Please make a note, we have had an issue with Pastor Kalamba's church email address and have had to change his address to revkilumba@jwumc.com

Discovering Truth:

Insights from John 18:33-37

In John 18:33-37, we encounter a profound exchange between Jesus and Pontius Pilate that delves deeply into the nature of truth. This passage is not just a historical account but a timeless exploration of spiritual and divine truth.

Brought before Pilate under the accusation of claiming to be the King of the Jews, Jesus is questioned directly: “Are you the King of the Jews?” His response shifts the conversation from the realm of political power to one of spiritual significance. Jesus explains that His kingdom is not of this world, revealing that His authority and reign are of a higher, divine nature.

Jesus declares, “For this reason I was born and came into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Here, He unveils His mission—to bear witness to a truth that is not confined to factual accuracy but rooted in the eternal and divine. This truth, which Jesus both embodies and proclaims, transcends human understanding and invites us into the reality of God’s nature.

This passage compels us to examine what truth means in our own lives. In a world where truth often feels relative or elusive, Jesus points to a truth that is absolute and eternal. His words call us to seek a deeper understanding of divine truth and to align our lives with it.



John 18:33-37 is a powerful meditation on truth. It challenges us to look beyond worldly definitions and embrace the spiritual truth that Jesus came to reveal. As we wrestle with our own uncertainties and questions, this passage reminds us to listen to the voice of truth and live in alignment with its transformative message.

A Prayer Minister will be available at the

back corner of Dunlap Hall, for at least

15 minutes after the benediction.

Masks will be worn when requested.

Prayer Minister this week is Amy Mackey

“The Lord is my strength and shield.

I trust him with all my heart. He helps me,

and my heart is filled with joy.

I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”

-Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

Yesterday as I was traveling between meetings, I noticed a yard with a large Christmas display. I thought to myself, why do we seemingly go from Halloween straight to Christmas in our outdoor decorations. Why don’t we fill up our yards with large inflatable turkeys, pilgrims, and cornucopias? Is it because they are not as enchanting as ghosts, goblins, cartoon characters, elves, reindeer, Santa Claus, and live Nativities?

Oh, I can hear the mental wheels turning…has he lost his mind? I get it. Many of you are not fond of those sometimes larger than the house blow-up displays. Forgive me but I just don’t think Thanksgiving gets it’s fair due. Maybe I’m wrong but sometimes it seems like Thanksgiving is a “get it out of the way” holiday so we can move onto Christmas.

Thanksgiving is the 2^nd most popular holiday following Christmas so why is it more of an event than a season? Don’t get me wrong, I know that if there were “Twelve days of Thanksgiving” feasting I would be as big as one of those inflatables. Imagine me in a pilgrims outfit anchored to the ground but tossed about in the wind.

The truth is Thanksgiving should not be just an event, a one-day affair. It should be a year-round season of praise and thanksgiving, celebrated daily with an “attitude of gratitude.” Many of you have that spirit of thanksgiving but many people don’t. Those who do know this verse from the 28^th Psalm to be true. When we the trust the Lord with all of our heart, making him our strength and shield, he helps us and fills us with joy.

As we move toward Thanksgiving day, I encourage you to reflect upon the things you are thankful for and let the Lord fill your heart with joy. Who knows, maybe you too will burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Grateful for each and every one of you,

Dave    

Support Our Community at

the Fellowship Dinner!

You all have done such a wonderful job of bringing in clothing donations for the Mauritanian community at Forest Chapel UMC. As we gather for our Fellowship Dinner on November 20, we encourage everyone to bring canned goods, boxed items, and other non-perishable foods to the dinner. Your generous donations will help provide much-needed support. Every contribution makes a difference!

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Let’s make a positive impact together—bring your

non-perishable food items and spread the word!

Our next dinner will be on Wednesday, November 20th

Dear Friends,

We are delighted to invite you to a multi-denominational Thanksgiving service on November 24th at 7:00 PM at John Wesley United Methodist Church, located at 1927 West Kemper Road. This special evening is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together in a spirit of gratitude and unity, celebrating the blessings we have received throughout the year.

Join us for an evening filled with heartfelt prayers, uplifting music, and a warm sense of community. All are welcome, regardless of faith or background, as we gather to give thanks and reflect on the goodness in our lives.

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Gracious and Loving God, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the countless blessings You have bestowed upon us. As we gather in this service, we thank You for the gift of community and the love that binds us together. May this time of thanksgiving deepen our appreciation for one another and inspire us to live with compassion and generosity. Guide us to carry the spirit of thanksgiving into our daily lives, always mindful of Your grace and love. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

We look forward to sharing this special evening with you!

JWUMC Hanging of the Greens

November 30, 2024

10:00-12:00 Decorate the Church

12:00-1:00 Chili Cook-off

Please join us as we prepare our church for the Advent season. After "decking the halls" we will enjoy our annual Chili Cook-off. Who will take the prize this year? Please bring your quarters (or dollars) to vote for your favorite chili. All money raised will got to the December Sharing our Blessings offering. There is a sign-up sheet in Dunlap Hall. Please let us know you will be joining us.

Invitation

Church Council usually meets at 7pm the third Tuesday of the month. JW members are always invited to provide input, ask questions, and contribute feedback.

