The Tidings December 2020 - United Church of Christ California
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The Tidings
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
*Christ Centered *Biblical *Compassionate
101 N. Oak, California, MO 65018
Phone: 573-796-4885
December 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk ~
Countdown to Christmas…
It’s hard to believe by the time you read this, we will be
less than four weeks till Christmas. Amazing! As a child,
I couldn’t wait till Christmas. I remember at a very
early age living in Madison, Indiana, sneaking into the
living room one night and slightly tearing into my
presents to see what I was getting and then sealing
them back up again so mom and dad were not wise to
my covert operation. I can’t remember what those
presents were but that was not my only struggle with
the anticipation that leads up to Christmas.
Our sermon series this month for Advent and
Christmas, is called Countdown to Christmas. We are
going to look at variety of prophecies about the
coming of Jesus found in the Old Testament. There are
over 300 prophecies about Jesus found in the OT. The
religious leaders and Jewish people knew these
prophecies and kept waiting for the promised Messiah.
They waited and waited for hundreds of years until
Jesus was born in the little village of Bethlehem.
Thousands of people lived and died and never got to
see the greatest Christmas present of all time. We’ll see
the Plan, the Place, the Presents, The Person, and the
Promise of the meaning of Christmas.
From the Pastor’s Desk—continued
We should be back to in-person worship by December 6th.
The number of cases has continued to decline the last two
weeks which is encouraging. The Consistory continues to
make the safety of our congregation and our community, one
of its top priorities. We continue to pray for many of our
members who have been diagnosed with the virus and who
are recovering from the effects of the virus. We also continue
to pray for our schools, medical workers, and nursing home
residents and staff.
Here is one of the most tender and encouraging images from
the prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah:
“See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a
mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense
accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He
gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his
heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:10,11
May God bless you with his peace and love during this
Christmas and Advent season,
Yours in Christ,
Russ
Be filled with wonder;
Be touched by peace.
California United Church of Christ
November 9, 2020 – Consistory Meeting Highlights
The California UCC Consistory met for its regular monthly meeting No-
vember 9, 2020 via ZOOM. Pastor Cobb opened the meeting with scripture
and prayer.
The minutes of the October 12, 2020 regular meeting and the November 1,
2020 special meeting, Treasurer’s Report, Financial Secretary’s Report,
Stewardship Snapshot and Local Benevolence Report were reviewed and
approved.
Correspondence was received from the newspapers re: Christmas programs
and services. Dates and times of services and programs will be submitted
indicating they will be on-line with in-person to be determined. Correspond-
ence was received from Keith and Paula Selk re: the update/repair for the
outside sign at the back of the church. They had originally paid for that sign
and are willing to pay for the update/repair. Thank you Keith and Paula!
Reports and updates were given by several committees and organizations.
The Worship Committee reported poinsettias have been ordered from
Longfellow’s for the Christmas season. The Building & Grounds Committee
continues to work on updating light fixtures to LED. Youth Group is again
participating in Operation Christmas Child. Boxes were available to be
picked up, filled and returned for distribution. There was no group gathering
to pack boxes this year.
Pastor Cobb reported on activities he performed in October, 2020:
2 worship services California; 2 worship services Salem; 2 missed Sundays
– vacation / Betty’s Dad’s funeral; 14 DVD deliveries; 25 days at office;
3 prayer cells; 1 UCC of California consistory meeting; 3 recordings of
Time of Hope; 2 office visits; 1 Sunday School meeting; 4 Wednesday night
meals; 1 funeral (Justin Trimble); 1 funeral visitation; 8 high school/middle
school sporting events (football, volleyball, baseball, softball); 1 Ministerial
Alliance monthly request; 2 confirmation meetings; 5 signing birthday
cards; 1 Ministerial Alliance meeting (First Christian); 1 UCC Cluster
luncheon at Central UCC, Jefferson City; 7 home/work visits; 1 Layne
Brandes confirmation 10/18/2020; 5 KRLL morning devotions; 2
pre-marital counseling (Deeken/Gratz; Bestgen/Opie); 2
nursing home visits (Ellen Martin & Carol Wolfrum); 1
Brotherhood.
