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Newsletter for December 23, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE...

Don't miss out on Thursday, Dec. 24th.  We'll sing familiar Christmas carols and join together in a community of faith as we hear an inspiring message of hope!
 
5:00p and 7:00p, Sanctuary
Candlelight, Carols, and Communion

Nursery for children under age 4 available for both.
DON'T FORGET

Join us on Sunday, December 27, 
at 10:30a for One Hour of Worship. 

We will be welcoming our 
college students home for the holidays. 

We will also be celebrating the baptism 
of Miss Hadley Johnson!
The United Methodist Men present. . .

Loosely based on the James Fenimore Cooper classic, 
watch as Hawkeye and Uncas try to save the remaining MoPecans from Magua 
and his Huron band and deliver them to the peaceful villagers of Winter Garden.

When the MoPecans are gone, there will be no Mo'Pecans!!!!

Confirmation in The United Methodist Church is a time of intentional preparation, it gives teens and tweens the opportunity to reflect on the most basic tenants of our faith and gives them a safe environment to ask questions and grapple with the divine truths and mysteries proclaimed by the church of Jesus Christ.  
Confirmation helps youth to investigate to depths of the faith and helps them begin to understand what it means to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and to make their first public profession of faith.  During this time young persons "make firm" what has gone before:  God's prevenient grace, baptism, the teaching and witness of parents and other persons of faith, the teachings and life together in the church, the student's own growing faith.  Youth are invited to claim for themselves the name Christian and the name United Methodist.  We believe that Confirmation is a significant step in the journey of faith.

Because the middle school years (5th-8th grades) are when young people begin to move from concrete thinking to abstract thinking, that is when most people begin to make lifelong faith decisions.  Also, during these middle school years, youth are seeking a sense of belonging.  Belonging to the community of faith is an appropriate response to that developmental task.
Likewise, the teenage years are important for making a commitment to live as a disciple of Christ.  We encourage Middle and High School students to participate in confirmation.  If you are interested in your student participating, please contact Greg Harford by January 6th at 407-924-4485 or [email protected].
Every confirmand is paired with a mentor: an adult who will walk the confirmation journey with their student. The mentor is not expected to have all the answers, rather, the courage to say, "I don't know - but we'll figure it out -together." 
Mentors must be active members who are involved in, and committed to, the life of the church. Please contact Greg Harford, 407-924-4485 or [email protected] 
by January 6th if you are interested in being a Confirmation Mentor. 
 Circle of Hope News
Circle of Hope recently provided gifts 
for local families. Pictured here is part of the Snapp Family who were gift recipients. 
Bless you all for your generosity and spirit 
of giving.  Don't forget the Soup fundraiser in January that allows us to raise funds for 
"The Church that Soup Built" in Cuba. 

Merry Christmas and hope 
you have a Fantastic 2016!



Clergy and Laity Day of Learning
Annual Local Church Training Event
Saturday, February 6, 8:00am - 1:00pm
First UMC, Oviedo
 
Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend the Annual East Central District Leadership Training Event.  We are excited to announce that Rev. Jim Harnish will be our Keynote Speaker.

Our team is dedicated to provide a not-to-miss event for church leaders looking for inspiration and renewal.  Plans are already underway based on feedback from 2015 attendees and our team is being very intentional in making choices that will equip leaders to Remember the Mission as they go and lead with impact in the local church.   
More details can be found here.
Coming Up. . .

December 24     12:00 PM           Office Closing Early for Christmas Eve
                   5:00PM & 7:00PM     Christmas Eve Services (Sanctuary)
 
December 25                  Offices Closed for Christmas
 
December 27     10:30AM            ONE Hour of Worship
                                                     Baptism of Hadley Johnson
 
December 31     12:00 PM           Office Closing Early for New Year's Eve
 
January 1                        Offices Closed for New Year's
 
January 3             4:00 PM           Coalition for the Homeless Team
                             6:00 PM           UMW General Meeting (FH)
 
January 5           10:00 AM           Staff Meeting (Admin)

January 10          10:15 AM          Iron Men of God Begins (Admin)
 
January 12          10:30 AM          Candlelight Circle (205)
                             6:00 PM           Trustees Meeting (Admin)
                             6:30 PM           Worship Committee (101)
 
January 13          10:00 AM          Good Morning Circle (Wheeler)

January 18               Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday 
 
January 19           6:30 PM            Finance Committee (Admin)

January 20           7:00 PM            C.O.F.F.E.E. Circle (Axum)
 
January 21           7:00 PM            Idea Seekers
 
January 23           1:00 PM            Circle of Hope Soup Prep (FH)
 
January 24         10:00 AM            Souper Sunday (FH)
 
January 26           6:30 PM            Church Council (FH)
                            
In addition to these church-wide events, check out our church website.  Much more information is available if you login to MyChurch, including our church directory, calendars for different church groups, and other information customized for you.

Copies of UMC brochures, plus our FUMC E-Newsletter,
are now available in new racks installed at each door as you exit the sanctuary. We encourage you to share these items with newcomers, shut-ins, those without electronic access to our website and others who might benefit.


www.fumcwg.org 
 
First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden is located in historic downtown Winter Garden at:
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125 N. Lakeview Ave.
Winter Garden, FL
34787

407-656-1135
[email protected]

� 2014 First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden.  All Rights Reserved.