NEW HANOVER UMC

January 2019 Newsletter

Inside this Issue:

Pastor’s ViewPoint

Christmas Experience Recap

Thursday Morning Bible Study Gives Back

Men’s Night Out at Bury the Hatchet

Great Job, Kids Choir

Christmas Soup Kitchen

People Talk

Women’s Weekend Retreat

January Calendar

January 1 - New Year’s Day, Church Office Closed

January 2 - Platter with Chatter, 12:00 PM, Chapel

January 4 - KidSit, 5:30 - 8:30 pm

January 4-6 - APEX Winter Retreat

January 21 - Martin Luther King Jr. Service, 7:00 PM

January 25 - Ladies’ Movie Night, 6:30 PM, Chapel

January 29 - Men’s Night Out, Bury the Hatchet, 7:00 PM

Church-Wide Spiritual Growth Campaign by Heather Wallace

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

“There is no God.” “Science has disproved God.” “All religions are equally valid and all lead to God.” “I don’t need God.” “Your religion may be true for you but not for me.” “Whatever makes you happy.”

Maybe you can identify with some of these statements or perhaps you have encountered others in your life that believe similarly.

Our age is one of the most difficult ages in which to be a Christian. When it comes to the Christian faith, the cultural landscape has shifted, and the challenges have intensified. A staggering number of students (some have estimated as high as 70%) who head to college confessing Christ are no longer active in their faith by the time they graduate.

Everyone has a world-view – the lens through which you experience and interpret the world around you and how it influences the way you live. More than

ever we need to be prepared to defend a Christian way of seeing the world. But can faith be defended?

World-renowned Christian apologetics authors Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale have published their first ever church-wide Bible study, Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ.

As our Spiritual Growth Campaign in 2019, we will explore these “secular” Gods:

Atheism – there is no God

Scientism – Science has disproved God

Pluralism – All religions are equally valid and all lead to God

Humanism- I don’t need God

Relativism - Your religion may be true for you but not for me

Hedonism – Whatever makes you happy

Authors Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale challenge these popular “isms” of the day, skillfully pointing out the fallacies to their claims and presenting compelling evidence for revealed absolute truth as found in Jesus. This study will help seekers to explore the claims of Christ and will provide Christians with the knowledge to articulate why we believe that Jesus stands tall above all other Gods.

Christmas Experience Recap by Amy Bates

KidMin kicked off the Christmas season with its second annual Christmas Experience. We hosted over 80 families that participated in a cookie baking contest, gingerbread house decorating, and manger building. The Benedict Family continued their reign of Cookie Champions again this year! Over 25 kids entered their decorated houses in a contest that Pastor Gil and Dawn Vining judged. And, many families left with a doll-sized manger that

they built in the Sanctuary. Santa even stopped by for pictures and conversation! A special thanks to the volunteers who made this night so memorable.

Photos continue on page 2

Pastor’s ViewPoint

Senior Pastor, José “Ricky” Ayala

2018 has come and gone. Although it may seem like a “blink of an eye” to some of you, I personally know that our church family accomplished a lot in those twelve months! We started out by unveiling the “For Our Neighbors” theme. We were intentional about reaching out to the community, initiated new outreach programs and events, nurtured our current ministries, and so much more. We received 93 new members in the last three membership classes. Our average attendance in worship increased, and several ministries shared how they have grown numerically. Praise the Lord!

As we welcome the New Year, we will be introducing a new theme titled, “We Can Do More Together.” It doesn’t replace what we began this past year. In fact, the goal is to build on it. I see us continuing to grow spiritually and numerically as we do ministry...together! I’m looking forward to experiencing what God has in store for those who love him. (Romans 8:28a)

Serving alongside of you,Pastor Jose “Ricky” Ayala

Make a joyful noise to the Lord…serve Him with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! When our Thursday AM Women’s Life Group gathered together to gladly serve in December, as usual, there was much joyful noise and singing! They gathered in order to ‘feed His sheep’ by packing 260 Christmas gift bags for Operation Backpack’s young people, who are regularly without daily meals and/or a stable home situation. The gift bags were included in the children’s backpacks they took home over Christmas break. Each gift bag provided a potential hot meal with a McDonald’s gift card and a tangelo, plus various sweets, gel pen/pad and a few of over 530 homemade cookies baked for this service project. And most importantly, these bags were blessed with prayer for each of these children before being delivered to Operation Back Pack.

