DECEMBER CALENDARSunday Schedule

8:00 a.m. Community Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Prayer Team9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service

Sunday School Review & Prayer Meeting: Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.Praise Team Rehearsal: Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 201811:00 a.m. United Methodist Women’s Christmas Party Fellowship Hall

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 201811:00 a.m. Discipleship Division Transition Meeting Fellowship Hall

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 20186:00 p.m. Trustee Team Meeting Conference Room

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 20186:00 p.m. Worship & Arts Division Transition Meeting Fellowship Hall

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 201810:30 a.m. Prime Timers (Senior Adult Fellowship) Fellowship Hall

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 20189:00 a.m. United Methodist Men’s Meeting Fellowship Hall

11:00 a.m. Student Ministries Christmas Party Fellowship HallWEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

6:00 p.m. Staff-Parish Relations Team Meeting Conference RoomSUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2018

10:30 a.m. Christmas Musical – Music Department Sanctuary12:00 p.m. Birthday Party for Jesus – Don’t forget

to bring your Christmas Offering ($30, $40, or $50)

Fellowship Hall

The Church Office will be closed December 25-27 for the Christmas Holiday; December 31-January 1 for the New Year’s Holiday.

Complete Calendar of Events: www.newbeginningsbham.org/calendarTo Receive our E-Newsletter & Updates: Text “NBUMC” to 22828

OUR DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS May God Bless You to Many More!

02 Julian Allen 13 Julia Brown 21 Erin Black03 Shacoria Benson 14 Eddie Hubbard 23 Jasmine Benson03 Shakyria Weaver 15 David Hubbard, Jr. 28 Morgan Wright09 Jamey Terrell 16 Jaylen Thompson 30 Annie Hatter11 Antwaun Cook 16 Valencia Jackson 31 Maria Peele

— OUR 2018 CHRISTMAS OFFERING— A Birthday Party for Jesus…

Everyone is Invited!

When: Sunday December 23rd, following the worship service.

Gift: Each member is asked to give $30, $40, or $50 in honor of Jesus.

Christmas Offering envelopes are available in the pews and you may give your gift at the party or any time leading to Christmas.

† † † Our Known Sick & Shut-In Members † † †…and by His stripes we are healed. –Isaiah 53:5b

Charles Borom Jessie M. Florence Charlsie Smith Julia Brown Pearl Hollings Derrill WilsonJames Lee Cotchery Willie Lewis James Wright

Eric Powell

Please contact the church office to report sick and shut-in members, to indicate those entering the hospital, or when there has been a death in the

family. After church office hours, you may contact us at (205) 578-2415.

Our December Wedding Anniversaries Western & Sharon Terriel 12/03/2011

David, Jr. & Jacqueline Hubbard 12/14/2001Alfonzo & Betty McClaney 12/15/1962Felix & Valaida Gentry 12/18/1982

Lorenzo & Myra Shamburger 12/21/1995

Did You Know? Thanks to your generosity, New Beginnings collected $319.70 for United Methodist Student Sunday to provide scholarships for United Methodist students across the connection.

Calling all Middle School &High School Students!Students 6th through 12th grade are invited to join Pastor Cowser on the 3rd Sundays after church (12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.), beginning in January and ending in May for lunch, learning, and fun. This will be a time to learn more about our faith and fellowship with one another. Please complete the sign-up form in the Welcome Center and return it to the church office by Sunday, December 30th. Once students have completed these sessions, they will be invited to become full professing members of New Beginnings. Those who have

not yet been baptized may make a decision to do so at that time. For more information, see Pastor Cowser or contact the church office.

Church Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.Listen to recent sermons online: www.newbeginningsbham.org

CHURCH VISION STATEMENT “Transforming Lives through mission,

ministry and worship as a Prophetic Witness for Jesus Christ in the world.”

2133 32nd Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35207 (205) 328-3937

office@newbeginnningsbham.org

The Altar Flowers are Given to the Glory of GodIn Loving Memory of her grandmother,

Rebecca Hubbard, and aunt, Julia Fox, on their birthday month by Adrienne Smith Crawford

www.newbeginningsbham.org

The Reverend Dr. Dedric A. Cowser Senior Pastor

1st Sunday of Advent | December 2, 2018 | 10:30 a.m.

Order of ServiceFirst Sunday of Advent

Color: Purple

The Season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in

Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ.

†CALL TO WORSHIPThe time of waiting and watching is here! Are you ready?We are waiting for the Lord of peace to open our hearts.The Lord of Peace comes to us this day to free us from our sins.We are ready to receive the precious blessings of God.Come, let us worship God who loves us dearly.Let us praise God for God’s blessings in our lives. Praise the Lord! Amen.

