BRIGHT HOPE LAUREL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS WITH THE WORLD

Volume 3, Issue 1 January, 2011

From the Pastor’s Desk - In the Huddle

Special points of
year make their picks as buying the team shirts Interest
to who will win what and hats, and many will
game and ultimately be coming together in  The United Methodist Men will
who will be the champ! groups. Each of these be meeting on Sunday, January
with excitement as they 9th at 7:46 am.
Not too long ago, I re-
search for the answer as
member how the entire  Our second concert this year
to this year’s champ! featuring the Southern Appala-
family would “ramp up”
chian Chamber Singers will be
for New Years Day. The cartoon says it all. on Saturday, October 9th at 7
That was the moment. It It is so easy to get lost in PM.
was the end of the sea- the season. If you are
 Charge Conference will be on
son, the end of the play- not watching games, you Sunday, October 10th at 6 PM at
offs, and by the end of are probably cleaning up Christ UMC, Weaverville.
the day someone would and packing lights and
 The United Methodist Women
be victorious. ornaments. will meet on Tuesday, October
Yet times have Yet it is my hope this 19th at 6:00 PM.
As we come together
this Sunday morning, for changed. This year the year that each of you  Family Meal and Fun Time …
many it is that time of games on New Years turn your eyes not on the Sunday October 24th after
year again as college day are almost a “joke” stands, but on the light. worship.
hopefuls battle it out for by some writers stan- That you seek not a Inside this issue:
the right to be #1. dards as the final game “champion” but a Sav-
… the one that counts ior. SEPTEMBER SERMONS 2
As I write this, I know
… is not until January
that there are many who Let us go through this FINANCIAL REPORT 2
10th when Auburn takes
do not like the BCS sys- year as pilgrims on a
on Oregon for the title. THOSE SERVING IN 3
tem and prefer the play- journey. Like the Magi WORSHIP (JANUARY)
offs. The truth be Needless to say, the so long ago, let us seek
known, I am one of “insanity” will not end out the one whom the “LAST LIGHTS ON THE TREE” 4
them. on Jan. 1. It will con- prophecies foretold. Let
tinue till the end. us follow the light and MONTHLY CALENDAR
Yet with that said, each INSERT
seek that gift from God
year the pools begin. It People will prepare.
which came as a child.
could be at the office or Some will be lucky and
 Scripture and Sermons
Jan. 2 HOLY COMMUNION - “Hunger Pot” Offering
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 3:1-12
Sermon: “To Adore”

Jan. 9 Scripture Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon: “Dangerous Baptisms”

Jan. 16 Scripture Lesson: John 1:29-42

Sermon: Retirement: Just the Beginning

Jan. 23 Scripture Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon: “Endless Maze” - A Service of Healing

Jan. 30 Scripture Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon: “Blessed Typos”

ATTENDANCE AND FINANCIAL GIVING

December 2010
(These figures include Sunday Dec. 19th and our Christmas Eve Service)

Average Attendance: 56

Regular Giving : $ 4049.58

Average Regular Giving: $ 2163.65 (per week)

Designated Giving: $ 175.00 (Memorial Garden)

$ 13.00 (Thanksgiving Baskets)

($ 2,078.15 per week is needed to meet our church budget.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

GREETERS: USHERS:

2 Mike and Jenny Miller 2 Dot Cody and Marsha Boyd

9 Don and Sherri Mathis 9 Lisa and Mark Anderson
16 Angela Fox and Sherry Lesley 16 Harold and Dixie Tipton
23 Mike and Jenny Miller 23 Liz Benjamin and Scott Crandall
30 Danny Burnette and Judy Womble 30 Angela Fox and J. B. Wallin

OFFERTORY PRAYER: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

SCRIPTURE READERS: NURSERY/PRE-SCHOOL:

2 Angela Bailey 2 Jenny Miller

9 Nicole Johnson 9 J. B. Wallin
16 Scott Crandall 16 Deborah White
23 Rich Ashley 23 Dot Cody
30 Elizabeth Hamrick 30 Jenny Miller

CHILDREN’S TIME: Jenny Miller, Dixie Tipton, Rev. Johnson, and Cammie Monroe

CHILDREN’S CHURCH: Carolyn Ponder; Lisa Anderson

“TWEENS CLASS”: Kathy Wrenn, Lois Lynn Bellemare, & Cammie Monroe

COMMUNION STEWARDS: Dr. Ernie and Frances Powell

COUNTERS:

