January 2015 January Dates to Remember Church Closed College Kids to Passion Conference 1 2-3 Men’s Breakfast Growing God’s Girls Brothers4Christ 4 Board of Trustees 5 Faith Foundation Committee 6 Girl Scouts Quilters 8 & 15 8 & 22 Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage Quest Children’s & Family Lunch Meeting 11, 18, 25 11, 25 11 OWLS Lunch Women’s Bible Study 12 Depression Bipolar 13, 20, 27 13, 27 ReCharge Resumes 14 Created By God 16-18 Office Closed 19 OWLS Lunch/Movie Finance Committee ACTS articles due 20 Middle School Night Out 23 Cub Scout Pinewood Derby 24 ACTS Mail Team Administrative Coun- 26 Mission Committee 27 Lit n Latte 29 Acworth United Methodist Church Rev. James Gwin, Senior Pastor Rev. Linda Birchall, Associate Pastor www.acworthumc.org 4340 Collins Circle Acworth, GA 30101 770-974-3312 “Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage” Join Gary & Lisa Morris host 5 Sunday evenings of laughter and discussion with this DVD based series from Mark Gungor’s popular weekend marriage seminar. Questions? Contact Gary & Lisa at 678-819-8885 or garylisa@comcast.net. Sunday Evenings from 5:30 – 7:00 January 11 – The Tale of Two Brains (Part 1) January 18 – The Tale of Two Brains (Part 2) January 25 – Why Does He/She Do That? February 1 – The #1 Key to Incredible Sex February 8 – How to Stay Married and Not Kill Anyone Acworth Academy Leadership is one of the four critical areas that I believe Acworth UMC must address in order to thrive as a healthy church on into the future. Acworth Academy is a new ministry responding to this leadership need. A class of twelve participants will address AUMC’s challenge of recruiting, developing, equipping, and supporting a new generation of Christian Leaders. Do you know your gifts for ministry? Acworth Academy will help you discover what God created and gifted you to do well. Do you know how decisions are made at Acworth UMC? Acworth Academy will help you to understand and appreciate the decision making process we use. Topics will range from planning effective meetings to practicing healthy ways to handle conflict. If you want to do something meaningful and eternal for Acworth UMC in the coming year, this is a great place to start! Look for Class #1 of Acworth Academy to gather eight times. Each class will last two hours. Acworth Academy will encourage a positive, effective change in your life and the life of Acworth UMC. Expect assignments between classes and a project to complete as part of the course. If you want to participate in this exciting, critical, powerful ministry, call Rev. James Gwin. If you have questions, call James. If you know someone who should be a part of this class, call them and call James. If you are totally not interested, then pray for us and support others as they pursue this critical, eternal calling. WE LIFT OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS IN PRAYER Ongoing Concerns… Ermma Fillingham, Bob Foster, Alice Harbin, Roland Heerts, MaeBelle McAliley, Bill Remsen, Joe Sandoval, Lynn Stotts, Melanie Strawser, Terry Strawser, Martha Thornton, Those in harm’s way and those unspoken Missionaries: Dorothy Mutambara, Zimbabwe; Inna Mezalumo, Malawi; Local Mission: Blessings in a Backpack, Family Promise-North Cobb, Middle School Outreach Program, Murphy Harpst children & staff, Regional Youth Detention Center, Rome, GA, UM Children’s Home Military Prayer List: Charle Gothro, Graham Martin, David Sanford MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS To the glory of God and the General Fund In memory of Eunice Frohberg by the Encouagers Sunday School Class To the glory of God and the Angel Tree Fund In memory of Thelma Duncan by the Seekers Sunday School Class FAITH FOUNDATION Did you know our actions today can help win others to Christ long after we are gone? By investing in AUMC’s newly created endowment fund, the Faith Foundation Fund, we will support church priorities that would not be possible through the yearly budget. The best part is that only the income earned from gifts will be used. The principle amount remains in the account earning interest and generating income far into the future. Glory and honor to God for inspiring all of you to be a blessing to others in need. You have been so faithful in helping so many families in this ministry. On behalf of all the volunteers, we are thrilled to be able to be a blessing to so many people in our community. With each week the numbers continue to grow. But it is not just food we provide. Families sit in the classroom across the hall from the pantry where they enjoy fellowship with each other and many complete a prayer request form as we get their food ready. We always send them off with a few bags of food, and words of encouragement for peace and comfort in their lives. We were the recipients of many food drives this past month throughout the community. Between the community and several "food pantry angels" we