OUR WEEK-JANUARY 2ND-JANUARY 8TH

REMINDERS —
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WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, DEC. 29TH, 30TH -
NAOMI WILL BE IN THE OFFICE FROM 9 TIL NOON.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31ST —
NEW YEARS EVE. THE OFFICE IS CLOSED TODAY.• • • Remember to celebrate responsibly this
evening! Everybody wants to go to Heaven,
but we don't want you goin' right now.
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 1ST — NEW YEARS DAY≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2ND —
EPIPHANY SUNDAY
Today is the celebration of Feast of the Epiphany,
the "appearance" or "manifestation" of God with
us to the nations.
It is the first Sunday of the new calendar year.
A series of "Sundays after the Epiphany" begins
tomorrow.

COLOR: WHITE or GOLD
HOLY COMMUNION TODAY.OUR SCRIPTURE READINGS ARE:
ISAIAH 60:1-6
(The Message)
Isaiah offers a word from the Lord to exiles or
new returnees to their homeland after at least
a 39-year absence. They expected ruins on
their return, and that is what they had found.
Isaiah describes God ending the exile and
bringing restoration to the people. After issuing
the decree to set the Judeans free to return to
their homeland, the new Persian government
under Cyrus also sent orders to have supplies,
building materials and all of the gold and silver
vessels that had been carried away sent back to
Jerusalem to rebuild the city and its temple
(See Ezra 1-6). He prophesies that the day will come when
all nations stream to their light.
1 "Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your
face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen
for you.
2 The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all
people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on
you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, kings to your
sunburst brightness.
4 Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather,
watch as they approach you: Your sons coming
from great distances, your daughters carried by
their nannies.
5 When you see them coming you'll smile - big
smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst! All
those people returning by sea for the reunion, a
rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!
6 And then streams of camel caravans as far as
the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midianand Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba,
loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the
praises of God.
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PSALM 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795)
(The Message)
In praise of the righteous king who would receive
tribute from all nations.
1 Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift
of just rule to the crown prince.
2 May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to
your meek and lowly.
3 Let the mountains give exuberant witness; shape
the hills with the contours of right living.4 Please stand up for the poor, help the children of
the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants.
5 Outlast the sun, outlive the moon - age after age
after age.
6 Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers.
7 Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace
abound until the moon fades to nothing.
8 Rule from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim.
9 Foes will fall on their knees before God, his enemies
lick the dust.
10 Kings remote and legendary will pay homage, kings
rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
11 All kings will fall down and worship, and godless
nations sign up to serve him,
12 Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
the destitute who have run out of luck.
13 He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
he restores the wretched of the earth.
14 He frees them from tyranny and torture - when they
bleed, he bleeds; when they die, he dies.
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EPHESIANS 3:1-12
(The Message)
Ephesians shows God acting not only on behalf
of the people of Israel, but the whole world, in the
appearance of Jesus Christ. Evangelism is what
got Paul locked away. Even while locked away,
Paul never stopped evangelizing about God's
kingdom and Jesus Christ to everyone he could.
Paul writes that his imprisonments have enabled
the Gentiles and their leaders to know the mystery;
they are invited to be fellow heirs in Christ Jesus.
1 This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken
up the cause of you outsiders, so-called.2 I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given
in God's plan for including everybody.
3 I got the inside story on this from God himself, as
I just wrote you in brief.
4 As you read over what I have written to you, you'll
be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ.
5 None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our
time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through
his holy apostles and prophets of this new order.
6 The mystery is that people who have never heard
of God and those who have heard of him all their lives
(what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand
on the same ground before God. They get the same
offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The
Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone,
across the board.
7 This is my life work: helping people understand and
respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me,
a real surprise, God handling all the details.
8 When it came to presenting the Message to people
who had no background in God's way, I was the least
qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to
it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had
nothing to do with my natural abilities.
9 My task is to bring out in the open and make plain
what God, who created all this in the first place, has
been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along.
10 Through Christians like yourselves gathered in
churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming
known and talked about even among the angels!
11 All this is proceeding along lines planned all along
by God and then executed in Christ Jesus.
12 When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever
needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.
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MATTHEW 2:1-12
(The Message)
Matthew shows God acting on behalf of the whole
world, in the appearance of Jesus Christ. Matthew
tells of the visit of the Magi, three kings, their gifts,
and how they cooperated with God to subvert
Herod's plan. The Magi were descendants of the
Babylonians, the very people who carried the
people of Judah into exile. When word about God
entering history to bring salvation gets out, no
part of the world is unaffected.
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah
territory - this was during Herod's kingship - a band
of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East.
2 They asked around, "Where can we find and pay
homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We
observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his
birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."
3 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was
terrified - and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem
as well.4 Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests
and religion scholars in the city together and asked,
"Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
5 They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The
prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
6 It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer
bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."
7 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the
scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout
as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when
he birth-announcement star appeared.
8 Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem,
and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned.
As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at
once in your worship."
9 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star
appeared again, the same star they had seen in the
eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the
place of the child.
10 They could hardly contain themselves: They were
in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
11 They entered the house and saw the child in the
arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled
and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage
and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back
to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the
territory without being seen, and returned to their own
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MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD —
OFFICE CLOSED TODAY.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH —
ADAIR MORNING BIBLE STUDY, 9-11 A.M.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH —
ABC AD COUNCIL IN CASEY U.M.C. - AT 6:30 P.M.
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It's been a good year and I thank you for pulling the
wagon so conscientiously. We had a few bumps, but
that's how life is. The outlook can change from fright
to bright over night! It has been a pleasure working
with you this year . . . now rest up for 2011.

