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Fairview United Methodist Church

1013 Westover Drive

Danville, VA 24541

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NON-PROFIT ORG.

US POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 4

DANVILLE, VIRGINA

Fairview United Methodist Church

Directory of Information

TheThe

FlameFlame Winter 2016Winter 2016--1717

12

Pastor Jennifer Coffey

1

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As December begins, we are in a time of

preparation. Preparing for the close of 2016, we are

wrapping up and finalizing all that has been a part of

this year. We are preparing for the start of a new year

with new hopes, new dreams, new opportunities, new

goals, and resolutions for 2017. But before we end this

calendar year and begin another, I want to say a little

about our preparations and journey as Christians from

one year to another.

For Christians, Advent marks the beginning of a

new liturgical year and thus a new part of our journey.

Advent is a season of preparation. As one author notes,

in Advent “we anticipate the Christ’s second coming to

fulfill all things as a means to prepare ourselves for the

celebration of his first coming during Christmas

season.” Then, as we enter into the Sundays after

Christmas and Epiphany in January, we discover the

impact of God dwelling among us through the stories of

the shepherds and magi who first experienced Jesus.

This time is important for us, especially in a day and

age where the holidays often bring added stress,

activities, and events at school, work, and in the

community, and balancing time with family and friends.

The hustle and bustle of the season can often diminish

the most wonderful time of the year!

So as we look ahead to the new year, let us keep

our eyes on Christ. Commit to fully participating in the

celebration of Advent and Christmas through

worshipping, growing, and serving together so we can

prepare our hearts and homes for the one who prepares

our place with God for all eternity. May our time with

family, friends, decorating, traveling, and celebrating

flow out of the hope, love, joy ,and peace that Christ

brought into the world and into our lives so long ago on

that first Christmas morn. And let this good news,

God’s gift to us, carry us into the new year!

Prayer for our journey: (from Rolland Reece’s “Pastoral Prayers for All Seasons”)

We’re starting on a journey to

reach Bethlehem, O God.

We know where it is in modern day Israel – at least

we think we do – and we know something of the

preparations needed to get there. But it isn’t the

Bethlehem in Israel we seek, it’s the Bethlehem of our

faith, the one that requires an inner journey. The one

we can reach only because we have a growing faith

in you. The day of our arrival is called Christmas.

Much distracts us. Much discourages us. Much

misleads us. It is easier to go with the flow, to follow

along from one place or even to another, killing time,

with the knowledge that eventually this Christmas –

like those before it – will runs its course. And then

we won’t have to think or feel. But, if we would take a

different tack, even a slightly different one, what

would become of us? And of those we love? And of

those we don’t love? We really do want to break

through all the layers of tradition and merriment to

reach your Son personally. We want to come into the

presence of him who spent his life in our behalf. We

want to know a love that stands up to the worst of

defeats, a love that rises victoriously over all the

elements of our lives that, otherwise, would carry us

to isolation and ruin. We thank you, God, for your

Son who is the one who embodies this love. He is the

Bethlehem for which we search. Armed with prayer

and scriptures, we are equipped to find him who

holds the key to the abundant life for which we year.

We lift our voices in praise to you for the gift of your

Son. Hallelujah! Amen.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Coffey

A Cup of A Cup of ThoughtsThoughts

fromfrom

Pastor CoffeyPastor Coffey

Address: 1013 Westover Drive

Danville, Virginia 24541

Telephone: 434-792-3391

Email: [email protected]

Fax: 434-792-2115

Website: www.fairviewumcdanville.org

Administrative Assistant: Adrian Smith

Director of Lay Ministries: Katherine Lewis

Director, Becky’s Kiddie Kollege: Susan Ratliff

Director of Youth: Juli Odell

Director of Contemporary & Children’s Music: Gary Jack

Director of Traditional Music: Rocky Granger

Senior Pastor : Pastor Jennifer Coffey

Monthly Attendance

and Offerings

*Totals include Third Option.

