jonesboro united methodist churchn.b5z.net › i › u › 6133080 › i ›...

Special points of interest: • From Pastor Joe

pg 3

• Honorariums/Memorials pg 4

• Worship pg 7

• Christmas Worship & Events pg 8

• Military Ministry pg 9

• Women’s Ministries pg 10

• Men’s Ministries pg 11

• Music Ministry pg 12

• JUMC Youth / Kids pg 13

• CUOC Food Needs pg 14

• In Ministry This Month pg 14

• Birthdays pg 15

Jonesboro United Methodist Church

December 2008

Life Together Members Commit Prayers, Presence, Gifts and Service

CHILDREN AND YOUTH CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

December 14, 2008 - 4:30 pm JUMC Wesley Center

Covered Dish Dinner to follow

All children and youth from preschool through high school are

invited to participate.

No costumes necessary.

All participants will need to arrive at 4 pm on Sunday, Dec. 14..

Program contacts: Jenny Duff 258-6129, Dwayne Williams, Juli Odell,

Caroline Ashburn, Randy Atkins.

See page 12 for rehearsal information.

A Christmas To Remember

During our Stewardship Sundays, Novem-ber 9, 18, and 23, JUMC members made their commitments of prayers, presence, gifts and service, pledging toward the 2009 church planning and making com-mitments to pray for JUMC, attend wor-ship, Bible study and Sunday School. While many have returned their com-mitment cards, members who haven’t are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to help the church reach its goals for 2009. Members who were unable to return their commitment cards during these Sundays can mail them to JUMC, bring them by the Church Office or place them in the offering plate on Sunday mornings.

Managing Finances God’s Way Do you know… …there are more than 2,350 verses in the Bible about money? Would you be interested to learn about “Managing Our Finances God’s Way”? Please consider participating in a seven-week, video-based, small-group study (by the author of The Purpose Driven Life and the founder of Walk Through the Bi-ble) on the subject of biblical financial management. Please contact the church office at 775-7023 or David Taylor ([email protected]) if you would like to participate. He proposes starting this session after the first of the year.

Li fe Together

Prayers for the Month For the Month: Lord God, I am your servant. Make me ready to accept your plans for me. Amen. (Luke 1:38) Mealtime Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come to our table. Come into our hearts. Fill us with your love. Amen. A Blessing to Share: May the Lord be with you. May God’s favor rest on you and his Spirit come to you. Amen. (Luke 1:28-30,35)

Written by Pastor Greg Priebbenow—Australia

December 2008 Special Events Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 World AIDS Day Observance

2 3 4 5 6 • Pancake Breakfast with Santa, 8-11 am, Wesley Center • Comm. Orchestra, 4 pm & 8 pm, Arts Center

7 • Blue Christmas 7 pm, Sanctuary • UMM Hockey Trip, 5 pm

8 9

10 UMM @ Bread Basket

• Military Ministry Cookie Packing 6:30 pm, WC

11 • Fellowship SS Class Christmas Party, 5:30 pm

• AA, Rm 301 WC, 8-9 pm

12 • Jingle Bell PJ Party, 5:30-9 pm, Wesley Center

13

• AA, Rm 301 WC, 8-9 pm

14 • Children’s Christ-mas Play w/ Cov-ered Dish Dinner, 4:30pm, Wesley Center

15 • UMM-Fellowship Supper “Angel Tree Christmas Party” 5 pm, Wesley Center

16

17 No Wonderful Wednesday Activities

18

• AA, Rm 301 WC, 8-9 pm

19 Newsletter Deadline

• Youth Oak Haven Christmas Store

20

• AA, Rm 301 WC, 8-9 pm

21 22 23 24 Church Office Closed

No Wonderful Wednesday Activities

25 Christmas Church Office Closed

26 Church Office Closed

27

• AA, Rm 301 WC, 8-9 pm

28 29 30 31 New Year’s Eve

No Wonderful Wednesday Activities

• Remember FIRST SUNDAY FOOD: Bring your items for CUOC and cash for The Good Samaritan’s Fund

To Know Chr is t and To Make Chr is t Known

Church Staff Senior Pastor: W. Joe Wilburn

Spanish Language Pastor: Ismael Perez

Spanish Worship Pastor: Dr. Daniel Montoya

Youth Minister: Juli Odell

Director of Music Ministries: Dwayne Williams

Organist: Dr. Daniel Hester

Secretary/Bookkeeper: Anita T. Kyles

Custodian: Jose (Joe) Lopez

Nursery Director: Melanie Yarborough

New Beginning. For anyone who has ever failed, fallen or flunked these are words of hope and promise. That is just why that first manger scene in Bethlehem was full of excite-ment, joy and wonder! That is why shepherds, kings, a car-penter and his new wife all shared the same joy despite the obvious differences in their heritage, culture and language.

