DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page -

Ushers

Mark Mize, Tony ScroggsConnie Stoddard, Charles Waguespack

Greeters

Barbara Roberts, Annie Waguespack

Date 8:30 AM 11:00 AM11/05 27 6411/12 35 80 11/19 33 9111/26 24 97

The UMM will meet Sunday, December 3rd at 7:00 AM. Men cooking are Floyd Brown, Tony Ritter, & Tony Scroggs.

Bring your nonperishable items for MICA on Sunday, December 3rd. You can also give cash to Robert Walker and he will take your donation to the appropriate person. Remember this is the season when the pantry gets depleted, so please give generously out of your blessings.

In the month of November, food was prepared and delivered to 38 people in and around our community. Thank you to all who helped prepare and deliver the meals. Providing food for F.E.A.S.T. on Tuesday, December 12th will be Kim Burkett, Brenda Green, Yvette Lott, and Ginger Ritter. If you are able and available to deliver meals, please be at the church by 10:30 AM.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

The Women's Wednesday night Bible study group will continue studying Battlefield of the Mind written by Joyce Meyer. Please join us each week at 6:30 in the PEACE Sunday School classroom as we are "thinking about what we're thinking about." We would love for you to invite a friend. See Angie Weems or Deedra Bales if you have any questions.

Deedra Bales

MONDAY MORNING STUDY GROUP

The Monday Morning Bible Study Group meets every Monday morning at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall of the church. The only exception is usually holidays. We continue to study the Book of Psalms.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commandments. (Psalms 112:1)

During this Thanksgiving Season we should remember all the blessings God has given us:T – Thanks be to our God, three in one, Father, Son, and Holy GhostH – Hands to serve him with a grateful heartA – And blessings found in family and friendsN – New life is found in Jesus Christ, Our LordK – Kingdom prepared for ever and evermoreS – Savior of the world and glorious loveG – Great and bountiful gifts from heaven aboveI – I will serve him with joy and thanksgivingV – Visions of heaven and eternal lifeI – Indescribable and everlasting joyN – No matter what the costG – God gets sweeter day by day as we live each day in his Grace

Contributed by Susan Hinton of Three Parts Grace.

Come enjoy the fellowship and the studying of God’s word with us. We look forward to each individual’s perspective and input. See ya’ there.

Ruth Humphrey

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page -

FROM THE PASTOR Dear Church Family,

I love to cook. Some of you know thistruth through conversations that we’ve had related to food and recipes and the like. I love the process of taking food items and preparing them and combining them and seasoning them and cooking them into something that is nutritious and good.

The other week I was preparing pasta sauce. In preparing the vegetables and fresh herbs that eventually make their way into my homemade tomato base, I noticed how worn the small blue cutting board was that I was using. I’ve used this cutting board many times to prepare, usually by cutting, mincing, or grinding ingredients for many of the recipes that I love to put together and enjoy with family and friends. Over the years this cutting board has served me well and I have used it faithfully. It is what I would call seasoned; and it shows the cuts and scrapes and scratches as evidence of a cutting board well used.

In looking at this favorite cutting board of mine I began to realize just how much the church is called to be just like this…seasoned and well used. You and I are not called to a sedentary spiritual experience; we are not

called to sit on the shelf, or in the drawer as it were, unused. You and I are called to enter into the tough things of life to be used well so that something vibrant and life-giving can

(continued)emerge from the gifts that we bring. When we endure together the difficult and trying things of life we emerge better fit and conditioned to love one another well. Just like this cutting board we are called to be cut on and scraped on and scratched on to adequately prepare the ingredients before us so that God can put together something unique and wonderful. Each dish is different and brings abundant life in its own unique way.

Friends, you and I don’t do this perfectly. We get it wrong sometimes. We let selfishness and personal preference get in the way. We let what we think is right supersede what God knows to be true of who we are and what we’re becoming. We often lack requisite obedience to be able to move forward. But when we do move forward into what God is doing – into what God is preparing – we enter knowing that what ultimately happens isn’t about “me”. It’s about the gifts that we each bring…and the seasoning that we are each willing to endure so that we can become all that God wants and needs us to be. And the meal that God prepares with us will bring life to all who “taste and see that the Lord is good”. Friends, let us find ourselves to be seasoned and well used for the Kingdom.

