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December, 2018…The Pastor’s Corner…Rev. Dr. Yunho Eo

Excitement of Advent In Anticipating Parousia (Jesus’ Second Coming)

The leaves are falling like snow while I am walking on the Capital Trail. The flying movements are so diverse. The pine leaves are dropping down. The oak leaves are propelling or waving or tumbling. Some tree leaves are rolling and tumbling down. In the forest, I face the season of various beautiful colors and the grateful season of harvest. The fresh air blowing smoothly along is a joyful bonus in this season. Furthermore, way above, my eyes reach high white clouds moving peacefully and even lazily along the fall blue sky. What a beautiful season this is! Lovely fall it is! Silently and gratefully, the fall is going forward to the next season.

Early in the morning, the chilly air hits my face. And yet we all love this season for many reasons. The true cause of joy in this coming season should be the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope, Love, Peace, and Gratitude in the story inherited from Heaven through the angels to the Mother of Jesus Christ to apostles are the reason of this season. Several thousands of years, the people waited for the Messiah. That Messiah came to us in a human form with love and grace.

God came down to the earth in a human form which is called “Incarnation.” God came down to live among us in the same tent, which is called “Emmanuel.” God came down to earth to fulfill the prophecies foretold by many prophets.

The prophecy is still in a continuing tense. As Jews waited for the Messiah, we are waiting for the Christ to come back to us, the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is called Parousia in Greek.

The Bible says, The Lord will come back riding a white horse with the sound of trumpets of angels (Rev. 19:11ff, 1 Thess. 4:13ff). He will gather the believers from all around the world by the angels (Mark 13:27). And He will destroy and triumph over Satan and his followers (Rev. 19:17ff). So Jesus asks us to watch because we do not know when the Lord will come back whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows or at dawn (Mk. 13:35).

We are joyful in this season not because of gifts but because of the Good News of Jesus Christ. What else we are looking forward to having this season? Come Lord Jesus. Maranatha! Maranatha! (Lord, please come soon!)

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December 2, 2018 Luke 21:25-36

8:30 am, “Jesus Prays at the Mount of Olive.”

11:00 am, Hanging of the Greens

December 9, 2018 Luke 3:1-6

“God Is My Salvation With His Mercy.”

6:00 pm Children’s Christmas Celebration with Church and Week Day School

December 16, 2018 Isaiah 12:1-6

11:00 am Christmas Cantata with Chancel Choir

“Sing to the Lord for He Has Done Glorious Things.”

December 23, 2018 Luke 1:46-55

11:00 am “My Soul Glorifies the Lord!”

December 24, at 7:00 pm : Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion

Decembner 30, 2018 Luke 2:41-52

11:00 am “I Have to be in My Father’s House”

December 31, at 11:30 pm : Watch Night (New Year Eve) with Candle Lighting

LAY MINISTERS FOR DECEMBER, 2018

Praise & Worship: 8:45 A.M.-Sunday School: 9:45 A.M.-Worship: 11:00 A.M.

OUR USHERS

December 2 Kirby Miller, Joe Corley, Randy Welch

December 9 Stuart Walton, Raymond Stevenson, Buddy Whitlow

December 16 Bill Robinson, Gene Russell, George Kaloski

December 23 Craig Pollard, Phil Deane, Ray Alexander

December 24 To Be Announced

December 30 To Be Announced

CHILDREN’S CHURCH CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

December 2 TBA December-Rev. Tom Austin

December 9 & 16 Sheree Gostel

December 23-30 Stuart & Tricia Walton COMMUNION

December-Millie Peterson

ACOLYTES Gail Dagenhart

December 2 Debbie Deaton

December 9 & 16 Peggy Singlemann

December 23 & 30 Buddy Whitlow

December 24 Ashly Funk & M.G. Funk

OUR GREETERS SOUND TECHNICIANS

December 2 Frank & Muriel Jenness December 2-Keith Gostel

December 9 Pam Wilson & Elaine Ogburn December 9 & 16-David Duke

December 16 Patrice Moore & Judy Walker December 23 & 24-Doug S.

December 23 George & Patti Kaloski December 30-Keith Gostel

December 24 Doug & Betsy Gottwald

December 30 Kim Davis & Ann Hechler

TELLERS

December 2 Phil Deane & Randy Welch

December 9 Chris Ragland & Linda Kinsey

December 16 Peggy Singlemann & Jeremy Rowan

December 23 Lois Miller & Pam Wilson

December 24 Christmas Eve

December 30 Phil Deane & Jenny Nelson

BIRTHDAYS IN DECEMBER: Kathie Whitlow, John Brockman, Bronson Stoneman, Julie Olgers, Drew Corley, Arie Brandon, Barry Deal, Keith Gostel, Dot Gay, Anne Corley, Mildred Peterson, Dennis Blanton

FISH…

I want to thank you for the outpouring of support for the Annual FISH Veterans Day Benefit Concert. Several of you sponsored ads and many of you recognized an individual veteran. What a wonderful way to honor and show appreciation for our vets and help our community at the same time. Your caring expression of love benefited many people. Oak Hall Baptist Church presented a great concert and raised $2,485.60 for FISH. This will go to support families in our community who have fallen on difficult times and need help to get them back on their feet

We are collecting toothpaste for FISH this month. When you go to the grocery store, if you can, pick up a tube of toothpaste and bring it to church for FISH. We will gladly take any food item you wish to give. We simply ask that you check the expiration date to make sure it is still good. Looking ahead, we will collect pancake mix and syrup for January.

