FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Winter 2017 The Messenger Sometimes it is difficult to figure out the time. Currently, we are experiencing unseasonable temperatures well into the 70’s and the leaves are holding on but have very little color. This is further complicated by the store shelves dis- playing Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas merchandise all at the same time. Even looking at the calendar it is difficult to accept that we are fast approaching Advent/Christmas and even the end of the year 2017. That is the purpose of Advent and this time in our church year. We hear the proclamations of the coming savior in the spirit of John the Baptist and are to prepare out hearts and lives for this event. We are in a quandary. On one hand, we prepare for the remembrance of the coming of that savior in Jesus and Christmas. We also look and hold to the promise of his coming again in the fullest of glory and power. We are not to be just prepared for a December 25th birthday celebration but are to be prepared for his return. The fulfillment of the first promise in His coming at what we call Christmas bears witness to the validity of the second, for example, His return. The term “advent” is from the Latin for “coming” or “visit.” Its focus is one of expectation and anticipation. The way we perceive the event may differ. As children we looked anxiously for the day to arrive. The wait was almost un- bearable. Things such as advent calendars or even crossing out the dates on the wall calendar help us count down to Christmas. As adults it is the day looming before us when everything has to be done. Shopping, wrapping, cooking, cards, visits, and phone calls have to be completed to have their Christmas purpose. One of the familiar stories of the birth of Christ is found in Luke 2:7. It merely states that Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger (feed trough) because there was no room in the inn. This simple verse is the source of much contemplation and is the basis for many of our traditions. The simple fact is that due to the traffic of the census there was no room in the inn. The greater meaning is there was no room for Jesus - son of God, Messiah to be born in the inn. It bears a message to us during these coming times of stress. We should celebrate Christmas and enjoy all its traditions, but in the hectic rush and stress, remember what we are doing and why. The danger is that we will not make room for Him even during this time. So, make it a priority - make room in your heart for the One who came and is coming. Remember and claim the love of God clearly stated in His arrival 2000 plus years ago as a baby - a human baby - revealing God to us. Celebrate that love, a love that would lead to the cross in just a few short years. Warm regards, Carl Pastor’s Ponderings The Messenger newsletter will be sent primarily by email. If you are not already on our newsletter email list, please email us at [email protected] to be added. If you do not have email and wish to continue getting our newsletter by mail, please call 919-742-2722. Additionally, printed copies will continue to be available at the church and through outreach ministries.
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F IRST UNITED METHODI ST CHURCH
Winter 2017
The Messenger
Sometimes it is difficult to figure out the time. Currently, we are experiencing unseasonable temperatures well
into the 70’s and the leaves are holding on but have very little color. This is further complicated by the store shelves dis-
playing Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas merchandise all at the same time. Even looking at the calendar it is
difficult to accept that we are fast approaching Advent/Christmas and even the end of the year 2017. That is the purpose
of Advent and this time in our church year. We hear the proclamations of the coming savior in the spirit of John the
Baptist and are to prepare out hearts and lives for this event.
We are in a quandary. On one hand, we prepare for the remembrance of the coming of that savior in Jesus and
Christmas. We also look and hold to the promise of his coming again in the fullest of glory and power. We are not to be
just prepared for a December 25th birthday celebration but are to be prepared for his return. The fulfillment of the first
promise in His coming at what we call Christmas bears witness to the validity of the second, for example, His return.
The term “advent” is from the Latin for “coming” or “visit.” Its focus is one of expectation and anticipation. The
way we perceive the event may differ. As children we looked anxiously for the day to arrive. The wait was almost un-
bearable. Things such as advent calendars or even crossing out the dates on the wall calendar help us count down to
Christmas. As adults it is the day looming before us when everything has to be done. Shopping, wrapping, cooking,
cards, visits, and phone calls have to be completed to have their Christmas purpose.
One of the familiar stories of the birth of Christ is found in Luke 2:7. It merely states that Jesus was born in a
stable and placed in a manger (feed trough) because there was no room in the inn. This simple verse is the source of
much contemplation and is the basis for many of our traditions. The simple fact is that due to the traffic of the census
there was no room in the inn. The greater meaning is there was no room for Jesus - son of God, Messiah to be born in
the inn. It bears a message to us during these coming times of stress. We should celebrate Christmas and enjoy all its
traditions, but in the hectic rush and stress, remember what we are doing and why. The danger is that
we will not make room for Him even during this time. So, make it a priority - make room in your
heart for the One who came and is coming. Remember and claim the love of God clearly stated in His
arrival 2000 plus years ago as a baby - a human baby - revealing God to us. Celebrate that love, a
love that would lead to the cross in just a few short years. Warm regards,
Carl
Pastor’s Ponderings
The Messenger newsletter will be sent primarily by email. If you are not already on our newsletter email list, please email us at [email protected] to be added. If you do not have email and wish to continue getting our newsletter by mail,
please call 919-742-2722. Additionally, printed copies will continue to be available at the church and through outreach ministries.
