To Offer New Life in Jesus Christ by Seeking, Shaping and Sending Disciples

Chimes December 2014

The holiday season is upon us.

For most of us, that is a good thing. We will spend time with family or friends. We may decorate or brighten up our surroundings. We may eat delightful dishes

we rarely have at any other time of the year. Snowflakes, really big, fake snowflakes, magically appear in downtown Punta Gorda, along with a giant

Christmas tree. Christmas music has been playing for weeks.

Holidays. The word is our modern version of what originally was ‘holy days.’ Times

set aside – occasionally for fasting, sometimes for feasting – to remember the blessings of God and the call of God.

In the busy-ness of this season, we can easily forget what we are called to

remember: Into the brokenness of our world, the power and presence and love of the God of the universe came down. Grace was offered as the antidote to the

sickness of our souls. Forgiveness, too soon hung from a cross, was God’s balm to make the wounded whole. And it all began in a messy world where a young

mother and a puzzled bridegroom gazed into the face of a baby in a manger.

In our world, broken by the choices of humankind, and embroiled in patterns of behavior filled with violence and selfishness, it becomes easy to forget about

Grace.

So, we remember on holy days like Christmas. We sing that Love came down. We pray for peace on earth, good will to all. We trust that it was in the dark

streets of Bethlehem that the everlasting Light really did shine – for then and for all of human history. And we hope that as the earth receives her King, that every heart, every single heart, including yours and mine, would prepare Him room.

In these holy days, prepare room in your hearts, so He may bring you great joy.

The Lord is come!

Yours in the Cause of Christ,

Mike

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CONNECT—Kasey Guthridge, Children’s Ministry

It’s official—the holidays are around the corner. How do I know? Relatives are asking for Christmas

lists so they can get their shopping done. The commercials on TV are rolling out their latest toy

temptations to get children drooling. Even the shopping malls and discount stores are busy stocking

Christmas decorations just in case you feel like getting a jump-start on your seasonal lawn ornaments

and light displays.

With all this Christmas hoopla, it’s easier than ever to lose focus on why we celebrate Christmas in

the first place. That’s why we want to spend this month talking about Generosity: making someone’s

day by giving something away.

We hope kids get wrapped up in others, as they show them how generous God has been to us.

There’s a danger in getting so wrapped up in ourselves or so wrapped up in our things that we miss

the essence of this season. There’s just something about giving that reflects the character of God to

those around us. Every good thing we have is a gift from Him. But we also know that God’s

generosity has a purpose. God gives to us and expects us to do the same for others in return.

Generosity changes us when we learn how to give the way God gives.

Our memory verse is a great reminder. “Be rich in good deeds … be generous and willing to share,”

1 Timothy 6:18. Many times, we think that our ability to be generous is connected to our stuff.

However, being rich really isn’t defined by how much we have or collect, or how many presents we

get. We’re not generous because we are rich; rather, we are rich because we are generous. This

month, we hope that kids will discover what it really means to be rich—to let God’s generosity show

up in their lives and help them get wrapped up in others.

By Dan Scott ©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com *Used by

permission.

Connect is canceled Tuesday, December 23rd & Tuesday, December 30th due to

Winter Break! See you next year on Tuesday, January 6th!

You may begin registering now at: www.whatis1st.com

Or Call the Church Office 941-639-3842

Or Fill out the Let’s Connect portion of your church bulletin, check the membership box and drop in the offering plate

1st Class Art Show 2015 is seeking artists for

their next display in our Life Center Halls. All artists who

would like to participate in 1st Class Art Shows for

January, February, March and April 2015, please

contact Ralph LaGro at rlagro1@yahoo.com or call

586-491-0072.

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Christmas Cross Project

Deck the halls with boughs of holly… 1st Church will have its halls decorated with all kinds of beautiful

Christmas symbols. You may have noticed our CareMinistry’s Christmas

Cross decorated with special stockings last Sunday. These stockings are

there to help Church members provide gifts for people who are homebound, in care

facilities and families who may need some Christmas cheer. Each stocking will have

personalized gift suggestions so that members may shop to give someone Christmas

joy. Stockings will be there again, Sunday, December 7. Be a Christmas angel and

choose a stocking.

Cancer Support Ministry

Hope for the Journey: Coping with Cancer through Faith

Begins December 3, 2014

6:30-8:30 p.m. Room 9

Our FUMC faith based cancer support group is open to all adult cancer survivors and their caregivers from our church and our community. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. New participants are always welcome and encouraged to attend, regardless of their cancer type, church affiliation or faith base. Please contact Jane and/or Brian Sheppard at 575-4647 or janesheppard@rocketmail.com with questions or to indicate your interest in becoming a part of this group as a participant, facilitator or resource. We look forward to hearing from you.

