BLESSINGS..1 November 23, First views

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1 BLESSINGS..1 November 23, 2014 SW SCHOOL... 2 & 5 THOSE WHO SERVE MATURE METHODISTS....4 NEWS... 4 & 6 1ST..5 ADVENT ACTIVITIES...7 First views THE PURPOSE OF FUMC IS TO INVITE ALL PEOPLE TO BECOME FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST, GROWING TOGETHER IN LOVE AND SERVICE TO GOD AND NEIGHBOR. BLESSINGS This next week, as you gather with family and/or friends for Thanksgiving, I hope you will pause for a few moments and share with each other some of the blessings in your life. We have been blessed beyond measure, both by the love of our Savior and by the resources that God has given to most of us. However, as you share with each other your blessings, take another couple of minutes and think about those for whom this season of hope and joy is especially difficult: those who are homeless, the working poor, the under- or un-employed. During this Advent season, we are offering a few different ways for you to help make a difference in others lives. During Advent, we will again take up a Noisy Offering at all three worships services. This offering will go directly to the Operation Sweet Dreams ministry that began last year, providing a bed (cot), sleeping bag, foam mattress, pillow and pillow case for children in our school system who go home each day and do not have a place to lay their heads. Each bedding kit costs $70-75, and in 2013 FUMC provided 75 kits, and every kit was taken by school counselors for children they knew who slept on the floor or on a mattress with other children. These bedding kits were incredibly appreciated. The Christmas Eve offering will also go toward this ministry. Another way to give is by bringing in canned goods and hygiene products to the community room through December 8. These canned goods (pop-top cans are especially needed) and hygiene products will be given to Southwest Elementary School, our partner school. The children there, through the work of the student council, are supporting a homeless ministry who in turn gives away these items to the local homeless community living in tents or on the streets. This is an important way of supporting Southwest Elementary, as one of the children on the student council spent several months living in a tent with her family, and understands how real the need is. There is a box in the community room labeled For Southwest Elementary where the items can be placed. (See list on page 2.) They will be delivered December 9 to the school. Finally, a recent interest has been expressed about donating $10 to our own feeding ministries provided by First UMC instead of (or in addition to) ordering a poinsettia. If you would like to donate $10 to either the Table of Grace ministry or the Warming Station ministry that is sponsored by First Church, please fill out a Poinsettia insert in the newsletter or bulletin and make sure it s labeled for one of the feeding ministries. Your name will be listed in the bulletin insert on December 14. Friends, we have so much to be thankful for during this season that is already upon us. Most of us have much more than we need. Please be praying about how you can give extra this Advent for a few of the ministries that are changing lives. You will be blessed! Daily Readings Traditional Monday Isaiah 9:1-2 Tuesday Psalm 18 Wednesday Psalm 27 Thursday Isaiah 42:1-9 Friday 2 Corinthians 4 Saturday John 8:12-20 Sunday Isaiah 9:1-2 Blessings on your week, Pastor Craig The Vine Monday Isaiah 64:1-9 Tuesday Jeremiah 18 Wednesday Psalm 51 Thursday Psalm 148 Friday Romans 9 Saturday 2 Corinthians 4 Sunday Isaiah 64:1-9 1

