The Mountain View November 2003

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven on Earth.

If you shop at Albertsons, even occasionally, you can help the Youth Group out by getting a store card from Patty Lambdin. Each time you make a purchase just have them scan your card. Albertsons will pay our Youth Group 2% of the total purchase amount from your card. This is an easy way to help our Youth Group out. Thanks for all of you who support the Youth of our church with your card when you shop at Albertsons.

The Worship Committee is planning a Veterans Day Observance on Sunday, November 9, at both services.

As part of this observance we are asking for photos of any church members who have served in the US Armed Forces. Photos from the time of service, in uniform, would be especially welcome. Please also include dates of service, branch of service, and highest rank achieved.

We also welcome pictures of children, grandchildren, and other relatives of church members who are currently serving in the military.

Please give the photos to Mitch Lambdin on Sundays, or e-mail files to him at mcl3086@hotmail.com

Variety Night in November will be sponsored by the Worship Committee, and we will be making Advent Wreaths for families to use during this year’s Advent Season.

The fun will begin at 7:00 p.m. and cost is yet to be determined. We will be making announcements in all services prior the Variety Night, making everyone aware of the cost.

This year’s Hanging of the Greens will be done on Sunday, November 30^th, at 6:00 p.m. We will have a potluck dinner followed by the hanging of the Christmas and Advent decorations, then wrap it up with a short scripture and Carol Sing.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend and help kick off the Advent Season!!

Luke, Emily and I were a little apprehensive about going to serve sandwiches at St. Vincent De Paul’s. But when we got there, we met Sharon and Fred Murphy and their granddaughter, Alex. That made us feel much better. Then when we went in the kitchen and saw Phil Lynch, Terry and Perry Lee Holzworth, and Don and Peggy Porter, we felt right at home! We all had our assigned jobs and it was very easy. It was fun and we felt like “the hands of Christ” and plan to go again. This opportunity is available every month, (contact Peggy Porter) so just thought I’d let you know how it was for us! - Nancy Peralez

The Worship Committee is asking for donations to help decorate the Altar during the Advent season.

For $10 per plant, Poinsettias can be placed in memory or honor of someone special in your life. These plants will be cared for and displayed throughout the Advent season. After the Christmas Eve service those donating plants will be able to take the plants home, or we will take them to a nursing home or other facility for others to enjoy.

Any excess funds received will be put into the “Altar Fund” for the purchase of future arrangements.

Forms will be available throughout November for you to sign up for Poinsettia donations, or you can talk to Mitch Lambdin. He can be reached at 566-3697, or at mcl3086@hotmail.com.

This year the UMW Cookie Walk will be held on December 13-14. On Saturday, the 13^th, it will be held in the sanctuary from 9AM – 4PM and open to the public. On Sunday, the 14^th, we will have what is remaining on tables around the sides of the sanctuary. Between services you may purchase the cookies you want. Boxes will be provided both days. Please get out your favorite cookie recipes and help by baking cookies for the sale. Friday night, the 12^th, we will set up from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Bring your cookies to the church at that time. Inform as many people as possible of the event. Flyers will be distributed closer to the walk so that you may pass them out.

Most of the time money is a hard topic to discuss. Not for God. There are over 100 references to money in the Bible. This time of year tends to make us feel uncomfortable. How much money do we plan to give to the church in the next year? We call it a pledge, financially supporting the church, a stewardship drive. The Bible refers to it as tithing.

Money is just one of many blessings God has given us. Lots of times we wish we had more of it, but we have all we really need. Our way of thanking God for supplying our needs can be through tithing. "Then Jacob made a vow saying, 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you.' " (Gen. 28:20-22)

God wants us to give back to Him. And for that, of course, He will reward us. "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." (Malachi 3:10)

We are a growing church, possibly like the church in Corinth. Paul told them as he tells us, "But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (2 Cor. 8:7)

Can we make a vow like Jacob did? Can we respond like the church in Corinth did? If God continues to give to us, can we give back to Him? Think about it. Pray about it.

Potlucks have become rather confusing lately! So the Administrative Council decided to have our potluck lunches quarterly instead of monthly. The next potluck will be on January 4 after the second service with our church conference held directly after lunch. The dates for the following potlucks will be put on the calendar and well-advertised so we call can attend. Thank you!!

As we cleaned out the kitchen on October 4, we found that we are running low on both regular and decaf coffee. We would appreciate donations of both kinds of coffee. Binging this coffee will help to keep expenses down. During coffee hour, a box will be on the counter for any monetary contributions. This donation will help with the expense of cups, plates, silverware, napkins, etc. We thank you for any and all donations.

We are looking for someone who enjoys spending time with children. We are looking for someone to commit to working one evening a week and every Sunday. Nursery care is needed Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30-noon. Must be 21 years of age. This is a paid position. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass this information on. Questions and inquiries to Jim Wilder, 280-0521.

Thank You!!

Thank you to Manny Peralez and Tom Whaley
for spending many hours getting light to our driveway sign!!

Also thank you to those who did all the digging:
Dale Fayerweather, Terry Holzworth, Luke Peralez,
Shane and Scott Reinhard.

The UMW is putting together layettes for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The goal is 25 kits in time for Christmas. Here is a list of items that are needed. We already have enough diaper pins and baby washcloths. If you are able to donate, please put items in the plastic box in the church foyer.

