Weekly Newsletter - November 13, 2025

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News of the Church

Thank you so much for a wonderful Stewardship Sunday this past week! It was an amazing sight to see the church coming forward and presenting your pledges as an act of worship. Thank you for being such a generous church! If you have not turned in your pledge yet, you can bring it with you on Sunday, or bring it by the church office, or you can make your pledge online by clicking the button below. We are well on our way to 100 pledges, and we want everyone to be a part of that goal, as we move into God’s future for Mulberry together!

Your Pastor,

Jack

Results from Sunday:

Number of pledges made: 73

Total Pledged: $589,410

Number of new pledge units: 21

Make Your Digital Pledge

Charge Conference for November 19

Mulberry St. Charge Conference will take place Wednesday, November 19 in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. Our District Superintendent Jeff Cook will be present to lead us as we celebrate the ministry of our church for another year. All elected leaders are encouraged to attend, and the meeting will be open to all others. Church Council members will need to stay for a brief discussion and vote after the Charge Conference.

UWF Coffee & Chocolate Sale

The United Women in Faith will be selling Equal Exchange products on Sundays in the Atrium. They will have Coffee, Chocolate Bars, Hot Cocoa Mix, & Tea. Help support small farmers & local agencies providing help & healing! Selling on November 16, November 23, & December 7.

2025 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

The annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service held by the Downtown Tapestry will be Thursday, November 20 at 6 pm in the St. Joseph social hall. This year will include a potluck meal - bring a dish to share and join us in this gathering of Macon's downtown faith communities as we give thanks together.

Family Ministries Christmas Sponsorship

The Mulberry Family Ministries team is sponsoring 3 youth & 1 infant from the Methodist Home for Children & Youth this Christmas. If you would like to help fill out their wish lists, you can either donate gifts cards (Google Play, Target, Ulta, Amazon, McDonald’s), or donate to our "Christmas Sponsorship" Fund to help purchase gifts. Donations can be dropped off with Elisa or in the church office. Please write Christmas Sponsorship on your check, or choose the "Christmas Sponsorship" fund on the drop-down menu of the online giving form.

Donate Online Here

UWF Esther-Grace Circle Monthly Meeting

The United Women in Faith are having their monthly meeting Friday, November 14 at 1 pm in the church office Conference Room - all women of the church are invited to join us for this meeting!

Church Lost & Found

A reminder that we have a lost & found in the office if something is left in the sanctuary or around the church. The lost & found is located by the welcome desk in the church office.

A place to share happenings in Macon & what the Mulberry community is up to!

Something you'd like highlighted? Email to Millie Thompson.

Georgia Military College is hosting a holiday concert featuring Grammy Award-winning Gospel music singer Yolanda Adams on Friday, December 12 at the GMC Theatre. She will be accompanied by the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, blending her soaring voice with lush orchestral arrangements for a night of music that celebrates the season in grand style. Tickets can be purchased here.

Harold Chapman is selling copies of his new book, "To My Mind: Humorous Tales from a Southern Town," a collection of knee-slapping funny stories told by (& about) Uncle Lester and other characters from a 20th-century Southern town. All profits from sale of this book benefit Macon Outreach at Mulberry & Wesley Glen Ministries of Macon. Cost is only $20 from Amazon, ($12.99 Kindle). Contact Harold at chapmanharold05@gmail.com to learn more!

A Bicentennial Moment

In anticipation of Mulberry’s upcoming Bicentennial Celebration in 2026, the Leonard Hill Cochran Historical Room presents a moment of Mulberry history.

Below is the report of Women’s Society Christian Service, November 1962 – May 1963:

Number of members 240
Visits to shut-ins or sick 841
Visit to prospective members 124
Number of cards mailed 741
Special Memberships $ 149.00
Memorials $ 75.00
Number getting credit for books studied 42

Social service work:

visits to MARC Workshop $102.00 & material scraps
sewing bags made & filled for United Church Women – 43
Rescue Mission – clothing & $75.00
To church members at Batey - $10.00
To Cuban students in Macon - $30.00
Flowers in sanctuary in memory of Mrs. Ainsworth - $17.50
Visits to school of Special Education - clothing & $7.50
Visits to Timmy Turtle – 1 dozen towels & 1 dozen washcloths
Visits to Tinsley
Visits to Juvenile Court
Visits to Jail – carried song books (they had none)
Baskets & gifts to needy at Xmas & Thanksgiving - $90.00
Gifts to needy members - $17.00
Magazine Power sent to students and in arm service – 100
Officers attending training day – 29
To Foreign Missions - $2,950.00
Supply askings - $80.00
City Missions - $100.00
Local relief - $100.00
Interracial work -$60.00
Council of Church Women - $15.00
We were host to the District Conference April 26, 1963 serving lunch to 150 people

Macon Outreach

In memory of Ann Kite Hall by Ann H. Dunwody

In memory of Ann Kite Hall by Capitol & 5th Public Strategies

In memory of Ann Kite Hall by Anna N. Smith

In memory of Lowell Belk by Byron and Kathy Lowe

In memory of Lowell Belk by Angelia Lunsford

In memory of Ann Kite Hall by Mary & Walter Moody

In memory of Jim & Besty Abbott and Mickey Pope from Patricia & Tal Clarke

In memory of Ann Kite Hall by Vaughan & Beth Smith

In memory of Lowell Belk by Frank & Mary Anne Gaudry

In memory of Ann Kite Hall by R Lanier Anderson, III & Nancy Anderson

In memory of Lowell Belk by Cam and Bruce Bishop

Memorial Fund

In memory of Mickey Pope by Harold L. Downs

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Board & Staff of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia

Music Fund

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Anita and David Philpott

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Waverly and Beth Golson

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Evelyn and Joe Adams

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Bill and Trudie Fickling

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Charles and Mary Reeves

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by John and Gay Mathews

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by the Choral Society of Middle Georgia

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Carolyn K. Dominy

In memory of Jim and Betsy Abbott by Julie H. Yates

Sunday Worship

November 16, 2025

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Jack Varnell, preaching

“Time Enough At Last”

Ephesians 5:15-20

Assisting with Worship

Ushers

Bert Thompson, Kyle Starling, Waverly Golson, Mel Jamison, Ed Powell, Tom Woodcock

Acolytes

Will Magda, Crucifer

Kate Evans & Ramzi Harley, Candle Lighters

Flowers

The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of her husband Charles H McCrary and his mother Mary S McCrary by Anne McCrary.

