Mt. Hope United

Church of

Christ

2400 Mt. Hope Church Rd.

Whitsett, NC 27377

Office: 336-697-1561

Fax: 336-697-1449

e-mail:mthope@triad.rr.com

website: www.mthopeucc.com

church co-pastors

Rev. Lynne Hinton

(505) 220-4594 (cell)

(336) 895-4971 (home)

Rev. Kristin Gerner Vaughn

(336) 402-2897 (cell)

(336) 617-0777 (home)

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Email: lynnehintonnm@aol.com

kristingvaughn@gmail.com

church secretary

Shirley Connor Office hours:

Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Thurs. - Fri., 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

consistory president

Dallas Belvin

choir director / organist

Tim Hucks

custodian

Brenda Currie

Mt. Hope Messenger December, 2016

Your Love Letter from Your Pastors:

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. Despite its

placement in the coldest season of the year, Christmas warms me on

the inside. There are some Christmas traditions I look forward to

every year. I love a good cup of hot cider and drinking out of my

Christmas mugs. I love making pies and teacher’s gifts and writing

notes to accompany the handmade gifts. I love watching the sparkle

in children’s eyes as the experience the lights and sounds of the

season. I love Christmas caroling and taking time to call friends of

old and catching up on life. These are just a few of my favorite

things about Christmas but none of them are what make Christmas

my favorite liturgical season of the year.

In Mike Slaughter’s book, Christmas Is Not Your Birthday,

he writes, “Over the last several years, I have had the privilege of

returning to my home high school to do assemblies on leadership

and to talk about Ginghamsburg Church’s work in Darfur. The

students at North College Hill High School in Cincinnati have raised

more than $35,000 to build kindergartens in Darfur. What’s so

amazing about this whole experience is the fact that I am

continually invited back to this place where I was once held in very

low esteem. I finished my junior year with four F’s and a D-. I was

not proficient in academics or athletics. My class ranking was 138

out of 152 (not to mention there were only 144 students by the end

of the year as 8 had dropped out). Every year despite my lackluster

performance as a juvenile, I am invited back to the same place and

think, “Yep, there’s the corner I sat in for a month in second grade”

or There’s the desk (and it is the same one from 40 years ago) in the

principal’s office where I sat” before receiving my due reward.

I read his story and was reminded yet again of the power of

the Christmas story. I love Christmas because it is the one time

during the year that everyone gets to celebrate their goodness.

Christmas is about a Savior, some call a King, but this King of

Christmas doesn’t seek to be puffed up with wealth and ego,

stationed somewhere in a castle unwilling to mingle with the

multitudes. This King was a baby, unable to feed himself or talk.

The world’s Savior came in the form of a life that was totally

dependent on the care that other’s gave. I love Christmas because

the first people that got the good news of the birth of the Christ-

child were the lowliest people of all…the stinky, smelly, shepherds.

This king wasn’t born with privilege or even

with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was born in a

place that no one else wanted, but that someone was

willing to share, a feeding trough in a stable. He

was born of a mother who was a common, ordinary

citizen whom everyone thought to be less than

noble for being with child. I love hearing the Lord

tell Mary, “With you, I have found favor.”

I love Christmas because this is a holiday for

everyone, the greatest and the least, the wealthy and

the poor, the strong the weak, the privileged and the

oppressed. I love Christmas because this is the day

when God looks at each of us and says, “My child, I

have found favor with you.”

That is my favorite part about Christmas!!

May these words drown out all the other things you

may hear and may their meaning seep into the

deepest fibers of your very being. Go tell it on the

mountain that Jesus Christ is born!!

Co-Pastor's Schedule Week Preaching On-Call Nov. 27 – Dec. 3 Lynne Lynne

December 4-10 Kristin Kristin

December 11 - 17 Lynne Lynne

December 18 – 24 Kristin Kristin

December 25-31 Lynne & Kristin Lynne

Mt. Hope United Church of Christ

Consistory Meeting

10-13-16

Members Present: Gloria Apple, Dallas Belvin,

Simon Clark, Elizabeth Craft, Bennie Gerner, Dora

Moore, Becky Stafford

Trustees Present: Randy Underwood

Pastors Present: Lynne Hinton

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m. A

quorum was established and Dallas welcomed all.

Devotions: Dora Moore presented devotions on

Luke 16:1&2. Be prayerful when making decisions

for the church. Dallas closed in prayer.

