F i r s t U n i t e d

M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h 411 Church Street

Columbia, MS 39429

601–736–7121

www.fumccolumbia.org

CHURCH STAFF

PASTOR Brother Mike Sahler

601–731–8235

CHOIR DIRECTOR William “Billy” Endicott

YOUTH DIRECTOR Angel Herring

ORGANIST Barbara Lott

CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR Keleigh Oglesbee

PIANIST Beth Pierce

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Debbie Graney

CUSTODIAN Mike Rogers

N E W S L E T T E R N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 6

Happy Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November, November 24th this year…Since the days of the George Washington Presidency we have had a mandated day of Thanksgiving which should be devoted to prayer and praising God…So, we know that when the 4th Thursday of November comes gobbling our way we are in for a National Holiday, a day off from work (for some not all), a day away from typical routines, a day to gather together around family tables with festive meals, a time of fond remembrance, a time of thankfulness, a time of reaching out, a time of searching deep, a time of parades, a time of college football, turkey, dressing, oyster dressing, sweet potato casserole, ham, biscuits, green beans, asparagus casserole, grape salad, cranberry sauce, pound cake, brown mountain cake, pecan pie, Japanese Fruit Cake, oatmeal cookies…Come, you thankful people, come! Bow and give thanks! Thank you, God, for: Loving me, loving us; forgiving me, forgiving us; freeing each of us from the guilt of sin; restoring us to the joy of your salvation; giving us the strength to live abundantly one day at a time; declaring we are your children; proclaiming we are your beloved; telling the world you are well-pleased with each of us; creating us with glory and splendor; giving us dominion over created things; Jesus’s Life, Death and Resurrection; Jesus modeling how to live a God-Filled life; Jesus dispensing grace into all creation; Jesus showing us where to shine forth God-Colors and offer God Seasoning, especially to the least, lost, lonely, the ignored, forgotten, taken for granted, the bedraggled, beaten down, burned out, the whosoever, folks like you and me; My family/our families; Columbia First United Methodist Church; Luxurious Prayer; Leisurely Bible Reading; Loving Worship; Lavish Service; Liberal Giving; Laughingly Playing; Longingly Learning; hymns; songs; carols; choruses; Chinese checkers; hula-hoops; scooters; tricycles; Slinkys; Barbie; G.I. Joe; Lincoln logs; plastic bricks; Legos; clackers; yo-yos; Monopoly; Life; Chutes and Ladders; chess; jigsaw puzzles; Uno; solitaire; bridge; Pinochle; canasta; Go-Fish; broken crayons; dad’s workshop; trivial pursuit; scattergories; super Mario; Gameboy; cowbells; 4-way stops; Southern Fried Rabbit; conversations; vacations; trips; boiled shrimp; walking 5-Miles; tall trucks; Honda Accords; weight rooms; basketball courts; baseball fields; tennis courts; big Barny; beaches; mountains; umbrella and chairs; fishing; catching fish; putt-putt; yardwork; classic rock; slippery rock; rocking chairs; books; coloring books; Lake Junaluska; Girdwood Chapel UMC; El Capulin and LaJoya, Mexico; Camp Wesley Pines; puns; jokes; funny stories; nick-names; pets; color TV; radio; stereo; I-Tunes; flip-phone; microwave ovens; fast food; slow cookers; indoor plumbing; a warm bed; a soft pillow; a good night’s sleep; a good stopping point, and hundreds of other things to be thankful for…Indeed, give thanks with a grateful heart…Happy Thanksgiving!

First United Methodist ChurchFirst United Methodist Church exists to bring people to Jesus and membership in His church, help them to mature in Christ and grow in grace, and equip them to discover and to use their gifts in ministry in the church and in the world for

the glory of God.

Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee Training

Our District Superintendent, Rev. Heather Hensarling, will be conducting a Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee training session here at First Columbia on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 6-9 P.M. Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees from around the district including S/PPRC from our church are urged to be in attendance for this vital training and retraining of committee members, chairpersons and pastors. Please circle the date and be in prayer as Heather trains leaders of our churches, and Columbia First S/PPRC folks put this on your high priority list to attend, Tuesday, December 6, 2016 from 6-9 P.M.