Grace and Peace,Pastor Greg

CONFIRMANDS & MENTORS

The Confirmation Class will continue in October on every other Wednesday evening.

Confirmands MentorsAnna Cate Underwood Phyllis WallerLana Burkett Joyce FarmerFelicity Cash Helen SmithJK Bales Lawrence WeemsJasper Griffin Phil CaudillBryce Meyers Pat FreemanDylan Meyers Danny FarmerMyles Foil Tony ScroggsMatt Newman Rick TaylorLexi Johnston Cornelia Mize

Please be in prayer for Bro. Greg, Kim, the Confirmands and their Mentors. WEDNESDAY EVENING MEALS

We invite you to come join us at 6:00 PM each Wednesday evening for a time to fellowship and have a meal together. December 6th Smothered Pork Chops, Rice & Gravy, Peas, Rolls, Peach CobblerDecember 13th Taco Soup, Baked Potatoes, Banana

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page - PuddingDecember 20th Ham, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Rolls, BrowniesDecember 27th No Meal

The UMW will meet Monday, December 11th at 6:00 PM in the fellowship hall. Everyone will bring finger foods and will enjoy a time of food and fellowship.

THE LINK

johnstonchapel.net

The LINK will no longer be published by means of a paper copy after December, 2017. Only those who have notified the office will continue getting a paper copy.

The following is a list of people who will still receive a paper copy. Please check it closely and if I left your name off, please call the office and leave a message (601-276-7971).

Eudora Bigner Batte, Donis Brown, Emily Allred, Erleine Parish, Mark & Cornelia Mize, Shelton & Lillie Dickerson, Laverne Brown, Lamar & Sharon Roberts, Grady& Geraldine Reed, Lamelia Boone, Aubrey & Judy Boyd, Shannon Dunaway, Shirley Brumfield, Bill & Peggy Jones, Floyd & Helen Brown, W.B. Netterville, Danny &

Joyce Farmer, Sharon Young, Louise Brumfield, Barbara Roberts, Mary Ellen Morris, Shelton & Lillie Dickerson, Anthony & Karen Yarborough, Patricia Hartshorn, Eleanor Johnston, James & Yvonne Church, Dale & Brenda Green, Eva Nell Green, Barbara Rogers, Jane Roberts, & Zelma Roberts.

JOHNSTON CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

The UMW of JCUMC met on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, at Johnston Chapel with Sharon Young and Carlene Statham serving as hostesses. There were 15 ladies present. Meeting was called to order, pledge recited, minutes read, treasurer’s report given, business discussed, and prayer offered.

After the business discussion, Carlene presented the program. So often Thanksgiving seems to get lost in the shuffle between the activities of Halloween and Christmas. She shared the history of Thanksgiving and presented each member with a “Blessing Mix” that consisted of all kinds of goodies. She then explained what each “goody” reminds us to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving season. She also gave each member a bookmark that contained “Blessed Thanksgiving Verses of Scripture”.

After the program, delicious refreshments were enjoyed by all. Next meeting will be December 11, 2017, at the church with everyone bringing finger foods.

May God Bless,Yvette Lott

YOUTH NEWS

Our youth at JCUMC is growing! We have a very great group of kids. They have invited friends and some of those friends have been attending youth consistently. I know our youth program is making a difference. We are focusing on ministries. This month we had the Veteran’s Day breakfast that was hosted by the youth. They cooked all of the food and socialized with the vets. Afterwards they did all the cleaning. I’m so proud of what our youth have become. Looking ahead for December we will be helping out the Healing Hearts foundation which raises money to purchase Christmas gifts for foster children in Pike county of all ages. After the money is raised the youth will shop for the gifts, wrap them, and then we will deliver them to the fire Dept. who will then deliver them on Christmas to the foster homes. This is a huge ministry for our youth and we are proud to serve.

