The “Joy of Christmas” is given to all of us….

Last spring heading over to the hospital, Starbucks in hand, it was the craziest thing.

Swishing a wonderful sip of my extra bold coffee, I felt this crunch in one of my lower

molars. An old hairline fracture had given away, leaving a rough edge that your tongue

seems to dance with day in and day out. Good news there was no pain, so my dentist said it

would be fine till my schedule loosened up. It all worked out—5 months later; yet day after

day it was there—that rough, broken, empty place awaiting it’s time for healing.

I think it’s the same way at Christmas for many of us. We have rough edges—empty places

that need a time for God’s healing presence. We have all experienced the loss and pain that

ensues from the loss of a loved one or a broken relationship. It’s not something we like to

talk or think about during the Christmas season, but it’s there year after year.

Over the years, I’ve found that many of us try to ignore these holes in our lives rather than

learning to live with them. The problem is, we need a place to learn how to do that. That’s

why this year we are going to offer you a place, what I’m calling a “Solace Christmastime”.

It will be a time to gather, light a candle, pray, and give God an opportunity to touch our

hurts and pains and experience His healing presence.

The great theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said we spend a lot of time trying to cover up the

sad holes in our lives that need to be left open for the Great Physician to fill and give us

permission to be joyous again in the present. All we are missing is a place to come together

and bring our rough, broken, empty parts to Jesus Christ that we might be given over to the

true “Joy” and “Laughter” of Christmastime.

Good news, next Tuesday (Dec. 22nd) at 3 & 6pm, we will be offer ing a place for you and

anyone in in our community to come and lay their hurts, pains, grief, and guilt, all of it—

before Christ who promised to bear all our pains. There are many of you who have lost

precious loved ones, friends, and neighbors. There are husbands and wives who have gone

their separate ways, who have lost custody of their children. There are many of you who are

struggling with diseases, rehabilitation, loss of jobs and some who are just not sure where

this life is leading them. I pray you will loosen up your schedule, come and find healing and

a new joy.

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will

find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

M I L L E D G E V I L L E F I R S T U M C

Volume X Issue 44

December 16 , 2015

Mil ledgevil le First United Methodist Church 366 Log Cabin Road NE Mil ledgevil le, GA 31061

December 20

Natalie Dunn

Makayla Harrison

Colby Stanford

December 21

Addie Latimer

Brooks Latimer

December 22

Davis Farr

Clayton Becker

December 23

Jackson Petty

December 24

Bill Brannen, Sr.

December 25

Roger Stembridge

Bob Culberson

Paul Hitchcock

December 26

Seth Rion

Missed church?

See last week’s sermon “ONLINE”

www.milledgevillefumc.org!!

Financial Report

1/1/2015 thru 12/13/2015

YTD Budget $972,676

YTD Giving $978,331

YTD Expenses $908,394

Missions Giving:

(This Week) $ 3,649

Sunday’s Scripture Lesson:

An “Out-of-the-Ordinary” Plan

Matthew 1:1-2; 16-25

Page 2

Y O U T H H A P P E N I N G S

● BigStuf $50 deposit due Jan 1st.

● No Youth this Sunday, Dec 20th.

● No Youth Choir this Sunday, Dec 20th.

● No Confirmation this Sunday, Dec 20th.

Eric

C H I L D R E N ’ S M I N I S T RY S P E C I A L G I F T S

12/20—No KidsTime this Sunday.

12/23—No KidsJam this Wednesday.

12/24– Children’s Christmas Eve Service, 4:30 pm.

Milledgeville FUMC is so blessed with a caring and

generous congregation. The Angel Tree gifts were

overwhelming once they all were received. The

entire Narthex was filled with gifts and food for

those less fortunate. Again, thank you for

generosity and may you be blessed this holiday

season.

Mark your calendars: 3rd—5th grade Scream retreat, April

15th—17th. The cost per person is

$210. Please sign up with Allison Griner

with deposit of $100.

*A gift was given to the General Fund in memory of

George Clark by Andy & Dana Lowe.

