Be a Good Host How To Make Christmas at Tucker an Enjoyable Experience Invite a Friend Advent and Christmas at Tucker First Longest Night Service (Blue Christmas) Wednesday, December 19 7 pm • Chapel The Christmas season is an extraordinarily difficult time for some of us. We may look up and realize that our lives during this season are marked more by broken hearts and shattered spirits than by holiday joy. This special service is for all who are sad, lonely, hurting, or suffering from loss of any kind. In this service we will offer our pain to God and seek comfort in the Christmas message. All are welcome. Advent and Christmas Worship Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve • Sanctuary All services have communion 4 pm – Children’s Worship Service A sharing of the Christmas story, with a children/family friendly focus. Children will be participants and leaders in the worship service. 8 pm - Traditional worship service with communion. 11 pm – The Christmas message told in a series of readings interspersed with carols. Sunday, December 30 One unified worship service 11 am •Activities Center Join the family in a service with traditional Christmas carols and a love feast. Although this will not be the traditional Moravian love feast, we will dip back into our Wesleyan roots to capture some of the essence of this special worship style. We will celebrate with brunch type food, light fellowship and joyful worship to celebrate the arrival of Jesus Christ! Please bring a light breakfast item (two individual items per person) and children are encouraged to bring all their crinkled up wrapping paper for the children’s moment! Normal Sunday School schedule. NO 8:30 am worship service. Thank you for your fantastic response for Christmas at Tucker, our music and drama celebration on Sunday, December 16. Here are some tips that will help you make the night a success for Tucker First and our invited guests. Non-Ticket Holders, Please Come! Non-ticket holder seating will begin fifteen minutes before each performance on a space available basis. If you know someone without a ticket who would like to attend, encourage them to come and they will be seated during that fifteen minute window. Extra Tickets. If you have any extra tickets, please contact Rosemary Rose at rosemaryrose2010@ hotmail.com and let her know that you are planning to turn in some tickets. She will be able to notify the next person on the wait list. You can turn them in on Sunday in the Gathering Room. Please Check Your Tickets. GREEN tickets are for 5 pm and RED tickets are for 7:30 pm. Arrive Early. If you have a ticket, arrive early. The doors will open 45 minutes before the performance. It is open seating. Childcare. There is childcare available for ages six months to five years of age. If you gave tickets to someone who needs childcare that night, please contact Mimi Sanders at [email protected] with the number of children and ages. Go Green, Carpool . If you have invited people who may have trouble driving at night, offer to drive them to the performance. If you can't drive them that night, see if someone in your Sunday School class would offer to pick them up. If you have invited a large group, you might consider carpooling. You can squeeze in some extra fellowship time in the car. Extra Parking at First Baptist. The nice folks at Tucker First Baptist have allowed us to use their parking lot. Please utilize it if you are able. Encourage Persons with Limited Mobility to Use the Elevator. It is really easier for those persons to come into the church on the ground floor and take the elevator to the Gathering Room. Consider using the lower parking lots or dropping off passengers at the music center door for those requiring elevators. Please Don't Linger Too Long After the 5 pm Performance. We have a tight “turn” between performances this year, so please do not linger after the first performance. Our team of volunteers needs to be able to clean up the Sanctuary and welcome the next set of visitors quickly. We also need your parking space for the next group. The cast is sequestered between performances and unavailable to come out to meet you. A Word About Cell Phones and Photograpy. Remember to turn off all cell phones and electronic devices before the performance begins. To maintain the dignity of this sacred program and out of respect for the performers, we respectfully request that no photography or recording occurs during the performances Salvation Army Help Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army Tucker First has volunteered to ring the Salvation Army bells at Northlake Mall on Wednesday, December 19 and Saturday, December 22. We will ring the bells at the main entrance, Macy’s upstairs entrance and the food court. Bell ringers are needed working in two hour shifts from 10 am -12 noon, 12- 2 pm, 2-4 pm, 4-6 pm and 6-8 pm. There will be a sign up board in the Narthex and it will also be possible to sign up online at http://tinyurl.com/tfumcsalvationarmy. Each person or group of persons who signs up should provide the name and cell number of at least one contact person in the event of a change in schedule. Contact Don Andersen at [email protected]. The Rev. Jimmy Moor Who Does That? Part 2 'Tis the Season We come to this season where we celebrate the mystery of the incarnation, the stunning story of the God of the universe choosing to come and be among us. The stories we hear over Advent and Easter are a rich mixture of the holy and the earthly, the beauty of God and the beauty and messiness of life here on earth. In this spirit I offer these brief thoughts. We have a number of services offered this month to help us connect with the Christ who comes. The biggest is surely Christmas at Tucker, and I hope you are coming and bringing your friends and neighbors to this creative sharing of the Good News of Christmas. But Christmas at Tucker is not our whole story! We have church every Sunday morning, and in these weeks we are focusing on key characters in the biblical story leading up to the birth of Jesus. We still have encounters with John the Baptist and Elizabeth to come. Our Longest Night Service on December 19 is especially planned for all who are grieving, hurting, or are lonely during the holiday season. And don’t forget Christmas Eve, with services at 4 pm, 8 pm, and 11 pm. The earliest is particularly oriented toward families and children while the 8 pm will be a service of word on table, with a homily, communion, and wonderful music. The 11 pm service will feature the Christmas story in word and song as well as communion. This is a night for song and candles and mystery. On December 30 we will have one worship service in the Activities Center with a "Love Feast" as its centerpiece. All of these times are opportunities for us to experience God afresh this year. And each is a wonderful chance to invite someone you know to join us for worship. During this month we also think of financial matters. We want to finish 2012 on a strong note financially like we did in 2011, so all are encouraged to complete their pledges for the year, although some will want to go beyond. Every gift makes a difference. To receive credit for gifts in 2012, contributions must be in our office by 4 pm on December 31. Please call John Kilpatrick if you need to discuss making a gift. We also are trying to finish our budget planning for 2013, so we ask all members and friends who have not yet made a commitment for 2013 to do so as soon as possible. Cards are available through the church office, or you can call or email John Kilpatrick to share your commitment (770-938-3030, x4035, [email protected]). Your generosity blesses you and helps us be the church we are called to be. Our Church Campus New Parking Signs in the Wesley Center Parking Lot You may have noticed some new signage in the Wesley Center parking lot. Tucker First does not own the entire Wesley Center parking lot and those signs have been put there by the owners of the businesses near the parking lot. They use those parking slots for overflow parking. Tucker First is allowed to use the parking slots in the evenings and on weekends. Starts in January New Beth Moore Bible Study on the Apostle John Explore with Beth Moore, the life of the apostle John who must have thought that he had seen everything. Having been with Jesus all the years of His ministry, John witnessed more miracles than he could count, saw more displays of power than he could comprehend, and experienced more love than he could fathom. As the other disciples were martyred one by one, John remained to write his sublime Gospel proclaiming Jesus's identity as the eternal Word of God. In his three letters, John left a legacy of divine love to ignite the passion of future believers. And while exiled on Patmos, John recorded His risen Lord's glorious revelation of victory and hope. Beloved Disciple - An eleven-week Bible Study by Beth Moore Choose one of three sessions Wednesday mornings 9:30 am beginning January 9. Have you ever wondered who changes all the inside signs throughout the church every week? While your Tucker First communications committee is responsble each week for developing the messages, committee member, David Urda designs and changes the acrylic signs each week. David also donates his talents to the many professional posters you see throughout the year, most notably Christmas at Tucker, all youth choir tour posters and the UMW missions concert posters. How do you get your message onto one of the signs? Send your request to [email protected]. May this season be a blessed one for you. Sunday nights 5-7 pm beginning January 6. Here's Your Sign Wednesday Evenings beginning January 9 5:30 to 6:30 pm, watching the DVD then join the discussion from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. or 6:30 to 8:30 pm discussion followed by the DVD from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. This is the second in a series to showcase our communications committee. We are pulling back the curtain on the team and showing you how and why things happen and who is doing them. Still Undecided on Taking a Beth Moore Bible Study? Read On I’m constantly struck by the realization that, because of studying the Bible in depth every day, my prayer life has become more powerful, my outlook is different, and I trust God more and more to lead me in the direction He chooses. And the women I’ve come to know and love have brought a wonderful new richness into my life as we've shared so many laughs and a few tears together. Part of my daily prayer is that more women will be led to discover what Bible study can add to their lives. Do you realize that well over a hundred women from many denominations have taken part in our church’s women’s Bible studies? It’s humbling to be part of that. Sisters, if you haven't discovered this, believe me - you’re missing out on the fun!! Hope you’ll make the commitment to attend this new study of John, Jesus’ beloved disciple….Kathryn Jackson We Are the Hands and Feet of Jesus Tucker First Volunteer Bulletin Board Feed the Homeless at Trinity Soup Kitchen Help Tucker First provide soup and sandwiches to the homeless of Atlanta at the Trinity Soup Kitchen. We will make sandwiches on Saturday, January 12 starting at 9 am in the Activities Center. (It's fast and fun for the whole family!) We ask those of you who want to make homemade soup to please follow one of the provided recipes (http://tfumc.org/ missions#trinity) and bring your soup in Saturday morning as well. We will take and serve the soup and sandwiches Sunday, January 13. We need thirty-five volunteers for Sunday. Sign up at the volunteer spot – http://tinyurl.com/trinitysoup. For more information contact Becky Burnett at [email protected]. Give a Precious Gift This Season. Give Blood! Our next blood drive is December 16 from 8 am to 1 pm in