Christmas Happenings at GCC - A monthly publication of the Garden Community Church
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A monthly publication of the Garden Community Church
Christmas Happenings at GCC
In November the Youth Group was able to shop for items for Operation Christmas Child
Shoe Boxes. With those items they were able to pack 114 shoe boxes. Those boxes and an
additional 22 more boxes packed by church members, were dedicated and sent off on No-
vember 15th. We set a record number of boxes sent from Garden at 136!!
The Youth Group had their annual Christmas Party
on December 9. Teams decorated gingerbread
houses. Once the houses were complete, the hous-
es were put to the test to see which team’s house
could survive the most trauma.
TAG! also had
their annual Christmas TAG! Store, where the
TAG! Kids are able to spend their TAG! Bucks
earned to buy Christmas presents for family.
Growing at Garden
...where faith and family come together!
Serving Others This Christmas
2020 has been a hard year for all of us. As we approach this Christmas season, how can we serve those around us and
show them the love of Christ? Often times we think of filling shoeboxes to send around the world, donate to charities or
collect canned goods for families in need. While those are all things that we need to continue doing…maybe this year we
also need to ask ourselves – what can we be doing for our own neighbors, friends and church family?
2020 has been a different year.
Elderly have been stuck in nursing homes not able to see their families.
Neighbors have lost jobs or are struggling financially.
Families in our communities are struggling with the challenging and always changing situation with school schedules.
There are so many challenging situations this year and why not use this Christmas season to show the love of Christ to
those around us. Whether that’s mailing a simple card of encouragement to someone in a nursing home, delivering a
plate of goodies to your neighbors and letting them know you are praying for them or taking a meal to a young family that
is weary and overwhelmed from the roller coaster year.
How can your family reach out to others this year? How can you involve your kids and get them excited about serving
others together as a family? I challenge you and your family to do something out of your comfort zone this year. Be a
light to those around you this Christmas season!
Children’s Library :
Christmas Books DVD’s
The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie
A Christmas Journey by Susie Poole
The Perfect Christmas Pageant by Joyce Meyer
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
The Snow Bear by Miriam Moss
My Little Christmas Story by Christina Goodings
Clopper and the Night Travelers by Emily King
Christmas Craft : Star Ornaments
Supplies:
- Glue
- Craft Sticks (5 per child)
- Paint (various colors)
- Ribbon (6 inches per child)
Steps:
Glue five craft sticks in a star pattern.
Paint stars and let dry.
Make a loop with the ribbon and glue onto the top
point of the star.
Let dry, then hang them on your Christmas tree!
The GCC ladies book club met on November 10th to kick off a new season. We last met in February and are glad to finally be starting up again with new faces joining as well! Since our beginning in January 2019, we’ve read eight books together. Our format is to gather monthly for a casual discussion of the current book, led by Jenny Goering. Book selections are gleaned from recommendations by members of the club that inspire faith and build character. Our book discussions result in purpose- ful conversation, leading to deepening of fellowship and relationships within the group. Going forward, it is our hope to con- tinue to meet monthly with those who are able. Those unable to meet with us in person are still encouraged to read along with us. This club creates great accountability to read excellent books. Below is the new list of books we plan to read. Visit with Kim Kohls or Jenny Goering if you have any questions. Reading List: A Little Book on the Christian Life—John Calvin Overcoming the Adversary—Mark Bubeck You’re not Enough—Allie Beth Stuckey Cultivating a Missional Life—Twyla Franz Becoming Elizabeth Elliot—Ellen Vaughn Most of us would declare that the year 2020 has been a year to remember!! For many of us the mandates given by our government and county leaders have felt restrictive. For others this time of seclusion has brought about a time for peaceful reflection and an absence from the frenzy that life often seems to hold. As we continue to live out these uncertain days, hold on to the Solid Rock and allow yourself to find refuge in the shadow of His presence. As we approach the new year, the Adult Library is offering a "gently used" Devotional ex- change. Many of us start January with a newly purchased devotional book. Most of us have a number of good devotionals on our shelves that we have already used. We are asking that if you would like to trade your devotional for another, bring your "gently used" Devotional books to the Adult Library during the next three weeks. A trading display will be set up by January 10. Feel free to take your book of choice at this time. Parents, if you have used a family devotional and are interested in looking at other choices, this is also a great opportunity for a great trade. A box to receive the Devotionals for trade will be by the Return Book Box in the Adult Library. Our featured book table is currently filled with Christmas book choices. You might consider the following... * Sacred Holidays by Becky Kiser A look at how to make our holidays less chaotic and more about Jesus * The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs Experience the season with Elizbeth, Mary and Anna * The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp Unwrap the full love story of Christmas There are a number of good Fiction books that will put you into the Christmas Spirit! We also have several Christmas DVD's that might make the perfect ending to a busy day. In the remaining days of this Advent season may our focus be on the Greatest Gift ever given!
