December 17, 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to the Wildermouth Church Newsletter!
We are drawing ever closer to that beautiful day when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. If you haven’t already had a chance, I encourage you to visit our Facebook page or website and watch our Worship service from Sunday, December 14, 2025. For me, that service was reminiscent of the height of the COVID era—preaching to an empty sanctuary. As most of you know, due to the weather we had to cancel our in-person Worship and move to an online-only service. For those of you from other parts of the world who receive this newsletter, Fairfield County was under a snow emergency, making travel unsafe. Even so, my heart was filled with joy. I was thankful knowing that everyone was home—safe, warm, and comfortable. I was also deeply encouraged by how many of you commented during the live Facebook stream or reached out afterward with a call or text to express gratitude that we were still able to gather for Worship online. Your support and connection mean more than you know.
As a reminder, when Fairfield County is under a Level 2 or Level 3 Snow Emergency, we will cancel our in-person worship service. However, as we did this past Sunday, I will do my very best to continue offering an online service whenever possible. If you would like to receive text
notifications regarding weather-related changes or online services, please contact me and I will be happy to add you to our distribution list.
This week, we turn our Advent focus to Love, the theme of the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Do you know that God loves you? Join us this Sunday as we explore Scripture together and reflect on what God’s love truly means for our lives.
I’ve often said, “God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you just the way you are.” A now-retired pastor friend of mine used to end every service with these words: “Remember, God loves you, I love you, and there ain’t a thing you can ever do to change that!” He may have been a good ol’ country preacher, but that truth has stayed with me—and it’s a message we all need to hear again and again.
With the Joy of Christ,
— Pastor Vance
Pastor Vance's Ventures
For your convenience, below is Pastor Vance’s tentative schedule for the next few days. (It may vary depending on emergency situations, meetings, etc.)
Appointments can be made by calling/texting 614-706-3040 or email at
pastorvance@wildermuthchurch.com
Wed 12/17
Kiwanis Meeting
GPS – Somerset
Thurs 12/18
Office by Appointment
Fri 12/19
Office by Appointment
Sat 12/20
Day Off
Sun 12/21
Worship
Church Board Christmas Party
Mon 12/22
Office by Appointment
Tues 12/23
Office by Appointment
Wed 12/24
Christmas Eve Service 6 PM
Meetings, events, and Worship services
- God and People Stories (GPS)Ministries, an outreach ministry by Pastor Vance in our area.
GPS Ministries — Somerset
- Join us Wednesday evenings at Wannabees (the sign out front says “Main Grill”) at 105 W Main St, Somerset, OH. We fellowship over a meal between 5-7 PM (arrive as you can, purchase your own meal from their great menu) and Bible study starts at 7.
- Contact Pastor Vance if you would like transportation to this service.
GPS Ministries — Airport
- Join us for a Fly-In (or you can drive in) Church service.
- Meets on the 3rd Satuday of each month at 10 AM at Fairfield County Airport (KLHQQ) located at 3430 Old Columbus Rd NW, Carroll, OH.
- Enjoy Coffee and donuts in the Terminal Building as we gather around and learn about a Pilot Story, how it relates to a God Story, and discover how we can apply it to our lives.
Small Group Opportunities
We are going to stop the Small Group Sunday night meetings for the remainder of 2025.
Will resume in January 2026
Ministry / Volunteer Opportunities
- We invite all to share your gifts during our Worship Service
- It could also be by sharing a poem, some musical gift, or other talent during our services. It could even be to serve as a Song Leader during our Worship time, or in some other way
- BC Food Pantry - Monthly (typically the 3rd Friday of the month but subject to change) we can minister to our community by helping to set up for the Bloom Carroll Food Pantry. 6:30 PM to ? at Shalom UMC, 4925 Plum Rd NW, Carroll, OH 43112
- Donations of canned Dog and Cat Food can be brought to Wildermuth.
- Consider helping Wildermuth Church in supporting missionaries…
- All money raised through this program, as well as the money donated in the cup by our offering plate, goes to mission’s support.
Looking to the Future
- Our current plans are to have a singer/group come and be with us whenever there is a 5th Sunday in a month and a carry-in dinner after.
- Wednesday Dec 24th will be our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 PM.
- We would love for all to come and participate in the service.
- One of our long-range visions for our church is to become a host church for two different youth groups.
- Trail Life for boys and American Heritage Girls are Christian based Scout-like organization for youth ages 5 to 18.
- We will need a minimum of 5 adult males and 5 adult women to commit to being the leadership teams in order to get these troops chartered.
If you have any interest in learning more about these, please contact Pastor Vance.