Men, come out for a fun night of axe throwing on Tuesday, January 29 from 7:00-9:00 pm at Bury the Hatchet, 1020 W 8th Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406, where your skill of axe throwing will be put to the test. To find out how it works go to burythehatchet.com/axe-throwing-king-of-prussia/. Participants must be 14 years or older to play. The cost is $40/per person plus tax for a two hour session. There are coupons on Groupon

Men’s Night Out at Bury the Hatchet by David Snyder

Christmas Experience...Photos Continued

to save 10% for two people. Sign up in the lobby or contact David Snyder at dcsnyder@zephz.com.

Thursday Morning Bible Study Gives Back by Jan Morris

People Talk

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped during all the Christmas Eve services, and everyone who prepared food. We could not have done this without you!

Thank you to all the Lay Pastors and Stephen Ministers for their support and help with the Blue Christmas Service and for caring for the needs of others during the year.

Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with the Miller Keystone Blood Drive on December 3, and to everyone that donated. We had 134 registered donors in 2018 and we collected 123 units of life-saving blood, saving 369 lives!

Registration continues for our annual Women’s Weekend Retreat, held Friday March 1 through Sunday, March 3 in Sandy Cove, Maryland. Registration is $205. Pick up a registration brochure in the lobby and return it to the church office with your payment in full. For more information contact Debi Coutts, Women’s Ministry Leader at debismail123@gmail.com or call the church office.

On Tuesday, December 18 we delivered over 150 white Christmas bags to Trinity Reformed Church in Pottstown along with over 30 larger Christmas presents for those in need! The night consisted of a 30 minute program led by Pastor Jake and Pastor Todd, a warm meal prepared by Yvonne Westlake and ended with each person in attendance receiving a gift bag.

Thank you to those who helped deliver the bags and the students who came out to serve that night! A special thanks to Jason Barefoot, Brian Henry, Marjorie Compton, Pastors Todd Pearage and Jake Marshall, and Yvonne Westlake for making this night such a success!

This night wouldn’t be possible without the congregation’s generosity!! I cannot say thank you enough to those who purchased gifts and filled gift bags. Over 150 people were blessed this year. You truly have made a difference in the lives of many this Christmas.

Women’s Weekend Retreat

Christmas Soup Kitchen by Jen Krause

Great Job, Kids Choir

Thank-you to all the children who participated in our “more music weekend” kids choir on December 15 and 16. The kids performed two songs, Oh What a Glorious Night and Born is the King. Their singing was beautiful and the performance was awesome!

A huge thank you to Melanie DelBorello who organized and directed the choir, and to the parents and volunteers who helped out. Great job, Kids Choir!

To request a prayer shawl stop by the Welcome Desk after services and fill out a prayer shawl request card. Once completed the card can be turned in at the Welcome Desk or to the church office.

Prayer Shawl Request

610-323-2353 - Church 610-327-9096 - Creative Moments

610-327-9207 - FaxE-mail: info@newhanoverumc.org

Web Site: www.newhanoverumc.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/

NewHanoverUMC

José “Ricky” Ayala, Pastor

Gil Vining, Pastor for Outreach

Todd Pearage, Pastor for Students & Their Families

Rob Petro, Pastor for Congregational Care

Curt Erb, Coordinator of Human & Financial Resources

Amy Bates, KidMin Director

Heather Wallace, Director of Life Groups

Kristin Schmidt, Creative Moments Director

Ana Gallardo, Coordinator of Lay Pastors & Stephen Ministers

Liz Buckwalter, Administrative Mgr., SeedSower Editor

New Hanover UMC

New Hanover UMC2211 Swamp PikeGilbertsville, PA 19525

Address Service Requested

Our 10:30 am service is Interpreted for the Deaf. For more information about Grace Deaf Ministries contact, Kathryn Midgley at deafmin@newhanoverumc.org

Martin Luther King Jr. ServiceLadies’ Movie Night by Maria Benedict

Start the new year off right at a movie night with the women of New Hanover UMC! On Friday, January 25, we will be showing I Can Only Imagine in the chapel. This movie

is based on the story behind the MercyMe song of the same name, the best-selling Christian single of all time. Doors will open at 6:30 pm if you would like to socialize first, and the movie will start at 7:00 pm. Come out and try our popcorn made with our new popcorn machine! Bottled water will be available, or you can bring your own soda or coffee. Whether you bring a friend, or come on your own, we really hope to see you there!

Middle School Youth Group, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm (weekly)High School Youth Group, Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm (weekly)

Instagram: Apex_studentminTwitter: apex_studentminFacebook: APEXstudentmin

KidMin (Sunday School), Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday mornings at 9:00 & 10:30 am services, birth through 5th grade. Facebook: KidMin Instagram: nhumc_kidmin

Join us on Monday, January 21 at 7:00 pm as we host the Boyertown Area Ministerial Association’s Community Service in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy. Students from Boyertown Area High School and Pine Forge Academy will provide music. Light refreshments will be served following the service.