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A Safe Sanctuary Church
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The Bearings
Bearden United Methodist Church 4407 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919 [Mail: P. O. Box 11065, Knoxville, TN 37939]
Michael Sluder, Pastor
December 4, 2007 Vol. 57, No. 48
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JUBILEE Join in the continuing celebration of the Advent season this Sunday at 6:00 in the Fellowship Center for our December Jubilee service. If you haven't tasted Bearden's flavor of Praise and Worship, this will be your last chance in 2007. This month Jubilee will be a Christmas celebration with Christmas carols, communion, prayer, and the message - "The Means of Grace". Following the Service, enjoy fellowship, sandwiches, chips and dessert.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE! Dec. 12 – Dinner, 5:30 p.m.; Program, 6:30 p.m.
Program: The Rings of the Lord will present their annual Christmas concert. The music will showcase Christmas carols of different styles from all across Europe. Come join us as we ring in the music of the season.
Menu: Alfredo chicken, rice pilaf, green beans, bread and dessert. Cost: $5.00 for adults; $3.00 for children; family maximum of $20.00; reservations: Monday, 4:30 p.m.
KIDS TO KIDS HEIFER PROJECT. Our Children’s Ministry Department is raising money for Heifer International. The 2, 3, & 4 year old classes want to purchase a flock of chickens for a family and the kindergarten thru 5th grade classes wish to purchase a sheep. Parents, please encourage your children to donate to the Kids to Kids Heifer Project. Bring special offerings to Sunday School on Dec. 9, 16 and 23. [Anyone can participate in this as well. Just make your check payable to the church on the memo line put “Kids to Kids.”]
APPRECIATION. As we celebrate the gifts of Peace, Love and Hope given to all of us this Christmas, we rely on the church staff to make our Advent season (and every day at church) calm and centered on Christ. Our staff nurtures our visions, keeps our ministries and missions on track, and serves as agents of God’s love and caring for us. Staff-Parish encourages all who want to thank staff members for their service and dedication to offer a special gift of Love. Please mark your gift as “Staff Christmas” and the SPR team will make sure all our folks receive a special gift for the holiday. We will collect “Staff Christmas” through December 16th. Remember to designate your gift as “Staff Christmas.” You may drop it in the collection plate, mail or bring to the church office. Thank you for sharing the gift of Love.
IN MEMORIAM
Grace Hamilton June 24, 1956 - November 28, 2007
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” --Deut. 22:27a |
FROM THE PASTOR
I know for many of you the Beta Home Christmas Party is an annual part of your Christmas season. For me, however, this was the first time I have had an occasion to meet the folk from Beta Home. What a gift it was to be in their presence, to see their joy and their gratitude for the little party we gave them. I want to share with you a couple of the ways they blessed us. As part of our time together several of us joined with several of the Beta Home residents in ringing the bells to music. We each had a different colored bell and when Barry held up a card with our bells color on it we would ring the bell. Erin Wallace was standing in front of me and had two bells she was ringing, probably imitating her father. She rang those bells with all she had. After we had finished one of the Beta Home residents came up to me, pointed at Erin and said “That little girl there. She did a great job ringing two bells with different colors. She needs to be told how good she did and she needs to hear it from someone she knows and trusts. I don’t fit that bill so would you be sure to tell her she did great?” If only we were all so keenly aware of the good things others are doing and how best to let them know. Later in the evening a gentleman walked up to me and wanted to tell me something. We stepped aside so we could talk. He wanted me to know that on their trip to the church he saw a lot of people and a lot of cars going many different places. He just wanted to say he hoped they were aware that God was watching over them. He was afraid they were too busy going somewhere to notice God was watching them. I assured him I would help him get that message out. So, the next time you’re running to the grocery store, the mall, and everywhere else we just have to go in this season remember that God is watching over us. Our time with Beta Home was truly a blessing. It helped bring into focus the real reason we celebrate Christmas. God came into the world for us all, including us overly busy, sometimes grumpy adults. See you in church.
Mike
FLORENCE CRITTENTON. Please remember to bring gifts wrapped in white and labeled – “for baby boy, baby girl” or “for mother” and include size, for the babies and moms-to-be in the care of the Florence Crittenton Agency. Following the pastor’s direction, you will present these offerings of Christian love at the altar at either service of worship on Sunday, December 9th.
A NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM. Group leaders and other registration workers need to come get their name on a costume and find out exactly what their duties will be. Marketplace/shopkeepers need to come and practice their craft, work on the setup of the shop and receive information pertinent to the craft and shop. This will also be a work opportunity for the teams working o the stable and Jewish home. Work area directors are: Outreach/Group Leaders, Registration, Parking/ Follow Up – Bill Lee & Lori Sluder; Marketplace/Shopkeepers – Brenda Tackett; Drama/Costumes – Judy McKenzie & Barry Wallace; Jewish home – Renee Follum & family; Stable/Manger – Darryl Millis & David Broyles; Luminaries/Refreshments – Christy Tucker; Scenery – Laughlin Smith & Donna Lewis. If you would like to work in one of the above areas, please call the director for the area in which you would like to work. This is a church wide outreach project. We are still in need of baskets, oil lamps, rugs & empty boxes.
