NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 CONTENTS

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1 | P a g e Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ:

As I write this, we are less than one week away from Election Day. You’ll forgive me when I say, “Thank you, Jesus!” I don’t recall ever feeling this cynical and jaded before a Presidential election, and I have voted in every election since turning 18 years old. Naturally, I can’t divine what the results will be, but regardless, I pray for another peaceful transition of power (or not) under the inspired guidance of the U.S. Constitution.

The chaos that has become the normal state of affairs in American politics has, too often, been a bellwether of the life of the Church (Big “C”). We square off against one another, determined to protect the status quo we so feverishly advocate for. If egregious misstatements are voiced, we brush them aside as just so much “hype” designed to “rally the troops.” No one wants to be accountable for what they say, let alone what they do. We have become a nation – and, by extension, a church – full of egomaniacs with inferiority complexes. The “me too” generation is better defined today as the “me first” generation.

Let me speak plainly. The relevance of

the church in the United States is anything but assured. This is not news. Practicing our faith just doesn’t have the same luster it once had. What is alarming, however, is the pace at which we seem to be embracing the diminishing role of faith in our lives. How many families do you know who still place the mission of the local church at the center of their weekly calendar? How often has someone you know chosen to skip church on Sunday morning in favor of some extracurricular activity, such as sports practices (or games), play rehearsals, or yard work? When did working in support of the church morph into an inconvenience? How could we have chosen our personal trivial pursuits over the work of growing the kingdom of Jesus Christ?

To be fair, COVID-19 has shaken all of us to the core. Everything we had come to rely upon is now viewed through the prism of exposure risk. Typical church activities have been forced to adapt or be scrapped altogether. We might even wonder why God has allowed us to be so harmed by this pestilence. So many deaths. So much heartache. So many expected rituals

altered, likely on a permanent basis. I might add so much handwringing and resentment over the sacrifices most of us have been asked to endure.

We behave as if God must explain Himself to us instead of the other way round. We’ve relegated religion to a backbench status while we lament our loss of “normalcy.” My friends, we must find it within ourselves to shake off the sense of inevitability that colors our perspective. God has not chosen to withhold hope. We have, instead, opted for living without hope, even as we lift our prayers to God for deliverance from this unholy mess. Do our prayers matter if they are devoid of all hope?

In the coming Advent season, we are going to rediscover the hope that the birth of Jesus inspires. Nothing in human history has mattered as much as the coming of Christ. Jesus Christ IS hope! We may have forgotten that truth, but God has a way of reminding us. The work we must do to redeem our shattered world requires nothing less. Be at peace and keep hope in your hearts.

N

OVEMBER

/D

ECEMBER

2020

W

ORSHIP

N

EWS

Evangelical UMC

and

First UMC

are open for corporate in-house worship only – no Sunday school. If you feel uncomfortable

gathering to worship, be assured that you will still be able to watch the virtualPraise online service each Sunday at 10 am. It

is the same message at both churches, so if you are part of the First UM congregation, it will be the same message given

there.

Both churches will continue to offer “Worship in Print” and weekly announcements through email or US Postal mail. You are

asked to request continuance of those if you still desire to receive them. Please reach out to your church office to confirm that

you still want this service

.

F

INANCE

S

UMMARY

Budget v. Non-designated Receipts First UMC Evan UMC

YTD Budget Requirements

$66,640

$115,730

YTD

Non-designated

Gifts Received $52,735

$121,160

Surplus (Deficit)

($13,905)

$5,430.00

Sundays at EUMC

⇒

virtualPraise @ 10am

⇒

Traditional Worship @ 11 am

Sundays at First UMC

⇒

Worship @ 9:30 am

Online worship on Sundays @ 10 am

Facebook – @youngsvillecharge

YouTube – virtualPraise YUMCharge

On our website’s virtualPraise page –

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3 | P a g e

A

DVENT

B

OOK

S

TUDY

---

Ebenezer Scrooge is a man in dire need of a second chance. Is redemption

possible for such a greedy, dark, and sad character? The Redemption of

Scrooge shows us how the teachings of Jesus can be found in Dickens’

Christmas classic.

From the ghosts of Christmas past, to the Life of the present, and the

resurrection of Christmas future, this Advent study will “bless us every one”

and reinvigorate our spiritual journeys as we look at this familiar story

through the lens of faith.

Beginning November 23, 2020 at 3 pm

Evangelical UMC (Please bring your mask)

Purchase the book from Amazon.com

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C

HARGE

N

EWS

UMC's Great Divide:

Identity Politics vs. Salvation

Michael F. Haverluck (OneNewsNow.com)

The pending split in the United Methodist Church will pit a focus on social justice and "LGBTQ rights" against a concentration on saving the lost – so says a leading United Methodist theologian. "[The UMC denomination will choose between] a version of Christianity where the primary focus of missions will be on so-called social justice and to identity politics – versus a church where the focus will be on the salvation of souls," declared Dr. William Abraham, who is retiring from United Methodist Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

Abraham is preparing for his new position at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, where he will be starting the Wesley House of Studies program.