Charge Conference 2016 Charge Conference 2016 for Columbia First United Methodist Church will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2016, from 6:30-7:30 P.M. in the Wesley Center. This date and time is confirmed with the Brookhaven District Office, which is a change from the previously mentioned date and time. Rev. Heather Hensarling, our Brookhaven District Superintendent, will guide us through this time of celebrating our missions and ministries which will give foundation for our 2017 ministries and missions. Our time of reflecting and visioning will put in context how we aspire to go deeper in our relationship with God and reach further in our love and service with our neighbors. Members of the Administrative Board are urged to be present, and all members and friends of First Church are invited to attend and share in this experience of Loving, Learning and Leading through the gift we call First United Methodist Church! Charge Conference 2016, Thursday, December 1, 2016, from 6:30-7:30 P.M. in the Wesley Center.

The Worship Committee is selling Poinsettias for $8 each. You may purchase them in honor or

memory of your loved ones. The deadline to turn in your order and money is Sunday, December 4th.

There will be forms available in the Sunday services or you may call the church office to place

your order.

Dennis Malone, Mary Thompson, Irene Powers, Spooky Sims, Judy Easterling, Rita Smith (mother of Mike Rogers), Bryson

Sartin, Clifton Bond, *Sonny Wood, John & Billie Flynt, Karon Ryals, Monique Goar, Michelle Pritchard, Wesley Moudy, Lisa Beech McGloflin, Sabastian Blanchard, Rev. Roy Eaton, Sarah Davis, Steve Vikery (nephew of Nell Barnes), William Rowley, Brenda Griner, Tom Griffith, Rev. Tim Parker,, Shannon Pigott, Debbie Price, Martha Stephens, Kim Fink, Phyllis & Julia K. Price, Shirley Grace, Shirley Wooten, Madelyn Grace Halford, Logan Byrne, Gary Rush, Tom McNeese, Blake Bauer, Mary Ann Nicholson, Tom Shows, Jane Martin, Theresa Edwards, Toni Marino, Faith Johnson, Abbey Tallia, Peyton Grooms, Kalyn Boyd, Edith McMurray, George Burchfield, Angela Lewis, Kenneth Eaves, Michelle Prichard, Joan Berry, Doris Phelps, Lucas Porter.

SHUT INS

The Grove - Greta Dick, Georgette Kuykendall, Helen Oglesbee, Angela Varnado

The Myrtles - Frank Little Wesley Manor - Lina Fortenberry, Maryann Hyatt

The Claiborne - Carolyn Powers

PLEASE CHECK THE PRAYER CONCERNS AND IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO

ATTENDANCE & CONTRIBUTIONS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016

Worship 135 Sunday School 67 Contributions $5,688.81

Memorials $ 25.00 Benevolence Fund $ 120.00

ATTENDANCE NOVEMBER 13, 2016 Worship 115 Sunday School 79

Contributions $ 8,355.39 Radio $ 250.00 Youth $ 50.00

The office will be closed Wednesday, November 23rd through Friday, November 25th in celebration of Thanksgiving. We will return on Monday, November 28th with our

regular schedule.

!

NOVEMBER

1 - Terry Robbins 2 - Doyle Bradshaw, Simon Herring, Jane

Martin

3 - Irene Powers

4 - Charlie & Pat Strickland

5 - Robby Sandifer, John Wilkinson

8 - Steve Hathorn, Angelia Martin 11 - Matt Hough

12 - Jimmy Bullock

14 - Hannah Harvey, Scott Hathorn, Pat

Strickland 15 - Brandon Thornhill

18 - Katie Kennedy

20 - Alexander Smith

21 - Wayne Sturdivant

22 - Shelton Ball 23 - Mary Lintner

24 - Brandon Rowell

30 - Mary Vic Dantin

!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016

9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

10:00 a.m. – Youth Sunday School

10:55 a.m. – Worship Service

6:00 p.m. – Community Thanksgiving Service

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

No Scheduled Activities

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

5:30 p.m. – Staff Parish Meeting

6:00 p.m. – Worship and Book Study

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016

No Scheduled Activities

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Office Closed – Thanksgiving Day

