Christmas Day - First United Methodist Church · 12/14/2016  · Elan Circle Bake Sale Christmas Eve Bags Let’s Communicate Join us on Thursday, December 22 at 10:00 AM as we put

Gotta Love The Music I confess that I will listen to Christmas music all year! Obviously I listen to more than just Christmas music, but it would not be uncommon to come into my office and hear Pandora playing the John Rutter Christmas Station. It really is hard to beat British Christmas music. I love the sounds of the men and boys choirs as they sing of the birth of Jesus - nothing like it! Of course, I love the words of the hymns/carols and the promise that they cause me to look forward to. One of my favorite carols is the Wexford Carol. (Look on YouTube and search for Alison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma). It is an old Irish Carol that dates back to the 12th century. It is really very simple in the fact that the lyrics retell the nativity story. The melody is Celtic and hauntingly beautiful, but very simple. One of the lines is the following:

"Good people all, this Christmas time, consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done in sending his beloved Son."

We all need to "consider well and bear in mind" what God has done by sending Jesus to live among us as one of us. It is also important that we not forget that God is indeed good. We do that best when we allow the Christmas story to become our story, our faith and our life, because, you see, as God sent Jesus into the world so He is sending us into to the world in the great reclamation project that is the Kingdom of God.

Enjoy the music, especially the lyrics of these great carols and allow them to fill our souls with the heavenly music of the Savior.

Blessings!

December 14, 2016 From the pastor

Our Staff

Pastor ............................... Rev. Tim Bracken

Administrative Assistant .............. Molly Near

Financial Secretary .................... Mae Wilkins

Director of Children’s Ministry ...... Jill Ingram

Interim Youth Director ........... Kellie Bracken

Director of Senior Adults .......... Karen Wood

Chancel Choir Director ............Dr. Jim Burns

Pianist ...................................... Tausha Plate

Organist .................................... Terry Barger

Maintenance Director ................ Chris Offery

Maintenance ................................. Jeff Smith

Director of CDC ......................... Cathy Smith

Director of PDO ....................... Rachel David

Assist. Director of CDC/PDO ....Karon Steve

The Grace Works Ministry Team invites you to join

with us on Thursday, December 22 from

6:00-7:15 PM at the old District Office building (1500 Grace Street SW) as we share together with Cocoa & Carols!

Cocoa & Carols

Acoustic Christmas 4:00 PM

Traditional Service 6:00 PM

Blue

Christmas

Service

December 20

6:00 PM

Christmas Day Sunday the 25th

10:00 AM

No Sunday School or Early Worship Kids are invited to wear their Christmas pajamas!

Rev. Tim Bracken

Acolyte / Crucifer December 18 Jessica Melton / Truman Hale December 25 Ella Ingram / Will Melton

WE NEED AN ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER FOR BOTH CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES. Please contact Kellie.

Christmas Eve Bags Youth are invited to help assemble bags on Thursday, December 22 at 10:00 AM.

Christmas Party & Caroling Wednesday, December 21

Meet at the church at 4:00 PM. PLEASE SIGN UP!

Bread of Life - January 14 - 10:00-2:00 PM Sign up on the bulletin board to help.

Future Calendar Events Spring Break Mission Trip to UMCOR in Decatur, AL

March 12-15, 2017 more details to come Summer Mission Trip - June 16-23

(at least it will be at some point during that week)

Parent Meeting — January 8 at 5:30 PM Please make every effort to attend.

Youth News

How to POST AN ANNOUNCEMENT Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON on Tuesday, January 10. Information turned in after

this time will not be posted until the next newsletter is due. Newsletters are printed every two weeks.

Fill out an Announcement Request Form online OR in the office!

Elan Circle Bake Sale

Christmas Eve Bags

Let’s Communicate

Join us on Thursday, December 22 at 10:00 AM as we put together Christmas Eve Bags for those who work on Christmas Eve. These

bags will be available following both Christmas Eve services for the congregation

to distribute across the community.

The church is equipped with an ALL-CALL/TEXT application to notify you of upcoming events,

cancellations, meetings, etc… If you would like to receive any of the above, please

provide your name and mobile phone number to the church office. (please list individually, not as a couple

or family...you may belong to different groups.)

PLEASE NOTE: this is an all-CALL or TEXT...not email.

You may submit your email address to receive the newsletter or for some notifications, but it is not the

same as the All-Call/Text. Also note: Women’s Circle meetings, announcements, etc are not part of this application. That information

will be handled through each circle.

Sunday, December 18th in the Narthex following the 10:45 AM worship service.

Let us provide all of your favorite Christmas treats for your family, friends, & teachers while you support our mission projects!

You’re Invited Rev. Tim and Kellie Bracken invite you

to the marriage of their daughter

Hannah Kathleen to

Daniel Joseph Kozar on Saturday, December 17 at 2:00 PM

First United Methodist Church Reception to follow in the Christian Life Center

Bread of Life Sign up to serve with Bread of Life in 2017.

We serve the second and last Saturday of each month. You may sign yourself or your group

up now in the Narthex!

Mission Conference 2017 Mark your calendars! January 27-29

Join us as we hear about what God is doing in the community and the world!

