The Christmas season has begun-always a wonderful time of year! England celebrates Christmas in a big way. The local garden Centre has blue neon trees in the car park and Christmas scenes from around the world. Our town will host Victorian Christmas nights, all the children are getting ready for nativity plays at school and folks are "queuing up" to give their wish list to Father Christmas.
Our church is also planning special ways to celebrate: including a ladies' carol sing and supper, children's plays and, of course, a family service on Christmas day! And everywhere - I mean EVERYWHERE - there are mincemeat pies. :)
I hope that you will enjoy this magical time of year, when we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
European Conference
Nov. 13-17 was our big European Church Leaders' Conference, held every two years in Budapest. Around 90 people came from across the continent for worship, encouragement and teaching. A high light of the conference this year was the ordination of three pastors for the work in Europe. We were also blessed to have the first Area Director for Europe Stephanie Crouthers LaVan, and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Bates with us to help celebrate ten years of work on the continent. It was wonderful to see things through their eyes: from one church ten years ago, there are now 17 churches and work in 10 countries on continental Europe.
Around Garstang
It's been a busy month at Garstang Free Methodist, as well. I've had the joy of dedicating two of our new babies. The Young Adults group has been meeting and is making plans for a Christmas party when everyone is home from "uni". David Carr was up for a weekend with our youth, a men's prayer breakfast, meetings with the leadership and an outreach event on Saturday night.
Some News
Recently I was offered and accepted a full-time position as assistant pastor in our Garstang Free Methodist Church here in northwest England. Whereas I am very excited about this, the decision comes with some sadness, as well. This transition means that I will be resigning as a missionary at the end of March. It is sad to say goodbye to many folks that I've come to know and love over the past 11 years working on the continent. And it will not be easy to say "goodbye" to many of you who have supported and encouraged me in this work over the years. Thank you for all that you have done to help our work in Europe, and for me personally. I hope to see many of you this winter while I am in the states to be able to express my thanks in person. "You have encouraged the hearts of the saints."
The work on the continent will continue. And there are many ways you can continue to learn about and support that work. In coming months, I'll highlight some of those opportunities.
May this Christmas be a very special time for each one of you. "The virgin will give birth to a child and they will call him Immanuel, which means God with us." What a wonderful promise.
Happy Christmas,
Marcie
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
KIDZONE UPDATE - By Jennifer Smith
Fall Happenings - It's been a wonderful fall in the children's department at LLCF. We began the school year with fresh curriculum and a new class arrangement, with a boy/girl split for the 1st through 5th graders and of course we've been busy working with Mrs. Drewer on Christmas music! We can't wait to share what we've been preparing for you! Gayle Crabtree and Ashley Baer have also kicked off the Middle School class, which meets following the music segment of worship for a Bible-based discussion group. E are so thrilled to welcome Ashley as a teacher and are grateful that God prompted her to serve in this way.
Coming in January - We hope that you've heard about the upcoming changes that will occur in January. We are so excited to be bringing back the Sunday School hour at LLCF, a focused education hour prior to the worship service which will offer the opportunity for all ages to meet for learning and fellowship. During the regular worship service children will remain wit their families for the initial praise and worship time (as we've been doing) and then will have the option to attend a supervised activity time. We hope to add some fun board games, books, and group activities to our supply cabinets for this purpose. We will also be providing coloring pages and activity sheets for older children and for those families who choose to have their kids remain in church. Stay tuned for more details!!
How can you help? - As January approaches, we will be lining up volunteers to help monitor the activity room(s). If you would be available to help on a rotating basis, please contact me or Gayle Crabtree. We are also always eager to hear from anyone with a heart to serve in children's ministries. There are so many creative ways you can use your gifts to bless and educate the children God has entrusted to our congregation! Is God prompting you to serve in this area? We would love to hear from you!
Coming in January - We hope that you've heard about the upcoming changes that will occur in January. We are so excited to be bringing back the Sunday School hour at LLCF, a focused education hour prior to the worship service which will offer the opportunity for all ages to meet for learning and fellowship. During the regular worship service children will remain wit their families for the initial praise and worship time (as we've been doing) and then will have the option to attend a supervised activity time. We hope to add some fun board games, books, and group activities to our supply cabinets for this purpose. We will also be providing coloring pages and activity sheets for older children and for those families who choose to have their kids remain in church. Stay tuned for more details!!
