Finance UpdateJanuary Opening Balance $ 38,860.83Giving thru September $ 334,795.43 Spending thru September $ 363,281.71September Closing Balance $ 10,374.55

Altar Plants & FlowersAltar plants & flow-

ers are provided by Charles Bruce Flower

Endowment Fund.

Please Note: Names added to the prayer list will remain on the list for 30 days if needed. They will be relisted by request.

Several months ago I mentioned that I would be coordinating an adult mission experience between Christmas and New Year’s Eve this year. However, due to when those dates fall and that there will be a Fifth Sunday even on December 30th, I believe the time was inappropriate. So, I wanted to let you all know that we will be looking at a mission experience in January or February of 2013. If there is anyone interested in working with me to develop this experience, please contact me as soon as possible. I appreciate your patience.

Grace and peace, Jack

You will find the links to FUMC Facebook, and YouTube on our website

www.fumcmv.org

Turn Your Clocks Back

Sunday, November 4

Christmas has been hijacked. Beginning in early October, we see holiday banners hanging from shopping mall ceilings and plastic trees lining store shelves. Christmas music begins to fill the airwaves as fall pumpkins are turning bright or-ange. Each year, the sights and sounds of Christmas come a little earlier, and merchandise gets a little more tempting.

This Advent study, A Different Kind of Christmas: Liv-ing and Giving Like Jesus, encourages us to move our focus away from consumerism and to reclaim the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. You will be inspired to establish new Christmas traditions that focus on Jesus Christ.

This study is part of a churchwide program that includes five week studies for adults, youth, and children, so your whole church family can participate in the effort to reclaim Christmas.

At the 9:45 a.m. Sunday school hour all the adults and youth will gather in the Sanctuary to view a brief video by Mike Slaughter. We will then dismiss with a prayer to our normal Sunday school classrooms. Study materials are $7.55 a copy. If you would like to order one: please write ADVENT on the Registration Sheet or contact the church office this week.

People who do not have a Sunday school class may remain in the Sanctuary to discuss the topic of the day with Pastor Jack.

HELPERS NEEDED!!!for OUR COMMUNITY Thanksgiving Dinner @ Noon

Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22Help Needed:

10-11 am Set up tables and dinnerware Receive food donations Help with preparations11-Noon Receive food donations Help with preparations Prepare takeout mealsNoon-1 pm Deliver take out meals Help serve dinner1-2 pm Help Clean up

your help is neededOur community Thanksgiving Dinner

is a wonderful outreach to those who are alone on this special day and to home-bound residents who need meals delivered to them. Our church has provided this meal for more than 25 years. Church members share food and bring it to the church. Deb & Bruce Morris are the coordinators and this year they need more helpers. Contact them at 903-860-7245 or the church office if you can help.

you are invited to join us

for thanksgiving dinner

order yourChristmas Wreaths,

Swags & TreesGet ahead of the Christmas rush and or-

der your Christmas wreath, door swatch, and/or tree today. They are made from fresh Michigan Frazier firs. Wreaths are decorated with red bow, holly berries, and pine cones. Door swatches are decorated with red bow and a pine cone.

DOOr SWATCh _______________$16

WrEATHSSmall (22 inch diameter) $23Medium (32 inch diameter) $32Large (42 inch diameter) $52

TrEE Sizes Available5/6ft $396/7ft $467/8ft $558/9ft $619/10ft $85

These are great prices for beautiful greenery. The youth will receive up to 50% of the price to help with our mission projects. Deadline to order is November 15th. They will be avail-able for pick-up on December 5th.