Thank You My heartfelt thanks to my church family for your

prayers, visits, calls and cards during my recent illness. I am now at home and looking forward

to returning to church soon. Sincerely, Gladys Blankenship

Have you ever wanted to hear what a bassoon sounds like? Now you can! There will be a Bassoon Recital on

Wednesday, December 28 at 11:00 AM in the Veva Thompson Class if you would like to attend!

The Cleveland District is having a New Year Party at Broad Street UMC on Saturday, December 31 at

10:30 AM. There will be bingo and free lunch. Please RSVP to Jackie at 423-476-7370 or

[email protected] no later than December 28. There will also be a drawing for 5 $50 scholarships

to Jubilation March 1-3, 2017. Any Questions, ask Karen Wood.

Bassoon Recital

District Party

Book Discussion Anyone is welcome to join us in room 206 on Sunday,

December 18 to discuss the book “The Case for Christmas” by Lee Strobel. Mr. Strobel, a journalist,

investigates the identity of the Child in the manger and helps us to know why we believe what we believe.

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, December 18 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM NO Early Worship 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service-Children’s Play 12:00 PM Elan Circle Bake Sale 5:00 PM First Youth Monday, December 19 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival Tuesday, December 20 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:00 PM Blue Christmas Service 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, December 21 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 4:00 PM Youth Christmas Party/Caroling Thursday, December 22 10:00 AM Prayer for Revival 10:00 AM Assembling Christmas Eve Bags 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 1:30 PM Friendship Circle 5:30 PM Grace Works Cocoa & Carols Friday, December 23 OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, December 24 4:00 PM Acoustic Christmas Eve Service 6:00 PM Traditional Christmas Eve Service Sunday, December 25 10:00 PM Christmas Day Service Monday, December 26 OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, December 31 10:00 AM Bread of Life

“I will be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in

my power to strengthen its ministry by my prayers,

my presence, my gifts, my service, and my witness.”

Our Prayers

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service—December 18

Renee Medley and Family

RG Wolf

Linda Merz

PeeWee Neely

Chloe Littrell LONG TERM PRAYER

Don Alley

Debbie Ambert

Sarah Bandy

Judy Barger

Amber Blair

Gladys Blankenship

J. T. Brooks

Randall Butler

Debbie Trentham Case

LeeAnn Childress

Bill Cooke

Kaye Coultry

Emma Cummings

Bill Creech

Beverly Crigger

Alan David

Sunday School Worship 12/04/16 60 231 12/11/16 62 215

Budget Receipts 12/04/16 9,764.00 Receipts to Date: 590,049.09 Expenditures to Date: 611,841.30 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] 21,792.48 Budget to Date: 693,110.62

Budget Receipts 12/11/16 13,250.60 Receipts to Date: 603,299.69 Expenditures to Date: 625,993.57 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] 22,693.88 Budget to Date: 707,253.40

Prayer Team: Jenann Lay Monthly Prayer Focus: Haiti Mission Trip Acolytes: Jessica Melton and Truman Hale Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford, Todd Berghoff First Kidz Church begins at 10:30 AM every Sunday in the Christian Life Center. (It does not meet the first Sunday of the month.) Sonshine Kidz is for preschoolers ages 3,4, & 5 Nursery is available for children 3 yrs old and younger. Located in the CLC. Altar Flowers—sign up outside the church office.

Jordann Dempsey

Lorrie Duke

Dylan Duncan

Lois Ellis

Sharon Everson

Kim Faulkner

Britton Gobble

Jamie Hargis

Renee Henderson

Joe Hogan

Clint Hutto

Russell Johnson

Wendell Johnson

Elaine Larson

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Charlie McDonald

Betty McLain

Ron and Linda Merz

Larry and Barb Miller

Carmen Orr

Carolyn Owens

Kym Phillips

Tilley Phillips

Tom Phillips

Darci Pittman

Lois Pywell

Gary Ratcliff

Wayne Reynolds

Bob Richardson

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Nan Schlatterer

Nicholas Stark

Kylene Stump

Van Swearingen

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Rosemary Warren

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhite

UPCOMING EVENTS

● January 1—10:00 AM Service Only

● January 2—OFFICE CLOSED, Cub

Scout Committee Meeting

● January 4—Wednesday Night

Activities Resume

● January 5—Gad-A-bout Lunch

● January 7—UMM Breakfast

● January 8—Youth Parent Meeting

● January 10—May Dooley Circle

● January 11—Chancel Choir Practice

Resumes

● January 16—OFFICE CLOSED

● January 18—All Children’s Choirs

Resume

● January 20-22—Resurrection 2017

● January 24—Rose Circle

● January 27-29—Mission Conference

Open hearts, open minds, open doors...the people of the United Methodist Church.

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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Child Development Center Phone: 423-478-1426

Gifts to the Church

To the Youth Fund In memory of Jacob Cook:

Bob and Nancy Boyd

To the Camp Lookout In memory of Jacob Cook:

Harold and Virginia Campbell

To the Jubilee Project In honor of Sarah Wagner:

Kathy Farner

To Camp Wesley Woods In memory of Rev. Drew Henry:

Tom and Donna Tisdale

First United Methodist Church

3425 Ocoee Street

Cleveland, TN 37312