This h t n o m at
December 2016 Our Mission: To fulfill our call to be the physical presence of Jesus Christ... by worshipping God with passion, intentionally growing in faith, proclaiming the gospel with grace, and humbly serving in love.
Christmas at Weddington Christmas Services 2016
Contents: Page 1:
Christmas at Weddington
Page 2:
Monthly Reflection
Page 3:
Missions and Outreach
Page 4:
Pastoral Care
Page 5:
Pastoral Care
Page 6:
WCA & WCP
Page 7:
Children & Youth
Page 8:
Adult Ministries
Page 9:
Adult Ministries
Page 10: Evangelism & Music Page 11: Announcements Page 12: Church Information
December 11 6:00 p.m. - Concert: The Many Moods of Christmas * Christmas Eve 12:00 p.m. - Intimate Family-Friendly Worship - Bonds Grove Campus 2:00 p.m. - Praise & Worship - Sanctuary * with
9:30 Praise team
4:00 p.m. - Traditional Worship - Sanctuary * ChanCel Choir, Children’s Choir, Brass
and
PerCussion ensemBle
6:00 p.m. - Traditional Worship - Sanctuary * ChanCel Choir, Children’s Choir, Brass
and
PerCussion ensemBle
8:00 p.m. - Praise & Worship - Family Life Center with
10:10 aCoustiC style Praise team
11:00 p.m. - Traditional Worship - Sanctuary ChamBer Choir, Brass
and
PerCussion ensemBle
Christmas Day 10:30 A.m. - Christmas Carols - Sanctuary *ChildCare
for Children age
5
and under availaBle in the main
sanCtuary nursery
wing.
WELCOME TO WEDDINGTON UMC The Weddington UMC family is a vibrant and growing congregation, and we invite you to become a part of this exciting and dynamic church, as we seek to serve as the Body of Christ in our world. God is doing great things in and through this church. We offer a variety of worship styles and ministry opportunities.
We would love to have you join us for worship, ministry, and service. As the church, we are a family. To learn more about WUMC, attend a Meet Weddington session to get to know the staff and learn more about the church. For more information on Meet Weddington see page 11.
Monthly Reflections - Rev. Dr. Terry L. Moore Preparing for the Baby When we were preparing for the birth of our children, we were so excited. We could not wait. We saved our money to buy nursery furniture. We bought a beautiful cherry crib, a cherry changing table, and a cherry chest of drawers. We painted the nursery. Disney figures were strategically placed on the walls. It was a happy room. We were prepared! Sheets and blankets were on the bed and all the needed supplies arranged on the changing table. When our child would be born, their room was ready. We didn’t have much money, but we did all we could to provide a special place for our baby. The main thing, however, was that this child would have parents who loved them. We wanted to love and be loved by this precious gift from God. When the Son of God was to be born, Joseph and Mary did not have the chance to prepare the nursery. They had to make the journey to Bethlehem for a census declared by the governor. While they were there, the time came for Jesus to be born. The local Inn was full. No room. Mary and Joseph found themselves seeking shelter in a stable. It was a cave where the animals were kept for the evening. There was no cherry crib with a soft mattress. The feeding trough padded with hay would have to suffice. The main thing, however, was that this child would have parents who loved him. They wanted to love and be loved by this precious gift from God. Page 2
Today, we are preparing for the baby again. It’s Christmas. We are preparing to once again receive the Christ Child. We decorate our homes. We decorate the church. We have musicals. We have parties. We buy gifts for our family and friends. It is a great time. The main thing, however, is that we love this child. That we seek to love and be loved by this precious gift from God. Luke 2:10-11 (ESV) 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Merry Christmas! Rev. Dr. Terry Moore
"And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11
Missions Missions . Rev. Rocio Ávila-Ramírez.
