MULBERRY STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

December 10, 2017

www.mulberrymethodist.org

As you know, Sara has decided to retire and this week our staff will honor her with a “retirement party” something that Sara did not really want us to bother with. She is that humble. We are so thankful for Sara and all the years she has given to this church and to all of us. We will miss her smile, her peaceful presence and her hard work. We wish her the very best in her “retirement” - which opens a new season in life for her and her family. If you have a spare moment, maybe you could send Sara a note thanking her for all of her years of service. Here’s her address: 228 Graham Woods Drive, Gray, GA 31032. For now, we simply thank God that he placed Sara in our midst. We are better because she passed our way.

Retirement of Sara Colvin

Every once in a while, God puts someone in your life to make you a better person. Some 29 years ago, God placed one of those persons in our midst. Her name is Sara Colvin. Many of you know Sara. You know her sweet spirit, her generous heart, her dedication and devotion. A few of us have been blessed by her superb cooking skills too! Sara has served as Mulberry’s Financial Secretary since July, 1988. She has done so with grace and with love for this church and her work. She has “mothered” many on our staff and has exemplified the love of Christ to perfection.

Sunday Worship December 17, 2017

Third Sunday of Advent

9:00 am Chapel 10:00 am NewRoom/Library Ballroom

11:00 am Sanctuary

The Wonder of Christmas: “The Wonder of Promise”

Luke 1:46b-55

Rev. Jimmy Towson

Assisting with Worship

Nine O’clock Ushers Tim Anderson & Tim Mathews

Eleven O’clock Ushers Russ Barber, Gregory Bushway, Gary Dunn,

Emory Dunn, Keith Fackler, Jim Manley,

Don Ream, Ken Smith, Vaughan Smith

& Lee Stevens

Acolytes Alex Stone, Lead Acolyte

Jake Jamison, Crucifer

Wilson Brown & Graham Hefner,

Candlelighters

Elizabeth Sellers, Baptism Aquifer

The arrangement in the chapel

is given to the glory of God

and in loving memory of

George, Anna and Robert Collier

by their daughter and sister Gail McNally.

The arrangement in the sanctuary is given

to the glory of God and in loving memory of

Mr. and Mrs. Mack Guest

by their children: Mack and Camilla,

Judson and Paula, June and Joe,

David and Debbie and 10 grandchildren.

Trevor Ward, Interim Director of Youth Ministries

Sunday Mornings Youth Sunday School

10:00 am – Youth Class Room 314

Sunday Evenings Anchored - 5:00 pm

Attendance Last Week

NewRoom Worship 95

Eleven O’clock Worship 356

Total Worship Attendance 451

Rose of Sharon Banner

During the weeks of Advent, in the atrium, you

will see our Rose of Sharon banner. Over the

next few weeks consider this – the Rose of

Sharon grows in dry and unfavorable conditions

producing a beautiful flower. The Rose of

Sharon is sometimes considered a symbol of the

most precious gift – Jesus, who came from the

root of Jesse and David to redeem and save us. “I

am the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley”

(Song of Solomon 2:1). Reflect on the beauty

and joys of this Advent season as we wait for the

coming of the Christ Child.

Chris Abbott, Worship Chair

Committed 2018 Pledge Report 2017 2018 Difference $758,863 $634,830 $(24,033) 162 pledges 134 pledges (28)

The Advent wreaths being displayed during this season continue a tradition adopted by Christians during the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. The evergreens that make up the wreath signify continuous life; and the circle shape of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, and the everlasting life found in Christ. The four candles around the wreath represent the four weeks of Advent. The white candle, placed in the center of the wreath, is lit on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Christ, the light of the world. The Advent wreaths are in memory of Cecil Robert Kelly (Sanctuary), and W.P. Stevens, Jr. (Chapel.)

Advent Wreath

Advent and Christmas at Mulberry

Sunday, December 17

Children’s Nativity

11:00 am service

Sunday, December 24

11:00 am Family Christmas Communion

Service/Sanctuary

4:30 pm Music of the Season/Sanctuary

5:00 pm Christmas Eve Communion

Service/Sanctuary

Sunday, December 31

9:00 am Worship – Chapel

10:00 am Worship – NewRoom

11:00 am - Sanctuary

You are invited to join us for a four week

Advent Study, The Songs of Advent, by Ed Rowell.

Rev. Jeff Cook will lead the study. Each session is stand alone.

Please bring your Bible and a pen. We will meet on Thursdays

from Noon – 1:00 p.m. on the following dates: December 7, 14, and 21.

All meetings will be held in the parlor. Lunch will be provided

and cost $5.00 per person Please R.S.V.P. to

jcook@mulberrymethodist.org or call the church office at 745-8601.

Youth Ministry In honor of David Baskette by Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Bridges

In honor of Rho Bridges by Mr. & Mr. Jeff Bridges

Macon Outreach Ministry In honor of Ed & Geneva Tucker

and Charley & Ella Smith by Bill & Norma Tucker

In honor of Gloria Wynn by Laurie & Ferd Kay

In memory of Emily Parker by Interest Group Forest Hills UMC UMW

In honor of Paul Riley and

“Hammers, Hands & Hearts” by Sam & Barbara Henley

Bryson and Catie Holloway will be presenting

their daughter, Annie Starr Holloway

for Holy Baptism

on Sunday, December 17, 2017

at the 11:00 am worship service.

