Stephen’s Strands When the season of Advent arrives, there is an air of anticipation! We look forward to what it means to celebrate that our God was willing to come to earth and experience what our human lives are all about. There is anticipation about wise men seeing the star and feeling drawn to follow that star to the source of its light, the light of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ. Imagine, following a star in the sky, not fully understanding why for what was likely a two-year journey. But having arrived at Bethlehem, finding Mary, Joseph and Jesus, imagine the light that was shined into their hearts.

This year during Advent, Christmas and moving into the New Year, I want to challenge all of us to #BeAStar. Be the light that leads people to see what the love of God looks like. As people discover what God’s love looks like in the hearts of people like you and me, they see the dif-ference the light of Jesus Christ makes! To #BeAStar you might want to make soup or bake cookies for a neighbor who isn’t feeling well. You might want to invite a friend or neighbor to go with you to serve at Youth Group, Children’s activi-ties, Bountiful House or Lunches of Love. There are so many ways to #BeAStar and let the light of Christ shine through you that I can’t pos-sibly list them here.

I invite you to send me your ideas on how to #BeAStar. Let me know during Advent, how you are finding ways to share the light and the love of Christ!

God bless you with great anticipation for the coming of Christ!

Stephen Cotten

Prayer List

Please Note: Names added to the prayer list will remain on the list for 30 days if needed. They will be relisted by request.

If you would like to have a prayer request emailed out or would like to add someone to the prayer list, please email the Church office at

office@fumcmv.org

Honors and

MeMorials

Members of First United Methodist Church

express our thanks to each of you who have recently given a

special financial gift in memory or in honor of loved ones.

In Memory of Chuck Etheridge Stan, Jill, Grant & Samantha Lowry Monty & Carolyn Newsom John Hicks Gail Reed Judd Scott & Jackie Stempel In Honor of USMC Happy Birthday Gerald & Elease HubbellIn Honor of Charlotte Byrd Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Jean Ann Marshall Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Cindy McDonald Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Pam Greenberg Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Stan & Peg Silva Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Johnny Kirby Jean Ann Marshall

Sympathy to... ...Liz Etheridge on the passing of her husband, Chuck.

Willie BaneMary BeatlesLinda Sue BentleyDavid BrewerPatti BrewerJanie BynumPatty CheatwoodTim ClipsonCarolyn DaltonNorma Jean DraperKenny DuckBarbara DunnJoanna EarlStevie Joe EvansFreda EvansVictoria FletcherJan Banman GraciaRichard Haynie

Jean Lowry HaysNadine JenningsJolynn JohnsonRobert JonesMargaret MannJean Ann MarshallLou Gene MaxtonDennis McBrideCharlotteWhitesides McFarlinKenneth McGeeSusan McGeeJessie MillsLanny MooreDon NewsomMarla NolleyBlaine NordinDawn Parsons

Stacey PingDorothy PriceHelen PriceLena Mae ReederDon RoseRobyn ScottChris SheltonSarah SheltonTom ShielsLeye Ann SmithPeggy StuttsGeorge TurnerGary Welker’s FamilyMonty White

Mark your calendar for our Christmas Presentation of The Sounds of Silent Night Sunday morning, December 16th. Our choir continues to work on anthems that help express the wonder and joy of Christmas.Our presentation will feature several solos as well as our Children’s Choir.Plan to bring your family and join us as we present our gift to you at the 8:30 & 11:00 services.

Extra Ushers and Communion Servers

Needed during the

Christmas Season.If you could help be a greeter,

usher or server, please contact the church office at

903-537-3616

VISION TEAMS CONTINUE TO PRESS FORWARD ….The number 1 priority of all the Vision Teams is Prayer. We constantly seek the Lord’s wisdom and vision for our church and community. Vision Teams will continue “behind the scenes” operations with more activity becoming visible in the Fall.

FELLOWSHIP GAMES

(a variety of board games, card games and domino games.)

