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E-News from GUMC

Worship This Sunday:

10:30am Mountain Time
Live Streaming at https://www.facebook.com/goodlandumc/ 


Text: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & John 1: 6-8, 19-28
Sermon: Children's Play

Songs: “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing", "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"
Worship Schedule for December

The Church Council met on December 6th and set the worship schedule for the rest of the month.

December 13- In Person Worship 
December 20- In Person Worship
Christmas Eve- Online Only
December 27- Online Only
Christmas Eve Online Worship

Our Christmas Eve service will be online only this year. We have planned a service with readings, special music, favorite songs, Holy Communion, and finishing with Silent Night. The service will go live on our Facebook page at 5:30pm MST on December 24th. 

We will have Communion elements available for you to pick up at the church on Sunday, December 20th and during office hours on Monday, December 21st and Tuesday, December 22nd. Also available for pick up at that time are candles for you to light at the end of the service if you do not have any availble to use at home. 
Poinsettias for 2020
The poinsettias have been delivered for 2020. They will be on display in worship for Sundays December 13th and 20th. If you purchased one, you can take yours home after worship on December 20th or pick up during office hours on December 21, 22, or 23. 

To see the list of poinsettias purchased in memory or honor of someone, please click here.
Blue Christmas Service on Dec 21st

On Monday, December 21st, we will offer a special online service. This Blue Christmas Service, sometimes called Longest Night Service, is a recognition of the common nature of grief and sadness during this season. This is a service that is especially meaningful for those who have lost loved ones in recent years. You are invited to find this service on our Facebook page on Monday, December 21 at 7:00pm.
Boiler Replacement Approved
 
The Church Council has approved a bid to replace our Boiler at the church. The accepted bid was from American Boiler and Mechanical out of Salina, Kansas. The total bid was for $79,992. The bid includes removing the current boiler and any asbestos abatement needed, a new high efficiency boiler, assemble boiler, pipe in water supply and connect existing piping and valves, wire in and start up boiler.
 
The timeline for the installation is early spring. We will have more formal launch of fundraising after the first of the year, but have begun receiving gifts towards this project. The boiler fund currently has a balance of $9,159. We also have another fund that can be used that totals $17, 627 that will used if needed to finish the project. An anonymous donor has issued a challenge to fund this project. They will match dollar-for-dollar all gifts up to $20,000. That means, as soon as we have $20,000 in new gifts to the boiler replacement, it will double to $40,000.
 
If you would like to give to this project, please note on your gift “Boiler Fund” as you put it in the offering plate or drop it off with the office. Thank you in advance for your support and prayers for this project!
Blood Drive on Christmas Eve

The American Red Cross will be having a Blood Drive on December 24th from 8:30am-12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall of Goodland UMC. To schedule an appointment go to redcrossblood.org.
 
Office Hour Changes

The Church Office will be closed on December 24th & 25th for Christmas.
Year-End Giving

As we approach the end of the year, we want to remind everyone that to receive credit on your 2020 Giving Statement, gifts and offerings must be received in the office by end of day on December 31, 2020. Gifts postmarked by the 31st will also be included on 2020 statements. If you have any questions, please contact the office. 
Giving the Gift of Grain
Information Provided by the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation

In Deuteronomy 26 we read, “Now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.” Giving of the first fruits from the land is a statement of faith that God will help us bring in the whole harvest. It is a commitment that God who brought about the growth from the seeds we have planted will bring it to fruition. Have you considered giving to God the grain that comes from the land?

Why Donate Grain Directly
For many cash-basis farmers, significant tax savings can be achieved by donating grain directly to their church or other favorite United Methodist charity.

Tax Savings
Many farmers do not itemize deductions because the standard deduction has greatly increased over the years.  Therefore, typical cash gifts to their church or charity do not save additional taxes.  When executed properly and by contributing grain directly to a church or charity, the cash-basis farmer avoids reporting the sale of the grain as income and still includes the cost of growing the grain in expenses which saves on self-employment tax, federal income tax and state income tax.

