FROM THE PASTOR:
Remember: Jesus is Better than Santa—
Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes just once a year. Jesus is an ever-present help in time of need.
Santa fills your stocking with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks.
You have to stand in line to see Santa. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap. Jesus lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, What’s your name?” Jesus knew your name before anyone else did. He knows your address. He knows your past and your future and he even knows how many hairs are on your head.
Jesus has a heart full of love.
Jesus offers health, help and hope.
Santa says “You better not cry.”
Jesus says “Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you.
Santa’s little helpers make toys. Jesus makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions in heaven.
Santa may make you chuckle. Jesus gives you joy that is our strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree, Jesus became our gift and died on the cross.
It’s obvious there is really no comparison. Jesus is still the reason for the season.
FELLOWSHIP DINNER
This month’s fellowship dinner will be held Wednesday December 7th at 6:30 pm in the fellowship hall. Everyone is welcome, even if you don’t have time to make something to bring.
FELLOWSHIP BIBLE STUDY GATHERING
Those interested in a time of sharing, praying, and fellowshipping together are welcome to gather at the home of Henry Procopio on Wednesday December 21st at 6:30 pm. This is a monthly gathering but anyone is welcome to come whenever they can come. The group will be studying the Gospel of Luke. You can start at any time. Desserts are provided.
UPCOMING DATES
January 7th Unhanging of the Greens
CHURCH CLEANING SCHEDULE
For December 4th Steve & Sheri Lain
For December 11th Matt & Renee Huestis
For December 18th Brenda & Tony Alcorn
For December 25th Open
For January 1st Open
COMMUNION
We will celebrate Communion Sunday, December 4th.
TRUSTEES MEETING
The Trustees will meet Thursday December 8th at 6:30pm. The trustees are: Steve Lain, Doug Baxter, Grady Garton, Henry Procopio, Tim Garrett, Martha Neeley, Patsy Clark, Sandra Robinson.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Children’s Christmas Party with Pizza and fun and a visit by Santa will take place after church on Sunday December 11th.
CHURCH CHRISTMAS DINNER
A sheet is being passed around at church to sign up for our annual Christmas Dinner at The Rawlings, 5395 Rawlings Road, Joelton, Friday December 16th at 6:30pm. The cost for the buffet is $20.75/person and your payment can be given to Sandra Robinson. Each person should bring a wrapped gift for the “dirty Santa” part of the evening!
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Our Christmas Eve Service will be held surrounded by the beauty of poinsettias and candlelight at 5:30pm on December 24th.
On Christmas Day we will celebrate the birth of our Savior at 10:30am.
MEMBER ADDRESSES NEEDED
The church is responsible for keeping up with its members’ addresses even if they move. We are missing addresses for the following members: Charlie Brown, Johnetta Brown, Mitch and Vickie Skelton. If you can get an address and phone number for any of these people please write it down and give it to the pastor.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY
It requires proper planning for your survivors to avoid probate and minimize estate taxes upon your death. When you are doing this, don’t forget to remember your church in your will.
ARE YOU HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING DURING WORSHIP?
Our damaged hearing assistance system has been replaced. This system allows you to sit anywhere you want to in the sanctuary and hear anything that is being broadcast over the microphones through the use of special receivers and earphones. If you would like to try one, ask the pastor.
The Hope Center is located 212 Gifford Place, between Curves and the Laundromat. There are now over 170 client families being helped by our center. This does not include homeless persons and persons just passing through who are in need.
A barrel is in the entryway of the church to receive donations for the Joelton Hope Center. [You can also take them directly to the Hope Center.] There is always a need for cooking oil, sugar, corn meal and flour. These are items that the center has to buy most often. There is also a need for diapers size 4 and 5.
The Hope Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10-4 and 10-2 Saturday. The Hope Center Board set a goal of being open 6 days a week, so additional volunteers are needed any day Monday-Saturday. Call the Hope Center at 876-1778 if you can help.
