Youth Laser Tag Outing Sunday, December 9 Leave church at 2:30, return by 6:30 p.m. ADVENTDVENT SIXTHIXTH ANNUALNNUAL ADVENT

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1 Ministry Staff Tim Carpenter Senior Pastor Grace Phelps Outreach and Program Ministries Bill Face, Congregational Care Charlotte Quinley Children and Nursery Ministries Bonnie Wright Director of Music Office Support Staff Holley Mills Morris Admin. & Financial Secretary Peggy Miller Printing Secretary/Reception Musicians Justin Hanson, Organist Russell Phelps, Pianist SIXTHIXTH ANNUALNNUAL ADVENTDVENT PROCESSIONAL SERVICEERVICE December 2, :30 p.m. A BIWEEKLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NOVEMBER 28, 2012 ISSUE ADVENT PROCESSIONAL WITH CHAMBER SINGERS - One Service...Three Locations. The sixth annual Advent Processional is one of the year s most dramatic and solemn services. Words and music focus on Advent, preparing for Christ s coming. Join us on Dec. 2 at St. Matthew s Episcopal at 5:30 p.m. From there we will process to First Presbyterian and then to First UMC. The Chamber Singers of Christ Church in Memphis will again lead the music. Potluck chili fellowship meal will follow. If you have volunteered to bring chili, please deliver it to the FUMC kitchen between 4:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. FESTIVAL OF THE TREES - FUMC children will take a trip to the Ripley Square on Sunday, December 2, to the Festival of the Trees. Churches, schools, businesses, and civic organizations will decorate trees as a Carl Perkins Center fund raiser. The children are encourage to bring a dollar to vote for their favorite tree. Departure from the church is at 1:30 p.m. and they should be back about 4:30 p.m. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Facilities Rebecca Paris Custodian Kenny Summers Maintenance Youth Laser Tag Outing Sunday, December 9 Leave church at 2:30, return by 6:30 p.m. $14 for activity, and $ for McDonalds

2 Page 2 11/28/2012 j à{ WxxÑxáà fçåñtà{ç Charles Glass passed away on November 26. Please keep his family in your prayers... wife, Judy; their sons, Jason and Justin; their daughter, Kathleen; his mother, Ruth; and his sister, Martha Jo Smith. Judy s address is 274 Blackberry Lane, Covington Miss Ruth s address is 1446 Roane, Covington Kathleen and Bo Burke s address is 355 Cotton Bay Cove, Covington Each year the Go Class sponsors the Christmas toy drive for Reelfoot Rural Ministries. Toys will be delivered to Reelfoot on Saturday, Dec. 1st. That gives us a very short time to get response from the Church. If you can help by donating new toys for the children of the ministry, please have those toys to the church by Friday, Nov. 30th. For more information, please contact Frank and Barbra Racy at repcoaz@bellsouth.net or or any member of the Go Class. Thank you! The Go Getters and New Beginnings Class will celebrate Christmas together on Monday, Dec. 3, 6:00 p.m. at Old Town Hall (on the Square). There is no charge for the meal. Please bring a wrapped inexpensive gag gift. Be ready for an evening of delicious food, music and fun. Make your reservations by calling Marlyn Seagrave at Please join us in the Sanctuary on December 9th at 7:00 p.m. for the children s musical Glory to the King. The fourth and fifth graders will perform the lead roles. The children s choir has been practicing on Wednesday evenings and they are excited to perform their Christmas production for you! A Happy Birthday, Jesus party follows in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome for refreshments. ATTENDANCE AND GIVING November 18, 2012 MorningSong Sunday School Traditional Worship Bread of Life Worship - 80 MorningSong Offering - 2, Traditional Worship Offering- $ 4, November 25, 2012 MorningSong - 87 Sunday School - 90 Traditional Worship Bread of Life Worship MorningSong Offering - $ 1, Traditional Worship Offering - $ 4,861.00

