204 S. Ninth St. • Columbia, MO 65201-4818 • 573-443-3111 • www.moumc.org • Dec.

21, 2017 • Volume 30, Number 49

Worship
Services
Four unique
worship
Looking Ahead
• Thursday, Dec. 21: Acolyte Training
for Christmas Eve 5-6:30pm
• Sunday, Dec. 24: Blended Morning
N DE

R
opportunities Worship at 10am
are offered on Evening Worship “Grace Entered
Sunday mornings Travelers’
Sunday. Gravity” at 8am, 9:15am Christmas Service
• 5pm – Family-oriented and 10:30am Dec. 20 7pm
• 7pm – Carols & Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship
8am 10am • 5pm • 7pm
• 9pm – Carols & Candlelight www.moumc.org
McMurry • 11pm – Communion an advent sermon series
9pm • 11pm

Chapel A special Christmas Eve offering will be

Informal worship collected for Wilkes Blvd. UMC and their
with a personal unique ministries serving the unsheltered Home for the Holidays
touch. Sharing community. By Fred Leist, Lead Pastor
prayer concerns • Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 25-26: Church
is welcomed. Remember how Bing Crosby
Office closed for Christmas used to sing it: “I’ll be home
• Jan. 1: Church Office closed for New for Christmas. You can count
9:15am Year’s Day on me”, and “There’s no place
Sanctuary • Jan. 7: Donut Sunday in Cornerstone like home for the holidays.”
Contemporary Coffee Shop and MUMC Blood Drive in Everywhere I’ve been this
worship that the Atrium 8:30am-12:30pm season, I’ve heard this soul-
includes a • Jan. 28-Feb. 11: MUMC hosts Room at level longing to “come home”
children’s time, the Inn expressed in music and melody.
Praise Band. • Feb. 4: Better Together Groups booklet This strong them has been
for Spring 2018 available and signup heard on the CD player in my study, through my car radio,
10:30am begins and over the intercom speakers in department stores. It’s
Sanctuary • Feb. 14: Better Together Groups launch simply impossible to miss.
Traditional • Feb. 16-17: Dr. Shelly Moorman-
Just as the shepherds were drawn to the stable, even so
worship with Stahlman Organ Workshop at 7pm
during the Christmas season today, we are drawn toward
music from the Lebanon Valley College organist and
home. There is a certain nostalgia in returning home to be
choir. professor of music (Adult $10/Student $5)
with family and friends; to be in the warm and welcoming
• April 21: Columbia Community Band
confines of a place where you are fully known, loved and
at 7pm (Adult $10/Student $5)
7pm • June 10: Hot Summer Night’s Concert
accepted.
Cornerstone (7pm at Missouri Theatre) MUMC Choir I’m sure this is the central reason why Christmas Eve
Coffee Shop and the Missouri Symphony Orchestra worship has become the most attended service on the
Contemporary entire Christian calendar, even outpacing Easter Sunday
worship led
by the Ignite Want to Tutor Middle attendance. After all the shopping is done, and most of
the stores have finally closed, we gather for Christmas
College Age
Ministry Team.
Schoolers? Eve worship. The world has quieted down. There is a
Linked to Learn tutoring for Jeff Middle hushed sense of wonder as we sing “Silent Night, Holy
students has begun every Wednesday at Night.” It’s almost as if the service itself is a deep,
MUMC (To volunteer, email Kim Parker, peaceful sigh of relief. We are finally home.
Pastor of New Generations at parker@ The good news of Christmas is that God is not an angry,
moumc.org.) hostile, vindictive personality or presence. God comes to
(continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1)
us with healing, forgiveness and grace. Through the cry of
in infant in Bethlehem’s manger we can hear God calling
us home. G.K. Chesterton expresses this so beautifully in
his poem, “The House of Christmas.”
To an open house in the evening,
Home shall all of us come,
To an older place than Eden,
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and are,
To the place where God was homeless,
And all of us are home!
This Sunday, in all our Christmas Eve services, we invite
you to “Come home!” You will be welcomed with open
arms.
Want to Serve at Loaves & Fishes?
Missouri UMC forms teams to serve at Loaves and Fishes
the second Saturday of every month. These volunteers
help prepare and serve a warm meal, and are encouraged
to spend time getting to know the guests. Loaves and
Fishes, located at Wilkes Boulevard UMC, is a ministry
that provides a nutritious meal for the people of our
community. The impact of this ministry is far reaching, as
100-120 meal servings are provided every night. To lend a
hand drop us an email at contact.us@moumc.org.
Confirmation Date is TBA
Confirmation will begin in mid-late January, led by Rev.
Kim Parker along with MUMC clergy, for our seventh
graders and older. Watch this newsletter for more details.
Church Family News
Congratulations to the family of Elowen Iris Chancey,
who was born on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. She is
welcomed by her mommies (Stephanie Harman & Katie
Chancey) and her big sister (Emerson Chancey).
Condolences to the family and friends of Wayne
Richards, who passed away Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017.
The family will be holding a private ceremony on
Wednesday, Dec. 27, to be followed by interment of
Wayne’s ashes in the prayer garden at MUMC. Paula
has requested that the ceremony and interment be
restricted to family only; however, she also wants to
express to her church family just how important they