Foreign Mission Chairperson . Bob Consoli
Missions News and Announcements A Thanksgiving Feast Thank You! Thank you to all of the volunteer cooks who made delicious dishes for the Thanksgiving Feast we had on November 22. The celebration was with our Homework Help children and volunteers at the Monroe Campus! For some from that community, Thanksgiving is a new tradition that may not be celebrated at their homes quite yet. As their parents adapt to the new culture and learn the traditions, their children are already ahead learning U.S. history in school. For them, that Thanksgiving Feast was probably their only one this year. They were blessed by the wonderful turkey and mashed potatoes as well as the love and care. With that, I also want to thank the entire Homework Help team. You provide a wonderful atmosphere of respect, love, development, and faith for the children. Operation Sandwich is a mission opportunity that the entire family can participate in. Every 2nd Saturday of the month in the Fellowship Hall, volunteers make over 800 sandwiches in less than an hour! Grandparents, parents, teenagers, children, and even toddlers all work together making cheese and cold meat sandwiches that are bagged, boxed, and driven straight to Urban Ministries where they are distributed to our homeless neighbors. Room In the Inn This December through March, we will be hosting our homeless neighbors with a warm bed and meal. Through Urban Ministries, Room In the Inn works to room people a Friday evening through Saturday morning. At Weddington UMC, we welcome our homeless neighbors to the Hemby House, which provides a homey environment with a Christian welcome. Volunteers are needed to provide two meals, set-up, clean-up, or drive the church van.
Romania Update Last month, thanks to
the help of our partner church Weddington UMC, we were able to attend a national youth conference, one of the biggest evangelical gatherings in Romania. This year's theme was: My Cry! We were able to go with a team of 10 people; this is one of the testimonies: “For me, this conference was very special because I could hear God’s voice telling me what to do with my future. I am in the senior year in high school, so I have to spend a lot of time learning to pass my exams. I can say that I was in need to spend some time with God, so this conference came at the right time (I could get closer to God and I also realized the reason why I spend so much time learning: because God has a great plan for my future). Thank you very much for making it possible for us to be there!” -Magda (age 18) Thank you again for your prayers and support. -Pastor Cristian Istrate, Light from Light UMC
Angel Tree Please pick up an angel from either of the Angel Trees found in the Family Life Center or Helms Hall. On it, you will find instructions, the name and details of a child whose family is in financial crisis this Christmas. As able Christians, we have the opportunity to buy a Christmas present for children from our community who otherwise, might not have one. Christmas Shop On December 10 at 11:00 a.m., we will be opening up a Christmas Shop for children from the ministries at our Monroe Campus! Through the leadership and donations from our preschools at the Weddington and Bonds Grove campuses, the children will be able to pick out a gift per child for either parent or guardian and have it wrapped for giving! This will be a wonderful opportunity for them to give to their loved ones.
Children in Monroe enjoying their Thanksgiving feast.
La Posada and Caroling at Monroe On December 17 from 3:30-5:00 p.m., Dr. Houze, along with our very own choir and a brass band, will be leading us as we carol the Monroe campus neighborhood! This friendly event is becoming a tradition for us as we develop relationships with our neighbors from that area. What better way to do so than through singing Christmas songs. We will finish up at the church at Monroe for fellowship with hot cocoa and Christmas cookies.
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Pastoral Care Ministry . Rev. Ed Briggs News and Announcements NAMI Family to Family Class NAMI (National Alliance on Mental
Illness) Family to Family is an educational course for family, caregivers and friends of individuals living with mental illness. This course will be taught at Weddington United Methodist Church starting Monday, Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m. The course meets for 12 sessions, 2.5 hours each and is free. It is designed for families and caregivers (over 18) of individuals living with mental illness. The trained teachers are family members who volunteer to lead the classes and have relatives living with mental illness. A combination of presentations, discussions, and exercises will include information on the brain and brain disorders; medication and treatments; skills for crisis management, problem solving, and effective communication; caregiver self care; and information on local support and services. For more information on mental illnesses and Family to Family visit www.nami.org. To register for the class contact John and Evann Duncan, class teachers at 704-292-2287 or evannduncan@yahoo.com. Registration for the class is necessary in order for enough materials and space to be available.
