The Spirit Weekly Newsletter of Clayton First United Methodist Church Inside this issue: U.M. Men Meeting 2 Mid Week Fellowship 2 Operation Christmas Child Outcome 2 Adult Sunday School News 2 Your Prayers, Presence, & Gifts 2 Volume XXXVIX, Issue 2, Jan. 11, 2015 From Jeremy’s Desk... With an estimated 1.25 billion Christians in the world, it’s safe to say that most of us are familiar with Jesus. I would imagine that if you asked a random churchgoer, they could list facts about Jesus, name family members, and recount certain details about his life. If given enough time, they might be able to retell a famous parable or two or even recite some of his more well known sayings. retrace Jesus’ story from the very beginning. We’ll seek to shed light on who he is, what his life and purpose were all about, and why it matters to you and me. Whether you’ve been in the church all your life or the Christian faith is brand new to you, this is a sermon series you won’t want to miss. Not only that, but I also want to encourage you to invite someone to church with you Some people in the church have an sometime in the next six weeks, espealmost encyclopedic knowledge about cially if it’s someone who’s been skepJesus—they know all kinds of facts, tical about the church or religion in figures, and details about the life of general. Jesus and if given a pop quiz, they As one of my favorite authors, Leocould pass it flying colors. No doubt nard Sweet, once said, “Evangelism most of us know a lot about Jesus. isn’t about persuading anyone about The real question is: Do we really anything. It’s about introducing them know Jesus? to Jesus and letting Him and His story be the persuasion.” I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday! Pastor Jeremy Lawson Beginning Sunday, January 11, we’re starting an all new sermon series called “Rediscovering Jesus.” Together, we’re going to go beyond the hearsay, the anecdotes, and the childhood Sunday School lessons. We’re going to dig deep into Scripture and January 11: January 18: January 25: February 1: February 8: February 15: In the Beginning… The Wonder Years The Baptism of Jesus Jesus the Teacher Jesus the Healer Jesus the Redeemer Baptism Sunday ~ Jan. 25 On Sunday, Jan. 25, we will offer the opportunity for you to be baptized in the name of the Lord or to renew your baptismal vows at one of our services. If you would like to talk about your decision or if you are ready to be baptized, please contact Pastor Jeremy in the church office by Tuesday, Jan. 20. Birthdays and Anniversaries 3 Weekly Church Calendar 4 Friendship Lunch The Friendship Group will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Mama G’s on Thursday, Jan.15 for good food and fellowship. This group meets monthly for lunch that frequently includes a guest speaker or music program. Please RSVP Suzanne Harper by Tuesday, Jan. 13, by calling her at 706.839.8484or emailing [email protected] Sid Weber Benefit Dance till you can’t dance no more! Jan. 17 - 9 a.m.a.m.-12 p.m. - FLC to Benefit the Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund $10 adults/$5 students Get in shape while helping those fighting cancer with transportation to treatments and doctor visits or othernon-medical expenses. UMM Meeting The next Rabun Area United Methodist Men meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 12, at Dillard UMC. Fellowship begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by supper at 7 p.m. Afterwards, there will be UMM business discussion, a devotion, and a time of prayer. All Methodist men are welcome. Mid Week Fellowship Cold temperatures call for...chili! chili! And baked potatoes and hotdogs for Wed. Night Supper on Jan. 14. Remember to make reservations by Tuesday. Dinner is served at 5:45 p.m. in the FLC gym. Operation Christmas Child Outcome Dear Churches, Pastors, Members, Businesses, Schools, Groups, Individuals, and Volunteers, May the Lord bless all of you for you prayers, time spent , and your giving...all of your compassion goes to blessing the children all around the world. You all make a wonderful team here in the North Georgia Mountains for Operation Christmas Child, Thank You! We had the best