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Volunteers are needed to serve as acolytes. If interested, please call the church office.

RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS—DECEMBER 2016

DATE 4 11 18 25

8:30 a.m. Worship 25 15 23 -

10:30 a.m. Worship 129 171 166 262

Total Worship 154 186 189 262*

Sunday School 48 46 43 -

*Includes 10:30 a.m. Worship and Christmas Eve Services

2016 BUDGET…….………….….…………………..…..$281,000.00

YTD BUDGET Needed……………….…………......…..$281,000.00

YTD BUDGET Tithes and Offerings Received………….$240,979.81

YTD NON-BUDGET Receipts Received… ……….…....$ 62,203.75

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES YTD……………………....$ 10,210.00

BLUEFIELD FIRST UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH 200 South College Avenue

Bluefield, VA 24605 Phone: 276-326-1466

E-mail Address: info@bluefieldfumc.org Website: bluefieldfumc.org

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Dr. Brad Scott, Pastor pastor@bluefieldumc.org 276-722-0346

Carolyn Quesenberry, Secretary info@bluefieldumc.org 276-617-1943

William Elliott, Music Dir./Organist welliott1@frontier.com 304-320-7265

Jack Goins, Choir Director jackrgoins@hotmail.com 276-722-2133

Jessica Cole, Youth Director jessblevins83@gmail.com 865-300-7457

Amy Horne. Dir. Children’s Min. ahorne@tcplweb.org 276-979-6424

Wade Dillon, Custodian wmd342014@gmail.com 276-322-2148

Dr. Don Scott, Pastor Emeritus wmds@wvva.net 304-320-7407

JANUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

One of the great bishops of the United Methodist Church was a man by the name of Kenneth W. Goodson. He served as bishop in Alabama during the Civil Rights struggle, and later served in Virginia before his retirement. Afterwards he served as Bishop in Residence at Duke Divinity School, where I met him and learned from him in his classes on United Methodist Doctrine, History, and Polity. At that time he was suffering from a kidney disease that had placed him on dialysis. Soon he was reportedly hospitalized and on his death bed. A group of students went to see him there and after a very pleasant visit with this venerable churchman they asked him this question: “Bishop, is there anything you want us to tell anyone for you?” Expecting they might carry a message to someone at the Divinity School or somewhere else, they awaited his answer. Bishop Goodson, true to form, looked up, and with a partial smile on his saintly face, said: “Yes . . . tell everyone you see everything you know about Jesus Christ.”

In the world in which we live, a lot gets said, doesn’t it. The most important things for the church to say, for us to talk about, and for us to celebrate, is the love we have from Almighty God, made known to us through the birth, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the reason the church exists, to proclaim the grace of God given to us in Christ and to share our faith with people everywhere. Yes, the most important thing we have to do is to tell everybody we know all we know about the One who gave His all for us.

Evangelism is the ministry of sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. There are people, even in your neighborhood, sometimes even in your family, who don’t know who Jesus is, and don’t know what God’s grace is about. You’d think in a community like ours, where so many people are familiar with churchgoing, and familiar with Christianity, that evangelism wouldn’t be a huge need. But did you know that in the population of Tazewell County, Virginia (and I don’t have figures for Mercer County or McDowell), some 80 percent of the population is unchurched? That’s not a misprint. Eighty percent. Do you think we need to do evangelism? Do you think perhaps there might be a few people we can reach with the good news? Have you tried to do that lately?

Here’s a principle I hope you’ll come to appreciate. It does not take ordination as a pastor to share the good news. Here’s another principle that is important. Not only can ANYBODY share the good news with someone else, but it is EXPECTED of people who follow Jesus, who are Christians, and who go to church, that they will share the good news. What would you do if someone asked you to lead them to faith in Christ? Could you? Do you know how?

Our Wednesday night Bible Study will be looking at ways to understand how and a method to use to lead people to Christ in the next few weeks. Why don’t you come.

See you Sunday, Pastor Brad Scott

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 2 Sandy Elswick 3 Gary Wilkinson 4 Melanie Jones Bryson 5 Gary Pardue 8 Terry Owen 14 Pastor Brad

18 Bethany Spracher 25 Robbi Hartsock 26 David Brewster 26 Ann Gray Perdue 29 Charlynne Kovach 30 Mary Ruth Scott 31 Frank Britton

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS (No Anniversaries)

IN MEMORY AND IN HONOR OF GIFTS FOR DECEMBER 2016

IN MEMORY OF PAT JONES To: General Budget By: John/Betty White By: Shirley Saunders By: Vera Lee Austin IN MEMORY OF ROSA CORTE To: General Budget By: Sharon Ziegler By: John/Betty White IN MEMORY OF BEN BATES To: General Budget By: John/Betty White By: John/Cathy Payne By: Shirley Saunders To: Organ Fund By: Dr. P. L. /Virginia Rowlett By: Bailey Log House Committee By: Woolwine Class To: Missions By: Jerry/Debra Hickman By: J. C./Susan Higginbotham By: Walter/Linda Shroyer By: Appalachian Agency for Sr. Citizens

To: Music By: Bruce/Jacqueline/Mark/Laura Palmer By: Carl/Linda Gillespie IN MEMORY OF ROBERT TRENTON To: Handbells By: Lewis D. Neal To: Missions By: Jerry/Debra Hickman To: General Budget By: Vera Lee Austin IN MEMORY OF LINDA DEAN, BETTY WHITE’S SISTER To: Assistance Fund By: Woodwine Class IN MEMORY OF FRANK SAUNDERS To: General Budget By: Shirley Saunders IN MEMORY OF INA CECIL To: Music Fund By: Debbie Ramella IN HONOR JACK GOINS To: Music Fund By: Chancel Choir IN HONOR OF CHOIR MUSICIANS—Bill Elliott, Sharon Ziegler, Tom Horne To: Music Fund By: Chancel Choir IN HONOR OF CHARLOTTE RICH To: Children’s Ministries By: United Methodist Women IN HONOR OF WAYFARERS CLASS To: Assistance Fund By: Gerry Stowers

Adult Handbell Choir will resume practice later in 2017.