Save the Date: GriefShare Two Sessions for 13 Weeks beginning Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday January 29 at 4:00 p.m. Both Sessions will meet in the Hemby House.
Save the Date: DivorceCare 13 Week Session beginning Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Center. TLC (Tender Loving Care) Team Our TLC team met recently. We have two team members who are going to offer one-on-
one emotional and spiritual support for Hospice patients as well as people in our congregation! It will be exciting to hear how lives are going to be touched by these two team members. Maybe you would like to make a difference too, but are not feeling called to be a one on one support person. We need people who can prepare meals, run errands, and do lawn work. If you can offer your time and talent this way, please contact Rev. Ed Briggs at the church office.
WUMC Support Groups NA Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Room 2
AA Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall
Fridays, 10:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Room 2 Contact: John, slashtwentyfore@gmail.com or 252-643-3551
AL-ANON Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Hemby House
Saturdays, 8:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Contact: Heather, hfhicks13@yahoo.com or 704-290-4290
Food Addiction Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall
Contact: CJ, coytjr@gmail.com or 704-207-9430
1st Saturday monthly, 3:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Contact: Wayne, jrstillson@msn.com or 704-458-6090
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Contact: Don, hanssally@aol.com or 704-243-0765
Contact: Joyce, jbain914@gmail.com or 704-256-7026
Room 2, Contact: Joyce, 704-606-4061
Pastoral Care DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays The Holidays are difficult for families when separation or divorce has occurred. The first Christmas can be so challenging to navigate. What once was, is no longer. Traditions held dear are not implemented. Grief is a possible response to this major life transition. Surviving the Holidays on Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 214 in the Sanctuary building will offer encouragement and hope for people recently separated or divorced as the celebration of Christmas approaches. Contact Rev. Ed Briggs at 704-846-1032 or ed.briggs@weddingtonchurch.org if you or someone you know wants to attend this event.
Daniel Plan Sessions Beginning Next Year WUMC is pleased to once again offer the Daniel Plan in cooperation with Carolina’s Healthcare System. The Daniel Plan is a ground-breaking healthy lifestyle program founded on biblical principles and focused on five key essentials: Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus and Friends. Those key essentials work together to holistically improve a person in all areas of health – spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The Daniel Plan teaches a step-by-step approach and offers simple ways to incorporate healthy choices into your current lifestyle. This program will last a total of 6 weeks and each class will be 90 minutes in length. Classes will be done in a small group format and class size will therefore be limited to no more than 12 people. The only cost of the program is the cost of the Daniel Plan books (approximately $30 in total). These books can be ordered from Amazon directly. We will have an information interest meeting on Sunday, January 22 at 5:00 p.m. Meeting will be on Wednesdays, beginning February 5 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Register on our website: www.weddingtonchurch.org/daniel-plan. For further information, please contact Brett Myers at brett.myers@siemens.com or Rev. Ed Briggs.
Kings & Queens . Sandra McKee The Kings & Queens December Schedule December 1, 10:00 a.m.: New Monroe Campus Kings & Queens meeting – Harmony Road Quartet will be singing for our program. December 6-7: Christmas Beach Trip (Depart at 9:30 a.m. from the Weddington Campus Fellowship Hall parking lot.) December 15, 10:00 a.m.: Weddington Campus Kings & Queens meeting in the Fellowship Hall - Elaine Brown will be singing for our program. (Please note the date and location change!) December 21, 11:30 a.m.: Friendship Luncheon at Golden Corral in Monroe
The Bald Eagles, Karl Wollner and Ken Freno, presented a great program at our November meeting.
