DeArmanville United Methodist Church

HE CAME

2011-12-22T18:17:00.002-06:00

Watch this awesome video if you get a chance.

Merry Christmas.

Updated Prayer Requests

2011-12-22T17:15:00.003-06:00

Church Family:

Please keep Judy Moody, the DeArmanville Postmaster, in your prayers. She suffered a massive heart attack Tuesday after lunch. She was taken to RMC and immediately to the heart cath lab where they put a balloon in the artery and said she would need additional heart surgery but they had to stabilize her first. She was released from ICU out to a room today.

Aaron Causey arrived safely today and was greeted by around 2,000 people at the airport! It was a great homecoming for the holiday. He and his family are deeply appreciative of the prayers. He is now mobile and is learning to walk.

Also, thank you for the prayers for Tangie. She had a good checkup today. She's trying to rest and keep the blood pressure and swelling down. Let's pray for a full term.

Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,

Pastor Don

Poinsettias

2011-11-30T20:46:00.003-06:00

Poinsettias...

We purchased the poinsettias from the Rainbow Omega greenhouse. They are $8.50 each. We still have some that you can purchase in honor and in memory of someone. The Rainbow Omega is a special group home for adults and the greenhouse proceeds help them to be self-supporting. Your donations for the poinsettias are two fold - one for the residents and one for the beauty they provide in our church. The list is in the vestibule - just sign and put in your money. Thank you. ~Vivian.

Below is a list who has purchased a poinsettia as of November 27th.

1. Earl and Vivian Kemp in honor of our children and grandchildren.

2. Ned Hughes in memory of D. H. Hughes and Nellie Parris.

3. Mike and Mariam Miller in honor of Ella and Raleigh Carlson.

4. Steve and Lynn Hale in honor of our grandchildren, Addison, Peyton, Kylee and Kinley.

5. Dewey and Jane Hughes in memory of The Chitwoods.

6. Lillian Landers in memory of Ertis, Ernie and Stanley Landers.

7. Lillian Landers in honor of Jeremy, Krystal and Samantha Landers.

8. Scott and Janet Stephens in memory of our parents.

9. Dewey and Jane Hughes in memory of Dewitt Harden.

10. Ted Hughes in memory of "Duckie."

note: There are still six poinsettias available, please purchase one next Sunday.

2011-11-30T20:45:00.002-06:00

Christmas Eve Communion...

Our Christmas Eve Communion will be a come and go communion so you can bring your whole family to partake of communion and get back home in time for your family meal. It will be Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24th from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Notes from the UMM

2011-11-30T20:44:00.001-06:00

United Methodist Men...

I would like to thank everyone who came out to the chilli supper fund raiser, it was a huge success with total donations of $891 for the Christmas families. We are still accepting donations for those of you who could not come out to the supper. We have changed the meeting day from the second Sunday of December to the first, which will be December 4th at 7:30 a.m., please note that change and hope to see you all there. ~Ben.

Donations to Help Families in Need for Christmas are being received by the United Methodist Men. We desire to help families in our area who are not receiving assistance from other avenues. Bring joy to others! Mark your check "Christmas Families."

Celebrate Christmas at DUMC-- SERMON SERIES

2011-11-30T20:43:00.003-06:00

December 4: The intervening God of Hope: Matthew 3:1-12; 21:31-32.

God breaks into history after a 400 year silence, calling people to prepare for the coming of God through the message of John the Baptist. God is still intervening today, calling us back to Him. Can you hear His voice of Hope?

December 11: The inviting God of Peace: John 14:27; Ephesians 2:14-17.

God invites ALL people to prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace. Are you responding to God's invitation to join in the journey that leads to everlasting peace?

December 18: The inspiring God of Joy: Luke 1:26-38; Galations 5:22.

God breathed life into Mary's womb as His Spirit birthed life within her. God brings that same enlivening Spirit into our lives, calling us to be new creatures, filled with joy.

December 25: The incarnate God of Love: Luke 2:1-20.

God came into the world as a vulnerable child, taking on the same flesh as you and I. God is born into a world full of struggles, war, pain, and passion to show us His eternal love. God is with us always...Emmanuel.

