So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Grammar has never really been my strongest area. Even though I was in honor’s english (Thank you Mrs. Luebke for putting up with me!) I honestly am not really sure why I was in there. But to my credit, I do remember one of my college Spanish professors telling me that the English language was difficult to master, because we have this tendency to have several meanings for one word. The homonym and homograph struggle is real! If you do not believe me, then think of this conversation that you had with someone before. You, “Do I need to turn left here?”,the other person answers “Right.”, your response, “You mean I need to turn right?”, the other person, “No left is right!” Ok, you get the point.

Words can have multiple meanings. Sometimes we even make words up that do not even exist, like “Greatful” I know that there have been occasions where I have tried to use this non-existent word and thankfully spell check slaps me on the wrist and changes my spelling. I would imagine that we have this kind of error when it comes to the word grateful, because people just think that the words “Great” and “Full” should go together, because they truly describe how great life is, and we are filled fully by it. But it misses out on the original meaning of the ancient 16th century word grate, and that word came from the latin word gratus. The word grate was used as an adjective to describe something pleasing or being thankful. I only bring all of this up, because I think much like the meaning or history of the word itself, we have forgotten how to be grateful. Our insatiable appetites have devoured our happiness. We struggle with being content, because this has been vilified by the notion that we always deserve an “upgrade” whether it is our cell phones or our homes.
The irony is that the holiday that we celebrate being grateful is tied in with what used to be the strongest sales numbers for the year. I say “used to be”, because Covid will certainly alter this year’s black Friday sale day. I love a good sale, and I also respect our capitalistic society (warts and all), but this time of year is to be about counting our blessings, and realizing what is most important. True gratitude means that we are pleased with what we have been given, rather planning about what we think we need next. And when we take a moment to be grateful, we also have a moment of peace, and we all could use that. So take a moment to be truly grateful this season by giving thanks to God for all you have, and live out the real meaning of the word.

Bro. Keith

It is that time of year again, our annual Stewardship campaign. We want to thank you for your giving this past year and want to let you know that becuase of your gifts, we are able to serve our community in making life better through Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Hope Grows Here Annual Stewardship Campaign is to encourage and inspire you to generously support your community of faith, our church. Every gift, regardless of size, is important to furthering the ministry work at our church. Information will hit your mailboxes next week. Bring your pledge card to either service November 22nd to be blessed. You can also mail your pledge card back to the church or bring it by the church office. 

During the month of November, please bring new blankers (twin, full, or queen sizes) to church at either service. We are also asking for electric heaters and new sleeping bags, rated 30 degrees farenheit or lower. Monetary donations are also accepted. You can also bring the items to the church office during the week. Items will be distributed through Ozark Center of Hope, Christian Clothing Exchange, and other organizations to distribute to clients. For more information, please contact Needs of Many's Chris Steiger (870-508-0185) or Bette Gould (870-492-6710). *Needs of Many is a non-profit organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

If you know in advance that you will be attending, please register by Thursday mornings. You can register for up to 4 weeks in advance.  Register using the button below or by visiting the website and clicking on the red news alert banner. Please know that if you have not registered for church but would like to attend in person, you are absolutly welcomed to do so. You will need to give your name to the volunteers upon entering. We do ask for your help in continuing to practice proper social distancing, and that a face covering is required to attend worship. Thank you for adhearing to these guidlines to help keep your fellow church members safe and healthy. 

This year, istead of assembled Thanksgiving baskets, we will be providing food certificates from Harps for those in need.  The cost of each certificate is $40. We have requests for more than 250 baskets and only have funds for 200. If you are so willing to support this ministry, please send or bring cash or check to the church office or Sunday at worship. PLease write on the envelope or on the memo line "Thanksgiving baskets" so that we can help all of those who are in need of a Thanksgiving meal this holiday season! 

Join us for food, faith and fellowship every Wednesday at 5:30pm. WNL (Wednesday Night Live) is our Wednesday night ministry event. WNL will include dinner, followed by a devo with Bro. Keith for adults as well as children's and youth activities. For more information, contact Michelle or Laura or you can call the church office!

Hello All!

