The Tower First United Methodist Church

Tenth & Millington P.O. Box 270 Winfield KS 67156

(620) 221-2700 (620) 221-2760 FAX office@winfieldfumc.org www.winfieldfumc.org

Ministers by baptism Every Christian

Senior Pastor by ordination Rev. David Brian Smith Executive Pastor Pastor Beth Wilke Associate Pastor Pastor Rachelle Speer Associate in Youth Ministry, Education and Technology

Bill Podschun Assistant Minister and Children’s Director Jessica Bates Office Administrator Nancy Finley Administrative Assistant Madeline Norland Director of Maintenance & Property Randy Vanderpool Music Director Julie Woodring Organist Chance Alquest Nursery Director Mandie Speegle Sunday School 9:45 am Worship: 8:30 & 10:45 am, 5:30 pm

November 13, 2019

“Joy to the World, the Lord is come.” - Isaac Watts

"Make a joyful noise to the Beloved

all the earth; break forth into grateful song

and sing praises! Yes, sing songs of praise extolling

Love’s way; lift up your hearts with

gratitude and joy!” - Psalm 98 (translation, Nan C. Merrill)

“As we discover more joy, we can face suffering in a way that ennobles rather

than embitters. We have hardship without becoming hard. We have heartbreak without being broken.” - Desmond Tutu

Advent sermon series synopsis:

“Joy to the World,” a beloved Christmas classic, turns 300 this year. Composer Isaac Watt’s interpretation of Psalm 98 invites us to sing a “new song” – and it

is a powerful cosmic performance of all creation being renewed and freed. Rather than “joy” being yet another word for “happiness,” we will discover that the depths of joy can be found especially in the midst of suffering, the work of

justice, and the presence of compassion – all part of the coming of Jesus to this world and a message the world still so desperately needs.

150 Years! In 2020 First United Methodist Church will celebrate 150 years of faithfulness. We are beginning plans for the celebration. If you have ideas and/or would like to serve on the celebration team, please speak with Pastor Beth.

Bell Ringers Needed

Mark Olney is the Red Kettle Coordinator for the Salvation Army and is scheduling bell ringers from Nov. 29 until Dec. 24 at the entrances of Wal-Mart and Dillon’s. Please consider if you, your small group or Sunday School would like to help. Our church has chosen Thursday, Dec. 5, to cover this year. Please call the church office at 221.2700 if you are available to serve that day.

The Red Kettle bell tradition dates back to 1891 and is entirely dependent on the generosity of the public to provide financial assistance, counseling, food, clothing, toys, and shelter for less fortunate persons year-round. The majority of the money raised stays locally to help those in need. To volunteer for a day other than Dec. 5, please email Mark at: markaolney@gmail.com.

Soroptimist Thanksgiving Meal

The women of Soroptimist International of Winfield will host their 35th annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 28. Social time is at 11:30 am and

dinner at 12:00 noon, in our Fellowship Hall. Any couples or singles who find themselves alone on Thanksgiving Day are invited to attend. There is no charge, but reservations are appreciated. For reservations, deliveries or carry-outs please call: Sheryl Clower, 222.8221, or Diane Williams, 222-1860 by Tuesday, Nov. 26th.

VIM trip to Costa Rica

There is a Volunteer in Mission trip to Costa Rica being planned for June 2-13 from our church. If any adults are interested we are asking for $100 deposits. We are beginning the search for airline tickets and want to buy them when they are at a good price.

Want to Discuss the Morning Scripture? If you would like to discuss the scripture for Sunday morning worship you are invited to join Steve Wilke and the Fellowship Class in the Church Library every Sunday morning

at 9:45 am. The class reads the scripture for the sermon that day and discusses questions, thoughts and ideas for how it applies to our lives. If you have attended 8:30 am worship you can add your thoughts regarding the morning’s message. If you are attending the 10:45 am service, you will be better prepared for hearing God’s word. Everyone is welcome!

College Care Packages It is time to send care packages to college students from our church who are away at school. Please pick up an envelope at the Welcome Center and return it by Dec. 2. You can fill it with all kinds of goodies for finals week like; granola bars, candy, rice crispy treats, hot cocoa, popcorn packets, and maybe a Christmas greeting card.

