Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior who was, and is, and always will be. Our savior who is right there with you. Never forsaking you, and always working in you and through you. 

This week we launched Advent. If you’re not familiar, advent holds two place markers for us. It signals the time when we enter a season of preparation to celebrate Christmas – the birth and the return of Jesus. It’s also the start of a new year on the Christian Calendar. 

As we look forward to what the next season will bring, it’s good to reflect and remember, and remind ourselves of what we’ve experienced and accomplished this past year. As I reflect, I could not be more proud of you, faithful family of believers. A Year to Celebrate! Together, we endured coming out of a two year pandemic. We’ve had difficult and healthy conversations about the future of the denomination. While not all is perfect, God’s grace continues to challenge us and grow in beautiful ways. We’ve stepped out with some bold initiatives to lead our community into the presence and knowledge of God’s love. 

Here’s a recap of what we’ve accomplished so far this year. In worship, we’ve explored the importance of our words and how words are incredibly powerful. So, the words we say and use matter. We’ve spent time studying courage and how living the Christian faith requires an immense amount of courage. We went line by line through the Lord’s Prayer and had insightful breakthrough on what it means when we pray the beautiful and powerful prayer Jesus taught us. 

Then, we thought about what it means to share the Good News. That the gospel is the good news and if your version of faith is not good news for all people, maybe it’s not the faith Jesus wants you to have. Then we learned how to replace the broken soundtracks of overthinking in our minds and how to create new, better, God inspired soundtracks that motivate and encourage us. 

Next, we came together to study and train about hospitality. I am so delighted how we adopted these biblical ideas of hospitality and adapted them to our Sunday morning worship. Afterwards we spent time challenging ourselves to manage our personal finances in a way that honors God, keeps us out of debt, and helps us better prepare for the future. 

Finally, we kick off Advent with Simply Christmas, Our Advent and Christmas worship series will guide us on ways to experience more Christ and less chaos this Christmas. We all can benefit from these seven life changing practices. 

That’s not all! We’ve received 29 new members into the church! We’ve celebrated six baptisms! We’ve hired a new youth director in Tom Merry who is directly impacting our children. They are growing in the faith, growing closer in community, having fun, and bringing friends! I love to brag on the work he is doing! He truly is a Godsend. 

We’re averaging 35 youth (not including 20 something children), on Wednesday after school and most of those are staying for Wednesday night Youth Group. This is exciting! In addition, we’re packing approximately 311 bags a week for Backpack Food for Kids. And we’re feeding over 70 people on Wednesday nights and nearly 100 on Thursday nights. We’ve ordered and secured a new bus and shower trailer for missions and disaster relief which was afforded by a gift from the Conference. We gave over $14,000 to UMCOR for emergency assistance in Ukraine and disaster relief through InGathering. 

All this and more conveys the wonderful work God is doing right here at FUMC Mountain Home. You are the conduit through which God’s presence is changing hearts, lives, communities and even the world. I’m continuously delighted to see how we are making life better and YOU better at life through Jesus Christ. This is truly building our hope for tomorrow. 

Your love is seen and felt. I am delighted to be your pastor. If you haven’t heard me say it, know this, I love you. More than that, God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it. 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Daniel

If you would like to order a poinsettia 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 $18.00. The deadline for orders is Wednesday, December 7th. The poinsettias will adorn the main sanctuary beginning on Friday, December 9th for the first performance of the Cantata and will be split between the Contemporary Worship Center and the sanctuary for the Contemporary Christmas Service and the Christmas Eve service. 

Are you free to celebrate in a manner worthy of a King who came to us not on a throne but in a manger? Who chose shepherds as his witnesses and the angels as his choir? Who came in the simplest forms to the simplest people and still managed to save the world? This Advent we are taking and making time to clear the chaos, the busyness, and the overwhelming everything so that we may more deeply experience Christ through a simplified Christmas. Simply Christmas, a new Advent and Christmas series by Pastor Daniel begins November 27th. 

