THE GIFT FOR YOU
Advent Event!
November 30, 11:45 -1:30 in the Friendship Room. The Advent Event is a
wonderful, longtime family tradition at BUMC! Lunch will be provided and
served by the Worship Team members—no need to bring a thing! We will light the
first advent candle and decorate the church. No RSVP is necessary; show up and
enjoy the fun and fellowship!
Missions Team Mitten Tree
THE GIFT FOR YOU
BUMC Missions Team invites you to “share the warm” this Christmas by pinning warm
winter wear of all types, sizes and colors to the Christmas Mitten Tree set up in the
Friendship Room during the month of December. The cold weather gear will be given
to Family Promise, the only organization helping Gallatin Valley’s homeless families
with children. Thank you for supporting this ministry that provides shelter, meals and
professional case management to homeless families and their children year-round.
Figgy Pudding . . . “A Star in the East”
7:00 PM, Wednesday, December 17th in the Sanctuary. Figgy Pudding is a
Magical Musical Celebration featuring the many talents of our congregation. All
are welcome to come hear the music, sing the carols, and then… join together
downstairs in the Friendship Room for a party of Figgy Pudding and Fellowship!
(If you would like to help with Figgy Pudding, please call Misti, 586-5413.)
Haven
THE GIFT FOR YOU
Figgy Pudding Offerings will be given to Haven: for nearly 35 years, HAVEN has been
dedicated to providing quality service and advocacy for all domestic violence survivors
in need. HAVEN is committed to reducing the incidence and minimizing the impact of
domestic abuse on families and communities. Services include:
Emergency Shelter … 24 Hour Crisis Line … Legal Advocacy … Adult & Children’s
Support Groups … Individual Counseling … Community Education
Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 24th
Two Children’s Pageants with the Christmas Story in carols,
children and a message.
3:00 &/or 5:00 PM (Come 30 minutes early for costuming.)
Evening Worship Services: 7:00 &/or 9:00 PM
All services, including the Children’s Pageants, will conclude with candlelight and song.
Helping Hand & Angola Pastors (Christmas Eve Offerings will be split.)
BUMC’s Helping Hand Fund is a source of help in time of need for members of our
church, our community, and folks stranded in our area. The fund provides emergency
help to people facing unexpected hardships.
Angola Pastors Your continued support of this partnership is needed and gratefully
received. This partnership is a step of faith for the pastors in Angola and for those of
us in the United States. Please visit our www.bozemanumc.org/mission-blog/
. . . and one of the best gifts to give: Your Prayers.
www.bozemanumc.org
So Grateful
Rob Cox was a blessing as part
of our church family (remember
what a great usher he was, and
his great smile). Even after his
death, Rob continues to bless
us and many others around our
community and world through
his generous financial bequest
to the church. Over the last few
years his estate has supported:
Youth Haiti Trip
$15,000
Billings Free Store
$10,000
BUMC Defibrillator
$1,750
Community Café
$17,000
Imagine No Malaria $10,000
Family Promise
$5,000
African Children’s Choir $500
Stephen Ministries
$8,700
Bakken Web Ministry $3,000
National Guard Chaplain $1,000
Warming Center
Family Wrap Around
$19,000
$1,000
Christus Renovation $20,000
Labyrinth
$4,200
Angola Pastors
$7,250
Angola Motor Bikes
$10,000
Kitchen Remodel
$40,000
Thank you, Rob.
Crop Walk Thank-You!
Thank-you to walkers &
sponsors who helped make
2014’s walk a success. The
total raised was $16,000;
BUMC raised $5587! This year,
the local share (one-fourth of
the total amount raised) will be
divided among Gallatin Valley
Food Bank, Headwaters Area
Food Pantry in Three Forks and
Belgrade Ministerial Association. The rest goes to Church
World Service.
For up-to-date information
about Church World Service’s
activities, check their internet
site at:
www.churchworldservice.org
The
Irene Eidet Martin is
a new member of the Family
The commissioning of Promise team helping BUMC
our first group of Stephen
host homeless families sevMinisters took place Sunday, eral times a year. Contact
November 16th. We are
Irene, 586-2650. (Two addiblessed to have 16 individu- tional Family Promise coordials ready to walk with people nators are needed.)
who are going through tough
Cindy Linkenbach is
times in their lives. We now BUMC’s new Love INC
ask you to “Think Stephen
coordinator. She will keep
Ministry” throughout your
us informed of activities and
daily lives as you meet and
of opportunities to help
greet those around you, or
others through Love INC.
may be in need yourself.
