DECEMBER 2007 The Circuit Writer INNER STATE MINISTRIES

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13

Office phone: (270) 842-8171 Office fax: (270) 842-8172 Web Page: Statestreetumc.org

Dec. 1 UM Men Free Pancake Breakfast

8 a.m. Fellowship Hall

Dec. 2nd Hanging of the Greens

6 p.m. Sanctuary

Dec. 3rd UMW Meeting & Potluck Luncheon

11 a.m. Fellowship Hall

Dec. 5th Children’s Christmas Program

6 p.m. Sanctuary

Dec. 7—9 Men’s Retreat to Camp Loucon

Dec. 9 Healing and Wellness Service 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 Christmas Cantata 10 a.m.

(There will not be an 8:08 or 11:30 service)

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service 6 p.m.

Join us this holiday season as we celebrate the Greatest Gift of all!

Dear Friends at SSUMC, After unwrapping all of her presents, a little girl was asked, "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?" She thought for a moment and said, "No. But then, it's not my birthday." Too often we make Christmas about us when all along it is about Him. What can you give to Christ for his birthday? The Poinsettia is a Christmas tradition harkening from Mexico about giving a gift to Jesus. According to the legend, a boy named Pablo was headed to his village church to see its nativity scene. Realizing he had no gift for the Christ child, he hurriedly gathered some branches and weeds from the roadside. When he laid them before the manger, the other children laughed at him. But suddenly there appeared on each branch the brilliant, star-shaped flower of the Poinsettia. Like Pablo we need to consider what we will offer the Christ child this Christmas. Consider giving Him this Christmas a gift of… food for a hungry family, a song for the low of heart, a word of comfort for the lonely, a listening ear for the one who needs to share their story, a positive word of hope for the downtrodden… and the list can go on and on. What will you give Jesus for His birthday this Christmas? From all of us at State Street UMC…Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! In Christ, Paul A. Fryman Senior Pastor SSUMC

THE CIRCUIT WRITER

Gifts Given to the Church Faith Builders

Dec. 6 Holiday Pops at Van Meter Auditorium

(WKU) Reservations required

We will also assist with the

Christmas Food Boxes later this month.

2

FROM THE CHURCH MAILBOX

Library Line – Anne Ellis

In Memory Of...

Jerry Parker Given to the Endowment Fund by William P. Dulaney

Jim Richards Given to the Endowment Fund by Ray Thomas

Bill Hildreth Given to the Latvia Mission Trip by Debbi and Cheri Hildreth

In Honor Of...

Jim & Nina Bennett Given to the Chancel Choir by the Current Events Library Club

Dr. and Mrs. Dero Downing Given to the Chancel Renovation by Steve & Sandy Stewart

Advent is a busy time for everyone but along with the shopping, baking and church activities we need to take a few minutes to quiet our thoughts and prepare for the birth of Jesus. The church library has some fine materials for the Christmas and Advent season to help center ourselves. If there’s not time for a long novel maybe a book of short stories would be ideal. Perhaps, Follow the Star: Christmas Stories that Changed My Life, by T. D. Jakes or a thin, illustrated volume of a sermon by Peter Marshall called Let’s Keep Christmas. For music lovers, The Story of Silent Night, by Paul Gallico, telling the story of the beloved Christmas carol. If you want to have a family read aloud evening check out the classic story of the Herdman childrens’ participation in the annual pageant in Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. For your preschoolers Song of the Camels: A Christmas Poem by Elizabeth Coatsworth would be fun reading.

Let There Be Christmas for the Homeless

On Christmas

Day all over the United States, There are

Homeless people living in our Towns today, They will be cold and

Hungry and have no place to stay, there will be no presents for them to open on Christmas day

When there are families and friends come together on Christmas day, We will have lots of presents to open under

The tree, there will be lots of food on the table and, more cooking on the stove coming our way, before we gather around the table and

around our tree, Lord I pray that everyone in the United States, go into their towns and invite the homeless into, their homes and think about them

On Christmas Day.

Written By: Danny Smith 10/30/07

Dear SSUMC, Just saying “thank you” is inadequate. You have been supportive through personal crisis and everyday happenings. The luncheon was lovely and I am humbled by your special remembrance. Thank you and wishing you the very best. Frances Oliver

Our thanks and appreciation to Charles Meeks who recently made a new kneeling altar for the Church out of

the old altar rail from the renovation! It is a beautiful piece of workmanship. Thank you Charles!