Pam Johnston, Director of Children & Family Ministries

There is a bucket in the atrium to receive donations for Daybreak.

Supplies Needed: paper towels toilet tissue

13 gallon trash bags coffee coffee stirrers bleach disposable razors dish detergent tea bags

coffee creamer powdered juice mix razors Lysol spray family size body wash

tall kitchen bags

G2G Mission Trip

Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville, NC January 12-15, 2018

Cost: $195 (Balance due December 17th)

Registration forms are available on the volunteer desk in the church office.

Questions? Please contact your “Generational Coordinator”: For Youth contact Trevor, trevor.lamanze@gmail.com

For Ages 20 to 54 contact Jim Manley, jimmanley@synovus.com For Ages 55 and up contact Lee Triesenberg, leetree@bellsouth.net

Mulberry’s Community Garden Volunteers welcome on Mondays and Fridays at 9:00 am.

Family Advent at Mulberry

Children’s Nativity Sunday, December 17 - 11:00 am Worship

Family Christmas Eve Communion Service Sunday, December 24 - 11:00 am - Sanctuary

Clothing Needs Urgent need for SOCKS!

Women’s: clothes (large size) & shoes

Men’s: belts, shoes & jackets

Upper Rooms January/February issue of the Upper Room

is available in the Atrium.

Sunday Morning NewRoom Small Group 11:15 am

Contact: Jim Smith (478-747-4189) or Michael Woodward at woodward2191@windstream.net

Sunday Evening Women’s Bible Study 5:00 pm - Home of Molly Walker (4336 Old Club Road)

(Will not meet in December – Beginning again on January 7). They will be studying the book of Esther. All women are welcome.

Contact: Molly (478-731-7175) or mollywalker@cox.net.

Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study 6:15 am - Starbucks at 4640 Forsyth Street

Contact: Clare Rauls (478-731-6813) or clarerauls@bellsouth.net.

Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study 7:00 am - Taste and See Coffee Shop (downtown) Contact: Rev. Jimmy Towson (478-538-9067) or

jtowson@mulberrymethodist.org.

Tuesday Evening Small Group 6:30-8:00 pm - Home of Sam & Gini Lamback

(821 Wesleyan Drive) Contact: Rev. Sam and Gini Lamback

(478-550-3067) or lambacks@bellsouth.net.

Mulberry Street United Methodist Church 719 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201

P.O. Box 149, Macon, GA 31202 Office (478) 745-8601

www.mulberrymethodist.org

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED WEEKLY

Our 11 a.m. service is broadcast live over Radio Station AM 940 WMAC.

This Week at Mulberry

Sunday, December 17 9:00 am Worship/Chapel

9:30 Blue Room Kids 9:45 am Sunday School

10:00 am NewRoom Worship/Library Ballroom 11:15 am NewRoom Group

11:00 am Worship/Sanctuary 4:45 pm Anchored

Tuesday, December 19

6:15 am Women’s Bible Study/Starbucks 7:00 am Men’s Bible Study/Taste & See

12:00 pm Kiwanis/F-Hall 6:30 pm Small Group/Lamback’s

Wednesday, December 20

9:15 am CCM Chapel 10:30 am M/O Worship/Chapel

Thursday, December 21

9:30 am Circle of Friends Sewing Group/Rm 232 10:30 am DAR Mtg/Conf Rm

12:00 pm Advent Study/Parlor 12:00 pm DAR Luncheon/F-Hall

Sunday, December 24 9:30 Blue Room Kids

9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship/Sanctuary

4:30 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service/Sanctuary

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID MACON, GA

PERMIT NO. 417

Mulberry Street UMC Staff Jimmy Towson, Senior Pastor Jeff Cook, Associate Pastor

Trevor Ward & Tyler Giles, NewRoom Worship Leaders Richard Kosowski, Director of Music Pat Crowe, Organist

Bruce Bishop, Church Administrator Trevor Ward, Interim Director of Youth Ministries

Pam Johnston, Director of Children & Family Ministries Betsy Abbott, Director of Hospitality Karen Carter, Connections Director Sara Colvin, Financial Secretary Linda Parker, Administrative Secretary

Doris Andrews, Church Cook/Custodian Clifton Carswell, Jeffrey Smith & Michael Washington, Custodians

Tshanghi Corey, Director, Children’s Center Debbie Towson, Director, Macon Outreach

Rev. Jimmy Towson – 538-9067 Rev. Jeff Cook – 229-886-7032

Budget Report 2017

Gifts and Endowment General Fund Month Other Revenue Revenue Expense Net Balance _ Jan 68,829 32,043 121,616 (20,744) 223,451 Feb 72,512 19,516 109,744 (17,746) 205,705 Mar 86,407 37,723 133,327 (9,197) 196,508 Apr 105,391 21,823 118,338 8,875 205,383 May 51,561 16,871 115,157 (46,724) 158,659 Jun 65,270 33,569 125,412 (26,574) 132,085 Jul 76,150 14,272 98,239 (7,817) 124,268 Aug 73,917 37,629 134,854 (23,308) 100,960 Sep 60,833 20,661 118,562 (37,068) 63,892 Oct 88,765 35,868 134,493 (9,860) 54,032 Total YTD 749,635 269,975 1,209,772 (190,163) ____