You will have two special days to benefit FISH in December. Roberto’s is having “Spirit Days” for FISH on Wednesday and Thursday, December 5 and 6. We will have coupons in the bulletin and extras in the narthex for you to present. With this coupon FISH will receive a portion of your bill as a donation to FISH, and you get a night out to enjoy a delicious meal and time to socialize with friends. 

Our Bowling Tournament will be held February 23rd. We had a blast last year with two teams representing Laurel Hill. Get out your bowling shoes and check the date to see if you can participate this year. 

Thank you for your continuous patronage for FISH. If you want information about ways you can volunteer to help FISH please contact Kirby Miller or Pam Wilson. Blessings to each of you.

REMINDER: Richmond District Conference and Leadership Training Event--Sunday, January 13, 2019, 2-5:30 p.m.

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Mission UMFS is an unwavering champion for high-risk children and families, collaborating with communities to help them reach their full potential.

Impact

UMFS was founded as an orphanage in 1900 in Richmond, on the site that still serves as our headquarters. Over the years, UMFS has continued to change and evolve to meet the needs in our community. But UMFS continues to remain true to our mission as an unwavering champion for high-risk children and families, collaborating with communities to help them reach their full potential. Today we achieve our mission by providing customized services across the state of Virginia:

• Foster Care & Community-Based Services - state-wide programs for foster and adoptive children and families. UMFS also provides customized support for children and families struggling with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges, or traumatic experiences.

• Residential Treatment - 24-hour therapeutic program in Richmond and Fairfax for children ages 11 - 17 with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges, or autism and other neurological differences.

• Specialized Education - schools in Richmond and Edinburg providing therapeutic education for elementary, middle, and high school students with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges or autism and other neurological differences.

IN 2017, UMFS served 3,368 high-risk children across Virginia. While many of our programs are focused on children, we strive to support the entire family, helping us touch the lives of 16,034 high-risk children and families in 177 communities in Virginia. 

 

UMFS envisions a world where caring, opportunity, and generosity are passed on from generation to generation - empowering all children to contribute to society as engaged citizens.  

 

Needs

Collaboration multiplies impact - this is one of our core values at UMFS. We are a stronger, more effective agency because of our collaboration with our donors, volunteers, and community partners. Listed below are some of the critical ways we can work together to be unwavering champions for high-risk children in Virginia:

• Donate - Donors make a critical impact in the lives of high-risk children and families, helping us provide unique programs and services that would not otherwise be possible. To learn more about how you can make a difference with a gift to UMFS, please visit donate.

•  Volunteer - Volunteers provide invaluable support for the children we serve. UMFS has a variety of volunteer opportunities including tutors, mentors, child care, office helpers, and event helpers. To learn more about UMFS volunteer opportunities, please visit volunteer.

• Foster Parents - The UMFS Treatment Foster Care program supports high-risk foster children and teenagers who are working to overcome past trauma or abuse or are struggling with behavioral or medical challenges. We are in need of supportive foster parents to help make a difference in the lives of these children. To learn more about becoming a foster parent, please visit foster

Background

1900 - The Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is granted a charter from the state legislature and builds an orphanage in Richmond at 3900 W Broad St. At the outset of the Great Depression, many children are placed at the orphanage because of financial necessity. The number of residents peaks at 365.  After the Social Security Act is enacted in 1935 children no longer have to be placed in institutional care because of financial necessity. From this date forward, the number of children living at the orphanage declines. 1951 - The name of the orphanage changes to the Virginia Methodist Children’s Home. Programs now serve more children on a temporary basis and return them to their families. 1979 - Charterhouse School opens on the Broad St campus and is named after the Methodist founder John Wesley’s school. Charterhouse School provided greatly needed special education for residential youth. 1980 - A special emphasis is placed on working with the whole family to help meet the needs of children more effectively. 1984 - Programs expand to include adoption and foster care as well as a residential treatment program for youth. Regional centers open in Northern Virginia and Tidewater. 1993 - A groundbreaking takes place for Guardian Place, a 120-unit apartment building for people over 55 with low-to-moderate income. A satellite office of the Northern Virginia Regional Center opens.  2002 - A national grant is awarded to UMFS creating a regional Quality Improvement Center on Adoption. 2005 - United Methodist Family Services adopts UMFS as its operating name.  2007 - Leland House, operated by UMFS in collaboration with Fairfax County, opens in Centreville to provide short-term intervention and stabilization for youth ages 12-17 in a residential setting. 2008 - Charterhouse School Therapeutic Day Program expands to include more classrooms. 2010 - Charterhouse School begins vocational training with the implementation of the Culinary Arts program. 2011 - Charterhouse School opened new classrooms specifically for middle and high school students with an Austism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger's Syndrome.