Join us Friday December 9th at 7:00pm and/or Sunday December 11th at 11:00amf or this year's Christmas Cantata, The Seven Noels. Pepper Choplin's "The Seven Noels" weaves together THE FIRST NOWELL tune with original words to create a compelling frame for the beloved Christmas story. Written from different perspectives and propelling the musical narrative, the "noels" appear as short interludes between songs to describe imaginative visuals. Ranging stylistically from heartfelt ballads like "A Star" to the rhythmic and energetic "Unto Us a Child Is Born" and "Never Been a Night," "The Seven Noels" is sure to be a wonderful Christmas experience for all!

All are invited to our annual church-wide Christmas Fellowship Meal on December 14th at 5:30 pm in the UMAC (United Methodist Activity Center). We will be having a turkey dinner with all the fixin's. Dinner will be followed by Glory to God in the Lowest, a special Christmas Program from our Children 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! If you have not already signed up, please RSVP using the button below.

When angels appeared outside the town of Bethlehem proclaiming the greatest news the world had ever heard, they didn’t deliver their message to the “high and mighty,” but to the simple and lowly — shepherds! And, not just any shepherds, but easily-disregarded “night shepherds.” Little did they know that the promised king, the Messiah from the line of King David, was born that night, right there in Bethlehem, and would grow up to be both the Lamb of God, and the Good Shepherd! Glory to God In the Highest became Glory to God in the Lowest, too, as the very Son of God came to the world He created as a tiny baby in a lowly manger!

The children are hard at work on their Christmas play!  Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30pm and come be part of the fun when they present "Glory to God in the Lowest"!  

After the Children's 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 distributed to babies in need. 

Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other dis-ease, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregation and community. We are creating sacred space and time for people living through dark times. Blue Christmas, also called Longest Night is a service of hope through dark times. Join us for this special service as together we reach for healing and hope.

This year, we are offering an additional Christmas worship opportunity. We will be having a Contemporary Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 21st at 6:30pm in the Contemporary Worship Center. The service will include Christmas carols, Holy Communion and will end in candlelight!!  Join us as we honor the Christ-child this Christmas.

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

Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year. On Sunday, December 25th we will have one Unity Sunday style service at 10:00 am in the sanctuary. So, open your presents and head to church to celebrate Jesus on this special day!

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 calling or visiting them over the holidays.  

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.

Our next Thursday Morning Joy study will be  “Help is Here” by Max Lucado, a 5 week study beginning January 5th.   This study focuses on who the Holy Spirit is and how we can draw strength from him during these trying times.  The companion DVD features Max Lucado’s homespun delivery and inspirational message, which is always a favorite with our class.  The cost of the study guide for $13.25.   

Thursday Morning Joy is a ladies bible study group that meets Thursday mornings at 9:30 AM in the Seeker’s Classroom, #213 near the narthex.  New members are always welcome.  Please call or text Sandra Bainbridge at 656-3950 for more information or to sign up and order a study guide.  Alternatively, just come, listen and try us out.  It’s a great way to spend a Thursday morning!

Is it time to get your affairs in order? Learn how by attending Estate Planning 101 on December 7 at 2:00 PM in the Choir Room. Learn the ins and outs of avoiding probate, plan for disability, and make sure your assets go to whom you chose upon your death. Plus, discover how you can bless your church and its ministries through your final wishes. Bring your questions and concerns. This event is part of our Saving Grace Biblical Financial Well Being series and is hosted by Deborah Knox, a retired attorney who specialized in trust and estate planning. 

Hello Church Family!

Advent is here which means it's officially the Christmas season!  I love Christmas!  It's my favorite time of year.  The children have been working so hard with Ms. Kristi on a very special Christmas program, Glory to God in the Lowest.  The Program will be December 14th after the Christmas Fellowship Dinner. If your child did not recieve a "Journey to Jesus" Advent box from Ms. Kellye during Children's Moments last Sunday, please see her or myself and we will get you one.  Also on December 14th, 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 cake, cupcakes and Ms. Marilyn's hot cocoa too!

