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JANUARY

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Our Mission & Vision

Our MISSION is to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, by

(VISION) connecting people with GOD through WORSHIP,

connecting people with the CHURCH through

whole-life DISCIPLESHIP,

and connecting people with the WORLD through MISSION.

Jan. 1 10:00 A.M. COMBINED SERVICE

The Story Behind the Song

9:00 A.M. Sunday School

(No children’s classes; adult classes may decide)

Jan. 8 When Heaven Opens Mat. 3:13-17 Holy Communion

Jan. 15 Thanks, Prayers, & Testimonies

Jan. 22 Guest Preacher: Rev. Tim Bias

Capitol Area South District Superintendent

New Worship Series

Jan. 29 Part 1 in the New Worship Series: “Who Am I? Avoiding Identity Theft” Mat. 4:1-11

8:45 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School (all ages) 10:45 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP AND BRING A FRIEND!

January Worship

Youth & Family News

Please add these upcoming events to your calendar :

If you have any questions Please contact : Tiffany Jones 419-376-2546

Our next youth meeting for 4th-12th Graders will be Sunday,

January 8th in the Family Life Center. We will play games, have

dinner and break into groups. Tiffany will have bible study with

4th-6th graders and Julie Ulrich will lead the 7th-12th grade

bible lesson in the youth room. Friends are always welcome!

Youth Group will meet the 1st Sunday of every month.

Everyone is invited to Family Movie Night. Come on out and join

us on Sunday, January 29th at 5:00 pm in the Family Life Center.

We will be showing the movie, Finding Dory, and serving popcorn

and pizza. Chairs are provided but feel free to bring your own

Sunday School will resume as normal, on Sunday, January 8th.

Join us for Sunday School on Sundays from 10:00 a.m.– 10:40

a.m. Nursery is available in the Crib Room.

2&3 year old Green Room Preschool/K Blue Room

1st-4th Aqua Room 5th-8th Orange Room

9th-12th Youth Room Parent Class Yellow Room

A Huge thank you to all that volunteered to help with the

Children’s Christmas Program. Katy Endsley and Jody Poth did

an amazing job! Thank you to all of the Sunday School teachers,

piano players, and everyone else behind the scenes who helped!

The kids all did wonderfully….. I’m looking forward to next year!

Open Gym hours are Tuesday's and Thursday’s for families

from 5:00—7:00 pm and teens & adults from 7:00– 9:00 pm. A

waiver form is needed to participate for those under 18 years

of age. Waivers are located at the connections center.

What is AmazonSmile?

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low pric-

es, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on Ama-

zonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organiza-

tions selected by customers. (from the AmazonSmile website)

If you would you like to help raise money for the church without it costing you anything, simply go to Amazon Smile

(Christ UMC’s dedicate link is: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/31-0843320) every time you shop on Amazon. Amazon will

donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the church, and then we all can smile and give thanks to God!

JIM & ESTHER THOMPSON Work Trip Opportunity in March

Would you like to go on a mission work trip? Would you like to help Aldersgate Camp and Retreat near Ravenna, Kentucky get ready for their upcoming summer season? We are scheduling a work trip to Altersgate from March 26-31.

For over 50 years Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center has been a place set apart that intentionally provides for the faith development of people of all ages in Christian community within the natural beauty of God's creation. Located about an hour southeast of Lexington, Kentucky, Altersgate is nestled in the foothills of Appalachia. Please visit their website for more information

More details about meals, lodging and travel arrangements will follow in the February newsletter.

Estimates of the cost look like it will be under $100.

If you need more information or are interested in signing up before the next newsletter, contact Jim Thompson, 740-653-7034.

FRANK ANDERSON Adult Discipleship

Assuming good weather, the Wednesday Night Bible studies will continue and we’ll complete the 12-week Gospel of John studies in January. Frank Anderson encourages all church members or attendees and your friends to come out and join in the discussion whenever available as each class is a new topic based on verses in the Book of John.

In the month of January, we’ll be discussing from verse 13 through verse 21 of the Gospel of John. There is no need to purchase any materials. Just come to the Parlor between 6 and 7 pm on Wednesdays and join in the discussion!