Trustees Report:

Bathroom upgrades - waiting on tile guy.

HVAC unit for parlor will be installed soon.

Rear basement door shut and locked and

getting estimates to replace the door.

Still watching Steeple Leak. At this point may

consider flashing.

Church clean-up day will be October 21st and

22nd. This will include landscaping clean up.

Porch light - still waiting to find a lift.

They have purchased a computer to control

the HVAC. It has been set up and working

properly.

Wesley met with Duke Energy about the

transformer and has not got a reply as of yet,

so he will call again.

Toilet in nursery needs to be checked. Bob

Hamlett and Harden Phipps working on

HVAC units over altar area.

Rear basement door knob/handle work

completed.

Co-Pastors’ Report:

Lynne thanked everyone for clergy

appreciation day and for those who took

Communion to the nursing homes and

homebound members.

Lynne and Kristin would like to take on a new

ministry for the association to welcome new

members to the association.

New member Sunday is November 20th. We

have three people who want to become

members. A motion was made and seconded

to accept their letters of transfer to become

members on November 20th.

Lynne works Monday through Wednesday

and Kristin works Wednesday – Friday.

Pastoral telephone calls - 60, visits - 5,

hospital & nursing home visits - 15, 12 office

visits, 13 meetings, 2 funerals and 1 baptism

and other special services.

Lynne will be on vacation November 9th – 15th

and Kristin will be on call November 11th &

12th while attending a meeting and on vacation

December 28-30th.

Approval of the Minutes: A motion was made and

seconded to accept the minutes as written with the

corrections. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Dora Moore presented a

report on September. The beginning balance in

September was $56,193.49 and the monthly income

was $17,751.40. Expenses were $23,346.41. This

resulted in a closing balance of $50,598.48. A

motion was made and seconded to accept the

treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried.

Meals4kids Report: Gloria Apple reported they

had their first bagging of the 2016-2017 school

year. The number of families this year has risen to

29 and they are doing two baggings per month.

Gloria expressed concern that sponsorship was

down and they are very thankful for the donations

they receive throughout the year. This ministry is

strictly maintained by sponsors and donations.

Lynne suggested she write a suggestion to put in the

bulletin that members/people could donate to

Meals4kids at Christmas in honor or memory of

someone special.

Stewardship Report: Simon Clark reported the hot

dog lunch and last one for this year will be October

15th.

Evangelism Report: Dallas/Elizabeth said they

will be meeting in the next couple of months. They

are wanting to have a new members’ dinner and

make more welcoming bags.

Old Business:

Personnel committee update.

Flag honoree plaque is work in progress.

Some members still need to do the Safe

Church Policy Training.

Legacy UCC will let us know when something

comes up.

WVA relief efforts - our source said there is

no need at this time and by general consensus

we will use the designated money for Matthew

relief.

New Business:

Bennie Gerner met with an electrical company

to replace every light bulb. The cost is

$680.00 for lamps. Bill Craft and Bennie

Gerner will donate this cost. There is a 5 year

guarantee on the lamps and they will come

back and replace. He will not replace the

lights in the sanctuary but will give us the

lights. It will take 2-3 weeks to replace them

all. A motion was made and seconded to

accept Bill and Bennie’s donation and have all

the lights replaced. Motion carried.

December 15th at 7pm at Kimbers Restaurant

in Gibsonville will the Christmas dinner for

church staff members, 2016 Consistory

Members and 2017 elected members.

Re-election of Consistory Officers will be

announced October 30th with a cut off of

November 6th. Vote will be November 13th.

We need to elect seven officers.

Sandee McDorman will take on the task of

delivering the food collections to Greensboro

Urban Ministries.

A motion to accept the 2017 proposed budget

was made and seconded. Motion carried.

Actions Approved by Dallas:

Dallas approved $145.92 to be paid to the City

of Greensboro for a water bill for a family in

need. This was taken from the Communion

Fund. A motion was made and seconded to

take $371.99 from the Community Resource

fund to pay the family’s Duke Energy bill. The

check is to be written to Duke Energy. Motion

carried.

Marianna Fittante has submitted her resume

applying to be a nursery worker. Dee Greeson

has done background check and had her

complete the safe church policy.

New Business:

A motion was made and seconded to make a

donation to the Homeless Bags Mission in

honor of Lynne and Kristin in the amount of

$500 to be taken from the Community

Resource fund. Motion carried.

