MessengerTHEC O L B E R T U N I T E DM E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 1 1 w w w. c o l b e r t - u m c . o r g

From the Pastor’s Desk

Ahh, the holidays are upon us. The falling leaves and falling temperatures remind us that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year holidays are almost here. Have you done your

Christmas shopping yet? Me neither!! But I’m already seeing wish lists! How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Maybe you observe more the traditional holiday by having

‘the meal’ on the day itself—turkey, dressing, beans, rolls, ham, Fran’s apples, along with seven desserts. Perhaps you do something a little different, by eating Saturday night, with prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, an interesting carrot recipe, and a wonderful pineapple dish that could be served as a vegetable or a dessert!! Here is a tip I saw on one of those Thanksgiving expert websites—dig out an old recipe. You might discover an old hidden gem or realize why it has been hidden in a drawer for decades!

How ever you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, be thankful for all of your blessings. God has blessed us with so much, and we cannot be thankful enough. Remember the good times from this past year, and remember those who God has blessed us with, both now and in years past.

Happy Thanksgiving, Michael

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G E N E R A L N E W S

Upcoming Meetings & Events(All meetings take place in the Family Life Center.)Acolyte Training – Sat., Nov. 3, 2pmAll Saints Day – Sun., Nov. 4, 11amUMW – Mon., Nov. 5, 6pmVBS Committee – Tues., Nov. 6, 6pmSafe Sanctuary Training – Sat., Nov. 10, 10amEvening Craft Group – Sat., Nov. 10, 6pmSupper Club – Sat., Nov. 10, 5:30Veterans Day Recognition – Sun., Nov. 11, 11amFinance Committee – Mon., Nov. 12, 6pmWednesday Night Recharge Thanksgiving Meal – Nov. 14, 6pmFood Bank – Thurs., Nov. 15, 10am-noonAdvent Market Set–up – Friday, Nov. 16, 4–7pmAdvent Market – Sat., Nov. 17, 9am-1pmColbert Community Thanksgiving – Sun., Nov. 18NO Soup Kitchen in NovemberWorship Committee – Mon., Nov. 26, 6pmTrustees – Tues., Nov. 27, 6pm

TrusteesVolunteers are needed to help paint the church nursery, which has finally been repaired thanks to Barry Clack. Please come Sat., Nov. 10 at 9am to paint the walls a beautiful new color. Supplies will be provided. New carpet for the nursery is in next year's budget.

Advent/Christmas DecoratingThe sanctuary will be decorated for the Ad-vent/Christmas season the week after Thanks-giving. If you'd like to be a part of preparing our church for this joyous time in our Christian faith, please watch the Weekly Messenger for date and time. This time of fellowship is always enjoyed by those who help.

Holiday PerformancesSavannah River Productions is presenting “Sanders Family Christmas” at the Savannah River Playhouse in Hartwell on Nov. 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 7:30pm, as well as the inaugural concert “Celtic Christmas” as part of the Christmas in Georgia Concert Series at The Swails Center in Royston on December 14 and 15 at 7:30pm. Flyers are posted on the bulletin boards in the hallway of the church, FLC and narthex. If we can get groups of 18 or more for each event, we can get the group rate. Let Michael or Rose know if you are interested in either one or both of these outings. A small group from Colbert UMC thoroughly enjoyed their production of the “Life Story of Fanny Crosby” last year. It’s a great way to kick off the Christmas season! If you are interested in seeing one of these productions, please let Rose know. More info about the productions: www.savannahriverproductions.org.

Soup Kitchen Our Daily Bread at Athens FBC

Our wonderful volunteers served 141 plates of food to our appreciative guests on Oct. 25 at Athens First Baptist Church. Pastor Michael, Greg Palmer, Cleo Ward, Shirley McClure, Wanda Coley, Brenda Ab-del-Hafez and Dave English prepared and served delicious green beans, cheesy potatoes, sausage, ham, bread, canned fruit and fresh bananas. It is always great to have Pastor Michael with us. Our volunteers make this ministry so special because they are happy to serve. When even one guest comes back to tell us specifically that they enjoyed the food and thank us for doing it, makes it all worthwhile. We do not serve in November—we serve on fourth Thursdays and Thanksgiving is a fourth Thursday. Thanksgiving day is the only day of the year that the soup kitchen is closed. We will serve again Dec. 27. We enjoy serving and invite you to come and participate. It is very heart warming and such a wonderful opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. If you would like to participate in this ministry see Brenda Abdel-Hafez at teachmath8@juno.com or 706-247-5412.

