BRIGHT HOPE LAUREL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS WITH THE WORLD
Volume 1, Issue 11
From the Pastor’s Desk - The Good News of Advent
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness
prepare the way of the LORD make
straight in the desert a highway for
our God” (Isaiah 40:3).
It is that time of year again
… frosted windows and
crowded stores. It is easy to
get caught up in the glitz of
this time of year and forget
what the point really is.
As we begin this advent
season together, I would like
each of you to remember
that it is not a question of
PREPARING to meet the
Lord; no human being is ca-
Flames for the Faithful (by Rev. Arden W. Mead)
Of all the Advent signs and
symbols … (blue and purple
paraments, prayers that start
“Stir up, O Lord,” calendars
that count the days, songs
and hymns and sacred songs,
scriptures rife with images of
John and his camel’s hair,
Isaiah and his promises,
Zechariah and his mysterious
silence) … of all the Advent
signs an symbols, none is
more vivid and welcome than
the Advent wreath. Whether
gracing the church’s chancel,
pable of that.
It is a question of BEING
prepared. BEING prepared
is a passive verb. The One
who does the preparing is
not you or I; it is God!
What does God prepare
at this time? Simply, God
prepares US! That is the
good news of Advent; that
period of waiting for the
coming of our Savior. It is the
good news that was her-
alded many centuries ago
when Isaiah simply prayed
for comfort for his people.
This comfort; Isaiah contin-
ues is that the Lord our God
will come in His might not as
a judge, but as a shepherd
who “will gather the lambs in
his arms, and carry them in
or adorning the table at
home, it is the ever increas-
ing light of the Advent
wreath—candles growing
steadily shorter, light grow-
ing steadily brighter—that
mirrors our growing anticipa-
tion and heralds the ever
nearer presence of Christ,
our LIGHT.
This Advent, circle ‘round
those flickering, growing
candles—traditionally
named The Prophecy Can-
December, 2009
his bosom” (Isaiah 40:10-
11).
As we “prepare” for this
Advent/Christmas Season, Special points of
open your hearts for the one Interest
who truly prepares us. Open
your hearts and minds to our
 There will BE A
Savior who came not as a
CHRISTMAS MUSICAL ON SUNDAY,
warrior, but as a little child:
DECEMBER 20TH AT 4 PM WITH
a Savior who was not only DINNER FOLLOWING THE PROGRAM.
willing to live among us, but
also to die for us.  There will be a
It is the return of that Sav- Christmas Candlelite service on
ior that we wait today. PRE- December 24th at 7 PM.
PARE your hearts. Share the
love of our Savior with others
this season as we also look
for that love which is to
come.
Inside this issue:
dle, The Bethlehem Candle,
The Shepherd’s Candle, The DECEMBER SCRIPTURE 2
Angels’ Candle. Let these READINGS
growing circles of light urge
BIRTHDAYS AND 2
you on — ANNIVERSARIES
to Listen,
STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2
to Prepare,
to Behold, THOSE SERVING IN 3
DECEMBER
to Rejoice!
DECEMBER CALENDAR 4
Volume 1, Issue 11
December Scripture Readings …
December 6th HOLY COMMUNION - “Hunger Pot” Offering “Your word is a lamp to guide my
Scripture Lesson: Luke 1:57-79; 3:1-6 feet and a light for my path” (Psalm
Sermon: Trail Blazers 119:105, New Living Translation).
December 13th Scripture Lesson: Luke 1:3-16
Sermon: Missing the Point
December 20th Scripture Lesson: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:26-45
Sermon: The Unexpected?
December 27th Scripture Lesson: Luke 2:21-38
WESLEY’S SIMPLE
Sermon: Being Faithful
RULES FOR LIFE:
1. DO NO
Sharing About Our Church Family
HARM
December Birthdays :
12/9 Dr. Jay West 12/22 Brandon Naulty 2. DO GOOD
12/9 Ben Duchan 12/22 Libby Barrett 3. STAY IN LOVE
12/13 Bob Brotherton 12/24 Carol Dodge
12/14 Marsha Boyd 12/24 Katie Rose Merrill WITH GOD!!!
12/16 Charles Gardner 12/26 Rich Ashley
12/17 Emily West 12/27 Kaylianna Duchan
12/22 Ed Ponder 12/27 Brian Dodge
12/30 Kate Veeder

Deember Anniversaries:
12/5 Otha and Judy Womble 12/28 Rev. Bruce and Nicole Johnson
12/17 Al and June Tapio 12./29 Tom and Sherry Lesley
12/18 Harry and Barbara Miles 12/30 John and Mary Whitt
12/25 Ed and Carolyn Ponder 12/31 George and Libby Barrett
12/28 Glenn and Deborah White

Bright Hope Laurel’s

Attendance and Financial Recap

Last Sun. in October: Attendance: 77

Regular Giving: $ 845.00
Four Sundays Nov.: Average Attendance: 54
Regular Giving: $ 7,539.64 (Includes Equitable Compensation from District)
Average Reg Giving: $ 1,884.91
Designated Giving: $ 618.00 (Hunger Pot: $21.00; World Communion: $50.00;
Fall Festival $175.00; Thanksgiving Baskets: $92.00; and Christmas Wreaths: $280.00)

A very special “thank you” to all who donated items for Thanksgiving Baskets, contributed funds, helped as-
semble baskets, and delivered to our recipients. We are grateful. Also, many thanks to all who participated in
decorating our church for the Advent—Christmas season for everyone to enjoy!

