UMW Christmas Lunch Thursday, December 8th 11:30 AM in the Commons $10.00 per person

Tickets will be on sale in the Narthex on Sunday, November 20 & 27… or you may purchase them through any of the women’s circles.

Deadline to get your ticket is Monday, November 28th.

Rivers in the Desert The prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah chapter 43, tells of a time when God is about to do some-thing new, something that is better than even the Exodus – and for Israel the Exodus was and is a big deal. He will make rivers in the desert. Isaiah has been called the Shake-speare of the prophets and his book has been referred to as a miniature Bible – 39 chap-ters deal with judgment for Israel’s sin and 27 chapters deal with coming salvation. Inter-esting to note that there are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. One would be hard pressed to read any page of the New Testament without Isaiah being referenced explicitly or implicitly - Isaiah is that important. The good news for today is, that since the cross and resurrection, every day is a potential new day for rivers to break through in our world that has become a desert – not from water with a little ‘w’ but from water with a big ‘W’. Even in the church we suffer from a lack of the true Water that gives life to the church. We are consumed with so much in our lives that we get dried out and need refreshment. November 27 is the first Sunday of Advent or New Year’s Day for the church. We are busier than ever during this time of year, but I believe that God wants to do something new in you and in me to bring rivers of water into our lives, our church and our community. Will you join me in taking some intentional time to slow down once every day to seek first HIS kingdom? As Isaiah says God is doing a new thing and it has already started…. I don’t want to miss it!

Rev. Tim Bracken

November 16, 2016 From the pastor

Our Staff

Pastor ............................... Rev. Tim Bracken

Administrative Assistant .............. Molly Near

Financial Secretary .................... Mae Wilkins

Director of Children’s Ministry ...... Jill Ingram

Interim Youth Director ........... Kellie Bracken

Director of Senior Adults .......... Karen Wood

Chancel Choir Director ............Dr. Jim Burns

Pianist ...................................... Tausha Plate

Organist .................................... Terry Barger

Maintenance Director ................ Chris Offery

Maintenance ................................. Jeff Smith

Director of CDC ......................... Cathy Smith

Director of PDO ....................... Rachel David

Assist. Director of CDC/PDO ....Karon Steve

We will be having our Christmas Lunch on

Thursday, December 1 at Café Roma.

Please make your reservation with Karen Wood by

Monday, November 21 There are no other Gad-A-Bout outings

in December.

Gad-A-Bout Christmas

MDS Luncheon

Come and celebrate the

good things happening at the

Mary Diana Samuel Home

on Sunday, November 20

This lunch will be a mix of Asian as

well as American food. Join us in

fellowship as we hear inspiring

stories about our girls at the MDS!

Join us for a special

Hanging of the Greens

Service

Sunday November 27

10:45 AM

We will not have Early Worship November 27—December 25.

Acolyte / Crucifer

November 20 Charlie Blackwell / Lauren Thacker November 27 Isabel Swafford / Charlie Swafford

NO YOUTH November 23 and 27

Small Groups November 28

6:30—7:30 PM at the church

Christmas Party & Caroling Wednesday, December 21 time to be determined

There WILL NOT be a lock-in on New Year’s Eve

Youth News

Bread of Life We are in need of a group, or groups of

individuals, to serve on December 31. This would be a great family opportunity!

How to POST AN ANNOUNCEMENT Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON on Tuesday, November 29. Information turned in after

this time will not be posted until the next newsletter is due. Newsletters are printed every two weeks.

Fill out an Announcement Request Form online OR in the office!

Arnold Elementary School’s Holiday Family Night will be on Thursday, December 1st from 5:30—7:00 PM at the school.

We need volunteers to help us work this event! Contact Brian Byerly at brianb@charter.net

to sign-up or for more information.

Mark Your Calendar

Bell Ringing

Elan Circle Bake Sale

Christmas Eve Bags

Christmas in Haiti

Rada products order

Let’s Communicate

Breakfast with Santa

Children’s Calendar

We have reserved Saturday, December 3rd for Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army

at the Walmart on Treasury Drive. Sign up in the Narthex for an hour slot...sign up

individually or with your family! Gather with us on Friday, December 23 at 10:00 AM as we put together Christmas Eve Bags for those who work on Christmas Eve. These bags will be available

following both Christmas Eve services for the congregation to distribute across the community.

The whole family is welcome to join us on Saturday, December 10th 9:00—10:30 AM

in the Christian Life Center We’ll have a big breakfast and you can bring

your camera for a photo with Santa! If you are available to help set-up, cook, or

clean-up, please contact Jill Ingram.

FUMC has a team of 12 going to Haiti December 26-31 and would like to ask the congregation to help

with a Christmas letter and simple gift for the children at the orphanage where they will be

serving. There are 65 children at the orphanage with ages ranging from 5-18. Sign up in the Narthex.

Contact Kellie or Molly for more information.

The last order for 2016 will be placed on Monday, November 21. Orders should arrive the week after Thanksgiving. Catalogs are available from Nancy

Boyd, or you may look online at www.radamfg.com. All proceeds support May Dooley Circle projects.

The church is equipped with an ALL-CALL/TEXT application to notify you of upcoming events,

cancellations, meetings, etc… If you would like to receive any of the above, please provide your name, mobile phone number and/or

email address to the church office.

