in the mailboxes.
Check the delivery boxes in the
Fellowship Hall several time during the
month of December for your cards.
There will be envelopes with each mem-
ber’s name; please remove your cards
and leave the envelopes for more deliv-
eries. Please contact any Friends in Faith
Circle member if you have questions.
All proceeds will benefit local
needs and ministries.
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Welcome New
Members 2
Save the date!
Children’s
Ministry
Christmas
Events
3
Food 2 Kids 4
Veteran’s
Sunday and
Veteran's
Honor Flight
5
GROW 6
GIVE 7
Lay Servant
Ministry 8
PRAYER 9
December
Calendar 11
“The Back
Page”
Pastor’s
Report
12
Christmas Card Mailboxes are BACK!
The Grapevine Clarkesville First United Methodist Church
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Did you know you can send
Christmas greetings to active church
members for only $1.00 for 5 cards?
Mail your Christmas cards beginning
November 29th through December
16th. Mail Boxes will be located in the
Fellowship Hall, the Connection, and
the foyer in front of the Sanctuary.
Simply address your cards with the
church member’s names, and place
them (alphabet, please) with payment
Upcoming Ladies Advent Luncheon
Ladies, mark your calendars for this year’s Advent Luncheon, ―Have Your-
self a Mary Christmas,‖ Saturday, December 5th in the Fellowship Hall at 11:00am-
12:30pm, hosted by the Hearts of Grace and Friends in Faith UMW Circles. Tickets cost $10, and they are available from any circle member or in the Church Office.
Proceeds will support families in need during the Christmas season.
Red Cross Blood Drive Thursday, December 3rd
The American Red Cross will conduct the second blood drive of the year
hosted by CFUMC on Thursday, December 3rd, 2:00-7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.
You can help save a life by giving a pint of blood. The life you save might be a friend or neighbor. Pre-register online at www.redcrossblood.org using keyword
cfumc, or contact the Church Office to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome,
but pre-registration guarantees your donation time. For more information, contact
Michael Carroll, CFUMC Red Cross Liaison or the Church Office, 706-754-2677.
Advent Outreach Project: “The Mitten Tree” Fondly named ―the Mitten Tree‖ years ago, we are reviving an old tradition of decorating a Christmas
tree during the Advent season with warm winter items to be sent to the Red Bird Mission Conference in Ken-
tucky. Socks, long underwear, hats, scarves, and of course, mittens, are all items that can be clipped to the tree, which is now up in the Fellowship Hall. From infants to adults, items of all sizes are welcomed as winter
holds the mountain communities of Kentucky in its icy grasp. Donations gratefully accepted until Dec. 20th.
2
Prison Ministry: The Prison Ministry is Lee Arren-
dale’s Women’s State Prison. Three churches, including
CFUMC, Cornelia UMC, and Sautee-Nacoochee, visit the
96-100 women in the Faith and Character Dorm. We visit
quarterly, spring, summer, fall, and Christmas. We provide
cookies and punch. The women perform skits, songs, po-
etry, and dance to Christian music.
A signed and notarized release form is required
prior to any prison visit, and this form allows for 2 visits
per year. For the 4 visits, a class must be taken in order to
get a ―Locator Badge,‖ and these classes are given each
month. Although the Christmas visit form deadline has
passed, release forms are available in the Church Office
for our spring visit. Date and time are TBD. All are invited
to participate in our ―Stuff the Bags‖ event on Wednesday,
December 2nd in preparation for our Christmas visit.
For more information or to express interest in up-
coming visits, please contact Ellen Boyd, CFUMC Prison
Ministry Coordinator, 770-540-1771.
Jetsetters: The Jetsetters combine with the Good News
Class for their November/December Christmas gathering.
This year’s Christmas gathering will be at Western Sizzlin’
in Cleveland on Tuesday, December 8th. Meet at the
Church Office to ride the bus at 10:45am.
Walk to Emmaus: The Soque Fishers will be
hosting our monthly Walk to Emmaus Gathering in the
sanctuary, December 11th at 7:30pm. Everyone is invited
to join us and celebrate the season! Christmas carols are
back by popular demand, and Pastor Brian will share one
of his Christmas stories. Fellowship and refreshments to
follow. Nursery will be provided during the program. Join
us for an evening of holiday praise and worship!
Connectional Ministry Update: Coming up on
Sunday, December 6th is our last Connectional Ministry
Meeting of 2016. We will gather at 3:00pm at The Con-
nection at CFUMC, and refreshments will be provided by
our Hospitality Committee. This gathering will be a plan-
ning meeting for 2016, as well as a celebration of 2015.
