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Week of November 16 - 22, 2014
Prattville FUMC
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100 East 4th Street, Prattville, Alabama 36067334-365-5977 www.prattvillemethodist.orgFi
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Calendar for the Week of November 16-22 , 2014Sunday, November 16th8:30 am Traditional Worship Sanctuary9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Traditional Worship Sanctuary11:00 am The Well Pratt Hall5:00 pm Children's Sunday Evening Activities
Monday, November 17th10:00 am Morning Bible Study WES 1027:00 pm Men’s Study Bell House
Tuesday, November 18th5:30 pm UMW Executive Board Meeting WES 1026:30 pm Grief Share Parlor7:00 pm Charge Conference Sanctuary
Wednesday, November 19th5:00 pm Wednesday United5:00 pm Youth Habits Youth Room7:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal Music Suite7:00 pm The Well Band Rehearsal Pratt Hall
Thursday, November 20th10:00 am Mary McMillan UMW Circle Parlor2:00 pm Fifty Forward Movie Afternoon EPW 1016:00 pm Family Soup and Bingo Night EPW 101
Through Our Prayers
Church Family- Brasel Family, Maudine Bulger, Linda Earnst, Barbara Glass, Ed Henne, Lisa Hughes, Tom Kennedy, Jr., Sarah Ann Kopf, Clarke McLean, Louise Moody, Eddie Pope, Sandy Poynor, Bill Ray, Ron Rogers, Jimmy & Wilene Staggers, Blake Striplin, Joe & Claudia Storay
Extended Family- Gloria Bearden, Angela Bingham, Lynetta Bolden, Michael & Marie Butts, Katie Clark, Pamela Cooper, Betsy Elam, Lee Gardner, Betty Hinton, Jessica Horsley, Ray Kirkpatrick, Sandra Lane, Sandra Martin, Yvonne Patterson, Rex Reddish, Tommy Sargent, Waylon Smith, Lowell Strock, Mac Thacker, Mary Tullos, Dawn White
Our Deployed- David Dickinson, John Garrison, Jordan Wilbanks
Chestnut Cafe Menu for November 19th: Roast, Rice Consume, Green Beans, Salad Bar, Biscuit, Chess Squares
A Gift Was Given in Memory Of:
James Powell by Mr & Mrs Henry Brothers, Mr & Mrs Mike Renegar, Autauga County Farmers Federation, Mr & Mrs P. D. PollardBilly Crews by Mr & Mrs Henry Brothers, Mr & Mrs Stephen Horton, Mr & Mrs Mike RenegarLisa Jennings McCullers by Mr & Mrs Howard Hill, Mrs Dorothy PaulFrieda Murphy by Mrs Dorothy Paul, Mr & Mrs Mike RenegarHelen Bridges by Mrs Dorothy Paul
A Gift Was Given in Honor Of:
Carol Pearson by Mr & Mrs Arby HinesDene Cleveland by Mr & Mrs Arby HinesHope Mitchell by Mr & Mrs Arby HinesWyn Minor by Mr & Mrs Arby HinesNorrell Robertson by Mr & Mrs Mike Renegar
Luann Williams to Retire
It’s hard to believe that I am typing these words right now. In fact, as I told Luann, no pastor would want Luann Williams to step down on their watch. Alas, after much prayer and consideration, Luann has requested to retire at the end of the calendar year. For 33 years, Luann has been on our church’s staff and her impact on the church and community through these many years of service is incalculable. During our stewardship campaign many of our speakers mentioned how Luann was the one responsible for asking them to be involved, and that because of her invitation, were able to find life-giving places of ministry in our church. This is true for many in our congregation. We like to joke with Luann that she has an innate power to get people to say “yes” to serving in the church. Thanks to this wonderful gift, many new ministries have started, existing ministries have been strengthened, and thousands of people have been engaged in ministry.
Luann began at our church as the director of our Mother’s Day Out ministry, a responsibility she still bears today. For 33 years, she has led our church in ministering to countless children, parents, and grandparents, offering them a safe, faith-filled, life-giving place where their children could learn, grow, and play. During Dr. Gorman Houston’s ministry with us, Luann’s role expanded as she took on the job of Director of Children’s Ministry and expanded to ministering to the whole family through our Family Ministries. Following Ann Taylor’s death, Luann assumed many more responsibilities involving our adult ministries, older adult ministries, and other areas. About two years ago, Luann became our church’s Director of Christian Education, making official what she had been doing during an interim period. In just the time that I have served FUMC, Luann has accomplished many things. Among them: the creation of new Sunday school classes, a new grief ministry, The Backpack Ministry, new UMW Circles, The Fifty-Forward Ministry, and so much more. She did all this with her contagious can-do spirit, enthusiasm, and aplomb!
