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E-News from GUMC

Pastor's Note

My favorite part of the Christmas season is by far the music. I have my iPhone playlists set up to Christmas music, our music players at home seem to only play holiday classics, and I search the satelite radio in the car for any station that plays the familiar tunes of the season. I have my favorite songs, of course, and some not so favorites, but one song caught my attention a few years back, and I've been attached to it ever since. 

A few years back, I was involved in  Barbershop Chorus in the Omaha, Nebraska area and of course Christmas was a big time of performances for the group. During my first year I was introduced to the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." The lyrics caught my attention as much as the musical arrangement did that first time. 

The song is based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song tells of the narrator's despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men". The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men.

I remember singing the words "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." It comes with a crescendo of harmony that punctuated this message. In the darkness of our world and lives, the words "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep," keep brining me back into the Christmas message and the whole reason we celebrate. Even though we may find ourselves in tough times, God is always present and with us. 

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Zach

 

I Heard the Bells on
Christmas Day


I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along
The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from
night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth, The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound
The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn
The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Year-End Information

As December is upon us, it’s time to be thinking about our year-end matters. In order to get credit for giving in 2017, we must receive your offering by December 31st, or if sending by mail, it must be postmarked by that date. Anything received after that will be considered part of your 2018 giving. 

Volunteers Needed

Over the coming weeks, the SPRC is asking for volunteers from the church to help out with routine cleaning and upkeep of our buildings. We hope to have the position of custodian filled in the near future, but in the meantime we must rely on volunteers to help us out. A sign up sheet is available on Sunday mornings in the narthex, or you can call the church during office hours to volunteer. Thank you for coming together and helping during this time!
 
Life @ Goodland United Methodist Church
 
Sunday Dec. 24
9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship
4:30 p.m. Soup Supper
6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship
 
Monday, Dec. 25
Merry Christmas!
OFFICE CLOSED
 
Tuesday, Dec. 26
OFFICE CLOSED
 
Wednesday, Dec. 27
No WNL

Sunday, Dec. 31
9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship
 
Prayer Concerns
Jeanne Harding, Diane Feese, Alberta Hayden, Lynda Altvater, Marsha McGillivray, Lois Sieck, Luella Richardson, R.K. Driver,
George & Gorda Adelgren

Weekly Worship

Sundays 10:30am 

Wednesday Nite Live 6:30-7:30pm
      (Pre-K through 6th Grade)

Daily Radio Devotion

Radio devotions are broadcasted through KLOE 730AM and KKCI 102.5FM here in Goodland each weekday at 6:10 a.m. (MT) They can also be found on our website and Facebook page.
Copyright © 2017 Goodland United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.


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