


Communion Offerings for for January will go to Manna House
Communion Offering Report
The November Communion Offering for JCF Hospital Foundation raised $50.

Mark 12:41-44 CEB
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." When I was the pastor in Madera, we had put handbells, like the ones kids use in school, throughout the church in the pews. And when I would announce that it was time to worship God with our morning tithes and offerings, the members would grab a handbell and ring it strongly, fervently, and exuberantly (in other words, they really enjoyed ringing them). Why? Well, we are told that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. That's why we try to make the offering more than just a routine part of the worship service. We try to link the offering of our gifts with the attitude of our hearts. That's why we rang the bells. As God has given so much to us, especially in and through his son Jesus Christ, surely, we can give back to God from glad and joyful hearts!
Several years ago, a Kenyan woman joined a church in Atlanta, Georgia. Her name was Lydia. She told her pastor that she loved their congregation, but she really missed certain aspects of her home church, especially parts of the worship service. He asked her what she missed the most, and she told him something I've never forgotten. She said, "I miss the offering. In Kenya, we would sometimes dance down the aisles during the offering. We didn't have much to give, but what we did have we gave with much joy. What a privilege to give back to God!" she said. For Lydia and for the woman in this Biblical story, giving an offering to God is first and foremost a matter of having a genuine heart for God. Let's be like the widow and Lydia.

Thursday, January 22
Chimes Choir Practice – 5:15pm
Sunday, January 25
Leadership Team Meeting – 11:00am
Saturday, February 7
United Methodist Men – 8:30am (Steve Sportsmen Café)
Fix-it Team-9:30
Looking Ahead
GriefShare Support Group
joycemccoy7778@gmail.com
Register: Griefshare.org/findagroup
209.777.9727
The Upper Room
The Upper Room daily devotions are also available online at https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals.
Pioneer Market Receipts
Please remember to save your receipts; these benefit our Youth Programs. You may drop them in the church drop box facing Bullion Street, or mail them with your offering. If you total your receipts, please only total the sub-total amounts (pre-tax).
Women in Faith
Women in Faith (formally known as UMW). Visit our UWIF web page.
The Upper Room
The Upper Room daily devotions are also available online at https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals.