Average Weekly Giving in November:

$ 9,817.09

Average weekly giving Year to Date 2016:

$ 9,072.10

Weekly Contributions Needed

to Meet Budget:

$ 10,346.31

2016 Budget approved by Admin Board :

$ 538,008.00

Sunday 8:30 11:00 Offering

Oct 30 *88 *103 $9,649.20

Nov 6 *122 *76 $11,309.00

Nov 13 *100 *70 $9,722.00

Nov 20 *102 *77 $5,438.34

Nov 27 *107 *62 $12,799.00

12 Barry & Martha Crane

13 William & Gabrielle White

21 Bill & Bonny Shelton

23 Jim & Ann Jennings

27 David & Stephanie Wasserman

29 Scott & Gail Carter

30 Don & Barbara Nodtvedt

3 Patty Barker

Gary Jack

4 Don Nodtvedt

Debra Tucker

Joanne Barnes

6 Andy Nordon

Bryce Connor

7 Rena Howard

Regina Drake-Parquey

8 Samuel Swanson

Payton McGarvey

10 Wayne Merricks

15 George Harvey

18 Perry White

Austin Dishman

21 Rev. Winston Crichlow

23 Sierra Ferrell

Andrew Nodtvedt

25 Wesley Chilton

Ronnie Mitchell

28 Marilyn Booth

Jonathan Dillion

30 Phyllis Via

2

December Birthdays December Anniversaries

11

Sunday, December 18, 7:00 pmSunday, December 18, 7:00 pm

“Stories of the Savior” “Stories of the Savior”

Join us as we bring stories and songs ofJoin us as we bring stories and songs of

Jesus’ birth to life! Come at 6:30 to enjoyJesus’ birth to life! Come at 6:30 to enjoy

prelude music selections by a brass ensemble.prelude music selections by a brass ensemble.

Saturday, December 24Saturday, December 24 5:00 pm 5:00 pm -- ContemporaryContemporary

communion candlelight service communion candlelight service with a special children's messagewith a special children's message

8:00 pm 8:00 pm -- TraditionalTraditional communion candlelight servicecommunion candlelight service

Sunday, December 25, 10:00 amSunday, December 25, 10:00 am Come in your pajamas and bring a toy to be Come in your pajamas and bring a toy to be

blessed! blessed! We'll sing Christmas carols, gather at the We'll sing Christmas carols, gather at the table, and put treats together to take out to police, table, and put treats together to take out to police, firefighters, emergency workers, hospital staff, and firefighters, emergency workers, hospital staff, and

others who work on Christmas Day. others who work on Christmas Day.

For unto us a For unto us a child child is born. Unto us a is born. Unto us a son son is given.is given.

Isaiah 9:6Isaiah 9:6

1 Zachary Ratliff

Maggie Dishman

2 Lee Ann Dillion

Carolyn Garrett

5 Chaz Nickens

9 Judy Futrell

10 Mary Turpin

Brittany Hicks

Shirley Robertson

Adrian Smith

11 Jeff Hicks

Jackson Wiles

12 Derek Merricks

13 Linda Fitzgerald

14 Bob Howard

16 Ed Dooley

17 Kathy Davis

19 Jan Grogan

Jim Futrell

20 Barbara Grogan

21 Katherine Lewis

Denise Tompkins

Colton Tompkins

23 Nancy Batterman

Barry Crane

24 Mason Tortorella

25 Ken Hoskins

Russ Williams

26 Michele Franklin

27 Blake Parker

28 Susan Hoskins

29 John Booker, IV

30 Brenda Brooks

Jenn Shelton

Nancy Tate

Stuart Jennings

31 June Scheier

Jerry Call

January Birthdays

1 Carl & Helen Bedsole

13 Will & Mary Turpin

January Anniversaries

Christian EducationChristian EducationChristian Education Katherine Lewis, Director of Lay Ministries

3

Spend

Saturday,

December 17th

with Bishop

Sharma Lewis

in the Danville

District at First

UMC in

Martinsville!

Tentative schedule for

Saturday, December 17th:

8:30 am-9:30 am

Continental Breakfast in Fellowship Hall

9:30 am-11:30 am

Clergy Session in Sanctuary

11:30 am-12:15 pm

Worship (with Clergy and Laity) in Sanctuary

12:30 pm-2:00 pm

Lunch (with Clergy and Laity)

in Uptown Mission Center

2:15 pm-4:15 pm

Laity Session in Uptown Mission Center

Questions for Laity Session:

What would you like to know

about your new Bishop?

