First Things. Church-Wide Luncheon. Sunday, January 28. Honoring 2017 s New Members. Featuring Bulgaria Mission Team Baked Potato Bar

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1 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 101 E. First North Street Morristown, TN First Things VOLUME 7, 01 JAN UAR Y Church-Wide Luncheon Phone: (423) Fax (423) fumc@fumcmorristown.org Honoring 2017 s New Members Sunday, January 28 ISSUE following 10:30am services Featuring Bulgaria Mission Team Baked Potato Bar fumcmorristown Worship Times 8:15am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 9:15am Sunday School for All Ages Dave, Lori, Kara, Lucas & James Hotel Kelly, Olivia, Carl and Max Frost Chris and Lauren Jacobs Dale Wilson, Rita (Wilson) Maples, Austin Wilson, Zach Coffey 10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 10:30am The Connection (Gym) Kinley, Amanda, Payton and Eric Osborne Mike and Debbie Socotch Bus Ministry Bob and Helen Fitts Hugh Hamill and Regina Lee [not pictured: Steve & Virginia Street] Davina, Parker and Kris Gulliver Regency Pick-up times 9:00am & 10:15am Return to Regency 11:45am Priscilla Miller Jackie Murray Lisa Weikel Gene Etter Darcy Yarosh Lou Maloy Kelly Reid Terri McIntyre Oliver Adams Ryan Emery Finley Surber Walker Williams Ann & Bob Mitchell Newsletter Online The newsletter is posted online at Bob Trinklein (Bob not pictured)

2 P A G E 2 Dear Friends, I was recently in a meeting with several members of our church staff. One of the items that came up was annoying habits I tend to exhibit. (I was the one who brought up this topic.). My wife has pointed out words I say all the time. I have worked hard to ration them when I am preaching. I hesitate to mention the words because I am afraid that once you are listening for them, that is all you will be able to hear. This is not the first time I have slid into bad habits. In previous churches, I ve spoken too much about 1) a dog I used to own named Penny, 2)the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail, 3) things that annoy me, 4) Dr. Pepper, 5) Emory & Henry College, 6) my children The list of topics I ve overdone is long. I tell you this because now is a time for resolutions. I would hope that if there are things I could change or improve, you would share those with me in love. I would like to emphasize in love. I am more inclined to change when I feel people are pulling for me. I would also tell you that I resolve to do better on learning names. Having said that, I will share that I am still struggling. Thank you so much for your patience and a special word of thanks to those of you who continue to remind me of your names. Another growth area for me is maintaining my devotional practices. I tend to do well for a while, and then slip when I get busy. With the frenetic schedule of this church, I have lots of opportunities to slip. I would also ask for you to consider a resolution. Would you commit to worship this year? In the next few months there will be many cold and dreary days. There will be many Sundays it will be much easier to pull the covers back over your head than it will be to make it to church. I just want you to know that we need you. Those of us leading worship get energy from a full sanctuary. Other people are encouraged when they see you. Those of you with children are helping form holy habits. They will value worship more if they feel it is a priority for you. There are a lot of people working very hard to make your worship experience redemptive. We consider it a privilege to have you here. You have lots of other options on Sunday mornings. Most important, worship is our time to acknowledge the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have all been very blessed. Worship is the least we can to do show God we realize the source of our blessings. Hope to see you Sunday, Walter Joyful Hearts Birthday Celebration Celebrate Your Birthday with Joyful Hearts! Thursday, January 18, :00am Gym Un-Decorate the Church December 31, 2:00pm Help take down the Advent/Christmas decorations in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 31, at 2:00pm. Sign up in the narthex December 24 at morning worship or show up on December 31! Honoring 2017 New Members and Bulgaria Mission Team Baked Potato/Salad Bar Fundraiser Dr. John Weldon (Willie Shakespeare) will entertain with a magic show. Dr. Weldon is a Shakespearean actor and retired Carson Newman professor. Make your reservations and pay $8 for your meal in the church office by January 15. January s Mission: UMCOR Sunday, January 28 following 10:30am services F I R S T T H I N G S

