Methodist Messenger Our Mission: Welcome All, Win to Christ, Equip to Follow, Serve Christ’s Mission

Your Monthly Source of Information & Inspiration from Clanton First United Methodist Church January 2017

Rob West Senior Pastor Barbara Brewi Associate Pastor Jeff Herron Youth Minister Jason Warnix Interim Minister of Music Christi Mitchell Children’s Minister Elisabeth Smith AdministrativeAssistant Lynn Best Office Manager Mary Morris Accompanist/ Organist Linda Niles Preschool Director Barbara Lewis Treasurer Corey Smith Jerry Dalton Judy Holley Custodian Annie Roberts Kitchen Coordinator Deanna Bonagura Elaine Johnson Megan McCarter Sonya Mahan Nursery Staff Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Office Phone (205) 755-0490 FAX (205) 755-0840 Worship Services 9:30 AM Traditional 9:30 AM Hydrate 11:00 AM Traditional 11:30 AM Hispanic Sunday School 9:30 & 11:00 AM

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 Happy New Year! A new beginning, a new page and new opportunities! We always welcome this chance to start afresh. The New Year comes in represented as a babe in diapers and goes out like an old man, weary and worn. We want to keep this new freshness all year long, but somehow life always takes over and we get worn down like cornmeal. How do we avoid this grinding down and dashing of our hopes and dreams? The Bible has sixty-seven different verses that refer to and give instructions on how to “renew our minds”. I challenge you to take the first sixty-seven days of this New Year and meditate on every one of them. That will take you into the second week of Lent and will surely prepare your heart for the Lenten season and beyond. I will send you a list of these scriptures if needed. As you read the scriptures, look back on the blessings and lessons of last year. Ask yourself, “what has God laid on my heart to change and what could I share to help someone else?” The Christian life calls us to continually renew our minds until we have the same mind as Christ (see Philippians 2:1-11). The Wesleyan Covenant Service on Dec 31 at 6:30 pm is the place to begin this renewal. It is a time to gather together to dedicate ourselves and this new year to our Lord. Based upon Wesley’s Covenant Prayer, the service is a beautiful and “holy agreement between God and yourself that you may remember it during times of doubt and temptations” (Book of Worship). I hope to worship with each of you at this service. Blessings,

B

Poinsettias have been purchased to benefit the United Methodist Children’s Home - White Christmas which provides love and support to countless children and families within the Alabama - West Florida Conference. IN MEMORY OF: Denny Meeker by Christi Mitchell

Elbert & Hazel Jones by Sidney Craig

Our parents by Bud & Judy Riviere

My sweet daddy, Steve Smith by Elisabeth Smith

My folding friends: Lane Kalanick and Nancy Sanders by

Elisabeth Smith

Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Gray; Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Darnell; Jerry Gray by

James & Debra Darnell

Dale Norton by Jim & Nancy Norton

Gordon and Ona Lee Jones; Lamar Teel and Pee Wee Carter by

Danny and Jennifer Carter

Toney Vaughn by Joyce Vaughn

Henry E. Shelton; Warren Hendy, Janet Lewis by Anne

Bamberg

Kate Hughes by James and Carla Lumpkin

Nancy Sanders by Stephanie Gibson

Lane Kalanick by Charles Kalanick

Minnie Payton Hicks by Peggy Green

Elizabeth Ellis-Woods by Robin Cobern

Our grandparents by Lawrence and Anne Bamberg

Mildred M Forrest and Wendy F Bryan by Steve Forrest

Jerry W Cornelius by John Cornelius

Philip O’Rear by Linda O’Rear

Joyce Hilyer, Al Molloie by Dawn Bailey

Florence Hight, Louis Serafin, Jr by Robert and Candace Hight

James Brannon by Jon Brannon

M. C. “Rip” Collins by Ashley Holt

Curtis Roberts by Chris Gregg, Jamie, Curt & Jordan

Mr and Mrs J.R. Stankard and Mr. & Mrs. George Thomas

Sharman II by Sonny and Gail Sharman

Doris and Isaac Byrd by Albert and Elizabeth Byrd

James C and Ellen Frances Lowman; Al Avasso (Jill Lowman’s

dad) by James and Jill Jowman

Maxwell Hargrove by Jearlyne Hargrove

My grandmother, Hazel Collum Anderson by Debbie Smith

Alunda Scarborough by Beth Thornhill

Katie Avery by Laura McGhar

Dianne Sims (Claude’s daughter) by Claude and Jane Leach

Bill and Ruth Eiland; James D and Mary Frances Jones by

Danny and Ann Eiland

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Gray, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Darnell and Jerry