Along side them a city slept, a ruler plotted and sharpened swords were readied to seek His life! Why? How? One soul was full of hope and another, who may have looked the same on the outside, worked to end His fateful journey be-fore He could preach a word.

We read, “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Kingdom of God” (Romans 3:23). But most of us fail to see OURSELVES as one of those sinners. James puts it this way, “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” (James 1:22-4 The Message).

This Blessed Season is a time of GREAT JOY for those who have looked at ourselves in the mirror of Truth that is the Bible, have seen ourselves for who and what we truly are, have experienced forgiveness and who long more than anything else in life to be with and fall in love over and again with the God who heals and makes us whole.

As we enter this season, it is littered with the tables of moneychangers and others who never really see themselves in that mirror and thus fill the void where true JOY and HOPE should be with the trinkets and trivialities of a world that is passing away as surely as the sun sets in the evening.

But for those whose heart is sealed with the hope and promise of His SECOND COM-ING and the COMPLETE and TOTAL REDEMPTION which comes then or when our bodies die, for them the rising tide of joy cannot be diminished by an economic recession, political bickering, failing health, diminishing resources or any other thing. Indeed, return-ing to Paul’s letter to the Romans, “With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and ex-posing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us – who was raised to life for us! -is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no Way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homeless-ness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: ‘They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.’ None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that noth-ing – nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, think-able or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” (Romans 8:31-39 The Message) -Joe

New Beginning

H O N O R A R I U M S / M E M O R I A L S

Li fe Together

Your gift of grati-tude lets another know how much you care for them and empowers our pro-fession of faith for the future.

How many of us would put up with constant stress, confusion, persecution and beatings that left deep scars and permanent injuries, and still maintain a positive attitude?

Paul had learned an important secret to life (1 Timothy 6). He had learned the secret of not living life based on the conditions around him. He could be content in prison as well as at home. His happi-ness was not based on situations: it was based on his relationship with Jesus. He knew he had had all he needed, for it was Christ that first gave him the strength for life.

God is saying to us: "Don't wait to be happy. Don't postpone happiness until your situation changes, or you have acquired a certain thing. If you cannot be happy, now you will not be happy then, for happiness is not a matter of what you have, or what situation you are in. It is a matter of who you are and how you respond to life.

In His Service, Ray Parish--Lay Leader

Being Thankful

In Honor of: In Memory of: Jeb Beane Mildred Womble By: Reinette & J.L. Seaman By: Ed & Margaret Flaherty

In Memory of: Norman McAuley Myrtle Groceclose By: Marie C. Profio, Joanne Whitley, By: JUMC Amey Womble SS Class Reinette & J.L. Seaman Huey Luxton Jack Wood By: JUMC Amey Womble SS Class By: Reinette & J. L. Seaman, John & Frances Byrd, Allen & Nell Matthews, JUMC Amey Womble SS Class, Don & Doris Roscoe

Congratulations and blessings to Pat (SA: Chatham/Cedar Grove) and Mike Sykes (SA: First UMC, Siler City) on the birth of a new granddaughter. Brynli Mi-

caela Donovan was born to Emily and Jeremy Donovan on Monday, October 27. She weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz and was 21 inches long. Brynli's father is a Staff Sergeant in the US Army stationed in San Antonio, TX. Mom, Brynli, and older brother, Gabriel are staying with Pat and Mike for a few weeks before moving to Texas. Please keep the Sykes family in your prayers. Mike's brother has been diagnosed with melanoma and Pat's father has been diagnosed with a tumor in his lung. Thanks be to God for the joy and celebration of new life.

Those two letters have become a part of our vocabulary re-quiring no definition. For more than seventy years Alcohol-ics Anonymous has been helping families in Lee County ex-perience the freedom God promises us in Christ. We are most fortunate that a branch of this organization which has been meeting in the same location since the 1970s wishes to expand their work and will be meeting at JUMC in the Seeker SS room (Room #301) of the Wesley Center on Thurs-days and Saturdays, beginning in the month of December, from 8-9 pm. These meetings are open meetings and you are invited to attend. Information will be available on how people can be helped and set free. For more information contact Ben at (919)353-9458.