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016

No Scheduled Activities

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2016

9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

10:00 a.m. – Youth Sunday School

10:55 a.m. – Worship Service

3:00 p.m. – Youth Council

5:00 p.m. – Jr. High Performing Arts

5:45 p.m. – Jr. High Youth Choir/Variety Show Practice

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

5:30 p.m. – Administrative Council

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016

9:00 a.m. -XYZ

3:00 p.m. – Children’s “WWW”

3:30 p.m. – Jr. High “WWW”

5:15 p.m. – “”WWW” Supper

6:00 p.m. – Pastor Parish Training

6:00 p.m. – Sr. High Youth

6:00 p.m. – Family Prayer & Devotion

6:00 p.m. – Kouth

6:30 p.m. – Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

5:30 p.m. – Trustee Meeting

6:30 p.m. – Charge Conference

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016

No Scheduled ActivitIes

There will be no “WWW” Activities

on Wednesday, November 23. We will resume our regular activities the

week of November 27.

The Trustee Meeting date for December has been changed. We will meet on

Thursday, December 8th at 5:00 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving from all the Staff at First

United Methodist Church.

THE MEANING OF ADVENT

The Christian New Year begins with the Holy Season known as Advent, a season of four Sundays concluding on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves, our homes and our churches for the coming of the Messiah. We also wait with Hope, Anticipation, Joy, and Expectation during these days of Advent, leading us to the birthday of our Savior at Christmas. The Advent Season points to the revelation of God’s love as expressed in Jesus’ humble birth as Light of the manger; His victorious resurrection as Light of the world; and the hope of Christ’s coming again as King of kings and Lord of lords! Simply put, Advent calls and invites each of us to get ready for the Birthday of Jesus; to prepare for the arrival of Christ the King; and to expect Jesus’ coming again in final victory as Savior of the world. “Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus” into our hearts, our lives, our homes, our church, our community, and our worship, as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” will yield to “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World!” The Season of Advent prepares us for the Celebration and Hope of Christmas!

Please join our congregation on the First Sunday of Advent, Sunday, November 27, 2016, for our Hanging of the Greens Service of Worship at 10:55 a.m. Come and worship. Go to Love and Service!

This week, the junior high WWW group will head to “The Bean” for after school snacks (Dutch treat). We have just finished our fast-food themed “Drama Queens and Blow-up Queens” study on junior high D-R-A-M-A, so this will be a nice way to close that study out and have some fellowship time together before heading into the holidays. In our study, we learned that DRAMA stands for Division, Resentment, Attitude, Meanness, and Attention. The key verse for the study was 2 Timothy 2: 22-24; and we discussed all the things that can contribute

to DRAMA: our “drama diet”, gossip, and white lies. We ended the study with a focus on being direct with those who offend us by learning to go to them, love them, pray for them, and forgive them. If you’re a junior high parent or family member, ask your youth about drama and how best to avoid it. And even if they can’t quote the entirety of 2 Timothy 2:22-24, I bet they can sum it up nicely; and I feel sure they can tell you why and how God wants us to be “fruit-flavored”.

The holidays are upon us, and we have many of our loved traditions coming up, with some new twists thrown in for good measure. The youth will travel to Scenes of Christ Sunday, 12/4; and our first annual Youth Christmas Variety Show will take place Wednesday, 12/14. You won’t want to miss this first-time event! The youth will provide the meal that evening, and we will follow the meal with a wide variety of Christmas-themed talents. We currently have 10 acts, ranging from our youngest performers to a mixed-age choir finale of a Christmas song you will NOT want to miss. We even have the bluegrass group coming to entertain us on a couple of songs. Make plans now to invite a friend or two, share a meal with us, and sit back to enjoy the many talents of FUMC! The proceeds from the meal that evening will go to the family of Geremy Parker, a CHS junior diagnosed with leukemia this year. The youth have a special gift they hope to be able to purchase from our proceeds, so we invite you to support the night with your presence.