In February we’ll be switching to discussion of the Book of Ruth, once again with no materials to be purchased - everyone is welcome

Frank Anderson

Adult Discipleship Co-Chair

740-862-9223

Wednesday Night Bible Studies

Week #9 – January 4, 2017 @ 6:00 pm John 13:1-20, The Master Servant

Week #10 – January 11, 2017 @ 6:00 pm John 17:1-26, Jesus’ Prayer

Week #11 – January 18, 2017 @ 6:00 pm

John 20:1-18, The Risen Christ

Week #12 – January 25, 2017 @ 6:00 pm

John 21:1-19, Peter’s Second Chance

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man

availeth much. ~James 5 :16

Have you ever stood fuming in a long line at the check-

out lane of the grocery store, or in a doctor’s waiting room

even though it’s well past your appointment time? Maybe

you’ve paced the floor waiting for your late flight or a tardy

friend who’s meeting you for lunch? I imagine we’ve all

muttered, or at least thought, “What a waste of time!”

We don’t ever have to waste time like that again!

Some time back I remember reading something Dr. Nor-

man Vincent Peale wrote. He credited another man, a mis-

sionary he knew, with the idea. I’m sorry I don’t remember

his name. Regardless, the man took the scripture from 1

Thessalonians 5:17 quite literally: “Pray without ceasing.”

Every day he used little blocks of time, like waiting at a

stoplight, which could have been frittered away otherwise,

as time for prayer. For example, if he was waiting at the

stoplight, he would pray for the people in vehicles around

him. Or he might pray for the purpose of the errand he

was running. Waiting in line at the grocery store, he’d

pray for the hungry or thank God for every blessing he

could think of!

You’d be surprised how much time you’d spend in

prayer just by filling minutes like that with the Lord. I deter-

mined to try it and was very pleased with the results. I had

extra time with the Lord, my thoughts were on Him, others

or my blessings, and it was a very satisfactory way to keep

from wasting time! Why don’t you try it, perhaps one day a

week for a while? I bet you won’t want to go back to your

old pattern of wasting time. I’ve sure never wanted to stop

spending such moments with God!

Keep praying & praising,

Kristy Schooler

During January, as a church family, let’s concentrate our prayers. Each week, let’s agree to pray together for the following people and ministries:

Week 1 Pastor Alice & the girls with the move

Week 2 Church Leadership Week 3 Outreach in the Community and World

Week 4 Kids & Youth of the Church & the Community

KRISTY SCHOOLER Prayer Ministry

We have had a wonderful year! In 2016 10% of our profit went to the church's operating expenses and the balance of the restricted funds was applied to the mortgage principal.

Good Timers 2016 Summary of Activities

18 Fundraisers, included: 3 Euchre Parties 2 Home Made Noodles 1 Electronic Recycle 1 Collection taken at Lancaster Hand Bell Concert 11 Catered events, the smallest was 25 guests and the largest was 200 guests: 1 Craft Show Lunchroom 1 Turkey Supper 9 Private Events For the 11 catered events, 165 people volunteered plus 79 bakers donated pies and baked goods to serve over 1,600 guests. In addition to paying for their meals, our guest organizations paid $597.50 building rental fees.

After the meal expenses were paid, 100% of the profit - $14,550.71 went to the church. This year we gave10% to the church for operating expenses - $1,416.53 and 90% of the profit was applied to the mortgage principal - $13,134.18. We received a $200 donation in December which was also forwarded to the mortgage principal. Since we organized in January 2011 we have served over 8,600 guests and raised approximately $72,000 for the church. We thank everyone who supports the Good Timers Fundraising Team and are looking forward to the new year. Our first event is January 21 - the Liberty Union Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet. We also have dinners booked for April, May and June. If you would like to help with this ministry, let one of us know.

The Good Timers: Melissa Bader, Cookie Friesner, Dana

Hoisington, Tim Lawlis, Susan & Zale Maxwell & Louise

Smith

GOOD TIMERS 2016 in Review

In Review

DIANE FRIESNER Christ UM Preschool Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a blessed

Christmas and a happy beginning to 2017 thus far.

We were very busy at the Preschool preparing for our

Christmas break. The children made crafts and special gift

for their parents.

Tiffany Jones, the Church Children’s Director, did an

activity with the children about the Nativity story. They

really enjoyed the bible lesson. They then made a nativity

ornament after the lesson.

We celebrated Jesus’ birthday with a party with cake and

singing of Christmas songs. Kristy Schooler came and read

a couple of stories to the children as well. I know they

enjoyed this; plus I’m sure that Kristy enjoyed it since she

taught at our Preschool for several years and loves to work

with children!

We also participated in operation Christmas Child. The

children enjoyed giving filled boxes to children who do

not have any gifts for Christmas. We sent in 81 boxes!

That was pretty exciting and a good learning experience

for the children. I have a few photos delivering the

boxes featuring my little helpers, Keegan & Cienna

Lodge. And a big thank you to Jennifer Lodge too!

