Grace and peace,
Mike Watson
Resident Bishop
North Georgia Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church

If you are like me, you are having a hard time figuring out how to divide your Christmas funds to make the most out of the little that you have. There might even be a temptation to go deeper into debt in order to check off the names on your Christmas List. DON’T DO IT! It is not worth paying high interest rates and fees to provide a few gifts that will be forgotten long before the bills are paid off. Here are a few suggestions that might help all of us during this time of year.

Christmas Cards:
Problem: Christmas Cards are becoming very expensive and postage is through the roof.

Solution 1: Make your own Christmas Cards. If you want someone to know that you are thinking of them, nothing speaks louder than a “homemade” card. Many of us have computers that can produce very nice and very personalized cards both quickly and cost effectively. Or if you prefer you can make them by hand.

Solution 2: Bring your Christmas Cards to Church and hand deliver them. While this won’t work for distant friends and relatives you will save a bundle on mailing cards to folks you are going to see anyway. You could even set up a little mailbox in your Sunday School Class for this purpose.

Small Incidental Gifts:
Problem: There are always a host of little gifts that pop up that are not on your lists or come as a surprise like when you are invited to a party or were involved in a name drawing that no one bothered to tell you about until the last moment.

Solution: Buy in bulk ahead of time. With a little creativity and forethought a few nice candles, coffee mugs or bookmarks can be quickly embellished and at the ready. You can easily have a stash of these ready made and very nice gifts on hand. Remember each trip to the store will cost you more than you think it will!

Guilt Gifts:
Problem: We often spend more than we plan to or should because we feel guilty about neglecting folks thought-out the year. We think that an impressive gift will cover a multitude of sins, but what they really want is our time and attention.

Solution: Invite folks over for a Holiday Party. Make a big deal out of just making time to enjoy each other’s company. You can even get together to share a light meal and make some incidental gifts or Christmas Cards together.

Prioritize Gifts:
Problem: We often over spend because we do not think things out ahead of time.

Solution: Don’t send a whole ham or fruit basket when a card is sufficient! Do too much and you will start a gift giving arms race.

Problem Gifts:
Problem: We all know someone who has everything and really does not need another fruitcake or pair of fuzzy slippers.

Solution: Make a donation to a charity in their honor (PGUMC comes to mind). This not only lets them know that you are thinking about them, but also allows our limited funds to do the most good, for the most people, for the longest time. This is also an excellent Christian witness to our faith and a reminder of what it is that we are celebrating. This is a great idea for all gift-giving occasions and will never be out of style or the wrong size.

Holiday Activities:
Problem: Gas is expensive! Admission prices are steep! Time is short!

Solution: Stay home together! Make your own light display! Play a board game! Write funny holiday limericks and haikus! Or better yet come to Church and take advantage of all the different programs and worship opportunities that we offer to make your Holidays merry and bright!

TOO MANY PEOPLE AND TOO LITTLE CASH:
Problem: All of the above.
Solution: Write a newsletter that both shares holiday greetings and lowers gift-giving expectations. ☺

May God bless you all in the coming days!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
In Christ,

John, Katie and Wesley Mattox

If you are like me, you are having a hard time figuring out how to divide your Christmas funds to make the most out of the little that you have. There might even be a temptation to go deeper into debt in order to check off the names on your Christmas List. DON’T DO IT! It is not worth paying high interest rates and fees to provide a few gifts that will be forgotten long before the bills are paid off. Here are a few suggestions that might help all of us during this time of year.

Christmas Cards:
Problem: Christmas Cards are becoming very expensive and postage is through the roof.

Solution 1: Make your own Christmas Cards. If you want someone to know that you are thinking of them, nothing speaks louder than a “homemade” card. Many of us have computers that can produce very nice and very personalized cards both quickly and cost effectively. Or if you prefer you can make them by hand.

Solution 2: Bring your Christmas Cards to Church and hand deliver them. While this won’t work for distant friends and relatives you will save a bundle on mailing cards to folks you are going to see anyway. You could even set up a little mailbox in your Sunday School Class for this purpose.

