Randy Strickland, Pastor 770-561-2468 Cell 2922 Antioch Church Rd Gainesville GA 30506 770-536-7351 Antioch United Methodist Church Randy s Ramblings 2 Corinthians 9:15 says Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (KJV). There is absolutely no way anyone can describe in words or in art the great gift of God s grace given to us so long ago in Bethlehem of Judea. Still, we all try. Every Sunday I try to put into words that which is unspeakable. There are so many Christmas adjectives written each year on cards and in letters to loved ones trying to describe God s gift of love and grace given to us in the person of Jesus. They all are inadequate. This futile attempt at trying to say what Jesus birth, life, death, and resurrection means to me is precisely what makes Advent and Christmas the most exciting time of the year. When simple words fail us, we tend to go to extremes to express our joy. So we decorate with greenery, tinsel, and lights. For a month or two we enjoy the greatest music ever written and then put it away until the same time next year. We prepare and enjoy the most sumptuous feasts totally ignoring calories and cholesterol as if we can somehow communicate God s great gift of love and grace in symbols which entice our eyes, please our ears and satisfy our appetites. One of the great joys of Christmas is gathering with friends and family worshipping God together, sharing gifts, and trying to say to them how much we care for and love them. This too becomes hard to communicate but oh what great joy it is to try. All of you and many others who have crossed my path over the years have been indescribable gifts to me from God above. It is as if in some small way God has come to me in person through you. I can feel the love of Jesus in your compassion. I can feel His touch in our handshakes and hugs on Sunday mornings. I know He cares because I see how much you care. It is impossible to describe God s love given to us in Jesus Christ but we will continue to try. In sermons and lessons and in the hymns and anthems we sing we will try to tell the story of God s unspeakable gift. It is equally impos- Volume 12 Number 12 December 2010 sible for me to say to each of you how much joy you bring into the lives of Evelyn and me. I will continue to try. In every visit and in every time of fellowship we share I will delight in knowing that we are friends and more. We are brothers and sisters in the family of God. For now, I thank God for his gift of Jesus who is my Savior and of you who help me to keep moving in the right paths. May God give to all of you a very merry Christmas and may God bless us with grace and love in the New Year. Randy
Prayer List Page 2 Joan Briggs Elizabeth Cassady Renee Clark Caylin Davenport W.L. Harrison Bobby and Kansie Haynes Lee Hudson Patricia King Dr. John Lewallen Sandra Olar Lera Strickland Nancy Swinson John Villyard Sally Warrington From Barbara Wilson: The remaining items in the downstairs room are available through the month of December. If you desire any item, please place a donation in the offering plate noting it's for an item. Thank You! Administrative Council November 9, 2010 The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. with an opening prayer by Randy Strickland. Among the celebrations that were shared was the success of the Trunks R Treat held on October 30 th. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Finance Report was given by Vivian Smith and approved by the Council. Items of old business included an update on the raffle for a flat screen t.v. to be given away on Sunday, November 28 after worship. All ticket stubs, money, and any tickets not sold are asked to be turned in by Sunday, November 21. The Go Out and Multiply campaign will be concluded on November 21 with a celebration during the morning worship service. Signups for pictures for the new church directory are going well. The Council was updated on the Christmas Shop plans for November 20 th. Items of new business included an offer by Carolyn Ferris to transfer monies given in memory of Jim and Mike Ferris to the General Fund. This amounts to $610.01. A motion was made to accept this offer and the Council approved the transfer of funds. A letter of appreciation will be sent to Carolyn Ferris. The Council voted to decline a proposal by the insurance company to cover loss due to terroristic acts. A Finance Committee meeting was scheduled for Monday, December 13 at 7 p.m. The Hidden Hollow Homeowners Association will be using Truslow Hall on December 6 th. Randy Strickland and family asked to use Truslow Hall on Christmas Day, December 25. Donna Corbin spoke about Worship Committee plans through Christmas. An Angel Tree will be placed in the narthex with the names of GAP clients. We are asked to take a name and share a Christmas gift with one of those persons. Both Handbell Choirs will be playing during the Advent season. Minutes recorded by Joan Briggs Typed by Randy Strickland Trustees Meeting December 1, 2010 In attendance: Glen Davidson, Randy Strickland, Rick Freeland, Barbara Wilson, Robby Hulsey Meeting was brought to order by Robby, followed by a prayer by Randy. The minutes from the last meeting (10/7/10) were read by Barbara & unanimously accepted as read by all those attending. OLD BUSINESS: Brent & Butch are still working on the handrails for the front of the church. The air conditioner unit in need of repair is under consideration. Lawson Heating & Air, who maintains our units, will determine the repairs & the cost. NEW BUSINESS: The nomination & installation of the new officers will be held at our next meeting, which is 7 January 2011. It was suggested for a video or manual inventory of all the church s furnishings be made. Meeting was adjourned! Next meeting scheduled for 7 January 2011!
