Stuffing Alert!! and Weekly News in Brief

STUFFING ALERT!! The Brattleboro Area Drop In Center has procured 420
of the 1000 boxes of stuffing they need to fill Thanksgiving baskets
for the needy. If you can contribute stuffing or money to purchase
stuffing, please let us know at the church office or bring your
contribution directly to the Center at 60 South Main Street.

WORSHIP this Sunday, November 21st will focus on Colossians 1:11-20, a
detailed description of Christ the King, read by liturgist, Priscilla
Barnard. Pastor Cheryl Meachen's sermon entitled “The Way” will
explore the nature of Christ and his sovereign place in the kingdom.
Eleanor Vanderpool will sing “Come, Ye Thankful People Come” and Bunny
and Tim Fogg will accompany the hymns on flute and guitar, including
“I’ve Got Peace Like a River.”

The United Methodist Women will hold their annual BAZAAR on Saturday,
November 20th beginning at 9:00am.

ADVENT STUDY: In this four-week Advent study, author Richard B. Wilke
focuses on people in the story of Christ’s birth. There are those we
associate with the joy and celebration of Christmas—the wise men, the
shepherds, and Joseph. Yet the author reminds us not to forget that
the evil King Herod is also part of the Christmas story, and how it is
because there is evil in our world that we so desperately needed—and
need—a Savior. Sign up in the Fellowship hall and take a book.
Sessions will be held on the next four Sundays at 9:00am in the
Pastor’s Study. You are welcome to contribute the cost of the book
$6.37 marking your check “advent study” or feel free to contribute for
two knowing that someone else might not be able to afford it.

Join our knitting (and crocheting) circle: TALENTED HANDS this Sunday
at the church at 1:00pm for conversation and fellowship while you work
on your projects or prayer shawls.

Join us at the parsonage at 120 Country Hill on Wed, Nov 24th at 6pm
at a THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE to share thanks for our blessings.
Please sign up in the fellowship hall and let us know whether you need
or can offer a ride, child care or snacks.

Volunteers are needed to work 7pm-1am or 1am-7am at the OVERFLOW
SHELTER this winter. A training session will be held at First Baptist
Church on Sunday, November 28th at 3pm. Please contact Lucie Fortier
at overflow.bratt@yahoo.com or 802-579-7645 for more information.

Join us here at the church for SABBATH SPACE Friday, December 3rd at
6pm for rest and reflection to rejuvenate your spirit during this
hectic season.

Volunteers are being sought to portray characters at the ROAD TO
BETHLEHEM on December 12th from 5:00-8:00pm.

Contact fumc@sover.net or 802-254-4218 for more information. The
church is located at 18 Town Crier Drive off Putney Road, across from
the Shell Station and is handicap-accessible. Open Hearts. Open Minds.
Open Doors. All are welcome.

Pastor Cheryl Meachen<><
First United Methodist Church - Brattleboro VT

Week of November 21st – November 27th
SUN 9:00 Young Disciples
10:00 Worship / Blessing of Food / Funday School
1:00 Talented Hands
MON 9:30a Exercise/Strength Training
10:30a Monday Morning Quarterback
WED 9:30a Exercise/Strength Training
6:00p Thanksgiving Eve Worship at parsonage
SAT 9:00a WOW Decorating

Week of November 28th – December 4th
SUN 9:00 Young Disciples
Adult Advent Study
10:00 Worship / Chrismon / Funday School
3pm Overflow Training at 1st Baptist
MON 9:30a Exercise/Strength Training
10:30a Monday Morning Quarterback
WED 9:30a Exercise/Strength Training
THU 9:30a Prayer Circle
5:00p Choir Rehearsal
FRI 6:00p Sabbath Space
SAT 9:00a UMW Brunch at Foggs’

Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 5th
Annual Church Council Meeting (all welcome) Wednesday, December 8th at 5:30pm
Bishop’s daytime visit HERE! December 9th or 10th (to be scheduled)
Road to Bethlehem: Drive Through Nativity Sunday, December 12th from 5-8pm
Tom Mousin ordained as deacon at St. Michael's Tuesday Dec 14th
(more details to follow)
Lifeline Health Screening Tuesday, December 14th at 9am
Movie Night: Polar Express Friday, December 17th at 6:30pm
Caroling Sunday, December 19th after church
National Homeless Memorial Day Tues, Dec 21st 4pm at Pliny Park
Burning of the Greens/Epiphany/sledding party Thursday, January 6th at
the parsonage
Movie Night Friday, January 14th at 6:30
Martin Luther King Celebration Monday, January 17th

