Morrow Mirror A monthly newsletter brought to you by Morrow First United Methodist Church

Pastor’s Pen The Gift of Time December 2017

Well, here we find ourselves again celebrating the Christmas season, and com-ing to the end of yet another year. As I sit here writing this, I catch myself wandering off--reminiscing at all that we have accomplished at Morrow First--and at my own home. At the same time, however, I find myself thinking of the few other things I would liked to have completed this year. As life will have it, there is never enough time to do all one likes or wishes to accomplish. Yet, we can be thankful for a great 2017!

TIME is a funny thing because it slips away from us so fast; but at the same time it can seem to move ever so slowly. The one thing for sure, is, it does pass--and before we all know it--we are looking back and saying to each other, “where has the time gone?”

If there ever is a great gift to give to others during the Christmas season and the coming end of 2017, it is TIME:

Time with your spouse or significant other Time with your kids, your grandkids, your family Time with your friends and your favorite pastime Time with your community Time with your church family, and do not forget to spend Time with God

The truth is, TIME is a great gift to others, and to oneself. As we move through the days and weeks of Christmas and closer to the end of 2017, I hope you all take some time, just for you. A little time to sit back and reflect upon the accomplishments you have achieved. Then take some time to focus on the coming year, 2018.

This Christmas spread a little love, a little joy, a little comfort to others with the little time you have left in 2017, because before you know it, 2018 will be here, and this time we have left in 2017 will be in the past.

God Bless you all,

and Merry Christmas!

Pastor Luis & Melanie Ortiz

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Attendance & Giving by Date

Sunday Worship Sunday

School

Budget

Giving

11/6 86 62 $6,876.00

11/13 95 62 $3,460.00

11/20 85 54 $3,062.06

11/27 109 67 $3,456.10

November Financial Update November was our lowest month in contributions so far this year. We received $16,826.16 and spent $21,200.51 this month. Our average expenditures for each month is $23,207.35. Please keep in mind that the utilities, payroll, taxes and miscellaneous expenses must be paid every month. Just a reminder that we have paid all our District and Conference apportionments for the year. Our Annual BBQ profit is $2,931.23. I am still showing that a few people have not paid for their BBQ. Please settle up as soon as possible. If you have any questions please call the church office. The Yard Sale made $2,351.81 and money keeps trickling in for the yard sale also. The Trustees have installed a new sidewalk and handrails down the halls to assist those in need. We are also raising money for a new HVAC system. The balance raised so far is $16,720.44. Please continue to keep our church in your prayers.

Becky Griffin Financial Secretary

Last Month at MFUMC

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Live Nativity for Morrow’s Christmas in the

Park on Saturday, December 2.

Morrow Tourism sent the church a donation in appreciation.

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MFUMC

Food Pantry in Need

Our food pantry has served over 2,000 Clayton County residents in 2017. One

week there were 25 families (90 people) on a single Thursday. Please help

restock our pantry with the most common needs such as spaghetti and sauce,

beans, rice, cereal, fruit cups, canned vegetables, soup, peanut

butter, and jelly.

Thank you,

Diana Aull

2018 GRIFFIN DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TRAINING EVENT

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 3:00-5:00 P.M. GRIFFIN FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1401 Maple Drive, Griffin, Georgia 30224 SCHEDULE 3:00 p.m. Worship in the Sanctuary 3:30 p.m. Workshops – Education Building, Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Departure

WORKSHOPS MUSIC AND WORSHIP – Designing the Worship Flow – Chuck Bell Explore how each element of worship impacts every other component, starting with the gathering of the people to the benediction. Chuck Bell brings over 20 years of experience as a nationally known clinician, arranger, and musician.

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT IN SMALL MEMBERSHIP CHURCHES (50 members or less) – Jacqui King Exploring what effective ministry can look like for congregations with less than 50 members. Jacqui King serves as the Director in Leadership for Congregational Vitality with Discipleship Ministries.

MINISTRY WITH MILLENNIALS (Young Adults ages 20-35) – Geoffrey Parker Identifying ways to connect and grow ministries with Millennials. Recognizing that ministry with young adults largely happens outside the church walls. Geoffery Parker serves with Discipleship Ministries as Program Manager, Spiritual Development and Program for Young Adults.