One pew has been sold.

Next meeting will discuss Christmas bonuses.

Consistory 2017: Trustee, Stephen Shue is

finishing up his 3rd year and is up for reelection.

Consistory Members, Simon Clark, Dee Greeson,

Joe Hughes, Linda Shue and Elizabeth Craft are up

for reelection. Bob Hamlet and Becky Stafford have

served their terms and are going off so we will need

at least 2 more people.

Lynne closed in prayer.

Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Next meeting Thursday November 10, 2016

Respectfully Submitted, Gloria Apple, Secretary

It is difficult to believe that November 2016

has come to an end already. The month began with

the chicken pie/barbecue supper. It was great to

have so much fellowship as we worked to prepare

for that big event. The supper was well attended and

enjoyed by all who came. There were many

compliments on the food, and especially the

wonderful selection of desserts, as well as the Mt.

Hope pickles and beets.

Thank you to all who contributed items and

time to help make our annual bazaar a success!

The highly prized quilt was raffled, and the winner

was Mr. Bill Craft. It now has pride of place in our

bedroom. What a fabulous reminder of the lovely

ladies at Mt. Hope. And no—the drawing was not

rigged!

Three of us represented Mt. Hope at the

World Community Day celebration at Low’s

Lutheran church on November 4th. A small group

was in attendance but all received a very warm

welcome and delicious refreshments were served

after the program.

Our combined circles will meet at Linda

Miller’s home for our Christmas meeting on

Tuesday December 13th at 6:00 p.m. We are very

thankful that Linda has recovered from her recent

fall and feels able to cope with the usual rowdy

crowd! As usual, bring finger food to share and

remember that spouses are invited.

As we enter this period of Advent I pray that

each of you will receive the gifts of hope, joy and

peace as we prepare for the arrival of the Christ

Child.

Love, Elizabeth Craft

Greensboro Urban Ministry

Greetings good people of faith.

The generosity from Mt. Hope

United Church of Christ family

and friends surpassed last

month's donation of food items

weighing in at 199 lbs. During the

holiday seasons while shopping for family

gatherings please consider including an extra

can/package of food that will help our sisters and

brothers in need. Many thanks to all of you for your

continued generosity. The December collection

dates are Sunday, December 4th and again on

Sunday, December 11th. Of course, you can bring

your donations any time. The containers are in the

entryways and in the breezeway.

Our Friends & Neighbors group met

Tuesday, November 15, in the fellowship hall. We

were led by Nancy Wimbish who welcomed

everyone. Nancy also gave us an update on Dottie

who had a doctor’s appointment and was unable to

join us. Dottie, we send you our love; we miss you

and hope you will be back with us soon. Doug

Clapp had our devotion which recognized special

occasions in November such as Thanksgiving,

voting, Veterans Day, and others that point out how

fortunate we are to live in America. Doug talked

about spiritual warfare and remembered the old

song, Onward Christian Soldiers and how the

church should continue to be on the offensive as it

will not be overcome because Christ’s promises

cannot fail.

Nancy conducted the business portion of our

meeting. We signed cards for the sick, and sang

happy birthday to those who have birthdays in

November. The birthday folks were: Cynthia

Morris, Thomas Bowles, Many Ann Strader, and

David Clapp. Door prizes were awarded to Pat

Branson, Cynthia Morris, and Linda Neese.

We thoroughly enjoyed our speaker Robin

Halsey, aka “Granny Codine” who shared funny

comments about most everyone who was there. She

kept us laughing as we enjoyed her humorous

routine and remarks. Thanks to Doug and Dianne

Clapp for arranging Granny’s visit with us. On

November 29 the Greensboro Oratorio Singers will

present the “Messiah” at the Carolina Theater at

7:00 pm. Doug and David Clapp will participate in

the musical as members of this group.

Everyone brought toys in support of Mt.

Hope Fire Department’s toy drive for kids to have a

brighter Christmas. The firemen came and picked

up the toys to make delivery in our community.

Lunch was shared and enjoyed at Western Steak

House before returning to the church.

Our next meeting will be on December 20 in

the fellowship hall at 10:30 am. Remember to bring

canned goods for Greensboro Urban Ministry. We

will be entertained by the Snappy Tappers followed

by lunch at the Golden Corral. Be sure to join us;

we always have a good time.

