Schedule Notes:

The Church Office is closed: December 25 and January 1
No Activity Time:  December 16 & 30
December 30: 9:00 a.m. service only and no Sunday School

Pastor's Page

“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:1-7 NRSV

Church Library News

New Grief Books + Materials Now Available for You to Borrow: 
Two new copies of the book "HOPE FOR BEREAVED, Understanding, Coping and Growing Through Grief" by Therese S. Schoeneck were recently donated by the BFUMC's Hands of Hope Group to the BFUMC Library and are available for all to borrow. This compassionate and encouraging book has "Helpful Articles Written by Bereaved People for Bereaved People and Those Who Want to Help Them". 
Also available in the Church Library Grief Bookcase are other grief healing books and HOPE FOR BEREAVED materials, including the newly added: 
    Brochures:  "Grief Helping Yourself, Helping Others Brochure"; "Hope for Bereaved, A Journey from grief to HOPE brochure" 
    Articles:  "The Death of An Adult Child" by Audrie Norris; "He Said, She Said - The Different Grieving Paths of Moms and Dads" by Rob Anderson; "When Parents Outlive Their Adult Children"

Baldwinsville Community Food Pantry

          As we approach the holiday season, the Baldwinsville Community Food Pantry continues to serve the hunger needs of people residing in the Baldwinsville School District.  When the pantry began 41 years ago, it provided meals for only 1 or 2 families per month.  Currently, we fulfill requests for approximately 150-160 families per month, which amounts to about 4,800 individual meals.  The requests vary depending on the time of year and changes in the economy. 
           The Baldwinsville Community Food Pantry is awarded a small grant from the CNY Food Bank each year, providing those funds are available.  The remaining funding for the pantry comes from the generosity of the Baldwinsville community.  Our expenses are averaging over $7,000.00 per month.  

Christmas Bureau

Donations Needed 
          For almost 50 years, the Baldwinsville Christmas Bureau has provided needy families in our community with toys, clothing, books, food and household items. We depend on local businesses, churches, school groups, organizations and individuals to help make the holidays a little brighter for those not as fortunate as ourselves.
          This year we need your help more than ever. The Baldwinsville Christmas Bureau is no longer able to benefit from the Toys for Tots program. After participating in the program for many years, we have been informed that all Toys for Tots collected will go to the Onondaga County Christmas Bureau in Syracuse, even if the toys are collected here in Baldwinsville.

Stamp Club

Calling All Stamp Collectors! 
Oscar Jensen and Dave Horan would like to start a stamp club in Baldwinsville. It would be a chance for stamp collectors to exhibit their collections, learn more about stamps, and just talk to other collectors about their hobby. We could swap stamps, have an auction or just show off our stamp collections to each other.
Please email ojensen9000@gmail.com or dhhoran@hotmail.com if you are interested in talking with us about the possibilities of a Stamp Club in Baldwinsville. We think it will be both fun and educational.
Oscar Jensen and Dave Horan

U.M.W. Christmas Gathering

United Methodist Women: Hannah-Sarah Circle will meet on Wednesday, December 12 at 12:00 p.m. in the dining room. Lunch will be provided. All interested are invited to attend.

Eureka! Book Club

The Eureka! Book Club will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12  to discuss "A Christmas Jar". Everyone is welcome for dinner and conversation, please let Nancy Smith (nsmit24@twcny.rr.com) or Frankie Nicole Weaver (christianeducation@bvillefirstumc.org) know if you can attend. Copies of the books can be signed out in the office. Dinner is usually $7-10, and prepared by a local restaurant, so please be sure to RSVP. Thank you!

SAMASAN Christmas Party

Join us on December 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the church dining room for our traditional gathering! We’ll provide paper plates, cups, forks, and beverages. You bring hors d’oeuvres or a dessert, plus a gift to exchange – one per attendee, labeled ‘M’, ‘F’, or ‘either’. We look forward to seeing you! Patty Maxwell (569-5077); Becky Jensen (720-2965)

Grief Support Group

Please Note: there will not be a regular meeeting in December due to the special service on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. The next regular meeting will be on January 16, 2019.

O.W.L.S. Luncheon

Our next gathering is on Thursday, December 20 at 1:00 p.m. in the church dining room. Please bring a dish-to-pass. (Terry Miller, 315-409-4063)

Family Christmas Eve Service

Family Christmas Eve Service – Tues., Dec. 24th, 6:00 PM 
All families are welcome and encouraged to bring children for a Christmas service that is especially catered to them. Children are invited to participate in a nativity pageant, and to attend a special birthday party! Following worship, we will have refreshments and baked goods, including birthday cake celebrating baby Jesus.
We hope that you will join us. Please contact Frankie Nicole Weaver in person, or by e-mailing christianeducation@bvillefirstumc.org, if you would like to RSVP, or if have any questions.