Winter 2017
Don’t forget online giving is now available!
Go to www.fumcsilercity.org Across the top of the first page there is a link to the online giving sign up. If you would like help getting signed up or if you would like more information, please contact Pam Whitaker at 919-742-2722.
FUMC will sponsor the Angel Tree once again this year. The tree, located in the narthex, will have the names of 50 children that range from 1-12 years of age, so stop by and pick an
Angel from the tree to sponsor this Christmas. All items are due
in by 2:00pm on Monday, December 4, 2017.
The church will be participating in the annual Salvation Army Bell
Ringing on November 30th, December 1st and 2nd from 9am to 5pm. Anyone interested in as-sisting with this worthy event,
contact Joan Thompson (home: 919-742-5442 or
cell: 919-548-6642).
The church will be ordering poinset-tias again this year in honor of and in
memory of individuals to place on the altar during the Christmas season. Please complete and return the order form by December 4th to the offering
plate or church office. Extra order forms are located on the table in the narthex and in the church’s office.
Winter 2017
LOOKING AHEAD
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
13th - “Threads of Faith” meet 16th - FUEL-UP meets at 1pm 17th - Set up for Bazaar 3-5pm 18th - Church Bazaar 10am (helpers report at 9am) 19th - Smith & Buckner Remembrance Service at 2:30PM 20th - JOY” meets at 1:30pm 21st - FUEL-UP meets at 1pm 21st - Community Thanksgiving at First Baptist Church at 6:30pm 22nd - Church office closes at 12PM 23rd - Thanksgiving Day and church office closed 27th - “Threads of Faith” meet 30th - FUEL-UP meets at 1pm
3rd - Children Singing 7th - Dine Around Girls meet at 11:30 at Haley Bales 7th - FUEL-UP meets at 1pm 13th - “SHARE” meets at noon 14th - FUEL-UP meets at 1pm 17th - Children Singing 18th - JOY” meets at 1:30pm 21st - Church office closes at 12 24th - Candlelight Service and Communion at 7pm 25th - Christmas Day and Church Office Closed 26th - Church Office closed 27th - Church office opens 31st - Watch Night Service at 9pm
TIMES TO GET INVOLVED
Community Calendar Flexercise, Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30 AM
Lions Club, 2nd & 4th Mon, 6:30 PM Chatham Literacy, Sat 9-12 noon
Links to Freedom, Sun/Wed/Fri 8 PM Cub & Boy Scouts, Each Tues, 6:30 PM
Threads of Faith, 2nd & 4th Mon, 10:30 AM SHARE, 2nd Wed. beginning Sept, 12:00 PM
JOY, Every 3rd Monday at 1:30 PM Seniors On the Go, Last Monday of each month
Dine Around Girls, 1st Thursday of each month at 11:30 AM Choir Practice Each Tues, 7:00 PM
The children will be performing during our service on December 3rd and 17th. Thank you Mary DeAngelo
for giving of your time to work with our youth. We look forward to the
performances.
Our next Bible study “Faithful: Christmas Through The Eyes of Joseph” by Adam Hamilton will begin this month. Mark your calendars for November 15th and 29th and December 6th and 13th. You are welcome to attend the 11am or 7pm session.
If you need information to appear in the church newslet-ter or bulletin, please email it to [email protected] or call (919-742-2722) the church office. Keep in mind the deadline for information to be published in the bulle-tins needs to be submitted by
Dear Church Members,
As we enter into the Holiday Season we just want to let
you know how thankful we are for each of you and the help you
give us throughout the year. Thank you for letting us work in this
beautiful church. Our lives are truly blessed as a result.
