BIG IDEA: God’s gift of grace is given in lavish measure regardless of the

worthiness of the recipient. There’s nothing like a wrapped present under the Christmas tree to get the imagina-

tion going. On Christmas Eve, children will fall into a fitful sleep anticipating a bounteous

haul of a fun waiting for them in the morning. We love to watch the flying flurry of wrapping paper as excited kids tear apart mys-

terious packages on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning! Advent, a season of preparation

for the coming of Christ, begins Nov. 27. May all of us get a taste of that child-like anticipa-tion for the coming of Christmas. This year I am working with our own Cindi McComb to encourage you to make

this Christmas special by participating in what we are calling the “Advent Adventure.” In-

stead of buying a gift, the Advent Adventure invites you to do “random acts of kindness” for

others. We want to challenge you to include not only your circle of friends and family but

also acquaintances near the places you frequent. Cindi is working on a 28-day Advent Adventure devotional. You will receive a Scripture reading, a brief devotional thought, and a suggested act of kindness you can do for

others. These devotionals will be sent by e-mail. To participate, send an e-mail to Sherrie

Lacy at slacy@cvfumc.org. We will also have a few printed copies available at both ser-

vices. While as adults we probably cannot recapture the excitement we experienced as

children on Christmas Day, we can make Christmas more meaningful. These “random acts

of kindness” will stretch you and if you pray about it God can use these moments to reshape

your soul in the image of Jesus. My prayer is the joy of serving others will renew your spirit and connect you more

closely with the Risen Christ. Go out there and enjoy the Advent Adventure.

CHRISTMAS 2016 WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Dec. 11 – Combined Worship Service, 9 a.m., Sanctuary “Shout The Good News”

Christmas Eve Dec. 24 - *Candlelight Service, 7 p.m. with sermon, Sanctuary Dec. 24 - *Candlelight Service, 11 p.m. with choir *Child Care available at both services

Christmas Day, Dec. 25 9 a.m. Sanctuary Service with Holy Communion 11:10 a.m. The Gathering in Fellowship Hall with Holy Communion

FIRST UNITED

METHODIST

CHURCH

November & December 2016 Dates to re-

member:

• Gratitude Sunday, No-

vember 13

• Christmas Cantata, Dec

11

Inside this

issue:

The Chimes

The Advent Adven-ture

1

Prayer Concerns, Missions Update

2

Rainbows & Rhymes, The Greatest Sermon

3

UMW, Community Thanksgiving Din-ner

4

Power of Prayer 5

Youth Events 6

THE BEST GIFT: THE ADVENT ADVENTURE by Pastor Gary Lewis

Pleaseremembertopray:

• Forallpersonsconnectedtoourchurchwhoarecon�inedtotheirnursinghomeorhome • ForourTVAudience(9amWorship) • Forveterans,publicservants,police/�ire/medicalpersonnel • FortheRainbows&RhymesPreschoolfamilies • Forournation,Christ’sChurchuniversal,theUnitedMethodistChurch,SugarCreekCluster,ourcongregation,pastorandstaff Prayerconcerns:BarbaraOdle,RuralMissionandthecommunityofHollywood,SC,JennyLewis,TerrieColosino,MickeyClifton,MelbaRivenbark,JanetMarch,Ourmissionaries:Chris&AnnaPratt,Cru(formerlyCampusCrusadeforChrist)inOrlando,FLOurSympathiestothefamilyofMaxineDreyeronherpassing.OurSympathiestoCarlaFoxworthyonthepassingofFredFoxworthy.

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Page 2 The Chimes

Our Mission

Statement:

To make Disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transfor-mation of the world

Food for the Food for the Food for the Food for the FISH PantryFISH PantryFISH PantryFISH Pantry

Current Needs:

Boxed meals Canned Fruit Spaghetti Sauce Pasta

Peanut Butter Cereal

Donations can be left at any of the FISH Food containers or grocery carts throughout the

church. Thank you for Thank you for Thank you for Thank you for your generosity!your generosity!your generosity!your generosity!

2016 MISSIONS GIVING

PRAY FOR OUR NATION

St. John’s Episcopal has invited us to join them on Mon‐

day, November 7th for prayer and meditation for the up‐

coming election. This will be from 5‐7 pm in their Sanctuary.

We need to lift our nation up to God and what a better way

to do it then praying together! Please make plans to come!