Christmas 2020 looks to be different the Christmases most of us have experienced. With the pandem-
ic, many are looking at a Christmas without the usual gatherings, programs, and traditions. How do we
approach such a Christmas season? I suggest we investigate Scripture for hope and guidance as we are
faced with a different holiday that we hoped for.
Called out of Ur of the Chaldeans, Abraham left all that was familiar along with his wife, father, & nephew. Along the
way Abraham buried his father. He arrived at the promised land, he was told to walk the length and breadth of the land—it
belonged to him and his descendants. Problem was, he had no descendants and no title deed to any part of the land. The
next 25 years proved to be some of the most challenging Abraham had ever faced. He parted ways with his nephew, fled
to Egypt, was separated from his wife in a scandal of lies to preserve his own life, fathered a child by his wife’s slave, a
waited 25 years for the promised son. I’m not sure what Abraham expected when God called him, but I suspect he was
NOT living the dream he pictured with the promises that led him from Ur. Yet Paul writes “against all hope, Abraham in
hope believed…without weakening in his faith he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…yet he did not waver
through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully per-
suaded that God had power to do what he had promised…This is why it was “credited to him as righteousness.’” (Romans
4:15-25)
Daniel & his buddies landed in a place far away from Judah in Babylon (the very place their ancestor Abraham hailed
from). Who knows what horrors they faced before and during their deportation? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but we might
imagine. In a pagan country, being asked to do things that violated conscience, Daniel and his friends “…resolved not to
defile himself with the royal food and wine…To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all
kinds of literature and learning.” (Daniel 1). This was not the last trial this band of buddies faced; they never did return to
Judah. They were NOT living the lives they imagined as they grew up. They were not mentioned by name in Hebrews
11—but were part of the group described as “the world was not worthy of them…these were all commended for their faith,
yet none of them received what had been promised…” (Hebrews 11)
Mary was living a quiet life in Nazareth, engaged to Joseph, planning the rest of her life—a life of home and family.
Mary’s dreams were shattered by an angelic visit that proclaimed she would be mother to the promised Messiah! Her
pregnancy would begin immediately—prior to a proper marriage to her fiancé (who would not be the father of her baby!).
Oh, the gossip, the wrecked life, the sorrow. Mary gave birth to her first son far from familiar places and people. The next
months involved running for their lives and the life of Jesus. Simeon told Mary, “And a sword will pierce your own soul,
too.” (Luke 2:35). Mary’s entire life was NOT what she expected or planned.
Jesus took human flesh “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him
was life and that life was the light of all mankind…He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the
world did not receive him.” (John 1). Paul writes of Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with
God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to
death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 3:6-8). He did it for us. Jesus life was NOT what ISRAEL expected—the reli-
gious teachers and leaders missed his coming because of their own expectations of what Messiah would do when he ap-
peared. But the incarnation was exactly what God planned from eternity past. “He [Jesus] was chosen before the creation
of the world...” (I Peter 1:20)
What does all this have to do with OUR Christmas season that is NOT what we expected? We live lives of faith. What is
faith? Hebrews 11 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is
what the ancients were commended for.” Let’s approach this unique Christmas season with open hands and seeking
hearts. This year let’s spend more time contemplating the incredible gift that was given us and less time lamenting all that
is missing or different. This just might be the most meaningful Christmas yet!