Christmas @ The Barns The Christmas Concert and Worship at The Barns @ Timber Creek will be Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4 pm. Martin Rude and friends will be providing the music. This event is a fundraiser for youth going on our international mission trip in 2020 to Costa Rica. Come out and enjoy the music and nice soup supper. Sunday Evening Worship will follow the meal.

Holiday Plans for Tuesday’s Table Tuesday’s Table will not meet on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the week of Thanksgiving. Individuals and couples who find themselves alone for the holiday are invited to join Soroptimists at noon on Thanksgiving Day in our Fellowship Hall. On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, folks are invited to come for a soup supper at 6:00 pm before or after the 5:00 and 7:00 worship services. Tuesday’s Table will not meet on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31. If you can provide soup for the Christmas Eve meal, please contact Pastor Rachelle.

If you have given us a name to put on the Prayer List please give us frequent updates so we can keep current. Thank you for all your prayers on behalf of those in our prayer concerns.

Prayer Chain

If you have concerns or joys for which you desire prayer, please email Carolyn Eastman, jce1936@gmail.com or the church, office@winfieldfumc.org.

Extending Thanks to . . .

Roger Lungren and Julie & Dennis Rice for delivering commodities in October.

Bill Bridges and Ron Godsey for mowing the church lawn in October.

Blessings to the families of baptisms on 11.10.19: Demi Jane Golay, daughter of Nathan & Caroline Golay, and Laken James Doyle, son of James & Alex Doyle!

Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating birthdays in December!

The birthdays of the members and friends for whom we have records are listed below. If you have additions please call the office so we can update our records. Send a card, make a phone call, or do a little something to help recognize these birthdays when you can. 12/1 Greg McPherson, Lenora Nation,

Bruce Russell 12/2 R J Reed, Jax Schmidt 12/3 Rydon Carrasco, Kelsey Henson, Maddox Madrigal 12/5 Janeanne Fry, Karen Johnson, Sarah Stone, Harper Whetstone 12/6 Aiden Busch-Riddle, Randy Emerson,

Shanell Isom, Steve Wilke 12/7 Joseph Abdi, James Doyle, Bill June,

Merlyn Logsdon 12/8 Pat White 12/9 Doloris Godsey, April Madrigal, A J Phillips, Sadie Revell, Maddie Stanton 12/10 Beth Lindenman, Chris Tyler 12/11 Jacob Pugmire, Mari Wallrabenstein 12/12 Skylar Daniels, Dan Williams 12/13 Denver Arneson, Patrick Trollman, Eli Winblad 12/15 Bryan Pearce 12/16 Robert Lattimore, Nancy McGregor 12/17 Sam Bertholf, Dylan Durbin, Elizabeth Vaughan 12/18 Bailey Heronemus, Molly McCoy, Audrina Schmidt 12/19 Mary Ann Beers, Wanda Hada, Reese Isom, Jimmy Stoabs 12/20 Betty Martin, Justin McPherson, Kate Stanton 12/21 Brad Bradberry 12/22 Rosemary Almassy, Lisa Buffum, Lynn Gerber, Camdon Trecek 12/23 Becky Brock, Judy Keller, Christopher Norton 12/24 Phyllis Bigler 12/25 Joy Branscum, Luna Marler, Carla Tuttle, Larry White 12/26 Jeff Bradbury, Kirk Branscum, Julie Rice 12/27 Edwin Speegle, Nikki Thiel 12/29 Sam Camp, Autumn Mugler, Sherry Pugmire, Emma Wilke, Maddie Wilke 12/30 Brylee Satterlee, Stan Sawyer, Cole Winblad 12/31 Amber Benavides, Teresa Bradbury, Jordan Pond

Prayer List Winfield First Family

Sue Beeson Darrell Morse Betty Ross Bob Carter Oscar Peterson-Veatch Jeanice Shimon Larry Flick Boyd Pugmire Karla Sultz Cindi Madrigal Pat Wells

Extended Family and Friends

Valerie Aladieff Marc Godfrey Bruce Johnson Stephanie Berry Mark Godsey Vanessa Matare Ronald Cowel Tierney Havner Jim McPherson Cheryl Crow Buddy Hendrix Carla Mohlstrom Kim Estabrook Curstin Jenkins Brantley Taylor Peggy Everett Jason Jenkins Aaron Toney Amanda Ford Tammy Vanderpool

World Concerns Military & first responders and their families; all affected by fires in

California & Colorado, victims of random acts of violence.