3 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 0 1 P A G E 3 Music Good Friday/Easter Choir Handel s Messiah Slowing Down Rehearsals start Wednesday, January 10, at 7:15pm for our Good Friday and Easter music. This year we will sing selections, from parts 2 and 3, of Handel s Messiah for both services. Those selections are generally less heard than the Christmas section. We will be accompanied by orchestra. This is always one of the most moving services of the year and is made even more meaningful by singing in the choir. Join us! Slow down. Take a deep breath. What s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? -Jeremiah 2:25 Snow Policy for Sunday Morning Worship Call the church office and follow phone prompts Sign up for text alerts (text "fumctext" to 74574) Listen to WCRK (1150am) on your radio Check the FUMC website Check Facebook In the event of inclement weather, cancellations will be made by 7:00am on that day. For the latest updates, call the church office and follow the phone prompts. Text alerts will also be sent. To sign up for FUMC text alerts, please text "fumctext" to You may also tune in to WCRK (1150am) on your radio or Channel 6 (WATE) for notices. So, I m one of those weird people that loves winter. I have always had an affinity for winter though I didn t have a way to explain why as a younger person. I took a pastoral/ personal care class in seminary that related somewhat to the seasons talking about the seasons of life. That class helped me give language to what had been inside me: winter is a natural time for all of creation to rest. While we often think about winter as everything dying, winter is actually just a season for nature to rest and prepare for the glory of blooming in the spring time. And as the created world slows down around us we push forward to keep a steady pace of life and activity. December is an especially busy time. And in some ways we do slow down in January, but we keep working and playing sports and doing all of our activities. We really go against the grain of creation. I want to invite you to listen to the rhythm that God has placed in creation. Slow down a little bit. Give yourself time to rest in the quiet moments that God gives to you. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Enjoy the glory of God even in these cold winter months. Peace, Asa

4 P A G E 4 North Pole Breakfast Kids Choir Mini Handbell Intensive (for grades 3-5) Anyone may participate whether you have handbell experience or not! This is a fun way to learn to read music. Rehearsals: Wednesdays, January 10-31, 5-5:45pm. Performance: Sunday, February 4 Kids Choir Spring Kickoff on February 7 Families of children watch next month s newsletter for more information. F I R S T T H I N G S

5 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 0 1 P A G E 5 Only $40 Sign up at: fumcmorristown.org click sign up forms then Resurrection 2018: Jan 19-21, 2018 Revelation Youth Choir Summer Music & Missions Tour New Orleans June 3-9 Home Concert Sunday, June 10 A $50 deposit and registration forms are due at the meeting on Sunday, January 7. You may use funds from your fundraising account for the non-refundable deposit. Our hope is that most of our choir will join us for the tour as we sing in churches, retirement centers and more. Not sure if you can join us for the tour? If you think you might want to participate in the tour, we encourage you to join us for the January 7 mandatory Choir Tour Meeting at 4pm. This meeting is for both students and parents. Youth Handbells Handbell Boot Camp! Sundays January :50pm- 6:50pm Join us on Sundays, January 7-28, from 5:50-6:50pm, for NEW handbell ringers. These Sundays will be for those who have rung handbells for one semester or less. It will be a month of rigorous training in handbell techniques and note reading necessary for successful ringing. Sundays, February 4 and following: ALL Handbell Ringers will begin proper handbell choir rehearsal with a full contingent for a three or four octave handbell choir