How can you help? - As January approaches, we will be lining up volunteers to help monitor the activity room(s). If you would be available to help on a rotating basis, please contact me or Gayle Crabtree. We are also always eager to hear from anyone with a heart to serve in children's ministries. There are so many creative ways you can use your gifts to bless and educate the children God has entrusted to our congregation! Is God prompting you to serve in this area? We would love to hear from you!
GLEN HALLMAN RECEIVES AWARD
The Alzheimer Society of WA honored Glen As "Someone Who Cares" a a luncheon at Christ the King on Oct. 23rd. He was among 3 others who received this award. Dotty Marston, Parish Nurse nominated him for this award due to his many years of proactive and patient care giving of Helen Jean. In her nomination, Dotty said, "Because Glen took Helen Jean with him as a normal part of his busy retired life, many people were educated about dementia and Alzheimer's. He was a great role model. As a result, Helen Jean was not forgotten, the cause of Alzheimer's was advanced, and her life was meaningfully celebrated at her well-attended memorial service."
OUTWARD SIGNS OF INNER STRENGTHS - The Editor
The way that individuals deal with crisis often tells us much more about them than the words they speak. When some people get sick for example, hospital staff are subjected to whining, demanding attitudes and outspoken self pity while, in the very next room, another person with even more serious ailments can bring sunshine to the darkest halls.
In the same way, how a church handles the crises faced by individuals and families can tell us a great deal about that church. Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone? Will we interrupt our routine to bring the struggles of our people before the Lord?
Recently, our church leadership set aside the agenda of the service for the sake of ministering the hurting members. The worship music was interrupted in order to come to prayer. Instead of a prepared sermon, we were led in support of church family members who were dealing with immediate life situations.
Because of some unexpected events in the personal lives of church family members, it was once again demonstrated that Light & Life is a healthy, living, breathing family of believers, a family that is comfortably connected with each other and with the Lord.
In the same way, how a church handles the crises faced by individuals and families can tell us a great deal about that church. Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone? Will we interrupt our routine to bring the struggles of our people before the Lord?
Recently, our church leadership set aside the agenda of the service for the sake of ministering the hurting members. The worship music was interrupted in order to come to prayer. Instead of a prepared sermon, we were led in support of church family members who were dealing with immediate life situations.
Because of some unexpected events in the personal lives of church family members, it was once again demonstrated that Light & Life is a healthy, living, breathing family of believers, a family that is comfortably connected with each other and with the Lord.
CHRISTMAS SEASON EVENTS
Dancing for Joy, a local Christian dance studio presents "We Danced Our Best For Him" in celebration of Christ's birth on December 17, 2009, 6:30 pm at the Mount Baker Theater. Make plans to attend this inspiring evening of story-telling through dance, including ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, tap and hip-hop. Carleigh Smith, Hartly Kemp, and Destaye Radke are participating. You can also see Carliegh dance several pieces from the Nativity show at the Port of Bellingham Festival on Sunday December 6,2009, 3:30-4:45pm, held at the Ferry Terminal. Make dance a part of your Christmas season!
Christmas Eve Service- This year we are excited to be able to have a Christmas Eve service. We would like to invite all of you to join us in the celebration of Christ's birth. The service will be Dec. 24th, 2009 at 6pm. Hope to see you all there.
Christmas Eve Service- This year we are excited to be able to have a Christmas Eve service. We would like to invite all of you to join us in the celebration of Christ's birth. The service will be Dec. 24th, 2009 at 6pm. Hope to see you all there.
SAVE MONEY AND GET HEALTHIER - By Dotty Marston
"Save Money" and "Get Healthier" that's what we all want right? There are two programs that can help you get either or maybe even both.
LIFEQUEST is now offering all their classes at half price because our church is part of the St. Joseph Hospital Health Ministry network aka "Parish Nurse" program.
Examples of some of the terrific classes they offer are Strong Bodies Stay Healthy, Brain Boosters, Vegetarian Eating Basics, and Building Better Bones.
Check out the fall HEALTH TODAY issue which lists many offerings. To get this 50% off discount, all you have to do is give your church name and tell them you have a parish nurse.
The second program which can save you or someone you know money is the FAMILYWIZE prescription discount card.
It can save you up to 30% or more and up to $20 per prescription. It is accepted in most pharmacies, including all major chains. It covers all prescription drugs, and everyone with no health insurance or prescription coverage, takes medicine not covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare or other benefit plans. There's no age, income or residency restrictions. Anyone can use it. There's no registration, activation, paperwork or enrollment. No personal information is collected. These cards can be printed off the website: www.familywize.org. We also ave a supply in a plastic holder in the pamphlet area of the foyer.
