WEEKLY CONNECTION VOLUME 46 No. 42 NOVEMBER 30, 2016 ADVENT 2016 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 A SERVICE OF HEALING AND PRAYER 5:30 p.m. Chapel SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 All Worship Services God With Us: Fullness Isaiah 11:1-10 GOOD KING WENCESLAS: THE KING WHO KNEW THE JOY OF GIVING 5:00 p.m. Sanctuary Presented by the Jubilation Choir and Jubilee Singers The Carol Choir will also participate. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 8:45 & 11 a.m. Worship Sanctuary The Mystery of the Incarnation presented by the Chancel Choir & Orchestra The Incarnation is at the heart of our Christian faith when the divine nature of the Son was perfectly united with human nature in one divine Person. Traditional hymns, carols, and songs will celebrate this great mystery of the Word made flesh. 8:45 a.m. Worship Wesley Hall God With Us: Joy Isaiah 35:1-10 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 8:45 a.m. Sanctuary The Youth Choir Special Christmas Music 8:45 a.m. Wesley Hall & 11 a.m. Sanctuary God With Us: Emmanuel! Isaiah 7:10-16 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 & MONDAY, DECEMBER 19 Live Nativity 5 p.m. West Lawn Singing Christmas Tree 6 p.m. East Lawn Bring blankets and chairs for seating. (SINGERS NEEDED!! See more information in this newsletter.) CHRISTMAS EVE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24 Candlelight Services God With Us: Jesus Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20 4 & 6 p.m. Sanctuary 4 p.m. Wesley Hall CHRISTMAS DAY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25 10 a.m. Worship Sanctuary The Word Became Flesh John 1:1-14 NEW YEARS DAY SUNDAY, JANUARY 1 10:00 a.m. Worship Wesley Hall
A Word from the Sesquicentennial Committee The Sesquicentennial Committee is pleased to announce that our eighth focus in the celebration of our yearlong 150 th anniversary celebration is to spend December looking forward to the birth of Jesus Christ and giving thanks during the Advent season. First United Methodist Church Tupelo will have numerous events during the month of December for all ages to enjoy. The Chancel Choir will present their annual Christmas Program on Sunday, December 11 at both traditional services. You will not want to miss the beautiful music that will fill your heart with joy during this holiday season. We also have the Singing Christmas Tree on Sunday, December 18 and Monday, December 19 at 6 p.m. on the East Lawn. If there is rain or snow on either of these dates, then the make up date will be Tuesday, December 20 at 6 p.m. Additionally, we are pleased to share that we will have a Live Nativity at 5 p.m. in conjunction with the Singing Christmas Tree. We invite you to prioritize attending these events as well as the Christmas Eve services that will take place on Saturday, December 24. The traditional services will be at 4 and 6 p.m. The Invitation will be at 4 p.m. Fun Fact for Wednesday, November 30: Did you know that we will have a real camel at our live nativity this year? The Children s Ministry has worked to make sure that we have live animals that the children will be able to see in our live nativity. We invite you to go ahead and lock in your calendar to participate in these festivities that will take place on Sunday, December 18 and Monday, December 19. -Stewart McMillan
The First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir & Orchestra present Sunday, December 14 8:45 & 11 a.m. - Sanctuary The Incarnation is at the heart of our Christian faith when the divine nature of the Son was perfectly united with human nature in one divine Person. Traditional hymns, carols, and songs will celebrate this great mystery of the Word made flesh.
LIBRARY NEWS Fixer Upper fans- It s finally here. The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines, joins the Gaines behind the scenes to discover what their life together really looks like. And though home improvement might be their day job, you ll learn how their love of home and family inspires everything that they do. DELTA MISSION TRIP On December 10, a team from FUMC will be joining Trinity UMC in Lambert, MS to winterize homes around Lambert. No construction experience required! We'll teach you what you need to know. We'll leave early that morning and return that evening. If you're interested, call or email Smith at smith@fumctupelo.com. Be a part of the tradition: Singers needed! The Singing Christmas Tree is a Tupelo FUMC tradition begun in 1984. The Tree will be presented on December 18 and 19 at 6 p.m. (Please reserve December 20 if we are forced to cancel one night due to bad weather.) All adult members of the congregation are invited to sing on the Tree. The rehearsals are come and go. It takes about 45 minutes to complete all of the music. A nursery will be provided if needed. Rehearsals are scheduled for December 1, December 5, December 8, December 13, and December 18 from 5:15 6:45 p.m. in the Choir Room. Singers will not need to attend every practice. Additional information will be available at rehearsals. Please contact Beverly McAlilly at 690-8100, ext. 18, if you have any questions.