For more information, contact Michael Carroll, Connec-
tional Ministry Liaison.
Ladies Lunch Bunch: Join the bunch on Tuesday, De-
cember 8th! We will dine at Macaroni Grill and then wan-
der through the Christmas wonderland at the Mall of Geor-
gia, have a chat with Santa, or finish up your own Santa's
helper list. Meet at the Church Office at 10:30am to car-
pool. Please RSVP by Monday, December 7th.
United Methodist Men: The United
Methodist Men will not meet in December.
Thank you to all who supported the Fruit Sale.
Fruit will be delivered to the church after Thanksgiving.
The next gathering of the United Methodist Men is Thurs-
day, January 7th, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Our UMM also gather every Thursday morning at
7:30am at Crossroads Café in Clarkesville for food and
fellowship.
Sunday Night Fellowship: We meet weekly
at 6:30pm at different local restaurants. It’s informal fel-
lowship at its best. Buy your own meal, sit wherever
you’d like, and get to know others in our church family.
December 6th Mishima
December 13th Chicago’s
December 20th El Patron
December 27th Captain D’s
United Methodist Women: Our UM
Women would like to invite you to visit a
UMW Circle and enjoy the fellowship of other
women united in mission:
Kite Stribling: Meets monthly on the 1st Thursday at a
member’s home. This month, Kite Stribling will gather on
Thursday, December 2nd for Christmas lunch at noon at
the home or Marilyn Davis.
Contact: June Givan
Hearts of Grace: Meets monthly on the 1st Sunday at
5:30pm (December 6th; Fellowship Hall).
Contact: Lisa Nicholson
Morning Joy: Meets monthly on the 2nd Monday the
Connection. This month, Morning Joy will gather on Mon-
day, December 14th for Christmas Lunch at Crossroads
Café in Clarkesville at 11:30am. If you would like to car-
pool, please meet outside the Connection at 11:15am.
Contact: Gloria Howell
Friends in Faith: Meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesday at
7:00pm. (December 15th; Admin Building).
Contact : Brenda Waters
FELLOWSHIP We invite you to be involved!
Welcome New Members! What a blessing it is to welcome new members into the congregation of Clarkesville First UMC! Jack and Frieda
Powell joined November 1st at the 11:00 Classic Service. Please welcome the Powells into our church family!
3
Youth and Children’s Ministries Our Children's Ministry had a great Sunday
FUNday event! We hosted over 150 people for a
BBQ lunch and games. We had six stations of
games for the children to participate in, as well as a
hay ride. Everyone had a great time! We appreciate
all of the volunteers and Sunday School classes that
helped make this event so great. Thank you!
We have an exciting Christmas season
coming up for our Children’s Ministry !
On Wednesday, December 9th we will have our
Christmas Nativity Scene at the church. The time
is still TBD. We will also be performing our
Christmas Nativity at the Clarkesville Downtown
Christmas, at 7:00pm on Saturday, December 12th. It gets better! We
ALSO have a Children’s Christmas play at 7:00pm on Wednesday, De-
cember 16th.
Our youth have had a great month as well! We got lost at the
corn maze at Jaemor Farms. We also were able to use their apple can-
nons and play other fun games. The youth will have their Christmas
party on Sunday, December 13th at 6:30pm.
The youth worship team have done such a wonderful job! They
are practicing hard and their work is paying off. They have done a fan-
tastic job leading worship. Our worship team includes Abbie Butler,
Christine Budd, Kirk Griffin, Tyler Purdee, Katelyn Stratton, Hanna
Zeigler, and Chris Quillen.
Brian Butcher, Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries
During November the children at CFUMC preschool
learned about thankfulness. The children were asked to name peo-
ple and/or things for which they are thankful and they made a "We
are Thankful" tree. We celebrated God's blessings with a pizza
feast on November 19th. Pastor Brian Butler and Brian and Josey
Butcher joined us and wished the children a Happy Thanksgiv-
ing. Thanks to Mrs. Pat Foster for providing two cookie
cakes for our celebration. The children loved the cookie
more than the pizza!
During December, the children will learn about the birth of Jesus.
On Thursday, December 17th, we will have a Christmas program at noon in
The Connection. The church family is invited to attend and hear the good news
through the voices of preschoolers.
Thank you for your support of the CFUMC Preschool! Susan Weidner, Director CFUMCP
CFUMC Preschool “Rooted in faith, growing in love”
Save the Date!
