MESSENGERC O L B E R T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H / / V O L U M E 5 / / I S S U E 1 2

IN THIS ISSUE

From The Pastor's DeskHello Friends,

One cold night, a small group ofpeople shuffled into a largechurch on the town square inVermont. The church was one ofthose tall-steeple Congrega-tionalist churches that had longago seen its glory years comeand go, and the turnout thisnight was smaller than expected—two people to be exact. As theChrist candle was lit to signifyGod with us, it sput-tered andpuffed so much that the pastorhad the time to think to himself,"Please don’t let it go out.” Heremembers, “The candle sputtersin the half-darkness like a voicetoo embarrassed oroverwhelmed to proclaim thenews, but then, it catches fire,and there we are, three peopleand a flickering light in an oldchurch…the noise of the carsand their winter-rusted mufflersoutside. The moment is filledwith ambiguities,” he continues,“of all such quiet observancesamong few people, in the midstof an oblivious population ina radically secular age. The act is

so ambiguous because its termsare so extreme: the Lord is withus, or we are pathetic fools.”(Garret Keizer, A Dresser ofSycamore Trees: The Finding ofa Ministry, p. 73)This time ofyear, we light candles in thedarkness, prayingthat they somehow sputter intothe Light of the World. We sitwith dear friends enduring loss,hoping that somehow ourpresence is would flicker God’slife into theirs. We sing songsthat tell of Christ’s coming infinal victory even while a worldof defeated people rips downHwy 72—oblivious to ourstrange, unheard news. Take heart, friends. At somepoint, the candle will catch, theblaze will warm, and thecelebration of Christmas will beupon us. We will put away thetalk of darkness and waiting,and will revel instead in the giftsthat signal His arrival. Comequickly, Lord Jesus, come. pastor joe

General News &Upcoming Events

2

Sunday School News 4

Small Group News 5

God's SundayServants

6

Monthly Events Calendar

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9

7

Flower ListIt is that time of year when we make the list of who puts flowers in the churchfor the new year.  The list remainsthe same as 2019 except for thosewhose names have already beenremoved. If you wish to add orremove your name from the list,please contact Jerrie Teet at 706-540-2226 or 706-788-3207 orjtteet@aol.com by Dec. 15. Thankyou for your help in completion ofthis list.

UMWDec. 2, 6pm

Christmas in ColbertDec. 6, 6pm

KFC Christmas PartyDec. 13, 4-8pm

UMYF Journey ThroughBethlehemDec. 14, 5-9pm

UMYF Christmas PartyDec. 15, 6pm

Food BankDec. 19, 10am-noon

UMYF Shopping TripDec. 23, 10am-5pm

Christmas Eve ServiceDec. 24, 5:30pm

Soup KitchenDec. 26, 10:30-1pm

Family Fun NightDec. 31, 6pm

Soup KitchenOUR DAILY BREAD AT ATHENS FBC

We did not serve in Novemberbecause our day to serve is fourthThursday, which always falls onThanksgiving Day. If you areinterested in serving inDecember, be at Athens FirstBaptist Church on Dec. 26 at10:30 a.m. to prepare and servefood. We leave promptly at 1pm.We do not have to clean up.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

& EVENTS

Food BankNORTHEAST GEORGIA FOOD BANK

We are so privileged to be able tohold a Food Bank day on the thirdThursday of each month. Ingleshas donated all of our paper bagsfor bagging for the last severalyears when Bill and ShirleyMcClure first started the ColbertUMC Food Bank. We needshoppers and baggers to preparebags for the day of the Food Bank.Please contact Dave English, GregPalmer or Mariann Branson if youare interested in helping. This is agreat ministry to be a part of. OnNov. 21, the Colbert UMC FoodBank provided food bags to 80families—234 people total. Muchthanks to Greg Palmer, DaveEnglish, Shirley McClure, WandaColey, and Bill and Janet Ashley for their help. Allen and FayeHarris purchased eggs to give.The Food Bank still needsshoppers and baggers. Pleaseconsider helping a couple times ayear. The next distribution willbe on Dec. 19, 10am-noon.

2

Thanks to everyone for the donations giventhroughout the year to fill the Christmas Shoeboxes.Dave English delivered 25 boxes to the drop-offlocation. He also secured our tracking number sothat we will know what country will receive them.We can be assured that during this time of the year,we will make 25 children happy. God Bless andMerry Christmas.

