FUMC Words for Wednesday: 12/22/2021

12/22/2021 FUMC Words for Wednesday

Good Morning Church,

Here’s what’s happening at worship over the next few weeks at First UMC.

Our Christmas Eve services will be at 5 pm and 7 pm in the sanctuary. We will have candlelight and communion. Masks are recommended and encouraged for worship again as case numbers are on the rise in our area. Masks are especially prudent for Christmas Eve due to the large number of people expected for worship.

Sunday, December 26, Pastor Mack will share from Luke 2 with a sermon titled, “And the angel said, ‘Be not afraid.’” There will be 2 services on December 26th; one at 9:30 in the MAC and one at 11 am in the sanctuary. Pastor Mack will also preach on Sunday, January 2, offering “Three Great Resolutions for the New Year” from 1 Corinthians 13. I look forward to a good word from our new Director of Pastoral Care.

On Sunday, January 9, we will return to John’s gospel and witness Jesus calling his first disciples with the words “Come and See.”

My prayer for you all is that you know the gift that Christ is, that you know the hope, peace, joy, and love found in him.

Merry Christmas!

Don

The Adult Bible Study, Children and Youth are on break until January.

Sunday’s altar flowers are given to the glory of God

and in celebration of the birthdays of Billie Roach and Gwen Lewis by Joe Roach.

Our special offering for Christmas Eve will be Hope House. Hope House is a benevolence center for the needy in Union County. Rather than having clients roam from church to church, it enables the clients to go to one place and speak to one person, and yet receive help from multiple churches. It aims to meet people’s physical needs as an open door to introduce them to Jesus. Hope House is located at 215 Blue Ridge Street It is open on Monday and Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.

Let us anticipate and celebrate Christ’s birth together on Christmas Eve. We will hold 2 services; one at 5:00 pm and one at 7:00 pm.

Both services will be held in the sanctuary.

The nursery will be open for little ones.

Don’t forget to pick up your cards off

the Christmas card table!

The week of December 26th, the church office will be open Tuesday, 28th - Thursday, 30th from

9:00 am till noon.

The Trustees need your help! We are trying to locate our 10-foot yellow step ladder. It was last seen backstage in the MAC. If you might know the whereabouts of the ladder, please contact the church office.

Christmas Celebrations

Morning Glory Circle Christmas Luncheon

Circle of Love Christmas Dinner

Night to Shine-Thru Parade

Saturday, February 5

10:00-Noon

Please go to the church web page firstmethodistblairsville.com

At the bottom of the page is a link for Night to Shine.

Click the link and sign up as a Volunteer.

Please do not tell us verbally or through private email. (thanks)

We have 13 stations for our guests to stop and pick up “goodies.”

At this point, all the give a-ways are purchased or are in the works. We simply need smiling, energetic hosts to greet the guests and shower them with love and the give-a-ways we’ll have.

Please stop by and say a prayer over these quilts. Tying a knot lets the receiver know that people care and that we have prayed for them.

Wendell Lee - stage 4 throat cancer. Brother to Norm Jean Anderson

Debbie Gallenkamp - double masectomy, reconstructive surgery

MAC Holiday Hours!

The MAC will close at 3pm on Thursday, December 23rd and will remained closed through Thursday, December 30th. It will re-open on Monday, January 3rd. Have a blessed Christmas!

MAC Walking Track Hours…

*** Monday-Thursday 8am - 3pm ***

Play Pickleball! The Blairsville Pickleball Club is playing in the MAC on Tuesdays from 8am until noon and Thursdays from noon til 3pm. Everyone is welcome! Come join us!

Line Dancing Thursday’s !! Next classes begin January 6th!

