Rev. Byron Vance Rev. Brandon Lazarre

Rev. Ava Rozelle

(205) 338-3374; fax 205-338-0025 emergency contact: 256-390-9002

December 6, 2017 First United

Methodist Church 2200 3rd Ave. North, Pell City, AL 35125 205-338-3374; www.pellcityfumc.org

(In the event of inclement weather Service will be in the Sanctuary)

Suzanne’s Holiday Meal ministry serves meals to over 175 people in need each holiday season for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Many of these people are those we serve through our loaves and Fishes ministry each week. We are delivering meals on Saturday, December 23rd. Right now, I need volunteers that day to deliver the lunch meal or assist in the kitchen. Either one requires about 1 to 1 1/2 hours of time commitment. I also need a few volunteers to make Macaroni and Cheese. We need a total of 60 servings. Please prayerfully consider and contact Jan Sweatman at (205)492-9461 or twccgolfer0915@gmail.com if you can find a moment to help.

Each year during the Christmas season, we are reminded there is no greater joy for us than giving to others. Since 1930 the White Christmas

offering has enabled Methodists to share their blessings with those whose circumstances in life just haven't been fair. These children and

young adults certainly didn't sign up to be in the situation they're in and with your support, they have the hope of a much brighter tomorrow.

Please give generously to the UM Children's Home on December 10 or online at http://www.umch.net/donate-now.html

New Year’s Eve

Worship

Service

December 31st

9:30a

One Combined Service in the Beacon

(No Sunday School)

The Longest Night

Christmas can be a painful time for some.

It may be the first Christmas

without a loved family member who has

recently died; it may be a time that has

always been difficult.

For these reasons, Pell City First

United Methodist Church is offering

a special “Longest Night” service on

December 21st, at 5:30 p.m.

5:30

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Here at Pell City First UMC we exist to be a community of believers seeking to transform lives through Jesus Christ. Three core practices that define how we accomplish this vision are: Worship, Nurture, and Service. As we have experienced, Worship pursues and gives opportunity for large gatherings of believers and outside neighbors to come to know God for the first time or consistently better through song, prayer, and God’s Word communicated. Service transforms our faith into an active love that reaches near and far to the world around us in many different ways. Nurture, or discipleship, is the crucial element that connects each of us to the depth of Jesus Christ as His disciples and God’s Children. We are truly a connected and

blessed people! As the Body of Christ, we are truly dependent on one another as an arm is to the hand because each person brings forth the grace and love of God that Christ our Lord gives to us as the Head and Source of our identity. Face to face and life on life community is where God does His best work in us and through us. We are truly a connected and blessed people!

In view of our commitment to the value of Nurture, we are developing a system called Community Groups. Community Groups cover several intentional categories of connection that exist in the life of our church. These categories include: Sunday School- A Sunday morning Bible study group that offers several different age and focus groups at the 9:30 a.m. hour.

Weekly Small groups- Mostly held on Wednesday nights (but not limited to that time i.e. Women’s and Men’s Small groups are on Wednesday and Thursday morning), these groups exist as fellowship study groups that focuses on Bible-based studies.

Disciple Bible study- A 9-month intense Bible study group that looks deeply into the breadth of Scripture as growing disciples of Jesus Christ.

Life Together Groups (NEW)- These groups meet together at various times in the week with the “soul” purpose of encouraging each other to grow in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The concept is based on John Wesley’s original small group, The Class Meeting, where they would ask each other “How is it with your soul?” or “How is your life in God today?”.

Connect Groups (NEW)- These groups meet together because of the interest (or affinity) one shares. For instance, avid or aspiring walkers could start or join a group that invites others to that activity during the week. These affinities could include knitting, basketball, hunting, hiking, Sonic Happy hour, etc. Life is constantly happening in places where our interest draws us to, so we will bring ministry and faith in Jesus Christ into this. (See Small Group Training below if you might have an idea for a Connect Group.)

Serve Groups (NEW)-This new type of group merges intentional areas of service within our church with the power of connection in small groups. These groups can meet at various times of the week, but will serve during our Sunday Worship Services.

Community Groups offer a variety of focuses in order to meet people where they are in life and on their faith journey. Each part serves to connect and lead all people to grow in their life with Jesus Christ.

We soon begin preparing for the next season of our intentional connection and growth! Here are a few key understandings and announcements for you to know as we move closer to this time:

WINTER/ SPRING SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY SMALL GROUPS Church Wide Fellowship Suppers begin back on Wednesday, January 10th. We will be OFF on Feb 14th and March 28th Church Wide Small Group Mini-Semester on Wednesday Nights: Walking With Nehemiah by Rev. Joseph Daniels Jr. We will have a five-

week focus on this book culminating in a Missional Training Event led by Rev. Daniels and held at PCFUMC on February 10th. This event will feature Rev. Daniels teaching on the topic of transforming our community. We will study the book in multiple small groups and seek to grow into new ways to live out our vision of transforming our community. Dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7.