Stewardship 2016 upon this rock, I will build my church! -Matthew 16:18 As of Wednesday, November 30 there are 266 households that have pledged to our Operating Fund, totaling $2,070,222.014. If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please prayerfully consider what God is leading you to give. Fill out and return the card to the church personally or via mail (FUMC, P.O. Box 854, Tupelo, MS 38802). You may also email your pledge to Shannon Turner at shannon@fumctupelo.com or Suzanne Ratliff at suzanne@fumctupelo.com if that is more convenient. Thank you again for your gifts of financial support to the work of Christ s Church! DELTA MISSION ANGELS can be picked up in the Gathering Room or Wesley Hall. They are due back Wednesday, December 15 to the CHURCH OFFICE. SALVATION ARMY ANGELS: The Salvation Army has asked us again this year to provide filler items to finish bags for the children. For example: a tag may read basketballs or dolls or hooded jackets, etc. They can be picked up in the Gathering Room or Wesley Hall and are due back Saturday, December 10 to the SALVATION ARMY office on Carnation Street. or the Mall at Barnes Crossing. HELPING HANDS UMW Holiday Collection As the holidays are approaching, The United Methodist Women are collecting CANNED HAMS for Helping Hands during December. These can be found at both WALMART locations. Please place donations in the Helping Hands bin in the Old Fellowship Hall or the bin outside Wesley Hall. Please help in making the holidays brighter for those in need.
Christmas Eve Luminaries Please keep bringing MILK JUGS for our Christmas Eve LUMINARIES. You may bring these to the Fellowship Hall located next to the church office.
Looking for the perfect Christmas Gift for that person who has everything? Give a gift to the church in honor of someone to one of our ministries such as Helping Hands or the Weekend Food Backpacks for Kids. We have several options and can help you in the office. We love providing the activity bags for children during worship. We work hard to keep these up to date with weekly lessons and toys. Please remember to return these every week so that our children can continue to enjoy these bags. Be looking for new editions this Advent season.
1 Jeff Williams 2 Paige Kelly Holly Kulp 3 Gene Garrett Eli Sinclair Barbara Talley 4 Houston Buckley Jan Burchfield Jamie Ewing Mazie Garner Evelyn Gregory Madelyn Jennings Billy Ford Waters 5 Georgeanna Bowen Kristi Lake Anna Katherine Stone Sherry Webb 6 Barry Bray Desiree Carnathan Dana Foster Sarah Vance Gault Bess Leathers 7 Johnna Garner Benjamin Hinton Matthew Wilkins 8 Suzanne Bingham Jim Chandler Tate Clayton William Ray Bridgette Scott Suzye Sheffield 9 Anne Cambria Burk Mary Clair Kelly Rachel Macklin Tia Wright 10 Bill Carroll Sonja Jenkins Gus Jones Emma Rice 11 Shane Aguirre Benton Hilbun, Jr. Claire Kenney Robert Marion Dan Rollins Natalie Sowers 12 Stephen Adams Karen Holliday Carrol Trent Imbler Mimi Caroline Kelly 13 Leslie Barry Vanessa Bowen Jean Stroup 14 Mikey Armour Blair Curtis Jack Decker John Gatlin Nan Lawrence Rob Leake Roy McAlilly Billy Spencer 15 Knox Garner Dale Stanford 16 Shelby Reed, Jr. 17 Tootie Murry Anne Daniel Sams Toni Sams 18 Julia Gaines Kate Harvey Isabella Hester Coy Livingston Robert Pitcock Kim Simmons Phil Sullivan 19 Brenda Adams Celeste Carpenter Bryce Hunt Bobbie Johnson Walker Russell Sam Waldrip Kristina Weir 20 Jonny Davis Mary Payne Dillard Kathryn Gatlin Perri Williams 21 Mary Freeman Lynn Holland 23 Dal Eckard Sheena Hagemann Lydia Rice Jim Rish Jennifer Warren Missy Wilson 24 Crystal Morgan Roy Wells 25 Merry Bogle Noel Russell 26 Henry Brevard Joshua Estess John Kenney Mallory Lesley 27 Payne Atkinson Meredith Black Anne Carter Steverson 28 David Beall Jamey Grisham Craig Helmuth Sadler Sanders Mary Ann Simpson 29 Harvey Bailey Mary Clay Bailey Erin Beall Jo Mark Carol Samarov Tyler Sheffield 30 Anneil Gillentine Fred Strange Kevin Tate 31 Kim Hodges Thomas Kennard Jensen Mayfield Elizabeth Rose Niki Short Derek Sinclair Hershel Wiygul 1 M/M Shelby Reed, Jr. 3 M/M Raymond Jourdan 4 M/M Bill Calhoun 5 M/M Smitty Harris 11 M/M Marshall Briscoe 12 M/M Rowland Geddie M/M Ken Waldrip 13 M/M Tony Gaines 14 M/M Lyle Harris M/M Jay Becker 18 D/D Garrett Ogg M/M Silas Peters 19 D/M Harold Hudson J/M Tommy Gardner 20 M/M Benton Hilbun D/M George Edwards 21 M/M John Bowen 21 M/M Jack Reed, Jr. 27 D/M John Kenney M/M Ray Reed M/M Bo Russell D/M Dennis Wright M/M Rusty Lair 28 D/M Joe Bailey M/M Toby Hedges M/M Scott Ramsey 29 M/M Billy Spencer M/M Drew Richey 30 M/M Jim Karrant 31 M/M Steve Holland M/M Chuck Tidwell M/M Eddie Warren M/M Derek Sinclair
