THE BELL RINGER January 2017.pdf
Christ United Methodist Church P.O. Box 710 Levelland, TX 79336
THE BELL RINGER JANUARY 2017
COMING IN JANUARY Sundays, January 8, 15, 22, 29 – 3:30 p.m. – United Methodist Youth Tuesdays, January 10 & 24 – Grief Support Group at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18, 25 – 9:30 a.m. – Pastor’s Devotional 12:00 p.m. -- A Glimpse of Faith Lunch, Housing Authority Building Sunday, January 1 – First Sunday After Christmas/New Year’s Day Imagine No Malaria Sunday & Communion Monday, January 2 – Office Closed for New Years Friday, January 6 – Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 8 – Baptism of the Lord Sunday – Special Service Renewing our Baptisms Deadline for 2016 Shared Ministries Sunday, January 15 – Second Sunday After the Epiphany/Human Relations Sunday All Church Donation Lunch – Beans & Cornbread Monday, January 16 – Office closed in honor of Martin Luther King’s Birthday Sunday, January 22 – Third Sunday After the Epiphany Sunday, January 29 – Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
January Birthdays – Brenda Clanton-Jan. 1, K.W. Hill- Jan. 17, T’iah Taylor – Jan.29, Ross Joplin - Jan. 30 January Anniversaries – Wayne & Barbara Foley - Jan. 2, George & Deborah Payne – Jan. 4, Neil & Frannie Guthrie – Jan. 3
A Word from the Pastor
Donation Lunch for January The donation lunch for January will be January 15th following church. We will have beans & cornbread. All the donations go toward Shared Ministries. The sign-up sheet is on the podium in the narthex.
Dear Keep the Flame Burning Saints, The following information about Yule Logs comes from projectbritain.com: It is traditional to light a special 'Yule log' on Christmas Eve and keep it burning through the 12 nights of Christmas until Twelfth Night.
Extending The Table Ministry If you are interested in serving God by taking communion to those who are homebound, contact Sue Cates at 806-782-8607.
Traditionally, a huge log would be selected in the forest on Christmas Eve, decorated with ribbons, and dragged back home. This was known as 'Bringing in the Yule Log'. The magical properties of the Yule Log were said to ensure good luck in the coming year to all those who lent a hand at pulling it over the rough ground. Once the yule log was brought to the fireplace, a blessing was said over it, asking that it should last forever. Wine was poured over the log at this point to make it feel welcome. It was then placed on the fire and lit with a torch made from a piece of wood left over from last year's Yule Log. After lighting, it was kept burning throughout the twelve days of Christmas until Twelfth Night January 5th. The remaining coals and embers were kept throughout the coming year to help stoke the fire of next year’s yule log. This primarily English tradition is a wonderful way to remind people that the Christmas season ends with Epiphany and the coming of the Magi. It is also a wonderful way to remind us of the flame of the Holy Spirit that we are to carry in our hearts. I pray that as you wind down from the celebration of Christmas and return to normal routines, you will remember the Twelve Days of the Christmas Season and will keep them holy. I pray also that you will think of the tradition of the Yule Log and keep your spiritual flame burning bright during those days. Indeed, my hope is that you will be able to keep your flame burning bright, not just until next Christmas, but forever. Grace and Peace Pastor Dennis
THE BELL RINGER JANUARY 2017
COMING IN JANUARY Sundays, January 8, 15, 22, 29 – 3:30 p.m. – United Methodist Youth Tuesdays, January 10 & 24 – Grief Support Group at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18, 25 – 9:30 a.m. – Pastor’s Devotional 12:00 p.m. -- A Glimpse of Faith Lunch, Housing Authority Building Sunday, January 1 – First Sunday After Christmas/New Year’s Day Imagine No Malaria Sunday & Communion Monday, January 2 – Office Closed for New Years Friday, January 6 – Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 8 – Baptism of the Lord Sunday – Special Service Renewing our Baptisms Deadline for 2016 Shared Ministries Sunday, January 15 – Second Sunday After the Epiphany/Human Relations Sunday All Church Donation Lunch – Beans & Cornbread Monday, January 16 – Office closed in honor of Martin Luther King’s Birthday Sunday, January 22 – Third Sunday After the Epiphany Sunday, January 29 – Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
January Birthdays – Brenda Clanton-Jan. 1, K.W. Hill- Jan. 17, T’iah Taylor – Jan.29, Ross Joplin - Jan. 30 January Anniversaries – Wayne & Barbara Foley - Jan. 2, George & Deborah Payne – Jan. 4, Neil & Frannie Guthrie – Jan. 3
A Word from the Pastor
Donation Lunch for January The donation lunch for January will be January 15th following church. We will have beans & cornbread. All the donations go toward Shared Ministries. The sign-up sheet is on the podium in the narthex.
Dear Keep the Flame Burning Saints, The following information about Yule Logs comes from projectbritain.com: It is traditional to light a special 'Yule log' on Christmas Eve and keep it burning through the 12 nights of Christmas until Twelfth Night.
Extending The Table Ministry If you are interested in serving God by taking communion to those who are homebound, contact Sue Cates at 806-782-8607.
Traditionally, a huge log would be selected in the forest on Christmas Eve, decorated with ribbons, and dragged back home. This was known as 'Bringing in the Yule Log'. The magical properties of the Yule Log were said to ensure good luck in the coming year to all those who lent a hand at pulling it over the rough ground. Once the yule log was brought to the fireplace, a blessing was said over it, asking that it should last forever. Wine was poured over the log at this point to make it feel welcome. It was then placed on the fire and lit with a torch made from a piece of wood left over from last year's Yule Log. After lighting, it was kept burning throughout the twelve days of Christmas until Twelfth Night January 5th. The remaining coals and embers were kept throughout the coming year to help stoke the fire of next year’s yule log. This primarily English tradition is a wonderful way to remind people that the Christmas season ends with Epiphany and the coming of the Magi. It is also a wonderful way to remind us of the flame of the Holy Spirit that we are to carry in our hearts. I pray that as you wind down from the celebration of Christmas and return to normal routines, you will remember the Twelve Days of the Christmas Season and will keep them holy. I pray also that you will think of the tradition of the Yule Log and keep your spiritual flame burning bright during those days. Indeed, my hope is that you will be able to keep your flame burning bright, not just until next Christmas, but forever. Grace and Peace Pastor Dennis