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Weddington Christian Academy . Adell Keen, Principal WCA Participates in Operation Christmas Child The WCA student body participated in the annual Operation Christmas Child campaign from November 2 - November 10. Students, families and staff donated items to fill shoeboxes that will be used by Samaritan’s Purse to bring Christmas joy to children all around the world. On Thursday, November 10, the WCA Student Council students delivered the donated boxes to Helms Hall on behalf of the school.
Weddington Christian Preschool . Emily Campbell, Director News and Announcements WCP Advent Program December 8 You’re invited to be blessed by our 4 and 5 year old classes as they tell us through song about the incredible Gift God gave us that first Christmas! Our Weddington Campus Program is at 11:30 a.m., and our Bonds Grove Campus Program is at 6:00 p.m. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Spirit Night! Pizza and Preschoolers! Join WCP and our good friends at Lorenzo’s Pizzeria December 12 and 13 for an evening of delicious food and no hassle meal planning. Mention “Weddington Christian Preschool” when ordering, and our preschool will receive a portion of BOTH nights' proceeds! Lorenzo’s boasts outstanding pizza, pasta, salad, and gluten free dishes. For more menu information, please visit www.lorenzos-pizzeria.com. WCP benefits from both take out and dine-in orders. Is Transitional Kindergarten right for you and your child? Join us December 15 at 9:30 a.m. for lots of great information about our TK program! Please RSVP to wcp@weddingtonchurch.org or 704-849-7628 to attend. Registration for the 2017-2018 School Year will open to our church members on December 15. Please visit our website for important dates, forms, and details. All forms due by January 18, 2017. A WCP Weddington Campus Tour will be offered on December 6, January 4, 10, and 18. Please R.S.V.P. to 704-849-7628 or wcp@weddingtonchurch.org to attend, and please be sure to leave a contact phone number. Tours will start at the main WUMC sanctuary entrance near the fountain at 2:00 p.m. To respect the privacy and security of children and families enrolled at WCP, tours will be offered on the Bonds Grove campus by appointment only. Please call 704-843-6785 or email BGCPS@weddingtonchurch.org.
Children’s Ministry . Carolyn Nelson News and Announcements Bond’s Grove Nursery Looking for Volunteers Come and join the other ladies who serve in our nursery at the Bond’s Grove campus. It’s really simple and the love you get from the little ones is just perfect! Volunteers can serve once or twice a month for the 11:00 service. Please contact Carolyn Nelson at 704-814-1312 or carolyn.nelson@weddingtonchurch.org. J.A.M (Jesus and Me) Our last JAM of the year will take place on Wednesday, December 16, and will meet from 6:15-8:00 p.m. We will once again have a pajama party so get your best jammies out and let’s have fun! A movie, popcorn and of course, a birthday cake for baby Jesus will be served. Let’s celebrate the season with the best party ever! Page 6
Children and Youth Ministries Children’s Ministry (cont.) News and Announcements cont. Christmas Eve Nursery Elves needed! Help us share the love to our littlest ones this Christmas Eve. Adult and youth volunteers are needed to help serve in our nursery on Christmas Eve at the 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and the 6:00 p.m. services. Please contact Emily Gray at emily.weddingtonchildcare@gmail.com or carolyn.nelson@weddingtonchurch.org to join the other elves! Christmas Childcare Childcare will be available for the Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 11, for ages 5 and under beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the nursery wing. Christmas Eve Childcare is available for the 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00 p.m. services for children 5 years and under in the nursery wing located in the main Sanctuary building. On Christmas Day there will be no Sunday School or nursery available, so families can enjoy the service together! Sunday, January 1 - New Year's Day - we will resume our normal Sunday schedule.
Youth Ministry . Charlie Brown & Rev. Meredith Hinton Sunday Night Youth begins at 6:30 p.m. There are
programs for Jr. and Sr. High students, with Bible study and games. Afterward, everyone comes together for worship.