Please share this information because 40% of people in the U.W. in the last 2 years have either skipped filling a prescription or reduced doses because pharmacies have agreed to accept prices for medications that are close to the prices they make available to large insurance companies and employers. Any additional costs are covered by in-kind donations from the program sponsors and by part of the processing fee included in the cost of the medicine.
Questions? Contact Dotty Marston, mmarston143@msn.com .
LIFEQUEST is now offering all their classes at half price because our church is part of the St. Joseph Hospital Health Ministry network aka "Parish Nurse" program.
Examples of some of the terrific classes they offer are Strong Bodies Stay Healthy, Brain Boosters, Vegetarian Eating Basics, and Building Better Bones.
Check out the fall HEALTH TODAY issue which lists many offerings. To get this 50% off discount, all you have to do is give your church name and tell them you have a parish nurse.
The second program which can save you or someone you know money is the FAMILYWIZE prescription discount card.
It can save you up to 30% or more and up to $20 per prescription. It is accepted in most pharmacies, including all major chains. It covers all prescription drugs, and everyone with no health insurance or prescription coverage, takes medicine not covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare or other benefit plans. There's no age, income or residency restrictions. Anyone can use it. There's no registration, activation, paperwork or enrollment. No personal information is collected. These cards can be printed off the website: www.familywize.org. We also ave a supply in a plastic holder in the pamphlet area of the foyer.
Please share this information because 40% of people in the U.W. in the last 2 years have either skipped filling a prescription or reduced doses because pharmacies have agreed to accept prices for medications that are close to the prices they make available to large insurance companies and employers. Any additional costs are covered by in-kind donations from the program sponsors and by part of the processing fee included in the cost of the medicine.
Questions? Contact Dotty Marston, mmarston143@msn.com .
A REPORT FROM OUR YOUTH GROUP
Steve the Penguin?? Rotten peppers?? This year is again exciting, entertaining, and instructing for our youth on Wednesday nights. Our fearless leader, Jenny Quimby is once more keeping lessons memorable and using out-of-the-box illustrations to capture the hearts of our youth.
Phil and Fran Radke are encouraging worship time as they bring their talents and gifts to the group ending each night in awesome praise music. The youth have also decided to continue to financially support a young man named Hendri that lives halfway around the world through Free-Methodist Mission Services. And yes, Steve the Penguin is back again this year to entertain the masses.
Just recently this youth group of junior high and high schoolers enjoyed an evening at their annual Harvest Party with apple and donut eating contests, some pumpkin carving and a round of ga-ga ball. This year will definitely unfold exciting adventures and life changing moments allowing them opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. Please continue to get to know our young people and soak them with your prayers.
Phil and Fran Radke are encouraging worship time as they bring their talents and gifts to the group ending each night in awesome praise music. The youth have also decided to continue to financially support a young man named Hendri that lives halfway around the world through Free-Methodist Mission Services. And yes, Steve the Penguin is back again this year to entertain the masses.
Just recently this youth group of junior high and high schoolers enjoyed an evening at their annual Harvest Party with apple and donut eating contests, some pumpkin carving and a round of ga-ga ball. This year will definitely unfold exciting adventures and life changing moments allowing them opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. Please continue to get to know our young people and soak them with your prayers.
Wecome to Light and Life Christain Fellowship's Newsroom!
Hi Everyone! I am so excited to have this finally up and running. If you haven't checked it out yet, Light and Life Christian Fellowship has a brand new website! We are wanting everyone to be able to see what is happening in the daily life of our church. Our website is full of information about the many different ministries that are alive and growing within our church body! But it is NOT full of all the little stories and updates that touch the lives of the individuals of our church family on a daily basis. SO to fix that we have created this blog and are Calling it the Light and Life Newsroom!
Basically all the stories and updates that you receive in the monthly new letter you will now have available online as well!! So great right!!??
If you have a story or update that has touched your life and you would like to share it email :info@lightnlife.org.
Stay tuned for more updates on a weekly and monthly Basis.
Basically all the stories and updates that you receive in the monthly new letter you will now have available online as well!! So great right!!??
If you have a story or update that has touched your life and you would like to share it email :info@lightnlife.org.
Stay tuned for more updates on a weekly and monthly Basis.
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