1. family and parenting
2. children

The
Word
A publication of Dyersburg First United Methodist Church
Volume XL
Pastoral Thoughts
December 17, 2014
Dr. David Russell, Senior Pastor
Rev. Dell King, Associate Pastor
The Congregation, Ministers
Music, Music, Music
The great Protestant Reformer Martin Luther has a famous quote about
music: “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The
gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he
should proclaim the Word of God through Music.” After experiencing all
of the wonderful music this past Sunday in our Christmas cantata
“Appalachian Winter” by the Chancel Choir, and our Children’s Christmas
musical, “Meet Me at the Manger;” I agree with Luther’s sentiment.
I find the music of Christmas particularly moving and feel almost
compelled to sing along whenever I hear a Christmas tune that portrays the
wonder, the beauty, and the mystery of Christmas. Now I am not talking
about “Frosty the Snowman” or “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” rather
those Christmas carols with messages that ring loud and clear in my mind
with words like:
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Copy 51
Sunday Servants
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
8:30 A.M.
10:50 A.M.
ACOLYTES
Caroline Gentry
Kate Thompson
CROSS BEARERS
Olivia Hayes
Porter Jenkins
SMALL TALK
Melissa Melton
PRAYER WARRIORS
Amy Perkins
Sandy Prince
SOUNDBOARD
Steve Guttery
Catherine Moore
VIDEO DIRECTORS
Patti Lou Parker
Josie McLaurin
VIDEO RECORDER
David Wagner
PEW PADS FOR DECEMBER
Janie Putman
Bubba Hendren
Or Methodism’s contribution to the carols of Christmas, written by
Charles Wesley:
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners
reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in
Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28
8:30 A.M.
10:50 A.M.
ACOLYTES
Mattie Gregson
Jaden Pugh
I just love the expression and excitement Wesley puts on the joyous
celebration of Christ’s birth. I want to invite you to come join in our
continued celebration of “Glory to the newborn King!” in our
worship services this Sunday morning, December 21 at 8:30 and
10:50 a.m. Also plan to join in the worship celebrations on
December 24, Christmas Eve, at the Children’s Christmas Service
(adults are welcome too) at 5:30 p.m. and the Candlelight Christmas
Service at 11:00 p.m.; where we will hear the Christmas story,
receive Holy Communion, but also sing and celebrate that “Christ is
born in Bethlehem!”
CROSS BEARERS
Joshua Caldwell
Parks Johnson
SMALL TALK
Amelia Wilkes
PRAYER WARRIORS
Harold and JoAnn James
Louise Anderson
SOUNDBOARD
Steve Guttery
Catherine Moore
Peace,
VIDEO DIRECTORS
Patti Lou Parker
Josie McLaurin
VIDEO RECORDER
Ray Lowrance
…Mrs. Betsy Lomas and family in
the death of her husband, Dr.
Russell Lomas, who died December
10. Dr. Lomas was a member of
First United Methodist Church.
...Mrs. Bonnie Holt and Mr. Jeff Holt and family in the
death of her husband, his father, Mr. Harold Holt, who
died December 15. Mr. Holt was a member of First
United Methodist Church since 1990.
RECORD OF LOYALTY
ATTENDANCE 12/14/14
10:50 A.M. Worship
Sunday Evening
Sunday School
Salt and Light Meals Served
Salt and Light Class Attendance
430
N/A
229
147
186
OFFERING
Annual budget 2014
$1,024,413.00
Spent to date
889,752.38
Received to date
953,171.52
“Imagine No Malaria” This Week 1050.00
Total to Date
6,381.89
Congratulations to Jay and Tish Roney on the
birth of their daughter, Austyn Riley Roney,
who was born December 7, in Hendersonville,
TN. She was welcomed home by her big
sister, Aiden. Bob and Peggy Mayfield are her
grandparents of our congregation.
Advent Family
Sunday, December 21
8:30 A.M.
The Devon Gregson Family
10:50 A.M.
The Marc Thompson Family
DVDs OF CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS
There are DVDs of our Chancel Choir Christmas cantata
“Appalachian Winter” and of our Children’s Choir
program “Meet Me at the Manger.” Copies of the cantata
for the Chancel Choir are in Rawles Hall. Everyone else
should contact Patti Lou Parker for “Appalachian Winter”
and for “Meet Me at the Manger.”
