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UMW Sunday Worship

Celebration and World Thank

Offering, November 10th. There

will be a luncheon at noon after the

Classic service that all women are

invited to attend to learn about

missions for women and children

locally and world wide.

The “Special” Sunday School Class is

scheduled to serve the Homeless Breakfast

at 15 Place on November 9th. Please meet

at the church at 6:40AM.

Senior Adults:

Christmas Potluck

Luncheon

Dec. 5th at 11:30AM.

Music, Food, and Games.

United Methodist Men

Breakfast

Sunday, November 10th

at 7:30AM.

All men are invited to attend

for a great time of fellowship

and fun.

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2013 Issue No. 271

A P

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“Hey, would you like to come to church with me?”

“How, then, can they call on the one

they have not believed in? And how can

they believe in the one of whom they

have not heard?” Romans 10:14

Most Christians agree that this question

is important. An invitation can help a

new family in our area connect with

new friends. It can help someone find a

new start when they have fizzled-out in

other places. Most importantly,

invitations are our best tool to introduce

people to Jesus. Studies show that 9 out

of 10 people would accept our

invitations to come to church if actually

asked.

But, inviting someone to church can feel

challenging. Here are five practical tips

to give you courage in inviting someone

to join us here at Saraland UMC!

1. Use Facebook! Your Facebook

‘Like’ could become the perfect

invitation for a friend who is

secretly searching. If you ‘Like’

or ‘Share’ a post from our

Saraland UMC page, our

church’s post will appear to your

friends. When God speaks to

you through a sermon, Sunday

School lesson, youth group

worship service, or any special

event, a short post or photo can

be an amazing witness to how

God is at work in your life and

in our church!

2. Invite to Special Events! If

someone has not attended

church frequently, you may feel

more comfortable inviting them

to a special event, small group,

or Sunday School class rather

than Sunday morning worship.

Your invitation to one of our

special events or small groups

will help them feel like they

know someone before they

attend worship.

3. Be a ‘Go-To’ Person in

Worship! Some visitors shared

with me that they feel awkward at

greeting time. It is natural for all

of us to talk to people we know.

But visitors can feel awkward

when they are alone during

greeting time and before/after

worship services. You can

become the person who takes

initiative to approach people

whom you don’t know. One short

conversation like this can make a

first impression and connection

that will help them decide to

return.

4. Meet for Breakfast or Lunch! Some people recommend meeting

someone for breakfast prior to

Sunday morning worship. Eating

together beforehand can help to

ease the tension a visitor may feel

when meeting you in the

unfamiliar church lobby.

5. Make a List! Create a list of

people in your life that you could

invite over the next couple of

months. Pray that God would

give you the perfect opportunity

to invite them to our church.

During the Christmas season,

people are often more likely to

attend worship than other times

of the year. Now would be a

perfect time to invite someone to

join worship!

As we approach the holiday season, I am

praying that our church will have an

impact on those in our community who

are seeking a relationship with Jesus

Christ. And I am praying that God will

use you as His ambassadors!

Blessings! Rev. Mike Hoppe

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Mission trip to

Guatemala:

Orphanage Casa on The Rock.

Date: May 23rd -31st

Cost: $1,400.00

Deposit of $650.00 is due by December 15, 2013.

This will enable us to buy the tickets for a cheaper price.

Projects: Painting, cleaning and carpentry

The afternoons are set aside to play with the children. We go to church with the kids on Sunday and

Wednesday. Accommodations are basic but clean. The food is simple American foods.

We will be taking supplies to the kids. The main requests have been socks and hoodie sweat shirts.

Contact Phil or Cindy Messer at 675-2052 or messer1973@comcast.net for more information.

When you make an online donation on December 3, your

gift will multiply! For one day only, on December 3,

2013, as part of UMC #GivingTuesday, gifts made to

support any project or ministry through The Advance

will be matched. As always, when you give to through

The Advance, 100 percent of your gift directly supports

our ministry; overhead costs are covered through other

channels. Your gift can bring healing and hope to

survivors of natural or civil disasters; help communities

build churches, dig wells, feed and educate children, and

equip hospitals and clinics; or support a missionary who

is sharing the light of Christ…and on December 3, every

online donation will be matched. Go online at

www.umcmission.org/give to donate funds.

