THE HERALD First United Methodist Church of Millville Volume 24 Issue 5 November/December 2010 Dear Friend, ‘Since our congregation began the journey we've been calling “Forty Days of Transformation’ I've been wondering about something. The pearl in the oyster shell that is pictured on the book we've been studying (‘Treasure of The Transformed Life") has intrigued me. How does a pearl really form? | learned that the process does not usually begin with a grain of sand, as often thought. It usually begins with a piece of food squeezing through the shell. That piece of food leads to a tiny sea creature getting trapped in the shell, only to end up perishing inside. The shell then secretes a material that covers the deceased creature until the layers are very thick, eventually producing a pearl. Someone was once quoted as saying, "the most beautiful peal is nothing more, in fact, than the brilliant sarcophagus of a worm.” Just think, if God can do that with a tiny sea creature, imagine the transformation that God can bring to your life and mine! As we commit, and in some case, re-commit ourselves to the Lord and the ministry of God's church may we experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2). God Bless! Pastor Steve Dear Church Family, Matthew 1:18-25, NRSV Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him ina dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Al this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,; and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord ‘commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus, With obedience comes blessing! Joseph decided that although undoubtedly the people around him may have found his marriage to Mary scandalous, he was going to marry her and raise Jesus as his own son. He has received a clear directive from God to marry Mary and he was going to do what God asked him to do, That is amazing! In the midst of an incredibly difficult and probably embarrassing situation God told Joseph to ignore the world and walk in God's will. Joseph chose to follow God and was blessed as the earthly father of God's only Son. When God asks us to obey do we choose to listen or do we go with what seems like it makes more sense in the temporal? During this Advent and Christmas season | want to challenge us to seek renewal in the Newborn King and seek to listen to his will for our ives. When we “trust and obey” God will bless us with a deep abiding faith that transforms our very being. Trust God to lead you where you should be in order to become the person he created you to bein him. God will give you the best Christmas gift ever: blessings in Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us! May ‘God grant you renewal and growth through this special time! Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas, Pastor MelissaChurch Family, Ban = It has been a season of unprecedented growth for the youth ministry of the church. It started at the end of the summer when we had an unusually large crowd at our Wednesday night Bible study. At the time, we weren't sure if it was a fluke of a sign of things to come. It turned out to be the latter as week after week, the number of teens attending Bible study has continued to swell. On one magical night, nearly forty teens were in attendance to enjoy the Halladay no-hitter together during our monthly visit to Amato's Pizzeria. We have since eclipsed that number during our Wednesday night Bible Study and Sunday School has seen a deluge of teens on Sunday mornings as well. 'm not sure what led to this invasion, but I sure am glad that Courtney ‘Ayres came on board at the end of summer to lend a helping hand to the Senior High youth group. The Lord must have known what was in store and sent Courtney to us in the nick of time. ‘The crazy thingis thathistorically, we usually don'tsee our largest numbers untl the winter leading up to and immediately following our Keswick retreat at the end of January. Talking about Keswick, we have already received so many registrations for the annual retreat, that we have been granted an additional ten spots raising our total to 50! The deadline for registration is November 7th and there is a good chance that all 50 spots will be filled by then, so if you have a teenager who hopes to attend, be sure to get their registration in as soon as you can. Growth brings change and challenges, but with God's help and the continued support of First church, 1 have no doubt that we will be able to meet the new challenges and capitalize on the tremendous opportunity we have been given to impact so many young lives for Christ, Please keep the youth ministries of First UMC in your prayers as we strive to make the most of this special season, Sincerely, Tug McErlain PS. In addition to the annual Keswick retreat the last weekend in January, the youth will return to Hamburg PA for the J.U.N.E. Project reunion December 10-12, 2010. The Senior High will once again be hitting the slopes Presidents’ Day weekend (February 18-21) for their annual ski trip as well. Three retreats in the course of ten weeks... | beller go get some sleep now! HELP & HOPE MINISTRIES FOOD PROGRAMS The Food Closet of Help & Hope Ministries, provided food to many of our neighbors in need this past year. More than 5266 of ‘our neighbors were provided 47,394 meals in 6462 bags of food. The need for food continues to increase to all time highs due to poor economic conditions and remains high. Help & Hope needs renewed efforts by our churches and community