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Friendship Connection
December 2014
A Monthly Publication of the Honeoye Falls United Methodist Church
A Letter from the Pastor
"“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and
eat with you, and you with me.” Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the
door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20, NRSV)
Celebrating the season of Advent means being able to wait. Waiting is a skill that I believe our very
impatient and immediate gratification society has all but forgotten. Those of us who don’t know how it feels to
struggle anxiously with the deepest questions of life, and to patiently look forward with anticipation until the
truth is revealed, can’t even imagine the moment in which clarity is given to us. Yet it’s exactly for these
greatest, most profound, and most tender of things in our lives that we must each wait. It happens not on our
schedule, yet according to the divine laws of sprouting, growing, and becoming who and what our God desires
for each of us.
The season of Advent is about expecting the coming of Christmas, the remembrance of Jesus’ first
coming. Yet it’s also about expecting Jesus’ second coming, the one that he said he would fix everything.
Advent is about not only sinking into the longing and trepidation of that promise, yet also into trust that it
will be fulfilled.
Jesus is standing at the door knocking. In reality, Jesus comes in the form of the beggar, of a dissolute
human child wrapped in ragged clothes, asking for our help. He confronts us in every person that we meet. As
long as there are people, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will walk the earth as our neighbor, as the one
through whom our God calls each of us, speaks to us, and makes demands on us. That in part is the great
seriousness and great blessedness of the Season of Advent. Jesus Christ is standing at the door, and lives in
the form of a human being among us. Do we want to close the door or open it? I realize it may seem a bit
strange to us to see Jesus Christ in a face so near to us, yet he said it. If we’re tempted to withdraw from the
serious reality of the message of the Advent season, we’re also then unable to speak of the coming of Jesus in
our hearts either.
Jesus Christ is knocking; he’s knocking on the doors to each and every one of our hearts. What
will be our answer? The Advent and Christmas season is a time when churchgoers and nonchurchgoers alike tend to experience strong spiritual longings. Whatever the longing looks like
on the outside, for most of us, deep down it’s a longing for an experience of something holy, and
something beautiful. Something found in and through our God. My prayer is that during this
season we, individually and as the Church, may be open and create room and opportunities for
our God to show up.
The author of 2 Peter puts it this way, “The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness,
but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.” (2 Peter 3:9, CEB)
In other words, our God is giving each of us time to practice seeing God in small ways so that we’ll recognize
our God when God arrives in the big ways. God’s being revealed in seemingly random glimpses here and
there in all of our everyday lives. Especially during this season of Advent and Christmastide, may we each
have the patience to pause and look for these little divine bursts of our God shining in and through our lives.
Blessings & Shalom,
Pastor Mary
Finance Committee Update
From the Treasurer
Mission & Outreach News
Through November 9th, we have made great
strides towards our goal, collecting $4094 in
additional giving. With the anonymous match,
that total is $8,188, which puts us over the halfway point. We would like to thank those who
have helped us towards our year end goal, and
ask that everyone continue to keep our Church
and finances in your prayers.
From Nancy Winans
Rummage Sale 2014 was a
success!! Thank you to all the
volunteers who make it happen, especially
Ken Forney!! Proceeds will go to the General
Fund.
Dave Godshall, Treasurer
is Saturday December 6th from 5-7 pm. Please
come for fellowship, decorating the church and
learning about our Advent Project.
Memorial Fund
“There is little doubt among those who knew him
– Harold Hennessy was one of a kind. Although
born and brought up in Rochester, attending the
U of R for a short time, and serving in World War
II, he moved to Lima in 1951, and very soon
became an active participant in civic and
community affairs. Not long after arriving, he was
elected Justice of the Peace in Lima, and most of
us knew him as
the “common
sense” judge who
doled out wisdom
and kindness,
along with
creative
‘sentences’
uniquely designed
to fit the crime,
the individual,
and the specific
circumstances.
