Warren Coile……………………………………………………...Senior Pastor

Jeff Nesbit……………………………………………………..Teaching Pastor

Sandra Thomas…………………………….Pastor for Worship & Music Arts

Karie Sue McCaleb……………………………Pastor to Children & Families

Jeanne Chapman……………………………………………….Youth Director

Martha Hand……………..…………………..Director of Outreach & Nurture

Darlene Baker…………………………………………Music Assistant/Pianist

Jason Boyd………………………………………….Music Assistant/Organist

Advent Readings By Date

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21

Hebrews 10:35-11:1, John 20:24-29

8:20 am Worship (1)

9:20 Holy Communion

9:30 am Sunday school

10:45 am Worship (1)

11:00 am 11th Hour Worship (5)

3:00 pm Disciple Class (3)

5:00 pm Youth Hayride/bonfire/caroling

5:00 pm Handbells

MONDAY, DECMEBER 22

Luke 1:26-33, Luke 1:34-48

5:30 pm Women’s prayer group (2)

7:00 pm AA (2)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

1 Samuel 2:1-10, Luke 1:39-45,56

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24

Luke 1:57-66,80, Luke 2:1-20

Office closed

4:30 pm Christmas Eve service in the Sanctuary

6:00 pm Christmas Eve service in the Sanctuary

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25

Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-12

Office closed

7:00 pm AA (2)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26

Acts 6:1-7:2a,51-60, Matthew 23:34-39

Office Closed

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27

1 John 1:1-9, John 21:19b-24

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

Jeremiah 31:15-17, Matthew 2:13-23

8:20 am Worship (1)

9:20 Holy Communion

9:30 am Sunday school

10:45 am Worship (1)

11:00 am 11th Hour Worship (5)

3:00 pm Disciple Class (3)

THE STEWARDSHIP REPORT 12/14/2014

TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET 1,458,878.00

AMOUNT RECEIVED YTD 1,170,087.00

AMOUNT EXPENDED YTD 1,235,223.00

OFFERING FOR TODAY 35,831.00

AMOUNT GIVEN FOR DEBT REDUCTION 1,581.00

TOTAL FOR DEBT REDUCTION SINCE 1/1/02 224,396.00

The greeters for 12/28 are

Bill and Dell Ewing and

Fred/Kathy Ravenhorst (1st)

Jim/Linda Thomas, Mary Bethea, and

Linda Swales (2nd)

The greeters for 12/21 are

Sara Meeks and Betty Crowell (1st)

Frances Upchurch, Ken/Lisa Peacock

& Don/Barbara Jackson (2nd)

Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church

www.saintmarksum.org

Festival of Carols

December 21, 2014

+Please stand if you are comfortable doing so

Gathering and Announcements

A Christmas Processional Choir

Bidding Prayer

+Opening Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful Congregation

The Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Ralph & Sue Beth Shurtleff 8:20 Josh & Beth Martin 10:45

Morning Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

Offering String Quartet

First Lesson: The Fall of Adam David Caldwell

Carol A Father’s Love, A Perfect Rose Choir Mac May, solo

Second Lesson: God’s Covenant with Abraham Tyler Wilcox

Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Congregation

Third Lesson: The Birth of Christ Foretold Sherry Essington

Carol Celtic Advent Carol

Fourth Lesson: The Peace of Christ Foretold Ben Curry

Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Congregation

Fifth Lesson: Gabriel’s Appearance to Mary Kimber LaCour

Carol My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord Choir Staci Curry, solo

Sixth Lesson: The Birth of Jesus Lauren Dillard

Hymn Medley Congregation

Seventh Lesson: Shepherd’s Journey to the Manger Rodney Meeks

Carol A Noel Celebration Choir

Eighth Lesson: The Scholars’ Pilgrimage to the Child Lisa Iannelli

Carol A Christmas Invitation Choir

Ninth Lesson: The Mystery of the Incarnation Karie Sue McCaleb

Carol A Christmas Thanksgiving Choir Libbie Kendrick, solo

+Prayer and Blessing

+Closing Hymns Congregation

+Benediction

This week’s (12/21) Children’s Ministry volunteers:

Acolytes: Holton Haney and Stella Cobbs (1st service)

Meredith McKay and Maddy McKay (2nd service)

Children’s Church: Betsy Schetter and helper (1st service)

Alicia Beam-Ingram and helper (2nd service)

Nursery: Jane Oakes (1st service)

Mae Humphreys (2nd service)

Next week’s (12/28) Children’s Ministry volunteers:

Acolytes: Blake Champney and Ben Curry (1st service)

Dorothy Hamrick and Emma Rowzee (2nd service)

Children’s Church: Porter/Cat Foster (1st service)

Mike/Jessica Lowery (2nd service)

Nursery: Jeanann Suggs (1st service)

Emily Brandt (2nd service)