are to her. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to
Paula at the following address:
Paula Richards
3750 Miller Drive, Apt. #1314
Columbia, MO 65201
If you would like to announce a church member’s death or a birth
in a church member’s family, please send details to messenger@
moumc.org. Submissions will be edited for length and clarity.
2 MISSOURI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
MUMC Music Notes
By Tim Coday, Director of Music Ministries
Merry Christmas to you all! This is a busy
week as we wrap our holiday season
and look forward to the possibilities a
new year brings. The Chancel Choir will
be singing during the Travelers service
Wednesday at 7. We will meet at 630 in
the choir room and return for rehearsal
after we sing. On Sunday the 24th we
will sing the 10, 7 and 9 with special
music at 5 and 11 for Communion. If you
are home visiting or would just like to share your talent
for Christmas please join us for rehearsal on Wednesday.
We would love to have you sing with us!
I wanted to share a Concert Series update with you.
We’ve had three large scale concert events the fall: The
Choral Concert featuring Columbia College and Mizzou,
the Holiday Brass Concert and our Christmas Concert
featuring the MOUMC Chancel Choir and the MOSS
Conservatory Chamber Orchestra. Thank you everyone
for supporting your Concert Series. We are currently
operating well into the black and this helps us continue
to and bring a wide variety of exciting concert events to
our church. More news coming soon!
Questions, comments please call, text or email Tim@
moumc.org 417-459-5430.
2017-2018 Concert Series
moumc.org/concertseries
Dr. Shelly Moorman-Stahlman Organ Workshop
Feb. 16-17, 7pm Adult $10/Student $5
Lebanon Valley College organist
and professor of music
Columbia Community Band
April 21, 7pm Adult $10/Student
$5 Missouri composers
Hot Summer Night’s Concert
June 10, 7pm at Missouri Theatre
MUMC Choir and the Missouri
Symphony Orchestra
Christmas Eve Adult Bible
Study
Adult Bible Study Sunday School will meet at 9am on Dec.
24 in room CLC 107/109. That is a 15 minutes earlier start
time so people may attend morning worship at 10. We will
be studying Matthew 2:1-12, the story of the Magi. All are
welcome.
Jeff Middle Wish Tree
The Jefferson Middle School “wish list” Christmas tree will
be up in the Connector for several three weeks. Please
stop by and take an ornament or two. Please return your
items (unwrapped) to the church office (or to the greeter
in the Connector on Sunday mornings) by Jan. 14.
Dec. 21, 2017 - Vol. 30, No. 49
 growing
DEEPLY
a daily scripture guide
Week of December 25—30
(cont’d. from other side)
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each
other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was
the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told
everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them
about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them
often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told
them.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As you and yours gather, may you remember Christ in all the gathering,
gifts, and meals you’ll share.
A PRAYER BEFORE GIFT OPENING
Lord God, you are the one who blesses us with all good things. As
we prepare to open these gifts, help us to cherish this time we spend
together. We know that giving gifts is one way we show our love for
each other. Let these gifts we share also remind us of the greatest gift
of love you have given to us, your son Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
A PRAYER AFTER GIFT OPENING
Lord Jesus, we thank you for the privilege of giving and receiving
these gifts. We know you are here with us in our laughter, joy and
thankfulness. Help us take the love and spirit of giving we have
experienced in this time into our daily lives. May the Holy Spirit guide
our thoughts, words, and actions as we seek to live generously. Amen.
SUNDAY
SERMON
“Wonder: Christmas Through the Eyes of the Angels”
- December 24th
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 (NLT)
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census
should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first
census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their
own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph
was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea,
David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in
Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now
expecting a child.
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She
gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth
and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for
them.
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding
their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among
them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were
terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I
bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—
yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city
of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby
wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of
heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.
(cont’d. other side)
Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.
Missouri United Methodist Church Periodical
204 S. Ninth St. Postage
Columbia, MO 65201-4899 PAID
Columbia, MO
573-443-3111 USPS No. 355460

