Petting Zoo ◊ Santa ◊ Hayride ◊ Snacks ◊ Kids’ Activities ◊ Firepit ◊ Lights

Saturday, December 12 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Willow Tree Farms,607 Post Oak Road, Ringgold GA 30736

A gift to the community from Boynton United Methodist Church

Boynton United Methodist Church 4246 Boynton Drive

RINGGOLD GA 30736

Boynton United Methodist Church

- a p e o p l e o f b l e s s i n g -

Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

706-866-2626 www.BoyntonUMC.org

Facebook: Boynton United Methodist Church Instagram/Twitter: @BoyntonUMC

PASTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Cell Phone: 770-654-9614 Home Phone: 706-965-9614

Email: randy@boyntonumc.org

DECEMBER 2015

Dear Friends,

Some of our very beloved Nativity stories come from the Gospel of Luke. The angel Gabriel making the announcement to

Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth, the birth of Jesus in the second chapter, and the shepherds keeping watch by night are included in this gospel and seem like very personal remembrances.

At the very beginning of Luke’s account, he says that many have written narratives based on information “delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” (Luke 1:3). Luke then said he also

decided to write an orderly account since he had “followed all things closely” (Luke 1:3). In other words, Luke gathered his material for this gospel from eyewitnesses.

Who were the eyewitnesses for the birth stories of Jesus whose memories Luke wrote down? There is a verse that catches my attention – Luke 2:19 which says, “But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Could Mary

have been one of the eyewitnesses Luke used? These stories certainly sound like fond family memories told by a mother. I leave it as a question, however, since scripture does not directly say. Either he heard it from Mary or from another

source who heard it from Mary.

Read these stories again keeping the thought that these memories may have come from Mary, mother of Jesus.

Rev. Randy Walworth

Wednesdays 5:00 p.m.

Room Across from the Nursery

We pack over 100 sacks of food every week to be distributed to students in need at Boynton Elementary School, Heritage Middle School and the Performance Learning

Center. Thanks to generous contributions from several people, BLESS (Building Lives: Every Snack Sack) is fully funded for this school year.

Summer Mission Trip

We are working with other churches to go this June to Nicaragua (June 10 - 18). If you are interested, now

is the time to begin making plans. Please contact Jarrett & Sheri Eschenfelder at 615-336-5508.

Christ’s Chapel Share & Care Mission is in need of canned sweet potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce during the month of December. Please leave items under the mailboxes in the hallway across from the women’s restroom.

Dinner, Worship, Sharing Groups Every Thursday Night 6:00 p.m.

Ringgold UMC

Why Do We Have Stephen Ministry?

One final reason for Stephen Ministry is Jesus gave us His Great Commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39) and His Great Commission: Therefore go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). Stephen Ministry is one tangible way we can fulfill Jesus’ Great Commandment and Great Commission.

The UMW met Tuesday, November 17. Sadie White presented a Program on World Thanks Offering. The Boynton UMW will be providing Christmas Boxes for the Women's Crisis Center. We provide a variety of items (candles, books, calendars, gloves, socks, candy, pencils, pads, nail clippers, files, tweezers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and more) wrapped for Christmas. If anyone wishes to contribute to the Christmas Box Project please contact any UMW member. We will assemble the boxes at our next meeting December 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Heritage Hall. Everyone brings their favorite food appetizer and we will wrap the Christmas Boxes together. Please feel free to join us in

our Christmas Project.

Men’s Breakfast

Sunday, December 6 7:30 a.m. in Heritage Hall

Our United Methodist Men recently furnished a delicious Spaghetti lunch after our

combined service on November 8. Thanks to all who attended and gave an offering to Missions. Our next meeting is Sunday, December 6 at 7:30 a.m. If you are not a member of our United Methodist Men, we invite you to join us. Please contact Jim Cosper at 423-236-4888 for details.

December Schedule

Tuesday 12/1 Wesley Class Lunch at Epicurean 11:00 p.m. Wednesday 12/2 Nursing Home Birthday Party 9:30 a.m. Friday 12/4 Ringgold Christmas Parade 6:00 p.m. Sunday 12/6 Men’s Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Friday 12/11 Koinonia Class Christmas Party 6:00 p.m. Saturday 12/12 Christmas at the Farm 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday 12/15 UM Women meeting 7:00 p.m. Sunday 12/20 Christmas Cantata 6:00 p.m.

Monday 12/21 Keenagers at Farm to Fork 11:30 a.m. Thursday 12/24 Family Christmas Service 4:00 p.m. Thursday 12/24 Christmas Candlelight Worship 6:00 p.m. Thursday 12/24 Christmas Candlelight Worship 11:00 p.m.

