The Tidings - January 2016 by Germantown UMC

The

Tidings GERMANTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

January 2016

Table of Contents

4-5 GUMC Life 5

OLEC

Men

Women

8-9

Older Adults

10-13

Adult Education

14-15

Youth

Children

16-17

Calendar

Ministry Contacts Children’s Ministry Lisa Pierce - Director of Children’s Ministry 758-6512 • lpierce@germantownumc.org Kristin Dickerson - Associate Director 754-7216 • kdickerson@germantownumc.org Callie Beaver - Associate Director 758-6525 • cbeaver@germantownumc.org Older Adults Beverly Rhoads - Elder Care Health Ministry Coordinator 758-6513 • brhoads@germantownumc.org Luci Cromer • 755-0803 • luci2@comcast.net

Adult Education Mary Groh - Director of Adult Education and Membership 754-5093 • mgroh@germantownumc.org Youth Ministry Sue Hyland - Youth & Confirmation Director 758-6516 • shyland@germantownumc.org Brian Richards - Associate Youth Director 758-6515 • brichards@germantownumc.org Health and Recreation Tiffany Griffin - Director of Health & Recreation 753-3100 • tgriffin@germantownumc.org See full staff listing at www.germantownumc.org/staff

January Sermons January 3 “They Followed The Star” Matthew 2:1-12 January 10 “How To Have A Great Year” Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:11-13

January 24 “What We Can And Should Believe” II Timothy 1:1-8 January 31 “A Man Named Moses” Exodus 3:1-12

January 17 “A Marriage Made in Heaven” John 2:1-11 Rev. Dr. Brad Gabriel

Save the Date: April 15-17

A Weekend with Storyteller Rev. Michael Williams Rev. Michael Williams, Senior Pastor of West End UMC in Nashville, will bring his scholarship and craft to GUMC for a Friday night dinner and lecture, a Saturday morning seminar, and will preach at all three worship services on Sunday morning. Rev. Williams is a frequent guest speaker and workshop leader at regional, national, and international events. He has been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival and has taught at the National Institutes of Storytelling.

from Richard A new year by its very nature brings us a notable opportunity. It presents to us the path of stepping up more fully to become the persons God would have us be and the Church God would have us be. I really do believe that most of us really want to grow, develop, and mature as faithful followers of the Lord Jesus. I also believe that the vast majority of our congregation want us to continue to grow and develop as a congregation through whom the word, life, and witness of Jesus breaks forth into our wider community and into our world. So, as we launch this new year, might we each commit early on to these helpful spiritual disciplines (1) To make worship a priority (2) To participate in some kind of spiritual growth small group (3) To pray for the leaders of GUMC that we/they might be attentive to God’s desires and God’s guidance (4) To commit to finding ways to share the ministries and opportunities offered here at GUMC with as many people as we can. As we faithfully do these things, God will bless us abundantly and continue to empower us toward being a vibrant faith community making a difference in so many lives.

He is the author of numerous articles, stories, and books and serves as General Editor of The Storyteller’s Companion to the Bible series. Rev. Williams is being sponsored through a grant from our Endowment. Join us for a fabulous weekend of learning and plan to be captivated! Look for more information soon!

GUMC Life Acolyte Training Sunday, January 10 3:45-4:45 p.m., Sanctuary Children in grades 4-6 are encouraged to attend this session (with a parent). Acolytes play an important role by symbolically bringing the light of Christ into the worship service. Contact Valerie McKinney at valerie.mckinney@gmsdk12.org if you and your child plan to attend. A Prayer for the New Year

A Note of Thanks A heartfelt thank you to all the circles, Sunday School classes and individuals who contributed Thanksgiving Baskets to The United Methodist Neighborhood Centers. Your love and support help make the holidays brighter to those in the inner city who have so little. In appreciation, The Board of UMNC

