ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR NOVEMBER 22^ND

MYRTLE GERBERDING CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

Congratulations are in order for Myrtle Gerberding of Elgin who celebrates her 100th birthday November 28, 2009. Her century milestone has been recognized in the Illinois legislature and by the city of Elgin.

2010 CHURCH BUDGET PLEDGE CARDS

Pledge cards for the 2010 giving year were mailed. If you didn’t receive your pledge card in the mail, you may pick up one at the Welcome Center in the narthex.

ANNUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE DECEMBER 17^th

This annual meeting has been moved from December 10^th to December 17^th. You (all church members) will have a chance to vote on the annual church budget and the election of leadership for our congregation for the future. The session begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 17^th.

NEED A CARD? NO TIME TO RUN TO THE STORE?

A new shipment of holiday, birthday, sympathy, get well and all occasion cards with a Christian message has arrived and the boxes are now available for purchase in Fellowship Hall. Two-year pocket calendars and napkins are also available. The Seekers, a Thursday morning study group, provides this service for us. All profits go to our church. If you don’t see what you want or have other questions, see Lois Bendick.

USE MANNA FOR ALL THOSE HOLIDAY NEEDS

It is now time to begin planning the holidays! The last order that may be placed before Christmas is December 14. Stop by the Fellowship Area on Sunday mornings from 8:40 to 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. In addition, you may stop by the church office, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Thanks for supporting your church!

TGIW ON HOLIDAY BREAK

TGIW (Thank Goodness It’s Wednesday), is now on holiday break. We will resume meeting again on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Thank you for your support of TGIW this fall trimester! Please check with your music directors for your rehearsal schedule.

PICK UP YOUR THANKSGIVING PRAYER BOOKLET TODAY

Today is the day to pick up your Thanksgiving Prayer Booklet sponsored by the Family Ministries Team.

SOCKS FOR COLD FEET

Nice, clean, warm socks would make life more comfortable for the people we see here on Monday evenings for Soup Kettle. If you would like to be a part of this ministry sponsored by the Ladies of the Lower Room small group, please bring pairs of dark colored socks, mostly men’s sizes, and place them in the wicker basket in the narthex. The socks will be distributed at Soup Kettle on December 21^st.

FOOD BAGS FOR THE NEEDY

Our congregation has provided assistance once again. Thank you for providing more than 80 bags of food and other products for those in need in our area. The bags are distributed to three food pantries in our area. They appreciate getting this much-needed help.

LARKIN CENTER GIVING TREE IS BACK

Once again, First United Methodist Church is teaming up with the Larkin Center by offering a Giving Tree for the upcoming holiday season. Approximately 50 gift tags are on the tree in the Narthex. Gifts will be picked up Thursday, December 17. The gift tags will indicate wish list items of what children, youth, and adults at the Larkin Center would like for the holidays. Persons wishing to participate in the program only need to remove the gift tag and register their participation in the Giving Tree Registration Book. Then, just purchase the gift and return it along with the original gift tag securely attached. Gifts are to be returned unwrapped. The Larkin Center, founded in 1896, is a non-profit social service agency. Thank you for your support of this mission opportunity.

NEW ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION FORMS

Starting next week, we will ask for registration of attendance at worship services in a new way. Instead of using the red books in the pew racks, you will find a registration sheet in your bulletin. Please fill that out and place in the offering plate.

YOUNG MUSICIANS WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

We are looking for young musicians who would like to be a part of the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Family Worship Service by providing music prior to the start of the worship service. We are looking for both vocal and instrumental solos, duets, and ensembles. If you would be interested in participating musically in this worship service, please call Rev. Mona Walker at 847-741-0038, extension 104.

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS DECEMBER 5

All toddlers through sixth graders are invited to attend the Birthday Party for Jesus on Saturday, December 5, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon, downstairs in the Small Dining Room. There will be many activities, including piñatas, games, ornament making, singing, and a specially made birthday cake for Jesus. Children attending the party are asked to bring a canned good as their “gift” for Jesus.

FAMILY READING NIGHT IS DECEMBER 11

The Fifth Annual Family Reading Night will be Friday, December 11, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Area. Various church friends will be reading some of our favorite Christmas classics, as well as some new stories. Everyone who brings a friend will receive a special surprise. Please bring your favorite story-time snack and an ornament to decorate a special Christmas tree. If you want, wear your pajamas and bring a blanket and/or pillow. The night is sponsored by the Family Ministries Team.

