THE FIRST WORD. A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church December 2016

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE FIRST WORD. A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church December 2016"

Jeffery Quinn
5 years ago
Views:

1 THE FIRST WORD A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church December An Exciting Year Ahead for the Walk to Emmaus and Ellijay FUMC Several members of our church attended the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus in 2016 and had their lives enhanced in amazing ways through this experience. The Walk to Emmaus is a 3-day, 72-hour experience of encountering Christ in ways you may never have before. Being bathed in love, oh how sweet! First, we assure you the Walk to Emmaus is not an actual physical exercise regimen. You don t walk anywhere except between the dormitory rooms, the meeting rooms, and the dining room. It is referred to as the Walk to Emmaus because during these three days we are invited to share spiritual renewal of Cleopas and his fellow disciple as they walked dejectedly home from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the first Easter Sunday afternoon. (See Luke 24:13-32) Jesus joined them on their walk, but they did not recognize him. Read the account in Luke to discover how their hopes were restored and they found joy in the Lord. Men and women attend the Walk on separate weekends, but married and committed couples are encouraged to covenant together so that both attend the Walk; the closer together the better for reasons you will experience. The North Georgia 2017 Spring Walks to Emmaus are scheduled as follows: (Thursday evening through Sunday evening) Men s #182: March Women s #214: March Men s #183: April Women s #215: April Other Walks will be scheduled for the fall of 2017, and other opportunities exist for other forms of the Walk to Emmaus. Chrysalis is the youth version of the Walk to Emmaus, and their weekends are referred to as Flights. A girls Flight will be held this month during the week between Christmas and New Year s. A boys flight will be held in January on Martin Luther King Weekend. There also is a new alternative called Face-to-Face (F-2-F), which is designed primarily for adults over 60 who may have difficulty dealing with a 3-day dormitory style setting. On F-2-F encounters participants attend two all-day weekday sessions for two weeks in a row. There is no overnight stay involved. Also F-2-F encounters are the only Walk to Emmaus experience in which men and women may attend together. Two F-2-F experiences were held in North Georgia during 2016, and we anticipate announcement of 2017 dates soon. Stay tuned for an informational meeting of the Ellijay First United Methodist Walk to Emmaus Community in early January. In the meantime be praying for God to lead you if this is an experience He is calling you to.

SUNDAY ELLIJAY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is now on 8:45 a.m. Early Worship 9:45 a.m. Fellowship Time (Coffee/donuts) 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Youth Ministry 6th - 12th grade Youth Ministry To access, key: https/www.

Celebrate His birth during the month of December with the many opportunities offered. Nativities in the Narthex will begin on Sunday, December, 11th.

If you would like to help with the set up, please call Short Brown, 706-881-3334. If you would like to bring nativities to display, bring them to the church office, by Dec.

Christmas Cantata Sunday, December 18 11 a.m. worship service YOUTH MINISTRY December 11 - Christmas Progressive Dinner begin at church at 4:30 p.m. Tacky Christmas attire contest and white elephant gift exchange Online Giving is now available!

2 SUNDAY ELLIJAY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is now on 8:45 a.m. Early Worship 9:45 a.m. Fellowship Time (Coffee/donuts) 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Youth Ministry 6th - 12th grade Youth Ministry To access, key: https/ in the search bar Then type, Ellijay First UMC All 6th - 12th Graders are welcome Join us in the Ben Barrett Room Sundays at 9:45 a.m. for Youth Sunday School Sunday evening: 5:00-7:00 pm Wednesday evening: 6:30-7:30 Christmas, the birth of the Christ child! Celebrate His birth during the month of December with the many opportunities offered. Nativities in the Narthex will begin on Sunday, December, 11th. This is the second year we have displayed beautiful and creative nativities of our church members and children. If you would like to help with the set up, please call Short Brown, If you would like to bring nativities to display, bring them to the church office, by Dec. 7th. We will set up on that day. Label each piece and place them in a box with your name on it. Merry Christmas and God Bless us all. Christmas Cantata Sunday, December a.m. worship service YOUTH MINISTRY December 11 - Christmas Progressive Dinner begin at church at 4:30 p.m. Tacky Christmas attire contest and white elephant gift exchange Online Giving is now available! Please visit our website ( Click on the DONATE button If you have difficulty hearing, please see an usher before church for a hearing impaired device. Does your group have information to share with the congregation? Contact the following: Website: Sharon Shores at Newsletter: Marsha Vautrot at shores.s@hotmail.com mvautrot@etcmail.com Bulletin: Ann Hanline at office@fumcellijay.org 2