What’s Happening… Myrt Creigh

A couple of months ago, I changed my devotional time to a format that has brought me great joy and has been so up lifting. Rather than the usual schedule of scripture, a devotional reading, and prayer; I’ve added messages by famous pastors and music to my repertoire. It has been rewarding. As I’ve shared with some, the internet is not bad unless you’ve set yourself up to receive bad. Many folks don’t realize that you can design your choices to provide you with worthwhile viewing or with material that is not appropriate. Thankfully, I’ve been able to arrange my sites to be spiritually uplifting and insightful (even Facebook). Maybe you’ve had a question about different books of the Bible or a special preacher/speaker you’ve heard about from a friend. Go to YouTube or Google type in the title or name and you will find a wealth of information. if you haven’t already, here are some websites you might consider adding to your bookmarks; such as godvine.com, UPtv.com, I Love Christian Music, Jesus Daily, LiftBump to name a few. Go to YouTube and type in Christian Music in the search line and you will find an infinite number of sites where you can play 4 to 12 hours of non-stop Christian music. You don’t have to sit at your computer to listen to it, you can still get the house cleaned. What I wouldn’t have given 30-40 years ago to have had this technology available to help me in my yearning to understand His Word. I just thank God I’ve lived long enough to have experienced the growth that has been possible. There’s no excuse any more for anyone to say they don’t know where to look for help. Oh, what about the new Smartphones? If I want to get a definition or answer quick, I just talk to my phone….yes, talk to it and the answer will come up. Wow! Who would have thought just 20 years ago we’d be able to do that? What an awesome God we serve. A short ‘commercial’ for Carrie Underwood’s new Christian song, “Something in the Water”. Reminds you of why we are baptized.

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Let the United Christian Women

Bake Your Christmas Cookies this Year

Come to our Second Annual

Cookie Walk!! Saturday, December 13th,

from 8 AM to 10 AM

In the Life Center

We will be selling delicious

homemade cookies for $8.00/lb.

Our Circles will also be selling crafts, church plates, and other items.

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Punta Gorda Garden Club Home Tour

Christmas in Paradise

December 5 and 6

Donations $15

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Proceeds go to the scholarship and community projects fund

Don’t Miss the Poinsettia Sale

At 1st Church

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Florida Conference Women’s Retreats: The Florida Conference has put together another fabulous program for the 2015 Women’s Retreat. This year’s theme: BELIEVE.

Friday January 30, 2015 – Sunday February 1, 2015, at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg, Florida Keynote Speaker: Rev. Rwth Ann Fuguay. Along with Pastor Fuguay, a team of gifted women to provide spiritual enrichment in so many ways---music, hymn sing, nutrition & wellness, chalk drawing, cardio fitness and so much more.

Registration: On-line web site www.flumc2.org search & click ‘Florida Conference Women’s Retreats’. Cost: Commuter w/no meals $87 or Weekend Guest w/room & all meals $177 (double occupancy). Carpooling can be arranged. All women can attend. Bring a friend or neighbor!

B E L I E V E… Contact: Linda Gillen, 941-661-9988 or email at gooddecision@msn.com Spiritual Enrichment Chair, UCW

Spaghett i Dinner

December 11

Life Center

Begins at 5:00 pm

Suggested donation

$5.00

"Morning Coffee With The Word"

Friday December 12th. 9:00am - 10:00am

Come to the church library for our monthly Spiritual

Coffee Klatch. We read from Scripture and Spiritual

poetry. Let me welcome you...

LADIES RETREAT—A TIME OF REFRESHING! A great way to start the New Year. JAN. 21-23 (Fri. evening to Sunday noon with communion) THEME: Lets Celebrate Grace John 1:14, 16, 17 Life Enrichment Center, Leesburg FL Led by Charlotte Yates. Charlotte has a heart for women and their relationship to God. God has inspired her with Retreats for at least 40 years. Cost: double occupancy - $135; single $175.

If you are interested call Barb Bryant at 941-505-8464

Have You Heard?

Things are happening to bring about an organized meal

ministry to 1st Church. We all read about the homeless

and their need for help, but often times there are

Church members who have a temporary need for food.

This may be due to an illness, death in the family or

other personal problems. You may be able to help by

providing a meal during this time when they are

overburdened. Consider being a part of the Meal

Ministry Team as an ICare Minister and a representative

of Christ’s love.

Call an ICare Coordinator and you will find helping is easy to do. You don’t have to be a year-

round member to participate. The program is flexible (you don’t even have to know how to cook!).

Let the spirit of Christmas giving encourage you to call today.

Contact:

Shirley Busse, hsbusse@gmail.com, 941-637-5791

Joyce Tilden, jltilden@comcast.net, 941-575-1568

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Chimes Page 8

Vickee Christa Gail

Chimes Page 9

The Alpha Course is Returning to the community of 1st United Methodist Church

of Punta Gorda as well as to Charlotte County and Southwest Florida. As many people have experienced, the Holy Spirit has been working very successfully through the Alpha course to answer some of our deepest questions about the meaning of life.

