Hello Mason UMC Family and Friends . . . . .

Hello Mason UMC Family and Friends - how did it get to be November already?

Here is the first Mason UMC weekly e-news for this eleventh month - see what's happening . . . . . . .

This Sunday (November 8th) in worship we will receive the final in the LIVIN' THE LIFE sermon series.

You've (hopefully!) heard what it means to be generous with our words , generous with our hearts, generous with our actions and this Sunday with will hear what it takes to be generous with our possessions.

Put all four those together and you have what it takes to be LIVIN' THE LIFE that God intends for you to live.

AND, you can make a commitment to LIVIN' THE LIFE throughout all of 2016 by completing the commitment cards you received in the mail this week and bringing them with you to worship this Sunday.

See you in worship this week when we will continue LIVIN' THE LIFE!

LET US PRAY:

For God's Healing:

Jim Sands at home
Larry Gill at home
Nancy Thomas' mother Phyllis
Arlene Russell's sister Millie

For God's Peace:

The Gobrecht family after a home fire
Sharon Van Cott-Young upon the death of her mother Mim

For God's Blessing:

Dale and Shelly Lykins upon the birth of grandson, Connor Jack

For God's Care for Those in the Military:

Jeffrey Bertram
Chris Resio
Greg Riehle
Michael Zimmerman
On Veterans Day we give thanks for men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces.

If you would like to submit/update a prayer request, or be added to our prayer chain, please email Pastor Lisa at l[email protected].

CHURCH CONFERENCE THANKSGIVING DINNER

November 15TH at 12 PM / Multiministry Room

"Church Event Update" - The Church Conference luncheon (on 11/15/15) and the Church Thanksgiving dinner (on 11/21/15) will become one Churchwide event held on 11/15/15 at noon in the Multi Ministry Room. Please join us for our Church Conference Thanksgiving Dinner and bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share -- turkey will be provided.

Questions? Please email Pastor Lykins [email protected]

or your leadership board chair Krista Bommarito [email protected]

NOVEMBER PRAYER WALK

Everyone is invited to join Pastor Lisa in our November prayer walk on Sunday, November 8th at 4 pm. Let's meet under the portico - and in case of rain, we will pray indoors for our neighbors!

SR. ADULT LUNCH

Monday, November 9, 2015

12:00 pm

Bob Evans / 8100 Arbor Square Dr.

(off of S. Mason-Montgomery Rd.)

Everyone is Welcome / No sign-up needed

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Looking for an opportunity to volunteer within the Mason and surrounding community? The Mason Food Pantry is looking for volunteers. The pantry needs people to work one to two times per month. Hours are Monday from 6 to 7 pm and Wednesday and Saturdays from 9:30 to 11 am. For info, please call 513-942-6940 or email [email protected].

Also, Lebanon's Christmas for Tots is looking for volunteers. Christmas for Tots is a nonprofit organization that gives gifts to children in need at Christmas time. They assist families who live in the Lebanon School District. Please call 513-932-1180 for more information. Thanks!!!

Cheri DiFabio, MUMC Community Service Coordinator

THE GIVING TREE

The Giving Trees will be up soon!

If you would like to purchase all the gifts for one child (4 gifts) or an entire family, please contact Carole at [email protected] or 227-5318

We will need help in a variety of areas besides purchasing gifts. If you are interesting in helping with any of the following please contact Carole.

Setting up the trees - Friday, November 13 - 11:00
Purchasing Kroger gift certificates and/or Christmas cards
Helping on Packing Day - Friday, December 11 - 11:00 (organizing the presents, food, and household items)
Helping on Pick Up Day - Saturday, December 12 - 9:00 to noon - families will pick up the gifts at MUMC

The missions team prays that you will feel inspired to participate in this God-filled Cross-the-Street experience.

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE

If you would pray for one of our ministry teams during the next year, please see Pastor Lisa. You can pray in your own way and on your schedule. But we need your focused prayers for ministries that God is using to renew the face of the earth through MUMC!

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME VOLUNTEERS FOR UPWARD BASKETBALL

This is a fun and easy way to help out! Upward Basketball is looking for volunteers to make their season a great success! Please consider joining us and click over HERE to sign up today! See you on the court!

