VOL 19 ISSUE 34 December 21, 2014 December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 4:00 pm - Contemporary 6:00 pm - Traditional 8:00 pm - Traditional All services in the Sanctuary December 25 - 26 Church office closed for Christmas December 31 Clothes Closet Closed January 1 Church closed for New Year’s Day January 4 Communion Sunday February 20-21 Getaway with God women’s retreat http://fumcardmore.onthecity.org First United Methodist Church 501 West Main Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 580.223.5390 www.fumcardmore.org Faith & Finances by Bebe Lodes Last October, a group of about 35-40 of us loaded up on church buses and headed to Tulsa for a seminar called, When Helping Hurts. We learned several things that weekend that made us re-evaluate the way that we, as a church, provide help to others. The premise of the WHH theory is that sometimes when we think we are helping someone, we are actually hurting them and ourselves. In North American churches this is particularly true because of the way we define poverty. One of the main objectives of the WHH philosophy is for churches to begin empowering people to help themselves. The Faith & Finances curriculum was recommended as one way to move towards that goal. When we hear the word “poverty,” we immediately think of a lack of material things such as food, money, or housing. Something is broken and we immediately want to fix it. What we learned in our Faith & Finances training is this: We are all poor. We are all broken. God established four foundational relationships for each person: a relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation. Poverty is the result of one of these relationships being absent or not working. Some of us suffer from material poverty while others suffer from spiritual poverty. We are all poor. We are all broken. One of the most basic premises of WHH and F&F is that we must embrace our mutual brokenness in order to truly be effective in helping others. In North American churches, the answer to poverty alleviation is typically to provide a quick, material fix. Faith & Finances is a ministry that was designed to move churches from giving material things to building relationships. The program provides a financial education curriculum that trains people in concrete money management skills and it mobilizes church members to serve as allies alongside participants. It is a financial literacy course that is based on the teachings of the Bible and the fact that God knows and loves all people. Two key themes of F&F are. . . 1. Jesus is making all things new, including our money and our relationships. 2. God has chosen to use our money to accomplish His work in the world. If we consistently provide relief instead of trying to help rehabilitate or develop someone’s God given abilities, we are not providing help at all. In fact, in his book, Toxic Charity, Robert Lupton says this: Give once and elicit appreciation Give twice and create anticipation Give three times and create expectation Continued on page 2 Faith & Finances Continued … Give four times and it becomes entitlement Give five times and you establish dependency We were reminded in our training that Jesus work focuses on reconciliation or putting things back into right relationship. Reconcile means to restore. Jesus is the reconciler but we are called to be his ambassadors, his hands and feet here on earth. The best method of poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation—moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others and with the rest of creation. What we need are more hands and feet! The program is designed so that participants have an ally (mentor) to go through the program with them. Allies serve as a resource person, cheerleader, as well as a participant in the class. Faith & Finances is a twelve-week program which is set to begin in January. A meal and childcare will be provided. There is no homework. Throughout the study, we connect money with relationships, set savings goals, create spending plans, and learn about joyful giving with an ultimate goal of long-term change. The class is open to everyone in our community. God has placed each of us in His Kingdom for a purpose. We all have different God-given passions. We all have different doors he wants us to open. Has God called you for such a time as this? For more information about Faith & Finances, please join our group on The City, or contact Tina Pyles, Director of Discipleship & Community Ministry, [email protected], or 223-5390 X319. Monday Night Community Bible Study, led by Karen Chaffin Like No Other: The Life of Christ by Tony Evans Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. That statement may seem obvious, but even Christians need a constant reminder that everything in our faith is built upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Every aspect of Jesus' life—from His birth to His current exalted state—is unique from any other person. His uniqueness means His life and character merit our fullest attention, and because He is uniquely God, His life and character greatly impact our lives. This new release by Pastor Tony Evans promises to deepen our love for Jesus and thereby enlarge our faith. Session titles: Promised Like No Other (Isaiah 53:2-12) A Birth Like No Other (Luke 1:26-35) Power Like No Other (Mark 4:35-41) Teachings Like No Other (Mark 1:21-22; 10:17-22) Death Like No Other (Matthew 27:28-31, 45-50,54) Resurrected Like No Other (Matthew 28:1-10) Ascended Like No Other (Acts 1:3-11) Join us for this 8 week study, beginning January 19, Monday nights from 6 pm to 7:30 in the CMC central room. Books are $8. Nursery available by reservation for all Bible