Key Points
  1. Timing: Donate grain grown in the current or previous years’ harvest any time during the tax year.
  2. Unsold commodity: The gift should be from unsold crop inventory, with no prior sale commitment made on the gift.
  3. Physical delivery: Be sure the gift is farm commodities, not warehouse receipts, which could be considered a cash equivalent. The church or charity must be able to demonstrate “control and dominion” over the gifted property.
  4. No control: The farmer can not provide any guidance in the transfer agreement as to the retention or sale of the gifted commodity.
  5. Documentation: Either a properly executed warehouse receipt in the church’s or charity’s name, or a notarized letter of transfer for crops stored on the farm can be used. The original sales invoice should list the charity as the seller.
  6. Storage & transportation costs:  After the transfer, the church or charity should assume costs of storage, marketing and transportation as well as bear any risk of loss.
  7. Crop share leases: Gifting will not work for a crop share landlord. A share of a crop received as rental payment is considered the equivalent of rental income.
Goodland UMC is able and prepared to receive gifts of grain from anyone wishing to do so. If you have any questions about the process you can contact Pastor Zach.
Message from Genesis

The following note is from the Board of Genesis. If you would like to volunteer this holiday season, please contact them at 785-890-2299.
 

Hello all,

So 2020 has been a year full of change and uncertainty as a result we have seen a growing need in our community for support.  We will be able to do bell ringing this holiday season.  We are anticipating fewer volunteers and potentially less giving via the kettles as a result of Covid-19 .  We are asking those who volunteer to wear masks, only ring with other members of their household (no more than 2 ringers at a time), all ringers be at least 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult, and to socially distance from the giving kettles.  Kettles and bells should be sanitized between shifts and materials to do so will be available.  Bell-ringers should follow CDC and local guidelines and should cancel their shift if they experience symptoms or if they have had any known exposure to anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.  

 

Kettles and/or kettle signs are enabled with Apple/Google Pay and QR codes for an additional contactless form of donation.   People can still make donations directly to the Salvation Army via mail to Genesis at PO Box 313 Goodland KS  67735.  People can also make donation via the Walmart Round Up Program.  When shopping at the Goodland Walmart they will be given the opportunity to round their purchase up to the next dollar amount with the difference going to the Salvation Army for Sherman County through the month of December.

 

We greatly appreciate the residents of our community and their tremendous support of Genesis and the Salvation Army.  It is a blessing when neighbors help one another.  We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.

 

Sincerely,

The Board of Genesis 

Sherman County Mask Mandate
 
The Board of County Commissioners of Sherman County has passed a Public Health Order to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our county. This order is to wear a mask or face covering in public places starting on Wednesday, November 25th. While the order gives an official exemption to religious worship activities, it is strongly recommended that we still participate in the order. With that information, the Goodland United Methodist Church will abide by the mask order in an effort to aid our community in slowing the transmission of the virus. We Methodists have a long history of supporting health care in our communities, and in fact, helped found the hospital here in Goodland in 1923. Partnering with the Health Department, Hospital, and School District in this cause is an important part of our witness and mission to “Love Our Neighbor.” Masks will be expected to be used in activities in our buildings during the duration of the order for Sherman County. As always, we will have some on hand for those who do not have one with them.
 
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Zach
Weather Closing Procedures

During this time of year, it may become necessary to cancel worship services and activities because of weather conditions. When these decisions are made, it will be made with the safety of our members at the forefront of our minds. When we do need to cancel we will use the following methods to inform everyone. Please check these sources before heading out on Sundays when the weather conditions merit:

KAKE TV
KWCH TV
Local Radio
Facebook
Life @ Goodland UMC

Sunday, December 13

9:15am Adult Sunday School
10:30am Worship

Wednesday, December 16
5:00pm Bell Choir
5:30pm KidZone & reNEW Youth

Prayer List

Prayers for Health, Comfort, & Healing:

Jeanne Harding, Lois Sieck, Marsha McGillivray, Marsha Smith, Gordon Colip, Jim Hunter, Wilmer and Peg Bahe, Tara Mull, Eileen Townsend, Morgan Pritchard’s Family,  Harold Karspeck, Kathy Goodell, Norma Jean Yarger, Pat Hansen, Regina Galindo, Vickie Ryan, Doris Craft

Prayers for those who mourn:

The Family of Elmarie Nelson

Weekly Worship

Sundays:

Worship 10:30am 
KidZone 10:45am (September-May)

Wednesdays (September-April):
Meal Provided

KidZone Wednesdays 5:30pm-7:00pm
      (K-6th Grades)
reNEW Youth Wednesdays 5:30pm-7:00pm
      (7th-12th Grades)

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 © 2020 Goodland United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.


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