Habitat for Humanity

From: Frank Sopper
Date: Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Subject: Brattleboro Habitat for Humanity update and urgent need

Good morning all –

Of the many blessings of the effort to bring a donated house and land
together with a family, the most moving for me was the Sunday morning
a month ago at First United Methodist Church. Pastor Cheryl had
invited me to speak about Habitat for Humanity, and as I returned to
my seat following the sharing, a woman in the pews pressed a $5 bill
into my hand. It took me back to my childhood and the teachings on
generosity – how all of us count; that the smallest gift can be the
most significant -- instilled into me by my community of faith. That
woman’s gesture of faith and generosity has been with me and feeding
me during this season.

This email is to bring your attention to an opportunity and set back.

The opportunity: The Thompson Trust has extended our deadline to
raise $12,000 until December. Thanks to the generosity of our
community – members of your congregations among them – we are $9000
toward that goal. $5000 of that is a personal gift from a Habitat
Board member.

The set back: We had expected a large corporate gift that would have
closed the fundraising gap. We heard this week, there will be no such
gift.

Therefore, we are reaching out to you again in hopes there are those
among your congregations that could help us raise the remaining $3000
in a very short time.

Our board is available to present at your services and at mission
committee meetings. If you have congregation members who may consider
this work to be something to be included in their personal ministries,
we will be much obliged to invite them to join us.

A Habitat Board member will try to contact you by phone over the next
two weeks. I also invite you to call me directly – 802-254-6036 -- if
you feel your congregation is able to answer this appeal. An amount of
around $500 from a majority of you will make this house a home.

Also, please join us or send a representative to our November meeting
at the Book Press in north Brattleboro, Thu 11/18 at 6pm.

Every blessing,
-- Frank Sopper
Treasurer Brattleboro Area Habitat for Humanity
802-254-6036

12/12/10 Road to Bethlehem

First United Methodist Church, Brattleboro VT presents a Live Road to Bethlehem from 5:00 - 8:00pm on the second Sunday in December each year with nine of the biblical scenes leading to Jesus' birth around our circular parking lot at 18 Town Crier Drive. Hundreds of cars drive along the way lit with luminaries and view the scenes with costumed characters, live animals and sacred scripture on beautifully calligraphied signs. If you would like to participate on this December 12th by portraying one of the biblical characters, sharing an evening of the deep meaning of the Christmas season, fun fellowship and a delicious potluck dinner, please contact the church at fumc@sover.net or 802-254-4218. This counts as community service for high school students who need to fulfill that requirement for graduation. We use two shifts of cast members so that no one is outside for more than 20 minutes and our costumes are large enough to fit over layers of warm winter clothing. "Admission" is a canned good for our local drop-in center. Three of the scenes include Mary and Joseph and with two shifts that means we need six Marys and six Josephs, as well as innumerable shepherds, wise men, angels, innkeepers and Caesars. Join us as participants or as audience members!

11/12/10 Stewardship Dinner

The church will hold its annual stewardship dinner on Friday, November 12th at 6:00pm. Members and friends of the church will pledge their support as the church celebrates its mission in the Brattleboro community by sharing a delicious meal prepared by Douglas Reed and the Men’s Group. Jean Maclean and her committee have organized a wonderful evening of fellowship, creative skits by Mary Anne Deer, a delightful Bible scavenger hunt designed by Priscilla Barnard and an inspiring message from the Reverend Robert K. Sweet. Contact fumc@sover.net or 802-254-4218 for more information. The church is located at 18 Town Crier Drive off Putney Road, across from the Shell Station and is handicap-accessible. Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. All are welcome.

11/7/10 Worship

Worship this Sunday, November 7th will include the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and will focus on the Gospel message from Luke 20:27-38, the story of a group of church elders that question Jesus about how human laws apply in heaven, read by liturgist, Jane Clarke. Pastor Cheryl Meachen's sermon entitled “Seriously?!” will explore the ways in which Jesus answers our deepest felt needs in the present even as we fret about whether we can count on familiar laws in the life to come. Bunny and Tim Fogg will accompany our hymns on flute and guitar, including “When We Are Living.”