The Fall Chicken Pie / Barbecue Supper and

Ladies’ Bazaar took place on Saturday,

November 5th. Many thanks to all those who

helped to make it another great success! More

photos can be seen on Facebook and on the

church website.

The winner of the raffle quilt for this year was

Mr. Bill Craft. Congratulations to him!

New Members: On November 20th we were excited

to have new members joining our church family.

We welcomed Stephanie Webb and Wendy Bartos

who joined us by transfer of membership, Sandee

McDorman and Katelyn Gossett who come to us

through the sacrament of baptism. What a

wonderful day of celebration for our growing

community of faith.

Pictured left to right: Pastor Lynne, Sandee

McDorman, Stephanie Webb, Wendy Bartos,

Katelyn Gossett, and Pastor Kristin

Thanksgiving Day: Thanksgiving Day was a busy

one around here again this year. Many of our church

family were busy preparing and transporting a

Thanksgiving meal for the residents of Alamance

Plaza. They were so appreciative of the food and the

fellowship that they were served as is indicated by

this thank-you note from one of the residents: “Dear

Church members: Many, many thanks for your

Thanksgiving visit with your wonderful dinner. The

whole afternoon was so lovely. I enjoyed the meal

and the friendship and kindness of all of you and the

time to share with you and my fellow residents. It

meant a great deal to all of us who had no family or

friends nearby to share with us. The fact that you all

were willing to spend so much time preparing us a

delicious meal and spend your precious

Thanksgiving time with us was especially

meaningful. You were such a blessing to all of us

and I thank you with all of my heart. Your friend,

Paula Jean Meinar. May God bless you all.”

Church Decorating: A great big thank you to all

those who came out to help decorate our church for

the Christmas season! We had 40 helpers which is

a record number! We not only got the work done,

but we all had a great time doing it! Thank you all

for your help! - Music & Worship Committee

Check out the photos below. More can be

found on Facebook:

Mark Your Calendars: We will need your help

taking down Christmas decorations on Monday,

January 9 at 6:30 p.m. Please plan to attend!

Here are the remaining Children's

Christmas Play practices: (Please

note the additional Saturday

practices)

Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:30-12:30

Sunday, Dec. 4, 4:30-6:30

Saturday, Dec. 10, 10:30-12:30 (dress rehearsal)

Children’s Christmas Play: This

year, we will be doing a children's

Christmas play called "Hark the

Angel Sang Off Key". We plan to

perform it on Sunday, December 11

after the worship service. A soup & sandwich meal

(by donation) will be served by the youth with the

play to follow. Plan to be here to enjoy the play and

the fellowship!!

The Homeless Bags Ministry has

been a great success with all of

your support and donations. Just a

reminder, we bag on the 3rd

Sunday of the month and deliver

the bags on the 4th Sunday of each

month. Anyone is welcome to join us. As the

fall/winter season will be approaching soon, these

bags are just as important as they were during the

Spring/ Summer months. Below are few things that

we try to put in each bag. Bring toiletries and food

for the youth sponsored homeless ministry, also

collecting for the “Warm Bags” socks, gloves,

scarves, hats and hand warmer heat packs. Our

next bagging will be Saturday, December 17th at

9:00 a.m.

The following items are greatly needed:

Pudding/Fruit/Applesauce Cups Band-Aids

Plastic Spoons Tooth Brush

Individual packs of crackers Tooth Paste

Potted meats, tuna, chicken Beef Jerky

Shampoo, Conditioner Soap

Bottled Water Deodorant

Lotions Chap Stick

Rain Ponchos Umbrellas

Book Bags

Travel Size Items – If you travel and stay in a

hotel, collect the toiletries they put in the bathroom

and donate for our bags. We can use any items you

would like to donate, we have a misc. box that we

keep in case someone is in need of special items.

Individual Kleenex, dental floss, cough drops,

candy. In the winter we hope to offer, blankets,

gloves, toboggans, hand warmers, etc.

The Poinsettia Fund - Due to the

overwhelming success of our

change in tradition in 2013, we are

NOT going to order poinsettias

again this year to decorate our

church. Instead, we are going to

give you an opportunity to donate money in

memory or in honor of your loved ones. The funds

collected and placed in the Poinsettia Fund will be

divided between Urban Ministry and the

Meals4Kids Mission. An insert will be placed in

the bulletin on Sunday, December 18th, listing

the names of the memorials and honorees. Instead

of purchasing a poinsettia, we hope you will donate

$10 toward this worthy cause. Please turn in your

donations and completed forms to the office or

place in the offering plate by Sunday, December

11th. Thank you! The form is located at the end

of this newsletter.