The Church office will be closed for the holidays December 24 through January 1. In case of emergency or pastoral care needs, contact Randy (770-654-9614) or Linda (423-316-4643).

Homemade and/or slice and bake cookies needed for Christmas at the Farm - Please drop off in the church kitchen Friday, December 11 or Saturday, December 12 by noon. If possible, please place two cookies in a sandwich bag.

We have 25

children enrolled currently.

Christmas parties will be held for the 1-2 year old class on Thursday, December 17 and for the 3-4 year old class on Tuesday, December 15. Christmas break will be December

21 through January 4.

The BKIDZ Mom’s Day Out will resume on Tuesday, January 5,

2016. We will study about Jesus’ Birthday during the month of December.

We currently have one child who has dropped out this month due to

their guardian’s loss of a job. If anyone would like to sponsor this child, please contact Wanda Harris 423-316-9584 or Denise McGaughey at 423-779-4468 or through the church office at 706-866-2626.

Year End Giving By Ann Orr, Financial Secretary

If you wish to make a last minute gift to your church, you have until Thursday, December 31 to drop it off at the church during regular

hours or leave in drop box outside of office entry door. If you mail your gift, it has to be postmarked December 31.

If you are not sure of your total giving for this year you may contact me, Ann Orr at 706-937-3353 and I can give you a report of your giving to date. I try very hard to do my job to the best of my ability. If you find an error in your statement, please let me know so I can correct it for your yearend giving statement.

Do Unto Others Submitted by Ann Orr, Financial Secretary

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured. Luke 6:38

God gave us His Word as an instruction manual for our good. In this

text, we see that what we measure out to others will be measured back

to us. If we give, it will be given to us. Conversely, if we don’t give, it

won’t be given to us either.

This goes against many of the popular opinions of the secular world

where we are to do everything we can to get what we want. These

opinions do not acknowledge God as the source of all good things. Nor

does it acknowledge God as a righteous judge who will punish evil.

All good things come from God. This loving God, who owns everything, knows that through our own generosity, we will be blessed beyond our

ability to contain the blessing.

Satan has masterfully used this love and competition for money. To

many, the church is just another one in a long line asking, “me too!”

When the church gives the perception that it has its hand out, it is often

met with apathy and indifference – to the delight of the evil one.

Building Committee

Update By Jim Cosper,

Chair

Sanctuary Renovation We are in the process of obtaining additional bids for painting our

Sanctuary. We have one bid and hope to have two more soon.

New Building Our next step in our Master Plan is to select an architect to complete

drawings so we can obtain bids from contractors.

Larry & Hannah Wheeler

10 Talley Lane Rossville, GA 30741

706-820-6050

December

2 Mary Beth Walworth 3 Conner Robey

3 Jake Redwine 7 Alex McCroskey

7 Kristin Mashburn

7 Tootsie Owens 8 Stacy Mashburn

11 Brittany Bailey 11 Kristy Elrod

13 Patty Bishop 13 Michelle Rambin

14 Randy Huskey 16 Brett Aalfs

20 Matthew Forgey 20 Tristan Phillips

21 Hunter Hill

23 Bill Eaves 24 Mildred Arnold

25 Charles Lamar Smith 25 Dale Burwitz

27 Matthew McGaughey 28 Vincent Ball

30 Bob Bonner 30 Debbie Grant

7 Alvin & Sherrie Mashburn 13 Larry & Hannah Wheeler

18 Tim & Tina Holt 20 Mike & Varen Thacker

26 Gene & Barbara Chambers 28 Jim & Susan Wooten

December Menus

December 2 Sloppy Joe’s, potatoes, cherry fluff and chocolate cobbler.

December 9 Macaroni & cheese, cabbage casserole, pinto beans, corn muffin and red velvet cake.

December 16 Baked ham, broccoli casserole, potatoes, rolls and pineapple pie.

December 23 No Wednesday Night Supper December 30 No Wednesday Night Supper

Servants for December Sunday Nursery (9:25 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.) 6 Barbara McCroskey

13 Mary Martin 20 Wanda Harris 27 Tina Holt

Contemporary Worship 9:43 a.m.

Greeters 6 Ben & Tracey McEntyre 13 Harvey & Amy Williams 20 Tom & Janelle Mooney 27 Amanda Johnston

Kidz Church/Sunday School (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) 6 Kelly Jones (no Kidz Church, store open) 13 Sharon Aalfs 20 Gigi Pattison 27 No KC / SS

Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m.