are starting the New Year with our shelves full. Thank you! Hoping your New Year shines with peace, love, and happiness. Baskets of Blessings, 'Rene OWLS Chili Cook-Off: The Sr. Adults will hold their annual Chili Cook-Off on Monday, January 12 at noon. All entries will be taste tested by everyone in attendance (some may even need two “tastes” to make a decision.) Come join in the fun. If you’re not a chili chef, bring a side dish, crackers, sour cream or cheese. It’s all in fun and warms the tummy on a cold winter’s day. The first meeting of the 2015 Administrative Council will be Monday, January 26, at 7pm in the sanctuary. All new and “old” members should plan to attend. Hann ah S tubblef ie ld S tude nt Mi nis te r Hannah@acworthumc.org HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING: January 2015 www.acworthumcyouth.com Instagram: AUMC_Youth Facebook: Acworth UMC Youth ReMix Sunday Night Program: Jan. 4: ReMix. 4:30-7:00pm Jan. 11: ReMix 4:30-7:00pm. Jan. 18: No Remix. Enjoy the holiday weekend Jan. 25: Remix. 4:30-7:00pm We will restart “Live Like a Jesus Freak” and “Can I Ask That?” in January! Attic Transformation The attic has been transformed and we are so excited about the look of your space! You are invited to join us on Sunday, Jan. 4 as we celebrate this new and improved space! Confirmation Schedule for January Jan. 4: Class: 9:30am-12:00pm Youth: 4:30pm-7:00pm Jan. 11: Class: 9:30am-12:00pm Youth: 4:30pm-7:00pm Jan. 18: Class: 9:30am-12:00pm Jan. 25: Class: 9:30am-12:00pm Youth: 4:30pm-7:00pm Dates to Remember: March 6-8. Confirmation Retreat March 13-15: Spiritual Life Retreat March 22: Confirmation Sunday Wednesday Night Program *Will start back on Jan. 14, 2015* 5:00pm: Dinner in the FLC 5:45: Fellowship/Study Hall in the Attic 6:30-7:30: Bible Study 6th Grade: E204 7th/8th Grade: The Loft High School: Attic Upcoming Youth Events: Jan. 16-18: Created by God. See the Children’s page for more information! Jan. 23: Middle School Night Out. 6-9pm. More details to come soon! Jan. 13: Paulding Co. & Allatoona, 7am. McDonald’s @ Cedarcrest & 92 Jan. 27: Cobb County, 7am Chick-fil-A on Hwy. 41 next to O’Charley’s Created by God is a faith based study of human sexuality for 5th-7th graders that will be held January 16-18 at AUMC. Kids have questions… we’ll give them the right answers! Beth Gwin will facilitate. Register online at www.AcworthUMC.org or ask for a registration packet from either Hannah, Darlene or the confirmation leaders. Cost is $25 and includes all materials, snacks and Saturday lunch. Adult & youth small group leader volunteers needed - contact Beth Gwin bgwin82@gmail.com or Darlene@acworthumc.org for more info! Scholarships are available. This program is also open to 5th-7th graders in the community. Students and parents must attend all sessions! Childcare will be provided by reservation. SPRING & SUMMER CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE is MARCH 6 & 7 Support Children’s & Family Ministry! The consignment sale is our biggest fundraiser! Anyone can support the sale by consigning, shopping and/or volunteering. Lots of participation will make this sale a successful fundraiser! Returning consignors register beginning December 30. Registration opens to the public on January 8. Go to www.acworthumc.org/passiton for more information and to register to consign your premium new or gently-used infant, children’s, teen and maternity spring & summer clothing, plus formals, shoes, children’s furniture, toys, games, accessories and sports equipment at this sale. Consignors receive 70% of their sale proceeds! G3 & B4C are joining forces in January for ice skating fun! 4th-6th grade girls & boys can meet at noon (after church) on Sunday, January 4 in the FLC for sign in. We’ll have a quick lunch then go to Ice Forum at Town Center and skate from 1-3pm. Pickup will be at 3:45pm in the FLC. Cost is $15 each for lunch and skating - only $12 if you have your own ice skates. Friends are always welcome! Contact Darlene@acworthumc.org, Kris Shock at kris.shock@comcast.net, or Ed Lynch at elynch1818@bellsouth.net if you have questions. Don’t miss the QUEST REVERSE LOCK-IN on Dec 30 from 10am-7pm - watch for more info via email! QUEST for 3rd-6th graders - will meet January 11 and 25 from 5-7pm DownUnder. Join us as we explore God’s purpose for each of us! Bring friends! And mark your calendar for the QUEST SCREAM RETREAT at Sharp Top Cove on March 20-22.. Sign up sheet on bulletin board at Darlene’s office or email Darlene@acworthumc.org if you plan to go. Cost is $185 each but thanks to a generous donation, the first $30 has been paid! Balance is $155 payable in 3 easy payments: $50 at registration, $50 by January 25 and balance by February 22.. There are only 30 spaces available so register early! CHILDREN’S & FAMILY TEAM Sunday, January 11 Let’s meet for lunch after church! The main topics on the agenda are discussion of space enhancements