Volume 31 - Issue 23 / December - 2018   

An Advent Devotional...I am referencing many Christmas carols in this article. See if you can identify all of them or references to them. Some are referenced more than one time also. Some of you might have to stay up until midnight for it to be clear. I think you should find 30. Maybe you could review all the sacred carols you find in our hymnal as another Advent devotional practice. 

 

Advent represents the coming of Jesus. Indeed, there was a long, expected anticipation of Jesus' coming. There is a song in the air and over the air as modern radio stations started playing Christmas music in early November. Surely it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Yet on the first noel there was no holly and ivy and certainly no carol of bells. That first Christmas was bleak and basically unknown. Yes, how silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given. But perhaps it was not quite a silent night as I am sure Jesus cried even though He was the Godhead veiled in flesh. The incarnation was incognito for all practical purposes. Indeed, were it not for angels heard on high, while shepherds watched their flocks, perhaps nobody would know the manger cradled a king. In mysterious, yet real ways we can still hear the angelic chorus for all who give God glory in the highest and seek to bring peace to the earth. I pray this peace would begin with you and me. ​

No, it was not in Jerusalem or Rome but in the little town of Bethlehem our Christ was born. It was not a palace or a mansion but in a cattle stall the tiny King laid His head. Sages through the ages and wise men still may wonder, "What Child is this?" Many still struggle to recognize this sweet, little Jesus boy. Yet where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in. Indeed, this Christmas I pray it will truly be a holy night for all of us. So come all ye faithful and let's sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!" For surely love came down at Christmas. And there is no greater gift we can or will ever receive. ​

From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ​

Blessings, Bill 

Join Us Sundays for

Worship & Fellowship  

Holiday Worship Schedule

December 2 - HOPE: “It’s a Wonderful Life”

8:45 AM & 11:00 AM

Traditional Communion

December 9 - LOVE: “Home Alone”

8:45 AM & 11:00 AM

(Children's Choir Sings at both services)

December 16 - JOY: “How the Grinch

Stole Christmas”

8:45 AM & 11:00 AM

December 23 - PEACE: “A Christmas Carol”

10:00 AM - One Combined Service

December 24 - “Charlie Brown Christmas”

4:00 PM - Family Service

( Children's Choir Sings, Candlelight, Communion)

6:00 PM - Candlelight Service (Communion)

December 30

10:00 AM - One Combined Service

Regular Sunday Schedule

Traditional Worship - 8:45 AM (Sanctuary)

Coffee Fellowship - 9:45 AM (Fellowship Hall)

Contemporary Worship - 11:00 AM (Sanctuary)

FAMILY ADVENT CELEBRATION... Our churchwide event to kickoff the Advent Season will be Sunday, December 2nd from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on the West Campus. Join us to make your own Advent wreath, games, music and the Agape Hands Puppet Team!   

POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS ...We will be decorating our Sanctuary for Christmas with Poinsettias. Anyone who would like to purchase one in memory or in honor of a loved one may do so by completing a Poinsettia order form, located in the Narthex and Church office.

The cost is $10 per name. Checks may be made payable to SFUMC and noted for “poinsettia”. Please return your form by Monday, December 10. Poinsettias may be picked up after the 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service, Monday, December 24th.

GIVING OPTIONS AVAILABLE…

 

*  Give on our website here .

*  Scan the QR code to the left with your cell phone app for easy access to our online giving.

*  To set up a regularly scheduled automatic withdrawal from your bank account, contact Jan Webb in the church office or via email: [email protected].

*all gifts are tax-deductible and a year-end giving statement will be prepared for you for tracking and tax purposes.  

You do not want to miss our upcoming Advent series!

It starts December 2nd and goes through Christmas.

Our children continue to rehearse their Christmas Music Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in their regular classrooms.

Children will lead songs in worship on December 9th in 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services. Children will also sing at the Christmas Eve service at the 4:00 p.m. service.

Children’s Ministry Discipleship Hour (Sunday School)

RELOCATING!

Children’s Sunday School Classes will be moving on January 6th to the Main Campus! Room assignments are as follows: Nursery is MC103 & MC104; 4th & 5th Grade is MC110; 3rd Grade is MC109; 1st & 2nd Grade is MC108; P-K & Kindergarten is MC107 on the lower level of the Fellowship Hall. In addition to moving our classrooms Sunday, January 6th we will no longer have the shuttle service to transport children or youth between campuses Sunday mornings. 