Upcoming Youth Prayer
Breakfasts:
December 8th, 7:00am at the
Clarkesville DQ.
Youth Christmas Party
Sunday, December 13th
Children’s Nativity and
Children’s Play at CFUMC
Wednesday, December 9th
(time TBD) and Wednesday,
December 16th at 7:00pm,
respectively
Downtown Clarkesville
Christmas and Nativity
Saturday, December 12th,
7:00pm
Youth Ski Trip
Friday, February 26th-
Sunday, February 28th ($50
deposit due December 17th)
4
Food 2 Kids: December is our first delivery
month of the school year! If you and a buddy
can help deliver bags of food to the schools
on December 4th, 11th or 17th, please contact Jennifer
Boydstun, Community Ministries Director, in the Church
Office. We need 3 teams of two people each on the 4th
and 11th, and can use even more on the 17th, which is a
double bag delivery day for the holidays. We are up to
177 bags weekly now!
Stephen Ministry: Stephen Ministry is
grounded in Jesus’ command to love one an-
other. Through one-to-one caring and confi-
dential relationships, those who are hurting receive the
love and care they need to support them. We welcome
newly commissioned Stephen Ministers Alison George,
Kevin Smith, and Wanda Westmoreland! This month,
our Stephen Ministers will meet on Monday, December
7th at 6:00pm in the Connection Ministry Center. For more information or a confidential referral to
a Stephen Minister, please call Stephen Ministry Team
Leader, Ron Waters, or the Church Office.
CommUnity Thrift: Our November
giving was $1500 to the CFUMC Building
Fund, $400 to Sharing &
Caring, $200 to the Habersham
County Senior Center, and $900 to
Meals on Wheels. The store will be
closed December 25th-26th.
There are great Christmas bar-
gains to be found at the
store. Look! Even Santa shops here!
Nursing Home Visitation: Join us at the Haber-
sham WEST Nursing Home at 6:00pm monthly on the
third Monday night (December 21st) and the Habersham
EAST Nursing Home at 6:15pm monthly on the fourth
Monday night (December 28th) for singing and fellow-
ship with a sweet group of folks. For more information,
please contact Sandy Shell or call the Church Office, 706-
754-2677.
Prayer Gatherings Tuesday Morning Prayer: Our Prayer Group has a
lovely room in The Connection Ministry Center, and our
group meets every Tuesday at 9:30-10:30am. Come and
join this wonderful group of prayer warriors! God loves
a praying church!
Skeins of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry: If you knit or
crochet, or would like to learn, you are invited to The
Connection, room C-11 at 10:00am on Thursdays to
make prayer shawls. All skill levels are welcome, and
supplies are available. If you would like to request a
shawl to comfort or celebrate someone you know, please
call the Church Office.
Meals On Wheels: Our church has delivered
meals for one week each month for 30+ years, and we
are the ONLY church in Habersham to make this com-
mitment each month. Our December drivers are Phil and
Lu DeMore. Many thanks to those who help with this
ministry, including our November drivers, Frank and
Teresa Dean! We hope to build our driver base so that
several teams may share in one week's deliveries. If you
feel you might be interested, please contact the Church
Office, 706-754-2677, or Elizabeth Pratt, CFUMC Meals
on Wheels Coordinator, 706- 754-1574.
Clarkesville Soup Kitchen
DATES TEAM CAPTAINS
1st Thursday Sandy Blake
2nd Tuesday Connie Wilbanks
3rd Tuesday Sue Trotman
4th Tuesday Elizabeth Pratt, Arthur Davis,
Brenda Sonafelt
5th Monday Phil & Peggy Brownrigg
5th Saturday Hearts of Grace UMW Circle
♦To help at the Clarkesville Soup Kitchen, call 706-754-
6539 or the Church Office, 706-754-2677.
♦To help at the Cornelia Soup Kitchen, call 706- 968-
9954 to volunteer.
SERVE We lend a hand in our community!
Operation Christmas Child: Thank you, CFUMC! Church family, our sincere
appreciation and gratitude to all of you who helped make the Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive a
splendid success! Together, we donated 187 boxes to Operation Christmas Child, our opportunity to bring happiness
to a child through ―witness‖ and the gift of Jesus Christ. You should all be very proud. My sincere thanks & gratitude
to Josey Butcher and Wanda Westmoreland for being an amazing help.