Loving God, journey with me this year so that I may feel your presence, abide in your forgiveness, grow in your strength, and dwell in your love. Give me an open heart, an open mind, and open eyes so that I may sing your praise and follow your path always and everywhere. —Larry James Peacock A Scripture Verse of Hope for the Coming Year May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4 (The Message Bible) —Marsha Strickland

Welcome New Members

Courtney & Matt Lubozynski (November 29, 2015)

Larke Landis (November 15, 2015)

Fran Harden (December 6, 2015)

GUMC Life Learn About Safety Team About the Safety Team Church is supposed to be a safe haven for us all, and for the greatest part of our lives, it is. BUT, what if we have a fire during church or Sunday School? What if someone sitting near us starts choking, or appears to be having a heart attack? What if there seems to be some kind of disruption? What if there is a tornado or some other emergency? How do we get to a safe place? What is being done to help our children or our infants? Is there a plan? Is there someone looking out for us? These questions are real. As the nightly news reminds us, emergencies are possible at anytime and anywhere. Fortunately, GUMC has an Emergency Team on hand and ready to respond to these and other emergencies that may arise.

Peanuts Was A Success! Smiling and excited children, and anxious multitasking savvy parents filled the Malco Forest Hill theater on Tuesday, November 24 for the Peanuts Movie Event. What grateful and kind guests we had. Thank you, GUMC, for inviting your friends and neighbors to the movie. Reach out to them again soon and invite them to church. As you know, we have so much to offer. The Evangelism Committee would like to do this or something like it again. What we learned was invaluable and we are making plans based on our findings. Look for opportunities to spread the light of Christ this year. The Evangelism Committee will give you a few opportunities.

Learn First-Hand On Sunday morning, January 31, at 9:40 and 11:00, Brian Hailey, our GUMC Emergency Team Leader will be in the Fellowship Hall to offer a presentation and briefing on our Emergency Team and the plans that are in effect should any of these events happen at our church. He will be presenting a 45-minute talk, outlining plans and emergency contingencies that may affect any of us at any time. If you are, or your class is, looking for a timely topic, please make plans to attend. Brian will also be offering a program for individual classes later in the spring which will provide more one-on-one discussion and follow-up with questions and answers for your class. If you would like to schedule him for one of these sessions, please contact Brian Hailey at brian_hailey@ hotmail.com.

OLEC January Fitness Challenge 6 in 5 from 13 for 31 • 6 moves per day for 5 days a week from the baker’s dozen • 7 days in a week but only 5 days required to exercise • Choose your moves from the baker’s dozen (13) • Choose at least 6 moves and do a minimum of 10 reps • See Todd, Judy or Tiffany for modications.

Push ups Squats Burpees Mountain Climbers Jumping jacks Walkouts Lunges Froggers Crunches Sit ups Bear crawls Jack squats Elbows to hands plank

United Methodist Men Breakfast for Dinner! The Most Important Meal of the Day . . . at Night? Join us on Wednesday night, January 6, for Breakfast for Dinner. Wear your pajamas and enjoy bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits, gravy, grits, French toast sticks, and fruit prepared by our United Methodist Men. Breakfast for Dinner will be served in the Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall from 5:30-6:30 (that’s pm . . . in the evening!). Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children (4-10), and free for children 3 and younger. All proceeds from the meal will support UMM missions. You may pay at the door, but we must know how much food to purchase so please make a reservation at germantownumc.org by noon on Monday, January 4. Don’t wait! We are limited to 125 people!

January Breakfast Meeting Saturday, January 9 at 8:00 a.m. Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall Our guest speaker is Kris Crim, Prevention Director for the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, which supports safety for children through informed prevention, community collaboration, and a team approach to healing and justice for victims of child sexual and severe physical abuse. All men of the church are urged to attend. The cost of the breakfast is $5 to be paid at the door. Reservations are requested by emailing or calling Carly Fields at cfields@germantownumc.org or (901) 754-7216, Ext. 136. Annual members need only to submit their regrets.