Sunday School News

2011-11-30T20:43:00.000-06:00

A few months ago, I wrote about the new Adult Literature writers. One of which was Simon Peter Iredale. Each time he writes for the quarterly, he includes his email address and ask for readers to write to him. I had kept his address and intended to write him then, but put it on the back burner. When we received the fall books, he was one of the writers. I finally sat down and sent him an email to tell him how much I enjoyed teaching the lessons for this quarter. I shared about the class and where we lived.

He replied, "Thank you very much for your kind message. It is great to hear from readers, especially when, like yourself, my lessons have found a willing ear! I certainly intend continuing with writing and I will keep those interested abreast of the developments! Please give my greetings and best wishes to your people in DeArmanville." Simon.

December will began a new series with a new writer, J. Ellsworth Kalas. Dr. Kalas is a well known author for the Sunday School Literature and numerous books published by Abingdon Press.

If you're not attending Sunday School, please join us each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. We will be studying from Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Galatians. ~Vivian.

2011-11-30T20:41:00.001-06:00

Don's Devotion: Stretched!

There's a Pooh Bear bassinet in our bedroom. Pooh Bear seems so calm, playing gently with piglet. I'm not that calm. I feel stretched. Tangie says, "You feel stretched! What about me?!" We're all feeling a bit unsettled and stretched. The date is February 1, 2012, but Tangie says the baby is going to arrive sooner...and Christmas is coming even before that...and so is her birthday! Then we'll shout "Happy New Year" and Daniel will head off for his first long trip away to New Orleans to march in the BCS Championship game. Mid January I'm going to be another year older...and we won't even mention how old. I feel stretched. Can this really be happening?

Joseph felt stretched. "You want to run that by me again, Mary? Did you say you were PREGNANT!?" I wonder if he got the news at 4 a.m. too. "What am I going to do? What can I do? I'll get a divorce, that's what I'll do!!!...One problem..I'm not married yet. I'll just take care of this little problem quickly and quietly..." But right in the middle of getting his plan together he was interrupted by an angel... "Feeling a little stretched, partner? Don't worry too much about it...it happens when God breaks into your world. You're going to be a papa, like it or not. Don't go jumping too fast there. Just stay in the saddle and enjoy the ride. Jesus is coming and you've got a responsibility."

Mary felt a little stretched too. "Gabriel...did you just say what I thought you said? How can I be carrying a child?!!" Mary was very surprised, but her positive thinking kicked in and she replied, "It must be God's will. So be it." She had a bassinet in her bedroom too. She also had some handmade baby clothes and blankets that she and her relatives had sewn for this little bundle of joy. She was as ready as could be...until she discovered that an unexpected trip was in store. "Bethlehem? Are you kidding? That's 80 miles!" After 80 miles on a donkey, Mary was feeling very stretched. But that wasn't the worst of it. When they arrived, they found themselves in a stinky stable. And guess what...the due date arrived! No epidural, no bassinet and no pretty Pooh Bear blanket either...just some dusty rags to wrap around little Jesus and a musty manger bed. Mary was definitely stretched. And if that wasn't enough, two years in Bethlehem and still no bassinet! And then there was that journey to Egypt!

I can't wrap my mind around it. The arrival of unexpected babies is hard enough...but what about an unexpected Messiah! When Jesus started healing, teaching, and preaching, everybody was stretched. His mom (and brothers) came looking for him to take care of him and calm everything down. (Maybe she could make up for those early years without the pretty bassinet.) Even the disciples pitched in and tried to calm him down, telling him to lay off the talk about being crucified. But the plan was already in place and he kept stretching and stretching and stretching them beyond where they ever thought they could go.

I can't help but to wonder what's ahead of us in the coming years. I know we'll be stretched beyond what we think is possible by our little girl. But I believe that's part of God's purpose and plan...to take us away from focusing on ourselves and to get our focus back on Him. He often does that through children.

There's a Pooh Bear bassinet in our room. That's what happens when God shows up. Oh bother!

~Pastor Don.