Shoeboxes were delivered Nov. 18by Dave English. We thank everyonewho helped with this ministry, aswell as paying for shipping. Ifanyone is interested in handing outcandy canes and churchcards/brochures at Christmas inColbert on Dec. 6 from 6pm to 8pmnear the Colbert Depot, please seeKatherine Phelps. Blessings to youall this Christmas.

Currently, we are serving 36students at the middle school and13 students at the highschool.Thank you so much for all ofyour contributions to this importantministry that feeds our students inMadison County. We will give eachstudent a Christmas gift consistingof socks,hat, gloves, chapstick,gum, candy and a surprise item.Your faithfulness in giving tothisministry helps hungry children..If you would like to donate, you maycontact Brenda Abdel-Hafez at 706-247-5412 orinthemiddlemeals@gmail.com or goto inthemiddlemeals.org to donatethrough Paypal.

Your trustees hope everyone had a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.As the calendar year draws to a close, so are the projects that thisyear’s trustees have accomplished. The trustees look forward tocompleting current projects and implementing new ones next year. Projects completed include the cleaning of the steeples on boththe church and FLC; upgrading the church marquee sign with LEDlights; electrical upgrades to the parsonage, along with trimming theshrubbery; carpets in both the church nursery and the former youthroom in the FLC professionally cleaned; and a new awning over theentrance to the Sunday school annex. CUMC’s youth director, Tracy Coley, spearheaded the conversion ofthe basically unused old fellowship hall into an area for the youth tohave their own space to meet, have Bible studies, play games, study,etc. The trustees approved this project, and the finance committee,along with others, provided the funding. The HVAC vendor has beenapproved with an air/heat unit being installed in the near future. Wethank our pastor for his leadership and input on this project. The trustees' desire is for everyone to have a blessed holiday and aChrist filled Christmas season. We want to spread anew the GoodNews of Christ’s birth. We thank each person for helping us tominister to our fellow man. Should anyone have a concern or idea,please inform the pastor or any member of the trustees.

continues to have health issues. Blessings and love, Mildred Hammond

Thank you, church family, for theprayers and thoughts for meduring my heart scare. My heart isfine and I am thankful for themany blessings that God hasbestowed upon me. Thanks againfor your concerns.

Shalom, Ruth Johnson

To my loving and caring churchfamily: I want to thank each andevery one for thier thoughtsprayers, cards, and phone callsduring the terrible loss of my son,Wayne Hammond. Knowing youshare in our sorrow makes ourgrief a little easier to bear. Pleasecontinue to pray for me and thefamily as we go through this verydifficult time. Thanks so much forall your prayers for Karen. This is avery stressful time for her, and she

MOEMISSION-OUTREACH-EVANGELISM

3

iMm Program INTHEMIDDLEMEALS

Trustees

Thank You

GAP ClassThe final book in the Bible is calledRevelation, because it reveals howlife on earth as we know it will end.But it could just as easily havebeen called “The New Beginning,”because it is all about what life inGod’s perfect community will belike. This book may mark the endof the Bible, but it’s really thebeginning of a brand-newadventure. We sincerely appreciate NealMcGinnis for sharing his insightand previous study of Revelation.It has been so wonderful to readand share together in thescriptures found there. Join us onSundays at 10am to participatewith us.

BrookshireClassLiving into this holy purpose isnot just our final destination; it's also our path, one that we do notwalk alone. We can walk with confidence because we love andserve a God who is faithful and dependable, who makes andkeeps promises, and never givesup on us. We can trust this God. This God gives us hope." Thetheme for our lessons is "Hope,"and we will study and discussscripture from both the Old and New Testament. Come join us aswe draw closer to God andincrease our faith.

4

In Loving MemoryWayne Craig, Sr.

Dec. 15, 1946 - Nov. 16, 2019

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, inhumility value others above yourselves." Phillipians 2:3

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Kalin Kidd whograduated from the Winder Assist toSucceed Dental Program on Nov. 16as a Certified Dental Assistant. Weare very proud of Kalin and heraccomplishments. We are lookingforward to watching where thefuture takes her in the dental field.

Thank YouMy dear church family, There are just no words that ade-quately express my thankfulness andappreciation to each of you. Over thesepast four years you have prayed contin-ually for Wayne. As you know, he wasgiven 10 to 19 months as a prognosis,and I can't help believing through loveand prayers he was given the strength tofight his cruel disease of cancer for aslong as he did. God blessed our familywith added time. Your acts of kindnessthrough calls, texts, cards and foodtouched my heart and will always becherished. A special thank you to Pastor Joe forcoming to visit, his calls and especiallyhis precious prayers.

