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Traditional Service in the Sanctuary
8:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Church-wide Fellowship
9:30 a.m. (Hancock Hall)
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.
Chuck Hodges Preaching
November 27:
"Making It Real"
Ephesians 3:8-10
Anthem:
8:30 Service
"Breathe"
Marie Barnett
9:45/11:00 Services
"Gloria"
Rutter
Online web streaming now available for our 11 a.m. Sunday service. Visit our website for details. www.athensfirstumc.org
Our 11 a.m. Sunday Service is broadcast on WRFC 960 AM each Sunday and online at www.960theref.com.
November Ushers
(8:30) Jim Belger, Ann Brown, Paul Brown, Don Crews, Larry Deal, Hugh Larkey, Jim Lyons, Candler Meadors, Olan Moore, Bob Noble, Grace Rabek, Ken Reece, Keith Wilson
(9:45) Chris Bostdorff, David and Jane Disney, Mark Ellison, Tom Milton, Sharon Milton, Marvin Reynolds, Al Rogers, Bill Trigleth, Dave Matthews
(11:00) Mark Graham, Charlie Barron, Mike McCord, Charlie Upchurch III, Allan Hixon, Mason McWhorter, Gene Deal
Offering Stewards
Bob Booth & Charlie Grimes (co-chairs); Nat Belger, Charles Braucher, Nat Carmack, Henry Garrard, Nathan King, Al Hawley, Sean Rogers, Charlie Upchurch III
First Light Acolytes
(8:30) Samantha Harvel,
Mary Mason McWhorter,
Rob Hardell
(9:45) Savannah Smith,
Jack Chambers,
Hayley Whitmore
(11:00) Walt Chapeau,
John Cunningham, Loran Posey
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OUR CLERGY
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Chuck Hodges
Senior Minister
Martha Aenchbacher
Minister of Program
John Page
Minister of Discipleship
Eric Fessler
Minister of Families with Youth
Visit our website:
www.athensfirstumc.org
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A Time to Prepare
The ritual is a familiar one. You climb the attic steps or descend to the basement and find the boxes marked "Christmas." You brush off eleven months worth of dust and open each container like you would a treasure chest. The treasures may only be bits of glass and sparkle, faded and nicked, but to you these items are precious.
On Christmas morning, the boxes you open may surprise, but the delight of these boxes is their blessed familiarity. Inside one of the containers designated for this season is a smaller box. With tissue carefully wrapped around each object, you unravel the protective covering to discover a wise man with his gift. You unwrap camels, shepherds, Mother Mary, and a whole cast of characters. Unwrapping the smallest bundle, you know who you will find - Baby Jesus.
Look through all the boxes. You will find wreaths and candles, Santa and reindeer, and a host of other delights. Savor the memories recalled with each object.
It is unlikely you will find the one who sets the table for the unfolding events of Christmas. John the Baptist is not included in the annual celebration of the birth of Christ. Yet he is the one to whom the church turns its eyes and ears in the first days of Advent. It is not the sound of angels singing in the night that is heard. Instead, it is the voice of one crying in the wilderness. It is the one who declares he is not the light, but the one who points to the light.
What do we hear? What is he saying? He challenges us to prepare. Preparation is an important part of life. It is a key to success in every endeavor. Someone has said, "The will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win." The Boy Scouts teach every scout their motto: "Be prepared." John the Baptist declares that the key to receiving the child of Christmas is preparation.In this season that often concludes in exhaustion, I hope we will make room for the baby born in Bethlehem. Perhaps this is a good time to begin a daily devotion or to set aside some time each day for prayer. Plan to be a part of worship services offered in the next few weeks. Enter into this season of preparation with a sense of expectation. Pay close attention to the sights and sounds of the season, to the wonder of it all. And don't forget to wait patiently and watch carefully, for once again he is coming.
Chuck |
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MEMBER NEWS
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Sympathy
Heartfelt Christian sympathy is extended to: Lynn Bryant and family in the loss of her sister, Linda Pinson, on November 19 in Athens, Georgia.
New Arrival Congratulations to:
Wendy and Jeff Greer on the birth of their daughter, McClellan Jane, on November 16. McClellan is the granddaughter of Susan and Steve Greer.
New Members We welcome to the First United Methodist Family:
Whitney Jacobs
Altar Flowers
The flowers on the altar on November 27 are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Milton H. Pittard by Pat Cardin and family.
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FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Charge ConferenceOn Monday, November 28, at 7:00 p.m., our district superintendent, Dr. Gary Whetstone, will preside at our annual charge conference. All are invited to attend this meeting. Arrive early for fellowship and refreshments.