Jana Flury, CFUMC Operation Christmas Child Coordinator
5
The Prayer Ministry would like to thank everyone who participated in the making Veteran's Sunday a very special
day for our Veterans! From the Hospitality Committee, to the people who brought food, those who participated in the wor-
ship service, and of course our honored veterans and their families, it was a very special day. Everyone played an impor-
tant role in making this day a great success, and we are thankful for you!
First Row: [L-R] Lee Hobart, Carl Flury, Ron Waters, Scott Trotman, Richard Reynolds, Charles Pratt.
Second Row: [L-R] Etsel Shell, Ken Iossi, Mack Barry, Steve Blake, John Bussler, Jack Foster, Holmes Harrison.
Third Row: [L-R] Tom Hawks, Garnett Hulsey, Frank Mutton, Pat Stryker
Honored, but not pictured: Jim Staples, Kathy Molnar, Lewis Glover, Paul Hopper, Frank Dean, Stephen Wilks, Jerry Medlock,
Lamar Dean, and Frank Hemphill.
Thank you for your service to our country!
Veteran’s Sunday Recap
This year has been a new experience for the Hospitality Committee at the Clarkesville Methodist Church. We
have been very busy throughout the year and have more yet to do. Our Hospitality Group consists of: Marjorie Waters,
Lynda Petty, Lea Cohen, Emily McGahee, Annaclair Kiger, Jinx Haley, Marcia Martin, Brenda Sonafelt and for the Vet-
erans Day event we had Wanda Westmoreland lend a hand. All of our decorations are carried out by the very talented
Marjorie Waters and Lynda Petty. We are so grateful for their talent. They have put in many hours decorating for all the
events.
We have provided refreshments for the Pre-School class this year for their ―Open House‖ and will treat them and
their families in December during their Christmas event. We have provided refreshments for the Connectional Group
during the year at the 5th Sunday Night Singing at our church and had help from many of our church ladies as well.
Thanks to all of you as we could not succeed without your help. We also helped serve at Sunday FUNday, the Children’s
Ministry luncheon and our largest event yet, and the most recent Veteran’s Day Luncheon. A special ―Thank You‖ goes
out to Jerre Harvard for washing all of those dishes for us. We also wish to thank Mary Wilbanks for helping out and for
making sure we have the supplies we need for each event. So yes, we have been busy this year!
We want to say a very special ―Thank You!‖ to our Hospitality Committee for their hard work, long hours and
dedication to this church. It could not have been done without your help and wonderful attitudes. We are so delighted
you are all part of our team!
Pat Foster and June Givan, Co-Chairs for the CFUMC Hospitality Committee
Thank you, Hospitality Committee!
Etsel Shell’s Veteran Honor Flight On September 30th, Etsell Shell, a Korean War Veteran, traveled to Washington, D.C. on
an Honor Flight. While in Washington, he visited the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War memo-
rials as well as the Iwo Jima Memorial, the changing of the guard at Arlington, and the Air Force
Memorial. Linda Camp served as his guardian on the trip. Honor Flight is a non-profit organiza-
tion whose goal is to get Georgia's WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington to see their
memorials. There is no cost for the veteran. If you are a veteran and would like to go on an
Honor Flight, please contact Linda Camp for an application.
6
December 20th Emily Thompson /
Jacob Grady
December 27th Whitney Martin /
Layne Kafsky
Ushers:
8:30 The Taylor Family
11:00 Blaine Boydstun, Dean
DeLaigle, and Jerry Medlock
Altar Flowers:
December 6th Emmaus
December 13th Holiday Greenery
December 20th Holiday Greenery
December 27th Holiday Greenery
Evangelism Ministry Visitation
Teams:
December 6th
Gloria and David Agnew
December 13th
Mary and Warren Lanier
December 20th
Mary and Calvin Wilbanks
December 27th
Beverly and Jerre Harvard
Trustees Sunday Lock-Up:
Unlock: Jerry Medlock
Lock: Gail Burke
Sunday Morning Fellowship
Breakfast:
Volunteer hosts or hostesses are
needed to set up and clean up the
Fellowship Breakfasts. Refresh-
ments are always provided. Dona-
tions are greatly appreciated too.
FELLOWSHIP HALL (9:30am)
Garnett and Jean Hulsey will host
for the month of December.
CONNECTION (8:45am)
Brian and Josey Butcher will host
for the month of December.