For info contact Rita at vckids2001@yahoo.com

4 - Dee Freed, Jim Hughes 5 – Jonathan Engle 8 - Kathy Brandenburg, Jeremy Bruce, Julie Sundsted 9 - Matthew Gibson, Case Hand 10 - Rob Howell 12 - Frank Bachteler, Lisa Busse 13 - Billy Hendricks 14 - Jordan Young 15 - Marion Lifsey 18 - Charlene Cook 19 - Carol Engler 20 - Barbara Davis, Ray Parson, Avis Shaw, Danita Stephens 21 - Stephen Schuknecht 22- Kim Steinke 25 - Ava Smith, Ashton Smith 27 - Adele Bauman, Wayne Jones 28 - Fran Browning 29 - John Redgrave 30 - Andrew Engle, Virginia Lane 31 - Blanche Candler, Bruce Johnson

Our love and prayers go out to long-distance member Bambi Wooten whose husband Charlie died suddenly on Saturday. A card may be sent to her at 2914 Fiddlers Bend, Palmetto, FL 34221.

Please Help Us at the church by keeping us informed of any sickness or procedures that you or any of our family members may be experiencing. You may contact Pastor Mack for your prayer requests at mack.riley@ngumc.net or call the church at 706 745 2073.

Prayer Concerns and Celebrations:

Please help us keep this list updated by notifying the office of any changes.

SPECIFIC:

Dennis Bible - total knee replacement on the 16th
Marjorie Bowron - health issues
Kirby and Marjorie Bowron’s niece Laura Hansen - cancer
Joyce Byers’ sister-in-law Shirley Kelley - had a mastectomy
Donald and Jane Cruce’s daughter passed away last week
Maggie Guerrier - consideration for kidney transplant
Norma Jean Anderson’s brother - Wendall Lee - stage 4 throat cancer
Greg Lane - dislocated shoulder
Kim Lewis & family - Kim’s father Jim Carringer’s passing
Evie Miller’s aunt, Janie - cancer has spread and is having chemo
Evie Miller’s mother-in-law Jimmie Lee-cancer on her arm
Evie Miller’s sister-in-law Janice Miller- congestive heart failure, needs to gain weight
Tom and Brenda Morningstar - Tom’s brother-in-law passed, they are traveling to the family
Elaine Neuhaus - home recovering - please no visitors
Patty Norwood’s son, Ryan-serious colon problems
Patty Norwood’s sister, Jan-lung problems
Rose Oberlin’s great-niece, Florida Davis (20 mos) hospitalized HMPV
Jeanne Pickerill - pain management device to help with severe back pain
Jeanne PIckerill’s friend Susan Gibson - God is Healing the cancer
Billie Roach - health issues
Bambi Wooten - sudden death of her husband Charlie

RECOVERING FROM SURGERY:

Diane Brackett - recovering from back surgery
Kay Bradley - recovering from back surgery
Mike Bryant - UC Nursing Home, rehab from surgery
Becky Dyer
Jesse Eady - recovering from open-heart surgery
Virginia Lane - recovering from knee surgery
Marian Malac-recovering from hip surgery, in rehab
Jo Mantell - recovering from pacemaker surgery
Robert Mantell
John Vogeley - recovering from hip surgery

HEALTH ISSUES and CONCERNS:

Kay Beaver
Mike Brandenburg
Jennifer de la Montagne’s mom and dad
Jack Dugger
Lloyd Dunham
George Houdeshel
James Jordan
Greg Lane
Virginia Lane
Lyn LeCompte-many thanks for the prayers and lovely prayer quilt
Hugh Lee
Ray Norwood
Rose Oberlin’s mother, Letha
Jerry Price
Teresa Price’s grandson, Asher
Sue Stewart
Janice Taylor’s husband Rob
Ron and Pauline Taylor
Carole Thompson
Carol Warren
Roy Whitelock
Sharon Willits

IN NURSING HOMES and ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES:

Polly Conkle - Blue Ridge Assisted Living
Richard and Shirley McGinnis - Brasstown Manor Assisted Living
Nisia Redgrave - Chatuge
Bob Taylor - Union County
Lois Ward - Brasstown Manor Assisted Living

If you haven’t signed up yet for online giving, it’s as easy as going to our website (firstmethodistblairsville.com), scrolling down on the front page and hitting the online giving button.