Youth Bible Study Join us on Wednesdays from 7:00 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Center. Doors are open from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
News and Announcements Mark Your Calendar for the Youth Christmas Party December 11, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., decorate yourself in festive attire for our annual Christmas party! Join us for a joyful night of food and games! Be sure to join us afterwards for the Christmas at Weddington Concert at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Summer Mission Trips and more... would you like to know what we have planned for next year? We are really excited to have a new google calendar for our youth ministry. This calendar option is great because it will work on most phones, tablets, and computers. The link to subscribe/add it to your calendar is on the youth page of our church website. Subscribing will give you up to date information as to what our plans are and will update you if they change for any reason. Currently we have the dates for all of the trips for 2017, including missions, on the calendar. We have not locked in locations for all of them yet but this should help you in your planning for next year!
Fall Retreat Our fall retreat was incredible! We took around 130 youth and adults to Look Up Lodge in Traveler’s Rest, SC for a weekend focused on letting go, loving God, and living fully. Our goal was to truly “retreat” and to spend time connecting with God and each other. Over the weekend, our worship was led by the youth praise band. Charlie and I feel extraordinarily blessed to have such gifted youth leading us to worship God. On Friday night, we all dug deep within ourselves and reflected on what God was calling us to let go of and turn over to Christ. On Saturday we spent the day loving God and loving each other by worshipping, sharing meals together, hosting our own talent show, and spending time playing outside. On Sunday, we wrapped up our weekend together and each considered how we were going to take the discipline of “retreating” and apply it to our everyday lives. We encouraged each of the students to take time daily to seek God, to stay connected with each other, and to take time to unplug and rest. We all live such high stress, overscheduled lives and it’s important for us to remember that even Christ needed quiet moments of solitude. We’d like to extend a special “thank you” to each of the adults who went on the trip with us. Your dedication to our youth ministry is incredible and we are grateful for your love and support!
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Adult Ministries . Rev. Mark Curtis New Bible Studies Coming January 2017 Mudhouse Sabbath: A 12 week study on Wednesday nights starting January 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room in the FLC with Teacher Rev. Mark Curtis. After her conversion from Orthodox Judaism to Christianity, Lauren Winner found that her life was indelibly marked by the rich traditions and spiritual practices of Judaism. She set out to discover how she could incorporate some of these practices into her new faith. Winner presents eleven Jewish spiritual practices that can transform the way Christians view the world and God. Whether discussing attentive eating, marking the days while grieving, the community that supports a marriage, candle-lighting, or the differences between the Jewish Sabbath and a Sunday spent at the Mudhouse, her favorite coffee shop, Winner writes with appealing honesty and rare insight. Epic of Eden: Isaiah: An 8 week study on Wednesday nights starting January 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 210 in the Education Building with teacher Chuck Howard. Often named “the fifth gospel,” the book of the prophet Isaiah has more to say about Israel’s coming Messiah than any other Old Testament book. Brilliant, courageous, uncompromising, this prophet declared that “the year of the LORD” had come and God’s people needed to either step up, or stand down. Indeed, when Isaiah spoke, kings trembled. But too often, when Isaiah speaks today, God’s people have trouble hearing. Why? We often miss the larger context. In The Epic of Eden: Isaiah, Dr. Sandra Richter takes participants back to the eighth century BCE. This eight-week study explains Israel’s religion and economy, explores the definition and role of the prophets, and helps us to apply the message of this great champion of the faith to our lives today. For a preview of this study, please visit www.store.seedbed.com/products/the-epic-of-eden-isaiah.
To register for any of these studies, please visit www.weddingtonchurch.org/bible-studies.
