First United Methodist Church ~ 301 Church Street ~ Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482 Phone: 903.885.2185 ~ Fax: 903.885.4540 ~ www.ssfumc.org

December 2013

Church Staff

Rev. Pete Adrian Senior Pastor

Rev. Debbie Riggsby Associate Pastor

Carol Allen Director of Worship Arts

Jason Dietze Youth Director

Adrienne Lilley Children’s Director

Jill Dietze Nursery Director

Paul Glover Business Administrator

Jennifer Philo Media Services

Nancy Kirkpatrick Administrative Assistant

Mike Dodd Handbell Director

Ken Hanushek Pianist

Deanna Spraggins Organist

Sam Gilbreath Building Maint. Supervisor

Billy Elam Custodian

Virginia Massey Weekend Custodian

Marianne Shuler After School Program Director

Brenda Rollison After School Program

Cassie Webb Nursery Attendant

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the

same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body,

and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:4-5

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Communion Tuesday, December 24th

5:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm

PETE’S PLACE

CHURCH CONFERENCE-DEC. 8TH Please make plans to join us for the 2013 Church Conference on Sunday, December 8th, at 3:00 pm. We will gather in Fellowship Hall. All members of the church are invited and encouraged to attend. In addition to approving the 2014 budget and leadership roster it is also a time to reflect and be thankful for the work done in 2013 and look forward to the opportunities in 2014.

UNITY SUNDAY ON DEC. 29 The Sunday after Christmas is the 5th Sunday of the month so we’ll have just one service at 10:45 am. It’s our last chance to sing our favorite Christmas carols, so come and join us for a carol sing-a-long and message of hope from Debbie Riggsby. There will be no noon meal for Unity Sunday.

It is that time of year again. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. Wow--celebration after celebration leading up to and including the birth of the Christ child. Every year I look forward to this time of year for a number of reasons-food, family, fun and Jesus, God incarnate who came to earth because he loves you and he wants the best for you. That’s something to be thankful for.

But this year I want to write about something else. Something that I am truly thankful for and had little or nothing to do with. I’m just the recipient of a really good thing. I want to thank the staff of this church for being the staff of this church. They do an incredible job of running everything here. They show up everyday, they perform their duties, they come in early and work late, some days I have to chase them out of here, they work on their days off, come in when they are on vacation, they help each other, they do much more than what I expect. They even help with your individual projects some of which have little to do with their primary responsibilities. They do it all with a smile (most of the time). They keep me headed down the right path and focused on the right things (most of the time). They all love this church and the people in it. WE ARE A TEAM!

So to the staff of the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs- - -Thank You! You are the best! Happy Thanksgiving and if I don’t get an article out next month-Merry Christ-mas.

Grace and Peace, Pete

The Spire Page 3

Current & Pressing Prayer Requests Kathy Crowson Ron Spellman Regina Meadows Jill Barclay Phoebe Carmody Rhonda Tate Robert Fox Tommy & Carolyn Rawson George Dorner Jayne Stone Dorothy White Marty Rose Ruth Ann Crowson Molly Millsap Beverly Morgan Jordan Stiff Cambra Funderburk

Oleta Bearden Donna Jackson Wanda Collins Clydene Fielden Bo & Pennye West Bill Bradford Grace Horton Suzanne Bauers Roxanne Pelton

Health Concerns Coy May Moore Micah Reed R.B. & Judy Narramore Andy Underwager Virginia Campbell Richard & Marge Clement Henry Preuss Louis McGrede Jack Dickerson Morris Abercrombie

John Wisniewski Donald Tiegiser

Homebound Ruth Milam Louise Fox Jackie Blount Maxine Bell Annie Lou Dickerson Modene Huggins Rosemary Bailey Lillian Kinsala Cindy Elder Pat Eagle Ann Westbrook

Sympathy T.C. Hamilton and family on the passing of his mom Vesta Jane Hamilton.

Welcome Home Benjamin Walker united with our congregation on Novem-ber 17th. Benjamin came with transfer of membership from Evergreen, Colorado.

