NewsletterJanuary 2017

We believe in Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity

To give online visit: https://memorialumc.churchcenteronline.com/giving or text 84321

Worship Themes for 2017I am so excited for the potential we have for amazing worship services in 2017. Our new leaders are settled in, and we are starting to click in our advanced planning. We each have a better understanding of the church’s personality of worship, the unique gifts we each bring to the table, and new tools we have to collaborate.

Beginning on January 1st, our 9:00 am and 11:00 am services will be using the lectionary as our guide for scripture and themes in worship. The lectionary is a structure of four readings, from four major parts of the Bible, for every Sunday of the year, for a three year period. Denominations like the Catholic Church and Episcopal church are required to use this pattern, and many other denominations follow it as well. We will continue to have themes that we celebrate for a month or more at a time, but the structure will no longer come from books.

There are two excellent resources for you to follow along with the scripture passages and themes we will use each week. You can go to www.sundayscripturepodcast.com and listen to the weekly podcast posted by Thursday morning. There you can listen to a conversation about the sermon text and central ideas. You can go to www.textweek.com and you will see the next Sunday date coming on the front page. You can click on the link below the date, and see scripture passages that will guide us.

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“The Journey” Children’s Study and Art Show

Each week during Advent, children studied “The Journey” and replicated famous works of art related to the weekly themes: Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, The Journey to Bethlehem, and The Shepherds. Their art was displayed in a children’s art on Christmas Eve on the walls of the hallways surrounding the Sanctuary.

The “ticket” to the show was a gift for a child in need in our community. The children collected 16 coats and 9 boxes of diapers for those in need. Thank you!

Announcements

Starting January 8, we will try new Sunday School class divisions to best utilize volunteers. K5/1st/2nd will be dropped off in the classroom previously called K5/1st and 3rd/4th/5th will be dropped off in the classroom previously called 4th/5th.

Volunteers are still needed for 3’s/4’s Sunday Nights, 3’s/4’s Nursery/Sunday School and Nursery. Please e-mail Erin if interested: erin@mamorialgreer.com

Children’s Calendar:

Sunday NightsJanuary 8 - The Big SplitJanuary 15 - NO SUNDAY NIGHT PROGRAMMING - MLK WeekendJanuary 22 - The End of Israel/Ezra and NehemiahJanuary 29 - Brave Queen Esther/Game Night

Children’s Ministry Announcements

Each week Joe discusses the scripture of the week with Rev. Kristin Dollar, Faith UMC in Greer, and Rev. Brad Gray, St. Andrews UMC in Charleston.

Episodes are generally twenty minutes long, and will prepare

you for Sunday morning.

Go to www.sundayscripturepodcast.com on any device and simply click the Listen Now button. If you happen to miss any episode, you can click on the Listen To Previous Episodes button.

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No Supper at Six in January. Suppers will resume February 1.

Youth Calendar:

Jan. 1- One Church Service at 10:00. No Sunday School or Youth GroupJan. 8- 10:00 - Sunday School 10:00 - Confirmation Classes Begin in the Social Hall  5:00 - 6:30 pm- Sunday Night Programming ResumesJan. 15- 10:00 - Sunday School  10:00 - Confirmation Class  5:00 - 6:30pm - NO YOUTH - MLK WeekendJan. 22- 10:00 - Sunday School  10:00 - Confirmation Class  5:00 - 6:30 pm- Sunday Night ProgrammingJan. 29- 10:00 - Sunday School   10:00 - Confirmation Class   5:00 - 6:30 pm- Sunday Night Programming

Sunday Scripture Podcast

Youth Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed and all levels of commitment are welcome. From providing meals for youth group to weekly and monthly commitments are needed. Please take a look at the Sign-Up Genius to find your best fit. It is such a rewarding opportunity! Contact Katie@memorialgreer.com for more information.

Youth Ministry Announcements

Welcome New MembersWe are so excited to welcome several new members to the Memorial UMC Family!

The left picture is from the 9:00 am service. Left to Right - Alicia Cato, Caitlin Owens, Jud and Tawny Johnson, and Jim and Kate Mitchell.

The right picture is from our 11:00 am service. Left to Right - Doug and Jenny Snipes, Jimmy and Christina Glass and their daughter Lanie, and Mark and Julie Sullivan and their children Cody, Emily ,and Will.

Confirmation Classes begin on January 8th. Please contact Katie@memorialgreer.com for more information.