Consistory Highlights—continued
In old business, Rev. Cobb stated we may need to go beyond January, 2021
for his ordination depending on the COVID situation. As COVID cases
continue to rise in Moniteau County we continue to discuss concerns re: in-
person worship services, Sunday School, meetings and extra curricular ac-
tivities at our church. We had originally decided at our special meeting No-
vember 1, that in-person worship and all activities would shut down when
the school shut down. However, since the school is still allowing sports and
other activities, our decision was revisited. It was decided to:
Offer on-line only services for Sunday, November 15 and re-evaluate re-
turning to in-person November 22;
Shut down in-person Sunday School if no in-person worship;
Shut down extracurricular activities until after Thanksgiving;
Allow choir directors and those who participate to decide if they continue
practices and performances;
Recommend adult groups/organizations not meet, but leave the decision
up to their leadership;
Suspend Wednesday night meals/activities until after Thanksgiving.
In new business, the Bueker’s Lawn & Care contract was approved for next
year; the annual meeting date was set for January 31, 2021; nominees were
approved for the Financial Review Committee, Nominating Committee and
Salary Committee. Totenfest will be November 22, 2020 whether in-person
or on-line. Rev. Cobb will be contacting families who have lost loved ones
this past year. Rev. Cobb also shared KRLL has reached out asking our
church to record carols or songs for them to play throughout the Christmas
season.
The next Communion dates are – November 29, 2020 – First Day of Ab-
vent; December 25, 2020 – Christmas.
We continue to keep many members and families in our prayers during this
difficult and uncertain time.
Respectfully submitted,
Lexi Hall, Secretary
STEWARDSHIP SNAPSHOT
October 2020 October 2019
General Fund
Balance Brought Forward $ 57,660.30 $ 62,808.88
Receipts + 24,703.68 + 24,989.81
Disbursements - 22,475.75 - 26,685.87
Balance – October 31 $ 59,888.23 $ 61,112.82
As of October 31, 2020
Building Fund Balance $ 14,417.15 $ 9,054.12
Local Benevolence Fund $ 12,065.13 $ 14,003.33
Memorial Fund Balance $ 8,816.46 $ 11,821.11
Schnuck Endowment Checking $ 119,623.99 $ 10,674.56
Scholarship Fund $ 8,376.61 $ 6,066.80
Youth Fellowship Fund $ 3,822.46 $ 2,807.27
Total OCWM Received $ 3,965.18 $ 8,250.71
Other Benevolent Offerings $ 13,314.00 $ 19,047.80
**The Schnuck Endowment Checking balance is larger this month due to
a $100,000 CD that matured. The amount was not reinvested due to the
low interest rate environment in July. The $100,000 is part of the original
restricted gift and is unable to be expended.
Angel Tree
All the Angels have been passed out!! Thanks to everyone that
helped make that happen. We will still be taking donations to fill
in where needed. Please return the gifts with the Angel number on
the package by December 13th or before if possible.
~ Mary Oesterly 5573-694-2075.
Special Benevolence—December
Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund Offering (formerly Veterans of the Cross) is
an important way of sharing our joy at God’s renewing and life-giving
grace. The offering, which is administered by the United Church Board
for Ministerial Assistance of the Pension boards on behalf of the UCC,
is an expression of joy and gratitude to, and for, those who serve the
church. Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health
premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assis-
tance to the families of clergy and lay employees and Christmas gift
checks to hundreds of annuitants. Your gifts are needed more than ever
to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities
make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your oppor-
tunity to participate in God’s promise of renewal by enabling this minis-
try of compassion and care. Our joy at Christmas is a response to God’s
promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called
to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to
distant neighbors.
An envelope is attached for your offering. Please make checks pay-
able to UCC of California and put Christmas Fund on the memo line.
Christmas Envelope
(in the offering envelopes box) goes to Sunday School to
use for Vacation Bible School and for Camp expenses.
2020
Cradle Roll Keil Mouse
Adley Baker Tate Phoenix
Avery Bolinger Kareigna Pruitt
August Chambers Emelie Reed
Rowyn Hindman Kyson Simmons
Johnny Kubesh Blayke Wilson
Fallon Lawson The Cradle Roll Coordinator is
Milo Milligan Gerri Howard.
Luke 2:17-20
When they had seen him, they
spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this
child, and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds
said to them. But Mary treasured
up all these things and pondered
them in her heart. The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising
God for all the things they had
heard and seen, which were
just as they had been told.
Have a merry
Christmas!
Wishing you peace throughout the
new year!
CHRISTMAS REMINDERS
May the Christmas presents remind you of God’s greatest gift—
His only begotten Son.
May the Christmas candles remind you of Him who is the light of
The world.
May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree on which He died
for you.
May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him who said, “Be of good
cheer.”
May the Christmas feast remind you of Him who is the bread of life.
May the Christmas snow remind you of the cleansing power of
Christ.
May the Christmas bells remind you of the blorious proclamation of
His birth.
