The Mustard Seed Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage The Monthly Newsletter for Christ United Methodist Church of North Huntingdon PAID Irwin, PA 15642 To know Christ and to make Him known! November 2014 ~ Volume 15, Issue 11 Permit No. 373 {Return Service Requested} DATED MATERIAL вЂ” PLEASE DO NOT DELAY The Mustard Seed The Monthly Newsletter for (October 12, 2014) 8:00-12 Noon Monday-Friday Office Hours Youth Coordinator Jodi Schricker Custodian Ron Seabol Treasurer Gale Pastirik Organist Bill Beaumont Choir Director Pam Bouldin Sonbeam Preschool Judy Burns Barb Ford Pam Allen Office Assistant Tammy L. Falcsik Associate Pastor Tammy L. Falcsik Pastor Rev. Doug Burns Church Staff Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 3 Page 3 Page 3 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 10 Page 11 Page 11 Web: www.christumcnht.org [email protected] Parsonage 412-754-1125 Church Fax 412-751-5989 Church Office 412-751-8219 McKeesport, PA 15131 2800 Coulterville Road Christ United Methodist Church Anniversary Memories From your Pastor Mission News Meals on Wheels Food Pantry Shoebox Due ate Hardtack Info November Church Calendar Birthdays/Anniversaries Worship Servants Poinsettia Order Form News of the Church Election Day Lunch/Bake Sale Committee Updates Fundraiser News Activities of the Church Pics Spiritual Growth Opportunities Monthly Devotional Monthly Wesley Quote INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER Christ United Methodist Church of North Huntingdon 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Service & Celebration! From Your Pastor men." Stopping by a tax collecting table, Jesus asked Matthew to follow him and then went that night to share a meal with he and his friends. These men were being asked to come and lead a life of adventure and risk. owners of everything that canвЂ™t be bought.v6вЂќYouвЂ™re blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. HeвЂ™s food and drink in the best meal youвЂ™ll ever eat.v7вЂќYouвЂ™re blessed when you care. At the moment of being вЂ�care-full,вЂ™ you find yourselves cared for.v8 вЂњYouвЂ™re Perhaps no where in the Bible are blessed when you get your inside the risks and rewards more identifi- world-your mind and heart-put able than in Jesus Sermon on the right. Then you can see God in the Mount in Matthew chapter five. A outside world.вЂќv9 вЂњYouвЂ™re blessed life lived by the beatitudes will not when you can show people how to be a monotonous life. A life experi- cooperate instead of compete or enced with the seasoning of Jesus fight. ThatвЂ™s when you discover teachings on true blessedness and who you really are, and your place true happiness is certain to give us a in GodвЂ™s family.вЂќv10 вЂњYouвЂ™re taste of what life really is, blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into GodвЂ™s kingdom.вЂќv11-12 вЂњNot only that-count yourselves blessed every time people put you What about our spiritual lives? Is down or throw you out or speak there enough "risk and adventure" lies about you to discredit me. in our spiritual lives to give us a What it means is that the truth is "taste" of the life of Christ. We too close for comfort and they are know that Jesus came that we might uncomfortable. You can be glad have life and have it to the fullwhen that happens-give cheer, est. Often times Jesus would use the even!-for though they donвЂ™t like it, The Message translation puts these I do! And all heaven applauds. Greek word Kainos which meant a ancient truths in current language new quality of life. There was a And know that you are in good brand new experience of life that he for us. (Matthew 5:1-12). company. My prophets and witwanted us to have. nesses have always gotten into this v3 вЂњYouвЂ™re blessed when youвЂ™re at kind of trouble.вЂќ the end of your rope. With less of His calling of the disciples certainly you there is more of God and his reveals this was his intent for them вЂњLiving the life of Christ is dangerrule.вЂќv4 вЂњYouвЂ™re blessed when you and also for us. In Jesus time, men ous.