THIS SUNDAY:

HIS NAME SHALL

BE CALLED:

Mighty God

*Special Music*

Weekly Scripture:

Isaiah 9:2-6

Classic Worship 8:20 am

Spirited Traditional Worship 11:00 am

Centro Cristiano Hosanna (Servicio en Español) 12:30 pm

Contemporary Worship 9:40 am

CHRISTMAS EVE

CANDLELIGHT

SERVICES

DECEMBER 24TH

Children & Family Musical

2:30 pm and 4:00 pm

in the Sanctuary

Contemporary - Communion

6:30 pm

in the Sanctuary

Culto Familiar Navideno

7:00 pm

in the Gym

Traditional - Communion

9 pm and 11:00 pm

in the Sanctuary

DECEMBER 25TH

- 26TH

The Church will be closed

in observance of Christmas.

The Deep Family Worship 2nd Sunday of each month 9:30 am

December 6, 2013

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR:

CELEBRATION CELEBRATION

Through Jesus Christ, we will transform the world, one life at a time.

12th Grade

Mission Event

UNFINISHED Worship Series & Church-wide Study

Based on the book by bestselling author Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S.

Beginning February 2014

UNFINISHED explores how we can rediscover our calling to live out the

whole gospel and find the meaning, purpose and significance we long for. Throughout the month of February our pastors will teach about this in Sunday worship. Then you can explore the issues in more detail during the week in a small group.

Watch for more information on how you can H.E.L.P.

Host. Encourage. Lead. Participate. God is inviting you to join Him in changing the world!

SU

ND

AY

MUMC Angel Tree Gifts...must be returned

by noon, Sunday, December 8th, to ensure delivery by Christmas.

A s of December 3rd, 326 families have committed $1,378,793 to help fund the 2014 Operating Ministry Plan. Of this number, 16% have committed to step up toward tithing, 9% to step up to tithing, and 5% to step up to sacrificial giving. We are blessed to have so many committed Christians at Matthews.

If you have not turned in your commitments for 2014, there is still plenty of time to do so. We have extra cards available at the Welcome Center and on the Church web site. Thank you again for your extravagant generosity.

Generosity changes everything 2014 Generosity Commitment Update

Sunday School: 9:40: Grade-level classes 11:00: combined classes. Check the signs posted across from the elevator for your classroom!

UMYF Sunday night— Sunday Youth Fellowship schedule is: Café & program at 6 pm- bring $2 for Café. C-groups (Caring Groups) for 7th - 9th grades will meet from 6 - 8 pm, and A-teams (Accountability Teams) will meet from 6 - 8:15 pm. See you there!

Youth are always welcome-If you haven’t visited UMYF yet, please come join the fun!

UMYF - Youth Christmas Dinner: The Christmas dinner is December 8th; tickets are $5 per person and should have been purchased in advance.

Sunday night UMYF will be held as usual on December 15th.

See you at Walk Through Bethlehem

on 12/7/13.

“Like” us on Facebook: Matthews UMC Youth

Follow us on twitter: @youth_MUMC

Youth Ministries Website: youth.matthewsumc.org.

For questions regarding Youth Ministries, call a Youth staff member at 704-847-6261.

Basketball Practices are underway, and games begin

on Friday, December 6th.

Poinsettias This Sunday is the last day to purchase poinsettias, in honor or in memory

of a loved one, to be used to decorate the Sanctuary for Advent. Each Poinsettia is $7.

Christmas Dinner - December 8th. Tickets are on sale now; see your Small Group Youth Counselor!! They are $5 each. This is a great time to bring a friend!

All Ladies of the Church are Invited To

Tea & Reading of A Cup of Christmas Tea Bring your Favorite Cup and Share Its Story

Enjoy Two Teas, Scones, Biscotti, Cookies and Cheese Twists

Mission: Donations for Living Water, International, www.water.cc.

Please RSVP today to 704-815-1959.

For more information - call Janet Saunders at 704-256-3960.

Saturday, January 11th • 9:00 am - 12:00 noon • in the Sanctuary

Continental Breakfast served 8:30 am in Sanctuary Reception area

All servant leaders, teachers, helpers, elected committee members, curious bystanders, and others who want to be part of what God is doing through Matthews UMC: this is the place to be!

Please RSVP to beth@matthewsumc.org or

(704) 815-1989 by Monday, January 6th.

Childcare available if requested by January 6th. Please include names & ages of children in RSVP.

*Please note that this meeting will take place instead of the January HIS (High Impact Servant) Meeting.*

HUGE INSPIRATIONAL ® HIGH IMPACT

LEADERSHIP CONNECTION 2014

Men, our next breakfast meeting will be Saturday, December 7th, at 7:30 in the Dining Room. This is a great venue to make new friends and catch up with old friends. Pastor Stephen will join us and share a little about himself and his vision for 801South. Breakfast will start at 7:30 and end around 9:00. Contact Rich at 704-236-6657 or rich.e.buchanan@gmail.com if you have questions.

Our men host a cookout the second Wednesday of every month at Hoskins Park. On Wednesday, December 11th, we will meet at the Church at 4:30, depart at 4:45 and serve dinner at 6:00. Contact Bo Bobrowski at 704-408-2160 or bbobrowski@carolina.rr.com if you would like to be a part of building relationships with the men of Hoskins Park.

Men meet for a Bible Study on Thursday nights at 7:30 pm to discuss topics that are faith based, and the challenges that men face every day. This is a great way to develop friendships through faith-centered discussions. Contact Bo at 704-408-2160 or bbobrowski@carolina.rr.com if you would like to learn more about this group.

Walk Through Bethlehem

This Saturday!

