The Great Adventure I am not the most tech savvy guy, but there are a few things I am learning. I have an I pad and occasionally I will perform the task of closing applications that are running, but I haven’t accessed them in days or weeks – my son gets frustrated with me about this! I think we often have our Christianity running in the background and we have not accessed in days, weeks, or even months. It is there waiting on us to pay attention and interact with but we ignore it for other things that we think are more fun and interesting. Facebook is more fun than faith – or at least we give it more attention. (And what we pay attention to has our heart.) It is time for our faith to take priority and what better time than during Advent when we are expecting Jesus to come again and/or anew. Come, Lord Jesus! Beginning in Advent 2017 First UMC is embarking on The Great Adventure (ADVENTure – get it?). We do not always think of our faith as being a great adventure, but it really is! It is an Adventure in relationship with the Creator of the universe, it is a mission of changing the world, it is a journey of living as we were created to live, it is a grand fellowship of community, and so much more. On December 3rd at 6:00 PM we will be having a service of Prayer and Worship. What better way for us to begin this Great ADVENTure than meeting together for a time of prayer and worshiping together? This may be something totally different for you and me, but we need to move out of our comfort zone into faith and community – it will be great! So, are you expecting Jesus to come this Advent Season? Let us join together and anticipate His coming anew in each of our hearts and in our church!

November 15, 2017 From the pastor

Our Staff

Pastor ............................... Rev. Tim Bracken

Administrative Assistant .............. Molly Near

Financial Secretary .................... Mae Wilkins

Director of Children’s Ministry ...... Jill Ingram

Director of Youth Ministry .............. Josh Lyle

Director of Senior Adults .......... Karen Wood

Chancel Choir Director ............Dr. Jim Burns

Pianist ...................................... Tausha Plate

Organist .................................... Terry Barger

Maintenance Director ................ Chris Offery

Maintenance ................................. Jeff Smith

Director of CDC ......................... Cathy Smith

Director of PDO ....................... Rachel David

Assist. Director of CDC/PDO ....Karon Steve

Sunday, November 26 during the 10:45 AM

worship service

Rev. Tim Bracken

Adoption Shower

Help us celebrate the

upcoming arrival of

Mike and Sheryl Chai’s

5-yr old son, Christian

November 19th

1:00-3:00 PM

in the Commons

RSVP to

Bev Johnson

423-284-3773

Registered:

Target

Advent calendar

How to POST AN ANNOUNCEMENT Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON on Tuesday, November 28.

Information turned in after this time will not be posted until the next newsletter is due. Newsletters are printed every two weeks.

Fill out an Announcement Request Form online from the website OR in the office!

Scarves!

Congratulations! Daniel and Hannah Kozar welcome their twin boys

born on November 8, 2017 James Walter

6 lbs 8 oz 20 inches Pepa Alexei

6 lbs 1 oz 19 3/4 inches Proud grandparents: Rev. Tim and Kellie Bracken

Christmas Memories

Arnold Craft Night

Women’s Luncheon

Join us on Friday, December 15 at 11:00 AM to help set up for the WCLE Empty Stocking Fund

(aka: Christmas Memories Party). Our responsibility is to set up and break down the event at Ocoee

Middle School. This event is designed to help families provide donated Christmas items for their

children. Could you spare an hour on Friday, December 15th and also on Saturday to help? Contact Jill Ingram or Kellie Bracken for more information or to volunteer. Come be a part

of this wonderful outreach opportunity!

Arnold Memorial Elementary School is hosting their Christmas Craft Night on

Thursday, November 30th from 5:30—7:00 PM. If you would like

to be a part of this, please contact Brian Byerly at briantb@charter.net

United Methodist Women’s Annual Christmas Luncheon

Thursday, December 14 11:30 AM Tickets are $10.00 each

You may purchase your ticket on Sunday in the Narthex or from any Seekers Circle member.

Thank you! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in

making the 42nd Matt Ellis Memorial BBQ a success! We served between 950—1,000 meals...the most since 2008! Due to the tremendous efforts of people like Molly and Mae, maintenance Chris and Jeff, Dave Rhyne and Sun-shine Hollow, Jenann and all the people who prepared the delicious desserts, the FUM Men’s members, Mark

and his delivery team, the Boy Scouts, and everyone who bought tickets, we exceeded last year’s sales by just over 100 meals! As a result, the FUM Men will once again be

able to provide financial help to the 12 worthy organizations we have annually supported.

Mark you calendars: the 43rd Matt Ellis Memorial BBQ will be Friday, October 26, 2018

Breakfast with Santa

During the month of December we will NOT meet for early worship at 8:30 AM. All are invited to join

us during the 10:45 AM worship times. November 26 10:45 AM Service of Healing 12:00 PM Advent Preparation November 30 11:30 AM Gad-A-Bout Christmas December 2 9:00 AM Bell Ringing December 3 10:45 AM Chancel Choir Cantata 6:00 PM Prayer & Worship December 4 6:00 PM PDO Christmas Program December 5 6:00 PM CDC Christmas Program December 9 9:00 AM Breakfast with Santa December 10 10:45 AM Children’s Christmas Play December 14 11:30 AM UMW Christmas Lunch December 16 11:00 AM Christmas Memories December 22 & 25 Office Closed December 24 10:00 AM Worship Service 4:00 PM Acoustic Christmas Eve 6:00 PM Traditional Christmas Eve December 31 10:00 AM Worship Service 00:00 PM Youth Lock-In January 1 Office Closed

Saturday, December 9th 9:00—10:30 AM

in the Christian Life Center Children and their families are invited to join us for a BIG breakfast and an opportunity to take a picture with Santa! Don’t forget a camera!