God bless and keep you,
Pastor Lynn

REMINDERS —
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24TH — CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE:
• • • ADAIR U.M.C. AT 5 P.M. • • •
• • • CASEY U.M.C. AT 9 P.M. • • •
We light the 5th Advent Candle.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25TH —
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CHRISTMAS DAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26TH —
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
COLOR: WHITE
It is still Christmastide! Keep singing Christmas hymns.
This is the last calendar Sunday of 2010.WE'RE HAVING A HYMN SING TODAY.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:
ISAIAH 63:7-9
(The Message)
A psalm of thanksgiving for God's salvation
(deliverance from exile).
7 I'll make a list of God's gracious dealings, all the
things God has done that need praising, All the
generous bounties of God, his great goodness to the
family of Israel - Compassion lavished,
love extravagant.
8 He said, "Without question these are my people,
children who would never betray me." So he became
their Savior.
9 In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn't
send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in
person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed
them. He rescued them and carried them along
for a long, long time.
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PSALM 148 (UMH 861)
(The Message)
There is still war in Afghanistan, conflict in Iran and
Iraq, and Africa's Darfur region (indeed, much of
Sudan!) is far from settled. We pray for many of the
nations in the Middle East, including Israel and the
Palestinian Authority.
1 Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him
from the mountaintops; 2 Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you
his warriors,3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you
morning stars;4 Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly
rain clouds;5 Praise, oh let them praise the name of God - he
spoke the word, and there they were!
6 He set them in place from all time to eternity; He
gave his orders, and that's it!
7 Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you
fathomless ocean deeps;8 Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying
his orders;
9 Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar
forests;
10 Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds
in flight;11 Earth's kings and all races, leaders and important
people,
12 Robust men and women in their prime, and yes,
graybeards and little children.13 Let them praise the name of God - it's the only
Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything
in earth and sky;
14 he's built a monument - his very own people!
Praise from all who love God! Israel's children, intimate
friends of God. Hallelujah!
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HEBREWS 2:10-18
(The Message)
The theological importance of God becoming flesh
in Jesus Christ: to be made perfect through
suffering, to deliver us from the devil and the fear
of death.
10 It makes good sense that the God who got every-
thing started and keeps everything going, completes
the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect
through suffering as he leads all these people to glory.
11 Since the One who saves and those who are saved
have a common origin, Jesus doesn't hesitate to treat
them as family,
12 saying, I'll tell my good friends, my brothers and
sisters, all I know about you; I'll join them in worship
and praise to you.
13 Again, he puts himself in the same family circle
when he says, Even I live by placing my trust in God.
And yet again, I'm here with the children God gave me.
14 Since the children are made of flesh and blood,
it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in
order to rescue them by his death. By embracing
death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's
hold on death
15 and freed all who cower through life, scared to death
of death.
16 It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this
trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of
Abraham.
17 That's why he had to enter into every detail of human
life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to
get rid of the people's sins,
18 he would have already experienced it all himself -
all the pain, all the testing - and would be able to help
where help was needed.
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MATTHEW 2:13-23
(The Message)
We are fleeing with the holy family into Egypt.
Matthew tells of the deliverance of Jesus (escape
of the family to Egypt) and the slaughter of the
innocent children by King Herod. This reading
reveals the painful, never to be forgotten cost to
the families with infants and young children
(toddlers) in the region around Bethlehem.
13 After the scholars were gone, God's angel showed
up in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.
Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for
this child, and wants to kill him."
14 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his
mother under cover of darkness.
They were out of town and well on their way by daylight.
15 They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This
Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached:
"I called my son out of Egypt."
16 Herod, when he realized that the scholars had
tricked him, flew into a rage. He commanded the
murder of every little boy two years old and under who
lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills. (He
determined that age from information he'd gotten
from the scholars.)
17 That's when Jeremiah's sermon was fulfilled:
18 A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much
lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel
refusing all solace, Her children gone, dead and buried.
19 Later, when Herod died, God's angel again
appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt:20 "Up, take the child and his mother and return to
Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead."
21 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his
mother, and reentered Israel. 22 When he heard, though, that Archelaus had
succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he
was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed
in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee.
23 On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth.
This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words,
"He shall be called a Nazarene." ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
MONDAY, DECEMBER 27TH —
Pastor Lynn's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28TH —
NAOMI WILL BE WORKING MORNINGS THIS WEEK.
NO BIBLE STUDY THIS MORNING.
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WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, DEC. 29, 30TH —
NAOMI WILL BE IN THE OFFICE FROM 9 TIL NOON.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31ST —
NEW YEARS EVE. THE OFFICE IS CLOSED TODAY.SATURDAY, JANUARY 1ST —
NEW YEARS DAY
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FUTURE FOCUS —
Confirmation classes will begin after the first of the
year for any student or adult who would like to
participate. The topics covered will be
"learning the story of Christian Faith", what it
means to "Confirm your Faith" and looking at
ways to "Live your Faith Commitment" your
entire life.

