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[The Story Teller]

Christmas 4 Traditions





General Christmas Facts Page 4





Tom Smith who owned a sweet shop in London was the originator of the cracker. In the 1840s Tom found that people like sugar almonds, but while he was in France he discovered a variety of sweets wrapped up in a twist of paper. These bonbons were popular, so Tom decided to copy them. When Tom noticed that young men were buying them to give to their sweethearts he began to place "love mottoes" on small slips of paper inside the sweet wrapping. In 1846 Tom's thoughts turned towards Christmas - instead of sweets he thought he would place toys and novelties inside the twisted wrapping. He experimented with this and the idea of producing a wrapping that could be pulled apart - just like the cracker as we know it today.



The word carol is derived from the old French word caroler which derives from the Latin choraula. This itself was derived from the Greek choraules.



Births on 25 December:



W C Field (1946)

Alice Cooper (1945)

Princes Alexandra (1936)

Paul Borget (1935)

Charles Spencer Chaplin (1889)



Deaths on 25 December:



Conrad Hilton (1979)

Humphrey Bogart (1957)

Dorothy Wordsworth (1855)

Sir Isaac Newton (1727)



The biggest selling Christmas single of all time is Bing Crosby's White Christmas.



In Switzerland during the Reformation, al instrumental and choral music was banned from churches. In Germany, disapproval of carols resulted in some being converted into hymns.



Tinsel on the Christmas Tree is attributed to a woman whose husband died. She was left to bring up a large family of children herself. She was left to do everything working so hard and she was determined to make a happy time for them at Christmas. She prepared a Christmas Tree to surprise them on Christmas Day. Unfortunately spiders visited the tree, and crawled from branch to branch, making webs all over it. The Christ Child saw the tree and knew she would be devastated to find this on Christmas morning. He changed the spiders' webs to shining silver.



The first church the Dutch built in New York City was named in St. Nicholas' honour -St. Nicholas Church.



Many Christmas customs are carryovers from pre-Christian celebrations. Hanging gifts on trees is supposed to stem from tree worship of the Druids, and the belief that the tree was the giver of all good things. The Druids are also partly responsible for the use of mistletoe at Christmastime. They regarded the mistletoe as sacred, made certain that it never touched the ground, and dedicated it to the Goddess of Love, which explains the kissing that goes on under it. Originally, when a boy kissed a girl, he plucked a berry from the cluster and presented it to her. When the berries were gone, so were the kisses.



Submitted by Richard

 

[The Story Teller]

The Disciple
​

April, May, June

Grace Union United Methodist Church
​

Birthdays

Please take time to wish these brothers and sisters in Christ a happy birthday:



April 23 Frances Albertson

28 Elaine Stevenson

29 Alex Alotto

May 5 Karl Evans

6 Bob Baker

15 Grace Soistmann

19 Bobbie Causey

17 Herman Heggan

22 Thomas Bradley

June 3 Dawn Hansen

6 Nicole Worrell

7 Allison Miller

9 Joseph Kane

9 Eleanor Gill

11 Carin Causey

21 Susan Hatala

27 Adella Blatherwick

27 Gloria Myers

28 John Coffee



Pastor Tom

Easter, God’s promise of resurrection to eternal life for all who believe in his Son Jesus, is over, but it has left it’s promise in the season of Spring. As we hurry through God’s kingdom on the one million and one errands that we need to do, let’s take the time to stop for just a moment and look at the budding trees and the blooming flowers.

As you gaze on this eternal promise of the renewal of life, think of the possibilities of your life, if you place it in God’s hands and allow Him to give you the abundant life He has promised. In this season of new life and new growth, open yourself to the power of the Holy Spirit and experience the life that God wants for you.



All-Church Meeting

The congregation met on Sunday, February 10, at the request of the Church Council, so that the leadership of the church could receive their comments and suggestions concerning the church’s financial situation. A synopsis of the discussion is available from the pastor upon request.

