LAF Weekly Announcements

BIBLE VERSE

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."

Matthew 6:2

 

CURRICULUM

We will take a class break this week (1/22) in hopes of having a strong showing at the IMAGINE Parent Open House/Brunch.  Church members will gather to share the vision and discuss the future of possibilities for our congregation through the Imagine Campaign.  Your voice is vital to the momentum of this exciting time in the life of our church.  Please save the date and plan to be present for these upcoming informational events.  Register at www.prumc.org by January 15th (though I believe they are still accepting online registrations).  (This event will also be held on February 5th though we will not cancel class on this date).  For additional information you can access the following link: http://prumc.org/index.php/events/imagine

We will resume class on 1/29 led by the Easom's

Additionally, we will spend part of February and March exploring different denominations of Christianity. LAF Teachers are needed for the following dates:

January 29
February 5
February 12
February 19
February 26

Please email Kim, Abby or Meg if you are able to teach on any of these dates. In addition, Please let Programs know if there are denominations that you would especially like covered, any that you would like to lead, or know of a good speaker to lead.

SOCIAL

February Small Group Dinners 

Save the date for Small Group Dinners on February 18th.  Please let us know if you are interested in hosting by emailing Natalia (nkelly@lungrx.com) or Elizabeth (ebwerdesheim@gmail.com).  We will be passing around a sign-up sheet in class next week.

2012 LAF Land Cruise
We are repeating our LAF adults-only trip this spring. The 2012 expedition is scheduled for April 12-15 in Negril, Jamaica at Riu Negril (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/jamaica/negril/clubhotel-riu-negril/index.jsp). We have a package through Delta Vacations which includes roundtrip direct flights to Montego Bay, transfers to and from the hotel, all food and beverages for $2,031.84 per couple. And, if that, along with a $20 spa credit is not enough to convince you, think about all the fun you'll have hanging out with the Hodges, Wades, Chiocks, Dickeys, McWhorters and Borowskys! For more information or to make your reservation now, contact Kim McWhorter.  

marriage tune up retreat

“We’re Getting the Bands Back Together”

Friday, February 10, 6:00-9:45 pm

Saturday, February 11 , 8:00-12:45 pm

PRUMC Fellowship Hall

Take one weekend to wake up your marriage! Dynamic facilitators Jeff and Debby McElroy present a marriage conference in a relaxed atmosphere filled with laughter, insight and interaction.

$70 per couple includes materials, dinner on Friday, continental breakfast on Saturday.

Childcare Friday and Saturday.

Register online at www.prumc.org .

by February 3

TREASURER

Please turn in dues!!  If you submit them through the church, please be sure to reference "Love and Fellowship" on the memo line so the funds get routed to our account.  

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

David Moreland (2nd)

John Douglas (10th)

Alison Chiock (23rd)

David Dickey (26th)

Jean Marie Richardson (30th)

Blessings, 

Susan, Wes, Malia & David

DEVOTIONAL

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

CURRICULUM

The remainder of January and February, the Knowles and McWhorters are going to lead a series about Concepts of Heaven, largely based on Lisa Miller's "Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife." 

We will take another class break on 1/22 in hopes of having a strong showing at the IMAGINE Parent Open House/Brunch.  Church members will gather to share the vision and discuss the future of possibilities for our congregation through the Imagine Campaign.  Your voice is vital to the momentum of this exciting time in the life of our church.  We would love to have a good showing of our LAF class.  Please save the date and plan to be present for these upcoming informational events.  Register at www.prumc.org by January 15th.  (This event will also be held on February 5th though we will not cancel class on this date).  

Additionally, we will spend part of February and March exploring different denominations of Christianity. Please let Kim know if there are denominations that you would especially like covered, any that you would like to lead, or know of a good speaker to lead.

SOCIAL

February Small Group Dinners 

Save the date for Small Group Dinners on February 18th.  Please let us know if you are interested in hosting by emailing Natalia (nkelly@lungrx.com) or Elizabeth (ebwerdesheim@gmail.com).  We will start passing around a sign-up sheet in class this Sunday.