Item	Already Received
Cloth diapers (6 per kit)	6 sets
Shirts (3-6 mos./ 2 per kit / can be onesies	12 sets
Gowns (3-6 mos./ 2 per kit / no legs	1 set
Sweater (3-6 mos./ 1 per kit	None
Receiving Blankets (2 per kit)	3 sets

In the gospel of John we are told that Christ said, "I am come that you might have life and have life more abundantly."

Have you ever said to yourself in times of stress and trouble, "Stop this merry-go-round. I want to get off"?

The story is told of a man who was delivering a load of hay to a farmer. As he was going down the road he came to a place where the road ran through a long tunnel. After looking at the tunnel for a time he turned around and started back down the road. Wondering why his load of hay was not delivered, the farmer went looking for it. To his surprise he found the load of hay being returned to its point of origin. He stopped the driver and asked him why he had turned around rather than deliver the hay as promised. The driver said, "Well, sir. I came to that tunnel and after carefully looking at it decided I couldn't get the load of hay through the tunnel. I know I could fit the load into the start of the tunnel but I was worried about getting through the other end of the tunnel - it looked a lot smaller."

Can optical illusions cloud our vision and our ability to enjoy life? Do we stop short of our goal because we are confused about the "other end?" Do we spend hours worrying about things over which we have no control? Do we spend sleepless nights worrying about things over which we have no control? This doesn't sound like the "abundant life," does it?

Maybe worry gives us a sense of doing something in situations where we feel life is beyond our control. Most times the worry is about something in the future which make it even more difficult. It's like trying to build a bridge before we actually get to the stream.

In Matthew 6:26-34 Jesus is quoted as saying, "If God can clothe the grass of the field can He not clothe you?" Jesus goes on to say, "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own."

To live the abundant life takes courage, faith and help along the way. Sometimes being able to talk about our fears and worries to someone else can help us gain perspective and confidence. The Christian Life Center is a ministry offered by the church to provide an opportunity for you to talk out your troubles and concerns in a confidential setting. Call the church office for an appointment or to talk to me. Fliers are available in the hallway with further information about this ministry.

11/8 Larry Durtschi	11/24 Linda Hartney
11/11 Donna Bolton	11/24 Justin Troester
11/11 Josh Coe	11/24 Tasia Wu
11/15 Cindy Hayes	11/25 Karyn Coward
11/15 Tom Whaley	11/26 Dallas Curtiss
11/16 Kelli Maakestad	11/26 Polly Lynch
11/18 Charles Haden	11/27 Courtney Briggs
11/18 Steve Lewis	11/28 Pam Lynch
11/18 Luke Peralez	11/28 Peggy Robison
11/20 Virginia Berry	11/28 Roxane Durtschi
11/21 Russell Pupunu	11/29 Stella Chapman

October was an action packed month at Youth! We started out with a terrific Bible lesson from Nicole about music and what it says to us spiritually. We also broke up into small groups to revise our Covenant for the year. Melissa made a new poster with the revisions. Thanks a bunch! It is posted in the Youth room, so please be sure to read it and sign it if you have not already done so.

Sheri Sturtevant came to Youth on the 8th with all her art supplies and creativity and helped us decorate gourds and baby pumpkins provided by the Lambdins. The artwork was awesome! Thanks for your help and talent, Sheri! They were taken to South Valley Care Center on the 22nd for the residents to enjoy.

We had a joint activity night on the 15th with our friends at Trinity UMC Youth. We all met at the Crazy Corn Maze (along with about 500 other people who had the same idea at 7 p.m. that evening!) to get lost and then found again in the corn maze. Afterwards, we went to the Lambdins for hot cider and chocolate milk, and other goodies. We got warm around the fire pit and roasted, or in some cases "burned to a crisp," some marshmallows. We had a visitor, a very spooky fellow, who followed us home from the maze, and handed out candy. Thanks for everyone who brought treats and helped with the cleanup. And thanks to Jim Wilder for helping with transportation and supervision.

October ended with a fun night as we celebrated October birthdays and went to a Haunted House. Thanks to the Birthday Committee for the birthday celebrations for Manny and Pastor Steve.

Some exciting news! We got a letter from the young man we are sponsoring in Ecuador, John Peter Jimenez Macias. He told us, through a translator, a little bit about his family and his life in his home town. You can see his letter on the Youth bulletin board. Now it is our turn to write about us and to include a picture. Remember to bring your money to donate toward the $28 sponsorship amount each month. Collection cups with his picture and information on it are now available. See Patty for one. If each of brought 50 cents a week, we would have the amount we need. We will be taking a Christmas donation as well.

If we have not yet received your Youth emergency form, please get one from a Youth leader. We need to have one on file for you to attend any of our activities off church grounds. If you bring a guest, remember to pick one up ahead of time for them as well.

We will be having a light dinner every Wednesday night from 7-7:30 p.m. We are taking turns as individuals and families to bring these meals, so if you want to help out, see one of the Youth leaders to sign up. Light meals means something like sloppy joes and chips, and punch for instance - nothing fancy.

All Youth in grades 6-12 are welcome to attend Youth Group on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 until 8:30. See Manny and Nancy Peralez. Pastor Steve and Tracy Reinhard, or Mitch and Patty Lambdin if you have any questions.

Hilltop is looking for a nursery worker for our evening activities. If possible could you please list this ad in your bulletin and newsletter or perhaps post it on your church bulletin board.

Hilltop United Methodist Church is looking for someone who enjoys spending time with children. We are looking for two individuals to commit to working three nights a week. Nursery care is needed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and some Mondays from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Must be 21 years of age. This is a paid position. Questions and serious inquiries to Barb Hurley 801-571-5777.

Jennifer Strickland–

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