As followers of Christ, we Seek others in our community, Serve their needs, Grow in the love of Christ, and Connect with each other | | |
Pastor's Points
This Sunday, we wrap up our 2 Sunday series walking through our mission statement. We will explore "Grow" and "Connect" using John 15 as our guide. In John 15, Jesus says that he is the vine and we are the branches, and staying connected to the vine nourishes the branches and allows them to produce fruit.
Gennifer Baker Brooks is a preaching professor at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and she writes, "The imagery of the vine and the relationship of the branches, appendages to the main source of nourishment, has long been used to describe the church...The image of the sturdy vine that continues to thrive beyond all challenges that come against it can be a helpful one for the church. The branches, the people individually, congregations, or even denominations, cannot continue to grow and to thrive within the Body of Christ unless they hold closely to the teachings of Christ. If that were the case, what the church would look like in its corporate life is a representation of all people with all their differences and a true image of diversity. The guiding principle by which all would be transformed into the image of Christ is boundless love of God and neighbor. In addition, because of that love, each person would seek to bring others into the beloved community to become fully a part of the Body of Christ."
Bearing fruit is evidence of how we accept and engage with the love of God. Bearing fruit means sharing God's love broadly with our neighbors, our church, and our community. God, as the vine, is in our midst, intimately connected to us providing nourishment so that we can grow into healthy branches that produce good fruit.
We'll see you Sunday!
Pastor Emilee
| | Our Food Pantry is collecting items to create special Thanksgiving bags for neighbors in need. If you’d like to contribute, please bring any of the above items by 11/22. Thank you for your generosity! | | | |
11/16 - JOY Ministry tour of the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Last call to join the JOY Ministry on Monday, for a tour of the Marine Corps Museum
RSVP to Bob at rwlachance@verizon.net
11:00 AM: Meet in the FUMC parking lot
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ALL ARE INVITED
Families, couples, teens, kids, everyone!
WHAT: We will be having a potluck dinner, making a Christmas Advent Wreath ( supplies provided ), as well as games, and festive music.
LOTS OF FESTIVE FUN!!
WHERE: FUMC Kobler Hall
TIME: 5:00 p.m.m-7:30 pm (you do not need to stay the whole time)
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Holiday Trolley Tour JOY (Just Older Youth) Ministry on Thursday, December 10th at 6:30 PM, departing from FUMC/Kobler Hall ($16 per ticket).
DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
TIME: 6:30 PM (TOUR IS 1 AND 1/2 HOURS)
PLACE: TROLLEY WILL BE OUTSIDE FUMC/KOBLER HALL (doors to Kobler Hall entrance will be open)
TICKET PRICE: $16.00 (TROLLEY SEATS 33, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. NO CANCELLATION LIST).
PAYMENT: CASH, CHECK MADE OUT TO FUMC, TROLLEY RIDE ON MEMO LINE, MAIL OR DROP IN SLOT NEAR OFFICE ROOM 108
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH
If you plan on attending, please RSVP for # purposes to Bev Rawlings, she will keep track of who is paid in full.
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CALLING ALL FAMILIES / KIDS
Do you intend to come to our family/kid inclusive Christmas Eve service at 4 pm?
We'd love for your child(ren) to be a part of our pageant! We will be telling the nativity story, complete with music, hymns, and a candle-lighting, plus costumes, and a joyful celebration!
Cookie/dessert reception to follow.
Please check out the available slots and sign up!
CHRISTMAS EVE PARTS
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NOW HIRING
Do you or someone you know have Church Office Administrator or Bookkeeper (accounting) experience, education, and background?
Check out our "Now Hiring" page and see the requirements of both of these jobs.
Send it to someone you know who might be interested in joining our team!
We're also still looking for a Children’s and Youth Music Director!
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Girl Scout Book Drive
The Brownies of Girl Scout Troop 263 are looking for
pre-loved children’s books! We’re seeking your help to bless little libraries and a local elementary school with children’s books suitable for K-5th grade. Please drop them in any of the boxes (Charlotte St. door, preschool, and Sunday School rooms) marked for the book drive by December 5th. Thank you for helping our troop help others!
