PASTOR’S LETTER 2

UPCOMING EVENTS 3

PRAYER REQUESTS ATTENDANCE &

OFFERING 4

NEWS 5 - 7

NASHVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE HILLTOP BEACON! Bringing People to Jesus, Sending Believers to Serve

Our Christmas Eve Worship service will by on Thursday, December 24th at 7:00pm.

Join the Loudonville UMC for an afternoon of Christmas Caroling

Sunday, December 13th at 2:00pm. They will be joined by Bigelow UMC, Lakeville UMC, Perrysville UMC, and

Nashville UMC. Hope to see you there!

Prayer Chapel 8:45 am ~ Sunday School 9:15 am ~ Worship 10:30 am

The trustees and other servants from Church have done many new updates to the parsonage this past Fall. Linda and I are so grateful for all the work and loving attention we have received!! We would like to reciprocate the same love and attention to all of you in our congregation.

We are providing a Christmas Open House at our home for you to come and visit with us and see the many new improvements!

It will be Sunday, December 20th, from 2-4pm. We have also secured our very large, but over-affectionate St. Bernard, so she doesn’t greet you with her slobbery kisses!!! So please come for a visit and a little Christmas cheer. We’re looking forward to your visit, Merry Christmas to all!

With much love, Larry and Linda

!

DECEMBER 2015�2THE HILLTOP BEACON

It's that time of year again. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas? For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some. Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child. Read Luke 2:4-19.

Why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us. Without Jesus, we would all die in our sins. Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. We can know that heaven is a place where we can go to when this life is over. "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong."( I John 1:9) We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Heaven will be our home one day.

Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a "Merry Christmas." The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

in His grip, Larry

A Letter from Larry…..

DECEMBER 2015�3THE HILLTOP BEACON

!SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING

We will be ringing the Salvation Army bell at Rodhe’s IGA on Wednesday,

December 23rd. Please sign up to help if you are able. Thank you to all the those who have signed up to serve.

Sunshine Table Volunteers

Dec. 6 Laurie Etzwiler Dec. 13 Dec. 20 Youth Group Dec. 27 !

December Liturgists

Dec. 6 Lauren Shaum Dec. 13 Shirley Pringle Dec. 20 Deanna Wheatley Dec. 25 Don Weimer Dec. 27 Craig Houin !

Nursery Volunteers

Dec. 6 Dec. 13 Don Weimer Dec. 20 Dec. 27 Mary Beth Zuercher !!

Children’s Moments

Darlene Fox !Deadline for the

January Newsletter is Sunday, December 27, 2015 !

Submissions for the newsletter can be emailed to Jody Irwin at

jirwin@nashville-umc.org

On Sunday, December 20th during our worship service, the

children will be performing “The Christmas Story”. This play combines the Christmas story told in scripture with pantomime and traditional

carols performed by Madison’s Bells and our church organist.

Thanks to the generosity of our Church family, we were able to send

68 filled boxes to Operation Christmas Child this year.

A NOTE FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Because of your generosity, we were able to apply an extra $13,000 to our Church’s mortgage principal this

year. This brings our Building Fund Mortgage down to $15,594.00. It is our goal to pay the mortgage off in or

before 2016. Please prayerfully consider making a gift to this cause. Thank you for your abundant giving.

!

DECEMBER 2015�4THE HILLTOP BEACON

Date Sunday School

Worship Sunday School

Offering

General Fund

Offering

Special Offering

10/25/15 31 59 $45.00 $1,106.00 $210.00

11/1/15 34 64 $45.00 $3,470.00 $513.00

11/8/15 35 54 $36.81 $1,328.00 $210.00

11/15/15 34 54 $49.00 $1,391.00 $362.00

11/22/15 36 77 $66.25 $1,747.00 $276.00

11/29/15 35 60 $70.00 $966.00 $473.00

PRAISES: Joann Sanor - home, prayer group visit with Bud, safe travel in fog, Karen Burgett’s good report, Lauren as liturgist, Salvation Army bell ringing, Cassie’s new job

NEW CONCERNS for your Prayers: San Bernardino victims, Jeff Keller, Carol Watts, Aden Beachy, Lisa for safe flight, Austin safe trip to Columbus

PRAYER REQUESTS: Church Leaders, Christian Refugees, Terrorists to learn truth, Paris victims, Country’s Leaders, Youth Group, Pastors, Unsaved loved ones, Persecuted Christians, Our church, All Missionaries

HEALTH CONCERNS: Mike Carr, Bob Forbes, Ann Fry, Harold Fowler, Larry Leppla, Carol Perry, Lonnie Pringle, Megan Roberts, Joann Sanor, Enid Madaras, Michelle Starcher, Emily Zollers

MILITARY PERSONNEL

* Needed per week $2,520.00

ATTENDANCE AND OFFERING OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

DECEMBER 2015�5THE HILLTOP BEACON

Nashville United Methodist Church Administrative Council Meeting November 10, 2015 !