The Judge became ‘legendary’ in Lima, touching
many lives for the better, and serving in that role
for 32 years.
But Judge Hennessy had many other interests,
including antique furniture, art, and other
collectibles, as well as gardening, travel, history,
civic affairs and public service. He served on the
Lima Town Board, was a past president of the
Lima Rotary and the Livingston County
Magistrates Associates, a lifetime member of the
Lima Historical Society, and a friend and advisor
to anyone in town who sought his help. For many
years, he ran a small mail order ‘toy’ business
from his stately historic home on East Main
Street, surrounded by his collections and family
heirlooms. He was particularly proud of having
toured China at the age of 84. He died at the
Episcopal Home in Rochester in December 2007.
Hanging of the Greens
If you haven’t heard, we are collecting items to
make gift bags for the children at the Refugee
Health Clinic in Rochester. We want to make
as many bags as possible filled with; warm socks,
trial sized toothbrush and paste, crayons, small pad
of paper, comb, trial size Band-Aids, small stuffed
animal. We will be assembling the bags on the 6th
to be distributed at the clinic during December. We
will also be collecting gift cards for Wal-Mart and
RTS Bus Passes during the month of December for
the clinic.
Charter Circle
The Charter Circle ladies continue to meet quarterly
and enjoy the Christian fellowship.
Thank you for your generous donations of Market
Place and Mendon Meadows tapes over the past
year. We were able to give $100 to Riley’s Mission
of Peace and $50 to the local Food cupboard and
are planning to donate $100 toward Ministries
Shares and $50 again to the local Food Cupboard.
We are so sorry to hear about the death of one of
our wonderful charter members, Eleanor
Jones. She was the epitome of a Christian and
church member. She will be sorely missed.
A donation will be given to the Memorial Fund in
memory of her from the Charter Circle.
What gifts do we bring?
Oct/Nov
Attendance
Offering
Other
Oct 26th
63
$1,749
$2,087
Nov 2rd
62
$1,932
0
Nov 9th
52
$3,139
0
Nov 16th
55
$3,947
$303.68
Nov 23rd
69
$1,997
0
Announcements
Christmas Flowers
It's time to think about ordering your
Christmas plants. Order forms will be
included in the weekly bulletins on Nov. 30
and Dec. 7. Orders are due to Ginny
Winchester by Dec. 7 and payment by Dec.
14. Your plants will be arranged for the
Christmas Eve services and you're welcome
to take them home after either
service. Your plant will be labeled with
your name.
Christmas Eve
Worship Services
Please join us to celebrate
the birth of our Lord Jesus in
worship on Christmas Eve.
We will be holding two worship gatherings on
Tuesday night December 24th. Our 7:00 p.m.
worship is a family orientated service and the
11:00 p.m. service will be more reflective.
Come out to one or both as we prepare our
hearts for the coming of Christ.
Christmas Eve Annual
Open House
Come join us on Christmas Eve between
the two church services.
Celebrate the beginning of
Christmas with friends, food,
and music.
Gary and Lynn Albright
Date: Dec. 24th, 2014
Time: 8:00p.m.-10:00p.m.
Place: 96 W. Main St. Honeoye Falls, NY
Questions: 582-1473
#GivingTuesday - Dec. 2
Visit umcom.org/givingtuesday to learn
why Imagine No Malaria and ICT4D should
top this year's Christmas giving list
Community Events!
Check out the bulletin boards at church.
There are many upcoming events in our
community during December for the
Holidays!
December 6th – Annual Teazaar - First
Presbyterian Church of Honeoye Falls
December 6th – HF Community Band
Concert
December 13th - Victorian Tea - East
Bloomfield United Methodist Church.
Advance tickets required
(585)657-7220 or (585)657-7076
to order tickets and for more information.
December 21st – Annual Living Nativity –
Harry Allen Park 6:30pm
Living Nativity
The Annual Community
"Living Nativity"
Pageant remains one of
Honeoye Falls cherished
traditions. With this being
the 32nd annual
performance, the community will be able to
enjoy the Christmas story as depicted by young
people in our area. This year's pageant will be
December 21st (Sunday) at 6:30 P.M. in Harry
Allen Park.