вЂќ Living certainly does not would follow after a Rabbi for a cer- feel youвЂ™ve lost what is most dear to have to be monotonous and tasteyou. Only then can you be emtain amount of time and then ask if less. The choice is before us. they could be a disciple. Usually the braced by the One most dear to you.вЂќ Only then can you be emanswer for quite a while was, "no" braced by the One most dear to you cannot be my disciple. Jesus turned this model on end and actual- you.вЂќv5 вЂњYouвЂ™re blessed when youвЂ™re content with just who you ly sought out people and told them Offering Christ, "you can be a disciple." He shocked are-no more, no less. ThatвЂ™s the moment you find yourselves proud Peter when by his fishing boat he Pastor Doug said to him, "come and be a fisher of "Living life can be very dangerous" so said the adventurer attempting to recreate Theodore Roosevelt's decent down the River of Doubt in South America in 1814. The name of the river is metaphorical for how we experience life these days. We have so many doubts and so few true convictions, that cause us to live enough on the edge, to show we are really alive. One canoeist said, "adventure and risk are the salt of life,вЂќ and вЂњan over-safe monotonous living takes away the taste, the emotions of life." If this is true of life, than how is also true of our spiritual lives. I enjoy time in the wilderness because the unknown and adventures of even paddling down the Youghiogheny River let me taste life again. ~2~ Monthly Devotional Abraham LincolnвЂ™s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863 It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humbler sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is Lord. We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father Who dwelleth in the heavens. A. Lincoln, October 3, 1863 Give Thanks with a grateful Wesley Quote of the Month вЂњ вЂњThough we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.вЂќ вЂ• John Wesley ~11~ The Church Has Had a Very Full & Active Month! From Hayrides 50th Anniversary Luncheon To Wrapping Shoeboxes Community Outreach Food Pantry The Pantry is struggling to fill the need of 400 plus persons. Our peanut butter & jelly was greatly appreciated. November items: Canned meats (Tuna, Spam, Vienna Sausages, Chicken, Beef , etc.) and Candy Making Meals On WheelsвЂ”Cookies Fall brought out our best baking of cookies! Eunice did walnut chocolate chip, Marion made chocolate coconut cherry drops, Marge baked snicker doodles, Mary LouвЂ™s were chocolate nut rounds, Joanne did oatmeal and chocolate chip, while Peggy made chocolate cupcakes, and Delores iced her pumpkin cut-out sugar cookies. The pumpkin tags from Tammy with orange tags made all the treats seasonal and special. November we will wrap on Monday, the 10th at 10:00 am. Personal Growth Opportunities The Hedge Breakers are starting a new video series for the Christmas seasoned entitled вЂњChristmasвЂќ. This will be another lesson presented by Pastor Kyle Idleman. We encourage all ladies to come and join us as we dig deeper into the meaning of Christmas and how it applies to our lives and the world we live in today. We meet Monday evenings at 7:00 pm in the choir room. Hope to see you all this Monday! вЂ¦. Peggy Bible study is still going strong with participants learning the meaning of JesusвЂ™ Parables. Pastor Doug leads this study on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm in the conference room of the church. There is a place at the table for you, so please plan on joining this group this Thursday! Every Sunday Morning at 9:40. Both children and adult classes offered. Mitten Tree - There will be a tree in the narthex to hang your donations of hats, mittens, scarves, etc. for The WomenвЂ™s Place in McKeesport. Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes are due in to the no later than November 19th. Remember a $7.00 check needs to accompany each box to cover shipping. ~10~ ~3~ November 2014 cumc fundraiser information at Christ Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:30 Bokwa 2 8:30 WORSHIP 9:40 SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 WORSHIP 6:00 PLAY PRACTICE 7:00 YOUTH 9 8:30 WORSHIP 9:40 SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 WORSHIP 6:00 PLAY PRACTICE 7:00 YOUTH 16 8:30 WORSHIP 9:40 SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 WORSHIP 6:00 PLAY PRACTICE 7:00 YOUTH Heart& Hand Donations due. 23/30 3 Sonbeam 7:00 Hedge Breakers 4 Election Day Luncheon & Bake Sale 5 Sonbeam 7 Sonbeam 8 7:30 Bible Study 11 12 Sonbeam 13 14 Sonbeam 15 VETERANвЂ™S DAY 6:30 Play Practice 10 am Meals on Wheels 7:30 Bible Study 7:00 Hedge Breakers 10:30 Bokwa 7:30 Zumba В® 7:30 Dartball Home vs. Central Highlands 17 Sonbeam 18 19 Sonbeam 20 12:30 Fellowship Luncheon 7:30 Zumba В® Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child are due at the church. 7:00 Hedge Breakers 7:30 Dartball Home vs. Grace 24 Sonbeam 8:30 WORSHIP 9:40 SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 WORSHIP 12:00 Pizza & Hanging of 7:30 Dartball Home vs. the Greens Clairton 7:00 YOUTH 30- First Sunday of Advent The ordering phase of this fundraiser is now complete and orders are being tabulated to send on to our Indian River Fruit Distributor. Additional information on a specific delivery date will be forthcoming. Thank you again! 10:30 Bokwa 6:30 Play Practice 7:30 Dartball Away vs. Central Highlands 10 Sonbeam 6 Fruit Sale Fundraiser Update 25 21 Sonbeam 22 10:30 Bokwa Hard Tack Candy Now Available! 6:30 Play Practice 7:30 Bible Study 26 Sonbeam 27 28 THANKSGIVING DAY We have two opportunities this month to not plan Sunday lunch! The Anniversary Committee will host a hoagie sale on Nov. 2nd & the Youth Group will host an additional sale on Sunday, Nov. 16th. Once again the purchase price is set a $6.00 per hoagie. Thank you for supporting these groups! 29 This annual delicacy is once again available for purchase this year! With the price set at just $9.00 per pound, this treat would make a great addition to any gift this season. Also, please remember teachers, postal workers, hairdressers or anyone else on your list you need вЂњa little somethingвЂќ for and treat them to a bag of CUMC homemade hardtack! 7:30 Zumba В® OFFICE CLOSED ~4~ ~9~ November Birthdays and Anniversaries Christ United Methodist Church Committee Updates The Anniversary Committee will be hosting a sub sale on Nov. 2nd. These delicious sandwiches will be available for purchase for only $6.00 after each worship service. Looking forward, please mark your calendars for Dec. 21st as we will be commemorating another 50th Anniversary milestone in the life of our church. Once again there will be one service beginning at 10:00 am. Also, the committee is asking anyone who wishes to share a paragraph of their memories of CUMC, to be added to the historical booklet, honoring our 50th anniversary to please drop it off to office by the end of Nov. BIRTHDAYS 01 Denise Gray 04 Kelly Carper 04 Lori Holloway 04 Corey Seabol 04 Justin Seliga 06 Kayla Brutout 07 Scudder Stewart 08 Derek Stern 09 Karlie Johnson 10 Bill Richards 11 Angela Russo 12 Katie Jacobovitz 12 Jonathan Jacobovitz 12 Maxine Leffard 12 Cathy Light 12 Patricia Reagan 14 James Holland 14 Dianne Spivak 15 Chad Brutout 15 Krista Brutout 15 Kelsey Brutout 15 Marion Byard 15 Roxane Wergin 15 Diane Zello 16 Brooke Cain 16 Rob Crossett 16 Peggy Holland 18 Gary Brutout 18 Gabriella Cain 18 Connie McClintock 18 Mark Pavlovic 20 Sally Blazevich 20 Heidi Davis 20 Kelly Morrissey 20 Pam Bouldin November Worship Servants Sunday, November 2nd The Nominations committee met two times in October to fill positions within the church which will meet the needs of the church in all facets for 2015. To those who have graciously accepted membership on a board or committee, thank you; to those still considering and praying about your answer, the committee holds you in prayer as well and looks forward to continued discussion with you. Acolyte Greeter Lay Reader Offering Communion Tiffany Ford Jodi & Kurt Schricker Jodi Schricker Kelly Carper & Vickie Luehm Pam Allen Sunday, November 9th The trustees met and discussed upcoming projects to get underway as we continue to вЂњspruce upвЂќ our church for our 50th anniversary service with the Bishop. Work is currently being done on the storage shed, as well as updates to our restrooms. Several other items were discussed and tabled until 