Adult Sunday School Studies 9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
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Agape Foundations Jay Emry
The Christmas Experience, video series by Kyle Idleman Topical Bible lessons led by Barbara Bennett Adult Comprehensive Bible Study, by David Cook
Youth Center, Main Area Room 19 Room 214/215
Shepherds View
The Seven Deadliest Sins
Helms Hall Room 213
Closer Walk
In the Meantime, by Andy Stanley
Room 19
Cornerstone Crossroads Great Walk Doers of the Word Light of the World
Follow, by Andy Stanley Book of Job, led by Chuck Howard True Spirituality, by Chip Ingram Book of Revelation Experiencing God, by Henry Blackabye
Room 214/215 Youth Center, 102 Youth Center 101 FLC, Multi-Purpose Room Helms Hall Room 213
Revival, by Adam Hamilton Down to Earth, by Michael Slaughter
Youth Center Room 204 Youth Center 203
Journeys New Creation
Adult Ministries United Methodist Women (UMW) Lucy Price Circle will have a Christmas Pot Luck meal for our December meeting on Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bonds Grove Fellowship Hall. Bring an ornament or gift for a fun game of Dirty Santa. We will also be sharing the love of Christ by helping a family with their Christmas gifts. Details will be sent to our members. Bring a friend and join the fun. On Monday evening December 5, the Lucy Price Circle will host the ladies at the House of Pearls with a dinner and tour of the Billy Graham Library, enjoying the live nativity program they have near Christmas time. The circle normally meets the second Tuesday night of each month from September through May, and is committed to fellowship and service. All ladies of the church are invited to join us. We look forward to seeing you! For more information on any of our circles, please visit our webpage at www.weddingtonchurch.org/umw.
Mary Martha Circle will have their final meeting of 2016 at our Christmas luncheon on Wednesday, December 14, at Rolling Hills Country Club. We will resume our regular meetings on Friday, January 6, 2017, in the WUMC Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m. Women of all ages are welcome. We wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy prosperous New Year. Please contact Mary Revels at 704-843-0815 or revelsmary@carolina.rr.com or Tommie Craig at 704-8461366 or tommiecraig@caolina.rr.com for more information. Susanna Wesley Circle Please join us for our Holiday Potluck Susanna Wesley Circle meeting on December 2 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Helms Hall. We will enjoy good food and fellowship centered in Christ’s love for all of us. Childcare is available in the Nursery wing from 9:15-11:45 a.m. Feel free to bring a friend to share in the great fellowship that SWC has to offer. We look forward to seeing many of you there! If you have any questions, please contact secretaryswc@gmail.com.
Resource Center – Great Books! Staff Recommendations for your Christian Walk Tis the season for giving thoughtful (and hopefully inspiring) gifts! Our family always tries to find great books for our kids and family. So this month I recommend The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt and illustrated by Tim Jonke. This is a tale about three trees yearning to be found useful in God’s world. Beautiful illustrations and easy reading makes it a wonderful story for young and old alike. While life may never turn out the way we hope or expect, this book is a reminder that God never forgets us or overlooks us. Available in English and Spanish. It’s a great book! You can check out a copy of this Staff Recommended Book, Christmas and Winter themed children’s books, and personal Advent studies and devotions from the WUMC Resource Center located just off Helms Hall in Room 212.
Life Group Second Sunday Connection
United Methodist Men (UMM)
Did you miss the Life Group Launch but are still interested in a Life Group? Every second Sunday of the month, a team member of our Life Group Ministry Team, will be in the Sanctuary Narthex and in the entrance of the FLC at our Hospitality Tables before and after each worship service to answer any questions you may have about Life Groups here at WUMC. Our “Connectors,” as we call them, will be wearing blue Connector shirts so they can be easily identified. Our upcoming Second Sunday Connection will be December 11. We look forward to helping you get connected!
Men’s Connection Breakfast The United Methodist Men meet in the Youth Center of the Family Life Center from 7:30-9:00 a.m. twice a month on Sunday for food, fellowship, and to discuss various topics. This month, we will meet on December 11. All men are welcome!