To say we will miss having Luann as part of our staff team is a tremendous understatement. In fact, if you are like me, it is hard to imagine our staff without her. I’m grateful, however, that Luann has said she intends to continue to be an active part of our church’s ministry going into the future. I’m especially grateful that she will finish out our Confirmation Class year with Wayne Lambert, and me. I am also glad that this transition in her life will mean greater availability for her to be “Lulu” for her grandchildren: Trip, Moyer, and Mary Tilman.
When my family arrived at FUMC, Luann, using her incredible gift of hospitality, made us feel welcome and at home. Her thoughtfulness helped make our children feel excited about moving to a new place, even though they were being uprooted from their life in Saraland. This is something for which I will forever be grateful! Serving alongside her in the last three years has been a tremendous honor and blessing!
In the coming weeks you will be hearing more about how we plan to celebrate Luann’s ministry with us. Please be in prayer for her during this time of transition.
In Christ, Rob
AnnouncementsThis Sunday, November 16, 2014
Through Our Gifts
July-December 2014 Operating Budget
$583,545.60
Received 11/09/14$31,002.64
Total Received For July-December 2014:
$373,991.42
Total E-Giving Received For July-December 2014:
$12,972.00
Through Our PresenceTotal Worship
512
Sunday School263
Traditional Worship8:30 and 11:00 am
SanctuaryPeople of the LightThessalonians 5:1-11
The Well11:00 amPratt HallSalt Life
Jesus said we are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world. Join us for the next two weeks as we explore what that means
for our lives and our world.
News From Youth Ministries
Nicaragua Mission Trips- Revised DatesWe are currently planning two trips to Nicaragua in July 2015 (if enough interest is expressed for a second trip). Please contact John Parks at 334-202-5755 or [email protected] or Cathy Latham at 334-354-5449 or [email protected] if you are interested in either mission trip.
Fruitful & Flourishing- This annual ministry event for 50+ will be held Saturday, January 10th at Blue Lake. Cost is $20. Deadline to register is December 29th. Contact Luann Williams at 365-5977 if you are interested.
UMW Cheeseballs- Important InformationThe time to order your cheeseballs is drawing to a close! Don't miss your chance to enjoy one of our delicious cheeseballs and to support the Stegall Foundation. The last day to place your order is Wednesday, November 19th. Orders can be placed with any UMW member or in the church office. There are also order blanks available in the downstairs hall in Epworth. Cheeseball pick up will begin on Wednesday, November 19th in the Epworth kitchen from 3 pm until 7 pm. The second pick up is scheduled for Sunday, November 23rd from 9:30 to 9:45 am and 10:30 until 11:00 am in the Epworth kitchen. Another December pick up day will be announced at a later date.
Annual Charge ConferenceOur church's annual Charge Conference will be held at 7PM on Tuesday, November 18th in the Sanctuary. This will be the 1st Charge Conference conducted by our new District Superintendent, Rev. John Brooks. All members of the Church Council, SPR, Trustees, and Finance Committee are expected to be in attendance. All members are welcome to attend! We hope to have a GREAT representation of persons for Rev. Brooks' first time to lead us in our Charge Conference.
Bereavement CommitteeIf you are interested in serving on the Bereavement Committee, please call Annette Brownell at 365-6392 or Mary Ann Chambliss at 365-7309. If you are not sure if you are on a committee, call Freda and she will be glad to let you know.
•The Harbor Youth will test their abilities on Sunday, Dec 14th when we have our 1st ever (I think) Lip Syncing Contest. Youth are encouraged to submit a song of their choice prior to Dec 14th to be approved and we’ll turn on the music and let the good times roll. Youth may enter as individuals or in small groups. A panel of judges will determine whose performance has what it takes and who will drown in tears of sorrow. Signups begin soon.•We will also be having our Progressive Dinner on Dec 21st. You do not have to consider yourself politically progressive to attend; it’s the food and the sequence of meals that get progressive, not you. Relax.• If anyone would like to follow along in some of the material the youth are covering on Wednesday night, pick up a copy of Tim Keller’s book, Judges for You, to get an insight as to what we are discussing.
Please pray for the youth of the church, that they be transformed by the power of God’s grace in Christ. Justin [email protected] 334-546-4627
Children’s News
Community Thanksgiving ServiceThe annual Community Thanksgiving Service will be held November 23rd at 6pm at the Legend's Marriott in Prattville. Gather with those in your community to give thanks and praise!
The Cap and Mitten Tree will be up November 30th, located in front of the children’s ministries office in Epworth Hall. Help keep little fingers, heads and ears warm this winter!
Games Day HolidayGames Day will take a break during November and December and will resume January 22nd for their "Holiday" celebration.