What do you desire from the leadership

of your new Bishop?

How might we reach more laity in the

Virginia Conference to be involved in their Local

Church/District Level/Conference

Level/General Church Level?

If you were the Bishop, on what

would you focus your attention?

Twas the day before Christmas

And all through the bank

Not an employee is working;

Our minds have gone blank.

Why am I here,

When I’ve so much to do?

Santa is coming,

Shopping hours are few!

To Wal-Mart and Penney’s

and Sears I must go.

The stores are all crowded,

And travel is slow.

I must finish my shopping

And put presents under my tree.

Time is running out fast

And I’ve still Santa to see!

WITH PANIC AND HORROR

AND DESPERATION I SHOP.

IF I DON’T BUY THE PRESENTS,

MY CHRISTMAS WILL FLOP!

The shelves all look empty,

My choices are few.

I can’t find what she wanted,

NOW WHAT WILL I DO?!

Then I remember

That these presents I buy

Mean no more to Christmas

Than that jolly fay guy.

Christmas is coming,

Store shopping or not.

It’s not about the presents we buy,

It’s about the gift we all got!

Have a wonderful real Christmas!

Bob Howard

10

December is here and so is Advent. We started

our Advent journey at the end of November. I am

excited to travel this journey with you. If you have not

already, please make sure to visit our Advent resource

table in the Narthex. There you will find lots of great

Advent devotions and things to help us keep our minds

and hearts focused on Jesus, the real reason for this

season.

During November we were able, due to

generous donations from the congregation, to deliver

food for the children of Park Avenue Elementary to

have over the long Thanksgiving weekend and have

plans to do the same for the Christmas/winter break.

We received information on our grant request and were

denied this time, not due to the validity of the program

or even the fact that they understood the need, but there

were other needs that were greater at this time. I am

anxious to see what the future of our backpack program

a will be. Thank you to all who have helped up to this

point with funding, packing, ordering, delivering, and

all that it took to make this happen! We will continue

to receive donations for this program and do it as our

donations support it, especially for holiday breaks

within the schools. If you would like to consider

sponsoring a child, the cost is $25.00 to send the bags

to one child for one month. Thanks for your support!

I am in need of volunteers to pack bags and

deliver them to Park Avenue. The goal is to pack the

week of December 12 and deliver on December 19, 20,

and 21. Please let me know if you are willing and able

to help assist with this in any way. This is quite an

undertaking and I look forward to lot of help. We need

help with setting up, packing, delivering, picking up

boxes, and taking the recycling, so let me know how

you can help.

There will be a lot of happenings in December

and January, so read more ahead:

Wednesday Nights will continue during the first

two weeks of December. We will meet on December 7

and 14. Dinners will resume after the new year on

January 4. We will be beginning some new classes for

January into spring, so I will keep you posted on those

as they come about!

Saturday, December 10 will be our Super

Saturday. The children will be going Christmas

Caroling and visiting some of our home bound

members. This is always an awesome time. If you

would like to join us for this mission event let me

know. We will follow this with our annual Birthday

Party for Jesus. This is always so much fun and

something I always look forward to.

Sunday December 11th at noon will be one of

our big play practices. We will order pizza, eat, and

then jump into practice. There will be individual

practices along the way but this is one of our 2 big

practices. If you are a part of the play, we need you to

be there.

December 17 is our final dress rehearsal for the

play! All must be present.

Sunday December 18 is our Christmas program!

Please plan to join us at 7:00 to experience “Stories of

the Savior.” We are all excited to deliver this message

of the coming of Christ.

Thursday, December 22 Juli and I need your

help and your voices. We are planning to take the

children and youth on an all day (9:30-4:30) Christmas

caroling event through town.

Plan to join us for our Christmas Eve services

on Dec 24 at 5 pm and 8 pm, and for our 10 am service

on Christmas Day. We have some fun things planned

for these services. See page 2 for more details.