Congratulations AA

JUMC 2008 Church Council

Deb Taylor President

Gregg Dodson Vice-President

Sue Ellen Harrington Recording Secretary

Ray Parish Lay Leader

Reinette Seaman Worship Team

Deborah Roscoe Dick Turner

Member Care Team

Randy Atkins Mamie Beane

Christian Education Team

Shirley Wood Prayer Team

Norma Smith Missions & Evangelism Team

Van Groce, Jr. Sunday School Superintendent

David Taylor Stewardship Team

Julie Huggins Zac Lewis

Youth Members

Van Groce, Sr. Finance Committee

Jason Ashburn Staff-Parish Relations

Earlene Ross Trustees

Carol Scott Church Treasurer

Patricia Pemberton United Methodist Women

Bill Huggins United Methodist Men

J L Seaman Joe Cavalluzzi

Lay Members, Annual Conference

Grace Kaiding Mike Baker

Guillermo Hercilla At-Large Members


Lay Shepherding News

“All Gave Some, Some Gave All” Do you know who wrote this, or when? I believe it was written about soldiers and the sac-rifices they make on a daily basis – or was it?

This could also be said about the early church. We read many places in our Bible of the financial sacrifices those early Chris-tians made in order to care for their brothers and sisters, and to spread the good news. Often they even sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church.

We have also read, and heard, about how many of those early Christians were persecuted, beaten, stoned and killed. Recently we talked in all of our services about the conversion of Saul from

a bigot and murderer to one of the most outspoken disciples of Jesus, and his ultimate re-ward in which he was beheaded for his faith.

Fortunately we are not called upon to make such sacrifices as those early Christians, or modern soldiers. However, we have all received the gift of salvation because of God’s great love for us. We have all received material and spiritual gifts.

Will you give of your material and spiritual gifts to keep JUMC healthy and a church known for its love and giving? Surely it is the best present you can give this season – and one we all can receive. May God continue to pour his bounty on you while we remember the birth of His son and await the return of our Savior.

"Tend the flock among you." 1 Peter 5:2

What wonderful news we have to report! Our first Shepherds have received their guidance and education, their sheep have been cho-sen and at this time when we are all counting our blessings, our Shepherds will be counting Sheep and the Sheep will be receiving a blessing of having their very own Shepherd to keep in touch with them and pray for them.

Of course, not everyone will be a sheep right away. It is the goal of our Lay Shepherd-ing Committee to at some point have enough Shepherds so everyone can be a sheep and enjoy the special relationship that this brings, but right now there are 30 fortunate households who have been chosen to be our first sheep. Letters have been sent to them and before long they will receive the first communication from their Shepherd. Sheep don't have any obligation. They just are blessed. Our staff members will at some point all be sheep so they can enjoy this special program, too.

Please continue to pray for our Shepherds, and for Lay Shepherding at JUMC. We hope that Lay Shepherding will help strengthen the ties that connect us all to each other and to Christ.

If this publication reaches you in time and you would like to help decorate the Sanctuary, come join us Nov 29, at 10:30 am.

Decorate the Church!

Li fe Together

Do you know why the beautifully decorated trees in the sanctuary and Wesley Center are called Chrismon trees rather than Christmas trees? The word Chrismon is a combination of the first four letters of the word Christ and the first three letters of the word monogram. Just as any monogram may represent someone’s name, all the ornaments, handcrafted in combinations of white and gold, are symbols or images that refer to Jesus Christ. They are not called ornaments, then, but Chrismons. White, the liturgical color for Christmas (the red and green combination is traditional, but primarily secular) represents our Lord’s pu-rity and perfection, and gold represents His majesty and glory. The tiny white lights point to Him as the Light of the World. Many of the Chrismons are actually combinations of Greek or Hebrew letters that are the initials of Jesus Christ or words referring to Him or describing Him. When you see these monograms or acronyms, you know you are making connections with the very earliest Christians, for whom the cross was not yet the symbol of Christianity. Of course, the trees do display a variety of crosses decorated in a variety of ways. Geometric shapes such as the circle and the triangle, alone or in combinations, suggest eternity and the Trinity.

Among the many other Chrismons on our trees are familiar Christian symbols such as angel, crown, butterfly, shepherd’s crook, star, rose, and fish—some alone and others paired with letters or shapes. Prominently visible at children’s eye level on each tree is the nativity scene. Please plan to view the trees not only from the distance of your sanctuary pew or your Wesley Center seat, but also close up so that you can recognize all the ways of referring to Jesus and celebrating His presence in our lives.

