A newsletter for a community of faith connecting people to God, to each other, and to the world. December 2013

Transcription

1 A newsletter for a community of faith connecting people to God, to each other, and to the world. December 2013 Begin with Thanksgiving REV. ZACH ROBERTS Happy New Year! Welcome to Advent, the first season of the Christian calendar, which begins on December 1st this year. Advent was once a time for personal reflection - a time to prepare our hearts for the coming Christ. In many ways it was like the season of Lent, the time of preparation we keep before Easter. Today, Christmas excitement overwhelms the personal reflection. Advent has become a delightfully social, lighthearted time of the year. How can we enjoy the best of today s Advent season while preparing our hearts for Christmas? 1) Keep Thanksgiving alive in our hearts. We tend to rush Thanksgiving along. Make a habit of thanking God this December, and re-read the thanksgiving praise songs of Mary and Zachariah. 2) Remember the stories behind the symbols of the Advent and Christmas seasons. Our Christmas lights, candy canes, and other holiday symbols whisper messages of hope and grace. While you decorate your home or take an evening drive, pause to remember the Light of our world. 3) Enjoy our many December church events. Sunday morning worship, Christmas Musicals, and the Longest Night service bring comfort and joy. 4) While you focus on the many reasons to be thankful, remember to fill out your pledge card while you give thanks this December! Treat yourself to the best gifts of the season. Let s join together in thanksgiving for the blessings of today and tomorrow. And let s start a brand new year. Prepare. Celebrate. Worship. Join us Sunday, December 1st to celebrate the start of the advent season! Art and Soul Exhibit in Prayer Room, 4-6 p.m. An Art Exhibit of the Advent/Christmas Matthew passages. Labyrinth in Cupp Hall, Christian Life Center, 4-6 p.m. The walk of the Labyrinth is an opportunity to enhance your preparation for the Christmas Season and deepen your prayer and spiritual life. Children s Advent Fair, Children s Wing of the CLC, 4-5 p.m. An Advent and Christmas Decorations workshop for children. Chili Supper Cook Off, CLC #103 and Atrium, 5-6 p.m. Come join the fellowship and bring your favorite chili creation. Hanging of the Greens in the Sanctuary, 6:00 p.m. The grand finale of the day is the ceremonial hanging of the ornaments and decorations in the Sanctuary. Pray with us O Father, giver of every good gift, as we prepare for this Advent season through music, scripture reading, worship, or gift giving, help us receive the gift you desire to the give the most, a closer relationship with yourself, through Jesus Christ our LORD. Upcoming Sermons Sunday, December 1 Prepare: Beating Swords into Plowshares This is Just the Beginning Isaiah 2:1-5 Sunday, December 8 A New Nature Isaiah 11:1-10 Prepare: The Prophet s Promise Sunday, December 15 Celebrate: My Soul Magnifies the Lord! Worship: Joseph s Dilemma Bart Patton Sunday, December 22 A Christmas: Coming Home Sunday, December 29 Our Hometown Boy Matthew 3:13-33 What Now...? Mike Lovelady

2 Don t miss! Upcoming Events Sunday, December 1 Advent Celebration 4-7 p.m. Monday, December 9 FUMC Hot Springs in the Hot Springs Christmas Parade 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 15 Gloria Christmas Concert FUMC Sanctuary 7 p.m. Sunday, December 22 Longest Night Remembrance Service FUMC Sanctuary 7 p.m. Please mark Sunday, December 15th, 7:00 p.m. on your calendars as the date and time for our annual Christmas presentation in the sanctuary of the church. This year we praise our Lord beginning with the title of the event Gloria! Our Chancel Choir, Seasonal Singers, members of the Celebration and Jubilation! handbells, and members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will be joined by our Sunday Night Life Children s Choir and others to bring to all in attendance the story of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! We believe that you and yours will truly be blessed by this presentation. The music is exciting, creative, and spiritually uplifting. You won t want to miss it, and neither will your friends! Come early, as a full sanctuary is anticipated! This event is narrated by Steve Burns and directed by Dr. Ron Hall, Minister of Music. Tuesday, December 24 Candlelight Services in the Sanctuary 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. The Candlelight Service in the CLC 8 p.m. Saturday, January 4 A Musical Night of Caring The Caring Place benefit concert featuring Roy Rivers & John Goodman Christian Life Center 7 p.m. Connect with us! Like FUMC Hot Springs on Facebook Follow on Instagram & Sunday, December 22nd 10:45 a.m. in the Christian Life Center Christmas is coming and we want you to come home and celebrate on the last Advent Sunday during The Sunday morning service. This will be a service full of the sounds of Christmas. You ll enjoy a musically focused time of singing some of the Christmas favorites, while hearing a few new ones, too. There will be surprises for adults and kids! Rev. will bring the devotional and your hearts will be filled with the joy of Christ s coming. You won t want to miss this special service, so make plans to come home on December 22nd! Phone: (501) Fax: (501) lenglish@fumchs.com Listen to our 10:45 AM traditional worship service every week on FM! Deadline for the Messenger: the 15th of each month The Longest Night Service, a special service of remembrance for those who have lost loved ones, will be Sunday, December 22nd, at 5:00 p.m., in the Sanctuary. It is called the Longest Night Service because it occurs around the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, and embodies the feelings of those who are coping with grief. The service consists of hymns, scripture, prayers, and the opportunity for individuals to light a candle in memory of their loved one. A reception will follow downstairs. We would love to have you join us for a meaningful time of remembrance in the midst of our holiday season and to support others who are experiencing a hard time this season.

