Christmas Eve is just a few nights away.  Just a few more days of getting the right gift purchased, wrapped, and delivered.  These days and nights will be filled with Christmas parties with family, friends, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors.  Our churches will be proclaiming the message in dramas and displays, concerts and cantatas, and the ringing of bells.  Lots of good food will be eaten and special gatherings of friends and family will accent our holiday season.  With so much going on and happening in our homes and community, how can we choose what to do and what to miss?

When the weather is cool and damp, I just want to stay inside and drink something warm.  I like talking and relaxing inside on days like that.  Christmas season is a time of year that draws people in from the cold.  When I say cold, I mean a cold world that does not seem to care if we have shelter or food.  Somehow the spirit of Christmas pierces the cold air of indifference to human need and pushes us forward to respond to the needs of others.  We provide food, shelter, clothing, toys, and encouragement to those we might otherwise have never known.  There seems to be a joyful force pushing us to give more to others and to think less about ourselves.    That spirit of Christmas came along on a quiet evening in Bethlehem.  Two ordinary people were willing to let God use them.            Mary allowed God to place His son in her womb and Joseph agreed to care for Mary and her baby. Two ordinary people trying to do the right thing find themselves in a stable because there was no room for them in the Inn.  I find it a powerful image that God chose to reveal himself in such an ordinary way.  Everyday babies are born.  Everyday there are families struggling to make ends meet.  Everyday there are homeless among us.  God wrapped up his message of love in a baby born to a young mother who, except for the stable, had no place to rest.  Ordinary people came to see this child of God.  Following the angels’ directions the shepherds made their way to the manger where Jesus was sleeping.    What a powerful message!  Each time a child is born it reminds us that God has not given up on us but continues to send us children to be loved and children who can deliver His message.  Somehow when we look down on that infant Jesus, we no longer notice the cold and damp atmosphere of our daily lives, but the warmth and hope that Jesus brings to our world.  The angel said in Luke 2:10-11 “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”      May you experience anew the joy of that first Christmas morning when God sent his Son to be with us.  Take a good look at that beautiful baby in the manger.  God so loved us that He sent that child to be with us.  The love and warmth you feel is radiating from that manger.  Take some time to be in worship to praise God and thank Him for His special gift to all of us.  Join with the angels to praise God and sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”     Bless you!       Bro. Don Ross

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

WHITE GIFTS SERVICE
   All of our Angels have been adopted!  Please have ALL gifts in by December 21 as they will be distributed on December 22.  You may bring gifts in early and place them under the tree in the front  foyer of the church if you know
you will not be here Sunday night!  The White Gifts Service is this Sunday, December 21, at 6:00PM in the Sanctuary.  You are not going to want to miss this heartwarming experience as we share our blessings with others in our community.
   This MAGICAL NIGHT will include The Cherub Choir presenting the play “An Old Fashioned Christmas”,  lovely music by Les Belles Clochettes, The Voices of Light, the Chancel Choir and much more!  The White Gifts Service will conclude with the presentation of the White Gifts by the congregation (our children LOVE being a part of the presentation!).
   There will be a “Cookie Reception” to follow the White Gifts Service in the Fellowship Hall.  You are invited to enjoy the fellowship and the cookies.
    Volunteers are needed Monday, December 22, at      9:00AM to help sort the gifts, and again from 12Noon to 3:00PM to help distribute as our families arrive to pick up their gifts.  If you are able to help during any of those times, please meet Brenda Cloud in the Fellowship Hall.
          
EVENING SERVICES IN ADVENT
        17     6:30 P.M. Advent Communion
        21     6:00 P.M. White Gifts Service
                                  Cookie Reception Follows in FH
     
        24     5:30 P.M. Christmas Eve Service
                 7:00 P.M. Christmas Eve Service
     
YOUTH GROUP NEWS!
Youth Fundraiser for a Mission Group:  This Sunday is the last week to order your calendars!  The Youth are raising money to support the David and Julie Elmore Mission in Alaska.  We are selling Wall and Pocket calendars for $6, magnetic calendars for $4, and regular note pads for $2.  You may see samples in the church office.  To order, please write your check to FUMC and please specify Elmore Mission. 
Christmas Party for the Youth!  We are having a party at the West’s home at 712 Quickie Drive on Friday, December 19, from 6:00-9:00PM.  Bring party food to share and two White Elephant Gifts!
White Gifts Service on December 21!  We will attend!
December 28—No UMY!
December 31 and January 1--New Years Lock-In!  Plan to be at church for 8:00PM.  We’ll have fun all night with  games,  food, worship, and PlayStation!  We’ll disburse at 7:00AM the next morning! 