year yet…as a team we put 6,274 shoe boxes on the first trailer and 1,122 shoeboxes on the second trailer. This is the second year we have had to use the second trailer, Praise God for a total of 7,396 shoeboxes (this was a increase of 1,320 shoes over last year) going to bless the children and to plant a seed in them about JESUS! May the Lord Jesus bless your the giving of yourselves, and resources. From the Collection Center in Blairsville, The Wednesday Prayer Group meet faithfully in the Senior Room at 5:15 p.m. All are invited to join them. FaithBuilders (pre-K through 5th grade) will meet in the FLC afterschool till 5:30 p.m. Children are offered a healthy snack upon arrival, enjoy playtime, make a craft, sing praise songs, and more! EGO, for Youth in Middle and High School, are picked up afterschool on Wednesdays. Check in with Jeremy for the week’s destination and how to dress or what to bring. (EGO stands for Experiencing God Outside!) Library Corner Bob Nerthling p.s. Our church collected and delivered over 120 shoeboxes this year! Adult Sunday School News The Wesley-Seekers Sunday School Class invites all who are interested in Bible Study and Christian fellowship to join them on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall The Hall is located on the main floor of the Education Building across from the Sanctuary downtown. Cokesbury’s Uniform Bible Lessons are utilized and discussed. This faithful class has been studying together and sharing concerns for over 20 years, and they would love to see you there! The Adult Study Group will finish their study entitled Twisting the Truth on Jan. 11. The following week Ellen Barfield will begin a new 6 week session about God’s covenants with his chosen people such as Noah, David, Jonathan, and Abraham. submitted by: Mildred Whittaker The following book has been purchased for the Claudia Lee Henson Memorial Library: Outcasts United by Warren St. John. Clarkston, Georgia, was designated as a refugee settlement center in the 1990s and became the first American home for families in flight from the world's war zones. Outcasts United is the stunning real-life story of an inspiring group of refugees and a woman who, with tough love and fiery determination, changes an entire community for the better. This book is in the Leadership Development category. Page 2 Gospel of Luke Study Rev. Jeremy Lawson continues leading a Wednesday morning Bible study this year centered on the Gospel of Luke at 10:30 a.m. in the Upper Room. The Bible study group will not meet on Jan. 14 but will pick back up on Jan. 21. Can you help usher at 11 a.m. Traditional? Call Mike Jones at 706-782-9767 Can you assist with FaithBuilders on Wednesday? Call Jeremy Noffsinger at 706-782-4426, ext. 228 Would you enjoy welcoming people to the Connections service? Call Mia at the church office. Could you teach or help with Kids Connect or Kids Worship ? Call Jeremy Noffsinger at 706-782-4426, ext. 228 Your Prayers *Allan White *Jack & Marquez Martin *Mark Walker *Jackie Crisp *Anita Deal *Linda Craft *Betty & Wayne Martin *Joye Spates *Ed Singleton *Taylor Marchman *Mary Frances Bailey *Lewis Reeves *Jennifer Mason *Janice Wayne *George & Vickie Trogdon *Lynn Hickox *Annette Findley Barry Wood Sherry Roach Buck & Geneva Carlton Rev/Mrs Charles Sineath Janet Ann Lawler Michael Thomason Lauren Cunningham Hugh & Marion Poplin Dorothy Wall Ava Wilson Kathryn Gurtler Frank Sr. & Gloria Lastra Belinda Long Sam Hagerman Fred & Doris Hatterick Richard Randel LeeAnna Gonzalez & family Ronnie Rider Jack Young Timothy Davis Maclain Rigdon and sons Angela Pavelka Virginia Wates Diane Hardy George Sieferman Fairy Mae Smith Brigette Marchman Cynthia Penland Tom Brown Russ Wilkerson Debbie Chisholm&family Donald Hamilton Jim Greene *Bev & Ed Perry *Ruth Mullinax *Butch Thurman *Lou Luke *Mildred Whittaker *Diane Benzee *Marlee Price *Barbara Treanor Wilma Calvert David Cantrell Leisa Wall O’Rourke Family Carol Kramer Sylvia Paul Melvin Howard Bethel Masters Jill Wilson Richard Burch Phillip Lowery DeDe Austin Sara & John Curry Don Calhoun Bill Halker Bob Griffin Continue to pray for our President, nation, and armed forces – *Cpt. Will