Wednesdays @ 3:30in the Family Life Center, Room 201

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR TRANSPORTATION

GROUP

We have formed an individual group who is willing to provide

transportation to and from doctor’s appointments when a person is

unable to drive due to recovering surgery or illness. If you need a copy of the drivers, please check

with the INFO CENTER.

“Lunch is on us Bunch.”

To date visitors have been taken out 2 times. More importantly, several visitors have been met at the back of the church after services and welcomed by a warm and loving church.

FUMCMV

Handy PersonGetting ready for Christmas and the New Year? We all have extra “stuff” that we need to donate or dispose of so we can clean out that store room and make room for more “stuff.” If you need help in transporting that which you no longer need or want, contact the Church Office, or notify Stan Silva and we will arrange for a Handy Person to take that stuff to Goodwill. Or, if you need help organizing your storage area after the New Year, please call. We are here to help.

Community Outreach

OpportunityFall Family Fun Fest Bake Sale sold baked goods to

raise money for a commu-nity outreach opportunity. They presented the Circle of Friends Book Club with a check for $444.40 to be spent on books for people

with disabilities. Thank you for your support!

We are taking reservations now for Christmas Poinsettias.

The cost is $20.00 per plant.DEADLINE DECEMBER 10.

To make your reservation, com-plete the form below and place it with a $20.00 donation for each plant in the collection plate or mail it to the church office. You may re-serve plants in honor, or in mem-ory, of someone. After Christmas Eve Worship services, deliver your plant(s) to someone who needs ex-tra beauty in their life.

Number of plants __________ (just one designation per plant)

(UNDERLINE) In memory - OR - In honor

Please PRINT

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________From:___________________________

___________________________

ORDER YOUR POINSETTIAS

Rainbow ConneCtion

Thankful, Thankful, Thankful! Being thankful was our theme for the month of November and here at Rainbow we have so much to be thankful for. Rainbow is blessed with wonderful teachers and an amazing church family supporting all we do. We are especially thankful for each and every one of the children and families that we have the privilege of serving. On November 15th we had our annual Thanksgiving lunch for all of our children and families. We served about 45 family members in addition to all of our children and

employees. Ms. Janie once again did a fantastic job preparing all the food. On November 28th our Pre-K class attended the Stephen Fite concert in Sulphur Springs. He is an educational children’s performer. The children loved all the singing and dancing. Our Pre-K class will be preforming at First National Bank on December 7th and on December 21st we will be having our class Christmas Parties. Rainbow will be closed for Christmas on the 24th and 25th. We will also be closed January 1, 2019 for New Years Day.

School Age class with the Christmas signs they made over Thanksgiving Break.

It was a great time in the FUMC Pumpkin Patch this year! A big thank you to Ms. Cindy, the youth and our volunteers who helped with getting the pumpkins unloaded into the patch and with setup in the gym. Then, with the help of about 30 volunteers from our congregation and the Lowes Distribution Center, we hosted over 500 students from Mt. Vernon Elementary, Rainbow Connection, Kids Under Construction and other community families. Kids attending took a hay ride, played games with pumpkins, made trail mix and heard stories, poems and riddles about pumpkins and, of course, got to pick their very own pumpkin from the patch! We also want to thank the awesome crew that showed up for take down and cleanup; the transition was the speediest ever. Thank you for your support and prayers for this amazing opportunity to share the love of Jesus with the children of our community in a “Great Pumpkin” way. Blessings from the patch,Ms. Pam

2018 Pumpkin Patch - A Big Success - Thanks to all of you!

Thanksgiving with family

Christmas is ComingWe have paper stockings on the tree with Christmas wish lists for children with the most needs referred. In addition, we also have stockings with lists of the most requested toys and clothing items. Stockings for referred children should be attached to gifts and returned by December 9th. Stockings with list items should be returned no later than December 10th and will be placed in the Christmas store.Families not referred will have the opportunity to shop at the Christmas Store in our Family Life Center. We are looking for donations of “like new” toys and clothing for children and teens. Due to the changes in the program, the store will be the primary source of Christmas gifts for many families. Our emphasis is donations to the Christmas Store of toys and clothing for children and teens. If you have questions, contact Susan Sample 903-860-7079