Please Help Our Helping Hands Fund The Helping Hands emergency assistance fund continues to fluctuate between very low and completely empty. Please keep the Helping Hand Fund in your mind as you think of giving to the needs of our community. In 2018, we helped 544 families with utilities, rent, medicine, and other needs. As of October 31, 2019, Helping Hands has assisted 426 families with $67,500 for this calendar year. If you would like to help, please make your check to FUMC and mark Helping Hands in the memo line. Your gift is very much appreciated.

Poinsettias

We have a tradition of using beautiful poinsettias to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas. If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one

please fill out the coupon below and return it to the church office by Monday, Nov. 25. The suggested donation for each poinsettia is $10.

Enclosed is $____ to purchase a Christmas poinsettia.

Given by __________________________________________

[ ] In Memory of ____________________________

[ ] In Honor of _____________________________

Charitable Deductions for Taxpayers Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the charitable deduction is available only to those taxpayers who itemize their deductions. With a near doubling of the standard deductions to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2019, it is estimated that the number of households that will itemize their deductions will be about half of what it was in 2017 before the tax act. One tactic families can employ is to bunch their charitable and other deductions into one year. This may push their deductions above the threshold and allow the taxpayer to itemize their deductions. Then the next tax year they would claim the standard deduction. Please check with your accountant or tax preparer to see if this strategy may help you.

Gary’s Hat Drive

From now until Christmas we are collecting men’s and women’s hats (stocking and ball caps), socks, gloves, and scarfs to give out during the cold weather. These will be distributed at Tuesday’s Table and Helping Hands. Please bring items to the box in the foyer. If you have any questions please speak with Susan Dean.

A Look at Our Loyalty

October 20 October 27

November 3

November 10

8:30 Worship 61 77 78 64

10:45 Worship 125 125 146 154

Evening Worship 25 49 48 46

Total Worship 211 251 272 264

Sunday School 116 103 107 110

Offering $8,786 $6,481 $12,391 $7,758

Needed Weekly $12,050

Needed as of October 31

$522,147

Received as of October 31

$472,738

Advent 2019 Sunday, Dec. 1 “Prepare Him Room: Hopeful Joy”

Worship Services at 8:30 & 10:45 am and 5:30 pm each Sunday

All through Advent we will collect new or gently used hats, gloves, socks & scarves

Thursday, Dec. 5 Ring Bells for Salvation Army, 10 am to 6 pm. Call church to volunteer! 221.2700

Sunday, Dec. 8 “Repeat the Sounding Joy: Loving Joy” Memorial Bells play in worship

Sunday, Dec. 15 “Make the Blessings Known: Unabashed Joy”

` 4:00- pm Christmas Concert with Martin Rude and Friends Barns @ Timber Creek

Soup Supper & Sunday Evening Worship to follow Donations received for Costa Rica Mission Trip

Saturday, Dec. 21 Blue Christmas Service at Grace United Methodist Church

Sunday, Dec. 22 “Make the Nations Prove: Peaceful Joy” Kevin & Heidi Cheng on Violin & Piano with special Choral Christmas Music

Tuesday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services “The Lord is Come: Incarnate Joy”

5:00 pm Contemporary Service 7:00 & 11:00 pm Traditional Services

All services will include carols, communion, special music & our cherished tradition of passing the light from the Christ Candle.

MEMORIALS FOR 2018 – 2019

The following gifts are gratefully received as memorials to the church’s ongoing ministries:

BELL CHOIR Louise Wilson

CAMPERSHIPS

Marty Mutti

ETERNAL FLAME CANDLES Hope Thompson

HELPING HAND FUND Gerald & Jean Ehmke

Leota Hendricks Don Moore

Everett Newman Jim Peirce

Eleanor Richardson

LIBRARY Donna Storey

HARRY & MARTHA JEANNE LIERMANN

MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Craig Liermann

LODGING ASSISTANCE FUND Jim Peirce

MEDICAL LOAN CLOSET

Everett Newman

MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Margaret Gilger

MINISTRY BUDGET

Vernon Goertz Wallace Gray

PRISON MINISTRY

Donna Storey

SUNDAY NIGHT WORSHIP Hazel Calcote

TO BE DETERMINED

George Storey

PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND Giving reflects the love of Christ in the hearts of people. The Permanent Endowment Fund makes it possible for a gift

from you today to give on and on, enabling you to have a part in the work of Christ in this Church for years to come.

