Christmas Giving Tree Asbury will have our Christmas giving tree up today through December 11. Please select a gift tag from the tree, purchase the item, note whether it is “to be wrapped” or “leave unwrapped,” and return the item to Asbury by Sunday, December 11. Please make sure that the original tag is attached to the gift. We will be assisting a total of 9 children and their families. These giving tree gifts will greatly bless up to 4 families at General Shanks!

Thank you for caring and sharing! Asbury Mission Team

and Asbury Kids Hope USA ministry

The 2017 Altar Flowers Sign-up The sign-up for the 2017 Altar Flowers is on the bulletin board by the church office. The Flowers are $20. Write down who you would like it to be in memory or celebration of.

Bible Study Tuesday, December 6, 6:00-7:30 p.m. - “What Really Happened in Bethlehem?” with Pastor Jill. Come and explore what really went on when Jesus was born: who was there, when was it, and why do we have 2 completely different stories of how it happened? Light refreshments and treats will be served!

Annual Christmas Carry-in Dinner

The NOW committee invites the Asbury congregation and guests to our annual Christmas carry-in dinner after the worship service on Sunday, December 11. The church will provide meat, drinks, and tableware. Those attending are asked to bring two covered dishes to share. If the first letter of your last name begins with an A through M, please bring desserts and fruits. If the first letter of your last name begins with N through Z, please bring salads or vegetables. We hope to see everyone for the carry-in dinner on Sunday, Dec. 11 at Asbury following the 10:15 a. m. worship service.

Food Pantry Sunday Is December 18

Items needed are:

Boxed Foods (Cereal, Macaroni & Cheese, Crackers, etc.)

Remember Asbury Staff at Christmas We have a wonderful staff here at Asbury UMC (Pastor Jill, Denise Degler, Sharon Newman, Charles Pogue, Elizabeth Hudson, Julie Tarr, Linda Braun, Heather Maitlen and Joanna Stone) who deserve to be appreciated and recognized during this special time of year. As you make your list of people to thank or bless with a token of appreciation this Christmas, please remember our staff, who often work very hard behind the scenes to make this congregation what it is today!

Church Council Meeting The Church Council will meet Monday, December 5 at 6:00

p.m. in the Roundtable Room.

Sunday, December 4, 2016 Second Sunday of Advent Christmas Giving Tree 7:00 a.m. Moments of Devotion WPGW Radio 8:00 a.m. Worship Service Chapel 9:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary 4:00 p.m. Youth Group Youth Room Monday, December 5, 2016 9:30 a.m. Monday Morning Disciple Group Finance Office 5:30 p.m. Bread of Life Meal Fellowship Hall 6:00 p.m. Church Council Meeting Roundtable Room Tuesday, December 6, 2016 6:00 p.m. Pastor Jill’s Advent Study Roundtable Room Wed., December 7, 2016 5:30 p.m. Weight Watchers Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m. Asbury Bells Practice Sanctuary 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Choir Room 8:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice Sanctuary Thurs., December 8, 2016 9:00 p.m. Prayer Time Chapel 6:30 p.m. Girl Scout Troop #02345 Room 6 Friday, December 9, 2016 5:30 p.m. Staff Appreciation Christmas

Dinner Praise Café

Sunday, December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent Christmas Giving Tree 7:00 a.m. Moments of Devotion WPGW Radio 8:00 a.m. Worship Service Chapel 9:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary 11:30 a.m. Christmas Carry-in Dinner and

Christmas Caroling

4:00 p.m. Youth Group Youth Room

Come and join us for some fun, Xavier is turning one!

Pastor Jill and Corey invite you to join them for cake and refreshments following worship on Sunday, December 18 as we celebrate Xavier's first birthday!

Joy Circle Christmas Party

The Joy Circle will hold their Christmas carry-in and party on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Asbury church basement. Those attending should note the change in location. Persons should bring a covered dish. The table service and drinks will be provided. You also should bring a gift wrapped Christmas ornament for our ornament exchange. Plus bring an item for the Homeless Shelter, such as personal hygiene items or laundry detergent. The hostess is Debbie Minnis.

The December Newsletter is available to pick up at the church or view on our web site at www.asburyministries.org, click on resources at the bottom of the page, then click on newsletter, and then click on the date.

The 2016 Advent Offering

The Advent Offering will be used for the Feed My Starving Children Program. The Jay County High School Chapter of the National Honor Society is organizing a mobile pack event for April 29, 2017, at the Jay County High School auxiliary gym. The students must raise $25,000 to cover the cost of the ingredients to sack 100,000 meals. The money you place in the advent envelopes will be donated to this group. You may also give a check to Asbury; on the memo line put Feed My Starving Children. The mission team has also pledged to provide helpers for this mobile pack. We will be placing rice, soy, vitamins, minerals and dehydrated vegetables in small pouches. More information will follow about signing up to help pack the food. If you have donated to the Advent projects before you have an envelope with your name on it on the table in the overflow room. If you have not donated we have extra envelopes available. Thank you.

Mission Team

Sign-up for Poinsettias

If you would like to provide a poinsettia for the Worship Services during the Christmas season, in memory or honor of someone, you can sign-up today through December 4. The sign-up sheets are by the Chapel, in the Overflow Room and in all the Adult Sunday School Classes. Please pay for them when you sign-up. The cost is $14.