FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN

Transcription

1 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN November 29, 2017 A Bi-Monthly Publication This Advent: Remember to Stay Green! Advent is a time of waiting and a time of preparation. Soon, we will turn our attention to decorating our homes, the church and our places of business. If we are not careful, we can begin to feel rushed and anxious. We begin to think we have to get everything just perfect and completed by a certain time. We become frantic. We can drive ourselves to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. Christ calls us to a different kind of preparation. One of our orders for Morning Prayer from the Book of Worship includes these words: New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. If God s love is, indeed, new every morning and it is God who is working for good in the world, why should we feel all the responsibility falls to us? An old Cherokee legend provides wisdom through the legend of the evergreen tree: When the world was first created, the Great Mystery gave a gift to each species. But first He set up a contest to determine which gift would be most useful to whom. You will be the guardians of the forest, he said to the trees and the plants. Even in the seeming dead of winter your brother and sister creatures will find life in your protected branches. I want you to stay awake and keep watch over the earth for seven nights, he told them. The young trees and plants were so excited to be entrusted with such an important job that the first night they did not find it difficult to stay awake. The second night was not so easy, however, and just before dawn a few fell asleep. On the third night the trees and plants whispered among themselves in the wind, trying to keep from dropping off to sleep, but it was too much work for some of them. Even more fell asleep on the fourth night. By the time the seventh night came, the only trees and plants still awake were the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the fir, the holly, and the laurel. What wonderful endurance you have, exclaimed the Great Mystery. You shall be given the gift of remaining green forever. Ever since then, all the other trees and plants lose their leaves and sleep all winter while the evergreens, ever alert, give color to the bleak landscape. William J. Bausch In this materialistic, hustle-bustle, get all you can while you can world we live in, Jesus calls you and me to be evergreens! May this Advent be a time of deep joy for you and yours. May it be also a time of peaceful preparation. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Pastor Dan Pastoral Staff Rev. Dan Camp Senior Pastor dcamp@covingtonfumc.com Care Staff Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care ftrumbo@att.net Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care kerwin1962@att.net Outreach Staff Liz Newman Director of Outreach ewnewman2@gmail.com Program Staff Andrew Davis Youth Ministries ajdavis915@gmail.com Dr. Bonnie Wright Director of Music bwright@tipton-county.com Office Support Staff Sandy Burgess Administrative Assistant sburgess@covingtonfumc.com Holley Mills Morris Business Administrator hmmorris@covingtonfumc.com Musician Justin Hanson, Organist Facilities Rebecca Paris Custodian Kenny Summers Maintenance F U MC Office Hours: 9: 00 a. m. - 5 :00 p. m. M ond a y-fri da y Leading Others to Christ, Learning to 1 Be Disciples, Loving through Service.

2 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN Thank you to those who have responded to our 2018 Stewardship Campaign. As of November 28 th, 86 commitments to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness have been received and $385, has been pledged. Our goal is to have 125 commitments of $525, by January 1 st. If you have been unable to respond, stewardship cards are available on the tables in the CLC, on the ushers table in the Sanctuary or in the church office. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate or drop it by the church during the week. In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 CONGRATULATIONS Virginia Rhodes Olesen was born November 10 th, weighing 8 lbs. and 1 oz. Her proud parents are Eric and Laine Olesen. Her FUMC grandparents are Bill and Nancy Peeler. EXTERIOR DOORS Exterior doors around the church will be re-keyed on or about January 1, Anyone who needs access to the building must make a request to be placed on a list to receive a key. Please contact Holley at or hmmmoris@covingtonfumc.com. YOGA CLASSES Free yoga classes are being offered in the Christian Life Center Monday evenings through December 18 th at 6:00 p.m. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat. November 29 Nancy Simpson November 30 DeeAnna Aday Jordan Carpenter Lauren Smith December 1 Landon Beasley Connie Beckley Bettye Shelley December 2 Kyle Pugh Jacob Stivers Peggy Watson December 3 Daniel Chind Oney Naifeh December 4 Theresa Apperson Sheri Burdette Cole Todd December 7 Isabella Conley Nadine Davis Finn Erwin Kelley Holt December 8 Patricia Anderson December 10 Cheri Jones Maurice Smith December 12 Faye Hughes Caroline Payne Leigh Smith December 13 Peter Bierman Ellen Clark Landon Moss Kaye Smith 2

3 YOU ARE INVITED Saturday, December 2 nd, at 5:00 p.m., the children will be performing Just A Little Christmas in the Sanctuary. This will be followed by a fun-filled birthday celebration in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite finger-food to share, a gift of a warm hat, scarf or gloves for our Share the Warmth Coat Closet, and be ready to kick-off the holiday season with good cheer and great fellowship. There will be crafts for the kids and holiday music. HANGING OF THE GREENS A Hanging of the Greens service will take place Sunday, December 3 rd at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. This service will feature special music, scripture readings, lighting of the Advent wreath and Holy Communion. The 8:30 a.m. MorningSong service will also have special music, lighting of the Advent wreath and Holy Communion. Please join us as we begin this season of Advent. SERVICE OF ADVENT CELEBRATION An Advent service will take place Sunday, December 3 rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Special music will be provided by The Chamber Singers of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis under the direction of Mr. Perry Redfearn. A potluck chili dinner will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Please call the church office to let us know you are bringing chili. Drinks and dessert will be provided by the church. United Methodist Women s Christmas Dinner Thursday, December 7 th 6:00 p.m. Christian Life Center Please join us for dinner and entertainment provided by the Ladies of DeBach n G. All women in the church are invited to attend. Reservations are needed by December 4 th by calling the church office, ing Kathy Wallace, kpw422@aol.com or filling out a reservation form available on the tables in the CLC or the usher s table in the Sanctuary and placing in the offering plate. There is no charge for the meal (a basket will be available for donations to help support United Methodist Women mission projects). 3