2015. Thank you to the trustees for work already completed: parking lot, exterior painting, driveway signs repainted, and repairs made to dishwasher and restrooms, just to name a few. We appreciate all your work. ~8~ Acolyte Greeter Lay Reader Offering Communion TBD Della Beitler & Dale Wright James Falcsik Dick & Doe Burtnett Carol Couchenour 21 Barb Hiquet 22 Mike Palm 22 Michael Pastirik, Sr 22 Lauren Weinberg 24 Brady Hernandez 25 Carol Couchenour 25 Cathy Jo Wrona 26 Lucas Ackerman 26 Craig Couchenour 26 Greg Matta 26 Kevin Sisley 27 David Bertok 27 Marcy Clair 27 Logan Clair 27 Jacob Elm 28 Holly Asaro 28 Tyler Farmer 29 Garrett Boalo 30 Christopher Kevana 30 Lloyd McIntosh 29 Magen Caputo Please let the office know of any changes you are aware of. Sunday, November 23rd Acolyte Greeter Lay Reader Offering Communion TBD Tognarini Family Adrie Tognarini Saunne Whetsel & Barb Lindh Doe Burtnett Sunday, November 30th Acolyte Greeter Lay Reader Offering Communion TBD Marflak Family TBD Kellly Carper & Vickie Luehm Pastor Doug Hanging of the Greens Sunday, November 16th Acolyte Greeter Lay Reader Offering Communion ANNIVERSARIES 02 Joseph & Lori Cimino 02 William, Jr & Jeanne McGavern 05 Charles & Kathy Carrozza 08 Dale & Connie Bradley 16 Ed & Linda Robertson 17 Scott & Chris Shank 22 Robb & Jennifer Ross 22 Scot & Missy Stern 29 Rob & Kris Crossett 30 Ron & Leah Seabol TBD Lib Carrozza Michael Shaver Barb Ford Kelly Carper and Lunch November 23rd following 11:00 Service December Newsletter Deadline November 19th ~5~ 2014 Poinsettia Order Form We are again offering the 6-inch Poinsettias for Christmas. The cost is $7.50 each. They will be available in red, white, marble & pink. Please fill out the form below and include your check made out to the church. Be sure to circle вЂ�HonorвЂ™ or вЂ�MemoryвЂ™ of, or use the вЂ�To GodвЂ™s GloryвЂ™ space. Please use multiple forms as needed. Extras can be found in the narthex. All orders & payments are due in the office by December 7 or will not be guaranteed for delivery. Quantity Color Circle One Exactly how you want the name printed _______ _______ Honor or Memory of: __________________________________________ _______ _______ Honor or Memory of: __________________________________________ _______ _______ Honor or Memory of: __________________________________________ _______ _______ To GodвЂ™s Glory __________________________________________ Please print below exactly how you want your name listed in the bulletin: __________________________________________________ Date ordered/paid: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________________ Cash _______ or Check # _______ Other News of our church Election Day Bake Sale & Luncheon November 4th is Election Day. Help is needed to serve the luncheon along with baked good donations. Plan to come for a delicious lunch, and to buy some home-baked desserts to take home. Payments must accompany order form. Play practice scheduled for every Sunday evening at 6:00 and Thursday evening at 6:30. This is subject to change as the play date approaches! VeteranвЂ™s Day Tuesday November 11, 2014 Thank a Veteran Today Thanksgiving Day November 27, 2014 Have a blessed day! ~6~ Christmas Dinner & Drama Christ ChurchвЂ™s Annual Christmas Dinner and Drama will be on Saturday, December 13th, at 5:30 pm. The drama this year will be вЂњScrooge RevisitedвЂќ by Daniel Wray and will follow after the dinner. Watch for the sign up and ticket sale soon! Three years after ScroogeвЂ™s transformation from a miserly old humbug into a benevolent, generous soul, he has lost his mirth. The Spirit of Christmases Yet to Come visits him first. She shows him a materialistic family of the future, for whom Christmas Present offers Scrooge a deeper meaning. Christmas Present offers Scrooge a glimpse of the Crachit home, where Bob is feeling uneasy for not telling Scrooge about the Someone he is missing. Christmas Past takes Scrooge to a stable in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. There, he sees Mary, Joseph, and a baby---the Messiah, Jesus. The Spirit tells him, вЂњHe came for you, Ebenezer.вЂќ ScroogeвЂ™s emptiness is filled with joy! ~7~