they will come forward to build the nativity scene as the Christmas story is told. They will also be sharing special music during the service. We are excited to celebrate how Jesus came, during

worship on Sunday, December 17. Make plans to join us for this meaningful service!

We will have a time of celebration between the services in the Fellowship Hall. You can come decorate your own cupcake and enjoy fellowship with one another!

NO CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL

There will be no Sunday School on December 24 and 31. Thank you so much to everyone who helps with Sunday School! We couldn’t do Sunday School without your faithful help each week! We are looking forward to continuing after the New Year starting on January 7.

November Finance Numbers as of

November 28, 2017

Total Budget Offering $49,741.00

Back Pack $670.00

Sunday School $67.00

UMCOR $100.00

Gess Eye Clinic $165.00

UM Student Day $25.00

Zimbabwe Mission $1,400.00

Automatic Clearing House (ACH)

No lo ge ill ou eed to e e e to i g ou he k ook o that see i gl o e iste t thi g alled CASH to hu h. ACH auto ai de it gi i g is o a aila le at Ce t al as a alte ai e to

ii g a he k to the hu h ea h eek o o th. You a ele t to ha e a ithd a al do e o the st or the th of ea h o th. The sig -

up fo s a e fou d i the Chu h Oi e a d pe iodi all i the ul-lei s. Fo o e i fo aio please o ta t Ada Kopli o Jaso Ket-

ig.

Our Gift to You! The Children’s Ministries would like to try something different for our Christmas gift to our Sunday School children. We would like to invite all of the children ages preschool through 5th grade in our Sunday School and Jam programing to a special movie event. On Wednesday, December 13th we will be picking the children up after school and transporting them to the Mill Theater. If you have a preschool child, please bring them to the Mill Theater. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., we will be watching the movie “The Star”. A small popcorn and pop will be provided as a snack. When the movie is done, we will go to the church to do our normal Wednesday evening JAM activities. Please RSVP to Kristy Liebe at 432-4766 by Sunday, December 10 or sign up at the Welcome Center to let her know if you are planning on going so that we can make all of the needed arrangements. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Kristy also! We hope that this will be a meaningful event!

Pray Without Ceasing By Sheila Dailie

During Advent, we will practice the lectio divina method of prayer. Spiritual reading of Sacred

Scripture, especially the Gospels, is an important form of Meditation. This spiritual reading is tradition-

ally called lectio divina or divine reading. Lectio divina is prayer over the Scriptures.

The first element of this type of prayer is reading (lectio): you take a short passage from the Bible, preferably a Gospel passage and read it carefully, perhaps three or more times. Let it really soak-in.

The second element is meditation (meditatio). By using your imagination enter into the Biblical sce-ne in order to "see" the setting, the people, and the unfolding action. It is through this medita-tion that you encounter the text and discover its meaning for your life.

The next element is prayer (oratio) or your personal response to the text: asking for graces, offering praise or thanksgiving, seeking healing or forgiveness. In this prayerful engagement with the text, you open yourself up to the possibility of contemplation.

Contemplation (contemplatio) is a gaze turned toward Christ and the things of God. By God's ac-tion of grace, you may be raised above meditation to a state of seeing or experiencing the text as mystery and reality. In contemplation, you come into an experiential contact with the One behind and beyond the text.

Join us each week as we look at different characters of the Christmas story.

Through the Bible in a Year By Sheila Dailie

During the season of Advent and Christmas, we read the New

Testament letters that help explain how we will live the Christian life,

and the anticipation of Christ’s second coming. Even though Advent is a busy, hectic time, you will discover that

making time for God’s word will enrich your experience of Christmas this year. Consider all that Je-sus sacrificed to become a human being. Our readings take about 15 minutes each day, and then

check us out on Facebook for devotional thoughts Monday through Friday.

Let us know if you plan to join in again in 2018. God’s word is alive with new truth for each day.

Prayers of the People

We are continuously trying to update our lists. Please notify the Central Church Office

at office@milbankcentral.org or 432-4766 with any additions or corrections..