4 CHILDREN S CHURCH VOLUNTEERS December 3 MorningSong: Teri Carter and Kristin Burgess Traditional Service: Casey Rogers and Jenny Lazure December 10 MorningSong: Laura Thornton and Volunteer Needed Traditional Service: Angela Clark and Volunteer Needed NURSERY VOLUNTEERS December 3 MorningSong: Mary Catherine Turner Sunday School Hour: Joey Caldwell Traditional Service: Christina Jones December 10 MorningSong: Jennifer Winberry Sunday School Hour: Neely Turner Traditional Service: Volunteer Needed UPPER ROOM PRAYER MINISTRY SCHEDULE December 3 MorningSong Service Ellen Clark Lane Clark Doris Ann Gray Traditional Service Cathy Adams Contact Liz Newman to volunteer by ing ewnewman2@gmail.com or calling December 10 MorningSong Service Volunteers Needed Traditional Service Phyllis Richmond and Brenda Wrather Communion Offering Our Communion offering for Sunday, December 3 rd will benefit FUMC s March to the Manger for the Good Samaritan Fund and the Van Fund. November 12, 2017 MorningSong Worship - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering - November 19, 2017-One Worship Sunday School - Worship - Bread of Life Worship - One Worship Offering - November 26, 2017 MorningSong Worship - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $10, $2, $5, $1, $5,826.00

5 SAMARITAN FUND TOTALS As of November 3 through November 24, 2017 # of Awards Amount Type of Assistance 0 $ 0 Bus Ticket 0 $ 0 Food 9 $ Lodging 0 $ 0 Miscellaneous 3 $ Rent 15 $ Utilities 1 $ Vehicle Gas 28 $ 1, Totals # of Awards Year-to-Date Totals Amount Type of Assistance 4 $ Bus Ticket 1 $ Food 280 $ 14, Lodging 6 $ Miscellaneous 64 $ 3, Rent 367 $ 18, Utilities 17 $ Vehicle Gas 739 $ 37, Totals Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: , As of November 28, 2017 Samaritan Balance: $ ROUNDUP UTILITY ASSISTANCE November 3 through November 24, Households were interviewed CES: 10 total households 3 approved totaling $ declined totaling $ CGWS: 7 total households 3 approved totaling $ declined totaling $ BREAD OF LIFE FOOD PANTRY A huge THANK YOU goes out to Tipton Rosemark Academy for their generous donation of 2,844 pounds of food to our pantry! At this time of year when children are out of school, we see an increase in families in need of food. This will be a blessing to so many in our community who would otherwise not have enough food to feed their families. 5

6 Memorials and Tributes In Memory of Tom Bready Landscaping Fund by Bruce and Lisa Bowden In Memory of Becki Coulston Good Samaritan Fund by Landon and Norma Beasley In Memory of Pete McDow Landscaping Fund by Roy and Brenda Wrather In Memory of Janice Mulrooney Good Samaritan Fund by Landon and Norma Beasley In Memory of Ann Tucker Christian Life Center Fund by Bobby and Betty White ADVENT DEVOTIONAL Thank you so much for sharing a prayer shawl with us. What a beautiful ministry! Our love and prayers are with you all. God bless you! The Tuesday Bible Study Group Restoration Church An Advent devotional titled, Down to Earth: Devotions for the Season, is available now. Please pick up your copy from the table in the Christian Life Center, the usher s table in the Sanctuary or in the New Beginnings Classroom. Books cost $5 and payment can be placed in the basket provided. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 6

7 Billy Anderson Donna Beard Faye Beckett Joe Campodonico Amber Corbitt Cimadevilla Cassie Evans Betty Ford Lauren Gilliland Howard Greenwood Kelly Greenwood Rocky Greenwood John Henderson Shirley Hensley M.B. Howard Jackson Hughey Teena Jacobs Janet Klutts Norma Kugler Beth Lakey Bernie Liles Donna Luckey Peggy Massey Gary Miller Charlie Moss Emogene Ray Shannon Reed BJ Smith Jim Smith Maurice Smith Joyce Stottlemyer Ann Strong Loretta Fultz Wallace Bart White Everett Williams Dr. Barney Witherington III CONDOLENCES Wayne Culver, a faithful member of the Men s Prayer Breakfast, passed away November 26 th while visiting family in Knoxville. Peggy Parimore Nyberg, a lifelong FUMC member, has passed away. In 2007 Peggy was relocated to Colorado to be close to her son as her health was declining. COUNSELING Faye Beckett, D.C.C. Doctorate in Christian Counseling. For appointments call the Counseling Ministry: Empowering others to reach their God given purpose. Cindy Pease, M.H.S.P., Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified. For appointments call the FUMC office , ext. 17. Counseling is available for individuals, couples or families. Fees are based on ability to pay. 7

8 WORSHIP BROADCASTS Live radio broadcast of the Traditional Worship on WKBL AM 11 a.m. Live streaming of the traditional service is available at Traditional services are also archived at our website and can be viewed online anytime. WORSHIP TIMES MorningSong Service Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Christian Life Center Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Traditional Service Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary METHODIST-PRESBYTERIAN NURSERY SCHOOL You are invited to the Methodist-Presbyterian Nursery School Christmas program Tuesday, December 12 th at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. First United Methodist Church 145 W. Church Avenue Covington, TN Phone: Fax: covingtonfumc@covingtonfumc.com Website: Facebook: Twitter: twitter.com/fumccovington 8