PRAYER CONCERNS

Serving our Country

Patrick Anderson, Neil Burton, Laura Burton, Jason Cumberland,

David De Blasio, Jerry Dickey, Jamie Duvall, Dylon Eaton, Louis Ginn,

Bob Hegland, Jacob Lawrence, Dustin LeFors, Boston Little, Cliff Long,

Lattie McGinnis, Michael Mooroklan, Rob Munroe, Casey Powell,

Christian Powell, Brook Samuel, Chad Shields, Hunter Sinclair, David White,

Eric White

The President of the USA and world leaders

Serving in Foreign Missions

Allison Alexander - Honduras, Henry & Hemi Alvarenga - Honduras,

Caleb & Stacey Eldridge - Honduras, Melvin & Marysol Flores - Honduras,

Ludmila Gorbazva - Russia, Janet Holloway - Russia, Josh & Caitlyn Mobley -

Middle East, Jeff & Barbara Thomas - South Korea,

Carolyn Thornton - Honduras, Shannon - China

Assisted Living/Nursing Homes/Retirement Center/Hospice

Sarah Beard, Jill Beshell, Helen Breedlove, Betty Brussell (Blackwell),

Ruth Carr, Lou Cotton (McGee), Louise Finison (Pittman), Anita Gazaway

(Glasscock), Ian Graham (Niemeyer), Rebecca Hammons (Ellis), Gerald Haskett,

Brad Hilton, David Jones, Marion Jordan, Verna Kennedy, Bob Legate,

Edwina Peeler, Katherine Peebles, Joanne Ramsey, David Ross, Carolyn Russell,

Lynn Ware (Shields), Liles Williams. Mary Ann Winstead

At Home

Helen Ainsworth (Townsend), Blake Blackwell, Theresa Brumley,

Clinton Carraway (Dumas), Jacob Chastain (Spencer), Jerry Cook, Larry Creel,

Dennis Dance, Russ Griffith, Richard Hartung, Susie Hays, Catherine Hayes,

Rev. John Higginbotham, Ron Humphrey, Teresa Humphrey, Pam Jeffcoat,

Jerry Klomparens, Steve McDonald, Virginia McKie, Jim Myrick, Blake Miller,

Dixie Miller, Jonnie Norton, Jerry Oakes, Lloyd Parker, Jonathan Pettus,

Wendy Powers, Debbie Rischer (Johnston), Peggy Rogers (McHann),

Sylvia Russell (Hartung), V K Smith (McGinnis), Merle Spann, Karen Streit,

Jake Sullivan, Maxine Thompson, Henry Walters, Gail Warren (Cain),

Larry Wert, Laverne Wolfe (Doyle)

Out of Town

Joyce Barnes , Stan Beeson (Taylor), Jennifer Brown (Beam-Ingram),

Bessie Bush (Malottki), Jim Carney (Carney), Carl Cockrell (Williams),

Mary Daniels (McKinley), Katie DeBlasio (Shurtleff), Duane Dillon (Dillon),

Leon Ellzey (Bates), Robby Hamrick (Hamrick), Jeff Horne,

Beverly Houston (Pittman), Nan Huff (Kay Taylor), Bailey Jenkins,

Bob Johnson (Barnes), Peri Johnson, Jo Killen (Taylor),

Rhett Laubach (Glasscock), Lottie Leach (Beard), Avis Livingston (O’Neal),

Carolyn Nash (Gural), Lorraine Neger (Thompson), Lucretia Norris ,

Evelyn Ray (Ray), Dean Sasser (Ravenhorst), Tom Simms (Weatherholt),

Wade Sharp (Stringer), Izzy Slot (Richardson), Lori Smith,

Bailey Stowell (Puckett), LeRoy Taylor (Breedlove), Steve Teets (Dean),

Ann Trawick (McNeil), David Tucker (Hall), Cindy Vaughn (Wheat),

Bob Walker (Douglas), Afton Wallace (Doyle), Gloria Warren (Doyle),

Sylvia Wilson, Janet Lawing (Jo Hebert)

Recently Hospitalized

Mary Ann Winstead - Baptist, Jim Achord - Baptist

In Sympathy

The family of Nadine Dove, 12/12

YOUTH NEWS! Hayride Caroling & Bonfire ~ Sun., 21, 5-7 pm

Join us as we carol through the community

spreading Christmas cheer and then enjoy hot

dogs, s’mores and hot chocolate at a bonfire. (No cost, but

sign up required)

GO M.A.D @ Good Samaritan Center! 9:00 am - 2:30

pm ~ Cost: $5! Two dates available! REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Space is limited!! Mon., Dec. 22 - with lunch @ CS’s/ Tues., Dec.

23 - with lunch @ Sal & Mookies! Drop off and pick up is at

St. Mark’s both days

FUEL - High octane for your soul midweek! -

Wednesdays 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Fuel will resume

January 7th! Enjoy the holidays with your

family and friends!.

PARENTS’ NIGHT @ MERGE is coming!

Sunday, January 11 ~ 6 - 8 pm! All

students and their parents are invited to

join us for a full evening of MERGE, which

includes dinner and a very important Youth & Parent

Meeting! Please make every effort to be there! Parents,

please RSVP for dinner through Jan. 7th!

Office Holiday Schedule

December 24, 25, 26 office closed Wednesday, December 31 office closes at noon

January 1, 2 office closed

In order for your contributions to count toward 2014, it must be in the church office by noon on

December 31, 2014 OR if mailed, must be postmarked before January 1, 2015.

Christmas Eve Services

4:30 and 6:00 pm

in the Sanctuary

Sundays in December at St. Mark’s are always exciting.

Worship during this time of year provides many ways to

experience the “love that came at Christmas” as we prepare

to celebrate Christ’s birth through inspiring messages,

favorite seasonal music, the beauty of the sanctuary

decorations, and quiet communion. Visitors enter our doors

for the same reason -- to experience the love of Jesus during

this holy time. Let us all strive to provide a friendly,

welcoming presence to our guests this season by speaking to

all new people and providing gift bags for first time visitors.

These bags are still kept at all entrances for guests as they

come this month to experience the “reason for the season”.