STEWARDSHIP 2016 Budget Goal...$2,331,817.43 2016 Needed Weekly... $44,842.65 2016 11-Month Budgeted Amount...$2,137,499.27 Last Week s Offering through 11/23... $18,559.43 2016 Offering through 11/23...$2,182,011.28 Spent to Date 2016 through 11/23...$2,140,187.80 OUR SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO THE FAMILIES OF:...Fred Strange, who passed away November 25 in Tupelo. He was the husband of Jean Strange....Jake B. Commer, Sr., who passed away November 26 in Pine Bluff, AR. He was the father of Melissa Bell (David)....Brian Turner, who passed away November 23 in Tupelo, MS. He was the son of Tommy Turner (Kristen)....Jonnie Fay Bishop, who passed away November 22 in Fulton, MS. She was the mother of Jamie (Jodie) Osbirn and the grandmother of Mary Frances and Andy Osbirn....Lon Adam Wyatt, III, who passed away November 22 in Gulf Port, MS. He was the brother of Sandra Hudson (Harold). FUMC TV MINITRY First United Methodist Church s TV Ministry continues to be enjoyed over various satellite and cable systems throughout Northeast Mississippi. Our 11 a.m. Traditional service can be currently seen on the following channels and systems: Comcast cable Channel 4; MaxxSouth cable Channel 20; Cable One- Channel 11; DISH Network Satellite Channel 49; And with a TV Antenna Channel 49 For further information, please contact Shannon Turner at 690-8100 or shannon@fumctupelo.com. SERVING SUNDAY, DECMEBER 4, 2016 ACOLYTE & CRUCIFER: 11:00: Will Leathers (c), Jack Sanders (a) SANCTUARY SOUND: 8:45: Wesley Partin 11:00: Robert Marion TV OPERATORS: David Dillard, Jim Holder, Jo Mark GREETERS: 8:45 Traditional: David Brevard Invitation: Peggy Carter 11: Dianne/Barney Guyton USHERS: 8:45 Traditional: Chris Hill, Lindsey Leake, George Rutledge The Invitation: Nat Leathers, Jamie Osbirn, Kevin Rose, Bill Spencer 11:00: Jeff Short GIVEN IN MEMORY OF: Loretta Monts By: Gayle Kinsey M/M Jameson Rogers D/M Dan Brasfield Carolyn Best M/M Mark Kellum Steve Beesley M/M Tom Bailey M/M Felix Rutledge Tony Tannehill M/M Ed Nelson M/M Mickey Holliman D/M Julian Prince Katie Cox M/M James Threadgill M/M Frank Dalton GIVEN IN HONOR OF: Joyner Elementary By: Jerry Thompson Donald Shepherd By: Covenant SS Class FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 4-10, 2016 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 8:45 Worship, Sanctuary 8:45 The Invitation, WH 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship, Sanctuary 2:15 Jubilee/Jubilation Practice, Sanctuary 4:00 Cub Scouts, FH 4:15 Carol Choir Practice, Sanctuary 5:00 Children s Choir Program, Sanctuary 6:00 Youth Small Groups MONDAY, DECEMER 5 9:00 Preschool/MDO/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 6:00 Malachi Study, off campus 7:00 Scouts, Scout Hut TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations 9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 9:00 Invitation Worship Planning, CR 10:00 Faithbuilders, 207 10:30 Staff Meeting, CR 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:15 Carol Choir Caroling, Mitchell Center WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 9:00 Preschool/MDO/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:30 Jubilee & Jubilation Choirs 5:15 Finance Meeting, FH 6:00 Primetimers Christmas Party, off-site 6:00 Youth Worship 6:00 Sanctuary Handbells 7:00 Chancel Choir THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:30 District Christmas Party, WH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 7:00 Prayer Group, Chapel 2:30 CASA, CLC SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 9:00-12:00 Helping Hands Open