Spring Small Group Full-Semester on Wednesday Nights: Our Wednesday night small groups will resume featuring a wide variety of ways to grow and connect with God and others. This will include our traditional Bible-based study groups, but also include Life Together groups, Connect groups, and Serve groups. Dates: February 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21; April 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9

SMALL GROUP TRAINING: EVERYONE who has desire to help lead a type of Community Group is encouraged to come. We will vision into the amazing transformational potential our Community Groups have and how everyone is gifted to lead a group. You will be equipped with some simple tools to start (or continue) your Community Groups. If you have an idea of starting a Connect Group, Small Group, or Life Together Group, PLEASE join us this night! January 3rd, 2018 @ 6 p.m. DINNER INCLUDED!

CONNECT GROUPS: Please email Brandon (blazarre@umcna.org) or call the church if you have an idea about a possible connect group.

May you be blessed as you draw near to Jesus Christ with your church family as we love this world with the love of God in us! —Pastor Brandon

We are on pace to end 2017 about 15% under our Giving Goal. Help us end the year well by continuing your 2017 tithe. Also, return your 2018 commitment card in this Sunday’s offering or

to the church office so we can budget for 2018 as we Claim Who We Are in God’s kingdom and in the Pell City area.

Thank you for your generous giving to the Lord’s work.

Budget needs to date: $ 777,513 Receipts year to date: $ 651,554 Difference $-125,959

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Youth Winter Retreat Fundraiser UPDATE

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to everyone who

supported the youth at their Fundraiser Dinner

on November 15th!

We made about $1,900 that will go

toward The Winter Retreat to

Gatlinburg, TN and other youth

activities!

Youth News!

Youth Outing

Paintball at Shocco Springs Wednesday January 3. Meet at the church at 4:30p

“A place for you, when you come HOME”

Led by: Pastor Brandon Lazarre

First Gathering: 12:45 on December 14 at Waffle House

Pell City First United Methodist Church

Just A Couple Spots Left Sign Up Now!

Youth Winter Retreat to Gatlinburg!

Thursday, December 14th Meet at High School 6:00pm

We will have hotdogs & drinks.

Parents are welcome to ride or Pick-up at Avondale Park

afterwards.

We will decorate the float Wednesday 12/13 5:30pm in lower parking lot.

OUTINGS

December 17th

11:45-4:00

**Christmas Outing**

Ice Skating and lunch

@ Railroad Park

“Christmas Hide & Seek” was simply delightful! What a great way to kick off this Advent season. Glory be to God!

This season “Let’s not hide the good news of Christmas. Let’s find ways to tell others the good news that Jesus is Emanuel,

the promise that God is always with us.”

Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday 8:00am-3:00pm Friday - Closed

Website: www.pellcityfumc.org

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COMING…….

December 21: 5:30pm The Longest Night Service-Sanctuary

December 24: Christmas Eve Services:

3pm ~ Chapel in the Pines

5pm & 11pm ~ Sanctuary

You still have time to place your order for hymnals. You may purchase one or more hymnals in memory or honor of

someone. The cost is $20 each and will include a label with the name of the person being recognized and your name.

Contact the church office (205-338-3374) with your information.

Ageless Wonders News

Join Ageless Wonders on the 4th Monday of the month at 11:00 at the Pell City Steakhouse for food and fellowship.

Call or email Anne Simmons for all the details. 205-525-4513 or rsim591240@aol.com

Pat Cook, Billie Jeffers, Nicholas Grice, Ronny Kimberly, Neva Hestley, Ben Abercrombie, Charles Bice,

Beverly Goodman, Doug Church, Mike Green, Mike Miller, Haley Todd, Teresa Bell, Rick Ross,

Edd Cothran, Trina Bryan, Bill Kelly, Charles E. Smith, Eden Vickery, Shae Williams, Tommy Glass,

Jeanelle Bowman, Steve Dombrosky, Dick & Lynn Ely, Norma Morris, Bill Cloud, Stephen Watson, Sherry Adkins,

Jeff Jones and Martha Jenkins.

The Christian Love Pantry Needs You! To learn more about the Christian Love Pantry

mission and how you can help to support our efforts contact Debbie Parmenter, Christian Love Pantry

Volunteer Coordinator @ 310-293-8790.

Order your poinsettias from the florist now! They will be displayed in the Sanctuary on

December 17th and 24th

(Contact the church office with information for printing in the bulletin no later

than Monday, December 11th)

For the eighth consecutive year, the winner of

the Iron Bowl Food

Drive is…

“THE CHRISTIAN

LOVE

PANTRY”

The Final score:

Alabama-3155

Auburn-2036

Thanks to your

generosity, we raised over $5,000 in cash and food

items to help feed the hungry in our community.

Jeff State/Head Start Partnership

On January 17th, we will begin our 5th session of classes as a partner with Jeff State and Head Start

serving single mothers in St. Clair County. This time the classes will be for welding.

Volunteers are needed to pick up and deliver

lunch to the Jeff State campus in Pell City on Wednesdays beginning

January 17th. The cost for the lunch is part of our ministry budget.

If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact

the church office:

205-338-3374 or office@pellcityfumc.org