Don Burton was recently inducted into the Union College Hall of Fame at their Homecoming on October 27th.

Congratulations Don! Don graduated from Union College in 1957 and earned the Union College Faculty’s Athlete

Award for his outstanding athletic performance as a basketball and baseball player. Then he launched a ca-

reer in teaching and coaching that took him to a variety of places in Kentucky. He retired in 1993 and was inducted

that year into the Martin Methodist College Athletics Hall of Fame.

THE CIRCUIT WRITER 3

CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER Callie Holland Lucy McGruder

B.G. RETIREMENT CENTER

Gertrude Bale Kathy Cockrill Ann Travelstead Eleanor Dotson

VILLAGE MANOR Hazel Ryan Frederica Williamson Mozie Hatcher Roy & Helen Almond

ROSEWOOD MANOR Effie Lovelace Lois Smith

COLONIAL MANOR Lillian Renfrow Madeline Elmes Ohm Pauli Magdalene McGaffey Bill Floyd

HOPKINS(Woodburn) Helen Smith

Please Remember Our Special Friends in Prayer:

MORNINGSIDE Sue Westray

HOMEBOUND Sidney Carpenter Margaret Clagett Barney & Mary Agnes Faulkner Deloris Floyd Nancy Hoffman Evelyn Kiel Naomi Lones Charles Mathison Sally Mayfield Bill McCormack Naomi McGinley Blanche Parrent Anna Smith Ina Ree Wright

OWENSBORO Erma Hunt

Birthdays

Happy Anniversary

Isaac Buck 01 Nicholas Gillam 01 Charles Mathison 08 Kaitlyn Snyder 09 Richard Parrent 10 Austyn Gaffney 10 Savannah Gillam 11 Emily Penn 11 Mary Alice Hildreth 13 Minerva Westray 14 Lucy Ballesteros 15 Tanner Cummings 18 Will Kilgore 19 Lou Sepulveda 21 Hannah Hall 23 Will Pride 23 Clarice Scarborough 24 T.J. Taylor 24 Anna Jo Johnson 25 Rick Shreve 26 Antrina Harbison 27 David Altmaier 30 Virginia Chappell 30 Mary Hudson 31

Cindy & Ron Grim 11 Lucy & Marco Ballesteros 15 Leslie & Chris Watkins 16 Tricia & Lou Sepulveda 21 Nancy & Jim Kinsner 27 Kim & Derrick Potter 28 Madge & Tom Bailey 31

Our Military: S. Sgt. (A.F.) Eric Dawkins M.J. (A.F.) David Grilley Lt. Col. Albert Stahl Capt. Audrey Terry Airman Christopher Ray LCPL Ryan M. Williamson Staff Sgt. Jeff Puryear Sgt. Michael Terry Jeremy Abell MP-(Iraq) James Portale (Marine) Alden & Aaron Lynch-Iraq Major Christopher B. Talley Pat Chism (Navy) Carlos Freeman (Army-Iraq) Rob Wall (Army-Iraq) Kate Feeley Stuart Martinez-(Iraq) Lucas Casada (Army-Iraq) Michael Kerr (Navy) Cody Pardue (Navy) C.J. Mills (USAF-Iraq) Brett Hightower (Army-Afgh) Patrick Martin (Iraq-Navy)

Missions: Latvia Methodist Church Marco & Lucy Ballesteros -Corazones Cristianos Toby Roberts—El Salvador El Salvador Mission Trip

Teresa Shaw Bob Jenkins William Gann Madison Sowell Judith Yoakum Mary Clinton Buddy Morris David Garvin Carlston Pardue Steve Hyten Amy Hall Wendell Brown Phillip Cole Bill Brown Mary Frances Willock Kim Garvin Ferrier Bob Jenkins Jay Ingram Hank Clark Dave Harrison Linda Wilson Robert Cunningham-Jessie Freeman Bill Smith Bill Jones Andrew Darden Healthy Pregnancy Charles Fullen Hank Clark Sue Thomas Grammy

Recent Requests: Olivia Gardner Ruth Randolph Ronald Raby family

On Going Requests: (Church Family) Bishop James & Rose King Mike & Sherry Powers Paul & Ellen Fryman Susan Shreve Jane Parker Brooke DeCesare Tom & Deb Wisley Bill & Deloris Floyd Jim & Nina Bennett Danny Wilson Homebound Nancy Davis Nancy Kinsner Haley Fulcher Rest Home Members

On-Going Requests: (Friends & Family) Christopher Darity Richard Miller Robert Whatley Don Mayfield Gilbert Mallory Rufus Bullock Jay Noble

Prayer Requests: Prayer request cards are located in the pew racks and on the prayer boxes that are located in the narthex and across from the church office. You may drop them in the boxes or the offering plates or hand them to Pastor Paul. Please Note: The names of persons for whom prayer has been requested will remain on our prayer list for one month unless we are notified otherwise. The names of the homebound and ill of our church family as well as our church leaders and military will be kept on our list indefinitely.