Upcoming GUMW Events Children’s Clothing Sale: March 16-19 Bridge Event: April 12 GUMW Luncheon: May 10

United Methodist Women “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...” 2 PETER 3:18

Lent by Candlelight A Special Event for Women Tuesday, February 16, 2016 6:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall/Chapel) Join us for the seventh annual Lent by Candlelight. During this 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter we return to God and re-focus our lives in order to be line with Jesus. It’s a time we may change some aspect of our behavior and allow God to change our hearts. We celebrate the beginning of this reflective time by fellowshipping and enjoying scrumptious desserts and coffee in the Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall. Afterwards we convene in the Chapel for special music, quiet reflection, and devotion, led this year by Mary Groh, the GUMC Director of Adult Education and Membership. All women are invited! Childcare is available. This is a free event. Register online at germantownumc.org or pick up a registration form from the Welcome Desk or contact Yolanda Toney at ytoney@ germantownumc.org. Completed registration forms should be placed in the United Methodist Women’s box outside of the Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall or you may mail them to the address on the form.

Every woman who is a member of GUMC is a member of the United Methodist Women even if you are not a member of a Circle (small group). However, any of the Circles would welcome you. If you wish to join a Circle and would like information, please contact Anna Graunke, annagke@gmail.com or Yolanda Toney, ytoney@germantownumc.org.

February Luncheon Shelby County District Attorney, General Amy Weirich, will be the speaker at the February UMW Luncheon on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 in the Owings Life Enrichment Center (OLEC) at 11:30 a.m. General Weirich joined the District Attorney’s Office in 1991 as a courtroom prosecutor. She was appointed District Attorney General by Gov. Bill Haslam, and then was elected on August 3, 2012 to serve the remaining two years of the term of her predecessor. She was re-elected to a full eightyear term on August 7, 2014. General Weirich is the first woman to serve as District Attorney General in Shelby County. A graduate of Germantown High School, Gen. Weirich earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and a law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Gen. Weirich and her husband, Chuck, have four children. Don’t miss what is sure to be a momentous event with the lunch lovingly prepared by Celebration Circle. All women are invited to attend, and please invite your friends! Reserve your spot by calling the church at 754-7216 on or before Thursday, February 4. If you need childcare, please indicate this when making your reservation. The cost for the luncheon is $10, and you may pay at the door.

TO SIGN UP FOR GUMW’S EMAIL LIST, GO TO GERMANTOWNUMC.ORG/EMAIL

Older Adult Ministry

Don’t Forget! Amy Tuggle and Fran Cutshall, owners of Stay Organized with Us, will talk about “Making the Most of Storage and Space” in our homes. This presentation will be Friday, January 8, 2016, in the Fellowship Hall. This is a change from our usual first Friday schedule because of New Year’s Day. The program starts at 11 a.m. with lunch at noon. Bring your own sack lunch; the church will supply the beverages.

February Brown Bag Lunch Film Reviewer and Author Will Discuss Hollywood’s Golden Age at the February Brown Bag Lunch! Charlie Lambert, who has seen every Oscarnominated film in the top six categories since the awards began, is the world’s most informed moviegoer and expert on film. What is your favorite movie or favorite actor or actress? Charlie has seen it and can tell you all the details about their lives. He is going to talk about the Studio System and how it made and ruined stars’ careers and give us his own Oscar predictions. If you love film, especially the old classics, you won’t want to miss the February Brown Bag Lunch Series, an adventure in learning sponsored by the Older Adult Council. There will be a crossing guard on West Street to help with overflow parking. TOPIC: “Hollywood’s Golden Age—the Studio System and a Glimpse at Oscar” SPEAKER: Charlie Lambert, Attorney, Author, Film Reviewer WHERE: Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall WHEN: February 5, 2016. Program starts at 11 a.m.; lunch is at noon. COST: FREE—the church will supply beverages. RESERVATIONS: No reservations are needed. Just bring your sack lunch and enjoy the program and the fellowship. QUESTIONS? Call Luci Cromer, 755-0803, or Beverly Rhoads, 754-7216, ext. 107.