3 Children s Ministry Sunday school teachers needed at 9:30 a.m. for a 2 year old class and 1st & 2nd grade. A 1st grade teacher is needed, ASAP! Other classes need teachers January-May The curriculum is fun, easy to use, and is available online! Subs are available if you need a weekend away. Please contact Michelle Wilkins if you are feeling called to this ministry! Angel Tree Mission Opportunity The Angel tree is up in the Christian Life Center atrium and ready for adoptions! If you choose an Angel, please be sure all gifts are WRAPPED (with the angel number attached) and returned to the CLC by Sunday, December 8th. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Wilkins, CDC Gives Back MICHELLE WILKINS Coats Needed for Open Arms Thank you to everyone who participated in the Kids ROCK coat drive. We had a great event and received tons of coats! They were delivered to Langston and the kids really appreciated them! We also had some adult coats donated. Those were distributed to our Open Arms Food Pantry participants in just a few short hours. More coats are needed for both adults and children, so please continue to bring those in as you clean and go through your winter clothes! Create Family Advent! Sunday, December 1st from 4 to 7 p.m. come learn more about the true meaning of Christmas! From 4 to 5 p.m., we will have craft stations set up for the kids in the Christian Life Center s children s wing. Parents will be able to enjoy spending some quality time making Advent-themed crafts with their child. From 5 to 6 p.m., stay for a good meal and get involved in some serious taste-testing with the Annual Chili Cook-Off! Afterwards, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. walk over to the sanctuary for a beautiful Hanging of the Greens service. Our children will be singing and participating in this meaningful service, so come support them! Make this an annual tradition for your family. It will be a tradition that you can share together for years to come! FUMC Hot Springs Preparing Float for Hot Springs Christmas Parade! Come see us in the Hot Springs Christmas Parade on Monday, December 9th at 6:30 p.m. The parade will take place in downtown Hot Springs on Central Avenue (from Whittington to Orange Street). This year s parade theme is a spin off of It s a Wonderful Life and is called Let God s Wonderful Light Shine in Hot Springs! A team is forming to build our glow in the dark float! If you are creative and want to help, please Michelle Wilkins at cminister@fumchs.com. LESLEE JONES The children at the FUMC Child Development Center will be celebrating Christmas this year by giving to others. We will be hold a food drive for Opens Arms food pantry. The preschool children will be decorating Christmas bags for seniors at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock and also making Christmas cards for participants at The Caring Place. We will also have our own angel tree up in front of the CDC office for a CDC family that is in need this holiday season. Please come by and help this family starting December 2nd. A note of thanks... Dear First United Methodist Open Arms Food Pantry volunteers, When I think of all my many blessings, I am so thankful to each and every one of you! Thanks you for your time, work, resources, food, and prayers! You are so helpful and SO appreciated! I thank God for you and thank you for allowing God to use you to really help and bless me and others. I hope that knowing you greatly bless others and are very appreciated for everything warms your heart this holiday season! Love, An Open Arms participant New Classes Coming January is a new start for many new small groups and classes. Look for the following to come in January with more information in the January Messenger and your December Bulletins: The Book of Romans (Mondays, January 13th April 7th, 9:00 10:30 a.m.), Centering Prayer (Tuesdays, 12:10 12:50 p.m., January 14th February 18th), Made to Crave (Mondays, January 6 February 17th, 12:15 1:30 p.m.), Living Sacramentally (tba), Financial Peace (Sundays, tba). More information is available online. To register contact Teresa Holt, (ext. 116) or tholt@fumchs.com. Special Gifts In Memory of Lehmann Henderson In Memory of Doris Johnston In Memory of Joe McClard From Dr. & Mrs. Ross Atkinson In Memory of William Bill Muse From Joseph & Gretta Kaufman From Mildred Smith From Michael & Judy Mattox From Richard & Ruth Howk From Frances Dalme From Ronald Muse From Osie & Gladys Watson From Tracy Keaton From Larry & Elizabeth Alderman From George & Karen Dooley From Rex & Linda Woodson From David & Rynne Belk In Memory of Phil Jones From Genesis Class From Richard & Harriet Fiedler From Ernest & Jane Kohlmorgen In Memory of Mary Cook From Intercessory Prayer Team In Memory of Frances Simmons From Joseph & Gretta Kaufman From Leslie Simmons From Deanne Brockett From Louise Mitchell In Memory of Helen Clardy From Wendell Workman In Memory Of Randy McGrew From Brenda & Clarence Durand In our prayers... Christian sympathy is expressed to the family of Mr. Phil Jones who passed away Tuesday, November 5th. We lift the Jones family in prayer at this time. Christian sympathy is also expressed to the family of Billie Cannon, who passed away Friday, November 15th. Join us in praying for the Cannon family.