 I am very excited to help serve our church in this new way. We have been having good time on Wednesdays at WNL. Our children have been led with music from Samantha Bentley, our Children's Music director, and have been doing lessons and learning about God through hands on learning experiences. Join us each Wednesday Night for dinner at 5:30 and a Lesson at 6:00. We have activites for youth and adults as well. We are very excited for our upcoming Advent season. Join us November 22nd for Hanging of the Greens! We will also be sending home an Advent in a Box this year! We know that with social distancing and Covid that it may be hard to come to inperson activites! We will be sending home boxes filled with Advent activites for the whole family based upon the upcoming Advent series Brother Keith has prepared. We will also be doing a Christmas Worship experience December 20th at 5 pm! We will be telling the Christmas Story as well as singing worship songs! Every Child who comes will receive something special! I hope that you all have the best November! 

Laura Law

During worship on November 15th, our 3rd graders will be presented with bibles during the worship service they attend.

We want to thank everyone for helping to donate to our local food agencies. We will be updating on totals in the December Newsletter. Please know that it is never to late to give. You can still bring canned foods to help the local food agencies during this time! We have been so blessed to help the food insecure in Baxter County!

Join us for our Hanging of the Greens service. At 5:00 PM, we will meet in the Sanctuary for the Blessing of the Greens. Afterwards, we will break up into groups and decorate areas of the Church for our Upcoming Advent Season! A Socially Distanced dinner will be provided after.

It may not seem like it but we are nearing this upcoming advent season. Advent begins November 29th. Brother Keith will begin a new sermon series called Incarnation. This series is based upon the Adam Hamilton book by the same name. There are also studies for the children and youth that we will be working through as well! We have many Advent activites planned, such as Family Movie Night, Church Christmas Party, our Christmas Canata, as well as a Christmas Worship Experience called Come to the Manger. Laura and Michelle are working on an Advent in a Box activity for families that will encourgage you to do activites at home. Check Next Month for more information.

People get into volunteering for different reasons. Maybe it’s to make new friends or have fun. Maybe its to make a difference or be a part of something bigger than yourself. These are all great reasons to volunteer and your story is probably a combination of a few of them.  One of the beautiful things about being a part of the church is that we all come from different backgrounds and personalities, but that is what makes it great! We have had volunteers at FUMCMH for many years and some that have just joined us. The most incredible thing that I see is the joy and enthusiasm that each one brings to the table. I have watched some of our volunteers handle jobs like wearing 10 different hats without even dropping one of them. I’ve seen other volunteers wear one very beautiful hat, perfectly fit for them. The most incredible thing that gives me a sense of gratitude is the “All In” attitude and the responsiveness. It such a pleasure knowing that we have those around us to help. The ministry takes a lot of people and a lot of work if you want things to go well. It takes people greeting from the parking lot to helping those that have never been here before become comfortable. It takes those that help in the nursery, children and youth ministry. It takes those that help with discipleship and education. It takes those that like to cook, pass out food, clean, set up, tear down, fold bulletins, mow the grass and rake leaves. It takes much more than a staff of a few people to manage a facility like ours and with COVID19, we have seen the staff finding themselves moving into areas of ministry that they’ve never done before. We appreciate you. I’m not sure if we have said that enough or anytime at all. We are thankful for our volunteers and all that you do for FUMCMH. We are in ministry together and together we can accomplish so much more. This month of November, when we are thinking of things that we are thankful for, let’s remember one another. Let’s give each other a “virtual high-five”!  What you do matters for the atmosphere for our church. Let’s continue to grow together and thank each other for the amazing work that is being accomplished here!

Kathy Davis
Church Administrator

We are looking for volunteers to add to our rotation schedule of Temp Takers and Name Takers for Sunday Morning Services at both 9:00  & 11:00. If you are interested in serving in this manner, please contact the church office at 870-425-6036 or call Kathy Davis on her direct line at 870-701-0886.

Last month we rolled out our new church app through Tithe.ly.  With the app you can easily stay up to date with events and ministries, easily give online and much more!  There is one great new feature called the Prayer Wall. You can submit a prayer request by going to the Prayer Wall section of the app and tapping “Add” in the top right corner. From there you will be able to fill out the title of your request, your name (optional), and the details of your prayer request. Once filled in, tap “Send” in the top right corner to submit the request.  Once a prayer request is approved, it will appear on the prayer wall so users can see and comment on the request if they choose. You will also have the ability to read the bible through the app and even watch the livestreams directly from the app.  We are so excited about this and we hope you will make use of it.  You should have recieved an email with instructions on how to download the app or you can use the button below on your smart phone. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email me. God Bless!

