FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN

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1 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN December 18, 2018 A Bi-Monthly Publication Dear Covington First Methodist Family, We are officially Marching to the Manger now. The pace has increased and preparations are in full swing. Even in the midst of all the joy, there are those for whom this time of year is hard. Recently, I read of a woman named Stella who was facing Christmas alone. Her husband had died of cancer a few months before. The Christmas date had creeped up on her. Outside, a snow was beginning to fall. She was soon to be snowed in. She made the decision not to decorate her home. She just wasn t in the mood this year. Late that afternoon, the doorbell rang. It was the UPS deliveryman with a box. She signed for it but asked him, So-what s in it? Sensing her disinterested demeanor, he opened the box for her and retrieved a squirming golden Labrador retriever puppy. Who sent this? Stella asked. The young man searched out an envelope in the box, opened it, and said, It s all in here. Seems the dog was purchased last July before he was born as a Christmas gift for you. He handed her a booklet entitled, How to Care for our Labrador Retriever. Again, she asked: Who sent this puppy? As he turned to go back to his truck he answered the question, Your husband, ma am. Merry Christmas! She took the letter in her hands and began to read. Her husband had made the arrangements with the breeder to have the puppy delivered at Christmas. In his own hand, he encouraged her to be strong and that he would be waiting for the day when they would be together again. I m sending you this puppy to keep you company until then. She picked up the little golden ball of fur and cradled him to her chest. With tears in her eyes, she looked out the frosted window at the bright lights outlining her neighbor s home. She felt a sense of peace and wonder greater than her grief and loneliness. Little fella, she said to her new companion Looks like it s just you and me this Christmas. But guess what? There s a box in the basement with Christmas decorations and some lights that are going to really impress you. There s even a manger scene down there. What do you say? Let s go down there and get them! (Robert Russell, Jesus Came to Be Light ) (Continued on next page) 1 Pastoral Staff Rev. Dan Camp Senior Pastor dcamp@covingtonfumc.com Care Staff Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care ftrumbo@att.net Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care kerwin1962@att.net Outreach Staff Liz Newman Director of Outreach ewnewman2@gmail.com Program Staff Andrew Davis Youth Ministries ajdavis915@gmail.com Carole Mathis Associate Pastor cmathis725@gmail.com Sarah Smith Children s Ministry Coordinator sarah.french.smith@gmail.com Dr. Bonnie Wright Director of Music bwright@tipton-county.com Office Support Staff Sandy Burgess Office Manager sburgess@covingtonfumc.com Musician Justin Hanson, Organist Facilities Rebecca Paris Custodian Kenny Summers Maintenance F U MC Office Hours: 9: 00 a. m. - 5 :00 p. m. M ond a y-fri da y Leading Others to Christ, Learning to Be Disciples, Loving through Service.

2 God has a way of sending us messages even when we are without hope. To remind us that life is stronger than death, that light will overcome darkness and that in a Bethlehem manger, hope is born anew. This year, we will continue our tradition of giving to remind others of Christian hope. Our March to the Manger offerings will be received in the following worship services: Sunday, December 23 the 11 AM Combined Service (Come at 9:30 AM for sausage & biscuits, cinnamon rolls, coffee, orange juice, hot chocolate and fellowship) Monday, Christmas Eve, December 24 the 5 PM Relaxed Christmas Service (for families with young children and those who don t want to be out late) Monday, December 24 9PM Candlelight Communion Service Funds collected this year will be used for two purposes one internal and one external. The internal purpose is the on-going effort to modernize the administrative offices of the church. These funds will be used for new flooring, lighting, ceiling replacement and repair, paint and other improvements. This work is necessary if not overly exciting. The external purpose is much more exciting. For this project, we are stepping out in faith. On Friday, December 21 st, from 3-5 PM, volunteers from the Covington Chargers football team will dress in their jerseys and be on hand to distribute boxes to at least 150 lower-income residents of our town. These boxes will include everything necessary to prepare a delicious Christmas dinner for about six to eight persons. Contents include: a frozen baking hen, dressing mix, large can of corn and green beans, rolls and a pumpkin pie. Hand-written notes/messages will be included to let the recipients know this gift is given in the name of Jesus. Won t you give generously that we may be messengers of the hope that is born anew this Christmas in a Bethlehem manger? May the Joy of Christmas be yours, Pastor Dan 2