the Wesley Center. Your donation is needed, especially this time of year when donations fall off but the need doesn't. If you are healthy and are not part of the Christmas at Tucker cast and crew please sign up to give! To our regular donors who are part of Christmas at Tucker: thank you and please encourage someone to take your usual spot. There are three ways to sign up: online at tfumc.org/giveblood; call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or call Evelyn Burkett at 404-727-1582. If you cannot give, you can still help by praying for our donors and by volunteering to help during the drive. Thank you for giving the gift of life this Christmas season! NET Food Pantry Needs Volunteers In January, Tucker First is responsible for staffing the NET Food Panty with volunteers. The pantry is located in the Tucker Recreation Center and is not affiliated with the NETWorks ministry located behind Tucker Baptist. Two volunteers are needed each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in January from 10:30 am – 2:00 pm. To sign up, contact Donna Davis at [email protected] or 404-229-7962. From the Church Office A Note About Year-End Giving In order for your gift to the church to be posted for tax purposes in 2012, it must be received in the church office by 4:30 pm on December 31. After 4:30 pm on December 31, if you have a gift that you want credited to 2012, you can mail it at the post office up until the time they close on December 31. Please have it hand cancelled, and we will consider the postmark as proof of delivery. Make sure that the date you put on your check (for 2012 credit) is December 31, 2012 or before. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Cheatham at mary_cheatham@tfumc. org or John Kilpatrick at [email protected]. The 2013 Flower Calendar is Posted If you would like to give a Sanctuary flower arrangement in honor or memory of someone, or to recognize family events, person(s), or groups then you are invited to sign up on the flower calendar in the church office. Arrangements are $35 each and you can make your check out to Tucker First UMC and designate "Flowers" in the memo line. If you see that the slots you wanted are full, please see Sarah Cann in the church office or call 770-938-3030 about placing an arrangement in the Narthex or Gathering Room. Worship Committee Needs New Christmas Decorations Tucker First is in need of new Christmas decorations for the main Sanctuary (pre-lit tree, garlands, bows, wreaths) for next year. The wires on our decorations are breaking off and this is the last year we are able to use what we have. If you have a connection to a decorators warehouse where we may purchase a 9-10 foot tall pre-lit tree, and other goodies on the wish list, on discount then please email Laurie Golding at [email protected]. Welcome to the World Lindley Claire Emrich was born November 5. Parents are Greg and Summer Emirch, grandmother is Sandra Emrich. Emma Joy Shaw was born November 19. Parents are Adam and Angela Shaw, great grandparents are Grayson and Myra Mills. Harrison Parker Kuebler was born December 7. Parents are Chris and Lisa Kuebler. Welcome to the Family James Turner 3142 Wanda Woods Drive Doraville, GA 30340 Jason and Jennifer Merchant Arianna, daughter 946 Post Road Circle Stone Mountain, GA 30088 Sympathy is Extended to Myra Mills on the death of her husband, Grayson on December 5. Joyce Turrentine on the death of her brother, Lawrence Nutt, on November 6. Rene Markel on the death of her son, Joshua Markel. Alice Shepard on the death of her grandson, Joshua Markel. Evelyn Morrison on the death of her sister-inlaw, Katherine Burks. Brenda Colley-Gilbert on the death of her mother, Charlene Colley Attendance Pew Pads Donation Tucker First is grateful for the donation of new attendance pew pads given in memory of Dorothy Staton by Ruth Caylor, Gail Cook, and Jill Hanson. Lunch Buddy Update and Thanks All volunteer slots for Winter break Lunch Buddy program have been filled. Thank you Tucker First! Donations to the Lunch Buddy program are still gratefully accepted all during the holidays so that we can continue the ministry into 2013. Donations support not only breakfast and lunches during school holidays, but also Saturday Sacks on non-holiday weekends to kids who live at Northlake Inn on Northlake Parkway. The number of children served weekly varies, but averages about twenty a week. Thanks for generously supporting this outreach ministry of Children First Committee. NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID TUCKER, GA PERMIT NO 9 First United Methodist Church 5095 LaVista Road Tucker, GA 30084-3502 (ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED) December 2012 issue The Rev. Jimmy Moor Senior Pastor The Rev. Owen Skinner Associate Pastor Church Office 770-938-3030 Church Office Hours Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Closed for lunch: 12:00 pm–1:30 pm Closed on Friday The church office will be closed on Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25. Got an idea, blurb or story for the next newsletter? Submit your info to [email protected]. Newsletter deadline for the next issue is Thursday, January 3 By the Numbers - Christmas at Tucker Costume Edition 49 Number of pieces that were newly created for this production. 64 Number of items were able to be re-used from previous productions without alterations. 10 Number of seamstresses who helped create the Christmas at Tucker costumes. 20 Number of pieces that were altered in some way to fit new actors this year. 41 Total number of actors this year (including both babies). A satisfied customer. 133 Total number of individual sewn-from-scratch costume items—which includes robes, vests, belts, hats, etc. 540/810 Number of feathers in the Angel Gabriel’s wings. Half of the feathers are actually doubled so there are 810 pieces of fabric in the wings.
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