Volume 31 - Issue 22 / November - 2018   

Stewardship Is Only Beginning.

We just finished a month of Stewardship emphasis. But in reality, the journey is only beginning. So we might ask, “What is Christian stewardship? The short answer is faithful management of all God gives. This involved more than money. That is why we focused on discipleship not just financial stewardship.

The Apostle Paul summarizes stewardship for us: You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the need of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry, you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by your generosity of your sharing with them and with all others (2 Corinthians 9:11-13).

Paul shares here that our stewardship has dual characteristics. It helps people grow spiritually through their giving financially and through using their talents, skills and abilities. Plus, it also provides sufficient resources for the church to accomplish its ministries and missions. Do you envision a sanctuary filled with children singing praises to God at VBS? Do you see adults and children helping construct a church and teaching needy children about Jesus in Cost Rica or Ecuador? Do you see a warm supper being provided by a family who child needs urgent medical care? Can you see a congregation experiencing vibrant worship in a freshly renovated sanctuary? Do you see food and uniform clothing being distributed to children and students in our area? Can you see a small group or Sunday School class gathering for bible study and faithful accountability? This is simply a small handful of so many other examples that point to the fruitfulness and meaning of our stewardship. I close with a definition of Stewardship from Herb Miller, Christian stewardship is gratefully, faithfully, systematically, and proportionally managing our time, ability, and financial resources so that God can use them to transform human life spiritually, help hurting people and reach out to others with Christ’s redeeming love.

I pray we all may be faithful stewards and hear our Lord say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Blessings, Bill 

Join Us Sundays for Worship & Fellowship 

Regular Schedule

Traditional Worship - 8:45 AM (Sanctuary - Main Campus)

Coffee Fellowship - 9:45 AM (Fellowship Hall - Main Campus)

Contemporary Worship - 11:00 AM (Sanctuary - Main Campus) 

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.  

Beginning Nov. 4th during Sunday School time at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday Programming children (Preschool – 5th grade) will be practicing and learning their Christmas songs that we will lead in worship in December. All children are welcome to participate in the Children’s Choir and we hope that your kids will join us in learning new songs during the Christmas Season.

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 6 ^th to the Main Campus ! They will be located in the bottom level of the Fellowship Hall. Also, beginning Sunday, January 6 ^th there will no longer be a shuttle on Sunday mornings to transport children or youth between campuses. Be on the look out for additional details!

Save the date for Children's Winter Retreat at Blue Lake Camp

"Walking with Jesus"

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 ^. Registration closes 1/18/19. Adults interested in being chaperones should contact Jennifer Robertson at 626-1334 or at [email protected].

Important Youth Dates Coming Up!

The Tuesday Lunch Bunch Women’s Bible Study will be starting a  new four  week series on October 30th.  It will end on November 27th (with the week of November 20th being skipped due to Thanksgiving Break). 

We will be studying Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley . We meet in the children's area in WD105 on the West Campus at noon to eat lunch together (bring your own lunch) and begin the study at 12:30 p.m. Childcare is provided from 12 - 2 p.m. The book for this class has already been ordered and is available in the church office and the cost is $8. 

Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can’t be recreated?

Our Surviving the Holidays seminar is especially for people who are grieving a loved one’s death. You’ll learn: How to deal with the many emotions you’ll face during the holidays / What to do about traditions and other coming changes / Helpful tips for surviving social events / How to discover hope for your future.



There is no charge for this seminar and no sign up - you can just show up! The seminar will be held on November 29th on the West Campus, WD101. It will start and 5:30 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m..

All ladies are invited to join the Sarah Sheppard Circle every second Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m. We meet on the Main Campus in the Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

ACOLYTE TRAINING…Be a part of the worship ministry and help with worship on Sunday mornings! 5th-7th graders and their parents are invited to the Acolyte Training Session, on Sunday, November 4th, at 1:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

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. 

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

What is the SFUMC Discipleship Pathway and how do I get involved? Check out the following areas of Explore, Connect, Grow, and Multiply to see where you fit in on the pathway and how you can continue to move on the path!

We invite parents of teens and tweens to join us for this important informative session regarding social media. Kristi Bush of KNB Communications will teach about trending apps, dangers to look for, and how to recognize both positive and negative behavior.

Parents will be given tools to take home to help them navigate and communicate with their children about social media. The session will be from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 11/7/18 in WD101 on our West Campus.

This session is not intended for children or youth. Nursery (infant-age 3), as well as activities for children and youth (age 3-8th grade) are provided on our West Campus. Questions - contact [email protected] or 626-1334.

On Friday November 30th 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!

A trip to the Holy Land is life-changing. You'll never read the Bible in the same way again. Its scenes will come alive after you have bowed at the manger in Bethlehem, worshiped on the Sea of Galilee, followed the Palm Sunday crowd down the Mount of Olives, knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, walked the Via Dolorosa, wept at Golgotha, and sung at the empty tomb.

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.

NOVEMBER MENUS

11/07 - Turkey & Dressing

11/14 - Pork Loin

11/21 - NO MIDWEEK MEAL

11/28 - Chicken & Sausage Etouffee

Dinner is at 5:15 PM

$5 per person / $20 max per family

OFFICE CLOSING: The church office will be closed on November 22nd and November 23rd in observance of Thanksgiving.

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. 

Christmas Concert

The Eastern Shore Choral Society will be performing their Christmas concert here at SFUMC on Thursday, December 6th at 7:30 PM. Stay tuned for more details.

CONGREGATION NOTES



Births:

William Asher Howard, born 10/2/18. Parents are Lee and Ashley Howard.

Abigail Eileen Coate, born 10/6/18. Grandparents are Duke and Becky Coate.

Brenson Noah Skyrum, born 10/19/2018. Grandparents are Dennis and Lila Fisk.

Deaths:

Our condolences to Candler Cain and family on the death of his wife and beloved SFUMC member, Lennie Cain. Lennie passed away 9/28/18.

 

Our condolences to Sandra Carlisle and family on the recent death of her husband, Dudley Earl Carlisle, who passed away 10/4/18.

 

New Members:

Rick and Dot Gomez, 10/7/18

David and India Craig, 10/7/18

Stan, Susanne and Kinley Grace Winter, 10/14/18

Thank You:



Thank you so much for all of the cards, phone calls, and especially the prayers during our illnesses. ~ Sara Duncan & Susan Jennings

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