Page 3 December Duties Greeter Barbara Stevens Altar Guild Peggy Strickland & Barbara Wilson Ushers Charles and Martha Coffee, Butch and Cheryl Davis Readers December 5 Bo Wheeler Isaiah 11:1-10 December 12 Rita Edge Isaiah 35:1-10 December 19 Peggy StricklandPsalm 80:1-7, 17-19 December 24 Rita Edge Isaiah 9:2-7; 40:9 Karen Moore Luke 2:15-20 Barbara Wilson Luke 2:1-4 Charles Coffee Luke 2:8-14 Steve Boyette Luke 2:5-7 Rick Freeland Psalm 96 December 26 Barbara Wilson Isaiah 63:7-9 Lighting of Advent Wreath December 5 Lenny Hoover and Steve Boyette Families December 12 Charles Coffee Family December 19 Robbie Hulsey and June Mathis Families December 24 Randy Strickland Family Our GIFT to YOU Randy and Evelyn invite each of you to Dinner on Sunday evening, December 5, 6:00 p.m., in Truslow Hall. This is their Christmas Gift to Antioch and their way of expressing their LOVE to you for what you mean to them. Join together with Randy and Evelyn for this time of food, fun, and fellowship. Behold a Star! If you have not gotten your Advent Devotion Booklet be sure to ask for one this Sunday when you attend Worship. Use the devotions daily during this Advent season and be sure to say a "special" prayer for the writer of the devotion and for our church each day. A special THANK YOU to each one who contributed a devotion. Take an angel from the Christmas tree in the narthex. On the angel will be a name of a recent GAP Client. Purchase a gift for the client and return the gift, with the angel attached, and place under the Christmon Tree in the sanctuary on December 19. The gifts will be delivered in the afternoon. If you can help deliver gifts, meet at the church at 2:00 p.m. For some clients this is the only Christmas gift they will receive. The Angel Tree November 28-December 19
Page 4 December 24 6 pm You are invited to worship at Antioch on Christmas Eve. Share this meaningful worship experience with others by inviting your family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Let us truly lead others to the star so we can all worship the Light of the World Jesus Christ.
Page 5 Hymn of the Month: O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light, the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth! How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! Poinsettias for Christmas Eve If you want to donate a poinsettia for use in the church on Christmas Eve, please fill out the form below and drop it in the offering plate today. The cost is $10 each. The deadline is December 12. Your Name Number of poinsettias In Memory Of Phillips Brooks 1835-1893 Phillips Brooks was born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 13, 1835, and died in Boston on January 23, 1893. He was educated at the Boston Latin School and Harvard University. Brooks studied for the ministry at the Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal), in Alexandria. Ordained in 1859, he began his ministry in Philadelphia at the Church of the Advent and, three years later, became rector of Holy Trinity Church of that city. In 1869 he became rector of Trinity Church of Boston, where he had a most fruitful ministry for twenty-two years. He was recognized as one of America's outstanding preachers, and many volumes of his sermons have been published. Brooks wrote the hymn "O Little Town of Bethlehem," in 1868 for the children of the Sunday School of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, after his visit to Bethlehem in 1865. It was first printed in leaflets and was widely used locally. Lewis H. Redner composed the hymn tune "St. Louis" in 1868, at the request of Brooks.
Antioch United Methodist Church 2922 Antioch Church Road Gainesville, GA 30506 December 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Lois Reaume Beverly Hudson Emily Hulsey 12 13 14 15 Johnny Edge Barbara Stevens 16 17 18 19 20 21 Betty Smith 22 23 24 25 Susan McMahan 26 27 Lera Strickland 28 29 Martha Freeland 30 31