PRAYER CONCERNS

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Dec 1

Julie Barrows Faye Day

Patsy Johnson Dec 3

Carson Fenton Dawn Looney

Dec 4 Wanda Jenkins

Dec 5 Jarred Cowley

Judy Gillis Dec 6

Laura Sandlin

Dec 7 John Feldt

Verdon Graves Sandy Stidham Jace Thompson

Dec 8 Bill Lockhart

Dec 10 Mason Rawson

Dec 11 Haley Moore Patty Osborn

Jerry Voss Dec 12

Amy DeVries

Dec 13 Blaine Allen

Juliana Bronson Zachary Johnson Whitney Morgan

Dec 14 Carol Cowley

Mike Davis Charles Dawson

Dec 15 Annie Lou Dickerson

Dec 16 Dalton Clover Macy Williams

Dec 18 Rebecka Maddux

Dec 19 Max Bradford

Kimberlea Gillem Dec 20

Steven Gilreath Lisa Johnson

Debbie Stinson Dec 21

Joann Johnson David Larkin

Savoy Tutt Dec 22

Justin Ervin Dec 23 Morris Abercrombie

Angie Blount

Eddie Jo Edge Wava Lee Honea Holly Thompson

Dec 24 Peggy Dietze

Dec 25 Will Horton

Mandy Kennedy Bobby Price

Dec 26 Jan Chapman

Dec 27 Ryder Caddell

Mary Cash Sailor Jones

Barbara McKenzie

Dec 28 Sid McClure David Zahn

Emily Johnson Dec 29

Larry Crowson Tammy Dougan

Taylor Harden Grant Mohesky

Dec 30 Durann Ardis Coy Johnson

Janet Hamner Dec 31

Jonah Foster

NOTHY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DAY The Not Over The Hill Yet Christmas shopping adventure is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10. We will leave the church park-ing lot at 8:30 am to head to the Stonebriar Centre Mall in Frisco for a little Christmas shopping and return home mid-afternoon. Cost for the trip is $5 (to cover gas). Bring your “naughty or nice” list, shopping money and good walking shoes.

Please contact the church office by Monday, December 19, to reserve your spot on the van.

The Spire Page 4

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Empty Stocking in GYM until Dec. 15th

2 9:30 am Staff Meeting 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

3 9 am Respite Care 1 pm Prayer Group

4 6:45 am Son Rise Fellow-

ship 9:30 am Women’s Bible S. 10:30 am Pete’s Bible S. 12 pm Dinner Bell 6 pm UMYF 6 pm M&M 6 pm Adult Bible Study 6 pm Pete’s Bible S. 6:30 Disciple I

2 12 pm Rotary

6 8 am Casa Cookie

Walk FLC 7:30 pm Joy to The

World

7 6 am Boy Scouts Pancake Breakfast

FH 1 pm Shower

Parlor

7:30 pm Joy To The World

Choral Society

8 2:00 pm Joy To The World Choral Society 3:00 pm Church Conference

9 9:30 am Staff Meeting 5:30 pm Stephen Ministry 6 pm Boy Scouts 6 pm NETCS party

10 9 am Respite Care 1 pm Prayer Group 5:15 pm Trustee’s 6:00 pm Hopkins County Welfare Christmas Party

11 6:45 am Son Rise Fellow-ship 9:30 am Women’s Bible S. 10:30 am Pete’s Bible S. 12 pm Dinner Bell 6 pm UMYF 6 pm Children’s Musical 6 pm Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm Disciple I 6 pm Choir Rehearsal

12 12 pm Rotary

13

14

15

8:30 am Cantata 10:45 am Cantata 2 pm Distribution for

Empty Stocking

5 pm Youth Party

16 9:30 am Staff Meeting

6 pm Boy Scouts 10:45 am Young at Heart

17

9 am Respite Care 1pm Prayer Group 5:15 pm Finance Meeting

18

6:45 am Son Rise Fellow-ship 9:30 am Women’s Bible S. 10:30 am Pete’s Bible S. 12 pm Dinner Bell 6 pm Stephen Ministry 6 pm UMYF 6 pm M&M 6 pm Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm Disciple I 6 pm Choir Rehearsal

19

12 pm Rotary

20

21

22

23

9:30 am Staff Meeting

24

Candle Light Services

Christmas Eve

5:00 pm 7:00pm 11:00 pm

25

Office Closed

26 Office Closed

27

28

29

Unity Sunday 10: 45 Service only

No luncheon

30

31

New Years Eve

december 20 1 3

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…. Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. Slow down, take time to count your blessings. Hug a child, visit someone in the nursing home, tell your children, your spouse or just a friend how much you love them. We have so much to be thankful for. The staff at FUMC wishes each of you a wonderful Merry Christmas! Peace and love to each of you!

The Spire Page 8

Light of the World

Get in the Christmas spirit with the children of FUMC as they bring you "Light of the World"! This program is a simple telling of the Christmas story, featuring beautiful music, narration, solos, and instruments. Come cele-brate Jesus, the Light of the World on Wednesday, Dec 11th, at 6:00 in Fellowship Hall.

M&M The final Wednesday night M&M for the semester is Dec. 4th, the week before the program. However, our K-5th M&M singers will have their Points Party and final mission on Dec.18th at 6:00! The children have worked hard all semes-ter and are well on their way to earning the points needed to have their party! More details to come.