Present: Laurie, Linda, Pastor Larry, Janice, Larry, Donna, Shirley, Bill Taillon, Jody Irwin, Sue, Hazel, Sheri, Leo, Lee !Laurie called the meeting to order and Pastor Larry started it with a devotional. !Minutes were reviewed, motion to approve by Bill, 2nd by Sheri, motion approved. !Treasurer: Sue presented the treasurers report. Lee motioned to approve, Shirley 2nd and motion passed. !Finance committee: Leo presented the budget for the next year with only small differences between the current year and next year. Leo motioned to accept the budget, Bill 2nd and the motion passed. Leo said the finance committee would like to take $13000 out of the working fund to pay down the mortgage and save interest cost. Lee motioned that this be done. Larry commented that he didn't want to pay payments ahead, but pay on the principle. Pastor Larry asked for clarification on the balance remaining. After taking out the $13000, there would be about $14000 left in the working fund plus $4800 in the working savings. Larry 2nd the motion and the motion passed. !Discipleship: The committee met last Tuesday. There is an Operation Christmas Child Box packing party this Sunday at 5pm, and the third session of the afterschool program is this week. The 1st week had 10 kids, the 2nd week it was up to 18. Children's church is still going on. Youth group will be doing a movie night and making cookies for nursing homes. Faith Cafe Sunday school class is starting a new book, “The Me I Want to Be” with Pastor Larry. Pastor Larry commented that the memory verses and a competition provided by a program Janice has started is igniting enthusiasm in the after school program. !Trustees: Larry Leppla said there has been many projects going on at the parsonage and all have went well. Many people have helped and Larry is thankful for all the help. An upcoming project is possibly upgrading the sound system. Bob has contacted someone about a system but this is just in the preliminary stages. !Mission: $895 has been spent for gas cards, electric bills, prescriptions, food, and laundry help. 12 food baskets will be given out. They served All Gods Children in Mansfield and all food was donated, nothing was used out of mission money. Hazel asked for suggestions of families to receive the Thanksgiving baskets and said that she also goes to Headstart in Glenmont to get names of local people in need. The Sunday school class downstairs donates laundry baskets with supplies to go with the food baskets. Janice still collects pennies for the Lakeville Food Pantry. Laurie suggested that be posted on the announcements. A comment was made that the Christmas candlelight service offering funds the outreach program. !PPR: no report !Worship: Meeting last night. A 2nd video was added to the service for the next few weeks. It will be in place of the call to worship. Advent starts Nov 29 with advent readings. January will probably go back to the old routine unless there are a lot of positive comments. Lauren and Laurie will be new liturgists. They would like to have 8 altogether. Bells will be playing Dec 20th. At this time there is no Christmas program planned. Praise and worship will be on Jan 31 again.

DECEMBER 2015�6THE HILLTOP BEACON

Nashville United Methodist Church Administrative Council Meeting November 10, 2015

(Continued from page 5) !Nominating: No report !Fellowship: They will be organizing the carry in for packing the baskets on Nov. 22. !Sunday School: Checking account balance is $347.35. !Multimedia: no report !Old Business: The bloodmobile will move all operations down to the the Church of Christ parking lot, and will be organized and run by the Red Cross. The membership list review has been put on hold due to some members questioning whether it is a good idea. Larry Leppla said this used to be done every 3 years when payment sent to the conference depended on the number of members. This will be brought back up at the next meeting. !New Business: Pastor Larry said they would like to do the cookie walk again, Saturday Dec 19, 10-3. Profits would be for future mission trips. Motion was made by Lee for Ad council to support the cookie walk, 2nd by Leo. Motion passed. Larry Leppla commented that because of all the work that has been done at the parsonage and the fact that it is in very good condition currently, an open house for church members to see the improvements would be nice if Pastor Larry and Linda were able. Larry Leppla also suggested that we advertise that the mortgage is going down and it would be nice to get it paid off. Maybe have a “burn the mortgage” campaign next year. Hazel asked when new people would be starting on the committees, she would like to have a replacement for the mission chair spot. !Next regular meeting is Jan 12, 2016 at 7pm. !Motion to adjourn by Leo, 2nd by Bill.

