November 16—December 18, 2022
Syracuse Calvary United Methodist
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Address: P.O. Box 9, Syracuse, IN 46567
Email: syrcalv@kcaccess.com:
Website: www.syracusecalvaryumc.org
Church: 574-457-3778
From Pastor Paul:
From Pastor Paul
November 27th begins the season of Advent. For 28 days, we journey to the manger where we experience God’s presence become flesh and dwelling among us. God’s good news takes human form to tell us we are not left alone in this life. Emanuel, God with us, comes to us. It is a life-changing story that we enter at this time of year.
This year, I wonder how we will get there. It seems now with the branding of Christmas that there are many other paths to Christmas Day. For some, Christmas is now about what sits under the tree after searching at length for presents we may or may not need. Encountering God’s life-transforming presence seems less interesting if it is even remembered as the story of this season.
The basic definition of Advent means the coming or arrival of a notable person, thing or event. As Christians, we know how our familiar story ends (or begins) with God arriving through poor, unknown parents in a back alley of a small city. In a poem unrelated to Advent yet very pertinent, T.S. Eliot speaks about being in a familiar place and yet exploring it until we arrive at the same place and know it in new ways. He writes,
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
~T.S. Eliot
We know the destination of Christmas, but what path will we take in our travels through Advent to the manger and Christmas Day? Jesus’ own words in his Sermon on the Mount can be helpful: seek and we will find. We find God’s way in the midst of searching for it. We find God’s dream for us when we follow the Way of hope, peace, joy and love.
What if we take that path, a path less traveled this season? Let’s search for the manger using God’s Way of hope, peace, joy and love as if they are points on a compass and we are seeking ways to live authentic and faithful lives to a story that has transformed us and wants to do so again. What might we see in an otherwise routine and annual story? What unexpected turns will we take? What stops will we make along the way?
I’m looking forward to our journey together and what God will reveal to us along the way and on Christmas Day. I’m looking forward to searching for God’s Way this Advent and the ways God will make us living examples of God’s presence in the world.
Traveling Mercies,
See You Sunday,
Pastor Paul
Pastor Paul Burris Weekly Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Church Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 7:30 am – 2:30 pm
Message for November 20
Pastor Paul Burris
“Giving Thanks”
Colossians 1:13-14
Today – All-Church Thanksgiving Meal in the fellowship hall following worship.
Everyone is invited!
6:00 p.m. - Syracuse Wawasee Ministerial Association’s
Annual Community Thanksgiving Service
At the Sanctuary, 10121 St Rd 13, Syracuse, 6:00 pm.
Come worship with us and hear the combined Syracuse-North Webster Elementary Choir sing as the Syracuse Community comes together to give thanks to God for His bountiful blessings.
PASTOR PAUL’S OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
(Exceptions for meetings or visitation)
PRESENTATION OF OUR GIFTS TO GOD
2022 Budget - $223,683; Need per week - $4,302
Received through November 13, 2022 – $154,734
Attendance November 13, 2022 -- 47
Financial Report as of October 31, 2022:
Total Income to Date: $149,800 Total Expenses to Date: $155,590
CHRISTMAS MUSIC PROGRAM
A Christmas music program will be held the afternoon of Dec. 18. If you would like to participate in any way, please reach out to Amy Rensberger
Coffee Tiu
Don’t forget the coffee time before Sunday worship beginning at 9:15 a.m. Volunteers are welcome to participate so this can continue. Please reach out to Amy Rensberger at 574-529-0080 or emai
Thank you from:
----Syracuse Food Pantry …”who gave graciously to the Syracuse Food Pantry,” wrote Pantry Director, Arlene Glover for this much-needed ministry in our community on our twice-monthly donations, Pantry Sunday.
Also, the Outreach Ministry Team thanks everyone for the generous donations in Pack-The-Pantry, as does Arlene. Pack-the-Pantry has ended for this season.
---Marty Gordon, for the thoughts, prayers and cards given in the death of her brother, Richard Endsley.
---Calvary’s Outreach Ministry Team, for everyone who filled shoe boxes, bought items for the boxes and gave money for the postage. Twenty shoe boxes were filled and donations for postage covered it all.
---Lucy Fry, for the prayers, flowers and cards during her surgery and recuperation.
Thank you to
---Buddy Martz for delivering the donations to the Syracuse Food Pantry and other things he does in his ministry to the church.
---To all who have donated food and paper items to the Syracuse Community Food Pantry.
---Brent Bobeck, for checking, doing repairs and starting the boilers for the heating season.
---Barb McClintic, for her many years of service in the Calvary office, and the ministry she provided.
NOTE: Only names written on the blue cards, given directly to Pastor Paul or called into the office will be on the prayer list and Guidelines for Prayer.
ANGEL TREE HAS ARRIVED IN THE NARTHEX
Please take an angel from the tree, buy the child’s request, wrap the gift and place it under the tree with the angel. If you prefer, the Outreach Ministry Team will wrap it for you.
Gifts must be at the church by December 11th. If you choose to make a monetary donation, the Ministry Team will buy the gifts. Donations can be given to the office or placed in your offering envelope, marked “Angel Tree.”
ALTAR FLOWERS NEEDED
Sundays in December.
If you would like to contribute altar flowers in honor or memory of a loved one, please sign your name on the date of the hallway calendar, or call the church office at (457-3778) or email the church, at syrcalv@kcaccess.com. We can order them for you or you can arrange to have them delivered.
Church Calendar
November 16—30, 2022
Sun. 20 All-Church Thanksgiving meal following worship. Bring a dish to share, everything else will be furnished. Final Sunday to donate to Pack-the Pantry.
Mon. 21 NO Purple Hearts group meeting. They will be back In February, the first and third Mondays of each month at 9:00 am
Tues. 22 Ladies Bible Study, 1:00-2:00 pm in the Activities Room
NO Gideons this month
Wed. 23 R.O.M.E.O.S meet for lunch. 11:30 a.m., at the Sleepy Owl, Syracuse
Ruth and Martha Circles meet, 1:00 pm in the Activities Room
Thurs. 24 Church office will be closed for Thanksgiving
Elder Dinner at noon
Sun. 27 First Sunday of Advent, helpers needed to carry the Christmas decorations down from the loft.
Tues. 29 Ladies Bible Study, 1:00-2:00 pm in the Activities Room
Wed. 30 Ruth and Martha Circles meet at 1:00 pm, in the activities room
December
Thurs. 1 Staff Parish meets at 6:00 pm
Sun. 4 Second Sunday of Advent, Holy Communion
Pantry Sunday (bring cans of beef stew and Spam)
Mon. 5 Trustees meet, 6:00 pm
Tues. 6 Syracuse-Wawasee Ministry Association meets at 8:00 am
Ladies Bible Study 1:00-2:00 pm in the activities room
Fri. 9 Community Dinner, 5:30-7:00 pm.
Sat. 10 Little Lambs leaders will be here packing up the items they have upstairs
Sun. 11 Third Sunday of Advent
Tues. 13 Ladies Bible Study’s luncheon at 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall
Stewardship and Finance meeting at 6:00 pm.
Wed. 14 Lifeline Screening will be here from 8:00 am—6:00 pm.
Hannah Circle meets at 6:00 pm
Thurs. 15 J.U.L.I.E.T.S. meet for lunch at the Kimmel house
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