THE SHEPHERD THE NEWSLETTER OF NEWNAN FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
INVITE. INCLUDE. INVOLVE. Newnan First United Methodist Church exists to invite, include, and involve all people in knowing Christ and making Christ known. Do you know why Newnan FUMC is a great church? It’s not because we have a beautiful Sanctuary and spacious Parish Hall. It’s not because we have a great staff (even though we do!). It’s not even because we have a great group of laity who make up the membership of the church. The reason we are a great church is that many of those laity are actively CARING, SERVING, TELLING, GIVING, and STANDING toward the ministry and mission of Christ! Anything positive we can point to is the result of our people going BEYOND BELIEF and choosing to live out their faith in practical ways in the real world! This coming Sunday we will be focusing on the fourth aspect of faithful Christian living: GIVING. I want to thank every one of you who are currently supporting the work of the church through your faithful and generous giving! You understand what it means to be a devoted follower of Christ. You have decided to express your love for God and your trust in Christ by taking a portion of your resources and offering them back to the Lord. As we make our ministry plans for the coming year, we need your continued support! If you have not made regular giving a part of your life to this point, let me encourage you to do so. There is great blessing and joy that comes to us when we know we are doing what God wants us to do. Will you make a decision this year to make GIVING a part of your relationship with God?
CONTENTS Page 2
Music & Church-wide
Page 3
Church-wide
Page 4
Children
Page 5
Photos
Page 6
Reporting & Church-wide
Page 7
2-week Calendar
Page 8
Preschool
This Sunday when you come to worship, you will receive a financial pledge card prepared by our church leadership. We ask that you pray th about this decision and return the card on Sunday, December 6 or before. On this Commitment Sunday, we will gather at the altar to present ourselves and our gifts to God! I hope you will plan to join us! -Stuart
33 Greenville Street | Newnan, GA 30263 | P 770.253.7400 F 770.253.7404 | New na nFU MC.org Worship: 8:30 & 11 A.M. Traditional | 11 A.M. Contemporary Office Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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The Shepherd Newsletter
November 17, 2015
MUSIC NOTES THE JOYBELLS You are ringing for the 8:30 & 10:55 Traditional services this Sunday, November 22. Please meet in the Sanctuary at 8am THE INSPIRATIONS You are singing for the 10:55 Traditional service next Sunday, November 29. Please meet in the Sanctuary at 10:15am.
LOOKING AHEAD… •
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Sunday, December 13 | 8:30 & 10:55 Traditional services | Special music for the season provided by the Chancel Choir and chamber orchestra. Sunday and Monday, December 13 & 14 | 6pm | O Holy Night in the Sanctuary. Join us for a special program of Christmas Music presented by all our choirs!
-David Kinrade
JOY TREES Joy Trees are now up in the Narthex and Parish Hall with a total of 250 cards to choose from. Remember these children are in foster homes and your gifts may be the only ones they receive. We are the only organization to sponsor these particular children. PLEASE complete the RED card included with the gift list and drop it in the RED bag located on the tree. Read instructions on card for dropoff dates and location. ALL gifts MUST be turned in by December 6. THANK YOU!
The Shepherd Newsletter
November 17, 2015
YOUTH CHOIR FRUIT SALE REPORT
WEDNESDAY MENU
MANY THANKS to everyone who supported our Youth Choir’s annual fruit sale! All proceeds will benefit their 2016 tour to Iowa.
NOVEMBER 18 Thanksgiving Supper!
If you missed an opportunity to purchase fruit, some extra has been ordered and will be delivered on Saturday, December 5. Contact the church office to place your order.
NOVEMBER 25 NO WNS: Thanksgiving Week
CONGRATULATIONS to our top sellers this year: Abby Williams, Tricia Underwood, and Bo Palmer!
