If you prefer to print the newsletter, you may download it here Printable Dec 2020 Here is also a printable December calendar: 12 2020 Calendar
Pastor’s Perspective
By Dave Hendrickson, Lead Pastor
“Home for the Holidays”
“Home for the holidays” has taken on a whole new meaning in 2020. This is the time in which many are usually making arrangements to be with friends and family. But many of those plans have not been made or are being cancelled. With the worldwide COVID-19 Pandemic, many of us find ourselves quite literally “Home for the Holidays.”
To protect the older population, we are being asked not to go, “over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house.” Unfortunately, for me and my family there is no “headin’ for Pennsylvania for some homemade pumpkin pie.” Many of us will have to be content with, “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” Which will leave many saying, “I’ll have a blue Christmas without you; I’ll be so blue just thinking about you; Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree; Won’t be the same, if you’re not here with me.”
Hopefully, the song lyrics made you chuckle and put a smile on your face. But let us not stop there…let me share a few more lyrics with you…
When you feel like a “ransom captive…that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear” remember the good news of Isaiah (7:14), “Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” For the parents who have had their kids home for the last eight months, we pray for you, “Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright…sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”
And as the days grow shorter and the nights longer remember, “A thrill of hope-the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!…Truly He has taught us to love one another, His law is love and his gospel is peace.”
Just like the shepherds, let us find ways to “Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere…that Jesus Christ is born”! For even in this time of face masks, social distancing, and quarantine, there is a message of “Joy to the World! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing…He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonder of his love.”
Therefore, as we say good-bye to 2020 and hello to 2021, please know, the LvCC staff, elders, and myself are looking forward to the day when we can say, “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O Come ye, O come ye to” Community Church so we may praise his name and sing, “O come, let us adore Him! O come, let us adore Him! O come, let us adore Him – Christ, the Lord”!
Have a safe and Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year!
Elder Meeting Highlights
At the Nov 3 meeting, Jaime Boaglio met with the Elders to discuss the proposed 2021 Budget. Discussion continued at the Nov. 17 meeting. Details were solidified for the Dec. 6 in-person worship service. Norm also presented a slate of proposed Trustees and terms for the Elders’ consideration. ~ph
In-Person Worship
After much discussion among Elders and Staff, it was decided to proceed with a “trial” in-person worship service on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 9:30 a.m. The online worship will still be shown at that time.
The in-person service will be different than usual. First of all, the number who may attend is limited, so you will need to pre-register by Friday, Dec. 4 here: https://reopen.church/r/9txiBjtq. In order to remain safe and healthy, everyone will be required to wear masks the entire time and will be seated in assigned places that are socially-distanced, there will be no congregational singing and no socializing before or after the service. If you are not comfortable attending in person, you are encouraged to watch from home.
Finances Update
During this unprecedented time of disruption, the church is continuing to be extremely active in mission and ministry with our members and in the community. We are all part of those missions and ministries and, as we enter the final month of the year, the LvCC leadership is asking you to continue your generous support of our finances. We are currently in a deficit position and would like to end the year in the black. Thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity as we meet the needs of our members and our communities.
OCTOBER FINANCIALS
YTD INCOME: $462,509
TRUSTEES VISION: $13,000
YTD EXPENSES: $534,872
DIFFERENCE: -$59,363
Online Giving Fees Payment Option
You now have the option of choosing to pay the fees charged to the church for the processing of debit/credit cards and ACH transfers. The program will calculate the fee based on your contribution amount, and give you the option of increasing your contribution to cover it. Thank you for giving this your consideration when you use the online giving option!
End of Year Contribution Guidelines
As you begin year-end tax planning for your family or business, don’t forget that donations to Longview Community Church qualify as a tax deductible charitable contribution. All cash or other asset contributions for 2020 must be received in the Church Office by 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2020 or post-marked no later than December 31, 2020. In addition, all online gifts must have an “approved” status by December 31, 2020 in order to receive contribution credit for 2020. Any gift received or post-marked on or after January 1, 2021 will be credited to 2021. If you have any questions regarding a year-end gift, please call Jackie Erickson, Bookkeeper or Jaime Boaglio, Treasurer. Also, please remember to notify the Church Office if you had an address change this year.
All of the Staff appreciate the sacrifices made by each and every one of you this year!
Youth: “Plugged In”
By Kyle Beasley, Interim Director of Youth
We had a great time with paintball last month. Our youth pastor made a great target! All of the programs and activities listed below are for anyone in middle school or high school (grades 6-12). The best way to stay informed with what is happening in our youth group is to sign up for our weekly email.
https://longviewcommunitychurch.breezechms.com/form/PluggedInNews
You can also contact our youth pastor, Kyle Beasley, if you have any questions at (360)430-9701 or beasleywa@gmail.com.
ZOOM Youth Group—Wednesday, 7:00pm
Meet us on Zoom each week for games, worship, and study of God’s Word online. We will be doing a Christmas series called Merry Christmas to Me. Download the Zoom app to your phone or computer and then use the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/92788588628?pwd=djU5RHBmNU02bnRzZkZySzQxckc2Zz09 or open Zoom and enter the following information: Meeting ID: 927 8858 8628 Password: 014494
Youth Group LIVE—Sunday, 6:00pm-7:30pm
We are meeting in person, but we still need to follow the COVID-19 guidelines—masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing. Please do not come if you are symptomatic (fever, cough, chills). We will be doing games, singing and hanging out IN PERSON!! We have started a new series called Doubt It!
Christmas Party—Sunday, December 13, 6:00pm-8:00pm
We will be watching a Christmas movie and decorating Christmas cookies with our individually packaged cookie kits. (We’re stealing that idea from the women’s ministry. Thanks, ladies!) Come dressed in your ugly Christmas sweaters and Christmas pajamas!