DISCIPLESHIP – SEE ALL THE PEOPLE – Junius Dotson Rather than fixing churches there is intentional focus on making disciples and transforming the world. Junius Dotson is the General Secretary with the United Methodist Discipleship Ministries.

FINANCE Through a video presentation we will hear from Keith Cox, Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services on managing the finances of the local church. Group discussion will follow the video presentation.

STAFF PARISH RELATIONS – Herzene Andone Leadership training for Staff Parish Relations Committees led by Herzone Andone, Director of Connectional Ministries.

Our Service Members

Stationed on Okinawa Island

Kameron Burrell (great nephew of Linda McElhannon)

Stationed Overseas

Matt Allen (husband of Darcy Bloom Allen)

Stationed Stateside

Jayson Dooley (son of Nannette Dooley)

David Key (son-in-law of Bil & Melanie Johnson)

Nichole Turner (niece of Keith & Kathy Munson)

Aviano AFB - Italy

Capt. Kyle L. J. Phillips (grandson of Larry Phillips)

Stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC

Alex McKenzie-Castillo (son of Ardell McKenzie-Sasso)

Jacob Beard (friend of Brooksie Foster)

Stationed at Misawa Airbase, Japan

Kevin McElhannon, Jr.

(grandson of Bill & Linda McElhannon)

Stationed in Kandahar Afghanistan

Max Anderson (cousin of Layla Leo)

Nursing Home /Hospital/Independent Living/ Rehab Patients Members

Bright View North Andover: Ethel Jewett, 1275 Turnpike St, #1211, North Andover, MA 01845

Brookdale Canton: Tommie Budkoski, 125 Riverstone Terrace, rm 303, Canton, GA 30114

Elmcroft Senior Living: Shirley Barnett, 7493 Mt. Zion Blvd, Rm 109B, Jonesboro, GA 30236-4814

Governor’s Glen Assisted Living: Marline Sargent, Pod B, 5000 Governor’s Drive, Forest Park, GA 30297-6138

Jonesboro Nursing & Rehab: Tootsie Callaway, Rm 116A, 2650 Highway 138E, Jonesboro, GA 30236-2744

Summer’s Landing Bayberry Trace: Linda Jenkins, Rm 119, 315 Arrowhead Blvd, Jonesboro, GA 30236

Remember these members and friends in

your thoughts and prayers, and with

cards and visits.

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April Lawrence, age 45, is on the hear t transplant list, requested by her aunt, Diana Aull

Ben Adams had an MRI that showed no tumors and no cancer . Family is searching for a specialist to find source of his loss of sight; reported by his great aunt, Diana Aull

Clint Young, recently diagnosed with cancer , r equested by Angela Seelhammer

Gail Hartley is back home after her hear t attack

Gloria Kovaleski Dumas who has cancer asked for continued prayers, repor ted by Pam Boyd

Rev. Jack Hartwell is at home but under doctor ’s care following multiple heart attacks, requested by his friend, Bob Brannon

James & Emily Gauthier Haug and family, requested by Emily’s mother, Anita Thomaston

Janet Thomaston is dealing with constant pain from her broken back, requested by Anita Thomaston

John Rivenbark, requested by Angela Seelhammer

Judy Stanford has dementia and a broken hip, requested by her fr iends, Dana & John Chapman

Kathryn Wood, co-founder of The Front Porch Players, on the passing of her mother, Juliette Adams on December 15, 2017, in Union Springs, AL, reported by Jean Peacock

Laura Milton Moore is cancer free, continuing to heal, and endur ing pain from the surgery and treatments, reported by Chuck Ruffino

Lisa Foster has finished radiation treatments, doctors have removed pre-cancerous cells from her colon but she does not have colon cancer, reported by her mother-in-law, Brooksie Foster

Michael Taylor did well with the surgery and has 6 weeks of recovery, repor ted by his mother-in-law, Susan Crawford

Ruth Muniz, requested by her daughter , Diana Aull

Savanna French continues to improve but she has two lymph nodes that are cancer positive so treatments will continue in January 2018. She feels great and is enjoying school, reported by her great-aunt, Connie Cabe

Sharon Shudder is very ill, requested by her fr iends, Dana & John Chapman

Shirley Barnett, continued prayers

Vicki Faulk is not getting better . She will continue physical and speech therapy and star t stem cell treatments, reported by her aunt, Kathy Munson

Rev. Warren Huddleston is out of ICU and continues to recover after his motorcycle accident, reported by his sister, Brooksie Foster