Food BankFor the month of October, our Colbert UMC Food Bank served 57 families, which included 133 people! Many thanks to the faithful and tireless efforts of Greg Palmer, Janet and Bill Ash-ley, Faye and Allen Harris, Michael Ferguson, Dave English, Barbara Dixon, Wanda Coley, and Shirley McClure.

Sanctuary Flower ListWe're in the process of making the sanctary flower list for next year. Please let Jerrie Teet know if you want to be added to the list to provide flowers for the Sunday morning service, or if you want to be

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G E N E R A L N E W S

removed from the list. All assigned dates will re-main the same unless she hears from you. Thanks for your help!

Safe Sanctuary TrainingSafe Sanctuary Training is rescheduled for Sat., Nov. 10, 10am. Anyone who works with children in any capacity in the church is required to have this training. Please let Pastor Michael or Rose know if you will be attending.

Christmas Shoebox MinistryBring in your Christmas Shoe Boxes for Samaritan's Purse by Sunday, Nov. 18. We will have a consecration of the boxes during worship. This outreach ministry touches the lives of thousands of children around the world who would otherwise never hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Please remember to mark whether the box is for a boy or girl. The age groups are: 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14. Boxes are to be delivered to Athens Christian School is Mon., Nov. 19, 10am-1pm. If you or someone you know is willing to deliver them, please let Pastor Michael know. Hobby Lobby has Christmas shoe boxes with the Samaritan's Purse info in the box if you would like to use one: https://www.hobby-lobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Storage-Organization/Samaritans-Purse-Gift-Box/p/80848535

Peanuts!Peanuts are here! Still only $6 for a 3lb bag from Plains, Georgia. Sign up sheets and peanuts are located in Nancy's classroom in the church or on the stage in the FLC. Give your money to Wayne Craig. The $9 transportation cost for delivering the Christmas shoe boxes will be paid from the sales of peanuts and a generous gift from Jim Haralson. Thanks, Jim!

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Brookshire ClassChristine Haralson is our teacher this month as our lesson series continues in the Book of Genesis. We are studying the life of Jacob who became the father of the twelve tribes of Isreal. One of the questions the author asks is, "When have you experienced the presence of God in your life? Have you felt God's closeness challenging, lifting, loving, and calling you?" Come join us as we learn how reading about Jacob can help us with our relationship with God.

JAM and KFCJAM Sunday school class is collecting items for Oper-ation Christmas child, due the first Sunday of Novem-ber. Our November study is titled "Worship God At Church." We will be learning about Solomon, Joash, Hezekiah, and Ezra.

KFC is working hard on learning Bible verses and Bi-ble books in order on Wednesday nights. It is a joy to watch the excitement of our children eagerly learning and applying God's word to life!!

Come join us as we are learning and growing!!

S U N D AY S C H O O L N E W S

GAP ClassThis month we are studying the book of Judges. This book of the Bible takes us through the Judg-es of Israel and how many years each one served. During these times they prayed and obeyed God.Then, like many of us today, they strayed and start-ed again praying to idols at which they ended up being slaves to others. Also in this book, there are many strong women such as Deborah, who was a judge, and Jael, who helped protect the Israelites from one of their enemies. Two of the well-known judges are Gideon and Samson. We have great discussions and learn new things every week. We hope you will join us on Sundays and add your insight also. Any one not already involved in a Sunday School Class is welcome to attend. We begin promptly at 10am. Everyone is participating in the class by reading, praying, asking and answering questions. Bring your Bible and join us. If you have questions, contact Brenda Abdel-Hafez at teachmath8@juno.com or 706-247-5412.

All Saints Day is an opportunity to give thanks for all those who have gone before us in the faith. We as Methodist call people “saints” because they exemplified the Christian life. On this All Saints Day we remember these former members and friends:

Jimmy Brookshire Melvin Johnson Lucine Gaulding Kaye LaneElizabeth Hampton Bill McClure Curt Hozey Vicki O’Steen

All Saints Day

S M A L L G R O U P N E W S

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UMWUnited Methodist Women will meet on Mon., Nov. 6, 6pm in the church fellowship hall to make our final preparations for the Advent Market on November 17. This has been a great time of fun and fellow-ship the past two years, and we hope that our church members will support us again this year. Come do some Christmas shopping and eat a bowl of soup! We will also have a bake sale and ask for donations of baked goods. All ladies of the church are welcome to join us for our Nov. 5th meeting. Refreshments will be provided by our hostesses Wanda and Tracy Coley, and Christine Haralson will present our program.