Prayer Calendar and Memory Verse
Memory Verse: Psalm 104:33—I will sing unto the Lord as long as
I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 Fall down 2 Pray God
before Him in would manifest
worship. He is Himself in the
Jehovah. work at WITS.
3 Jesus - Our 4 Pray Elwyn & 5 Pray college 6 Pray for op- 7 Pray for Ivan 8 Pray for 9 Before you
consolation. He Linda know best students will portunities to & Mary as they laughter in your bring any re-
comforts us, how to disciple seek God and sow seeds of have breakfast home - finding quests before
comes alongside and help others follow hard af- the truth with kids, teach humor in even God, worship
us, helps us. grow in Christ. ter Him. among those & pray with hard stuff. Him.
who serve you them.
today.
10 Jesus - The 11 Pray the 12 Pray James 13 Think on 14 Pray parents 15 Pray Joe & 16 Pray for
Anointed One. Holy Spirit min- & Molly know the blessings will be commit- Denise are a God's leading in
The Promised isters to the the joy of the God has given ted to keeping light to their decisions we
One who came spirit of His Lord in where you and be evil out of their neighbors & have to make
and will come children in He has placed overwhelmed by homes. business associ- each day.
again. nursing homes. them. His goodness. ates.
17 Jesus - 18 Pray God's 19 Pray for 20 Pray Josh & 21 Pray teach- 22 Pray for 23 Pray Peter &
Savior. Saves provision for wisdom in prior- Camila are dili- ers & kids in strength & re- Rachel are able
me from the those who need itizing activi- gent in their school don't lief for those to trust & let
penalty & the heat, clothing, ties & filling personal time grow weary, but hurting physi- go, living faith-
power of sin. food and mon- spare time. with God. strive to do cally. fully before
I'm forgiven. ey. well. Christ.
24 Jesus - 25 Pray David & 26 Pray for 27 Pray TAG! 28 Pray God 29 Pray Chuck 30 Pray God's
The Captain of Tonya have the gov't leaders to changes lives would use you & Connie have healing & resto-
the Host of the financial & humble them- here and for all to minister to insight to hear ration in broken
Lord (Joshua prayer support selves before eternity. the needs of & answer the relationships.
5:14). The bat- to do God's God Almighty. others - gra- unasked ques-
tle is God's. work. ciously and gen- tions.
erously.
31 Jesus - The King. He is
approachable, He bestows all
good things. I am under His
care & His protection.
Let’s celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus who was born in a manger in very meager surroundings - in a dirty barn. He is the reason we serve the homeless and needy people of our area - Harvey, But- ler, Marion and McPherson counties. He, Jesus, is the reason we can have hope and share hope with those who have none - even in the midst of a pandemic. Who wants to put on a mask every day and watch their hands multiple times? Who wants to avoid touching their face, give up shaking hands and withhold hugs from those they care about? No one!! It is very easy for many of us to forget our source of hope, Jesus, and to get caught up in the negative news cycles reporting death and loss. Here is what I know. I am not giving in to a stupid pandemic, and neither have you!! I have watched you and listened to you over the last 7 months as I have served at New Hope Shelter. You have pre- pared our evening meals every night without complaint. You have blessed us with hundreds of hours of service in so many ways. You have donated hundreds of cans of food, cleaning supplies in many forms, clothing and other items. You have supported us monetarily and have spoken Important words of encouragement day after day. I am tearing up right now as I write these words. We can not and will not give up. Even in this lousy year (in some people’s perspective) we have seen a man with an extensive criminal past leave the Shelter with the tools and an attitude to suc- ceed. He lives in his own place and goes to work every day. Another woman spent two weeks with us in her time of real need. She moved out into a place and took on a full-time job. Another unmar- ried couple stopped by to say hi. They had previously stayed at the Shelter. We were able to share food with them. We also connected them with a pastor and church that is assisting them in getting married. I could go on for the rest of the day telling you stories of encouragement and hope. I have to thank all of you who have volunteered, prayed, given or have worked as part of our staff. You have not giv- en up or given in. Thank you. Please don’t let the negative voices take over. Hold on to Jesus, our source of hope and inner peace in this difficult season. I have the privilege of working with each one of you as my new friends in this adventure in Newton, Kansas. Can we count on your strong year-end support as we finish out 2020? We are looking for- ward to 2021 and the great things we are going to do together in the next year. Love You—Brian Bisbee
'Tis the Season
It has been a tough year for the people we serve. The media has told them to find a place of shelter in the
midst of a deadly pandemic and they have had no place to go. . . safely. We are glad, that with your help we
have been able to offer a place of shelter and hope for as many people as we can.