CHRISTMAS IN MOBILE GIFT SHOW

One of Mobile's Largest Christmas Shows ever! Friday

night, Nov. 8 at 5pm is "A Red Carpet Affair” with

fashions shows, Hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, early

shopping, and a Silent Auction to benefit Penelope House

and St. Judes. Saturday begins with Breakfast with Santa

then a full day of shopping and more fun events!

Location: Cruise Terminal, 201 S Water St.

Start/End Time: 5:00pm, 9:00pm.

Mobile Symphony

Conductor: Scott Speck

Program features depictions of the sea.

Beethoven: Calm Sea and Prosperous

Voyage;

Mason Bates, former composer-in-

residence: Liquid Interface;

Respighi: Fountains of Rome;

Debussy: La Mer.

Saturday, November 9th at 8 PM

Sunday, November 10th at 2:30 PM.

Saenger Theatre (6 S. Joachim St)

Tickets: $20 - $65.

Students K-12 free admission to matinee when

accompanied by paying adult; download Big

Red Ticket from MSO website at

www.mobilesymphony.org or 251-432-2010.

November Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9:00 AM Fair-

Peppers and Onions

2

3 8:45 AM Bold Service

9:50 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Classic Service

4:00 PM Craft Circle Night

4:00 PM Youth Praise

Band

5:00 PM Handbell Practice

5:00 PM UMYF Block

Party and Transformers

4 8:00 AM ELC

8:00 AM Staff

Meeting

10:00 AM Prayer

Team Meeting

6:00 PM Girl Scout

Service Unit

6:30 PM Boy Scouts

6:30 PM Financial

Peace Univ.

5 8:00 AM ELC

12:00 PM Lions

Club Lunch

5:00 PM Weight

Watchers

6:30 PM Celebrate

Recovery

6 8:00 AM ELC

5:45 PM WND

6:15 PM Wed Night

Activities

7:15 PM Chancel

Choir Practice

7:15 PM Praise

Band Practice

7 8:00 AM ELC

5:30 PM Java and

Jesus-Yth

6:30 PM Cub Scouts

6:30 PM Java and

Jesus-College

8

9 6:40 AM 15 PLACE

Breakfast

8:30 AM UMVIM-

Leader Training

4:00 PM UMW-

decorating comm.

10 Youth LOCK-IN

8:45 AM Bold Service

9:50 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Classic Service

12:00 PM UMW Joint

Meeting

4:00 PM Craft Circle Night

4:00 PM Yth Praise Band

5:00 PM Handbell Practice

5:00 PM Mission Comm.

Meeting

5:00 PM UMYF Block

Party and Transformers

11 10:00 AM Prayer

Team Meeting

6:00 PM Girl Scout

Leaders Mtg

6:00 PM Grace Cir-

cle

6:30 PM Boy Scouts

6:30 PM Financial

Peace Univ.

12 8:00 AM ELC

5:00 PM Weight

Watchers

6:30 PM Celebrate

Recovery

13 8:00 AM ELC

5:45 PM WND

6:15 PM Wed Night

Activities

7:15 PM Chancel

Choir Practice

7:15 PM Praise

Band Practice

14 8:00 AM ELC

5:30 PM Java and

Jesus-Yth

6:30 PM Cub Scouts

6:30 PM Java and

Jesus-College

15 6:00 PM Transform-

ers Mini Lock-In

16

17 7:30 AM UMM Breakfast

8:45 AM Bold Service

9:50 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Classic Service

12:00 PM Discovery 101

Luncheon

2:30 PM Paint Party

4:00 PM Craft Circle Night

4:00 PM Youth Praise

Band

5:00 PM Chrismon

Workshop

5:00 PM Handbell Practice

5:00 PM UMYF Block

Party and Transformers

18 8:00 AM ELC

10:00 AM Prayer

Team Meeting

6:00 PM Hope Circle

6:30 PM Boy Scouts

6:30 PM Financial

Peace Univ.