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End of Year Giving Information What a wonderful year 2016 has been! As the year end approaches some of you may be considering special end of year gifts to the church. If so, we’d like to remind you of some giving options that are available to you and the associated timelines for 2016: • Give online at www.weddingtonchurch.org, click on the • Give at one of the remaining 2016 worship services. Giving tab. • Mail your check to the church postmarked by Dec. 31. • If giving stock or funds managed by a broker, ask for a • Use your bank’s bill pay system by Dec. 31. transfer to be completed by Dec. 31. • Bring your gift to the church office or use the drop box at the church office. You may always contact Linda Caskey at 704-814-4219 or by email at linda.caskey@weddingtonchurch.org to arrange your giving at this busy time of the year. All 2016 donations must be postmarked or delivered to the church office prior to December 31. If you wish to contribute early toward your 2017 pledge, please mark your donation clearly as 2016. Any donation for your 2016 pledge received prior to Jan. 1, 2017, will be deposited and posted to 2016 and will appear on your 2016 giving record for tax purposes. Thank you for your generous support of the many ministries at Weddington United Methodist Church. Through your generosity Christ is made known in our community and around the world.
Evangelism . Rev. Amy Hutchison New Young Adult Life Group starting in January on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. Mark your calendars for our launch and social Friday night, January 6 at 7:00 p.m. Location TBD. All are welcome!
Host Families needed for Upward Host families connect the unchurched kids and families at Upward with the church. Host families will be assigned to a team based on their availability. If you are interested, contact Rev. Amy Hutchison for more information.
Volunteers Needed for our Christmas Eve services to usher and to assist with parking especially at our 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 p.m. services. If you are available to serve, please contact Rev. Amy Hutchison at the church office.
Music & Arts Ministry . Dr. Reginald Houze Christmas at Weddington Concert December 11 Join The Chancel Choir and Orchestra for this year’s Christmas at Weddington concert of the Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennet “The Many Moods of Christmas” on Sunday, December 11 at 6 :00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. There will be no early seating. Admission is free, so invite friends! A Christmas reception will follow in Helms Hall. Childcare provided.
Weddington Chancel Choir Nominated for American Prize in Choral Performance The Weddington UMC Chancel Choir has been named as a semi-finalist for The 2016 American Prize in Choral Performance in the community chorus division. Dr. Reginald Houze has also been nominated as a semi-finalist in Conducting in the same division. Congratulations to all! Winners are scheduled to be announced by the end of the year. Page 10
Church Announcements Meet Weddington Sessions
Wednesdays @ Weddington
Interested in becoming a part of the Weddington UMC family? As your clergy, program staff, and fellow Christians, it will be our privilege to grow and serve together. We request that anyone interested in membership attend one of our Meet Weddington Church sessions.
W@W is a church-wide fellowship meal that begins at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Dinner is followed by various Bible studies, youth and children’s programming and support groups. Reservations are not required. The estimated cost per meal is $5.00 with a family maximum of $20. All dinners come with bread and dessert. Due to the Christmas holiday, we will only be meeting on two Wednesday evenings in December.
At Meet Weddington, you will enjoy an informal time of fellowship, meet the pastoral and ministry staff, hear an overview of the ministry and mission of the church and get answers to any questions you may have about Weddington UMC. Meet Weddington Church sessions are usually held on the 4th Sunday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center Multipurpose Room. Meet Weddington will not meet in December. The next meeting will be January 22.
December Menu • Dec. 7. Marinated flank steak with chimichurri sauce , cheesy polenta, oven roasted vegetables and roll • Dec. 14. Baked ham, green bean casserole and cheesy potatoes
Christmas Post Office
Christmas Ornaments for Sale
The Christmas Post Office is in Helms Hall. Bring alphabetically sorted Christmas cards for friends at WUMC. Volunteers are needed to file the cards weekly. Stop by before or after services if you would like to help. Check the folders weekly to see if “you’ve got mail.”
Make a tradition of decorating your tree with a piece of Weddington UMC! Christmas ornaments depicting the Nativity scene are on sale in Helms Hall and in the lobby of the FLC. The cost is $10 for the 2016 ornament and $5 for ornaments from past years.