The Preschool is having another fundraiser. We are

selling Little Caesar Pizza & Bread Kits Jan. 3rd thru

Jan. 15th. Brochures are at the Connection Counter if

you are interested in purchasing anything. If you place

an order please give it to Darcy in the church office or

put it in my mailbox . You can pay when you pick up

your order. Orders will be available on Jan. 24th after

3:00 p.m. Thank you for participating!

ANDERSON’S & GAYLE MCCREERY Soup, Salad & Inspiration

The Adult Discipleship team of Frank and Bernie

Anderson and Gayle McCreery want to begin a new

activity with our church attendees. The idea is for a host

family to provide soup(s) and guests to bring salad items

to toss together to share in a meal including some

‘inspiration’ in the form of a devotion and prayer together.

The Andersons and McCreerys will be hosts initially with

the intention that others will follow suit inviting a small

number of folks, some that they do and some they do not

know well. Ideally, this will be a chance to get to know

folks who we see briefly on a Sunday, to connect

spiritually with our Christian fellows and to deepen our

fellowship and connection to Christ UMC.

Attendance would be determined by the host(s) based

upon space and the goal of small group activity. The

Andersons and McCreerys are able to host between three

and five folks each to start. They hope that this event will

grow so that several people will host a gathering thereby

offering more opportunities for our church family members

to get together in homes. The plan is to kick this off on the

second Sunday of February 2017 at 4:30 or 5 p.m. with

future dates/times to be determined.

If you would like to be a guest of the Andersons or

McCreerys for the kick off or would like to host a gathering

at your home on February 12th please call the church

office at 740-862-4343 sometime in January with contact

information, etc.

We hope and pray, that the Soup, Salad and Inspiration

will bring growth and depth to our church family in the

tradition of the early Methodist Church and indeed even

early Christian fellowship.

Frank & Bernie Anderson

Gayle McCreery

My little helpers delivering the Operation

Christmas boxes.

Preschool children made 81 boxes for

Operation Christmas Child!

MONTHLY ATTENDANCE

November/December 2016

11/27 12/4 12/11 12/18 12/25

Attendance Traditional Service 118 117 147 202 60

Attendance Contemporary Service 51 41 39

Special Sunday Service

Children’s

Program/

Combined

service

Christmas

Day/

Combined

Service

Total Attendance (both services) 169 158 186 202 60

Attendance Sunday School 82 72 84 34 No Sunday

School

ATTENDANCE

Please Note: It is important for everyone to fill out the Connect Cards on Sunday so that the

attendance records and reports I need to run are accurate. It also helps me with knowing how

many bulletins to run every Sunday along with other important information. Thank you!

Darcy Soliday, Admin. Asst.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

DARLA REEDY, TREASURER

2016

OPERATING INCOME 29,825 336,477

OPERATING EXPENSES 28,385 327,848

Difference 1,440 8,629

Sunday School 213 2,687

Coins for Missions 92 1,008

MORTGAGE BALANCE 1,260,410

NOVEMBER YEAR to DATE

Have a very safe and Happy New Year!

CHRIST UMC NEWS

PRAYER SHAWL

MINISTRIES

New Year's greet-ings to you all. As the new year is up-on us I'm trying to start off on the right foot. I'm hoping to find a balance in

my life. For Christmas I received a dulcimer and am learning to play it. I find it to be very soothing and enjoy-able (all but the wrong notes I hit on occasion!). Then on the other hand, I'm trying to find ways to give of my-self to help and serve others. In 2 Corinthians 3-7 , Paul talks about when we receive comfort from God we are better able to help comfort others. I pray that through learning to play the dulcimer which brings me comfort that I can in turn help to comfort others who are in need of God's love. Our prayer shawl group is off to a good start this year. We hope to bring on some new members and use up lots of yarn that was gener-ously donated to us recently. We will be meeting in January on the 10th and the 24th in the parlor at 10:00. On Saturday February 11, we are planning a "Hugs and Quiches" brunch here at the church from 9-noon. We will enjoy a meal together and then spend some time crocheting and/or knitting. This will give those who can't come during the week or newcomers an oppor-tunity to join us. If this is successful we will try to do this quarterly or so. Please contact Bernie Anderson or the church for more information on this event or about our group. May God bless you with balance in your life this new year,

Bernie Anderson

740-862-9223

WINTER

CANCELLATIONS

I f a Level 2 or 3 Emergency exists on a Sunday morning at 7:00 A.M., wor-

ship services and Sunday school will not be held.

