I was in Starbucks before Thanksgiving and

they had already rolled out their Christmas drinks for

the season. Christmas blend coffee has been the dark

roast selection for 2 weeks or more. The baristas have

been wearing red aprons instead of the traditional

Starbucks green. It is obvious that they don’t want to

get caught in the Christmas season unprepared.

Are you getting ready yet? Have you begun to decorate the house with the tree and the

lights and garland? Are the plans in place for family meals and gifts for loved ones? Advent is

a season of preparation. We have so much to get ready for; the parties and family get

togethers. And I love them all.

Of all the preparations we will make during the Advent season, there is one that is the most

important of all. During Advent we are preparing our hearts to receive the King of Kings.

Emmanuel came into the world 2 millennia ago to bring peace and forgiveness and a restored

relationship between God and humanity.

While we see the necessity to prepare our homes, our food, and our gifts that we will give

this Christmas, it is much easier to overlook the preparations we need to make to welcome

Emmanuel into our lives this season. And the only way that we will get through the season

without missing the reason that we celebrate is preparing our hearts this year.

If you were in worship this week, you already have your advent calendar with the readings

for the season. If not, please pick one up so that you can be in scripture this season. This daily

practice will help you slow down a little and focus on what Christ’s coming means for you.

In the spirit of slowing down and focusing, we will be having 3 worship services on

Christmas eve. At 6 pm our puppet ministry will be presenting their Christmas program. At 8

and 11 pm we will be having candlelight worship in the sanctuary. And then on Christmas day

we will be celebrating the birth of our savior with one service at 10 am. This is a season of

Joy. Unto you is born a savior, Christ the Lord! Rejoice!

Pastor Keith

Keith Katterheinrich, Pastor

Valerie Highley Director of Youth &

Children’s Ministries

Bev Moore Director of Worship

Rodney Miller

Praise Team Coordinator

Karen Morgan Secretary

Becky Gehringer

Pianist

Eric Akers Organist

Jenny Johnson

Prayer Coordinator

Becky Powers Nursery Coordinator

Jr. Fitzpatrick

Technical Coordinator

Ministry Team Leaders: Martha Rice

Worship Team

Damola & Kamilah Asafa Youth Ministry Team

Arland White & Brenda Roberts

Children’s Ministry Team

Jerry Mounce & Lou Moore Evangelism Team

Steve & Darlene Meyers

Outreach Team

Lisa Hammond Discipleship Team

Joy Daniel & Shelly Mounce

Hospitality Team

Cheryl Spears First Impressions Team

Teresa Kirkpatrick & Debby Clark

Stephen Ministry

Praise Team: Eric Akers, Rick Leake,

Mike Harbour, Jason Bennett, Clancy Hatfield

Rodney & Erin Miller, Kennetta Freholm, & Weslie Freholm

South Ashland United Methodist Church

Anchored to the Rock

Relevant to the Times Reaching to the Future!

(606) 324-6961

southashlandumc@yahoo.com www.southashlandumc.org

December 2016

Budget In memory of Bill Blanton In memory of Lucille Lykins Given by Bill & Martha Rice In memory of Billy Wellman & Evelyn Delaney Given by Barry & Lynn Cohen Building In memory of Bill Blanton Given by Carl & Stella Pennington Given by Dicky Martin Given by Evelyn Crawford In memory of Bill Blanton, Billy Wellman, Todd Peterson & Lucille Lykins Given by Rannie & Charlene Cooper In memory of Billy Wellman Given by Skippy Simmerman Given by Lisa Hammond In honor of Charlene Cooper’s birthday Given by Skippy Simmerman In memory of Shari Bush & Billy Wellman Given by Steve & Darlene Meyers In memory of Shari Bush, Todd Peterson & Lucille Lykins Given by Evelyn Crawford In memory of Todd Peterson Given by the Wesley Class

Operation Christmas Child In memory of Billy Wellman Given by John & Jil McClanahan Given by Brig. Gen & Mrs. Maney Stephen Ministry In memory of Todd Peterson Given by Carl & Mary Warnock Given by Vernon & Leighann Miller Given by Mary Wheeler Given by Lois Early Given by Doug Armantrout Given by Dick & Trish Wheeler New Property In memory of Lucille Lykins, Johnnie Daniels, Bill Blanton & Shari Bush Given by Don & Gloria Neikirk In memory of Johnnie Daniels, Shari Bush, Bill Blanton, Todd Peterson Given by Ed & Cheryl Spears In memory of louse Heiselman and Peggy Briggs Given by Steve & Darlene Meyers In memory of Billy Wellman Given by Lou & Bev Moore Hillcrest Bruce In memory of Lucille Lykins Given by Ed & Cheryl Spears