Worship Assistants

Acolyte: – Coleman Krambeer and John Gieske.

Fellowship Time: – Please join us in the Fellowship Area following today’s worship service for refreshments provided by Judy and Aimee Gerschefske in celebration of their daughter’s/sister’s, Chris Campell’s, birthday! The Fellowship Area is to your right as you leave the Sanctuary and straight ahead.

Greeters: – Jack and Cheryl Hayes.

Radio Broadcast: – Today’s broadcast is sponsored by Jean Ihrke in gratefulness for all her friends.

Thanksgiving Decorations: – Provide in loving memory of Harry L. Pierce by his wife, Jacquelyn.

SUN	9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.	Traditional Worship Fellowship Time Christian Education Prayer & Praise Celebration
MON	8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m.	Pilates Church Staff Meeting Soup Kettle SPRC Meeting Barbershoppers
TUE	8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.	Pilates Heartland Voices
WED	8:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.	Pilates Newsletter Mailing Celebration Ringers
THU	8:00 a.m.	Thanksgiving Day Church Office Closed
FRI	8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.	Church Office Closed Youth Group Child Care
SAT	7:00 a.m.	Men’s Bible Study

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

November 22, 2009

INFANT NURSERY

8:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.

Infant Nursery, Main Floor, West Wing

Care Provider: Heather Reinheimer

CHILDREN’S FAITH ACTIVITIES

9:00 a.m. Worship Service

(following “Sharing with the Children”)

* TODDLERS THROUGH FOUR-YEAR-OLDS–

Two-Year-Old Room, Main Floor, West Wing

Theme: “Living the Story: A Dance of Thanks”

Teacher: Jill Johnston

* KINDERGARTNERS THROUGH SECOND GRADERS–

Kindergarten Room, Main Floor, West Wing

Theme: “Living the Story: A Dance of Thanks”

Teacher: Laura Salazar

CHILDREN’S CLASSES

10:30 a.m.

* TODDLERS, TWO-, AND THREE-YEAR-OLDS–

Two-Year-Old Room, Main Floor, West Wing

Theme: “David Praises God”

Teachers: Cindy Blazier and Kathy McGinley

* FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND KINDERGARTNERS–

Kindergarten Room, Main Floor, West Wing

Theme: “God Forms a People: The Battle of Jericho”

Teacher: Aimee Gerschefske

* FIRST THROUGH THIRD GRADERS–

Third-Fourth Grade Room, Upstairs, West Wing

Theme: “People Who Made a Difference: Out of Egypt”

Shepherd: Rebecca Robery

Workshop/Leader: Hanging of the Greens

*FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH GRADERS–

Fifth-Sixth Grade Room, Upstairs, West Wing

Theme: “People Who Made a Difference: Out of Egypt”

Shepherd: Liz Zuniga

Workshop/Leader: Hanging of the Greens

YOUTH CLASSES

10:30 a.m.

* JUNIOR HIGH–

Junior High Room, Upstairs, West Wing

Theme: “Claim the Life: Faith: Kingdom”

Teachers: Cathy Jostes and Jill Johnston

* SENIOR HIGH–

Senior High Room, Upstairs, East Wing

Theme: “Claim the Life: Call: Integrity”

Teacher: Keith Duncan

ADULT CLASSES

10:30 a.m.

* BIBLE STUDY–

The Conference Room, Main Office, Main Floor, East Wing

This class is studying the Old Testament book of Psalm.

Facilitated by Jeff Small.

* SECOND SUNDAY BOOK CLUB–

The Youth/Adult Library, Upstairs, West Wing

The December 13^th discussion book is TBA. Please watch

the December Newsletter, bulletin, and white board in the

Narthex for the book. Participants are asked to please secure

their own copy of the book. Facilitated by Jean Stowell.

Coming November 29 . . .

* ADVENT STUDY–

The Wesley Room, Upstairs, West Wing

This four week class reads the book, The Case For Christmas,

by Lee Strobel. Deals with Luke 2:8-18. Come consider why

Christmas matters in the first place. Was it a hoax or truly a

pivotal event of human history? Somewhere beyond the traditions

of the holiday lies the truth. Strobel looks at the evidence of Jesus as

God in the flesh through the Eyewitness Evidence, the Scientific Evidence,

the Profile Evidence, and the Fingerprint Evidence.

Books are available in the main office for $3.00.