Mike Slaughter reminds us that Christmas is not our birthday, it is Jesus' birthday.  On December 25 we celebrate the birth of our Lord by giving gifts to family and friends as if it was our birthday.  Why aren't we giving gifts to Jesus? But then what would we give to the Son of God who already has all things?  There is nothing Jesus would want for Christmas other than our love.  Jesus would want us to show our love for Him by loving one another as God in Jesus Christ loves us.

Each Sunday during Advent you will have a chance to give a gift to Jesus by supporting four ministries that make a difference in the lives of  those who are often forgotten or ignored.  The four ministries are:

• The Salvation Army of Newton, Iowa
• Women at the Well, a United Methodist congregation at the Iowa Women's Correctional Facility in Mitchellville, Iowa
• The Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa
• Heifer Project International

Make at least a $10.00 gift to one of these ministries and you will receive a certificate that you can give to a family member or friend letting them know that you gave a gift in their name this Christmas.  This is just one of many ways to give a gift to someone who already has everything they need.

If you pay by check please make it out to Newton First United Methodist Church and in the memo, mark the ministry you wish to support.  The church will then give you the certificate you can give as a Christmas gift and send your financial contribution to the ministry you requested.

Again, the certificates are available at worship each Sunday of Advent or you can stop by the church office and pick one up.  I believe Jesus would love a gift in support of any one of these special ministries supporting the poor, lonely, incarcerated, oppressed, and marginalized.

"Where there is no vision the people perish!" Proverbs 29:18 KJV

The first prescription out of the Healthy Church Initiative is to enter into a season of prayer during Advent.  The first Sunday of Advent was November 30 and during worship we prayed for our church, community, various ministries, as well as needs facing people in our communities.  Each week we share request for our Advent Season of Prayer Calendar.  I have posted last weeks request as well as the ones for the coming week.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
30	1 Our Bishop and pastors of the Iowa United Methodist conference.	2 The pastor and people of First UMC, Newton, for the gift of vision.	3 People who are lonely during this time of the year.	4 Schools and teachers facing difficult issues as they teach our children and youth.	5 Grateful hearts for all that the Lord has given us and God’s provisions every day.	6 Your direction as we work to show your love, peace, and justice for all people.

  

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	8 Those who work in emergencies services in our community.	9 That our youth will see Christ in the lives of those around them.	10 That our church will learn what it takes to make disciples for Jesus Christ.	11 The poor – emotionally and physically and for all who are ministering to them.	12 A firm trust in your goodness, and that all will work for peace throughout the land.	13 Those who teach and lead that they will have a heart for you and your word.

You may have noticed that there were no prayer request on Sunday.  That is because during worship we lift up additional prayer requests.  Below are ones lifted up on Sunday November 30.  I encourage you to pray for the following:

• New Beginnings at this Christmas Season…  
• Those who do not know where there next meal will come from, who are homeless and hungry in our street... 
• A positive and hopeful attitude about the future of our church community... 
• Wisdom for the leaders in our church and for the Healthy Church Initiative as we move forward... 
• A clear vision of where the Lord is calling us to serve beyond the walls of our church and in the life of all God’s children…

I want to invite you to join us for worship throughout Advent as we draw closer to Christmas and the birth of our Savior.  Worship begins at 8:45 AM. with music and praise and runs until 10;00 AM.  

On Christmas Eve we will have two services preceded by Holy Communion.  They will take place at:

6:30 PM. Communion with the Candlelight Service at 7:00 PM.

10:30 PM. Communion with the Candlelight Service at 11:00 PM.

May you have a blessed Advent / Christmas Season and keep praying for the Healthy Church Initiative as it impacts First United Methodist Church, Newton Iowa and surrounding communities, and the lives of each individual God's Holy Spirit will touch as we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Gary

When Does Worship Begin? When does Sunday worship begin?  Our sign says “Service of Praise and Worship” begins at 9:00 AM.  Really, our worship of God begins when we open our eyes on Sunday morning and prepare to come to church.  If we start our Sunday with the wrong attitude and outlook, this may impact our worship experience.  What better way to prepare for worship than by coming fifteen minutes early, at 8:45 AM, to worship the Lord by singing praise songs that lift our spirits and get us focusing on God the Father, Son (Redeemer) and Holy Spirit.  We have had a good group of people coming early for Praise and Worship, and they have shared with me how those 15 minutes have enabled them to worship the Lord all the more.  BEGIN YOUR SUNDAY WORSHIP AT 8:45 AM BY JOINING IN SINGING PRAISE SONGS UNTO THE LORD.   
When I first came to First United Methodist Church, my exposure to contemporary praise music was next to nothing.  Over time I have learned these wonderful songs, and I find myself singing them throughout the week.  In time you will also learn these songs and may find yourself singing them throughout the week.  Come at 8:45 AM. And learn these wonderful songs praising the Lord!  

On Sunday, July 27 I had the honor and joy of Baptizing my youngest grandson Chase Daniel Winters.  As I
was Baptizing him in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit my oldest grandson Cole Allen Winters said, "Grandpa is getting Chase wet".  Twice now I have been able to join in a sacred covenant with my family.  The first one was when Shannon and Dan were married as I asked them their wedding vows.  The second time was sharing in Chase Baptism when I asked Shannon and Dan to make a vow to raise their son in the Christian Faith.  Precious moments and Jan and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

A part of the self study our church is doing for Healthy Church Initiative is to do a Community Study.  One way would be going door to door asking persons the following questions.  Another way would be for our members to ask their neighbors, persons they hopefully know the following questions.

Hello, 

I am conducting a survey on behalf of Newton First United Methodist Church.  Could I have just a few minutes of your time and ask the following questions?

1. Is there anything our church could do for you or the people in your neighborhood?

2. Are there any needs you or your neighbors have that we can help with?

3. Do you have a church home and if not, what kind of church would you like?

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me.  Have a good day.


If each one of us would talk with our neighbors we would get a good perspective on what we could do for the community around us as a church.

If there are folks who would like to join me on doing a door to door survey outside of your neighborhood please contact me.

     Today I was at a care center leading songs and doing devotions.  I shared a wonderful story told by radio host Paul Harvey.  He tells of a 3 - year boy who went to the grocery store with his mother.  Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, "Now you're not going to get any chocolate cookies, so don't even ask."
     She put him up in the cart and he sat in the little child's seat while she wheeled down the aisles.  He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section.  He saw the chocolate chip cookies, and he stood up in the seat and said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?"  She said, "I told you not even to ask.  You're not going to get any at all."  So he sat back down.
     They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended back in the cookie aisle.  "Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?"  She said, "I told you that you can't have any.  Now sit down and be quiet." 
      Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane.  The little boy sensed that this might be his last chance.  So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart and shouted in his loudest voice, "In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?"
     And everybody round about just laughed.  Some even applauded.  And, according to Paul Harvey, due to the generosity of other shoppers, the little boy and his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies.
     Don't try it in the grocery store, but - but - there is power in the name of Jesus! 
     Let all who believe in Jesus say, Amen!

Welcome to my blog site.  This is a new experience for me as I use this form of media to talk with you.  Tonight is the first evening of Vacation Bible School and I have enjoyed watching the children sing, do crafts, play games and learn about the love of God in Jesus Christ.  I feel blessed to have so many dedicate adults in our church giving of their time to help our children grow in their faith.  I know God will bless our VBS touching hearts with the love God has for all people.  Thank you to everyone for volunteering to make this years Vacation Bible School a success.