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Record of Faithfulness
November 29th |
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General Fund $ 3399
Designated Giving $130
Attendance:
Traditional 53
Contemporary 66
Sunday School 65 |
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Upcoming Events |
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Women's Bible Study 9:00AM Monday -- Youth Center
Every 2nd Saturday
Simpson Point Trash Pickup, Top of the Mountain @ 8:00AM
Every 3rd Saturday-
10:00-12:00 Youth Trash Pick-up
Word Mountain
Every 4th Sunday
United Methodist Men's Breakfast 6:00AM to cook, 7:00AM to eat. |
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Members in Ministry
December 6th, 2009 |
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Traditional Service
Ushers: TBD
Nursery: Babs Holcomb
Sunday School
Nursery: Greta Ayers
Contemporary Service
Greeters: Scott Martin
Family
Nursery: Paula Wright
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Birthdays and Anniversaries |
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December 2nd- Mike Franks |
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Weekly
Happenings |
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Thursday
December 3rd
6:30pm Safe Sanctuary Training
Tuesday
7:00pm Church Council
Meeting
For a complete calendar visit our calendar on the church website. |
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New Life Youth |
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New Life Youth (grades 6th - 12th) meet Sunday Nights at 5:30 pm at the Youth Center. Come eat, worship, and study God's Word with us! Bring your friends! |
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Needed:
Prayers!! |
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Nell Barker and Denise Acker have agreed to head up our prayer team! If you would like to be a part of the praying community at New Life, please contact Nell Barker at barker2@nehp.net or 728-8003 or Denise Acker at kittey@nehp.net or 728-4988
Thank you! |
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Organ
Recital |
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at
Nan Roberts Lane Chapel
on the campus of
Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
featuring Organist and DAR Member Sue Ellen Adams with KDS Ensemble Show Choir, Mr. Ryan Justice, Director and Mr. Jodi Stiles on Trumpet.
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
Admission is free! | |
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New Life Line
December 2, 2009 |
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Greetings!
While only two gospels contain the birth narrative of Jesus, all four tell the story of John, the son of Zechariah, and his role in preparing for the coming of Jesus. So on the second Sunday of Advent each year (and often on the 3rd Sunday too), John the Baptist shows up. Nonetheless, John seems a strange addition to our Christmas season. In a time when we are speaking of peace and goodwill, John comes proclaiming, "Repent! You brood of vipers!" And somehow you have no doubt why John ended up losing his head! This year, we hear Luke's version of the story:
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" Luke 3:1-10
- One might expect the word of God to come to those in power and in powerful places, yet the word of God bypasses the obvious channels and instead comes to a wild man in the wilderness.
o Why do you think God seems to speak clearest in the wilderness?
o Why do you think God speaks through unlikely people?
o Who might God be speaking through today?
- In other gospels, John's words of warning are directed toward the religious leaders but in Luke they are clearly directed toward the crowds.
o What could John be saying to you today?
o What does it mean to repent?
o What are the fruits of repentance? (You may want to read the remainder of the chapter!)
o What do you need to do to prepare your heart for Christmas?
- Having John the Baptist show up and disrupt our Christmas celebrations is a bit disconcerting. Why you think we prefer comfortable holiday distraction to comfort-shattering calls to holiness and discipleship?
Just a few things I am pondering as we prepare our hearts for Christmas!
Pastor Sherill |
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE WHO TEACHES OR WORKS WITH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES BIRTH TO 18.
If you have not yet completed Safe Sanctuary Training:
MANDATORY SAFE SANCTUARY TRAINING
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009 AT 6:30 PM IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL
Everyone who works with our children and youth, must complete this training as well as complete a volunteer application and a background check request form. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Sherill, Milanda Taylor, or Ashley Olinger for more information. |
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS
ART AND CRAFTS SUPPLIES NEEDED. Children's ministry is in need of arts and crafts supplies. This may be a good time to clean out that closet. We can use just about anything for art projects. (artificial flowers, beads, crayons, paper, stickers, rubber stamps, etc)
CHILDREN'S BULLETINS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. These bulletins are biblically based, puzzles and games to reinforce each week's sermon. Which will actively involve children in worship. Available in the Narthex for ages 3-7 and 8-12. |
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YOUTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BEHOLD YOUTH RETREAT: We have 28 youth registered to attend BEHOLD, January 16-18th at Camp Sumatanga. Remaining balance per person is $100 and is due to Milanda by December 27th. |
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KNITTING CLASSES
Babs Holcomb is having classes for anyone interested in learning how to knit. Classes will be held every Monday at 11:30 in the youth center. Contact Babs at 256-587-0217 to find out what supplies you will need to bring. |
PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING is our United Methodist resource for counseling and education. Pastoral Care and Counseling welcomes people at all stages of life throughout the community. We have offices located in Birmingham, Gadsden, Huntsville and Florence and are working to open an office in the Tuscaloosa area. If you, or someone you may know, need help with issues of grief, marriage, parenting, stress, self-esteem, anxiety, depression or any life transition, there are people who care and can help you work through these life issues. We have a staff of seven counselors and one psychiatrist. Pastoral Care and Counseling services also include counselors who will lead programs in your church on parenting, marriage enrichment, premarital counseling, team building or conflict resolution. If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual, couple or family session, or lean more about our services please call 205-842-8320 or email us at umpcc@aol.com. All sessions are confidential.
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2010 CONFIRMATION CLASS
Each year, an opportunity is given for our young people to spend some time studying what it means to be a follower of Christ and a member of Christ's body, the Church. At the end of this special time of studying, questioning, and exploring, youth are given the opportunity to make a profession or reaffirmation of their faith. This year, we will attend the Confirmation Retreat at Camp Sumatanga on January 29th and 30th and classes will begin in early February and those in the Confirmation Class who choose to affirm their faith will be received into membership of the Church on April 11th. If you would like (6th grade and up) to be involved in this class, please let me know so I can begin planning. If you have any questions about confirmation and what it means, please feel free to e-mail me. Registration for the class will end on January 17th.
Please begin to keep our 2010 Confirmation Class in your prayers.
Pastor Sherill
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BAKE SALE
The Prime Timers Sunday School Class will hold a bake sale at Foodland on Saturday December 20th.
Any and all donations will be appreciated.
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Communion Rail Offering
This Sunday's Communion Rail offering will go toward our Christmas Stars on the Mountain ministry providing Christmas gifts for children who might not have anything under the tree otherwise! | |
Church Office Hours
8 AM - 12 PM Monday Through Friday
728-2093
Church Staff
Pastor:
Sherill Clontz (256) 508-3760 (cell)
Secretary:
Shawna Sisk 728-2093
Contemporary Music Director:
Jim Holcomb 587-0217
Youth Director:
Milanda Taylor 728-3099
Children's Ministry Director:
Ashley Olinger 728-5692
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