3 The youth group had a wonderful holiday progressive dinner and gift exchange! It was a great evening of fun and fellowship. 3

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9 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN A big THANK YOU to those who have responded to our 2019 Stewardship Campaign. As of December 5th, 94 commitments to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness have been received and $423, has been pledged! If you have been unable to respond, stewardship cards are available on the tables in the CLC, on the ushers table in the Sanctuary or in the church office. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate or drop it by the church during the week. In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself Confirmation class will begin on Sunday, January 13 during Sunday School, at 9:45 a.m! Confirmation literally means "To make strong" and the purpose of this class is for participants to grow in knowledge about the fundamentals of Christianity and Methodism. Confirmation is a three month class that involves 2 retreats and concludes with Confirmation Sunday on April 28. Confirmation typically is meant for 6th graders, but is open to anyone who is exploring their faith and wants to start with the basics. If you would like to join our confirmation class, please let Andrew Davis know no later then Sunday, December 31st. You can contact Andrew at AJDavis915@gmail.com or CHURCH DIRECTORY pictures are coming up in January! Kyle Witherington will be available after Morning Song service and before and after 11:00 service for the next few weeks. Lifetouch would like everyone signed up BEFORE Christmas. So that you may plan ahead, the photo session dates are: Wednesday, January 16 Thursday, January 17 Friday, January 18 Saturday, January 19 Tuesday, January 22 Wednesday, January 23 You may also text Kyle at or her at kylewith@comcast.net for signup. 9

10 Prayer Requests Billy Anderson Donna Beard Katie Billings Phronia Dailey Cassie Evans Andrea Ferrell John Gulley Rebecca Harrison John Henderson Kelly Mayfield Jack McDivitt Dot Peyton Frank Racy David Richards Dawn Rogers Carolynn Scruggs Susan St. John Hazel Townsend Bart White Dr. Barney Witherington III Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Mary Louise Ezell Jansen Hunter Nathan Burdette Allison Phelps Cole Turner Hallie Hendren Betty Glass Keith Winberry Jerry Beckley Erin Hall Stephanie Pugh Dec 26 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Wayne Hughey Martha McDaniel Britton Rogers Kenneth Phillips Hudson Lucas Gage Ward Kinley Escue Tiny Rose Gary Chandler Carole Hughey 10

11 Tributes & Memorials In Memory of Mary Frances Bennett Good Samaritan Fund by Lynne Fisher Good Samaritan Fund by Donna Jones In Memory of Joey Bready In Memory of Tom Bready In Memory of Louise Daniels Good Samaritan Fund by Donna Jones In Memory of Bill Jim Davis Good Samaritan Fund by Donna Jones In Memory of Marian David Good Samaritan Fund by Donna Jones In Memory of Jere Hadley Christian Life Center Fund by Donna Jones In Memory of Elliott McGowan In Honor of Bill Ray Good Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin Good Samaritan Fund by The GO Class, FUMC In Honor of Bill and Mar Ray In Honor of Bettye Shelley In Memory of Juliana White Walker In Honor of Keith and Peggy Watson In Honor of Peggy Watson Good Samaritan Fund by The GO Class, FUMC In Memory of Joe Campodonico Good Samaritan Fund by Lynne Fisher Food Pantry Fund by Donna Jones In Honor or Rob Witherington Good Samaritan Fund by Lynne Fisher In Memory of Sammy Naifeh Good Samaritan Fund by Donna Jones ATTENDANCE & GIVING MARCH TO THE MANGER The March to the Manger offering on Sunday, December 2nd raised $ for much needed Church Office renovations and $ for holiday food for families in need. The March to the Manger on December 9th raised $50 for office renovations and $150 for food for families in need. December 2, 2018 MorningSong Worship - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering - December 9, 2018 MorningSong Worship - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $4, $7, $1, $8,

12 WORSHIP BROADCASTS Live radio broadcast of the Traditional Worship on WKBL AM 11 a.m. Live streaming of the traditional service is available at Traditional services are also archived at our website and can be viewed online anytime. WORSHIP TIMES MorningSong Service Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Christian Life Center Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Traditional Service Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary First United Methodist Church 145 W. Church Avenue Covington, TN Phone: Fax: covingtonfumc@covingtonfumc.com Website: Facebook: Twitter: twitter.com/fumccovington 12