3 DECEMBER 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Joy Circle 4:30--Zumba OFFICE CLOSED More than a Movie Parents Night Out 9:30--Yoga Communion 8:45 Worship 9:45 Sunday School 11 Worship 5 Youth 10 Team Tabitha 4:30 Zumba 8 UMM Breakfast Smokehouse Grill 10 Apple Country Quilters 11 Adult Bible 6:30 NOGS Bible 5:30 Dinner 6 Children/Youth choir 6:30 Children/Youth Activities 6:30 --Adult Class Wesley s Simple Rules for Money 6:30--Chancel Choir 4:30--Zumba OFFICE CLOSED 9--Yoga 8:45 Worship 9:45 Sunday School 11 Worship 5 Youth Team Tabitha 4:30 Zumba 10 Apple Country Quilters 11 Adult Bible 6:30 NOGS Bible 5:30 Dinner 6:30 Children/Youth Activities 6:30 Live Nativity 6:30--Chancel Choir 4:30--Zumba OFFICE CLOSED 9--Yoga :45 Worship 9:45 Christmas Potluck Breakfast 11 Worship 5 Youth 10 Team Tabitha 4:30 Zumba 10 Apple Country Quilters 11 Adult Bible 12 Noon Circle 6:30 NOGS Bible 6:30--Chancel Choir 4:30--Zumba OFFICE CLOSED 5:30 Christmas Eve Service Christmas Day 8:45 Worship 11 Worship Christmas Day (observed) 4:30 Zumba 6:30--Chancel Choir 4:30--Zumba OFFICE CLOSED 9--Yoga 3

4 CHILDREN S MINISTRY Blankets that share the Love and Warmth of Jesus! Join us for Sunday School! 9:45 Children First Preschool will present Jesus, Light of the World on Dec. 14th at 10:00.The preschool would like to invite you to this Christmas blessing! L I V E N Stop by and see what happened the night that Jesus was born!!! Performances at 6:30 and 7:00 Children and Youth will be the actors and actresses! A T I V T December 14th! Y 4

5 The Missions Committee is planning on a Mission week, beginning with Wed night supper on February 1. Hopefully, we will have a guest speaker at Sunday's service the 4th. During the week, what has been accomplished with the help of God and opportunities for missions will be presented so that you may find something that you would like to support. Groups and Circles: we are asking you to prepare info about missions you are involved in, examples: posters, samples etc. Stop Hunger Now packing event is scheduled for March 18th.We will begin fund raising and collecting for that. Put SHN in the memo line of your check; 0.29 buys a meal, 2.90 ten meals, meals, about the cost of one night out for a couple. Pass up a night and buy 100 meals for someone who cannot feed themselves. If you want more information on SHN talk to Dean Carlson or Lloyd Vautrot, We will be glad to come talk to your group or circle and/or answer any questions you may have. New Beginnings is moving right along and with any luck will have the new building completed by the end of the year. New Beginnings needs another couple of churches to work with the clients we will be getting. See Tom Rippey or Lloyd Vautrot for more information. Yours in service Lloyd Vautrot SUPPORT Children First Preschool Gift Card Fundraising SUPPORT Children First Preschool Would you help us as you do some shopping for Christmas? 20% of the proceeds benefit our preschool. They can be used at any HoneyBaked location nationwide, to shop online, or to order from the HoneyBaked catalog. HoneyBaked Gift Cards can be purchased in any denomination. They never expire and there are never any additional fees. In addition to Ham, HoneyBaked offers other delicious entrees like Turkey, BBQ and Pot Roast, side dishes, desserts, even lunch and party platters Children First would appreciate if you could help us achieve our goal by purchasing HoneyBaked Gift Cards. We are asking you to think ahead to the holidays and if you normally order a ham or turkey for Christmas, please help us by ordering a gift card and you will be giving the preschool 20% of the cost of the turkey or ham. Also, if you give any gift cards to family or friends during the holidays you can order those from us and help us out at the same time. Ordering is easy; you can go to: and order and pay online and the card will be mailed to your address. We are also placing orders from the school/church and you can pay for the amount you want on the card or cards and they will be delivered to the school and you will be notified when to pick them up. (See Marianne or Preschool Teacher or Church Office) How many Honey Baked Gift Cards would you like to order today? Children First thanks you very much for your time and your generosity! 5