Important Dates:Gifts to be returned December 9Set up for Christmas Store December 13-14Christmas Store December 17-19

Administrative Meetings

December 02 Nancy Craig Mike Fisk 09 Randall Byrd Neil Scott 16 Mike Fisk Tom Sample 23 Linda Moore Deb Morris 24 - 5pm James King ? 24- 7pm Linda Barnhart ?30 Stan Silva Steve Wright

Finance Counters

Church EmailsIf you want to be on the church email list, please contact us at

office@fumcmv.org.

Rainbow MeetingMonday, December 10

5:15 pm Church Council Meeting

Monday, December 10 6:00 pm

Finance MeetingMonday, December 17

6:30 pm

A “Big Thank You” to everyone that volunteered and donated money, water and candy to the Fall Family Fun Fest. It was another big success.

The Santa’s Sweeties have awarded $1,000.00 to fund the twelfth annual Poetry Contest at NTCC. This is a highly anticipated contest that involves not only students but adults as well.The student winners compete on the national level and have won the Hites Award that is given to the top ten college students in the nation academically; Jack Kent Cooke Award, Terry Award, NE Poetry Award and the Texas Star Award.We have given approximately $26,000.00 in support our children.

Mary Lou

There are many, many reasons to be grateful…for family, friends, youth, relatives, teachers, office staff, pastors, our congregation & I could go on & on & on!! Whether it is a sweet text from a friend, a smile, a student appreciating our lesson, laughter, hugs, unexpected flowers hand delivered, gifts given in love, & an amazing card from FUMCYOUTH. If we all stop & look around for a brief moment, we can actually see God’s grace in our lives. It really only takes a moment!! This year has been challenging and blessed at the same time (ok let’s face it, this is Jr. High & High School students). The fact that we can go to Salvation Army & our youth want to go and deliver warmth to others who may live on the streets, a shelter, or even in their car, helps me to look at the bigger picture. We have been raising money in various ways for missions and summer camps. I want to thank each of you that’s contributed to us in making these trips possible---when you have a busload of students going to serve, when they are learning how to give of themselves while being challenged in so many ways, that is what is gratifying to witness! In my heart of hearts I believe our youth will remember this journey @FUMCYOUTH with grateful hearts and will realize how much has been given to make all things possible.

Merry Christmas from FUMCYOUTH!Much love,Cindy

On December 12th, Ignite Kids will take our annual trip to Mt. Pleasant to shop for items to fill Christmas shoeboxes for children all over the world through Operation Christmas Child. 50+ kids will file into Dollar Tree anxious to pick out 5 gifts all on their own for boys and girls ranging in age from 2 to 14 years old. After making their decision on who to shop for, they will then form lines at the open registers and make their purchases with the money they brought. The clerks are usually especially helpful and kind to our children showing great interest in what they are buying and for whom. When all students are done with their shopping and loaded back on the buses we will continue our fun evening with a party at CiCi’s Pizza. You are invited to join the fun by coming along and shopping to fill a shoebox of your own or you may give a donation of just $6 or more and have the kids shop for you. Just contact me or the office to let us know how you want to be a part. Thank you to those who have already donated to assist in paying for the $9/box processing fee. Watching our children so excited about giving to others is always one of my favorite Christmas treats! For the coming advent season, we will be looking into the “Calm and Bright” of the birth of Jesus. This is a beautiful time of year to begin the tradition of making Sunday Bible Time a priority for your family. We hope to see many “bright” faces of our church’s and community’s children this Christmas.

Praying your Christmas is filled with miracles too! Ms. Pam

Joy to the World Through Song!Ignite Voices will carol at Mt. Vernon House on Wednesday, December 5th to spread Christmas cheer. The Children’s Choir also will sing during the Christmas Presentation of The Sounds of Silent Night on Sunday, December16th.