Resource Center Looking for a special Christmas gift? Bibles, journals and devotional books are available for purchase in the WUMC Resource Center. All items were donated and are either new or in like-new condition. Proceeds are used to purchase new items for the church library. Stop by Room 212, check out a holiday book or Christmas movie and do a little gift shopping too! Whether it’s family movie night, bedtime story time, mom or dad’s time to unwind or time for some Christian inspiration, the Resource Center has something special for you. The WUMC RC is located in Room 212 in the Sanctuary Building. It is currently open only on Sunday mornings from 9:15 until 12:15. The Resource Center is volunteer staffed. If you are interested in helping in this ministry, please contact resourcecenter@weddingtonchurch.org. Page 11
In Concert: The Many Moods of Christmas
Sunday Worship Times 8:15 a.m. Traditional (Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m. Praise and Worship (Sanctuary) 10:10 a.m. Acoustic Praise and Worship (FLC) 11:00 a.m. Traditional (Sanctuary) 11:00 a.m. Traditional (Bonds Grove Campus)
Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary A Christmas reception will follow in Helms Hall. *Childcare will be available
Rev. Dr. Terry L. Moore, Senior Pastor terry.moore@weddingtonchurch.org
Elizabeth Mitchell, Director of Communications elizabeth.mitchell@weddingtonchurch.org
Rev. Mark Curtis, Teaching Pastor mark.curtis@weddingtonchurch.org
Ruth Cooley, Executive Assistant ruth.cooley@weddingtonchurch.org
Rev. Ed Briggs, Minister of Pastoral Care ed.briggs@weddingtonchurch.org
Sandra McKee, Admin. Assistant sandra.mckee@weddingtonchurch.org
Rev. Rocio Ávila-Ramírez, Missions Pastor rocio.avila@weddingtonchurch.org
Linda Caskey, Financial Assistant linda.caskey@weddingtonchurch.org
Rev. Amy Hutchison, Evangelism Pastor amy.hutchison@weddingtonchurch.org
Lisa Keeler, Admin. Assistant lisa.keeler@weddingtonchurch.org
Dr. Reginald Houze, Director of Music & Arts reginald.houze@weddingtonchurch.org
Tonya Tapp, Admin. Assistant tonya.tapp@weddingtonchurch.org
Derrick Byars, Organist and Music Assistant derrick.byars@weddingtonchurch.org
Adell Keen, WCA Principal akeen@weddingtonchristianacademy.org
Charlie Brown, Youth Minister charlie.brown@weddingtonchurch.org
Emily Campbell, WCP Director wcp@weddingtonchurch.org
Rev. Meredith Hinton, Youth Minister meredith.hinton@weddingtonchurch.org
Jamie Edmondson, WCP Assistant Director bgcps@weddingtonchurch.org
Carolyn Nelson, Children’s Minister carolyn.nelson@weddingtonchurch.org
Jan Williams, Mother’s Morning Out Director jan.williams@weddingtonchurch.org
Rev. Leroy Henry Affiliated United Methodist Clergy Justin Lineberry, 10:10 Worship Leader JoAnn Horstman, Business Administrator joann.horstman@weddingtonchurch.org
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Mike Carver, Facilities Manager mcar1973@earthlink.net Kim Veith, Food Service Director kim.veith@weddingtonchurch.org
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for all the latest from WUMC (@WeddingtonUMC). Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 - 5:00 p.m. Friday: 8:30 - 12:00 p.m. 704-846-1032 Campuses Weddington Campus 13901 Providence Road Weddington, NC 28104 Sanctuary Building and Family Life Center (FLC) Bonds Grove Campus 8215 Bonds Grove Church Rd Waxhaw, NC 28173 Marvin Campus 9914 New Town Rd Marvin, NC 28173 Monroe Campus 520 Engleside St Monroe, NC 28110