Brandy Morgan

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page - I can do all the through Christ, who strengthens me  ~ Philippians 4:13

MICA

There will be an appreciation luncheon Thursday, December 7th at 12:00 PM at J.J. White Presbyterian Church. Come a little earlier. Everyone is invited.

Barbara RobertsNEWS FROM GRADES 1-3SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

Our class is hoping all of you had a great Thanksgiving. We are such a blessed people!Last month we talked about the most famous king, King David. This month we have been talking about his son, Solomon. As King David grew older and unable to carry out his duties as king, it was time for him to choose his successor. David chose his son Solomon to be the next king. David knew Solomon would be a wise king and a good ruler. As David lay on his death bed, he advised Solomon about two things—how to live in a relationship with God and how to deal with David’s enemies (who were many) After his father’s death, Solomon encountered God. God offered Solomon a “favor”. At this time, Solomon confessed his inexperience in leadership and humbled himself before God. After all, God had always been faithful to the promises made to King David. Solomon was determined to act as God’s servant on behalf of the people of Israel, regardless of his

inexperience. For his “favor”, Solomon asked God for wisdom and understanding so that he could govern God’s people well. For this reason, God rewarded Solomon for what he asked for, but God also gave Solomon that which he did not ask for—long life, power, and great wealth.

It is very important for us to know that Solomon wanted to do what was right and to serve God. He wanted to be a good king. God knew who Solomon was on the inside

(continued)and outside just as God knows us on the inside and outside, too.

One of Solomon’s Wisdom Proverbs:“A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child brings sorrow to his mother.”

Proverbs 10:1Growing Disciples,Yvette Lott

UPPER ELEMENTRYSUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

In November, one of our lessons was on Solomon building the Temple. As I prepared, I was again reminded that God deserves our respect and our reverence. In building the temple, Solomon followed God’s instructions completely to make sure everything was right for God. God had promised that as long as Solomon followed and obeyed Him, He would be with Solomon. God makes that promise to each of us too. From our scripture reading in 1 Kings 6 verse 7, we learned

that no noise from hammers and chisels and other iron tools was heard at the building site. The site was reverently quite.

This lesson reminded me of my lessons earlier in the year about Reverence and Respect for God, His House, and His Children. To illustrate Reverence and Respect in church, I asked the children to act out a skit. As Lana stood before the class reading from the Bible, some of the children were talking to each other, some were walking out the door and back in, some were crinkling paper and eating snacks, some were laying across chairs and others looking at cell phones. When the skit concluded, I asked Lana

(continued)if it was easy to read the scripture with all of the distractions. Then I asked the other class members what she had read. No one could answer. I asked them to stand and look around the room. The chairs were in disarray and there was paper and trash on the table and floor. I asked what they could have done differently to show Reverence and Respect. They responded that they could have sat quietly and listened to the scripture and they could have picked up their trash. We then talked about some of our worship services. There are some mornings when not one or two, but six or seven people leave and return to the sanctuary, often crossing directly in front of the pastor. Food and drinks are brought into the sanctuary. People check their phones, messages and Facebook during the service and often leave bulletins and trash on the pews and floors. The children recognized the similarities between our skit and our services.

God blesses us every day. We should all be Reverent and Respectful when we enter His house

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page - so that everyone present can receive the message that He has placed on Brother Greg’s heart. I have challenged the children in my class to be a good example to the younger children in our church and I challenge each of you to be a good example to all of them.

God Bless our children and youth and JCUMC. Cornelia Mize

ADVENT

Advent 2017 will begin on Sunday, December 3 and will end on Sunday, December 24.

SANCTUARY CHOIR

I have so many “Thank yous” to send out in advance of our Lessons and Carols program.

Thank You Sanctuary Choir for your commitment and your hard work week to week to provide enriched music for all of us. I am very blessed to work with such talented and committed individuals.