2012 LAF Land Cruise
We are repeating our LAF adults-only trip this spring. The 2012 expedition is scheduled for April 12-15 in Negril, Jamaica at Riu Negril (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/jamaica/negril/clubhotel-riu-negril/index.jsp). We have a package through Delta Vacations which includes roundtrip direct flights to Montego Bay, transfers to and from the hotel, all food and beverages for $2,031.84 per couple. And, if that, along with a $20 spa credit is not enough to convince you, think about all the fun you'll have hanging out with the Hodges, Wades, Chiocks, Dickeys, McWhorters and Borowskys! For more information or to make your reservation now, contact Kim McWhorter.  

marriage tune up retreat

“We’re Getting the Bands Back Together”

Friday, February 10, 6:00-9:45 pm

Saturday, February 11 , 8:00-12:45 pm

PRUMC Fellowship Hall

Take one weekend to wake up your marriage! Dynamic facilitators Jeff and Debby McElroy present a marriage conference in a relaxed atmosphere filled with laughter, insight and interaction.

$70 per couple includes materials, dinner on Friday, continental breakfast on Saturday.

Childcare Friday and Saturday.

Register online at www.prumc.org .

by February 3

TREASURER

Please turn in dues!!  If you submit them through the church, please be sure to reference "Love and Fellowship" on the memo line so the funds get routed to our account.  

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

David Moreland (2nd)

John Douglas (10th)

Alison Chiock (23rd)

David Dickey (26th)

Jean Marie Richardson (30th)

Blessings, 

Susan, Wes, Malia & David

LAF Weekly Announcements

DEVOTIONAL

I am the God of all time and all that is. Seek Me not only in morning quietness but consistently throughout the day. Do not let unexpected problems distract you from My Presence. Instead, talk with Me about everything, and watch confidently to see what I will do.  Adversity need not interrupt your communion with Me. When things go “wrong,” you tend to react as if you’re being punished. Instead of this negative response, try to view difficulties as blessings in disguise. Make me your Refuge by pouring out your heart to Me, trusting in Me at all times.

Psalm 55:17; Psalm 32:6; Psalm 62:8

CURRICULUM

We have canceled formal class this week to allow everyone the opportunity to attend the fabulous speaker during regular class time.   He is a Messianic Jewish Rabbi Rich Nichol in town from Boston.  He will be presenting in the Forum Room on the second floor of the C-bldg and his topic of discussion will be Isaiah 53.  If you haven't had the chance to hear him speak we are promised that he worth hearing!  Please plan to attend!

LAF Curriculum update for the winter...the remainder of January and February, the Knowles and McWhorters are going to lead a series about Concepts of Heaven, largely based on Lisa Miller's "Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife." See the links below so those of you who are interested can read the book (it is on Amazon - print or Kindle version) and follow along during the series. (Totally optional - the facilitators will condense and discern the salient points for you). 

Print: http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Our-Enduring-Fascination-Afterlife/dp/B004F9OUXU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323660814&sr=8-1($10.40/hardback)
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Enduring-Fascination-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B003B02ONM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323660814&sr=8-4 ($9.99)

Additionally, we will spend part of February and March exploring different denominations of Christianity. Please let Kim know if there are denominations that you would especially like covered, any that you would like to lead, or know of a good speaker to lead.

SOCIAL


January LAF Luncheon
Join us for lunch this Sunday, January 8th following the guest speaker in the Fellowship Hall.  We will reserve several tables for LAF and look forward to catching up with you in the new year.  This is an excellent opportunity to extend a personal invite to our recent visitors.

February Small Group Dinners 

Save the date for Small Group Dinners on February 18th.  Please let us know if you are interested in hosting by emailing Natalia (nkelly@lungrx.com) or Elizabeth (ebwerdesheim@gmail.com).  In January, we will start passing around a sign-up sheet in class. 

2012 LAF Land Cruise
We are repeating our LAF adults-only trip this spring. The 2012 expedition is scheduled for April 12-15 in Negril, Jamaica at Riu Negril (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/jamaica/negril/clubhotel-riu-negril/index.jsp). We have a package through Delta Vacations which includes roundtrip direct flights to Montego Bay, transfers to and from the hotel, all food and beverages for $2,031.84 per couple. And, if that, along with a $20 spa credit is not enough to convince you, think about all the fun you'll have hanging out with the Hodges, Wades, Chiocks, Dickeys, McWhorters and Borowskys! For more information or to make your reservation now, contact Kim McWhorter.  

TREASURER

Please turn in dues!!  If you submit them through the church, please be sure to reference "Love and Fellowship" on the memo line so the funds get routed to our account.  