Coordinator: Jean Hulsey
This Month’s Service Volunteers Liturgists in Worship:
December 6th TBD
December 13th TBD
December 20th TBD
December 27th TBD Coordinator: Michael Carroll
Children’s Church 9:00/11:00
Worship:
December 6th Candice Holcomb
and Katie Grady / Hotard Family
December 13th Youth
December 20th Connie Wilbanks
and Jean Hulsey / Shelley Wilbanks
and Kelly Carroll
December 27th Dulcie Ariail /
Linda Angel
Coordinator: Kelly Burgess
Acolytes, 8:30/11:00 Worship:
December 6th Hannah & Grace
Johnson / Audrey & Abigail Hotard
December 13th Joseph & Mitchell
McGahee / Maebree Holcomb
GROW Learn with us on Wonderful Wednesdays!
5:30pm Dinner Join us on Wednesdays at 5:30pm for warm
fellowship over a home-cooked, Southern-style meal
prepared by our friends at Chef’s Touch Bistro in
Cornelia. Fill out a pew card on Sunday morning or
call the Church Office by Monday noon to make/
break a reservation.
Weekly Menu
(Adults, $7; Kids, 12yrs-under, $4)
December 2 Spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert
December 9 TBD
December 16 TBD
December 23 No Wednesday Night Activities
December 30 No Wednesday Night Activities
6:30pm Discipleship Hour
Nursery and K-5 children gather upstairs above the
Fellowship Hall in the Children’s Department.
Youth meet in the Connection Ministry Center for
games and Bible study.
Music meets in the Music Room for Men’s or
Women’s Ensemble (meets on alternating weeks) at
6:30pm and Chancel Choir for Men and Women at
7:30pm.
Adult Class is an Advent Study called, Under Wraps:
The Gift we Never Expected. Michael Carroll is teach-
ing this class, and the class will meet Wednesday nights
at 6:30pm in the Good News Classroom through De-
cember 16th. Curriculum is available in the Church Of-
fice.
We are trying to organize small groups for
times other than Wednesday evenings or Sunday morn-
ings. Small groups allow for a greater variety of group
formats; times and details are flexible and yet to be de-
termined. If you are interested in participating in or
leading a small group, please contact Gloria Agnew or
call the Church Office, 706-754-2677.
7
General Budget
Total 2015 General Budget: $491,887.00
Monthly Need (Avg Per Month) $40,990.58
Budget Offering thru 10/31/15: $366,039.00
Budget Expense thru 10/31/15: $385,845.00
Future Facilities Fund
Balance as of 11/22/15 $404,611.36
Scan and Donate!
Online contributions are even
more convenient. Now you
can use your smart phone
scanner app to scan the code
and make a donation!
Stewardship Update: I would like to bring a few items before you. I want to keep the information concise
and to the point concerning the financial state of the church:
General Expenses: With the growth of our church, specifically in the area of physical plant, our operating expenses
have increased. The new Connection Ministry Center has an antiquated heating and air system which is impacting
our expenses and the trustees and the finance committee will be moving toward improving that system and reducing
costs. Most line items within our budget have been steady and within budget, but utilities expanded beyond what we
anticipated. We continue to pay all of our bills in a timely manner as well as our outreach and apportionments. Over-
all we operate this church in a very conservative manner and that translates into having the ability to meet unex-
pected needs and expenses.
Future Facilities: This fund continues to be in excess of $400,000. It is used to work toward new facilities and was
used to purchase and improve the Connection Ministry Center. The growth rate of this fund has declined in compari-
son to past rates of increase. Any improvements to the Connection Ministry Center will come out of this fund.
Time to Step Up-2016 budget: The church council approved the general budget for 2016 on November 16th. The
new budget is the largest in the history of the church and reflects our growth as a congregation. The general budget
for 2016 is $565,682.00 and is a 13% increase from the 2015 budget. The increase is largely based on a rise in ap-
portionments, increased utility costs and salary costs. Let me be clear on staff salary, in 2009-2010 staff salary ac-
counted for roughly 66% of our budget while the 2016 budget will see salary accounting for 48.5% of the budget.
Our pledge campaign for the 2016 was very successful. As of November 19th, roughly 62% of the general budget
had been pledged. We hope that pledge cards will continue to flow in thus allowing us to meet 70% of the budget
pledged. Thank you for your support during the general budget pledge campaign!
Our church is strong financially due to each of you. Your prayers and gifts allow the church to do a great number of
things from guiding the youth, to feeding the hungry, to providing the moral clarity needed in this world and a whole
host of other items in constant need. Credit also goes to the various committees within the church that honor and protect
your gifts, they are needed stewards of the church. The finance committee will always work from a conservative position
and will assist the pastor in implementing his vision of the congregation and the community.
Your brother in Christ,
William J. Spivey, Finance Chair
GIVE Thank you for your generous giving!
