SCRIP — FIRST STOP for Holiday Shopping!

Gift Cards are not just to give as gifts. As you plan holiday shopping, please consider buying gift cards for the stores at which you will shop and use them instead of cash. You’ll be donating to the church at the same time! We’re not asking you to spend money that you are not already spending.

Online Ordering Now Available go to www.shopwithscrip.com

Register using the NUMC church code:
34ECFECD22752

Place your order no later than 1:00 pm on the Monday of any given week, and your Scrip Cards will be available for pick-up on the following Sunday
morning. Pay for cards when you pick them up.

Thank you to those continuing to make routine purchases on Sunday mornings. If you have not participated yet, please consider doing so. Questions may be directed to Anita Haynes at 860-712-9991. Thank you!

BE READY: Walk in the Light

This past Sunday's sermon is now on our website for your listening pleasure.

Dramatic Christmas Musical

The Little Star: A Christmas Fantasy by Georgene Meddows will be performed at North United Methodist Church in Manchester, CT on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 7:00 pm with a Carol Sing to follow. Refreshments will be served. Please join us to celebrate this Holiday Season. Invite your family and friends, people love to be invited. For Facebook connected folks you can also invite through the event we have created there.

New Sermon Online

The sermon from the November 21 service at North United Methodist Church is now on our website for your listening pleasure.

Order Your Pointsettias

Poinsettia cost remains $19.00

ORDERING DEADLINE is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5th

The poinsettias will decorate the chancel. We hope you will leave your plants on the chancel until Christmas Sunday, December 26. You may order by phone by calling Doris Timbrell at 860-649-6494, or you may fill out an Order Form which can be found at church.

Thanks For a Great Auction

A HUGE Thank you to SO many people for making our Church Auction such a great success!
OVER $12,000 Raised!!

Hosted by our Auction Chairperson, Anita Haynes, and led by Joe LeBlanc, our very energized auctioneer, it was a fabulous evening of fellowship!

Thank you to SO many many people who helped by: donating services and goods, soliciting donations, cataloging all donations, making programs and auction paddles, baking desserts, hauling all the items to the venue and setting it all up, cashing people out, inviting friends and family, and bidding on items,… just to name a few tasks.

“Every Generous act of giving… is from above,
coming down from the Father…” - James 1:17

BOILER REPLACEMENT COMPLETED!

North Church is amazing! God has worked in our lives to allow us to install a brand new boiler for the church that will serve us and our children and grandchildren for many years to come. As cold weather approaches, we will be toasty no matter what the weather is like, and we will be saving energy besides.

We appreciate the many generous donations for the boiler fund -- it demonstrates how much the church means to all of us, and that we can always count on each other in times of need. Special thanks go to Carole and Jim Williamson for their guidance and technical expertise and John Wilks for his help with the pledge drive.

Jan Miller — President, Board of Trustees

Tidings and Sermons

Our web site now has the November Tidings monthly newsletter as well as the October 24th sermon for your listening pleasure!

Increasing Our Standard Of Giving

Before John Wesley became the founder of the Methodist Church he was a teacher at Oxford University back in the 1700’s. When he began his career he was paid 30 pounds per year - in those days a lot of money. His living expenses were 28 pounds - so he gave 2 pounds away.

The next year his income doubled - but he still managed to live on 28 pounds - so he gave away 32 pounds. The third year he earned 90 pounds - lived on 28 - and gave away 62. The fourth year he earned 120 pounds - lived on 28 - and gave away 92. One year his income was a little over 1,400 pounds - he lived on 30 and gave away nearly all of the 1,400 pounds.

Wesley felt that with increasing income, what should rise is not the Christian’s standard of living but the standard of giving. Increasing our standard of giving. What a great Christian man and what a great lesson he taught, a lesson we can all learn from today.

The MACC Food Pantry

Summer has taken its toll on the MACC food pantry. With fewer food drives and a higher demand, the food pantry shelves are almost bare.

We especially need: meat soups, beef stew, canned meat, pasta sauce, cereal, corn, peas, tomatoes, baked beans, baking mixes and coffee, diapers sizes 4 and 5, corned beef hash, chili with beans, canned white potatoes, juice, rice/pasta mixes, jelly, mixed vegetables, spinach, clam chowder, peanut butter, canned pasta (ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, etc.), condiments, tuna, dry boxed potatoes, dry red kidney beans, mayonnaise, gelatin/pudding mixes, ramen noodles, sugar, green beans, beets, beans (black, white, pinto, etc.), chicken soup, yams, snacks, hot chocolate, pasta, carrots.

Thanks to all who have been faithfully donating.

Remember: Marlene accepts monetary donations and is happy to do the shopping for the shelter if you are unable.

Thank you for your continued generosity.

Join In This Saturday

The Fall Work Day to spruce up the church and grounds is scheduled for Saturday, October 23 from 9:00-12:00 a.m. The Trustees would appreciate any help you can give to rake leaves, clean up the grounds, sort closets in the building, do some painting, etc. We want to be sure we head into winter with some of these fall chores taken care of.

Please join us even if you can only help a little or you can't stay the whole time.

If you have questions, please see or call Jan Miller, 860-646-6619.