Gray by James, Debra, Amber Darnell and Ashley and

Kenny Bevers

Cont.

Jane Nolen by Mark Nolen

Olan and Lanelle Phillips; Woodlee and Delma Touchstone by

Leo Phillips

Larry Langston by Lana Hardwick

Johnny D. Trobaugh; Lowell C Smith; Adrin and Grady Rowell;

Carrean and Connie Trobaugh by Annella T. Smith

Henry Hill; Rayford and Carrie Lee Jones by Jerry and Pam

Jones

Jim and David Campbell; Jon and Mamie Jackson by Sandra

Campbell

Leland West by Rob West

Ann Johnsey Cauwell by Barbara Brewi

Nina Roddy, Walter Roddy by Michelle Byrd

Kristin Giacobbe by Brian Giacobbe

Wayne Ferguson by Nina Ferguson

Our parents Claude and Elizabeth Stowe & Luther and Daisy

Payton by Jim and Wanda Payton

IN HONOR OF: Lynn Best and Elisabeth Smith by Barbara Brewi

All office volunteers and folding ladies (and gentleman) by

Barbara Brewi

Ben Bentley Family by Aldersgate Sunday School Class

Class President Bud Riviere from Aldersgate Sunday School

Class

Roy and Willetta Mulhorn by Karen Smith

Anne Dalton and Leticia Gomez by Kathy Black

Our military by Curt & Charlotte Rowland

“Rock” Arthur Lloyd Killough by James and Jill Lowman

Alicia Dobbs, Don McAfee by Shirley McAfee

White Christmas by Carla Lumpkin, Louie & Nancy Bentley,

Howard & Martha Bialas

My grandchildren: Danielle & Lacy by Terri Nobles

Mitchell Family (Children’s Ministry) and Herron Family (DV8)

by The Simms Family

Mary Ann Nolen by Mark Nolen

Meme & Granddaddy (Larry and Doris Reynolds) by Lawson

and Lydia Patterson

Dianne Sims (Claude’s Daughter) by Claude and Jane Leach

In honor of our children and grandchildren by Jim and Wanda

Payton

Celebrate Recovery Meal Volunteers Jan 2- Celebrate Recovery Jan 9 – Ignite Jan 16 – H20 Jan 23 – New Horizons Jan 30 – Agape / Carlisle Miller

Early Traditional worship time is changing. It

currently begins at 8:15 am every Sunday morning.

Beginning January 1, 2017 the Early Traditional will

meet at 9:30 am. All other services and classes will

remain the same.

Join us New Year’s Eve, DEC 31 at 6:30 pm in the

Sanctuary for the John Wesley Covenant Service.

Come make a covenant with Christ for the new year.

Daughters of Dorcas Circle

(United Methodist Women):

Tuesday, January 10 at 11:30.

Lunch will be served. 2017

Mission Projects will be

planned. Come join and help

others in our community and

around the world! We need you!!

Friday, January 27 at 7:00

p.m. in the gym! More details will be announced soon in the bulletin!

The church office will be closed January 2 & 16 in observation of the New Year and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Attention All Ladies - A new women's small group study will begin soon and you are invited

to come join in this self-exploring ride! The study is called "Anything" by Jennie Allen. Caught in this familiar haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie Allen and her husband Zac prayed a courageous prayer of abandonment that took them on an adventure God had written for them. "God, we will do anything. Anything," More details to come! Please contact Alice Graham for more info at 294-1018.

