MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM YOUR PASTOR

Transcription

1 Jones Memorial United Methodist Church December 22, 2016 MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM YOUR PASTOR 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. -Luke 2: The birth of Jesus gave the angels in the heavens something to sing about. We, too, break into singing when are hearts are filled with wonder and joy. The wonder of Christmas is that God would come to us as a baby. God wanted to be approachable. Who is more approachable than a baby. God also wanted us to know what God is truly like. John 1:16-18 captures God s purposes in sending Jesus to be among us: 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father s heart. He has revealed God to us. God has not left us on our own. God has not left us in the dark. Life is truly going somewhere. Life does have purpose and meaning. The God of all creation desires relationship and deep connection with each and every one of us. This is the source of Joy unspeakable. Christmas declares that God loves humanity so much that God came among us. Merry Christmas, Church! We have had a beautiful Advent season together filled with so much beautiful music and worship. We have Hung the Greens, heard the bells, had the Children lead us, and enjoyed an incredible evening with food and song provided by our Music Ministry. Last Sunday we blessed an abundance of gifts for 27 children in our community. We recently blessed 158 winter coats for children at Spring Creek Elementary and East Ridge Elementary Schools. We also have held a reverse Advent this year giving food goods to the East Ridge Food Bank. Thank you for your generosity. Thanks to all who work so hard to make things beautiful for the rest of us beautiful decorations, beautiful flowers, beautiful music, delicious food, and much more. And please pray for, encourage, and remember those among us who have had losses in this past year. Christmas may be difficult for some. Let s love them well. Love came down at Christmas. May you know that love deep in your lives and hearts. This love, the very love of God, is the hope of the world and is why the church exists. Merry Christmas, Pastor Eric

2 Church Staff: Pastor: Pastor Eric Rieger PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE THIS SUNDAY EVENING AT 5:00 p.m. Music Minister: Duane Broom Director of Youth Ministries: Daniel Wright Director of Children s Ministries: Ashley Wade jmumcchildren@epbfi.com Administration and Communications Specialist Paul Stone jmumc@epbfi.com Organist: Nancy Petty Cook: Randy Carpenter CDC Director: Jill Young jmumccdc@epbfi.com In This Issue: Youth and Children s Activities THE CHURCH OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND THE DAY FOLLOWING. THE CHURCH STAFF WISH YOU A VERY MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS! HELP US DISCOVER GOD S FUTURE FOR OUR CHURCH Our church is continuing in its visioning process. Over the next few months we will be involving the entire congregation in this process. We will be collecting data in three areas: 1. Who We Are? (Congregational Identity) 2. What are our needs and strengths? (Congregational Internal Context) 3. Who Are Our Neighbors (Congregational External Context We will be giving a congregational survey, involving Sunday School Classes and small groups, holding focus groups, interviewing community leaders and more. We ask you to soak this whole process in prayer with us for discerning God s next faithful step for our congregation. Seeking God through prayer is the most important step in this whole process please pray with us. JMUMC Messenger - Page 2

3 Join Us This Sunday December 24, 2017 Serenity at Christmas 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service Please Take Our Survey and Tell Us What You Think... As we embark on this journey of discovering God s Future for Jones Memorial we are excited to see what amazing things we will discover about who we are as a congregation and where God is leading us in the future. One of the three important parts of this amazing process is identifying what our needs and strengths are as a church. To get the answers to these important questions we will need your help in the following ways 1. Pray over this process and ask God to lead Jones in His way and not our own. 2. Be open to how God will use you during this process. 3. Take this short 6 question survey, to offer your helpful thoughts. Thank you for helping us during this exciting time as we seek God s voice and plan for Jones. Thanks so much The Internal Congregational Context Team A CHRISTMAS GIFT We are asking everyone, all friends and members and anyone who loves Jones Memorial United Methodist Church and has benefitted from the ministry of God in and through the church to please give a special Christmas Gift during this season if you are able. If you can catch up on your pledge or give in addition to your pledge it will be a huge blessing to many. Our budget is $16, in the red. We would like to end the year in the black. This will put us in a great place to begin significant ministry in Please help us reach this goal! JMUMC Messenger - Page 3

4 2018 Flower Calendar The new Flower Calendar for 2018 is posted on the bulletin board outside the Administrative Assistant s office. Prayer Group Please join us on Wednesday evenings in the sanctuary from 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. to pray specifically for Jones Memorial. We also have a daily scripture that is sent out via text message. If you are interested in receiving the daily scripture, please text your first and last name to Colleen Lieberum at (423) Help Us Grow at Jones 3 ways to give electronically 1. Church Website: and click the Donate button. 2. Scan this QR Code with your smart phone. 3. App for smart phone: Joyfully2umc JMUMC Messenger - Page 4

5 The Seekers Sunday School will begin a new short term (4 weeks) study on January 7, The study is entitled The Faith of a Mockingbird by Matt Rowles and is based on a beloved novel and connects Christ and culture as we explore our place in the world. We begin at 9:15 am. Come join us! The Women s Bible Study will begin a new study on Tuesday, January 9, In the Seekers classroom at 10:00 am. The study book, 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path by Liz Curtis Higgs is available for $11.00 from Barb Hartman. The Book Club News The Book Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm, in the church parlor. On January 2, we will be discussing two books, Hercule Poirot s Christmas, by Agatha Christie and The Christmas Train, by David Baldacci. Come join us, if you like to read. All selections are made by suggestions from club members. 24 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am - Worship 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service 25 Merry Christmas! am Women s Bible Study 6 pm - Boy Scout Troop 74 Meeting 27 6:00 pm Church Council 7: 00 pm Choir Rehearsal pm Celebrate Recovery 30 JMUMC Messenger - Page 5

