Sunday Service

Early: 8:25 a.m. Late: 10:55 p.m.

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Youth (Check schedule ) Sunday 6:00

Weds 6:00 p.m.

Notes from our Pastor

Rev. Randy

931-728-4624

105 Church St. Manchester, TN 37355

First United Methodist Church December 9, 2015

What an exciting weekend we had with the Christmas Parade, Thanks to all who made that a great success. The reception following the parade was well done and well attended by church members and lots of folks from the community. We were glad to see lots of people from the community came. We must be intentional about inviting the community to events like this and being visible in the community by doing outreach like the pa-rade. These are things that the Joel Committee suggested several months ago and they made a big difference this past weekend. Thanks to all who led these efforts and carried the load for this.

On behalf of Rachel and myself we would like to invite you to join us at the parsonage for a Christmas Open House of December the 19th. Come by for a cup of refreshment and a cookie, we look forward to visiting with you.

Don't forget our special activities on Dec. 20th, between the Children's Choir presentation, Youth Supper Fundraiser, and the Adult Christmas Cantata you will be blessed by one or more of these events. The 24th of December we will have our Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 pm. For those of you who would like to have late night Communion, the Sanctuary will be open from 11:30 until 12 midnight for guided meditation and reflec-tion. Please take an opportunity to invite others to come with you to these special Christmas Events.

Brother Randy

DEC. 13th 6:00 pm Children's SNL Christmas Party 4:30 pm Youth Find the Party Christmas Party

DEC. 19th 2:00-5:00 pm Open House at the Parsonage

DEC. 20th 5:15 pm Children's Christmas Play, Potato Bar 7:00 pm Adult Choir Christmas Cantata

DEC. 24th 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and Communion

Christmas Events

Inside

Page 1: Service times,

Notes from our pastor,

Event Calendar

Page 2: Notes from

Dana, Christmas

Event ads.

Page 3: Youth and

Children’s Ministry

Happenings.

Page 4: Memorials,

Budget, Volunteer

Schedule

HANDMADE

CHRISTMAS

GIFTS!

Rachel Brown &

Maggie Smith will

be selling Hand-

made Quality

scarves during Cof-

fee Time this Sun-

day at 9:30 am. Don’t

miss your chance to

buy a quality hand-

made and

inexpensive

Christmas Gift!

A NOTE FROM DANA… There is a curious passage that we probably do not read a lot from

the Gospel of Luke, chapter 3:23-38. Perhaps one reason we don’t

read it often is because it is a lineage. But it starts out this way

“Jesus was about 30 years old when he began His work. He was

the son (as it was thought) of…” and then the lineage goes on.

Interestingly the passage ENDS this way: “son of Enos, son of

Seth, son of Adam, SON OF GOD.” You should go read this!

I’ve intentionally highlighted the phrases “as it was thought” and SON OF GOD because I think

what the writer of Luke was trying to drive home an important truth- that Jesus is who He said He

is. Yes He was the son of earthly parents but He IS truly the Son of God. But Luke’s writer I be-

lieve would tell us that Jesus is not the Son of God just by virtue of His lineage. He’s not the Son of

God because people said He was after seeing Him heal and hearing Him preach. No, Jesus is the

Son of God because HE REALLY IS GOD! He is God IN THE FLESH.

It’s kind of difficult for us to wrap our minds around this through human logic and reason alone.

But when we accept Jesus as Savior and we know first-hand the power He has to change our

hearts and lives, then we also know nothing is impossible with God! Not even the first Noel!

Grace and Peace, Dana

“THE FIRST NOEL, Born is the King” is the 2015 Christmas cantata being pre-sented by our Sanctuary Choir. The presen-tation will be Sunday night, December 20 at 7:00 PM in the church sanctuary. The can-tata features several of our fine soloists and a moving video component as well. Make your plans to celebrate Christmas with the Sanctuary Choir!

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOIRS You are invited to an evening of music, drama, food and fellowship on Sunday, December 20, 2015. At 5:15 pm we begin the evening with the presentation of “A TREE LOT CHRISTMAS-Joining Jesus’ Family Tree” presented by our children’s choirs and under the direction of our Children’s Minister, Cindy Lamb” The program will be in the fellowship hall. Following the children’s Christ-mas musical, enjoy a holiday POTATO BAR meal sponsored by our youth! The proceeds from the meal will benefit youth missions. Then at 7:00 PM head to the Sanctuary where our Sanctuary choir will present “THE FIRST NOEL (Born is the King), the 2015 Christmas cantata. The musical is written and arranged by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse and features several of our fine soloists plus a captivating video component. Celebrate the Christmas holidays with our choirs and youth!