“We exist to connect all people with Jesus Christ.

We do this by welcoming enthusiastically, growing deeply and serving courageously.” /MissouriUMC

Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 25-26: Church Office closed for Christmas

Winter Break for Youth

NO MUMY events due to holiday break Dec. 24 (Sunday),
Dec. 27 (Wednesday), Dec. 31 (Sunday)
Sign Up to Receive MUMY Texts - We will
begin using an app called Remind. We will use
it to send you details 2-3 hours before each
time we meet. You can use the app or receive
texts. You can sign up by sending a text
“@23f7ae” to 810-10.

Make Missouri Your Church Home

If you sense God calling you to join the church by baptism,
transfer, or profession of faith, we welcome you. To
Next Donut Sunday: Jan. 7 express your interest or ask questions, contact Pastor
Charity at charity@moumc.org.
Photo Disclaimer: Services and events hosted by the church are considered public. The church has permission to use images of church members for promotion, publicity and
outreach materials unless advised through a non-consent form. The church will not attach names to the photographs of individuals or groups unless prior permission is given. To obtain a
non-consent form, please contact the church office.

Want to get the Church Newsletter via email? Have you changed email addresses? Go to: www.moumc.org/subscribe to subscribe or update.
The church provides bus transportation to the 10:30am Sunday worship service.
Call 443-3111 before noon on Fridays. Bus service is available to all.
The Messenger (USPS No. 355460) is published weekly except the last week of the year by Missouri United Methodist Church at 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO. Periodical postage paid at Columbia, MO.
POSTMASTER: for change of address, send to Missouri United Methodist Church Messenger, 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO 65201-4818, Dec. 21, 2017
Staff: Lead Pastor Fred Leist. Laura Bentley, Administrative Assistant; Adam Bordoni, Facilities; Tim Coday, Director of Music Ministries; Debbie
Craighead, Finance Assistant; Joan DeBoe, Pastor of Worship & Administration; Adriene Floyd, Office Manager; Courtney Gaunt, Director, Discovery
Days; Teressa Gilbreth, Director of Communications; Charity Goodwin, Pastor of Discipleship; Jacqui Jamieson, Assistant Director, Discovery Days;
Katja Jones, Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries; Gabriella Miller, Nursery Coordinator; Jo Lee, Events Coordinator; Kim Parker, Pastor of New
Generations; Preston Williams, Tech & Facility Steward; Music Staff: Craig Datz, Organist; Kaye Miller, Director of Wesleyan Ringers; Rochelle Parker,
Associate Organist; Marilyn Rowe, Serendipity Choir; Rachel Blomquist, Grace Notes Choir