J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7
V O L U M E 2 5
I S S U E 1 F I R S T U N I T E D
M E T H O D I S T
C H U R C H O F
C O M M E R C E
January 1 11:00 am worship
January 2 Church Office Closed
January 8 2:00 pm Calendar Meeting
January 9th-13th Bible Studies Resume
January 11th @ 5:15p Wonderful Wednesday Resumes Family Night Supper
January 14th– 21st Honduras Mission Trip
January 16th Church Office Closed (MLK Day) @7:00p– Circle 3 Meeting
January 17th @2:00p– Hannah Circle @7:00p– Circle 5
January 24th @ 7:00p Trustees Meeting
January 29th@ 8:00a Men’s Breakfast @ CFUMC
Financial Update—2016 in Numbers
Thank you for your faithfulness in supporting our general
operating budget as well as going the extra mile in giving to our mission
opportunities. As we read in Luke 6:28, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For
with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Paid 100% of Apportionments and District Work Fund ($40,150.00)
Missions:
Food Bank: $5,685 (plus food donations)
iServe: $3,300
Guatemala: $9,957
Honduras: $32,835
Red Bird: $523
UMCOR: $5,595
Needy: $14,231.58
Thanksgiving Meal: $2,154 (plus food donations) TOTAL MISSION GIVING as of 12/11/16: $74,280
Thanks to your generosity to our needy fund, our congregation has made
the following donations during December:
Banks-Jackson Emergency Food Bank--$1,500
iServe Ministries-two food trucks--$1,700
(One truck in memory of April Wood Hagler (Mother of James Wood), victim of
Gatlinburg fires. One truck in honor of all the participants in our Children and
Adult Christmas programs)
Provided Christmas gifts for children of 25 Jackson County inmates
Provided Christmas gifts for children whose family lost their home in a fire
Provided scholarships for children to attend Camp Glisson/GROW Camps
Coming in February 2017: Final 2016 financial report
(including general budget and pledges.)
2016 giving statements will be available in late January.
Donna Wilson, Treasurer
Our Annual Calendar Planning meeting will be held on Sunday, January 8th at 2:00p in the
Fellowship Hall. The meeting is open to everyone. However, if you lead a committee, ministry,
mission, or any group in our congregation, you must attend.
Circle 3 will meet on January 16th at 7:00p
Hannah Circle will meet on January 17th at 2:00p in the Church Office
Circle 5 will meet on January 17th at 7:00p in the Church Office
Choir Notes
Adult choir practices resume on Jan. 11th! Enjoy the break and thanks to the choir and musicians
for MANY hours of hard practice!
A big thank you to all who helped in anyway with the Children's Program and Cantata. Those who decorated, pre-
pared and served food, provided technology support, "characters,” candle lighters, narrators, and costume de-
signers- there was a great effort by many people to make this season "bright.” Thanks be to God for you all!
Stewardship Corner
Wow! It’s 2017! Another wonderful Christmas season behind us and a celebration of
2016 and the coming of the new year. I hope you are looking forward to being a Chris-
tian this year! This may be a time of uncertainty for you and others as we start the year with a new President, a
new cabinet, and, perhaps, a different way of being governed. It may also be a time for testing one’s faith. But,
as Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians (Ep 4:7-13), each of us has been give spiritual gifts that we, as Chris-
tians, can use to build up the church (that’s us), the body of Christ, especially during times of uncertainty. So, be
a good steward. Look for ways you can use your spiritual – and physical – gifts this year to edify the body of
Christ. And REMEMBER…God has been, is now, and always will be with you!
See you in worship!