Good Samaritan Fund: We need assistance to give assistance! Our Good Samaritan Fund, which is used for
community benevolence, has helped many of our neighbors over the last few years. So many, in fact, that now the fund
is depleted. To help is simple, just mark your financial gift to the church "Good Sam Fund" and we'll see that it assists a
neighbor in need. Thank you!
#GivingTuesday: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and #GivingTuesday! UMC #GivingTuesday on December 1st
celebrates people joining around a common cause. There are more than 800 United Methodist-related Advance projects
and more than 300 missionaries. Every gift made online through that Advance on December 1st, 2015 will be matched
up to $1 million. Go to www.umcmission.org/give, browse projects, and donate!
8
Ministers of Faith Our Congregation
Pastor Rev. Brian T. Butler
Director of Youth
and Children’s
Ministries
Brian Butcher
Director of
Evangelism and
Communications
Josey Butcher
Admin Assistant
and Community
Ministries Coordinator
Jennifer Boydstun, Deaconess
Clarkesville First United Methodist Church Staff Music Director Paula Gibson
Pianist / Organist Don Griffin
Nursery Teresa Colvin and Marie Rogers
Volunteer
Receptionist Team
Katrina Staples
Linda Allen and Pat Fenton
Custodial, Main Campus
Custodial, The Connection
Maintenance
Ricky West
Carol Ann Rundberg
Ken Iossi
Preschool Staff Susan Weidner, Director
Linda Angel and Karen Taylor
“Becoming” in the UMC The Lay Servant Ministry (LSM)
The United Methodist Church grows as its members ―become‖ more in Christ. The Lay Ser-
vant Ministries (LSM) program is an excellent process for assisting members to ―become‖.
We all ―become‖ at different rates and in different ways. The following are some of the LSM
courses (taught by pastors and certified LSM instructors) that can assist individuals and congregations in
developing the ―become‖ joy in Christ.
Basic course: foundational to all other courses: spiritual gifts, leadership development, etc.
United Methodist Heritage: gifts of theology; witness and organization of the UMC; history and
distinctive emphases needed in contemporary society, etc.
Evangelism: John Wesley’s practices in relational evangelism, sharing and welcoming others into
the faith community through evangelism, etc.
United Methodist Polity: ―why the UMC does the things it does‖
(organization and administration).
Accountable Discipleship: Importance of scripture as divine revelation; Wesleyan understandings
of Grace; etc.
Leading in Worship: Conducting individual, group and congregational prayer.
Leading in Prayer: Growing in confidence and skill in public and personal prayer.
Dancing with Words: Discovering storytelling style, presentation techniques, etc.
Lay Pastoral Care Giving: Improving care-giving skills; life span and dynamics of contemporary
life, etc.
Growing Spiritually Through Daily Disciplines: Guide in discerning God’s direction, practicing
daily disciplines and reaching out in love.
For more information about the Lay Servant Ministry, contact Don Gregg, Director of Lay Ser-
vant Ministries for the Gainesville District ([email protected]; C – 706-897-6710, H -706-379-
3478), or Jennifer Boydstun, CFUMC Director of Community Ministries and UMC Deaconess
([email protected]; 706-754-2677).
9
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your request to God. Philippians 4: 6
† Praise! Don and Karen McLain celebrate a new granddaughter, Amelia Ivey Franklin, born October 26th.
† Our condolences to Joyce Jones and Loyce Guthrie on the recent deaths of first cousins Mary Lou Fain, Janie Allen,
and Herman Masters (husband of first cousin Betty).
† Health Concerns: Gladys Pickens (pneumonia; recovering at The Oaks), Don Griffin (severe knee injury), Agnes
Ramsey (hospice care at NEGMC), Michael Carroll (double pneumonia; recovering at home)
† Relatives and Friends:
Donna Canup, neighbor of David and Gloria Agnew, metastasized cancer
Anita Adams, sister of George Stabler, ovarian cancer has returned
Ava and Carter Fowler, grandchildren of Jim and Willene Keel, paternal grandfather died October 28th
Dennis Roach, father-in-law to Calvin and Mendy Huff’s daughter, diagnosed with a very aggressive form of
lymphoma
Neil Bruce Chambers, friend of Cariedda Thompson, cancer
Crystal Payton, relative of Cariedda Thompson’s coworker, Mark Price, cancer
Brittany Herlugson, friend of Sally Cougill, had a second brain surgery on November 19th
Treelis Stonecypher, sister of Lea Cohen, bone cancer
Benjamin Brown, friend of Dick and Esta Reynold’s son, David, stage IV cancer
Maribeth Starrett, granddaughter of Charles and Gail Burke, surgery on November 20th
† Our CFUMC Preschool ministry
† Our Stephen Ministry caregivers, their care receivers, and newly commissioned Stephen Ministers, Alison George,
Kevin Smith, Wanda Westmoreland, and Connie Pappas.
