The Steeple December 24 & 25, 2016 Christmas Eve Noon Traditional Service, Sanctuary 4:00pm ANEW Contemporary Service, Wesley Worship Center 6:30pm Traditional Service, Sanctuary Christmas Day 10:00am Lessons & Carols, Sanctuary Christmas Eve Christmas Day Welcome Thank you for being here for worship this Sunday! Our mission at First Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We are inspired by the words of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who encouraged believers to do all the good you can, in all the ways you can. Ministers and Ministry Directors William H. Phillips Senior Pastor Jonathan Harris Associate Pastor Emily Kirby Director of Christian Education Jennifer Hupko Director of Youth Ministry Norman McQueen Director of Music Jeanne Voltz-Loomis Director, Child Development Ministry Our Church office is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM & Friday 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM 901 N. Kings Hwy 843-448-7164
Thank you for your support Some of you discovered that Gail and I have been sponsoring the Christian Haitian Orphan Development Professional (CHODPJ) in Jeremie, Haiti for some years. Normally there are 35 children in the mission. After Matthew crushed the island, there are 15 new children, for a total of 50. It costs roughly one thousand US dollars to feed the children for one month. Your (individuals and Sunday School Classes) financial help over the past few weeks has made this possible. The children do not get an over-abundance or best of foods, but the foods they receive are clean and nutritious. Your recent gifts enabled us to bless them food through the holidays. You can visit the school online at CHODPJ.com Thank you for supporting them. Blessings to you and yours. Merry Christmas and may happiness for you and yours in the New Year abound. Buddy and Gail New Year s Day Service I hope you and your family will attend church on January 1. We will have a Traditional service and a Contemporary service both services will be at 10:00am. Rev. Jan Brittain will preach at both services. At 10:05am in the Contemporary service and at 10:35am in the traditional service. I will look for you, Big Tom New Year s Day Service January 1 10:00 am Traditional Service in Sanctuary 10:00 am Anew Contemporary Service in Wesley Worship Center New Year s Day Sunday School Adult Sunday School classes will decide in their individual class if they will be meeting. Please contact the class leader for specific class details. Our children, youth, and nursery class will not meet January 1, 2017. We hope you can join us as we kick off the year together at First UMC! First Church Weekly Reading: December 26 Praise, Worship, and Trust Psalm 146:1-4 December 27 Those Whose Help Is the Lord Psalm 146:5-10 December 28 The Limits of National Power Psalm 33:10-17 December 29 Hope in God s Steadfast Love Psalm 33:18-22 December 30 Creation a Witness to God s Plan Romans 1:16-20 December 31 Doing Justice and Kindness With Humility Micah 6:6-8 January 1 Hymn of God s Greatness and Goodness Psalm 33:1-9 First Church invites you to follow this weekly Scripture reading plan if you don t have one already. Adult Classes Ark Brittain Fellowship Faith Foundations Grace M.D. Moore * New Horizons * New Ventures * Open Doors * Open Fellowship * Wesley 103 Asbury 204 Upstairs Main Bldg. C-212 Asbury 203 Asbury 105 Wesley 105 Asbury 201 Music Center 103 Wesley 104 Music Center 101 Children s Classes 0-2 year olds 3 and 4 year old preschool Kindergarten/First Grade 2nd and 3rd Grades 4th and 5th Grades Youth Classes 6th - 12th Grades Nursery Wesley 102 Wesley 206 Wesley 203 Wesley 204 Sonshine House ( * ) Indicates: Uniform Series International Lesson Series: Luke 2:1-21 The Savior Has Been Born
Monthly Mission in Motion: Flood Recovery During December we are asking for your help in collecting non-perishable food items such as: Rice, Canned fruits, Soups & vegetables, Cereals, Crackers, Raisins, Granola bars, etc. IN REMEMBRANCE Virginia Blankenship January 5, 1932 - December 15, 2016 Dianne K. Owens June 25, 1941 - December 17, 2016 I am the resurrection and the life; those that believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live. Condolence The pastors, staff and congregation extend Christian sympathy to Ken Houghton and family upon the death of his father, Dr. Kenneth Sinclair Houghton, on December 13 in St. Augustine, FL. Responding to God s Grace in 2017 As 2016 comes to a close, we reflect upon accomplishments, disappointments, and on hope for the future. As grateful disciples, let us take stock of where we are in response to God s Grace in our lives. Did we remember to PRAY? for our family & our friends for our church & for our pastors for our community, state, nation, & world for our enemies Did we remember to be PRESENT? Did we attend church on Sundays Did we attend special event and services Did we attend Sunday School, Small Group Bible Studies Did we invite someone to join us for services, studies, fellowship opportunities Did we remember to SERVE? Did we offer our gifts in teaching/leading Sunday School, Bible Studies, Choir, Bells Did we volunteer to assist with youth programming Did we visit a homebound friend Did we show a stranger to a seat and sit with them for worship or other event Did we remember to be a FAITHFUL WITNESS to God s Grace? Did model our faith on Monday-Saturday Did we grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ Did we take our faith into the world to transform it for the cause of Christ Did we remember to GIVE? In this busy season filled with giving and receiving of gifts, did you remember to make sure that your record of giving to the church is up-to-date? Please take a moment to consider just a few ministries and missions dependent upon our faithful giving: Sunday school, Nursery, Child Development Ministry Website, Print and Media Ads Television Ministry Community Kitchen, Helping Hand, Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center, Hope House, Good Samaritan Fund Communion elements for Sundays and Extending the Table to Homebound Members Candles for All Saints remembrance and Christmas Eve services Stephen Ministry College Ministry