Small Incidental Gifts:
Problem: There are always a host of little gifts that pop up that are not on your lists or come as a surprise like when you are invited to a party or were involved in a name drawing that no one bothered to tell you about until the last moment.

Solution: Buy in bulk ahead of time. With a little creativity and forethought a few nice candles, coffee mugs or bookmarks can be quickly embellished and at the ready. You can easily have a stash of these ready made and very nice gifts on hand. Remember each trip to the store will cost you more than you think it will!

Guilt Gifts:
Problem: We often spend more than we plan to or should because we feel guilty about neglecting folks thought-out the year. We think that an impressive gift will cover a multitude of sins, but what they really want is our time and attention.

Solution: Invite folks over for a Holiday Party. Make a big deal out of just making time to enjoy each other’s company. You can even get together to share a light meal and make some incidental gifts or Christmas Cards together.

Prioritize Gifts:
Problem: We often over spend because we do not think things out ahead of time.

Solution: Don’t send a whole ham or fruit basket when a card is sufficient! Do too much and you will start a gift giving arms race.

Problem Gifts:
Problem: We all know someone who has everything and really does not need another fruitcake or pair of fuzzy slippers.

Solution: Make a donation to a charity in their honor (PGUMC comes to mind). This not only lets them know that you are thinking about them, but also allows our limited funds to do the most good, for the most people, for the longest time. This is also an excellent Christian witness to our faith and a reminder of what it is that we are celebrating. This is a great idea for all gift-giving occasions and will never be out of style or the wrong size.

Holiday Activities:
Problem: Gas is expensive! Admission prices are steep! Time is short!

Solution: Stay home together! Make your own light display! Play a board game! Write funny holiday limericks and haikus! Or better yet come to Church and take advantage of all the different programs and worship opportunities that we offer to make your Holidays merry and bright!

TOO MANY PEOPLE AND TOO LITTLE CASH:
Problem: All of the above.
Solution: Write a newsletter that both shares holiday greetings and lowers gift-giving expectations. ☺

May God bless you all in the coming days!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
In Christ,

John, Katie and Wesley Mattox

Wow! It seems like 2008 has flown bye and if November is like the rest of the year we had better be careful to take advantage of our opportunities before they all slip away. Here are just a few things I would like to call to your attention. Please take the time to read these carefully and mark them on your calendars.

Saturday November 1st: 8am-3pm, The 27th Annual Pleasant Grove Quilter’s Bazaar and Quilt Show. Vendor spaces $10. Donations of any homemade baked goods will be greatly appreciated. Donation tickets of $1 are already available for the quilt that will be given away. Please make plans to be there. There will also be a “freebee” stamping/scrap booking night with Katie Burke for a donation to support the Quilters Bazaar.

Sunday November 2nd: All Saints Sunday. Please provide the names of any persons who have gone on to glory in the past year that you would like remembered in this Service of Word and Table. Please have this information to me by November 1st.

Tuesday November 4th. Don’t forget to vote!

November 16th: Bible Sunday: “The word of God for the people of God”. You might have noticed a few of my favorite Bibles on the Altar Table over the past few weeks. I invite you to bring your Family Bibles to add to this display in the coming weeks. For Bible Sunday, please bring your favorite Bible(s) and a couple of friends for this celebration of God’s gift of Holy Scripture. We will have a time for the blessing of our Bibles and the presentation of new Bibles to any who do not have one. If you know someone who would like a free New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible or a Children’s NRSV Bible courtesy of Pleasant Grove, please let me know by November 9th so that we can have them delivered and possibly imprinted. Sooner is better. We are also looking for Sunday School Classes that are interested in sponsoring and participating in this service. There are a few informational pamphlets about the Bible located in the News Rack in the Narthex for you to read and return.

Sunday November 23rd. Christ the King Sunday marks the end of Common Time and is a traditional day for receiving new church members. If you have been feeling God’s call to unite with PGUMC, please consider this Sunday as a great opportunity to do so. Exploring Membership Classes are being offered on Wednesday Evenings (Nov. 5, 12 and 19) at 6 pm with a viewing of the short and amusing film “Clay Ride” on November 5th. All who desire to unite with us on this wonderful day of celebration need to contact John no later than November 16th.