The discussion was lively and centered around suggestions for the worship service, annual conference apportionments, the need to attract new members, and possible fund raisers. The consensus seemed to be that if the worship service was “fixed” we would get new members and that would take care of the financial problems. One member remarked that it didn’t matter whether the church had a full-time pastor or not, as long as the church was still here.

The synopsis of the meeting was forwarded to Rev. Dr. Ramon Evangelista, Cape Atlantic District Superintendent, in preparation for his meeting with the Church Council on March 18.







Church Council



We met with District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Ramon Evangelista on Monday, March 18. After the committee reports were received a discussion was held concerning the status of the church. As of February 28 the church was nearly $3,000 behind in meeting expenses for this year, making it necessary for the Treasurer to remove additional funds from reserves to meet our expenses. The Rev. Dr. Evangelista stated that there are a number of options available for addressing this situation, but no decision was made at this time. The District Superintendent will meet with the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee on April 8, 2002.



Board of Trustees

The Trustees met on March 4, 2002. Many items of Old Business were reviewed. Discussion was held concerning the memorial requests for stained glass windows and the concerns raised by members of the congregation. The donors will be asked about the possibility of reconsidering their request.

Two large projects that were discussed were repair of the church roof and the resurfacing of the parking lot. The roof will be inspected in the next month and a recommendation made as to the extent of the necessary repairs. The Trustees anticipate holding down the cost of this project by purchasing the shingles and seeking the help of the congregation in their installation.

The condition of the parking lot is deteriorating and it was damaged further during recent snow plowing. The Trustees will wait for the estimate of the roof project before seeking bids for the parking lot.



Sunday School

Our Sunday School has been having a great year with many interesting events and April, May, and June will be no exception. Parents are asked to watch for flyers of the upcoming events. So try to join us each week at 9:45 a.m. and you won’t miss any of the fun or interesting lessons about Jesus. Remember its hard to spell S_ NDAY without U.



Worship Committee

The committee met in January to make plans through June. The Easter Season is a special time in our church. We will join our brothers and sisters for Holy Communion at the Elm UMC on Maundy Thursday. A Tenebrae service will be held here on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday we will begin with our sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. followed by our community breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Sunday School will be at 9:45 a.m. followed by a worship service at 11:00 a.m.

On April 28 a missionary from the Jews for Jesus organization will share the message of Jeshua, Jesus with us. A covered dish dinner will be held at 4:45 p.m. and the program will commence at 6:00 p.m.

Our Student Recognition Service will be held on June 9 at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Thomas “Max” Waggenseller scholarships will be awarded.

Once again this year our men will provide our worship service for Mother’s Day on May 12 and the women of the church will lead our Father’s Day service on June 16.





The Giving Tree

We will be collecting for the following projects through June.

Please check the weekly bulletin for the list of needed items.

March 24 to April 21 - Handivangelism at Malaga Camp.

April 28 to May 26 - Bethany Baby Shower.

June 2 to June 30 - Vacation Bible School.



For the months of July and August we will be collecting backpacks and overnight bags for children who are quickly removed from their homes by DYFS and don’t have time to pack personal items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, stuffed animals, etc.



Mother’s Day Banquet

The Banquet will take place at the Winslow House in Sicklerville on Friday, May 3. It will start at 6:30 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by Bill and Tresa Arena and door prizes will be awarded.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for children 5-8 years old, and children under 5 are free. For tickets or more information please call Karen Henry at 567-7908 or Leslee Miller at 561-7972 no later than April 28.



Memorial Day Picnic

Our Picnic will be held on Monday, May 27 from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. Please watch for them to go on sale.

Bob Baker’s gymnastic students will provide an exhibition and the kids can join-in, weather permitting.

If you would like to assist in this ministry please contact Karen Henry, picnic coordinator.





Chicken-Corn Barbecue

Come join for the “finger lickin good” eating on Saturday, June 8 at our Annual Chicken-Corn Barbecue. The picnic grove will be ready for anyone who wishes to eat here and take-outs are available. Watch for the tickets to go on sale and bring the whole family.