The Chrismon tree is part of our JUMC heritage because at some point back in the late ’70’s or early ’80’s, when Ben Rouse was pastor, Mildred Womble and other crafters took their time and used their talent to create the Chrismons out of beads and wire and mesh and sequins and other prescribed materials. The person whose patterns they followed was Ruth Kipps Spencer of Danville, Virginia, whose initiative and inspiration had produced a model tree at Ascension Lutheran Church there some twenty years prior. The original JUMC Chrismons were supplemented in later years with a few others, such as angels made by Lizzie Mann and shepherd’s crooks made by students in Evelyn Watson’s Sunday school class. Ruth Brewner saw to it that the eight crosses triumphant had new gold globes and she also made needed repairs to other Chrismons. Sarah Circle members took responsibility for getting the sanctuary tree and placing the Chrismons and the lights on it. Later the Friendship Circle adopted the Wesley Center tree and completed their pro-ject of creating enough additional Chrismons to fully decorate it. This year, 2008, Charlotte Anderson and Renee Snell gathered volunteers to decorate the sanctuary tree; United Methodist Men and JUMC Youth combined forces to decorate the Wesley Center tree. Thanks to every one who had a hand in these preparations for Advent and Christmas. Both Chrismon trees remind us in a gloriously beautiful way that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that we might not perish, but have eternal life. Praise God!

The Chrismon Trees

Fireside Coffee

Gift Mix

2 cups cocoa mix 2 cups non-dairy

creamer 1 cup sugar

1 cup instant coffee 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix thoroughly and put into bags or other

decorative container. Generally 1 cup per bag.

Attach the following

information to your gift bag or decorative container to serve:

Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of mix to a mug and fill with hot water. Stir to blend. Sit in front of a

cozy fireplace for a warm treat!


Prepare for Worship December 7, 2008; Second Sunday of Advent (Purple)

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8 Greeting: Psalm 85 (UMH page 806) Sermon title: “It Begins Here” Central Idea: As we move into December, around us are mangers, shepherds and kings. But we will never personally visit the One born in that manger without beginning as John the Baptist told us in these words.

December 14, 2008; Third Sunday of Advent (Purple) Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Greeting: Psalm 126 (UMH page 847) Response 2 Sermon Title: “Sent to the Poor, Heartbroken and Doomed” Central Idea: Savior. We Christians roll the word off our tongue easily. But the saved are those who knew their situation was des-perate. They knew they could not help themselves. They turned and they keep turning to God every moment, every day.

December 21, 2008; Fourth Sunday of Advent (Purple) Scripture: Luke 1:26–38 Greeting: Luke 1:47–55 (UMH page 199) Sermon Title: “He Will Be Great” Central Idea: God looks for a “womb” in which Christ can be formed. Each of us in our own way is called to allow our body to be reformed so that Jesus is seen in us.

December 28, 2008; First Sunday of Christmas (White)

Lectionary Readings: Psalm 148 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40 Preaching Schedule: Joe away this week

Cinnamon Pancake Gift Mix

Mix these ingredients in bowl and scoop into one quart Mason jar or decorative sealed bag. 3 cups flour (use spoon to put into measuring cup — don’t pack)

2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons baking powder 4 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt

Attach the following information to the jar or other decorative container for cooking and serving instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine 3/4 cup milk, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons oil. Add 1-1/2 cups pancake mix. Stir until moist and still a bit lumpy. Cook on lightly greased griddle.

Makes approximately 1 dozen pancakes to enjoy on a holiday morning.

Li fe Together

Invite someone to a

Christmas event with

you! Blue

Christmas

Dec. 7, Sanctuary, 7 pm

Christmas Pancake

Breakfast Dec. 6,

Wesley Center, 8—11 am

Dec. 14, Wesley Center, 4:30 pm

A Christmas To

Remember Children’s Play Covered Dish Dinner

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service Dec. 24,

Sanctuary, 10:30 pm

Christmas Eve Early Service

Dec. 24, Wesley Center, 5 pm

Jingle Bell PJ Party

Dec. 12, Wesley Center,

5:30—9 pm

Blue Christmas A time when we can ac-knowledge, with others, the “blue” feelings we have at Christmas time, the reasons for them, and offer them to God. We pray that you will find hope and comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

Christmas Pan-cake Breakfast Enjoy breakfast of pan-cakes, sausage and spiced apples. Tickets are $5 from Fellowship Circle mem-bers, the church office, or at the door. Have your pic-ture taken with Santa or a Nativity scene also $5 for a 5x7 color photo.

Jingle Bell PJ Party Moms and Dads drop off your kids, birth to 11 yrs, at church on Friday, Decem-ber 12 from 5:30-9 pm for fun and games, hot dogs, crafts and a movie. Kids, wear your PJs, bring a sleeping bag or blanket. Don’t miss out on the fun!!!

Christmas Eve Early Service, 5 pm—Bring your family and en-joy Christmas music by the Praise Band, various solo-ists, duets , trios, etc.