Thank you to all who helped in some way with the Easy Fleecy Scarves for the homeless. You are a blessing! At Annual Meeting, ten ladies helped with cutting fringe, rolling them up, tying with a

ribbon, and attaching a prayer card. What a blessing as we completed over 150 scarves!

With the Executive team's okay, we have given 50 scarves to Wesley's Cold Weather Shelter, Caring

Place, and Bread of Life. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways, II Corinthians 9:8

The United Methodist Women

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, November 19 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 1:00 PM Chai Adoption Shower 5:00 PM First Youth 6:00 PM Charge Conference Monday, November 20 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:30 PM Scouts Tuesday, November 21 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 11:30 AM Rose Circle 6:15 PM Chancel Choir 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, November 22 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival Thursday, November 23 OFFICE CLOSED Friday, November 24 OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, November 25 10:00 AM Bread of Life

CDC - 7:00 AM–6:00 PM PDO - 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

“I will be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in

my power to strengthen its ministry by my prayers,

my presence, my gifts, my service, and my witness.”

Our Prayers

Sunday School Worship 11/05/2017 50 233 11/12/2017 56 213

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service - November 19

Rodney Murray and Family

Hannah and Daniel Kozar

Jean Benecke LONG TERM PRAYER

Debbie Ambert

Connie Bancroft

Sarah Bandy

Clifford and Judy Barger

Amber Blair

Paxton Boyd

Charlotte Caraway

Debbie Trentham Case

Bill Cooke

Kaye Coultry

Spencer Cranfield

Emma Cummings

Jordann Dempsey

Lorrie Duke

Dylan Duncan

Lois Ellis

Sharon Everson

Budget Receipts 11/05/17 13,147.00 Receipts to Date: 554,709.16 Expenditures to Date: 579,942.44 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [25,233.28] Budget to Date: n/a

Budget Receipts 11/12/17 4,273.10 Receipts to Date: 558,982.26 Expenditures to Date: 588,554.05 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [29,571.79] Budget to Date: n/a

Prayer Team: Bev Johnson Monthly Prayer Focus: FUMC Senior Adult Ministry Acolytes: Jackson Ritzhaupt and Truman Hale Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford, Todd Berghoff Altar Flowers - sign up outside the church office.

First Kidz Church begins at 10:30 AM every Sunday in the Christian Life Center. (It does not meet the first Sunday of the month.) Sonshine Kidz is for preschoolers ages 3,4, & 5 Nursery is available for children 3 yrs old and younger. Located in the CLC.

Gary Farner

Sean Hale

Jamie Hargis

Joe Hogan

Gayle Holbrook

Russell & Patty Johnson

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Cliff and Janet Lynch

Betty McLain

Larry and Barb Miller

David “PeeWee” Neely

Carmen Orr

Carolyn Owens

Kym Phillips

Tilley Phillips

Tom Phillips

Lois Pywell

Gary Ratcliff

Bob Richardson

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Brenda Saunders

Nan Schlatterer

Charlotte Shaver

Nicholas Stark

Kylene Stump

Rachel Suderland

Van Swearingen

Lila Switzer

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Kim Van Dusen

Jim & Sarah Wagner

Rosemary Warren

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhite

Open hearts, open minds, open doors...the people of the United Methodist Church.

UPCOMING EVENTS

● November 26—Service of Healing,

Advent Preparation

● November 27—Hale Painting Party

● November 29—Last Choir & String

Band Practice

● November 30—Gad-A-Bout Christ-

mas Luncheon, Arnold Craft Night

● December 2—UMM Breakfast, Bell

Ringing at Bradley Square Mall

● December 3—Chancel Choir Canta-

ta, Prayer & Worship Service

● December 4—PDO Christmas

● December 5—CDC Christmas

● December 9—Breakfast with Santa

● December 10—Kid’s Christmas Play

● December 14—UMW Christmas

● December 16—Christmas Memories

● December 22 & 25—CLOSED

● December 24—Christmas Services

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Cleveland, TN

Permit No. 321

Return Service Requested

3425 Ocoee Street North Cleveland, TN 37312

423-476-4504 www.clevelandumc.com

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Child Development Center Phone: 423-478-1426

To the Gad-A-Bouts In honor of Karen Wood:

Clem Bedwell

To the United Methodist Men In honor of Don Wood, Doug Greene, and Larry Janisewski:

Clem Bedwell

GIFTS TO THE CHURCH

First United Methodist Church

3425 Ocoee Street North

Cleveland, TN 37312