T a b e r n a c l e T i m e s

Transcription

1 December T a b e r n a c l e T i m e s Praising God C Growing Disciples C Serving The World 2018 He shall be called the Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6 Bedlam. That s what it was like in the stores on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving. Some of you know that because you risked life and limb by going out into that rush of traffic and commercialism. And as we move closer to December 25 th, it s only going to get more hectic. Ugh! Even worse, social scientists tell us that more than any other time of the year, the Christmas season is marked by deeper emotional strain, greater anxiety, and more acts of violence. The stress of the holidays, the depressing burden of loneliness, and the meaninglessness of mindless revelry (and materialism) make the holiday nearly intolerable for many people. Just saunter down to any retail store during the final shopping days before Christmas, and you ll understand why more people suffer nervous breakdowns at Christmas than at any other time of the year. The bedlam is so bad, it s enough to make you wonder if there s not something better out there. Ironically, the word bedlam is a corruption of the word Bethlehem. In the 1500 s, the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem, a London monastery serving as a hospital, became a city-run insane asylum. For a small admission price, people could actually go there to heckle the inmates! It was, astonishingly, one of the famous tourist attractions in the city. St. Mary of Bethlehem was shortened to Bethlehem, which at the time was pronounced bedlam. In time, the word bedlam came to refer to all the noise and confusion that symbolized the insane asylum. And so, Bethlehem and bedlam are historically and semantically related. What a disgrace! Sadly, the truth is that sometimes it does feel as though our journey to Bethlehem is more like a journey into bedlam. That s not at all what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds. Do you remember what the message was? Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace, goodwill to men. My prayer for you is that this Christmas you would experience the transforming miracle of Bethlehem, and not the disappointment of holiday bedlam. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Merry Christmas to you all! Pastor John

2 Throughout Advent, we will be focusing our attention on those gifts that make for a great Christmas - giving the gifts of presence, joy, compassion and hope. Our special events will remind us that this Good News is for all people. Join us as we hear About the power of God s love and forgiveness given as a free gift to all by the Christ-child, Jesus. Saturday, December 8 9:00am in the Fellowship Hall Includes: Photo with Santa & Pancake Breakfast FREE!!! Invite your friends! Children s Nativity Service Christmas Eve, 5:30pm in the Chapel All children are welcome to come help present the Nativity story in this joyfilled service fit for all families! When your children arrive, they will be costumed for the various roles, then will help lead the congregation through the story of this most wonderful and Children s Christmas Dinner Theater The Children s Choir would like to invite you to our Dinner Theater 2018 on Sunday, December 9th immediately following 11:00am worship. Chef Matt Koonts has the honor of preparing a delicious meal for us. All donations will cover the cost of the meal, and any additional funds will be used for the upcoming Community Christmas Concert. The search for the star of Bethlehem has begun... When a meteorite delivers a memorable roll announcing the search for a special star, most of the stars in the sky are too busy worrying about the competition to read the qualifications. Bob, the sweetest and most humble of stars, shines his light big and bright, to welcome the promised Messiah. STAR SEARCH it s an illumination celebration! Based on Philippians 2:3-7 Don t be selfish; don t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. Our stars are ready to shine brightly for you!

3 Community Christmas Worship Concert & Tabernacle Christmas Cantata Please join us in celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus through word and song as a community on December 16th, 6:30pm at the Southeast Guilford High School Auditorium. Local churches will join together including Tabernacle United Methodist Church, Moriah United Methodist Church, Pleasant Garden United Methodist Church, First Baptist Burlington, and Southeast Baptist Church, to tell the greatest story ever told, the gift of our Savior. Please bring a warming item such as hats, scarves, gloves, etc. to be donated to our Church Under the Bridge friends and other organizations that help our brothers and sisters in our community who are in need. There is no admission fee for this Community Christmas Worship Concert. Also, on Sunday, December 23rd, the Tabernacle Chancel Choir will again Sing Christmas for our own congregation, during the 11:00am worship service. May this musical representation of the hope of Christ s birth stir your soul to experience the rich abundance of God s presence this blessed Christmas season! If you need transportation to any of our Tabernacle services, please call the church office at , so we can arrange a ride for you! Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Monday, December 24th, 11:00 pm You are invited to bring your family (come as you are) on Christmas Eve as we will celebrate the coming of the Christ child with a special Candlelight Communion service which begins at 11:00pm. This service will be a time of prayer, reflection and meditation. Familiar Christmas music and candles will help provide an atmosphere of reverence as we ponder the miracle of this holy night. Please Note: If you would like to come to this service but aren t comfortable driving after dark, please call the church office at and let us know. We will be offering door-to-door service for anyone needing it!

4 Poinsettias display on December 17th! Poinsettias lend so much beauty to our sanctuary s Christmas decorations and symbolically remind us of the birth of Christ. They are now available for order. You may place one in honor or in memory of someone. The cost is $10 each. You may earmark your check for Poinsettias. Please complete the form found in the Narthex or the Commons area and place it in the offering plate or drop it by the church office. You must place your order by December 10th! Church Advent Decorating Day Decorating the church for Christmas has already begun and some areas of Tabernacle have already received their trimmings, but the big day is Saturday, December 1st at 9:00am. Please join us! Advent Study The Parables Sunday School Class is embarking on a short study entitled Behold- A Christmas Advent Journey, Angel Tree authored by Christi Gee. Join us for this 5-week excursion, December 2-30, in preparation for Christmas. Witness the Glory. Ponder the Wonder. Worship the Savior. We meet in Room 121 at 10:00am each Sunday come join us! Tabernacle is participating again this year in Christmas Angel Tree, a program that connects our church, through local elementary schools, with children from struggling families who are in need of Christmas gifts. The Angel Tree is located in the Commons area with angels for you to choose. Once you ve selected your angel(s), purchase the gifts listed on the tag, wrap them, attach the tag, and return them to TUMC by Sunday, December 16. Our team will then deliver the gifts to the schools who will distribute them to the families. Just a friendly health reminder. As we enter into cold and flu season, please be respectful of those around you during church activities and worship. If you have symptoms of a cold or the flu (fever, sneezing, cough, running nose), avoid some of the friendly contact many of us like to share (like shaking hands, hugs, etc.) until those symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours. Though we would miss you, it may even be more loving for your own health, and the health of those at church, for you to stay home to rest and recuperate until all clear.

5 Would you consider making a stock donation to the TUMC Christian Life Center? If you are considering selling stock in which you have a loss, you could sell the stock to establish your tax loss and contribute the cash for the CLC. However, if you have a taxable gain, consider donating the stock directly to Tabernacle for this purpose and save broker commissions and capital gain taxes. Tabernacle member, Parks Fields, can assist you with this transaction or answer any questions you may have about the process. Just call Parks at Mission Opportunity: Guatemala 2019 It s time to step out of your comfort zone: participate in Mission to Guatemala 2019! We ll be in Guatemala January 18-28, 2019, returning to work on a church started in The church is located in a very poor, rural area but the people have a deep, Godly faith you can see displayed in their everyday existence. We will also have an opportunity to interact with the children and adults in the community, delivering school supplies and engaging in other activities with them. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Brad Ehrhardt at , or by at teresa321@triad.rr.com. Applications must be completed and returned ASAP; final plane reservations are made in early December.. Tis the Season when Church Under The Bridge is in need of items to help the homeless stay warm as the weather turns cold: socks, gloves, scarves, blankets, etc. And, we especially need XL and XXL JACKETS to distribute. There is a bin in the Commons for you to deposit donations any time throughout the season. You may also make a monetary donation; we will use your donation to purchase needed items. And, thank you for your continued support of this important community effort. Second Harvest Food Bank, a very large operation and the regional food bank for northwest NC, supplies food to many of our partner agencies like Greensboro Urban Ministry and Out of the Garden Project. The Tabernacle congregation is slated to volunteer at Second Harvest in Winston-Salem on Tuesday, January 22 from 2-4pm. We have been given a group slot, which means we will need 20 volunteers. This Tuesday is a Teacher's Workday for Guilford County Schools, so we are hoping to have good participation from youth as well as adults. Second Harvest also runs a small restaurant in downtown Winston that is staffed by graduates of their culinary program. We will eat lunch at the restaurant before our shift begins at 2pm. Consider joining us on this half day mission trip. Signs-up will start the first week of January, but please mark your calendars now!

6 Children s Ministry Regular Weekly Sunday Meeting Times: God s Lil Zoo: 4:30-5:30pm- Learn, Sing, Play Kingdom Kids: 5pm- Children s Choir, 5:30- Dinner, 6-7pm Learning & Fun For ages: 3-5 yr old Pre-K s For ages: K-5th Grade DECEMBER SCHEDULE 2- Mandatory Children s Play Practice 6:00pm, 5:30pm 8- Breakfast w/santa 9am (play practice following) 9- Christmas Play & Luncheon- after 11:00am worship service 16- NO GLZ or KK 23- NO GLZ or KK 24- Children s Interactive Nativity Service in the Chapel 5:30pm 30- NO GLZ or KK December Calendar 8- Breakfast w/santa 7am 9- Clapp s Nursing Home Christmas Caroling 2pm 15- Christmas Shoeboxes Trip 7:30am 16- Family Christmas Party & White Elephant Gift Exchange 4:00pm 21- Little Debbie Snacks Distribution 7:45am 23- NO Youth Group 24- Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service 11pm 30- NO Youth Group YOUTH SMALL GROUPS MEET YEAR-ROUND WEEKLY! (unless specified by leader) HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS Thursdays Youth Room. Contact Savanah Aldridge at for info. HIGH SCHOOL & YOUNG ADULT GUYS Thursdays Roger Kendrick s House (4039 Old 421 Rd, Liberty) 1st Thursday of the month, meet in the Youth Room. Contact Roger Kendrick at for info. GIRLS SMALL GROUP Wednesdays Teresa Ehrhardt s House (6219 Monnett Rd, Julian) Contact Teresa Ehrhardt at for info. MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS Tuesdays Youth Room Contact Savanah Aldridge at for info. MIDDLE SCHOOL GUYS Fridays Youth Room Contact Adam Hutchens at for info. YOUTH CHOIR Sundays at Choir Room, with Richard Dunn.

7 TUMC STAFF LOVE OFFERING As you look around the campus at TUMC and witness all the activity, it is clear that 2018 has been a great year, with tremendous strides being made in all areas of ministry and worship! This success does not happen without the great efforts of, not only the congregation of TUMC, but our outstanding church staff. During the month of December, we encourage each of you to consider showing your appreciation for the Staff by contributing to the Staff Love Offering. You may either take your contribution to the church office or place it in the offering plate; just be sure to earmark it as STAFF LOVE OFFERING. Our church staff - Pastor John Woods, Kimberly Cripps, Savanah Aldridge, Carla Ely, Richard Dunn, Antonella Frashëri, Joyce Sosnowski, Allen Haywood, Ashley Walters- will receive this love offering at the SPRC s Staff Appreciation Christmas Dinner in January Your support is greatly appreciated! ~TUMC Staff Parrish Relations Committee A few words about the 2019 Budget Our 2019 budget shows a 3.3% increase over last year, which is a 0.8% increase when adjusted for the current 2.5% 2018 CPI. Most of this increase is derived from youth ministry increases, slight denominational apportionment increases and also a 2% salary raise for church staff as unanimously approved by the SPRC, Church Council and the 2018 Charge Conference. Our Missions line-item does not in any way represent Tabernacle UMC s total missional giving, but rather our Mission Committee s work in promoting our missional effort. The Worship line-item includes our music staff and nursery salaries, as well as music and all worship supplies for both services. Our Program Minister s salary is represented in two lines as follows: 80% in the Youth line, 20% in the Communications line. A more detailed budget breakdown is available in the church office, or from the Chairperson of our Finance Committee, Christopher Ehrhardt TUMC Mission & Ministry Budget Breakdown Administration $ 70,795 10% Missions and UMC Apportionments $ 114,755 16% Worship/Music $ 77,668 11% Discipleship $ 94,705 13% Witness & Communications $ 17,285 2% Pastor (salary & housing) $ 100,647 14% Trustees $ 198,630 28% Staff Benefits/Taxes $ 40,119 6% $ 714, % 2018 Budget $ 691, Budget $ 714, %

8 GET PLUGGED INTO THE ALIVE SERVICE, SUNDAYS, 9:00AM IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL! HERE S THIS MONTH S SONGLIST: Evan Aldridge 02 Chad Edmondson 02 Wendy Fogleman 03 Tom Brawley 03 Kim Worthington 03 Beverly Calhoun 03 Calli Medlin 03 Doug Wyrick 04 Dick Wrenn 05 Jackie Neece 06 Joe Turner 08 Kallee Lambe 09 Cheryl Kendrick 09 Alan Branson 09 Gaynell Faulk 10 Forrest Brothers 11 Heidi Brown 12 James McKnight Jr 12 Katie Kendrick 13 Rebecca Shaffer 15 Tanner Greeson 16 Dale Giddens 17 Debbie Gill 17 Patsy Helms 18 Nora Moss 18 Steve Swain 18 Kenan Cox 19 Teresa Ehrhardt 19 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Chris Helms 19 Rusty Vick Scott Redmon 20 Gail Causey 20 Cathy Webster 21 Jesse Pratt 21 Marie Byrd 22 Thomas Griffin 23 Dwayne Shaffer 23 Bill Early 23 Carson Lee 24 Ally Hardie 24 Arleen Giddens 24 Mark Wheeler 24 Linda Hoskins 25 Cameron Scott 25 Richard Winquist 26 Bob Coyle 26 Rosie Brien 26 Kirsten Braxton 28 Greyson Ehrhardt 28 Vicky Wheeler 29 Kaleb Lambe 30 Karen Moore 30 Zach Ely 31 Nate Ely 31 Rubianne Ely 31 Dee Smith 31 DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Steve & Karen Redmon 16 Tom & Jame Rousey 18 Warren & Paula Ginn 18 Paul & Deborah Holt 19 Harry & Mary Griffin 22 Bill & Jennie Jones 23 Lacy & Laura Fogleman 26 Ronald & Dianne Hinson 26 Chris & Amy Ehrhardt 27 Glenn & Jan Hancock 28 Dec 2 1. What A Glorious Night 2. Reckless Love 3. Remembrance (Communion) Dec 9 1. Angels We Have Heard On High 2. Great Are You Lord 3. Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus Dec What A Glorious Night 2. How Many Kings 3. What Child is This Dec Joy To The World 2. Angels We Have Heard On High 3. Away In A Manger Dec What A Glorious Night 2. Joy To The World 3.Away In A Manger Our Stephen Ministers are available to pray with you each Sunday after the 11am worship service, in the Dyar Library, behind the main Sanctuary.

9 24 Christmas Eve Services Kid s Nativity 5:30pm Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 Children s Play Practice -6pm 9 Children s Play & Luncheon 12:00pm 16 Youth Family Christmas Party 4pm Community Christmas Concert 6:30pm 23 Christmas Cantata during 11am service December Scouts 6:30pm 10 Scouts 6:30pm 17 Sunshine Circle 7pm Scouts Christmas Potluck 6:30pm (FH) Candlelight Communion 11:00pm Daycare & Office closed. 4 Backpacks-10am Friendship Circle 7pm Trustees 7pm 11 Fellowship Circle 3:30pm 18 Backpacks 10am 25 Office & Daycare closed January 1 Office & Daycare closed. 5 6 Adult Fellowship 8:30am 12 Backpacks 10am Bethany Circle 10am 13 UMM 6:30pm Evangelism 7pm 1 Advent Decorating 9am Sears Luncheon 8am Soccer Banquet 5pm 7 8 Breakfast w/santa-9am (play practice following) Eagle Ceremony 2pm Christmas Shoeboxes Youth Trip 7:30am 21 Little Debbie Snacks Distribution 7:45am

10 Is it time to move to electronic giving? Tabernacle UMC offers 2 forms of electronic giving: Online and ACH Transfer Online giving is so much more than just online! Our giving tools provide the ability to donate on our website or through a mobile app on your smartphone! After creating an account, you re able to give a donation or schedule a series of donations directly from your checking account or by using your debit or credit card. If you would like to create an account online, visit our homepage at and click on the Give with easytithe link. You will be directed to the easytithe login. Click New User Registration to create an account. You can also create an account by downloading the easytithe app for iphones or android phones. When asked to select your organization name, enter Tabernacle United, click the Search button, and then select Tabernacle United Methodist Church of Greensboro, Inc. Next click on Create an Account. ACH transfer allows you to set up monthly giving to the church using your checking or savings account. Complete an ACH authorization form and turn it in to the church office. You can select either the 5 th or 20 th of the month for your donation to be withdrawn from your account and deposited to the church account. This transfer will continue monthly until the end of the calendar year unless you choose to cancel or change it during the year. Once set up, either of these options make it easy and worry free to give to Tabernacle and both options will appear on your annual contribution statements. If you have any questions, please contact the office for assistance. If you need assistance from easytithe regarding your online account or app, please contact easytithe directly at tithe or and select option 2. A simple reminder about Year-End Giving... According to the Internal Revenue Service policy, any gifts given to TUMC that you wish to be reflected on your 2018 Giving Statement must be received in the church office (or postmarked, if being mailed) by Monday, December 31st. Do you shop on Amazon? Now you can support TUMC every time you shop online with Amazon! Here s how instead of going to amazon.com, go to smile.amazon.com When you arrive on the webpage, it should ask you to login to your account, then pick your own charitable organization with the search bar! Search: Tabernacle United Methodist Church of Greensboro Inc. When it pops up, press Select- and you re good to go! You only have to do this once- then as long as you are on smile.amazon.com, it will automatically donate 0.5% of your purchase price to Tabernacle UMC! At no extra cost to you! AmazonSmile is the exact SAME website as Amazon. Same products, same delivery, same everything! There s no catch. This is such a simple way to give towards Tabernacle and its ministries, and it s super easy to share with others! Anyone can choose Tabernacle UMC as they re charitable organization of choice! Thank you for supporting Tabernacle UMC as you shop online!

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12 ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS: Imani, Allix Bjurstrom, Irene Blake, Averi Burke, Gail Causey, Bill Christopher, Jimmy Collins, Carolyn Cox, Joyce Ensley, Lacy Fogleman, Pat Foley, Lee Gilley, Sandra Greeson, Don Helms, Jane Lackey, Phyllis Love, Mack Jefferson, Herb Jones, Karen Kirkman, Allyson Josey, Brian Lamonds & Family, Caitlin Little, Shelia May, Daniel Miller, Reagan Phillips, Scott Redmon, Roberts Family, Haley Ross, Marsha Sarvis, Jewel Shepard, Glen Shephard, Zach Sinkule, Jesse Stewart, Nina Stout, Jeremy Timmone, Scottie Willis, Melissa Wood, Shirley Woodard, Dennis Wyrick, Margaret Yarborough, Tommy Younts Ministers: The Tabernacle Congregation Pastor: Rev. John Woods cell: Church Office: Daycare: Website: Rev. John Woods (Pastor) Savanah Aldridge (Minister of Youth) Kimberly Cripps (Children s Ministries) Carla Ely (Music Ministries) Richard Dunn II (Worship Leader) jwoods@tabernacle-umc.org saldridge@tabernacle-umc.org kcripps@tabernacle-umc.org cely@tabernacle-umc.org richardldunn@me.com ADDED TO PRAYER LIST THIS WEEK: Mary Morrell (fractured back bone), Doris Sizemore (heart attack), Jimmy Horney (knee replacement), Ralph Worley OUR MISSIONARIES: Sandra Raasch (Honduras), Kenya Partners, Alger & Joyce Morris (Cambodia) OUR MILITARY: Jason Caesar Wolff, Joel Woods, Conner Worthington Antonela Frashëri (Pianist) Joyce Sosnowski (Finances) Allen Haywood (Maintenance) Ashley Walters (Office Administrator) afrasheri@tabernacle-umc.org jsosnowski@tabernacle-umc.org ahaywood@tabernacle-umc.org tabernacle@tabernacle-umc.org OUR SHUT INS: Irene Blake, Mary Claiborne (Friend's Home West, #5102), Bill Early (Abbottswood, #B- 315), Ben Fields (Clapp s Assisted, #312), Nancy Fisher (Abbottswood, #C-306), Bill Jones (1227 Ritters Lake Rd, Greensboro), Martha Love (Brighton Gardens, #260), Meralyn Meadows (The Laurels, #E-201), Vernon & Jean Penry (Abbotswood, #A-216), Sandra Greeson (Clapp s Nursing, #303-B), Betty Varner (Abbotswood, # C-124), Frances Whitt Bulletin / Newsletter Announcement Deadlines Please submit Weekly News Flash and/or Weekly Bulletin announcements by Wednesday at 12:00 noon, and Monthly Newsletter articles by the 20th of the month. Make calendar requests to the Office for all upcoming events/ meetings, even if it s an annual event, ASAP, and specify date, time, facilities needed, and if sound/tech equipment, kitchen or vehicle(s) are required. Dates fill up quickly so let us know ASAP! Servants December 2 December 9 December 19 December 23 December 30 Offering Counters Gaynell Faulk Annette Heath Gaynell Faulk Annette Heath Gaynell Faulk Annette Heath Gaynell Faulk Annette Heath Gaynell Faulk Annette Heath CD Delivery Carolyn Hall June Sofley Sandra Goins Anne Lambert Kay Kiger Sound Richard Dunn Andy Griffin Pete Cox Brian Williamson Brandon Burke Acolytes Jared Gill Lilly Stewart Leo Brown Pierce Burkey KT Thomas Dwayne Shaffer Isley Morrow Lily Morrow Marielle Ely Libby Newman Hospitality 9:00 Steve Redmon Gil Strader Steve Swain 11:00 Chelsea Kiger 9:00 John Bradley Steve Redmon Gil Strader 11:00 Kay Kiger 9:00 Bryan Newman Steve Redmon Steve Swain 11:00 Bruce & Dee Wolff 9:00 John Bradley Steve Redmon Pete & Brenda Stephens 11:00 Kay Kiger 9:00 Bryan Newman Steve Redmon Steve Swain 11:00 *volunteer needed*