for children’s area, planning for Palm-a-Palooza and updates/improvements for the Spring & Summer Consignment Sale. 2014 brought awesome improvements (playground, tv’s, etc.) - there’s a lot in store for 2015! Everyone is welcome to be a part of this team! THANK YOU! Children's & Family is thankful for the Christmas Craft Camp elves. You helped the kids have a great time while making awesome crafts, playing & singing. We couldn’t do it without YOU! Tap/Ballet for preschool girls has openings! Join Creative Movement & Dance beginning January 7 from 1:15-2pm in the Gathering Area. See Darlene for details. January 12/30 10a-7p IBM Reverse Lock-in 12/ 30 Registration open for Pass It On 1/4 12-3:45p G3 &B4C to Ice Forum for ice skating! 1/11 12:30-2pm CFM lunch meeting 1/11 5-7pm QUEST- DownUnder 1/14 6:00 pm RECHARGE resumes 1/16, 17 & 18 Created by God 1/25 5-7pm QUEST- DownUnder Looking forward to February... 2/1 12-2:30pm G3 & B4C 2/8 5-7pm QUEST- DownUnder 2/22 5-7pm QUEST– DownUnder And just around the corner… 3/1 12-2:30pm G3 & B4C 3/6-7 Pass It On Spring & Summer Consignment Sale MUSIC MINISTRY Dan Martin, Director The Hand Bells performed an enjoyable and educational Christmas program featuring readings from journals from Christmas of 1864 and Christmas music of the era. The bells performed and were joined by actors and soloists who gave us a real feeling of what Christmas may have been like during that time. The Hand Bells will be accepting new members in January. If you would like to come and try it please do! The Praise Team presented their Christmas program at the 9:30 service and was warmly received by the congregation. They performed a variety of high energy favorites and lovely, meaningful Christmas ballads as well. It set a marvelous tone for the beginning of the advent and Christmas season. Their membership is by audition. If you are interested in being a part of the Praise Team as a singer or instrumentalist, please contact Susan Croft. The Kids on the Hill Choir presented "Isaiah Jones", a high energy, message rich musical filled with drama and wonderful songs. Complete with costumes, sets, and surprises it captivated our congregation. The message was powerful and the performance by our kids was superb. If there is a kid at your house who would enjoy a high energy way of learning music and have a really fun time in the process, that kid needs to be part of Kids on the Hill! We will be happy to see new members in January. The Chancel Choir and Sanctuary Orchestra presented their Christmas Celebration service to a packed house. The musical offerings were woven together by Pastor James Gwin's sermon in narration form. It told the story of the birth of our Lord and also gave the congregation an opportunity to reflect on how we can relate the miraculous gift of Christmas in our lives. The Chancel Choir will open its doors to new members in January. We would love for you to come. From all of us on the Music Ministry Team; May God bless you with a very Merry Christmas!!! AUMC Missions and Outreach looking forward in 2015 “Somewhere for everyone to serve in Missions and Outreach” Missions and Outreach MUST Summer Lunch Program Rome Youth Detention Center Zimbabwe Hope Center Sager Brown Mission Team Feb 2015 Helping Hands MUST Ministries Meals on Wheels Phoenix House Feb 14 Sat. Feb 14 Sat. Feb 21-28 Feb 25-31 March Apr 4 Apr 4-11 May 26 Aug/Sept Blessings In A Backpack Murphy Harpst Equine Center Mission Yard Sale Family Promise Good Samaritan Angel Tree Giving Tree Cancer Care Middle School Outreach Project Malawi Clinic Jamaica Mission Teams Sneaker Tree Food Pantry Thanksgiving Baskets Grief Share … and more - Confirmation Class Project at Murphy Harpst Children’s Center Equine Facility in Cedartown, Ga - AUMC visits Bob Richards Regional Detention Center in Rome Come & Co nnect at a - AUMC Mission Team to Sager Brown UMCOR Depot in Louisiana mission co m mmittee e e ti n g last Tuesd - Family Promise Cobb Co. AUMC Host Week ay of the e a c h a t 7pm in th month - AUMC Missions Yard Sale in FLC (dates are tbd) e conferen ce room. C - AUMC visits Bob Richards Regional Detention Center in Rome Ben Green o ntact with any q uestions fb - AUMC Jamaica Mission Team to St. Elizabeth, Jamaica green@aol. encom or 404 - Start Must Summer Lunch Program (AUMC Host Site) -775-2007 . - AUMC Mission Team to Zimbabwe Hope Center/ Malawi Health Clinic The Middle School Outreach Program at Awtrey Middle School needs 1 hour of your time each week between 4:30 and 6p any day between Monday and Thursday. There are 27 children needing your help, with more on the waiting list. If you can share just 1 hour a week or want more information about this AUMC outreach program, contact Karen LeBleu 770-974-5535 or klebleu@mindspring.com. From Senior Pastor Rev. James Gwin Acworth UMC Betterment “If you want to make God laugh, tell God your plans.” I’ve heard that a lot over the span of my