The Alpha Course is designed to help people better understand

their faith and grow in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Hosting the Alpha course will bring all the best of our church to the community through hospitality, fellowship, worship,

learning and exploring together what this new life with Jesus Christ can truly look like. Each gathering begins with a meal and refreshments—a chance to get to know others and then a short period of gathering music. Following this, a short video will address different aspects of the Christian faith. Small groups will gather for a time of discussion and everyone is welcome to contribute their opinion and ask questions. People usually remain in the same small group for the duration of the course so they can get to know each other, continue discussions and deepen friendships. The emphasis is upon exploration and discovery in a relaxed and informal environment.

Our God-given vision to “Offer New Life in Jesus Christ by Seeking, Shaping and Sending Disciples” is on our hearts. Each of us is in the middle of a great story. The question is—how is God seeking, shaping and sending you at a time such as this? Let Him woo you into a deeper and fuller relationship with Him by engaging in the Alpha course. Coming to you January 8, 2015 on Thursday nights from 6-8 pm. Meals and childcare will be provided. No fee to attend. Plan to be there and bring a neighbor or friend. Over 12 Weeks, the Alpha Course will address questions such as: Is there more to life than this? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can we have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the bible? How does God guide us? Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I make the most of the rest of my life? How can I resist evil? Why and how should we tell others? Does God heal today? What about the Church?

To register visit www.whatis1st.com/alpha or call Peter Gillen at 941-661-8367

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Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend

Grief Share is a support group that meets weekly for 13 weeks. You’ll find it to be a warm, caring environment and will come to see your group as an “oasis” on your long journey through grief. There are three key parts to your GriefShare experience:

Video Seminar Encouraging, information-packed videos Featuring leading grief recovery experts Support Group Small group discussion about the weekly Video content Workbook

Journaling and personal study exercises That reinforce the weekly session topics.

To register contact Melodie Austin 941-639-4402 or melharryaustin@yahool.com

2015 Sessions Begin Tuesday Evenings, January 6th from 6:30-8:30 pm or Wednesday Mornings, January 7th from 10am to noon (Room 13)

Your Journey From Mourning to JOY

Is This Normal?

The Journey of Grief—part one

The Journey of Grief—part two

Grief and Your Relationships

Why?

Guilt and Anger

Complicating Factors

Stuck

Lessons of Grief—part one

Lessons of Grief—part two

Heaven

What Do I Live for Now?

Friday 5 Garden Club Tour, 11am—4pm

Saturday 6 Garden Club Tour , 11am—4 pm

Saturday 6 Punta Gorda Parade

Sunday 7 Christmas Concert, 3-5pm

Thursday 11 Boy Scout Spaghetti Dinner 5pm

Saturday 13 Pancake Breakfast 8-10 am

Saturday 13 Cookie Walk, 8-11am

Sunday 14 Southport Square Concert (Choir) 2:00 pm

Sunday 21 Christmas Caroling– 3 pm

Sunday 21 Blue Christmas (for those who have suffered a loss)

Wednesday 24 Christmas Eve Services—4pm, 7pm, 10 pm

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS AT 1ST CHURCH More information will be added as available

Email administrator@whatis1st.com to place your event on this calendar

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Tuesday 6 GriefShare 6:30 pm—8:30 pm, Room 13

Wednesday 7 GriefShare 10:00 am—noon, Room 13 Thursday 8 Beth Moore 9:00 am—11:15 am, Life Center

Thursday 8 Alpha Starts 6:00 pm—8:00 pm, Life Center Wednesday 14 1st Steps 6:00 pm—8:00 pm, Room 9

Wednesday 21 1st Steps 6:00 pm—8:00 pm, Room 9

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H e r e w e c o m e A - C a r o l i n g … “Love and joy come to you, And to you glad Christmas too, And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year.” Wouldn’t you like to sing these words to someone who may need some Christ-mas spirit? As Christians, we enjoy celebrating the birth of Jesus and we need to spread that joy by reaching out to others who may be unable to participate in the many Christmas activities. You may have heard that 1st Church is organizing a group of carolers to sing for people at the various care facilities and 1st Church members who are homebound. What you may not have heard is you don’t really have to have a good singing voice! Just laughter and love in your soul. Want to join the fun? Come to the Church parking lot on December 21 at 2:30 p.m. Groups will be formed and caroling will be from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Afterwards, join in fellowship for a pot luck supper from 5-6:00 p.m. Please Contact Coordinator, Linda Rines: Email: Lrines2@yahoo.com or phone: 941-637-8769 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes! I/we want to carol and spread cheer: Name(s) _______________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________Phone:_________________________ Yes ______No_____ I have a large car and would be willing to drive carolers. Note: Children younger than 5th grade must be driven by one of their parents.

P l e a s e r e t u r n t o t h e C h u r c h O f f i c e