Christmas Order FormNAME

___________________________________

PHONE _______________________

Wreath-Size: S ___ M ___ L___ Door Swatch _____Tree-Size: 5/6____ 6/7_____

7/8_____ 8/9_____ 9/10______

Amount due:________________

Questions? Call Cindy at (903)537-3616.Put your order in the collection plate

or mail it with your check to:FUMC, PO Box 659, Mt. Vernon, TX 75457

October 31, 2012 Prayer ListAndrea AbbottTom AdamsZoey ArthurEvelyn BawdonJunior BishopBeth BolgerBetty CasonDoris ClappTim DillardJean DuckLandon DunavantChuck EtheridgeMelba FabelJoyce FloydSally Ford

Charles MasseyZoe Matherroy McCannross McConaghyLinda McDanielCindy McDonaldJanice McKeeLanny MooreDebra NicholsNorth Texas Conference henry OertelMelinda Sue PlottBarbara PointsBonnie ramsey Oscar reeder

Bryan FreemanWally FreemanGerald FritzgeraldVivian FritzGene GardnerFelix GarrisonLinda GarrisonDebbie GuthrieJo hansenDylan HeislerBen HollowayGladys JustusMelea LasaterHelen LuncefordAndy Males

Lela robertsLaVada Simpson Becky StewartLinda StinsonSteve SullivanVickey ThamesJoAnn TurnerErnie VenteicherMarie Walkerrodney WalkerJulie WhitakerKathy WootenSteve WrightGary Zemp

Sympathy...to Nadine Jennings on the death of her brother, Tommy Tinsley....Niki Armstrong on the death of her sister-in-law, Glenna Knotts.

ADVENT STUDYA Different Kind of Christmas

Begins November 25

Brothers and Sisters,As we enjoy the beautiful Fall weather here in East Texas, many of our family, friends

and fellow United Methodists on the East Coast from North Carolina through New Eng-land begin recovery after the results of the devastating Hurricane Sandy.

We at FUMC Mount Vernon will support this recovery through our tried and true relief organization of the United Methodist Church. We will have a “second-mile Com-munion offering” this Sunday that is designated to UMCOr US Disaster response, Hur-ricanes 2012, of the United Methodist Committee on relief. By a second-mile offering, we mean, beyond your normal giving to the general operating expenses or other giving through FUMC. If you would like to see what UMCOr is doing click on this link http://www.umcor.org/UMCOr/resources/News-Stories/2012/October/Within-Dark-Devas-tation-Sparks-of-Hope .

I am very expectant of the graciousness of the people of FUMC helping our neighbors through UMCOr. All thanks to God for giving us the ability to help those who may have lost everything. Please pray for the people, the first responders, the rescuers, the cleanup crews, the medical personnel, and the extended families and friends as they go through a long recovery. May God bless our efforts in our support.Grace and peace, Jack

CHURCH BAZAAR

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17BAZAAR ITEMS NEEDED

Plans for the bazaar are in full swing. The crafty ladies have been crafting. The youth will be cooking. You can help.SILENT AUCTION

Do you have a talent or item to donate for the auction? Please call Becky Arterbury at 903-860-3661 or Niki Armstrong at 903-860-2976

COUNTRY KITCHEN We need your tamales, cakes, cookies, homemade breads and pie to sell by the slice.

CHICKEN STEW Billy & Veronica need 8 cooked chickens with broth separate.

Also: 2-5lb bags of legs & thighs Contact Billy Jordan at 903-537-4390 for questions.OTHER HELP?

If you can help with the bazaar in other ways, call Becky Arterbury at 903-860-3661.SILENT AUCTION: Talents, Treasures, & Skills

Your special skills and talents can help make the Bazaar Auction a great success. In the past those skills have included babysitting services, 1 dessert a month, breakfast or dinner for a group, guided fishing trips, gift certificates and many other skills.

You might also consider contributing a special item to the auction such as an afghan, decorated clothing, antique treasures, unique collectibles or art items.

If you have a skill or an item you would wish to contribute to the Church Bazaar, please complete this form and drop it in the collection plate, take it to the church office or call Becky Arterbury at 903-860-3661.

Our youth and their parents hosted a homecoming dance for the all the youth at Mt. Vernon High School. The dance was a great success. More than 150 youth came to the Family Life

Center for fellowship and fun. Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this a very special and safe evening for our youth. Special thanks to the congregation for supporting our youth programs with your prayers and special donations. Our youth and our children are so blessed with your caring.

