Do you surf the web? Have a Facebook page? Well, you can get an update on what is going on at Church on our website: www.fumcmvm.org

or like us on Facebook then you can email Sue Lawrence at

sueannelawrence@gmail.com

or drop off your item in the new “website/social media” mailbox outside the church office.

Do you need a way to go? If so, there may be an answer to your dilemma! Our transportation ministry assists in transporting church members to such places such as doctor appointments, the grocery store, or to other nearby places. There is no cost for this service.

However, a minimum of 48 hours notice is required. For more information, or to schedule a ride call Ann Knott at 417-466-8575.

Way-to-Go

Web Site News

Step By Step Ministry Update Do You

Need a

Way to

Go?

Step by

Step

Child

Development

Center

www.fumcmvm.org

December 2016 The Messenger

We will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with a

program on Friday, December 9th at 5:45 followed by

refreshments in the fellowship hall. All are invited to

come and celebrate with us!

Our Bible verse that we will be focusing on is the birth

of Jesus, with Luke 2:1-20.

We are still looking for a Part-time teacher to help give

breaks and be in the 2 year old room. The hours are

from 11 to 5:30. If you are interested in spending time

with our children you can fill out an application that

can be picked up in the church office.

We will be closed Friday, December 23rd and Monday,

December 26th for Christmas and on Monday, January

2nd for New Years.

Thank you for all your support and have a Blessed

Christmas.

Emmaus

Have you been on a Walk to Emmaus? Are you interested in attending a Walk to Emmaus?

If so, come to Keen Bean on Wednesdays at 11 am and see what this is about. If this time

isn’t convenient with your schedule, please contact the church office at 466-2459.

The Walk to Emmaus is a 72-hour retreat with the purpose of getting closer to Christ and

cultivating potential church leaders.

The Messenger

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas! We love you all!

Geoff & Shelley

Brandee, Brooke, Nick, Lilly, Maddy, Bella, Dannie, Luke, Mary, Nina, Ashely, Flint, Daisy, Michael, Myles

Youth News

December 2016 Mary Lou’s Message I pray that everyone had an opportunity to spend time with their those they love during

Thanksgiving. I hope it was a restful day for you!

Advent has arrived! It seems like this time of year passes much too quickly. There are

so many things we try to work into our schedules…. being busy often gets

overwhelming…wondering if everything will all get done before Christmas. One of my

goals this Advent season is to take time every day to think about how God’s gift of

Jesus has made a difference in my life and to take time to say thank you for life and

grace and many other things God has blessed me with. I also give thanks for you! I

appreciate you and the gifts and talents that God has bestowed you. I appreciate your

willingness to share with the rest of the congregation.

Please mark your calendars for the events we will be celebrating here. The Step by

Step Christmas Program will be on December 9 at 5:45. The church Christmas

Program will be on December 11 at 5:00pm. The Christmas Candle Light Service will

be on Christmas Eve. We will start with a Soup and Chili dinner at 5:00pm followed by

the Candle Light Service at 6:00. We will have a Christmas service on Christmas day at

our regular time; 9:00am. There will be no Sunday School on Christmas morning. I

hope you will make plans to attend each event. Everyone is working hard to make this

a wonderful time that brings God Glory!

I am excited about our new welcoming system – Making the Connection! I thank Janice

for heading this up and everyone who has volunteered to take part. Thank you!

Through this system, we will be making an intentional effort to welcome new people

and do a better job of connecting with each other. I am praying that God will bless us

through this system and the other things we do to reach out in mission and service.

As I think about the Christmas story and the greatest gift ever given -Jesus, I am

reminded about what it must have looked like on that night when the angels filled the

sky and sang “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to all”. That

must have been spectacular! May our lives and actions “sing” this same song as we

live and work and give this Advent season!

Blessings,

Mary Lou

The Messenger

Inside this issue:

Decwember 2016 Rev. Mary Lou Toft —Pastor

Coming Soon 2

Meetings 2

Mary Lou’s Message 3

Step by Step 4

Mission Moments 4

Church News 5,7

Youth News 6

Focus on Finance 7

Sunday Helpers 1

Calendar Insert

Casting (as in casting you nets)

Monday—Thursday

8:30 to 2:30

Lynn McDonald

Administrative Assistant

Mark Your Calendars

December 4 Connections Kick Off!!!

December 9 Step By Step Christmas Program at 5:45 pm

December 10 Baking cookies!!

December 11 “Birthday for a King” at 5 pm

December 12 Finance Committee at 6 pm

Trustee Committee at 7 pm

December 13 UMW at 11:30 am

December 16 Craft Night at 6:30 pm

December 24 Dinner at 5 pm

Candlelight Service at 6 pm

December 25 Merry Christmas

The Baking group will be baking cookies on the 10th for our Church program on the 11th.

Bring your mixers and supplies and have fun baking cookies for the program and to give

away randomly through town.

Coming Soon!

January 10 UMW

January 21 Youth to WOW

January 24 Ad Council (NOTE DATE CHANGE)

Please continue to be in prayer for our church and to be open to ideas on how

we can grow our ministry. Please consider to sign up for our E-giving through

our website.

UMW

Offering needed each week: $ 4,725.64

Focus on Finance

Our December meeting will be on Tuesday, December 13th at 11:30 at the church. Sue

Chappell and Clara Spurlock are hostesses and will provide our Christmas Dinner. We will

be reviewing the year and making plans for 2017. All church women are welcome to join us!

Christmas Program

Our Church’s Christmas program is on Sunday, December 11th at 5 pm. “A Birthday for a

King” is the telling of the Christmas story through song and drama involving our Joy Squad

kids, the Youth, Adult Choir, and Bell Choir, followed by refreshments in the fellowship

hall. All are invited to come and enjoy and celebrate the birth of our Savior.

NOVEMBER ATTENDANCE

10/30/2016 $1,174.02 63

11/6/2016 $3,072.61 52

11/13/2016 $2,601.68 62

11/20/2016 $2,257.60 55

11/27/2016 $974.64 53

December 2016

Leadership Lead Usher:

Sally West

Audio/Visual Technology:

David & Lynn McDonald

Offering Counters: Kent Casey & Steve Jones

Children’s Church

& Sunday School :

Dec 4: Garrison Earnest

/ Kristen Earnest

Dec 11: Cindi Grace

/ Kristen Earnest

Dec 18: Jean Duwe

/ Kristen Earnest

Dec 25: Lynne Cowherd

Children’s Church:

Will be taking the Summer off. Children’s Church and Chil-

dren’s Sunday School will resume in September.

Check Us Out Online! Check out our homepage at

www.fumcmvm.org and leave us a message!

Save Your Best Choice! Save your Best Choice UPC labels and

place them in the basket in the foyer.

Please keep watching for those Best

Choice labels. We need at lot more in

order to get our DOUBLED reward for

this year. We need them by December

20th so get them in as soon as you can.

Thank you all for helping with this

project.

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First United Methodist Church

Worship 9 am

Sunday School 10 am

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