The First United Methodist Church
First Methodist Church Dublin, Texas
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Christmas Eve Service 2011

12/25/2011

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We enjoyed several guests on Christmas Eve at First United Methodist. There were lots of family and friends smiling and waving. 

Leta Sage played the prelude on the Hammered Dulcimer. Leta also served as our song leader. Pat Beaty was our pianist. Rev. Ken Lunsford welcomed everyone and gave a prayer. Pastor Ken played his guitar.

 The lighting of the fifth Advent Candle was done by the Moore family; Jill, Sammy, Cole, Brady and Conner. They took turns reading part of the Advent message. The Moore family also gave the scripture reading of the story of Christ’s birth from Luke. The congregation sang seven Christmas carols between the readings.

 Jill Moore’s mother and brother were in attendance to lend support and enjoy the service.

 Candles were passed to the congregation and the lights were dimmed for the singing of “Silent Night.” Pastor Ken lit his candle from the Advent wreath, and then the congregation’s candles were lit. The lite candle signifies that Jesus is the light of the world and when we departed the sanctuary by candlelight we carried the light of Christ into the darkness of the world.

 Refreshments of cookies, coffee, and hot wassail were waiting in the foyer for the worshipers. There was laughter and calls of Merry Christmas and “see you next year.” 
 
Thank you to the ladies who brought the refreshments.

 Pastor Ken preached a Christmas Day service at Laurel St. United Methodist Church. He said at the first Christmas the announcement flung to the earth was “God is with us. God is with us.” In the book of Hebrews it says “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.”

 After Jesus had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

 The humble carpenter who worked with his hands, who held little children in His arms, who reached out to the lepers and the lame, the least and the lowest, this humble carpenter now occupies the throne with the Father. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

 Our hearts, our minds, and our doors are open to you and our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ to change the world. Happy New
Year!
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December 18, 2011

12/18/2011

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Christmas is here whether we are ready or not. Sometimes we want
to stop the clock and put a hold on life, but that is not in our power to do so. 
 
I have spent Christmas sick with the flu, or had a houseful of children that were sick with a stomach virus, our youngest child was born on December 21 and we left the hospital on Christmas Eve, Ken had pneumonia five
times as a child usually around Christmas, and my brother, Larry Jack Noel, died from leukemia on December 28, 1995. 

I am sure some of you folks reading this are going through a bleak Christmas this year and I’m not talking about the economy. But Christmas
will come and Christmas will go and our hearts will heal. 
 
I promised my brother I would not let his illness spoil the season for me or the family, so I celebrate bigger and better every year.

 There is plenty of opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth in the Dublin area; Laurel St. United Methodists and Rev. Ken Lunsford are having a
candlelight service this Thursday, the 22, at 6:00 p.m., they will have a meal following the service. Attendees are asked to bring a dessert if they wish to. First Methodist Church will have a Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m. followed by cookies and coffee. On Christmas Day Pastor Ken will be at Laurel St. Methodist to do a service at 9:30 a.m. 

Most denominations have Christmas services planned at different times so there is something for everyone. Go by all means and worship, sing, and
praise.

 This past Sunday our fourth Advent candle was lit by Josh Kunselman with help from his daughter Leah. The first half of the Advent reading
was done by Karen Rowe and the second part by Josh Kunselman.

 Pat Beaty played “Come and Worship” for the offertory while Gene
Coan and David Cleveland took the offering. Leta Sage was our song
leader.

 We continue to pray for the Thiebaud children, Shelby and Kody,
for Colt Price, and brothers Adan and Jesus Velasco who were all injured in separate vehicle accidents.

 Hooray! We welcome our newest member Barbara Hilliard who joined
our congregation on December 11 and she is our 11th new member for
2011. Say hello to Barbara and get to know her. 
 
“Nothing is Impossible with God! Christmas is a God Thing!” That
was the theme of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.

 The message of Christmas is that God came to us in the babe of
Bethlehem. God came and lived among us in the person of His Son Jesus. God came down to eat our food, wear our clothes and live level with us. We call that incarnation; God took on human flesh in the manager of
Bethlehem.

 Christian faith is not a philosophy that someone thought up, it is a revelation. God revealed His purpose and plan, His love and His grace, in
the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Imagine God’s dilemma as He sought to
communicate His love and purpose for humanity. We had His Law, His prophets, Scripture and the Hebrew people worshiped in the Temple of Jerusalem. But still the people did not get it. We still failed to understand how much God loves us and His plan was for us to love one another. So God became one of us. We cannot reach up to God intellectually, our little brains are not sufficient to understand God. Morally we are not equal with God, so God reached down to us and became one of us.
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December 11, 2011

12/11/2011

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This past Sunday Leta Sage filled in as Worship Leader and Song Leader. She managed both very well.

 John Miller served as acolyte for the first time and did a smooth job. John is a young adult who attends church with his mom, Karen Miller.

 The lighting of the 3rd Advent candle was done by Lee Leatherwood, Lisa Leatherwood, his mother, read the Advent message. Pat Leatherwood operated the power Point program for the congregation.

 It is a joy to see John and Lee taking part in church, these young adult men are our future and it is good hands.

 It was announced that Rev. Austin who was pastor here at First United Methodist during the early 1980s, is still active and preaching. Leta said he preached Ernest Schillingburg’s funeral two weeks ago and she got an opportunity to speak with Rev. Austin.

 Kathy Logan asked for prayers for her granddaughter Holly, and Jack Parks needs prayers for his nephew.

 We were reminded to pray for the Thiebaud Children and their friend who were injured in the wreck. Also the Velasco brothers, Adan and Jesus, are still in serious condition from their pick up wreck. 