Lesley, Michael Keasler, Kevin Dobson, Matt Waterfield, Michael Abercrombie, Edward Berg, Jason Hale, Steve Townshend, *John O’Brien, Joseph Porter, Jason Britt, William Wedenfeller, Russell Hartley, Major Ryan Sanders, Cpt. Drew Deal, Lt. Eric Deal, Kirk Kilby, CW2 James Johnson, *Tommy Adams, Andrew Kovacs, PV2 Coryn Ramey, PV2 Sarah Jane Guest, Cpl. Nathan Ramey, Sgt. Brian Fink (USMC), Justin Farmer (USMC), 1Lt. Scott Curtin, Levi Brown, Michael Henderson, Tommy Dotson, Will Littrell. Ebola virus victims and their families. Persecuted Christians. Peace on Earth. Missionaries: Dr. Chris Hena; Jonathan, Maggie & Patrick Hunter, Jay Waldrep in Costa Rica Birthdays & Anniversaries Happy Birthday! Jan. 12-Gary Linda Logan Jan. 13-Ellen Barber Jan. 14-Bree Ann Bragg Jan. 14-Marie Embry Jan. 14-Sally Hibner Jan. 14-Kevin McDonald Jan. 15-Allan White Jan. 16-Ashley Martin Jan. 16-Jason Michelson Jan. 17-Steven Black Jan. 17-Kayla Sawyer Jan. 17-Marie Gillespie Jan. 17-Dot Green Jan. 17-Jennifer Mitcham Happy Anniversary! No anniversaries this week. Will you uphold Clayton First United Methodist Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? Your Presence Attendance on Jan. 4, 2015: Connections Service Traditional Service Kids Programs: 9:30 Kids Connect 11 Kids Worship Total in Worship Adult/Youth Sunday School 66 84 12 12 174 48 Pajama Trees Elizabeth Bethel wanted to help give the less fortunate children of Rabun County a warmer and happier Christmas. So for the past couple of years, she’s placed “Pajama Trees” out in our worship spaces with boy or girl sizes on ornaments. This year our church, the CLC, and participating visitors fulfilled over 300 ornaments! Elizabeth and friends delivered more PJs than ever before thanks to your generosity. Thank you! Address Change Scott & Guin Provance Jackson, Evans, and Sophie 222 Deerfield Drive Clayton, GA 30525 C.A. Henson and Mrs. Allan White are currently residing at alternate residences for several weeks. Mia has their addresses at the office. Page 3 Clayton First UMC P.O. Box 703 Clayton, GA, 30525 Mailing address: P.O. Box 703, Clayton, GA 30525 Sanctuary: 71 South Main Street Education Building/Fellowship Hall: 91 South Main Street Family Life Center/CLC: 205 Ministry Mountain Drive Clayton, GA 30525 Office: 706.782.4426 Rev. Lawson’s cell: 404.304.3574 E-mail: [email protected] Website: Website claytonmethodist.com The Spirit REV. JEREMY LAWSON Pastor JEREMY NOFFSINGER Assistant Pastor and Dir. of Youth & Children’s Ministries WILLIAM PRATER Dir. of Music LEISA WALL Dir. of Creative Learning Center TERI ALLRED Financial Secretary MIA SHARPTON Church Secretary TED LOONEY Building Superintendent JACK DUNCAN Custodian BRUCE BROWNLOW Organist Church Calendar Sunday, Jan. 11 9:30 a.m.-Connections Praise & Worship Service and Kids Connect-FLC 9:30 a.m.-Adult Study Group-Education Bldg. (downstairs) 9:45 a.m.-Wesley Seekers Adult Class-Fellowship Hall Upper Room Adult Class-Upper Room of FLC 10:45 a.m.-Life Group I (Adults)-Senior Room of FLC Children’s Sunday School/Nursery-FLC 11 a.m.-Traditional Worship Service-Sanctuary and Kids Worship-Fellowship Hall 12 p.m.-Children’s Curriculum Meeting-Fellowship Hall 5 p.m.-Youth Group-FLC Monday, Jan. 12 8 a.m.-Men’s Emmaus Reunion Group-Senior Room 4 p.m.-CLC Board Meeting-Upper Room 5 p.m.-Handbell Choir Practice-Education Building 6:15 p.m.-G/S Troop Meeting-Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m.-Choir Practice-Education Bldg 6:30 p.m.-Rabun UMM Meeting-Dillard UMC 7 p.m.-Emotions Anonymous-Education Bldg. Tuesday, Jan. 13 10 a.m.-Worship Meeting-Upper Room 11 a.m.-Staff Meeting-Upper Room 5:30 p.m.-NGCP Meeting-Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m.-Connections Band Practice-FLC Wednesday, Jan. 14 3:15 p.m.-EGO for Youth-Offsite 3:30 p.m.-FaithBuilders-FLC 5:15 p.m.-Wed. Prayer Group-Senior Room 5:45 p.m.-Wed. Night Supper-FLC 6:45 p.m.-Finance Committee Meeting-Senior Room Thursday, Jan. 15 11:30 a.m. Friendship Group Lunch-Mama G’s 6 p.m.-U.M. Connectional Group Mtg.-FLC Saturday, Jan. 17 9 a.m.-Boogie-thon Sid Weber Cancer Fund Benefit-FLC Page 4
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