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Church CalendarUMW Executive Committee Meeting – Wed., January 4th – 10:00 a. – BoardroomSeekers Class Dinner – Sun., January 8th – 12:00 pm – Social HallAfternoon Circle – Mon., January 9th – 2:30 pm – BoardroomBoard of Trustees – Tues., January 10th – 6:30 pm – Wesley DavenportLydia Circle – Tues., January 10th – 10:30 am – BoardroomYoung @ Heart - Wed., January 11th – 11:45 am – Social HallJanuary 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Hall - Child Care Board MeetingFinance Committee – Sun., January 15th - 8 am – Social HallMagnoia Circle – Thurs., January 19th – 6:30 pm – Social HallJanuary 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Hall - Child Care Board Meeting

Recurring Calendar Events (cancellations noted above):Children and Youth Sunday Night – Sunday, 5-6:30 p.m. - FLC/Youth HallAdult Bible Study – Sunday, 5:30-6:30 - Social HallChoir Practice – Wednesday, 7:30-9:00 p.m. - Choir RoomContemporary Band Practice - Thurs., 7:00 p.m. – FLC GymFrontier Girls – 2nd and 4th Mondays – 6:00 p.m. – Social HallPrayer Group – Tuesdays – 9:30-11 a.m. – Bridal SuiteCub Scouts – Mondays – 6:30-7:30pm – Rock HouseBoy Scouts – Mondays – 7:00-8:00pm – Rock House

Partners in Faith Coat DriveThe Partners in Faith Sunday School Class will be collecting gently used or new winter coats, hats, gloves and blankets for all ages (children to adult). They will be donating to Greer Community Ministries, who have identified this as a SERIOUS NEED. So let’s get in our closets and help those in need here in Greer. Bins are located for collection in the FLC, Narthex and church office. Due to the great need for these items, we have decided to extend our collection to January 21, 2017. Thank you for all your help!!

Pack-A-Sack and Greer ReliefFor the month of January, the United Methodist Men (UMM) will be collecting peanut butter and tuna for our local charities. Thank you!

Adult Bible Study - Christianity and World ReligionsThis study of major world religions is based on a video series featuring Adam Hamilton and it will be facilitated by Fred Parker. We live in a diverse and changing world and, this study will help us explore some difficult questions.

• Sunday evenings in the Social Hall from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm beginning Jan. 8-Feb. 19. We will not meet Feb. 5 Super Bowl Sunday.

• Video for 15-20 minutes, then a group discussion.

Please to email Beth at beth@memorialgreer.com if you are planning to attend. There will be a helpful booklet available for $8.

Lay ReadersThank you to all of the volunteers who have served as Lay Readers during the 11:00 service during the year. If you would like to participate in worship leadership, please contact Mary Lee at 864-316-6759. It is a very simple, yet meaningful., way to serve our church.

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Child Enrichment Program CEP had an exciting Christmas Program! Our families enjoyed hearing songs from our K2, K3, and K4 classes, and fun was had by all. Happy New Year from CEP!

Registration for the 2017-18 school year will take place in January following this schedule:

• Families currently enrolled in the Child Enrichment Program will register from January 9th – 20th. (This includes Memorial members and non-members)

• Memorial Methodist church members not currently enrolled may register from January 23rd – February 3rd, if spots are available.

• After February 3rd, CEP Registration will open to the community until available spots are filled.

Please contact Lorie Gibson, Director of CEP Pre-school and After-school Programs if you have questions. 864-801-1110 cep@memorialgreer.com

2016 Financial Notes and 2017 Projection

We are finishing the year on a very strong note, and we thank you for your Extravagant Generosity. As of print date, we collected $534,299 of our $558,740 budget and that represents 95%!

We are in a good position due to the combination of your strong finish and the year-long effort of our work areas to limit spending in their line items. We have not spent our entire budget, so the 5% shortfall is actually much lower. There were times this year when we were very tight in our income and expenditures. Even so, we were in a far better position in 2016 than we were in 2015.

We will continue our steady progress in 2017 for two reasons: New families continue to join our church and they are committing to participate in Extravagant Generosity, and we have worked to keep our budget as low as possible.