Our 2012 Pumpkin Patch was another huge success. More than 700 excited children came to the church for their pumpkins, candy, stories by Miss Pam, and hayrides through the neighborhood.

A special thanks to the dozens of volunteers who worked so hard on this special outreach ministry. Thanks to our church family for your support in reaching out to the children of our community.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCHP.O. Box 659, Mt. Vernon, Texas 75457

903.537.3616 Website: fumcmv.org Email: office@fumcmv.org

First United Methodist ChurchHwy. 37 North of I-30PO Box 659Mt. Vernon, TX 75457

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage PaidPermit #30

Mt. Vernon, TX 75457

The

Messenger

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Jack’s Journal October 31, 2012

October FunPumpkin Patch, Homecoming Festivities,Wednesday Nite Live Dinners, God’s Olympians,

Youth & Children’s Choirs, Financial Peace University, Credo Confirmation Class, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts are all in full swing.

Pumpkin Patch

Homecoming Dance

We are always blessed by You, O God, in many ways throughout our lives. On October 9, 2012, 12:01 pm, I was especially blessed as I sat in the living room at the home of my brother Dave and his wife Carol. With my laptop open upon my lap, I experienced a 30-minute, uninterrupted time listening to Garrett and Jillian sing “Indescribable”, to the Choir sing their anthem “What a Wonderful World”, and to Craig Greenberg bringing the message “Where Do I Begin?” While I lis-tened, my mind replayed my experience of walking in Times Square in New York City, gazing at the vistas of the city from the observation deck on the Empire State Building, walking along the streets around the World Trade Center Memorial, and looking above at the Freedom Tower construction. You Are Amazing, God!

Then, Craig Greenberg stood before me in the pulpit and witnessed to his faith in You, God, a journey from a Jewish family to a Christian who understands and believes in Your sovereignty, Your love, and Your redemption in Christ. You Are Amazing, God!

Craig said, “I’ve traveled all over the world and have not come across a single person who did not know ’in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.’” Wow, how much a truth, Lord, especially since I was immersed in the melting pot of ethnicity, philosophy, morality, religion, and ideology. So revealing

in all respects! Indescribable!Garret and Jillian thanks for sharing your

music with me and with the world. Your an-nunciation of words was wonderful, your voices blended, and your facial expressions revealed our amazing God.

Choir, thanks for sharing the anthem. To come together cooperatively and sing of the wonder-

ful world our Father created—what a blessing! Craig, thanks for connecting my experience in New

York City in a vivid and affirming way, reminding me that “You are amazing, God!” You gave an absolutely fine, heartfelt presentation of the Word to each of us. Thanks for being a great steward of all creation, espe-cially in your life.

FUMC, Mt. Vernon, you were blessed in my ab-sence as I knew you would be. We missed you all, but Marlane and I are blessed even more so now that we returned and entered into ministry with you again. May God continue to bless our ministry together.

Church Conference Sunday, November 18

2:00 pm in the SanctuaryFUMC will host five churches for our

annual Church Conference. This is a great time to learn more about what

your church and others in our district are doing in ministry.

Ad Board Meeting Monday, November 5 @ 5 pm

Room 201 - FLC

Monday, November 19

7:00 pm @ First Baptist ChurchPlease mark your calendar for Monday, No-vember 19. First Baptist Church will host the annual community-wide Thanksgiving Service to benefit the Mt. Vernon Ministe-rial Alliance Fund and the Food Bank.

Community thanksgiving Worship

monday, november 19 @ 7 pmFirst Baptist Church

thanksgiving Dinnernovember 22 @ noon

Family Life Center

8:00am to 2:00 pm

Family Life

Center

novemBer 17

The children’s choir did an outstanding job singing at CountryFest, as did Garrett and Jillian.

They are going full speed learning new music, and also having a great time drumming. Our children’s choir has been asked to sing at the Church Bazaar on November 17th. What a blessing they will be to all who hear.

Children’s Choir to CountryFest