FUMC Words for Wednesday: 11-16-2022

11-16-2022 FUMC Words for Wednesday

Good morning First UMC!

I hope you are well. Don’t miss all the opportunities to be the church in this email. Lots of great things are going on!

Please note the Hanging of the Greens service previously scheduled for this Sunday, the 20th, has been moved to the afternoon of December 4th.

Don’t forget to sign up in advance for our holiday meal on Wednesday, December 7.

Town Halls are scheduled for the next two Sundays, at 2 pm on the 20th and at 3 pm on the 27th. Also, Dan Parr has been scheduled for our third town hall meeting on January 8th at 3 pm.

Details on all this and more are below. Keep being the Church!

Grace and Peace.

Don

The treasure chests are sitting outside both sanctuary spaces accepting your questions for the Townhall meetings on the 20th and 27th. Blue index cards are questions for the Discernment Team and yellow cards are questions for the District Superintendent. Index cards are provided beside the chests.

Questions for this Sunday’s Townhall meeting must be submitted by Thursday.

FROM THE DISCERNMENT TEAM:

Thank you to everyone for your patience, prayers and faithfulness during this time of change and discernment. Below is a schedule which has been developed to address the United Methodist matters ahead of us:

Sunday, November 20, 2022 2:00 pm in the MAC “In House” Townhall Meeting presented by the Discernment Team

Sunday, November 27, 2022 3:00 pm Townhall Meeting with Rev. Dr. Douglas Gilreath, Northeast District Superintendent

December 2022 This is Advent Season where we reflect on preparing our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds what the true meaning of Jesus’ birth is. So please take the Advent season to consider how we commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Sunday, January 8, 2023 3:00 pm Townhall Meeting with Dan Parr addressing Disaffiliation

Early January 2023 Townhall Meeting addressing Remaining United Methodist (“non” disaffiliation”)

Late January 2023 Church Council meeting to determine whether to proceed with application to disaffiliate, or to remain United Methodist (remaining requires no further action)

IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO APPLY FOR DISAFFILIATION:

February 28, 2023 Deadline for submission to District Superintendent of application for disaffiliation

After March 1, 2023 District Superintendent schedules church conference

May 31 to June 3, 2023 North Georgia United Methodist Church Annual Conference to consider all applications for disaffiliation

All Townhall meetings will be held in the MAC. Also, they will all be recorded and available for viewing on YouTube.

Please submit in writing any questions you may have and place them in the “treasure chest” either outside the MAC or outside the Sanctuary. In order to assure that the presenters are adequately prepared, all questions must be submitted no later than the Thursday prior to a Townhall meeting.

TONIGHT…..Join us for Supper at 5:00 pm.

Lasagna (meat or veggie), salad, bread and dessert.

6:00 Bible Study for all ages

Lectionary Readings for the Week

11/17/2022 Habakkuk 1:1-17 …..Complaints Concerning Evil and Corruption

11/18/2022 Habakkuk 2: 1-14 ….The Righteous Will Live by Faith

11/19/2022 Isaiah 6: 1-13 ………. Isaiah’s Call

11/20/2022 Isaiah 36: 1-3, 13-20; 37: 1-7, 2: 1-4 …..God’s Plan for Peace

11/21/2022 Isaiah 38: 1-8 ………..Hezekiah Is Saved from an Illness

11/22/2022 2 Kings 21: 1-16 …….Manasseh’s Wicked Reign

11/23/2022 2 Kings 22: 1-13 …….Josiah’s Reign, Part 1

HANGING OF THE GREENS HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS TO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH AT 4 PM.

Thank you Methodist Men and friends for completing another ramp project for our community!!

If you would like to help our

“ramp volunteers”, please contact

Wayne Jones at 281-682-6395.

Operation Turkey Tree Update:

Please have your items to the church by this Sunday!

This will give the youth a chance to be sure everything is in hand to go in the boxes. These Thanksgiving Dinner filled boxes will then be delivered to families in Union County.

Please mark your calendars for our church’s Holiday Meal scheduled

for Wednesday, December 7th. Ro & the Robinettes will be providing the turkey, dressing, rolls and scalloped potatoes. The rest is up to you so bring your favorite salads, sides, and desserts to share.

SIGN-UP FOR THE HOLDIAY MEAL IS REQUIRED. Sign up sheets will be outside the worship services. Deadline to sign up is December 4th.

Night to Shine is back AND in person!!

Already we have had about 30 guests register and we are expecting a total of around 100-120, so we are looking for

\350-400 volunteers.

Volunteer Registration is open and online:

http://firstmethodistblairsville.com/events-night-to-shine/

We look forward to working with you in serving this special group within our community!