Pictorial Directories Are InThe pictorial directories are in! If you had your picture taken, please pick up your copy from the church office Monday-Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Poinsettia Orders Poinsettias, in honor or memory of a loved one, are available for purchase through the church office (706-543-1442). The price is $11 per plant. The poinsettias will be placed in the sanctuary by the Altar Guild, and may be picked up on Sunday, December 18, after the 11:00 worship service. Orders with payment should be made at the church office or by mail by December 5. A listing of those participating will be in the church bulletin on Sunday, December 18. Christmas Day & New Year's Day Worship Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Senior Fun Tree Trimming Party Seniors, please join us on November 28 at 10:00 a.m. to decorate the tree in Hancock Hall. December Senior Fun Anyone 55 and over is invited to our December Senior Fun Luncheon on Thursday, December 8, at 12:30 p.m. in Hancock Hall. A delicious lunch will be served, and Stephen Mitchell is coordinating a musical program. Make reservations by noon on Monday, December 5, to the church office. The cost is $6. Fred Birchmore's 100th Birthday You're invited to come by Hancock Hall on November 29, any time between 4 and 6 p.m., to celebrate Fred Birchmore's 100th birthday! Your presence is gift enough.
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DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSIONS
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Christmas Families
We have partnered with Project Safe, a local organization committed to helping women and children escape domestic violence, to provide Christmas gifts for women and children in their program. Your help is needed in "adopting" one or more of these families and providing gifts for them. Contact Diana (diana@athensfirstumc.org) for more information and to adopt a family. Please let us know what family you can adopt by December 1, and gifts are due by December 12.
December Agape We are collecting scarves and reusable grocery bags during the month of December. If you would like to help, please bring donations of these items to the basket near the reception area by December 15.
Christmas Community Meal If you would like to help with the Christmas Community Meal on December 15 please contact Matt Dixon, mdixon3@bellsouth.net.
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A MESSAGE FOR YOU...TH!
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9:30 a.m. Combined First Word
4:30 p.m. Combined WYC - Dress Rehearsal
Lessons & Carols
*NO CROSSTIES*
This week... November 28 - December 3, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 1 (Saye Scout Hut)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:30 a.m. Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A Beechwood
4:30 p.m. Youth Area Open
5:30 p.m. Downtown Dinner
6:30 p.m. Sr. High/Mid-High Bible Study
Upcoming...
December 4 - Lessons and Carols
December 18 - Full Youth Staff Meeting
Daynes's Devo "...and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
~Acts 20:35
Bear with me; I need to brag about the youth for a moment. This past week, they have done an amazing job serving their brothers and sisters, not just in our own community, but worldwide.
On November 13 they brought in gift-filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan's Purse will send our gifts overseas to kids in need, and 82 children will now get Christmas gifts because of our youth!
On November 20, youth and volunteers gathered to collect and deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in our own community. Thanks to their efforts, forty Clarke County families have turkeys, pies, and other fixins' to help them with their Turkey Day feasts.
I've been blown away by the response from youth and their families in both of these missions! I am so glad that we could share the love of Christ with families in our community and children worldwide. As we begin this Advent season, please pray that the seeds that have been planted will take root and that the love of Jesus will find its way to the hearts of those whom our youth have blessed.
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Recreation News
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Please join us for our Winter Basketball League beginning in November. Places are filling up quickly so be sure to head to the church website to register before it is too late!
Is it time for a birthday party?? We offer activities ranging from basketball, soccer, and gymnastics to moonwalk and climbing wall rentals. Contact Rusty Wood at rusty@athensfirstumc.org or Emily Kirby at emily@athensfirstumc.org to reserve the gym for your birthday party!
If you are interested in volunteering with the recreation ministry at Athens First United Methodist please contact Rusty Wood at rusty@athensfirstumc.org.
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CALENDAR
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Click here to view the online calendar!
Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, November 27: Matthew 25:31-46
Monday, November 28: Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Tuesday, November 29: Psalm 65
Wednesday, November 30: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Thursday, December 1: Deuteronomy 31:14-22
Friday, December 2: Deuteronomy 32:1-14,18
Saturday, December 3: Deuteronomy 32:44-47
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NURSERY PARENT HELPERS
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November 27 Crawlers/Walkers: Kim and Clarke Holt Walkers/Toddlers: HELP NEEDED Early 2's: HELP NEEDED 2-Year-Olds: Wendy and Chip Holland 3-Year-Olds: Dan Lasseter 4-Year-Olds: Kate and Cole Kelly |
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ATTENDANCE
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November 20
Sunday School: 474
8:30 a.m.: 126
9:45 a.m.: 333
11:00 a.m.: 433
Total Worship Services: 892
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FINANCIAL REPORT
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Budget for 2011: $2,339,129
Giving goal through October 2011: $1,763,734
Amount received through October: $1,856,335
Giving Goal for November: $168,182
Amount given after 2 Sundays: $101,376
Debt reduction goal for 2011: $100,000
Trustee debt reduction year-to-date: $177,511
Current Bank Loan(s) Debt: $1,696,270
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