First Things. Calm and. Bright F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 2 D E C E M B E R

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1 F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H First Things 101 E. First North Street Morristown, TN Phone: (423) Fax (423) fumc@fumcmorristown.org V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 2 D E C E M B E R fumcmorristown Calm and Worship Times 8:15am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) Bright 9:15am Sunday School for All Ages 10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 10:30am The Connection (Gym) Bus Ministry Regency Pick-up times 9:00am & 10:15am Return to Regency 11:45am Newsletter Online The newsletter is posted online at

2 P A G E 2 Dear Friends, Every year about this time, I say the same thing: This has been the longest winter! I know that we are just entering the colder months. I know the worst is yet to come. But I prefer to think: The best is yet to come. For me, the season of Advent is packed with anticipation. Church decorations, special services, special music, caroling, and time with family are all good excuses to get out, even if I m inclined to whine about freezing. Without those exciting events, I might never leave the house. I recognize that for some of you, this season is difficult. Some of you are missing a special person this year. For others, being with family means you will have to rehash the latest election or reassume roles you wanted to leave in your childhood. My hope is that all of us will be buoyed by the story of The Word becoming Flesh. You would think that we might grow weary of hearing the Christmas story, but most of us would include the nativity story as one of our favorites. It is the most hopeful story I know. So, this year as you gather with family and friends, you will most certainly tell embarrassing stories, funny stories, tragic stories and triumphant stories. But the ground of our hope and faith is a story that began for a group of shepherds with the words: Behold, on this day, in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the King. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. ~Peace Walter Stewardship Update: Remember, it is not too late to turn in your Financial or Volunteering pledge cards. As of November 25, we have received 147 commitment cards committing $776,163 toward our 2019 Operating Budget. It is very important to our spiritual growth and discipleship to make a commitment to honor the Lord with our time, energies, and finances. If you haven t already done so, please make and return your commitments. Be sure your name is on each form. Every dollar and volunteer counts. Thank you and God bless you! Christmas Offering for Missions During the Advent Season we will receive a mission offering. For many years we have emphasized 2 projects: the Jubilee Project in Sneedville, TN, and our sister congregation in Aseri, Estonia. If you sense the Lord is leading you to support another of our Acts 1.8 Mission projects simply designate which one. (If there is no designation your gift will support both Jubilee and Aseri). Beginning December 2, offering envelopes will be available in the Gym and Sanctuary during worship, or send your gift to the church office. Checks should be made payable to FUMC and marked Christmas Offering and designate it. Our gifts make a difference in people s lives, so prayerfully consider the amount you will give. We hope you will join us this winter, beginning January 9th, as we expand our Wednesday evening offerings. Randall Jolley and his team have agreed to prepare meals beginning at 5:00pm. Then, at 5:50pm we will have a gathering time to sing together, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and pray together. At 6:00pm, our children will have music and other activities. Our youth will have their programming. Adults will have these tentative programming options: Eric Osborn will lead an adult Bible study. Pam Fassler will lead a study on parenting. Asa Majors will lead a study. Walter Weikel will lead a study and fellowship for young adults. We will offer a small group opportunity for those dealing with grief. F I R S T T H I N G S

3 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 3 Advent & Christmas at FUMC The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning coming or visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the church year. During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming. December 2 Hanging of the Greens Service 8:15am and 10:30am Traditional Worship Services Old Fashioned Christmas, 5:00pm (Gym) Following a shared potluck meal, the Children s Choirs present the musical Mr. Pfister's Christmas Time Travelers. This is followed by a fun Christmas singalong and a visit from a special guest! December 9 Love Feast, 6:00pm (Sanctuary/Gym) Revelation Youth Choir and Carillonneurres handbell choir will lead a special Advent service with readings, music and candlelight, followed by a time of fellowship with cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate, & coffee. December 16 Music of Christmas Choir & Orchestra, 8:15am and 10:30am Traditional Services (Sanctuary) Chancel Choir will celebrate the Advent season with beautiful music including creative arrangements of familiar carols, a gorgeous a cappella reflection on the nativity and a medley of Appalachian carols. Invite friends to this day of worship through music! December 19 5:00pm Church-Wide Caroling 6:30pm Pizza (Gym) Suggested donation: Adults $5, Children $3 December 23 Blue Christmas, 4:00pm (Sanctuary) December 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Communion 3:00pm Family Friendly service (Gym) 5:00pm Service with Carols & Choir (Sanctuary) December 30 Sunday Morning Worship 8:15am Traditional Service (Sanctuary) 10:30am Combined Coffee House Service (Gym) January 6, :00pm Decoration Breakdown Advent Sermon Series Calm and Bright Calm and Bright This year marks the 200th anniversary of one of Christianity s favorite Christmas hymns. Silent Night, Holy Night was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818 and set to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in a small town in Austria. It was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria. It has been a strong favorite ever since. We sang this song by candlelight every year on Christmas Eve at my home church when I was growing up. To be honest, nothing else could happen during the holidays but if I don t get to sing Silent Night, Holy Night by candlelight with my Christian brothers and sisters, Christmas just has not really happened for me. Forget the food and the presents; I crave this beautiful hymn. Perhaps there are those of you have a similar feeling with this song. This year, we are going to dive in to the themes of the beloved lyrics. Walter and I want to make the themes expressed in the verses come alive for you in new ways. Though it was written 200 years ago, and we sing it every year, it has a great deal to say to us today. And don t worry, while we are looking at a verse each week, we re still going to sing it on Christmas Eve. Promise. We are excited about this fun, wild, busy Advent season with you FUMC. We are excited to explore what it means to be Calm and Bright as we wait for the coming of Jesus together. See you Sunday, Asa

4 P A G E 4 Above: Trunk or Treat and Below: Costume Regency Mr. Pfister s Christmas Time Travelers, a children s Christmas musical, presented on Sunday, December 2, at 6:15pm following supper. Rehearsals remaining: Kids programming will begin January 5 Wed., November pm and F I R S T T H I N G S Sunday, December 2 Dress Rehearsal following worship on December 2. Free pizza lunch included. Upward Practices begin Monday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 4 and continue through December 17 & 18, 5-8pm in the Gym. Games start in January 12.

5 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 5 Revelation Youth Choir December Rehearsals & Performances December 2 Rehearsal 4-5pm (before Old Fashioned Christmas) December 9 Rehearsal 5-6pm Love Feast Service 6pm December 19 5pm Caroling, followed by pizza in the gym and Youth Party December 23 and December 30 NO REHEARSALS Revelation Youth Choir Tour New York Tour New York City! The greatest city in the world! Don t miss your chance to minister through music, spend time with friends and grow together in this most exciting locale. January 9, 4pm MANDATORY CHOIR TOUR MEETING for parents & students. You need to come to this meeting if you are thinking of coming. You may pay your first deposit that day or the next Sunday. January 11 & 12 RYC Honey Creek Farms