Candlelight Service, 10:30 pm–Live orchestra, congre-gational singing of Christ-mas hymns, communion, candle lighting, special music.

Make a list of those you want to invite to church this Advent &

Christmas season.

Our packages to our adopted military family were sent on November 4 and should have been received by this time. I along with others who have written to their service members have received letters and e-mails. To hear how they love to get mail is something to ex-perience. If you have not taken a name to write to, please do so. They would love to hear from you and find out what is going back home.

Our planned next project “Homemade Christmas Cookies” is under way. If you would like to send some of your favorite cook-ies to Iraq, please bring them with you when you come for the Wonderful Wednesday meal on December 10. We will be boxing them up immediately following our family meal together. We will also be signing Christmas cards to be placed in the boxes. If you would like to help with packaging the cookies, signing Christmas cards, filling out shipping forms or just fellowshipping with us, please come.

Our own local National Guard Unit, Company D, 1-252 CAB, are preparing for their second deployment to Iraq and will hold a Deployment Ceremony on December 2 at Jonesboro Baptist Church, time to be announced. We hope many of our congregation will come and meet our local service members (neighbors). This is a great opportunity for us to introduce ourselves, show them we care and inform them what programs we are developing to provide support, not only to those deploying but to their families left be-hind.

Continue to pray for those in harm’s way defending our freedom. Grace and peace to you all, Joe Cavalluzzi

History Bits from the Heritage Team The October 2008 bazaar was the 35th such event carried out by the Jonesboro United Methodist Women. Peggy Thomas headed up the first one in 1973 when Helen Dutton served as JUMW president. Forty years ago, in 1968 when Jonesboro Methodist Church became Jonesboro United Methodist Church, the women's group was called the Women's Society of Christian Ser-vice. There were 58 charter members. Do you know anyone who was a charter member? Of course, you do! Julia Mann, Margie Mann, Lora Foy Matthews, Gracie McLeod, Mary Agnes Rosser, Peggy Thomas, and Joanne Whitley are seven of the original fifty-eight. Congratulations to them on forty years of service. The Fellowship Class has been having Christmas cookie parties for years and years and years. When they gather in the Wesley Center on Thursday, December 11, they will bring cookies to pack into tins that will then be delivered to shut-in members of JUMC. They will enjoy supper together (cookies for dessert--no surprise there!) and one an-other's entertaining company--a tradition well worth keeping. Heritage notebooks and supplements are always available in the narthex and in the Wesley Center foyer to take to share with family and friends. They would make a wel-come Christmas gift to people whose history includes time with JUMC, wherever they worship now.

Volunteer Visitation Coordinator!

Job description:

- help prioritize needs for visitation

- communicate with visita-tion team, as needs arise

- help plan visitation schedule/calendars

- keep records of visits, calls, etc. using Church Windows computer pro-gram.

Qualifications: gift of caring for others

If you feel called to serve in this way, please call the church office or Deborah Roscoe at 776-2787.


HELP WANTED:

JUMC participated in Operation Christmas Child, a project of Franklin Gra-ham’s Samaritan’s Purse Ministry, that sends shoe-boxes all over the world. Each, of the 50 shoeboxes we provided, will bring Christmas and Jesus Christ to a child who otherwise would go without. Thanks to all who gave.

Operation Christmas Child

Military Ministry

Women’s Ministries

Li fe Together

Contact Us

Patricia Pemberton

President 776-0917

Sue Ellen Harrington

Vice-President

Charlotte Anderson

Secretary

Sarah Stephenson

Treasurer

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friendship Circle, No December meeting

Ruth Circle, Dec. 21, 6:00 pm, Christmas Dinner

Susanna Wesley Cr., Dec. 15, 1 pm,

Library

Open Arms Circle, Dec. 15, 6:30 pm,

Parlor

Beth Moore—Bible Studies in January Beth Moore's study, Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy shows how individuals can live with integrity in today's self-absorbed society. Join Beth in a faith-building study of prophecy and learn how to shine for Christ in our modern culture. Just as the prophet Daniel faced unbelievable pres-sures—to compromise his faith, to live in a hostile culture, and to confront temptations and threats—today's believers face many of the same trials. This 12-session study, falls in two parts and can be used as one or two

separate studies. The first portion, from Daniel chapters 1-6, deals with Daniel's life as he faced the kind of pressures and temptations Christians encounter today. Daniel models how to develop enduring integrity in an enticing world. The second portion, chapters 7-12, ex-plores thrilling prophecies from the time of Daniel through the second coming of Christ. Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of The Spirit by Beth Moore is a 10-week interactive Bible study of the fruit of The Spirit as presented in the book of Galatians and concentrating on Ga-latians 5:22-23. Beth walks participants through each trait listed in the fruit and encourages women to know the freedom of a Spirit-filled life. Classes will begin in January!