Prayer Requests

If you donate items to Goodwill, please do so in the name of Churches United in

Christ Help Ministry so that we can

accumulate funds in our account with Goodwill to help

others.

THE CIRCUIT WRITER 4

Children & Youth of State Street United Methodist

The Schedule of Events for December for both the Children & Youth

Sunday December 2nd- 1st Sunday of Advent Church Wide Celebration “Hanging of the Greens” - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 5th– The Annual Children’s Christmas Play– 6:00 p.m.

Sunday December 9th– 2nd Sunday of Advent UMYF 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 12th– WNG “The 12 Days of Christmas”

Sunday December 16th– 3rd Sunday of Advent—the Christmas Cantata UMYF– Yuletide Feast & Gift Exchange 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 19th– No WNG

Thursday December 20th– Youth trip to Nashvegas for Christmas Shopping– Leaving 10.00 a.m.

Sunday December 23rd– 4th Sunday of Advent— Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration for Children during 10:00 service — No evening Youth Activities

Monday December 24th– Christmas Eve Service—6:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 26th– No WNG

Thank you to everyone who hosted and helped with the

Progressive Dinners this year. It was an excellent night of

Feasting and Fun. We celebrated “Thanksliving”!

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is

given Isaiah 9:6

THE CIRCUIT WRITER THE CIRCUIT WRITER 5

Adult Hand Bell Choir News MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Hand bells play during the Hanging of the Greens on Dec 2nd!

Hand bells play during the 10:00 service on December 16th!

What is Advent? During the Advent season, we prepare our hearts so that God will find room in our lives. We await Christ’s birth and we re-member that Christ will come again. Throughout the Advent season, we pray for the day when every knee shall bow

and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. During Advent we

look toward Christmas - a time when we witness the fulfill-ment of God’s love for all of

his people.

This year Advent begins on December 2nd.

We will prepare the sanctuary during the Hanging of the

Greens @ 6:00 on December 2nd.

From the Minister of Traditional Worship

Children’s Choir News

December Schedule

2nd - 10:00 - All choirs sing during Worship 2:00-4:00 - All choirs practice in sanctuary 5th - 5:45 - All choirs meet in choir room 6:10 - CHRISTMAS PLAY

Join the Music Ministry and share more than just a song. Share in fellowship, friendship, worship and community

Cantata Sunday Sunday, December 16th

10:00 service

“Holy Night of Miracles”

Lee’s Lyrics

Chancel Choir Schedule 2nd - Hanging of the

Greens 5:45 5th - Practice 7:15

12th - Practice 7:00-8:30

Chancel Choir and Bell Choir

Christmas Party December 19th, 6:30

Lee’s House

THE CIRCUIT WRITER 6

Friday, December 7th ~ Sunday, December 9th State Street Men’s Retreat to Camp Loucon

We will meet at the church for dinner on Friday evening, traveling as one body to Camp Loucon. We will spend a wonderful weekend together in worship, growth, fellowship, & fun before returning back

to church on Sunday by 9 am. Don’t miss out on this unique gathering of State Street Men! A special mission project in memory of Rev. Herb Kittinger is also planned.

$50 per person all inclusive … Register by Sunday, December 2nd

If you have any questions or comments about any intentional discipleship opportunity, please contact Adam at work: (270) 842-8171 ext. 105, or on his cell: (270) 779-0501.

Also, feel free to send an email to apotter@statestreetumc.org or adam.potter@insightbb.com.

Lumps From The Potter’s Lathe Adam H. Potter - Minister of Intentional Discipleship

Worship - Community - Fellowship - Mission

A Place to BELONG! A Place to GROW! A Place to SERVE!

