Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Happy Halloween, Thankful Turkey day, Cheery Christmas, and Joyful New Year’s Day!

I know I’ve mixed up and messed up some of those traditional holiday greetings. Our mass media, adver-

tiser driven, hyper-marketing, “buy it now before everyone else gets it” society has basically morphed

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day into a four-month marketing campaign. Did

you notice the Halloween decorations in the stores back in September? Did you see Christmas entice-

ments just before or just after Halloween?

Here at Alexandria UMC this upcoming holiday season seems just as hectic and a bit chaotic. On the

first Sunday of November we heard from several speakers (Kristin Peterson, Lydia Staples, and Lowell

Gess) about how they’ve use grant monies from our trust fund for their specific ministries. The following

two Sundays I preached on stewardship. On Sunday, November 17, we welcomed eight new members

into our church. On the 20th the Turkey Dinner and Pie Auction brought nearly 90 people to dinner and

raised close to $600 for the children’s ministry. On the 24th we will have a potluck dinner after the sec-

ond service and then hold our annual church conference. Finally, on Wednesday, November 27th, at 6:30

pm, we will have a Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service. That’s just November.

In December, my sermon series will be “The Real Gifts of Christmas: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love”. Look for

some interesting artwork as you enter the church. On December 8 we will have one worship service

which will include the Children’s Christmas Program, Holy Communion, and another potluck dinner fol-

lowing the program. Saturday, December 14 brings our annual Breakfast with Santa and the many visit-

ing families with children. On Thursday, December 19, the new District Superintendent, Rev. Laurie

Kantonen, will be visiting our church and we will have a meet and greet at 7:00 pm. All of these leads

into our Christmas Eve worship. Worship times will be 4:00 and 6:00 pm and will include Holy Com-

munion.

This will culminate in our Second Annual Covenant Renewal Services on Sunday, January 5, 2020.

Whew, that is a lot going on.

The one thing (person actually) that get overlooked or shoved to the side by society’s race to sell us

things, and the churches’ push to put on programs is Jesus. God loves us so much that God became a ba-

by named Jesus. God, in and through Jesus, would show and teach us what it means to love neighbors

and love God. Then image of God/Jesus on Sunday, November 24, “Christ the King Sunday” is the cru-

cified Jesus. This Christmas, when we celebrate baby Jesus, let us remember also the human/God Jesus

that was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the dead to show us God’s love and a new way of living in

community as Christ Followers. “For God so loved the world . . .”.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Pastor Gary

The Messenger

United Methodist Church – 2210 Sixth Avenue East, Alexandria, MN 56308

Gary Taylor – email: pastorgary@alexumc.org

Office: 320-763-4624 – email: office@alexumc.org

Website: www.alexumc.org

December, 2019 Ginger Mayer

Published by Alexandria

United Methodist Church

Telephone (320) 763-4624

www.alexumc.org

Pastor: Gary Taylor

email: pastorgary@alexumc.org

Administrative Assistant: Ginger Mayer

email: office@alexumc.org

Director of Children’s Ministries: Cheryl

Taylor

email: childrens@alexumc.org

Director of Youth Ministries: Brenda

Thomson

email: brenda@alexumc.org

Custodian: Denise Dropik

Nursery: Karen Murphy and Grace Evink

Office Hours

Pastor Gary—Tue-Friday

Admin. Assist. Ginger Mayer

Office is open (9:00-1:00)

Mon-Tue-Wed-Thurs-Fri

Brenda—Aug thru July Wed & Thurs-

days (5:30—8:30) July only Wednesdays

(530-8:30)

Cheryl—Mon 9am to 5pm

Wed– 10am –3pm , 4:30pm to 7:30pm

Fri-10 am to 12pm Sunday 9am-10am

Worship Attendance 2019 2018

Service 1st 2nd 1st 2nd Nov 3 53 84 57 68 Nov 10 51 78 47 78 Nov 17 49 71 53 75 Nov 24 49 72 62 74

In your prayers, please remember

all in positions of leadership, people

serving in dangerous and difficult

settings, returned and returning

service people and their families, all

who seek and await peace.

Publication Date for

the next Messenger:

Articles for the January

issue need to be in the

office by NOON on Monday

Dec 23rd

Reminder that we are following our Building Use Policy—the church entrance doors will remain locked unless there are two people present in the building. Please call ahead before you come to church, as there are times when we are not in the building, even though we are working. Also, most days someone is in the office earlier than 9:00 a.m. and later than 1:00 p.m.