2 ADVENT SOUP AND SERVICE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 4:00 PM Advent wreath making in the Christian Life Center bring your own greens to make a traditional advent wreath. 5:00 PM Bring your favorite soup and/or stew, and we ll share a meal together in the Christian Life Center. 5:30 PM We ll sing a couple of our favorite Christmas hymns, talk for a bit about why we do what we do, and then we ll decorate the Sanctuary & Christian Life Center for the Christmas season. BLESS SOUTHWEST Do you have a heart and passion for children? Do you want to find ways to bless local school teachers, administrators, and staff? Do you have gifts for administration, service, or creativity? This team will lead our church in blessing the children, staff, and parents of our partner school, Southwest Elementary School. Through our partnership with Southwest we currently serve as reading tutors, lunch buddies, duty free lunch volunteers, and we serve on special projects like landscaping and school supply drives. We need your help coordinating these wonderful projects and helping us think of other opportunities to bless Southwest. If you want to be part of this team, contact Margo Morganti (mmorganti@charter.net) to get on the contact list and remain updated on team happenings. SUNDAY SCHOOL The topic for discussion this coming Sunday morning in the Faithlink Sunday School class is Left Behind, the Rapture, and God s Plan for Creation. The film Left Behind has renewed interest in the rapture and end-times theology. What are the key ideas of this theology? How does Christian faith inform our understanding of God s plan for the renewal and fulfillment of creation? The Faithlink, class meets on the 3 rd floor of the Education Wing (beside the theater) at 9:45 a.m UMW Monday, December 1 9:30 a.m. UMW LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING Craft Room Monday, December 1 11:00 a.m. UMW GENERAL MEETING Community Room SOUTHWEST SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL SERVICE PROJECT HOMELESS RELIEF PROGRAM Please bring the following items to the Community Room between November 19 and December 8. We appreciate your participation in this very important project. Hygiene Products Toothpaste/Toothbrushes Body wipes Toilet paper Deodorant Food Crackers Pop-top canned food Bottled water Bagged snacks Protein bars 2

3 Sunday, November 23, 2014 Last Sunday after Pentecost Christ the King Sunday 8:30 a.m. - Early Worship 11:00 a.m. - Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. - The Vine Message: (Traditional) Affirming Our Call Sandy Jahn Scripture: Isiah 43:1-3a Message: (The Vine) A Thanksgiving Prayer Rev. Wil Posey Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 Kingston: Jim Chandler, speaker Tracey Horton, pianist Nursery: Kellie Phillips, Maddy Phillips, Kelly Cross Acolytes: Autumn Dagenhardt and Kathryn Hudson Ushers: Steve Aaron, Kim Crosby, Edwin Jeffords, Roger May, Wesley Pope, David Ridgway, Paul Schiffel, Tommy Stratton, Jack Wade, Tracy Yoder, Tom Carter Greeters: Bill Wiggs and Cathy Jones Offering Stewards: Robert Rowe and Bill Barkley Sunday School Greeters: Joy Outlook Class Donut Rotation: November - Faithlink December - Pairs & Spares Office Champions: Claudene Smith, Jane Lindsay Donna Waldron, Cathy Jones, Diane Creasman, Laura Eckard WEEKLY CALENDAR Sunday, November 23, :30 a.m. Early Worship Service (S) 9:30 a.m. Donut/Fellowship - Comm. Rm. 9:30 a.m. SunShine Singers 9:30 a.m. Orchestra Rehearsal 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:50 a.m. Kingston Service 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service (S) 11:00 a.m. The Vine Worship Service (CLC) 12:00 p.m. Girls Night Out - Lunch/shopping 4:00 p.m. Advent Soup and Service -Wreath making 5:00 p.m. Advent Soup and Service Monday, November 24 11:00 a.m. WNS Thanksgiving Celebration 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Tuesday, November 25 9:30 a.m. Craft Ladies 7:15 p.m. Chancel Choir Wednesday, November 26 Thursday, November 27 Church Office closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday Friday, November 28 Church Office closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday Saturday, November 29 7:30 a.m. Operation Christmas Child 8:00 p.m. A.A. Sunday, November 30 8:30 a.m. Early Worship Service (S) 9:30 a.m. SunShine Singers 9:30 a.m. Orchestra Rehearsal 9:30 a.m. Donut/Fellowship - Comm. Rm. 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:50 a.m. Kingston Service 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service (S) 11:00 a.m. The Vine Worship Service (CLC) 4:00 p.m. Disciple II S - Sanctuary CLC - Christian Life Center Attendance for November 16, 2014 Early service 36 Kingston 28 11:00 a.m. services 322 Total 386 Sunday School 274 The flowers in the Narthex are placed to the glory of God and in honor of SANDY JAHN given by Tom, Michael, Jennifer, Christopher and families. The rosebuds are placed on the altar in honor of JEAN ATKINSON S 101st birthday on November 22 and in honor of Bette McCormack s 92nd birthday on November 22 by the Older Adult Council. CIRCLE #1 will meet Monday, December 1, at 11 a.m. in the Community Room 3