6 Music Ministries For more information about Music Ministries at JMUMC, contact us at: (423) Website: Duane Broom Music Minister Choir Choir rehearsal, Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. Contact Duane Broom for more information at (423) or Handbells Adult handbell practice, Sundays at 4 p.m. Youth handbell practice is each Sunday, at 3 p.m. Any youth, 7th grade and up is welcome to be in the Handbell Choir. Please let Nancy Kemper know if you are interested. Want To Serve? We need some help on Sunday mornings with the multi-media aspects of our worship services. There are three positions available: 1. Operating the Sound Board 2. Running the Computer for the Screen Video and 3. Running the Camera To Record Our Services All are easy to learn and training will be provided. We will set up a rotating schedule and you can help as often or as little as you prefer. If you feel called to serve Christ and His Church in this way, please contact Pastor Rieger and/or Duane Broom. Training will be provided. JMUMC Messenger - Page 6

7 Children s Ministries For more information about Children s Ministries at JMUMC, contact us at: (423) jmumcchildren@epbfi.com Website: Text Reminders: Sign Up By Texting Be Sure To Like Jones Kids On to Ashley Wade Director of Children s Ministries Sunday Mornings Pre-K and Under Class Lil Jones Kids Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, December 24 The Shepherds visit Jesus- Luke 2:8-20 Jones Kids & The City K - 4th grade 5th - 6th grade Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, December 24 The Greatest Gift - Luke 2:1-21 Kidz Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, December 24 Spiritual gifts are to be used to serve others. 1 Corinthians Podcast For Parents!! -page-sunday-morning Fusion Small Group For Parents With Children At Home Join Us Sunday Mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the Library! Children s Ministries Continued Next Page... Mark your calendars for our first Parents Meeting of 2018 Wednesday, January 10, 6 pm 6:45 pm. All Parents are encouraged to attend JMUMC Messenger - Page 7

8 Children s Ministries Continued... Wednesday Evenings Join Us Wednesday Evenings! December Calendar Activities resume on January 10., December 24 4th Advent Service 10:30 am Christmas Eve Service 5:00 pm No AWANA Monday, December 25 Merry Christmas Wednesday, December 27 No Programs Sunday, December 31 Blessing of the Gifts during Children s Time Wednesday, January 3 No Programs Awana Holiday Season Schedule for Awana! The Holiday Schedule is busy for us all! We have tons of great programs and events going on here at Jones. Due to these events and programs, we will not have Awana the following nights: December 24 - No Awana Merry Christmas December 31 - No Awana Happy New Year If you are not registered for Awana... Get Registered Now!! Ages 2 years to 6th grade Click Here For More Information: Join us for our Reverse Advent Calendar Activity to help the hungry families in East Ridge! Please remember to drop off the filled bags in the basket by the gym for the East Ridge Food Pantry and the envelopes in the offering plate on or before Christmas Eve. Please pray for this event, the workers, leaders, and families blessed by the East Ridge Food Pantry and our community! Thank you so much for going above your normal gifts and offerings to make a difference this Advent in our community. JMUMC Messenger - Page 8

9 Youth Ministries For more information about Youth Ministries at JMUMC, contact us at: (423) Website: Text Reminders: Sign Up By to December Youth Calendar Sunday, December 24 No S.N.A.C. tonight Wednesday, December 27 No activities at church Be Sure To Like JMUMC Youth On Facebook Daniel Wright Director of Youth & Young Adults Sunday Mornings Jones Youth Sunday School Middle School & High School Sunday, December 24 9:15 a.m. Wednesday Evenings Sunday Evenings No Activities This Week Sunday Nights After Church - S.N.A.C. Middle School & High School Wednesday, December 27 6:30 p.m. Middle School & High School Sunday, December 24 No S.N.A.C. tonight Youth Ministries Continued Next Page... JMUMC Messenger - Page 9

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11 Young Adults & Recreation Ministries For more information about Young Adults & Recreation Ministries at JMUMC, contact us at: (423) Website: Daniel Wright Director of Youth & Young Adults Sunday Mornings Wednesday Evenings Young Adult Sunday School Young Adults - The Brink Be sure to join us this Sunday! December 24, :15 a.m. Be Sure To Join us Wednesday, January 10 6:30 p.m. JMUMC Messenger - Page 11

12 Contact Us Jones Memorial United Methodist Church Receive Announcements? 4131 Ringgold Road East Ridge, TN (423) Want to receive JMUMC announcements or news by or Facebook? Visit us on the web at: Be Sure To Like Us On Facebook If you would like to be added to our JMUMC News service, please contact the church at (423) or to Our Facebook Page is Jones Memorial United Methodist Church and you can request to join it by going there in Facebook. Jones Memorial United Methodist Church 4131 Ringgold Road East Ridge, TN PLACE STAMP HERE