The Christmas Fund

Offering: This year we

will be collecting the

Christmas Fund

Offering on Sunday,

December 18th. For 115 years, the Christmas Fund

for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency

Fund has been a tangible expression of God’s love.

One of the four Special Mission Offerings of the

United Church of Christ, the Christmas Fund

provides UCC congregations and members an

opportunity to reach out in loving compassion,

providing assistance to those who have so faithfully

served our Church and who now find themselves

facing unexpected financial needs. The theme of the

2016 Christmas Fund Offering is God’s Love

Colors Everything. Be praying now about what

you can give to this special offering this year.

Sunday, December 18 at 3:00 PM

we will be caroling to our

homebound members and those

living in facilities. Please join us

in the New Fellowship Hall

where we will divide up into groups to bring cheer

and holiday greetings to special members of our

congregation and then we will return around 5:00

for hot chocolate and goodies!

Our Christmas Eve Service will be

held at 8 PM in the sanctuary. We

will have special music, share in

communion, and light candles as

we welcome the coming of our

Lord. Plan to attend and be a part of

this sacred night of worship.

Join us for worship on

Christmas Day as we

participate in the event, Las

Posadas. Las Posadas is a

novenario (nine days of

religious observance) celebrated

chiefly in Mexico and by

Mexican-Americans in the Southwestern United

States, beginning December 16 and ending

December 24. This happens during the evenings

during which Mexican families participate in

nightly Christmas processions that re-create the

Holy Pilgrimage of Mary, Joseph and the baby

Jesus on their way to Bethlehem. The ritual has

been a tradition in Mexico for 400 years. Many

Mexican holidays include dramatizations of original

events, a tradition which has its roots in the ritual of

Bible plays used to teach religious doctrine to a

largely illiterate population in Europe as early as the

10th and 11th centuries.

At ten o’clock on Christmas Sunday, we

will meet in the sanctuary with Mary and Joseph

and then walk around inside the church, going to

different places to knock on the door to see if there

is room for guests. After being turned away from

several rooms, we will proceed down into the New

Fellowship Hall where we will enjoy our Christmas

Day Worship Celebration as Mary and Joseph

finally find a place to rest and to give birth to the

Christ-child. Afterwards, we will have a light

breakfast together as we joyfully celebrate the

coming of Christ. A great opportunity for children

to experience the walk to Bethlehem, please come

and bring all the members of your family. Dress

comfortably (pajamas for children are okay!) as we

will have this brief worship experience and

fellowship! You’ll have time to get home and enjoy

the rest of Christmas Day with your family!

Youth Schedule

Sunday, December 4

9:45 a.m., Youth / Sunday School

Sunday, December 11

9:45 a.m., Youth / Sunday School – Meet in

basement

Noon, Soup and Sandwich Meal followed by

Christmas Program / Guest visit from Santa

Saturday, December 17

9:00 a.m., Pack Bags for Homeless

Sunday, December 18

9:30 a.m., Deliver bags to the Homeless

Sunday, December 25

No Youth / Sunday School

10:00 a.m. Service Only

CHRISTMAS CARD EXCHANGE: The youth

will be sponsoring the Christmas Card Exchange

mailbox service again this year. It will be set up in

the hallway near the mailbox area on December 4th

through December 25th. All you have to do is drop

off the cards and they will be sorted and ready for

pickup after Sunday School.

Are you interested in a deeper

prayer experience? Centering

Prayer is a contemporary name

for the practice that Jesus refers

to as “prayer in secret” in the

Sermon on the Mount. In the

course of time this prayer has

been given other names such as

“prayer of the heart” and “prayer of simplicity.” In

the book, Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas

Keating, the practice of centering prayer is

explained. Beginning January 8, after Sunday

evening Vespers at 6:00 PM, anyone interested in

joining a centering prayer group will be invited to

stay for an extra twenty minutes of silence. If you

would like a book to learn more about this spiritual

practice, see Pastor Lynne.

We are beginning a new Church-

wide Bible Study in January entitled, The Story. The adult study

begins Wednesday, January 18 at

6:30 PM and the children’s study

begins Sunday, January 22 at 4:30.

Created by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, this 31

week venture takes us through the entire Bible as

one continuing story of God and God’s people.

