BerkeleyBuzz

Berkeley United Methodist Church

December 2015
COMING UP THIS MONTH:
Church Conference, Las Posadas,
Choir Cantata,
and more!

BERKELEY STAFF
Ministers
Members of the Congregation
Pastor
Rev. Jeanne Devine
revjeanned@sbcglobal.net
Director of Music
Vikki Schwarz
vlschwarz@aol.com
Pianist
Dr. Tyler Mabry
tgmabry@gmail.com
Administrative Assistant
Liz Smith
bumc78745@sbcglobal.net
Childcare Director
Allison McGillicuddy
bumc.childcare@sbcglobal.net
Nursery Supervisor
Sami Burns
samanthaburns12@gmail.com
Church Office Hours
MondayThursday
8:45am to 3:15pm
Closed Daily for Lunch
from 12 noon to 12:30pm

Pastors Perspective: Keeping Christ in Christmas

One of my cousins posted this on Facebook:
Want to keep Christ in Christmas?
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty,
welcome the stranger and the unwanted child,
care for the ill, love your enemies.
The source is listed as uCatholic, but I think they got it from the New
Testament, dont you? Its up to Christians to keep Christ in Christmas
because it is a holy day for us. Its our job, not that of the merchants and
the culture. Lets walk our talk when it comes to celebrating Christs
birth.
Pastor Mike Slaughter wrote Christmas Is Not Your Birthday. His blog
encourages us to make a difference this Christmas. How? By
spending only half as much as we might think about spending for our
own holly jolly Christmas, and instead giving the other half to serve
the refugees we see in our world (the Christmas Miracle Offering of the
Advance), families served by the Methodist Mission Home (our
December mission offering), and other neighbors who really are Christ
in our midst right here.
He writes, Every December we celebrate the birth of the Messiah who
was born, not only to die sacrificially for us, but also to show us how to
live sacrificially.
May Christmas 2015 be a different kind of
Christmasone that truly honors Christ, that keeps Christ in Christmas.
Your pastor,
Jeanne Devine

Warmest Wishes from the Berkeley Staff!

May the Peace of Christ rest on you and
yours in all you do this Christmas season.
From all of us..
Sami Bur
ns

Church

Berkeley Buzz
December 2015 Page 2

Happenings
Advent and Christmas Events
Anniversaries
Roy & Doyce Holsenbeck
Raymond & Margaret Whitaker
Charles & Dorothy Slusher
Alan & Elma Clapper
Steve & Beth Collins
Glenn & Ineke Dunn
Brian & Letha Peters
Glenn & Donna Bostick

12/5
12/12
12/21
12/23
12/28
12/29
12/29
12/31

December 6:

9:30-1pm Crafts and Cookies

in the Fellowship Hall.

December 11:

9pm Mananitas
on BUMC grounds.

December 13:

Christmas Cantata:
Born a Savior, Born a King
during both Worship Services.

December 15:

6:30pm Christmas Carols & Cookies

in the Fellowship Hall.

December 24:

6pm Posadas starting

at Cunningham Elementary School.

December 24:

7pm Christmas Eve Candlelight

Worship Service.

December 27:

10am Worship (one service only)

Birthdays
Marilee Smith
Jamie Justus
Raylene Johnson
Elizabeth Royal
Nazreen Wenzel
Alan Clapper
Wesley Dittlinger
Bill Rittenberry
Ray Hodson
JB Wrigley
Mary Margaret Hennig
Alex Noll
Elma Clapper
Kimberly Gamble
Julia Hamilton
Pat Noll
Sarah Laramore
Angela Bonner
Nathaniel Skiles

12/1
12/2
12/4
12/6
12/8
12/10
12/11
12/12
12/14
12/14
12/17
12/18
12/22
12/23
12/23
12/24
12/25
12/26
12/26

Church Office Schedule for the Holidays

December 24, Christmas Eve: Office closed.
December 25, Christmas Day: Office closed.
December 31, New Years Eve: Office Closed
January 1, New Years Day: Office closed.
Year-End Financial Gifts
All gifts for 2015 must be received or postmarked by December
31. We want to offer you several options: make your
contribution in worship on Sunday, December 27; bring it to
the office by 3pm on December 30; or mail it by December 31.
Your generosity is always appreciated.

Berkeley Buzz
December 2015 Page 3

Church

Happenings
Crafts and Cookies
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Christian Life Center
9:30-10:50am and noon to 1:00pm
Beautiful, Handmade Crafts: Jewelry, Christmas decorations, prayer beads, crocheted
items, wooden and glass items are all among the treasures youll find!
Delicious Goodies: Our talented bakers will have a variety of breads, cookies and other
delicious treats for holiday eating, giving and sharing.

Sponsored by Berkeley United Methodist Women to fund mission giving

and support local and global mission projects.

Staff Christmas Bonus Gifts

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee invites you to express
your appreciation to our staff in the form of a Christmas
bonus gift. Your contribution will be shared among the staff,
and as an end-of-year bonus is considered taxable income.
Please mark checks staff gift or enclose cash in marked
offering envelope. Deadline for gifts is December 13. (You
are always free to give personal gifts to individual staff members. These are not
taxable to the recipients, nor are they charitable contributions.)

Berkeley Buzz
December 2015 Page 4

Church
Church

Berkeley Buzz,
December 2015 Page 2

Happenings
Happenings
Worship Schedule in 2016

Following the ministry audit in October, the church council voted in November to consolidate the two
worship services we currently offer on Sunday morning. (The Spanish worship service will continue
in the afternoon.)
Beginning on April 3, 2016, we will worship at 10 a.m. Adult Sunday School classes will decide for
themselves whether to meet at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Godly Play for children will meet at 9 a.m.
The ministry audit noted that the current, nearly identical worship services have vacancies of 40% to
66%. The sanctuary will still offer room to grow at one consolidated service. Beginning the new
schedule on the Sunday after Easter allows sufficient notification time.
It is hoped that consolidation will strengthen our worship. This decision was reached after many
months of study, in the belief that a single service with more people in attendance will offer a better
worship experience to our members and a more inviting atmosphere for visitors.