Elementary Winter Retreat

at Blue Lake Camp

"Walk with Jesus"

Grades 3-5

The dates for this camp will be February 1-3, 2019. Registration will be open 11/1/18 at www.bluelakecamp.com . Cost is $115 before 12/14/18 and $130 after 12/14/18. ^. Volunteer registration is $75. Registration closes 1/18/19. 

Adults interested in being chaperones should contact Jennifer Robertson at 626-1334 or at [email protected].

There will be a Confirmation orientation meeting on January 6th from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Youth area of our West Campus. This meeting is for parents and youth to learn more about Confirmation at Spanish Fort UMC. All youth 6th grade and up (who have not previously gone through Confirmation) are invited to participate.

Confirmation is the process by which we teach the beliefs of the Christian faith, especially those that are distinctive to the United Methodist Church. This experience is designed to equip youth to make steps forward in their faith and prepare them for membership in the church. We will be meeting for 10 sessions plus a retreat and participate in the Ash Wednesday Service through the months of January - April. Please let us know if you plan to participate in Confirmation this year by registering   here.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the church office at 626-1334, Rev. Rebecca Rutherford at [email protected] or Brittney Liebbe at [email protected].

WINTER REVIVE - "abide"

Make plans now to register for “abide” our Winter Revive 2019 at Shalimar Retreat Center. This is open to all youth grades 7th - 12th. Dates are January 18-20, 2019 for a cost of $150. All money and forms are due by January 6th. Registration packets may be picked up at the church office. For more information please contact Brittney Liebbe:

256-651-9770 or Paige Evans: 251-802-8956.

Important Youth Dates Coming Up!

The Purpose of Christmas - Advent Study 2018 

Join us this year for a 3 week Advent Study by Rick Warren called "The Purpose of Christmas". The class will be led by Jessica Inlow and will be held on the West Campus in room WD102. There will be no nursery provided for this class.

The class will have three sessions Wednesday, November 28 at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 5 at 6:00 PM and Wednesday, December 12 at 6:00 PM. Please purchase the actual book for this class NOT the workbook. If you can, please read through page 37 prior to the first class. We look forward to seeing everyone then!  Register Here

The Uniform Closet will be closed during the month of December and will reopen January 8, 2019. However, you can still drop off items for the Uniform Closet. We are in need of CLEAN uniforms in GOOD condition, including sweatshirts, gym clothes, shirts, jackets, sweaters and back packs. Donations may be dropped off at the church office Monday - Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Uniform Closet is now open on Tuesdays during the school year every Tuesday from 9 AM - 12 PM. Please contact Jeff Comer at [email protected] to volunteer or if you have any questions.

Our Children’s Ministry

Needs YOU!

Show the youngest members of our church family the love of Christ as a volunteer leader in the nursery Sunday Worship services, mid-week programming, and weekday bible studies.  Our little sprouts who need you the most at this time are those attending the 11:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday mornings. 

Everyone is invited to attend the Annual Family Christmas Breakfast hosted by our United Methodist Men. We will feast on scrambled eggs, “cat head” whop ‘em style biscuits, strong coffee, "nearly world famous" cheese grits, thick cut bacon, Conecuh sausage, orange juice, sausage gravy, with a healthy mix of fellowship, Christmas carols & prayer. Make sure and bring your cameras as we will have a special "visitor". 

Ecuador Mission Trip - July 13-20, 2019

Sign up now for the 2019 Ecuador mission trip! July 13th - 20th we will be traveling to Tabacundo, Ecuador where we will be helping to build a new kitchen and dining hall at a local church. We will also be leading a VBS for about 150 children in the community.   A deposit of $300 is due December 15th to secure your spot. Total cost for the trip is $2,100.

We are planning on some fundraisers to help offset the cost, so please plan to join us for those. The first one (Parent’s Night Out) is Friday, November 30th. If you have any questions please contact Rev. Rebecca Rutherford, [email protected] or Brittney Liebbe, [email protected]. Here is the payment schedule (feel free to pay more at any time): December 15th, $300; February 1st, $300; March 1st, $300; April 1st, $300; May 1st, $300; June 1st, $300; July 1st, $300 - paid in full (minus any fundraising completed).