We wish each and everyone of you a Happy Thanksgiving, and
very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Pam and YoLonda
Winter 2017
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
November December January
01 Peggy Wood 02 Austin Tate, Hadley Brewer 04 Marion Wren, Bob Andrews 05 Beth Wrenn, Mylie Cardman 06 Anne Caviness, Luke Deaton, Ross Kotoris 07 Logan Joyner 09 Jordan Snipes, Ella Baxter 10 Joan Thompson 11 Jill Hudson 13 Phillip Cardman 14 Virginia Townsend, Ryan Yoder 18 Nancy Burke 19 Lily Graham 21 Eolian Lail 23 Aubrey Kirkman 24 Sallie Milholen, Michael Andrews 26 Amy Brewer, Charles Stackhouse 27 Alice Clark, Tillie Thornburg
01 Jennifer Dameron, Sandy Morse 02 Ross Kirkman 04 Lilly Stackhouse, Carolyn Clark, Cal Brewer, Jeff Snipes, Denise Brooks Barnwell, 06 Stephen Wood 07 Jane Butler, Brennan Pore, B. J. Hoffman 08 Mary-Maxton Andrews, Chad Moore 09 Lisa Ross 12 Amy Stackhouse Johnson 13 Mary DeAngelo, Bob Frickey, Stephen Helmer 15 Melodye Hadley, Heather Belcher 16 Theresa Joyner, Elizabeth Meadows 17 Jordan Mullis 18 Helen Mathias 21 Deb McManus 23 Hal Milholen 25 Tyler Haiges 27 Alec Brewer 28 Jeff Brewer 29 Raymond Brewer, Willis Wrenn 30 Patsy Andrews, Sherri Powell
01 Terry Belcher 03 Jan Brewer, Doug Sparrow 04 Jeff Milholen 05 Scott Graham 06 Mary Pat Wrenn Fortney 7 Donald Maness, Adam Fields, Ed Outland 08 Janice Andrews, Ashley McManus 09 Elyssa Elliott 11 Linda Justice, Connor Murphy 12 Allison Palmer 13 Bill Elder, Diane Kirkman, Gladys Brewer 15 Spence Townsend, Le Greene 16 Jay Palmer, Josh Hudson 19 Kathy Grigg 20 Jean Andrews 21 Marti Greene, Collin Palmer 22 Jake Mitchell, Matt Fry 23 Mickey Pore, Gib Brooks, Linda Culberson 24 Michael Hudson, Ashley Milholen 25 Steve Palmer, Laurin Councilman 26 Patsy Hancock, Dawn Murphy 27 Kim Outland 31 J. J. Daniel
November Anniversaries December Anniversaries January Anniversaries
03 Murphy and Ashley Milholen 05 Daniel and Emily Carlyle 12 Charles and Robin Stackhouse 27 Bob Andrews and Jane Butler
06 Mark and Dawn Murphy 10 Carl and Terry Belcher 12 Al and Rene Gainey 20 Willis and Sara Wrenn 21 Robert and Jane Andrews 23 Dennis and Nina Sawyer 24 Dennis and Diane Brooks 27 Rick and Melodye Hadley
01 George and Teresa Langley 08 Bill and Sallie Milholen 15 Richard and Diane Kirkman 29 Bill and Barbara Elder 30 Donald and Jane Maness
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Puzzle solution: DECAY, GROUND, JEWEL, LAWS, NEVER, PICK, REALM - WISE MEN LAY UP KNOWLEDGE (PROV.10:14)
The Messenger
Winter 2017
UPCOMING SERVING SERVANTS FOR NOVEMBER (list subject to change)
November 5, 2017 November 12, 2017 November 19, 2017 November 26, 2017
10:00 Service
Alternate 10:00
Service Alternate
10:00 Service
Alternate 10:00
Service Alter-nate
Greeters Rod and Evelyn Tidy Rod and Evelyn Tidy Rod and Evelyn Tidy Rod and Evelyn Tidy
Liturgist John McSween
Brenda Dunn
Brenda Dunn
John McSween
John McSween
Brenda Dunn
Brenda Dunn
John McSween
Lay Reader
Mickey Pore
Brenda Dunn
Sallie Milhollen
Jane But-ler
Joan Thompson
Trudy Wal-ters
John McSween
Terry Belcher
Acolyte
Carolyn Clark/Sylvia Reavis
Abigail Steele
Joan Thompson/Mickey Pore
Austin Greene
Cindy & Jennifer Dameron
Bryce Armstrong
Debbie Fields/Rick Fields
Olivia Diamant
Nursery Debbie Fields Blair Baxter
Katie Palmer Nancy Palmer
Amy Johnson Robin Stackhouse
Angela Lawrence Eileen Williams
Altar Guild
Evelyn Tidy Mary DeAngelo Sylvia Reavis Jane Butler
Ushers Jay Palmer, Chief JP Joyner Robert Andrews
Jay Palmer, Chief JP Joyner Robert Andrews
Jay Palmer, Chief JP Joyner Robert Andrews
Jay Palmer, Chief JP Joyner Robert Andrews
Audio-Visual Richard Kirkman Le Greene
Eileen Williams Daniel Wrenn
Peggy Wood Jane Andrews
Loved Ones in Long Term Care Facilities Coventry House:
Dick Huddleston #304
260 Village Lake Road, Siler City, 27344
Genesis HealthCare :
Marion Wren # 215
900 West Dolphin St, Siler City, NC 27344
Universal Health Care:
Maurice Tanner
7166 Jordan Rd., Ramseur, 27316
Village Lake Inn:
Ada Jo Burke, Eunice Terry, Betty Pollock
219 Village Lake Road, Siler City, 27344
White Stone
Joan Armstrong
Memory Unit
700 South Holden Road, Greensboro, NC 27407
Church Family Members Away From Home *Alex Daniels, US Navy (son of Le and Marti Greene) 1448 Aunauna St. Kaila, HI 96734
Jackie Ellis: 83 Jupiter Hills Drive, Weaverville, NC 28787
Rev. Travis Owen c/o Carl Owen
49 Hollingworth Drive, Wallace, NC 28466
Cards of Gratitude
Dear Church Family,
Thank you all so very much for the prayers, cards, calls, and visits during Steve’s hospitaliza-tion. Your concerns meant so much to us.