Sally O’Neal Circle

Monday, December 14. 6:00 pm at Debra

Thorington’s Home. Everyone bring your

favorite finger food. Please bring at least

5 Christmas Cards for the Shut-In’s.

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE AT THE

PARSONAGE

DEC. 19th 2:00-5:00 P.M

White Christmas Food Boxes We Need Your Help

Please join us to assemble our White Christmas Food Boxes in the Fellowship Hall. We will start on Friday, Dec. 18 at 2:00 pm setting up our boxes and putting in staple/dry goods. On Sat-urday Dec. 19 at 8:00 am we will complete our boxes by adding the cold items. Boxes will be picked up at 9:00am and help loading boxes is always appreciated! A special offering will be taken for our White Christmas boxes at our Adult Choir Cantata on Sunday, Dec. 20 or you may make a contribution anytime during De-cember. Please designate on your check “White Christmas”. We have appreciated your generos-ity in the past and look forward to reaching out to our community in need.

Thank You!

The Mission’s Committee

A Tree Lot Christmas Update

It's almost here! We only have a couple of more rehearsals until our December 20 performance of "A Tree Lot Christmas." Here are some important updates that you will need to know:

If you have a speaking part in the play, you need to come at 5:00 on Wednesday, December 9 and Wednes-day, December 16. Our dress rehearsal has been CHANGED (because White Christmas needs the Fellowship Hall) to Thursday night, December 17 from 4:00-8:00 pm.

Kids will be given A Tree Lot Christmas tee shirt and they will wear this and jeans.

All kids need to be listening to their CD.

I look forward to this important message that our children will be sharing with you. Please be praying for us!

Sunday night, December 13, our SNL children will be having a Christmas party. We want to extend the invi-tation to all children, even if they are not a part of SNL. There will be pizza and a movie, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, fun and crazy games, and crafts. The party starts at 6:00 and ends at 8:00. Hope to see you there! Cindy Lamb, Director of Children’s Ministries

December 12, 2015: Trip to Opry Land. We will leave the church at 12 noon and will return around 6:00 p.m. Please bring money for lunch and dinner, an anything that you want to buy at the mall.

December 13, 2015: Find the Party. This is our Christmas Party this year. We are NOT doing dirty Santa or gift exchange. We will leave church at 5:00 p.m. So please be here BEFORE 5:00 p.m.

December 16, 2015: NO YOUTH

December 18 and 19, 2015: White Christmas Food Boxes and Angel Tree stuff. 8-12 noon on Saturday.

December 20, 2015: Children’s Christmas Play 5:00 p.m.

Big Stuf Fundraiser Baked Potato Bar 6:00 p.m.

Adult Christmas Cantata 7:00 p.m.

December 23, 2015: No youth

December 24, 2015: Christmas Eve service at church

December 27, 2015: No youth

December 30, 2015: No youth

In the GRIP of HIS grace, Randa Brown

Director of Youth Ministries

Listen to Our Church Service

WMSR 107.9 FM and 1320 AM

11:00 a.m.

LIVE Worship

10:00 a.m. Sunday School

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I Will Support My Church With My Service

Acolytes: December 13: 8:45 am: Natalie Fibelkorn

11:00 am: Lily Scott

Altar Guild: December: Brenda Bryan & Brenda Clark

Building Checkers: Wk of Dec.13 : TBA

Counters: December: Richard Dix

Coffee Time: December 13& 20:Lynne Jarrell

Greeters: December 13: 8:25am: Matt Duran & Leanna Truesdale

11:00am: Jack & Faye Huffman

Welcome Center: Dec. 13: 8:25 am: JaNelle Burt 11:00 am: Sue Reid Kitchen Monitor: December: Lois Thormaehlen

Sound Tech: December 13: 8:25 am: Dennis Clark 11:00 am: Ken Huddleston

If you need a copy of a volunteer schedule, please see Karen in the Office, or email: manchesterfumc@gmail.com

I Will Support My Church With My Presence

Attendance: Dec. 6

Sunday School

8:25 100

10:55 101

Hispanic Service -

Total: 201

I Will Support My Church With gifts

Dec.6 Missions 535.00

Good Sam 100.00

Youth Fund 115.00

History 75.00

Poinsettias 70.00

Angel gifts 500.00

White Christmas 765.00

Required Weekly 9,400.00

Budget Contribution 12,426.40

Year-to-date offering 438,796.90

Offering needed to date 460,600.00

(+/-) Difference (- 21,803.10)

Gifts given in memory of Johnny Locke by Inez Hendrix and Den-nis & Brenda Bryan to the General Budget and by Rosalie String-

fellow to the History Fund

Gifts given in memory of Sibbie Johnson by Mike & Karla Childs, Nancy Gilliam, Claus & Lois Thormaehlen to the White Christmas Fund, and by Beverly Smith, Mary Frances Brantley, Pat & Joane Cassady, and Inez Hendrix to the General Budget and by Bud &

Pam Riddle to the History Fund.

Gifts given in memory of Lori Prince (John Richardson’s sister) by Pat & Joane Cassady to the General Budget, and by Bud & Pam

Riddle to the Youth Fund

Gifts given in memory of David & Marie Haskew (Judy Hester’s Parents) by Max & Judy Hester to the General Budget

Gifts given in memory of Lecil & Don Hester (Max’s Parent’s) by

Max & Judy Hester to the General Budget

Gifts given in memory of Bob Smith by David & Lucy Smith to the Youth Fund.