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December, 2021
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Pastor Daniel ThuesonFinding Your Way Home For Christmas The Christmas story is especially relevant this year. I’m not talking about Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals and the economy. I’m not talking about shorter lines than years past on Christmas shopping adventures. I’m not even talking about resort and entertainment hotspots reopening. I’m talking about how the events surrounding the birth of Jesus hit home in very practical ways. Here’s what I mean. When the day arrived, and it was time for Jesus’ mother Mary to give birth, Mary and her fiancé Joseph were heading back to their family’s hometown of Bethlehem. Except, when they finally made it to their destination, the house was full. There was no more room inside and the only place they could find shelter was in the stable with the animals. That’s where Jesus was born. Then, as news from the angels, shepherds, temple workers, and magi spread, King Herod received word of Jesus’ birth and that he was the promised Messiah. The problem was, Herod had recently returned from Rome where he met with the emperor and arranged to not only rule over Judea, but the whole Galilean territory uniting all of Israel under a single king. Thus, earning him the title “Herod the Great.” Except, a ruler known as “The Great” dared not play around with having a young male in his kingdom who was foretold to be the rightful heir of his throne. When Herod’s attempt to locate and capture Jesus fails, he lashes out. In a fury, he orders his soldiers to murder all male children under the age of two. Meanwhile, Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, has a dream that an angel tells them escape to Egypt. So, while Jesus is still an infant, he and his family flee to a foreign land and live away from home for several years. There, they wait until it’s safe to return. Yet, this Christmas there is a calling to come home. It’s a homecoming to gather together in worship at the feet of Jesus. It’s a clarion call to action so that we can break bread together at the Lord’s table, and to celebrate his birth with our family. It’s an opportunity to be with our sisters and brothers of both blood and faith to experience and share the hope, peace, love, and joy of Christ. It’s time. I invite you to come home. I want to welcome you back to a place where you are loved. For this Christmas, I pray that we all find the courage to come home and engage with the community of FUMC Mountain Home. Together, we make life better and make you better at life through Jesus Christ. Grace and peace, Pastor Daniel |
Holiday Lights RecyclingSaturday, December 4th • 10:00-12:00 Do you have strings of Chrristmas lights that don't work? On Saturday December 4th from 10:00 am till 12:00 pm, bring your broken or unwanted strings of Christmas lights to the church for recycling. Drop off will be under the UMAC canopy. Proceeds from this event will be donated to Backpack Food 4 Kids. |
Ministry ArchitectsDecember 5th-7th As you know, we are in search of a Youth Director and a Children's Director. We have enlisted the help of a wonderful professional group to help with our search. Ministry Architects will be here Sunday December 5th through Tuesday December 7th. They will assessing, observing and holding several listening sessions. These sessions are important so that they can understand our needs to help recruit the best candidates for our church family. Why Ministry Architects? What is going to happen when Ministry Architects is here? As a parent, why should I attend? As a youth volunteer or Sunday school teacher, why should I attend? As a Board member who is not a part of the children or youth ministries, why should I attend? What will the report look like? For more infomation visit:
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Christmas PoinsettiasOrder Today! Once again this year, the florists are having issues ordering poinsettias from the growers. However, we will purchase what we can and if you would like to donate towars those to honor or memorialize a special person in your life, fill out a form at the office or Hospitality Desk and attach your payment or call the church office to order. The price is $15.00. The deadline for orders is Wednesday, December 8th. The poinsettias will adorn the main sanctuary beginning on Friday, December 10th for the first performance of the Cantata and will be split between the Contemporary Worship Center and the sanctuary for the Christmas Eve Eve service and the Christmas Eve service. |
Advent is Here!