The women of our church are cordially invited to the

Berkeley UMW Winter Tea

Saturday, January 9, 2016 1:30-3:30pm
in the Fellowship Hall.
Please mark your calendars now for Saturday, Jan. 9,
2016, for the Ladies' Winter Tea which will include
delicious nibbles & tea,
delightful conversations,
followed by the election and then the installation of the 2016 UMW officers and
mission coordinators.
For more information contact Myrna Cavender at 512-280-0963.

Berkeley Buzz
December 2015 Page 5

Church

Happenings

Berkeley Buzz
December 2015, Page 6

Church

Happenings
Latino Ministry Advent
and Christmas Events
All members and friends of Berkeley UMC are invited to these events!
Friday, December 11, 9pm.
Mananitas is celebrated on the eve of
the traditional Mexican celebration of the
Virgin Mary to the native, Juan Diego, on
December 12, 1531. We will gather at 9
p.m. in front of the sanctuary. Children
from the folklorico dance group will
dance. Youre welcome to stay as long as
you wish; refreshments will be served.
Thursday, December 24, 6pm.
Posadas, the re-enactment of Mary and
Josephs search for shelter before Jesus
birth, takes place over nine nights, culminating on Christmas Eve. We will gather
at 6 p.m. in front of Cunningham Elementary School and walk to Berkeley
UMC, arriving just before 7 p.m. We will ask for Posada at the sanctuary
entrance and then enter to begin the candlelight communion service.
For more information, contact Rev. Teresa Santillana: (626) 786-2912 or email
lagitanilla43@mac.com

December 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

6:30pm ESL (9)

4pm Prayer
Ministry (Sanc)
4pm Ballet (FH)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

7pm CHURCH
CONFERENCE
(FH)

9am ESL (7)

4:30pm Girl Scouts
Ornament Event
(FH)
5:30pm Spanish
Bible Study (7)
6:45pm Know Your
Rights (9)

9am Cantata
Rehearsal (Sanc.
& FH)
2pm Set up for
Crafts and
Cookies (FH)

12

6 Communion Sunday

10

11

8:30am Worship
9:30am Crafts and
Cookies (FH)
9:40am Sunday School
10:50am Worship
1pm Spanish
Worship
2:30pm Piano Recital
(Sanc)
3pm Advent Study (9)
4pm Tai Chi (FH)
5pm Covenant Group
(9)
5pm UT Student
Leadership (FH)

10am Womens
Group (7)

10am Hope
Cohorts (7)
5:30pm Prime
Timers (FH)
6:30pm ESL (9)
7pm SPRC (7)

9:30am UMW
Women in Action
(FH)
4pm Ballet (FH)
4pm Prayer
Ministry (Sanc)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

5:30pm St. Louise

House (CLC)
7pm Advent
Study (9)

9am ESL (7)

5pm Folklorico
(FH)
5:30pm Spanish
Bible Study (7)
6pm Ballet (FH)
6:45pm Know Your
Rights (9)
9pm Mananitas
(BUMC grounds)

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Choir Cantata

10am Womens
Group (7)
6:15pm Childcare
Mgmt (7)

6:30pm Caroling 4pm Prayer

and Cookies
Ministry (Sanc)
(FH)
6pm Handbell
6:30pm ESL (9)
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

4pm Childcare
Christmas Carols
(Sanc)
5:30pm St. Louise
House (CLC)
7pm Advent
Study (9)

9am ESL (7)

5:30pm Spanish
Bible Study (7)
6:45pm Know Your
Rights (9)

7:28am UMM
Breakfast (FH)
9am Trustees (9)

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

8:30am Worship
9:40am Sunday School
10:50am Worship
1pm Spanish
Worship
3pm Advent Study (9)
4pm Tai Chi (FH)
5pm Covenant Group
(9)

10am Womens
Group (7)
4:30pm Outreach
Team (7)
7pm Finance (7)

5:45pm Spritual
Care (7)
6:30pm ESL (9)
7pm Church
Council (FH)

4pm Prayer Ministry (Sanc)

6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

Church Office
Closed

27

28

29

30

31

10:00am Worship
1pm Spanish
Worship
3pm Advent Study (7)
4pm Tai Chi (FH)
5pm Covenant Group
(9)

10am Womens
Group (7)
6pm Girl Scouts
(FH & 7)

6:30pm ESL (9)

4pm Prayer Ministry (Sanc)

6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

8:30am Worship
9:40am Sunday School
10:50am Worship
1pm Spanish
Worship
3pm Advent Study (9)
4pm Tai Chi (FH)
5pm Covenant Group
(9)

Church
Office Closed

6pm Posadas
(Cunningham
Elem. School)
7pm Christmas
Eve Worship

Church
Office Closed

1 Church Office
Closed

BERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

2407 Berkeley Ave.
Austin, TX. 78745
512-447-6633
bumc78745@sbcglobal.net

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The choir will be presenting their Christmas Cantata, Born a Savior, Born a King
on Sunday, December 13th, at both services.

We hope you will join us and invite your friends!

Average Attendance

Gifts as of October 31

October

2015

YTD

2014

Worship

107

104

116

Sunday

30

30

30

School

Monthly Income

$ 29,263

Monthly Expenses

$ 20,528

Year-to-Date Income

$ 215,848

Year-to-Date Expenses

$ 230,131