Written like a novel, The Story, the basis for the

curriculum, uses selections from the New

International Version of the Bible, to bring the

stories of God and God’s people alive for the

contemporary audience. There are books written for

children and teenagers, both of them sharing the

story of the Bible in easy, age-appropriate material.

If you would like to join the adults as we study

together or if you would just like to have your own

copy of the hardcover book (for $6), please let

Pastor Lynne or Pastor Kristin know before

December 15. (Children’s books are $20). These

would also make great Christmas gifts if you would

like to purchase extras! For more information about

the series, check out the website,

www.thestory.com.

Save the Date: Youth Outing -

"Airbound Trampoline Park" -

January 29th: Our youth have

selected their next outing. They

would like to go to a trampoline

park. Please mark your calendars to join in the fun

on this date, directly following worship.

Simon and Brittany Clark would like

to announce that they have been

blessed with a new baby girl!

Emerson Wrigley Clark was born

November 23rd at 9:40 am. She

weighed 8 lbs. & 3 oz. and was 20 inches long. Big

Sister Addison is very protective of her baby!

Mt. Hope Aprons: We still

have some Mt. Hope Church

Aprons. They are $16 each and

would make a great Christmas

gift for the cooks you love.

Proceeds support the youth.

Please contact Gloria Apple if

you are interested. 336-312-

8951 or gloria@industrialpowerinc.com

Pews: There are a few pews for

purchase. If you are interested,

please call Bennie Gerner (336-697-

1620). The cost is $150 per pew.

Alternative Holiday Gift Giving Tired of trying to figure out what to get the person who has everything? Want to make your Christmas spending make a difference? We have some alternate gift ideas to share with you. $10--Meals4Kid This donation will buy a backpack full of food for 1 family.

$100--Meals4Kid This donation will buy a backpack full of food for a family 1 weekends out of every month for the school year. The church makes 58 bags per month.

$200--Meals4Kid This donation will buy a backpack full of food for a family 2 weekends out of every month for the school year. The church serves 29 families.

$5--Peacehaven Farm Honor Cards An honor card is a Christmas card that you can purchase to send to a friend, co-corker, family, pastor, someone special to honor them. Purchasing the card supports the organization and mission of Peacehaven Farm. Cards available here at Mt. Hope.

$5--Greensboro Urban Ministry Honor Cards An honor card is a Christmas card that you can purchase to send to a friend, co-corker, family, pastor, someone special to honor them. Purchasing the card supports the organization and mission of Greensboro Urban Ministry. Cards are available here at Mt. Hope.

Dear Mt. Hope UCC Family, We cannot begin to

express how much the Mt. Hope UCC family and

community has meant to us throughout the years.

Your support and love have provided us with the

strength of faith to move forward in our journeys

after the loss of Larry and Patsy. The foundations

they represented during their lives will always be

cherished and their legacy reflected in the lives of

those they touched. We will always call Mt. Hope

UCC home....a blessing. Much love and admiration,

Stephanie, Clay, Kevan, Sharon, Clint, Marissa,

Megan, and Matt

A Special thank you to Gloria and Jeryl Apple for

donating the storage cabinet in the choir room. Also

thanks to Bill Craft for adding the extra shelves in it

for the choir room needs.

To my family at Mt. Hope, Thank you so much for

all of the thoughts, prayers, and concerns over the

last few weeks following my knee surgery. I am

healing very well and I feel very thankful knowing

that I have such a great group of friends supporting

me. Again, thank you so much for all of the help

along this journey. Yours in Christ, Stephanie Webb

To All at MHUCC! Just want to say thank you for

all the cards, visits and prayers during my surgery.

They say I have a ways to go but I am getting out

some now. May God bless all of you! Thanks again

for your kindness. Jimmy Greeson

Our Christian sympathies and our prayers go

out to the families of the following individuals

who passed away this past month:

Max Watkins – November 2nd – Uncle of Joe

Hughes

Evelyn Neese – November 10th – mother of

Sandra McCray

Chris Eller – November 10th – son of Peggy Eller

Ellen Naylor Hargis – November 17th – mother of

Tony Staley

Iona Humble – November 22nd – sister of Clarine

& Jeanne Ingold & sister-in-law of Lu Eller

Ingold

December Birthdays

2nd Cindy Hughes, Rocky Royal

3rd Linda Miller, Christine Robinson

4th Chelsey Cox, Austin Whitesell

5th Douglas Clapp, Bennie Gerner

7th Pamela Greeson, Carolyn Simpson

8th Lauren Moser

9th Brenda Hutchen

10th Kent Taylor

11th David Roberts

12th Emily Neal

13th Dallas Belvin, Lance Belvin, Stacy Gardner,

Cory Underwood, Megan Underwood,

Sherron Whitesell

15th Jonathan Vaughn, Cheyenne Wilkerson

16th Jason Hughes

17th Barry Andrews, Mary Beth Day

20th Elizabeth Craft

22nd Denny Ingold, Zoey Lashley, Sophia

Levens, Harold Reece, Sr.

