Morrow Mirror November 15, 2017

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

Pastor’s Pen November 2017 THANKSGIVING

Psalm 95:2 “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Psalm 26:7 “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.”

Psalm 116:17 “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.”

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

I am having a very hard time believing that Thanksgiving is already upon us! The year has flown by so quickly. We have seen God do so many things for our church and for each of us individually and for our families.

We are entering one of the busiest times of the year. We will enjoy our Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, and then some of you will participate in the cultural tradition known as “Black Friday.” Some will stand out in the cold, waiting in line to start their Christmas shopping. They will fight the crowds trying to get the best deal on “stuff.”

That event kicks off the busy Christmas season. As a church we have many activities coming during this season. We will have our Christmas Banquet, Christmas Concert, Children’s Christmas Musical, and Christmas Eve Service.

In addition to the Church activities, we have our family activities for this time of year. Many will travel to see family for the holidays; we will have family gatherings, dinners and Christmas traditions. This can be a very busy and stressful time of year.

As we begin this adventure that we call “The Holiday Season” let’s remember to focus on what God is wanting to teach us during this time of year. Next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is a unique holiday that focuses our attention on the goodness of God and His bountiful supply, and His

innumerable blessings. America is unique in that our country was founded on the principles of Christianity. Our forefathers understood that without the help of Almighty God we would have never come into existence. In 1620, the Pilgrims stopped to give thanks to God for His protection and provision. In 2017, let’s keep our focus on God and his goodness.

Happy Thanksgiving

Pastor Luis & Melanie

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Attendance & Giving by Date

Sunday Worship Sunday

School

Budget

Giving

10/1 78 47 $4,505.55

10/8 80 56 $7,014.37

10/15 78 56 $2,405.00

10/22 92 62 $4,163.00

10/29 106 59 $4,474.25

October Financial Update For October 2017, we received $22,562.17 towards our budget. To date

we have received $228,190.69 towards our annual budget of

$304,212.69. Our need for the remainder of 2017 is $76,022.00.

All Apportionments are paid.

As of publication, we have received $12,760.44 for the Heat/Air

Campaign

Last Month at MFUMC

Since all ticket money has not been submitted from the Barbeque, we can not give a complete

information summary for the BBQ & Yard Sale on Saturday October 7. If you have ticket

money or have not paid for yard sale items, please submit it to the church office.

$9,000

$90,000

$18,000

$27,000

$36,000

$45,000

$54,000

$63,000

$72,000

$81,000

MFUMC

Food Pantry in Need

Our food pantry has served over

2,000 Clayton County residents

in 2017. One week this was 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

Youth Service Project Needs You!

Come help us to serve at the Midwest Food

Bank in Peachtree City on Saturday,

December 9 from 9:00-11:00 in the

morning. We haven't been assigned what we

will be doing yet. Last year we repackaged

dried beans into family-sized portions. The

youth and adults who attended had the best

time. Midwest Food Bank has given

faithfully to our church's food pantry for

several years now, and this is a great opportunity for our church to give back and have a great

time in fellowship together. For more information, contact Tracy Larson

(tlarson1932@gmail.com).

MFUMC

Christmas Schedule

The Hanging of the Greens Ceremony

Sunday, November 26, 2017 ~ 11:00 a.m.

MFUMC Christmas Musical & Dinner is

Sunday, December 17 ~ 5: 30 p.m.

(more info on insert)

Christmas Eve

11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service

6:00 p.m. Candlelight Service

Group Christmas Parties:

Friday, 12/8 ~ 5 p.m. Searchers Class, Fellowship Hall

Monday, 12/11 ~ 11:30 a.m. Ramblers, Fellowship Hall

Monday, 12/11 ~ 6 p.m. Electa Share, TBD

If your group has a party not on this list, please notify

the church office at mumc-admsec@bellsouth.net

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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)

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

Golden Crest Senior Living Community: Toni Bish, Rm 10B, 2160 Lake Harbin Rd, Morrow, GA, 30260-1902

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.

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

PRAYER REQUESTS

Ben Adams is having vision problems and will see a neurological ophthalmologist, requested by his great aunt, Diana Aull

Bonnie Smith fell and hurt her back and broke a r ib

Clint Young, r ecently diagnosed with cancer , requested by Angela Seelhammer

Gail Hartley is back home after her hear t attack while she was in the hospital for thyroid surgery

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

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

John Riverbark, r equested by Angela Seelhammer

Keith Munson had an outpatient procedure on 11/15, requested by his wife, Kathy

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

Lisa Foster breast cancer surgery, requested by her mother -in-law, Brooksie Foster

Michael Taylor will have surgery on his shoulder on 12/1, reported by his mother -in-law, Susan Crawford;

Paul Deason will begin rehab soon as par t of his recovery from hear t surgery, repor ted by his wife, Joan

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

Shirley Barnett has returned to Elmcroft Senior Living after a br ief stay at Piedmont Henry

Family and friends of Tommy Cash, a retired Clayton County Police Officer , who recently passed

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

Yancey Williams is at Grady Hospital recover ing from punctured lung, requested by his uncle, Tracy Holland

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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.