THE DEEP FAMILY WORSHIP

December 8th

9:30 am In the Gym

CHILDREN’S NATIVITY

December 22nd

8:20, 9:40, & 11:00 am

Worship Services

Advent Devotionals

are now available at

the Welcome

Center.

We will deeply appreciate

a $1 donation

to help defray the cost.

INTEREST MEETING FOR

MISSION TRIP TO UGANDA

December 15th

12:00 pm In Room 97

2013 Year-End Generosity Opportunity

T he end of the year is the perfect time to reflect and give thanks for the many ways God has

enriched our lives. As we remember God’s greatest gift to us, His Son, the Advent Season is

a time to offer gratitude for His grace by making a special gift to our Church. Our gratitude

is the only thing we can give back to God that He doesn’t already have.

One way to consider giving is through IRA Rollover Gifts ‐ In order to help charities

further their good work, Congress extended the rules for charitable gifts made from IRAs through

2013. If you are over 70‐1/2, Federal tax laws allow you to make a gift from your IRA to a charity

without claiming any increased income or paying an additional tax. This tax‐free rollover gift can be

any amount up to $100,000 in one year. There is no clear direction from the government yet as to

whether or not this benefit will continue in 2014. Currently, it is not scheduled for renewal.

Our new building fund is set up, so if you are considering making a capital campaign

contribution toward our next phase of construction, or want to make a second‐mile gift

to the operating ministry budget, you may want to consider donating in this fashion

prior to December 31, 2013. Consult with your professional tax advisor and your IRA

custodian to see how a charitable “IRA Rollover” could be a tax‐wise gift to give this year.

Please visit Members at MatthewsUMC.org to discover the many ways you can give to the Church.

Prime Time Adults

The December 11th gathering has been cancelled.

Please look for details on the

January gathering in upcoming Celebration newsletters

and the January edition of the Grapevine.

CCH Intercessory Prayer Meeting: Saturdays from 5:30 - 7:00 am in the Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to join us to pray for our own families, this Church and this Nation.

PR

AY

ER

CO

RN

ER

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Isaiah 55:6

For care and protection, we lift up all the men and women serving in our Armed Forces throughout the world.

The Celebration newsletter is a weekly publication for the families and friends of Matthews United Methodist Church.

The deadline to submit an article is noon each Monday, the week of publication. If you would like to submit information for publication,

please e-mail your articles to communications@matthewsumc.org or drop them off at the Church Office with “Celebration request”

noted on the envelope. Please note that all articles are subject to editing for space and content.

MATTHEWS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ∙ www.matthewsumc.org 801 S. Trade Street Matthews, NC 28105, (704) 847-6261, Fax (704) 845-2830

Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and Watch us on Vimeo @MatthewsUMC!

The next class will be Tuesday, January 28th 7 - 9 pm. Childcare is available if requested prior to class.

Register online by visiting Become a Member under the New Here tab at MatthewsUMC.org, or contact Karen Schultz at

704-815-1901 or karen@matthewsumc.org.

Interested in Interested in

becoming a member?becoming a member?

Please remember in your prayers: Carolyn Waddail upon the death of her father; Tina Galliher upon the death of her grandfather; Joe Judge upon the death of his father; and all those in our Church family with special needs and concerns.

stu di es gro ups

PRESSURE: A BURDENSOME, DISTRESSING, OR WEIGHTY CONDITION...

Are you feeling pressure right now? Is it affecting your health, your attitude, or your relationship with your family and friends? Would you like to have someone to talk with, confidentially, just

to help you get through the next month or two? Our Stephen Ministers can help!

If you would like more information contact Pastor Paul Craig at 704-847-6261.

Global Impact Prayer Point: Please pray for all the families who received a meal from Charlotte Rescue Mission for Thanksgiving.

Please join us in celebrating: the birth of Peyton Smith, granddaughter of Atholene and Dave Smith.

Marriage Mentors: Ready To Serve!

A mentor is… A model, An encourager, An imparter of knowledge

A mentor may wear many different hats but the one thing that all mentors share is the ability to listen and encourage. A mentor is “a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction,” according to the Uncommon Individual Foundation. An organization devoted to mentoring research and training.

Contact kim@matthewsumc.org for more information.

Christianity’s Family TreeChristianity’s Family TreeChristianity’s Family Tree Explore many denominations and

traditions of Christianity. Mondays 7:00 - 8:30 pm January 13th - March 3rd

Led By Judi Hunt at Wesley UMC

Cost $10

Sacred MarriageSacred Marriage Become equipped to understand

God’s purpose for your marriage.

Sundays 11:00 am - Noon

January 19th - March 9th

Led by

William & Becky Stegall

Cost $25

Freed Up Financial Living A Bible-based approach to controlling

finances which promotes discussion without exposing details.

Sunday afternoons or

Wednesday evenings

beginning January 26th

Led by Mary Ann Davis

Cost $13

T he Core Team met with COSCO in early November to review the detailed design plans. Before COSCO submitted the plans to Mecklenburg County for permitting review and approval, the Core Team made some minor changes to ensure little things like the location of light switches and electrical outlets are positioned appropriately based on the intended use. COSCO is also working to finalize the request for proposals from contractors, and will re-

engage the Core Team soon to finalize interior design details like paint color, carpet and fabric choices.

Once permitting is approved and proposal and pricing from contractors is complete, we will be ready to begin transformation of the Dining Room and Gym. We are on track to begin physical construction the first week in January.

Please contact Grant Overbey at goverbey@windstream.net or Pam Gillespie at pam@matthewsumc.org or 704-847-6261 with your questions.

Matthews

UMC

Master Site

Plan Update

To register/request childcare for a study, contact Kim at 704-815-1913 or kim@matthewsumc.org. Confidential scholarships are available.