First United Methodist Church T M December November 1, 15, 2017 2013 Volume 73, Issue 22 A Taste of What s Inside 2,3,4,6,7 Church Facts 2,5 Advent 3 Holiday Food Drive 3 Greeters Needed 3 Poinsettias for the Church 3 Angel Tree 4 Light-A-Light Information 4 Scholarship Deadline 5 Music Notes 5 Methodist Men Auction 5 Youth News 6 Ladies Christmas Tea 6 Children s Corner 7 The Christmas Story 8 Puppets for Jesus 8 Newsletter Deadline Mark Your Calendar 2 Hanging of the Greens December 3 3 Holiday Food Drive Deadline - December 10 3 Poinsettias Deadline December 17 4 Light-A-Light Deadline December 17 4 College Scholarship Applications Due January 3 5 Methodist Men Auction December 7 5 Youth go to Carmela s Santa Land December 6 6,7 Ladies Christmas Tea - December 14 6 Family Wreath Making - December 3 7,8 Countdown to Christmas Puppet Musical - December 3 7 Bells and Bill December 10 7 A Candlelight Christmas December 17 7 Blue Christmas Service of Wholeness and Healing December 21 7 Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion December 24 8 Newsletter Deadline December 6 8 Puppet Dress Rehearsal December 2 I sort of figured that when the time came to sell the house which has been in our possession for nearly fifteen years now, we would just put it on the market and that would be end of story. Not so, as those of you who have been in that place are aware. Before we could, in good conscience, place 4400 Claret, Argyle, Texas on the market, we discovered the need to replace the damaged roof, paint almost completely inside and out, and then came to note that our house had developed a peculiar, albeit very slight, tilt to the north. In other words the place had to be leveled, a task which was completed earlier this week. There are times in our living when we need to assess our homes. Sometimes the best plan is to make a major adjustment. When we do so with the structures which we identify as our property, a crew from a company such as Brown Foundation, will do wonderful work. (And they did!) But when it comes to our continually present, and even our eternal home, it takes more. The time of the Christian year, in which we are soon to enter, is God s way of assisting us in making such an alteration. When we come to Advent and to Christmas, we come to an awareness of the one who has the power to level us out; but not with tools for balancing, but in speaking to our hearts and minds, offering the gift of forgiveness and salvation, which gives us the vision of what God sees within each of us, and the power of God s love which, under care of the Holy Spirit, guides us into becoming who we are called to be. I look forward to sharing the joy of season with you and yours. See you Sunday, if not before... Naturally we can affirm that Jesus is the reason for the season.... Richard Mission Statement: First United Methodist Church is a loving, supportive family of faith working together to share God's love. Contact Us 105 N. Montgomery St Gilmer, TX 75644 903-843-2610 www.gilmer-fumc.com Pastor, Richard Laster pastorlaster@etex.net Secretary, Esther Faggione gilmerchurch@gmail.com Financial Secretary, Lamon Geddie fumcacct@etex.net Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Closed for lunch from Noon - 1 p.m.)
Page 2 WE SHOW OUR LOVE By Our Prayers... Advent Anita Baker, Deborah Bell, Ceci Crombie, the family of Millie Feller, Lamon Geddie, Stephanie Hamberlin, Roy Helpenstill, John Hunt, Billie Stevenson Remember ongoing prayers for loved ones with serious illnesses, our shut-ins, family and friends in the military service and the leaders and staff of our church and our country. Remember to check our Web Site for up-to-the-minute prayer requests. First Sunday of Advent, December 3, with Hanging of the Greens. Advent from the Latin adventus means coming or visit. For Christians it is the beginning of the church year and starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas. During this season we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ, long for and need forgiveness, salvation and new beginning. Prayer Ministry Don t worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don t forget to thank Him for His answers. -- Philippians 4:6 Submit requests to Church s web page: www.gilmer-fumc.com Or Call: Church Office 903-843-2610 Prayer Contacts: Betty Parish 903-843-3865 Annette Breazeale 903-843-3873 The Sundays represent Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Purple candles signify hope, penitence, royalty, and the rose - joy. On Christmas Eve the white Christ candle is lighted. Annette B. Our Deepest Sympathy to The family of Millie Feller Our Presence Date Sunday School Worship Visitors October 29 62 138 20 November 5 71 230 33 November 12 112 140 20 November 19 56 162 30 Average Year to Date 81 168 24 Average Last Year 94 168 22 Like us on Facebook First United M ethodist Church of Gilmer Our Worship Service is broadcast on ETEX, Channel 999, Sunday, 6 p.m. and Monday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Page 3 The Missions Team has collected enough food and cash donations to provide 50 Thanksgiving Food Boxes to needy families. Thanks to everyone who made a contribution. Special thanks for the workers at the Clothes Closet for their donation. We would like to also donate boxes of food at Christmas to another 50 families. However, we only have enough money left for 30 meals. It s not too late to donate. A donation of $25 will feed a family of 4-6 people. We can also use donations of food items. We can use the following items by Sunday, December 10th: Stuffing Mix Instant Potatoes Cranberry Sauce Canned Veggies (sweet potatoes (29 oz. can), corn, green beans) Canned peaches Brownie Mix Holiday Food Drive Please help us get to 50 meals for Christmas. Greeters Needed If you would like to be a greeter on Sunday mornings you can sign up at the Welcome Center or by contacting the church office at (903) 843-2610. Poinsettias for the Church Because of the difficulty of maintaining fresh poinsettias during the entire season of Advent and Christmas, we now use silk poinsettias. Starting this year you may adopt a poinsettia In Memory or In Honor of loved ones. An information form will be in the bulletin. Deadline for inclusion in the bulletin insert is Sunday, December 17th Christmas (Angel) Tree Once again the Christmas Tree is in the hall to be decorated with items for Newgate. A list of some items needed includes warm caps, socks, gloves, etc. for men, women and children. Also appreciated are hard candies. This tree is sponsored by the Mission Committee and items are packed and delivered by the Youth. Thanks, Sarah Monk