6 P A G E 6 United Methodist Women Elizabeth Circle will meet Thursday, December 6, at 11:00am at Regency. Garry Brooks will retell the Christmas Story. Contact Margaret Thornton for more information. Ruth Circle will meet Monday, December 10, at 11:00am at Timeless Elegance. Contact Eugenia Bond for more information. Deborah Circle will meet Tuesday, December 11, at 6:00pm in the Community Room for their Christmas Party. Contact Jessie Goddard for more information. Mary Martha Circle continues collecting Penny and a Prayer offering during the holidays. Fence Ministry Needs You! The weather has suddenly turned cool and we are gearing up for another season of the Fence Ministry. We already have an entire fence load ready for when the weather forecast shows 2 or more consecutive nights of lows near or below freezing. Thanks to your generous donations over the past three years, there are some items we ARE NOT IN NEED of right now. Items we NEED MOST: Women s fleece or other WARM gloves. NO THIN, KNIT GLOVES Women s socks wool blend or thinsulate Boys and Girls socks wool blend, thinsulate, thick, sturdy CREW socks. NO ANKLE SOCKS. Boys and Girls fleece or other WARM gloves. NO THIN, KNIT GLOVES THICK, WARM scarves Joyful Hearts Joyful Hearts will meet Thursday, December 20, 11am. John Welton, retired Carson Newman professor, will present a program of Christmas stories. Please make reservations by noon Monday, December 17, and pay $8 for the Jersey Girl catered meal. Signup sheet is in the church office, and someone will be in the church office on Sunday, December 16, to take reservations and payment. December Mission Project: Kitchen and office supplies as well as monetary gifts for Serenity House. Place Your Orders for Poinsettias! We are taking orders for poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary December 16-24, for a cost of $12 each. To order, fill out the form below and return to the church office with your payment or drop it in the offering plate this morning. Make checks out to FUMC and mark them Poinsettias. Quantities are limited so order soon. Plants may be picked up after the 5:00pm Christmas Eve service. If you need further information, please call the church office at Orders received by Dec. 10, will be listed in the bulletin on Dec. 17. Given by: [ ] In Memory of [ ] In Honor of [ ] Gift (check one) # of Plants Amount Enclosed $ We will keep you up-to-date on the ongoing needs throughout the cold season. Contact Leigh Travis ( ) or Nancy Renner ( ) with any questions or ideas. Contact Lindy Potter ( ) if you would like to be added to the volunteer contact list. Thank you for your support! F I R S T T H I N G S

7 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 7 Looking Ahead The MOM Groups meets for their last meeting of 2018 on Wednesday, December 5. 9am-12noon in the Community Room. Deadline for the January newsletter is December 6. Please your completely written articles including pictures to fumc@fumcmorristown.org or bring them to the church office. FUMC Quilting group will meet Tuesday, December 11, at 1:00pm in Room 117. Everyone is invited to Game Night Friday, December 14, 6:00pm in the Community Room. Bring a snack to share. Church Council will meet Tuesday, December 18, at 5:30pm in the Cornerstone building. Sunday School classes are reminded to call the church office to schedule a room for your Christmas Party. Dates are filling up! Condolences to The family & friends of Ken Gass. Ken passed away on October 22. Funeral services were held October 25. The family & friends of Bill Rader. Bill passed away on November 4. Funeral services were held November 8. To Shirley Snowden in the death of her sister-in-law, Eula Watkins, on November 5. Funeral services were held November 9. To the Family of Mary Ann Hunt. Mary Ann is the widow of Bishop Earl G. Hunt, Jr. She passed away on November 10 in Asheville, NC. A memorial service will be held on December 1 in Asheville To Rod Isaacs in the death of his uncle, Steve Isaacs, on November 11. To Blain Potter in the death of his step-mother, Marilyn Potter, on November 15 in Marion, NC. A private funeral service was held on November 20 in Marion. Our Discipleship Together October 10/07 10/14 10/21 10/28 Worship Sunday School Budget Offering $17,609 $12,862 $14,360 $17,464 Faith Promise $60 $425 $455 $10,590 Worship at FUMC Traditional Worship 8:15am & 10:30am (Sanctuary) and The Connection 10:30am (Gym) Sermon Series: Calm & Bright December 2 Holy Communion Calm & Bright: Sleep in Peace Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel Hanging of the Greens The Connection: Asa Majors December 9 Calm & Bright: Glories Stream Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel The Connection: Asa Majors December 16 Calm & Bright: Redeeming Grace Traditional Worship Lessons & Carols with Choir and Orchestra Asa Majors The Connection: Walter Weikel December 23 Calm & Bright: Let Us Sing Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel The Connection: Asa Majors December 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Communion Calm & Bright 3:00pm Family service (Gym) 5:00pm Service with Carols & Choir (Sanctuary) December 30 Christ the Savior is Born 8:15am Traditional Worship: Asa Majors 10:30am Combined Coffee House Service Asa Majors (Gym)

8 First United Methodist Church 101 East First North Street Morristown, TN Reaching, Growing, and Serving Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Morristown, TN PERMIT NO. 233 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED December 2, 5pm (Gym) Following a shared potluck meal, the Children s Choirs will present the musical Mr. Pfister's Christmas Time Travelers. This is followed by a fun Christmas singalong and a visit from a special guest!