Verse of the Month Please Read

Luke 2: 1-20 “… Today in the town of David a Savior has been

born to you; He is Christ the Lord …”

“The Exodus Community” The Contemporary Ministry of State Street UMC

Current Sermon Series for December “The Heart Songs of Advent”

Sunday, December 2nd: ‘The Song of Mary’

Luke 1: 46-55 ... Nevil Speer speaking

Sunday, December 9th: ‘The Song of Zacharias’

Luke 1: 67-79 ... Paul Fryman speaking

Sunday, December 16th: ‘Holy Night of Miracles’

10:00 Service Only … Choir Cantata

Due to the Cantata, Christmas, New Years, and the El Salvador Mission Trip; Exodus will not take place December 16th, 23rd, and 30th or January 6th.

We will see you again in 2008 beginning Sunday, January 13th. Merry Christmas!

At What’s Here Now!

It’s NOT too late to join a group. Please contact Adam ...

(270) 779-0501 ~ (270)842-8171 ~ adam.potter@insightbb.com

STATE STREET UMC

MEN’S RETREAT Loucon Training & Retreat Center

Leitchfield, KY

December 7-9 Igniting Hearts, Changing Lives

REGISTER BY THIS SUNDAY

Our Neighborhood Community Small Group Ministry has begun.

IGNITE!

THE CIRCUIT WRITER PAGE 7

Special Mission Project

Corazones Cristianos is asking State Street to help them with Christmas Gifts for their members this year. Twenty five household gifts (linens, small appliances, etc...) are needed for the families. Gifts for the children of Corazones Cristianos will be provided as a mission project by the State Street Children & Youth.

Thank you for your assistance with this mission project.

Our Christmas Eve offering will

benefit Corazones Cristianos.

White Christmas Food Boxes

In December we will be delivering 100 food boxes to needy families identified through our HELP ministries.

If you wish to help finance this ministry, the cost is $35 per box. Please make checks to SSUMC with 'Christmas Food Boxes' written in the memo line. We will also have a Mitten Tree to help these families stay warm this winter. Hats, mittens, and scarves for all ages will be distributed with the White Christmas Food Boxes.

State Street again wants to make the season brighter for children of prisoners from across our community. A tree with angel ornaments requesting gifts to be given on behalf of the prisoners will soon be located near the church office. Prayerfully consider helping these parents maintain a positive relationship with their children through purchasing a $25 gift to be delivered in mid-December. Volunteers will be needed to help deliver gifts this year.

Campbell’s has announced changes to the labels program.

Campbell’s no longer accepts the front panel of soup can labels. The part of the label that can be redeemed is the UPC section, along with the Labels for Education symbol. Please cut them off of the label together, they must not be separated. They can not be stapled, glued or taped together.

Help Support Red Bird Mission

by collecting Campbell’s Labels for Education and General Mills’ Box Tops for Education.

For more information on this program, see the 11th Street entrance bulletin board.

SSUMC Cookbooks are back!!

If you missed them the first time, start making your gift list now. The United Methodist Women are selling the

cookbook, Cooking with Faith, Hope, and Love. The price is $15.00, with the proceeds going toward UMW Missions.

Give cheer to people who are in need of food this holiday

season. Give to the SSUMC Food Pantry!

All food donations are accepted, but we are in URGENT NEED of soda crackers, cans of fruit, cans of soup, cereal, Vienna sausage, cans of stew and cans of chicken and dumplings.

Monetary donations are also ac-cepted, just designate “Food Pan-try” in the memo line of your check.

The Circuit Writer

State Street United Methodist Church 1101 State Street

P.O. Box 3340 Bowling Green, KY 42102-3340

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit Number 325 Bowling Green, KY

Our State Street Staff

Senior Pastor ~ Rev. Paul Fryman

Minister of Visitation ~ Dr. Robert Rice

Pastor of Corazones Cristianos ~Marco Ballesteros

Minister of Children and Contemporary Worship ~ Carla Schooler

Minister of Student Development ~ Courtney Stevens

Minister of Intentional Discipleship ~ Adam Potter

Minister of Traditional Worship ~ Lee Young Children’s Music Intern ~Christina East

Organist ~ Julie Pride

Church Secretary ~ Suzy Muzyka

Finance Manager ~Tricia Hendrix

Church Hostess ~ Betty Lee

Housekeeping ~ Rhonda Gentry

Custodian ~Brian Ballou

The Church Office will be

Closed

December 24 December 25

January 1

The Church Office will also be CLOSED every Friday in

December.

The Mission Truck will be in our area on December 10

Urgent Needs: Good Pots and Pans Dishes Knick Knacks Good Usable Furniture Household Appliances Other Household Items Gently-used men’s clothing

Mountain Mission

Donated items should be dropped off in the garage behind the church on Eleventh Street. Keys to the garage are available from the church office.