Come dressed for the weather; bring a
flashlight, lots of friends and family members to
this beloved village tradition. Refreshments
following the program. Note: Cookies are
needed for the Living Nativity on December
21st. Anyone interested in helping supply
cookies of any kind for this community event,
please drop them off at the Scout House on
December 21st between 5:30p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Save the Date!
Beginning in mid-January, a 6 week Adult
Bible Study is going to be offered at the
home of Duane and Marie Thompson
(2630 Clay St., Lima, NY 14485).
There have been a number of folks who’ve
expressed an interest in
learning
more
about
John
Wesley,
the
founder of the Methodist
movement, and what it
means to be United
Methodist. The study that we’ll be utilizing
is Adam Hamilton’s “Revival: Faith as
Wesley Lived it”.
Over our 6 week study we’ll journey with
Adam Hamilton as he travels to England,
following the life of John Wesley and
exploring Wesley’s defining characteristics
of a Wesleyan Christian.
John Wesley’s story is our story. It defines
our faith and it challenges us to rediscover
our spiritual passion. Wesley’s message and
his faith continue to speak to 21st-century
Christians, calling for a revival of our hearts
and souls so that our world might be
changed.
Here’s a link to a brief video discussing the
upcoming study:
http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/Dynamic
Content.aspx?id=276&pageid=1807
We hope that you’ll be able to join us
FISH (FRIENDS in SERVICE HERE)
Call for Volunteer Dispatchers and/or
Drivers
FISH is a community group organized to
serve Honeoye Falls, Lima, North Bloomfield,
Mendon and West Bloomfield. Our purpose is
not to duplicate services of established social
agencies, public and private, only to
supplement their work. There is no financial
charge made for any services and no financial
remuneration for any service rendered. All
program costs are supported by donations. The
purpose of the program is to provide
transportation to doctors, dentists, hospital
appointments, etc.
Helpers
needed
We’re in need of
adult volunteers
to
assist
as
helpers in the
children
(Kindergarten / 1st Grade Class) and youth (3rd
thru 6th Grade Class) Sunday School classes.
We’re in need adult helpers for the following
dates:
Kindergarten/1st Grade Class
Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Mar. 1, Mar. 15, Mar.
29, Apr. 2, Apr. 26, May 3, May 17, May
31
3rd thru 6th Grade Class
Mar. 1, Mar. 15, Mar. 29, Apr. 2, Apr.
26, May 3, May 17, May 31
If you’re available to help, there will be sign-up
sheets in the Sunday Worship Notebooks that
are circulated during the Worship Service.
If you have any questions, please get in touch
with Darlene Vullo via phone (585-624-9058) or
email ([email protected])
Christian Formation is one of our highest
priorities in our community of faith, and we’re
asking that you prayerfully consider assisting
as a helper in our children and youth Sunday
School.
We are in need of dispatchers and drivers to
provide assistance for those in need.
Do you have some free time during the
weekdays?
Dispatchers: These volunteers are given a day a
month to handle the phone calls that are
relayed to them from the Answering Service.
These volunteers should be near their phones
from 8:00AM until 5:00 PM Most calls are in
the morning. The dispatcher calls the person
requesting help. Most of the calls require a
driver. The dispatcher working from a list of
approved drivers seeks a driver who then in
turn calls the requestor to finalize details.
(Continued next page)
Fish Call for Volunteers Continued
Drivers: We ask our drivers to take the training
that Lifespan (Give a Life) offers. This training
is beneficial as it explains and demonstrates
how properly to give aid to clients while
transporting. The training is held once a month
at
Lifespan.
Once a
month
you
would
give a report to Donald Vogt of the rides you
provided, time involved and miles driven and
this information is then sent to Lifespan (Give a
Lift). Drivers can except or decline each time as
your own personal schedule allows. You can
also set perimeters on distance.
