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Contents in this Issue:
News: 2nd Wind
Refugee Crisis
News: Hanging of the Greens
News:One Stop Christmas
News: Stewardship Events
News: Stewardship Card
News: Caroling
News: One Service
News: UMW News
Keeping Up With Pastors
Volunteer & Community Opportunities
Calendar
Joys and Concerns
Praying Together This Week
Statistics
People News
Cartoon
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2nd Wind Trip 
There are still tickets to Richard's Farm for
TODAY Friday, December 1!! Call the office at 217-235-5676 if you would like to go.
Departure time is 4:45 p.m. from the church's 16th Street entrance.
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Refugee Crisis
The United Nations estimates that more than 65 million people in the world have been forced from their countries of birth, due to poverty, war, and climate change.
United Methodists around the world are taking a special offering on December 3 to provide direct aid to refugees and those who are trying to establish new lives in new places.
Click here to read more about this offering and this issue.
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Hanging of the Greens
The annual Hanging of the Greens will be held this Sunday, December 3. This will take place between the worship services, therefore beginning shortly after 9:15 a.m. All the decorations will be in tubs located at various places around the narthex and sanctuary, so all we need is many willing hands to get the job done. There will be some task for workers of all ages, so please consider joining in the fun and fellowship of the morning.
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One Stop Community Christmas 
One Stop Community Christmas is only 1 week away! There are 996 families with 2377 children signed up to receive services. This is a record number of children. We are still accepting donations. Thank you to those that have already given. Please put your donation of Kleenex in the box in the hallway. If you would like to donate cash, please leave it in the office with it directed to One Stop. Help is still needed at our booth on Saturday, December 9
th
. You can work an hour or all day! Please sign up if you have the time. Thank you.
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Stewardship Events
- Consecration Sunday Celebration Lunch: will be in the fellowship hall at noon, Sunday December 10. A benefactor has paid for this catered meal and there will be no cost to participants. The only program afterward will be an announcement of the results of our giving estimates (brought forward during the worship services that morning.) We want everyone from our church family to attend, whether filling out a stewardship card that morning or not. It is a time to celebrate our church family and the strength we have when we work together.
- Consecration Sunday Worship Services: The two worship services on December 10 will feature guest preacher, the Rev. Mark Myers, a long time friend and colleague of Pastor Mike. During the worship service, people will be given a stewardship card (see the block below) to fill out privately and bring forward to the altar table. This will be people's opportunity to estimate their giving to the General Fund for 2018.
- Leadership Dinner: The members of the finance committee, stewardship committee, and Church Council will meet Sunday night, December 3, for stewardship training and for finalizing plans for Consecration Sunday.
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Stewardship Card
On Sunday, December 10, each person/family in the worship service will be given a "Stewardship Card." The card will have a place for people to estimate the amount they plan to give to First United Methodist Church in 2018 for the General Fund. There may be other offerings during the year for causes such as building renovation, humanitarian relief, or special projects.
Those who are not in attendance at the December 10 worship services will be mailed a card on December 11. By filling out this card, two good things happen: 1) we strengthen our church and encourage each other by making mutual commitments to the work we are doing together and 2) we strengthen our faith commitment by willingly holding ourselves accountable to a goal.
The cards will not be made public, but will be handled by our director of deposits, Randall Ross. It is okay if people decide to adjust their estimate as the year goes on, either upward or downward, due to unforeseen circumstances, either good or bad.
Here is a sample of the card:
(front)
First United Methodist Church Mattoon
By the grace of God, I plan to contribute $______ to the
General Fund of First United Methodist Church
Please check one: ___ per week ___ per month ___per year
___ This is an increase over last year
___I am tithing or moving toward tithing to the church
Name __________________________________________________
Phone/Email __________________/_____________________________
(Back of card)
___ I would like a box of offering envelopes
___ I am interested in contributing electronically
I would like my quarterly giving statement sent ___ by email
___ by U.S. postal mail
The General Fund pays for all the basic outreach, nurture, and witness ministries of our congregation. It pays for the good things we are able to do through our programs, building, staff, and United Methodist partners. There will be additional opportunities to contribute throughout the year to offerings for humanitarian relief, building projects, endowment funds, and special projects. There will also be ways to strengthen our ministries through volunteering time and enjoying the fellowship of occasional fund raising projects.
Thank you for being a part of our church community, helping to keep the spirit of our church faithful to Christ, generous, and joyful.
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Here We Go A'Caroling
Whether you consider yourself a good singer or not, we invite you to join us for an afternoon of carol singing to those who cannot get out to enjoy the Christmas Season. Please meet at the church at 3 p.m. on December 10. And we will provide transportation to sing songs of the season to those shut-in. Families, couples, individuals, older, younger or middle-aged...all are welcome!
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Unified Service: December 17, 24, 31
In December, we will have three Sundays in which there will be only one service. Those Sundays are December 17, 24 and 31 and will begin at 10 a.m. There will not be Sunday School on those days.
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UMW News 
On Sunday, December 10, bazaar items at reduced prices will be offered for sale in the Fellowship Hall. This will be a good time to cross some names off your shopping list. Attend the meal that is being offered that day and do some shopping.
Mary Circle will meet Monday, December 11 at Denny's at 12 noon for a time of fellowship and a meal. Each person will order from the menu and be responsible for her own meal. Reservations must be made to Mona at 235-6462 by December 4.
Mary Mini Circle will meet December 18 at 2 p.m. in the dining room of Brookstone South. Guests are welcome. We will share Christmas stories and music and enjoy refreshments. See you there!