4 Sunday, December 1 Early Service Choir Rehearsal Worship Chancel Choir Warm Up / Worship Art & Soul Exhibit Labyrinth Advent Fair Chili Cook off Youth Underground J (6-8) Worship Arts S (9-12) Hanging of the Greens Monday, December 2 Celebration Handbells December Calendar 7:45 AM 10:15 AM 10:45 AM Tuesday, December 3 The Cup of Our Life Outreach Meeting 1:30 PM Stephen Ministry Christmas Dinner Wednesday, December 4 Romeo Intercessory Prayer Group First Jubilation Handbells Chancel Choir Youth/S (9-12) Practice Thursday, December 5 Study Class Design Team Friday, December 6 4:45 PM 6:15 PM Sunday, December 8 Worship Church Tour Chancel Choir Warm Up 10:15 AM Traditional/ Worship 10:45 AM Class Kids R.O.C.K. Monday, December 9 Celebration Handbells Christmas Parade (Central Ave) Genesis Christmas Party 5:30 PM Tuesday, December 10 Rogers-Moore Christmas Brunch 10:30 AM O Brien-Thornton Christmas Lunch 11 AM Helen Wilson Christmas Potluck The Cup of Our Life Jayne-Murphy Christmas Party 11:30 AM Friendship Class Christmas Party 5:30 PM Stephen Ministry Training Wednesday, December 11 Romeo Knitwits Meeting Intercessory Prayer Group Wednesdays at First Jubilation Handbells Youth S Underground (9-12) Chancel Choir/Dress Rehearsal Practice Thursday, December 12 Saints & Sinners Christmas Party Friday, December 13 UMW Unit Meeting 1:30 PM 4:45 PM 1:00 PM Sunday, December 15 Worship Chapel Communion / Worship 10:45 AM No Youth Activities Christmas Concert w/ Orchestra 7:00 PM Monday, December 16 Tuesday, December 17 Methodist Men s Breakfast The Cup of Our Life New Legacy Christmas Party Stephen Ministry Training 7:00 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday, December 18 Ho Hum Low Impact (Exercise Class) Romeo Intercessory Prayer Group Youth Joint Christmas Party Practice Thursday, December 19 Design Team Friday, December 20 Sunday, December 22 Worship / Worship 10:45 AM No Youth Activities Longest Night Service Monday, December 23 Tuesday, December 24 Chancel Choir Warm Up Candlelight Service Candlelight Service Candlelight Service Wednesday, December 25 Merry Christmas! Thursday, December 26 Friday, December 27 3:30 PM 8:00 PM Sunday, December 29 Worship / Worship 10:45 AM No Youth Activities Monday, December 30 Tuesday, December 31 New Years Eve

