Through Our Prayers

Church Family- The Brasel Family, Pat Brownell, Bobby Carter, Tyler Crane, Billy Crews, Martha DeBusk, Linda Hendricks, Vera Johnson, Rubye Kennedy, Stafford Lambert, Gary Meinsler, Carol Miller, Eddie Pope, Joan Taylor,

Extended Family- Elaine Albrecht, Jim Atkins, Carl Baker, James Blanchard, Jackie Butler, Forrest Cockeral, Bob Crawley, Sid Creel, Betsy Elam, Alice Gregg, Ben & Renie Kilpatrick, Smyly Kirkpatrick, Malanie Law, Sara Lightsey, Jenna Moates, Rose O’Neal, Lucy Printy, Pritchett Family & New Baby Davis, Rex Reddish, Helen Rutland, Terry Salter, Gena Sample, Betty Sansom, Sarah Sargent, James Smelley, Colby Smith, Ashley Wells and twins, Edward Wyatt, (new to prayer list) Robbie Holley, Onie Slade Nelson, Bruna Sharman, Steve & Julie Shoemake, Waylon Smith, Rita Swanner, Bethany Tatum, Patricia Todd

Death- Catherine Asti- Bob & Hazel Lee’s daughter Tom Ragsdale- friend of Sonya Murphree

Our Deployed- Andrew Bock, Stephen Brasel, William Hyde, Caleb Kohler, Travis Morgan, Chris Olsen, Jordan Wilbanks, David Wright

Calendar for the Week of December 9- December 15, 2012Sunday, December 9th 8:30 am Lessons & Carols Sanctuary9:45 am Sunday School11:00 am Lessons & Carols Sanctuary11:00 am The Well Pratt Hall 5:00 pm MYF Attend Children’s Musical5:00 pm Children’s Choirs Christmas Concert Sanctuary5:00 pm Disciples6:00 pm Church-Wide Caroling Meet in the GymMonday, December 10th9:00 am Jesus in the Gospels WES 1022:00 pm Laura Roy UMW Circle5:30 pm Finance Committee Meeting WES 102Tuesday, December 11thNoon Advent Communion Service Sanctuary5:30 pm Alpha Handbells Music Suite6:00 pm Roosters Cookout Pratt HallWednesday, December 12th5:00 pm Wednesday Night Supper Pratt Hall5:00 pm Youth Wednesday Worship Youth Room6:00 pm Wednesday Night Advent Study Pratt Hall6:00 pm Children’s Christmas Fun Night EPW1017:00 pm The Well band rehearsal Pratt Hall7:00 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal Choir SuiteThursday, December 13th11:00 am Golden Age Pratt HallSaturday, December 15th2:00 pm Pipin’ Hot Concert Sanctuary

Wednesday Night Dinner December 12th: Roast Beef w/Potatoes, Carrots and Onions, Salad Bar, Biscuit, Lemon Ice Box Pie

Week of December 9, 2012 - December 15, 2012

Prattville FUMC

WordWeeklyThe

100 East 4th Street, Prattville, Alabama 36067334-365-5977 www.prattvillemethodist.org

First United M

ethodist Church

100 East 4th StreetPrattville, A

labama 36067

Lessons and Carols

The first Festival of Lessons and Carols was held in 1880 in a bleak wooden shed in the small town of Truro in Cornwall, England. The church’s sanctuary was under construction so the Bishop of the area, E.W. Benson, decided the church needed to try something new to liven up the worship service in its temporary location. He designed the service to feature nine scripture lessons interspersed with carols. The first service was held at 10 PM on Christmas Eve, in hopes to keep the men of the community out of the pubs on that holy night.

The Lessons and Carols Service, however, took on a new life when Dean Eric Milner-White brought the service to King’s College at Cambridge in 1918. The service was held annually and starting in 1928 the service was broadcast by the BBC. The service has been held and broadcast annually every year since (even during World War II). Millions of people around the world have heard the broadcast causing many other Christian denominations to adopt the practice.

This Sunday our traditional services will hold its annual Service of Lessons and Carols, and in two weeks The Well will present its own. There is nothing quite like hearing the story of Christ’s coming from God’s word and surrounded by the beautiful music of this holy season. I hope you will invite a friend to attend one of these services with you as we continue this great tradition.