Call Luci Cromer, 755-0803, for more information. No reservations are needed. There will be a crossing guard on West Street to help with overflow parking.

XYZs in March XYZs See Into the Woods in March! This storybook fantasy is a musical journey with an original plot based on several Brothers Grimm fairy tales. A childless baker and his wife set out on a mission to begin a family, only by breaking a Witch’s curse. Their travels bring them to interact with characters from Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and more. Come with us to see this delightful romp, with a dose of reality thrown in the mix, which questions happily ever after. WHERE: Theatre Memphis WHEN: Saturday, March 19, 2016 COST: $25 per person includes transportation and reserved seat. DEPARTURE: 6:45 p.m. from OLEC parking lot. (Be there by 6:30 p.m.) RESERVATIONS: Call Luci Cromer, 755-0803, Louise McGhee, 755-3463, or Nancy Arnold, 7546326. You must make your reservation before paying. DEADLINE FOR MONEY & RESERVATIONS: Friday, Feb. 19. Limited number of seats reserved for this production.

Older Adult Ministry

AARP SmartDriver™ Course XYZs in February XYZs Attend Lenten Preaching Series and Tour Trinity Lutheran Church in February! As part of our observance of Lent, we are going downtown to listen to the Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus, Eastern University in St. Davids, PA, at the Lenten Preaching Series at Calvary Episcopal Church and eat lunch at the Calvary Waffle Shop. For 40 years, Campolo founded and led the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, an organization that created and supported programs serving needy communities in the Third World as well as in “at risk” neighborhoods across North America. More recently, Dr. Campolo has provided leadership for the Red Letter Christians movement. On the way home, we will tour Trinity Lutheran Church which was originally formed to minister to the Germanspeaking people of Memphis in 1855. The present church was built in 1874 and is one of the oldest existing churches in the City. WHERE: Calvary Episcopal Church & Trinity Lutheran Church WHEN: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 COST: $3 per person plus lunch on your own DEPARTURE: 10 a.m. from OLEC. (Be there by 9:45 a.m.) RESERVATIONS: Call Luci Cromer, 755-0803, Louise McGhee, 755-3463, or Nancy Arnold, 7546326. Make your reservation before paying. DEADLINE FOR MONEY and RESERVATIONS: Wed., Jan. 27

Germantown United Methodist Church and AARP will present the “AARP Smart Driver™ Course”, the nation’s largest driving refresher course. This 8-hour course is scheduled for March 21 & 22 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Successful completion entitles participants to a discount on their auto insurance premiums for three years. There is no driving test or written exam. Register early because the class will be closed at 28 participants. The results of taking these classes have been proven—class participants have few accidents and tickets. Check your calendar and register now. Your check is your ticket to this class. The objectives of the course are to help you: •B e independent, safe, and confident while on the road •K eep up with changes so you don’t put yourself and others at risk •L earn state-specific information throughout the course •F ocus on areas such as roundabouts, pavement markings, stop-sign compliance, red-light running, and safety issues such as speeding and seatbelt and turn-signal use WHERE: Room 339 (Fellowship Forum classroom) in the Ministry Center. WHEN: Monday and Tuesday, March 21 & 22, 2016, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. COST: $15 fee for AARP members ($20 for nonmembers) payable to AARP RESERVATIONS: Call Ray Malone at 309-5966 DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: Reservations will be taken until class is full.