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

David Moreland (2nd)

John Douglas (10th)

Alison Chiock (23rd)

David Dickey (26th)

Jean Marie Richardson (30th)

Blessings, 

Susan, Wes, Malia & David

Weekly Announcements

DEVOTIONAL:

Galatians 3:1-14: You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? In a commercial, Santa asks his smart phone to locate for him an e-mail about who's been naughty and who's been nice. That thought--that we receive gifts only if we earn them--predominates as Christmas approaches. But gifts cease being gifts if they must be earned; they then become transactions. Yet the belief that we must be good to go to heaven persists. Many people of the Christian tradition speak of grace, then insist that we must be good, moral persons in order to earn the favor of God. Such a belief certainly is not limited to our own time. Paul wrote to the "foolish Galatians," who had come to believe that they had "received the Spirit by doing the works of the law." He told them that relying on their own behavior to earn God's favor negates the sacrifice of the Cross. Of course, our behavior matters to God; people loved by God are called to respond by loving others. And we participate in the eternal, and "go to heaven," here and now, when we do choose to love. But do we earn our own salvation by being nice instead of being naughty? Absolutely not, you foolish Galatians! That's not God you're thinking of; it's Santa Claus. Psalm 80; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; Luke 1:57-66 Copyright 2011 by Carol Mead. This material is copyrighted, but you are welcome to share it in its entirety with others. To subscribe, visit the website at www.holyordinary.com

SOCIAL


January LAF Luncheon
Join us for lunch on Sunday, January 8th following class in the Fellowship Hall.  We will reserve several tables for LAF and look forward to catching up with you in the new year.  This is an excellent opportunity to extend a personal invite to our recent visitors.

February Small Group DinnersSave the date for Small Group Dinners on February 18th.  Please let us know if you are interested in hosting by emailing Natalia (nkelly@lungrx.com) or Elizabeth (ebwerdesheim@gmail.com).  In January, we will start passing around a sign-up sheet in class. 

2012 LAF Land Cruise
We are repeating our LAF adults-only trip this spring. The 2012 expedition is scheduled for April 12-15 in Negril, Jamaica at Riu Negril (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/jamaica/negril/clubhotel-riu-negril/index.jsp). We have a package through Delta Vacations which includes roundtrip direct flights to Montego Bay, transfers to and from the hotel, all food and beverages for $2,031.84 per couple. And, if that, along with a $20 spa credit is not enough to convince you, think about all the fun you'll have hanging out with the Hodges, Wades, Chiocks, Dickeys, McWhorters and Borowskys! For more information or to make your reservation now, contact Kim McWhorter.  



OUTREACH


Thank you to everyone for donating gifts to Jashayla, Kayla and Jamesha. We got all of the gifts on their lists, and I wish I'd taken a picture of everything together - it was SO much! Their grandmother came on Friday and picked up everything, and was overwhelmed with gratitude. Friday was a big day for the girls, they had a court hearing for their grandmother to gain custody. So not only will they open gifts on Christmas morning and see every single toy they wished for, they'll be together with their family. It will be a very special Christmas!




TREASURER


Please turn in dues!!  If you submit them through the church, please be sure to reference "Love and Fellowship" on the memo line so the funds get routed to our account.  


Blessings, 


Malia, David, Susan, and Wes

Weekly Announcements

DEVOTIONAL

The God particle

Revelation 4:9-5:5: Then the righteous will answer [the Son of Man], "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?...And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." The Higgs boson, the subatomic "God particle," is postulated by scientists as the key in a grand theory that explains why objects in our world have mass. One story says the search for the particle is narrowing, that "they're running out of places where the Higgs could be hiding." Most human beings, I suspect, wish for the clear identification of a "God particle," a revelation that shows unmistakably the presence of God. If we are to center our lives on the presence and will of God, it would be nice to have indisputable proof, but we don't get hard, physical evidence. Instead, we have in our faith an incarnational dimension. God came to earth to be with us in human flesh. The primary revelation of God's presence came in the human flesh of Jesus, who taught us how to love in life and in death.   The key question when we go before the Son of Man will not be, "Did you do everything right?" but "Did you love?" God taught us, through Jesus, to see the divine in ourselves, in our friends and neighbors, in the "least of these." God taught us that when we love, we identify the true God particle. Psalm 50; Zechariah 4:1-14; Matthew 25:1-13 Copyright 2011 by Carol Mead. This material is copyrighted, but you are welcome to share it in its entirety with others. To subscribe, visit the website at www.holyordinary.com

PROGRAMS


This week David and I will wrap up our session on Advent.  


