Wesley United Methodist Church

Wesley is rich in tradition and always looking towards the future. We welcome you to worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10am. Everyone is welcome. http://www.wumcsf.org

Wesley Christmas service is Sunday December 24th at 5pm.

Greetings, and Happy Advent!

I realize that’s not the normal holiday greeting. We focus on Christmas, and with good reason. The cultural and emotional ties to the holiday notwithstanding, Christmas is essential to our identity as Christians. God’s gift to the world is God’s self, wrapped in the form of a tiny human.

But don’t let the warm feelings and holiday cheer fool you. As pretty as nativity scenes are—and yes, ours at Wesley is gorgeous!—none of them can quite depict the audacity of Christmas. In a world troubled by fear and darkness, God’s light enters in the most unexpected of ways.

Not as a conqueror. Not even as an ambassador. As a baby, vulnerable and requiring the assistance of others through long years of childhood. It’s as if God is taunting the darkness. “Bring your hate and violence and cruelty to bear against my Light, and he will defeat you—not in spite of his vulnerability, but because of it.”

And with the coming of the light, a new dawn—an advent—is possible.

This year, we at Wesley feel the Advent message in an acute way. We’ve been through a dark year of division and pain and loss. We are more vulnerable than we would like to be, and we don’t know exactly what the future holds for us.

What we do know is that we are beginning anew. The turn of the calendar to Advent—the start of a new liturgical year—marks the coming of the Light into our midst. We may not see the whole path before us, much less the destination. But we can see our neighbors, and God in our neighbors, and hope in one another.

And all of this by the light of the one true Light, breaking through even now.

--Eric

The first forum was November 18 and transportation challenges in the Whittier neighborhood was the topic. Good discussion and valuable information shared. A total of seven forums are planned each with a different key issue that is facing the neighborhood. The date for the next forum is Saturday December 2 at 10a. The discussion will be about Housing. Come have a cup of coffee and a treat and meet your Church's neighbors. "Let's work together to make our Whittier neighborhood an even better place to live one forum at a time." For more information visit civicbiodesign.org/join-the-crc. If you have any questions or would like to provide treats for this meeting, please call Mary Poppenga.

Wesley has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, Community Revitalization and BAM to begin addressing challenges in the Whittier neighborhood. Wesley is a part of the large area that makes up the Whittier Neighborhood. Wesley will provide the space for meetings - Fellowship Hall- and the other groups will organize and facilitate the meetings. Even if you don't live in the Whittier neighborhood you are encouraged to attend these meetings. Your warm welcome and interest in our neighborhood will go far to spread a positive impression of the Wesley family.

The Nightwatch Canteen is a much-needed food source in our community. In September Wesley served 147 people on a Monday night canteen. In October Wesley served 220 people on a Sunday night and ran out of food. Wesley serves again on Sunday December 10th and on Monday December 25th.

1. The Worship committee is looking for a volunteer to lead the congregation in singing hymns. Let the worship committee know if you can help!

2. We need help keeping the church clean. Sign-up sheet in Narthex.

3. The media room upstairs can use more volunteers. Don't worry there is training! See the service from a different view.

Income 11 months 2023------ --------------------$ 103,974.50

Expense 11 months 2023 ----------------------- ($128,708.40)

Expense exceed Income @ 10/31/2023----------($28,441.47)

Don Armstrong, Treasurer

Balance 10/31/23-------------------------------$19,643.97

Donations November 2023-----------------------$350.00

Interest earned November 2023--------------------$6.46

Balance 11/30/2023 ---------------------------$20,200.43

Don Armstrong, Treasurer

Sympathy - to the family of Donna Allis who died November 17th.

Ernie Griner - several surgeries and hospitalization in Minneapolis

Zelma Dean - Rehab after hospitalization

Carole Anderson -doing rehab

Trish Garcia - back home!

Erlene's cousin Jeff there have been small improvements after a stroke

Aggie Borman - recovering from a heart transplant and doing great

Sandy - Bernie McCabe's daughter, ongoing illness

Carmen Britt - Sister Kim and Brother-in-law, Dave - prayers needed

Kolby Bohmbach – Continued prayers for good test results

Felsheim Family – working to keep Bennett safe

Karen Renken- continued prayers for healing

Bob Whiting’s daughter Robyn –doing well after a kidney transplant

Nila & Karen’s sister-in-law Karen - continued prayers

José Garcia’s mom, Maria Herrera - breast cancer

Last year Wesley collected 31 boxes. This year we collected more than double of last year with a total of 64 boxes collected and sent to the Spirit Lake Ministry center. Well done!

Eating meat has some known health benefits such as being a good source of fatty acids and nutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins. But all meats are not considered equal. Red meat, for instance, has the advantage of being a great source of high-quality protein; consumed too frequently, though, it has been linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Other meats require similar considerations of risk versus benefit – especially processed ones.

Processed meat is meat that has been modified to either extend its shelf life or to improve its taste – such as being fermented, cured or smoked. Processed meat also includes when 'chemical preservatives have been added to it,' says Kearson Petruzzi, a registered dietitian for the Cleveland Clinic. 'Some examples are bacon, hot dogs, jerky and pre-packaged deli meats.'

Within the world of processed meats, some are thought to be healthier than others.

Some processed meat has greater health risks than others depending on the type of meat and the degree of processing.

Because red meat already has significantly more potentially negative health outcomes than fish or chicken, for instance, its processed version is often considered worse than the processed version of many other meats.

The World Health Organization says that processed meat is 'carcinogenic to humans.' This means 'that research can confidently conclude that it does cause cancer,' says Petruzzi.

In addition to being associated with higher cancer risk, processed meat has also been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and is associated with heart disease and high blood pressure.

Because of such factors, the experts recommend fresh meat options – poultry or fish especially – over processed meat. Other healthier alternatives that are still good sources of protein include eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, beans and many nuts and seeds such as cashews, walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds which are all tasty as well as healthy.

Blessings,

Dawn Armstrong, Parish Nurse

Tuff Home in Hills, MN: Jackie Dreyer

Good Sam / Hill: Linda Varud,

Southridge: Guy Varud; Cleova Frahm

VA in Luverne: Bob Morrison

Please continue to pray for Ernie and the entire Griner family. Ernie is a patient at a children's hospital in Minneapolis, has gone through surgeries and is very sick. Ernie needs rehab after he is discharged from the hospital.

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”. Advent in the 4th and 5th century was a time of preparation for the baptism of new Christians.