KENYA 2016 There will be an informational meeting for those considering serving in Kenya as part of our church’s mission team on Sunday, November 29 at 12:15pm in the Parish Hall. If you are interested but cannot attend this meeting, please contact JoAn Kinrade (jkinrade@newnanfumc.org)
FUN ‘N FROLIC FNF: THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER | Thursday, December 3 | 6:30 – 10:30pm | $12 for ticket & travel | Sign up by Sunday, November 22 | The show features the “worst kids in the world”…the Herdman family, who smoke, steal, and drink jug wine. They go to church for the first time because they hear it serves snacks, and—despite protests from other church members—they are given roles in the Sunday School’s Christmas play, in which they tell the Christmas story in a most unconventional way. Sign up on Connection Cards, through the church office, online (“registrations” under “calendar”), or through the church app!
SIGN UP FOR NEW LIFE GROUPS NOW! ONLINE REGISTRATION STILL OPEN! If you are interested in signing up for a Life Group (or just learning about them), visit the NewnanFUMC.org and click “life groups” under “ministries.”
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 @ 10:00am All children K-6th grade are invited to participate. To sign up, contact Karen Oothoudt (koothoudt@newnanfumc.org) or fill out a sign-up form found in the Children’s wing. The one and only rehearsal will be Friday, December 4 from 4-5:30pm!
SAMARITAN’S PURSE: OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD If you would like to pack shoe boxes to be shipped to children around the world, you can drop off completed shoe boxes at Unity Baptist Church or in the designated area of the Chapel from November 16-21. For info on how to pack a shoe box, visit: www.SamaritansPurse.org/what-wedo/operation-christmas-child/
The Shepherd Newsletter
November 17, 2015
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND YEAR END: WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU, THE CHURCH, AND THE IRS Contributors must deliver checks on or by December 31st, 2015 in order to claim a charitable contribution deduction for 2015. Checks that are placed in the church offering during the first worship service in 2016 will not qualify for a charitable contribution deduction in 2015, even if the check is predated to 2015 or was actually written in 2015. However, checks that are written, mailed, and postmarked in 2015 will be deductible in 2015 though they are not received by the church until 2016. The deadline for contributions received in the mail postmarked December 31, 2015 is January 5, 2016. Any contributions received after this date will be applied to 2016. To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file your 2015 income tax return until you have received your year-end contribution statement from the church. Under IRS rules, you may lose your deduction for some or all of your contributions if you file your tax return before receiving a written acknowledgement of your 2015 contributions from the church. Yearend contribution statements will be mailed and postmarked no later than January 31, 2016. If you are donating stock, please allow at least four weeks for the funds to be transferred to the church by December 31st or you may miss all of the above deadlines! If the deadlines are missed, your stock contribution will be applied to 2016. -Thank you, The Finance Office
BTG CHRISTMAS GIFT DISTRIBUTION
COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS
Bridging the Gap needs 8-10 people to help distribute the Christmas gifts BTG collects for local families to 50 families in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, December 16 beginning at 9 a.m. The families will be coming here…no deliveries. Also, we will need refreshments while the families wait their turns. If you are interested in helping, contact Kathy Wilson: 404.790.4831
A donation box is located in the Gathering room to help keep the pantry shelves filled to serve our local families in need. Common items needed include: peanut butter, rice, soup, canned vegetables, spaghettis sauce, canned fruit, diapers, hygiene items, etc. Items will be transferred to One Roof/Community Pantry. No expired items, please!
