Sonora United Methodist ChurchNewsletter

​​​​          November 2026  

 

November is the month our thoughts turn toward thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving holiday is a strong cultural reminder of the habit of giving God thanks every day. We are going to use the tree in our sanctuary from Lent and Easter, as a Thanksgiving Tree. We will have construction paper, markers, hole punch and ribbons so you can write the things you are thankful for on leaves and hang them on the tree. Our leaves of thanks will decorate the tree and our worship until Advent. What a wonderful way to display our thankfulness in our worship. I look forward to decorating our worship space with a blaze of color, reminding us of all the prayers they represent.

I remember a small group study we did many years ago. The chapter on Thankfulness had a space to list all the things for which we wanted to give God thanks. There were about 60 numbered spaces and then a whole blank page. The first 15 on my list came fast and furious. Family, home and faith leapt quickly to my mind. Then it got slower and 60 seemed so far away. The instructions reminded us to use all our senses in working on our thanksgiving list. I used my ears and thought of the music that drew me closer to God, the babbling streams that gave me a sense of peace, and the ocean roar which created a sense of awe. When I moved to taste, 60 blank spaces were soon left behind. I must admit there is a lot of food I am thankfully enjoy. I was running out of room to write in my book, and my list had grown over 100. Then I realized there were so many more things I am thankful and my praise to God would go on and on.

My time as a caregiver has reminded me of all the little things in life that bring a moment of joy. Playing a card game at Jamie’s bedside. Jamie and I watched a movie my brother told us about, The Sheep Detectives, and it reminded me of my grandpa’s love of his sheep. Caregiving also reminds one of how fragile life really is, and not to take our health and the small joys for granted. I hope as you reflect, pray and write on your leaves, you remember all the multitude of ways God blesses us—the big and the small things. Gratitude sparks joy as we offer our prayers of thanksgiving. May sharing these acts of gratitude draw us closer to one another and our Lord.

 

Here are the scripture readings and sermon titles for November:

 

Nov 1: All Saints Day

            "The Witness of Our Saints"

            1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13

 

Nov 8: "The Wise Can Wait"

            Matthew 25: 1-13

 

Nov 15: "Unexpected Angels"

              Judges 4: 1-7

 

Nov 22: Christ the King

              "Come, You Blessed"

              Matthew 25: 31-46

 

Nov 29: 1st Sunday of Advent

              "When the Stars Begin to Fall"

               Mark 13: 24-37

 

Shalom,

Pastor Kevin

 

​​​​Women’s Fellowship

 

Greetings All and Happy November, the season of gratitude. 

 

This month is pretty busy. 

 

Women's Fellowship will meet Saturday the 7th at 10am to do our final sorting for the rummage sale. Setup will be on Friday the 13th. Lorraine will be there at 10 am and is in need of volunteers to help move boxes and bags from the third floor to the basement. Our renter, Diane also has donations from friends in the shed that will need to be moved to the basement as well. Our sale will be on Saturday the 14th starting at 8am. I will be signing people up to help with setup and the day of the sale. We'll also be making a simple casserole for our monthly cooking for Beans and Rice and Jesus Christ on the sale day sometime after the initial rush.

 

Thank you so much to all who have donated and helped sort. I am grateful for all of you!

 

Collection day for the Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift boxes is on Sunday the 22nd. I am thankful for all who faithfully participate in this fun yearly mission project. Be watching for how you can help with the Beans and Rice Thanksgiving dinner. 

 

Thank you to all who helped with our Halloween activity, the Haunted Hallway and Hot Dog Supper. We served at least 85 hotdogs and saw around 100 children and adults in costume. Special thanks to Karla, who organized the food and to Bobbie Clapham, who planned the decoration of the Haunted Hallway. Our regular guests said it was the best Hallway decorations ever.  We all had such a good time and so did all our guests!

 

Thank you all for your support!

 

Blessings, 

Karla Wasson & Lorraine Vogt

 

​​​​Coming Activities 

 

​​​Beans, Rice and Jesus Christ

Thursdays: Free Community Dinner, 3:30 to 4:30 pm. 

Main dish, salad, dessert and drink for anyone who wants to come.   

 

Fridays: 1:30 pm Qi Gong free exercise class

Qi Gong is an easy version of Tai Chi, done standing or sitting and is wonderful for stretching and balance. ​​​​​​

​    

Fridays:  2 pm  Bible Study using the Upper Room devotional booklet.  

Good discussions about how to be a Christian in the modern world.There will be no Qi Gong or Bible Study on November 27, Christmas Day or January 1st, 2027.

 

November 1: Sunday, All Saints Day

 

November 7: Saturday  10 am:  Sorting of Rummage sale items.  Please have your donations to the church by that time.

 

November 13: Rummage Sale setup.  Moving items from the top floor to the basement will begin at 10 am and displaying items will be that afternoon. 

 

November 14: Rummage Sale:  8 am to 2 pm

Multi family sale in the church fellowship hall. Items are not priced.  ​​​​​You can pay what the item is worth to you. 

 

Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2:30 - 4:30 pm All church members are invited to join in the turkey and trimmings dinner  in our Fellowship Hall.

Check the Hallway bulletin board or call Janice to see how you can help or what you can bring. We are asking for donations of desserts.

 

Decorate the Church for Advent and Christmas, 

​Saturday, Nov 28 at 10 am

 

 

Sunday, November 29: Church Council Meeting. After the worship service we will have a potluck luncheon and then the monthly church council meeting.  This is a change from the 4th Sunday of the month to the last Sunday.

 

On Sunday, December 7, there will be a Christmas service at the historic Morgan Chapel at 3 pm. Tuolumne UMC organizes this service and it is always beautiful and inspiring.  The Morgan Chapel is on Wards Ferry Road about 3 miles from the Mono Way/Tuolumne Road intersection.

 

 

Christmas eve service, Thursday, December 24 at 2 pm. This is a time of hearing the story of Christmas through readings from the Bible and the singing of Christmas carols.  This is a beautiful candlelight service.  We are holding it in the afternoon, so people don’t have to drive in the dark and for families with young children.

 

After the service will be the Beans,Rice and Jesus Christ dinner from 3:30 to 5 pm.  All are invited.  More information in the December newsletter.

 

 

Birthdays

11/22 Loisi Hursky

11/29 Karla Wasson

11/30 Laura Mansfield

Anniversary; Jerry & Lois O’Day,  11/7/1976

 

Sonora United Methodist Church

90 West Yaney Ave. Sonora, Ca 95370

(209) 532-4850

office.sonora@gmail.com

Church website http://www.sonora-umc.org

Worship services 11:30 am

Birthdays and Anniversaries

We do not have any birthdays listed Ifor October.  If you wish to have your birthdays celebrated by your church family and you haven’t seen your birthday listed in the newsletter, please let Lorraine know (lorrainev63@comcast.net)