Dec. 2 Sue Ann Krahn

Lillian DeBoer

Dec. 4 Adalynn Bohn

Dillon Schneck

Dec. 6 Renae Fox

Brian DeBoer

Luke Koplin

Dec. 8 Jordon Redmond

Dec. 9 Jerry Mielitz

Tayla Schulte

Dec. 10 Marylynne Fields

Deb Bowsher

Dec. 13 Dawn Vander Wal

Emma VanVooren

Dec. 14 Susan Anderson

Deb Lindholm

Kelly Whitesitt

Dec. 16 Nadia Thue

Dec. 18 Eric Stengel

Marilyn Dorsett

Jaxon Weber

Dec. 19 Gauge Stengel

Chloe Bender

Dec. 20 Charles Whitesitt

Dec. 21 Isabella Pauli

Jacob Erickson

Dec. 22 Colton Frevert

Calvin Schulte

Dec. 23 Chely Wellnitz

Dec. 24 Gary Armstrong

Holli Seehafer

Dec. 25 Anne Schulte

Dec. 26 Steven Spors

Dec. 27 Jim Marquardt

Dec. 28 Jensen Schmieg

Dec. 29 Helen Carlson

Barb Robinson

Dec. 30 Adison Pauli

Duane Steege

Dec. 31 Dave Dorsett

Tim Graf

Jason (Cubby) Grabow

Schulte, Anne

*Bohn, Marge

Brown, Tim & Jennifer

Cross, Delwyn & Deloris

Fields, Jerry & Marylynne

Grabow, Elli

Hofman, Don & Nancy

Hupke, Dave & Darcy

Krahn, Sue Ann

Lindeman, Gary & Cheryl

Nomeland, Steve & Brenda

Seehafer, Jeff & Holli

Smith, Darrel & Florrie

Steege, Duane & Jerelynn

Vander Wal, Paul & Dawn

Wendland, Jim & Sheri

Winquist, John

Dec. 3 Harlan & Mary Bohn

Dec. 11 Fred & Sue Oslund

Dec. 15 Tim & Sue Stengel

Dec. 28 Jeff and Holli Seehafer

Tim & Jennifer Brown

Dec. 30 Tom & Marla Tillman

Dec. 31 Mike & Nancy Copeland

Dick & Jan Grorud

Steven & Brenda Nomeland

Rev. Thom & Deb Bowsher

Alex & Daria Liebe

Where Can You Find Us?

Television: Radio:

ITC Ca le Cha el KMSD

Mo da s at : a & : p Su da s at : a

Mid o i e t Ca le Cha el Su da s at : p

Community Bible Study

Invites New Participants

Co u it Bi le Stud is ea i g the half- a poi t, a d just ate the Ne Yea ill egi the stud of II Co i thia s. If ou e looki g to ake a ha ge i , this just a e the pla e fo ou. Classes eet o Mo da ights f o : to : p. . at Li i g Wo d Luthe a Chu h a d o Tuesda s a d Thu sda s f o : to : a. . at the G a t Cou t Li a . But do t ait fo the e ea . Che k us out o . Co e to a of the sessio s. Be ou guest a d see ho e fu io a d hat e e all a out. Stud ooks a e desig ed to e eit those ho ha e litle k o ledge of the Bi le o those ho ha e ee stud i g fo a ea s. Ea h lesso del es i to the Bi le e ses a d p o ides Bi le k o ledge as ell as p a i al appli aio .

Ne )i a e! "You a e el o e to isit a e )i a-

e!" F ie ds i )i a e a e e p essi g thei hope fo the futu e of thei ou t . Polii al u est i No e e

as follo ed the esig aio of thei lo g i e p esi-de t. Re e tl , a e p eside t as i augu ated a d the t a siio of po e as a o plished ith o io-le e. We p aise God fo ai tai i g pea e a o g the people of )i a e. God is i o t ol!

Da iel : , "P aise the a e of God fo e e a d e e , fo He has all isdo a d po e . He o t ols the ou se of o ld e e ts; He e o es ki gs a d sets up othe ki gs."

A id a d Ja et Lie e dela ed thei No e e t ip to )i a e o e eek u il the t a siio to the e go e e t as a o plished. Cu e tl , the a e i the ou -t o ga izi g the shippi g of the o tai e ith s hool, edi al a d fa e uip e t to Muta a a Missio . The a e also sei g up pla s fo a tea to u load the o tai e i

. Co i ue to p a fo the people of )i a e!

Central United

201 South 5th St.

Milbank, SD 57252 Return Service Requested

Central United

Methodist Church 201 S. 5th St.

Milbank, SD 57252

605-432-4766

Fall Worship Times 8:30 am Traditional

9:45 —10:45 am Sunday School

11:00 am Blended

DE

CE

MB

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20

17

Lead Pastor – Rev. Thom Bowsher

pastorthom@milbankcentral.org

Emergencies: 432-5363

Associate Pastor – Rev. Melissa Gall

melissa.gall@milbankcentral.org

Pastoral Care Pastor/Children’s Minister – Kristy

Liebe

kristy.liebe@milbankcentral.org

Youth Coordinator – Levi Waddell

levi.waddell@milbankcentral.org

Office Manager – Jen Aden

office@milbankcentral.org

Communications Coordinator – Ginny Tostenson

ginny.tostenson@milbankcentral.org