19 8:00 AM ELC

12:00 PM Lions

Club Lunch

5:00 PM Weight

Watchers

6:30 PM Celebrate

Recovery

20 8:00 AM ELC

5:45 PM WND

6:15 PM Wed Night

Activities

7:15 PM Chancel

Choir Practice

7:15 PM Praise

Band Practice

21 8:00 AM ELC

5:30 PM Handbell

Practice

5:30 PM Java and

Jesus-Yth

6:30 PM Cub Scouts

6:30 PM Java and

Jesus-College

22 23

24 8:45 AM Bold Service

9:50 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Classic Service

3:00 PM Chrismon

Workshop

4:00 PM Craft Circle Night

4:00 PM Youth Praise

Band

5:00 PM UMYF Block

Party and Transformers

25 8:00 AM ELC

10:00 AM Prayer

Team Meeting

6:30 PM Boy Scouts

6:30 PM Financial

Peace Univ.

26 8:00 AM ELC

5:00 PM Weight

Watchers

6:30 PM Celebrate

Recovery

27 Church Offices

Closed

No Evening

Activities

28 Church Offices

Closed

29 Church Offices

Closed

30 Walk By Faith

Charity Run at

Steele Creek

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FALL FOOD DRIVE

We’re going to build another wall…a wall of RAVIOLI!!

This year’s Children’s Ministry Fall Food Drive will be to benefit the Back Pack

Ministry of Saraland UMC. Our efforts to collect cans of ravioli were so successful last year that we are going to try it again this year! The Back Pack Ministry cur-rently uses aprx. 50 cans of ravioli (14-16 oz size) each week. Let’s see how many can we collect...any brand is ac-

ceptable! We will begin building the wall on Sunday, Nov. 3, and will continue

through the month of November.

Community Helpers Month

The Early Learning Center is studying Community Helpers during the month of

November. We consider a Community Helper to be anyone that has a job or hobby that helps others in some way. This includes

the obvious occupations of policeman, fireman, nurse, doctor, minister, members of the military, etc. It also includes crafters, cooks, artists,

gardeners, etc. We are scheduling community helpers to come and tell/show the children what their “job” is like and how they help others. Please see Betty Moye to sign up if you would like to come and share with our children.

Sunday School Teachers Needed! Our Children’s Sunday School Classes are taught by teams of teachers. This means that there are at least two teachers assigned to each class and they take turns teach-ing. Two of our classes need a team teacher! Our 2 & 3

Yr Old Class and our 3rd & 4th Grade Class each only have one teacher. If you would be willing to be a team teacher for either of these classes, please contact Ms. Betty. Curriculum & materials are provided.

Upcoming Bridge Student Ministry Amazingness...

Lock-In - Nov. 10th & 11th, Sunday 5PM-Monday 6AM

To Write Love on Her Arms Day - Nov. 13

Youth Movie Night: CATCHING FIRE - Nov. 22

Christmas Party - December 22

Winter Mission Trip - Jan. 17-19

Rock & Worship Road Show - Feb. 7

Ongoing Awesomeness...

Sundays:

9:45 - Sunday School

4:00 - Youth Band

5:00 - Block Party and Transformers

Tuesdays:

6:00 - The Landing

Wednesdays:

5:45 - Dinner

6:15 - CHASE THE LION - College Bible Study

6:15 - Youth and Transformers Small Groups

Thursdays:

Java & Jesus at Moka's Coffee House

5:30 - Youth - THE UNIVERSE, THE CROSS, AND THE VENOM GOO FROM SPIDER-MAN 3

6:30 - College - TORN

TRANSFORMER MINI LOCK IN!! FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15th 6 PM– 12AM

Hey, Transformers! Join us for an night of fun on Friday, November 15...we are having a

MINI LOCK-IN! A lot is being planned for the night including food, games, movies and a

mission project. Bring a pillow and blanket so you can get comfortable for our movie

time. ATTENTION PARENTS - We will need some chaperones for this lock-in. Please see

Betty or William if you can help!

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Thank you for helping

with our

Fair booth!