3 11/28/2012 Page 3 Advent at First United Methodist Church Schedule of Worship and Events HANGING OF THE GREENS Sunday, December 2nd, 11:00 a.m. Hanging of the Greens will take place during the traditional worship service on the First Sunday of Advent. This tradition reminds the church of the life and light brought to the world by Christ, for whose coming we prepare. SIXTHIXTH ANNUALNNUAL ADVENTDVENT PROCESSIONAL SERVICEERVICE December 2, :30 p.m. Live Nativity December :00, 6:30, 7:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church ADVENT PROCESSIONAL WITH CHAMBER SINGERS Sunday, December 2nd, 5:30 p.m. The Sixth Annual Advent Processional is one of the year s most dramatic and solemn services. Words and music focus on Advent, preparing for Christ s coming. Join us at St. Matthew s Episcopal, from which we will process to First Presbyterian and then to First UMC. The Chamber Singers of Christ Church in Memphis will again lead the music. Potluck chili fellowship meal to follow. CHILDREN S MUSICAL Sunday, December 9th, 7:00 p.m. With all the decorations and bright lights, and the fun days with no school, Bradley is worrying about what he will get for presents at Christmas. His friends Abigail, Emily, and Alex help remind him of the real meaning of Christmas. Join us as our children lead us in this time of song and remembrance. Happy Birthday Jesus party will follow in Fellowship Hall. CHANCEL CHOIR CANTATAC Sunday, December 16th, 11:00 a.m. From the lighting of the first candle to the final celebratory chords, Canticle Of Joy praises the newborn King. Included are arrangements of: Away In a Manger; Awake! Sing Gloria!; The Wexford Carol; Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus; Gentle Mary Laid Her Child; O Come, All Ye Faithful and others. Join us for worship and experience the joy of the blessing of Christ s Incarnation. LIVE NATIVITY Friday, December 21st Sunday, December 6:00, 6:30, 7:00 p.m. (weather permitting) On the South lawn of the church, these live presentations take place at thirty minute intervals accompanied by special music. Through the years, the Live Nativity has become a special time for families and individuals to contemplate the Incarnation. SERVICE OF LESSONS,, CAROLSC AROLS,, CANDLESC ANDLES, AND COMMUNION Monday the 24th, 5:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. Hear again through scripture and song the wonderful gospel story of God's acts of salvation and grace in human history, culminating in the Incarnation in Jesus Christ. The service ends with a candlelight singing of Silent Night, and includes the Sacrament of Holy Communion. All Christians are welcome to partake of the Sacrament.

4 Page 4 11/28/2012 The annual UMW luncheon will be held on Tuesday December 11th in Fellowship Hall at 12:00 noon. It will be pot luck, so please bring a dish to go with ham. Grace and Keith Phelps will entertain us with Christmas music. So please come and bring a guest. Tipton County Commission on Aging is selling Cooking with Friends, a cookbook that would make a great gift for birthdays, Christmas or just a Happy gift. Books are $15.00 each or 2 for $ Contact Shirley Bready at (901) , if you would like to purchase these very nice cookbooks. CARL PERKINS STAR TREE - Would you help children associated with the Carl Perkins Center? Stars are on a Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall that identify children, their ages, and their wants/needs for Christmas. Take a star and purchase the item, then return the item, unwrapped, (with the star) to the Fellowship Hall by Sunday, December 2. Be sure to write your name on the sheet that corresponds to the child s named on your star. Take as many stars as you like. Thank you for your help in making this Christmas special for these children. FOUND - A man s suede coat was found in the front entrance vestibule near the choir loft. Please contact Peggy at to claim the coat. POINSETTIA ORDER FORM Poinsettias can be purchased to decorate the sanctuary December Deadline to order is Monday, December 10. Cost is $15.00 each In Honor: In Memory: Given By: Place this form in the offering plate, give to an usher or send to Church office. You are requested to take the poinsettia with you after the Dec. 30 service.