So long, social gospel …

Juicy Ecumenism, the official blog site of The Institute on Religion & Democracy, cites Abraham's parting address from SMU, titled "In the Departure Lounge: Choose This Day Whom You Shall Serve." In his address, Abraham brought up his thesis that analyzed the major disagreements between the progressive side of the upcoming UMC split and the biblical traditionalist side – a division that will follow the implementation of the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.

One of the major topics discussed in the Protocol, which outlines the reasoning behind the denominational split, is the participation of LGBTQ individuals in the church. In his address, Abraham took the time to outline the five major disconnects between the continuing side and the reformed side – defending the latter's argument.

As the left continues to label those not on board with its progressive agenda as bigots and haters, Abraham stressed how the UMC can no longer sweep the issues of pluralism and sexual morality under the rug. Those issues, he argued, undermine the values set out in the Wesleyan tradition, including (according to Juicy Ecumenism's Carolina Lumetta) "the use of rhetoric and persuasion, a unified structure of teachings and practices in the UMC, and the approach to missions and evangelism."

"I'm not convinced that the continuing UMC will be Christian in this sense because they have neither the will nor the underlying theological rationale to engage in effective forms of evangelism," Abraham contended.

Lumetta notes from Abraham's discourse how the UMC's split precludes the left from carrying out the Great Commission (found in Matthew 28:19–20) that Jesus Christ called His Church to carry out.

"Abraham sees the continuing UMC tradition veering too far from disciple-making by being controlled by identity politics, unreasonable persuasion methods, and an overemphasis on social justice," Lumetta explains.

"In contrast to this 'ill thought-out and suffocating' environment, he said that new Methodism will be in a better position to continue engaging in relief work, charitable efforts, racial issues and issues of injustice in a more strategically wise and doctrinally strong manner."

The choice: Shift toward or away from God

Abraham made his case that Methodism must unite under Wesley's standards – especially in regards to marriage and sexual morality.

"Abraham said that pluralism is a weak, 'stop-gap arrangement,' that would be unsustainable and lead to a faction overtaking the entire denomination [calling for] a decision from a denominational level, and then also from an individual level," Lumetta's blog reports. "Churches must choose for themselves whether to remain within the traditional UMC with evolving doctrines regarding sexuality or whether to separate into a new Methodist tradition which aligns more closely to Wesleyan doctrine."

Abraham insisted that Wesleyan principles grounded in critical thought and civil dialogue are no longer embraced by the continuing UMC contingent, which does not align itself with Scripture. The result, he stated, is a creation of divisions within the denomination and in society when it comes to the topics of sex, morality and marriage – core issues that could determine the survival of the Christian faith as we know it.

"Christianity is on the line in the West – I used to think that was just true of Europe, but I was naïve about the situation in the United States," Abraham warned. "The divisions taking place are over what we consider to be a robust version of Christianity versus an updated and revisionist account of Scripture."

He assured that even though separation pains are sure to come, the new Methodism will live on to carry out Wesley's tradition of adhering to the Scriptures once the Protocols are enforced. "The choice is clear: will we remain in continuity with Wesley's Methodism?" Abraham posed. "Do we want to have crosses in our churches or rainbow crosses?"

When no news is provided from FIRST UMC or EUMC an article will be chosen from current UMC issues in the news.

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5 | P a g e

E

VENTS

:

E

VANGELICAL

UMC

(Events for the full Charge are in Red)

Date

Event

Location

Nov 1 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS – TURN CLOCKS BACK

Nov 4 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage

Nov 3 Trustees’ Meeting @ 7 PM Fellowship Hall

Nov 17 Church Council meeting @ 7 PM Fellowship Hall

Nov 18 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Nov 22 Community Thanksgiving Service @ 7 PM EUM

Nov 23 Scrooge Advent Study @ 3 PM EUM

Nov 26-27 OFFICE CLOSED – HAPPY THANKSGIVING EUM

Nov 26-28 Pastor Jeff away Returning on Sat. Nov 28. Nov 25 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage

Nov 29 UNITED METHODIST STUDENT DAY – special offering Sunday

Dec 1 Trustees Meeting @ 7 PM Fellowship Hall

Dec 2 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Dec 7 Scrooge Advent Study @ 3 PM EUM

Dec 9 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Dec 10 Jan/Feb **NEWSLETTER DEADLINE**

Dec 15 Church Council meeting @ 7 PM Fellowship Hall

Dec 14 Scrooge Advent Study @ 3 PM EUM

Dec 14 Trustees’ Meeting @ 7 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Dec 16 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Dec 21 Scrooge Advent Study @ 3 PM EUM

Dec 23 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage

Dec 24-25 OFFICE CLOSED – MERRY CHRISTMAS EUM

Dec 31 – Jan 1 OFFICE CLOSED – HAPPY NEW YEAR EUM

Normal Hours Mon – Fri 9 AM – 1 PM

Thanksgiving Hours

Office closed Nov 26-27

Christmas Hours

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E

VENTS

: F

IRST

UMC

Date

Event

Location

Nov 1 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS – TURN CLOCKS BACK

Nov 2 Mary Martha Circle Meeting @ 2 PM FIRST Room 107

Nov 9 Trustees’ Meeting @ 7 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Nov 10 OFFICE CLOSED FIRST UMC