Nursery is available on Sunday morning

during worship services and coffee

fellowship time. Nursery is for children 5

and younger. If you have an older child and

need a place to go with them during worship

time, the Youth Room is available. There is a

speaker in the room to listen to the sermon.

Toys are available in Cart Two.

December Volunteers

Liturgists:

Dec 1,8 & 15 8:00 Heidi Ryan Dec 1,8 & 15 10:30 Bruce Jordan

Dec 22 & 29 8:00 Tom DeWitt Dec 22 & 29 10:30 Kim Tryggeseth

Ushers:

Dec 1 & 8 8:00 Aaron & Kelly Bumgarner, Chuck Bollen

Dec 15, 8:00 Carol Meyer, Scott & Vicki Johnston (15th)

Dec 22, 8:00 Aaron, Brenda, Zach, and Davyn Thomson (29thTBD)

Dec 1 & 8 10:30 Marsha Haugen, Rolly & Kay Kortlever

Dec 17 & 24 10:30 Dave Nelson, Greg & Lars Dropik

Greeters:

Dec 1 8:00 —Bernie & Betty VanZomeren 10:30—Chuck & Sharon Holm

Dec 8 8:00— Tom & Linda DeWitt 10:30—Helen Glade

Dec 15 8:00— Carol Meyer 10:30—Bruce Jordan

Dec 22 8:00— Sue Walker 10:30—Margaret Anderson

Dec 29 8:00—Brenda Thomson 10:30—Curt & Betty Sax

Coffee Servers:

Dec 1 Aaron & Kelly Bumgarner

Dec 8 Dave & Marsha Campbell/Tom & Donata Herr

Dec 15 Darren & Tess Evink/Rob & Kim Tryggeseth

Dec 22 Greg & Denise Dropik/Ron & Colleen Schutte

Dec 29 Rolly & Kay Kortlever

Acolytes :

Dec 1 8:00 Abby Evink, Cora Bumgarner 10:30

Dec 8 8:00 Carson & Liesel Bumgarner

Dec 15 8:00 KoleBert Feda 10:30

Dec 22 8:00 10:30

Organists/Pianists: Janet Eisele

Nursery Workers: Dec 1 Karen Murphy

Dec 8 Grace Evink Dec 15 Karen Murphy

Dec 22 Grace Evink Dec 29 Karen Murphy

December 2019 Youth Ministry Newsletter

1st & 3rd Wednesdays | 7:20—8:00 AM

December 4 & 18, January 15, February 5 (9:20-10 AM) & 19,

March 4 & 18, April 1 (9:20-10:00) & 15, May 6 & 20

Invite a friend (or two)! No Transportation Provided

9th—12th Graders are invited to a Free Breakfast

Stuff N’ Things is meeting Dec. 1st. We are leaving the

church at 9:05 to eat at Northwoods Café and will return

by 10:15. The Youth Group will pay up to $5 per child.

The Youth Group is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 14th

from 9:00-10:00. All families are welcome to come and enjoy a

FREE pancake breakfast plus have a FREE picture taken with Santa.

The Youth Group is having a Christmas Cookie Fundraiser. Order

forms are in the bulletins or contact Brenda. Orders & check (write

youth cookies on memo line) must be turned into the office by Friday,

Dec. 6th. Pick up is Dec. 15th from 9 am-12 pm. Youth are needed to

help package cookies on Dec. 14th from 12-2.

Youth Advent activities: Dec. 4th—Making Christmas Ornaments

Dec. 11th—Christmas Cookies

Dec. 18th—Christmas Caroling

There will not be Youth Group or Confirmation on Dec. 25th or Jan. 1st.

Enjoy your Christmas break! See you on January 8th for Youth Group.

December 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 United Methodist

Student day

8:00 AM Worship service

9:00 Coffee fellowship

9:05 Am Stuff N Things

9:15 Sunday school

(Pre K-6th grade & adults)