UMYFThank you to all the youth who helped set up for Trunk or Treat and cheerfully manned the stations at our church with smiling faces, welcoming our community. We will begin a four week study on prayer written by Ministry to Youth in November. One of the questions, which I asked during our last meeting in October, was who thought prayer was just to ask God for things. There was a unan-imous show of hands in the room that said “yes;” confirmation of the necessity of delving into the wonderful gift of being able to converse with our Lord and Savior, and feeling his constant presence in our lives and our world. Please keep our group in your prayers as we embark on this journey, that each may understand his/her personal and unique relationship with Christ and the role prayer serves.

Craft GroupsAre you a crafter? Like to knit or make jewelry? Want the opportunity to fellowship with others while using your God-given gifts? Drop in and join us at the FLC each Tuesday, 10am-12pm or on the second Saturday of each month at 6pm and share your talent and have a whole lot of fun!

Prayer GroupJoin us each Tuesday, 9:30-10am, for a meaningful and fulfilling time of prayer for our church, fami-lies, and community. All are welcome.

Supper ClubTen of us enjoyed good food and fellowship at Bill's BBQ in Hull last month. Supper Club will break until January 2019 due to the busy schedules of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Until we eat again!!!

Wednesday Night RechargeWe are having a wonderful time on Wednesdays enjoying delicious food and enlightening Bible studies. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us, it's never too late. November will be the last month of WNR for the year. We will not meet on Nov. 21 during the week of Thanksgiving. We will have a very special WNR Church Family Thanksgiving Meal on Nov. 14 at 6pm (instead of 5:30). Sign up to bring a side dish to accompany the church provided turkey—the sign-up sheet is in the church narthex. We would love for this to become an annual event for the church. Join us as we celebrate how God has blessed our church family.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

NOV. 4 NOV. 11 NOV. 18 NOV. 25USHERS Larry Goss Barbara Clack Suzanne Sack Georgia Phillips

Mitchell Goss Barry Clack Rita Whitehead Travis PhillipsACOLYTE Natalie Ferguson Mary Grace Watson Lorali Hardegree Danielle WootenLITURGIST Gina Ward Trudy Ward Dave English Brenda Abdel-HafezNURSERY Terri Christian Brenda Abdel-Hafez Codie Parham Delores Kennedy

Keri McGinnis Braydon Hardegree Trudy Ward Lorali HardegreeFLOWERS Communion Jennie Mason Rose Branson Dixie GrissomCOMMUNION ASST. Jerrie Teet

DEC. 2USHERS Anna Almond

Kebo AlmondACOLYTE Braydon HardegreeLITURGIST Jim HaralsonNURSERY Mariann Wooten

Kaylee PhelpsFLOWERS PoinsettiasCOMMUNION ASST. Barbara Dixon

UMW November Hostesses: Tracy Coley and Wanda ColeyUMW November Program: Christine Haralson

UMW December Hostesses/Program: Covered Dish

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G O D ’ S S U N D AY S E R V A N T S

Official Church CalendarNeed to reserve church spaces or van for an event? The Official Church Calendar is maintained by Pastor Michael. If you need to use the old fellowship hall, Family Life Center, Sunday School rooms, sanctuary, or church van, please follow these easy steps:

1. Check the Official Church Calendar (located in the church office in the FLC) to see if the room(s) or van is available for the day(s) you want to reserve and use them. Please note that the church main-tains a list of approved drivers; please see Pastor Michael for more information.

2. Read the building usage policy located on the bulletin board outside the church office and on the bulletin board in the back hall of the church.

3. Fill out a Reservation Form located on the bulletin boards in the church hallway and next to the church office in the FLC. Return completed forms to Pastor Michael.

4. Pay any necessary deposit or usage fee (preferably by check) to the church. Trustees will determine and assess any damage fees as necessary.

5. After receipt of payment (if necessary), Pastor Michael will confirm your reservation and write your reservation on the Official Church Calendar.

This policy was adopted by the Church Council April 2017.

If you are unable to be there for your scheduled Sunday, please try to switch with someone or call Rose Branson @ 706-227-2571.

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68 North Second StreetP.O. Box 317

Colbert, Georgia 30628

Pastor Michael Ferguson(706) 788-3372 (office)michael.ferguson@ngumc.net

www.colbert-umc.org Colbert United Methodist Church

Our Mission: Colbert United Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!

colbert-umc.org/advent-market