January will also be a month with lots to do and

lots of surprises as we start a new year. Keep watching

your bulletin for more info on the upcoming events.

2016 was a year full of change here at Fairview.

Thanks to everyone who has stepped up, volunteered

and given of your time and resources to make all of our

transitions easier. Each of you is very precious to me

and my family! Make sure as we close 2016 and step

into 2017 we do so with servant’s hearts that are ready

to step out and work for the glory of God! Blessings to

you all!

The Grace Seekers Sunday School class would like to thank everyone

that helped with our Brunswick stew fundraiser. It sold out again this year!

We appreciate how much the church supports us!

4

Happy Holidays, Fairview!

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, I would like to express how blessed I

feel to be a part of such an amazing church! I am forever grateful for the opportunity to lead

contemporary worship and to work with our wonderful children. When I walk into my

office, I feel an overwhelming sense of joy and peace knowing that I am doing what I love

and serving God!

Our multi-ministry Christmas program, “Stories of the Savior,” will take place on

Sunday, December 18 at 7 p.m., so please mark your calendars! The children have been

working very hard to learn the music on Wednesday nights, and the youth have taken time

out of their busy schedules to be a part of the program as well! We will also have a live brass

ensemble to play alongside our praise team! I am very grateful to ALL of the participants and

to the church staff, our pastor, and to Jackie Stevens, our head coordinator, for their

commitment and hard work!

Our children’s music choir has had so much fun sharing their talents with both congregations over these past

few months. I plan for them to continue sharing song selections on a monthly basis. One is never too young, or too

old to serve and share with their time and talents. A few people have suggested the possibility of expanding the

children’s music program in the future. This would mean splitting our children into two groups: pre-school-

kindergarten and 1st grade-5th grade. We will see what the future holds.

The praise and worship music repertoire is growing thanks to the help of generous donations. As a result,

you will be hearing some new material in the coming weeks! If you have any song suggestions that you would like

to sing in the contemporary worship service, please let me know. I intend to purchase new orchestrations as funds

become available.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Gary Jack

Director of

Contemporary

and Children's

Music

On Wednesday, November 2, 2016, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop for the

Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS). Each fall,

PAUMCS organizes a fall event for church administrators to experience their connection to

the state United Methodist Conference. This year, our workshop titled “Person to Person:

Living Our True Identities Through God, Ourselves, and Others” was led by Cheryl Edley-

Worford, the Director of the Virginia UMC’s Center for Inclusivity and Lay Leadership

Excellence.

Mrs. Edley-Worford led us through lectures and group activities to asses the quality of

our personal relationship with God, with ourselves, and with others. For our relationship with

God, we analyzed the importance to our spiritual lives of some core Methodist practices such as class meetings

(more commonly known as small groups), prayer journals, and even some of John Wesley’s rules of discipleship.

For our relationships with ourselves, we studied Bible verses specifically related to the concept of self-esteem and

the importance of being able to love ourselves. Finally, we learned how to improve relationships with our neighbors

by using conflict resolution and open communication techniques.

I personally enjoyed Mrs. Edley-Worford’s seminar, and continue thinking about how to incorporate the

things I learned from her into my daily work. I appreciate the ability to be a member of great organizations like

PAUMCS, and to attend career-specific workshops like this.

Adrian Smith

Administrative

Assistant

Dec. Dinner Help Teaching

4 NO YOUTH NO YOUTH NO YOUTH

11 Mitchell, Brooks Joey Scearce Amy Grogan



December Special Events:

*11th – We will have play practice at 12p.m. Lunch will be provided.

*14th – We will have dinner and then head over to Brookdale

to sing Christmas Carols to the residents.

*16th – Progressive Dinner – Sign up with Juli! If you can host one of our

meal stops or can chaperone please contact Juli!!

*17th – Play Practice 9a.m.

*18th – Christmas Program – No Youth!

*22nd - We are combining with the children and will Christmas Carol

all day from 9:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.

Please let Katherine and I know if you are planning to attend with us!

Also, if you would like to chaperone please let us know!

Mark your calendars! On January 15th we will combine with churches

in the District for a kick-off event. We will head to First UMC in Martinsville

and have dinner, worship, and play laser tag!