†PRAISE & WORSHIP …………………………………………… Praise Team

OPENING PRAYERThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray:Almighty God, as we begin this season of Advent remind us again that in the midst of our darkness you are bringing us peace, to calm our anxious spirits and hectic lives. Turn our hearts again toward you. Make us ready to receive your Son, our Savior. Slow our pace, and give us the blessing of feeling your peace in our spirits. For we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

†HYMN OF PRAISE …….. “Angels We Have Heard on High” #238

†AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ……………….. The Apostles’ Creed #881

†GREETING OUR GUESTS & ONE ANOTHERWELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATHKeep awake! Be watchful!The Son of Man is coming with power and great glory.Hold your heads high, for our salvation is near.

We light the first Advent candle to remind us of how God’s promised Messiah will break into our time and space to show us salvation.O come, o come, Emanuel.Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.Come Lord, Jesus, come! Amen.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC ……………………………………………… Mass Choir

SCRIPTURE READINGS …………………………….. Geraldine ShepherdOld Testament: Isaiah 64:1-9 (NRSV)

New Testament: 2 Peter 3:8-15a (NRSV)

SONG OF MEDITATIONALTAR CALL & PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Children’s Church (ages 4-7) dismissed to Children’s Classroom.Please register children in the Welcome Center.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC ……………………………………………… Mass Choir

SERMONDr. Dedric A. Cowser

†INVITATION TO FOLLOW JESUS & CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

†INVITATIONAL SONG ………………………… “I Don’t Mind Waiting”

HOLY COMMUNION

GOD’S TITHES & OUR OFFERINGS**†THE DOXOLOGY

†CHURCH VISION STATEMENTMy friends, New Beginnings United Methodist Church is…

Transforming Lives through mission, ministryand worship as a prophetic witness for Jesus Christ in the world.

†BENEDICTION

Church StaffRegina Warren, Church Secretary

JonTomas Johnson, Minister of Music & Lead MusicianNathaniel Willis, Organist

Antonio Anderson, Percussionist

†indicates congregation stands, as able.

**MORE WAYS TO GIVE! Online: www.newbeginningsbham.org/giveText-To-Give: From your smartphone, text the amount to 205-791-5441Note from Pastor Cowser

“2018 Glory Sightings”They shouted to each other, saying: “Holy,

holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” Isaiah 6:3

(CEB)One of the things that I appreciate most about the leadership of our bishop in the North Alabama Conference, Debra Wallace-Padgett, is her ability to encourage us to seek God’s presence at all times in our lives. Bishop Wallace-Padgett is most famous for asking the question: “Where have you seen God at work in your life or in the world?” She calls these instances ‘glory sightings,’ times in which one experiences the presence of God in a powerful way. By thinking in this way, being more aware of God’s presence in my life, it has helped me to grow in my faith journey, especially as it relates to living a life of gratitude.I truly believe as we experience God’s glory, we are not only transformed, but compelled to do more for the Kingdom of God. As we close another year of ministry, I hope you will join me in making a list of glory sightings as it relates to our church and ministry together. This is not at all an exhaustive list, but just a few glory sightings that I would like to share:

We celebrated the church’s 5th anniversary in January with a beautiful banquet and a powerful worship experience

7 souls were added to our congregation, either by baptism or transfer of membership

Our average worship attendance in the 10:30 a.m. service has increased from 150 to 160

82 first-time guests completed Connection Cards The Music Ministry has experienced significant growth The Missions Ministry continues to be a strong component of

our church, hosting a major health fair and supporting groups like North Birmingham first responders, Metro Changers, & Salvation Army

We collected $716.25 over budgeted funds to send several students in our congregation to summer camps

We collected a total of $2,025.42 toward special mission offerings

We collected $2,863.00 over budgeted funds to support our free community breakfast that takes place every Sunday morning

We now have 5 certified lay servants who have been trained to lead ministries within our local church

The congregation has traveled to Ballplay, Cullman, Hanceville, and Pinson to spread the gospel through the preached word and music

We launched a new church vision statement that continues to compel us beyond the walls of our building into the 35207-zip code

Through the launch of Children’s Church, our youngest worshipers have experienced God in a new and exciting way

Prayer groups, Sunday School, Bible studies, and fellowship groups, continue to be a major part of our discipleship model

We posted 42 sermons on our website and have a total of 2898 listens or downloads.

There is so much more! God has done a mighty thing in the life of our church and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve here during this season.