W - worship

I - invite

N - nurture

G - grow

S - serve

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On November 28th, you are invited to come together with thousands of United Methodists to support the work of Advance missionaries and projects on UMC #GivingTuesday. Connect your passion with God’s mission as you give to a world in need through your prayers, presence, gifts, and service.

We would love to hear about creative ways that you are raising awareness and funds for The Advance—especially what you are planning for the 2017 UMC #GivingTuesday. Thank you for your support as we live out God’s mission together. Should you have any questions about UMC #GivingTuesday, please contact advance@umcmission.org.

11 Ways You Can Get Involved

1. Identify missionaries and/or projects to support.

2. Pray, donate, and create financial avenues of supporting missionaries or projects to supplement your financial gift.

3. Include banners and other promotion on your website, social media, and newsletters

4. Submit a flier for your church bulletin and integrate stories of Advance missionaries and projects into meetings or sermons leading up to November 28. Share Advance stories in your newsletter.

5. Take time for a mission moment during Sunday School or small group time.

6. Give children boxes to collect money and get them excited about the missionary or project they are supporting.

7. Raise awareness about UMC #GivingTuesday through your district office or annual conference.

8. Take a “selfless selfie” holding a sign with a UMC #GivingTuesday graphic that says, “On UMC #GivingTuesday, connect your passion with Gods’s mission. Please join me by supporting __________________[insert project/missionary name] November 28.” Post these selfless selfies on social media and your website.

9. Post a graphic from the resource page and encourage people to upload a selfless selfie using one of the graphics.

10. Ask friends and family to make, in your honor, an early Christmas/Advent gift to your favorite missionary or Advance on November 28. Or make a gift in honor of those on your Christmas list.

11. Send an email to your community network and ask them to support The Advance on November 28, UMC #GivingTuesday.

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The Front Porch Players

Proudly Present

LYING IN STATE

Friday/Saturday: Nov. 17 & 18 -

7:30 p.m.

Sunday: Nov. 19 - 2:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro,

1842 Lake Jodeco Rd., Jonesboro

Reserved Seating: Adults, $15; Seniors/

Children, $12

General Admission: Adults, $12; Seniors/

Children, $10

Tickets: www.thefrontporchplayers.com/770-897-1404

This side-splitting comedy centers on a late state senator who died in a ridiculous gun accident that

turns him into a national hero, and how local political party leaders are looking for someone to fill his

senate seat while others are looking for just the right casket, love, votes, and the chance to get into

politics. And it all takes place at the funeral home--where things are not what they seem.

Our own Keith Larson stars as the Governor, a true politician. Others in our church family involved in

Lying in State are Chuck Matthews, Sound Tech; Mary Anne Brannon, Props Manager; Tracy Larson,

Stage Manager; Jean Peacock, Ad Sales & Program Set up; and Angela Seelhammer, Usher &

Secretary for TFPP.

Auditions for The Secret Garden

On December 2 (11 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) and December 3 (4:30-7:00), auditions for the musical based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story, The Secret Garden, will take place in our space at The First Presby-terian Church of Jonesboro, 1842 Lake Jodeco Rd., Jonesboro.

See our website

(http://thefrontporchplayers.com/the-secret-garden-auditions/ ) for specific needs for actors/actresses for this show. The beloved story, reimagined with some of the most beautiful, soaring, and often heartbreaking music you will ever hear, will become one of your favorites, we're sure!

Christmas in the Park

Saturday, December 2

2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Tree lighting at 6:30pm

Milton Daniel Park, 1500 Morrow Road, Morrow, GA 30260

Pictures with Santa, Christmas Carols, and Much More!

Join your neighbors, City of Morrow government officials, local

businesses and Santa Claus at Milton Daniel Park as we celebrate

Christmas in the Park 2017. We are excited to have locally crafted

artisan items for sale at Christmas in the Park this year.

Candlelight Christmas 1862 A Two Night Holiday Event

Friday, Dec. 8th and Saturday, Dec. 9th 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Step back in time to Christmas 1862 and tour the McCord home as they prepare for the holidays. Robert is away fighting and Rebecca and family are expecting company for Christmas. This is a historical drama acted out as you tour the home. It is appropriate for all ages. Tours begin every 20 minutes from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. You will be entertained while waiting inside the Bethel Schoolhouse for your tour to depart. For a specific tour time, purchase tickets in advance by calling (770) 473-0197.

Juddy’s Country Store will be open for holiday shopping.

For more information, please

call us at (770) 473-0197

We look forward to sharing this

historic holiday tradition with

you!

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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

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2017 Christmas Celebration Sunday, December 17

Musical Program ~ 5:30 p.m. ~ Sanctuary

Chancel Choir, Joyful Praise Ringers, Children’s Choir

Don Davis, Director

Jackie Davis, Accompanist

Christmas Dinner ~ Fellowship Hall ~ Following Program Prepared by Anna & Andrew Cox and Crew

Adults: $10 Children: $5 Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce

Hashbrown Casserole, Green Beans, Rolls, Red Velvet Peppermint Cake,

Tea, Lemonade, Coffee

Dinner Reservations are required

The reservations determine the amount of food prepared.

Please submit your reservation form and payment to the church office no later than December 14.

Reservation Form