MESSAGE FROM RICKY
Dear Friends,
I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas as we celebrated the birth of Jesus! While this has been a year unlike any other in our lifetimes, we can rest in the Good News that God is with us!
I wanted to briefly update you on our January worship and activity plans.The Annual Conference Pandemic Response Task Force recommends that churches do not meet in-person until after January 3rd.
This recognizes that many of us perhaps traveled over the Christmas holiday and have been around more people than normal. Additionally, we have seen a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases among members of our congregation. Thankfully most of these cases have been mild, and only a few required short-term hospitalizations. Please continue to be in prayer and take precautions. In light of this, we will remain online only for January 3rd worship. I'm excited to announce, that starting Sunday, January 10th our service will be broadcast on SuperTalk FM 97.3 at 11:00 a.m. This is yet another way to reach out to our community with the Good News of Jesus.
We will resume in-person worship on January 10th at both 9:00 a.m. at 11:00 a.m. We will no longer be requiring advance registration, but do ask that you wear a face mask and observe social distancing while on site. Sunday School, United Night, and other groups may resume as well, but please contact the church office to let us know your intentions to meet. We will also continue to livestream the services, offer the online version, and broadcast on the radio. So, wherever and however you choose to worship with us, you are welcome.
I'm grateful for everyone's patience as we've navigated this year. I'm looking forward to 2021. While we're not at the end of the pandemic just yet, we can now truly see that it will not last forever. I look forward to the days when we can hug, share meals, and gather around God's table like before. It won't be long, and it's well worth the wait!
Grace and Peace,
Ricky
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Church Office will be closed on
December 30 and December 31.
Happy New Year!
Our office will re-open on
Monday, January 4 at 8:00am.
If you need to drop off your year end giving please use the secure dropbox by the main office door by 4:00pm on December 30.
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2021 - WISHES FOR A BLESSED YEAR
As we end this unusual year and embark on a fresh new one, it is my prayer for each of you that you remain safe until the storm passes by. Hey, that sounds a little like a song title, and, well, it actually is. Whether the storm is a literal storm or something like a virus or the many other bad things that sometimes come our way, we can always know that God will keep us safe until the storm passes by. Safety and deliverance may not always come in the form that we would choose, but we also know that we don't have the wisdom and foresight that God has. It is our job to trust in Him, not necessarily to keep bad things from ever happening to us, because, no doubt, they will, but to trust Him to see us through the storms of life. In 2020, so many people have had to learn these hard lessons. But if we hold onto God's hand, we will be okay. My prayer and wish for you and your family is that 2021 will be a blessed year.
Have a great week and a happy new year's holiday. I'll see you all in worship on Sunday!
In His Service,
Tommy
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Completed Form and
$60 Registration Fee
can be turned in to church office Monday – Friday 8AM to 4PM
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MMO SPRING OPENINGS
The Mother's Morning Out Program has enrollment openings for the Spring Semester (Jan 4 – May 27)
Program Details:
$140/ month for two days a week
$60 registration fee
Openings:
One Year Old’s
Tuesday/ Thursday
8:45AM – 1:45PM
Two Year Old’s
Monday/ Wednesday
8:45AM – 1:45PM
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SHARE YOUR REQUEST
Our church continues to serve our congregation and community during this season. If you have a prayer request or if you, or someone you know, has a need complete a short request form (click on button). These requests will be reviewed by our Pastoral team.
Please review the prayer list download. If you would like to add to the prayer list please continue to use our digital form for submission which can be accessed by clicking on the link in this email or on our website.
Pastoral Care Line 601-460-0570
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December 2020
December 6: $27,846
December 13: $22,373
December 20: $28,762
December 27: $14,440
Other Income: $130,600
Total Income: $224,021
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November 2020
Nov. Giving: $81,565
Other Income: $7,998
Total Income: $89,563
Nov. Expenses: $100,676
Nov. Deficit: ($11,113)
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2020 Year to Date
Through November
YTD Giving: $931,461
Other Income: $94,458
YTD Total Income:
$1,025,919
YTD Expenses: $1,148,810
YTD Deficit: ($117,891)
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YEAR END GIVING MESSAGE
Around this time of the year, you may have questions about end-of-year giving. First United Methodist receives a lot of contributions near the end of the year and we hope you will consider what you can do and here’s a brief summary of ways to give before year-end:
Giving Online
The fastest way to give is our secure online giving option. If you give online, all contributions made before midnight on December 31 will be listed in your 2020 contribution statement.
Giving by Check or Cash
If you are planning to give using a check (or cash), then your contribution must be received in the church office before January 1. Checks that are mailed to the church must be postmarked by December 30 to be listed in your 2020 contribution statement. You can also bring your contribution to the church office instead of mailing it, however the contribution must be received by 4:00pm on December 30 to be counted in your 2020 contribution statement.
Giving of Appreciated Securities
A contribution of appreciated securities is a great way to give. For income tax purposes you receive a charitable contribution deduction and avoid capital gains tax. Please call the church office should you have questions about this contribution option.
Giving from Your IRA
For those of you have an IRA and are over 70 and ½ years old you may want to consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to the church. All or a portion of your annual required minimum distribution from your IRA can be made as a QCD up to $100,000 annually. The paperwork for initiating a QCD is easy and you will not pay income taxes on the distribution as long as it is sent directly from the IRA administrator to the church.
If you have any questions about any of the above ways to give, please feel free to contact the church office. Finally, if you have not turned in a 2021 estimate of giving card, please download the card and submit or come by the church office to get your card. DOWNLOAD GIVING CARD
The decision to give to the church with your first gifts and best gifts is a commitment of loyalty and love. We are always grateful for your generosity that makes it possible for our church to be in ministry and mission in Clinton and around the world.
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Thank You For Your Continued Generosity! |
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Missed last week? You can catch up online! |
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New Series Begins this Sunday / BEST YEAR EVER |
Let’s begin 2021 by deciding it will be the Best Year Ever (I mean, it can’t get any worse, right?) What we’ve learned from 2020 is that so much is beyond our control, but what we learn from the Bible is that for those who choose to follow Jesus, we can choose to have the Best Year Ever! |
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DID YOU MISS SOME OF THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SERVICES?
AVAILABLE NOW TO WATCH
The Sounds of the Season
Christmas Musical Presentation featuring a String Quartet, Angelicas Ringers, and Special Soloist
December 25
Old Fashion Family
Christmas Special
Enjoy this creative presentation on Christmas morning. The broadcast will be available at 8am on our website and YouTube Channel.
December 27
The Best of Christmas
Online Service at 10am.
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JANUARY SERMON SERIES
January 3 The Best Direction
(The Epiphany)- Matthew 2:1-12
The Wise Men make several choices: they choose to watch the sky, they choose to follow the star, they choose to offer worship to a child king, they choose another way home. They could have ignored it all, but their choices led them to a savior. They had their Best Year Ever!
January 10 The Best Name
(Baptism of the Lord)
Mark 1:4-11
January 17 The Best Vision
John 1:43-51
January 24 The Best Job
Mark 1:14-20
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The Voice is our weekly update for the latest announcements, ministry activities and event information at First United Methodist Church.
Want to know more about us? Head on over to our website, Facebook page or follow us on Instagram. If you missed last week's sermon, you can catch up by visiting our sermon archives. See You on Sunday!
We are so glad that you are interested in the ministry of First Methodist Clinton!
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PASTORAL CARE INFORMATION
If you have an emergency need or need to speak
with a pastor please feel free to call.
Pastoral Care Number: 601-460-0570
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Submitting information for The Voice:
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