The FISH program has been in existence for
forty years and provides a valuable service to
the community. Please consider volunteering
your time to support this very important
program for those individuals in need. For more
information, please call Donald Vogt at 585624-8388.
The Honeoye Falls-Lima School
District is now taking applications
for the 2015-2016
Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)
Program, a FREE NY State Education
Department, grant-funded initiative.
The UPK program for four-year-olds enhances
language, literacy, physical, creative expression
and social/emotional attributes through play,
learning centers, and investigation. All UPK
Teachers are NYS Certified. All children who
are residents of the Honeoye Falls-Lima School
District, will be four years old by December 1,
2015, are able to attend a 2 1/2 hour program, 5
days a week (regular attendance is mandatory)
and have a completed application by the
deadline January 9, 2015, are eligible for the
program. There is no fee to complete an
application. The two community-based sites for
the HFL UPK program are Great Expectations
Child Care Center in Lima and Mendon Child
Care Center in Mendon. A lottery is held in
mid-January accepting 28 children into the
upcoming 2015-2016 School Year Program. For
more information and to obtain an application,
please contact Lisa Moosbrugger, Lima School
Principal, at 624-7140 or online at HFLCSD.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part.
Yet, what can I give him?
Give my heart.
-- Christina Rossetti
Halloween Connections- Thank yous!
(some are also posted on the bulletin board by the Sanctuary door)
Thank you so much for the Halloween care
package. It was a wonderful surprise to get
me through midterms. Hope everything is
well at church and everyone has a safe and
fun holiday season. Emily Machiele
HFUMC Family,
Thank you so much for the care package! It
definitely brightened the Halloween spirit
of my whole floor! Also, thank you to
everyone who helped me win the costume
contest on Facebook. I couldn’t have done it
without you. I am glad to know that I have
such a supportive church family behind me
as I continue on this adventure! Thanks
again, Sarah
Dear HFUMC,
Thank you so much for the care package! It
was a very pleasant surprise on a rainy
day. I’m doing well this semester;
everything is going wonderfully! I hope
everyone is well back home, thanks again.
Cole
Hello Church Family!
Jada & I wanted to say Thank You very
much for our Halloween package!!! Jada
made sure to share it with the
neighborhood kids. She said she loves our
"Home Church Family". We love ya'll &
thanks again.
*Missy & Jada*
Dear Church Family,
As always, thank you so much for my
Halloween care package! I did have to bring
some to share at work because my
roommate and I were enjoying it a little too
much.  We set up our decorations right
away and were playing with our bat
whistles for the rest of the night. It really
helped us finally get into the Halloween
spirit! Thanks again and I will see you all
for the upcoming holidays!
Emily Winans
We Welcome Valerie Reuman and Willow Finch to Our Community of Faith!
Valerie Reuman, and her daughter, Willow Finch, have been coming to church as often as they can for
the past two years. Val was brought up in a different Protestant denomination, but when she moved to
Fairport in the mid 1990s, she and her family began attending the Fairport United Methodist Church.
Val taught Sunday School there. Eight years ago, the family moved to the very southern part of Lima,
where they enjoy having a barn and several horses, and when they looked for a Methodist Church, they
found HFUMC.
Both Val and Willow said they really enjoy our worship service and the way Pastor Mary connects all
the different aspects of it. Willow finds the church service interesting, and Val especially loves Mary’s
sermons. Val can tell that Mary puts a lot of time and thought into them, and she loves watching the
circular nature of them as Mary begins with a certain thought, includes scripture and personal
experience, and brings it all back to where it first began. Val and Willow also love the way Darrell
changes pews from Sunday to Sunday and talks to people sitting nearby, thus getting to know
everyone.
Val has worked as a psychotherapist since 1992. She is in private practice and has an office in the
South Wedge near the new College Town. She states that she loves her work, and it’s clear that she
does. She lights up when she talks about it.