Advent is an invitation. For many, it is the invitation to get into that Christmas spirit, to count down the days to the grand celebration, and let the holiday transform everything around us. It's not all about December 25, the holiday, with all the jingle bells and tinsel. It's about Christmas, the birth of Christ, the celebration of the Incarnate one who comes to remind us that we are not alone, and God is with us. As Christians, we long for the coming kingdom, where there is no more war, where people will walk in the light, where joy will be found, and love will be the tie that binds us together. We long for a family of followers who share our beliefs and love for Christ. That’s the home for which we long. That’s the invitation this Advent season. Let this Christmas be a home-coming for us all. Join us this Advent for a Christmas sermon series with Pastor Daniel. Invite a friend and come home for Christmas. |
A Thrill of HopeChristmas Cantata Join us Friday December 10th at 7:00pm and/or Sunday December 12th at 11:00amfor this year's Christmas Cantata, A Thrill of Hope. You won't want to miss this dynamic retelling of the Christmas story by our talented Chancel Choir. Hope, Love, Peace and Joy, the major themes of Advent and Christmas are all addressed in this amazing array of familiar carols, thoughtful narration and scripture readings culminating in an uplifting celebration of the joy of the season. Our hope is that this experience will enhance your Christmas in a moving and powerful way. |
Christmas Fellowship Meal
All are invited to our annual church-wide Christmas Fellowship Meal on December 15th at 5:30 pm in the UMAC (United Methodist Activity Center). Dinner will be followed by a special Christmas Program from our Children and Youth in the Contemporary Worship Center followed by the Baby Jesus Shower. So bring your appetites, your Christmas Spirits and a baby gift for the shower! Donations towards dinner are also appreciated. We hope to see you there! |
Children & Youth Christmas ProgramFun for the whole family! Join us On Wednesday December 15th at 5:30pm for our annual Christmas Felloowship meal and then stay for our Children & Youth Christmas Program. After the program we will have the Baby Jesus Shower with hot cocoa and cupcakes! You won't want to miss this night! It will be fun for the whole family! |
Baby Jesus Shower
After the Children & Youth Christmas Program, we will have our annual Baby Jesus Shower complete with Ms. Shirley Poynter cupcakes! Please bring an unwrapped gift suitable for a baby boy or girl. These gifts will be taken to the local health dept. to be distributed to babies in need. |
Christmas Eve EveContemporary Christmas Worship This year, we are offering an additional Christmas worship opportunity. We wiull be having a Contemporary Christmas Service on Christmas Eve Eve. Join us in the Contemporary Worship Center on Thursday, December 23rd at 6:30pm. The service will include Christmas carols, Holy Communion and will end in candlelight!! Join us as we honor the Christ-child on Christmas Eve Eve. |
Carols, Communion and CandlelightChristmas Eve Service One of the most beautiful and reverent traditions in this church is our Christmas Eve service. We are so happy to be back to our usual service this year! Filled with familiar Christmas carols, special Christmas soloists, a special Christmas anthem by the Chancel Choir, and a special musical piece by one of the handbell choirs, it’s quite spectacular! The service will end with candlelight as we sing "Silent Night” to commemorate the light coming out of the darkness. Please join us as we honor the Christ-child on Christmas Eve |
December 26th WorshipOne Service at 10:00am - In the Sanctuary On Sunday, December 26th we will have one Unity Sunday style service at 10:00 am in the sanctuary. For more infomation visit:
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Christmas Gift bags for Inmates
Again this Christmas, we will be doing our prison outreach Christmas Gift Bags. We provide a bag of simple, useful gifts to each incarcerated individual in the Baxter County Jail. Each bag contains socks, pre-stamped postcards, puzzle books, etc. December is a dark time of the year, and it is particularly difficult to be in prison in the holiday season. Each gift bag is a reminder that there are people “outside the walls” who think of their incarcerated neighbors and wish them a better future, both while they are in prison and after release. If you would like to donate items of money to this misistry outreach, it would be greatly appreciated. Items are listed here: • Socks (all the same, the jail prefers white)
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Angel TreeBe a blessing Choose an angel from the Angel Trees in the Narthex. These are names of our homebound brothers and sisters as well as those in nursing homes. Be a blessing to them this Christmas by sending a card, gift or just visiting them over the holidays. |
Mitten TreeHelping Children Stay Warm This Winter Donate hats and/or mittens of all sizes for children in need by placing them on the Mitten Tree in the Narthex. The items will be distributed after Christmas to children in need. |
Children & Youth Ministries
Hello Church Family! Advent is here which means it's officially the Christmas season! I love Christmas! It's my favorite time of year. We are so excited to annouce that our children and youth will be working together to on a special Christmas program. The Program will be December 15th after the Christmas Fellowship Meal. We will be working on the program for the next few Wednesdays and Sundays. I hope that the families with children are having fun with their Advent calendars. If you haven't recieved your, just let me know and I will get it for you. Also on December 15th, following the Program, we will be having our annual Baby Jesus Shower. Please bring an unwrapped gift for a baby boy or baby girl. The gifts will be taken to our local DHS to be distributed to children in need. We will have Ms. Shirley Poynter cupcakes and hot cocoa too! Also, Please be sure to attend one of the Ministry Architects' listening sessions. This will help greatly in our search for a new Children's Director and Youth Director. God Bless & Have a Very Merry Christmas! Laura Law For more infomation visit:
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November Memorials and Honorariums
GENERAL FUND BUILDING FUND MUSIC BACKPACK FOOD 4 KIDS CROSSROADS PRAISE BAND Children Children's Water Drive Scholarship Fund Thanksgiving Baskets |
Monthly GivingNovember |
Prayer ListIf you wish to add a concern to our list, please contact the church office at 425-6036. You can also submit prayers to the prayer wall on the church app. Prayers After Loss: Concerns: |
MERRY CHRISTMAS CHURCH FAMILY!
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