Coming up 1/3 Senior High Breakfast & Devotion at Chick-Fil-A on Seaboard @ 7:15 am 1/5 Middle School Breakfast & Devotion at Bojangles on International @ 7:15 am 1/8 Youth, North Campus from 5-7pm First United Methodist Thrift Store will be closed for the Holidays: December 22 - January 2 Re-Open on Thursday January 5 Upcoming Events January Small Group A Disciple s Path New members, visitors, and longtime members welcome! Introduction to Discipleship, First Church, and The United Methodist Church Starts January 15, 2017 (ends February 26) Day Sundays Time 9:45 am Room Wesley #206 Contact Rev. Jonathan Harris at 843-448-7164 February Marriage Retreat Love and Respect Marriage Retreat First UMC will be hosting a Love and Respect Marriage Retreat at First UMC. This is a great Christmas gift for yourself or for a special couple in your life! Date February 3-4, 2017 Location First UMC Cost $80 per couple, covers the two-day retreat, meals, a workbook, and childcare. Registration Begins January 1, 2017. Cost will increase to $100 for those who register after January 22, 2017. More details to come in January. Big Tom s A Quote Things money cannot buy: 1) Manners 2) Morals 3) Respect 4) Character 5)Common sense 6) Trust 7) Patience 8) Class 9) Integrity 10) LOVE. January 5 11:15 am Wesley Fellowship Hall Welcome Rev. Buddy Phillips, Big Tom, John Paul Miller Menu Scott Bellamy s Chicken Bog All meals are $5 per person Wesley Fellowship Hall (unless otherwise noted) Life Learned Feelings Gifts (includes online giving) Week of December 18, 2016: Giving to Date: Expenses to date: $44,033.98 $1,290,162.99 $1,477,622.29 Expenses include weekly apportionments & direct billing. Presence December 18, 2016 Traditional Sunday Services 539 Contemporary Sunday Service 88 Total Sunday Services 627 Sunday School 227 The First Church Thrift Store Hours: Mondays 9am-12pm; Thursdays 1:00-4:00pm. Donations accepted during these times. Mailing address: First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1367, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578-1367 Phone: 843-448-7164 Email: office@fumcmb.org Website: www.fumcmb.org Become a Fan: www.facebook.com/fumcmb Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/fumcmb Request Emailed Steeple: thesteeple@fumcmb.org Worship Service televised Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, on FOX Channel 7
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 10:00 AM Combined Worship Service SANCTUARY MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 Office Closed Children s Ministry 2017 Mark your calendar for our 2017 VBS! Children ages 3 through 5 th grade be sure to join us June 25-29, 2017 for our Hero Central Vacation Bible School! Adults we need you too! Please plan to volunteer with our wonderful children for our 2017 VBS. Nursery is available for all volunteers. Check back in January for additional details! Join First UMC Myrtle Beach for a week at camp June 4-9,2017! First Church will provide transportation for our elementary, middle, and high school students to attend camp. Scholarships are also available on an as needed basis. Please contact Emily Kirby (ekirby@fumcmb.org) to request a scholarship. To register go to: http://asburyhills.org and choose the CORE camp for June 4-9, 2017. ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE. If you have questions or need assistance registering your child, please contact Emily Kirby.
MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS FOR DECEMBER 2016 BULLETIN ----------IN MEMORY OF----------------------- Virginia Blankenship Larry & Linda Gates (Music Fund) Lib Iseman (Hope House) Rowan Crews, Sr. Girls at HB Springs Company (TV Ministry) Roger Eisler Peggy Hanna Myra Sells (Children s Choir) Donna & Rock Smith (Narthex Fund) Frances Herman Richard Hussey, Sr. A.E. Jackson, Jr. Jack Nixon Thomas Wesley (Shepherd s Child) John Pearce Louise Crews (TV Ministry) Andrew Russo Albert Springs, III Girls at H B Springs Company (TV Ministry) Shirley Springs James & Beth Rozier (TV Ministry) Tone Trask Mark Pugh, Julie & Hartley Trask (Memorial Fund) Mary Thornburg Becky & Perry Johnson (Poinsettia Fund) Christopher Wasserman Joe & Martha Castellano (TV Ministry) Louise Crews Norman McQueen Jayne Smith Chancel Choir & Handbell Choir Carl & Chris Lenard New Horizons Class Lib Iseman (Hope House) Carmen Springs Mr. & Mrs. Albert Springs IV Mr. & Mrs. Wilson Springs Red & Mabel Waldorf College Ministry Team: Carol Romanski, Judy Winn, Martha Peterson Wendy Fleming & Gresta Newton April Long & All who helped decorate the Church Children s Choir & Handbell Ringers and Leaders Shepherd s Child Helpers Mary Kern Becky & Perry Johnson (Poinsettia Fund) -----------IN HONOR OF------------------------- Rod Adelstone Richard Whitman (Pastor s Disc.) Tom Brittain Robert & Shirley Schmidt (Summer Camp Endowment) Jean & Tom Brittain Jackie & Ron Carpenter Frank & Harriet Clark (Shepherd s Child) Helen Clemmons