ASHLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

Joining Together on a Christian Journey of Love and Service January 2018

2600 Ashland Rd The Reverend Tresco E. Shannon, Pastor Office Hours: M-Th: 8 am-3:30 pm

Columbia, SC 29210 pastor@ashlandumc.org www.ashlandumc.org Phone Ext. 15 Telephone: 798-5350; Fax: 798-6057

Worship services: The Path: 8:45 AM Traditional: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:45 AM

Suzy Speas Karen Zobel Maria Anderson Education@ashlandumc.org Finance@ashlandumc.org Office@ashlandumc.org

Phone Ext: 14 Phone Ext: 13 Phone Ext: 10 Jack Holladay Robert Neese pathmusic@ashlandumc.org music@ashlandumc.org Martha Eastburn

The Path, Ashland Youth Choir Traditional Worship Choir, Organist Pianist

The staff of Ashland

wish you and your family

a Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year! The church offices will be closed

December 22, 2017 – January 2, 2018.

Suppers will resume January 10th 2018. Plan now to join us for dinner each week or even help cook. Contact Suzy for your group or you to sign up to

cook, Dates available January 31st Feb 21st, March 7th & 21st, April 18th

Wednesday Night Suppers

Join us at 6:30pm at Panera Bread for a great discussion on:

January 21st – “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate Bring ideas for our upcoming reading list too!

Book Club

When: Monday, January 8th Time: 6:30 pm Program: Rev. Tresco E. Shannon *Plan to attend “Come to the Water”, a United Methodist Men event February 16-18, 2018 at Christ UMC, Myrtle Beach. Contact Herman Lightsey for more information.

Ashland United Methodist Men

Around Ashland

Lorelei Kadance Staples was baptized on December 10th at The Path. Parents are Kyle and Brittany Staples and big brother, Kieran. Congratulations on the birth of Vivian Aubrey Warren on December 8th. Parents are Drey and Sara Warren. Congratulations to Gerald White on his award as a Distinguished Member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. The Upper Room Booklets for January-February are on the communication rack across from the Cornerstone Classroom.

Bible Studies

Starting in the NEW Year

Mondays, January 8th at 6:30pm - “Questions God Asks Us” by Trevor Hudson. Larry Durstine and Suzy Speas

will lead a 5 week study. It will be a discussion on select chapters centering around questions that are asked in

the Bible. Contact Suzy to sign up. Cost of book is $10

Wednesdays, January 10th, at 6:45pm – “Luke” a study of the Gospel led by Rev. Tresco Shannon in room #125.

Study will run through the spring.

Worship

The Flower Calendar for 2018 is on the bulletin board outside room 138.

Did you know there are 3 ways you can place flowers in the sanctuary? 1) Use the church florist. (Flowers are delivered to the church.) 2) Arrange your own flowers. (You deliver flowers to the church.) 3) Use the florist of your choosing. (You bring to the church.) Questions? Contact Rosemary Sanders 765-1877 or Maria in the church office.

Stewardship

Please note that contributions must be received or postmarked no later than December 31, 2017 to be credited to your account in 2017.

Shepherd’s Center of St. Andrews

Classes resume on January 16, 2018. Check the bulletin boards for more information.

Pictorial Directory!

**February 2018** Look for when and how to sign up to have your

picture taken. It’s a great time to have new family portraits taken! Each family photographed will

receive a free 8x10, a pictorial directory and access to the electronic copy (with the most current

information).

Bring a canned food item for Sharing God’s Love and receive $5 off any purchase. Also any packages

purchased will give 5% back to Ashland.

United Methodist Youth All 6

th - 12

th graders welcome!

Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Want to join our email list? 803.798.5350 x 14 education@ashlandumc.org

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Everyone invited on January 14th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm For the Winter / Spring Open House

January 17th Senior High Bible Study starts back at 6:30 pm

January 21st Youth Choir starts back at 4:30 pm

See you in 2018!!

Missions

Ashland’s Bountiful Generosity The Missions Committee expresses thanks to the Ashland congregation for contributing to the Epworth Children’s Home and Family Promise Giving Tree.