10:30 Worship

2 3

9:30 Brush & Palette

2:00 Pm Prayer group

3:00 Pm Bible Study

4:30 PM Book Study

4

5:30 Supper & Praise

6:20 Youth

5

1 PM care team

4:30 PM Adult discipleship

6:00 PM Wor-ship team

6

Alden Mat-

tocks Fu-

neral

10 AM

visitation

11AM Fu-

neral

7

8:00 AM UMC Lunch-

eon

9-10:30 AM Sunday

school Practice

8

COMMUNION SUNDAY

9:00 Sunday school/Adult Ed

10:00 Worship Service/Sunday School Program

11:15 AM Pot luck Dinner

6:00 PM SPRC

9 10

9:30 Coffee Group

9:30 Brush & Palette

2:00 Pm Prayer group

3:00 PM Bible Study

4:30 PM Book Study

6:30 Children’s Ministry

team meeting

11

5:30 Trustees

5:30 Supper & Praise

6:20 Youth

12

6:30 PM Church

Council

13

14

9:00 Am

Breakfast with Santa

10:30 Earth Keepers

15

8:00 AM Worship

Service

9:00 Coffee fellowship

9:15 Sunday school

(Pre K-6th grade & adults)

16

17

9:30 Brush & Palette

2:00 Pm Prayer group

3:00 Pm Bible Study

4:30 PM Book Study

18

5:30 Supper & Praise

6:20 Caroling at Grand Arbor

19

9:30 Joy Circle

7PM D.S Visit

20 21

22

8:00 AM Worship

Service

9:00 Coffee Fellowship

9:15 Sunday school

(Pre K-6th grade & adults)

1030 Worship service

23 24

Office Closed

Communion

4:00 PM Worship Service

6:00 PM Worship Service

25

Office Closed

26

27

28

29

8:00 AM Worship

Service

9:00 Coffee fellowship

9:15 Sunday school

(Pre K-6th grade & adults)

10:30 Worship service

30

31

9:30 Brush & Palette

3:00 Pm Bible Study

4:30 PM Book Study

1 Marlene Olhausen

2 Dave Campbell Gerald Fearing

3 Brad Brunkow Grace Evink John Phillips

4 Maggie Flenner Bette Olson Abby DeReamer

5 Linda DeWitt

6 Darren Evink Michelle Greengo Hunter Zins

8 Everley Kaeter

9 Lisa Bowen Amanda Miller Elaine Schoening

10 Zach Thomson

11 Akeley Kaeter Becki Pender

13 Elle Heydt

14 Judy Rose

15 Travis DeWitt Carter Erlandson Joyce Hamelau Richard Keepers

16 Jackson Kor 17 Helen Dischler

Jocelyn Gettel Lollie Greengo Steve Luchau

18 Dotty Tabor Greg Phillips 21 Ted Zabrosky 23 Matt Bray 26 Merry Luchau 27 Cora Bumgarner Emily Merten 28 Jackie Vogt 29 Darianea Meyer 30 Nathan Brunkow Pauline Hoiseth 31 Justin Meyer Curt Sax

December

BIRTHDAYS

Financial Update: Due to extra giving by some fr iends and members of Alexandria UMC in the month of October we were able to hold our own with monthly obligations, however giving to apportionments was low and we slid another $3000 behind in meeting our obliga-tions in that area, and we have been unable to reduce the amount advanced on our line of credit. History shows strong giving the last two months of the year and it is our prayer that will be the case this year. A reminder to those of you over 70 1/2, there are definite tax bene-fits to directing your required minimum distribution from retirements funds directly to a charity. If you have not completed your MRD for the year you may want to check with your accountant. We ask for your continued stewardship by sharing your talents, presence and gifts with your church. Thank you.

Christmas Luncheon: Tickets for the 3rd Annual Chr istmas Luncheon to be held on De-cember 7 will be available at the church office and at church now through December 1. Tick-ets purchased prior to December 2 will be $7.00 and at the door the day of the luncheon $8.00

Mark Your Calendars – There will only be one worship service on December 8. This service will include the Children’s Christmas Program. Sunday School and Adult Discipleship Class will begin at 9:00 AM. Worship, with Communion

Angel Tree: The Angel Tree in the Nar thex benfits local Alexandr ia Area High School stu-dents in need by providing them with Christmas gifts form their need /wish list. Help share God’s love with local youth this Christmas by giving a gift; which range form small to large, For each tag you select, purchase a gift, wrap it, attach the tag on the outside of the wrapped gift, and place it under the Angel Tree. Gifts must be at the church by Sunday December 15th The students and their families are always grateful and amazed by the love and generosity of our congregation.

Breakfast with Santa – Breakfast with Santa is December 14th and we are looking for dona-

tions and volunteers. Signup sheets are in the narthex on the Breakfast with Santa board. This

is open to the community so make sure to invite your family and friends. Let’s help a child

have a Merry Christmas!!

The Messenger

United Methodist Church

2210 Sixth Ave E

Alexandria, MN 56308

Return Service Requested