Adult Education Small Groups Let’s Hear it for Groups! Our world is becoming more solitary. At meals and in meetings, people look at their cell phones instead of talking to each other. People watch movies at home or on tablets instead of in a theater. The church is one setting where group interaction is not only important, but is essential to our growth as Christians, individually and corporately. Think of group Bible study as an activity dedicated to congregational spiritual health and nurture. By ourselves, we might easily postpone a workout for another time. Seeking others with whom to study the Bible encourages us to stick to a routine, to develop this spiritual discipline, and to learn what we might otherwise miss. While there is a place for individual Bible reading, there is also a place for group Bible study where we as participants learn from and encourage each other, as together we seek to understand the Scriptures and how God uses them to speak to us in our time.* Pick up our Winter/Spring Adult Small Group Studies brochure now at one of our kiosks and find a small group study that interests you. Starting soon and through April, we are offering short-term day and evening classes including Bible study, Methodist traditions, healthy living, spirituality, and faith. All are welcome to become part of what God is doing through the Adult Education Ministry at GUMC. Enrich your life and your involvement in GUMC’s faith community by making the commitment to be a part of a Small Adult Education Group! Please contact Mary Groh at mgroh@germantownumc.org with any questions. *from Kerygma.com

Focus on Sunday School Agape Adult Sunday School Class By Lauren Boswell

Agape - selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. Agape is one of GUMC’s newer adult Sunday School offerings. We are an enthusiastic multigenerational class of couples and singles that meets at 11:00 a.m. in Room 338 on Sunday mornings. This is a warm, welcoming class, perfect for people looking for a way to connect with fellow believers. We offer curriculum that challenges us and encourages growth as we move forward on our faith journey. During our time together we engage in lively discussions on a wide range of relevant spiritual topics prompted by our lesson materials. Things such as how do we make sense of God’s will? What are we here for? How can we have the life God wants for us while transcending the shallowness of our culture? We have social times outside of class that allows us the opportunity to get to know each other in a more personal way so we are able to be supportive of one another. We usually have a dinner or lunch together once a month. These gatherings are casual and relaxed, where all feel welcome. Our primary emphasis is on building relationships; relationships we can rely on during times of joy and sorrow as we go through life. If you are looking for a small group to join who will encourage you on your spiritual journey, please drop by on Sunday morning. We welcome you!

Adult Education 2016 Women’s Retreat RELAX, REJUVENATE, REFLECT = RETREAT! It’s hard to hear God’s voice above the noise of everyday life. “To retreat” means to leave our normally occupied positions and go to a place of safety, quiet, and seclusion. By going to a retreat, we physically remove ourselves from life’s distractions, the call of chores, and the demands of people in order to make space for God. A retreat helps us to recharge, feel encouraged, and be spiritually fed. We invite you to join us for our 2016 Women’s Retreat, February 5-6, at Pinecrest Conference Center for a relaxing retreat from daily life where we can connect with God and with each other. Only a 45-minute drive from Germantown, Pinecrest Conference Center offers a wooded setting, hiking trails, comfortable lodging, hot buffet meals, and a cozy meeting room with fireplace.

Attendance Options: • Check in between 3 and 6 p.m. Friday (cost is $70 and includes 3 meals & snacks) • Check in by 8:15 a.m. Saturday (cost is $35 for Saturday only and includes breakfast, lunch and mid-morning snack). • Check out by 4 p.m. on Saturday Let this retreat be a time to slow down, enjoy time with friends, and grow closer to God. Register online at germantownumc.org. For more information, pick up a brochure at the Welcome Center or call Mary Groh at 754-5093.

Lisa Pierce, GUMC’s Director of Children’s Ministry, will lead our study sessions using Proverbs 31:30, designed to help us grow our faith. “Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.” Ilace Mears, award-winning hammered dulcimer player, will be leading our time of music and singing. We will connect with each other through small group discussion and activities creating new and deeper friendships. This is a great opportunity to come together to be encouraged and grow in your faith. If you’ve never attended a retreat, or you haven’t in a while, why not make plans to attend one? You’ll be glad you did!