Cancellations of Christ UMC worship ser-vices or activities will be posted on the following:

1) Christ UMC web page: www.christum-

baltimore.com

2) TV stations and

their respective

web sites: Channel

4 (NBC), Channel

10 (CBS) & Chan-

nel 6 (ABC).

FACEBOOK PAGE

I f you miss worship, want to listen to a sermon again, or want to

recommend a sermon to a friend, you may listen to the weekly sermons on our web site (www.christum-baltimore.com).

SERMONS ON THE WEB

C hrist UMC has a Facebook

page! You will have to like the

page and follow to get updates on

upcoming events and continue to like

posts to see the upcoming events in

their news feed. See Tiffany Jones

for any questions you may have..

I f you would like newsletter articles & announcements published

please send to the church office at office@christum-baltimore.com or put them in Darcy’s mailbox in the church office.

Newsletter Deadline Monday, January 16

th for the

February newsletter.

When sending your articles and info, it is very helpful to use font

Arial 10.

Bulletin insert info due no later

than 3:00 pm on Wednesdays.

NEWSLETTER INFO

A very special thank you to all

who contributed to Advent

Conspiracy! Together we gave

$2,025.64 to help save lives!

Twenty-five (25) percent will go to

“Living Water International” to

provide clean drinking water for

those who have none; fifty (50)

percent will go to “Living Water of

Ohio” where it will provide aid to

regions of developing countries

that do not have access to safe

drinking water and sanitation and

twenty-five (25) percent will go to

“Determined to Develop” that will

empower the people in Malawi,

Africa, one of the poorest

countries in the world where

children can go to school and

women can have opportunities to

where they can help themselves,

among other great resources for

the region.

All the money will be used to let

people know the Good News of

Jesus Christ!

THANK YOU for saving

lives and changing the

world this past Christmas!

To God be the glory!

ADVENT CONSPIRACY

Welcome New Members!

A special welcome to our newest members who

joined Christ UMC on December 18, 2016.

Donna Shirley

Wesley Smith

We are so glad to have

you as part of the

Christ UMC family!

MORE CUMC NEWS!

Chaperones Needed for L.U.’s

Delayed Start, Feb. 1 & March 1

Area churches are working together to host

activities at the elementary school gym for

elementary and middle school children who

need a safe place to go on Feb. 1 and March 1

when Liberty Union starts 2 hours late (for

teacher in-service).

We need at least 10 chaperones for each or

both of the two shifts: 6:45 - 8:45 a.m., and 8:45

- 10:50 a.m. (We especially need help during the

2nd shift.)

Sign up to help at http://doodle.com/poll/

h6k4usmisu54mzrk. Contact Pastor Alice if you

have questions.

Church Altar Flower Calendar

If you would like to sponsor altar flowers

for the 2017 calendar year for worship

service one or more Sundays, please sign

up in the office. The cost is

$25. You may put your checks

in the offering plate or just mail

it in. Be sure to label your

check “Altar Flowers”. There

are still dates available!

Want to Borrow a Movie?

War Room OR Chonda Pierce’s Movie:

Laughing in the Dark?

If you would like to borrow either of the

movies we’ve shown to watch it yourself or

share it with a group, please contact the

office AT 740-862-4343 or email

office@christum-baltimore.com

With both movies, we have a one-year license that allows us to show it

publicly.

Mark Your Calendars

Annual Empty Bowls Event

Sunday, March 5, 2017

4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Christ UMC

Family Life

Center

Volunteers needed

Contact Darcy Soliday

Get your Little Caesars Pizza Kits starting

January 3rd - 15th. Order forms and

information will be at the

Connection Center. Contact

Diane Friesner for more

information at 740-862-4343.

Support our Preschool!

Pizza Pizza !!!

CELEBRATIONS & THANK YOU’S!

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS!

1 Lynda Williams

5 Kevin Craig

6 Alexis Traster, Cooper & Cameron Waites

7 Bea Blosser

8 Steve Justice, Karla Waits

11 Jay Harris

13 David Brookover, Zale Maxwell

14 Elizabeth Alderdice

16 Robin Pullins

17 Brentley Raver

18 Leanne Davis, Steve Pickett

20 Justin Shreyer

21 Cara Noyes

14 Tim Cooper

26 Samantha Jewell, Shawn Jones

27 Jeannie Damron

28 Miles Bader

31 Carrie Schrader

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who

presented such a meaningful

Christmas Service on

December 18th. We know

the work that went into

preparing it. The children

were just amazing!

Jane & Joe Farmer

The Staff says ‘Thank You So Very Much!”