Sunday November 23rd.. Hanging of the Greens. This is the service when we decorated the church for Advent and Christmas. There will be music and singing and lots of fun for all. You are welcome to bring fresh cut greens (holly, ivy, mistletoe and evergreen boughs) and one tree ornament (handmade is preferred). The Hanging of the Greens will begin at 6:30 with light seasonal refreshments to follow (including John’s famous “Hot Apple Cider”).

Sunday November 30th. The First Sunday in Advent and Combined “Camp Meeting” Worship Service. To mark the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the Christian New Year we will be hosting Union Springs, Hopewell and Whitesville United Methodist Churches in a huge celebration of witness and service. There will be two special collections on this day in support of missions. The Golden Cross offering will be used to support LaGrange Personal Aid and the Food Closet as well as other local missions and benevolences. The Nothing But Nets offering will support the ongoing joint ministry of The United Methodist Church and the NBA toward the prevention and eradication of Malaria. A $10 donation to Nothing But Nets is sufficient to purchase, deliver and install a mosquito net large enough to protect a family of four!

Following the 11:00 worship service there will be a Fellowship Thanksgiving Dinner in the Fellowship Hall. While details on the meal itself will be forth coming, you are encouraged to bring caned goods and personal hygiene products for needy families. Any offerings collected at this meal will go toward the Golden Cross offering.

Immediately after lunch pleas plan to stay for the “Talent Show: Take Two”! Last time you witnessed breathtaking musical performances, heard profound poetry and sidesplitting humor and of course you saw the better part of a lumberyard dramatically chopped, kicked and smashed to pieces!!! What unique and fascinating displays of talent will we see this time? Only you know, sign-up today. I can tell you that there will be a “free throw” competition that will have the NBA trembling in fright. Any offerings collected at the “Talent Show” will benefit Nothing But Nets.

Other Miscellaneous Opportunities and Desperate Cries for Help!

1. We have a glorious new Advent Wreath and need five families to volunteer to lead the lighting of each of the candles on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas Eve.

2. We need volunteers to serve as liturgist each Sunday in Advent. The Scripture Lessons for each Sunday are already available. This is a great way to get involved in the Worship Service!

3. We need a bold and fearless person to help lead the congregational singing for the months of November and December. It would be great to have a different Worship Leader each week.

4. We need a videographer to record each of the services during Advent and Epiphany. Someone with a digital camera is preferred, as these services will need to be edited on a computer and burned to DVD. John will be selecting the best of these services for submission to the Board of Ordained Ministry for his Full-Connection Interview. If necessary a camera can be provided.

5. Musicians and singers are needed for special music during the Advent/Christmas. I am also interested in forming a “Praise Team” for the purposes of offering a little something extra during this time of celebration and preparation. Some rehearsal time and a deep commitment to bringing an offering of excellence are necessary.

See what I mean, I’m excited already! We need everyone to get involved to make the most of the coming opportunities. Together we can make the month of November and beyond a time to remember. Together we can make PGUMC the beacon it was meant to be.

In Christ,

John

1. Every time I went, they asked me for money.
2. The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.
3. The seats were very hard.
4. The coach never comes to visit me.
5. The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.
6. I was sitting with some hypocrites-they came only to see what others were wearing.
7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.
8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.
9. The games were scheduled when I want to do other things.
10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.
11. Since I read a book on sports once, I feel I know more than the coaches, anyhow.
12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

In the coming months I would like to feature some of your talents and questions in the newsletter. Please feel free to send me any submissions that you may have. The focus for November will be expectation and anticipation.

In Christ,

John

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5: 14-16 NRSV

In the coming weeks we will be preparing for Church Conference and there is a lot of hard work and difficult discussions to be made that will effect Pleasant Grove for the coming year and beyond. Before we gather with several other congregations in celebration of the work of the Church, we will have to prepare a plan for 2009.

