News from Kingswood United Methodist Church

Kingswood Connected

December 29, 2011

A Word from the Pastor

Greetings!

It is a few days after Christmas and what a wonderful time of worship and celebration we have had this year!! Thank you to all who serve in so many ways to make our ministries and celebrations so meaningful.

We've just completed the service for Norma Smith ... and again, many have contributed to make this a meaningful moment for her family, friends and for the church community. God's love has been known in her through her love of books (she was a librarian), music (she was church organist and married to a big band musician), family (she was wife, mom, grandmom, sister, aunt) and Jesus. Her family told stories that will continue her legacy. One nephew recalled the Irving Berlin song with the line about the song ending but the melody lingering on.

But now we turn toward the new year as we prepare to take the first steps into a new year. Of course every day is the first day of the rest of your life (as the saying goes). But a new year makes us mindful of our dreams and the chance to begin again. Perhaps this year you will be challenged to try something new. Or to do something you've always done in a new way. So often we want to see the outcome before we begin but the future is not ours to know ... only to embrace. Martin Luther King Jr. gave pertinent advice for such a time as this: Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

May you be blessed in the new year with many ways to serve and reveal God's love and presence, with music in your soul that lingers even when the song is done and with the courage to move forward in faith and gratitude.

There is only one service of worship this week ... at 10:30am. Let us welcome 2012 together, praising God and singing of God's love and Spirit in this place.

Rev. Margaret Gramley

New Year's Morning - Homecoming Service

10:30 worship - one service only

Join us for worship on January 1, 2012 at 10:30 for "Homecoming Sunday".

Sunday School for children age 4 through 6th grade will be in room 116 B&C for "Breakfast and a Movie". Infants and children to 3 years will be in the nursery. Everyone else should attend worship.

The regular Sunday School schedule will resume on Sunday January 8, 2012.

Winterfest 2012

Winterfest Begins Friday, January 6, 2012.

Time: 6:15-8:30pm

Theme: "Let Snow"

Snow Crafts, Snow Games

Come for dinner at 6:15

Mac & cheese, salad, Italian bread

The Children's activities and Adult Studies start at 7:00pm.

Sign-up for this popular Friday Night Family Fellowship on Sunday in the Fireside Room.

Mark your calendars for additional Winterfest dates!

Friday, January 20

Friday, February 3

Friday, February 17

Friday, March 2

Mission Day in Rockford

Saturday, January 7

. Rockford Urban Ministries oct 2011

Every year we make resolutions for the New Year that we never seem to follow through on... well make volunteering in a mission a resolution and Kingswood will help you hit the ground running!

On Saturday, January 7 all church members are invited to spend a day in mission working with Rockford New Hope. Plan to meet at the church at 8am and be back by 4:30pm that day.

Children who are elementray school age need a parent to accompany them. Middle and High School youth need signed permission forms. For those not able to attend, there will be an opportunity to donate needed materials.

For questions or to express interest you may email Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com or Sheri Brubeck at sheribrubeck@comcast.net

January Bible Study

The Thursday Morning Bible Study will begin again on January 5th at 10am. We be exploring the Book of Acts! A reading packet will be available in the kitchen near the fireside room by January 1. All are welcome to come!

Taste of Kingswood!

Think "Taste of Chicago"...but at Kingswood

on Saturday, March 17 from 1-4pm.

This social event will include different ethnic and homemade food brought to you by members of Kingwood and will include musical performances, crafts, and a fair that helps everyone get a "taste" of what the ministries of Kingswood UMC have to offer!

Christmas Program and Spaghetti Dinner

Sunday, December 18 - The Last Straw

It was a wonderful evening of fellowship filled with crafts, caroling, spaghetti, and the performance of "The Last Straw"

complete with the Chancel Choir, Praise Band, Glory Fingers

and Children's Nativity.

Bullying & the Church's Response

During January and February we are planning on focusing as a congregation on the issue of bullying and how we might as people of Christian faith address this growing social concern. We will be addressing this issue through venues such as guest speakers, workshops, bible study, and sermons. Anyone interested in being involved in planning or those who have suggestions for speakers can contact Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com.

Christmas in Chicago

18 Youth and Adults enjoyed Christmas in Chicago on Saturday, December 17th. The group took the train enjoyed a tour of the Chicago Temple, ice skating at Millenium Park and other activities.

KUMC Book Club

January Meeting

The next meeting of the KUMC book club will be on Friday, January 20 at 7 pm at Panera Bread, Strathmore Center, 1228 West Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. The book club will discuss "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkenson.

In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America. Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves.

For more information contact Karen Wernette, 224-677-5277 or kmwernet@umich.edu.

Work Camp 2012 is in the Works!

The Interest Meeting for the 2012 Youth Work Camp will be Sunday January 22 at 11:45am.

Those interested should attend and bring their summer calendars with them so we can finalize a date. The trip is open to graduating 8th graders through graduating high school seniors. The work camp will either be scheduled for the last week in July or first week in August. We are asking that at least one parent or guardian attend the meeting as well.

For more information you can contact either Sheri Brubeck at sheribrubeck@comcast.net or Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com

Website Improvements

Over the next couple weeks our website will be changing. The "old" website will be replaced by a temporary site while our new site is under construction. John Gates is heading the team of Debbi Dickinson, Margaret Gramley, Elizabeth Hicks, Jay Jayapalan and Charlene Vanderhulst to make the improvements. Please contact the church, visit our Facebook page, or use email if you need information. Thank you for your patience during construction!

In This Issue

New Year's Morning

Winter Fest

Mission Day

January Bible Study

Taste of Kingswood

Addressing Bullying

Christmas in Chicago

KUMC Book Club

Work Camp 2012

Website Improvements

This Sunday in Worship

New Year's Day

January 1, 2012

ONE SERVICE ONLY 10:30am

Scripture & Message:

Luke 2:22-40

Danny Harkess will bring the message and the Praise Band will lead the music.

Prayers, Joys & Concerns

Prayers for the family of Norma Smith who died on Friday, December 23. Services were held today at Kingswood. Another service will be held in East Peoria tomorrow.

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