On Christmas Eve, we are going to prepare a special dinner and share three modest gifts with each resident.
We would like to invite you to be a part of our Christmas by giving a check or online contribution through our
website. Please designate these gifts as "Christmas Celebration." (Any funds over and above what is needed
will be put into the general operating fund.)
Another option during this season is to honor a friend, coworker or loved one with a
gift to New Hope Shelter. We will be happy to send them a card on your behalf and
send you an appropriate receipt. We would just need addresses. Thank you!
January 5-12: Grace Community Church
Milk January 13-19: First Church of the Nazarene,
Dry Breakfast Cereal Salem United Methodist Church and Garden
55 Gallon Trash Bags Community Church
13 Gallon Trash Bags January 20-26: Shalom Mennonite Church, Al-
Copy Paper exanderwohl Mennonite Church
Canned Soup
Bath Towels January 27 - February 2: Faith Mennonite
Neosporin Church, Bethel College Mennonite Church
Theraflu
February 3-9: First Mennonite Church, Zion
Allergy Medication
Methodist Church
New Underwear for Men/Women
Volunteer Opportunities
We are looking for volunteers who like to sort and hang clothes in our clothes rooms for men and wom-
en. If you would like to help us in the viral area, please call 316-283-7711.
Our next Volunteer Training is Monday, December 21st. We could use your help! Please give us a call
We are thankful for each one of you!
Giving Tuesday
Many of you have given or regularly give to us and
for that we are SO GRATEFUL! We cannot contin-
ue to live and do ministry here without donations.
If you are looking for a way to give today & would
like to make a special gift* to us and our ministry
write a check out to One Collective
Address: 2155 Point Blvd., Ste 200, Elgin, IL 60123
Please note for the ministry of Josh & Hannah
Zook
This year, Hannah took over as Director of ESME (End
Slavery Ministries Ecuador). She oversees the ministry
that focuses on helping women and children coming out
of vulnerable situations like sex trafficking & prostitution.
Each month, she puts together an email update for the
ministry that has praises, prayer requests, pictures, etc.
If you are interested in knowing more, check out the
ESME update.
We were so blessed to have Brad, Sandi & Sarah
Miller (Hannah's parents and sister) come visit for
Thanksgiving. Together, we got to experience Da-
kota's first time at the beach! We all had a blast
and enjoyed the time together as a family!
Dakota wasn't too sure
at first but ended up
LOVING playing with
Dad in the sand!
Fun with Grandma on the beach
Chillin with Grandpa before an early
Christmas celebration together
Always having a blast with
Auntie Sarah
SO MANY ANSWERED PRAYERS:
- Great time with Hannah's family
- We continue to be healthy and God provides for our daily
needs
- The ministries we are apart of continue to have impact
despite the unique challenges we face daily
-You!!! Thanks for loving on us & partnering with us!