Announcing!! Parent’s Night Out- This evening for moms and dads will be December 12th from 5:00 - 9:30pm for children ages birth - 3rd grade. $15 for first child, $10 for the second child and $5 for each additional child. Registration deadline is December 5th. Payment must be made upon registration and is non-refundable. Contact Luann Williams for more information at 365-5977 or by email [email protected]. Start thinking about your plans now.
Kay and I would like to thank all of you for the many expressions of caring and concern that you sent our way during my unexpected illness. We especially want to express our gratitude to our pastors and church staff and our Sunday school class, the James Powell Fellowship Class, who were so vigilant to us. We felt your prayers and they got us through a very difficult time.
Learning to Depend on God Fires burn brightly only as long as they’re stoked. This past Sunday, you had the opportunity to commit to new levels in your relationship with God. You boldly filled out your card, and in a wave of momentum, turned it in. Had any second thoughts since? Had any doubts that you’ll actually be able to meet that financial commitment, or fit that area of service into your busy schedule? That’s not such a bad thing. It means that you’ve given God room to work and that without new dependence on him, it’s not going to happen. God delights in our dependence on him, you know. He waits for us to ask for help. But when we have all the answers already, or we do things in our own strength, we leave no opportunity for him to be glorified. It becomes about what we can do, rather than what he can do through us. In coming weeks, as the lessons of Treasures of the Transformed Life settle into your consciousness, it will be possible for you to lose steam and to forget what it was all about. On the other hand, you could take what you’ve learned and build on it. Remember that very first chapter, the one that talked about not even realizing your thirst? Over the past forty days, you gained new insight into how thirsty you really were, and discovered that the only thing that will really satisfy is pure, living water, poured into your life through consistent prayer, Bible study, acts of service, fellowship with other Christians, and regular financial gifts. That kind of water is not the type that puts out a fire. Rather, it’s the kind that stokes it, and allows us to burn so brightly that we draw others to us like moths to a flame. So what will you do to keep that fire burning brightly, keeping the principles of the last few weeks in the forefront? How about this? The next time you see a glass of water—and every time thereafter—you’ll be compelled to take a long, satisfying drink. It is that living water that transforms us, until that day when we don’t even recognize who we used to be.
-Transformed Living Leadership Team
YOUTH ScheduleNov. 16th MYF at 5PMNov. 19th HABITS at 5PMNov. 23rd No MYF in observance of Thanksgiving HolidaysNov. 26th No HABITS in observance of Thanksgiving Holidays
In Christian Love, Arby Hines
Join the fun for Family Soup & Bingo
Night!This Thursday, November 20th
6:00 pm in EPW 101Sign up in the church office by
Tuesday, November 18th. A nursery will be available by reservation only no later than the 18th. If you have a White Elephant gift/prize to share,
bring it with you to the event.
Advent Missions Festival 2014Mark your calendar for November 30th for this annual event to give of our time to help those in our community and beyond. Beginning at 5:00 pm you may choose to eat a light meal in Pratt Hall and then work on mission projects or work then eat. At 6:30 pm, the evening will conclude with a Christmas musical concert by the Genesis Singers in Pratt Hall. Invite your friends and family, young and old!
Operation Christmas Child Boxes are due NO LATER than November 16th. Children and their parents are encouraged to take part in this opportunity to serve and share with other children around the world. Invite your child to help you as you shop and pack your shoebox. Shoeboxes will be dedicated at the worship services November 16th and then crated for shipment following the 11:00 am services.
2014 Operation Christmas Child Captains
Holly McNiderJoyce Coady/Friendship Sunday School Class
Rob CouchJim Minor
Foundations Sunday School ClassAllison King/Ekklesia Sunday School Class
Jr. High Youth TeamSr. High Youth Team
6th Grade Confirmation Class
New Agape Team 1New Agape Team 2
Journey/David R White Sunday School ClassesWeekday Ministries
Children's MinistriesBritt Story
Fellowship Sunday School ClassAngels' Hearts UMW Circle
John Barrett GabehartAlpha Handbells
We want to see your team's name listed here! If you haven't signed up to be a team captain yet, it's not too late! A team can be comprised of a single individual collecting boxes from family, co-workers or friends, or it can be a church Sunday school class, UMW circle, study group or fellowship group. Many thanks to the teams who have already committed and to those who support them.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD DEADLINE IS ALMOST HERE!
There will be NO evening activities for children or youth on November 23rd or November 26th due to the Fall Thanksgiving
Holiday. We will resume on Sunday, November 30th for the Advent Mission Festival.
The Confirmation Class will assist Operation Christmas Child on November 16th following the 11:00 am worship services. We will meet in EPW 101 at noon for a pizza lunch and then
crate the shoeboxes for shipment. Please let Mrs. Luann know if you are able to help.