Watch the Weekly Bulletins for more information on how to sign up.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

“Immanuel” consists of two Hebrew words: im (the preposition “with” coupled with the plu-ral “us” yielding immanu), and ‘el (God). Immanuel + ‘el = “God with us.” Perhaps more than any other word in the Bible, Immanuel represents the essence of the Christian and Christmas message: God has invaded the domain of man and dwelt among us. Immanuel was prophesied by Isaiah, and the gospel writer Matthew declared Jesus of Nazareth to be the fulfillment of that prophecy. The apostle John best captured the meaning of Immanuel in John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” Sadly, many who celebrate Christmas today have never understood the central point of the season: God with us. God entered the human race in the person of a baby who was the God-Man, Jesus Christ, Savior of the World. To fail to recognize Immanuel at Christmas is to miss the reason for the season. Many who acknowledge “God with us” have never said, “God with me.” Don’t let this Christmas pass without making sure God is with you in the person of Jesus Christ in your heart. There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. — William Cowper — Dr. David Jeremiah, “Turning Points,” December 2008

God With Us

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 10 UMM prepare and serve the meal at The Bread Basket

December 15 Fellowship Supper

“Angel Tree Christ-mas Celebration”

6 pm, Wesley Center

January 12 Fellowship Supper

March 21 Pancake Breakfast/

Silent Auction 8-11 am,

Wesley Center

Contact Us Bill Huggins

President 356-5109

Tony Ciaravino

Vice President

George Davis Treasurer


Men’s Ministries

The Methodist Men prepared and served the meal at the Bread Basket on November 12. We served a meal of hot dogs, chili, slaw, and fruit cups along with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We served over 200 plates. The volunteers included: Joe Cavaluzzi, Joel Cameron, John Dutton, Van Groce, Jr., Bill Huggins, Rob Kiser, Ed Mishler, David Taylor, and Tom Snell.

Our next day at the Bread Basket will be Wednesday, December 10. Food preparation begins at about 8 am and the meal is served between 11 and 12:30. Cleanup is done by 1 pm. Volunteers can help the entire day or any period of time that fits their schedule.

All men of the church are

Methodist Men and all are welcome to join us for any of

our events or service projects.

...at the Bread Basket

The “Turn Back the Clock” breakfast on Sunday, November 2 was very successful. All who attended enjoyed good food and good fellowship. Thanks to Joe Cavaluzzi, Tony Ciarav-ino, Kevin Grossfuss, Bill Huggins, Rob Kiser, Tom Snell, Leroy Soule, and Kevin Wil-liams for helping to purchase, prepare and serve the food. A special thanks to Leroy Soule for helping with clean up duties.

The Methodist Men prepared and served the meal for the November 19 Wonderful Wednesday meal. Thanks to Tony Ciaravino, Joe Cavaluzzi and Joel Cameron for their help.

The next “Fellowship Supper” will be on Monday, December 15, at 6 pm in the Wesley Center. This will be our “Angel Tree Christmas Celebration” where we provide gifts to the chil-dren of men who are in prison. Our special guests will be the 3 families that we are helping this year. All are welcome to join us for this spe-cial meal. Please contact Bill Huggins no later than December 11 if you plan to attend so we can order the correct number of meals. The cost of the meal will be $8.

Our January Fellowship Supper will be on Monday, January 12. We’ll be passing out the tickets for our Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction.

The annual Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction will be on Saturday, March 21, from 8 am until 11 am. This is our yearly fundraiser for our ministry and service projects. Tickets for the breakfast will be $5. We are currently in the process of obtaining items for the silent auction. If you have an item or service you’d like to donate, please contact Bill Huggins (356-5209) or Tom Snell (356-7570). Getting people to attend this event is a great way to introduce them to our church. Please consider purchasing tickets and giving them away to friends, acquaintances, co-workers or business clients. Tickets will be available in January.

UMM News

December 14, 2008 - 4:30pm JUMC Wesley Center Covered Dish Dinner to follow

All children and youth from preschool through high school are invited to participate. Practice will be held on Wonderful Wednesdays at Pioneer Club starting at 6:30 pm on the following dates: Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 10. Dress Rehearsals will be held on the following dates: Sat., Dec. 13 from 10 am-12 pm Sun., Dec. 14 10 am, during Sunday School time

No costumes necessary. All participants will need to arrive at 4 pm on Sunday, Dec. 14..