5 11/28/2012 Page 5 If 66% of informal caregivers nationwide are women then 34% have to be men. In our culture men are naturally expected to be the family provider, hunter/gatherer if you will. It is only in the past several years that men have had to transition to nurturer/caregiver. In most cases it is older men caring for older spouses or aging parents. Because of the nature of the beast, men have difficulty self-identifying as caregivers. Caregiving usually slips up and slaps us in the face. One day everything is fine and the next day Mom went to Wal-Mart and got lost on the way home. So how do men handle this new role and its responsibilities? Do they actively seek out help? Women do. Do they confide in close friends? Women do. It is likely few men do either of these. As has been their role in the family, men tend to try to fix the problem much as they have fixed other problems. Caregiving is an intangible and resists fixing. Some diseases can t be healed. Some take an interminable amount of energy and time just to cope. How does he accept the fact that his beautiful bride thinks he is a stranger in his own home? Or what about the younger man (late 40 s) who knew he was a caregiver when he had to change his mother s diaper? It takes courage for many men to admit that they need help, much less to ask for it. How many times has a man said, this is my responsibility, I will handle it or everything is fine... we are both fine? Mars and Venus! Women commonly discuss their grief and frustrations. They are more likely to attend and participate in caregiver support groups. True, most of these groups consist of women and are geared to women...but Covington has an exception! Covington is home to the only caregiver support group just for men in West Tennessee, maybe in all of the mid-south. The Tipton County Commission on Aging (TCCA) hosts this service at the Covington Senior Center the 2nd Monday of each month 5:30 p.m. with dinner from Well s Kitchen in Brighton. AND, FUMC s own Russell Lindsey is the facilitator of the group. Who knows what they might talk about? It could be football or the price of tea in China. Personal sharing is definitely not required. The men don t have to spill their guts, but they do have the opportunity to ask questions and learn where to go for assistance. Perhaps the most important thing they learn is that that they are not alone! For men not able to make the 2nd Monday meeting, there is an additional caregiver support group (co-ed), also sponsored by TCCA. This group meets at Restoration Church in Munford the 2nd Tuesday of each month, also at 5:30 p.m. This meeting also includes a meal. Neither of these groups charges a fee, but contributions are accepted. submitted by Margaret Fleming Tipton County Commission on Aging

6 Page 6 11/28/2012 FUMC Kid s News CHILDREN S CALENDAR Sunday Dec. 2 1:30 p.m. Festival of the Trees - Ripley Wednesday Dec. 5 6:00 p.m. Christmas play practice Friday Dec. 7 5:30 p.m. Pizza and Christmas play practice Saturday Dec. 8 10:00 p.m. Christmas play practice Sunday Dec. 9 7:00 p.m. Children s Musical - Glory to the King Sunday Dec. 9 7:45 p.m. Happy Birthday Jesus Party December 15 - December 31 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 23 Sheri Gilbreath Katelynn Aday Dot Butler Mary Louise Ezell Jansen Hunter Nathan Burdette Ethan Carpenter Betty Glass Keith Winberry Dec 24 Dec 26 Dec 30 Dec 31 Mary Eve Dawson Erin Hall Rhonda Patton Paul Pemberton Stephanie Pugh Wayne Hughey Martha McDaniel Hannah Patton Kinley Escue Tommy Pullen Carole Hughey Mia Maxwell Lisa Rogers OUNSELING.... 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 an appointment call the FUMC office , ext. 19. Cindy Pease, M.H.S.P., Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified. For an appointment call the FUMC office , ext.18.

7 11/28/2012 Page 7 MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES In Memory of Rev. Paul Blankenship Samaritan Fund by Len and Pat Bellingrath Family Life Building Fund by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. Bierman Family Life Building Fund by Nancy Simpson In Memory of Janet Gairhan Family Life Building Fund by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. Bierman Go Getters Fund by Dave and Marlyn Seagrave In Memory of Betty Hayden In Memory of Bess Hunter In Memory of Laverne Jones Family Life Building Fund by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. Bierman In Memory of Bobby Mayfield In Memory of Betty McAlister Family Life Building Fund by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. Bierman Family Life Building Fund by Judson and Dana Naifeh Family Life Building Fund by Jeff and Jenny Nix Family Life Building Fund by Judy Whitehorn In Memory of Walter McBride Samaritan Fund by Bettye Shelley In Memory of Margaret Peterson In Honor of Russell Phelps 85th Birthday Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin In Memory of Mary Lois Shelley Family Life Building Fund by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. Bierman Samaritan Fund by Bettye Shelley In Memory of Graydon Simpson Samaritan Fund by Bettye Shelley In Memory of Robert F. Yoakum, Sr. Family Life Building Fund by Nancy Simpson