*A gift was given to River of Life in memory of Ira

Maddox, Ruth Thomas & Jerry Pierce by Ruth

Maddox.

*A gift was given to the Angel Tree Project in honor of

Dwayne & Renee Morgan by the Exchange Club of

Milledgeville.

*A gift was given to the Blessing Bags in memory of

Rev. Howard & Jean McCrary by Linda Ellison.

FUMC Christmas Ornament

The Milledgeville Christian Counseling Center is

sponsoring a beautiful Christmas ornament for sale.

The price is $17. The ornament has a beautiful replica

of the church. All proceeds will go toward the

Counseling Center.

Friends at FUMC

Words cannot express my love for my “Church

Family”. You have shared your love, with cards, food,

calls and visits for many weeks!! You have

encouraged me back to health with your prayers and

kindness. God Bless each of you and Merry Christmas.

In Christ’s Love,

Priscilla Randall

Walk Through Bethlehem

Come and experience the time in Bethlehem when

Jesus was born. The drama will be one to enjoy with

family and friends.

Thursday, Dec. 17th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Friday, Dec. 18th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Saturday, Dec. 19th, 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Page 3

P R O G R A M S

Serving This Weekend: December 20th, 4th Sunday of Advent

Acolytes/Acolyte Parent Shelby Duke & Davis Duke/Cathy Duke Children’s Church Curt & Tiffany Flournoy and Troy & Terri Burner KidsTime (Sunday) No Sunday Activities; (Wednesday) No Wednesday Activities Altar Guild (8:30 & 11:00) Nancy Brown, Daphne Epps and Nancy Buchanan; (9:30) Courtney Hitchcock Sound Technicians Jeff McAfee, Howard Robinson, Paul Hitchcock, Mark Paulish, Dwayne & Josh Morgan, and Steve Chapman (Rotating) Ushers (8:30) TBD; (9:30) (11:00) McKenzie & Helen Marie Davenport (capts), Holly & Cam Williams, Ian & Ruth McMullen, Barney & Mary Boyer Greeters: (8:30) TBD; (9:30); (11:00)

W O R S H I P & M U S I C

CONFIDENTIAL! That’s what Stephen Ministry is. Everything a person tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strict confidence. People are often afraid that if they tell someone what is troubling

them, word will get around and others will look down on them. But a Stephen Minister keeps everything a care receiver shares confidential, and through the sharing, God works miracles of healing and peace. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, please call Shirley Wiley, Referral Coordinator, at 478-234-0195.

I N O U R P R A Y E R S

New This Week: Madeline Ware, Edna Dismukes (Medical Center ), Carol Ramsey, Bob Vedder , Richard Henry (Collene Dalrymple’s

brother), Carl & Ann Pyle, Steve Crocker’s mom, Linda Hodges, Ken Williams

Ongoing Concerns: Car l Cheely, Galen Treichler , Rod Hudson (Stephanie Caldwell’s father ), Car l Cheely, Pr iscilla Randall, Collene

Dalrymple, Sharon Shedd, Betty Hodges, Carole Ewers, Macye Garland, Marion Mahs, Bill Stubba, Pitt Scheff, Deb Becker (Tripp Becker’s

mother), David Pittman (Wesley & Rubye Pittman’s son), Lyman Yates (Angie Panfil’s father), Steve Deal (Stephanie Johnson’s father), Mary

Ann Dellinger, Mary Frances Enfinger (Pastor Mac’s mother), John Collins, Lester Mullins, Margot Lindsey (Johnnett Cornell’s mother), David

White (Carol Odom’s brother), Janice Smith, Sharon Franklin, Goldie McSwain (Julie Strom’s mother), Sara Key, Janice Robinson, Mickey &

Karen May (Kim Stanford’s parents), Mary Ruth Peeler, Kikky Williams, Emmie Charping, Laura & Wyatt Turner, Deborah Hammock, Lynn

Todd (Janice Robinson’s sister), Cindy Brown (Howard Robinson’s sister), Edna Purser (Howard Robinson’s mother), Steve & Carol Odom, LaNe’