Adult Education A GUMC Family Thanksgiving On Wednesday, November 18, over 225 church members and guests gathered in the OLEC gym to share our annual churchwide Thanksgiving meal. Catered by More Occasions by Marcie, we feasted on a buffet of turkey, dressing, and every salad and casserole imaginable! The most difficult part of the meal was choosing from the 20 different desserts on the “in your dreams” dessert table. The United Methodist Women’s circles provided centerpieces for our tables. Each table was decorated by a different group of women, some were homemade, some were family treasures, and all were beautiful! A special thanks to Mark Schielke and Skip Miller who were kept busy in the kitchen carving turkeys for the occasion. If you missed our Thanksgiving Dinner, please mark your calendars now for next year’s celebration on November 16, 2016. It promises to be a delightful (and fulfilling!) church event

Adult Education Wednesday Nights at GUMC Wednesday Nights at GUMC is our popular midweek venue that features home-style dinners, adult education classes, and fellowship! Our Chancel Choir also rehearses on Wednesday nights, so if that interests you, contact Music Director Jim Thrash, jthrash@germantownumc. org. Don’t miss this great opportunity to get some midweek refreshment through dinner, study, and enjoying the company of your church family. The 2016 Winter Dinner Series will begin January 6 and end March 16 for a total of 10 dinners (skipping February 10 for our Ash Wednesday service). Dinners are held from 5:30-6:30 .p.m in the Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall. January 6 is our Breakfast for Dinner. You are encouraged to wear your pajamas and enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by our United Methodist Men. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children (4-10), and free for children 3 and younger. All proceeds from the meal will support UMM missions. January 13 will be Spaghetti Night benefitting GUMC Youth Missions. Dinner will be spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children (4-10). The remaining eight dinners will be catered by Marcie Moore of More Occasions and will feature entrée, vegetables, green salad, fruit, bread, and dessert. Cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children, and free for children 3 and younger. Dinner Card: This offers the option to pre-pay for the catered meals (January 20, 27, February 3, 17). A card for the second set of dinners (Feb. 24, March 2, 9, 16) will be available in early February. Your ticket is your reservation! No need to worry about coming by the church office during the week. Cards may be purchased from the church office during the week or online for $32 (adults) and $16 (children). There are no refunds for unused dinners Single dinner reservations and payment must be made for all dinners by noon on Monday prior to THAT WEEK’S DINNER.

Monday Monthly Book Club Meet kindred book lovers in our monthly book group! We are an informal group of men and women who enjoy reading and discussing books. We meet on the fourth Monday of each month from 10:00-12:00 noon in Room 338. There is no need to register, just purchase the book (or check-out from the library) and join us for a lively discussion! The books we have chosen for the winter/spring are: 1/25 The Ponder Heart........................ Eudora Welty 2/22 Poisonwood Bible...............Barbara Kingsolver 3/28 A Year on Ladybug Farm.................. Donna Ball 4/25 Everything I Never Told You............ Celeste Ng 5/23 Where’d You Go Bernadette....... Maria Semple

Clergy Bible Study: Friends for our Journey Begins Wednesday, January 6 6:30-7:30 p.m., Room 339 January 6-March 16 (except Ash Wednesday, February 10) Who can we look up to in a world full of trouble and confusion? Who are the heroes we can model ourselves after? Join Rev. Dr. Brad Gabriel and Rev. Ryan Boatright as we will look at faithful individuals in both the Old and New Testaments, who demonstrated behavior that we can use to pattern our own lives. We will read about men and women who struggled with sin, experienced grace, and overcame doubt with faith. We will study examples of family, friendship, community and partnership that we can carry with us on our journey. You do not need to register for this study, just bring your Bible and join us for a thoughtprovoking discussion!

Youth Ministry Upcoming Events

Element Kick-Off Room In The Inn The youth and youth families will be serving at Room In The Inn the first Friday of each month. The dates we still have left in the season to serve are January 1, February 5, and March 4. If you have never served with RITI we would love to have you and your family on board to serve with us. There is a job for everyone to do! As a team we will handle food prep, bed making, table setting, clean up, fellowship, and music and a devotion. Come join us for one of these AWESOME nights! You will not be disappointed. Sign up online under the Upcoming Events tab of the Youth Section.