KidMin
By Mary Gronseth, Interim Director of Children’s Ministry
Calling all Children and Youth! Start practicing your act for the Academy Awards Night. You can share a special talent you have (singing, dancing, or other special talent, or whatever you can share in 2 minutes.) You will have someone record it and send it to us (we’ll get you that info) by January 17, 2021. We want to give you plenty of time to practice so you can be the Academy Award Winner at LvCC! Sooo, start thinking and practicing and watch for more info. We will be showing it on January 31, 2021 online for everyone to view. There will be amazing prizes so don’t miss out!
Questions? Contact Kyle or Mary.
Kids you may have already received or you will be receiving ‘CHRISTMAS IN A BOX’. This is a box of activities for you and your family to do together once a week during the four weeks of Advent. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas when we prepare for Christ’s Birth. I am excited to hear about your activities! I hope you will send me pictures. Have fun working together with your family and learning more about the Birth of Jesus and why that is important for our lives today.
Women’s Ministry News
“Servants Among Us”
By Dolphine Mack
My reading today in Scripture, and also a book, focused my thoughts on “servanthood”, and then gratitude for the servants whom I see around me. I’ll name a few tell you why. They will be surprised!
Dee Dalgarno: How many years has she managed and served us in the church library? Even now she is managing and encouraging us to read.
Karen Picket and Sandy Rountree: They have spent many years hosting and organizing our museum. Both have also written numerous articles for our newsletter highlighting the church history. We depend on their faithfulness and wisdom.
Martha Collins: She helps cook and distribute the meals Paul plans for four different locations EVERY MONTH! (Community House, CHESS, Homeless Camp, Food for Change). These are big groups, and are in addition to the thousands of Saturday M25:35 meals which have been prepared, packaged and picked up here for the past several months (these food servants are nameless here, but represent hours of work, week after week).
I thank God and offer a tribute for the servant hearts in our midst.
New Women’s Video Communication
Patty Howland will be presenting a new weekly video communication called “Weekly Word for Women”, to be posted on Facebook and YouTube Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m., beginning Nov. 30. Each week she will look at what the Bible has to say about various words such as anxiety, loneliness, hope, compassion and others, sharing words of encouragement for our women. Please check it out and feel free to suggest additional words to feature! Here’s a link to the first video about “anxiety”:
https://www.facebook.com/109595110389321/videos/320234118943621
Library Notes
By Dee Dalgarno
Many wonderful Christmas books for both adults and children are now on display and available for check-out in the Church Library. Checkout is easy, just follow instructions on the Check Out Desk. Library is open the same hours as the Church Office.
This and That
Would you like to have an old-fashioned Pen Pal? There are many people in our congregation, young and old, who would love to receive a letter or card from others and who probably would enjoy an opportunity to brighten someone else’s day by sending one! The only requirement is that you use “snail mail” and actually mail a hand-written or typed note or letter regularly (whenever you and your “pal” decide that works for you). We will compile a list of those interested and then will help you connect with your pal(s)! Please call the Church Office or send an email to admin @longviewcommunitychurch.org if interested.
Christmas Cookies Needed! If you’ve been wanting to bake Christmas cookies, but have no guests to eat them, please consider donating them to Paul so he can take them to the homeless camp and other places he serves food. Please bring bagged cookies to the Church Office to be shared with our community.
Advent/Christmas Events
While we are limited in what we can do this Advent season, we are still planning a couple things to make it special!
Dec. 20, 9:30 a.m. Online Lessons and Carols
Dec. 24, 4-6 p.m. Journey to Bethlehem open-house walkthrough (tentative). See and experience the story of Christmas at several stations as you walk through the Chapel and Sanctuary. Wearing of masks required and social-distancing will be observed.
We are collecting NEW blankets for CHESS (Core Health Extended Support Services). This facility houses the more medically vulnerable of the homeless population who are transitioning to housing. If you would like to help, please purchase a new blanket(s) and either drop it off at the facility at 748 14th Avenue, Longview, or at the church. Paul will be sure they get to CHESS.
New Sign-In Procedure
We are asking that anyone who visits the church wear a mask and sign in at the main entrance. This is so we know what areas need to be sanitized and also to help with contact tracing, should it be necessary. Groups who meet regularly will be given a separate form to complete each time they meet. Thank you for your cooperation as we work towards reopening in a safe manner!
Dear Church Family…Thank you, our church family, for all your phone calls, cards and prayers, first when I crushed my elbow, and then at Paul’s passing into the arms of Jesus. It has been quite a Fall, but it is amazing how events held special blessings as well. God is so good.
Love in Christ, Barbara Huntington, Darby and Heidi
David and I have been blessed to deliver poinsettias and see the joy they bring. This year we were recipients…and oh the joy and love we felt as Roberta and Rich Baird presented us with our festive poinsettia! Thank you, Longview Community Church for continuing this caring time-honored tradition.
Love and gratitude, The Hicks
Address Change:
Carolyn Feasey Kirkpatrick
350 N 190th St Apt 316
Shoreline WA 98133-3883
Carolyn recently donated several copies of the drawing of the church she made for the 75th anniversary of the church. They are available in the Church Office, while they last, for anyone who would like one.
FISH Report for November:
Although we only served for three days during Thanksgiving week, we served 130 adults including 3 homeless, and 72 children! A BIG thank you to all the wonderful workers who make this local mission possible. It does take a village to make this week happen!
DECEMBER MISSIONS FOCUS:
Salvation Army
https://longview.salvationarmy.org/