Also, plans for a spring retreat for our church are in the works! Stay tuned for more details!

Juli Odell,

Youth

Director

Jan. Dinner Help Teaching


8 Mitchell, Campbell Jeff Hale Pastor Coffey

15 District Kick-Off District Kick-Off District Kick-Off

22 Ragsdale Neal Ragsdale Christi Ragsdale

29 Boles, Woodward Joey Scearce Miranda Harden

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

After 90 days of working with you, my plans are to continue putting together

handbell pieces from time to time using a limited number of ringers. Hopefully for Easter we

can plan a full bell choir number where we would need 8 ringers. If you can ring bells,

please let me know. We do have fun no matter what plan we use!

As for the adult choir, you should be proud of their work. Small but with very good

results would summarize them! We still, however, should not be satisfied. Needed are 2

basses, a few altos, and about 3 sopranos. Ladies, if you are singing hymns in worship, you

could very easily be a soprano in the adult choir. A great voice is not needed, just someone

who enjoys singing and wants to serve! Hoping you will respond in 2017, God bless!

9

Rocky Granger

Director of

Traditional

Music

January EVENTSJanuary EVENTS

8 5

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 NEW YEARS DAY 8:30am Contemporary Worship

9:45am Sunday School

11:00am Traditional Worship

No Sunday Night Prayer

2

3 10:00am Dan River Retirees

10:00am Intercessory Prayer

6:00pm Men’s Night Out

6:00pm Choir Rehearsal

6:00pm Praise Team Rehearsal

4

5:30pm Wed. Night Supper

6:00pm Children’s Music

6:30pm Wed. Night Programs

5 10:00am Ladies’ Knitting

6 5:30pm Youth Serving at VFW

7

8

8:30am Contemporary Worship



5:30pm Sunday Night Prayer

6:00pm UMYF

9

6:00pm Handbell Rehearsal

7:00pm Finance Committee

10


1:00pm Staff Meeting



11 1:00pm Men’s Prayer Vigil





7:00pm Education Committee

13

14

15 8:30am Contemporary Worship

9:30am Blood Pressure Screen



Youth - District Kickoff


16 MLK JR. DAY





18





20 February Newsletter Deadline

21

22





6:00pm UMYF

23 12:30pm BKK Board Meeting


7:00pm SPRC Meeting

24 10:00am Intercessory Prayer




25

1:00pm Men’s Prayer Vigil





27

28

29





6:00pm UMYF

30 6:00pm Handbell Rehearsal




1






4

Church Office Closed


December EVENTSDecember EVENTS

6 7

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

27 1ST SUN. OF ADVENT UM STUDENT DAY




28 12:30pm BKK Board Meeting


7:00pm SPRC Meeting





30






3 10:00am Christmas Brass

Rehearsal

4





5


6:00pm Trustees Meeting

6

10:00am Dan River Retirees




6:00pm Men’s Night Out

7 3:30pm Staff Meeting





9

10 9:00am Super Saturday

10:00am Christmas Brass

Rehearsal

12:00pm Birthday Party

For Jesus

11 8:30am Contemporary Worship



12:00pm Christmas Program

Rehearsal


6:00pm UMYF

12


7:00pm Finance Committee



3:15pm Worship Committee


No Praise Team Rehearsal

14





Youth Caroling at

Brookdale


16 5:00pm Youth Progressive

Dinner

17 9:00am Christmas Program

Dress Rehearsal

18


9:30am Blood Pressure Screen




7:00pm “Stories of the Savior”

19 6:00pm Handbell Rehearsal





21

No Wednesday Night Supper

or Activities

22 9:30am Christmas Caroling

10:00am Ladies’ Knitting

23

24 CHRISTMAS EVE

5:00pm Contemp. Communion

Candlelight Service

8:00pm Traditional Communion

Candlelight Service

25 CHRISTMAS DAY

10:00am Combined Worship

No Sunday School

No Third Option

No Sunday Night Prayer

26




No Choir Rehearsal

28


No Wednesday Night Supper

or Activities


30

31 NEW YEARS EVE

Church Office Closes at 12pm

High School

Retreat


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