Monterey United Methodist Church December 1, 2016

THE CIRCUIT WRITERVolume 37 Issue 12

“God is thrust onward by hos love, not attracted by our beauty. He comes in moments when we have done everything wrong, when we have done nothing…when we have sinned.” These words by Carlo Carreto in his work “The God Who Comes” reminds us in this season of Advent that the coming of God…the advent of God… is determined and completed by God’s own love power. The Bible tells us that Jesus came in the fullness of time, that is, at the right time. Only God knows and acts in the fullness of time…at the right time. We celebrate the birth of Jesus as a coming of God in special manifestation of his love for us. This was done without us or the accommodation of the world.

It may seem strange to us that God came in Christ, as a baby in Bethlehem, vulnerable and in an age such as that time. It was a world filled with evil. The homeland of Jesus was ruled by a foreign power…Rome. Poverty abounded. There was no mass media to declare his coming and no television or radio promotions of Jesus’ birth. Surely, if God waited until a time like our time, the birth of Jesus would have a greater notice or impact. But God’s ways are not our ways; and God’s timing is not our timing.

Surely, it is difficult for us to imagine how Jesus could ever have had a greater worldwide or intimately personal impact than in the manner and time in which God chose to come among us. Indeed, “God is thrust onward by his love….” This love born on earth at Christmas guides and inspires our celebrations this Holy Season.

In Christ’s Love,Jerry Mayo

SENIOR FITNESS –Range of Motion & Muscle Strength are only part of what you will benefit from if you join the fitness program at the Monterey Senior Center on Monday, Wednesday & Friday beginning at 9:00am. Contact Wanda Balsley for more information

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : If you would be interested in volunteering on an on call basis for Children’s Sunday School please contact Suzy Jackson. Lessons would be provided.

MONTHLY & WEEKLY CHURCH SCHEDULING

Sunday School Sundays at 10:00amYouth Group Sundays at 5:30pmMonterey Hilltop Chorale Mondays at 6:00pmCivitan Club 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pmAGAPE Chapel Wednesdays at 10:00amChoir Rehearsal Wednesdays at 6:30pmCottage Ministry Friday & Saturday, 9am – Noon

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS Pancake Breakfast for Project Graduation, Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 7:00amGirl Scouts, Thursday, December 15 6:00pmChristmas Eve Service, Saturday, December 24 5:oopm

A RECORD OF OUR FAITHFULNESS Please note the new listing for our financials, hopefully this will be easier for all to understand and follow on a monthly basis:NOVEMBER FINANCIAL RESULTS (OPERATING FUNDS)

11/1/16 Beginning Balance $10,410.5411/1/16 Tithes & Offerings $18,199.7511/1/16 Operating Expenses $11,610.9811/1/16 Ending Balance $16,999.31

OCTOBER WORSHIP LEADERS: Liturgist Bob CournoyerUshers John & Marion BarwickAcolytes Megan Moore & Christopher Willix

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Monterey United Methodist Church December 1, 2016

MONTEREY’S DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS In an effort to update our records and to include your information in the newsletter, please send the church your birthdays and anniversaries. (Please list the name(s) and date(s) of all in your family who are connected to the church. Thank you!)

Ron Sontag (12/3)Chris Looper (12/5)Annie Looper (12/6)Kent McCormick (12/11)Theresa Looper

(12/12)Judy Powell (12/12)Alfreda Ford (12/12)Joyce Steinmetz

(12/13)Meretha Durham (12/13)Kathy Denton (12/15)Richard Jackson

(12/19)Patricia Hudgens (12/20)Sandi Vanacore

(12/23)Taylor Reese (12/26)Ed Bruce (12/29)Matthew Webb

(12/30)MONTEREY’S DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

John & Marion Barwick (12/1)

Ken & Crystal Crandall (12/19)

Richard & Linda Jensen (12/21)

Ed & Judy Bruce (12/29)

SPECIAL INVITATION : Abba's Coffee House located at 708 S. Holly St. will hold prayer meetings open to everyone starting at noon on Wednesdays. Prayers of praise and concern for our nation and all will be lifted up to God our Abba. Spread the word and come as you are. For more information please call Wanda Balsley (931-261-8676)

YOUTH NEWS

On November 6 we hosted the district SEEDS gathering. There were over 30 youth here and they were fed well thanks to all the people who helped. A big thank you! There were lots of games, dancing and getting to know each other. The highlight of the evening was the wonderful music of the Nehi Band.