Thank you to everyone who played a part in helping with the Christmas parade float, especially Ms.  Kellye Cannon and Mr. Tom Merry. They have worked very hard and with me coming down with COVID at such a crazy time, I very much appreciate them handling it all without me.  I sure hope someone takes pictures since I cannot be there. I also appreciate all the other volunteers who have stepped up to help on Wednesdays or with the parade.  Thank you! I will be back in the office beginning next Tuesday. 

Let us remember this holiday season that Jesus is what it is all about. Let us take a lesson from Pastor Daniel and get back to the basics of a simple Christmas with out all the chaos. You see, Christmas is about simplicity. God chose to bring His Son into this world by very simple means. He could have brought Him to this world with great pomp and circumstance, but He chose to bring Him into this world another way. God has a way of using simple, ordinary means to accomplish mighty things. Let us all celebrate this Christmas in a way that we know will glorify Him!

God Bless & Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Laura Law

GENERAL FUND
In memory of Shella Hagan
Brenda & Dick Hasselwander

MUSIC
In memory of Larry Gobble
Jim & Bobbi Brown

Prayers After Loss:
Ken & Carolyn Jarman
(on the death of their granddaughter, Charlotte) 

Concerns:
Lyn Yarborough (11/27/22)
(Christine Rohr)
Kathy Horn (11/20/22)
(Juanita Kelm)
Rexene Watson (11/13/22)
(Dr. Tom Yoder’s sister-in-law)
Billie Ann Knight (11/13/22)
(Jill Chandler)
Julie Bates (11/13/22)
(Dovie Tinsley’s cousin)
Jackie Knight (11/6/22)
Guyla Morris (11/6/22)
(Shirley Poynter)
Pat Rush (10/30/22)
Nancy Reed (10/16/22)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Vance & Melissa Duncan (10/9/22)
(Mike & Judy Kuenzli)
Pat Bodenhamer (10/9/22)
(Roxy Koop)
Nira Wilkerson (10/3/21)
Andrew Youngblood (9/11/22)
(Carolyn Youngblood’s husband)
Russel Jones (9/4/22)
Beth Pierson (9/4/22)
Doug Engle (9/4/22)
(Beth Pierson’s brother)
Don Owens (8/21/22)
(Johnny Brown & Gail House)
Monica McElyea (8/21/22)
Bobby Myers (8/14/22)
(Gail House’s cousin)
Don Pickett Jackson (7/31/22)
(friend of Carl Pickett)
Terri Chapman (6/26/22)
(Cindy Long’s sister)
Denise Rohr (5/22//22)
Buzz Johnson (5/15/22)
Mary Thane (5/8/22)
(Sharon Fabich)
Joe Bodenhamer (5/1/22)
Richard Henderson (5/1/22)
(Hazel Long’s nephew)
Darrell & Ann White (4/17/22)
(Iva Jones)
Nick Suntken (4/17/22)
(Gene & Linda Vornheder’s grandson)
Mike Thompson (4/17/22)
(Beverly THompson’s son)
Rob Holmes (4/10/22)
(Phyllis Holmes’ son)
Alan Erickson (2/20/22)
Marti Gilbert (2/13/22)
Ron Odegard (1/30/22)
(Sandy Odegard’s husband)
Doug Gregg (1/9/22)
(Clay Williams)
Glenda Bodenhamer (1/9/22)
Ed & Coni Baldwin (1/9/22)
Pat Garner (12/5/21)
Natalie Dixon (11/21/21)
Brandy Nelson (10/31/21)
Jim Brown (10/31/21)
Debbie Dickerson (10/24/21)
Jeffrey Smith (9/26/21)
(Carolyn Densmore)
John Taylor (9/5/21)
(Sandy Odegard’s daughter’s 
father-in-law)
Nick Mavromatis (8/8/21)
(Susan Dernick’s nephew)
Elden Lowe (8/8/21)
(Jill Chandler’s nephew)
Ima Moss (3/21/21)
(Carolyn Whisenant’s mother)