CEO Statement

Collaboration is one of our core values at UMFS. Collaboration multiplies impact, and in 2017 the collaboration between our employees, donors, volunteers, and community partners helped us touch the lives of 16,034 high-risk children and family members in 177 communities across the state of Virginia. We are grateful for this ongoing collaboration and investment in our mission to be unwavering champions for high-risk children and families. Together, we have achieved much, but there is still much to do as we reaffirm our commitment to empowering all children to reach their full potential. Thank you for joining us in this crucial work.

 

LOCATIONS

RICHMOND REGIONAL CENTER

3900 W Broad St

Richmond, VA 23230

804.353.4461

804.355.2334

RRC@

SERVICES

• Intensive Residential Treatment

• Specialized Education – Charterhouse School

• Career and Technical Education

• Treatment Foster Care

• Adoption Services

• Adoptive Family Preservation

• Intensive Recruitment

• Intensive Care Coordination

• Family Support Partners

• Project LIFE

The month of December is UMFS month at Laurel Hill. There are envelopes available in the narthex if you would like to give to UMFS. Also, on Christmas Eve, the offering during our service will all go to UMFS.

WORSHIP

 

The church is in need of people to be trained for the new sound system.

Currently we only have 3 people who rotate every 6 weeks. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this VERY IMPORTANT MINISTRY!

If interested please contact Sheree Gostel. 

 

May the spirit of Christmas and the love of Christ Jesus be with you and your family this glorious Christmas Season. 

CHRISMONS ARE CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS

Chrismons are Christmas decorations with Christian symbols. They help Christians remember  that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’s birthday. They are often used on Christmas trees in Churches and Christian homes.

Chrismons were first made by Frances Kipps Spencer at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Va.

She also thought of the word, Chrismon, which is a combination of Christ and monogram ( meaning symbol ). The idea quickly spread to other churches.  Each year a 20 ft. Christmas tree is decorated in the Ascension Lutheran Church, as Mrs. Spencer intended. Chrismons are traditionally white and gold. White is the Liturgical ( or Church) color for Christmas and symbolizes that Jesus was pure and perfect. Gold symbolizes His Majesty and Glory.

Below are some common Chrismons and their meaning.

THE CROSS   Symbolizes that Christians believe Jesus Christ died for everyone on the cross.

THE LATIN CROSS is also called the Roman Cross. The base of the Cross has three steps that symbolizes  faith, hope, and love.

THE IRISH OR CELTIC CROSS is a normal cross with a circle in the middle to symbolize eternity.

THE TRIUMPHANT CROSS is a circle ( represents the earth) with a cross on top. It symbolizes Jesus is triumphant over anything we can face in the world!

THE ANCHOR CROSS reminds Christian’s that Jesus is the anchor of their faith.

THE FISH is one of the oldest Christian symbols.

ALPHA AND OMEGA  are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Used together, they are the symbols that Christians believe Jesus is the beginning and end of all things.

THE CHI-RHO looks like a ‘P’ with an ‘X’ on top of it. These two letters are the first two letters of the Greek word “ Christos ” which means Christ.

THE STAR OF DAVID symbolizes Jesus was a Jew and descendant of King David.

FIVE POINTED STAR represents the five wounds of Jesus on the cross.

AN EIGHT POINTED STAR represents baptism and regeneration.

THE CROWN  is the symbol that Jesus is King and ruler over heaven and earth.

THE TRIQUERTA ( three loops making a triangle ) AND THE TREFOLL ( three equal circles intertwined to form a whole ) represent the Christian “ Trinity” of God.

HANDS  represent prayer.

THE SCROLL represents the BIBLE.

THE LAMP AND THE CANDLE represents that Christians believe Jesus is the Light of the World.

THE KEYS are a symbol for the Church in all the world. Jesus told his friend Peter that “ I will give you Keys to heaven”, so this means that Christians have to tell other people about Jesus.

THE SHELL  is a symbol for baptism.

THE CUP OR CHALICE  is the symbol of communion and God’s forgiveness.

THE ANGEL  reminds Christians of the angels who told the shepherds  of Christ birth.

THE  BUTTERFLY is the symbol for transformation and the immortal soul.

THE HEART  is a symbol of love and reminds Christians that God is love.

THE MANGER  represents Jesus as a baby.

THE LAMB  represents “The Lamb of God”.

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