Dear Church Family, On behalf of the Emergency Assistance Center I thank you all for your donations and contributions to the center, with special thanks to Elisabeth Smith, Christi Mitchell, and Jeff Herron. The food items donated will be used to serve the needy families in the county that find it difficult to provide for their children. Thank you again for your care and willingness to help the families in need, especially this time of year. – Ray Sosa

Regular Wednesday Night Classes, Supper & AWANA will resume January 11. The film series, “Promised Land“ will be offered at 6:30 pm for the adult class in Crossroads Café. Filmed on location in Israel, That the World May Know is a unique video series that brings God's Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible's fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals unique insights into the Scriptures' significance for modern believers.

The Administrative Council will meet January 23, 2017 at 6:30 pm.

Dear Church Family, Thank you for your prayers, kind words and cards in the passing of our beloved daughter, Patrice. There are no words that will express our gratitude to you for the spiritual uplifting you gave us by being so kind and supportive in our time of sorrow. Patrice has left a big void in our family but we know she is with the Lord now and not suffering anymore. – The Sosa Family

January Celebrations! Happy Birthday!

1 Jenna Parnell 2 Molly Vana 3 Sidney Conway, Judy Holley 4 Donna Hall, Josh Parker

5 Mary Porter Thornhill 6 Etta Jo Carlton, Laura Hall 7 Sidney Craig, Joyce Eiland, Jacob Marsh 8 Becki McCallum 9 Anne Dalton, Caroline Gaines, David Keel, Paul Smith, Sofia Spears 10 Mark Cleckler, Alice Graham, Joseph Parnell 12 Warwick Naylor, Mary Ann Nolen 13 Mike Cooper, Jaxon Pate, Lee Walters, Brandi Williams 14 James Darnell, Evie Claire Gray, 15 Kenley Carter 16 Jaxon Trentman 17 Mia Rose Batchelor, Corbin Bice, Susan Carter, Britnee Thompson 19 Richard Davis, Chloe Haggard, Eathen Patterson, Curt Rowland 20 Lexie Flowers, Pam New, Britney Ray, Whitney Zugg 21 Jerry Dalton, Dale Lenoir, Addison Owen 22 Tim Linderman 23 Jill Jackson 24 Lawrence Bamberg, Eli Dale, Kelcie Lackey, Katie McKeller 25 Claea Bice, Audrey Faust 27 Sonja Bice, Sandy Bonagura, Michelle Smith 28 Howard Bialas, Barbie Clements 29 Jane Chism 30 John Byrd, Debra Darnell, Joyce Gay, Will Harris, Ashton Smith 31 Steve Forrest, Gina Whatley, Whitney Wyatt

Happy Anniversary 3 Mr & Mrs Jamie Collins (Kerri)

Mr & Mrs Joseph Parnell (Jodi) 13 Mr & Mrs Bill Drinkard (Nancy) 16 Mr & Mrs John Schmith (Patsy) 23 Mr & Mrs David McKinney (Kim) Traditional Greeters- Aldersgate Sunday School Class Traditional Ushers- Bill Hurst, Larry Reynolds, Jerry Jones

Hydrate Greeters

8-Jan Drew & Jennifer Zuelzke Linda McKinney Stephanie Gibson

15-Jan Phil & Gail Foster Karen Smith

22-Jan James & Debra Darnell Amber Darnell

29-Jan Carlis & Katrina Shaw Becki & Mau McCallum

A copy of the 2017 Budget and Lay Leadership may be

received at the Welcome Center or Welcome Desk.

On January 1, the 8:15 traditional service is

moving to 9:30. We are taking this

opportunity to try something new in

Children’s Ministry! Children in Kindergarten

through 6th

grade will attend 9:30 worship

with their parents (either contemporary in the

gym or traditional in the sanctuary). At

10:00, all the K-4th

graders will dismiss from

both services to Children’s Church in the

upper room. We will have worship from

10:00-10:50 and then have a short break

before we dismiss to Sunday school at 11:00.

K-2nd

Girls will meet in the upper room, K-2nd

boys, 3rd

-4th

grade, and GAP will meet

downstairs in the classrooms. This allows us

to only have to move locations 1 time, and

allows families the opportunity to worship

together in the service of their choosing!