HANGING OF THE GREENS

Volunteers are needed to decorate the church for advent on Sunday November 22, noon. RSVP Mary Wortham at 513 398 3361 or

[email protected]

Suriya at 513 398 3114 .

GED TUTORING

The GED tutoring program has a solid year underway! Members of Mason UMC work in collaboration with the Warren County ABLE program to tutor adults toward their GED.

Next time you see Gary Standafer, ask him about working one-on-one with 4 students and being able to bring their math skills from a 4th - 6th grade level to a basic knowledge of algebra and geometry. They were all successful passing the math portion of the GED!

Mary Ellen Telling teaches English vocabulary and culture to a group of 15 foreign students. Complete with fun parties and celebrations!

One of the GED classroom teachers pulled Kelly Waldrop aside after working with one student for two months to tell her that she had gone from being assessed as writing at a fourth grade level to writing at a seventh grade level in the short time they worked together. Kelly also states "The one thread that runs through all of the conversations I have had with students is them talking about their children and how the work they are doing toward getting their GEDs is all about being able to make a better life for their kids. Their dedication is moving, and I'm grateful to be a small part of their efforts."

If tutoring adults in some capacity sounds like a mission you would like to cross-the-street for, contact Gary Standafer. [email protected]

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Thank you to all of the people who participated in Operation Christmas Child thus far. We had a great turnout at the packing party and were able to pack 115 boxes!

If you didn't get a chance to participate in purchasing items or attend the packing party, there are still three opportunities to help out. There are OCC boxes in the Welcome Center that you can take home with you and make with your family and bring back during National Collection Week - Nov. 16-23. Or, you can sign up to serve and welcome visitors as they drop off their boxes at our church which will be drop-off location for the 2015 program. We will be open at least two hours every day from Nov. 16-23. Please check the sign up list located at the Welcome Desk in the Narthex and sign up for a shift.

Lastly, if you would like to bake one dozen cookies and bring to the church during the National Collection Week, we could use those too. Any help is welcome. If you have any questions, please e-mail Kelly Ralston at [email protected] or call her at 513-754-8878.

PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

November is the month in which many Christians pray for those who are persecuted for their faith. In opposing injustice and intolerance and believing in the power of prayer, United Methodists are encouraged to lift up our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ for God's care and courage in trying times.

UMW NEWS

The last UMW meeting for 2015 will be on Sunday, December 6th at 12:15pm in room 8. We will be wrapping the gifts the UMW purchased for the giving tree.

ADVENT STUDY: SENT

Mason UMC will be offering a multi-generational Advent study beginning November 23rd entitled Sent!

Sent is an " Advent journey to discover how, where, and why we are sent." Sent is a study provided by Jorge Acevedo, Lead Pastor at a United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida. He shares his insights along with "four young clergy who challenge us through story, art, and Bible study" by way of video and book.

We will be meeting for four Mondays in November and December from 6:30-7:30.

Provided groups for the study will include Adult, facilitated by the Pastors; Youth, facilitated by Nicole Grice; and Children, led by Ellen Foss. "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them..." John 17:18 Mondays November 23rd, November 30th, December 7th, and December 14th. Groups will begin meeting at 6:30, but if you can, come early and share some cookies and conversation with other participants.

Books for Adults are $10 and can be purchased at the ministry desk beginning November 8th.

SAVE THE DATE

Holiday With The Pops

Sunday, December 13, 2:00 pm

We have 4 Orchestra Level and 4 Balcony Level tickets left.

Last day to pay for your tickets is Sunday, November 15th!

If you have questions, contact Jim or Letty Roosa at 513-398-2624 or [email protected].

WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS DINNER

Save the date:
Women's Christmas Dinner
Thursday, December 3, 2015

INTENTIONAL FRIDAYS

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Place your weight on God. Take leaps of faith and trust the process. Embrace the feeling of being nervous, even a little scared, it's a sign you're alive and ready to grow.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

THE LEADER'S BLOG

Be sure to check out our Leader's Blog: Vision In Action: located on our website HERE or coming into your email inbox every Monday. Keep up to date on where the church is headed, Leadership Board news and the latest information on happenings around the church.