But before we busy ourselves working on a new budget, nominations, ministry goals, and the countless other reports and tasks, I want to thank you for all the hard work that has already gone into making 2008 a great year for Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church! Even with several months left on the calendar we have had an incredible and record year.

In order to meet the challenges of the coming days we must build on the successes of today and draw on the richness of our history as a people called by God to make a difference in the lives of those who are desperate to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ presented in a way that speaks to their needs in their current location.

Toward this goal, many of you have been tireless and sacrificial in the sharing of your time, energies, and financial support to make our current situation a reality. For all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do for the glory of God: I thank you!

Others might wish to examine your current stewardship and consider taking a step toward following the examples so humbly modeled in our midst and those expressed in Scripture as the standard for Christian Stewardship. In Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Some may wish to consider joining in the ministries of Pleasant Grove at a deeper level or even for the first time. Maybe you have considered serving on a committee, becoming active in Sunday School or Bible Study, attending worship regularly, or beginning to tithe or even taking a step toward tithing. Consider this as an invitation to do so today. Matthew 6: 19-21 reminds us of Jesus words saying, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

As members of this congregation of The United Methodist Church we have all promised to support the ministries of the Church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. God has honored our efforts and sacrifice over the past months and years and is providing us with opportunities to expand our ministries beyond the worship hour on Sunday morning into the larger community and the world!

There are some who have not yet joined Pleasant Grove as full members. Now is a perfect time to make PGUMC your church home! As I am sure you have noticed by now, God is at work in our church! We believe that you have been called to link arms with us as fellow members of this congregation. We are convinced that your presence in our lives is an answer to prayer and the key to our ongoing and future success. On November 23rd we will be receiving new members by baptism, profession of faith, and transfer of church membership in celebration of Christ the King Sunday. If you feel God is calling you to be a part of this wonderful church family, we stand ready to joyfully receive you. If you would like to enter into a season of prayer and conversation with me about membership I invite you to contact me at your earliest convince. I am here for you and welcome any questions.

There may be someone reading this who wishes to rekindle their relationship with this congregation or renew your covenant with God. To you I say there is no better time than now and there is no better place than right here. In imitation of our loving Lord, our hearts, our minds and our doors are open to you.

For all of us this is a time for joyfully counting our blessings, offering witness to the goodness of God, and looking forward with joyful anticipation to the great things that just yesterday seemed so distant but now, through the grace of God and all of our hard work, are as near as tomorrow! Together we can “Let Our Light Shine in 2009!”

In Christ,

John

While we continue to explore the things that prepare us to enter into a season of growth, I pause to remind us of a simple truth: It is God who will spark and drive any renewal among God’s people. We are responsible to make ourselves fully prepared and available but the prerogative as to “when” and “how” is that of the Holy Spirit alone.

The good news for us is that God is active in all places at all times. The Holy Spirit is busy in the hearts, minds and circumstances of all people everywhere. Our task is not to force, direct, or manipulate the activity of the Spirit, but to witness, celebrate and join into the ongoing work of God in our midst. The not so good news is that we do not always notice, appreciate, or respond, as we should.

How are we to notice and discern this activity in order to be faithful in our response? Pay attention. It is possible that God has been speaking to us and we have been unable or unwilling to listen, understand or respond. This is something that we can learn to do better as a community of faith. While we need to learn to pay attention and listen for God in all aspects of our lives, it only makes sense that we should begin in the times and places were we gather expecting to hear from God, worship.

For some of us Sunday morning just comes around each week and worship is just something that we take as it comes. But what would it mean for us if we really believed that God not only has a word for us on any given Sunday but also is actively using a variety of mediums to convey that message? What does it mean for us to pay attention on Sunday morning?

Preparation: Inspiring worship rarely happens in a spiritual vacuum. Take time during the week to read and meditate on the Scripture Lessons for the coming week (these are listed in the bulletin each week) allowing them to begin to work within your heart and mind. Pray for the Sunday Service and for those who are preparing to lead and participate in it, Ask God for guidance, insight and strength that they might faithfully plan and lead worship in a way that is consistent with Scripture and speaks to our experience. Even better, offer a prayer and then go find a way to help them (Lectionary Bible Study, Choir Practice, Worship Planning Meetings).