life. Let us see if this statement is also true for churches. For January 2015, I thought I would share a few “plans” that I have for Acworth UMC. These plans involve you. They might make you laugh. Yet, if you want Acworth UMC to be more faithful, dynamic, loving, and relevant, then I challenge you to join me in doing these four simple things. Thing 1: Come to worship. If you come to worship every Sunday that you are not sick or out of town, Acworth UMC will be better. Most people, old and young, are so busy that it is common to have “Sunday morning conflicts” multiple times per month. Be afraid! These conflicts pull you away from the warmth of loving, supportive relationships with God and friends. Perhaps you are spiritually strong enough to skip church on a regular basis. Even so, there are people who are at church that need your encouragement and spiritual guidance. When you come to church—AUMC and others are better. Thing 2: Connect with some group. Find a way to connect with an Acworth UMC group. This can be a Sunday School class, choir, ministry, softball, Wednesday night study, or volunteer with Youth or Children’s ministries. If you cannot find a group, start a group. The size of the group or what the group does is not as important as the personal friendships that are grown. Worship builds unity. Groups help us to grow as people. Thing 3: Serve somewhere. You might serve by leading a group. Perhaps you have a very good job that requires you to travel. You might serve through generous giving. From washing windows to feeding the hungry, there are countless ways to serve somewhere through Acworth UMC. Find something you love to do, then imagine a way you can do that through Acworth UMC to serve others. When we all have a place to serve through the church—heaven does a happy dance. Thing 4: Invite someone. I get scared and overwhelmed when I realize how many people in our loving church are going through tremendous heart-ache. The reality is, in our immediate community, thousands of people struggle each day without friends, faith, and very little hope. You and I can help. Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring a friend to Christ. There is much rejoicing in heaven (and Acworth UMC) when a lost person comes to Christ. Will you join me in these four things for 2015? God knows it will make Acworth UMC even better. That is my plan for 2015. You can laugh, but I think it is a good one. Your Jesus Following, Church Loving brother, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12: v1 (NLV) Ring in the New Rev. Linda Birchall Ring in the New I like new things. I bet you do too. New clothes, new electronics, a new car! How about a new house? New things can be wonderful. But I don’t always want to get rid of the old things, and that’s okay. Keeping old friends is good. Hanging on to memories of the good times is nice and comforting. Remembering places I’ve been and things I’ve learned – all these are fine and wonderful. When I was growing up in Tuscaloosa, I belonged to a Girl Scout troop. I remember one of the songs we used to sing went something like this: Make new friends But keep the old One is silver And the other’s gold. I feel that way about years, too. We get to start a new year each January 1, but it doesn’t mean we throw away everything that is “old.” Instead, we learn from those things; we treasure them; and we enjoy memories. But we do seem more willing to focus on change at the start of a new year. We’re more eager to take a stab at something new. Our enthusiasm is in high gear. With that said, what new things are you planning for 2015? Do you want to lose weight? (I do.) Do you want to exercise more? (I do.) Eat right? (Yep.) How about taking a new class? I’d love to learn Italian. How about deepening your faith? I know I’d like to do that. Well, we have several ways that can happen. Joining a small group Bible study is one fresh start we can all make. Taking a turn in the prayer room. Volunteering in the Food Pantry. Helping with our next Church in Action day. There are so many ways we can ring in the new with gusto and commitment. Not only will doing so make you and me stronger, but it will also make Acworth UMC stronger, and in turn, that can make the kingdom of God here in Acworth stronger. If you’re looking for things to do or ways to start anew, please call me. I would love to help you start doing something new or even START something new here at AUMC. If you have an idea for a class, a project, a mission, or …well, anything … just let me know. I’d love to help you get started. As 2015 kicks off, let’s make a plan to try something new this year, as individuals and as a church, so that we grow together in faith, increasing our love of God and one another, and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Let’s ring in a new day here as we come, connect, grow and go. Blessings, Linda
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