Thank You to June Moak for your commitment and tireless effort to play piano for us and help us learn all our vocal parts. The choir is only as good as their accompanist and we are blessed to have the best!

Thank You to Kim Burkett and all of the adult leaders who lead our children. The

children have worked very hard on their singing parts for this program.

Thank You to Brandy Morgan and the Youth for their hard work and their willingness to be a part of this program.

Thank you to Marilyn Stutzman for coordinating our attire and purchasing our children’s shirts and scarfs.

Thank you to Trace Abdul-Hadi for running the sound system so we can have music to sing to.

(continued)We invite all to come and take part in this awesome family worship time as we begin our celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

LESSONS AND CAROLS Sunday, December 3 @ 6:00 pm in our

Sanctuary.

After the program our Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration will take place in our

Fellowship Hall.

Helen Smith

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

We had a great October and November. We have had as many as 32 on Wednesday nights and 25 on Sunday nights. Trunk or Treat was great. I want to thank everyone who helped out. I could not have made it without your help. The youth did a great job with the games. We also shopped for shoeboxes and helped the church meet their goal of 151 and we delivered them to SMCC. We are excited about what we have planned in December. 

December 3rd will be a wonderful night for our church and the children and their families. We will participate in the Cantata and then afterwards we will celebrate Jesus's birth by making ornaments as a family and decorating cookies and spending time together as a church family. 

(continued)Dec 15th and 16th some of the confirmands and mentors will help Critter Crossing with their Live Nativity. 

Sometime in December we will give out ornaments to remind the people in McComb and the surrounding area that Jesus is the real reason for the season. 

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!! Kim Burkett

MISSIONS

The mission department hasn’t been that busy this month, however December is approaching and will be a bit different.

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page -

The church did make 152 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child which is the most we have collected.

Thank you Kim, kids, Amanda, Renae, Brenda, Tony and Rick for helping spread the news of Christ’s love around the world. Joyce Farmer

HAPPY 60 TH ANNIVERSARY

We would like to congratulate Shelton & Lillie Dickerson on their 60th Wedding Anniversary Wednesday, December 20, 2017. May God continue to bless you both.

NEW HOPE

The study this past month has ventured down the road of covenants that God has made with his people. We have studied God’s written covenant “The Ten Commandments”, handed down to Moses on Mt Saini. Moses suggested that fear, obedience, and reverence would and should be our way forward in keeping this covenant with God. These should set the boundaries of our emotional relationship with God.

Next, we discussed God’s covenant with David when he declared to him that his descendant would be the ultimate King and reign forever. Then, in Nehemiah we

discussed his covenant with the Babylonian exiles on their return to Israel. This covenant involved the Israelites responsibility for praise, supplication, confession, lamentation, and commitment. It is not unusual for covenantal arrangements to have extensive Commitments on the parties. The Israelites quickly realized this.

Then in 1 Samuel as they drifted away again, they were reminded of their responsibility to God and each other. There they were being chastised for their irresponsibility. Then in Jeremiah they were again given hope as God proclaimed he would offer a union with the people or a “societal relationship” if they would fall back into line and repent of their transgressions.

(continued)Is that not the offer he has for us today? Hope of everlasting life with our Lord is offered in our covenant with the Lord if we will accept and follow him. He states that we should not just be pulled down a path just because others chose to go that way. Stay true and proud of the covenant you have with your Lord.

We continue to pray for Aubrey, Judy, Donis, and Rex. May the Lord be with each in this time of trial.

On behalf of Aubrey, Judy, Floyd, Helen, Donis, Becky, Barbara Roberts, Deana,

Harley, and Ron, we will continue to try to reach out to others and thank God for bringing us together.

Ron Humphrey

Congratulations to Van Worthy and Brianna Harrington on the birth of their son, Elijah Alexander Worthy, on October 28, 2017. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19 inches long. Also welcoming Elijah are proud grandparents, Phillip and Leslie Worthy, and proud great grandparents, Larry and Nancy Richardson.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD HOLY COMMUNION

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page - Won’t you make a special effort and

join us for this observance!