11 a.m. Worship Service will be Live-Streamed and available on Facebook and YouTube.

Prayer List

Scott and Wanda Fitzgerald

Jarrod Heggins

Jimmy Roach

Freeda Chapman

Thomas Marlow

Linda Sankey

Yetta Price

Eddings Smith

Sharon and Tony Marks, sister and brother-in-law of Kathy Welch

Mable Mashburn, Kathy Welch’s mother

Ashley and Mary Hurt

Frances Inzer

Charlotte Barker

Michael Downs, grandson of Harold Downs

Susan McIntosh, Daniel’s mother

Edith Smith, mother of Hinda Ramsay

Ray McIntosh, Daniel’s sister

Martin Magda

Jackie Holtzclaw, Katherine Holtzclaw’s mother.

Kay Harris

Elena Balkcom, Stephanie Henson’s daughter, and her grandson Reed

Kendra Triesenberg

Russell Sanderson, Wende Meyer von Bremen's brother,

Marguerite Pound

Jane Moore

Tommy Tucker

Deanna Webber

Luis Morales-Hill

Ruth Beeler, Daniel’s grandmother

Terry Golden, Elisa’s uncle

Joey Weaver

Jean Weatherford

Janet Stevens

Carol Pope and the family of Mickey Pope

Chris and Jay Abbott and the family of Jim and Betsy Abbott

Nancy Belk and the family of Lowell Belk

Dennis Kersey and the family of Dana Kersey

The family of Betty Cox

Luis and Janice Morales-Hill's great-granddaughter, Carter

The United Methodist Church, Bishop Robin Dease

District Superintendent Jeff Cook

Our church, its clergy, and its members

Our community of Macon

Coming Up at Mulberry

November 19

Charge Conference

November 20

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Full Calendar

On Call Line

478-219-9926

Check out what's going on in Realm!

Be sure to check out the News feature on Realm!

If you need help getting connected, contact the church office at

478-745-8601.

Ainsworth (Adult) Choir Rehearsal

Wednesdays at 7:15 pm in the Choir Room!

We welcome all who like to sing and want to be part of music ministry in worship. Come join us! Please contact Terre Johnson, Director of Music, for questions.

**Nursery is provided during Choir Rehearsal for any parents wanting to join!

Weekly Prayers & Scripture

Week 51: Endurance

Day 1. James 1:3-4 (Morning); Romans 5:3-4 (Evening)

Day 2. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Morning); Isaiah 51:6 (Evening)

Day 3. Hebrews 10:36 (Morning); Isaiah 40:30-31 (Evening)

Day 4. 1 Peter 2:21 (Morning); Jeremiah 31:25 (Evening)

Day 5. Galatians 6:9 (Morning); Revelation 3:10 (Evening)

Morning Prayer of Petition

Mighty God, you promise strength to those who hope in you. Anoint me with your Spirit so that today I may:

have the courage to act even when I am scared,
muster the resilience to get through the challenges facing me,
receive the wisdom to know how to navigate decisions and situations,
act with patience toward those who work against me,
endure even when I do not see immediate results.

God, I hope and trust in you. Help me to run and not grow weary; to walk and not faint. Amen.

Evening Prayer of Gratitude

Even when my strength fails, you O God hold and sustain me. May gratitude well up in me as I recognize:

your hand guiding and directing me,
the way you've brought me through difficult seasons,
progress in areas of struggle,
your permission to rest even when the work is piled up..

May I depend less on my own strength, and more on your power at work in me. Amen.

Taken from The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer

Donation Needs

Macon Outreach Needs

**Plastic Bags**

Cereal

Pop tarts

Canned peas

Canned black eye peas

Canned collards

Jelly

Cases of bottled water

Financial Donations

Cereal

Hamburger helper

Cornbread mix

Condiments

Cake/cookie/muffin mix

Snack items

Daybreak Needs

Volunteers!!!

Canned or fresh fruit,

fruit cups

Applesauce (individual containers)

Jelly

Vienna sausages (4.6 oz.)

1 min. Instant Grits

1 min Instant Oatmeal

Chips (individual bags)

Snack items (individually wrapped)

Gatorade (Powder)

Muscle Cream (Biofreeze, Icy Hot)

Disinfectant Spray/Air freshener

Women underwear (New) M,L,XL

Bug Spray

Aleve (Ibuprofen)

Pine-sol

Liquid Laundry Detergent

Hydrocortisone cream

Dish detergent

Paper towels

Resources & Links

South Georgia Advocate

The South Georgia Advocate, a twice monthly online news publication, is the official news source of the South Georgia Annual Conference and a ministry of the Office of Connectional Ministries.

Click here for the Georgia Advocate

New Creation Resource Toolkit

As part of this year's conference focus of "New Creation", the South Georgia Conference is providing monthly resources designed to empower each of us in our mission of making meaningful connections and living out transformative discipleship. Each toolkit presents a challenge questions & resources tailored to address that challenge.

Click here for the New Creation Toolkit

Have an addition to the newsletter?

Email Millie Thompson at mthompson@mulberrymethodist.org