8 Page 8 11/28/2012 Share the Warmth Coat Closet Report Those receiving coats YTD in 2012: Households: 104 families Adults: 125 Children: 93 Total Distributed: 218 Coats still on hand: 495 Total coats donated: 1,262 Round-Up Utility Assistance Report January - November 2012 Round-Up is a utility assistance program which began in November 2011 and is offered to needy Covington residents. Funds are administered by the Bread of Life Outreach program. City residents are offered the option to round up their electric and gas utility bills to the nearest whole number. That money goes into a pool of funds which are made available to city residents who have had something unexpected or emergency happen causing them to need assistance in paying their utility bill November Funds received from Round-Up proceeds: $37, $3, From Covington Electric: $19, $1, From Covington Gas, Water & Sewer: $17, $1, People Helping People: Funds dispersed from Round-Up proceeds: $26, $1, To Covington Electric: $17, $1, To Covington Gas, Water & Sewer: $ 7, $ People Helping People: * $ 1, $ Current balance of Round-up proceeds: $17, Covington Electric: $ 4, Covington Gas, Water & Sewer: $12, People Helping People: $ Households applying for Round-Up funds: Those approved: Those declined: 15 2 * These funds were used to purchase fans and space heaters.

9 11/28/2012 Page 9 Bread of Life Feeding Ministry Update November 2012 Thanks to everyone who served and donated to the Bread of Life Food Pantry during November! A big thank you to the students and faculty of Tipton Rosemark Academy and Covington Integrated Arts Academy, who together donated more than 2,300 pounds of canned food; also the Covington Tipton County Junior Auxiliary for their donation of over 1,000 pounds. We are also grateful to truck patch farmer Denard Clemons for 750 pounds of sweet potatoes, Rodney and Faye Hughes for 175 pounds of turnips, and Hunter and Ranchers for the Hungry for 100 pounds of deer meat! We also received financial contributions from two individuals from the community totaling $7,000 for the purchase of food. God s provision is remarkable! November 2012 Year-to-Date Households served: 251 (Covington) 645 (Covington) 173 (Brighton) 479 (Brighton) 424 (Total) 1,124 (Total) Individuals served: 781 (Covington) 1,979(Covington) 542 (Brighton) 1,506 (Brighton) 1,323 (Total) 3,475 (Total) Volunteers serving: 175 persons served at least once Pounds of food: 9,679 (Mid-South Food Bank) 126,355 (Mid-South Food Bank) 125 (Save-A-Lot) 5,711 (Save-A-Lot) 523 (Kroger) 6,436 (Kroger) 5,310 (donated / purchased) 11,673 (purchased / donated) 925 (sweet potatoes, turnips) 6,475 (fresh produce) 16,562 (Total) 8.3 tons 156,650 (YTD Total) 78.3 tons Cost of food: $2, $16, Cost per pound: 12.2 cents 10.6 cents Average cost per household: $4.78 for a distribution of food in November * *(There was no meat available at Mid-South Food Bank the week before Thanksgiving, so we purchased hens for food bags causing our costs to be higher than usual. Those costs were more than offset by the unexpected financial contributions from persons in the community.)

10 Page 10 11/28/2012 SAMARITAN REPORT - November 10, 2012 through November 23, 2012: 1 household received miscellaneous items totaling $ (paid to vendor). 1 household received rent assistance totaling $50.00 (paid to the vendor). 11 households received $ towards utilities (paid to the vendor). 2 households received $60.00 in vehicular gas (paid to the vendor). Year to Date totals - January 1, 2012 through November 23, 2012: 2 persons received bus tickets totaling $ (paid to the vendor). 22 households received food items totaling $ (paid to the vendor). 76 households received lodging totaling $4, (paid to the vendor).` 34 households received miscellaneous items totaling $2, (paid to the vendor). 36 households received rent assistance totaling $3, (paid to the vendor). 330 households received utility assistance totaling $19, (paid to the vendor). 59 households received vehicular gas totaling $1, (paid to the vendor). Total households assisted: 559 Total amount expended: $ 31, Current Samaritan Fund Balance is $ On October 27th I was working as coordinator at the Brighton Food Pantry, a job George Patton and I usually share. George was traveling with Rhonda that weekend so he was not at the pantry. I had missed the previous two Saturdays at Brighton, so he deserved a break. While I was making announcements, I kept seeing a patron motioning for me. I put my hand up to "shush" her while I continued talking. When I finished, she again waved at me and wanted me to come to her. She had a plastic grocery bag in her lap and I thought that she would certainly have it full of empty plastic bags to use in the bagging area. As I approached her I was thinking, "I really don't need this distraction". Then she handed me the bag. In it was two hand made "neck pillows". She said she had made one for me and one for "the other fellow", meaning George. She said to be sure and tell him that his "Mama Mattie" made this for him. I was quite humbled. I couldn't remember her name, but she thought enough of George and me to bring us a gift that she made herself. I keep my pillow near my chair at home to remind me of "Mama Mattie" and her kindness. Tim Wallace At the Brighton food pantry, a preschooler was so excited that Saturday was his birthday. His name was Hunter and he was turning four! George placed Hunter in the center of the room on a table and everyone (patrons and volunteers) sang a hearty Happy Birthday to this young fellow. Kroger contributes their expiring meats and bakery goods to the food pantries. This week, there were several decorated cakes and young Hunter was to select his decorated birthday cake from Kroger s gifts. The joy on this child s face was simply tremendous. The young boy had come to the Pantry with his grandmother. She d been offered a cake and chose one for her grandson. Unknown to her, the young boy was also offered a cake. When she saw the boy with a cake, the grandmother instructed him to take it back. That, though, wasn t about to happen. He was so proud of the cake he selected, he wouldn t even set it down to put on his jacket. After a lot of coaxing, a Pantry worker was able to help him put his arm in one sleeve of the jacket while he held the cake with the other, then switch to get the other arm in the jacket. The Food Pantry is in need of disposable diapers and coats for the Coat Closet. If you see diaper coupons and don t need them, please clip them for FUMC. Boxes for your donations are located in the handicap entrance and hallway to Fellowship Hall. Thank you!