4 Mature Methodists BILTMORE by CANDLELIGHT There are just TWO (2) tickets remaining for the candlelight tour of the Biltmore House on Saturday, Dec. 13. Please let Sandy know ( or if you would like to have them. We re planning to drive to Asheville on Saturday morning to have some time for shopping. Then, we ll enjoy a late lunch and tour the gardens, the winery, or Antler Hill Village prior to our tour which begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $80 plus lunch. GOFORTH CLUB The December Goforth Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 2, at noon in the Christian Life Center. This month s delicious holiday meal will be turkey, dressing, gravy, rice, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and Red Velvet Cake! The program will be a treat as well! Rev It Up, a 6-member group of Lutheran pastors, will provide a musical program. Please make your reservations by Sunday, November 30, by registering on Sunday morning s pew pad and dropping it in the offering plate or by contacting the church office, CULTIVATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Sunday, NOVEMBER 23 - All Girls Night Out - Lunch/shopping Sunday, NOVEMBER 23 - Youth Group Saturday, NOVEMBER 29 - Operation Christmas Child Sunday, NOVEMBER 30 - Youth Group Wednesday, DECEMBER 3- Youth Choir, Wednesday Night Youth Saturday, DECEMBER 6 - Youth Christmas Party AGAPE KIDS (4th - 6th grades) Agape Kids will not meet on November 23 nor November 30. Please join us for the hanging of the greens on November 23. The Upper Room Disciplines devotional guide for 2015 is now available. This guide offers a simple design of daily prayer, reflection, and scripture organized by the Revised Common Lectionary. To order your copy, phone or go to Bookstore.UpperRoom.org. Also, the November-December issues of The Upper Room and Alive Now devotional publications are available just outside of the sanctuary doors. Friends of First Church, I remember hearing about a pastor who once walked into his pulpit and said to his congregation: Brothers and sisters, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is: we have enough money to meet all our bills. The bad news is: the money is still in your pockets. With 6 more weeks to go in this budget year, we are still approximately $73,000 behind where we need to be. It is time for us to play catch up and meet all our budget obligations. I know we can do it it s now a matter of you giving a little extra for the ministry needs of your church. Please don t rely on someone else to give a little more it s up to all of us. Let s make the last 6 weeks of the calendar year the best 6 weeks of the year financially for our church. Together, we can make it happen. Thank you for your continued faithful giving to our church. Jim Whitworth Finance Committee chairman 4

5 WEDNESDAYS AT FIRST! NOVEMBER 26, 2014 There will be no meal on November 26. RETURN YOUR BOOKS! For those of you who have completed A Disciple s Path study (or will complete the study within the next few weeks), you are invited to return the Companion Reader books to the church office so that others who will take the study in 2015 can use them. We ll gladly accept any unused journals as well. Many thanks! WEEDAY SCHOOL NEWS The Weekday School would like to send out a great big thank you to all who have helped with our playground renovations. The playgrounds are really shaping up! Keep a lookout for more improvements coming soon. We have a few items on the smaller playground that need a new home to make room for new equipment, and for a small donation, they can be yours. Contact Kathleen in the Preschool office for more information ( ext.304 or kathleen@firstumchickory.org.) Forty spots have been reserved for checking OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD shoe boxes at the Samaritan s Purse facility in Blowing Rock. There are a few spots left. We are leaving from church on Saturday, November 29 at 7:30 a.m. We will work a four hour shift, from 9:00 1:00, and then return to the church. You ll need money for lunch. If you would like to have one of the remaining spots please contact Troy Howard ASAP ( ; ; troy@firstumchickory.org). All participants must be at least 13. OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SOUTHWEST SCHOOL Contribute to the principal s discretionary fund used for a variety of school needs Donate postcard stamps Participate in their upcoming fundraiser--a raffle! November 12 December 9 Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 per ticket. The money will be used to buy student ipads! The prizes are: a very big, thin TV, a tablet, and a $100 Wal-mart gift card. Prizes will be given on night of December 9. Tutor students; please contact dianecreasman@charter.net giving your name, number, , and day/time that is convenient for you. Thank you for your support of Southwest Elementary School!!! 5

6 We are now taking orders for poinsettias & accepting donations for our homeless ministries in memory of/honor of a loved one. The flowers will be used to decorate the sanctuary for the holidays & the donations will help feed or warm the homeless. The cost for each plant/donation will be $10. Please fill out this order form and place it in the offering plate with the amount due on Sunday, or bring/mail the form to the church office no later than Monday, December 1. NAME (please print): PHONE NO. NUMBER OF POINSETTIAS: NUMBER OF DONATIONS: AMOUNT DUE: IN MEMORY OF: University Christian High School presents Our First Annual Live Nativity Friday, December 5 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday, December 6 2:00pm to 4:00pm Featuring live animals, biblical characters, Lessons and carols, and refreshments Located behind St. Andrews Lutheran Church beside Lenoir Rhyne University Lenoir Rhyne will be hosting a Vesper Service at the conclusion of Friday evening s nativity in their new chapel. IN HONOR OF: Check one: Donate poinsettia to Home Bound Pick up poinsettia after the Christmas Eve Service Donate to Table of Grace Donate to L.O.A.F. (Warming Station) Some of you may not realize the White House sends birthday cards to church members over 80. So if you are over 80 and have not been receiving a birthday card from the White House, (and would like to) please call or send your birthdate including year to Becky Griffin ( ) or bckygriffin@gmail.com. (There is no e in bcky). The Temple Baptist Church Choir, under the direction of First UMC s own Richie Blevins, will present a Christmas cantata, Hope Has Hands, on Saturday evening, December 13th at 6:30 p.m. The church is located at 825 Lenoir-Rhyne Blvd. SE in Hickory (next to Dollar General). Following the Christmas program, festive holiday refreshments will be provided in the fellowship hall by Parties by Trisha. Admission is free. Please call or for more information. 6

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8 The Salvation Army Fill - A - Stocking Program 2014 The Salvation Army Stockings for 2014 have arrived! Stockings are available in the church office! This is a great way to make a Merry Christmas for so many children in need in our community! If each of us took a stocking, just think of the impact that would have and the smiles all of those stockings would bring! Here are some guidelines for this year: 1. Please fill the stockings according to gender/age. Choose from the following age categories and write on the stocking heading: 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, No fresh fruit or homemade cookies/cakes. 3. Everything must be inside the stocking! 4. Please - no gift cards! 5. Do Not overfill stockings! If you do have extras, you may put them in a bag, and they will be distributed! Please have your stuffed stockings back in the box in the church office by Monday, December 1st! Should you have any questions, please call Wendy Hanigofsky, ! Stuffing one stocking at a time we can truly make a difference! Thank you for your continued support of this valuable mission project! If you are bringing egg cartons or food donations for CCM, please put them in the grocery cart that is now located in the Community Room kitchen. If you are bringing aluminum cans for recycling, please know that ONLY aluminum drink cans can be recycled. Please do not bring in any other NEWSLETTER INFO NEEDED If you want something in the next newsletter - which will be for the week starting November 30, 2014, please submit your information by November 24. For the December 7 newsletter - by December 2 Thank you. First United Methodist Church 311 Third Avenue, NE Hickory, NC Telephone: Fax: First UM Church Facebook page: Church-Hickory/ The Vine Facebook page: First UM Church Twitter First UM Church Website: 8