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Sunday, December 21
Christmas Sunday, poinsettias
will be displayed
Wednesday, December 24
5:30 p.m. Children’s Christmas Eve Service
11 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
Wednesday, December 31
4—6 p.m. Come and Go Communion
MAKE SURE YOUR RECORDS AND
THE CHURCH’S RECORDS MATCH
To insure that your 2014 church contributions are
deductible, please do not file your 2014 income tax return
until you have received a statement of your contributions
from the church. Your records and our records should
match, but it is wise to wait for this year’s contributions
statement to be sure that the deductions you claim match
the records the church has of your giving.
2014 CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE
TURNED IN BY END OF DECEMBER
Due to IRS rules, in order for your contributions to the
church in 2014 to be claimed as a deduction on your 2014
tax form, they must be given in 2014. If they are mailed,
they must be postmarked by December 31, 2014. Only
those contributions received by the church, or if mailed
postmarked by December 31, can be credited and
claimed for tax purposes in 2014, regardless of when the
check is dated.
3rd Sunday
Communion
December 21
at 9:30 a.m.
in the Chapel
THANK YOU
The Plum Pudding Committee would like to thank: Dr.
and Mrs. David Russell, Rev. Dell King, Patti Lou Parker,
Mr. and Mrs. George Goldsby, Debbie Hill, Mr. and Mrs.
Eddie Anderson, New Beginnings Sunday School Class,
Beth Feith, All the Gentlemen who served, and All those
who helped clean up.
Salt and Light News
THERE WILL BE NO SALT AND LIGHT
UNTIL OUR WINTER SESSION BEGINS ON
JANUARY 14, 2015.
Y C O R N E R Heather Kauffman
O
As I write this newsletter article, I sit at a
desk surrounded by remnants of a busy year
U messy
in the youth ministry at FUMC. Although my to-do
for this week includes cleaning up the mess, I
T list
cannot help but take some time to reflect on all that
H is in front of me. Just like what oftentimes happens
in our lives, the messiest places are the ones where
we see God the most. So, before I check this one
thing off of my to-do list, I want to spend some
time in awe and wonder of the past year and share
in this time of praise with you.
To the left of my desk, I have DVDs with
copies of the pictures from our summer mission trip
to Servants in Faith and Technology in Lineville,
Alabama. I think about our students experiencing
life in the simulations of the Global Village and the
Haitian slum. I remember God’s presence with us
as our students got to share the love of Christ with
children in a local trailer park.
To the right of my desk, I see leftover copies of
the schedule from our fall retreat. This brings back the
memories of three incredible retreats with the youth since
my time here. Those wonderful times of students making
decisions to follow Christ in new ways come to mind as
well as those times where students heard God speaking to
them. These are memories the youth will hold onto
forever.
I also see copies of the skit from one of our
Youth Sunday services in the past year. How incredible
to reflect on these two services planned by the youth! To
see all of their gifts, talents and passions all come
together to make each service possible has left me
amazed. We are incredibly blessed by these youth as a
part of our church.
It nearly brings me to happy tears remembering
the places where God has moved this past year. Although
these are just a few great reminders, there are so many
precious memories we have as a youth group that could
probably make up a book! I thank you for sharing in the
joys of our youth ministry and ask that you continue to
pray for us as we move into a new year of even greater
joy together.
Blessings!
Heather
Sunday, December 21st
Youth Christmas Party & Progressive Dinner
4:30-9 PM (end time is approximate)- Drop off and pick
up in Upper Parking Lot
*Wear a tacky Christmas sweater and bring a $1 wrapped
gift for the Dirty Santa gift exchange.
Please note: Regular UMYF will resume January 11th
and Dayspring will resume January 14th! We will have
an Open Gym on January 4th.