If there are adults who would be interested in
exploring the "Credo" material as a
"Faith Formation Review" with night classes, we
will do Monday night in Casey and Tuesday night
in Adair.

Tuesday Morning Bible study in Adair and
Thursday Morning Bible study in Casey are
using the book "Christmas From the Backside"
written by J. Ellsworth Kalas.
We welcome all who are curious and all who
would like to share their impressions and views.
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If you are looking for a credo to start the new year
with, this is rather nice —
• • Be kinder than necessary -
• • Everyone you meet is fighting
• • Some kind of battle.

• • Live simply,
• • Love generously,
• • Care deeply,
• • Speak kindly . . . . .
• • And leave the rest to God!

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn

OUR WEEK-DECEMBER 19TH-DECEMBER 25TH

REMINDERS —
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH —
John Frederick Scarlett Jr., "Fred", 95, of Adair,
passed away Friday, December 10,
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at
the United Methodist Church in Adair.

ESTHER CIRCLE MEETS WITH GINGER SPANGLER
AT 7 P.M.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16TH —
T.T.T. meeting is CANCELED TODAY
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18TH —
— CASEY CHRISTMAS MALL —
CASEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. HAWKEYE, CYCLONE AND A/C ITEMS.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, BASKETBALL,
& FOOTBALL ITEMS. HATS, GLOVES, TOOLS,
DVDS, LOTIONS, PERFUMES, BODY WASH,
GAMES, SMALL APPLIANCES, AND MANY
OTHER ITEMS.
MANY GIFTS PRICED AT 50 CENTS SO KIDS
CAN FIND ITEMS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
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TODAY SANTA CLAUS WILL BE AT THE
COMMUNITY BUILDING AT 1 P.M.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
COLOR: BLUE OR PURPLEAdvent's waiting nearly (but not quite) gives way
to Christmas joy and celebration.
SINCE SERVICES WERE CANCELED
LAST SUNDAY, DUE TO THE BLIZZARD,
WE WILL LIGHT THE 3RD AND 4TH
ADVENT CANDLES THIS MORNING —

AND — — —
The Adair Casey High School Choir
will be presenting special music at
both churches TODAY.