Goff, Kydie Young ( Holley Vaughn’s mother), Allen Kilgore & Margie Kilgore (Kaye Marshall’s brother/mother), Bernie Baldwin, Jamie

Lockhart (Fern Langston’s sister), Jimmy Grant, Gail Rogers (Julie Ewers’ father), David Howington, Miles Jones, Charlie Lemons, Johnny

Grant, Leonard Queen, Kristen Wells (daughter-in-law of Dorothy Vadas), Miriam Allen, Sally Pratt, Jane Barnard, Helen Lipscomb, Barry Smith,

Nancy Murison, David Hirshmam, Stan Alan, Joanne Schaffner

Homebound: Joe Eidson, Carole Sirmans (Chip Sirmans’ mother), Nell Jackson, Frankie Jenkins, Mazie & Steve Dillard, Nannie Sue Dominy, Jo

Veal, Rian Ringsrud

Veterans Home: Bill Brannen; Savannah Court: Miggs Thomson, Alice Maude Hattaway, Claire Herr in, Sarah Zink, Flor ide Gardner ,

Peggy Rodgers, Marjorie Bacon; Lynn Haven in Gray: Faye Banks; Eatonton HealthCare and Rehab: Emma Layton & Grace Vadas; Stonebrook

Suites: Eunice Babb; Green Acres: Nelle Brannen, Janet Randall, Frances Harrington (Jeffrey Harrington’s mother);

Pastor

Mac

at

Work

Milledgeville First United Methodist Church

366 Log Cabin Road NE Milledgeville, GA 31061

Return Service Requested

Non-profit Org.

U. S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 67

Milledgeville, GA

31061

“The Milledgeville First United Methodist Church’s mission is to serve Jesus Christ, Share God’s word, grow in faith, and love one another.”

First United Methodist Church is a Stephen Ministry Congregation.

December 20th - December 26th

OUR CHURCH STAFF Senior Pastor Rev. Mac Enfinger pastormac@milledgevillefumc.org

Administrative Assistant Cathy Malone office@milledgevillefumc.org

Minister of Programs & Pastoral Care Collene Dalrymple cdalrymple@milledgevillefumc.org

Minister of Children & Technology Rev. Allison Griner agriner@milledgevillefumc.org

Praise Band, Youth/Student Minister Eric Pratt eric@milledgevillefumc.org

Financial Mgr./Bldg. Super. Cay Quattlebaum cquattlebaum@milledgevillefumc.org

Director of Noah’s Ark PMO/PS Melanie Cobb melcobb@charter.net

Minister of Music Steve Crocker slcrocker98@yahoo.com

Organist Dr. Tom Davidson

Dir. Christian Counseling Center Amanda Wilson Harper 478-456-6219 For Appointments

Sun

12/20/15 Mon

12/21/15 Tue

12/22/15 Wed

12/23/15 Thu

12/24/15 Fri

12/25/15 Sat

12/26/15

No Children & Youth Activities

9:00am Prayer Group @ Chick-fil-A 10:00 am Stephen Ministry Preschool & PMO out all week

3:00 pm Solace Christmastime Service 6:00 pm Solace Christmastime Service

No Church Activities

OFFICE CLOSED Christmas Eve Services

4:30 pm Children’s 6:00 pm Traditional 11:30 pm Midnight

OFFICE CLOSED

Merry Christmas

AA Saturday at 10:00am Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 12:00pm

Sunday & Tuesday at 5:30pm Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:00pm

Al-Anon Wednesday and Friday at 12:00pm Sunday and Tuesday at 7:00pm

Office: 478-452-4597

Preschool: 478-453-2106

PMO: 478-452-4599

Email: info@milledgevillefumc.org _________________________________________________________________

Web Page: www.milledgevillefumc.org

Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 — 9:30 — 11:00

Sunday School: 9:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Attendance Report—12/13/15

8:30 - Early Service

9:30 - Contemporary Service

11:00 - Traditional Service

Total Worship Attendance 428

Sunday School Attendance 0