January 10, 6-8 p.m.

This year we will be hosting our 3rd BIGGER AND BETTER Scavenger Hunt for our Element Kickoff. Come join us for a fun night of breaking in to groups and heading all over town to trade a paperclip for something bigger and better. This is always a fun way to kick-off the year and we cannot wait to see each one of you there! We will cater yummy food that night and have AWESOME prizes for the group that brings back the best thing. Don’t miss it!

Synergy Kick-Off January 13, 6-7 p.m.

Synergy, our middle school small group, will begin meeting again on January 13 in the Prescott House. We will meet at the OLEC at 6:00 then head to the P House. Each week we will be journeying through a new chapter in our book, “99 Thoughts for Jr. Highers.” We’d love to see you mid-week for some great fellowship, SNACKS, and growing time with one another!

Trek Kick-off

January 10, 9:40 & 11:00 Sunday morning, we will kick-off a new Trek Season. Come check us out on Sunday mornings for snacks, small groups, worship, and some fun games. Come on the 10th and meet your teacher for the semester! It is sure to be a fun year in Trek! disappointed. Sign up online under the Upcoming Events tab of the Youth Section.

Discovery Planning Team Kick-Off January 13, 7-8:30 p.m.

Each year our Senior High Synago group plans Discovery Weekend for our middle school students. We will begin Discovery Planning on January 13 at 7:00 at 3256 Devonshire Way. Come join us each week as we plan the best retreat of the year! We’ll have snacks, worship, and break into our different planning groups. We’d love to have you!!

Youth Ministry

Discovery Weekend: February 12-14, 2016 Discovery Weekend 2016 is right around the corner and we could not be more excited. This event is not just for our youth. The entire church can be involved in the whole weekend. We expect to see over 100 students at this event and be in contact with around 100 volunteers as well. For this retreat we will need first of all, PRAYER! We will also need snacks, meals, overnight leaders, set-up people, small group leaders and much, much more.

This weekend is a spiritual retreat for all Middle School and High School students. Our High Schoolers will prepare talks, decorate the gym and other rooms around the church, lead small groups, and love on middle schoolers for the whole weekend. If you are a high schooler interested in helping with Discovery, our planning team begins meeting on January 13. We hope to have every student, parent, and adult involved in some way!

Children’s Ministry Wednesday Night Fun Wednesday nights will be very special this semester for the children. We will continue with our Wednesday evening Elementary Expedition on January 13 which begins with dinner at 5:30 ($3 at the door). Each age group (preschool – 4th grade) will be engaged in age-appropriate lessons to help us develop our ministry for children with special needs. We end our evening together at 7:15. • Kindergarten through 2nd grade: We will explore the world of those who are different from us. We will discuss and develop empathy for people with physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. We will learn how to ask questions with compassion and how to extend love to those who may appear different.

• ( Preschoolers: Our program will be very similar to the elementary program, tweaked to be ageappropriate.) •3 rd-4th grade: We will do a study on the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This book will be read to the children as a group (no homework). We will discuss elements of the book especially as children relate to accepting and understanding those who are physically, cognitively, or emotionally different than we. •5 th grade: We will have a four-week study of the curriculum “Created by God”. This curriculum explores the topics of human sexuality, values, and relationships are approached in a frank, honest, and Bible-based manner. Parents should have received a letter in the mail regarding this study. If you have not, please contact Lisa Pierce for that information.

