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In This Issue...
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A Word from Rev. Karen
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2020 All Church Charge Conference
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Charge Conference Reports
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Our Prayers
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Musical Meditation from Katie
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Clapping Video
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Pass the Hat 2020
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CUMC Preschool See's Candy
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Thanksgiving Meals
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Reopening Task Force Update
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CUMC's New Website Links
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Be Thankful & Be Careful
Dear CUMC friends in faith,
I have heard so many of you share your concerns about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and how and whether to gather. My family is having the same conversations.
Across the country, including in California, we are seeing a surge in infections and hospitalizations from Covid-19.
The good news -- actually the GREAT news -- is that effective vaccines seem near at hand.
We have all been so very careful since March, and we see that we need to continue (or resume) those cautious practices.
Being careful is an act of care not just for ourselves but for others. This remains a matter of life and death.
I know each one of you is making sacrifices in this time. Thank you. It reminds me of the stories my father and grandmother shared with me about sacrifices made during the Great Depression and during World War II.
Here is some wisdom I have gleaned from several of you:
"I haven't been this careful this long to get it now!"
"Even with the longest estimates on vaccine distribution, we can already say we are more than halfway through this."
I am so very grateful for all the ways you continue to care for yourselves, your families, your community, and all creation.
Be Thankful and Be Careful!!
In prayer and care,
Rev. Karen
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Annual All Church Charge Conference
Tuesday, December 1, 11:30 a.m.
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 Claremont UMC’s All Church Conference this year is set for Tuesday, December 1, at 11:30 a.m. It will be done virtually this year, via Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be sent via email on Monday, Nov. 30, when we receive it from the East District office. The Bishop and Cabinet have limited the number of required reports in this pandemic year. However, the agenda looks very similar to past years, with all the required business (and celebrations) included.
In this email, we are providing links to some of the reports that are already complete. The agenda and documents necessary for church conference business will be compiled as one document and sent in next Wednesday's Weekly Window. The nominations report will be sent no later than Monday, Nov. 30, along with the zoom link.
As a reminder, anyone may attend the conference. Only Claremont UMC members are voting members of the church conference.
The District Superintendent's intent is for the meeting to last no more than an hour.
On a light note: We are each invited to wear our favorite hats and to bring to the meeting the most Methodist thing we own. And, as some of us will be attending from our homes, we are invited to add our pets names to the names of those in attendance. (But they cannot vote!)
Thank you all for a remarkable year!
Rev. Karen
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Charge Conference Reports
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 As we have become accustomed over the past several months, almost everything is accessed digitally these days. This year, as you've read, Church Conference will be held via Zoom. Some of our reports are ready for you to view now. Click here to see the Official Reports. Click here to see the Written Reports from our ministry areas.
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 If you have someone you would like Claremont UMC to keep in prayer, and list on our prayer list, please email Jessica, prayers@claremontumc.org. Please indicate whether they are to be listed on the public prayer list, or kept private. Please pray for these dear ones on our prayer list, HERE.
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A Musical Meditation from Katie
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 As a special piece for the "Weekly Window," Katie shares an audio of her playing a well-loved hymn! This week's hymn is "Freely, Freely," which can be found in The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 389. Click HERE and enjoy!
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Church Council Applause for each of you. At its final meeting of the calendar year, the Church Council celebrated all the meaningful ministries and missions CUMC has continued to engage in 2020. And, the celebrated the stewardship committee and each of you for your enthusiastic support of the church in 2020 and your pledge to support the vision and mission of CUMC in 2021
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 The Pass the Hat project is an opportunity for ALL CUMC members to bring the holiday spirit to less fortunate families in our own community. For more than 20 years, CUMC has “passed the hat” for several local families to provide them with a joyful Christmas. Families are “adopted” through the Inland Valley Hope Partners (IVHP).
We have many beloved traditions at CUMC, many of them focusing on the spirit of giving we feel at the holidays. In 2020, we’re having to rethink many of those traditions we hold so dear.
Following in the footsteps of the Homeless/Hunger Committee and their gift card Thanksgiving boxes project, this year we will be passing a virtual HAT. Instead of passing out envelopes and collecting your gifts, we are asking you to make a donation to the Pass the Hat fund. All funds will be remitted to Inland Valley Hope Partners for their Adopt a Family program.
It's as simple as writing a check made out to Claremont UMC, writing “Pass the Hat” on the memo line, and popping it in the mail. Please have your donation into the church office by December 14.
If you would still like to buy gifts for a family, you can work directly with IVHP. Contact Development and Volunteer Relations Associate, Cirenia Cuevas (CC), at 909-622-3806,x108 or email CC@inlandvalleyhopepartners.org.
Share in the holiday spirit with us by sending in your donation for THE HAT by December 14.
Questions: Talk to Susan Hume or Melanie Little
Brought to you by the friendly folks in The Boosters
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See's Candy Fundraiser for the Preschool at Claremont UMC
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 This year The Preschool at CUMC has opened an online See's candy storefront to make ordering See's candy easy and COVID-friendly.
Order and pay online, and your See's Candy will be shipped directly to you! Cross some names off your list and have your stocking stuffers ready to go. Please feel free to share the link below with your friends and family, too!
The Storefront is open now and will close on Friday, November 20. So, please click on the link below, take a look at the flyer, by clicking HERE. It's a sweet deal to get some holiday shopping done and support The Preschool at Claremont UMC!
Buy your See's candy by clicking HERE!
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Thanksgiving Meals for Inland Valley Hope Partners
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 Careful Caring Continues
As in years past, we would like to continue to provide Thanksgiving Dinners to those who are struggling to put food on the table through the Beta Center. We have decided that the least amount of contact would be accomplished by asking you to provide monetary contributions instead of actual food items this year. We can provide families with Stater Bros. Gift Cards. We can purchase the Gift Cards through the Preschool at Claremont UMC, which will also support them. Please consider purchasing a $25.00 gift card, which would purchase a turkey, or a $50.00 gift card, which would provide a complete meal.
How do you do this? It is very simple. Email Leslie Biglin at lbiglin@gmail.com. Let Leslie know if you would like to contribute $25 or $50 (or more) toward this project. Then send your gift to Claremont UMC, making checks payable to CUMC with the designation for "Thanksgiving Boxes" on the memo line. Thank you for your contributions!
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CUMC Reopening Task Force
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 The Reopening Task Force is monitoring and reviewing all the news and county health orders as the Covid-19 infection numbers worsen.
We have postponed the youth in-person worship experience until after the new year.
On Wednesday, LA County Public Health officials encouraged Houses of Worship to suspend any in-person gatherings outdoors and continue to provide virtual worship.
The church office and all church facilities except the preschool remain closed.
Please note: Unless you are part of our "essentail workers/volunteers" administrative team or part of scheduled teams recording for worship, no one is to access the facilities for any reason without permission and without filling out a registration form. (We are grateful to Katie Ledsinger and the Bell Choir for following this procedure on their recent recordings for worship.)
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please email askclaremontumc@gmail.com.
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