The families of these young folks have to stay near them in Fort Worth and have expenses for food, gas, and lodging. Any help you could give them would be much appreciated. Also a visit by the hospital to let them know you care would be welcome. And pray, pray, pray for these young people to recover. They are at the beginning of their lives and mean the world to their families.

 Pat Beaty sang a special during the offertory, it was titled “Sing a Song of Bethlehem.” It was a wonderful song and sung wonderfully. 
 
“Rejoice! Pray! And Give Thanks!” That was the title and theme of Rev. Kenneth Lunsford’s sermon. He was in a celebrating mood. 

Pastor Ken started with a funny true story about a fellow who sings at weddings and funerals. It seems this lady called and asked him to sing at her husband’s funeral. The man had died suddenly from a heart attack. She said her husband’s favorite song was “Jingle Bells” and that is what she wanted sung. The singer questioned her about the choice but she insisted. 

At the funeral the singer rose and sang heartily,“Jingle Bells.” The congregation gave him dirty looks and became hostile toward him. Afterward the widow gave the singer a check and in an irate voice said, “I meant ‘Glory Bells! Not Jingle Bells.”’

 Pastor said the Christmas season is a joyous celebration. The scriptures tell us that all of life should be a joyous celebration. I Thessalonians 5, verse 16, say, “Rejoice always.” The entire sentence reads like this: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” “Joy to the world,” we sing, “the Lord has come.” 
 
If you believe in Jesus Christ and your heart is not filled with joy, ask God for it. It is your birthright as one who has given your life to Jesus. Christmas is the perfect time for doing that. Joy is our witness to the world that God is alive. The pleasures of life will fail us one day. The joy of Christ resides in us and undergirds us regardless of what is happening on the outside. “Count your many blessings...” says an old Gospel tune. Do it daily and it will transform your life. You might even sing “Jingle Bells”at a funeral.

 Join us for Christmas services. Laurel St. United Methodist will have a candle light service on December 22 at 6:30 p.m. and First United Methodist will have a candle light program on December 24 at 6:30 p.m. There will be refreshments after both of these services. Christmas Day services are at Laurel St. at 9:30 a.m. There will be no service at First Methodist on Christmas Day.

 Saturday, December 17, will look like Santa’s workshop in the Clay Annex as the Goodfellows prepare to box up and deliver food and gifts to area families. May God Bless the Goodfellows! Contact Michael Haley at 445-8137 to help in any way.
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December 4, 2011

12/4/2011

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Wednesday, 11-30 was the “Hanging of the Greens”at our church. It is hard work, but always a lot of fun and worth the effort. 

Stormy Armstrong was the “supervisor” of the activities with an assist from Nancy Wooldridge. These ladies directed a small task force of folks who climbed ladders, balanced themselves on the armrest of pews, strung lights and hung decorations. Two members who joined our congregation just this year were there to help from beginning to end; they are Karen Miller and her son John. 
 
Stormy sends a big thank you to everyone who helped decorate. She has done the job in years past with no help except from her husband Rodney.

 While the inside of the church was busy, another crew was decorating the float for the Christmas Parade. Ray LaBaume pulled the float for us and we appreciate the use of his pickup. Several adults and children rode the float in the parade.

 During Sunday’s service we had the lighting of the 2nd Advent Candle. Khristi Gordon and her children Kaitlyn and Corbin along with her
parents, Karen and Ricky Rowe gave the reading and lit the candles.

 We learned that Jill Moore’s mother, Jo Ann Pate, is taking more chemo treatments. But Jill said Jo Ann has a good prognosis and things are looking better. 
 
Lynn Neff was added to our prayer list.
Our congregation extends sympathy to the family of Ernest Shillingburg Jr. 
 
This congregation was deeply concerned to learn of the injuries sustained to five Dublin area teenagers in two separate automobile accidents. All of the young people and their families are in our prayers. 

“Prepare the Way” was the itle of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.

 John the Baptist was unique, even from the very beginning. His mother, Elizabeth, was Mary’s cousin and much past child bearing age when Jon was born. John did not seem to be the kind of person to make friends and influence people. Yet this was God’s unlikely servant chosen to herald the spectacular events that would soon come to pass.

 John prepared the way by living a godly life and spoke out fearlessly against every form of corruption. The World has no answer to the godly
life.

 Several years ago a communist newspaper reporter was conducting an in depth study of a Roman Catholic order of Nuns working in Paris, France. The tough reporter, Pierre Giraud, was sure the good works and apparent tenderness of these women were just a cover for getting financial support. He asked to accompany one of the Nuns during a typical day. She took him to a rundown neighborhood to the basement of a house where a man was terminally ill. The dirt, smell and conditions were grim even for this seasoned reporter. The man was lying on a bundle of rags and he was filthy dirty. The Nun rolled up her sleeves, filled a bowl with water and
began to wash the sick man. The man trembled and whimpered, “Sister I am frightened.” The reporter said ‘I stared in unbelief as this refined, cultured woman took that wreck of a man in her arms and held him like a baby. The hovel became heaven because love was there.” 
 
Again I say the world has no answer to the godly life. The only answer is to try and find the secret of it, imitate it, and hope others will come to know it themselves. That’s how John prepared. John saw something which others had not recognized. This wild man from the wilderness saw into the heart of his nation and into the mind of His God. John has left this insight for us and our children. “Behold” he cries as he sees Jesus approaching the river Jordan. “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

 This Advent we salute the forerunner who prepared the way by challenging the people’s sins. Are we ready to share his work and mission?

 A beautiful candlelight service is planned at First United Methodist for Christmas Eve, December 24. Please come and bring your family or your neighbors. 
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