“God loves a cheerful giver … We are blessed at Bright Hope Laurel with many!” Page 2
 Those Serving in December…..
Blessed are those who volunteer to serve in the church in so many different ways.
It is what makes our church so strong!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

GREETERS:
6th: Sheri and Don Mathis
13th: Danny Burnette and Angela Fox
20th: Ed Ponder and Bonnie English
27th: Monte and Mary Alice Veal

JESUS SAID, ‘LET USHERS:

6th: Ed and Sylvia Brantley
THE LITTLE 13th: Ed and Sylvia Brantley
CHILDREN COME 20th: Frank and Angela Fox
TO ME, AND DO 27th: Monte and Mary Alice Veal

NOT HINDER OFFERTORY PRAYER: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

THEM, FOR THE
SCRIPTURE READERS:
KINGDOM OF 6th: Monte Veal
HEAVEN BELONGS 13th: Tom Wrenn
20th: Bonnie English
TO SUCH AS THESE
27th: Nicole Johnson
(MATTHEW 19:14,
NIV). CHILDREN’S TIME: Jenny Miller, Dixie Tipton, Cammie Monroe
& Elizabeth Hamrick

CHILDREN’S CHURCH: Carolyn Ponder; Substitute: Lisa Anderson

NURSERY/PRE-SCHOOL:
6th: Angela Fox
13th: Liz Benjamin
20th: Judy Womble
27th: Marsha Boyd

“TWEENS CLASS”: Kathy Wrenn, Lois Lynn Bellemare, & Cammie Monroe

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS: Ernie and Frances Powell

COUNTERS:
6th: Monte Veal and Rich Ashley
13th: Monte Veal and Rich Ashley
20th: Tom Wrenn and Bonnie English
27th: Tom Wrenn and Bonnie English

AUDIO/VISIAL: We need a volunteer for this important service.

(Should you be unable to serve when indicated above, please ask someone to take
your place and advise the Pastor or the Administrative Assistant. We thank you for your
service and dedication to Bright Hope Laurel).

Photo taken from http://shipsbecks.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/childbox.jpg. Used with permission.

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 Providing God's Love to a World in need ...
BRIGHT HOPE LAUREL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Rev. Bruce E Johnson, Pastor Elizabeth Hamrick, Pianist

Andrea Bailey, Music Director John Hamrick, Organist

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5
Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours
11-5 11-8 9-1 (Parsonage)
Admin Ass. 9-1 Admin Ass. 9-1 2-5 (Church)
Hand bells 5:45
STAFF PARISH Choir 6:45
MEETS AT 5:30

6 7 8 9 10 11 12
UMM at 7:46am Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours
Visitations 10-2 11-5 11-8 9-1 (Parsonage)
Sun.School 9:30 Office 2-5 Admin Ass. 9-1 Admin Ass. 9-1 2-8 (Church)
Worship 11:00 Hand bells 5:45 Bible Study 7:00
Holy Communion Choir 6:45

13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours Pastor’s Hours
Sun.School 9:30 Visitations 10-2 11-5 11-8 9-1 (Parsonage)
Worship 11:00 Office 2-5 Admin Ass. 9-1 Admin Ass. 9-1 2-8 (Church)
Hand bells 5:45
UMWomen 6:00 Choir 6:45 Bible Study 7:00

20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Sun.School 9:30 Church Office Church Office Church Office
WORSHIP 11:00 closed . closed . closed . CHRISTMAS EVE WE CELEBRATE
Contact Pastor Contact Pastor Contact Pastor CANDLELIGHT- THE BIRTH OF
Special Christmas via cell # via cell # via cell # SERVICE 7:00 OUR LORD !
Program and 380-0158 380-0158 380-0158
Dinner –4:00 pm
27 28 29 30 31
Pastor’s Hours
Sun.School 9:30 Church Office New Year’s Eve
Worship 11:00 Closed Today Admin Ass. 9-1

PO Box 865, Mars Hill, NC 28754

Phone: 828-689-5486 (Church Office) 828-689-5561 (Parsonage) Fax: 509-695-6570
http://www.brighthopelaurel.org/ E-mail: mail@brighthopelaurel.org
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