To date we have 144 pledges to our 2017 Budget for $464,336. In 2015, we had 150 pledges for $444,805. Our average amount per pledge is up by $300/year, and we expect to continue to receive pledges for next year. We have 91 pledges to our Building Fund for $118,392. In 2015, we had 91 pledges for $109,858. We have consistently stayed ahead on our payoff to the building fund and your pledges will keep us ahead of pace.

Our 2017 Budget is nearly complete, and we have reshaped the line items to represent our 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations. We have also created a digital file of the budget that can be shared with everyone in an upcoming church email. Once our Finance Committee completes the process, we will share printed and digital versions of our 2017 Budget with everyone. Our new Financial Director, Jimmy Davis is an expert in his field, and continues to bring innovation and clarity to our financial processes.

JANUARY 1 Don LouisJANUARY 2 Geri FallawJANUARY 3 Ruth Griffin, Wayne MorrisJANUARY 4 Bob Gray, Bob McQuaidJANUARY 5 Mary LeeJANUARY 7 Will Sullivan, Dennis WatsonJANUARY 8 Diane Arthur, Garner Brooks, Graham Brooks, Tawny Johnson, Christy McDonald, Bo Sims, Jr.JANUARY 9 Rebecca Barbrey, Mackenzie Burdette, Sonia Cramer, Stephen Kiff, Scott StreetmanJANUARY 10 Becky ThomasJANUARY 11 Sarah KeyJANUARY 12 Maggie Austin, Bill Davis, Jessica Shennan

January Birthdays

Phone: 864-877-0956 Email: beth@memorialgreer.com Address: 201 North Main Street Greer, SC 29650

www.memorialgreer.com

ACOLYTES 1 Andrew Scudder, Rafe White 8 Addison Cate, Caroline Cate 15 Addison Cate, Caroline Cate 22 Addison Cate, Caroline Cate 29 Ashley Shennan, Emma Vanderslice

ALTAR FLOWERS

We are still filling in the 2017 calendar. Please sign up on the sheet in the hallway. You may also contact Beth for available dates.

WORSHIP GREETERS 1 Patsy Farmer/Sylvia Pitts 8 Becky Thomas/Carol Cason 15 Benny & Linda Hannon 22 Allen & Gwen Moore 29 Smokey & Kelly Price USHERS (Arrive 10:40 AM) 1 Wayne Morris (H), Stephen Kennette, Pete Smith, Will Lavender, Tom Catafygiotu 8 Benny Hannon (H), Chris Miller, Larry Smith, Charlie Miller 15 David Dobson (H), Van Brannon, Lee Dumas, Jimmy Upton, Jennifer Johnston 22 Sylvia Dobson (H), Dixie Kennette, Peggy

Smith, Ann Waters, Ruth Griffin 29 Kevin Duncan (H), Daryl Rishforth, Eric Jeter

OFFERING COMMITTEE 1 David Mayberry, David Owens 8 Steve Kennette, Collier Smith 15 Wayne Rhodes, Ralph and Harriet Johnson 22 Marney and Freddie Hannon, Karen Pridgeon 29 Peggy Smith, Allen Lee

TRUSTEE: Dallas Thomas

LAY READERS 1 Fred Parker 8 Bobbie McQuaid 15 Sylvia Dobson 22 Don Louis 29 Mary Lee

SOUND & VIDEO SYSTEMS January 1 - Larry and Peggy SmithJanuary 8 - Wayne Morris, Adam WickliffeJanuary 15 - Chris and Cindy MillerJanuary 22 - David and Susan MayberryJanuary 29 - Adam Wickliffe, Mary Ann Catafygiotu18 David and Susan Mayberry25 Jimmy Fowler, Mary Ann Catafygiotu

Traditional Service January Volunteer Schedule

JANUARY 13 Duncan Jeter, Allison ShennanJANUARY 14 Hunter JanesJANUARY 15 Tricia D. Morris, Lisa Nason, David SmithJANUARY 16 Joe Baldwin, Anita Colbert, Suzy HillJANUARY 17 Jane RhodesJANUARY 19 Debbie Clark, Billy WhiteJANUARY 22 Debby Brown, John Craig, Lisa Kennedy, Luke KnightJANUARY 23 Carol Johnston, Rick LevinJANUARY 25 Gordon PittsJANUARY 26 Meghan BoyceJANUARY 27 Alicia CatoJANUARY 29 Maddie Myers, Alexander ScudderJANUARY 30 Ryan HowardJANUARY 31 Caroline Cate, Sandy Knight