Income from Permanent Endowment Fund 1 is used for maintenance, repair and/or improvement of the church plant and property as determined by the Board of Trustees. Permanent Endowment Fund 2 includes designations for education, missions, scholarships, and general First United Methodist Church operations. Your gift can be designated for any of these areas of your interest.

The Permanent Endowment Fund was established to maximize earnings and to benefit our Church much like a savings account serves a family. Only the earnings can be expended; the principal is retained to build a future earnings base. What a noble way to perpetuate your Christian influence by joining your resources with others, who like you, love God and our Church and desire that First United Methodist Church of Winfield, Kansas fulfills its mission to Winfield, and the world.

All of us are in debt to the past. We drink from wells we have not dug; enjoy liberties we have not won; share our

democracy resting on foundations of faith and sacrifices others gave. That’s why giving to our Church is so important. We can share our faith in appreciation for all we have received so freely. We can secure the future of our Church so others may know Christ throughout generations to come.

If you would like to discuss the Permanent Endowment Fund and/or consider making a contribution to it, please contact Pastor David Smith, David Andreas or any member of the Permanent Endowment Fund Committee: Dee Ledy, Clyde Vasey, Larry Flick, Greg Thompson, and Gary McCutcheon.

FRIENDS: Those giving $1,000.00 or more. BUILDERS: Those giving $25,000.00 or more. FOUNDERS: Those giving $5,000.00 or more. GUARDIANS: Those giving $50,000.00 or more.

Youth Ski Trip Youth planning to go skiing in March will meet on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 7 pm to hear more about the Spring Break trip. Talk to Bill if you are interested in attending.

High School Progressive Dinner The High School Youth will have a progressive dinner on Sunday, Dec. 8,

from 6:30-8:30 p.m. If you are

interested in helping with the meal let Bill

know.

Mission Trip to Costa Rica Plans are being made for our junior and senior mission trip to Costa Rica. Our next meeting is Sunday, Nov. 17, at 8 pm. Please bring another $100 deposit. We are looking at dates around June 2-13 for the trip. Adults interested in the trip should also pay a deposit as soon as possible.

Youth

News

Thank you.” It’s one of the first phrases most of us

learn to say, but it’s also one of the most difficult

things to say and really mean! That’s true for us

today, but it was true for God’s people in the Old

Testament too. After they escaped the land of

Egypt, the Israelite's spent forty years wandering

through the wilderness on their way to the

promised land. While they wandered, they

struggled to remember all of the ways God had

provided for them (kind of like we still do today). In

this 4-week series, kids will discover that we can

thank God for so much — for providing for us, for

being God, for giving us wisdom, and for never

giving up on us.

As part of our series this month we’ll be

participating in a hat, glove & sock drive to

benefit Winfield residents. Students can drop

them off at the church.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

PO BOX 270

WINFIELD KS 67156

Return Service Requested

Christmas Craft Night If you enjoy being crafty or making Christmas decorations, please join us Thursday night, Nov. 21, from 6-8pm in the Robinson Room/Chapel. We will be creating some new Advent decor for the church and "sprucing" up our existing garlands and trees. For more info, contact Pastor Rachelle.

Christmas is Coming! Join us on Sunday, Nov. 24, immediately after the 10:45 am worship service to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas! All ages and abilities are welcome and needed. It usually takes about an hour - please join us as you can.

Joy to the World! This Advent our sermon series is “Heaven and Nature Sing: 300 years of JOY to the World.” Join us beginning Sunday, Dec. 1, at the 8:30 and 10:45 am worship services as we consider Joy.

Christmas Eve Schedule As you make your plans for Christmas, we want you to be aware of the worship schedule. On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, worship will include evening services at 5:00, 7:00 and 11:00 pm.

Mark Your Calendar Nov. 27 Church Offices close at noon Nov. 28 Soroptimist Thanksgiving Dinner Dec. 1 Advent Begins Dec. 5 Winfield FUMC Day for volunteering as

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Dec. 24 Church Offices close at noon

Christmas Eve Services 5, 7 & 11 pm Dec. 29 Combined 10 am Service (No Sunday School today)

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage PAID

Winfield KS

Permit No. 185