6 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES--9:45 a.m. HELPING HANDS CLASS We are a couples and singles class (all ages.) We have begun our Advent study: Sent, Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christ by Jorge Acevedo and several others. We have wonderful teachers and interesting discussions. Our class supports four local charities with monthly contributions as well as a young boy in Kenya. Our class Christmas celebration this year will be a catered dinner in the church Fellowship Hall and includes the other adult Sunday School Classes. Our class president maintains a weekly Prayer List sent to each member's . We welcome anyone who would like to join our class at 9:45 Sunday mornings in the Fellowship Hall. Join us early for coffee and donuts. CORNERSTONE SS CLASS The Cornerstone Sunday School Class is doing an Advent by Max Lucado, Because of Bethlehem. In January, we will begin a 6 week study by Judah Smith. Our yearly Christmas Party will be Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Cornerstone Café in Ellijay. We are an active class for all ages. Our members are active in the Gilmer County Food Pantry, the Faith Hope & Charity Store and numerous other missions. BYKOTA The BYKOTA Class (Be Ye Kind One To Another) is a small, intimate class with lots of lively discussions on the various topics we choose through the year. The teaching responsibilities are shared among the class members, who bring different skills and talents to the table. We support the Wednesday night children's program, the Gilmer Food Pantry, New Beginnings Transitional Housing, Kids Ferst, and the Back Pack Program. We love to have visitors; come and join us. CROSSWALK SS CLASS is under the leadership of Al Summers. This class is open to all adults. The class meets in Marianne s Preschool Office. Please join us! Your health and wellness committee is here to help with medical questions and referrals. You may talk to any of our RNs: Tamra Acree, Nancy Smith, Katherine Meyer, Carol Maiyer, Jackie Boyd, and Chrissy Tyler. Jennifer Vines is our occupational therapist. We are happy to assist you. We do B/P monthly at church. We put an article in the monthly newsletter. We do CPR training for the youth and ushers. We handle meds and updating first aid kits at Grasp Most importantly is all the consults and referrals we do every week. We do a yearly seminar. Past seminars included advance planning, grief, and depression. We provide a nurse for Grow Camp. We keep the AED up in the back hallway. We send out cards. We do home visits. PRAYER SHAWL Workshop meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 11:30 (no meeting in December) in the Fellowship Hall Claddagh Night Circle meets the 2nd Monday at 6:30 pm Noon Circle meets the 3rd Tuesday at Joy Circle meets the 1st Thursday at 12 noon. 11 a.m. Please donate loose coins and bills in the containers located in the Narthex and outside the church office. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Please consider volunteering for: ~~Sunday School Teacher for 4 year olds to 1st grade (every other month) ~~Children s Church leader (once every 3 months) ~~Nursery Helper (once every 3 months) ~~Choir Leader for 4 year olds 1st grade (Wednesday s, 6 6:30 pm) Please see Marianne for more information. 6

CPR AND STROKES Even if you have never had a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course, your actions may double a person s chance of survival.

Of course, taking a CPR course is the best way to learn more of the steps. After you call 911, unlock your front door and turn on your porch light to help EMS find your house easier.

It is recommended that compressions (or pushing on the chest) be at a rate of at least 100 per minute. The song Staying Alive will ensure that you achieve this rate.

, if not, the person may be having a stroke (or Cardiovascular Accident-CVA). A is for Arms-ask the person to hold their arms out in front of them, palms up, eyes closed.