Children learn so much about how to worship

by watching their parents and other adults.

We will try this new schedule and see how it

works out for everyone!

New K-4th

Sunday Schedule

9:30-10:00 Worship (gym or sanctuary)

10:00-10:50 Children’s Church (upper room)

11:00-11:45 Sunday school (activity center)

11:45 Closing song and prayer (upper room)

GAP students (Grades 5 & 6) will

worship from 9:30-10:30 in the service of their

choosing and have Sunday school from

11:00-12:00 as they do now.

Children’s Choirs, Liturgical Dance, and

AWANA begin on JANUARY 11.

ATTENTION 6th GRADERS!

Confirmation Classes will begin on January 8 with a dinner at 5:00pm in Crossroads Café for

mentors, confirmands and families (adult mentors should plan to arrive at 3:30 for a meeting with the pastors). After this week,

confirmands will meet with their mentors once per week at a time and place convenient for

both! We will also have class trips, a retreat, and a lock-in. It’s going to be a wonderful

program! Contact Christi Mitchell for more information.

Children’s Page

A Publication of FUMC Children’s Ministry

January 2017

AWANA starts back January 11.

1/11 – 80’s Night (dress for the decade) 1/18 – Snow Much Fun (indoor snow games) 1/25 – Souper Bowl Night (bring a can of soup)

We will be collecting new or gently used jackets and coats of all sizes during the

month of January. Bring them to the church anytime, and let’s bless those in our

community with some warmth this winter.

“Be the Light” Elementary Winter Retreat

Blue Lake Camp Feb. 3-5, 2017 for 3rd-5th graders. Cost is $125. To register visit bluelakecamp.com.

GAP Winter Retreat Camp Sumatanga

January 20-21, 2017 for 5th-6th graders. Cost is $65. To register contact Christi Mitchell by January 6.

Daddy/Daughter Gala February 11 @ 6pm

Girls in Preschool (age 3) through 6th grade are invited to bring a dad, uncle, brother, or

granddad to a special dinner and dance in the Crossroads Café. RSVP by February 1.

Contact Christi Mitchell or Kellie Reece for more details.

A Message from Christi… I would like to thank all of our volunteers for a

wonderful 2016 in ministry. It’s exciting to see our classes growing and reaching more children. I ask for your prayers going forward in 2017 as we make some small changes to our Sunday schedule in order to make our worship more

family friendly. I encourage all parents to try a different service every now and then with your children. If you’re a contemporary worshiper,

try the new 9:30 traditional sometime. If you’re a traditional member, try Hydrate

sometime. We are hearing more and more that young adults are leaving the church, and they say it’s because they have trouble fitting into adult worship services. The more our children attend services with us (regular services and

special ones) and observe how we worship, the more likely they are to stay in church as they

grow up. The more ways they learn to worship, the more comfortable they will be in

church as an adult. Thank you!

First United Methodist Church U.S. Postage Paid 207 8th Street North Permit No. 77 Clanton, AL 35045 Non-Profit Org.

Clanton, Al

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Youth

News &

Notes

Jan. 1st no service.

Jan 4th parents meeting at 5:30

Jan 4, 11, 18, 25 - 6:17 pm Info on winter retreat. Service at 6:30

Jan. 8, 22, 29 - Small groups at 4:30

Winter retreat details:

Jan 13 Meet at 9:00 pm (Gibson Center)

10:00 Departure headed to Airwalk

12:00 to 7:00am lock in at Airwalk

7:30 am Load bus to >>>>>>>>>> (mystery trip) disclose to parents Jan.4th.

Contact numbers for trip, details, all will be disclosed at parent meeting. Trip is $125.00. (Students will need money for 2 fast food meals.)

Office Hours- 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM Mon- Fri

Office Phone- (205) 755-0490

Fax #- (205) 755-0840

Care Line- (205) 755- 3455

Worship 9:30 AM (Hydrate), 9:30 &

11:00 AM (Traditional)

Sunday School 9:30 & 11:00 AM

San Juan Hispanic Service 11:30 AM

View our Newsletter online at

www.clantonfumc.org