In January and February, the Knowles and McWhorters are going to lead a series about Concepts of Heaven, largely based on Lisa Miller's "Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife." I thought I'd send along the title so that those of you who are interested can read the book (it is on Amazon - print or Kindle version) and follow along during the series. (Totally optional - the facilitators will condense and discern the salient points for you).

Print: http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Our-Enduring-Fascination-Afterlife/dp/B004F9OUXU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323660814&sr=8-1 ($10.40/hardback)
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Enduring-Fascination-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B003B02ONM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323660814&sr=8-4 ($9.99)

Additionally, we will spend part of February and March exploring different denominations of Christianity. Please let Kim know if there are denominations that you would especially like covered, any that you would like to lead, or know of a good speaker to lead.


SOCIAL


Christmas Party
A special thank you to the Hodges for opening their home and hosting a wonderful party.  FUN was had by all!

January LAF Luncheon
Please plan to join us for lunch on Sunday, January 8th following class in the Fellowship Hall.  We will reserve several tables for LAF and look forward to catching up with you in the new year.  This is an excellent opportunity to extend a personal invite to our recent visitors.

2012 LAF Land Cruise
We are repeating our LAF adults-only trip this spring. The 2012 expedition is scheduled for April 12-15 in Negril, Jamaica at Riu Negril (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/jamaica/negril/clubhotel-riu-negril/index.jsp). We have a package through Delta Vacations which includes roundtrip direct flights to Montego Bay, transfers to and from the hotel, all food and beverages for $2,031.84 per couple. And, if that, along with a $20 spa credit is not enough to convince you, think about all the fun you'll have hanging out with the Hodges, Wades, Chiocks, Dickeys, McWhorters and Borowskys! For more information or to make your reservation now, contact Kim. 

TREASURER

We received pledges for $2,400 to use as class funds for 2012, and dues checks are slowly starting to come in. While we hope to collect most of the dues before the end of the year, we understand if this doesn't fit everyone's needs. The Borowsky's won't be present in class during much of December, but you can put a check made out to PRUMC (with Love and Fellowship Dues in the memo line) in the offering plate or give them to the Metzners or Easoms. If you give your check to the church directly, please let Lauren know so she can make sure we receive proper funds.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  

Merry Christmas!!

Malia, David, Susan & Wes

Announcements

DEVOTIONAL

False balances

Amos 8:1-14: [The Lord said,] "Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, 'When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will...practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals...'" Store ads tell me that I can now buy, at a discounted price, pieces which it calls "collectibles." I understand that people love certain types of things and end up collecting them. But I do not appreciate a retailer's telling me that I should want things because they are "collectible." God spoke to Amos of such convoluted values, of those who profess to be seekers of God, but who routinely "trample on the needy and bring to ruin the poor." God railed against people who honor the sabbath superficially but can't wait to get back to their priority of "practicing deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals." I believe that, more than anything else, God asks us to be authentic, to pursue God deeply with our hearts, even amid our mistakes and failings. A religious practice or tradition that remains on the surface and permits us to "buy the poor for silver" does not honor God. We are to seek God for the love of God, not so that we look good to those around us. In other words, God is not just another "collectible." Psalm 38; Revelation 1:17-2:7; Matthew 23:1-12 Copyright 2011 by Carol Mead. This material is copyrighted, but you are welcome to share it in its entirety with others. To subscribe, visit the website at www.holyordinary.com PROGRAMS Make plans to join us Sunday for a wonderful opportunity of service and fellowship!  We will have a class brunch and outreach project during the Sunday School hour.  We'll work on sending Christmas cards to church shut-ins and continue our Christmas celebrating with brunch and Christmas tunes!  You won't want to miss this!  The Spencers, Hodges, and McWhorters will be bringing in snacks that day. Thank you! SOCIAL The Annual LAF Christmas Party is THIS Saturday at the home of Kevin and Jo Hodges. Join us as we celebrate the Christmas season with dear friends, great food, and plenty of merriment! There will be a champagne bar with festive mixers and the class is proving the traditional Chick-fil-A nugget tray.  We kindly ask that you bring an appetizer, dessert, or beer/wine to share. Please respond to the Evite so we can have a final headcount.  If you didn't receive the Evite, please email Elizabeth atebwerdesheim@gmail.com.   TREASURER We received pledges for $2,400 to use as class funds for 2012, and dues checks are slowly starting to come in. While we hope to collect most of the dues before the end of the year, we understand if this doesn't fit everyone's needs. The Borowsky's won't be present in class during much of December, but you can put a check made out to PRUMC (with Love and Fellowship Dues in the memo line) in the offering plate or give them to the Metzners or Easoms. If you give your check to the church directly, please let Lauren know so she can make sure we receive proper funds. Please let us know if you have any questions.  Blessings,  Malia, David, Susan, Wes

Announcements

DEVOTIONAL:

Confused about the relationship between Advent and Christmas?  Fear not!  Here's a short and cute video explaining the meaning of Advent.  There will be a quiz in class on Sunday.  Enjoy!