Nov 12 Finance Committee meeting @ 12:30 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Nov 12 Church Council meeting @ 1 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Nov 18 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Nov 22 Community Thanksgiving Service @ 7 PM EUM

Nov 23-24 OFFICE OPEN FIRST UMC

Nov 25-26 OFFICE CLOSED – HAPPY THANKSGIVING FIRST UMC

Nov 26-28 Pastor Jeff away Returning on Sat. Nov 28. Nov 25 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage

Nov 29 UNITED METHODIST STUDENT DAY – special offering Sunday

Dec 7 Mary Martha Circle Christmas Party (time TBD) FIRST Room 107

Dec 9 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Dec 10 Jan/Feb **NEWSLETTER DEADLINE**

Dec 10 Permanent Endowment Meeting @ 10 AM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Dec 10 Finance Committee meeting @ 12:30 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Dec 10 Church Council meeting @ 1 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Dec 14 Trustees’ Meeting @ 7 PM FIRST Room 107 / ZOOM

Dec 21 OFFICE OPEN FIRST UMC

Dec 23-24 OFFICE CLOSED – MERRY CHRISTMAS FIRST UMC

Dec 31 OFFICE CLOSED – HAPPY NEW YEAR FIRST UMC

(

Events for the full Charge are in Red)

Tuesday, Nov 10, OFFICE CLOSED

Monday & Tuesday, Nov 23-24, OFFICE OPEN

Wednesday & Thursday, Nov 25-26, OFFICE CLOSED – HAPPY THANKSGIVING Monday, Dec 21, OFFICE OPEN

Wednesday & Thursday, Dec 23-24, OFFICE CLOSED – MERRY CHRISTMAS Thursday, Dec 31, OFFICE CLOSED – HAPPY NEW YEAR

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B

IRTHDAYS TO

N

OTE

November

December

Sara Waite 1

Kaylea Shaffer 3

Gail Cowan 4

Don McNitt 9

David Koontz 4

Jenn Chase 10

Amy McKinney 4

Jennifer Chase 11

Gilbert 'Pete' Trask 5

Melissa Chase 12

Autumn Waite 6

Tiffany Brown 12

Elsa Manelick 9

Barb Shinn 12

Pauline Baumgardner 10

Aaron Hoover 16

Anna Marshall

10

Kathleen Barton 18

Kay McKinney 13

Paul Schwanke 18

Tydus Chase 14

Carsyn Branstrom 20

Sandy Jones 14

Kutler Bell 26

Jean Wolfe 16

Tom Schwanke 28

Adam Chase 17

Joye Eckman 28

John Proctor 21

Jackie Gustafson 30

Jerri Rulander 21

Marilyn McKinney 31

Laura Freeborough 25

Carol Proctor 25 Doug Chase 26 Patrick Hoover 26 Kendra Shaffer 26 Sylvia Crippen 28 Kathy Patterson 28

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B

IBLE

R

EADING

P

LAN

Tips on Reading the Bible Daily



Set aside a specific time each day. Set your schedule and then stick to it. Mornings are great, but feel free to use

any time that works consistently for you.



Read the Bible for the sake of learning, not simply to accomplish your next reading. Say a short prayer to God before

you begin, asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding, then be refreshed by the words you read!

November

December

1 2 Sam. 19-20; 2 John 1 2 Chron. 25-27; Luke 9:37-62

2 2 Sam. 21-22; 3 John 2 2 Chron. 28-29; Luke 10:1-24

3 2 Sam. 23-24; Col. 1 3 2 Chron. 30-31; Luke 10:25-42

4 Nahum; Col. 2 4 2 Chron. 32-33; Luke 11:1-28

5 Habakkuk; Col. 3 5 2 Chron. 34-36; Luke 11:29-54

6 Zephaniah; Col. 4 6 Esther 1-2; Luke 12:1-31

7 Ezra 1-2; 2 Tim. 1 7 Esther 3-5; Luke 12:32-59

10 Ezra 9-10; 2 Tim. 4 10 Haggai; Luke 14:1-24

11 1 Chron. 1-3; Jude 11 Josh. 1-3; Luke 14:25-35

12 1 Chron. 4-6; Luke 1:1-20 12 Josh. 4-6; Luke 15:1-10

14 1 Chron. 10-12; Luke 1:39-56 14 Josh. 10-12; Luke 16

18 1 Chron. 22-24; Luke 3 18 Josh. 22-24; Luke 18:24-43

19 1 Chron. 25-27; Luke 4:1-30 19 Neh. 1-3; Luke 19:1-27

24 2 Chron. 10-12; Luke 6:27-49 24 Micah 1-3; Luke 21:20-38

27 2 Chron. 17-18; Luke 8:1-25 27 Zech. 1-4; Luke 22:47-71

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