Student Recognition Sunday

Sunday, June 9 will be the day to honor the scholastic achievements of our students. If you know of a student in our congregation who is graduating from preschool through graduate school, please let Pastor Tom know so that they can be recognized during this service.

Also at this service the Rev. Thomas “Max” Waggenseller Scholarships will be awarded. Applications for eligible college students will be available on April 14 and the deadline for submission, no exceptions, will be May 26. If you know someone who is eligible, please make sure they get an application.



Vacation Bible School

Mark your calendar and make your plans to be here the week of July 15 through 19 as we tour “God’s Greatest Gallery.” VBS will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for ages 3 to adult.

If you would like to assist us in this ministry please contact Betty Karcher, Sunday School Superintendent, or Diana Hajdu, Education Committee Chairperson.

 

[NewSong]

happy birthday

 

[The Story Teller]

Have you ever hear of The Lost Books of The Bible????

 

[NewSong]

A Christmas Story


I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me! "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second
world-famous cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through the doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he had no good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it.
Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept
noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.
Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95

 

[NewSong]

1. LASAGNA-by Uncle Bud




1-1/2 lb. ground beef
1 large onion
1 green pepper
1 can tomatoes
3-4 small cans tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
1 Can of Mushrooms(if desired)
2 tsp. oregano
Several dashes of basil
Several dashes of mace
Several dashes of thyme
Several dashes of Cinnamon
Salt, pepper, & garlic to taste
1-2 lb. Ricotta cheese
2-4 eggs, beaten
Mix together in Dutch oven ground beef, onion, and green peppers and brown in 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Add tomatoes, sauce, paste, and seasonings. Cook lasagna and rinse as directed. Mix 1-2 lbs. of Ricotta Cheese with 2-4 beaten eggs and salt and pepper. In casserole dish, alternate layers of lasagna, meat sauce, cheese mixture & 3/4 lb. of Mozzarella cheese. Pour over top 1 can of tomato sauce. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

 

[The Story Teller]

[sign]Have you ever hear of The Lost Books of The Bible????[/sign]

 

[NewSong]

yeah

 

[NewSong]

MY FOOTSTEPS?
An acquaintance of mine who is a physician told this story about her then four year old daughter. On the way to preschool, the doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it. Be still, my heart, thought my friend, my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps! Then the child spoke into the instrument: Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order?

A WISE LITTLE GIRL
A certain little girl, when asked her name, would reply, I'm Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter. Her mother told her this was wrong, she must say, I'm Jane Sugarbrown.

The Vicar spoke to her in Sunday School, and said, Aren't you Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter?She replied, I thought I was, but mother says I'm not.

 

[The Story Teller]

Should I post them here?

 

[NewSong]

???

 

[The Story Teller]

Let me check the other forums.

 

[NewSong]

TOO ROUGH
A little girl asked her mother, Can I go outside and play with the boys?
Her mother replied, No, you can't play with the boys, they're too rough.
The little girl thought about it for a few moments and asked, If I can find a smooth one, can I play with him?

THUMB SUCKING
A boy had reached four without giving up the habit of sucking his thumb, though his mother had tried everything from bribery to reasoning to painting it with lemon juice to discourage the habit. Finally she tried threats, warning her son that, If you don't stop
sucking your thumb, your stomach is going to blow up like a balloon."
Later that day, walking in the park, mother and son saw a pregnant woman sitting on a bench. The four-year-old considered her gravely for a minute, then spoke to her saying, Uh-oh .. I know what you've been doing

 

[The Story Teller]

*** WARNING TISSUES NEEDED ***



A Letter To Santa



SANTA



Snowflakes softly falling

Upon your window they play

Your blankets snug around you,

Into sleep you drift away.



I bend to gently kiss you,

when I see that on the floor

there's a letter, neatly written

I wonder who it's for.



I quietly unfold it

making sure you're still asleep,

It's a Christmas list for Santa

one my heart will always keep.



It started just as always

with the toys seen on TV,

A new watch for your father

and a winter coat for me.

But as my eyes read on

I could see that deep inside

there were many things you wished for

that your loving heart would hide.



You asked if your friend Molly

could have another Dad;

It seems her father hits her

and it makes you very sad.