We are currently seeking volunteers to host

the welcome station in the church narthex on

Sunday mornings. The church will provide

the coffee, lemonade and cookies to be served

each week.

Sunday Morning Hostess duties include: · Arrive at church by 7:15 a.m. to prepare

the coffee urn and make the coffee.

· Make the lemonade.

· Set up the welcome counter with the cof-

fee condiments, cups, napkins, etc.

· Place the cookies on the tray.

· Be ready to serve by 8:30 a.m.

· Serve before the Bold Service, Sunday

School and Classic Service.

· After the Classic Service begins, clean

up, wash and store items.

- No need to cook, everything is furnished

by the church.

Please look at the schedule below and either

call me or email me to let me know if you are

willing to volunteer on one or more of the

available Sundays:

November 3rd Linda Burr

November 10th Linda Burr

November 17th ________

November 24th ________

December 1st ________

December 8th Linda Burr

December 15th ________

December 22nd ________

December 29th Linda Burr

UMW Tapestry 2014 will be held in Demopolis, Alabama, on February 21

and 22, 2014. Please join us – the registration form is

online with all the details at http://www.awf-

umw.org/tapestry-2014-

brochure.pdf. Early Bird

registration is $35 postmarked by

December 1st.

For more information contact the

Demopolis District Office at

334-289-0519

Join the Older Adults of the Alabama-West Florida Conference for a 60's style youth rally as we step back in time for a fun filled day of fun and fellow-

ship! The youth rally will be held Saturday, January 25,

2014 at Blue Lake.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Contact Traci Herndon at traci@awfc.org at the Conference offices for registration information.

At registration you can sign up to be in the “Youth” Choir or the Guitar Band (or whatever instrument

you bring). There will be displays to visit, banner making and camp tours. We will then gather for a

time of music, skits, entertainment and of course lunch. Our keynote speaker for the event will be Rev.

Walter Albritton (retired).

Cost is $20 per person (includes lunch, t-shirt and a fun-filled day)

Deadline to register: January 10, 2014

Sponsored by the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church Older Adult Task

Force

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Prayer Concerns:

Eunice Addison, John Aikens, Julie

Bacon, Billy Beckman, Bruce Calder,

Canfield Family, Gerald Cargile, Jean

Faggard, Noah Faggard, Louise Fox,

Diana Grant, Carol Hannibal, Hazel Jones, Wendell Kennedy,

Linwood Lewis, Eunice McAleer, Abbie Myers, Bonnie Ramsbottom,

Gracie Rowe, Vanessa Smith, Joseph Toomey, Rebecca Walker,

Virginia Walker, Daryl Wallace, Jennifer Wallace, Francis Whigham,

Dick Wilson, Hazel Yarbarough, Sean Atkinson, Crystal Bohannon,

Betty Carter, Helen Mitchell, J P Dearman, Debbie Paulk, Emma Ray,

Ann Dubose, Barbara Weaver, Emma, Ceclia Fillingane, Kilianna

Morgan, Brent Middleton, Gunner Lee, Mary Boyington, Nick

Shamp, Hollis McCleskey, Bart Brett, Punk Thomas, Veree Thomas,

James Bryant, Clara Walker, Donnie Goddard, Bud Pringle, Robert

Hill Couch, Wayne Black and Our Military

Shut-ins:

Westminster Village: Dan Mason

Birthday Blessings

Is your birthday missing from the list? If so, please call the church office so

we can update our records.

11/01 Maryann Dean Gabriel Thomas 11/02 Joe Walters Don Wooley Daryl Floyd Bret Crooker James Davis 11/03 Judy Callen Nancy Logan Joyce Boshell 11/04 Pat Eagan 11/05 Stacey Boutwell 11/06 Peggy harbin Carol Spencer 11/07 Faye Prescott Tiffany Summersell Jarod Billingsley 11/08 Dana McDonald Nicole Fields Brad Stevens 11/09 Jackson Smith 11/10 Jose Gruber Harmony Gibson Anders White 11/11 Judy Strickland 11/14 Pat Bryant Cynthia Mead 11/16 Eddie Phillips 11/19 Andrew Salter Lori Smith Jordan Buckles 11/20 Jacob Stephens 11/21 Daniel Brown Christina Brown Willie May Jr. Christian Summersell 11/22 Mary Squires 11/22 Lauren Bramlett 11/23 Celia Mitchell Hunter Trotter 11/24 Linda Burr Deborah Floyd 11/25 Ann Dubose 11/26 Lee McBride 11/28 Luvenia Spotswood Ray Danzey Laura Simison 11/29 Tonya Pritchett Lynda Massey Andrew Passmore 11/30 Kevin Dean