HURRICANE MICHAEL RECOVERY EFFORTS

At this time, monetary donations are crucial to the recovery efforts. Donations to the Alabama-West Florida Conference are preferred and can be made online by visiting HERE  or by mailing a check to:

Alabama-West Florida Conference

Attention: Suzanne Krejcar

4719 Woodmere Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36106

Memo line: Hurricane Michael Recovery  

Missionaries we support who are serving the Lord to the ends of the earth:

John and Lisa Hamilton; OMS International in Montevideo, Uruguay

Rob and Amy Ellis; Ethnos360 in Tanzania, Africa 

Ronnie and Nanny Calvert; Quito, Ecuador

Monica Maxwell; IMB Connecting, in Southern India

During the month of December www.spanishfortumc.org will be unveiling a brand new look! It will be announced in church and social media when it goes LIVE!

SPANISH FORT CHRISTMAS PARADE DECEMBER 1ST | SFUMC will have a float in the Christmas parade. Children are invited to ride on the float or walk in the parade. Please bring candy to throw to the crowd. We will meet at 8:30 AM behind the Premiere Theater at the Eastern Shore Center to line up for the parade. 

On Friday December 14th from 6-9 p.m., enjoy a parent's night out & support our youth's summer 2019 mission trips. For children ages 3 (must be potty trained)-5th grade, cost is $25 for first child and $10 for additional children. Drop off & pick up will be in the youth lobby. All proceeds will go toward SFUMC missions. The night will include movies, games, & snacks. Please let us know if your child has any allergies or needs special accommodations .  Click here to REGISTER!

Are you experiencing a time of grief? Especially as the holidays come and go? We will be offering this 2 hour Griefshare: Surviving the Holidays on Thursday, December 6th from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. We will gather in the classroom WD101, on our West Campus If you have any questions, please contact Beth Allen in the church office, 251-626-1334 or email [email protected] .

Experience this spiritual pilgrimage to walk in our Lord's footsteps in fellowship with your friends and fellow Christians. Your understanding of the Bible and your commitment to follow Jesus will be challenged, inspired, and strengthened. You are invited to join Pastor Bill Price on this amazing journey March 25-April 3, 2019. For more information you may visit: www.EO.travel/mytrip. The Tour - HL19; Date - 032519; Code - F and ID - 52691.

DECEMBER MENUS

12/5 - Salisbury Steak

12/12 - NO MIDWEEK MEAL

12/19 - NO MIDWEEK MEAL

12/26 - NO MIDWEEK MEAL

Dinner is at 5:15 PM

$5 per person / $20 max per family

OFFICE CLOSING: The church office will be closed from 12:00 PM on December 24th until 8:00 AM on January 2nd in observance of the Christmas and New Years holidays.

CONGREGATION NOTES



Deaths:

Our condolences to Rebecca Rutherford and family on the death of her aunt, Joyce Green. Joyce passed away October 28, 2018.

Our condolences to Gordon and Jennifer Berry and family on the death of their daughter, Caroline Berry, who passed away Thanksgiving morning, November 22, 2018.

Our condolences to Buck Younger and family on the death of his father, Mr. Charles Johnson Younger. Mr. Younger passed away November 25, 2018. 

N ew Members:

 Desmond and Elizabeth Von Hofe joined on November 18, 2018.

A NOTE FROM FINANCE...All 2018 contributions must be mailed (postmarked), delivered to the church office (drop in the mail slot), or placed in the offering plate by December 31, 2018 in order to claim a charitable contribution deduction for 2018.

CONTACT DEADLINES

Please understand that all information for the next month’s CONTACT newsletter must be submitted in writing to Jennifer Stewart, in the church office, no later than the 15th of the current month.      

The CONTACT, as well as other publications/correspondence, are sent to you by email. If you are not receiving email publications/correspondence and wish to, please check “subscribe” when you register your attendance on Sunday mornings, or go to our website and click on Media/SUBSCRIBE NOW! Note: If you “unsubscribe” to one email publication/correspondence from SFUMC, you will no longer receive ANY emails from SFUMC. 

COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES



In an effort to effectively communicate our church’s story, Communication Guidelines have been established. We are in hopes this will help staff, church leaders, and members be equipped with information, insight, and ways to respond to doing God’s work and keeping us all informed.

 

We ask that you please complete a Meeting/Class/Event Request Form when needing to schedule anything on either campus. The forms are currently available in the church office and will soon be available on our website. The guidelines are available for you to pickup a copy or review in the church office.

STAFF