11 11/28/2012 Page 11 Wednesday, November 28, :00 p.m. Children Christmas Play Practice - Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl - Go Class 6:00 p.m. Youth and Adult Studies - Education Bldg. 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice Thursday, November 29, :00 a.m. Men s Prayer Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study - New Beg. 1-3:00 p.m. Altar Guild - Sanctuary Saturday, December 1, :00 a.m. Food Pantry - Covington Sunday, December 2, :30 a.m. MorningSong Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service, Hanging of the Greens- Sanctuary 1:30 p.m. Children, Festival of the Trees - Ripley 5:30 p.m. Advent Processional - starts at St. Matthews Episcopal Monday, December 3, :00 p.m. Go Getters - Fellowship Hall Tuesday, December 4, :00 p.m. Scouts - Education Bldg. FUMC CALENDARC NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 11, 2012 Wednesday, December 5, :00 p.m. Children Christmas Play Practice - Sanctuary Thursday, December 6, :00 a.m. Men s Prayer Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study - New Beginnings 1-3:00 p.m. Altar Guild - Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Adult Scouts - Fellowship Hall Friday, December 7, :30 p.m. Children s Play Practice and Pizza Supper - Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary Saturday, December 8, :00 a.m. Food Pantry - Trust Co. Bank, Brighton 10:00 a.m. Children s Play Practice - Sanctuary Sunday, December 9, :30 a.m. MorningSong Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 2:30 p.m. Youth, Laser Tag - Memphis 7:00 p.m. Children s Christmas Play - Sanctuary 8:00 p.m. Happy Birthday Jesus Party - Fellowship Hall Tuesday, December 11, :00 p.m. UMW Christmas Luncheon - Fellowship Hall 6:00 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting - Friendship Classroom 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Education Bldg. 7:00 p.m. Administrative Board Meeting - New Beginnings Classroom FUMC Regular Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday 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 and Mondays at 6:00 p.m. Also, live streaming of the traditional service is available at as well as streaming of past services, at any time.

12 Page 12 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. Morning Song ON THE SQUARE SERVICE OF PRAISE 8:30 A.M. AT THE CHAMBER CENTER UPPER ROOM PRAYER SCHEDULE December 2 MorningSong Service Ellen Clark December 9 MorningSong Service Elizabeth Posey and Kathy Wallace December 16 MorningSong Service Ray and Janice Newbill Traditional Service Rhonda Patton and Nancy Peeler Traditional Service Joe and Debbie Winberry Traditional Service Arnold Bull and Tom Rogers Leading Others to Christ, Learning to Be Disciples, Loving through Service. MISSION STATEMENT OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A BIWEEKLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 145 CHURCHC ST. COVINGTON COVINGTONFUMC.COMCOM OVINGTON,, TN (901) NOVEMBER 28, 2012