2 Rich Ashley and John Hamrick

9 Rich Ashley and John Hamrick
16 Don Mathis and Judy Womble
23 Don Mathis and Assistant
30 Rich Ashley and Assistant

AUDIO VISUAL: Danny Burnette and Brian Dodge

If you are unable to serve when indicated, please ask someone to take your place .
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY, please tell the Pastor.
THANK YOU for your service and dedication to Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church!
As the fire rhythmically flickers in our fireplace, I sit in our darkened living room staring at the Christmas tree lit up in our nearby
dining room. My heart softly settles into a place I don’t let it rest near often enough: I am filled with sweet delight.

The lights on our tree reflect off our wood floor and highlight a Hot Wheels race car set in the middle of the living room. I can see
the rug we rolled up and moved out of the way so we could get the new refrigerator into the kitchen a couple hours ago — oops, ours
went out on Christmas Eve with a house full of people. Joseph and Mary stand watch over the room and the tree now devoid of gifts.
They rest from their hard Christmas journey on a nearby table, Mary clutching her newborn child. Joseph, Mary, and child are a
powerful symbol of where our family’s heart has been this past year.

A pop-up kid's tent is set up in the entry way, just around the corner from where I sit. Toys and games are stacked on our dining
room table waiting for the morning fun to begin again. In the middle of that table sits an incredibly precious, framed, photograph of
two precious little boys — one whose absence tears at our hearts and yet whose life now graces another family because of the love
and foster care of our son and his wife.

A few presents, not yet delivered, rest on the china hutch. A cute Christmas card from Fitia, from Madagascar, rests on the same ta-
ble on which I’m resting my feet while I type. Toys are stuck in every corner of the room. They are picked up as much as needed
until life returns to our happy holiday “normal” when daylight strikes and the rambunctious joy of a little boy fills the rooms again.

Unfortunately, Donna has developed a temperature and she is resting fitfully in our bedroom down the hall. Zach, Mandy, and our
little S-man (our 3 1/2 year old foster grandson whose name I can’t share) are asleep in the room behind me. Megan, who recently
graduated with her DPT and who we lovingly refer to as Dr. Meg E. Pooh, is asleep in the room next to them.

As anyone who is honest and has been down this road already knows, I’ve had my share of mess-ups, goober-headed things I’ve
done, dumb things I’ve said, ill-timed words, as well as things I’d like to do go back and do better. And yes, I’ve collected some
wounds along the way and have the scars to prove it. Yet there is one unmistakable reality: we all love Jesus and we all love each
other. I don’t know about your definition of success, but I’ll take that one.

We have had Christmas Eve with my whole physical family and Christmas afternoon with all of Donna's physical family. Both were
sweet times with people we love. But our family is much bigger than just our physi-
cal family — the Joseph, Mary, and child remind us again of this truth. Travelers a
I don’t know
long way from home, taking care of their newborn baby, need folks to love them and accept them into their family's care. God has
graced us with repeated opportunities to do this over the past year.

So as the lights on the tree shine in the darkness of near midnight, my heart chooses to hold on to the great gifts that God has given
me this past year. Some of those gifts have meant very hard goodbyes, but I wouldn’t trade the hurt of the partings if it meant never
knowing the precious ones God has put into our lives — treasures from Peru, China, Thailand, Madagascar, and Kentucky — but
who are not physically present with us this Christmas. And for the treasures in the rooms nearby, who rest in the grace of God’s
sweet care as they sleep, I count myself blessed, loved, and hopeful for tomorrow.

As this year ends and a new fresh start to a year begins, I am reminded of the greater grace of being in God's forever family and I
pray that each of those scattered treasures that I have come to know and love will come to know Jesus better and be part of my for-
ever family, too. So let's launch into next year with passion and gusto, but also with great thanksgiving for the gifts of this past year
and the earnest longing that all those we love find their lasting tie with us in Jesus — I don't think we should box up Joseph and
Mary, but let them be our daily reminder to welcome into our hearts others looking for a home.

Happy New Year, and may Jesus come to your house and to those you love, again and again, so that Christmas doesn't just happen
once in 2011!

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you" (Joshua 3:4 TNIV).

Phil Ware is one of several devotional writers for Heartlight. This article was first published online on December 30th, 2010. ©