Our holiday traditions continue with our senior high Christmas Progressive Dinner on 12/18. If you are willing to serve as a “stop”, please let me know! In the past, we have had a beverage stop, an appetizer stop, an entrée stop, and a dessert and Christmas movie stop. If you can help us out with any of those “stops”, please let me know!

Wednesday, 12/21 we will have our Junior High Christmas Mini Lock-In. We will start with a Christmas lights tour and end the evening back at the church for games and food. I know the word “lock-in” is scary, but if you would like to help, please let me know! Details to come as the event gets finalized.

Youth will not meet this Sunday evening so that families can attend the community Thanksgiving service at First Baptist. Youth Council will meet Sunday, 11/27 @ 3:00 to finalize details on many of the events mentioned above AND get some tentative dates on the spring calendar. Our variety show practice and choir schedule will resume 11/27. Our senior high lock-in has been rescheduled for spring due to several conflicts (mostly football-related!).

The junior high choir will sing with the adult choir this Sunday, 11/20. All junior high choir are asked to be in the choir room by 10:30 to dress in robes and do a quick run-through.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Angel

If you were in church or listening through live stream or radio this past Sunday, you got a little taste of what the children's choirs have been working on with Mr. Billy for the past few weeks. Although we have been preparing for White Christmas, we were happy to lead the congregation this Sunday as well. Thanks to Mr. Billy for his patience and hard work with our excited bunch!

We will continue meeting in the choir room for Kouth for the rest of our WWW time to prepare for White Christmas. White Christmas will be held, Sunday, December 11th. This is not a required practice time but is required if your child wants to participate in White Christmas. It's exciting to see several chairs filled but we would love to fill a few more. We really do have a fun time! Practice is from 6-6:25 on Wednesday nights.

We have 3 more practices until our annual WWW Christmas program. Parents, your children have been working very hard for several weeks, please make a point to have them at WWW and special practices. Christmas program practice on Sunday, December 4th at 4:30 is for everyone k5-5th. We will practice until 5:30.

We will not have WWW on Wednesday, November 23rd due to Thanksgiving break. We will resume all regular activities on the 30th. A sign up sheet for our annual Live Nativity will go around this week. If there is a specific time you need, please let me know. We will do 30 minute rotations from 5:30-7pm on December 21st. Everyone will need to arrive 20 minutes before their time to change into costumes.

Children's council will meet in early December. If you have suggestions for our children's department for the spring, let me know!

Have a great week! Keleigh

Acolytes11/20 Frances11/27 Brayden12/04 Sophie & Davis12/11 Ollie

Nursery Volunteers11/20 Mary Nell Livingston & Keleigh Oglesbee11/27 Sherri Oglesbee & Lisa Sims12/04 Amanda Thornhill & Lori Beisel12/11 Shelly Blackard & Kathy Bryant

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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHRUCH P.O. BOX 585 411 CHURCH STREET COLUMBIA, MS 39429

Community Thanksgiving

Service

A C o m m u n i t y T h a n k s g i v i n g /

Ecumenical Service will be offered Sunday, November 20, 2016, 6:00 P.M., at First Baptist Church, Columbia, Mississippi. Everyone in the community of Columbia and the surrounding area is invited to join one another in giving Thanks through worship and praise in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church. Rev. Mike Sahler, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Columbia will proclaim a Thanksgiving Message of Grace, Hope and Thankfulness. A Community Choir will practice in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church at 5:00 P.M. to then sing as part of worship at 6:00 P.M.; everyone who would like to sing is invited. There will be a time of fellowship immediately following the Thanksgiving Worship Service. Indeed, Come, You Thankful People, Come!

There will be no “WWW” Wonderful Wednesday at Wesley activities on

Wednesday, November 23rd. We will resume our regular schedule on Wednesday,

November 30th.

______________________________

Administrative CouncilThe Administrative Council will meet

Monday, December 28th at 5:30 p.m. in the Wesley Center.