Make Space for God: We all come together from somewhere else and we all leave with somewhere else to go. Take a moment before the service to become centered and quiet letting all those other things go. We simply cannot pay attention if we are mentally somewhere else. Have a sense of holy expectation, come expecting to hear a word from God. Come expecting to see evidence of God’s presence and activity in the congregation.

Take a Closer Look: Most worship services are not like pearls on a string, isolated individual unrelated events strung together. Each portion of the service is intended to blend into the larger whole. Usually there is a single theme for each service based on the Scripture Lessons and the Liturgical Season. There is a reason why we are singing these hymns and saying these prayers… Look for the ways to see the larger theme and direction of the service and be ready to move along the order of worship as smoothly as possible as the service progresses.

Dig Deeper: What did the hymns, prayers, creeds and sermon say to us today? God does not stop speaking at noon. Spend some time discussing and reflecting throughout the week. Look around and see if you can spot the Gospel lived out in all the ordinary business and tasks of life. Bring Sunday Morning into conversation with the rest of the week.

As we learn to pay attention and attune our ears to God’s voice we might discover that God is not nearly as silent or elusive as we once thought. We might come to understand some of the ways that God has already been at work within us, with us and through us. By looking for God’s fingerprints on Sunday mornings and throughout the week we will be in a better position to witness, celebrate and join into the ongoing work of God in building up a people of God for the transformation of the world.

In Christ,

John

The purpose of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. This starts with those of us who are already involved in the life of the church. There is a growing awareness of a fact that the Church thorough the centuries has known: One hour on Sunday is not enough. There is no way that we can meet all our needs to be nurtured, educated, encouraged, and challenged or our needs to help others. The worship hour was never intended to be the sole outlet and context for the creation and maintenance of meaningful and transformative relationships. One hour is insufficient for us to share in the daily struggles and victories that we each have as we strive to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God. If you are serious about growing in the love and knowledge of God and want to become more connected to a family that is loving and supportive… you need to become more involved in more of the things that the church currently offers for this purpose.

Current opportunities for growth-
Sunday School: A place to gather around the word of God with others of similar age and experiences to discover where the Story of God’s redemption and salvation overlaps our own stories. Sunday School is place to make deep connections and cultivate lifelong sustaining relationships. We have a place for every man, women and child to participate in such life giving fellowship. Sunday Mornings 10:00 am.

Lectionary Bible Study: A place to gather around the word of God in a focused and concentrated way to discover as a community how the Scripture Lessons of the coming week speak to us where we are in our lives and how we can apply the word of God to our continuing efforts to become the people that we are all called to be. There is a focus on preparing and sharing to make worship as inspiring and liberating as possible. Deeper understanding of the Bible, authentic and responsible liturgical planning, increased participation, better musical selection and effective preaching are the stated goals of this weekly study that is open to all interested adults. Wednesday Evenings 6:00 pm.

God’s Kids/ Junior UMYF: A place where fellowship, learning, service, worship and fun blend together in a time that helps the Church of the future to be nurtured and strengthened today. Age appropriate programs are offered for all children. This is a place to make friends and make a difference while learning and growing in the love and knowledge of God. Wednesday Evenings 6:00 pm.

Current opportunities for fellowship-
The Quilters: A place to fellowship and share as we struggle to put together the pieces of our lives and in the process discovering that even the scraps and remnants of our experience can come together in beautiful and functional ways. They also work together to make awesome quilts. Tuesdays

The Dinner Group: Once each month we gather at different restaurants to spend time around the table sharing in the things that feed us and make us whole. And someone else does the cooking and washes the dishes. This is a public witness of the love we have for one another and is open to all who desire an evening out and hunger for Christian conversation. Third Thursday Evenings 6:30 pm.

Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Softball: Sometimes referred to as the “Good News Bears” our own team is currently engaged in an active and challenging season providing an opportunity for players to come together as a team and for the rest of us to come together and cheer for these athletic missionaries to our community. Games TBA

Church Fellowship Suppers: Becoming more frequent these are times for us to come together and share great food and holy play. This month we will be having a cookout in celebration of our graduates and in honor of our mothers and the Christian home. Saturday May 17th at 6:00 pm

Current opportunities of service:
Choir Practice: A place to make a joyful noise to the Lord as we gather and learn to harmonize our diverse and unique voices into a single harmonious witness to the goodness of God. Hard work and practice is mixed with learning and sharing for the purpose of preparing to lead the congregation in worship. This is a lot of fun and all fun loving persons with a song in their heart are invited to join us. Wednesday Evenings 7:00 pm and Sunday Mornings at 10:50 am

Third Verse: A place where people of different ages and musical experience gather to learn different ways to express our faith in musical ministries. Gospel, Bluegrass, Contemporary, Praise, Jazz, Classical, Folk and Old Time favorites played on guitars, drums, mandolins, clarinets, keyboards and kazoos…nothing is safe from our eclectic approach to learning the songs of our hearts as a part of the Song of God. Anyone with a desire to play in a new form of musical worship are welcome. There is a place in our menagerie of musicians for you. Wednesday Evenings 8:00 pm
Neighborhood Watch: A place where concerned citizens gather to find a way to make the Pleasant Grove Community a great place to live. Informative reports and guest speakers help to keep us informed on the needs, concerns and opportunities unique to this community. This is where Local Law Enforcement, Elected Officials, Service Groups and the Church come together to make a difference. Of course there is always great food! Fourth Thursday Evenings 7:00 pm

Visitation Ministries: Taking worship and fellowship beyond the walls of the sanctuary, members of this ministry team work together to bring the Gospel to local Nursing Homes, Hospitals, and the homebound. The need for these services is beyond our current capacity to effectively minister to them. We have an urgent need for dedicated volunteers to participate in, lead and organize this vital ministry. Give us an hour or so of your time each month and together we can make a difference in the lives of many.

Current Opportunities for Worship:
Sunday Morning Worship at Whitesville UMC: Each Sunday morning at 9:00 am Rev. John Mattox and the folks of Whitesville UMC invite you to join them for a simple service and intimate preaching in a beautiful and historical setting. This is a wonderful new option for those times when you just can’t make it to the 11:00 am Service or when you just need a little more inspiration for your day. Sunday Mornings 9:00 am at Whitesville UMC

Sunday Morning Worship: A place where is all comes together. This service is the focal point of our life together. Excellent music, meaningful liturgy, inspiring worship, community and sacramental celebrations, affirming fellowship, songs of faith and praise, sincere prayer, offering of gifts, children’s sermon, readings from Scripture and Biblical and relevant preaching all meet in this authentic expression of the Church’s experience of the grace of God and celebration of God’s love for all. All that we do each week flows into and out of this time of Christian Worship in a Traditional Methodist style. Centered on the themes of Scripture and the Christian Calendar each element of worship is intended to flow into a single expression of our common experience and faith, hope and trust. We confess that the grace and love of God includes all persons and everyone is invited and encouraged to join us. Sunday Mornings 11:00 am

Sunday Evening Worship: At the close of the day and the dawning of a new week we gather to offer praise to God. Driven by spontaneous congregational singing and prayer we come with no agenda except to be drawn closer to God and each other. Often the sermons at this service are more spontaneous and informal than in other settings taking the themes of the day or season to a new and personal level. If you are looking for a place to connect the things of the mind to the workings of the heart and spirit, this might be the answer to prayer. Sunday Evenings 6:30 pm

While this has not been an exhaustive catalogue of opportunities currently available at PGUMC, I hope that you are reminded that we take your spiritual health and development seriously. Each of these ministries offers a different avenue to help you draw nearer to God and each other. But they will not be helpful to you unless you become involved. We invite you to become active in the life and ministry of the church knowing that this is the key for a better church, a better community, a better life and a better you. You might just hold a key ingredient for real church growth within you waiting for a chance to spring forth and shine.

May God continue to find us as faithful servants and stewards of all the persons and blessings trusted to our care.

In Christ,

John