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UpperRoom.org
A global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual formation of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully.

The Living Prayer Center
www.prayer-center.upperroom.org
Upper Room’s live, 24/7 prayer ministry.

UMCOR.org
The United Methodist Committee on Relief, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work reaches people in more than 80 countries, including the United States.

GBOD.org
An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (The General Board of Discipleship) helps local church, district, and conference leaders fulfill the shared dream of making world changing disciples.

Gratefulness.org
A website dedicated to grateful living.

Crosswalk.com
Christian news in the 21st century.
“The intersection of faith and life.”

Devozine.upperroom.org
We encourage youth to check out The Upper Room’s Devo Zine, where you can find articles about spiritually active teens all around the world, connect with their social media outlets, post and respond to a live prayer wall, and even contribute articles and devotionals of your own.

General Board of Church and Society
www.umc-gbcs.org

General Board of Global Ministries www.umcmission.org

Methodist Federation for Social Action www.mfsaweb.org

            Our Local Church Staff

Pastor…………………………………..Kristin Sachen
Administrative Assistant......Peggy Hernandez
Lay Leader…………………………...Mark Michalski
Choir Director ………………………Eleanor Kenitzer
Praise Band Director…………...David Lynn
Wedding Hostess…………………Barbara Dean
Treasurer & Membership
    Secretary………………………….Kay Zuelsdorf
Financial Secretary……………….DeeAnn Bellows
Nursery Attendant……………...Jamie Beer
             And many wonderful volunteers!

             Our Connectional Staff
Great Northern District
Superintendent………………………David L. Samelson
CA-NV Bishop…………………………Minerva Carcano

Taize Service
Our Next Taize service will be Weds., Dec.5th at 6:30pm
A Taize service is a contemplative type service which includes prayer and short repetitive refrains. It comes from Taizé which is an ecumenical community in the eastern part of France. Begun in 1940 as shelter for refugees fleeing WWII, it is now made up of over a hundred brothers, both Catholics and Protestants from various backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations. The community is a representation of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples. The Taizé community has developed a tradition of prayer including the short repetitive refrains and silent meditation that are part of the service. All are invited to attend.

Time is flying by and it’s already December and that means it’s time for our crazy gift exchange and delicious Christmas potluck. We will be meeting at the home of Gail and Charles on Friday, December 7th. Please bring your very special holiday potluck item for the gathering time or the meal, table service and cold beverage of choice. Coffee and tea will be provided. As for that crazy gift, it can be of the “White Elephant” variety or candy or whatever, but please don’t spend too much money, this is for fun and cheap!! To find the location, you’ll need to travel down Highway 49 south of Grass Valley. Detailed directions will be available at church on December 2nd, or you can givethe church office a call at 265-2797. See you on Friday, December 7th at 6pm for a fun Christmas party.

   We’ve been hearing the siren call of Christmas since before Halloween. Commercials for the newest toys, shiny new cars wrapped with big bows, magazines insisting that even you and I can have a stunning home at Christmas. Christmas begins to seem like a chore, fraught with disappointments and annoying carols. Then I remember Advent, this time of preparation before Christmas. Ah yes, we need to prepare for Christmas, and mixing Halloween masks with fake pine trees is not a good preparation!
    We have scriptures and songs that are especially fitting for Advent. Songs of hope, peace, love and joy suitable for lighting Advent candles. Scriptures of people yearning for salvation and deliverance and finding that God is keeping God’s promises. Listen again to them:
“Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee….” (Hymn #196)
    “He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free; to take away transgression, and rule in equity.” (Hymn #203)
    “On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise, the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes, to guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace; O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!” (Hymn #209)
    “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God ap-pear.” (Hymn #211)
    “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has shined.” (Matthew 4:16 NRSV)
    “The people were on the tiptoe of expectation, all wondering about John, whether perhaps he was the Messiah….” (Luke 3:15 NEB)
    “For in the tender compassion of our God the morning sun will rise upon us, to shine on those who live in darkness, under the cloud of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 NEB)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth….” (John 1:14 RSV)
    May our Advent be deep this year, touching our inner most selves with wonder.

— Pastor Kris

Interfaith Food Ministry

At our November church council meeting, we voted to close our food closet and to join with the Interfaith Food Ministry (IFM) in order to better serve our community. This is an exciting opportunity for us to work ecumenically to help feed the food insecure people of Nevada County!