SCRIPTURE READINGS ARE:
ISAIAH 7:10-16
(The Message)
Ahaz, king of Israel, lived a "bunker mentality."
Ahaz was twenty when he became king of Judah
and reigned for sixteen years. His sole reign
began in 732/731 BC and ended in 716/715 BC. It
is written that he gave himself up to a life of
wickedness. He ignored the remonstrances and
warnings of prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah."Your problems will be resolved by God, Ahaz."
10 God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, 11 "Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be
extravagant. Ask for the moon!"
12 But Ahaz said, "I'd never do that. I'd never make
demands like that on God!"
13 So Isaiah told him, "Then listen to this, government
of David! It's bad enough that you make people tired
with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you're
making God tired.
14 So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway.
Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get
pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him
Immanuel (God-With-Us).
15 By the time the child is twelve years old, able to
make moral decisions,
16 the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two
kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture.
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PSALM 80:1-7, 17-19 (UMH 801)
(The Message)
1 Listen, Shepherd, Israel's Shepherd - get all your
Joseph sheep together. Throw beams of light from
your dazzling throne2 So Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh can see where
they're going. Get out of bed - you've slept long enough!
Come on the run before it's too late.3 God, come back! Smile your blessing smile: That
will be our salvation.
4 God, God of the angel armies, how long will you
smolder like a sleeping volcano while your people
call for fire and brimstone?
5 You put us on a diet of tears, bucket after bucket
of salty tears to drink.
6 You make us look ridiculous to our friends; our
enemies poke fun day after day.
7 God of the angel armies, come back! Smile your
blessing smile: That will be our salvation.8 Remember how you brought a young vine from
Egypt, cleared out the brambles and briers and
planted your very own vineyard?
9 You prepared the good earth, you planted her
roots deep; the vineyard filled the land.
10 Your vine soared high and shaded the mountains,
even dwarfing the giant cedars.
11 Your vine ranged west to the Sea, east to the River.
12 So why do you no longer protect your vine?
Trespassers pick its grapes at will;
13 Wild pigs crash through and crush it, and the mice
nibble away at what's left.14 God of the angel armies, turn our way! Take a
good look at what's happened and attend to this
vine.
15 Care for what you once tenderly planted - the
vine you raised from a shoot.
16 And those who dared to set it on fire - give
them a look that will kill!
17 Then take the hand of your once-favorite child,
the child you raised to adulthood.
18 We will never turn our back on you; breathe
life into our lungs so we can shout your name!
19 God, God of the angel armies, come back! Smile
your blessing smile: That will be our salvation.
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ROMANS 1:1-7
(The Message)
Paul introduces himself to the home churches in
Rome. The reason is to establish Paul's authority
for addressing these house churches.
One would expect a brief résumé. Instead, Paul
spends most of this introduction talking about
the gospel, the good news of God that he Is
entrusted with.1 I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on
assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim
God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the
Christians in Rome, God's friends.
2 The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by
the prophets
3 on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in
history;
4 his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the
Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting
him apart as the Messiah, our Master.
5 Through him we received both the generous gift of
his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others
who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus.
6 You are who you are through this gift and call of
Jesus Christ!
7 And I greet you now with all the generosity of God
our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.
————————————————————————
MATTHEW 1:18-25
(The Message)
Here is Matthew's account of the circumstances
leading to the birth of Jesus. He tells the story
surrounding the pregnancy of Mary and the
difficulties it posed for her relationship with the
man to whom she was not yet officially married.
18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother,
Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before
they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered
she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he
didn't know that.)
19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take
care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a
dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son
of David, do not hesitate to get married. Mary's
pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has
made her pregnant.
21 She will bring a son to birth, and when she does,
you, Joseph, will name him Jesus - 'God saves' —
because he will save his people from their sins."
22 This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon
to full term:
23 Watch for this - a virgin will get pregnant and
bear a son; They will name him Emmanuel
(Hebrew for "God is with us").
24 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's
angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25 But he did not consummate the marriage until she
had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
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• • • • • • Today, Sunday, Dec 19 • • • • • •
Christmas Mall will be open to
everyone, after church services.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH —
Pastor Lynn's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21ST —
Morning Bible Study in Adair U.M.C. - 9 to 11 A.M.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24TH —CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE:
• • • ADAIR U.M.C. AT 5:00 P.M.
• • • CASEY U.M.C. AT 9 P.M.
We light the 5th Advent Candle at this service.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25TH
MERRY CHRISTMAS!≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
FUTURE FOCUS —
Confirmation classes will begin after the first of the
year for any student or adult who would like to
participate. Class time will probably be Sunday
afternoon but this can be negotiated. We will be
using "Credo" materials. The topics covered will
be "learning the story of Christian Faith", what it
means to "Confirm your Faith" and looking at ways
to "Live your Faith Commitment" your entire life.

If there are adults who would be interested in
exploring the "Credo" material as a
"Faith Formation Review" with night classes, we will
do Monday night in Casey and Tuesday night in Adair.
I feel it is important to know what you believe about
your faith for yourself and why you believe it.

