FOR THE
JOURNEY
January, 2015 - Vol. 22, No. 1
HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Robbservations
And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ – Revelation 21:5a
In the year 1850, the great poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson published a poem as part of a eulogy to his sister’s
fiancé who had died at the young age of 22. The story goes that Tennyson was staying at a place near
Westminster Abbey when, hearing the bells ringing out by the winds of a storm, he penned this hope-filled
poem about letting go of the old and embracing new and better ways of life.
As we begin another year together in Hope we have in Jesus Christ, I invite you to take a moment and let go of
what you need to leave behind and ponder, as you look ahead into 2015, God’s promise to be with you.
Ring out the bells of the old and ring in a new year of God’s grace!
Have a Very Happy and Blessed New Year!
Pastor Robb
________________________________________________________________________________________
“Ring Out, Wild Bells” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light
The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.
. . . FOR THE
JOURNEY
MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS FOR JANUARY
January 4
Lay Readers
Children’s
Sermon
Host Team
8:15
Host Team
10:30
Coffee
Fellowship
Nursery
Volunteers
January 11
January 18
January 25
Robb McClintock
Corey Fritz
Stacey Curtis
Jan Lorentz
Robb McClintock
Chuck & Jan
Lorentz
Gary & Becky
Gochanour
Anne Allen
Chuck & Jan
Lorentz
Gary & Becky
Gochanour
Allie Athas
Cyndee Kaiser
Shirl Gillette
Bob Schwartz
Cheryl Muller
Cindy Peterson
Cyndee Kaiser
Shirl Gillette
Bob Schwartz
Cheryl Muller
Kelly Bischof
Anna Nyland
Anne Allen
Aaron Athas
Allie Athas
Amber Broughton
Renee Marino
Fritz Family
HOPE CHURCH STAFF
Pastor..............................………….
Rev. Robb McClintock
SS & VBS Volunteer Coordinator…
Renee Marino
Office Manager……………………...
Betsy Larson
Pianist………………………………..
Andrea Blaeser
Choir Director ………………………
John Weiland
. . . FOR THE JOURNEY articles should be submitted to the church
office by the 20th of each month. Contributions are welcome.
Connecting with Our Pastor
Pastor Robb’s office hours are generally 11AM to 3PM, M, W, Th, depending upon
other meetings and scheduled appointments. You can also reach him promptly by
sending an email to ([email protected]) which he frequently checks or by
sending a text to 715-933-0383. When the situation is less urgent, messages can be
left with the church office 715-835-5310 or his home phone 715-835-6077. Due to
HIPPA privacy laws, our ability to find out when persons are hospitalized is limited
so please notify him whenever pastoral care is desired.
. . . FOR THE
JOURNEY
Preaching the Word
Date
1/4/15 *
Text
John 1:1-9, 10-18
“Jesus the Christ”
Message
1/11/15
Mark 1:4-11
“The Mark of Mud”
1/18/15
John 1:43-51
“Rules of the Road”
1/25/15
Psalm 62:5-12
“Choosing Trust”
* Communion Sunday
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
One of my favorite Christmas songs is, “Star-Child,” words by Shirley Erena
Murray and based on the gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. It is found in “The Faith We
Sing” #2095 with music by Carlton R. Young. The second verse is, “Street child,
beat child, no place left to go, hurt child, used child, no one want to know."
Our hearts ache this Christmas because too many of the world’s children are
described by those words. Our hearts are heavy because so many in our nation are
experiencing deep sadness and grief from events and reactions that tear at the
fabric of our relationships with each other. Our hearts go out to those who feel
beaten down by prejudice and racism, and to those hurt and misused, whose very
being is ignored as those ‘no one want to know.’
But, into our messed up, angry, conflicted world, neighborhoods, families, and
individual lives, comes the Star Child: “Hope-for-peace Child, God’s stupendous
sign, down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine.” How will we receive the Star
Child? With whom will we share the message of hope the Child has come to
share? Where will we go to bring healing and joy to people? When will we find
peace in our hearts and communities?
At least the beginning of the answer to our questions is found in the refrain: “This
year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone
alive!” This is our mission, our purpose, our task: To share the Star Child’s
message of hope, healing, joy, and peace with our neighbors near and far in what
we say and what we do.
May it be for all of us, Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
. . . FOR THE
JOURNEY
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS FOR JANUARY
Renee Marino-Hope UMC Sunday School Volunteer Coordinator
All Church Christmas Program… was performed on December 14th. Thanks to Allie Athas
for leading the program! And a great job by all who performed, participated or helped
out in any way.
“Thank you for your support”…Our Mission project of “Socks of Love” was a huge
success. We appreciate all the donations that came in from the congregation and from
Oakwood hills Family Dental. We collected about 75 tube socks for men, women and
children. And they were filled with toiletries for those that stay at the Beacon House in
Eau Claire.
All Sunday School classes…will follow the Eau Claire area School District holiday vacation
schedule and resume classes on January 4th.
Module Focus for January for 5th grade and younger: Working for God. Our Key Bible
verse: “Work willingly at whatever you do” Colossians 3:23.
Weekly Bible Story is as follows:
Week 1: Nehemiah rebuilds the Wall
Week 2: Joseph becomes a ruler of Egypt
Week 3: The Parable of the three servants
Week 4: Paul presses on to the goal
Happy Birthday to…
Alyssa Hysell….…………………...January 24th
Annika McClintock……….……….January 27th
World Religions Class
Starting January 11th, 2015 a new Sunday School class on the various religions of the
world will start. This class will be open to all adults and teen aged youth and will meet
Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15. The person teaching/guiding this class will be Dr.
Jerry Richards, a member of Hope UMC and a recently retired professor from UW-Eau
Claire’s Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.
The structure of the class will be a brief presentation with discussion and questions.
This class will be held in the Habitat for Humanity Room across from the Nursery. If
you have any questions please contact Jerry Richards at 715-456-7232.