Joyce Jones December 1Madalyn Morgan December 1Kelly Alphin December 2Larry Adams December 3Bill Craig December 3Nancy Thames December 6Christian Butler December 6Wayne Woods December 7Robert Walker December 8Brenda Kerr December 8Jackie Carlson December 8Griffin Standridge December 9MaKayla Morgan December 11Steven Townley December 11Kelly Newsome December 12Maria Ruelas December 15Russell Powell December 15Diane Newsom December 17Helen Lunceford December 19Lael Nelson December 19Robert Kerr December 19Terry Tirado December 20Chuck Switzer December 21Jenny Grolemund December 21Cathy Vanden Eykel December 24Zach Auringer December 26Mia Mendez December 27Glen Slaughter December 27Laura Counts December 27Sara Rader December 28Max Rutledge December 31

Date Team Cooking Serving Clean Up 12/05 Sariego Sandy Sariego Sue Whiteley Sandy Sariego Mickie Hunter MIckie Hunter Sue Whiteley

No WNL Dinner until Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

If you are willing to make cookies, cakes or brownies, enough for 60 individuals for a Wednesday Night, please sign up at the Info Center. All teams would greatly appreciate more help. Please sign-up to help. Call the office @ 903-537-3616 and let the office know when you can help.

Altar FlowersThe First Sunday of each month altar flowers are provided by Flowerland and given by the Charles Bruce Flower Fund.If you would like to provide altar flowers on any Sunday, in honor or in memory of, sign up at the info center. You may contact Flowerland (903-537-3755 or 903-588-4881), or you may bring an arrangement from another florist, or create an arrangement yourself on the special day you signed up for on the calendar.The office would like to recognize this special occasion and ask that you make arrangements 2 weeks prior to that special day.

WNL Dinners

Thank you to all the many angels out there who have been so kind and generous with prayers and beautiful cards sent to me during my months of treatment and recuperation. Still have several weeks to go but didn’t want more time to lapse before I thanked all of you for your kindness and support. And, I want you to know those cards are not forgotten nor

trashed but are part of my daily meditation and prayer time. I take a small stack each day and read them once more to help lift my spirits and to give thanks to the indiviuals who sent them for being a part of my lift. I’m making good strides and the doctors are pleased with how I am progressing.With Much Love, Jean Ann

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 88:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 4:00pm Youth

6:00pm Cub Scouts

8:30am Believers in Grace Bible Study 6:30pm Boy Scouts

9:00am Prayer Time 9:30am Pastor's Bible Study 3:30pm Fellowship Games 5:00pm WNL Dinner 5:30pm Chancel Choir 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Ignite Voices 6:00pm Ignite Kids 6:00pm Youth 6:30pm The Stand

9 10 11 12 13 14 158:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 4:00pm Youth

5:15pm Rainbow Board Meeting 6:00pm Church Council6:00pm Cub Scouts 6:30pm M.E.S.S.

8:30am Believers in Grace Christmas Party 2:00pm Prayer Shawl 6:30pm Boy Scouts

9:00am Prayer Time 9:30am Pastor's Bible Study 5:00pm Ignite Kids - shopping 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Chancel Choir 6:00pm Youth

16 17 18 19 20 21 228:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 4:00pm Youth

6:00pm 3rd Annual Cookie Exchange 6:00pm Cub Scouts 6:30pm Finance Mtg

6:30pm Boy Scouts

23 24 25 26 27 28 298:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service

Rainbow Closed 5:00pm Christmas Eve Service 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service

FUMC Office & Rainbow Closed

30 318:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service

December 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

December 1st FUMC Office & Rainbow Closed

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage PaidPermit #30

Mt. Vernon, TX

First United Methodist ChurchHwy. 37 North of I-30PO Box 659Mt. Vernon, TX 75457