Prayer Requests

Homebound Members

Ellen Betsill, 501 Blossom Tr., McDonough, GA 30253-2179

Jerry & Mary Brazeal, 3920 Brookline Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022-6435

Betty Hargis, 157 Pulliam Dr., Apt. 42, Jackson, GA 30233-5111

James Gloor, 5879 Clate Court, Ellenwood, GA 30294-4069

Bill & Linda McElhannon, 3793 Charlotte Drive, Rex, GA, 30273-1208

Doris Melear, 2569 Wall St., Jonesboro, GA 30236-2750

Janet Thomaston, 7871 Thrailkill Road, Jonesboro, GA 30260

Our Love, Prayers and Christian Sympathy

To Rev. J. Sanford McDonald, pastor of MFUMC from 1987-1991, upon the death of his

son, Joseph “Sandy” Sanford McDonald on December 13, 2017 following a long battle with

Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. Sandy was pre-deceased by his mother Sara McDonald and his

sisters Brenda McDonald Jones and Donna McDonald Henderson.

Many in our church family have fond memories of the McDonald family during their ministry

with us and of Sanford’s time with us as Pastor Emeritus following his retirement.

Funeral services were Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Covington First United

Methodist Church. Guest book may be signed on-line at J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home,

www.harwellfuneralhome.com.

Please remember Sanford, his daughter-in-law Margaret Williams McDonald of Covington and

other family members in your thoughts and prayers during these difficult days.

The address for Rev. J. Sanford McDonald is 40 Birchwood Court, Covington, GA 30014-

1960.

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2018 is Knocking

Help Make 2018 the Best Year yet for MFUMC

How?

Fill a W.I.N.G.S. vacancy. Pick up a W.I.N.G.S. Tri-fold from the W.I.N.G.S.

bulletin board. Several committees and positions do not have leaders or

coordinators. Interested members should contact the W.I.N.G.S. chairs listed in

the tri-fold.

Sign your group up to serve dinner the fourth Sunday of a month at Calvary Refuge

Center. Please contact Doug Jewett, Serve Ministry Chair, to schedule your

group: dsj3783@aol.com

Volunteer with the Food Pantry. The pantry needs help on the third Tuesday of

each month to help load in donations from the Midwest Food Bank. And Thursdays

from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. to make bags of food for community members in need.

More information is available from Diana Aull:770-743-0281.

Join a choir. Both the Chancel Choir and the Joyful Praise Ringers (hand bell choir)

have openings. The Chancel Choir practices on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. so

joining is as easy as attending practice. To join the Ringers, contact Don Davis:

ddavis770@hotmail.com.

Volunteer in the Church Office. Volunteers help with folding bulletins, content and

editing the Morrow Mirror (monthly newsletter), creating the worship slideshow, and

general office tasks such as filing and answering the phone. Please contact Cora

in the office:770-961-4668; mumc-admsec@bellsouth.net.

substantial savings.

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MFUMC Online Experience

Volunteers Needed to facilitate, provide snacks, and deliver lunch.

Sign-up sheets are on bulletin board near church office

or you can email the church office at mumc-admsec@bellsouth.net.

Where: Morrow First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall

5985 Jonesboro Rd, Morrow, GA 30260

When: Monday, January 1 7:30 p.m. Session 1

Tuesday, January 2 9:30 a.m. Session 2

11:30 a.m. Session 3

1:45 p.m. Session 4

7:30 p.m. Session 5

Wednesday, January 3 9:30 a.m. Session 6

PASSION IS MORE THAN A CONFERENCE…

PASSION EXISTS TO SEE A GENERATION LEVERAGE THEIR

LIVES FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST

Attendee Registration: https://goo.gl/forms/of190bUW34Kbg75l2

Attendee Registration: https://goo.gl/forms/of190bUW34Kbg75l2

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Morrow First

United Methodist Church

Rev. Luis A. Ortiz

P.O. 143

5985 Jonesboro Road

Morrow, GA 30260

Phone: 770-961-4668

Email

luis.ortiz@ngumc.net

mumc-admsec@bellsouth.net

mumcfin-sec@bellsouth.net

www.mfumc.com

Fifth Sunday Breakfast

December 31 ~ 8:30 am

This is the last 5th Sunday Breakfast of

2017. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for

good food & fellowship.