UMW HOMEBOUND MINISTRY UPDATE
   THANK YOU!  United Methodist Women’s Shut-In and Homebound Ministry made and distributed 17 bags of holiday cheer to homebound friends of FUMC.  This was made possible by generous gifts  from our Church family of items, money, or time to organize and distribute this special outreach. THANK YOU!  The bags were homemade, the gifts were bought and packed by Silent Angels who do this tirelessly year after year! THANK YOU! -Rita Landry, Coordinator

Our Stewardship for 2008
  WK 50 Dec. 14     Attendance 219    Sunday School 75
  Offering                  $    8,163           YTD   $377,238
  Building Fund         $    1,300             YTD   $  79,406
  Apportionments Due   $62,544    Paid YTD  $ 33,004                       

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF LOVE TO:
Operating Fund in memory of Bobby Aycock by M/M Mike Plessala.
UMW Shut-In and Homebound Ministry by M/M John Daigle and M/M Nolan Eschete.
Apportionments by M/M Franklin Bridges.  In memory of Don Poirrier  by M/M Richard Simons and M/M Larry Babin.  In memory of John Woodard by Juana Woodard.  In memory of Billie Hardwick (Bill Vincent’s mother) by M/M J.S. Bell.  In memory of Dorothy Rodrigue (Carol Cobb’s mother) by M/M Gene Milford.
Music Fund by M/M David McMath.
Building Renovation Fund by M/M Gene Milford, M/M Paul Sammarco, and M/M George Shely.  In memory of Donald Poirrier by Shirley Poirrier and family.  In honor of David and Emily Elmore by Petroleum Land Resources.

THE FIELDS ARE PLENTY AND THE WORKERS ARE FEW!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
   In conjunction with the Louisiana Conference of the UMC Disaster Response, the FUMC Work Area on Missions is currently performing a walking survey of various areas in Houma and in surrounding Terrebonne Parish.  A group of volunteers have begun to walk the neighborhoods interviewing homeowners in search of those who are still in need of assistance in putting their homes back in order after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
   The survey is a preliminary one which may be left for the homeowner to fill out or, if filled out at the time of the
visit, may be returned to the church to Rev. Curtiss Eden who is currently working out of our church in this undertaking.  Once this information is obtained, a more
detailed survey will be sent, after which a case manager may be assigned. 
   Volunteers from all over the nation are coming into our area to be the onsite workers.  Many of them will be staying in our facilities.  In order to help them do their job, we need to step up to provide them the information needed in a timely manner.
   The fields are plenty and the workers are few!  Please consider volunteering some time to help those who are less fortunate than we.  Call the church office or Jenny Charpentier  (594-5034) to enlist.  

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES
Nursery Class–For Infants -4 year olds
   (Meet in the Nursery.)
Children’s Class for K-3rd Grade
   (Meet upstairs in Room 209.)
Children’s Class for 4th-6th Grade
   (Meet upstairs in Room 206.)
Youth Sunday School Class
   (Meet upstairs in the Activity Building Youth Room.).
Let’s Talk About It
    (A discussion based class for adults of mixed ages, led by Donna Sammarco, meets in the Fellowship Hall.)
Disciples Class
   (A class for people who are interested in theological debate meets in the Fellowship Hall Parlor.)
Discovery Class
   (This class for people who are interested in becoming Christian Disciples meets in the Activity Building Chapel.)
Fellowship Class
   (This class of retirees is interested in fellowship.  They sing for a while and have a lesson taught by either Ed McCarty or Frank Porter.  They meet in Room 403 in the Activity Building.)
Class of Mixed Ages
(This class, led by Jimmy Hardin, meets in Room 206)

WHITE GIFTS COOKIE PROJECT!
   We are in need of LOTS OF COOKIES for the White Gifts Service!  The Mixed Ages Sunday School Class is coordinating the reception.  They will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall this Saturday, December 20, at 1:30PM and baking up a storm!
If YOU would  like to help, please come!  If you would like to CONTRIBUTE cookies, please leave them in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 21!  For questions, call Jimmy or Teresa Hardin at 868-6741.

NEWSLETTER NEWS!
   Due to the holidays and a short work week, there will be no newsletter issued for the week of December 22-December 26.

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFERING -  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
BENEFITS THE LOUISIANA METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOMES IN RUSTON AND LOUISIANA

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  MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS