MARCH TO THE MANGER. Pastoral Staff Rev. Wade Cox Senior Pastor

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1 A biweekly publication of First United Methodist Church December 9, 2015 issue Pastoral Staff Rev. Wade Cox Senior Pastor Rev. Grace Phelps Minister of Outreach and Program Care Staff Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care Program Staff Sara Galyon Youth Ministries Charlotte Quinley Children and Nursery Ministries Dr. Bonnie Wright Director of Music Office Support Staff Sandy Burgess Administrative Assistant Holley Mills Morris Business Administrator Musician Justin Hanson, Organist Facilities Rebecca Paris Custodian Kenny Summers Maintenance 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. One is for Repairs to the Fellowship Hall. This area is used weekly by numerous church and community groups. Now that we have fixed the leaks, it is time to update it from all the water damage that has been done. Join us as we seek to create a pleasant and welcoming environment for all to gather. Another priority is for Mission and Outreach through the Good Samaritan Fund. Nearly every day our church is called upon to assist those in need. Your contributions make possible temporary housing, prescription help, rent and utility assistance. This is The Gospel in action. This special offering will be received in addition to the regular weekly offering on Sunday, December 20 th during both worship services or during communion at either of our Christmas Eve services. If you are unable to be present at these worship opportunities, 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 drew near to us that we might experience him anew! Merry Christmas, Wade CHANCEL CHOIR CANTATAC & POTLUCKP BREAKFAST Sunday, December 13 th - 8:30 a.m. Potluck Breakfast- CLC; 9:45 a.m. Sunday School; 11:00 a.m. Cantata-Sanctuary Join us in the Christian Life Center for a potluck breakfast, then stay for Sunday School and the Cantata as we embrace the courage, faithfulness, joy, and love of those who first experienced "The Heart of Christmas. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Thursday, December 24 th 5:00 p.m. Children s Service; 9:00 p.m. Traditional Service Join us as we re-enact at 5:00 p.m. and celebrate at 9:00 p.m. the Christmas story of Jesus through scripture and song. The service ends with a candlelight singing of Silent Night, and includes the Sacrament of Holy Communion. All are welcome.

2 Page 2 Page 2 12/09/2015 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN S CORNER United Methodist Women held their annual Christmas dinner, December 3 rd. A special mission recognition pin was presented to Ruby Marshall for her outstanding service, support and dedication of UMW s missions. A delicious meal prepared by Mike and Alice Morrison, Donna Jones and Anna Marie Agee was enjoyed by all. The evening concluded with beautiful music provided by DeBachn G. Thank you to everyone for their hard work in making this event so special! WORKERS Traditional Service December 13-One Worship Sharman Coley, Neely Turner, Phyllis Richmond and Abbey Beasley December 20 Christal Fisher and Leah Beasley MorningSong December 20 Annette Maxwell and Meredith Owen Workers Traditional Service December 13-One Worship Sherrie Wright, Amanda Phillips, Beth Lockhart December 20 Charlotte Quinley and Susan Sampson MorningSong December 20 Faye Beckett and Laura Richardson

3 12/09/2015 Page 3 SERVING OTHERS The 20 s and 30 s Sunday school class worshipped and served Sunday, November 29 th at Memphis Union Mission. It was a heart-warming and very humbling experience. We are very proud of this group of young people. Our class meets Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m., on the third floor of the Education Building, Room 304. Pictured left to right: Houston Moss, Ginny Moss, Chase Peeler, Debbie Winberry, Joe Winberry, Jennifer Winberry and Jake Winberry METHODIST-PRESBYTERIAN NURSERY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM You are invited to the MPNS Christmas program Tuesday, December 15 th at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. NOTE OF THANKS: Earl and Faye Beckett extend their gratitude for help with Lulu, the many thoughts, prayers, visits, cards, meals, well wishes, etc., extended to us and for us during our recent hospital stays and procedures. We are so very blessed to have such a loving church and spiritual family. We will never be able to understand how folks are able to exist without this. FUMC rocks! CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS Christian Life Center commemorative Christmas ornaments are on sale through the month of December for $5.00 each. You may pick them up in the church office during the week. Thank you to The Men s Bible Class for providing a defibrillator for the Christian Life Center in memory of Norman Crittenden and Bill Scruggs. If needed, the defibrillator is located in the CLC office.

4 Page 4 12/09/2015 DEER HUNTERS MAY DONATE TO BREAD OF LIFE THROUGH HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY For those of you who are deer hunters, please consider donating deer meat to the Bread of Life feeding ministry through the local chapter of Hunters for the Hungry. You can donate one deer each season by using a Hunters for the Hungry Deer Coin. The Deer Coins are honored in Tipton county at Mason Processing. You will be asked to make a $50 online donation to Hunters for the Hungry at the website. In return for that donation, you can print out a Deer Coin which you can then take with your kill to the processor and that meat will be donated to Bread of Life feeding ministries to help our needy neighbors. To access a Deer Coin, go to: Our pantry has good access to canned and dry food items such as fruits, vegetables, rice, pasta, cereal and other basic food needs through the Mid-South Food Bank, but we are rarely ever able to get meat from the Food Bank. We rely upon donations from Kroger and Wal-Mart for meat, fresh produce and baked goods each week. Your donation of deer meat would be a big help to add a good source of protein to add to the food bags we distribute. So if you enjoy hunting, please consider donating a deer that you harvest to help put food on the table for someone in need. YOUTH EVENTS Sunday, December 13 th ; Youth Progressive Dinner. Youth will begin with appetizers in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. Remember a gift under $10 for the gift exchange. Sunday, December 20 th ; Youth movie night. Youth will meet from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Christian Life Center to watch the movie Elf. Tuesday, December 29 th ; Youth will have a Destination Unknown day trip. Please contact Sara Galyon at or sara.r.palm@gmail.com as soon as possible, if your child plans to attend. WORSHIP BROADCASTS 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

5 12/09/2015 Page 5 CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM The children of FUMC held their annual Christmas program, Sunday, December 6 th. After many weeks of hard work and practice, they delivered a wonderful performance of The Christmas Present. Through scripture, poems, songs and a live nativity, they remind us that Jesus is God s true Christmas gift. Thank you to Angela Clark, Charlotte Quinley, Kim Stewart and Hope Turner for your tireless efforts in helping the children prepare. If you were not able to attend, the program is available on the church website (Click on the View Archive icon about halfway down the page. The Children s Christmas Play will be an option on the next screen.) Sunday School classes are held from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Children-Education Bldg. Lower Level Youth-Education Bldg. Third Floor Adult-Multiple Classrooms CHILDREN S EVENT December 9 th ; Children sing at Covington Care nursing home at 5:00 p.m. Please meet in the front lobby. Pre-school age children will be making gingerbread houses in the Fellowship Hall during that time.

6 Page 6 DECEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 31 December 9 Dylian Jackson December 10 Maurice Smith December 12 Faye Hughes Caroline Payne Leigh Smith December 13 Peter Bierman Ellen Clark Kaye Smith December 14 Sharon O Connor December 15 Davis Cox December 16 Sheri Gilbreath Spencer Steward Walter Whitley December 17 Katelynn Aday Dot Butler December 18 Mary Louise Ezell December 19 Jansen Hunter December 20 Nathan Burdette Cole Turner December 22 Larry Davis Ashley Frizzell Hallie Hendren December 23 Ethan Carpenter Betty Glass Keith Winberry II December 24 Jerry Beckley Mary Eve Dawson Erin Hall Rhonda Patton Paul Pemberton Stephanie Pugh December 26 Wayne Hughey Martha McDaniel Hannah Patton Britton Rogers December 29 Hudson Lucas Gage Ward December 30 Kinley Escue Tommy Pullen December 31 James Bryant Jason Bryant Carole Hughey Mia Maxwell Lisa Rogers OFFERING ENVELOPES Offering envelopes are available in each Sunday school classroom, in the foyer in the Christian Life Center and on the ushers table in the Sanctuary CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions to the church must be turned in by December 31 st. Due to an IRS ruling, in order for your contribution to be counted in 2015, they must be given in This means that all contributions must be in the church office by December 31, 2015 or postmarked by that date. Thank you. UNITED METHODIST WOMEN CIRCLES Ruth Circle Meeting - 2 nd Monday of each month at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Mary Martha Circle Meeting - 2 nd Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the New Beginnings Classroom. F UMC Office Hour s: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