MEMBERSHIP:

The class donated $25 to Valley United Methodist Church, in Hunstville, AL, in memory of Elise Thomason's grandmother, Katie Woodward, and $25 to PRUMC's Christmas Kindness program in memory of Kimberly Fess's grandfather, Papa Champ.

CURRICULUM:

Join us this Sunday as we continue our Advent series, "Advent Through the Eyes of those Who Waited."  Our next two lessons will focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus. We will spend some time discussing the annunciation of the birth of Jesus and how it compares to a similar annunciation Elisabeth received about the birth of John the Baptist.  If you've missed part of our series, we've had an opportunity to view the Prophets (in the Book of Isaiah) and also view John the Baptist (in the Gospels.)  We hope you can join us as we continue this discussion on Advent and the perspective of "waiting."

We will not have class on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Please take some time on these special days to attend service and enjoy time with your families.

OUTREACH:

Thank you to everyone who has generously donated items for the three sisters our class is sponsoring this year from the UMCH!  As a class, we've almost collected everything on their Christmas wish lists.  There are just a few missing items:

Jahshayla, Age 1--Tickle Me Elmo

Jamesha, Age 8 "I like to sing and dance!"--CD Karaoke, Clothing Size 14-16

Please send an email to ksspencer@gmail.com and let outreach know how you would be willing to help out these children. (They will try to accommodate all requests, but if someone has already claimed the gift you would like to give, please be flexible:)

We will be collecting the UNWRAPPED gifts at Sunday School, at the LAF Christmas party or let someone on Outreach know, and we can arrange to pick it up if you can’t seem to make it happen! To make sure that the gifts are there on Christmas morning, we need to have them NO LATER than Wednesday, December 14.

Thank you for your generosity!

SOCIAL:

We are currently planning the 2012 social calendar and would love your feedback Let us know if you would like to host an event or have an idea for the upcoming year. Please email Elizabeth(ebwerdesheim@gmail.com) or Natalia (nataliakelly06@hotmail.com).

Christmas Party
Please make plans for the Annual LAF Christmas Party on Saturday, December 10th at the home of Kevin and Jo Hodges. The Hodges are providing additional cheer this year with a Champagne Bar! The class will provide the traditional Chick-fil-A nugget tray and we ask that you bring an appetizer, dessert, or beer/wine to share. Email Elizabeth (ebwerdesheim@gmail.com) if you didn't receive the Evite.

2012 LAF Land Cruise
We are repeating our LAF adults-only trip this spring. The 2012 expedition is scheduled for April 12-15 in Negril, Jamaica at Riu Negril (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/jamaica/negril/clubhotel-riu-negril/index.jsp). We have a package through Delta Vacations which includes roundtrip direct flights to Montego Bay, transfers to and from the hotel, all food and beverages for $2,031.84 per couple. And, if that, along with a $20 spa credit is not enough to convince you, think about all the fun you'll have hanging out with the Hodges, Wades, Chiocks, Dickeys, McWhorters and Borowskys! For more information or to make your reservation now, contact Kim.

TREASURER:

We received pledges for $2,400 to use as class funds for 2012, and dues checks are slowly starting to come in. While we hope to collect most of the dues before the end of the year, we understand if this doesn't fit everyone's needs. The Borowsky's won't be present in class during much of December, but you can put a check made out to PRUMC (with Love and Fellowship Dues in the memo line) in the offering plate or give them to the Metzners or Easoms. If you give your check to the church directly, please let Lauren know so she can make sure we receive proper funds.

NAMETAGS:

If you are newer to the class and would like a nametag please email Lauren Borowsky (laurenmccoy@hotmail.com ). The nametags are $5 each - check to Lauren payable to PRUMC (or cash).

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES: 

Rob Colvin--Dec 19th

Rebecca Dickey--Dec 14th

John Register--Dec 7th

The Dickeys--Dec 29th

The Rameys--Dec 31st


Blessings, 


Malia, David, Susan, and Wes