Contact Cindy, 585-2462.
If you have friends who
Thank all of you for
are downcast or struggling
your involvement and dedicathrough difficult times,
tion to helping others!
please tell them about this
special ministry in our congregation. They can then
Equal Exchange is
receive the extra love and
back!
Coffee, tea and chococare they need to make it
late
have
been re-stocked
through the challenge or
and
new
products
added.
crisis they are facing.
Chocolate chips, new flavors
Please call Kim,
586-5413, with questions or of chocolate bars and single
serving cups of coffee ("K
to discover how a Stephen
Cups") are now available.
Minister may help you or a
Look for the cart in the
friend through a dark time.
Friendship Room Sunday
mornings.
All Equal Exchange
BUMC is excited to
products are certified fair
announce three new voluntrade, and profits support
teer coordinators:
BUMC's membership in
Gloria Zimmer is the
Jubilee USA Network.
new Community Café volunteer coordinator for BUMC.
BUMC hosts at the Cafe the
first Monday of each month,
and Gloria will recruit workers and share information.
Contact Gloria, 586-9152.
Chimes
Stephen Ministry
Equal Exchange!
New Volunteers!
Simplify:
“Simplify: Ten Practices to
Unclutter Your Soul”
Study Group on Sunday
Mornings 10:45-11:45.
An adult Sunday morning book discussion group,
led by Rick Landers, continues through December in the
east end of the Friendship
Room. The group is focusing
on the recently released
book Simplify: Ten Practices
to Unclutter Your Soul, by Bill
Hybels.
“How long has it been since
your days had breathing
room, your schedule and
finances were balanced, and
your relationships were
running on all cylinders?
How long since you felt truly
at peace, replenished and
connected to God? Maybe
it’s time to simplify your life…
By eradicating clutter from
your inner world, you can
experience immediate
rewards: greater energy,
clearer purpose, richer
relationships, and more.”
We’ve had a great
response so far, and hope
you will consider joining any
Sunday you can. If you have
questions or need a copy of
the book, please contact
Kay, 586-5413, or
kay@bozemanumc.org.
Advent 101 ~ Thursday Bible Study with Pastor Dave
At Noon and at 6:30 PM! December 4, 11, & 18, 2014
Pastor Dave has taken us through “Jesus 101” and “The 10 Commandments” and is
now about to begin a three week study: “Advent 101”. More than 80+ young and old, new
and “been around awhile” folks have enjoyed getting our Christian faith s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d this
fall!!!. Please consider joining in for one or two or three Thursdays in December, and let
“Advent 101” s-t-r-e-t-c-h your faith too!
From Pastor Dave: “A young couple in love; singing angels; foreigners on camels;
gold; a newborn baby: what more could you want in a story? AND, this story tells us of
God's love for us. Join us on Thursdays for a closer look at the story and what it tells us
about God and about us.”
We have childcare for our noon group, but this fall no one has needed it for evening
time. If you would like to come to Bible Study in the evening and have kids, please call Kay
(586-5413). We want to provide childcare for you!
www.bozemanumc.org
The
Chimes
Sunday School Theme Winter/Spring 2015 :
Faith Expedition: Traveling Through the Bible with God
Our Kindergarten - 5th grade children have been exploring one Bible story or faith theme, changing rooms each week
to learn from Rotation Leaders a different learning perspective
…i.e.: science, art, drama, cooking, etc. They have made
bracelets, shaken homemade butter, created miniature wells,
sent postcards from the road, followed the stars and created
their own nativity scenes in the classroom.
So many of you have jumped in to help as a shepherd
(small group age-level leader) and as Rotation Leaders and I
am so incredibly grateful for your love & support this past fall.
We are planning for our winter/spring 2015 rotation
sessions and would like to invite new or experienced adults to
volunteer for one of them.
The rotation themes that I need volunteers for are:
January 11 – Feb 1 (4 weeks) “Jesus: An Expected Journey”
following the story of Jesus from Birth – Baptism and the
many miracles told in the Gospels. We will learn about finding
our way with compasses, play the Names of Jesus BINGO
game, sing songs of Jesus’s miracles, learn about each of the
big miracles through creative food, and learn about the Good
Shepherd through pantomime.
I need Cooking, Music, Science, Games, Storytelling and
Art teachers in ALL rotations – I will provide the curriculum
and help purchase supplies – I just need you to shape the
hearts and mold the minds in the classroom setting while
bringing the story of Jesus to life!