Tom Murphy
706-693-7126
PS: A good way to use your talents this year is by serving in one of the many ministries of our church! Feel led
to serve? Please let me know or speak with Pastor David!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
10:00a Sunday School 11:00a Worship
2 Office Closed
3
4
5
6
7
8 SECOND SUNDAY 8:30a Worship 10:00a Sunday School 11:00a Worship 2:00p Calendar Meeting 5:30p Youth
9 7:00p Bible Study
10 10:00a Prayer and Care
11 10:00a Women's Bible Study 10:00a Books with Bowen 5:15 pm Bible Study 5:15p Wonderful Wed 5:15p Youth 6:00p Family Night Supper 7:00p Choir 7:00p Bible Study
12 10:00a Men's Bible Study 7:00p Bible Study
13
14 Honduras Mission Trip
15 8:30a Worship 10:00a Sunday School 11:00a Worship 5:30p Youth
16 Church Office Closed 7:00p Bible Study 7:00p Circle 3
17 10:00a Prayer and Care 2:00p Hannah Circle 7:00p Circle 5
18 10:00 am Ladies' Study 10:00 am Books with Bowen 5:15 pm Wonderful Wednesday 5:15 pm Youth 5:15 pm Bible Study 7:00 pm Adult Choir 7:00 pm Bible Study
19 10:00a Men's Bible Study 7:00p Bible Study
20
21
22 8:30a Worship 10:00a Sunday School 11:00a Worship 5:30p Youth
23 7:00p Bible Study
24 10:00a Prayer and Care 7:00p Trustees
25 10:00 am Ladies' Study 10:00 am Books with Bowen 5:15 pm Wonderful Wednesday 5:15 pm Youth 5:15 pm Bible Study 7:00 pm Adult Choir 7:00 pm Bible Study
26 10:00a Men's Bible Study 7:00p Bible Study
27 28
29 8:00a Men’s Breakfast@UMC 8:30a Worship 10:00a Sunday School 11:00a Worship 2:45p Youth
30 7:00p Bible Study
31 10:00a Prayer and Care
Elijah Crow
Carolyn Stephenson, Beth Pierce,
Brenda Hay, Stacy Oxley
TBA
Lucy Gailey
Reece Morris
Sunday, January 1
Matthew 2:1-12
Sunday, January 8
John 15:1-8
Sunday, January 15
Ezra 1:1-11
Sunday, January 22
Nehemiah 4:1-6
Sunday, January 29
Esther 4:11-14
Jan 1 Joanna Suarez
Jan 8 Gina Hagan
Jan 15 Tara Wood
Jan 22 Gina Hagan
Jan 29 Gina Hagan
Week 1- Dave Moon, Lee Hagan
Week 2- Tom Murphy, Al Fleming
Week 3- Jack Legg, Bill Davis
Week 4- Jimmy Bolton, Att Stephenson
Week 5– Tom Murphy, Al Fleming
Doris Smith, Ellen Smith, Charlotte
Massey, Linda Brake, Billie Bowen,
Rese Tiller, Lori Martin
1/1 Ashlynn Harbin, Inez Mize
1/2 Caroline Beauchamp
1/4 Sadie Beauchamp
1/5 Jan Roe, Zoe Phillips
1/7 Rita Farris
1/10 Janet Varner
1/11 Cole Smith
1/12 Margie Brown
1/16 Bryan Harbin
1/25 Lisa Marshburn, Annabel Seltzer
1/30 Tara Beauchamp
1/31 Marie Canady, Barbara Reid
1/12 Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Parham
1/20 Drs. Sam and Joanna Suarez
1/29 Mr. and Mrs. Trey Wood
Men’s 2017 Breakfast Schedule
Calling all Men! On the last Sunday of each month there is a men’s fellowship breakfast at the area
churches. The breakfast begins at 8:00 am, and will rotate at a different church each month. Here is the
schedule for 2016:
January UMC
February Mt. Calvary
March CPC
April FBC
May UMC
August CPC
September FBC
October UMC
* No Men’s Breakfast in June, July, November or December.
Jean Bauerband
Becky Beggs, requested by David and Billie Bowen
Robert Bowles friend of David Stephenson
Kirby Rutherford, requested by Peggy Purcell
Mary Odum, grandmother of Elizabeth Phillips
Claire Ganss, mother of Janis Parkhill
Lucille Matthews Wilson, requested by Sara McClure
Shea Dewberry Gilbert, requested by David and Billie Bowen
Trent Parr, son of Doris Parr and brother of Amy Harbin
Wanda Reed, mother of Jimmie Claxton
Pat Purcell
Hazel Davidson, sister of Doris Smith
Kevin Purcell
Susan Klein, sister of Barbara Reid
Sandy Link, daughter of June and Tom Murphy
Josi Madera and David Roberts, requested by Stephanie Hill
Joseph Gibson, requested by Judy Paugh
Tyler Wilson, son of Samantha and Bubba Clark
K. Ellen Hagan
Winston Hencely
Ed Adams
Brad Merck, Nephew of Reece Morris
Jerald Perkins
Todd Mize
Willie Durham, Uncle of Dave Moon
Second Sunday Report
The Results:
December 11th
13 bags of food and collected
$400 in donations!
Our Next Challenge:
January 8th
Canned fish, chicken or
any other protein
Also, there is always a need for
Breakfast Food and Instant Potatoes.
Please remember, if for some reason you
cannot attend church on the second
Sunday, you can always drop items off at
the church office.
Cash contributions are also accepted and
appreciated.
Children’s Ministry It’s a new year and with that comes the opportunity to make the Children’s Ministry eve-
rything we wish for it to be…and that means including you in all our decisions…are you
ready for 2017?