Greeters 6 David Humble / Jarrett & Sheri Eschenfelder 13 Jeanne Thacker / Janet Price / Dennis Sims 20 Fay Peters / Mary Martin / David Humble 27 Richard & Diana Doyle / Jim Cosper

Acolytes 6 Vickie Mason 13 Howard & Glenda Thomas 20 Jarrett & Sheri Eschenfelder 27 Jennifer Holdaway / Ann Orr

Church community Sherma Addington – health concerns Mildred Arnold Charlie Ball – lymphoma Neil Bird – stroke Summer Brogden, oral surgery Dale Burwitz – health concerns Gene and Barbara Chambers Roy Cooper Richard Doyle Rev. Bob Gilbert Dan and Janice Harding Wanda Harwood at NHC on McFarland Road in Rossville Nathan Holdaway Richard Huskey – recovering from surgery DeAnne Huskey John and Edith Land Sarah McCullough – doing medical rotation in south Georgia Robert & Denise McGaughey family – works for Hutcheson Tracey McEntyre Jemima Shirley Hailey Stone Faye Williams Sue Williams – leg and feet pain, blood sugar

Cancer Darlene Baker, friend of Carolyn Bonner Sherida Black – colon, niece of Janet Price Helen Byrd – bladder, kidneys, friend of Lee Shirley Nancy Dixon – breast (chemotherapy), former member Emily Franks – now in remission! Paulette Gaither – aggressive cancer, friend of Mike Harris Jeanie Hirth, Phyllis Rice & Dora – nieces of Sherma Addington Jane Hollis – friend of Linda Davis Lawrence Levan – Dot Gilbert’s brother Lori Marler – breast, Tom Marler’s daughter Alex Massey – recurring cancer, requested by Mike Harris Violet Moore – lung, sister of Sue Williams Mike Reading – requested by Tim Holt Glenda Shropshire – pancreatic, friend of Darraj family

Our Mission Field For Boynton UMC to reach people for Jesus Christ BUMC Worship Services (Contemporary and Traditional) BLESS sacks B-Kidz Day Out weekday program Stephen Ministry Recovery at Ringgold Prayers & Stitchers outreach My New Normal forParents of Special Needs Kids support group Catoosa Schools, in particular our partnership schools: Elementary: Boynton, West Side, Woodstation. Middle: Heritage, Ringgold.

High: Heritage, Ringgold, LFO. Christ’s Chapel Share and Care Mission The Family Crisis Center Nicaragua Pastor Randy, Jennifer and Mary Beth Our BUMC staff and their families: Bob, Linda, Carl, Nick, Denise, Joe, Diane, Ellen, Janet Our church, our community, our nation, our world Our New Building and Renovated Sanctuary Project The United Methodist Church

Homebound/Senior Care Facilities Tom Billington, Margaret Bowman, Lois Dunn, Bill Eaves, Stacy Mashburn, Jake Redwine

Other requests Edna Allen - grandmother of Tracey McEntyre Ouida Barnes – Claire McCullough’s mother Annie & Lucy Beaumont,– twin babies, friends of Johnstons Jerry Biddle, Sr. – heart, friends of Ed & Lisa Huskey Paul Broadway, requested by Jim & Sadie White Cheyenne Brown, baby in serious condition, by Teresa Waters Kevin Byington – health and other, Becky Cooke’s brother Mary Cameron, health issues, requested by Barbara McCroskey Shari Crowden – daughter of Bertha Baker Nadia Darraj & family – death of her husband, George George Dixon - requested by Tim Holt C. C. Dutt – pregnant (lump in baby’s lung) – requested by Darrajs

Ola Evers, requested by Jim & Sadie White Nedra Hargis – requested by Tim Holt Chad Hicks – health issues – friend of Carolyn Bonner Riley Hill – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Hutcheson employees who have lost their jobs Ruth Johnson – stroke, Pastor’s mother-in-law Shirley Johnston - Nursing Home, mother of Kim Gardner Clara Jordan – heart, friend of Darraj family Mike Langley - requested by Tim Holt Tom Marler and family - head injury, former member Judy McEntyre – recovering from surgery, mother of Ben McEntyre Rusty Parkhill – on dialysis, ,friend of Mike Harris

Family of Michael Phillips – brother-in-law of Diana Crane Randolph Family – requested by Tommy & Wanda Harris Zack Reece – friend of Lisa Huskey Caroline Rich – requested by Sadie White Gene Roberts – stroke, father of Jon Roberts Laura Ana Beth Runyon – baby, requested by Debbie Grant James Smith – health issues, friend of Tim Holt Micki Smith – MS, requested by Lisa Huskey Will Stubblefield- need heart transplant, requested by Nancy Bunch Anna & Keyaira Williams, children displaced from home Paul Williams – Memorial Hospital, brother-in-law of Lois & Sadie Susan Wood – recovering from surgery, mom of Amanda Johnston