God Bless our Children … and God Bless You!
Janna
586-5413, janna@bozemanumc.org
If it is at all possible to tell me now, when you can volunteer, it
would really help with planning programming for the kids.
A Glance @ the Calendar
Youth News
December 3 & 10: Christmas fun & frivolity at Youth Group!
December 17, 24, 31, January 7:
NO YOUTH GROUP
January 14:
Youth group begins again!
January 26-27 (PIR Days):
Ski Retreat to Discovery Basin and Fairmont Hot Springs.
February 13-16: CONVO! Our conference-wide high school
retreat will be in Billings this year.
February 28-29: Middle School Lock-In at Church
Campus Ministry News
December Opportunities…
December 2:
December 9:
Christmas Party
Final’s Week Dinner
Upcoming Important dates…
January 13:
Our first TNT (Tuesday Nights Together) of
2015! Meet 6-8 PM at Christus Collegium
for dinner, music, discussion and fun!
January 18 – 19: College ski trip to Discovery Basin and
Fairmont Hot Springs!
March 7 – 15:
Mission trip to San Francisco.
 UMYF Christmas Tree Gathering & Sledding, 10 AM - 2
PM, Saturday, 11/29.
 First Sunday of Advent, Advent Event; and United
Methodist Student Day Special Offering, Sunday, 11/30.
 Holy Communion, Second Sunday of Advent, 12/7.
 Thursday Bible Study, “Advent 101” @ Noon & 6:30 PM,
with Pastor Dave, Friendship Room East. 12/4, 11, 18.
 Third Sunday of Advent, 12/14.
 Figgy Pudding Musical Celebration: “A Star in the East”,
Sanctuary, 7:00 PM, Wednesday, 12/17.
 Fourth Sunday of Advent, 12/21.
 Two Christmas Eve Pageants: 3 & 5 PM; Two Evening Worship Services: 7 & 9 PM, Wednesday, 12/24.
 One Worship Service @ 10:00 AM, We join together as
one family celebrating the birth of Jesus. Sunday, 12/28.
 Return to Three Worship Services: 8:30, 9:45 & 11:00,
Sunday, 1/4/2015. … Happy New Year!!
An Item on the Church Wish List
The church would like to get two small flat screen TVs,
to replace our old, heavy box TVs. Before we go buy them, I
thought I’d check with the congregation to see if anyone is
planning to give one away … between 24”- 30” in size. If you
or anyone you know would like to find a home for a flatscreen
- please call Kay, 586-5413.
An Indoor Walk . . . on the Labyrinth
Times are set aside for you to walk and pray on the
Labyrinth in the Friendship Room: Tuesdays, 1-3:00 PM;
Thursdays, 5-6:15 PM, Fridays, 9-11:00 AM. Or call the
church office for other availability, 586-5413.
The Season of Advent:
Anticipation
& Hope
Non-Profit Organization
US POSTAGE PAID
Bozeman MT 59715
Permit #6
Bozeman United Methodist Church
121 South Willson Avenue
Bozeman, Montana 59715
Return Service Requested
phone: 406-586-5413
fax: 406-586-6392
www.bozemanumc.org
Worship at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:00 AM
(One Service only on December 28th: 10:00 AM.)
Hear sermons & learn more at
www.bozemanumc.org
A Newsletter of Bozeman United Methodist Church
Ready or Not
Christmas is about the central
idea of Christianity: Jesus is God with a
human face. Not a human who is a lot
like God: but God in the flesh. God as
a baby, helpless and cute, loud and
sleepy; with parents who are proud and
happy and sleepy as well. The mixture of the spiritual
and ordinary; the holy and the human.
Our task, as a church and as Christians, is to
celebrate this strange event in ways that share the love
God sends, but also in ways that don’t lose sight of this
great truth: God comes to us as a baby who grows up in
Chimes
December 2014, Volume XXIX; Issue 11
(mostly) ordinary ways. We are called to remember and
share the idea that God is with us and has truly known
our human condition: being tired and hot; joyful and
grateful; enjoying parties and needing to pray.
The angels sing, and then the shepherds arrive:
and the pieces don’t fit very well. And is this not our
condition as well: pieces that don’t always fit well:
joy and need; Christmas peace and Christmas frenzy.
How strange this life is! How wonderful this life is!
Through it all, God is with us.
Jesus knows. Get ready!
Pastor Dave McConnell
dave@bozemanumc.org