Ourchurchhasgiven$54,199.80tosupportmissioneffortssofarin2016.ThisgivingcomesfromourMissionsEndowment,Specialofferingsandindividualdonations.Belowisabreakdownofthosedisbursements:

Montgomery County Free Clinic - $1500 FISH Financial - $1,500 Brightwood Community - $568 Trinity Life Ministry - $5,000 Discretionary Fund - $5,090 Back to School Backpacks - $500

South Carolina Mission Team - $9,275 Heifer International - $500

Rainbows & Rhymes Sch - $135 Rural Mission South Carolina - $3,500 Food BackPack Ministry - $1000 FISH General - 2,500.66

Imagine No Malaria - $500 Cru - $2,500

Midwest Mission - $500 Africa University - $2,000 New Day Charities - $1,385.68 Women’s Resource - $345.68

Lucille Raines Home - $510.00 Half Way Home - $5,305.66

Fletcher Place - $300 UM Children’s Home - $565.68 FISH Food Pantry - $2,250 Table of Grace - $3,570 VBS Special Offering - $179.67 UMYF Mission Trips - $961.66 Coins for Camp - $363.75 UMCOR Health Kits - $1,257.68

UMCOR Hurricane Relief - $635.68

Goodness has time flown! We are almost to No-

vember which mean Thanksgiving which means Christ-

mas! We’ve been super busy in our classrooms and the

students are settling well into their routines. The friend-ships that have been made are such a blessing to the stu-

dents. You can see the excitement in their eyes when

their buddy walks into the classroom. We are definitely

forming lifelong friendships here in preschool. Students from a Child Development course at Wabash College have been

in our classroom doing research and they are a huge hit with the preschoolers. A few of the Wabash gentlemen have mentioned how much they love our curricu-

lum and can see weekly how it’s benefitting the children. We will be sad to see

them go after this semester!

So now we are gearing up for the holidays! The children will be perform-

ing at the 9:00am church service on Sunday, December 4th. We’ve begun practic-

ing a few songs that they’ll share with the congregation and their families. Be sure to attend the early service if you’d like to see the preschool children in ac-

tion!

Stop in to see me if you are interested in participating as a reader to pre-

school students in our Storytellers program.

Page 3 November & December 2016

FOOD &

FELLOWSHIP

AT WNL

November 2

November 16

December 7

5-6 pm

Adults $4

Children $3

Everyone is

invited!

THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED by Pastor Patty

OFFICE HOURS:

The Church office will

be closed on:

Thurs, Nov 24 - Fri,

Nov 25th for

Thanksgiving

Fri, Dec 23rd -

Mon, Dec 26th for

Christmas

What was the best sermon you have ever heard? Sermons are like meals, a handful stand out, but most provide some spiritual sustenance for that moment and then fade from memory. The biblical sermon, “Sermon on the Mount” is consid-ered the greatest ever preached. The Bible study group on Monday mornings has been studying Matthew and the Great the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. The sermon remains to-day as a lasting source of inspiration for anyone who professes to be a follower of Jesus. In our first session, we looked at the Beatitudes which gives us a standard conduct for Christian values that show the difference between what can last eter-nally and what is just a temporary act. They show what superficial faith represents as compared to the real faith that we obtain by becoming stronger in our own faith as a follower of Christ. I think it is important that we all take note that the sermon outlines our attitudes we are to have and attitudes we are to give others. We should strive to fit them into a part of our everyday lives, not so much as rules to follow, but as a reflection of our Christianity to all we meet each day. We need to get back to where our word means something and stand firm in the Beatitudes (our attitudes). As we approach the first Sunday of Advent, November 30th, let us keep Jesus’ words from the “Sermon on the Mount” in our hearts recognizing where we fall short and then applying them to our neighbors during this beautiful season that will be upon us soon. You might want to stop and read Matthew 5 to refresh your mind of this particular scripture. Blessings to all our Church congregation this 2016 Advent season.

An open invitation to ALL women of the church: Esther Circle will be hosting the November 15 UMW general meeting at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. A turkey dinner will be served by Esther Circle. The program will be given by Rob and Michelle Yoder from the Friendship Kitch-en. There will be no charge for the meal, but a free will offering will be collected to be given to the Friendship Kitchen ministry. Please give reserva-tions to your circle leader, or if you are not a member of a circle but would like to join us, call Karen Thada at 362-2815 or email kthada@sbcglobal.net.

INVITATION FROM UMW

Page 4 The Chimes

“Shout the Good News”

Christmas Cantata

Join us on Sunday, Dec 11th,

at 9 am.

We will have a combined wor-ship service to hear the Christ-mas story in

song.

GRATITUDE GRATITUDE GRATITUDE GRATITUDE SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER

13TH13TH13TH13TH

Join us on Sunday,

November 13th to

celebrate what God

has blessed you

with!

We will have spe-

cial treats available

during Take-Up-A-

Cup as a way of

saying “Thank you”

for your support!