Last meeting for 2024:

Tuesday, December 10 (2025 church budget)

Meetings are held in Room 8 ~ Your presence is always welcome

Christmas Box Mission Opportunity

The Living Water Christmas boxes are available in Dunlap Hall. You may pick up a box and fill it for an elementary boy or girl or a teen boy or teen girl. We have 20 elementary boys, 20 elementary girls, 10 teen boys and 10 teen girls. The boxes are labeled and contain an instruction paper and a rubber band.

Please return the filled box to church on or before December 8.

Hamilton Living Water Ministry, Inc. is a year-round program that promotes Christian values and free of charge to children grades K-12.

Hamilton Living Water Ministry, Inc. is an America Reads,

America Counts and Adopt-A -School site through a partnership with

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. There is an After School Program, Enrichment and Prevention Programs, Summer Programs and Service Opportunities.

Thank you for helping this mission.

Thanksgiving Offering



This year the offering will go to UMCOR to aid in hurricane recovery efforts. We all saw the pictures of the devastating loses in several states. Homes, cars, belongings of all sorts obliterated by wind and floods. The recovery will be long and difficult for individuals, cities, counties and states.

Please share what you can to help UMCOR be God's hands on earth.

DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?

Our Coalition partner, Augsburg Lutheran Church, provides a free meal to anyone on the third Sunday evening of each month. Besides providing food, and a small food pantry, they get to know the regular attendees – truly a wonderful ministry. A small group does all the preparation and serving.

If you like to cook, and would be willing to offer some time, your help would be welcome. For their Thanksgiving meal on November 17, they are planning for 150 people. If you would like to help, there are two possibilities: 1. You could prepare a turkey or a dish of stuffing ahead of time. 2. You could help with the last-minute prep and serving the day of the dinner. The December 15 dinner will be ham and potato dishes.

For more information, contact Cheryl Harper at 513-829-0936 or cell 513-608-2869. For more complete information, contact Joyce Gronostaj at 513-604-1572.

The 9:00 Sunday school class has converted half of Wesley Hall into two pickleball courts.

We have three times reserved weekly for those of you who would like to join us. We're set up for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to noon. You need to enter by the back Wesley Hall door, and ring the doorbell if you do not have a key.

Contact Lu Anne Gerard if you have questions.

For anyone interested in attending Lilly’s debut with the CSYO philharmonic at Music Hall on Dec 8th @2pm - here’s the link to acquire tickets - https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/tickets-and-events/buy-tickets/csyo-philharmonic-orchestra-concerts/2425/invitation-to-the-dance/

And Dec 7th, 7pm at Fairfield HS Performing Arts Ctr. - something local, both Duhaime sisters will, once again, be performing with the Butler Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. BPYO will be presenting Trans Siberian Christmas pieces accompanied by the WCA Ballet dancers. This concert will be donation-based admission.

Anyhow, thanks, always, for your love and support! Hope you can make it to one of these concerts. If not, there will be Spring events as well.

Have a great week!

Joanna

Attention Congregation Members:

We are considering offering AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) classes and would like to gauge interest. If you are interested in participating in these potentially life-saving classes, please reach out to me via call, text, or email by

December 20th. Thank you for your attention and interest!

Ron Gossard, Trustee Chair

Contact Information:

• Email: 53rgossard@cinci.rr.com
• Cell: 513-442-8240

 Volunteers Needed - Call or text Mark Upton at 513-426-1581

You Are Invited!

Join us for a heartwarming celebration of the season with our church cantata, “How Great Our Joy!” 

This special presentation will feature our talented chancel choir, the captivating narration of Eric Christianson, and delightful performances by some of our JW children.

Date: December 15th

Time: During our morning service



Come and share in the joy and spirit of the season with us. We look forward to seeing you there!

Free Lift Chair Available! We have a wonderful opportunity for anyone in need of a lift chair. If you or someone you know could benefit from this, we are offering a lift chair free of charge. We can even arrange to have it delivered right to your doorstep! If you're interested, please reach out to us at info@jwumc.com. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your comfort and mobility!

Volunteers Needed ~ The Village In Forest Chapel

Our mentors are getting just as much out of the experience as the kids!

They’ve shared how rewarding it feels to be part of something so meaningful

and impactful. We would love to enroll more children in our program but we

need more mentors. Do you have one to two hours a week to make an impact?

• Available on Wednesdays evenings 1-2 hrs
• 18 years or older
• Ready to make a difference
• Passionate about our youth

Call Brittany Jackson at 513-405-0112

Prayer Chain Refresher

Please ALWAYS send prayer requests to: prayerchain@jwumc.com

Whether it's day, night or weekends, always send your prayer requests to the address above. From that email address, your prayer request will be sent along to the main prayer chain distribution list by me (Christie) or by Tavane.

Anyone can send a request to the prayer chain. Also, feel free to call the office and we can write down your prayer request and send it out for you.

THIS PART IS VERY IMPORTANT- Please remember, if you just hit "REPLY", your email message will just come back to me (Christie) or Tavane. You need to put the person's email address in the TO section of your reply. We always try to provide that person's email address when we forward prayer chain emails to make it as easy as possible to respond.

If you have any questions about this information, or about the Prayer Chain in general, please contact me at christie@jwumc.com.

Thank you to everyone on the prayer chain for their faith and devotion in praying. You all are a powerful bunch!

Thank you!

Christie Riggsby

Office Manager, John Wesley UMC

"Be A Rainbow In Someone's Cloud"

News and Notes is a news publication of the Great Miami River District of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.

 Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.