7 12/09/2015 Page 7 Bread of Life Feeding Ministry Update November 2015 Thanks to everyone who served and donated to the Bread of Life food pantry in November! We were blessed with food contributions from seven different food drives this month from Munford FFA, Austin Peay Elementary, Covington Integrated Arts Academy, Tipton Rosemark Academy, Brad Carlisle State Farm, Southern Lawncare, U.S. 51 Country Radio, two local Scout troops, and Alpha Book Club. We are also blessed with a regular supply of deer meat made possible through Hunters for the Hungry. The need was great this month and it was a tremendous help to have all the additional food donations to supply the additional families. November 2015 Year-to-Date Households served: 319 (Covington) 597 (Covington) 183 (Munford) 455 (Munford) 502 (Total) 1,052 (Total) Individuals served: 948 (Covington) 1,863 (Covington) 579 (Munford) 1,529 (Munford) 1,527 (Total) 3,392 (Total) Volunteers serving: 175 persons served at least once Pounds of food: 11,643 (MSFB) 118,209 (MSFB) 305 (Kroger) 3,870 (Kroger) 4,315 (Wal-Mart) 41,520 (Wal-Mart) 3,450 (donated/purchased) 16,480 (donated/purchased) 19,713 (Total) 9.8 tons 180,079 (Total) 90.0 tons Cost of food: $ $11, Cost per pound: 3.5 cents 6.3 cents Average cost per household: $1.40 for a distribution of food in November Attendance in food pantry worship: 380 persons

8 Page 8 12/09/2015 ATTENDANCE AND GIVING November 29, 2015 MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $3, $6, December 6, 2015 MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $4, $9, STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT Thank you to those who responded to our 2016 Stewardship Campaign. As of December 7 th, 110 commitments to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness have been received and $464, has been pledged. If you have been unable to respond, yellow stewardship cards are available on the tables. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate or drop it by the church office during the week. The Men s Prayer Breakfast will be held in the Christian Life Center Thursday, December 10th 7:00 a.m. SHARE THE WARMTH COAT CLOSET Our Share the Warmth Coat Closet has been open two Saturdays thus far this season on 1 st and 3 rd Saturdays and a total of 202 coats have already been distributed thus far. Thanks to the generous donation of funds from several individuals and the shopping assistance of Tom and Lisa Rogers at a wholesaler in Oakland, we were able to add 67 children s coats and very large adult coats to our assortment. Thanks to everyone who has donated coats! Between your donations and recent purchases, our current inventory stands at 3l0 coats! We also appreciate the donation of quite a few hand knitted/ crocheted caps and scarves plus gloves and fleece scarves. The current need is coats for very small children - ages 2-6. If you have coats your children or grandchildren have outgrown or no longer need, please consider donating them to the coat closet. God bless you for your support of this ministry of warmth for our neighbors in need!