Scott & Elizabeth Terry

Night to Shine at FUMC of Union County

ntsfumcuc@gmail.com

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner is once again offered to all who would like a Thanksgiving meal who otherwise wouldn’t have one. You can dine in, pick it up or have it delivered. If you are interested in receiving a meal, please contact the church office and register with Evelyn. The meal is offered on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24th at House of Prayer church.

Deadline to register is November 18th.

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.

T J Anderson - recent motorcycle accident- many injuries

Jason Nichols, grandson to Bill and Diane Kolb - sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident

Altar flowers this Sunday are given To The Glory of God and in celebration of Mrs. Brenda Turner’s 80th birthday, by her sweet husband, Myron.

We are also celebrating the 80th birthday of Mrs. Carol Rogers with flowers given by her sweet son, Dan.

ooops … Altar flowers last Sunday were given To The Glory of God

and in celebration of their 60th Wedding Anniversary by Bob & Gerri Johnson. My apologies for failing to mention this last week in

“Words for Wednesday”.

MAC Walking Track Hours…

Monday-Thursday 8am - 4:30pm

Pickleball! The Blairsville Pickleball Club plays on Mondays from noon til 3:00pm & Tuesdays from 8:00am until noon. Everyone is welcome! Join us!

Fitness Classes For You!

“Tai Chi”: Led by Pat Tomzyck. Meets Tuesdays at 8:00am in room M-0 (First floor). Cost is $5.00 per class. Bring a mat!

“Christ-Centered” Yoga: led by Pat Tomzyck. Meets Tuesdays at 9:00am in room M-0 (First floor). Cost is $5.00 per class. Bring your own yoga mat.

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:
Prayers for God leading the right person to us as Youth Director
BL Anderson - pain relief and wisdom in making decisions about surgery
Norma Jean Anderson’s brother Wendell -recovering from jaw surgery
Clint Blackmon - cancer
Jack & Jackie Bowlin’s friend - Allen Davenport - prostate cancer
Diane Brackett - taking physical therapy on shoulder and arm
Kathy Brandenburg- recovering from knee replacement surgery
Joyce Byers - numerous medical issues
Joyce Byers’ sister-in-law Shirley Kelley - had a mastectomy
Pat Clay’s brother Victor- health issues
Maggie Guerrier - recuperating from kidney transplant
Al Kocher - recovering from surgery
Vic Henderson - health issues
Diane and Bill Kolb’s grandson Jason Nichols - bad motorcycle accident
Tiffany Martinez’s son Sky - recovery from surgery
Linda McClarnon - recuperating
Maria McGlen - recuperating
Roger McGlen - had stents put in this Monday
Jeanee and Jerry McJilton’s brother- cancer has returned
Louise McTaggart - recuperating from knee replacement surgery
Patty Norwood’s son, Ryan-serious colon problems
Patty Norwood’s sister, Jan-lung problems
Teresa Price’s grandson Isiah Arrant-long term recovery from burns
Jeannine Riley’s sister Suzanne Mobley - lymphoma
Jeannine Riley’s brother-in-law - Ricky Mobley- heart surgery
Ron Schultz - suffered a stroke; in NE Ga
Avis Shaw’s niece Gail Craft - had surgery
Avis Shaw’s sister Mildred Elkin
Ron Taylor - in hospice care at the nursing home, no visitors at this time
Mrs. James Taylor - sister of Michelle Hernden - dementia meds to work
Carleen Ward - family member John Gray - waiting for a new heart.
Dennis Wetzel- back surgery and recuperating at the Gobin’s home

HEALTH ISSUES and CONCERNS:

Jim Arthur
Marjorie Bowron
Mike Brandenburg
Shirley Cobb
Jennifer de la Montagne’s mom and dad
Jack Dugger
Jesse Eady
Christine Golden
Kathy Heyer
Wayne Jones
James Jordan
Hugh Lee
Leura Mollnhauer
Elaine Neuhaus
Ray Norwood
Rose Oberlin’s mother, Letha
Jeanne Pickerill
Jerry Price
Jerry Roberson
Carol/Norm Rogers
Avis Shaw
Sue Stewart
Carole Thompson
Zach Thompson
Carol Warren
Roy Whitelock
Sharon Willits

IN SYMPATHY:

IN NURSING HOMES and ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES:

Polly Conkle - Blue Ridge Assisted Living
Jan Boland’s sister June Gesche - hospice care at Stonehenge
Richard and Shirley McGinnis - Brasstown Manor Assisted Living
Nisia Redgrave - Chatuge Nursing Home
Ron Taylor - UG Nursing Home
Lois Ward - Brasstown Manor Assisted Living - under hospice care
Margaret Wise - Brassstown 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.