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Keeping Up With Jordan and Mike 
Pastor Mike is slowly improving after hand surgery November 7. He will have he cast on his arm for another 3 or 4 weeks.
Jordan is working on plans (to take to the trustees) for changes in the youth room to make it more functional for hospitality and worship events.
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Volunteer & Community Opportunities 
In the Community:
Volunteer your time or donate to the Mattoon Public Library.
Click here
for more information about the needs of the shelter.
In the Church:
~Children's programs
~Youth Group
~Backpack program
~Mattoon Area PADS; a group from our church serves dinner the 4th Friday
every month; cook at 6:00 p.m., serve at 7:00 p.m., see Susie Beaumont for more information
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Special Events
2nd Wind-Richard's Farm
, December 1, 4:45 p.m. $27
Hanging of the Greens, December 3, 9:30 a.m.
Global Migration Sunday, December 3
Leadership Dinner (2018 Church Council members), December 3
Pledge Sunday, December 10
Consecration Day Dinner, December 10 at Noon
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Next Meeting Dates
Communications Task Force,
January 23, 2018,
7:00 p.m.
Endowment
,
January 18, 7:30 p.m.
Hospitality
, December 14, 5:00 p.m.
Missions, December 4, 2:00 p.m.
Pastor Parish Relations
,
January 18, 6:30 p.m.
Trustees, December 11
, 6:00 p.m.
UMW Executive Board, December 5, 1:30 p.m.
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Regular Events
Sundays
Traditional Worship
8:15 a.m.
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Contemporary worship 10:45 a.m.
Middle School Youth 5:00-7:00 p.m.
(no service Nov. 26 for both Middle and Sr. High)
Sr. High Youth 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Mondays
Mary Circle, second Mondays, 1:30 p.m.
Mary Mini Circle, fourth Monday of the month, 2:00 p.m.
Rebecca Circle, second Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays
Pastor's Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
UMW Executive Board 1:30 p.m., first Tuesday of the month
Women's Bible Study of Romans 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays
.
Cross Training Prayer 6:30 a.m. at the Dickinson's (through December 14 until after the first of the year)
Chancel Choir 5:45 p.m.
Downtown Kids 5:30-7:00 p.m., every Wednesday night from Sept-May
Thursdays
Women's Bible Study-"Forgiveness", 6:3
0 a.m.
at Pagliacci's
Contemporary Worship Practice 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays
Men's Breakfast, second Saturday of the month,
Downtown Diner, 7:00 a.m.
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12 Noon; 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Click Here for our online calendar, covering all church events.
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Joys and Concerns
(including Sunday's blue cards
Christen Hance Shaffer got a good report following minor surgery for melanoma.
Season of thankfulness for everything-Sharyl King
Niece Hailey go married.-Barb Seaton
Vivian and Tammy Scott moved into their new house and
are loving it!
Thankful for the love and generosity that provided 60 Operation Christmas Child boxes!
Concerns
Prayers for Fran Whitley from Marvin
A friend's grandma suffering from dementia and family is having a hard time-Tammy Scott
Lois Smith-low blood pressure
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Praying Together This Week 
People in our church family:
Scott & Susan McDevitt
Randy & Cheryl McDowell
Doris McKinney & Richard Cilento
Kerry & Cathy Minor
Worship
World Council of Churches Prayer Calendar:
Pray this week for the people of Myanmar and Thailand.
Click here for information about the WCC prayer calendar
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Statistics
November 19 attendance:
10:45 am: 41
Finance Report:
General Fund: $ 7,387 received this week
(our general fund budget is $401,000 for the year)
Renovation Fund:
Cost of project: $434,766
Starting funds: 107,142
2016 receipts 57,646
2017 receipts 120,602
Still Needed: $148,926
The amount received for 2017 includes receipts
last week of: $5,000
The renovation work (heating, air conditioning, and tuckpointing) was organized in three phases. The first two phases (completed in 2016 and 2017) are PAID FOR! Due to funds on hand and the generosity of our members, we did not have to borrow any money for the first two phases.
In addition to the money received for the general fund, contributions were made last week to the following causes:
Backpacks: $50
Christmas Baskets: $40
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People News 
Birthdays from
11/23 to 11/30
12/01 David Champion
12/01 Peggy Ropiequet
12/02 Katie Arthur
12/04 Christine McConnell
12/04 Kerry Minor
12/06 Isaiah Beltran
12/07 Trenton Dearing
12/07 Mike Lefever
In Nursing Homes and Assisted Living:
Brookstone:
Dorothy Shepard
Virginia Beasley
Mary Sheppard
Norma Edwards
Mattoon Healthcare:
Dorothy Gullion
John Zachow
Oddfellow Rebecca:
Fran Whitley
Doris Grass
Gene Hoots
Betty Eisner
Douglas Rehabilitation:
Pauline Andrews
Mason Point:
Ruby and Gerald Lowry
Titus Manor-Sullivan
Marilyn Doty
Copper Creek
Betty Hoots
Carroll Livesay
Maxine Chapin
Lowell Davis
Heartland Christian Village-Neoga
Lois Smith (Temporary)
Attending College:
Zach Armstrong
Austin Sherman
Carley Leitch
Riley Leitch
Andie Antonik
Luke Collings
Luke Young
Kaylee Beals
Derek Pierce
Abbie Sherman
Sophie Collings
Morgan Hampton
DeVante White
Kelly Pierce
Angelica Beltran |
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Please let us know if we have missed anyone!!
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