Then you asked dear Santa

if the neighbors down the street

Could find a job, that he might have

some food, and clothes, and heat.



You saw a family on the news

whose house had blown away,

"Dear Santa, send them just one thing

a place where they can stay."



"And Santa, those four cookies that

I left you for a treat,

Could you take them to the children

who have nothing else to eat."



"Do you know that little bear I have

the one I love so dear?

I'm leaving it for you to take

to Africa this year".



"And as you fly your reindeer

on this night of Jesus' birth,

Could your magic bring to everyone

goodwill and peace on earth".



"There's one last thing before you go,

so grateful I would be,

If you'd smile at Baby Jesus

in the manger by our tree."



I pulled the letter close to me'

I felt it melt my heart.

Those tiny hands had written

what no other could impart.



"And a little child shall lead them,"

was whispered in my ear

As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve

while Santa Claus was here.



Author Unknown

Submitted by Richard

 

[The Story Teller]

The Invention of the Telephone
​

“Attempt the end, and never stand in doubt; nothing’s so hard but search will find it out.”
—Robert Herrick
​

Alexander Graham Bell was the son of a speech teacher from Scotland. In fact, both his father and grandfather made careers of teaching people how to speak correctly and also developed a method for teaching the deaf to speak. Tuberculosis in the family triggered the Bells’ move from England to Canada, and an offer to present teaching methods for the deaf in Boston brought young Alexander to the United States. During his study of speech, he read a German article (Alexander could barely read German) and mistakenly thought it said that vowel sounds could be produced by electricity and tuning forks. That misconception led Alexander to begin experimenting with electricity.



At first he tried to develop a multiple telegraph and took out a patent on an invention that never worked. While experimenting, he realized that vibrations made by the voice could be picked up and changed into electrical pulses. His assistant, Thomas Watson, helped in the breakthrough by connecting some vibrating reeds too tightly. When a wire was plucked, Alexander heard the sound emanating from another reed attached to the wire. He realized that something important was happening and studied the situation for several days, making various changes. On March 7, 1876, Alexander was working on the device and spilled some acid on his pants. “Mr. Watson, come here, I want you!” he shouted. Watson, who was in another room, heard the message transmitted over the wire. The apparatus was the first working telephone.

Consider This: There is no telling what can be accomplished once you think it is possible.

 

[The Story Teller]

April 1
​

Eddie Bauer
​

“Ideas must work through the brains and arms of good and brave men, or they are no better than dreams.”
—Emerson
​

Eddie Bauer was an experienced hunter and fisherman, but one fishing trip almost cost him his life. It was in 1928 and his partner had gone to the car while Eddie stayed to pack 100 pounds of fish. A sudden cold front came through, and Eddie found himself becoming sleepy and disoriented. His partner saved him, but the experience gave Eddie an idea. His family had emigrated from Russia, and he remembered stories of Russian soldiers who wore down-filled jackets to survive the freezing temperatures of Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904. Eddie designed a down jacket for himself and began making a few for his hunter friends. The idea was so successful that Eddie patented it.

When World War II arrived, Eddie contracted with the United States government to make goose-down-insulated sleeping bags, flight suits, and high-altitude bags. Thinking of his future, Eddie made sure that his name was on each item he made. After the war, his products had instant recognition to thousands of former servicemen. The end of the war brought an end to Eddie’s war contracts and almost meant the end of his business. But Eddie survived by developing mail-order sales. Offering a “100 percent, unconditional, money-back, lifetime satisfaction guarantee,” Eddie Bauer was considered a friend by nearly every outdoor sportsman who ever used his quality products.

Consider This: Opportunity may get you started, but you will have to keep finding new opportunities to replace the old ones that pass.

Submitted by Richard

 

[NewSong]

THE LORD'S PRAYER
A mother was teaching her 3-year-old the Lord's prayer. For several evenings at bedtime she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to solo. The mother listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer. Lead us not into temptation, she prayed, but deliver us some e-mail, Amen.