6 P A G E 6 Online Giving You now have the opportunity to give your tithes, offerings and other contributions online. You may elect to make a onetime contribution, or set up your giving to be repeated. Also, you may designate your giving to a specific ministry of the church. Please visit our website and select the Give" tab. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Brewster in the church office. Thank you for being faithful to God s Kingdom work. Welcome New Members! United Methodist Women Unit Planning Meeting All unit officers, circle officers and circle members are invited to a planning brunch on Saturday, January 6, 9:30am at Margaret Thornton s home. Please let Margaret know if you will be attending. Ruth Circle will meet on Monday, January 8, at 11:30am in the Community Room. Contact Bev Moon for more information. Deborah Circle will meet Tuesday, January 9, at 6:00pm in the Cornerstone building. Contact Barbara Crawford for more information. Mary Martha Circle will not meet in January. They will resume their quarterly meetings in February. Contact Alice Starnes for more information. Elizabeth Circle will not meet in January. They will resume meeting on Thursday, February 1, at 10:30am at Regency. Contact circle leader Alice Starnes for more information. Eric & Amanda Osborne joined the FUMC Church Family on December 17 at The Connection service. They have 2 children, Payton & Kinley Massey, who will be added to the Preparatory Roll. Fence Ministry Needs You! The Fence Ministry needs your help in two ways: volunteering and giving. Donations of hats, gloves, scarves and socks for all ages are needed. Socks need to be thermal if possible. Money is always appreciated. A collection box for donations is located on the main floor by the elevator. Volunteers are needed to assemble bags periodically throughout the winter and to check the fence and replenish the bags. If you have questions or want to volunteer, please contact Leigh Travis ( ) or Nancy Renner ( ). UMW 2018 Officers Pictured left to right: Gaye Scalf, Paula Waldron, Betty Purkey, Julie Compton, Alice Starnes, Christine Bean, Jessie Goddard, Barbara Crawford, Margaret Thornton. Not pictured: Cindy Stelzman, Bev Moon, Phyllis Hime (parish nurse), Shirley Brooks, Bettie Crowell, Garry Brooks (auditor) Sign Up for 2018 Altar Flowers A sign-up chart for the 2018 Altar Flowers is in the narthex on Sunday mornings and in the hallway near the elevator during the week. The two arrangements on Sunday mornings are $35 (for the two) and provided by the Blossom Shop. They may be placed in memory, in honor or just because and a line will be printed in the bulletin each Sunday. Reserve your Sunday now. F I R S T T H I N G S

7 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 0 1 P A G E 7 Looking Ahead The Church office will be closed December 25 & 26 (for Christmas), January 1 (for New Years) and January 15 (for the Martin Luther King, Jr. s Birthday.) Church Financial Books will close Friday, December 29. Monies received after that date will be credited to Deadline for the February 2018 newsletter is January 18. Please bring your completely written articles, including pictures, to the church office or them to fumc@fumcmorristown.org. The FUMC Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, January 9, at 5:30pm in Room 207. Game Night is Friday, January 12, at 6:00pm in the Community Room. Church Council will meet Tuesday, January 16, at 5:30pm in the Cornerstone building. Worship at FUMC Traditional Worship 8:15am & 10:30am (Sanctuary) and The Connection 10:30am (Gym) January 7 Well Pleased Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel One More Powerful The Connection: Asa Majors Congratulations to Mary Trombley who turned 105 on December 4. Condolences to To Mrs. Sammy Carver in the death of her son, Michael C. Carver, on November 25. A Memorial Service was held on December 16 at Stetzer Funeral Home. To Rita Maples in the recent death of her father. January 14 Can Anything Good Come from Here? Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel Can Anything Good Come from Here? The Connection: Asa Majors January 21 Dropping Their Nets Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel Dropping It All The Connection: Asa Majors January 28 The Pain of Healing Traditional Worship: Asa Majors What Do You Want With Us? The Connection: Walter Weikel Our Discipleship Together November 11/05 11/12 11/19 11/26 Worship Sunday School Budget Offering $15,939 $12,741 $19,066 $24,063 Have you remembered the church in your will? Faith Promise $1,286 $400 $82 $690

8 First United Methodist Church 101 East First North Street Morristown, TN Reaching, Growing, and Serving RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED connect with the church! Sign up to receive enews Sign up for Congregational s Sign up for Text Alerts Make sure the church office has all of your current information ( , phone numbers, address) and let us know if you would like to be on these lists if you are not already!