The Shepherd Newsletter
November 17, 2015
(top) Cancer Care Ministers give a presentation at CTCA; (right) Cissy Hass @ CTCA’s WAGE HOPE event; (below) Uth Retreat; (left) Preschoolers watch the Veterans Day Parade
The Shepherd Newsletter Friendship Committee Merilyn Mortensen 110 Edgeworth Rd. | Apt. 1400 Newnan, GA 30263 770.251.5939 Baptism Walter Thomas Kelly—son of Ryan & Staci Kelly—was baptized on Sunday, November 8. NOVEMBER 22
nd
Official Greeters: All Church Members Head Ushers: Kim Duncan (8:30) Byron Keene (10:55) Acolytes: Lilly Arnall, Robin Frances Rice (8:30) Ava Elder, Nolen Huey (10:55) Crucifer: Grayson Porras (10:55) Sunday School Greeters: Seekers Sunday School Class Sound Technicians: Jeff Williams, Thomas Coursey
November 17, 2015 November 15th Reporting
Attendance Worship Services Total (8:30—148; 10:55—339; Connect—98) Sunday School Church Membership
585 385 2280
Year-to-Date Financial Report Week Ending: 11/14/2015 Week #45 Total Tithes & Income Total Expenses Over/(Under)
$ $ $
Annual Budget Capital Budget Total Church Budget
$ 1,624,565 $ --------$ 1,624,565
NOVEMBER 29th
1,216,639 1,315,120 (98,481)
Official Greeters: All Church Members Head Ushers: Kim Duncan (8:30) Byron Keene (10:55) Acolytes: Ella Stanford, Josephine Hinely (8:30) Madeline Elliott, Wyatt Welden (10:55) Crucifer: Mason Dewberry (10:55) Sunday School Greeters: Seekers Sunday School Class Sound Technicians: Jeff Williams, Thomas Coursey
The Shepherd Newsletter 8:30am 9:45am 10:55am 11:00am 5:00pm
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Traditional Worship Service (S) Sunday School Traditional Worship Service (S) Connect Worship Service (PH) st Study: Run for God (1 Ave. Park)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 NO PRESCHOOL—THANKSGIVING WEEK
November 17, 2015 8:30am 9:45am 10:55am 11:00am 12:15pm 5:00pm
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
7:00pm UMM (Sprayberry’s—Jackson St.)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Traditional Worship Service (S) Sunday School Traditional Worship Service (S) Connect Worship Service (PH) Kenya Trip Info Meeting (PH) Youth Choir (CR) st Study: Run for God (1 Ave. Park) 6:00pm Confirmation (201) Uth (PH)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30
4:30pm Joybells Rehearsal (BR) 5:45pm Inspirations Rehearsal (CR) 6:45pm Masterworks Chorale (CR)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 7:00pm 9:30am 6:15pm 6:30pm
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1
Men’s Prayer Breakfast (GR) Swingin’ Singin’ Seniors (CR) DivorceCare (Annex) Cancer Care Team Meeting (GR)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 OFFICE CLOSED SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
4:15pm GROW (207/209) Cherub Choir (203) Wesley Choir (CR) Young Ringers (BR) 5:00pm Mid-week Communion (C) 5:15pm Carol Choir (CR) Wednesday Night Supper (PH) 5:45pm Parish Choir (BR) 6:30pm Study: Let’s Talk (203) 6:45pm Chancel Choir (CR)
5:30pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3
Fear This For Life Driver’s Training (C) FnF: Best Christmas Pageant Ever Connect Band Rehearsal (PH) Joybells Performance (Piedmont Newnan Hospital)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
11:00am PS: Ks & 4s Sing @ Barnes and Noble 4:00pm Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (S)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 FRUIT SALE PICKUP (PH)
8:00am Chrysalis Training (C/GR/VN) 7:00pm Uth Christmas Party (YL)
The Shepherd Newsletter
November 17, 2015
PRESCHOOL NEWS This month we are focusing in being thankful for our many blessings! We have been reading the stories of our FIRST Thanksgiving. Our Thanksgiving Feast is on Friday, November 20. Our 4s and 5s perform a few songs then we eat a “feast” with our families! I am thankful for such a supportive church family and for such wonderful preschool families! May you all have a special Thanksgiving!
Blessings,
-Nancy Martin
TO: NEWNAN FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 33 Greenville St. Newnan, GA 30263 770.253.7400 | NewnanFUMC.org