May the Christmas carols remind you of His glad
tidings which we are to proclaim to all mankind.
May the Christmas season remind you in every
way of Jesus Christ your King.
(from Church Bulletin Bits #3)Death
We extend our Christian sympathy to the
Family & Friends of Bradley James Kueffer
who passed away November 4, 2020.
May God bless those who mourn in these days.
Thank You
Dear UCC ~ Thank you for the prayers and cards during my
hospital stay. Thank you also for offering to help me out!
~ Harley McDaniel
Baby Announcements
Congratulations to
Brock & Summer Wilson on the birth of their daughter,
Blayke Caroline Wilson,
Blayke was born Friday, October 9, 2020.
Congratulations to
Eric & Lauren Lawson on the birth of their daughter,
Fallon Sloane Lawson.
Fallon was born Saturday, October 31, 2020.December
Lay Readers:
06 Becky Schneider
13 Carole Barbour
20 Alan Chambers
27 Brad Friedrich December 13th—Bell Choir
Children’s December 20th—Cantata
Time: by the Sr. Choir
06 Kendra Hall
13 Ginnie Medlin
20 The Puppets
27 Jo Ann Cantriel
Giving made Easy
Online giving is available!
Follow the E-Giving link on our website:
calmo-ucc.org to give today or set recurring gifts
Please note ~
Salem UCC Cancellations:
The Salem UCC Christmas program &
the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service
have been cancelled
To get access to Right Now Media for you and your family
use the link or text to the number listed below.
Custom Registration Link - https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/
Invite/CALUCC
Read the Bible on your phone.
YouVersion Bible app. You can
download this app for free at
the app store
There is an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting at the
Annunciation Catholic Church, 414 Patrick St., on Mondays at
8 p.m. Contact number: 660-621-2271.
Do you need help with Medicare / Medicaid forms?
Darrell Hendrickson works with the State Health
Insurance Assistance Program CLAIM. He can be
reached at 573-690-4987. You can also call 800-
390-3330 Darrell would also be willing to help
with any other questions about
government assistance. Please give him a call..
For your viewing and listening opportunities of the weekly
worship services, there are two ways of being part of the weekly
services. You may request a cd or dvd from the church office.
Please let Renée know if you are interested in obtaining one of these
versions of the worship service. (796-4885)NOVEMBER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS & OFFICERS
Those present in Zoom meeting were Brett Hall, Lanny Ash, Laura & Steven
Burger, Larry Rohrbach, Carole Barbour, Courtney Cassil, & Judy Burger.
Brett opened the meeting with prayer.
The minutes of the October meeting were approved. The treasurer's report was
approved.
Sunday School teachers can decide if they wish to do Zoom Sunday School
classes while church is only online.
The benevolence organization for this month is the Rape & Abuse Center of
Jefferson City
Grace Living was introduced as a possible benevolence project for 2021. Grace
Living is an outreach program based in Clarksburg that helps women with ad-
diction problems.
Carole will look into Advent mailers that will be sent out soon.
The Giving Tree will be put up by November 29th with the Sock & Glove pro-
ject to be on December 6th.
Cookies & Caroles Sunday will be December 20th. Options were discussed
since caroles cannot be sung by the group. Cookies can still be offered if do-
nors will package cookies in ziploc bags. Watch for sign-up sheets.
Military Christmas packs should be mailed by December 14th in order to arrive
timely. Brett will contact Ronda to see what was sent last year.
ROK & God's Singers will begin back in January 2021
Options for Christmas Eve Service was discussed with concerns for children in
groups & congregation size. Brett will see what Lisa Robertson may have in
mind.
Meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting will be December 1st.
Respectfully submitted, Judy Burger
Sunday School
is in the Ministry
of Transforming LivesSOME DEFINITIONS OF CHRISTMAS
(from Church Bulletin Bits)
Christmas is the light that bur ns eter nally. It is a glow that war ms the
hearts of people wherever the message of “Peace on earth to men of good
will” is believed.
Christmas is peace in a wor ld where people have been alienated from
each other by hatred and jealousy.
Christmas is love that flows from one hear t to another.
Christmas is for giveness, the time for fresh beginnings, a time to r ight
the wrongs of yesterday.
Christmas is giving to those who cannot give to us.
Christmas is sur r ender of one’s life to Christ in renewed
dedication, making Christ the Lord of our lives.
Men’s Brotherhood
UCC Brotherhood Minutes – Monday, November 23, 2020
The UCC Men’s Brotherhood met at 6:00 p.m. on Monday,
November 23, 2020 to decorate the church for Christmas.