A FEW CHALLENGING QUESTIONS

The District Superintendant, Dr. Brad Call, addressed the people that attended the Charge Conference last month, about the importance of each individual church to rediscover their identity and purpose. He posed three questions that needed to be answered by each Church. I believe that these questions should be answered by every person who makes up our church at Nashville UMC, for us to better understand what direction we need to move toward becoming a more effective Church. Please take some quiet and intentional time to answer these three questions and record your answers on a separate sheet of paper, and place them in one of the collection plates within the next two weeks. I'm not looking for simple, general answers. Be specific, and bathe each question in prayer!

The three question are:

As the Congregation of Nashville UMC;

!1. Who are we?

!2. Whose our neighbor?

!3. What is God calling us to do and be?

DECEMBER 2015�7THE HILLTOP BEACON

!The Youth Group will be baking Christmas cookies for the nursing home on Saturday,

December 19th at 5:00pm at the church. This year we will be joined by our church’s past youth

groups. Come and join in the fun!

YOUTH NEWS

All youth interested in being in the Christmas play on December 20th, please

contact Jody Irwin or Jody Shaum. We want to involve

as many kids as we can.

Youth Group members don’t forget that we volunteered to ring the Salvation Army bell at Rodhe’s IGA on December 23rd from 9-11am. You can come for the entire two hours or a part of that. Let one of the Jodys know what time you plan to come.

DECEMBER 2015�8THE HILLTOP BEACON

NASHVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 302 West Millersburg Street P.O. Box 399 Nashville, OH 44661

Phone: (330) 378-2055 Website: nashville-umc.org E-mail: pastorlarry@nashville-umc.org

JOIN US FOR GRANNY’S COUNTRY CHRISTMAS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19TH FROM

10AM - 3PM

There will be lots of yummy cookies and candies for sale as well as crafts.

All proceeds will benefit the Missions of Nashville UMC.

DECEMBER 2015�9THE HILLTOP BEACON

SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT

Sunday Schedule 8:45am Prayer Chapel !9:15am Sunday School !10:30am Worship

1 6:30pm Cub Scouts

2 12pm Lunch Bunch !5:15-6:30pm Tops !6pm Bell Choir

3 4-5:30pm After-School Program

4 5 Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Walmart

6 !!!!!!Second Sunday

of Advent

7 6:30pm Zuga

8 6:30pm Fellowship Meeting

9 1pm Covenant Group !5:15-6:30pm Tops !6pm Bell Choir !7pm Trustees

10 4-5:30pm After-School Program !Dartball @NUMC

11 12

13 2pm Christmas Caroling @ Loudonville UMC !!!Third Sunday

of Advent

14 6:30pm Zuga

15 6:30pm Cub Scouts

16 1pm Covenant Group !5:15-7:15pm Tops Christmas Party !6pm Bell Choir

17 4-5:30pm After-School Program

18 19 10am-3pm Granny’s Country Christmas Cookie Walk !5pm Youth Group Cookie Baking

20 Children’s Christmas Program and Bell Choir during Worship !1pm Madison’s Bells @ Jac-Lin Manor !2-4pm Christmas Open House !6pm Cub Scouts !Fourth Sunday

of Advent

21 6:30pm Zuga

22 Winter Begins

23 Salvation Army Bell Ringing @ Rodhe’s IGA !1pm Covenant Group !5:15-6:30pm Tops !6pm Bell Choir

24 7pm Christmas Eve Service !!Christmas Eve

25 !Christmas

Day

26 8am Men’s Prayer Breakfast

27 28 6:30pm Zuga

29 30 1pm Covenant Group !5:15-6:30pm Tops !6pm Bell Choir

31 !!!!!!New Year’s Eve

DECEMBER 2015

DECEMBER 2015�10THE HILLTOP BEACON

SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT1 Debbie Mann !Mike Baird

2 3 John & Janet Mason `83

4 Brant Burgett

5 Brianna Akam !Bev Wachtel

6 7 Beth Long

8 Mark Duncan

9 10 11 Bill Taillon

12 Mary Blankenship

13 Selena Board !Marty Leppla

14 15 16 Cory Snyder !Todd & Becki Bridenthal `95 !Roger Etzwiler

17 Larry Leppla !Ted Macaulay !Dana & Carla Pringle `04

18 Ben & Mary Blankenship `85 !Gerald & Tina Pringle `87

19 Eileen Chapman

20 Brittney Sayers

21 Bev Carr

22 Bud Pringle !Janice Tope !Bobby Wilson

23 Bill & Louise Taillon `59

24 25 !JESUS

26

27 28 John & Kris Perone `91

29 C.J. Conrad !Tom Lowe

30 31