 

[The Story Teller]

April 2
​

Success Is Hard Work
​

A young man was walking down the streets of New York when he stopped a lady and asked, “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” The woman answered, “Practice, practice, practice.”
—Anonymous
​

What makes one person successful while another can make only modest gains? Often we see only the successful person’s innate talents as the answer. We often think that if someone is not blessed with talent, there is no amount of hard work that can make a difference. However, studies have shown that this is not correct; there is more to success than talent. In fact, the reason for most success is often good old-fashioned hard work. In his book Developing Talent in Your Children, Benjamin Bloom reported the results of a five-year study that was undertaken to discover what made some people extraordinary successful. The study consisted of detailed research into the lives of 120 of the nation’s top artists, athletes, and scholars.

Bloom was surprised to find that natural abilities played only a small part in the development of those individuals. As children, they were often mediocre musicians, baseball players, or math students, but Bloom found that they possessed a powerful drive to succeed. They practiced the piano hours every day, rose at 5:30 every morning to swim, or spent hours alone working on science projects. Parental support was also a key factor. The parents of the successful individuals had exposed their children to great ideas and influential persons, and many had made sacrifices to ensure that their offspring received necessary training.

Consider This: Opportunity for success often comes as the result of hard work. Are you preparing yourself for opportunity?

Submitted by Richard

 

[The Story Teller]

April 3
​

Ziegfeld Follies
​

“Curtain! Fast music! Lights! Ready for the last finale! Great! The show looks good . . .”
—Florenz Ziegfeld’s dying words
​

Florenz Ziegfeld thrilled Broadway audiences for more than twenty-five years with his spectacular shows and extravagant Ziegfeld Girls. He was called the “Glorifier of the American Girl,” and under Ziegfeld’s direction, hundreds of ordinary showgirls were transformed into dazzling stars of the stage. Every starlet of the day wanted to be a part of the renowned Ziegfeld Follies.

What made those dancers different from so many others? What made them perform better than dancers in other stage productions? Ziegfeld made his performers feel special. He paid his showgirls up to five times the going rate, and all were given the best and most glamorous costumes to wear. Even the linings of their dresses were made of the finest silk. Many times after a performance, the showgirls would receive a telegram of congratulations or a large bouquet of American Beauty roses. Ziegfeld believed that for his performers to be beautiful, they must feel beautiful. His enthusiasm and excitement spilled over to the players in his shows. His obsession with extravagance thrilled audiences for decades and made the Ziegfeld Follies the most remembered shows of the era. Even on his death bed, Florenz Ziegfeld was busily planning his next big event.

Consider This: People try hard to perform at the level that is expected of them, when they know their performance is appreciated. Are your standards high? Do you let people know that you think they are very, very special?

Submitted by Richard

 

[The Story Teller]

April 4
​

Role Models
​

“A man is no greater than his dream, his ideal, his hope, and his plan.”
—Doctor Fern
​

Whether we are aware of it or not, the character we have developed in our own life is a copy of other people’s behavior. We learn how to live life by observing other people. Our own actions are a synthesis of what we have learned by watching the actions of others. If we do not consciously select our role models, we will have little control over who we become. But our character will still be fashioned from our perception of others. If we choose our models carefully, we can be master of our life’s potential. Role models can have a tremendous influence on our life. During childhood, our role models are generally our parents or siblings. Later, we develop other interests and may adopt role models that are associated with our desired profession. Role models give us insight into how others have overcome failures and how they persisted in pursuing their goals.

In The Scientific Study of Political Leadership, G. D. Paige examines how many of the most noted leaders of our time modeled themselves after other great leaders. Mao Tse-tung constantly read about Washington, Napoleon, Catherine of Russia, Peter the Great, Gladstone, Lincoln, and others. Woodrow Wilson wrote a biography of Washington. John F. Kennedy wrote of those he admired in Profiles in Courage. Napoleon read and reread Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, and Winston Churchill researched the life of his ancestor Malborough.

Consider This: Purposefully select your role models. Read biographies of people you admire. This can give you the self-confidence that you can achieve your goals.

Submitted by Richard