CHURCH BLOG SITE Update
If you haven’t visited the church blog site, go to www.forestgroveumctn.blogspot.com. Each sermon is posted there as they are delivered and most times there will be a link to an audio of that sermon. The monthly newsletters will also be posted. You can post comments, questions and even things you have for sale.
If you want to post something other than a comment on that particular sermon, just email Peg and she’ll post it for you (pegbillman@yahoo.com). If you want to be notified when something new is posted, become a follower of the blog. Soon I hope to have a Facebook page for Forest Grove, too, so keep checking for that on the blog or in this newsletter. If you have an interest in being an admin for a Facebook page, let me know!
Forest Grove Prayer Chain
Forest Grove has a prayer chain that is called when emergency needs arise during the week needing prayer right away. To start the prayer chain all you need to do is call Janice Baxter with your prayer request—876-0489.
EMMANUEL OUTREACH
This year’s Emmanuel Outreach Christmas party for needy children in the Joelton community will be held December 10th at the St. Lawrence Community Center. Eighty five children will be given Christmas gifts and the Joelton Hope Center will give each of the families a Christmas dinner food box. Many thanks to all those who contributed to this project and to Jennifer Lee and Donna Kemp for shopping for the gifts. Help is needed to wrap the gifts at St. Lawrence Community Center Sunday December 4th at 3pm. Bring scissors and tape.
COOKIE EXCHANGE
Saturday, December 3rd we’ll meet in Fellowship Hall at 9am to exchange cookies. Plan to bring as many as you can to exchange. Bring extra containers and make up gift boxes to give away to our shut-ins if you don’t “need” a lot yourself!
OAKWOOD CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Oakwood UMC’s United Methodist Women will be holding their annual Christmas Bazaar Saturday December 3rd 9-3. Soup and Sandwiches will be served all day! There will be homemade desserts, crafts, gifts and their famous fried pies. The church is located at 1001 Old Pinnacle Road, Joelton.
Un-HANGING OF THE GREENS
Volunteers are needed to gather at the church at 9 am on Saturday January 7th to UN-decorate the church from the Christmas Season. Many hands will make quick work of it!
Pastor Billman and Brenda Alcorn will be taking a bunch of Christmas Carolers to the homes of some of our shut-ins and elderly members to sing and bring them communion on Saturday December 3rd. The gang will leave the church parking lot at 3 pm. If you would like to join the fun and bring joy to some of our members meet in the parking lot at 2:45.
ADVENT COIN FOLDERS
Advent coin folders are available this month in the entryway to the church. By saving quarters during the weeks of Advent by Christmas Eve you will have collected $20. Our coin folders collection will go to our local and foreign mission projects. Local: Joelton Hope Center and Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. Foreign: the Wertzes in Tanzania and the Harrisons in ministry to the Muslims in the Middle East and the Billmans in Brazil.
A CHRISTMAS VERSION OF I Corinthians 13
As you prepare your heart and home for Christmas this year, consider the following words of wisdom and have Christ be the center and essence of your celebration.
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to
my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of
Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a
beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not share the true meaning of
Christmas, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing
home and give all that I have to charity, but do not demonstrate
kindness to strangers, it profits me nothing.
If I attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in
the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has
coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the
way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to
give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to
my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of
Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a
beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not share the true meaning of
Christmas, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing
home and give all that I have to charity, but do not demonstrate
kindness to strangers, it profits me nothing.
If I attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in
the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has
coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the
way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to
give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
Author Unknown
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love." 1 Corinthians 13
these is love." 1 Corinthians 13
A CHRISTMAS LETTER FROM GOD
Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on.
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on.
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can & may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you & what each of our tasks were. If you have forgot that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can & may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you & what each of our tasks were. If you have forgot that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love & Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
P.S ~ Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me & do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above & get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember. I LOVE
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love & Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
P.S ~ Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me & do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above & get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember. I LOVE
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