At that same meeting, the church council also voted to donate $750 from the food closet monies to IFM. As the check was presented to the Board members at IFM they actually cheered! There is a great need for donations because of the large number of people served for Thanksgiving (over 1,500!). They remarked that God provides!

I will be our “initial” church contact person as begin this exciting—and much needed– ministry. Several of you have mentioned that you would like be involved with this ministry and that seems to be the true spirit of Nevada City UMC! There are many volunteer opportunities available at IFM from “gleaning” at the local food stores, packing, distribution, interviewing, and receptionist. The IFM website (www.interfaithfoodministry.org) provides a wealth of information (including a monthly newsletter that you can sign up to receive) as well as a volunteer form to complete on line. Please let me know if you want to help, complete the online volunteer form and we will set a date to go over and have an official tour and orientation of the IFM facility.

As we are busy buying gifts for our families and friends, decorating our houses, celebrating this blessed season, please stop and remember that many in our community are homeless or living in poverty and need our help. One way you can give this holiday season is by giving a monetary donation to IFM as indicated on our “Christmas Season” form attached to the Sunday

CHRISTMAS OUTREACH MINISTRY

There is much to do to accomplish another successful Christmas Outreach Ministry to our community. We need you to sign up to brings gifts for families, purchase needed groceries to fill bags for each family, bake cookies or make some fudge, be here to help when you can with sorting December 20th, packing December 21st and distribution on Saturday, December 22nd. Maybe you have some good used clothing that has been outgrown, or toys that your children or grandchildren no longer use. Do stop and check out all the information and schedules posted near the nursery and help where you can.

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
OPEN HOUSE

Again this year we will have music in our beautifully decorated sanctuary, cookies and hot cider and our Craft Faire in Fellowship Hall and Santa and his elves in the Joseph Room. We would appreciate some help with these events – bring cookies, help in the kitchen, help with the Santa photos, help shoppers at the Craft Faire, be a greeter with George in the Sanctuary, etc. Info posted near the kitchen in Fellowship Hall.

SERRV

As in other Christmases, we have a SERRV Table included in our Craft Faire. The items for sale there come from the Nonprofit SERRV in New Windsor, Maryland which buys hand arts from "artisan run cooperatives" in developing countries, and sells them in the US through volunteers to provide a market for their goods ... food for families, school for kids, and dignity and pride for all involved. The baskets come from Ananse Village, in Fort Bragg, which supports 15 basket weavers in Ghana, and a girls school. The chocolate comes from "Divine Chocolate", a company in the UK, co-owned by the cocoa bean growers in Ghana, giving them a livelihood well beyond just what the price of their beans would bring. Come take a look at the beautiful items from around the world.

Once again this Christmas season, there is a Christmas Card Tree in the library area. Please consider bringing a card with your greeting for our church family. There are ribbon, scissors, and a hole punch to accommodate the process. One card to all the wonderful people who participate in our church life may save you a little money which you can donate to Christmas Outreach, Poinsettias, Interfaith Food Ministry or another great cause this Christmas time of giving!

Save the Date…..

All women are invited to a Christmas luncheon at the Royal Dragon Chinese Buffet on Wednesday, December 19th at 12 noon. Details to follow in an upcoming Sunday bulletin.

PLEASE NOTE

If you wish to have a contribution to NCUMC be counted for your 2018 tax purposes, it must be dated by December 31, 2018 and received at church by noon Monday, January 7th 2019.

Did You Know…..

If you are looking for new ideas on how to celebrate the holiday season, there are several suggestions on the United Methodist Church’s website. Go to umc.org. Click on “What We Believe.” Go to “United Methodist Topics.” Scroll down to “Advent and Christmas” and click on it. There you will find resources to help celebrate the Christmas season.

The Extended Cabinet of the California- Nevada Annual Conference has issued a statement in support of the “One Church Plan” that will be discussed at the Special Conference in 2019. To read the statement, go to www.cnumc.org. The statement will be there on the home page.

The Christmas season is here! There are many opportunities for you to be involved here at NCUMC (Victorian Christmas, Christmas Outreach, etc.). Please sign up to help out where you can!

2018 Victorian Christmas Open House

Sundays, December 9^th & 16^th from noon til 6pm

Wednesdays, December 12^th & 19^th from 5 til 9pm

Special Music -- Beautiful Crafts -- Santa -- Coffee & Cookies

A Warm Spot and Restrooms