BUMC Prayer Servants

Monday Jerry Lowery, Jeanne Thacker, Kristin Smith, Andrea Sims Tuesday Carolyn Bonner, Lamar Stone, Sadie White, Jarrett Eschenfelder Wednesday Bob Bonner, Mike Harris, Vickie Mason, Tina Holt Thursday Jim Cosper, Libby Cooke, Sue Humble Friday Patty Bishop, Mary Martin, Fay Peters, Barbara Pulver Saturday Charlie Ball, Jan Ball, Lisa Huskey,

Barbara McCroskey Sunday Marie Schrader, Linda Osterhus, Youth & Tweens

A Christmas Prayer

Jesus, the Light of the world, as we celebrate your birth…may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you choose the lowly, the outcast, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world has ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your love. May I be a shining example of that love. Amen.

Sunday, December 20 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary

Join us this Christmas season as our choir sings the cantata Night of Miracles by John W. Peterson. This is a wonderful invitation opportunity, so bring your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Advent Sermon Series

GOD’S PLAN UNFOLDS

This Advent (four Sundays before Christmas) I will preach a series entitled, God’s Plan Unfolds. Christmas is such a happy time of the year. We celebrate for an awesome reason: God unfolded a plan that is based on unconditional love – God’s love for us. We will focus on several key texts concerning the birth of Christ. Come, worship, and add a deep spiritual level to your Christmas celebration.

November 29 Jeremiah 33:14-16 The Righteous Branch December 6 Luke 1:60-77 God’s Plan Unfolds

December 13 Luke 1:26-38 The Son of the Most High

December 20 Luke 1:46-55 God’s Rescue Plan

Thursday, December 24

4:00 p.m. Casual, Family Christmas Service (Heritage Hall)

6:00 & 11:00 p.m. Christmas Candlelight Worship (Sanctuary)

Nicaragua Missions

Matthew 25:35 -36 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.

Looking back on the number of missions we have made from all of the churches, i.e. Boynton, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Fellowship, Norcross and Harlem UMC, we have lived God’s mission. We have fed and given drink to many through churches: to the children and families, the infirmed and the elderly. We have clothed the Children, many times. We have clothed the pregnant woman and her newborn. We have had many clinics for the sick. We have visited a prison and served communion. We built a room onto the prison for the women who sat in incredible squalor as they served out their prison time and sometimes served their husband’s jail time as well.

Our short term mission teams most recently focused on medical education to community leaders (brigadistas) typically one week in January and June. It is unfortunate that STM medical teams do not make a substantial impact on the vast medical needs in Nicaragua. Not all communities in Nicaragua have medical clinic or physician services. We have identified five such communities in the Leon area and we have set a goal of helping them get medical services.

Still keeping with this goal, we would like to slightly modify our “footprint” in Nicaragua and partner with Nicaragua Covenant, which is a UMC non-profit organization. Nicaragua covenant has year round (52 versus 2 weeks) presence in Nicaragua. Nicaragua covenant provides a wide variety of services which are modeled after the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. We are most impressed with their mobile medical clinic services. The mobile medical clinic team consists of a Nicaraguan physician, nurse, dentist, and pharmacist/driver. The mobile medical clinic currently serves 30 communities with visits every 6 weeks (versus STM visits 2-4 times a year). In 2014 they started “wellness clinics” in the villages for diabetes, hypertension and maternal/newborn care. They train two community health workers (brigadistas) per community who follow up with patient treatment plans and provide basic care between visits from the mobile medical clinic.

It is a lofty goal to provide care for five new communities. The communities were chosen because they do not have a clinic or regular visits from physicians. We will continue helping Dr. Medina with the clinics he serves as the medical director for Leon.

How can an individual or a church group help?

A. Through small projects like providing: 1. Water filters at $37 each to provide clean

water for 20 people. Our goal is to bring 5 filters in January for the five new communities to try out. The June goal is to bring 100 filters.

2. Clothes for children all sizes (light weight summer).

B. Through a large project where a large church or several smaller churches combine efforts to fund the mobile medical clinic for five new communities as we described above. This breaks down into two phases: Phase 1 is the one time start up cost of $23,900. Phase 2 is monthly ongoing operating costs of $2096 ($25,152 per year) for all five clinics.

We love the people we serve in Nicaragua. The two mission trip dates are January 15 – 23, 2016 and June 10 – 18, 2015. Please contact Sheri or Jarrett Eschenfelder at 706-935-5508 or email sheri.eschenfelder@gmail.com for further information or to make a donation. You may also email Linda Osterhus at the church office at linda@boyntonumc.org or call 706-866-2626.