Thank you so very much for your kind and

generous Christmas gifts! We very much appreciate

your thoughtfulness and loving kindness!

We are blessed to be a part of and serve Christ

UMC, and look forward to another year of serving

Christ and the community

with you.

Pastor Alice and the entire

staff of CUMC.

Jerry & Susan Osborn January 7

Michael & Jeanne Dulin January 19

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES! 92

nd

Birthday

Card

Shower

Bea Blosser will celebrate her 92nd birthday on Jan.7. Cards from her church family would be a wonderful birthday

surprise!

Send cards to: Mrs. Bea Blosser

Livingston Arms, Apt. 106, 207 Livingston Ave.,

Lancaster, OH 43130.

Members of Christ UMC,

Thank you very much for the shopping bag of

supplies!

Gary Reef

J a nu ary 2016 Christ United Methodist Church

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

9 am Sunday School

No children’s SS

10:00 a.m.

One Combined

Service

2

Church Office

Closed

3

12 pm Ministerial (P)

5 –9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

4

10 am Senior VB (FLC)

11 am Senior Lunch

(FLC)

6 pm Bible Study (P)

7:15 pm Choir (S)

5

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

7 pm Bells (P)

6 7

8

Communion

Sunday

8:45 am Traditional

10 am Sun. School

10:45 am Contemp

5-7 pm Youth (FLC)

9

6:45 pm Worship (L)

10

10 am Prayer Shawl

(P)

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

6 pm Cub Scouts (FH)

6:45 pm Worship Task

Force (P)

7 pm Empty Bowls (L)

11

10 am Senior VB (FLC)

11 am Senior (Away)

6 pm Bible Study (P)

6:30 pm Girl Scouts (FH)

7:15 pm Choir (S)

12

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

7 pm Bells (P)

13

14

12 pm In Use (FH)

15

8:45 am Traditional

10 am Sun. School

10:45 am Comtemp

16

Church Office

Closed

17

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

18

10 am Senior VB (FLC)

11 am Senior Lunch

(FLC)

6 pm Bible Study (P)

7:15 pm Choir (S)

19

No Baltimore Seniors

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

7 pm Bells (P)

20

5 pm Pinewood Derby

Set up Day

21

9 am - 9 pm Scouts

Pinewood Derby

(FLC)

12 - 9 pm In Use (FH)

22

8:45 am Traditional

10 am Sun. School

10:45 am Comtemp

23

6 pm Finance (FH)

7 pm Admin Council

(FH)

24

10 am Prayer Shawl

(P)

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

6 pm Cub Scouts (FH)

25

10 am Senior VB (FLC)

11 am Senior Lunch

(FLC)

6 pm Bible Study (P)

6:30 pm Girl Scouts (FH)

7:15 pm Choir (S)

26

7 pm Bells (P)

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

27

28

29

8:45 am Traditional

10 am Sun. School

10:45 am Comtemp

4:30 p.m. Movie

Night

30

31

5-9 pm Open Gym

(FLC)

Please Note: The information on the calendar is subject to change

9-3 pm Preschool in Session (FLC)

9-3 pm Preschool in Session (FLC)

9-3 pm Preschool in Session (FLC)

9-3 pm Preschool in Session (FLC)

9-3 pm Preschool in Session (FLC)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:

8:45 a.m.

Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m.

Sunday School for all ages

10:45 a.m.

Contemporary Worship

Christ United Methodist Church

700 S. Main St.

Baltimore, OH 43105

Phone: 740-862-4343

Fax: 740-862-6163

E-mail: office@christum-baltimore.com

Web page: www.christum-baltimore.com

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Our mission is... to help people find and follow Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alice Wolfe pastor@christum-baltimore.com

Generally in the office, Tues., Wed.,

& Thurs.; Hours vary

(Call any time for appointment)

Children’s Director Tiffany Jones children@christum-baltimore.com

Administrative Asst. Darcy Soliday 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

office@christum-baltimore.com

Treasurer Darla Reedy 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Tues. treasurer@christum-baltimore.com

Preschool Director Diane Friesner preschool@christum-baltimore.com

Choir Director & Cara Noyes

Praise Band Director cnoyes@laca.org

Bell Choir Director Becky Ety

Pianists Karen Mathews, Julie Ulrich

Custodians Jim Anderson, Steve Vandermark

Church Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ATTENTION!

We are emailing our newsletters!

If you would like to receive your church newsletter by email, please contact the church office.

Our MISSION is to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, by

(VISION) connecting people with GOD through worship,

connecting people with the CHURCH through whole-life discipleship,

and connecting people with the WORLD through mission.