23rd Todd Chapmon, Brenda Currie, Jerry

Greeson, Debbie Underwood

24th Tracy Brady

25th Don Kirkman

26th Anne Welker

27th Whitney Gleaton

28th Philip Brewer, Cathy Gossett, Andrew

Needham

29th Tamara Greeson, J.R. Shoffner, Jr., Abby

Strouth

30th Annie Lee Apple

December Anniversaries

22nd Jack & Dona Branson

Goldie & Carol Sawyer

Calendar

1st 7:00 p.m., Creative Worship Team

7:00 p.m., High Lonesome Strings

3rd 10:30 a.m., Play Practice

4th Collecting for Urban Ministry

9:45 a.m., Sunday School

11:00 a.m., Worship, Pastor Kristin

4:30 p.m., Play Practice

6:00 p.m., Vespers

6th 9:00 a.m., Quilters Meet

6:00 p.m., Garden Club

7th 6:30 p.m., Bible Study

6:45 p.m., Handbell Choir Practice

7:30 p.m., Choir Practice

8th 7:00 p.m., Consistory

10th 10:30 a.m., Play Practice (Dress Rehearsal)

11th Collecting for Urban Ministry

9:45 a.m., Sunday School

11:00 a.m., Worship, Pastor Lynne

12:00 p.m., Soup & Sandwich Lunch

Children’s Play

13th 9:00 a.m., Quilters Meet

6:00 p.m., Ladies’ Combined Dinner

14th 6:30 p.m., Bible Study

6:45 p.m., Handbell Choir Practice

7:30 p.m., Choir Practice

15th 7:00 p.m., Creative Worship Team

7:00 p.m., Consistory / Staff Dinner

17th 9:00 a.m., Pack Bags for Homeless

18th 9:30 a.m., Youth Deliver Bags for Homeless

9:45 a.m., Sunday School

11:00 a.m., Worship, Pastor Kristin

Christmas Fund Offering

3:00 p.m., Christmas Caroling

5:00 p.m., Refreshments in NFH

6:00 p.m., Vespers

20th 9:00 a.m., Quilters Meet

10:30 a.m., Friends & Neighbors

21st 6:00 p.m., Blue Christmas Service

6:45 p.m., Handbell Choir Practice

7:30 p.m., Choir Practice

23rd Shirley will be out of the office

24th 8:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Service

Communion

25th Merry Christmas!!

10:00 a.m., Worship

27th 9:00 a.m., Quilters meet

28th No Bible Study

6:45 p.m., Handbell Choir Practice

7:30 p.m., Choir Practice

Luke 2: 1-20 (King James Version)

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went

out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the

world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius

was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own

city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the

city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David,

which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the

house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being

great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the

days were accomplished that she should be

delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and

wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a

manger; because there was no room for them in the

inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds

abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock

by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:

and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,

behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which

shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find

the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a

manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a

multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and

saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone

away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one

to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and

see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord

hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and

Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known

abroad the saying which was told them concerning

this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those

things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered

them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and

praising God for all the things that they had heard

and seen, as it was told unto them.

Poinsettia Fund

The Poinsettia Fund – As we did last year, instead of Poinsettias, we are giving

you the opportunity to donate money in memory or honor of your loved ones. If

you would like to donate at least $10, the money collected in this Fund will be

divided between Urban Ministry and Meals4Kids Mission. Please turn in your

donations along with a completed form by Sunday, December 11. Make your

check payable to Mt. Hope UCC and place in the offering plate or mail it in to the

church office.

An insert listing the names of the contributors and honorees will be included

in the bulletin on December 18th.

Name__________________________________________

Phone________________________________________

Amount Enclosed_______________________

In Memory of __________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

In Honor of _____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________