5 Even though it s December, and it seems like it s just now getting cold enough to be winter, I want to make sure everyone is aware that we are already taking registrations for 3 of our biggest Underground Youth Ministry spring and summer events! ACCYM Veritas Conference in Rogers is an awesome youth worship conference for current 7-12 grades on February 28th through March 2nd this year. Get your spot reserved early for this awesome time! Conference cost is $100. We are also accepting registrations for Beach+Break 2014 at Laguna Beach Christian Retreat Center in Panama City Beach. I am happy to announce that FUMC Beebe and FUMC Magnolia will be joining us this year for a great time, March 23rd through March 28th. Parents and Grandparents, remember that our Beach+Break Camp is a great Christmas gift and stocking stuffer! Beach+Break 2014 is open to current 7-12 grades and is $335. And don t forget about June! We will be participating in Ozark Mission Project June this year, and are currently accepting registrations for waiting list (YES we have already filled 15 spots)! I am confident that we can accomodate our waiting list as long as you get registered by January. OMP is open to teens currently in 8th - 12th grades and is $250. As always, we are able to provide scholarships for these events, so let us know of your need early! So, this winter, curl up by the fire with a good book and dream of worshiping with over 2,000 teens at Veritas, or hanging out at the beach with your friends at Beach+Break, or sharing the love of God on a scorching hot June day at Ozark Mission Project! It s going to be an exciting 2014! Outreach Ministries SHAREFEST: A SUCCESS! Thank you to all who participated in Sharefest 2013 at Langston Elementary. Jerry Bush led the team in power washing, cleaning up debris, painting and weed eating. We had a great turnout and hard workers on a chilly Saturday morning. Terry Lawler, Langston principal, called and was so appreciative of all the work that was done. Thank you congregation for the time and effort you put into this project. You are truly a blessing to the church and the community. Grace and peace be with you all!! Other Announcements WEDNESDAYS AT FIRST: Wednesday, December 11th will be the last dinner for the year 2013! Our next dinner will resume on Wednesday, January 8th, We will see you then! New Legacy Christmas Party The New Legacy Christmas Party will be Tuesday, December 17th at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Cindy English (346 Quail Creek Road). We will celebrate the Christmas season and the Circle being almost 1 year old! Bring a toiletry item for the Open Arms Food Pantry. This will be a fun evening for the ladies of the Legacy Circle! Please RSVP to Tommie Kelly at tktommie@gmail.com. A Musical Night of Caring Ring Those Bells! BART PATTON CANDY POIRIER The Outreach Committee invites you to join them in ringing the bells for the Salvation Army at the Kroger store at 4407 Central Ave. (near Hobby Lobby). We have committed to ring bells on four days: Thursday, Dec. 5th, Saturday, Dec. 7th, Thursday, Dec 12th,and Saturday, Dec. 14th. The ringing begins at 10:00 AM and ends at 7:00 PM each day. The days are divided into nine time slots of one hour each and we need two or more volunteers for each hour. If you have not yet arranged for your time slot, call Claire Wisman, New Exercise Equipment! Thank you to Susan Grohnke who recently donated exercise equipment to the church that is practically brand new! It is a wonderful piece of equipment. Come to the CLC and help put this great addition to our exercise room to use! On Saturday evening, January 4th, performing artists Ken Goodman and Roy Rivers will combine their musical talents to offer A Musical Night of Caring to benefit The Caring Place in Hot Springs. Their combined singing talents will offer concert-goers a variety of musical favorites from Rivers John Denver tribute songs to Goodman s show tunes and Broadway hits. The concert will take place at 7:00 p.m., January 4th, in the First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center. The Center is located at 218 Pratt Street. Ray and Ruth Liebau will provide pre-show entertainment at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 prior to the event ($25 at the door) and may be purchased at The Caring Place located at 101 Quapaw or at FUMC in the Sanctuary breezeway and CLC Welcome Center on Sunday, December 1st and Sunday, December 8th. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit The Caring Place Scholarship Fund. Contact Holly Haggard for more information.

6 First United Methodist Church 1100 Central Avenue Hot Springs, AR Welcome New FUMC Members! Beau Britton The Baldwin Family Roger, Molly,Gary and Adele Monday nights mean VOLLEYBALL for our two FUMC teams: the adult team and Underground Youth team. All games are played on Monday nights at Oaklawn Church of God (2110 7th Street). If you are interested in playing, contact Mike Lovelady. We'd love for you to join the fun! Let's go FUMC! December Schedule: Monday, Dec. 2nd: Adults 7:30 p.m. Underground 9:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9th: Adults 7:30 p.m. Underground 8:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16th: Adults 9:00 p.m.