7 CPR AND STROKES Even if you have never had a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course, your actions may double a person s chance of survival. The American Heart Association includes 2 steps for Hands-Only CPR: Call 911, Push Hard and Fast on the center of the persons chest. Of course, taking a CPR course is the best way to learn more of the steps. After you call 911, unlock your front door and turn on your porch light to help EMS find your house easier. We should each have our 911 address posted prominently at our house. When you push hard and fast on the center of the person s chest, you should do it to the beat of the disco hit Staying Alive. It is recommended that compressions (or pushing on the chest) be at a rate of at least 100 per minute. The song Staying Alive will ensure that you achieve this rate. A quick test to determine if someone is having a stroke is the term FAST. F is for Face-ask the person to smile, are both sides of the face equal?, if not, the person may be having a stroke (or Cardiovascular Accident-CVA). A is for Arms-ask the person to hold their arms out in front of them, palms up, eyes closed. If there is a weakness on one side, the arm will drift downward. S is for Speech-ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech normal or are they having a hard time finding the right words. Their words may also be garbled. T is for Time-Time is very important in getting a stroke treated. Call 911 if the person has problems with Face, Arms or Speech. A stroke is sometimes called at Brain Attack to emphasize that time is essential in getting treatment for the patient. I also recommend posting your street address and nearest major cross streets on your phone. In an emergency, it is easy to forget routine information. Also, you may have a babysitter or other person unfamiliar with your neighborhood making the call for the emergency. If you call 911, do not hang up until told to do so. 911 has already dispatched an ambulance to your location but will get more information for the EMTs on their way. If you forget how to do CPR, the EMS dispatcher on the phone can give you guidance and walk you through the steps. I hope you never need to use this information but have it just in case. Nancy Smith, NP-C STEPHEN MINISTRY PHOTOS WITH SANTA December 7 Claddagh Circle will sponsor the Wednesday night supper and photos with Santa from 4:30 6:00 NO CHARGE for the Photos. Please complete bright yellow brochure located outside the office, in the Narthex, or inside the office or contact: Gwen Scarth, Stephen Leader Gwenth.allen@gmail.com. Please bring new or gently used winter clothing to be shared with Gilmer County Needy children and adults. United Methodist Men Prayer Ministry Sundays 8:00 a.m. BYKOTA Classroom All men are invited. Bring Your concerns. Let us gather at the Throne of Grace. 7

8 WE HAVE A MISSION Welcoming-Worshiping-Nurturing-Sending Why does the church exist? According to Matthew s Gospel, the risen Christ made it clear: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (28:19-20) Based on this Great Commission, our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciplemaking occurs. So the mission of our congregation is to make disciples. This is a fourfold task.... We could abbreviate our mission as one of welcomingworshiping-nurturing-sending. From The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, p. 91. For more information on Our Faith, please visit the UMC Web Site. Ellijay First United Methodist Church 75 McCutchen Street P.O. Box 472 Ellijay, GA Church: Fax: Pastor s Residence: office@fumcellijay.org, thom@fumcellijay.org, youth@fumcellijay.org, children@fumcellijay.org Website: Church Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Dr. Thom Shores, Pastor The Reverend Alan Tarr, Assistant Pastor Tamra Acree, Faith Community Nurse Charlie Bryant, Director of Music Paul Campbell, Organist Gabrielle Cornett, Pianist Marianne Evans, Director of Children s Ministries & Preschool Kerri Anne Sanford, Youth Minister Ann Hanline, Administrative Assistant Angel Hughes, Nursery Coordinator 8

THE FIRST WORD. ORGAN and PIANO CONCERT Sunday, October 23 3 p.m. Presented by Gabrielle Cornett & Paul Campbell

THE FIRST WORD. ORGAN and PIANO CONCERT Sunday, October 23 3 p.m. Presented by Gabrielle Cornett & Paul Campbell THE FIRST WORD A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church October 2016 ORGAN and PIANO CONCERT Sunday, October 23 3 p.m. Presented by Gabrielle Cornett & Paul Campbell PASTOR APPRECIATION AT