Greetings from Our Pastor

Jesus Christ tells us in Mark 9:35 "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the

servant of all." Do we want to be first with God? Then get in the habit of stooping low, for the

way up is down and the way down is up! Reach down to give a hand to someone in need.

Sacrifice our wants for the needs of another. Practice the art of humility. Jesus illustrated this

lesson by embracing a small child and saying in Mark 9:37 "Whoever welcomes one of these

little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me

but the one who sent me."

As we enter the season of Lent with Thanksgiving in our hearts for all that God has done for

us, let’s remember to “be last” and let others “be first”. As we enjoy Thanksgiving and

Christmas with our families, children and grandchildren, let’s remember to love them and

welcome them and any others that God places in our lives “in His name”. I was truly humbled,

amazed and grateful for the Spirit of Thanksgiving that moved so many of us to the altar

yesterday during our worship service. We believe that God’s amazing Spirit is leading us down

to our knees, so that He can lead us up to new heights! The way to soar with Jesus “up” to

wonderful, exciting, new and fresh places, begins when we humble ourselves before God by

allowing Him to bring us “down” to our knees.

Thank you Lord for bringing us “down” to our knees, so that You can help us to climb “up” as

humble servants whose desire to become last will allow You to be first through us!

Pam and I pray that you will have a wonderful Spirit filled Thanksgiving and Christmas with your families. Praise God from whom all blessings flow during this advent season and forever!

Pastor Lee and Pam

Millen United Methodist Church

THE ADVOCATE Martha Steptoe, Editor

The purpose of the Millen United Methodist Church is to Call, Nurture, Teach and Send Forth Disciples of Jesus Christ.

December 2015

Pastor: Rev. Lee Pettis

P.O. Box 750 Office: (478) 982-2664

413 Gray Street, Cell phone: (478) 279-1230

Millen, GA 30442 Website: www.millenumc.org

Parsonage Phone: (478) 982-1537

Church’s Email: mumcgrace@bellsouth.net

Pastor’s Email: lpettis53@yahoo.com

Wednesday Night Suppers begin at 6:00 PM

1st Wed. – Scott Herrmann’s team Cost of Suppers:

2nd Wed. – Cindy Linder’s team Sr. Citizens – $3.00

3rd Wed. – Covered Dish – Set-up/Clean-up team Individuals – $5.00

– Misty Harris, Tara Cooper & Lee Ann Collier Family – $15.00

4th Wed. – Mary Beth & Pam Brown

– Clean-up team – Sarah Sherrod & Youth

5th Wed. – Cindy Linder

We appreciate all volunteers for cooking, setting up, and cleaning up. Thanks.

COMMUNION STEWARDS: Laurie Fleming/Kelsey Fleming

GREETERS:

Dec. 6 – Starr/Wendell Clark, Terri/Mike Reeves

Dec. 13 – Roy Cook, Jessica/Maddie Herrmann, Pam Brown

Dec. 20 – B. L. Kent, Joann/Timmy Merier

Dec. 27 – Haywood Frye, Jimmie Faye White, Joyce Mixon

USHERS:

Dec. 6 – B. L. Kent, Edison Harris, Bob Boone, Haywood Frye, Dallas Suggs

Dec. 13 – Mike Reeves, Howdy McTeer, John Cleve Newton, Brien Linder, Seth Linder

Dec. 20 – Roy Cook, Ronnie Fleming, Ralph Crowe, Chad Fordham, Josh Fleming

Dec. 27 – Embree Jenkins, Sydney Clark, Hudson Sherrod, Hagan Jenkins, Henry

Sherrod, Abigail Newsome

CHILDREN’S CHURCH: ACOLYTES:

Dec. 6 – Misty/Stephen Harris Dec. 6 – Peyton Merier

Dec. 13– Tara/Cary Cooper Dec. 13 – Ty Boynton

Dec. 20 – Casey Reeves/Abigail Newsome Dec. 20 – Timmy Merier

Dec. 27 – Cindy Linder/Makenzie Coleman Dec. 27 – Morgan Bothwell

Page 2 December 2015 USHERS, ACOLYTES, GREETERS, STEWARDS

PRAYER CONCERNS: All Victims of Terrorism, All Victims of Weather,

Gloria Bargeron, Seth Benson, Bethany Home, Mrs. Clyde Boone, Cary,

Morgan & Marva Bothwell, Glenda Burke, Jinks Burke, Bubba Burkhalter,

Betty Clifton, Geneva & Don Cowart, Shirley Entwistle, Dorothy Gay Family,

Lottie Alice Godbee, Roy Harris, Corine Holmes, Earldene Hughes & Family,

Clarke Jenkins, Jim Jones, Hank & Delores Joyner, Timmy Lever, Marjorie

Linder, Elly Motes, Persecuted Christians World-wide, Rev. Lee Pettis &

Family, Barbara Pike, Ben Ransbotham, Rescue Workers Everywhere, Service

Men and Women, Shut-ins/Caregivers, Kenneth Taylor, Frances Tindor, AA

Group, Katherine Welch, Joel Wiggins, Larry Wiggins, Rev. Dave Willett,

Nancy R. Williams and Youth Groups.

December Birthdays

2 Jordan Ballew

4 Marigene Arnold

4 Fab Black

5 Stephanie Griffin

6 Christine Fu

10 Tiller Gay

11 Kathy Gay

11 B. L. Kent

11 Rhesa Reeves

12 Billie Newton

14 Wendy Joiner

16 Spencer Clark

17 Dallas Suggs

19 Cindy Linder

19 Mike Reese

20 Ray Durden

22 John Wesley Parker

22 Carrie Newton

22 Raymond Reese

24 Carrie Cook Jackson

25 Hud McTeer

26 Corey Reeves

28 Luke Cooper

29 Pam Brown

29 Hunter Kelly

December Anniversaries

11 ReAnn & F. A. Black

17 Starr & Wendell Clark

17 Terri & Mike Reeves

18 Janice & Mike Reese

‘

Bethany Home Service – will be held Sunday, December 13th

at 2:30 P.M.

Choir Practice – every Wednesday at 6:45 P.M.

Church Council – to be announced

Friendship Circle – will meet Wednesday, December 2nd

at 6:30 P.M. in Parlor

Golden Oldies – will meet Tuesday, December 1st at noon at Brenda Hood’s home. Everyone bring finger foods.

Men’s Fellowship/Prayer Breakfast Group – will meet Thursdays at 6:30 A.M. at Honey Café.

Monday Night Bible Study –will resume in January

Morning Sunshine Circle – will meet Wednesday, December 9th

at 11:30 A.M. at Elva Mills’ home. Hostesses

are Jean Rountree and Elva Mills.

United Methodist Men – will meet Tuesday, December 15th

at 7:00 P.M. in the Social Hall.

United Methodist Women –See last announcement on this page.

Women’s Prayer Group – will meet Monday’s at 9:00 A.M. at Vivian Jenkins’ home.

FELLOWSHIP

Newsletter information

for January is due no

later than Sunday,

December 20th

. Thanks

for your cooperation.

Sunday Morning Fellowship/Breakfast begins at 9:30 ea. Sunday

Dec. 6th – Ray & Elizabeth Landing Dec. 13th – Scott & Jessica Herrmann &

Misty & Stephen Harris Dec. 20th – Mike & Terri Reeves

Dec 27th – David & Sarah Sherrod

Page 3 December 2015

Upcoming Youth & Family Events

Children:

----December 2, 2015- We will be going to the Bethany Home to decorate a Christmas tree for the residents using ornaments we made in class. Children should meet at the church at 4pm. We will leave

from the church and return no later than 5pm. PLEASE NOTE: Children’s Choir will practice at 5pm.

----December 13- Children’s Choir will perform during the 11am service and at the Bethany Home following lunch. See Anna Burch for more details.

Youth:

----December 13- There will be no youth on the 13th as Sheila will be out of town.

----December 20- Youth Tacky Christmas Sweater Party! 6-7 pm in the Youth Room. We will have a Chinese Gift Exchange. Please bring a unisex $5-10 gift for the exchange. ----Forms will be sent home on December 6 for Strength to Stand. Please complete the forms

and return them to Sheila Boone not later than December 16.

Also Millen-Make-A-Difference will only meet the first week of December on the 3rd and 4th.

The Friendship Circle and the Morning Sunshine Circle would like to invite anyone to go

with us Thursday, December 3rd to hear the “Holiday Classic Concert” with the Augusta

Symphony Orchestra. It will be held at Burke County High School Auditorium at 7:00

PM. There will be free admission to the concert. We will meet at the church at 4:50

PM and leave promptly at 5:00 PM. We will stop by Lakeview Restaurant in

Waynesboro for supper, snack or coffee and then go to the concert. We must leave

the restaurant by 6:30 PM. Please come and enjoy this evening with us.