ORNAMENT PARTY Our annual Ornament Party will take place right after the Christmas program on Dec. 11th, in the Family Life Center. Parents are invited to join their children in making ornaments and enjoying Christmas cookies and hot coco. Some of the ornaments make at this event become treasures hung on Christmas trees year after year.

WE WASHCLOTHS The Mission Possible Kids need your help! They are collect-ing baby washcloths and small travel sized baby soap/wash. These items will be packaged in a small gift set and donated to the Heart of Hope. Please bring washcloths and soaps to church by Sunday, Dec. 15th , and place in the basket near Fellowship Hall. Thank you for supporting our MPKids!

presented by

North East Texas Choral Society December 6th 7:30 pm @ Lake Fork Baptist Church

December 7th 7:30 pm @ Hopkins County Civic Center December 8th 2:00 pm @ Hopkins County Civic Center

Tickets are available in the church office $10 in Advance/$12 at Door (Kids under 12 $5)

WALK TO EMMAUS Here are the upcoming walks for 2014: Women’s Walk 14-122 Feb. 20-23, 2014 Lone Star Men’s Walk 14-123 April 24-27, 2014 Lone Star Go to netemmaus.org for more info and registration forms.

HOLIDAY AT THE ARBORETUM The UMW are planning at trip to the Dallas Arboretum to view the Christmas décor and flowers on Thursday, Decem-ber 19th at 8:30 am. All who would like to attend are invit-ed to join them. The cost is $20 per person (covers admis-sion & transportation) plus the cost of lunch. Reservations must be made by December 12th.

SAVE YOUR CARDS If you have unused Christmas cards this year please consider donating them to be sent to service men & women next year. You may bring any cards you would like to donate to the church office and we will get them to the proper location.

The Spire Page 6

DEBBIE’S DARING DISCIPLINING ADVENTURE

FUMC Is Heading to Mexico on a Mission! Info Meeting – Dec 10 at 6 pm in Good News Room Come and here more about our March 8-14 expedition to Manos Juntas Mission in Rio Bravo, Mexico (15 min. from McAllen) on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 6 pm. In Mexico we may be building a house or other construction work as well as en-gaging with people in other projects. To check out a presenta-tion and video, visit http://lakewoodumc.wordpress.com/manos-juntas-ministry-in-mexico/. We’ll need a variety of talents and skills for our team. Lodging and meals will be in the dorm. Cost for each team member is $300. Registration fee is $50 and two payments of $125 are due Jan. 1 and Jan. 31. If you want to support the mission but are not able to go with us, please join us in praying for the mission trip and by donating for the construction project and activities. We hope to raise $5000 for this engaging mission in Mexico. For more info about the trip, call team leader Leslie Benton at 903-343-7970. For a registration form to be on the team, call Debbie Riggsby at 903-885-2185 (church), or 903-243-3333 (cell), or email at debbieriggsby@ssfumc.org.

WHOLENESS AND HEALING SERVICE DECEMBER 18TH In a season when we remember the birth of Christ, we seem to ponder and feel the hurts and losses in our lives. Our Stephen Ministry program is offering a Wholeness and Healing service on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 pm in the Messengers Room/Chapel. Come and join us for prayer, anointing for healing, and a word of hope. If you have a friend or family member who is suffering or struggling, invite them to come with you.

UMCOR Mission Trip April 20-25, 2014 Help prepare cleaning supply buckets, hygiene kits, and school supplies for international disasters. Meals and lodging at the UMCOR Depot and gas for the bus is about $280. Dinner meals with group at restaurants is on your own. For more info, call Perry Altenbaumer at 903-885-9168 or email plal-tenb@yahoo.com.

MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS In memory of Matthew Kramer By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton In memory of David Rowell By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton In memory of Bob Morrison By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton In memory of Mildred Cross By: Ron & Ann Wyatt In memory of Dr. Omer & Nell Kirkpatrick By: Ruth Palmer, Jason & Monique Palmer In honor of Vic Casad By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton In honor of Mickey & Barbara McKenzie By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton In memory of Charles & Billiefae Sellers By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton, Alec & Carol, Jack & Tanya, Stephen & Kandice Bridges, Amy Smith In honor of Tom Sellers By: Jimmy & Candy Jones In honor of John Sellers By: Jimmy & Candy Jones In memory of Charles Sellers By: Paul & Cerita Glover, Bernie & Fran Beers, Bob & Ann Gideon, Billie Grace Reynolds, Windol & Sharon Cook, Joe & Lucy McCorkle, Buel Berry, Joe Perkins, Frank Rettman, Charlotte Henderson, Jean Ross, Kathlyn Cannon, Steve & Kim Mix, Ashcroft/Holland/Clark, Pat Bryant and Family, Annie Lou Dickerson, Lee Levine, Ron & Ann Wy-att, Coy & Patsy Johnson, Keith & Rebecca Allison, Lloyd & Joann Johnson, Billy & Nell Crowson, Tim & Carol Gee, Huel & Juanita Hammond, Ruth Palmer, Jason & Monique Palmer, Essie Pearson, Betty Chapman, Wilma Brice, Carla Brice, James Cross, Mike & Deb-bie Stump, Mike & Mary Edwards, Cindy Herren Sweat, Judy Tipping, City National Bank, Johnny & Kathy Lennon, David & Jo Beth Brewer, Jackie Brice, Charles & Lou Ellen Cromer, Jerry & Kati Voss, George & Barbara Law, Betty Gideon, Ace & Janet Hamner, Wanda Lair, T.C. & Sally Hamilton, James & Kathleen Sassman, Jim & Amy McLeroy, Bob & Nancy Kirkpatrick, Hank & Sarah Smith, Glenn & Margaret Irvin, Joe & Nancy Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Barry Street, James & Virginia Worsham, Bob & Peggy Weaver, Linda Bennett, Jimmy & Candy Jones

USHERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS EVE We are in need of ushers for the 5pm and 7pm services on Christ-mas Eve. If you are able to usher please contact Lee Levine at 214-460-5926.

True Love Waits We had a very moving closing ceremony for our True Love Waits class this past week. What a great bunch of strong, committed, young men and women who truly love the Lord! Thanks to Ginger Brooks for all her love and care and time she shares with our kiddos . . . and oh, yeah, I guess thanks to Jeb too for helping out with the “tunage” and stuff, you rock man!:)

SnS Breaking for Holidays Sunday Night Studies will be breaking for the month of Decem-ber...enjoy those Sunday nights with your family during this special time of the year.

Christmas Awakening! We will have our annual Christmas Awak-ening, alongside our fellow youth groups throughout the city and even the county on Wednesday, Dec. 4th, 6:30 – 8:00 at Shannon Oaks Church. We were unable to use Heritage Park this year, but at least it will be a bit warmer . . . and indoors. But don’t fret, it will still be filled with the Christmas spirit through and through. The band Kindlin will be leading our worship! It promises to be a great night of worship-ping the real reason for the season. Par-ents are to drop off and pick up at Shannon Oaks.

Youth Christmas “Mystery” Party We will have our Youth Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec. 15th at 5:00. In lieu of bringing a gift, we are asking each child to bring $5-$10 for a special donation we will be sharing that night.

Holiday in the Park The youth will be going to Six Flags Holiday in the Park on Thurs-day, Jan. 2nd. Tickets are $30. Leaving church parking lot at 9:00 a.m., home around 9:00 p.m. You must sign up by: Wednesday, Dec 11th!!

Who’ s Getting

Older This Month:

7th Jase Thompson

13th Violet Altenbaumer

16th Dalton Clover

17th Rendall VanBenthem

18th Rebecca Maddux

20th Shelby Aulsbrook

27th Ryder Caddell

28th Emily Johnson

29th Taylor Harden

December Calendar Wed 4th: Christmas Awakening 6:30-8:00 No Meal. Drop off and pick up at Shan-non Oaks Church Wed 11th: Children’s Christmas Program 6:00-

8:00 Come support the kids and all their hard work, we will hang afterwards.

Sun 15th: Youth Christmas Party 5:00-7:30 Bring $5-$10, Meet at the Church

Dec 18th: Christmas Movie Night 6:00-8:00

Join us in the youth room if you ‘re not

needing to study for finals Tues 24th: Christmas Eve Service 5:00,7:00 or 11:00 Thurs, Jan 2nd: HOLIDAY IN THE PARK

First

United

Methodist

Church

301 Church Street

Sulphur Springs, Texas

75482

903.885.2185

www.ssfumc.org

Office Hours

Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm

Non Profit Organization

Permit #168

Sulphur Springs

Texas 75482

Date Sensitive—Please deliver by December 2, 2013

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS If you would like to place a poinsettia in the Church this Christmas in honor or memory of a loved one, please fill out the information below and place it in the offering plate on Sun-day or bring it to the church office. Orders need to be placed by

Sunday, December 8th.

In Honor of: ______________________________________________

In Memory of: ______________________________________________

Given by: ______________________________________________

# of Poinsettias: ________ x $10 = _________

Please include payment (marked “poinsettia”) with your order.