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- Continued health for the three of us
- Amadas Christmas Parties for people in prostitution: that God would protect
Hannah and all the volunteers from COVID and that God's love would impact
the hearts of people we serve
- For Josh as he misses being in person with students. For joy-filled opportu-
nities to still connect with students at a distance
- Visa paperwork for Dakota
December 8, 2020 Good afternoon, Last week we got the good news that our kids are coming to Brazil to spend Christmas with us! In true "techy" form, before they even had their tickets, Andrew, and Nathan were discussing with Elwyn what electronics equipment they could bring with them for the Harvest Radio studios. It quick- ly became obvious that the most urgent need right now is to replace our 9-year old on-air comput- er. This computer works 24/7 and is the main "brain" of the Harvest Radio programming. Nine years ago when we installed this computer, we opted for better quality components, knowing it needed to be a work-horse and reliable. The investment was well worth it and we would like do that again. Our initial research puts the price at about $1500 (including both hardware and software). If you would like to designate some of your end-of-the-year giving towards this computer purchase, we would appreciate it. You can send it to Avant Ministries, 10,000 N Oak Trafficway; Kansas City, MO, 64155 and earmark it "for Harvest Radio Computer, project #71831" Elwyn & Linda Goossen
Christmas 2020 Dear Friends, CANCELLED!! Have you heard that word at all during 2020? It is very much a part of our lives this year. However, we are so thankful that Christmas hasn’t been cancelled and the Lord’s love and care for us still continues. We just celebrated Thanksgiving and we have so many things to be thankful for. CHURCH: Yes, there were 7 Sundays that we did not meet, but since the first Sunday in May we have been meeting, having all of our church services, even hosting a community hymn sing. The attendance remains constant, between 10 and 15. Two of our faithful attendees have not been with us for a long time. In August one moved to AZ to live with his daughter because of his health issues. Another has not been able to come, either, be- cause of health issues. We are praying the Lord will bring healing so that she can be back. Some of our neighbors are not attending prayer meeting until the virus situation improves. We did not hold our Daily Vacation Bible School the last week of June be- cause of the Governor’s mandates. We have missed so much not being able to go to the Care Center, so there have been no Monday Bible studies, we still are not permitted to enter the Center. Do you remember that August 2019 we had a storm come through here that took a large branch down on our electric line? Well, in August 2020 another storm, a derecho, came through which took out a large tree in our back yard by the roots. However, it hit noth- ing when it fell over; again, for which we are thanking the Lord. We weren’t home but we lost electricity for about 24 hours. Right around us the farmers thanked the Lord that their corn crops were not laid flat, like so many were, and many of our neighbors had very little damage. KIDS’ BIBLE CLUB: What a shock when we got notice that school would be suspend- ed beginning March 16, not knowing when they would begin again. With no school, that meant no Kids’ Bible Club. Yes, the kids didn’t go back to school until August so we didn’t have Club and we weren’t sure when/if we could begin. Eloise contacted the par- ents of the students from last year and everyone was excited and willing for us to start on Nov. 3. We moved to Tuesdays because the students don’t go to school on Wednesdays. We are so thankful for the 9/10 students that come each week and the Lord has blessed us with the same two women helping again with snacks and crafts. It is so exciting to have these students coming and learning. Please pray for these kids and for us as we meet. As far as we know these are not from church-going families except for 2 or 3 which join us out here at Pleasant Grove on Sundays. PERSONAL: Also cancelled for 2020 were the two conferences that we usually attend in April and July. We usually take our vacation in connection with the July conference, so instead we delayed our traveling until August and spent a week with family – a few days with a nephew, his wife, and 4-month old daughter in Iowa, and a few days in Sioux Falls, SD. A highlight of that time was that all 6 of us siblings were together – we missed our brother-in-love and his wife. You can see how many things were cancelled during these past nine months. However, we are thanking the Lord for His provision for us in the area of our health. In February Eloise was
diagnosed with breast cancer. We were able to make appointments in spite of the shutdowns in so many
places. The Lord provided two great doctors, the surgeon and oncologist. A double mastectomy was
scheduled for March 31. With everything else cancelled we had time for Eloise to heal and make her ap-
pointments with no difficulty. We are thanking the Lord for His hand in all of this. Future appointments
are scheduled: the surgeon in July - a year since the last appointment, and the oncologist in May - 6
months after the previous visit. We are thanking the Lord also that we have been protected from the vi-
rus. There have been several around us who have had it to varying degrees, but no one in our church has.
A couple of verses that have come to our minds many times during these past weeks:
Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to His purpose.” Also, I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
As we move ahead, looking forward to Christmas and 2021, may you rest in the fact that Jesus’ presence
is not cancelled – He promises to be with us wherever we go.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful Christmas.
Edwin and Eloise
1897 294th Street Ed’s email: edwinjordan@netins.net
North English, IA 52316 Eloise’s email: hardereloise@gmail.com
Phone: 319-664-3568You can also read