10-Fold: Hurry to be counted today. Just one more day tomorrow.

CROP WALK 2010

October 17 at 12 noon

Members are invited to walk with Pastor Laurel to raise money to feed the hungry through MACC Charities here in town and worldwide through Church World Service. Contributions can be solicited and made on line, so that members with internet access do not have to worry about tracking money. Walkers please speak with Pastor Laurel. The walk is approximately 4.5 miles, starting at South UMC and ending at MACC on Main Street. There is a shorter walk for those who cannot make the 4.5 miles. That walk is actually half a mile. Volunteers are needed for support (Traffic control, water stations etc.) To volunteer, please speak with Pastor Laurel or Florence Wollaston.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS 2009/2010

Meetings: Sundays at 6:30 pm in the Memorial Room

The Adult Bible Class spent the greater part of the 2009/2010 year studying Genesis. During the last month the class we looked at the letters of James and Peter. The class met every Sunday night at 6:30. Much time was put into discussion of what the bible meant then and how it affects us now. The average attendance was eight people.

This study covered the creation and God's relationship with man before and after the fall. It continues with God's establishment of the people of God through the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We finished with the story of Joseph. This was a good story of faith and how it works in ones life to affect those around you.

The letters of James and Peter dealt with the problems of the early church. It shows how Christians have always had to fight the weakening of our faith. Then and now we have had to deal with Gnosticism and antichristian teachings. Both James and Peter spent much time in their letters defining what being a Christian means and what we must guard against.

The class felt studying the letters was time well spent and will continue with the letters of Peter this fall. After this we will take a look at the gospel of Mark.

New members always welcome!

Respectfully,
John B. Chadwick (860-643-0943)

10-Fold: Only A Few Days Away!

As you have heard over the last few months, 10-Fold is an online interactive event that will highlight 10 projects, supported by The United Methodist Church, that are making a difference. In just a few days, starting on October 10th, when you come to 10-Fold.org you will hear, live, from people all over the world who are working to feed the hungry, heal the sick, or help spread the Word. And with a few easy steps you will be able to trigger support for these projects on your behalf.

Here is what you need to know:

--Starting Sunday, October 10th through Tuesday, October 19th, visit 10-Fold.org and register your interest in the daily highlighted project to trigger a $1 donation on your behalf. And while you are there, take part in one of the online activities to learn more about the project.

--Visit the site daily to learn about all 10 projects and secure support for each one.

--Tell family and friends so we can multiply this effort and help secure up to $10,000 of support for each project.

It’s now up to you. Starting on October 10th, visit www.10-Fold.org, register your interests, and help multiply God’s work.

Lay Speaking

Hi, my name is Cathy McNeill and I am the new CT/WMA Director of Lay Speaking.

I am reaching out to all of you because we have two Basic classes scheduled with not enough people to take them!

Dalton, MA - October 25 and 30 9:30am - 4:30pm.

Monson, MA - October 16 and 30 9:00am - 3:00pm

Please think about those in your faith communities that have been talking about, or maybe called into this exciting ministry. Now would be a great time to take the classes.

Please call or email me so we can get the books out. The registration forms are:

Basic-Dalton-Oct_2010-2_2_36_05_PM.doc
Basic-Monson-Oct_2010-3_2_36_05_PM.doc

Cathy McNeill

cathymcneill@ymail.com

(860) 230-6804

Knitting Ministry resumes this Monday, September 20th

The Ministry was on a break for the summer. Regular meetings will resume on September 20, 2010 at 1:00 pm and the first and third Monday of each month there after. We thank all our members for their work this year. We have a nice supply of prayer shawls, and a good head start on lap rugs for the VNA Hospice Christmas baskets. We have made baby blankets, hats and booties for MMH birthing center, and red bed blankets for the MMH ICU . This fall we will be considering some additional charities to which we may donate . New members are always welcome as are items from those who prefer to work at home.

For more information contact:
Paula Adamczyk 860-646-6609;
Sue Derby 860-643-4589;
Diana Custer 860-875-9805.

MACC Moment

Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for the overwhelming response to our Community Pantry and soup kitchen‘s needs this past year.

You filled our pantry, cellar, store house and soup kitchen storage many times over. Your generosity fed over 2,000 people each month for over a year and no one was turned away.
The MACC Food Pantry is doing very well right now but a few items are in short supply:

Baked Beans
Condiments
Juice
Mac & Cheese
Canned potatoes
Soup: Chicken and Chowders
Ramen Noodles
Canned meats
Diapers
Jelly & Jam
Jell-O & pudding

I want everyone at North United Methodist Church to know how much we appreciate your support of programs at MACC. Please be assured that your kindness is so important to us.

Blessings to all.

Sincerely,
Dale Doll, Director of Food Services, MACC Charities

Invite!

Who would you like to bring this Sunday? The entire month of September is Open House month in the United Methodist Church. So let's all invite someone else to perhaps the most important activity that we engage in -- care of the soul and joy-filled living.

Huge Indoor Tag Sale

Come check out the tremendous variety at our huge indoor tag sale. Come find things you need. Collect some new treasures at NUMC this Saturday!

Saturday September 11, 2010
8 am to Noon