First United Methodist Church 103 W Main Street P.O. Box 72 Newbern, TN Phone (731) Fax (731)

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1 First United Methodist Church 103 W Main Street P.O. Box 72 Phone (731) Fax (731) December 2018 Newsletter 2` What is the real meaning of Christmas? The answer may just surprise you. For many, Christmas is the time to think of Jesus Christ as a baby in a manger. While the birth of Christ is a special and miraculous event, it isn't the primary focus. The central truth of the Christmas story is this: The Child of Christmas is God. God in a Manger Christmas is not about the Savior's infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world. But the modern world's version of Christmas does just that. And consequently, for the greater part of humanity, Christmas has no legitimate meaning at all. I don't suppose anyone can ever fathom what it means for God to be born in a manger. How does one explain the Almighty stooping to become a tiny infant? Our minds cannot begin to understand what was involved in God's becoming man. Nor can anyone explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant. He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful. For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God. One passage in particular, written by the apostle Paul, captures the essence of Jesus' divine nature and underscores the truths that make Christmas truly wonderful. Colossians 1:15-20 says: He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For... all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross. from Bro. Mike and Nancy Christmas Singing Sunday, O Dec. 9 th at 6:00 pm NFUMC Services Sunday Adult Sunday School: 9:45 am A.C.T.S.: 9:45 am (Preschool 12 th Grade) Worship Service: 11:00 am Nursery and Children s Worship (Pre-K to Grade 3): 11:00 am Wednesday Choir 6:00 PM See schedule on next page Mount Carmel UMC Sunday Services Worship Service: 9:30 am 2200 Grills Road Mailing address: Mt. Carmel UMC

2 UMW will have their Christmas meeting on Tuesday, December 11 th at 1:00 pm at Barbara Owen's home (98 Scott Road). All attendees should bring a $10-$15 Dirty Santa gift and a finger food. All women welcome to come and enjoy good fellowship. Come join us!!! Choir Schedule for Wed. nights in December: 12/05 NO Choir 12/26 NO Choir 12/12 Choir 6:00 12/19 Choir 6:00 A little humor A collection of Interesting facts revealed by young people in Sunday school! lines. Make one line of the men that dated their women on earth, and the women.' The first book of the Bible is Guiness, in which There's Adam much and Eve movement, were created but eventually from an apple the women tree. are gone Noah's and there wife was are called two lines. Joan The of line Ark. of the men that were dominated Lot's wife is was 100 a miles pillar long. of salt The by line day of and men a ball that of fire dominated by night. women has only one man. Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the God apostles. gets angry and says, 'You men should be ashamed of yourselves. Unleavened I created bread you is bread in my made image without and you were all dominated ingredients. by your mates. Look at the only one of my sons Moses went to the top of Mt. Cyanide to get the 10 that stood up and made me proud. Learn from him!' commandments. The seventh commandment is "Thou shalt not admit He adultery." turns to the man and says, 'Tell them, my son. How did Joshua you manage led the to Hebrews be the only in the one battle on that of Geritol. line?' The people who followed Jesus were called the 12 The decibals. man says, 'I don't know, my wife told me to stand here.' The epistles were the wives of the apostles. One of the opossums was St. Matthew. od Paul looks preached over the holy millions acrimony, of people which and is says another 'Welcome to Heaven. name for I want marriage. the women to go with Saint Peter, and the men to form two lines. Make one line of the men that dominated their women on earth, and the other of men STEWARDSHIP REPORT Annual Budget: $ 124, Needed per week: Giving-to-Date: 11/25/18 $ 97, DECEMBER 2 Judy Gregory 6 Major Peevyhouse 7 Moxon Peevyhouse 4 Carson Cogdill 10 Natalie Elizabeth Wilkerson 13 James Hendrix 16 Debbie Flack 17 Erin Rudolph 24 Sandy Sawyer Peevyhouse 25 Jane Hendrix 28 Jacob Enochs 29 Josh Enochs 31 Garrett Flagg Brad Rogers Richard Schneider The ladies meet in the Fellowship Hall on the 3 rd Wednesday of each month at 11:30 am and play Dominoes and enjoy spending time together. All the ladies are welcome! Deficit to date 11/25/18 (14,673.92) Deficit per week (312.21)