November 27 NO 1st Kidz Church-Hanging of Greens December 10 Breakfast with Santa 9:00-10:30 AM

December 11 Angel Choir singing at 10:45 AM

December 14 Last Night for Wild 1’s & Choirs December 18 Children’s Christmas Play—10:45 AM

Sunday, December 18th in the Narthex following the 10:45 AM worship service.

Let us provide all of your favorite Christmas treats for your family, friends, & teachers while

you support our mission projects! Wedding Shower

You’re invited to a Wedding Shower honoring Hannah Bracken & Daniel Kozar

on Sunday, December 11th 1:00-3:00 PM in the Commons

Hannah and Daniel will be serving in full-time ministry, so we will be doing a money/gift card tree.

Sing We Now of Christmas...a celebration of Christmas in musical diversity by our Chancel Choir,

soloists, instrumentalists, and narration.

Sunday, December 4th at 10:45AM

Choir Cantata

Welcome New Members Laura Caraway

November 6, 2016

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, November 20 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship 9:30 AM Membership Class—in the Library 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 12:00 PM Mary Diana Samuel Home Lunch 5:00 PM Ministry Team Meeting 5:00 PM First Youth Monday, November 21 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:30 PM Scouts Tuesday, November 22 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM Chancel Choir 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, November 23 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM NO Dinner 6:00 PM NO Wild 1’s Children’s Choirs 6:15 PM NO Bible Study 6:15 PM NO First Youth 6:15 PM NO Chancel Choir 7:15 PM NO String Band Thursday, November 24 OFFICE CLOSED Friday, November 25 OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, November 26 10:00 AM Bread of Life

“I will be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in

my power to strengthen its ministry by my prayers,

my presence, my gifts, my service, and my witness.”

Our Prayers

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service—November 20

Family of Barbara Swanson

Family of Andrew Henry

Family of Bob David

Family of Bill Thomason

Gladys Blankenship

Neil Benecke

Linda Merz LONG TERM PRAYER

Don Alley

Debbie Ambert

Sarah Bandy

Judy Barger

Amber Blair

J. T. Brooks

Randall Butler

Debbie Trentham Case

LeeAnn Childress

Chad Chism

Bill Cooke

Kaye Coultry

Emma Cummings

Bill Creech

Sunday School Worship 11/06/16 64 204 11/13/16 57 210

Budget Receipts 11/06/16 7,009.00 Receipts to Date: 558,838.09 Expenditures to Date: 568,202.83 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [9,364.74] Budget to Date: 636,539.50

Budget Receipts 11/13/16 9,365.00 Receipts to Date: 568,203.09 Expenditures to Date: 568,517.98 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [314.89] Budget to Date: 650,682.28

Prayer Team: Buddy Simpkins Monthly Prayer Focus: Senior Adult Ministry Acolytes: Lauren Thacker and Charlie Blackwell Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford, Todd Berghoff First Kidz Church begins at 10:30 AM every Sunday in the Christian Life Center. (It does not meet the first Sunday of the month.) Sonshine Kidz is for preschoolers ages 3,4, & 5 Nursery is available for children 3 yrs old and younger. Located in the CLC. Altar Flowers will be in memory of Grace Bedwell’s birthday, given by Clem Bedwell.

Beverly Crigger

Alan David

Jordann Dempsey

Lorrie Duke

Dylan Duncan

Lois Ellis

Sharon Everson

Kim Faulkner

Britton Gobble

Jamie Hargis

Renee Henderson

Joe Hogan

Clint Hutto

Russell Johnson

Elaine Larson

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Charlie McDonald

Betty McLain

Ron Merz

Larry and Barb Miller

Carmen Orr

Carolyn Owens

Tilley Phillips

Tom Phillips

Darci Pittman

Lois Pywell

Gary Ratcliff

Wayne Reynolds

Bob Richardson

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Nan Schlatterer

Nicholas Stark

Kylene Stump

Van Swearingen

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Rosemary Warren

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhite

UPCOMING EVENTS

● November 27—NO Early Worship,

Hanging of the Greens

● November 28—Youth Small Groups

● November 30—NO Dinner...all other

activities resume as normal

● December 1—Gad-A-Bouts Christ-

mas Lunch, Arnold Elementary Fami-

ly Night

● December 4—Chancel Choir Cantata

● December 5—PDO Christmas Pro-

gram, Youth Small Groups

● December 6—Metropolitan Bells

● December 8—UMW Christmas Lunch

● December 10—Bread of Life, Break-

fast with Santa

● December 11—Hannah Bracken

Wedding Shower

● December 12—Youth Small Groups

Open hearts, open minds, open doors...the people of the United Methodist Church.

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Cleveland, TN

Permit No. 321

Return Service Requested

3425 Ocoee Street North Cleveland, TN 37312

423-476-4504 www.clevelandumc.com

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Child Development Center Phone: 423-478-1426

Gifts to the Church

To Holston Home for Children In memory of Veva Thompson:

Bob and Libby Carmon

November 27 Hanging of the Greens December 4 Chancel Choir Cantata December 6 Metropolitan Bells December 8 UMW Christmas Luncheon December 10 Breakfast with Santa December 18 Children’s Christmas Play December 20 Blue Christmas Service

December 22 Assemble Christmas Eve Bags Grace Works Cocoa & Carols December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services - Acoustic 4:00 pm Traditional 6:00 pm December 25 Christmas Day Worship 10:00 am only