FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN MARCH TO THE MANGER. Leading Others to Christ, Learning to 1 Be Disciples, Loving through Service.

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1 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN December 14, 2016 A Bi-Monthly Publication MARCH TO THE MANGER As we prepare for Christmas, we invite you to participate in our annual Christmas Offering entitled The March to the Manger. This offering is dedicated to particular priorities as determined by the Trustees and Finance Committees. The trustees have designated a Van Fund. Our current van is around 15 years old. It is well used and continues to safely transport a variety of different age groups to many destinations. It is well maintained but we know the time is coming to purchase another van and to continue providing transportation to our children, youth, and adult ministry programs. Another priority, as determined by the Finance Committee, is for Mission and Outreach through two initiatives this year. The first is the United Methodist Neighborhood Centers Initiative in the Mason/ Braden area. This initiative has been authorized by the Metro District and is seeking to use the vacant Northwest Elementary School in Braden as a special outreach and community center offering opportunities such as tutoring, athletic teams, and senior activities. Several area religious organizations are coming together to make this a reality. Finance has also designated the Bread of Life Ministry that supports our weekly food pantry where people are served each month. This special offering will be received, in addition to the regular weekly offering, Sunday, December 18 th during our one worship service at 11:00 a.m. or during communion at our Christmas Eve service. Special envelopes will be available in the bulletins Sunday the 18 th, on the front table in the Christian Life Center, and in the Sanctuary on the usher s table. You may designate your gift to one or all of these priorities. Undesignated gifts will be divided equally. If you are unable to be present at these worship services, you are welcome to bring it to the church office. Thank you for sharing in this offering. Wishing you a blessed Christmas season as we celebrate God who revealed himself to us through the Christ child that we might share this good news with others all year! Merry Christmas, Wade Pastoral Staff Rev. Wade Cox Senior Pastor wadecoxfumc@bellsouth.net In Memory of Rev. Grace Phelps Minister of Outreach and Program Care Staff Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care fbeckett_fumc@att.net Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care kerwin1962@att.net Program Staff Andrew Davis Youth Ministries ajdavis915@gmail.com Charlotte Quinley Children and Nursery Ministries cquinley@covingtonfumc.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 Thank you to those who responded to our 2017 Stewardship Campaign. As of December 12 th, 120 commitments to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness have been received and $495, has been pledged. 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. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 A GIFT OF LOVE At the beginning of their Wednesday evening Bible study, the children collected money. Since August, they collected about $75. The funds were used to help a family in Melissa Mitchell s classroom. They bought coats, hats, gloves and pajamas for two little girls. Their mother is expecting a baby boy and had no clothes to bring him home in, so now he has several new outfits, bibs and socks. Thank you to everyone! (See note of thanks from the family.) NOTE OF THANKS On behalf of my family, I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for your expression of love and support to my family. We are extremely blessed to have so much support from family and friends as we welcomed a new addition to our family. It s been such a blessing to be surrounded by so much love and compassion. God Bless! Love, The Love Family December 15 Davis Cox December 16 Sheri Gilbreath December 17 Katelynn Aday Dot Butler December 18 Mary Louise Ezell December 19 Jansen Hunter December 20 Nathan Burdette Allison Phelps Cole Turner December 22 Larry Davis Hallie Hendren December 23 Ethan Carpenter Betty Class Keith Winberry II December 24 Jerry Beckley Stephanie Pugh December 26 Wayne Hughey Martha McDaniel Ken Phillips Britton Rogers Gage Ward December 30 Kinley Escue Tommy Pullen December 31 Carole Hughey Lisa Rogers January 1 Taylor Aday Martha Thornton January 3 Yvonne Bryant Deb David Keith Watson January 4 January 5 Lessie Fisher Nancy Leem JoAnna Tyler 2

3 NEW INTERIM DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT Rev. Dr. Harry D. Durbin has been named interim district superintendent for the Metro District of the Memphis Conference. Durbin will assume the Metro District superintendent responsibilities Jan. 1, 2017, and serve through June 30, The Metro District includes Fayette, Shelby and Tipton Counties in southwest Tennessee. With more than 80 churches, it is one of four districts that make up the Memphis Conference that covers West Tennessee and Western Kentucky. Dr. Durbin will follow Rev. Tim Carpenter, who has been appointed by Bishop McAlilly to serve Germantown United Methodist Church (UMC) in Germantown, Tennessee, as its new senior pastor, following the Dec. 31 retirement of Rev. Richard Smith who has served Germantown UMC as its senior pastor for six years. Let us be praying for both men during this time of transition. CONGRATULATIONS! Finn August McCool Erwin arrived December 7 th. He was born at 11:44 p.m. and weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz. Proud parents are Cody and Jessica Erwin. FUMC grandparents are Skip and Kendy Erwin. Great-grandparents are Ken and Judy McCool. Houston and Ginny Moss welcomed their son, Landon Houston Moss, into the world December 13 th at 6:05 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz. Proud FUMC grandparents are Leonard and Brenda Moss. DINNER IS SERVED! December 11 th, the Spirit of Christmas came to the Fellowship Hall. There were eight people who came or were picked up to enjoy a dinner of turkey and dressing. God s Grace Sunday School Class has been taking meals once a month to 15 homebound and senior members of the church. Class members took the time to get out their fine china and tablecloths, and make their best vegetables and pies to show these great singles and seniors that we really love them. Music was provided by Katelyn Stewart and friends. There were many memories shared and new ones made. During this time of year, sharing our time, energy and love is what Christmas is all about. 3

4 There were songs in the air this week as the children of FUMC performed their Christmas play, sang for the residents at Parkway Cove Assisted Living, and enjoyed hot chocolate with the sing-song chugs of the train during the movie The Polar Express. If you missed the Really, Really, Really Good News play, you can still see it on the FUMC website, This was one of the most enjoyable plays and live nativities including a six foot camel and a stable. Following the play, everyone attended a Happy Birthday Jesus party. The residents loved hearing the songs from the play and many carols that are old favorites when the children visited December 7 th. Golden tickets were sent to attend The Polar Express, December 9 th. Our train conductor punched the tickets as the children arrived in their pajamas. Sixty kids and adults were present to see the first present of Christmas given out. Two gallons of hot chocolate, six dozen cookies and twenty one pizzas helped to fill up this delighted crew. There were children from one to 92 who felt the Christmas spirit from FUMC. 4

5 Merry Christmas from the staff of Covington FUMC! CONGRATULATIONS! Keith Phelps was honored by the Covington Fire Department for 35 years of service at a banquet held December 8 th in the Christian Life Center. Congratulations to Keith and thank you and all other safety personnel for your service! 5

6 CHILDREN S CHURCH WORKERS December 18-One Worship 11:00 a.m. Lydia Anderson, Laura Richardson, Brooke Shipley and Maddie Smith December 25 MorningSong:8:30 a.m. Casual Interactive Service-Children participating Traditional Service:11:00 a.m. Dianne Stone and Dennis Cain (Brooke Shipley, emergency relief) NURSERY WORKERS December 18-One Worship 11:00 a.m. Raygen Escue, Christal Fisher, Anna Marie Peeler, Lauren Smith December 25 MorningSong:8:30 a.m. Casual Interactive Service-Children participating Traditional Service:11:00 a.m. Christina Jones and Jillian Hunter (Cynthia Ford, emergency relief) UPPER ROOM PRAYER MINISTRY SCHEDULE December 18-One Worship 11:00 a.m. Volunteers Needed December 25 Casual Interactive Service Volunteers Needed Traditional Service Skip and Kendy Erwin ATTENDANCE & GIVING December 4, 2016 MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $6, $8, December 11, 2016 MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $4, $5,

7 DECEMBER YOUTH ACTIVITIES 18 th : Sunday night Small Group-Christian Life Center 21 st : ZooLights (Meet at 3:00 p.m. at the Christian Life Center, $20) 25 th : No Small Groups 28 th : No Youth Group Meeting PROGRESSIVE DINNER FUMC Youth held a progressive dinner, Sunday, December 11 th. After enjoying appetizers at the home of Shawn and Rachel Smith, they traveled to Michael and Hope Turner s where they dined on their entrée of lasagna, salad and bread. From there, they made their way to Hank and Susan Sampson s house to have dessert and exchange gifts. Approximately 50 youth and adults attended this event! LOCAL MISSIONARY Brett Coker, a 19 year old ministry student, recently moved from California to Covington with his parents and younger sister. He is the grandson of Mike and Alice Morrison. Brett has greatly enjoyed plugging into FUMC as a youth leader in the student ministry, a singer in the praise band and traditional choir, and helping with special events for the children s ministry. In this past year, Brett graduated from the Joshua Wilderness Institute in California, a discipleship training school where he had the opportunity to serve as a missionary in the United States, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Israel. He now has the opportunity to serve youth as a missionary in Oahu, Hawaii in the Spring of 2017 and Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic in the Summer of Brett is looking for people who would want to get to know him and his mission and support him both financially and prayerfully as a missionary. To contact Brett about these missions, please him at brettgoesglobal@gmail.com or call his cell # (805)

8 Bread of Life Feeding Ministry Update November 2016 The food pantry continues to thrive due to the many donations it has received over the last month from Hunters for the Hungry, Tipton Rosemark Academy, Munford FFA, Munford Elementary, DSCC Nursing Program, Roxy s, Alpha Book Club, Top Ladies of Distinction and members of the congregation. Brighton Middle School held a 5K run at the end of October and donated $1,705 along with canned goods. Thank you to everyone for your generosity! Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Covington and Munford to help unload the donations from the retail stores. If you are available to help with this ministry, please call the church office at November 2016 Year-to-Date Households served: 250 (Covington) 2,321 (Covington) 214 (Munford) 1,942 (Munford) 464 (Total) 4,263(Total) Individuals served: 758 (Covington) 6,721 (Covington) 667 (Munford) 6,173 (Munford) 1,425 (Total) 12,894 (Total) Volunteers serving: 175 persons served at least once Pounds of food: 7,967 (MSFB) 126,216 (MSFB) 260 (Kroger) 6,985 (Kroger) 10,404 (Wal-Mart) 62,357 (Wal-Mart) 4,650 (donated/purchased) 5,630 (donated/purchased) 23,281 (Total) 11.6 tons 201,188 (Total) tons Cost of food: $ $9, Cost per pound: 3.1 cents 4.5 cents Average cost per household: $1.58 for a distribution of food in November Attendance in food pantry worship: 395 persons 8

9 SUMMARY OF CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 6, 2016 Rev. Cox opened the meeting by reading about the Season of Advent. Mike Morrison-Reported this is our last meeting for 2016 and thanked everyone for their service. Outreach Ministries-FUMC continues to thrive due to the many donations it has received over the last month. The issues with ordering from MidSouth food bank are slowly being worked through. Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Covington and Munford to help unload the donations from the retail stores. The food pantry will have distribution on Christmas Eve at Munford. Children s Department -We have been going, going and going. The children had fun practicing the Christmas play and singing at Parkway Cove assisted living. Christmas cards have been sent out with a golden ticket for the Polar Express movie and the children will receive a Believe bell for attending the movie. There needs to be another safe sanctuary training this spring. Methodist Presbyterian Nursery School will be using the sanctuary for their Christmas program December 15 6:30 pm with a reception following. Youth -The fall retreat to Lakeshore was a great experience with fellowship, fun, and spiritual growth. We started a youth worship band and practicing every week. This is a great way for the students to serve and minister in the youth group. A small group of girls went to a Casting Crowns concert for a fellowship event Trustees-We are addressing a couple of leaks and testing copiers. A generous donation is being made to the church for new hymnals. The old ones will be available to anyone or their family who had purchased one or been given one in memory or in honor of someone. Finance/Stewardship-We have a good sound budget. We are on track with payments on the CLC. The 2016 budget was presented to the church council in the amount of $637, Stewardship response has been good this year. Budget approved. A motion was made and approved to call people who pledged last year, but have not done so this year. Pastor- Wade shared upcoming worship services and lifted up the staff for the excellent work they have done. We will have one service on Christmas Eve and two services on Christmas Day. There have been a lot of questions about Grace s position. This is not necessarily an appointed position. As we move forward, we will look at all areas of the church. The new year will bring changes to our church council. We have a few people that will roll off the council Linda Ray, Melissa Mitchell, Mike Morrison and Tom Rogers. The new council members will be Sandy Burgess, Dennis Cain, Gail Ganier, Helene Kramer and Catherine Phelps. Lay Leader-Joey Caldwell thanked the council for the opportunity to serve as Lay Leader. 9