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A Youth group event you won't want to miss
Join the youth this Sunday(11/15) from 4- 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall for a beloved tradition of "turkey hockey" (pic from a few years ago, so you know this is a fan fav!)
Don't worry if your youth isn't athletic or competitive; we just have fun and get in the holiday season!
As a side mission project: Please bring a turkey, turkey breast, or turkey lunch meat to benefit the FUMC food pantry Thanksgiving bags!
| | | FAITH IN ACTION - Here at FUMC & In the Community | |
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BE LIKE JANET! We're looking for a dedicated, helpful, and kind soul to be our Thursday afternoon 12:30 - 3:30 Pm desk attendant!
This person, like Janet! is vital to the day-to-day operations, the phone line, and just a general hearty welcome!
It's FUN & EZ! Reach out to Chris Silkensen if you have questions or would like to get on the schedule!
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Spread some Holiday cheer!
by ringing a bell for the Salvation Army. Funds raised are used to help those in need in our community. Sign up for an hour as an individual or bring a friend, or bring the whole family, as we Seek, Serve, Love, and Grow our church in our community.
CLICK HERE to GRAB A SLOT
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Micah’s Cold Weather Shelter: Serve on FUMC’s shelter team! Nov 15–mid-March, 5:30–7:00 PM)
Volunteers help with making beds, welcoming guests, checking them in, helping with snacks and providing a warm heart & cheerful smile. Ages 10+ welcome
SIGN UP BELOW- Pick one(or both) locations to help at!
WOMEN'S SHELTER
MEN'S SHELTER (updated correctly)
Contact Gerry Madigan with questions gerry.j.madigan@gmail.com
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Drive Warmth This Winter: Cold Weather Shelter Bus Driver!
Micah's Cold Weather Shelter opens when overnight temps are projected to being below freezing. FUMC provides drivers on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. If interested contact Mike Cotter for more information. We need a few more drivers to make it a lighter load for all. We'd love to have you join the driving team!
mvcotter@comcast.net
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Your Help Matters: Keep Our Food Pantry Partnership Alive!
We need two drivers every Monday to retrieve food donations from BJ’s. Without consistent weekly volunteers, our pantry risks losing this vital partnership. If you can help, please sign up at THIS LINK (also on our COME SERVE webpage) . POC Susan Bixby
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The November schedule is open!
Help pass out bagged lunches to our neighbors at the fellowship hall kitchen door on Wednesdays from 11:30 - 1 pm!
A smile and willing hearts and hands are all it takes!
CLICK ON THE IMAGE
| | Did you know you can order at the above button and just have it sent to FUMC!? Easy Peasy! | | Link locations to things you need! (click on the graphics above) | | |
UWF Green Team Tip of the Week, “Faith in Action”
Opossums! Why should we love them? You may think there really aren’t many opossums around. And if there are, why should you care?
First, the most common opossum is the Virginia opossum. I live almost right downtown in Fredericksburg, and we have had them on our property numerous times, including in our attic! They are very misunderstood creatures because they’re not the most attractive animals. They look like rodents, but actually are North America’s only marsupial. Since they are nocturnal, you rarely even see them. Opossums are actually very smart, clean, and do NOT carry rabies. They are also more beneficial than many other animals. Why am I telling you all this in an article about the environment? Good question. We have lots of nasty, little insects and critters that seem to want to hurt us or our plants. Getting rid of them can be difficult without using harmful poisons that harm us and the environment. Opossums can help with that! They eat pretty much anything—mice, insects, slugs, and other pests that harm us or our plants and gardens. They also (and here’s the best part) eat snakes, including poisonous ones. And they specialize in destroying ticks! Yay!
If you find that you have opossums on your property, leave them alone. They don’t hurt anything and can be extremely beneficial without harming the environment.
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308 Hanover Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
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