Approximately 12 members and several guests put up the Christmas
tree in the sanctuary, hung wreaths and greens around the church
and installed the night lit Christmas Cards at the back parking lot
entrance and in the front of the church on Oak Street. When fin-
ished decorating, the group enjoyed a terrific meal of hamburgers
and the fixin’s.
Following supper, the group had a brief business meeting. We
decided to forego our normal Christmas caroling in December and
instead gather on Monday, December 14 and record some group
carols in the sanctuary for distribution via DVD’s to the nursing
homes before Christmas. Our regular chili supper will follow. A
letter of thanks for the recent Brotherhood donation to the Australian
Christian Mission was shared with the group.
Norman Rohrbach, SecretaryNotes & News
A Time of Hope
8:15 a.m. Sunday
KRLL Radio ~1420 AM
Please continue to
save
the Best Choice www.calmo-ucc.org
label bar codes for MONITEAU CHRISTIAN
the MINISTRIES CENTER
SHAREFEST Please save your extra plastic shopping
Gathering bags to use at the MCMC Food Bank.
Drop your bags off at the church. Thanks!
NOTE:
Please check your address listing & phone numbers in the
new pictorial directory. If any corrections need to be made,
please contact the office. We will compile a list of corrections
at a later date for everyone to add to their directories.
To Watch the California UCC Worship Services Online:
Go to http://www.calmo-ucc.org.
Scroll down and click on the
“Online Services” link. (The bulletin is also available)
Or: Go to youtube.com & search
California United Church of Christ.16 Harold Cashion
16 Wyatt Bestgen
17 Mike Robertson
17 Brynna Hall
17 McKenzie Medlin
01 Lauren Friedrich 18 Patty Bruce
01 Kent Hees 18 Bryan Lutz
02 Mary Keil 18 Anthony Graves
02 Tony Barry 20 Eleanor Hofstetter
02 Luke Burger 20 Morgan Bestgen
03 Hayden Kueffer 22 Pat Kiesling
04 Bobby Brandes 22 Johnny Cassil
04 Grayden Gatlin 22 Alisha Burger
05 Dorothy Kirchoff
07 Matt Rohrbach
08 Jimmy Ford
08 Damon Mullen
08 Nicole Barnett 24 Henry Bieri
10 Stuart Inglish 24 Ron Gerhart
11 Rowyn Hindman 24 Carol Hall
12 Odin Davis 24 Brenda Farris
14 Kenny Knipker 24 Toni Kueffer
14 John Overbey 24 Hunter Carpenter
14 Garrett Burger 24 Brad Friedrich
14 Michelle Kissick 24 Melissa Weis
15 Betty Swillum 25 Tori Maurer
15 Dylan Ratcliff 26 Carole Schroeder
26 Jerry Wolfrum
26 Kathy Gerlach
26 Hayden Kilmer
You know you are getting old when
27 Jordan Vernon
“Happy Hour” turns out to be a nap!
28 Stephanie Liebi
28 Emma Kissick
29 Ann Spillars
29 Kelly SedgwickThrough the grace of our Lord
December Baptisms Jesus Christ,
we have been received into the
Jacob Adams—Dec. 19, 1999 family of Jesus Christ through
Shonda Archer—Dec. 29, 2002 the sacrament of Baptism.
Devon Bueker—Dec. 24, 1989
Aaron Burger—Dec. 15, 1991
Krystal Davis—Dec., 1978 Drew Robertson—Dec. 27, 1991
Stephen Hill—Dec. 5, 2004 Ross Robertson—Dec. 27, 1991
Alexandria Larson—Dec. 29, 2002 Scott Robertson—Dec. 27, 1991
Jess Medlin—Dec. 17, 1986 Priscella Saldana—Dec. 29, 2002
David Meyer—Dec., 1961 Robert Schlup—Dec. 5, 1971
Shane Meyer—Dec., 1976 Nora Wolford—Dec. 6, 2015
David Pearon—Dec. 4, 1988
Peyton Peters—Dec. 5, 1999
Parker Ramsdell—Dec. 10, 2000
The Tidings
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST OF CALIFORNIA
101 N. Oak Street, California, MO 65018
(573)796-4885 Church Office (573)796-3804 Pastor’s Study
Rev. Russell Cobb, Pastor rev.cobb@calmo-ucc.org
Renee` Clifford, Office Manager renee@calmo-ucc.org
Barbara Weis, Editor
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
WEBSITE: calmo-ucc.org
Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m.UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Non-Profit Organization
101 North Oak Street U.S. POSTAGE PAID
California, MO 65018—1744 Permit No. 12
California, MO 65018
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