Love in Christ, Judy

4

YouthChristmas came early for ouryouth. Thanks to the time,talent, monetary and materialcontributions of Travis Phillips,Mike Kennedy, Dave English, Nickand Katherine Phelps, Ken andLauren Watson, Allen and FayeHarris, and several donors, wemoved into our new youthspace, the former fellowshiphall, on Nov. 3. We are gratefulfor all who contributed to thisproject, including those withwhom we consulted and prayedfor us; we feel so loved by ourchurch family.

Dec. 13

Jan. 18 Dec. 14

Dec. 15

Dec. 23

Jan. 18-19

June 7-13

CHRISTMAS PARTY,6PM

Laser Tag

JOURNEY THROUGHBETHLEHEM,ATHENS, 5-9PM

CHRISTMAS PARTY &HYGIENE KITASSEMBLY

HYGIENE KIT DLVRY &CHRISTMASSHOPPING TRIP

MISSION WEEKEND

2020 YOUTH MISSIONTRIP: LOUISVILLE, KY

KFC Kids/JAMJAM (Jesus and Me): In Sundayschool, we will celebrate Jesus'birth and learn from the angels,Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth, Jesus' birth, Simeon and Anna,and how God protected Jesus. In KFC, we will learn how touse our skills and abilities for

God's service, and continuelearning about Bill Barker andthe Appalachian MountainMinistry. Our Christmas party isDecember 13 at 6pm. We willnot meet December 25 orJanuary 1, so that we maycelebrate with our families.

In November, we visited TheCompassion Experience, amoving, interactive exhibit inJefferson where youth got toexperience international poverty.AND we are sponsoring a 12-year-old girl from Bolivia namedMarisel. We'll take a short Thanksgivingbreak Dec. 1 and 8, then will hopinto the Christmas season withcelebrations of giving. And don't forget our PeanutStore is open for peanut sales,which will fund our mission trip.

In His service, Tracy

UPCOMING EVENTS

KFC

YOUTH

5

We still have peanuts!The youth still have a few bags of peanuts left. Get thembefore they're gone! Sales go toward our summer mission tripand programming. Peanuts are $6/bag or $120/case (20 bags).Contact Tracy at 706-318-1543 or colbertumyf@gmail.com.

Peanut Recipe Contest Deadline Extended to Dec. 13! Wewant to know what you make with your peanuts! Submit yourfavorite recipe made with peanuts. Our youth will vote on thebest recipe, and the winner will receive a free bag of peanuts!Recipes will be compiled in a small booklet and be madeavailable for a peanut-sized purchase. Submit recipes to Tracyat colbertumyf@gmail.com by Dec. 13.

"Your beginnings will be humble, soprosperous will your future be." Job 8:7

Our youth encountering theCompassion Experience, Nov. 16

Check the Official Church Calendar (located in the church office in the FLC)to see if the room(s) or van is available for the day(s) you want to reserveand use them. Please note that the church maintains a list of approveddrivers; please see Pastor Joe for more information.Read the building usage policy located on the bulletin board outside thechurch office and on the bulletin board in the back hall of the church.Fill out a Reservation Form located online or in the church office, andreturn it to Pastor Joe.Pay any necessary deposit or usage fee (preferably by check) to the church.Trustees will determine and assess any damage fees as necessary.After receipt of payment (if necessary), Pastor Joe will confirm yourreservation and write your reservation on the Official Church Calendar.

Official Church Calendar Need to reserve church spaces or van for an event? The Official ChurchCalendar is maintained by Pastor Joe. If you need to use the old fellowshiphall, Family Life Center, Sunday School rooms, sanctuary, or church van,please follow these easy steps:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

If you are unable to be there for your scheduled Sunday, please try to switch with someone or emailcolbertumcnews@gmail.com.

God's Sunday Servants

This policy was adoptedby the Church Council onJan. 9, 2011.

6

Pastor Joe Gunby(706) 788-3372 (office)joe.gunby@ngumc.net

www.colbert-umc.orgcolbertumc1@gmail.com

Colbert United Methodist Church

Our Mission:Colbert United Methodist Church exists tomake disciples of Jesus Christ for thetransformation of the world!

68 North Second StreetP.O. Box 317Colbert, Georgia 30628

Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas

Join us each Sunday this Advent season AND for a special

Candelight Christmas Eve Service at 5:30PM to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.