OCTOBER ATTENDANCE AND OFFERINGS

Attendance Sunday Morning 172 Celebrate Recovery 72 Youth 25 WORSHIP TOTAL: 269 Monthly Financial Requirement: General Budget $ 34,008.00 Season of Growth $ 3,000.00 General Budget Receipts: 10/06 $ 10,989.42 10/13 $ 8,308.91 10/20 $ 6,980.40 10/26 $ 4,502.00 TOTAL $ 30,780.73 SOG Receipts: 10/06 $ 535.00 10/13 $ 515.00 10/20 $ 440.00 10/26 $ 60.00 TOTAL $ 1,550.00

November Counting Team Schedule

Nov. 3rd Sherry and Pam

Nov. 10th Jean and Judy

Nov. 17th Lavenia & Joyce

Nov. 24th Diane and Traci

November CR Nursery Volunteers

Nov. 5th Bobby and Pam

Nov. 12th Carol

Nov. 18th Scott and Shauna

Nov. 25th Bobby and Pam

*We need two additional people

willing to volunteer in the nursery for

Celebrate Recovery. It's about two

hours - one time a month contact Pam

Sasser for more information 554-5601.

The Hope Circle is having a fund

raiser with Rada cutlery. There is a

catalog available in the church

office. Contact any Hope Circle

member for ordering

and information.

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If you haven’t been a part of

Wednesday Night Live,

you’re really missing out on

a great time. Come and

share in the great food, study

and discussion.

Dinner will be at 5:45 p.m. followed by programs

for adults, youth and children at 6:15 p.m.

Costs: $5 per adult and $3 per child/youth (over 3

years old) with a $15 family max.

Bring the family and enjoy our great Wednesday

evening activities!

Contact the church office for more information or

make reservations online @ www.saralandumc.org

Each week at 4:00 PM the UMW Grace Circle is hosting a Craft Circle Night at the church. We will have

knitting, crochet and quilting tables available to work with your hands while having some fun time out.

Practice supplies will be available for beginners to try knitting and crochet. Anyone interested in teaching

please contact Nancy Brumfield or Stephanie Jacobs.

The Choir has begun

rehearsing the Christmas

cantata, John Leavitt’s

“Festival of Lessons and

Carols” to be presented on

December 8th in both services.

Come and be a part of the cantata, even if you aren’t

able to commit to being in the choir every Sunday.

Cantata music will be rehearsed at our regular 7:15

Wednesday night rehearsal.

Sunday, November 17th at

2:30, we will be having a

Paint Party at church! We will

have several Christmas door

hangers to choose from, as

well as paintings for kids. Please see Traci Smith

for details.

Saturday, December 7th, we will

be having our Women’s Christmas

Tea. Traci Smith will be in touch

with everyone soon regarding

more details.

Chrismon

Workshops

Scheduled

Many of the ornaments that are used to decorate our Chrismon Tree each year are

showing their age! We will be making some new ornaments and repairing some of the old ornaments at two workshops in November. The workshops are scheduled for Sunday, November 17, from 5-7 p.m. and Sunday,

November 24, from 3-5 p.m. For more information or to offer to help get things ready

for the workshops, please call the church office.

Senior Adults:

Christmas Potluck

Luncheon Dec. 5th at

11:30AM.

Music, Food, and

Games.

We will collect unwrapped new

Christmas toys and games for the

Dumas Wesley Store for those who

would like to bring a toy or

game. Also, bring a wrapped gently

used gift for playing games. Please

call Terry and Pat Hopper at 675-

4694 for more information.

Missions Committee

Meeting

Sunday, November

10th at 5:00PM