Tuesday Morning Bible study in Adair and Thursday
Morning Bible study in Casey are using the book
"Christmas From the Backside"
written by J. Ellsworth Kalas for our current study.
All are welcome to join in the discussion.
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The blizzard caused us a disorganized week, but we
can rearrange nearly everything. If you are staying
warm and safe, that is the important thing. Have a
safe and blessed Christmas.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn

OUR WEEK-DECEMBER 12TH TO DECEMBER 18

REMINDERS —
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8TH —
PRAYER BREAKFAST AT HAPPY CHEF - 7 A.M.
• • • • CHRISTMAS CANTATA • • • •• • • • • GUTHRIE CENTER • • • • •
• UNITED METHODIST CHURCH •• • • THIS EVENING AT 7 P.M. • • •
• • • • • • COME JOIN US!! • • • • • •
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11TH & DECEMBER 18
——- CASEY CHRISTMAS MALL ——-
- IN CASEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH -
—— OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ——
COME FOR THE HAWKEYE, CYCLONE AND
A/C ITEMS.COME FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL,
FOOTBALL, AND BASKETBALL ITEMS.
COME FOR HATS, GLOVES, TOOLS, DVDS,
LOTIONS, PERFUME, BODY WASH, GAMES,
SMALL APPLIANCES, AND A MULTITUDE OF
OTHER ITEMS. MANY THINGS ARE PRICED
AT 50 CENTS SO CHILDREN CAN FIND GIFTS
FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Sunday, Dec 19 - Christmas Mall will be open to
everyone after church services.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12TH —
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
COLOR: BLUE OR PURPLE OR PINKAdair-Casey High School Concert Choir Presents:
2010 HOLIDAY CHURCH TOUR
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12TH
Program:
“O Sing a Song”.…………….Dave & Jean Perry
“How Can I Keep From Singing”...Taylor Davis
“Do You Hear What I Hear”…Regney & Shayne
———— A-C Mixed Quartet ————
“Still Still Still”………………arr. Norman Luboff
“Praise His Holy Name”………...Keith Hampton

Directed/Accompanied by: Mrs. Jolene Schaefer
Flute: Ms. Megan Hoerner
Concert Choir Members:
Brittney Clark, Blake Harris, Brett Harris,
Melissa Haus, Randy Haus, Josh Irlmeier,
Sam Jensen, Maria Lonsdale, Deven Lovell,
Julie O’Karma, Rielly Ocheltree, Torri Perry,
Bryant Plowman, Kaylie Plowman, Kailie Reeves,
McKenna Schafer, Brice Sheeder, Sabastian Shinn,
Ashley Shinn, Paige Shinn, Regan Staley,
Jade Weber, Ben Wilson
——————————————————————
THE CHOIR WILL PERFORM DURING WORSHIP
SERVICES ON THE 12TH AT THESE CHURCHES.

8:00_____St. John’s Catholic, Adair
8:30_____Immanuel Lutheran, Adair
9:15_____United Methodist, Casey
10:00____Presbyterian Church, Adair
10:25____Good Shepherd Lutheran, Adair
10:40____United Methodist, Adair
11:20____St. John’s Lutheran, Casey
THE KIDS HAVE MADE A VERY IMPRESSIVE
EFFORT TO PRESENT THEIR MUSICAL
ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO US. PLEASE TRY TO
CATCH THEIR PERFORMANCE AT ONE OF OUR
CHURCHES THIS DAY.
TO THE GROUP, A HUGE THANK YOU FOR
"GOING ON THE ROAD" SO WE CAN ALL HEAR
YOUR MUSIC.
——————————————————————
SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY ARE —
ISAIAH 35:1-10
(The Message)
The people in exile in Babylon are caught in the
tensions of making a home in a strange land,
longing for the homes they knew were destroyed.
A song of hope to exiles in Babylon . . . "Waters
shall break forth in the wilderness, streams in the
Syrian Desert . . . a highway shall be there."