10 # of Awards December 5-9, 2016 Amount SAMARITAN FUND TOTALS Type of Assistance 0 $ 0 Bus Ticket 0 $ 0 Food 9 $ Lodging 2 $ Miscellaneous 3 $ Rent 16 $ Utilities 2 $ Vehicle Gas 32 $1, Totals Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: # of Awards As of December 9, 2016 Samaritan Balance: $6, January 1, 2016 to Date Amount Type of Assistance 2 $ Bus Ticket 0 $ 0 Food 315 $ 20, Lodging 19 $ Miscellaneous 59 $ 3, Rent 415 $ 21, Utilities 23 $ Vehicle Gas 833 $ 45, Totals Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: ,056 2, ROUNDUP UTILITY ASSISTANCE December 3 through December 9, 2016: 12 Households were interviewed CES: 10 Households interviewed: 1 household approved totaling $ households declined totaling $ CGWS: 2 Households interviewed: 2 households declined totaling $ 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. 10

11 Bobby Anderson Allen Ashford Donna Beard Ben Brasfield Tom Bready Arnold Bull Joe Campodonico Rachel Carpenter Terri Rice Chumley Amber Corbitt Cimadevilla Kaleigh Easley Hannah Hartney Marian Hendricks Becky Horstkoetter Jean Jones Lorna Keahey Janet Klutts Bernie Liles Lori Butler Lindley Donna Luckey Charlie Moss Sammy Naifeh James Neely Sharon Rich Lisa Rickard Dick Sherrod Jean Simonton BJ Smith Hazel Townsend Jimmy Turner Allie Jane Willis Dr. Barney Witherington III Memorials and Tributes In Memory of Gloria Cook Bread of Life Food Pantry by Joey and Ann Caldwell Good Samaritan Fund by Ted and Carolyn Turner In Honor of Bernie Liles and Gary Liles Choir and Worship Fund by Leonard and Brenda Moss In Memory of Theron McCool Good Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin In Memory of Rev. Grace Phelps Good Samaritan Fund by Landon and Norma Beasley Good Samaritan Fund by Tommy and Susan Cheairs Good Samaritan Fund by Chris and Jena Hackett Good Samaritan Fund by Wayne and Carole Hughey Good Samaritan Fund by Russell and Patsy Lindsey Good Samaritan Fund by Billy and Myrna Myers Good Samaritan Fund by Bill and Nancy Peeler Good Samaritan Fund by Carolynn Scruggs Good Samaritan Fund by Lynn Shaw and Mary Ann Shaw Good Samaritan Fund by Bettye Shelley Good Samaritan Fund by Van and Pam Shelley Good Samaritan Fund by Jay and Dianne Whitley In Memory of John Smith Christian Life Center Fund by Lynne Fisher Good Samaritan Fund by Waymon and Naomi McDade Good Samaritan Fund by Carolynn Scruggs In Memory of Martha Yarbrough Good Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin CONDOLENCES Walter McIntosh passed away December 2 nd. Please keep his family in your prayers. Clara Nell Williams passed away December 13 th. Her services will be at Maley- Yarbrough Funeral Home, Friday December 16 th, with visitation from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. A committal service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Providence Cemetery, (Providence United Methodist Church), 10 Shaw Road in Jackson. 11

12 WORSHIP BROADCASTS WORSHIP TIMES Live radio broadcast of the Traditional Worship on WKBL AM 11 a.m. Delayed broadcast of the Traditional Worship on KBJ Cable TV, Channel 5 (city) and 19 (county) - Sundays at 1:00 p.m.; Tuesdays at 12 Noon. MorningSong broadcast is on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. Also, live streaming of the traditional service is available at Both services are also archived at our website and can be viewed online anytime. Morning Song 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 UPCOMING CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE: December 18-9:30 a.m. Breakfast and Choir Cantata at 11:00 a.m. December 24-6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service-Sanctuary December 25-8:30 a.m. Casual Interactive Service-Christian Life Center 11:00 a.m. Traditional Service-Sanctuary First United Methodist Church 145 W. Church Avenue Covington, TN Phone: Fax: covingtonfumc@covingtonfumc.com Website: Facebook: Twitter: twitter.com/fumccovington 12