The children and youth at Epworth received gifts, gift cards and monetary donations valued at more than $4,385.

The children and parents Currently served by Family Promise received gift cards and monetary donations valued at more than $1,245. Ashland’s generosity on the Giving Tree project more than doubled the gifts received last year. Thank you for your selfless kindness. ~Marilyn Gramling, Giving Tree Coordinator

Children and Youth Ministry “It Takes a Village…to Raise our Children”

The “Ashland Family”-- the old and young people affirm our children and youth by supporting them during …. …the Christmas musical, Silent Night, Holy Night—as 13 Children, ages 4 to 10 sang and said their parts and songs; 12 mice, 1 cat; 1 pastor-Chad Raynor; 1 guitarist/song writer-Todd Carroll.(Remember the Story of how Silent Night was written—no organ was available on Christmas Eve) ….the No Practice Nativity at the Path and at the 11:00 service one Sunday in December as our children walked down the aisles as Mary, Joseph, donkey, soldier, shepherds, angels Wise Men to portray our Lord’s birth story. At the Path, 12 children-Matthew & Addie, Will & Ben, Caden, Ethan, Alyssa, Beth, Austin, Kieran, Cailin and Alexis; 11:00 service had16 children—adding Jake, Lola ,Dyson, Jalin, Harper, Amelia, Hope & Shelby; Wally Allen was the narrator at both services …. Worship where Caroline and Xavier read the morning scripture

…. Sunday school when 45 blankets were cut and tied by our 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and delivered by Jean Smith to the happy recipients at Children’s Garden.

….Sunday School hour when the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th graders made ornaments one week using paint and round Christmas balls; then the next week gave the ornaments to people around the church that they did not know

….3,4, 5 & 6 year olds created an edible snack—the manger scene—using pretzels, star candy, potato sticks, animal crackers, and elf “people” cookies

…. Worship where Caroline and Xavier read the morning scripture

…a Birthday Party for Jesus during Sunday School on Dec. 24 as all the children make a special treat to eat and celebrate Jesus’ birthday, led by Jennifer and Caitlin. …. Bible Land time on Dec 24 during Sunday School where every child had a costume and lines to read or say and actions to do as we did the whole the Nativity story from Elizabeth & Zechariah to the Wise Men ….Friday night Fifth Quarter Event for the youth –30 youth & adults—snowman theme games--created miniature snowmen, made life size snow men (remember all the newspaper church members brought); capture the snowmen; and, of course, snacks! ….Annual Youth Christmas party at Robert and Erin’s where 31 youth and counselors had a ball eating and playing games-“Don’t break the ice; Melt the ice ball and ended with the white elephant gift exchange exchanging and “stealing” gifts and playing snowmen

Living Out Our Faith OUR PRAYERS

Becky Massingale, Nather Gray, Jackie Hatch, Sue Jones, Mac Smurthwaite, Bill Turner

OUR SERVICE

Ushers for January: Jay Lindsay, Lloyd Pitts, Mark Polk, Barbara Polk, Jimmy Smith

Missionaries We Support Tim and Daina Datwyler

c/o TMS Global, P.O. Box 922637, Norcross, GA 30010 datfam4ecuador@gmail.com Todd and Pam Attaway

c/o TMS Global, P.O. Box 922637, Norcross, GA 30010

Deadline for February newsletter is Monday, January 29

th

by noon.

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT No. 18

IRMO SC 29063

Ashland United Methodist Church 2600 Ashland Rd

Columbia, SC 29210

FINANCIAL REPORT YTD 12/16/2017

Weekly Budgeted Amount 13,556.60

Received Week ending 12/16/2017 17,591.50

Received YTD 647,681.65

Budgeted Amount YTD 677,830.00

Actual Expenses YTD 616,492.71

YTD Amount Rec'd +/- Budgeted Amount -30,148.35

YTD Amount Rec'd +/- Actual Expenses 31,188.94

Pastoral Needs after Office Hours Rev. Tresco E. Shannon

(803) 260-0723

By Our Presence On December 17th

The Path: 97 Traditional: 194 TOTAL WORSHIP: 291 SS: 145