LIVE NATIVITY   2017

DECEMBER 7 TH , 8 TH , & 9 TH 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Refreshments will be served in the Family Life Center!

.

FROM THE KITCHEN

Hello all! It’s Thanksgiving already! I wish you all God’s Blessings this Holiday. We’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal prepared by our “Wednesday Ladies” last week. It was delicious and we had a full house. Thank you all for coming.

We have the Nativity coming up December 7th, 8th, & 9th. As you all know we will be Opening the Gym again this year to our

Guests who come to see the Nativity. I would like to extend the invitation to our members to please come and visit with our guests and enjoy some sweets, coffee, and/or hot chocolate. With that being said, we welcome any desserts and homemade holiday treats you would like to bring to us. The Nativity starts each night at 6:00 and ends at 8:00. Come out and help share God’s love with all who come.

Happy Holidays and Merry ChristmasWith Love.

FROM THE KITHCHENRhonda Scroggs

PRAYER NEEDS

All who are grieving, Sharon Albritton, Elaine Allred, Emily Allred, Ronnie & Donna Bales, Hazel Benson, Merlon & Evelyn Bigner, Aubrey & Judy Boyd, Family of Peggy Brown, Elouise Campbell, Jeremiah Caudill, Phil Caudill’s Mom and Dad, Charleen Chandler, Bert Cockerham, Susie Cockerham, Margaret Cockerham, Rickey Conerly, Mary Ellen Cox, Diane Crotwell, Maria DeLong, Lillie Dickerson, Shelton Dickerson,

Bridget Dillon, Parker & Pam Dixon, Rebeka Fairburn, Phyllis Freeman, Susan Gibbs, Emmett Greene, Billy & Mary Green, Eva Nell Green, Jimmy Green, Dale & Brenda Green, Kalie Green, Virginia Hamilton, Pat Hartshorn, Mary Holley, Delores Hollis, Gerald Howell, Syble Johnson, Darlene Johnston, Eleanor Johnston, Thomas Johnston, Lonnie Keist, Family of Carl Lazenby, Carolyn Link, Dorothy Martin & Family, Kathy Martin, Max McDonald, Mitchi McKenzie, Cole Matthews, Brenda & Atley McKenzie, Greg Morgan, Byron Nevels, Bucky Owens, Lisa Paulk, Grady & Gerri Reed, Mike Richard, Steve Richard, Glenda Richard, Tony Ritter, David Roberts, Jane Roberts, Robin Roberts, Zelma Roberts, Jeremy Rogers & Alicia Meyers & Family, Hunter Rousseau, Tony & Rhonda Scroggs & Family, Patsy Skipper, Bro. Greg, Helen & Megan Smith, Steven Smith, Sue Smith, Lisa Stewart, Brett & Amanda Stockton & Family, Dwight Stockton, Connie & Maxine Stoddard, Cairey Beth Strickland, Joe Stutzman, Marilyn Stutzman, Felicia Taylor, Chad Wallace, Rex Wallace, Robert Walker, Curtis & Linda West, Shane & Alicia Williams & Family, Tom & Faye Williams, Keith Williamson, Todd Williamson, Race Willoughby, Marilyn “Tot” Woodall, Mozelle Woodall, Ted Woodall, Chris Yawn,

(continued)Jacquelyn Yawn, Joy Yawn, Jonathan & Melissa Young, Service Men and Women, World Leaders, the U.S.A. & Unspoken.

DECEMBER 2017 THE LINK---LINKING THE HEART OF THE CHURCH TO THE HOME Page -

Thank you all for all you did for Peggy during the last few years. The wonderful way you always prayed and the time you took from your day to visit her. She loved all of you. May God bless each of you.

Thank you, Bro. Greg., for the beautiful service and for the visits you made to Peggy.

To the ladies of the church, thank you for the wonderful meal you prepared for all after the service.

All of our love and prayers,Paula & Porter Edwards

Until Next Month “The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24