9 12/09/2015 Page 9 SAMARITAN FUND 2015 TOTALS November 21 through December 4, 2015 # of Awards Amount Type of Assistance 0 $ 0 Bus Ticket 0 $ 0 Food 5 $ Lodging 0 $ 0 Miscellaneous 1 $ Rent 18 $ Utilities 2 $ Vehicle Gas 26 $1, Totals # of Awards January 1, 2015 to Date Amount Type of Assistance 5 $ Bus Ticket 1 $ Food 176 $10, Lodging 15 $ Miscellaneous 40 $ 1, Rent 324 $16, Utilities 29 $ Vehicle Gas 590 $30, Totals Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: As of December 4, 2015 Samaritan Balance: $ ROUND-UP UTILITY ASSISTANCE REPORT November 21 through December 4, 2015: CES: 13 interviews Approved 5 households totaling $ Declined 8 households totaling $ CGWS: 7 interviews Approved 5 households totaling $1, Declined 2 households totaling $ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

10 Page 10 12/09/2015 MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES In Honor of Earl and Faye Beckett Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready In Memory of Paul Blankenship In Memory of Duke Brasfield In Honor of Lyndal and Bernie Breviant Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready In Memory of Mickey Carpenter In Honor of Evelyn Chapman In Honor of Wade and Susan Cox In Memory of Norman Crittenden Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready Good Samaritan Fund by Sue Jones Good Samaritan Fund by Ted and Carolyn Turner In Honor of Paul and Mary Jane Crotty In Honor of Bill and Jean Face In Honor of Bill and Patty Franklin In Memory of Willis Gilliland In Honor of Bob and Shirley Hensley In Memory of William Bill McClarin In Honor of Mike and Alice Morrison In Memory of James Owen Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready In Honor of Velma Peeler In Honor of Keith and Grace Phelps In Memory of Kenneth Weir Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready

11 12/09/ /09/2015 Page 11 Billy Anderson Donna Beard Earl Beckett L.C. Bierman Inette Bennett Mark Billingsley Tom Bready John Erik Bryant David Buchanan Don Chastain Clara Conley Gloria Cook Bobby Coulston Phronia Dailey Darryl Dickerson Billy Dycus Jack Allen Edwards Claudine Elder Carol Fenton Mike Fleming Thad Glenn Cindy Graves Rusty Hamilton Orbin Holland Linda Holt Becky Horstkoetter Carole Hughey Ricky Hunt Mykle Johnson Jean Jones Mary L. Kimery Greg Knox K. D. Laxton Lori Butler Lindley Wayne Locke Dave Marshall Peggy Massey Wallace Mathis Edith McBride Catherine McCalla Pete McDow Tibithia Miguel Lauren Moody Charlie Moss James Neely Bobby Pace Paul Reed Joyce Richardson Larry Roy Carolynn Scruggs Dave Seagrave George Robert Shoaf Neil Simonton Buddy Smith Chad Smith Jimmy Turner Laurene Turner Tripp Turner Ashley Whaley Bart White Jo Wigington Dr. Barney Witherington III Martha Yarbrough CONGREGATIONAL CARE TEAM The Congregational Care Team focus their care ministry on the homebound and senior members of the church. If you know someone that you would like them to visit or if you would like to join the team please contact, Faye Beckett at or COUNSELING Counseling is available for individuals or couples. Fees are based on ability to pay. Faye Beckett, D.C.C. Doctorate in Christian Counseling, Master of Science in Psychology. For appointments call the FUMC office , ext. 19. Cindy Pease, M.H.S.P., Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified. For appointments call the FUMC office , ext.18.

12 Page 12 Morning Song SERVICE OF PRAISE 8:30 A.M. AT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. UPPER ROOM PRAYER SCHEDULE December 13 - Choir Cantata; One Service at 11:00 a.m. Traditional Service Arnold Bull December 20 MorningSong Service Ray and Janice Newbill Traditional Service Cathy Adams December 27 MorningSong Service Volunteers Needed Traditional Service Volunteers Needed A BIWEEKLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 145 W. CHURCHC COVINGTON,, TN (901) HURCH AVENUE DECEMBER 9, 2015 MISSION STATEMENT OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Leading Others to Christ, Learning to Be Disciples, Loving through Service. WEBSI TE: OVI NGTONFUMC.C O M EMAI L: C OVI OVI NGTONFU MC.C O M