to be able to sustain ‘our ability to provide food. We continually need donations of non-perishable food, as well as both plastic and brown paper bags, and money to purchase food. Remember: First UMC supports the food closet the first Sunday of every month by bringing non-perishable items and plastic or paper bags. Place items in box located outside of Reeves Hall. items may be delivered to the Help & Hope Food Closet at 216 Howard Street in Millville during the hours we are open, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Or call the Food Closet at 825-2375. Tax deductible financial donations may be made payable to Help & Hope Ministries and mailed to PO Box 116, Millville, NJ 08332. We appreciate allithe supportwe have received cover the many years our Food Closet has been open to people who need food. Please continue your efforts, and help us meet the basic human needs of our neighbors. Help & Hope Ministries ‘A donation was made to G42 Mission Project to Spain for Josh and Tara Bruce in honor of Margaret Taylor for her dedication to the work of our church. Up to DategThe SHINE ministry program has now entered its sixthyear. Amazingly, God's light continues to SHINE, and lead the congregation at the First Church and ‘our community to Share God's Grace, and Christ's, Love through this Ministry. We continue to Create Connections and Make a Difference. The fall has been busy as the children have participated in many mentoring activities, such as the Center City Neighborhood Cleanup, Halloween activities, and went on several field trips. We recently spent two days preparing Halloween Bags and Christmas Stockings for the Troops with Reggie & Jim Shuster of Support the Troops NJ. Some of the children have received letters addressed to them, from Troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, thanking them, for their service, one girl received a challenge coin, ‘Support the Troops, Nu also received a flag in honor of SHINE Ministries that had flown at the airbase in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Pretty cool, center city kids, in Milville making a difference in the lives halt way around the world. The tutoring program has been wellattended, thanks to the multiple teachers and volunteers that assist. Specifically: Margaret Taylor, Connie. Whitehead, Marybeth Forcinito, Maureen Walters, Patty Reeves, Dianne Brown, Clara Thomas, Pat Hayes, and Joanne Reger. ‘As we enter the holiday season, we will focus on the significance of Giving Thanks and the Advent Season and the reason for the season, SHINE will be blessing several families with Thanksgiving Dinners and Christmas Dinners. We will have a holiday party were each child will receive a Christmas Stocking with Love, scripture, toothbrushes, candy, school supplies and more love. The children are so appreciative and well deserving, The year has been fruitful, as many of the same children continue their connection to our programs, and some have demonstrated leadership roles within the program, as two of the youth spoke to ‘our congregation on SHINE Sunday in May of this, year. The boys shared how SHINE has affected their lives and thanked the congregation on behalf of the youth that participate. We also had three youth that, have attended each year's summer camp, step into, the role of Junior Counselor at this past summer camp. It has been amazing and heart warming to see the maturity and growth of these young men and, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” Isaiah 60: 1 “Let your light SHINE before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 women, Some have assisted with the daily events and preparing for each event. They were faithful and mature in their service which brought to mind the words as written in Isalah 61:3-4 “They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shail repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations”. ‘The youth served through this program have and continue to be exposed to Christ's Love through ‘our example, service, connection, and sustained ‘commitment. Our statement of purpose in SHINE Ministries “Transform the lives of n Christ® and our collective hope is that they will walk with Christ and become the Oaks of Righteousness, 0 the Lord can transform their own lives and use them as a the catalyst to transform the future generations and perhaps the past generations as stated in the above soripture. The program is consistently tested as the needs are great, the needs of the under privileged are overwhelming at times. But God has asked us to minister to all our brothers and sisters in His name. That is what the SHINE program continues to do in our community; it is hard to believe that we are entering our seventh year. The connection we have continues to grow and be nurtured. The children have a Safe Haven in this House and are demonstrating responsibility and progress on thelr journey towards excellence, with the Lord at their side. The children are having fun while witnessing Gods Grace and Love. ‘The hands of the Lord have been busy, thanks to all the Love, Prayers, Volunteer Hours and Financial Support of this Ministry that you all have provided. This congregation is indeed heeding the words from: Matthew 5:16 “Let your light SHINE before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” — Mark 9:37 in my name, welcomes me”, through this ministry we have and will continue to make a difference. SHINE is indeed Faith in Action. May all Thanks Be to God. Keith Walters, SHINE Director