Program contacts: Jenny Duff 258-6129, Dwayne Williams, Juli Odell, Caroline Ashburn, Randy Atkins.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 Music has the power to bring both listeners and participants closer to God, and our current music pro-gram provides a variety of options. JUMC commits to a focused effort to substantially increase partici-pation in the JUMC music program.

Rehearsal Times: Praise Band Sunday 5:00 pm, Wesley Center Grades 1-5 Choir Wednesday 6:00 pm, Music Room Pre-K-K Cherub Choir Wednesday 6:30 pm, Rm#203 2nd Fl, Main Bldg Hand Bell Choir Wednesday 6:30 pm, Basement, Main Bldg JUMChoir Wednesday 7:30 pm, Music Room

JUMChoir and Other Music Ministry Opportunities

To find out more please call me at church 919-775-7023, or cell: 910-257-2552 or by email at [email protected] — Dwayne Williams Director of Music Ministries

A Christmas to Remember JUMC will have special music from all choirs during Decem-ber. Our Hand Bell Choir will play on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 11 am, with Special Music from JUMChoir on that day as well. The Cherub and Children's Choirs will be singing at their Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 followed by covered dish meal. We enjoyed the Hand Bell Choir as well, when they played Nov. 16 at 11 & the Cherub Choir and the Children's Choirs who sang Nov. 23 at 11. Christmas Eve Services will be full of Christmas music. The 5 pm service will feature Christmas music by the Praise Band, Daniel Montoya, and special music by others – solos, duets, trios, etc. The 10:30 pm Candlelight Service will begin with special music by our organist, Dr. Danny Hester and the Christmas Eve orchestra. Special musical duets, congregational singing of Christmas hymns, communion and candle lighting are all in store to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Holiday Music Notes

Li fe Together

Lee County Community Orchestra—Holiday Wonders JUMC's Richard Hoyle will be the soloist at the 4 pm, performance of HOLIDAY WONDERS by the Lee County Community Orchestra on Saturday, December 6, at the Lee County Arts & Community Center. Richard will sing "Walking in the Air," one of the songs from The Snowman, featured piece based on the children's classic picture book by Ramond Briggs. Narrator will be Sanford Mayor Cornelia Olive. Soloist

for the 8 pm performance will be Neil Bullard, a third grade student of Dwayne Williams at Greenwood School. Among the other wonders on the program will be two pieces by Leroy Anderson, "A Christmas Treat" and "Sleigh Ride." Come on out to the Arts Center on December 6 for a fine and festive musical beginning to the season.

If you have questions regarding youth activities or you just want to chat or hang out,

please call Juli at 919-257-1281 or email to: [email protected].

To Know Chr is t and To Make Chr is t Known Join Juli for…

Senior H

igh B

reakfast Club

Thursdays, 7 am …

A

t the Dairy B

ar

Stereotypes make relationships difficult. If someone looks like they’re part of a group we don’t like, we may judge them unfairly. God doesn’t judge the out-side. For God, the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. So maybe the best way to avoid intolerance is to get to know people before we decide if we like them or not. —Jeff Adams, Kingman, Arizona

YOUTH DEVO—think about it! Oakhaven Christmas Store-December 19 Please donate new gift items and wrapping paper by Dec 14. The resi-dents “shop” from the donated items for Christmas gifts and the JUMC Youth wrap the gifts.

Li fe Together

Bread Bakers B. Cavalluzzi M. Hales A. Kyles B. Parish

8:30 Nursery 11:00 T. Payne The Ashburns J. Gibson A. Gilchrist J. Watson The Beanes The Williamses The Harringtons

Bridges of Friendship G. McLeod/K. Edwards The Gilchrists M. Wolfe/D. Turner D.H. Jones/H. Russell

In Ministry This Month

Christians United Outreach Center of Lee County, due to ever-increasing client-based points of need, requests your continued donations (food items, financial support, volunteer service, prayers...however you feel led to serve). Thanks to all who made Brown Bag Sunday a success. CUOC was able to provide 100 turkeys with the cash donations, and we gave 55 bags of Thanksgiving Dinner Fixing's.

Food-Pantry Items Especially Needed: Cereal Macaroni & Cheese Spaghetti (one-pound boxes) Pasta Sauce Peanut Butter

Food-Pantry Canned Goods Especially Needed: Potatoes Corn Green Beans Peas Mixed Vegetables Beans Tuna or Salmon Pasta (e.g., spaghettios, ravioli, etc.)