William Elliott, Director

JANUARY CHURCH ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS

5 United Methodist Women Martha Circle, 10:30 a.m.. in Library Lydia Circle, 7:00 p.m. in Palmer Hall 8 Beth Moore Study, 6:00 p.m. in Chapel 9 Finance Committee, 6:30 p.m. in Library 10 Staff Parish Relations Committee, 6:30 p.m. in Library 15 Church Council, 4-6 p.m. in Palmer Hall 18 Men’s Breakfast, 7:00 a.m. 20 Youth to Resurrection 23 Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m. in Library

BIBILE STUDY-WEDNESDAYS, 6:00 P.M. (Christian Faith Sharing)

CHANCEL CHOIR REHEARSAL—WEDNESDAYS, 7:00 P.M.

MEN’S BREAKFAST will meet on Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00 a.m. Cooks are Bob Clendenen and crew. Pastor Brad will lead the devotions. All men are invited to attend.

The men would like to thank everyone for their contributions to the Union Mission Food Drive. It was a great success. BETH MOORE BIBLE STUDY will start on Sunday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m. The study book is titled: “Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman.” Please call Carolyn at the church office if you would like a study book. Cost is $16.00. In this study, Beth asks you to join her in a very personal examination of this great story of threat and deliverance as she peels back the layers of the history. It shows how very contemporary and applicable the story of Esther is to our lives today. If you have ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seem over-powering, this is the Bible Study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther’s day, it is tough today. This portion of God’s Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried and pressured lives. Our first opportunity to be apart of a Mission in 2017 is coming up on February 4, 2017. TOM GRAHAM AND GAVIN YATES ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF A CONSTRUCTION TEAM FOR ZION CHILDREN’S HOME. The construction is pouring a concrete slab for a small office building, a handicapped ramp on cottage #2, and remodeling the kitchen at the manse. Needed cost for this trip is $1,500.00. Please start covering this Mission Team in Prayer. If you can help financially, please mark your checks Feb 4th Mission Trip. UPDATED CHURCH DIRECTORIES will be available one per family at the church. Included is the officer list for 2017. CHURCH COUNCIL will meet January 15 at 4:00 p.m. to train and plan the church's work for the year. Every officer is needed.

MEMBERS ADDED: Keith McKenzie Janice Busic Shirley Vinciguerra MEMBERS REMOVED: Shirley Tibbs Pat Jones Heidi Stansfield Jill Jones Richard French, Jr. Doug Marrs Connie Marrs Alex Marrs Sarah Marrs Susan Barnes Richard Keith Sanders Gail Sanders Jerry Nichols Andy Taylor Patricia Nester Larry Ellis Pat Ellis Megan Thomas Brad McMillion Donald Owens Phyllis Owens Marjorie Hartery Anthony Miller Charles Maxey, Jr. Max Bowen Timothy Bowen Earl Shaw Jared Taylor Zona Berbert Rosa Corte Ben Bates Sharon Tagge Robert Trenton Kelli Billips Tracy French Nancy Shupe

IMMEDIATE NEEDS E. C. and Beverly Browning, Darlene Dolin, Linda Douthat, Vicki Furrow, Carter Graves (Ervin and Charlotte Rich’s Great-Grandson), Amanda Griffith, Erinn Hollo, Tim Jarrett, Patty Ramage, Deb Sarver, Marguerite Smith, Edith Wilkinson OUR MILITARY Ryan Shott, Lucas Graham, Jeremy Woody, Jerome Moody and those serving our country LONG TERM ILLNESS Marie Anderson, Barbara Bailey, Bobbie Bellamy (Margaret Elam’s Sister), Smokey Blaylock, Edna Bone, Joe Davidson, Leon Devor, Ethel Earls, Syd El-lison, Margaret Farmer, Russell Garrett, Shirley Glover, Dr. David Kovach, Charles Miller (Pam Rose’s father), Gary Pardue, Gerrie Porter, Wilma Shay,

The works of kindness from our church family before, during and following Ben’s illness and funeral were appreciated and we are grateful to you.

Your presence and prayers, the special meal, flowers, visits, cards and donations to our church needs have been expressions of care and sympathy dedicated to Ben’s memory. All have been comforting to our family. For all of these blessing we thank you. Sincerely and With Love, Barbara, Kyle and the Bates Family

A SEASON OF PRAYER Every January and February in Holston Conference, a review begins in preparation for the Fixing of Appointments at Annual Conference in June. This review includes consideration of the needs of the local church and the conference and the circumstances in the pastors’ personal and family lives. Discernment of the varying needs of church, pastor, and conference for the effectiveness of ministry is the vital business of appointment-making process. The Bishop and Cabinet gather the input from each of these plus the information from retirements, sabbaticals, leaves of absence, departure from ministry, and new pastors. With all these factors to consider, clearly the recommendation and decisions need to be undergirded by prayer. Please keep our congregations and pastors and our Church in prayer during the next 7 weeks.

A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year. In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commit-ment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come. Amen. By: Billy Graham