Russ Maher—Dyersburg Healthcare
and Rehab., Room 211
Nita Jones
Carole O. Whitnel
Janice Stafford—home
Sue Whitkopf—home
Jane Cole
Brenda North
Ryan Lowrance
Marilyn Legan—home
Jane Sharpe Carl—Susan Hedge’s mother
Bob & Peggy Mayfield
Bonnie Holt
Gary Hall
Dennis Miller
Destiny Kennedy—Brian and Sandi Stahl’s
granddaughter
Peg Schwartz—Sandi Stahl’s mother
Helen Haynes—Jack Haynes’ mother, Canterbury Place
Renee Young—Sarah Sullivan Deere’s mother
William Paul Enoch
Braxton Farrow—St. Jude
Cynthia Blevins—Desiree Dolan’s mother
John Yarbro—Lee Campbell’s brother
Ethan Woodruff
Naomi Rushing
Melissa Langston
Labone Stewart—Mary Well’s sister
Chris Bell
Jane Yates Moll
Marie Hardy (mother of Elaine McCormick)
Ryan Breedlove
Carol Hendren Disney
Please remember our homebound members. A list of homebound
members will be included in the newsletter periodically. Please call
the church with updates for the prayer list when someone becomes
sick or their health improves.
Due to the holidays, the church offices will be
closed December 24th - 26th. December 31, the
church offices will close early.
MITTEN TREE
Have you seen our Mitten trees?
They are filling up nicely yet we
still need socks and underwear
for primary school aged
children. Thanks for your gifts
for the little children.
MEMORIALS/HONORARIUMS
PASTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of:
Given by:
Billy Yates
James and Betty Cooper
In honor of:
James Cooper
Sue Nicks
John Palmer
Bobbie Webb
The Yates Family
Given by:
Outpost Sunday School Class
Outpost Sunday School Class
Outpost Sunday School Class
Outpost Sunday School Class
James and Betty Cooper
GENERAL FUND
In memory of:
Dr. Russell Lomas
Winifred Newsom
Billy and Dorothy Wells
Given by:
Jere Ozment
Jere Ozment
Jere Ozment
REELFOOT RURAL MINISTRIES
In honor of:
Given by:
Dr. David Russell
Thursday Morning Bible Study
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY FUND
In honor of:
Given by:
Edie, Woods, and Bennett Allmon
Damaris Cook
MUSIC FUND
In honor of:
Chancel Choir
Given by:
Mr. and Mrs. Dawson Whitkopf
PANTRY FUND
In memory of:
Dr. Russell Lomas
Winifred Newsom
Given by:
Roy and Sharon Campbell
Roy and Sharon Campbell
In honor of:
Acts 29 Sunday School Class
Given by:
Dr. and Mrs. Jim Horner
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Fourth Sunday in Advent (blue)
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16;
Luke 1:26-38, 46-55,
Romans 16:25-27;
SUNDAY SERVICES
9:45 A.M. Sunday School
8:30 & 10:50 A.M. Worship
Luke 1:26-38
“The Best Re-Wrap, Ever!”
Rev. Dell King, preaching
No Evening Worship
FAMILY LIFE CENTER NEWS
From Andy Fisher
UPWARD® UPDATE
I know you have heard about our Upward® Basketball
and Cheer League. At this point, we need individuals to
give a devotion at half time of the games, with most
games being played on Saturdays starting January 10,
2015. Our 4th-6th grade boys will play on Thursday
nights starting January 8, 2015. We will provide 9
devotions each week of play. The devotion lasts anywhere
from three to four minutes. This is a time to share your
stories, faith and personal testimonies. These devotions
are geared towards the adults, because the kids meet with
their coaches at halftime. Please start to gather your
devotional information now, so you can tell us the dates
you will be happy to spread God’s word.
This Friday will be our 35th day of prayer. Even if you
are not on a prayer team, please continue to pray for this
program.
SENIOR CIRCLE CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
Senior Circle and the Family Life Center of First United
Methodist church will have a Christmas party on
Thursday, December 18, in the Fellowship Hall. If you
are a Senior Circle member or if you are the age of at
least 50, you are cordially invited. Lunch will be served at
11 a.m. with Christmas caroling to follow. Please bring a
covered dish to serve 8-10 people to compliment the
meat. You may also invite a friend to come with you.
RSVP by Monday, December 15 to 285-4794 or 2872101. Come and enjoy the food, fellowship, and
entertainment.
The Family Life Center will be closed for the Christmas
holiday starting this Friday, December 19 through
January 4, 2015.
Send form #3579 to The Word, P.O. Box 452, Dyersburg, TN 38025, FUMC
Weekly published by
First United Methodist Church
100 McGaughey, P.O. Box 452, Dyersburg, TN 38024
Church: 731-285-6454, Family Life Center: 731-285-4794
Web Page—www.fumcdyersburg.com
#13490
Periodicals
Paid at
Dyersburg, TN