| |
God desires FFUMC to be an intentional, vibrant, growing faith community transformed through prayer, scripture, worship, and study.
 God wants us to make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors
and each other as we
invite, accept, connect,
serve,
and share the love of Christ.
|
|
Issue: 47
|
December 13, 2017
|
|
|
TONIGHT
Church-wide Christmas Celebration at
5:45 p.m.
|
| |
|
Daily Advent Devotions
We again have Daily Advent Devotions from the Society of St. Andrew. Paper copies are available from the ushers or the information desk. If you prefer daily emails or or an eBook PDF go to
EndHunger.org/Advent and look at the right hand column. You can sign up for either or both. There is no charge. The Society of St. Andrew is just one of the hunger ministries that we support. If you have questions, contact
Alvin Jenkins.
|
|
Don't Forget
Your 2017 contributions must be post marked by December 31, 2017, in order to be included in your tax statement. If you have questions, please contact Jen Braun.
|
|
|
All Sunday Worship Services in December
Combined at 10:00 a.m.
____________________
Christmas Eve Services
|
United Methodist Youth Fellowship
(UMYF)
Dec. 13 @ 5:45 p.m. - Church-Wide Christmas Dinner
Resurrection - January 19-21, 2018
|
|
|
Thank you!
|
A special thank you to those who purchased a poinsetta(s). Please remember to take home your plant after the Christmas Eve  Service. If a plant was given in your honor, please take the plant home to enjoy.
|
|
Upcoming Events
Friday
Annual JOY GALA CHRISTMAS DINNER at Fox Den Country Club at 6:30 p.m.
|
Congratulations to the following
who will have birthdays this week!
December:
13 - Brenda Bradford
14 - Veronica Bartosik
Jean Fowler
Luke Herrington
15 - Beth Lovelace
Aiden Yarbrough
Hannah Yarbrough
Bob Alston
16 - Laura Derr
17 - Taylor Linn
20 - Cooper Thomas
|
|
NEW RESOURCES
First Farragut UMC's Footprints Ministry serves
as a bridge to connect church and home. Click
here
for our current recommendations.
|
|
|
FINANCIAL PULSE
|
As of October 31, 2017:
YTD Total Contributions: $489,141.60
YTD Total Expenses: $460,127.40
YTD Net Operating Total:
$29,014.20
YTD Total "FTF" Gifts: $85,197.00
(Forward to Freedom)
|
 |
|
Attention Kroger Shoppers!
Don't forget to re-enroll!
|
If you shop at Kroger, please click here to visit the Kroger Community Rewards secure website and click on "Enroll" to register your individual Kroger Plus card to First Farragut UMC's account
(# 84417).
We received $152.18 from your shopping last quarter!
|
|
|
|
Three Christmas Parties
I know you are attending parties this season. This Advent-Christmas season wouldn't be so special without parties. Some years ago, the late Ben F. Lehmberg, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, preached a sermon on three "Christmas parties" mentioned in the New Testament - parties which are often repeated and at which we may be present this season.
Herod's Christmas Party - W
e don't like to think of this one because it was too horrible. It was evil; it was destructive. The slaughter of the innocents - the first to give their lives for Christ. Herod is not dead; we know him today by different names. His
spirit shows up in us.
Shepherd's Christmas Party
- A time of rejoicing: great news has been announced. William Taylor, a Methodist missionary who arrived in San Francisco during last century's gold rush, found no church for him to preach in. On Sunday morning, he would get on a barrel and shout, "What's the news?" That got the attention of people. They stopped to listen and Taylor continued, "Thank God, I have good news for you this morning."
Magi's Christmas Party
- A time of giving: they came to give. Have you a gift for him? The gift of yourself would be the best.
Which party are you attending?
|
|
Thank You First Farragut!
What an incredible 10th anniversary Christmas Community Day! We shared a hot lunch with live Christmas music, groceries, children's clothing, coats and shoes, books, toys, Photos with
Mr. and Mrs. Santa, with a record number of families: 427 guests (115 families and 238
 children). Over the weekend, we were blessed with 236 volunteers who worked long hours to bring Christmas to our neighbors. Special thanks to our Spanish translators, Farragut Lacrosse Team and Boys and Girl Scouts who volunteered from several troops. Clearly our guests enjoyed the experience; we were still waving goodbye when it was nearly 4:00 p.m.!
|
|
FFUMC Advent Photo Challenge 2017
This year is a little different -
Take a picture (or pictures) inspired by one or more of the words for each week, post them to Instagram using the hashtag #Embrace2017 or join the Facebook group First Farragut UMC Photo Challenge and we'll print and post them on the board on Main Street each Sunday throughout Advent/Christmas.
Here are the words:
Dec. 10-16: Peace, Mercy, Rest, Stillness
Dec. 17-23: Joy, Enjoy, Light, Dark
Dec. 24-31: Christ, Love, Family, Gift
Get that camera phone ready and let's get creative during
this special time of year!
|
|
FISH Christmas Cards
FISH Christmas Cards are
available on Main Street. These cards cost $5 each and benefit the FISH Hospitality Pantries in Knoxville. $5 feeds a family of four for three days. The FISH Pantries support our West Knox FISH Pantry and our Christmas Community Day ministries with free bread. FISH Christmas cards are the major annual fundraiser for the Hospitality Pantries. Give the real gift of Christmas this year!
|
| | | |