This month we are beginning a new fundraiser. It is online shopping at Pepper Fundraising. Instead of ordering out of a catalog, you can go online and shop. Each of the youth members has the information you will need. We receive at least 40% of the purchases.

On December 25th there will be no youth meeting.

NOTE FOR THOUGHT God Himself doesn’t propose to judge a man until he is dead, so why should you?

AGAPE PRESCHOOL FALL NEWS. Our two-week fall break usually focusses upon giving our thanks and prayer to the Lord and celebrating the season with family and friends. As you are aware this ministry depends on private donations, grants and perhaps most importantly your support generosity. Without your support we might not have important items like soap, books, paper towels, cleaners, trash bags and other necessities. Each item donated seems to appear just when needed. Our August fundraiser was our first of its kind and thanks to your support, we made $622.90. It was surprisingly painless. Thank You!

We are also grateful to other funding from outside of our church family. We received a VEC grant that helped the school buy new playground equipment and materials. We also received a grant from the Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Company that enabled us to replace our old pots, pans, and griddle and to purchase some very much needed kitchen utensils. In addition, Fairfield Glade UMC donated $2,000.00 to the school. We are so grateful for all these donations and grants. Please continue to support the school with all that you do and I assure you it means a great deal to all of the children and their families. Thank You All!

On October 23rd we celebrated a Children’s Sunday here at Monterey UMC. The Agape students and families were invited to attend Sunday school, church and to sing at our 11:00 worship service. This was a great opportunity for you to get to meet our Agape families.

On December 16 at 11:00 am we are celebrating the Christmas season with a Christmas Tea at the church. All are invited to attend.

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Williamson

Monterey United Methodist Church December 1, 2016

Monterey Police Department

Moore Eyes

Reba’s Flower Shop

Monterey United Methodist ChurchNovember 1, 2016

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THE CIRCUIT WRITERVolume 37 Issue 11

Church office: 931-839-2597Church e-mail: church@montereyumc.com

www.montereyumc.com

Come worship with us at Monterey at 11am

The mission of Monterey United Methodist Church is to make

Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Monterey United Methodist Church124 North Holly StreetMonterey, TN 38574

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

M onterey U nited M ethodist C hurch

December 2016“There, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had

stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure

chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 39:00a-Cottage Ministry 9:00a-Cottage Ministry

4 5 6 7 8 9 10Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12“Prepare the Way of the Lord”10:00a-Sunday School11:00a-Worship Service5:30p-Youth

10:00a-AGAPE Chapel12:00p-ABBA’s Coffee House prayer time

6:30p-Choir Rehearsal

9:00a-Cottage Ministry 9:00a-Cottage Ministry7:00am Pancake Breakfast for Project Graduation

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

10:00a-Sunday School11:00a-Worship Service12:00pm Fellowship5:30p-Youth

10:00a-AGAPE Chapel12:00p-ABBA’s Coffee House prayer time

6:30p-Choir Rehearsal

9:00a-Cottage Ministry 9:00a-Cottage Ministry

18 19 20 21 22 23 24Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25“Emmanuel!”10:00a-Sunday School11:00a-Worship Service5:30p-Youth

6:00p-Civitans

10:00a-AGAPE Chapel12:00p-ABBA’s Coffee House prayer time

6:30p-Choir Rehearsal

9:00a-Cottage Ministry 5:00pm Christmas Eve Communion & Candlelight Service

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Scripture: John 1:1-14“The Christmas Word!”10:00a-Sunday School11:00a-Worship Service5:30p-Youth

10:00a-AGAPE Chapel12:00p-ABBA’s Coffee House prayer time

6:30p-Choir Rehearsal

9:00a-Cottage Ministry