Page 4 A Christmas Tradition LIGHT-A-LIGHT CELEBRATION As part of our Advent celebration in preparation for Christmas, lights will be added to an unadorned, undecorated Light-a-Light tree in the sanctuary in honor of or in memory of loved ones. The lights will vary in price as follows: Gold $50 Green $25 Blue $10 Red $2 (given by children under 18 only) Your gift will be listed in the December bulletin insert. Note: Complete a separate designation for each light. Use additional forms, if needed. Light #1: Gold Green Blue Red In memory of in honor of Person s name as you want it listed in the bulletin: Light #2: Gold Green Blue Red In memory of in honor of Person s name as you want it listed in the bulletin: Print your name as you want it printed in the bulletin: Amount attached: Watch Our Tree Glow as it Grows with Gifts of Love Deadline for inclusion in the bulletin insert is Sunday, December 17th College Scholarship applications are now available on the table outside the church office. If you have graduated from high school, are continuing your college education, and are a member of FUMC, please stop by and pick up an application. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, 5:00 p.m., January 3, 2017. If you have questions or need additional information, please call Esther in the church office at 903-843-2610. www.gilmer-fumc.com
Page 5 Music Notes by Lora Robison The first Sunday of Advent is December 3. The scripture for the day is from Mark 13: 24-37. Reverend Laster s sermon title is Our Darkness/God s Light. The sanctuary will be adorned with Christmas greenery, Crismons, and poinsettias, as well as lighting of the tree and first Advent candle during the traditional Hanging of the Greens at the beginning of the service. The first hymn for this communion service will be Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus from The United Methodist Hymnal. The Chancel Choir will be singing When the Kingdom Comes by Callaway. The closing hymn from the Worship and Song hymnal will be View the Present through the Promise. Our evening service will be presented by Puppets for Jesus in the Christian Life Center at 6:00 p.m. A visit from Santa is expected so everyone will want to be in attendance! The second Sunday of Advent is December 10. Scripture for the day is from Isaiah 40:1-11. The sermon topic is Here Is the Lord. Hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal include O Come, All Ye Faithful, I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light, and People, Look East. The Joy Singers will be presenting Sans Day Carol by Stroope. The Chancel Choir will be singing Every Valley by Hayes. Our evening service beginning at 6:00 p.m. will be a concert of Bells and Bill. Jubilation Bells, Jubilation Trinity, and Bill Marshall at the piano will be presenting a concert of wonderful Christmas favorites! Gingerbread and Wassail will be served in the Fellowship Hall after the concert. Everyone is invited to attend. The Christmas Season is celebrated in joyous fashion here at FUMC, Gilmer. We hope to see each of you at our Advent and Christmas services as we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! In Christ s love, Lora Attention All Men! You are invited to a special event on Thursday, December 7th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, for dinner and Annual Auction If you have any items (no junk, please!) to donate for the Auction, please bring them to the Fellowship Hall December 4 - December 7th. Youth News by Matthew Potter Hello everyone! On Wednesday, December 6th, the youth will be going to Carmela s Santa Land and will be going out to eat afterwards. We will be leaving a few minutes after 6 that evening so please make sure to be there as close to 6 p.m. as possible. If you know you will be later then please let me know as soon as possible so we can make arrangements. Also, just a reminder that we will not have MYF on Wednesday, December 27th and January 3rd. MYF will return Wednesday, January 10th. Matt
Page Page 6 6 Children s Corner by Chandra Sorrells Mark your calendars for our Annual Family Wreath Making Event Sunday, December 3, following worship! www.gilmer-fumc.com
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P age 8 Page 8 Page 8 Flowers for December 3 Rob and Lora Robison December 10 Melvin and Jo Reynolds December 17 Steve and Lynn Williams December 24 Anonymous December 31 James and Kathy McClain Greeters John and Ann Irwin Lay Readers Fred and Jennifer Anderson Ushers Janvan and Sandy Jenkins, Jeff Sorrells, Bob Lansdale The Sanctuary Flowers for October 22 were given by the Bledsoe family: Peggy; Frank, Shelia and Haley; Steve, Ellen, Hannah, and Zach in memory of loved ones. October 29 Deadline for Newsletter Articles December 6, Noon Puppets for Jesus by Babs Crombie The cast, the puppets, the props, the stage and the scenery are ready and the date has been set...all we need now is YOU! Puppets for Jesus will be performing their annual puppet Christmas musical on Sunday, December 3rd in the CLC starting at 6:00 p.m. Countdown to Christmas. CMTV (Camel Music TV) host, Cameron Camel features the countdown of the top six fun Christmas music videos. It is filled with humor as well as the message of salvation. Audiences of ALL ages will enjoy this entertaining and fun performance. After the show, all are invited for cookies, cocoa, fellowship and a visit from our special Santa who will hear each boy and girl s special wish fro Christmas. We invite and encourage the entire family to come and enjoy this delightful performance for the start of the holiday season; it ll warm your heart! Don t forget!!! All the puppet teams, Jr. and Sr. will be meeting for rehearsals at 2:00 p.m. until further notice. Dress rehearsal is Saturday, December 2nd at 9:00 a.m. Remember to wear ALL black for the rehearsal. Have a blessed week, remember to say I Love You to your family and be kind to everyone! Blessings, Babs Li k e u s o n F acebook - Fir st Unit e d M ethodi st Ch urch o f Gi lme r