† Missionaries associated with our church family: Jeff & Holly Higgins Robinson in Tanzania (Shari H. Collins),
Petrit & Meredith Kemp Lleshi in Albania (Rev. & Mrs. Tony Kemp)
† All men and women of the Armed Forces
† The leadership of our church and our government
† United Methodist Missionaries and Mission Centers we support:
Nancy Carew - missionary in Liberia
Rev. Chuck Jack - missionary in Redbird Missionary Conference in KY
Wallins UMC - small church on a circuit in the Redbird Missionary Conference in KY
Joy Center - Community Center in the Redbird Missionary Conference in KY
To make an addition or update to the prayer list, please fill out a Prayer Request card
in the pew pocket on Sunday morning, call the Church Office,706-754-2677, or email the Prayer Ministry,
P R A Y CFUMC Prayer Ministry meets weekly at 9:30am to pray in one accord
as requests are lifted up to the group. Prayers are for persons, church
ministries, and activities listed in the prior Sunday bulletin and for those
requesting non-published prayers. If you would like to be a regular part
of this group, come to the Prayer Room in the Connection on Tuesdays.
PRAYER Join us in prayer for our Family of Faith
10
DECEMBER Birthdays and Anniversaries
We don’t
want to leave
you out!
Submit your
birthday/
anniversary
to the
Church
Office if it is
missing from
our lists.
SHARE We share life together in community!
8 Bryan and Elizabeth
Cummings
14 James and Jennifer
Jennings
16 Bob and Becky Farmer
16 Bruce and Judy Forbes
17 David and Adonica Budd
20 Frank and Teresa Dean
21 Ned and Nancy Mountain
23 Dean and Chris DeLaigle
26 Jim and Marilyn Watson
27 Al and Wanda
Westmoreland
28 Ed and Kimberly Brown
28 Dale and Sandi Dean
31 Holmes and Reba
Harrison
31 Chuck and Elizabeth Pratt
I deeply appreciate the hand-
made pillowcase which is a
symbol of God's peace made by
the Morning Joy Circle and
thanks for all the prayers and
good wishes made by those
people who signed it. It is
really beautiful and when I
look at it, it gives me a spiritu-
ally uplift which I badly need a
lot of times.
Tom Hawks
To all of you who worked so
hard to honor our Veterans on Sunday, November 8th—it
was wonderful! Thank you so
much!
Etsel and Sandy Shell
2 Bob Farmer
2 Pat Foster
5 Jack Lipold
8 Phoebe Budd
8 Alison George
9 Herman Nicholson
9 Pam Owen
10 Don Fry
11 Hampton Hotard
12 Arren Taylor
17 Bill Duff
18 Patsy Hinely
18 Jake McGahee
19 Jack Foster
19 Sue Trotman
20 Pam Spangler
23 Gloria Agnew
23 Debbie Echols
24 Agnes Nichols
25 Rose McNair
26 Jeremiah Bartlett
26 John Bussler
26 Bobby Fede
26 Millie Flury
26 Clay Kafsky
27 Jean Hulsey
28 Sawyer Burgess
28 Melissa Charles
29 Sarah McNair
30 Henry Burgess
31 Denise Duff
31 Mary Spearman
31 Cami Taylor
The Mailbox Save the Date!