Willow, a Junior at HFL, is an active young woman who really likes people and socializing and gets
along well with everyone. She participates in track and soccer and is currently on the Nordic ski team.
She volunteers extensively and is a member of Interact, a group of students who volunteer for
community events. She also works on the yearbook and is a member of the Green Team, which
promotes environmentally sound practices. She works part time at Ruck’s Pizza Kitchen in Lima.
Willow was very interested in two psychology classes she took at school and is currently thinking about
becoming a criminal psychologist.
There are two other daughters in the family. Hannah, 18, is a freshman at SUNY Cortland and is interested
in Occupational Therapy or possibly Speech Language Pathology. Placid, 14, is a freshman at HFL and is a
serious and very successful horseback rider. Another member of the family is Rachel, who works as a
secretary in Val’s office, has served as a nanny to the girls, and currently participates in the life of the
household as needs arises.
Welcome to HFUMC, Val and Willow!
Margot Long
12/2 12/10 12/12 12/13 -
Phil Dewey
Jeff Bastow
Liam Lyle
Alexis Zwetsch,
Debbie Laraway
12/15 - Keith Knox
Otis Marlowe
12/6 - Jeff & Jane Endicott
Celebrate!
12/18
12/19
12/21
12/23
12/25
-
Anita Forney
Laurel Dettman
Glenn Zwetsch
Colleen Dunn Robbins
Doug Brooks
Darrell Rublee
12/30 - Bailey Clark Burdett
December 2013
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
Wednesday
2
3
GivingTuesday
11:45am –1:00pm
Thursday
4
Friday
5
HFUMC
Visit
umcom.org/givingtue Women’s Small
sday to learn why
Group Bible Study
Imagine No Malaria
and ICT4D should top
this year's Christmas
giving list.
Worship
10:30am
Sunday School:
Youth 9:30
Adult 9:15
8
9
10
7:00 pm
Operations
Team Mtg
7:00 pm
Bell Choir
11:45am –1:00pm
11
12
Worship
10:30am
Sunday School:
Youth 9:30
Adult 9:15
4:00 pm
Confirmation Class
6:00 pm
Walk to Emmaus
gathering
21
Worship
10:30am
Sunday School:
Youth 9:30
Adult 9:15
Worship
10:30am
Sunday School:
Youth 9:30
Adult 9:15-
13
5:00 pm
Handbell concert
15
16
17
7:00 pm
Bell Choir
11:45am –1:00pm
18
19
20
25
26
27
HFUMC
Women’s Small
Group Bible Study
Jan – Feb
Newsletter
Deadline
22
23
7:00 pm
Leadership
Team meeting
7:00 pm
Bell Choir
28
8:00 am
Men's Club
9:00 am
Breakfast at the
Parsonage
HFUMC
Women’s Small
Group Bible Study
4:00 pm
Girl Scout Meeting
14
6
10:00 am to
4:00 pm
Hand2Plow
Session #2
5:00 pm
Hanging of the
greens and
refugee kit
assembly
7:00 pm
Bell Choir
7
Saturday
29
December 7
Greeters: Joe Menear & Friend
Lector: Carol Hayden
Sound: Chris Hunt
Hospitality: McCagg & Hunt
Counters: Sarah & Lynn
Flowers for Altar: Margot Long
in memory of Margaret and
Parmelee Cusak
30
24
7:00 pm
Christmas Eve
Service
8:00 pm
Annual Open House
at Albright’s
11:00 pm
Christmas Eve
Service
Joyous
Christmas
31
7:00 pm
Bell Choir
Sunday Volunteers
December 14
December 21
Greeters: Carolyn Burt & friend
Lector: Riley O’Flynn
Sound: Ken Forney
Hospitality: Coffee
Counters: Lisa & Duane
Flowers for Altar: Bill & Jan
Connor grandson Issac Demay’s
10th birthday
Greeters: Gary & Lynn Albright
Lector: Jim Kanaley
Sound: Rick Snipe
Hospitality: Kanaley & Vullo
Counters: Tom & Bob
Flowers for Altar: Don & Sharon
Barnes in memory of Charles
Ferguson Sr. (Sharon’s dad)
December 28
Greeters: Richard Parham & family
Lector: Margo Long
Sound: Drew Moore
Hospitality: Coffee
Counters: Rick & Ken
Flowers for Altar:
PRAYER CLOSET
The “Prayer Mail” Email Address is [email protected]
If you notice that you haven’t gotten a prayer email in a while, please check your junk or spam
folder to see if they went there. Please add the email address in your contact list to ensure delivery
in the future. If you think you may have been dropped from the list or would like to be added,
please note this on the blue cards Sunday morning or contact the church office.