Invite your friends to join us for these activities! Sunday School every Sunday from 10:00-11:00 AM

Morning Worship every Sunday from 11:00-12:00 Noon

Youth every Sunday from 6:00-7:00 PM except December 13 & 27

Children’s After School Program every Wednesday from 4:00-5:00 PM except

December 23 & 30

Youth every Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 PM except December 23 & 30.

Sheila Boone

P.S. See other December activities listed below and on page 3, for youth and children.

Page 4 December 2015

Announcements

Our Adult Christmas Cantata “Breath of Heaven” will be presented Sunday, December 20th during the Morning Worship service. Come and enjoy this worship experience! Our Children’s Christmas Musical “Christmas Is Jesus” will be presented Sunday, December 13th during the Morning Wor- Ship service. This will be followed by our church-wide covered dish lunch. The church will provide the meat and everyone bring a covered dish or two to share.

Please remember

our Christmas Eve

service beginning

at 5:00 P.M.

Our Toys for Tots

program needs our

help with donations

of one or more

unwrapped toys for

a child (infant to 15

years old). A donation box will be

provided. These need to be turned in by

December 18th. If you would like to

sponsor a family, please contact the

Enrichment Center at 982-8004.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A

Live Radio Play” will be

performed by Mainstreet

Millen’s Cotton Avenue

Players at the Pal Theater

December 5th at 7 PM and

December 6th at 2 PM.

December 11th Live Nativity – Downtown Millen – starts at 6 pm Be downtown at 5 pm to get in costume-See Cindy Linder.

Christmas

Eve

Service

Free Advent devotionals are on the table outside the sanctuary. These are provided by the

Society of Saint Andrew.

~ December 2015 ~ ►

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9:30 am breakfast

& fellowship before

Sun. Sch. every

Sun.

Sun. Sch. 10 am

every Sunday

Morning Worship-

11am every Sunday

Youth will meet at 6

pm every Sunday

except Dec. 13 & 27

Women’s Prayer

mtg. 9:00 am

every Monday at

Vivian Jenkins’

home

Children 4-5:00 pm

ea. Wed. except

Dec. 23 & 30

Children’s Choir 5-

6:00 PM each Wed.

except Dec. 23 & 30

Youth 5:30-7:00 pm

every Wed. except

Dec. 23 & 30

Wed. Night Sup.

at 6 pm each Wed.

except 23 & 30

Choir practice

6:45 pm each Wed.

Men’s Fellowship

/Prayer Breakfast

Group at 6:30 am

eachThurs.

AA Group 8:00

PM every Thurs.

in Social Hall

1 Golden

Oldies will meet

at noon at

Brenda Hood’s.

Please bring

finger foods.

2 WNS-Scott

Herrmann’s team

Friendship Circle

will meet at 6:30 pm

in the Parlor

3 10:30 am

Millen Make-a-

Difference

UMW & others go

to concert at

Burke Co. HS

4 10:30 am

Millen Make-a-

Difference

5 7:00 pm -

“It’s a

Wonderful

Life: A Live

Radio Play-at

Pal Theater

6 Breakfast:

Ray & Elizabeth

Landing

2:00 pm -“It’s a

Wonderful Life: A

Live Radio Play-at

Pal Theater

7 8 9 Morning

Sunshine Circle will

meet at 11:30 am at

Elva Mills’ home

WNS- Cindy

Linder’s team

10 11Live Nativity

– Downtown

Millen – starts at

6 pm – be down-

town at 5 pm to

get in costume-See Cindy Linder

12

13 Breakfast:

Scott & Jessica

Herrmann & Misty

& Stephen Harris

Children’s Musical

“Christmas Is Jesus”

followed by Church-

wide Christmas

covered-dish-church

provides meat

Bethany Home

Service (Children

will sing) – 2:30 pm

14 15 United

Methodist Men’s

mtg. at 7 pm in

Soc. Hall

Green Thumb

Garden Club

mtg. at 7 pm in

Parlor

16 WNS- Covered

Dish-Everyone

bring a dish or two

to share. Set-up &

clean-up team:

Misty Harris, Tara

Cooper, & Lee Ann

Collier

17

18

19

20 Breakfast:

Mike & Terri

Reeves

Adult Christmas

Cantata “Breath of

Heaven”

6-7:00 Youth

Christmas Party-

Bring gift.

21

22

23 No Wednesday

Night Supper

24 Christmas

Eve service at 5:00

pm

25

26

27 Breakfast:

David & Sarah

Sherrod

28 29 30 No Wednesday

Night Supper

31