In Christ,

Rob

This Sunday, December 9, 2012

Annual Giving BudgetThrough 12/0212

$523,735.76Received To Date: $442,186.04

Difference: $-81,549.72

Monthly Budget Giving ReportDecember 2 $22,819.51

Monthly Goal: $147,416.96Received to date: $22,819.51

Difference: $-124,597.45

Through Our PresenceTotal Worship

714Sunday School

350

Children’s Ministries

Outreach: $635.00Special Fund: $999.30

Building Fund: $655.00

Through Our GiftsDecember 2, 2012

Announcements

Save the Date12/09- Children’s Christmas Musical 5PM Church wide Caroling 6PM12/11- Advent Lunchtime Communion Noon12/12- Advent Study by Rob Couch 6PM in Pratt Hall 12/16- Adult Choir Performance 5PM12/18- Advent Lunchtime Communion Noon12/19- Family Christmas Dinner 6PM12/20- Longest Night Service 6PM College Christmas Dinner12/22- The Well Christmas Party Youth Progressive Dinner12/24- Christmas Eve Services: Children’s Family Service 4PM Come & Go Communion 5PM-6:30PM Candlelight Service 7PM Candlelight Service 11PM12/25- Christmas Day

Traditional Service8:30am and 11:00 am

Lessons & Carols

The Well11:00am Pratt Hall

Sermon Series: IncarnationJohn 1: 6-9

Special Evening EventChildren’s Christmas Concert

at 5pm in the Sanctuaryfollowed by

Church-Wide Caroling6pm immediately following the

Children’s ConcertMeet in the Gym

Join Us11amPratt Hall

Parent’s Please Note: •There will be no children’s church during the month of December so that all children may be a part of this Advent season’s special worship.•Sunday, December 9th and Wednesday December 12th will be the last times for children’s evening programming. Programs will resume in January.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12th!!All children Kindergarten-6th grade are invited to join Norrell and Luann for a Christmas movie, craft and CHEER in Epworth 101 from 6:00-6:55pm. Children ages 4 and under will attend their usual Wednesday evening program.

The 2013 Confirmation Class still has a few coasters left. Pick up your set in the church office or during Fellowship Time on Sunday morning for $10. All proceeds will be made by the Confirmation Class as a White Christmas Offering to benefit the United Methodist Children’s Home. These are great gifts for a great cause!

Children’s White Christmas Offering- You won’t want to miss your chance to pick up your envelopes for the Children’s White Christmas Offering to benefit the Methodist Children’s Home. Envelopes will be available on Sunday night at the Advent Mission Festival. Offerings will be made Christmas Eve at the Children’s Christmas Eve Service.

Youth NewsThe Annual Youth Progressive Dinner is December 22nd.

Transportation will be provided as the youth enjoy three dinner courses as they move from house to house. Bring a wrapped ornament valued at $10

or less and a donation for our Christmas Mission Project.

Winter Retreat Registration is ongoing. The deadline to register is December 23rd. Cost is $100 and registration forms are available online at

www.prattillemethodist.org

December 9 MYF @5pmDecember 12 Wednesday Worship @5pm

December 16 MYF@5pmDecember 19 No MYF

Christmas CarolingSunday, December 9th

Immediately following the 5pm Children’s Christmas Concert. Meet in the Gym.

Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and cookies upon your return.

Christmas Eve Readers NeededDuring Come-And-Go Communion this year we will have persons reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke as people take communion. We need six persons to assist in making this happen. Each person will read the story for 15 minutes. This will enable participants in Come-And-Go Communion to not only receive the Sacrament, but to hear the story of Christ’s birth. If you can help with this please call Freda in the church office (365-5977).

Habitat for Humanity of Autauga and Chilton Counties will be dedicating the home of Shaneka Nixon (and her three children) at 505 Lower Kingston Road across from Spinner’s Park on 15 December at 2pm! Shaneka will be presented her own Holy Bible and the keys to her new home. There will be food and refreshments afterwards.

Wednesday Night Advent Study: Following dinner on Wednesday night there will be a special Advent study led by Dr. Rob Couch. This week the theme will be: “Things About Christmas That Some Pastors Are Afraid To Tell You.” This informative and fun study will bring greater meaning to this Advent season.

Adult Council Members: Be thinking about ideas for January and the New Year. Our next meeting will be January 15th at 6pm.

11th Mission Food Boxes are still available to take and fill. You may pick up your packet of information and sign up in the church office or stop by Fellowship Time (9:30am) on Sunday.

Blanket Drive Extended thru December 9th. Drop off your blankets in the Youth Room on Sunday Morning.

Children’s Choirs

ChristmasConcert12-9 @5pm

Children’s Choir Members:All children will need to be in their choir rooms by 4:30pm. The concert will begin at 5pm in the Sanctuary. Kids are invited to wear “Christmas Attire”! You can make this outfit whatever you would like to wear (dressy, fun, etc.) Directly following the concert, families are invited to join in our church-wide Christmas Caroling. Meet in the Gym.

Advent Family Dinner

Wednesday, December 196:00pm in Pratt Hall

Enjoy a joyful Christmas concert and sing-a-long featuring One Voice. $10

tickets may be purchased in the church office or during Fellowship ime. Tickets are selling FAST. Deadline to purchase

tickets is December 14th.