Special Events Stanley Friedman and Jim Thrash in Concert Dr. Stanley Friedman and GUMC’s Director of Music Ministry Jim Thrash will present a concert of music for Trumpet and Piano on Sunday, January 31 at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The concert will consist of original compositions by Dr. Friedman including his Sonata in Romantic style, and his most famous piece, “Solus,” which is a part of the collegiate teaching repertoire in colleges and universities in the US and Europe. Also included are piano solos of Bach and Faure. The concert will also be performed, in part, at Bartlett United Methodist in March as part of their mid-week concert series, as well as at The University of Mississippi, Murray State University, University of Louisville, and Belmont University. Music Director Jim Thrash

About Stanley Friedman Widely known for his music for brass, Stanley Friedman has received awards and commissions from the International Trumpet Guild, the International Horn Society, the International Trombone Association and many leading soloists and ensembles. His SOLUS for unaccompanied trumpet is a world success and has been designated required contemporary repertoire” for major international solo competitions. Born in 1951, Friedman earned a doctorate in composition at the Eastman School of Music. In addition to his composing, performing and conducting, Friedman has held faculty positions at universities around the world.

Stanley Friedman

January Events January 1-2

January 17-23

Friday, January 1 New Years Holiday – Church Offices & OLEC Closed

Sunday, January 17 8:30, 9:40 & 11:00 a.m. - Worship Services

January 3-9

Monday, January 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (GUMP Closed)

Sunday, January 3 6:00 a.m. - Youth First Community Breakfast 8:30, 9:40 & 11:00 a.m. - Worship Services Tuesday, January 5 9:30 a.m. - GUMP Semester Begins 11:00 a.m. - Jillian Michaels BodyShred™ Wednesday, January 6 6:30 a.m. - Rutherford Men’s Prayer Group 5:30 p.m. - Breakfast for Dinner UMM Fundraiser 6:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Tuesday, January 19 6:30 a.m. - Rutherford Men’s Prayer Group 11:00 a.m. - Jillian Michaels BodyShred™ Wednesday, January 20 6:30 a.m. - Rutherford Men’s Prayer Group 5:30 p.m. - Wednesday Night Dinner 6:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal 6:30 p.m. - Methodist Traditions & Beliefs (Part 2) 6:30 p.m. - Clergy Bible Study

6:30 p.m. - Clergy Bible Study

Thursday, January 21 9:00 a.m. - Jillian Michaels BodyShred™

Thursday, January 7 9:00 a.m. - Jillian Michaels BodyShred™

January 24-30

Friday, January 8 11:00 a.m. - Older Adults Brown Bag Lunch Series Saturday, January 9 8:00 a.m. - UMM Breakfast

January 10-16 Sunday, January 10 8:30, 9:40 & 11:00 a.m. - Worship Services 3:45 p.m. - Acolyte Training 6:00 - Element Kick off Wednesday, January 13 6:30 a.m. - Rutherford Men’s Prayer Group 5:00 p.m. - Spaghetti Dinner for Youth Missions 5:30 p.m. - Children’s Ministry “Elementary Expedition” Begins 6:00 p.m. - Youth Ministry Small Groups Resume 6:30 p.m. - Methodist Traditions & Beliefs (Part 1) 6:30 p.m. - Clergy Bible Study

Sunday, January 24 8:30, 9:40 & 11:00 a.m. - Worship Services Tuesday, January 26 11:00 a.m. - Jillian Michaels BodyShred™ Wednesday, January 27 6:30 a.m. - Rutherford Men’s Prayer Group 5:30 p.m. - Wednesday Night Dinner 6:30 p.m. - Clergy Bible Study Saturday, January 30 8:00 a.m. - “ Ignite!” Overnight Retreat for 4th and 5th Graders

January 31 Sunday, January 31 8:30, 9:40 & 11:00 a.m. - Worship Services 9:40 and 11:00 a.m. - Safety Team Presentation 3:00 p.m. - Jim Thrash/Stanley Friedman Concert

Thursday, January 14 9:00 a.m. - Jillian Michaels BodyShred™ 11:30 a.m. - Health Boundaries Class (OLEC)

GERMANTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2331 South Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN 38138 Phone: (901) 754-7216 • Fax: (901) 753-3112 • info@germantownumc.org Sunday Worship: 8:30, 9:40, & 11 a.m.