Respectfully, Robert S. Palmer Family
****************************************************************
Dear FUMC,
Chatham Charter PTSA appreciates your sup-port at our annual BBQ. Thanks to the commu-nity support like yours we reached our goal. We look forward to working with you during our future events.
Thank you, Chatham Charter PTSA
****************************************************************
FUMC is most appreciative of the contribution given by Pleasant Hill Methodist Church in Pittsboro in support of our FUEL-UP program.
The Messenger Winter 2017
UPCOMING SERVING SERVANTS FOR DECEMBER (list subject to change)
December 3, 2017
December 10, 2017
December 17, 2017 December 24,
2017 December 31, 2017
10:00 Service
Alter-nate
10:00 Service
Alter-nate
10:00 Service
Alter-nate
10:00 Service
Alter-nate
8:30 Service
11:00 Service
Greeters Stackhouse and Johnson Families
Stackhouse and Johnson Families
Stackhouse and Johnson Families
Stackhouse and Johnson Families
Stackhouse and Johnson Families
Liturgist John McSween
Brenda Dunn
Brenda Dunn
John McSween
John McSween
Brenda Dunn
Brenda Dunn
John McSween
John McSween
Brenda Dunn
Lay Reader
Elizabeth Meadows
John McSween
Mary John Re-sch
Carol Da-vidson
Susan Helmer
Sherri Powell
Carol Da-vidson
John McSween
Eileen Williams
John McSween
Acolyte
Sallie Milholen/Patsy Andrews
Olivia Steele
Carolyn Clark/Sylvia Reavis
Bryce Arm-strong
Joan Thomp-son/Mickey Pore
Olivia Diamant
Cindy & Jennifer Dameron
Austin Greene
Debbie Fields/Rick Fields
Abigail Steele
Nursery Katie Palmer Nancy Palmer
Amy Brewer Susan Helmer
Marti Greene Anne Mathias Harriet Riley
Katie Palmer Nancy Palmer
Altar Guild
Rosa Sharpe Donna Atwater Poinsettias Poinsettias Poinsettias
Ushers
Robert Andrews, Chief Charles Stackhouse Matthew Johnson Mickey Pore
Robert Andrews, Chief Charles Stackhouse Matthew Johnson Mickey Pore
Robert Andrews, Chief Charles Stackhouse Matthew Johnson Mickey Pore
Robert Andrews, Chief Charles Stack-house Matthew Johnson Mickey Pore
Robert Andrews, Chief Charles Stackhouse Matthew Johnson Mickey Pore
Audio-Visual
Richard Kirkman Le Greene
Eileen Williams Daniel Wrenn
Peggy Wood Jane Andrews
Eileen Williams Le Greene
Sunday Morning Schedule 9 am Sunday School 9:20 Choir Practice
9:45 Communion in Chapel 10:00 am Church Service
Worship Service CD's available upon request.
Facebook: Siler City First United Methodist Church
Church Office hours: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM Monday – Thursday
Phone: 919-742-2722 Fax: 919-663-5640
Reverend Carl Belcher
cell 919-215-5598 [email protected]
Reverend Travis Owen, Pastor Emeritus
S. Timothy Davidson, Director of Music
Pam Whitaker, Financial Secretary [email protected]
YoLonda Moody, Admin. Assistant
Jeff Brown, Custodian
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