Wonderful Wednesday
The fun resumes on January 11th! We meet in the gym at 5:15 pm for free play and break
into age appropriate groups at 5:30 to begin our lessons. Pick up is at the Sanctuary Ramp at 6:15 pm.
All children ages 3 – 12 are invited to attend. Each session is packed with music and games, Bible story, craft time
or service projects. You do not have to be a member of our church to attend—children are encouraged to bring a
friend! The Wonderful Wednesday Team looks forward to seeing everyone’s bright smiling faces!
Children’s Ministry Planning Meeting, January 11th at 5:30 pm Family Life Center
All who are interested in the Children’s Ministry activities are invited to attend this 2017 planning session. We’ll
meet during Wonderful Wednesday to sketch out the year’s events. Everyone will be given a calendar with the
major events (VBS, GROW Day Camp, seasonal worship activities, etc.) already listed. Please plan to join us so
2017 can be the best possible year for our children.
Volunteers are always needed for our programs to be successful!
Sign-up sheets for January – March will be available at the planning meeting, in the Sunday school hallway and on
the front pew. Please consider volunteering for the Nursery or for Children’s Church. We thank you for sharing
your time and talents with our children!
We are looking forward to a year full of adventure and growth in Christ…
In His Love,
Gina
During the month of January, CFUMC Youth will be sponsoring a Sock Drive for iServe.
There is a critical need for all sizes and types of socks according to Sherry Grant, of
iServe.
There will be labeled laundry baskets located around the church for you to place your do-
nations. Socks collected by Jan. 12 will go to iServe food distribution on Sat. Jan. 14.
Socks collected mid to end of January will go to iServe food distribution on Feb. 11.
Thank you in advance of your support of this ministry. If you have questions, please email K.Ellen at
[email protected] or call her at 706-654-7040
Our FUMC Honduras Mission Team would like to thank you for your prayers
and support. We will depart from Atlanta on January 14 and return on January
21. We ask you to continue to pray safe travels for us and that we will know,
show, and grow God's love in the village of Las Aguilas Del Sur as well as to
all we come in contact with. If you would like to make a donation please write Honduras on
the "for" line of your check. Thank you.
Youth News
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope you have had an amazing Christmas with your family and your
friends. As we move into 2017, it is a time to make “resolutions”. I must confess, that I
have never been successful in keeping my resolutions but I will try again this year. These
resolutions should not be viewed upon as punishment or some type of drudgery but some-
thing that will help us to become better people—more importantly stronger Christians.
Some examples might include: spending more time in devotional and quiet time, taking part
in Youth activities and projects, serving as the hands and feet of Christ. It is my prayer
that you will join me in working toward becoming a stronger Christian in 2017.
During January, we will be collecting socks of all types and sizes. The socks will go to iServe to be distributed.
We are told there is a great need for socks of all sizes. There will be laundry baskets around church for your
donations. Socks that are collected by Jan. 11 will be distributed on Jan, 14. Socks that we collect later in the
month will be distributed in February.
Attitude of Gratitude: If you would like to join me in filling up a jar with daily blessings, let me know. I have
jars!
Please put these events on your calendar and plan to join us. When you aren’t with you, you are missed.
January Events
Jan. 1 Sunday School and Worship 10:00
Christmas/New Year’s Party at K.Ellen’s 5:00-7:00
Jan. 8 Sunday School and Worship
Youth 5:30-7:00 Art Time!
Jan. 11 Bible Study 5:15-6:15
Jan. 14 iServe 7:00 a.m.
Jan. 15 Sunday School and Worship Youth 5:30-7:00
Jan. 18 Bible Study 5:15-6:15
Jan. 22 Sunday School and Worship Youth will meet 5:30-7:00
Jan. 25 Bible Study 5:15-6:15
Jan. 29 Sunday School and Worship/Bingo at Brookdale. Leave church at 2:45 after bingo, we will go out
to eat at Banks Crossing
Looking Ahead:
Winter Jam Sat. Feb. 4
Sun. Feb. 5 UGA Lady Dawgs Basketball vs Tennessee 4:00. 2 members of our congregation have generously pro-
vided tickets for us to go. Please let me know within the next couple of weeks if you plan to go.
In closing, continue to pray for and support each other. If I can be help to you in any way, please let me know.
Happy New Year!!
K.Ellen Hagan J
706-654-7040
Rev. Dr. David G. Bowen, Senior Pastor
16 Cherry St.
Commerce, GA 30529
706-335-4018 (Office)
706 335-2031 (Fax)
Email us at: [email protected]
Visit us online at: WWW.COMMERCEFUMC.ORG
Like us on FACEBOOK!