11
Regular Sunday Morning Schedule*
8:30am Classic Worship Service—S
9:00am Celebration Worship Service—C
9:30am Fellowship Time—FH
10:00am Sunday School Hour (Children, Youth, and Adult Classes)
11:00am Classic Worship Service—S
December 1
9:30am Prayer Ministry –C
5:30pm Trustees Meeting—AB
December 2
**Regular Wednesday Schedule
10:00am Prison Ministry ―Stuff the Bags‖ Event—FH
December 3
7:30am Men’s Breakfast—Crossroads Cafe
10:00am Skeins of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry—C
12:00pm Kite Stribling UMW Circle—Marilyn Davis Home
2:00pm Red Cross Blood Drive—FH
December 4
TBD Prison Ministry Visitation
12:30pm Bridge Club—C
December 5
11:00am Ladies Advent Luncheon—FH
December 6—Communion
2nd Sunday in Advent
*Regular Sunday Morning Schedule
3:00pm Connectional Ministry Meeting—C
5:30pm Youth Worship Team Practice—C
6:30pm Youth—C
6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship Supper—Mishima
December 7
6:00pm Stephen Ministers Meeting—C-16
December 8
7:00am Youth Prayer Breakfast—Dairy Queen (Clarkesville)
9:30am Prayer Ministry—C
10:30am Ladies Lunch Bunch—Macaroni Grill (Mall of GA)
10:45am Jetsetters/Good News Class Christmas Lunch—
Western Sizzlin’ (Cleveland)
6:30pm Future Facilities Committee Meeting—AB
December 9
**Regular Wednesday Schedule
TBD Children’s Live Nativity
December 10
7:30am Men’s Breakfast—Crossroads Cafe
10:00am Skeins of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry-C
December 11 12:30pm Bridge Club—C
7:30pm Walk to Emmaus Gathering—S
December 12
7:00pm Children’s Nativity on the Clarkesville Square
December 13—Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata
3rd Sunday in Advent
*Regular Sunday Morning Schedule
12:00pm Covered Dish Luncheon—FH
6:30pm Youth Christmas Party—C
6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship Supper—Chicago’s
December 14
11:30am Morning Joy UMW Circle Christmas Lunch—
Crossroads Café (Clarkesville)
6:00pm Finance Committee Meeting—AB
December 15
9:30am Prayer Ministry—C
7:00pm Friends in Faith UMW Circle—AB
December 16
**Regular Wednesday Schedule
7:00pm Children’s Christmas Play—S
December 17
7:30am Men’s Breakfast—Crossroads Cafe
10:00am Skeins of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry—C
12:00pm CFUMC Preschool Christmas Celebration—C
December 18 12:30pm Bridge Club—C
December 20
*Regular Sunday Morning Schedule
6:30pm Youth—C
6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship—El Patron
December 21
5:00pm Grapevine deadline
6:00pm Habersham WEST Visitation
December 22
9:30am Prayer Ministry –C
December 24—Christmas Eve
Church Office Closed
6:00pm Christmas Eve Service—S
11:00pm Christmas Eve Service—S
December 27
*Regular Sunday Morning Schedule
6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship Supper—Captain D’s
6:30pm Youth—C
December 28
6:15pm Habersham EAST Visitation
December 29
9:30am Prayer Ministry –C
December 31—New Year’s Eve
Church Office Closes at 12:30pm
Regular Wednesday Evening Schedule**
5:00pm Joybells
5:30pm Wednesday Night Meal—FH
6:30pm Adult Classes
6:30pm Children’s Faith Quest Class
6:30pm Youth—C
6:30pm Ensemble Practice
7:30pm Chancel Choir
FH = Fellowship Hall C= The Connection S = Sanctuary AB = Admin. Bldg
Attention! Community use of facilities is not listed on calendar due to space limitations. To minimize scheduling conflicts, please check your proposed date &
time with the office’s main calendar before scheduling an event or meeting.
Don’t forget to buy your
Christmas Poinsettias ($7/
each) in honor of or in
memory of those you love!
Orders are due December
3rd. Poinsettias can be taken
home, following the
Christmas Eve Services.
12
The Grapevine, December 2015
Clarkesville First United Methodist Church 1087 Washington Street, P.O. Box 365, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Office: (706) 754-2677 FAX: (706) 754-1276
Parsonage: (706) 754-5903
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.clarkesvillefirstumc.org
Office Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday
Closed for lunch 12:30-1:00pm
Return Service Requested
The Back Page Pastor’s Report
This has been a great year serving our Lord Jesus Christ. You, as a church,
have reached some new heights, and we are always praising the Lord for
that... with record numbers in Sunday School, more Operation Christmas Child shoe-
boxes than ever before, and worship attendance and membership both on the rise. God
is good and we give Him praise!
Yet, though we love to emphasize the high marks of life, we are forever mindful
that our Lord Jesus Christ stepped down from the heavens to be born in a lowly stable.
So we must never become proud. Since the Lord was willing to come serve humankind
in such a humble way, then we too must humble ourselves in His presence and offer
ourselves as faithful servants.
Let us grow spiritually as a people committed to God during the seasons of Ad-
vent and Christmas. Let us pray and seek how God would have us do acts of mercy to-
ward others at this glorious time of the year.
My family and I wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Love in Christ,
Rev. Brian T. Butler, Pastor