CUOCLC News and Food Needs

Date Dec 7 Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 28

CD Delivery Group A: C. Ashburn Group B: D. Turner Group C: R. Parish


8:30 11:00 Communion Communion A. Crowder The Beanes P. Works The Bowmans Vacant The Harringtons

Heartstrings 8:45 11:00 Pemberton/Smith The Garretts M. Wolfe The Perkins The Hugginses L. Grossfuss L. Leibert The Kaidings The Bowmans The Perkinses L. Liebert J. Rockwell

Greeters Children’s Church

Prayer Quote

“The primary purpose of prayer is to bring us into such a life of communion with the Father that, by the power of the

Spirit, we are increasingly

conformed to the image of His Son.”

-Richard Foster


Heartstrings 8:45 11:00 P. Pemberton Bill Huggins P. Pemberton E. Ross E. Ross H. Cleavinger N. Smith J. Stephenson N. Smith J. Gibson S. Stephenson E. Ross

Lay Readers

When Christians Are United, Reaching Out to the Needy in One Accord, We’re Serving Jesus in Disguise — Fulfilling a Central Command of Our Lord. Matthew 25:35-36

Ruth Brewner Tel: 776-1125

Julia Mann Tel: 776-1218

Prayer Chain Contacts

To Know Chr is t and To Make Chr is t Known D

ecem

ber

20

08

Bir

thda

ys

Sun

M

on

Tue

W

ed

Thu

Fr

i S

at

1 Jo

hnny

Lip

scom

b 2 Je

ff D

avis

Sy

dney

Sim

pson

3 4 Ri

char

d Be

ane

5 Wes

Mill

er

Jaso

n Ea

ddy

6

7 Brad

But

ler

Sara

Gri

ffin

Cha

rlot

te A

nder

son

8 Ram

on A

tkin

s C

harl

es G

odw

in

9 10

11

Ra

y Pa

rish

12

Je

nny

Duf

f G

reg

Hea

rn

13

Thom

as G

arre

tt

14

Rex

McL

eod

15

Fran

k W

heel

er

16

Jean

Spi

vey

Stev

e W

atso

n Al

ton

Coc

krel

l M

atth

ew M

addo

x

17

18

Gen

eva

Smith

Re

ba B

owm

an

19

20

Bill

Gib

son

21

Fred

Was

hbur

n 22

D

anie

lle C

hris

toph

er

23

Robi

n C

hild

ress

Pa

tric

ia P

embe

rton

24

Mik

e C

otto

n 25

Ze

b G

ray

Shar

on S

imps

on

26

Jim

Mur

phy

Hes

ter R

usse

ll

27

28

Tom

my

Har

ring

ton

29

30

Sue

Elle

n H

Arr

ingt

on

Dan

iel H

enni

ngse

n

31

Lind

a Th

omas

W

illia

m R

hode

s G

inny

McM

urra

y

If w

e m

isse

d yo

ur

birt

hday

, ple

ase

cont

act t

he c

hurc

h of

fice

@ 7

75-7

023

PO Box 2576 407 West Main Street Sanford, NC 27332

Phone: 919-775-7023 Fax: 919-775-3605 E-mail: [email protected]

Jonesboro United Methodist Church

Wednesday 5:15 pm—Wonderful Wednesday Church Family Meal 6:00 pm—Grades 1-5 Choir 6:30 pm—Pre-K-K Cherub Choir, Pioneer Clubs, Youth, Small Groups, Hand Bell Choir 7:30 pm—JUMChoir, Music Rm Thursday 8:00 am—Bulletin Deadline 9:30 am—Guide to Prayer 12:30 pm—Knitting Group, Library 4:00 pm—Prayer Group, Wesley Ctr 8:00 pm—AA, Rm 301, Wesley Ctr Saturday 6:30 pm—Prayer Time, Wesley Ctr 8:00 pm—AA, Rm 301, Wesley Ctr

Sunday 7:30 am—Prayer Walk 8:30 am—Contemporary Worship, Wesley Center 8:45 am—Worship, Sanctuary 9:45 am—Sunday School (English & Spanish Languages) 11:00 am—Worship, Sanctuary 11:00 am—Spanish Language Worship, Wesley Center 5:00 pm—Youth Activities 5:00 pm—Praise Band, Wesley Center Monday 9:30 am—Bible Study, Library

Regular Weekly Activities (see pg 2 for Special Events)

WE’RE ON THE WEB!

www.JonesboroUMC.org

Worship Services

Sunday Morning

Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

8:45 am & 11:00 am

Contemporary Worship in the Wesley Center

8:30 am

Sunday School English & Spanish Languages

9:45 am

Worship in Spanish in the Wesley Center

11:00 am

Sunday Afternoon

Youth Activities 5:00 pm

Nonprofit Org.

U. S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 101

Sanford NC

To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known

jonesboro united methodist churchn.b5z.net › i › u › 6133080 › i ›...

Documents