3 THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS CHRISMON SYMBOLS THE ANCHOR CROSS - was used by early Christians as a symbol of faith when they had to avoid recognition as Christians and avoid persecution. It represents steadfastness and hope. CHI RO - The first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, XPISTOS THE CREATOR'S STAR OR STAR OF DAVID - represents the Perfect God and the Perfect Man brought together into One. It also represents the 6 days of creation. THE CROSS CROSSLET - stands for the spread of the Christian faith to the four corners of the earth. THE DESCENDING DOVE - with a 3 rayed halo around its head represents the Holy Spirit. THE FISH - representing the Savior, was used as a sign by early Christians, IXOYC is Greek for "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" and spells the Greek word FISH. IHS - The initial letters of Jesus Hominum Salvator - Jesus Savior of man. THE KEY OF DAVID - symbolizes the promise of God that the Messiah would come from the royal family of David. THE CALVARY CROSS - is the Latin cross standing on three steps. The steps are Faith, Hope, and Love. THE CROWN - is a symbol of the Kingship of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. THE CELTIC CROSS - The circle at the top of the cross represents eternal life. THE LAMP - symbolizes the knowledge and wisdom found in the Bible. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 THE SUN - is a symbol of the Son of Righteousness, Christ, the morning light in our lives. THE ALPHA AND OMEGA - stands for Christ who says, "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Rev 1:8 THE CIRCLE AND TRIANGLE - represents the eternity of the Trinity. THE LATIN CROSS - is the kind of cross upon which Jesus was crucified. THE MENORAH-symbolizes the presence of God in our midst, EMMANUEL- God with us

4 LIFELINE BLOODMOBILE COME JOIN US, as we study God s word and grow in faith together. 9:45 am each Sunday NEXT BLOOD DRIVE WILL BE (Friday, Jan 25, 2018) NOON UNTIL 6:00 PM Classes for ALL Ages Direct prayer concerns, updates & praises to Dr. (731) PRAYER REQUESTS Sarah Alley (by Nancy Davis) Bart Hendrix (by James & Jane Hendrix) At home recovering from double lung transplant Residents of Oakwood Community Living Center Residents of Wesley Homes of Dyersburg Please continue to pray for our friends / family, homebound, in rehabilitation, assisted living or nursing homes: Dorothy Enochs Canterbury Place, 900 Hwy 51 Bypass N., Dyersburg, TN. Mary Helen Ladd Covington Manor, 1992 Hwy 51 S., Covington, TN, Emily Wright P.O. Box 325, 309 Jefferson St., Newbern TN Martha Drane Oakwood Community Living Center Room 18B, 1626 Woodlawn Drive, Dyersburg, TN Rowena (Mrs. Billy) Fuller N.H.C. Health Care, Room 302B, 374 Brink St., Lawrenceburg, TN Lena Mae Caldwell 201 Ben Brush Circle, Franklin, TN Please help us keep the prayer list updated so we can focus on those who do still need prayer and stay updated on any changing prayer needs.

5 Photos from the Hanging of the Greens Service on Sunday, November 25 th

6 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Finance 6:00 PM Council 6:30 PM 4 5 NO Choir Christmas Singing & refreshments 6 pm 16 Poinsettia orders DUE Potluck Lunch UMW 1:00 Barbara Owen's home 12 Choir 6 pm Choir 6 pm Christmas Eve Service 6 pm 25 Christmas Day 26 No Choir New Year's Eve First United Methodist Church 103 W Main Street P.O. Box 72 Place Stamp Here YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME We welcome you! Join us for worship and fellowship as we worship the Lord together. Come explore with us what it means to Make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you are a guest with us, we ask that you complete an information card and place it in the offering plate. If you do not have a church home, please consider worshiping with us every Sunday.