HELP IS NEEDED! God is calling His people to join together to help put on a Community Thanksgiving Dinner that will Glorify His Name! The last 3 years we have been able to serve over 2500 people through home delivery, dining room services and carry out. In addition, the abundance of food that He provides will be delivered throughout the community in food baskets or donated to local food pantries also feeding additional people in the months to follow. This year the community Thanksgiving Dinner will be holding a non-perishable food drive for the local food pantries. Please make your contribution by dropping off your canned goods on either Wed, Nov 23rd or Thurs, Nov 24th at First United Methodist Church. If you hear His whisper, please call one of the numbers listed below to ei-ther volunteer time, donate food items or to provide financial support. Serving only Him, Mark & Sheila Zachary, Chairpersons 376-4365 or 376-9624

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER Thursday, November 24, 2016 Worship Service 11:30 am Dinner 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

First United Methodist Church 212 E Wabash Ave

Crawfordsville, IN 47933

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER

The month of August has pretty much been a blur to me. After gastric-bypass surgery on Aug. 8, my

non-recovery was unexpected and atypical. I was hospitalized for seven nights at IU Health North Hospital in Carmel on two occasions. I came home Sept. 10 and for 12 days was tied to a 14-hour TPN infusion. I became

severely dehydrated and the TPN gave my body a break while I tried to drink liquids and eat food according

to my new lifestyle. The good news is it worked. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, I received the news that my PICC line could be

removed. I am now working on my new relationship with eating and proper liquid intake. I am so grateful. But the thing I most appreciate were the many prayers, cards, letters, texts and phone calls lifting me

and my situation in prayer. My decision to have elective surgery was a decision based on controlling my Type

2 diabetes for good. I had no idea what happened to me could happen. I have been in the ministry for 27 years and have been to the hospital on many occasions praying for

the sick and those recovering from surgery. It is a totally different experience being the patient instead of the

pastor. I have prayed, sent cards, texts and made phone calls to encourage others. Until my experience in the

hospital, though, I never knew what an impact it made. James 5:14-16 says, “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him

and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person

well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” Therefore, confess your sins to each

other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effec-

tive.” (NIV) I was anointed with oil twice in the hospital – and I am so thankful for the ministry of faithful men

and women who have committed their life to the Lord. It was a humbling experience before God to let go of

my fears and my stress and allow the oil to drip on my forehead. It reminded me that God still loves me. Even

me, a forgiven sinner. Another truth about prayer I experienced: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by

prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses

all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) When you are retching several times a day it is hard not to be anxious. As the days’ drug on, the sur-

geon kept assuring me that my post-surgery anatomy was good and that I would get past this. “It just takes

time,” he said. I think my wife was going to scream if he said those words again. While his confidence was a

reassurance, his inability to explain what happened to me was unnerving. Yet, with the prayers of not only my church family at First United Methodist, but also the prayers

from the community, I persevered. I came to the point where I was totally relying on God. One night, I experi-

enced the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” It was an amazing experience. It is something I

will never forget. This peace enabled me to present my requests to God and to depend on God no matter what the an-

swer might be. I always knew the power of prayer is real. I have seen it in action. But when you are the person

being lifted in prayer your perspective changes. I have a new outlook on my life and my Lord.

Page 5 November & December 2016

CELEBRATING THE POWER OF PRAYER by Pastor Gary

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

First United

Methodist Church

seeks to make

disciples for Jesus

Christ. We seek to

relate people to

Christ, connect

people to the Body

of Christ, and

reach out in love

and concern to

the world.

212 E Wabash Ave Crawfordsville, IN 47933

765-362-4817

Gary Lewis, Sr Pastor gary.lewis@inumc.org

Patty Bymaster, Asst. Pastor patty.bymaster@inumc.org

Leslie Peacock, Dir of Rainbows & Rhymes

lpeacock@cvfumc.org

Sherrie Lacy, Admin Assistant slacy@cvfumc.org

Marsha Smith, Choir Director Cindy McCormick, Organist

Randy Neideffer, Maint

FIRST UNITED

METHODIST

CHURCH

YOUTH NEWS...

The Chimes November & December 2016

Service Times

9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

& 11:10 a.m.

The Gathering in the Fellowship Hall

10:00 a.m.

Sunday School with classes for all ages!

9:30-11:00 a.m.

Take-Up-A-Cup in the Library & Narthex

DATED MATERIAL

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

� There will be no Youth Group on Sunday, November 27. Enjoy the holiday

weekend with your family! � On December 4, we will be going to the Unite Cville event, which brings

together youth groups from throughout Montgomery County. The event will be held at Southmont High School from 6-8 pm. More details to fol-

low. � December 10-11: HS Youth are planning on an overnight trip to Chicago!!

If you are interested you can contact Stu Weliever, 366-5901. We’ll have fun with Chicago pizza, Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Lincoln park

zoo…..whatever trouble we can find.