STRENGTH, HEALING AND GUIDANCE:
Rebecca Welsh (Martha Shipe’s sister),
Bob Wilkins (Sis Burton’s brother-in-law),
Agnes Marlowe,
Amy Acampora,
Upper New York Annual Conference and our
church leaders,
Fran Wheeler,
Pastor Samuel and Community UMC
(Uganda),
Susie Sergeant Wright,
Mary Versprille (friend of Margot Long),
Debbie Bastow,
Rhonda Connor (Bill Connor’s sister in law),
Marge Kuch (Margot Long’s cousins wife)
OUR FRIENDS AT HOME: Hazel Gunzalus and Olive Treat
SYMPATHY:
The Family of Eleanor Jones
The Family of Curt Barker,
The Family of Nancy Neubauer,
The Family of Hugh Donaldson,
The Family of Steve Calos,
COLLEGE STUDENTS:
Ann Kelly,
J. R. O'Flynn,
Brenda Mathias,
Justin Sellman,
Cole Matthews,
Zach Terwiliger,
Emily Machiele,
MEN AND WOMEN IN SERVICE:
Stephen Battle USA,
Scott Flood USA,
Dennis Bonavilla,
Cathy Avery Hallett
Joseph Bonavilla,
USAF,
Curtis Clark, USMC,
Peter Kester USAF,
Cory and Katrina
Jeffrey Krulick,
Critchley USA,
Peter J. Lang USMC,
Michael Fanton USN,
Becky Lasch,
Nathan Fanton USA,
The Family of Eric Forney,
The Family of Margaret Cusack,
The Family of Lois Parsons,
The Family of Rich Scholl
Patrick Thompson,
Emily Winans,
Jamie Young,
Sarah Forney,
Arcadia Fairchild,
Joseph Moore
Melissa Mantegna
USAF,
Douglas Ninkovick,
Airman Poffard,
Michael Pullen USA,
John Rider USAF,
Colleen Dunn
Robbins USN,
Scott Robbins USN,
Tim Rowlinson USA,
Mike and Charniah
Smrekar USN,
Steven Tschiderer
USA,
Greg Dewey USN
HONEOYE FALLS
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
31 East Street Honeoye Falls NY 14472
Address Service Requested
“Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve”
WEEKLY SERVICES
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:15 AM
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 9:30 AM
SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:30 AM
PASTOR: Rev. Mary Rublee
585-497-7041 [email protected]
Christmas Eve Worship Services
Please join us to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus in
worship on Christmas Eve. We will be holding two
worship gatherings on Tuesday night December 24th.
Our 7:00 p.m. worship is a family orientated service and
the 11:00 p.m. will be more reflective. Come out to one
or both as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ
If you no longer wish to receive the Newsletter please
contact the church office at 624-3387 or
[email protected]
Thank you!
CHURCH OFFICE: Secretary: Donna Hickling
585-624-3387 [email protected]
Website: www.honeoyefallsumc.org
Office hours are posted weekly on the
Church St. door and in the Sunday bulletin.
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Joe Blackburn 244-3538
MINISTERS:
EVERY MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION
LEADERSHIP TEAM: Sue Godshall 582-1351