Backpack

In Memory of Cindi Hajek

Ann and James Maus

In Memory of Peggy McCracken

Bill and Mary Margaret Pearson

Music

In Honor of Choir Prayer Warriors

Jack and Lynnell Cooper

Thanksgiving Baskets

In Honor of The Seekers’ Class

Bill and Mary Margaret Pearson

In Memory of Jim Ellis

Margaret Ellis

General Fund

In Memory of Cindi Hajek

Ann and James Maus

In Memory of Mary Sheldon

Bonnie Benham

In Honor of Bill and Rosemary Lewis

WiseHeart Foundation

David and Jan Lewis

In Honor of Kevin and Sarah Griffith

WiseHeart Foundation

David and Jan Lewis

In Honor of Kelly and Anna Hanks

WiseHeart Foundation

David and Jan Lewis

In Honor of Nathan and Sarah Ann Moore

WiseHeart Foundation

David and Jan Lewis

Building Fund

In Memory of Dorthy Rhea

Dorothy Spivey

Our Backpack Food 4 Kids Ministry is looking for drivers who own a truck that can pull the backpack trailer to deliver tubs of backpacks to the schools.  If you can help in this capacity or for more information, please contact Linda DeMass at 870-404-8153 or call the church office.

During this time of anxiety and isolation it is more important than ever to keep up with our spiritual health. Like the last issue, The Upper Room Daily devotional guide for November/December are available for pick up at the front door by the office.  If the tub is sitting outside, simply ring the door bell (during office hours) and someone will get you a copy.

Concerns: 

Jerry Wilkinson (10/25/20) The Law Family (9/20/20) (Laura Law) Grant Hill (9/6/20) George & Paulette Hill’s son)
Gerry Howard-Marth (7/28/19) (John Howard & Sue Keplinger’s mother) Arlene Gawrys (8/30/20) (Susan Podsiadlik’s cousin) Robert Nisbet (8/23/20) (Mike & Judy Kuenzli’s grandson) Darcy Sherrod (8/23/20) (Don & Debby Stanuch) Melissa Duncan (8/16/20)  (Mike & Judy Kuenzli’s daughter) Arlene Neale (7/26/20) (Betty Bennett’s sister) Mike Dionisi (7/26/20) (Patty Budolfson’s brother) Monica Drzewiecki (6/28/20) (Susan Podsiadlik’s aunt) Bud Keirn (6/7/20) Scott Cain (6/7/20) (Jill Chandler’s son) Daniel Gaither Bill Gould (5/17/20) Paul Thane (5/10/20) (Sharon Fabich) Gary Tubbs (3/5/20) Jennifer Williams (2/29/20) Robin Sancho (3/8/20) (Paulette Hill) Sherri Krouse (2/16/20) (Marti Gilbert) Jim Olsen (2/2/20) (Shirley McDowell’s brother-in-law) John Lefler (2/2/20) (Judy Kuenzli’s brother) Teri Owens (1/26/20) (Don & Kay Owens’ daughter-in-law) Susan Moore (1/19/20) (Niece of Phil & Vicki Garner) Bob & Paula Cockburn (1/12/20) (Linda DeMass) Brad Kasuls (1/5/20) (Brother of Gail House) Julian Toler (11/3/19) (Ashley Hardy’s brother) Bonnie Salasek (11/3/19) Beverly Quick (10/27/19) Debbie Dilella (10/27/19) (Zo Holley’s niece) Melanie Kelly (9/29/19) (Paulette Hill) Beth Griggs Miller (9/29/19) (Larry & Debbie Griggs) Nira Wilkinson (9/22/19)  Bruce Burr (8/25/19) Lacey Campbell (8/18/19) (Darcie Reed) Kathy Holloway 8/11/19) (Bonnie Salasek’s daughter) Bettye DeJarnette (6/9/19) John Siebrandt (6/2/19) William McClendon (4/7/19) (Cathie Bodenhamer)  Alice Johnson (3/31/19) Greg Kostka (3/31/19) (Bill & Bette Gould’s son-in-law)  Ed & Coni Baldwin (3/17/19) Alan Erickson (3/3/19)