study classes. Three ways to register your child Call (580) 223-5390 X318 email [email protected] On-line www.fumcardmore.org/childrens-ministries New Precept Upon Precept Study: Zechariah “They Shall Be My people and I will Be Their God.” What will happen on the day when the Lord is king over all the earth? There is a future time of restoration coming for the righteous. Are you ready for that day? Join us for a journey through God’s Word, food, fellowship and sharing. This study contains eight lessons including the introduction. Thursday, January 8, through February 26, in the Colvert Ministry Center, Room 116, 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Cheryl Patman will lead the discussion. The DVD lecture presenter is David Arthur. Workbooks are $16. Sympathy Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Carol Brown, who passed away on November 24. Our thoughts and prayers are with Anna Grissom with the passing of her brother, Billy Jack Stringer, on December 2. Sunday, 21 December 2014 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM FUMC Kids Church during Fellowship Hall 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Traditional Worship Service Sanctuary Our thoughts and prayers are with Marc and Becky Dickinson with the passing of Marc’s father, David Lee Dickinson, on December 6. 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM Adult Sunday School 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM ALPHA Class CMC 133 Main Room Memorials 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM FUMC Kids Sunday School Fellowship Hall 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM Heavenly Minded Bible Study CMC 117 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM FUMC Kids Church during EPIC Fellowship Hall In memory of Jana Lovelace, a contribution has been received for Little School Bell from James & Carolyn McElroy. 11:05 AM to 12:00 PM EPIC Worship Service Sanctuary 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM United Methodist Women CMC 116 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM United Methodist Men CMC 133 Main Room 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM LifeTree Cafe' CMC 115 Combined Monday, 22 December 2014 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Clothes Closet Clothes Closet 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM Handbell Rehearsal Sanctuary 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Disciple I CMC 116 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Disciple III CMC 115A 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Men's 12 Step Study CMC 117 Tuesday, 23 December 2014 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Tuesday Noon Prayer Carlock Prayer Chapel 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Evangelism Committee CMC 117 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Fit Camp CMC 133 Main Room Wednesday, 24 December 2014 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Wednesday Morning Ministry (sack lunches) Welcome Center Wed Morning Prayer Group CMC 119 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Candlelight Christmas Eve Service - Sanctuary Contemporary 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM Candlelight Christmas Eve Service - Sanctuary Traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Service - Sanctuary Traditional Thursday, 25 December 2014 All Day Christmas-Church closed Friday, 26 December 2014 All Day Christmas-Church closed In memory of Lillian & Clayton Cude, a contribution has been received for the Bereavement Fund from the Cude Family. In memory of Bill Stringer, a contribution has been received for the Memorial Fund from Syble Roring. In memory of Carol Brown, contributions have been received for the Memorial Fund from Lockie Moxley, Martha Bowman Suffield, and Syble Roring. In memory of Glenn Sappington, contributions have been received for the Memorial Fund from John & Dee Acuff, Ardmore Kiwanis Club, Syble Roring, Sam Veazey, Larry & Beverly Shockley, Harry & Donna Spring, Joseph & Gail Doza, Bill & Joanne Meacham, Bruzzy & Gloria Westheimer, Frances Kampschmidt, Bob Sperry, and Lockie Moxley. In memory of Glenn Sappington, contributions have been received for the United Methodist Men from Kent & Ginger Tucker, Don & Bettie Black, Fellowship Sunday School Class, Louise Daniels, and Sam & Sharon Veazey. In memory of Glenn Sappington, contributions have been received for the Building Fund from Mike & Pat Castellow and George Nilson. In memory of Glenn Sappington, contributions have been received for the Ardmore Soup Kitchen from Mr. & Mrs. Charles Williams and Frank & Shirley Warner. In memory of Glenn Sappington, a contribution has been received for the Capital Campaign from Maytha Mead. In memory of Glenn Sappington, a contribution has been received for Cross Point Camp from Harry & Lajuana Dodd. First United Methodist Church 501 W Main Ardmore OK 73401 Rev. Jessica Moffatt Seay, Senior Pastor Rev. Tony Caro, Pastor Rev. Brad Dery, Pastor Rev. Dan Patman, Pastor Sunday Services 9:00 am Traditional 10:00 am Sunday School 11:05 am EPIC contemporary Televised at 11:00 on CableOne, Channel 6 Broadcast at 9:00am on KYNZ - GTO FM 107.1 Wednesday Service In the Colvert Ministry Center 6:00 PM an Oasis in the middle of your busy week! Prayer Chain Lenny Frank .......................465-7515 [email protected] Wadell & Sheila Altom ......223-7272 Or join the Prayer Chain Group on The City Sunday, December 21 7 - 8 PM Colvert Ministry Center 503 W Broadway, Room 115 Ardmore OK 73401 (580) 223-5390 X314 Join us for coffee, snacks and stimulating conversation.
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