1 Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the bad
lands will celebrate and flower -
2 bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and
color. Mountain glories of Lebanon - a gift. Awesome
Carmel, stunning Sharon - gifts. God's resplendent
glory, fully on display. God awesome, God majestic.
3 Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery
knees.
4 Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! God is
here, right here, on his way to put things right And
redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!"
5 Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped,
6 Lame men and women will leap like deer, the
voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst
out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert.
7 Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground
a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have
water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly.8 There will be a highway called the Holy Road.
No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road.
It's for God's people exclusively - impossible to get
lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it.
9 No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals -
Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only
the redeemed will walk on it.
10 The people God has ransomed will come back
on this road. They'll sing as they make their way
home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their
heads, Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness
as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.
——————————————————————
LUKE 1:46-55 (UMH 199)
(The Message)Canticle of Mary (the Magnificat)
46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news;
47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
48 God took one good look at me, and look what
happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart from
all others.
50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who
are in awe before him.
51 He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled
victims out of the mud.
53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the
callous rich were left out in the cold.
54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he
remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with
Abraham and right up to now.
——————————————————————
JAMES 5:7-10
(The Message)
If Isaiah is about seeing crazy big political and
ecological visions, James is about trusting
simple, fairly concrete and yet mysterious
organic processes. The central metaphor is
one of farming. Those of us who live in more
suburban settings might think of it as gardening.
The moment you plant the seed in the earth,
and even before, you are already tasting the juicy,
ripe tomatoes, the buttery sweet corn, the fresh broccoli, the comforting zucchini bread,
the crisp lettuces and bright orange pumpkins that
you will enjoy in days to come . . . if you wait for it.
Harvest these things too soon, and what you will
get will pale in comparison to what it would have
become."Be patient until the coming of the Lord."

7 Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's
Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently
letting the rain do its slow but certain work. 8 Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The
Master could arrive at any time.
9 Friends, don't complain about each other. A far
greater complaint could be lodged against you, you
know. The Judge is standing just around the corner.
10 Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put
up with anything, went through everything, and never
once quit, all the time honoring God.
——————————————————————
MATTHEW 11:2-11
(The Message)
Are we there yet? That's the question impatient
children frequently ask because they're tired and
bored with being stuck in the car. If they've been napping, they may also ask it if
we stop for a bit and get out of the car. Are we
there yet? Is this where we were going? Often,
of course, the answer is no. We're not there yet.
John the Baptist is waiting in the prison at
Machaerus. John sends a question to Jesus:
"Are you the one who is to come, or are we to
wait for another?"
2 John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison.
When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent
his own disciples
3 to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or
are we still waiting?"4 Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's
going on:
5 The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of
the earth learn that God is on their side.
6 "Is this what you were expecting? Then count
yourselves most blessed!"
7 When John's disciples left to report, Jesus started
talking to the crowd about John. "What did you expect
when you went out to see him in the wild?
A weekend camper?
8 Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in
the wilderness, not by a long shot.
9 What then? A prophet? That's right, a prophet!
Probably the best prophet you'll ever hear.
10 He is the prophet that Malachi announced when
he wrote, 'I'm sending my prophet ahead of you,
to make the road smooth for you.'
11 "Let me tell you what's going on here: No one in
history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the
kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is
ahead of him.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH —
Pastor Lynn's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14TH —
Morning Bible Study in Adair U.M.C. - 9 to 11 A.M.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH —
ESTHER CIRCLE MEETS AT 7 P.M.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16TH —
T.T.T. meets from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18TH —
——- CASEY CHRISTMAS MALL ——-
- IN CASEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH -
—— OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ——
HAWKEYE, CYCLONE AND A/C ITEMS.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, BASKETBALL,
AND FOOTBALL ITEMS. HATS, GLOVES, TOOLS,
DVDS, LOTIONS, PERFUMES, BODY WASH,
GAMES, SMALL APPLIANCES, AND MANY
OTHER ITEMS.
MANY GIFTS ARE PRICED AT 50 CENTS SO KIDS
CAN FIND ITEMS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.SANTA CLAUS WILL BE AT THE COMMUNITY
BUILDING AT 1 P.M. TODAY
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FUTURE FOCUS
• • • Sunday, Dec 19 - Christmas Mall will
be open to everyone after church services.
• • • CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE TIMES ARE:
• • • ADAIR U.M.C. AT 5 P.M.
• • • CASEY U.M.C. AT 9 P.M.
• • • CONFIRMATION CLASSES WILL BEGIN IN
JANUARY. IF YOU WISH TO ENROLL YOUR
CHILD, CALL THE OFFICE 641-746-2210.

As we approach Christmas, remember there are
many less fortunate this year. If you have a nice
warm place that keeps you safe from life's storms,
you are blessed. If you usually get to eat a meal
before you are hungry, you are blessed. If you have
children in your family, let them know they are a
treasure beyond diamonds, and yes . . . . .
you are indeed blessed.

"If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life
was 'Thank you' , that would be immense."
–––––– German Philosopher Meister Eckart

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn