CONGRATULATIONS Kaitlyn Hill

Transcription

1 SUMC Newsletter December 2018 A Word from Pastor Paul There are plenty of organizations out there that can tell you what to be afraid of and why you should be very worried. We are not called to be that kind of community. God calls the church to cultivate hope in the face of fear, to hold up a candle the darkness. Hope is not denial. It is defiance. The Bible doesn t pretend that nothing bad ever happens. Not at all. In the Bible we meet the God who raises the dead days after the tomb has been sealed and everyone has gone home. For God it s never too dark or too late. As we enter the Advent/Christmas WINNER season, we will celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We will light candles, sing, pray, and share life together. You know people who don t belong to a church. Please invite them to worship with us. Let s not keep this good news to ourselves. Pastor Paul CONGRATULATIONS Kaitlyn Hill who submitted drink more water, it is the most wholesomeness as one of John Wesley s tips for good health. For this month s Trivia Challenge, see page 3. The Operation Christmas Child program demonstrates God's love to children in need worldwide by delivering gift-filled shoeboxes and the good news of Jesus Christ! That good news is the HOPE of the world. The shoeboxes are now on their way! writing letters for our shoeboxes! Thank you Jim Robb for transporting donations all year long! Thank you Glenn England for helping set up for our packing night! Thank you church for coming out Thank you SUMC for your support of packing night. Our final shoebox our OCC collection program and the count was 185! Our most ever! Way to go church! Thank you to everyone generous donations you made all for your support! Our program is year! successful because we all, young and Thank you SUMC Youth for shopping old, work together! Way to go church! for items we were low on and All glory to our God! May the assembling 175 shoeboxes! children who receive our shoeboxes Thank you Soul Sisters for your hard be blessed and come to know Christ. work prepping for packing night and Robyn Robb helping to set it up and for making OCC Coordinator our hygiene kits! Thank YOU Robyn for your Thank you SUMC Mission team for leadership, your tireless efforts, and making the school supply kits and for your heart!

2 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. ~Psalm 34:3 During this special season, we hope you will join us for special celebrations of Worship. Sunday, December 2nd Christmas Music Programs in both services Wednesday, December 5th at 6:15pm Annual Hanging of the Greens Service Sunday, December 16th at 5:00pm Children s Music Program Monday, December 24th at 7:00 and 11pm Christmas Eve Worship Thanksgiving Communion Service They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. ~Psalm 145: 7 Hope In Christ Jesus Our Lord By Alex Wilson I love the holidays! The best part for me is the Christmas music. It is cool to think one can sing a song 5 different ways. I also enjoy shopping for friends and family. It is always great to find that special, unique gift that they will love. Sometimes, I am in a holiday zone and then I see it, a really nicelooking, smoky grey Ford Mustang. This would be the last car my younger brother Joshua owned before his fatal accident. In April of 2016, my brother made a tragic mistake and went around the gates at a railroad crossing and in the process was hit by a passenger train. That first year without Joshua was so very difficult on us all. Like me, he really enjoyed the holiday season. He loved his nieces and nephews, and always made sure they had a good Christmas. Even with my family living in Tennessee, Joshua would always be sure to mail Logan s gifts with the instructions to leave under the tree until Christmas. Joshua s death left many unanswered questions. Many begin with why. Guess what, God doesn t mind our why When God s people work together to reach those who are not a part of a church family, great things can happen! When God s people give fearlessly, ministries of mercy to neighbors near and far happen. We celebrate that our church has been recognized by the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church in two important areas. First, SUMC received an award of excellence in evangelism for having grown in worship attendance, membership, and new professions of faith this past year. Second, SUMC paid 100 percent of our tithe to the annual conference, which helps to fund mission and ministry across the region and around the world. questions. I found scripture that has helped me with unanswered questions. In Romans 6:23 we read: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. That scripture gives me hope. So now we start a new holiday season. We know the best gift of all came to us with the birth of Jesus. Jesus, Son of God. A light in the darkness. In this, I find comfort and the ability to make each holiday something special. I think of him when I hear a particular song or see a nice looking Mustang and I know I will see my brother in time. This is the hope God gave us when he sent Jesus to this earth. So now I must enjoy the moments given to me and my family. My hope for you is that, no matter what you have been through, no matter what memories the holidays bring to your mind, may you find peace and joy knowing that our hope is in Him and Him alone. Many struggle with the impact of compulsive behaviors and addictive issues. Who among us does not battle with hurts, habits or hang-ups and long for freedom? RAS is the only recovery ministry of its kind in our area and is a community- wide endeavor. On Thursday nights we host a meal, a recovery service with a live band, dynamic speakers, including our own Pastor Paul and Pastor Steve, and have open share support groups. We are a biblically based recovery ministry and you will find hope here with friendly, open, non-judgmental people. Put aside the day s problems and issues and focus solely on Jesus Christ, and the change that is possible through Him. Here are some tips for managing during the holidays which can be difficult for many: Tip 1: Get enough rest! HALT means you should never allow yourself to get hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Fatigue plays a huge part in succumbing to temptation during holidays or anytime. Tip 2: Spend time with your recovery group for fellowship and support. Tip 3: Keep busy and adhere to your schedules and routines. Tip 4: Volunteer and enrich your spirit. Tip 5: Try us out on Thursday nights and find your freedom!

3 CALENDAR What is your favorite word or phrase from the Holston Conference Vision Statement. Sundays 8:45 9:45 10:00 10:45 11:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 Mondays 10:00 Women s Bible Study 6:30 Alleluia Ringers your answer to RebekahHill@Comcast.net You may win a great prize AND all the glory! No M&M s in December due to Churchwide Christmas Family Activities on Wednesday nights. Saturday, 12/8, Breakfast with Santa 8:00-10:00 Complimentary breakfast, craft, face painting and pictures with Santa. Everyone is welcome. To help or volunteer with this ministry, please contact Susan Cook at Sunday, 12/16 Children s Nativity Program 5:00 Wednesday, 12/19 PDO Christmas Program with lunch to follow. 11:30 Can You Help? Children's Ministry is in need of volunteers to serve in the infant and toddler nurseries during the 11:00 Sunday Service, monthly or quarterly. If you are interested please contact Susan Cook. Thursdays Traditional Worship Fellowship Time Sunday School Fellowship Time Contemporary Worship Righteous Ringers Adult Bible Study Youth Group 5:15 3:45 4:30 6:15 7:00 Shared Supper Kingdom Ringers Kids of the Kingdom Special Services & Events All Month! Praise Band Rehearsal 5:45 Recovery at Seymour 5:45 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:30 Small Groups 7:30 12 Step Study Chancel Choir 7:00 9:00-2:00 Parents Day Out Sunday, 12/2 Visit Douglas Cooperative, Lunch at church, Depart at 12:30. Christmas carols, Christmas crafts, Christmas cookies. (No Youth night) Wednesday, 12/5 Dinner 5:00, Hanging of the Greens 6:15 Saturday, 12/8 Breakfast with Santa 8:00-10:00, Seymour Christmas Parade 3:00 Sunday, 12/9 Ugly Sweater Youth Christmas Party at Jennifer s House 5:30-7:30 ($10 Dirty Santa Gift) Wednesday, 12/12 Dinner 5:00, Gifts for the Christ Child 6:15 (No Youth Class) Sunday, 12/16 Children s Program 5:00. Youth volunteers to help with the program are greatly appreciated (No Youth Night) Wednesday, 12/19 Dinner 5:00, Christmas Movie and PJ Party The Star 6:15 Sunday, 12/23 (No Youth Night) Wednesday, 12/26 (No Youth Class) Sunday, 12/30 Youth Theme Night, Food for Thought 5:30-7:30 Sundays Righteous Ringers 4:30 5:30 Wednesdays ALL Youth 5:00 Shared Supper, Youth are invited to sit together and remain in the fellowship hall until class at 6: 00. Fridays (TBA) Jr High Game and Movie Night 5:00-8:00 PDO closed Thursday, December 20 - Friday, January 4, reopening Monday, January 7th, Pasta Bake, Italian Side Salad Bar, Garlic Bread, Dessert Pizza and Garden Fresh Salad & Fruit Bar, Dessert Christmas Morning Breakfast! Breakfast Sausage Casserole, Pancake Wagon Wheel, Cheesy Scrambled Eggs & Hash, Gravy, French Toast Bake, and more! Cookie Share Bar (bring your best cookie and we will vote on our favorites) Men of Faith Friday, December 7th, 7:30 am ihop Mountain Grove ThomasHill@att.net Our tree is up and covered with angels for adoption. Through a partnership with Seymour Primary School, we received information on children/ families that need a little assistance with Christmas. Please consider "adopting" an angel. If shopping is not your thing, there are angels with requests for $25.00 donations. The monetary donation will be used to purchase Food City vouchers to share with each family. Stop by the tree in the main hallway for details. Soul Sisters will meet at the home of Anita Graham on Tuesday, December 4th at 6:30. We will share a meal of lasagna. All sisters are asked to bring a side or desert and an item for our Gifts for the Christ Child basket. Ellen Moss will share a Christmas message of hope. Please join us!

4 PLACE STAMP HERE December 2018 Look What s Inside Hurry-You could WIN this month s Trivia and this Hope in Christ: A Personal Story Calendar: NEW Mission and Outreach Opportunities & Special Services You Don t Want To Miss Gifts for the Christ Child December 12th This event is a way to raise money for mission and outreach projects. This year funds will assist with the Rise Against Hunger Campaign and Hurricane Relief efforts in Florida. Gifts for the Christ Child has two main components. July First tickets may be purchased for an opportunity to win one of the amazing baskets assembled by Sunday school classes, small groups, staff members, and others. The second part of the event is a silent auction. This is where we really need your help with donations. Please consider donating any homemade items, services, baked goods. We have many talented people in our church so don't hesitate to donate. This event is meant to offer our congregation the opportunity to be the little drummer boy. To bring our best in the form of donated items and in the financial gifts we are able to offer. Sign up sheets can be found in the main hallway. For questions about the event or donations, see or Susan England susan.e.england@gmail.com Paul Seay, Pastor 107 Simmons Road P.O. Box 1488 Seymour, TN Rise Against Hunger March 2, 2019 Through your support last year we were able to send 21,000 meals to Haiti. Those meals made a significant impact in the work being done by Rise Against Hunger in that area. We are doing it again - just bigger! We will be packing 30,0000 meals! So The flamingos are on the loose! Please consider a donation or sharing love with fellow church members or neighbors through the gift of flamingos. Materials will be available in the main hallway, classrooms, or see Rylie McClurg or Susan England. Phone: (865) Office@SeymourUMC.

5 Memorials Received Given In Memory Of Gift Designation: Norma Comfort Herb Todd Five for Budget Six for Budget s (5) Mary Jane Snyder AGAPE Fund Budget Betsy Beal Eric & Ella Burdick s (2) Anna Grace Miller Dawn Manners T.O.S.S. Fund Juanita Pross I s. (2) Honorariums Received Given In Honor Of Gift Designation: Samantha & James Edwards Budget

6

7 Family Fun & Fellowship Fall Bonfire & Nerf Party