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BEARDEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCHP. O. Box 11065 Knoxville, Tennessee 37939-1065 Telephone (865) 588-6562; Fax (865) 588-6989 E-Mail: info@beardenumc.org Web Page: http://www.beardenumc.org
Michael Sluder, Pastor msluder@beardenumc.org Bill Balch, Minister of Counseling, 558-8150 Donna Lewis, Director of Children & Family Ministries Janice Blair, Church Secretary janice@beardenumc.org Nan Proctor, Financial Secretary nan@beardenumc.org Brandon Loveday, Director of Music Steve Johnson, Organist/Accompanist Barry Wallace, Director of Drama Jennifer Somerville, Dir., Early Enrichment Program, BEEP, 588-1492 Micki Suffridge, Dir. School Age Program, 588-6717
CHURCH CALENDAR
Thursday December 6 9:00 AM Staff Meeting, Conference Room 11:00 AM Senior Aerobics, Fellowship Center 6:30 PM Jubilee Praise & Worship Team, Choir Room Friday December 7 7:00 PM Odds & Ends Party at the Houser’s Saturday December 8 10:00 AM A Night in Bethlehem Work Day 3:00 PM Al & JoAnn Matz Open House Sunday December 9 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 4:30 PM Youth, Third Floor 4:30 PM Rings of the Lord, Choir Room 4:30 PM Dare to Be Daniel 6:00 PM Youth 6:00 PM Crossroads I & II will not meet. 6:00 PM Jubilee Service, Fellowship Center Monday December 10 11:00 AM Senior Aerobics, Fellowship Center 6:00 PM Mary Martha Circle, Meadows Clubhouse 6:30 PM Jubilee Planning Team, Conference Room 7:00 PM Finance Team, Ginny Pletz Class Room Tuesday December 11 11:30 AM Prayer Warriors, Prayer Chapel 6:30 PM Line Dancing, Fellowship Center Wednesday December 12 6:30 AM Rise & Shine Bible Study meets with Charla Sherbakoff 11:30 AM Friendship Class Party, Meadows Clubhouse 4:00 PM Vestal Boys & Girls Club Ministry 5:30 PM WNL! meal & program, Fellowship Center 7:30 PM Chancel Choir, Choir Room Thursday December 13 9:00 AM Staff Meeting, Conference Room 11:00 AM Senior Aerobics, Fellowship Center 6:00 PM Fellowship Forum Class Party, Mandarin House Saturday December 15 4:30 PM Youth Progressive Dinner
DARE 2B DANIEL. Sun.,Dec. 9 will be the last session of Dare 2B Daniel for 2007. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. We encourage everyone to join us for A Night in Bethlehem on December 16. Dare 2B Daniel will on January 13, 2008.
ANNIVERSARIES & BIRTHDAYS
10—Buddy Fain, Alison McKenzie, Steve & Barbara Allman; 11—Elise Walker; 12—Sydney Everett, Brad Reeves, Jeanie Keith; 13—Vickie Tipton, Les & Ann Beaver, John & Darlene Sluder; 14—Vicki Edwards, Mike Franklin 15—Bryce Rivers
2008 WALK IN FAITH Pledges thru 12/03/07: $ 532,092 No. of Pledges: 112 Proposed Budget: $ 832,058
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Knoxville,TN Permit No. 39
WE SUPPORT BEARDEN
By Our Prayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Our Church FamilySelmer Bergerson (Tammy Knight’s father), Jimmy Crabtree (Jerry & Judy McKenzie’s brother-in-law), Joanne Hill, Charles Lee (Charla Sherbakoff’s Dad), June Phillips, Dot Steed, & Ruth Stulting. If you have someone you would like your church family to pray for, contact Rev. Sluder or the church office, 588-6562.
By Our Presence . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .For December 2 9:00 a.m. 121 Sunday School 191 11:00 a.m. 191 Total Worship 312 By Our Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For December 2 Operating $ 13,848.17 Sunday School 108.00 Heifer Project 170.00 FISH 125.00 Building 50.00 Beta Home 60.00 Costa Rica Mission 2,878.00 Staff Christmas 195.00 Habitat for Humanity 50.00 Family Promise 50.00
As of December 3, 2007 Received YTD $ 666,758.01 Expenditures YTD $ 667,200.01 Net YTD $ (442.00) Prepaid Pledges $ 41,158.16 Annual Budgeted Expenses $ 805,899.00 Building Loan Balance $1,582,237.69
By Our Service . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . For December 9 Ushers 9:00—Morgan Cantey (lead), Terry Alexander, Jim McPherson, Lee Sherbakoff; 11:00—Mike Sherrill (lead), Melissa Cate, Jerry McKenzie, Tom & Katherine Stooksbury Acolytes 9:00—Zach Bielak; 11:00—Craig Wallace Children’s Sermon—Greg Blackmon Children’s Church—Donna Lewis Nursery: Team C: Melissa & Wes Cate, Ashley & Shelby Perry, Danny Flaherty, Elaine Flaherty, Jeanie & Jeff Keith Coffee Stewards—Ginny Pletz Class Altar Flowers—Dale & Doris Magnuson
CELEBRATIONS OF THE SEASON
The Odds and Ends Class will meet Rob & Kathy Houser, 1708 Cove Creek Lane, on Fri., Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Al & JoAnn Matz joyfully invite you to attend their “42nd” Annual Christmas Open House at 1120 Live Oak Circle on Sat., Dec. 8 from 3 to 8 p.m. Directions: Take I-40 west to exit 374, Lovell Road. Turn north/right at Home Solutions Furniture Store; left onto Gilbert Drive. After passing the Episcopal School on the right, turn right onto next street – Live Oak Circle. Their home is on the Right, five houses straight up the hill.
Mary Martha Circle will meet at the Meadows Cluhouse on Gleason Road at 6 p.m on Mon., Dec. 10 for their gift exchange. Please bring an extra ornament.
The Friendship Class will meet Wed., Dec. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Meadows Club House. Lunch will be at Noon.
The Fellowship Forum Class will meet at the Mandarin House on Thurs., Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.
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