Backpack Blessings In memory of Shari Bush Given by Pairs & Spares Given by Tony & Rose Grossl In honor of Mike & Linda VanHoose’s 50th wedding anniversary Given by Virgina Carter Given by Barry & Lynn Cohen Given by Rannie & Charlene Cooper Given by Becky Gehringer Given by Donald & Cozette Mobelini Given by Wm. Grady & Carol Walter Given by John & Rebecca Cabe Costa Rica Farm In memory of Nita Nunley, Glen Nunley, Scott Nunley, Ann Spears Given by Ed & Cheryl Spears Bell Tower In honor of Carl & Stella Pennington’s 59th wedding anniversary Given by The Penningtons Rev. William Debar Ministry Scholarship In memory of Lucille Lykins Given by the Wesley Class

Current Month Budget Items Specials Mortgage Fund Totals

Beginning Balance $50,842.52 $27,075.85 $16,616.59 $94,534.96

Receipts $32,331.81 $5,097.50 $5,515.00 $42,944.31

Disbursements ($35,997.76) ($2,677.74) ($4,669.47) ($43,344.97)

Transfer $566.19 $0.00 $0.00 $566.19

Closing Balance $47,742.76 $29,495.61 $17,462.12 $94,700.49

Year-to-Date

Balance 12/31/2015 $40,995.20 $29,812.48 $16,319.60 $87,127.28

Receipts $336,332.93 $33,058.34 $42,520.00 $411,911.27

Disbursements ($332,970.12) ($34,639.25) ($41,377.48) ($408,986.85)

Transfer $3,384.75 $1,264.04 $0.00 $4,648.79

Closing Balance $47,742.76 $29,495.61 $17,462.12 $94,700.49

Honors & Memorials

We want to thank everyone for their prayers and kindness during Dad’s illness. Thanks to Joy and her team of ladies for the fantastic dinner after the funeral. Special thanks to Keith for his many visits, prayers and

his wonderful words of comfort at the funeral. We are so blessed to have such a loving church family. The family of Bill Blanton

Hospital Visitation If you, a family member, or friend are having surgery or being admitted to the hospital and would like to be

visited and have prayer please contact:

The Church Office:

324-6961 &

Elfi Sologic: 325-4349

Our most heartfelt sympathies are extended to:

The family and friends of Billy Wellman.

Barry & Lynn Cohen in the loss of her mom, Evelyn Delaney.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS

CHILD

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! Again, our church answered the plea to help put a smile on a child’s face this Christmas. We asked

for toys, candy, school supplies and hygiene products to pack shoeboxes for children who

would not receive anything for Christmas and you provided! We packed and shipped 219 shoeboxes

this year! Thank you to all those who donated gifts, money, postage costs, your time and most

importantly your prayers. Next year our goal is 220! With God’s help and

the generosity of our church, we have no doubt we will reach that goal!

Thank you again for helping us share God’s blessings to children around the

world this Christmas!

In Christ’s love, Gloria and Teresa

THANKSGIVING BASKETS

Thank you South Ashland United Methodist Church for your generous giving of the Thanksgiving baskets to the Hillcrest-Bruce Mission. The baskets distributed included 63 hams and were overflowing with extra food. It is always wonderful to

be at the Mission to see the happiness on the faces of those receiving a basket.

ADOPT-A-CHILD AND SENIOR PROGRAM

The Adopt –A-Child and- Senior Program for Christmas has a total of 59 recipients, 41 children and 18 seniors. Thank you for making a child or

senior happy and feel loved during Christmas. Your gift is probably the only gift they will receive.

Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more

will be asked.

Raising Our Hands in Praise December Performance Schedule

Dec 3-4 Trinity UMC in Winchester, KY Leave @ 2pm Saturday, return Sunday afternoon Staying in Red Roof Inn (permission slips required) Dec 18 Happy Birthday, Jesus! Party 5pm in Family Life Center Dec 19 Morning Pointe Assisted Living in Russell, KY Meet at church 12:30pm - 3:30pm Dec 20 Sanctuary of the Ohio Valley Meet at church 12:30pm - 3:30pm Dec 23 Practice & Christmas Party 6pm in Family Life Center Dec 24 Christmas Eve Service 6pm in Family Life Center “It’s Christmas Eve at the ranch, and the ranch hands have gathered for a Christmas celebration.” Join us on Christmas Eve to hear the story of how Flint finds a lost cow and also finds his way to accepting that Baby in a manger.

Community Christmas Caroling

All are welcome to join us for singing, campfires, s’mores, & hot chocolate at South Ashland United Methodist Church

Saturday, December 17th @ 6:30 p.m.

&

Sunday, December 18th @ TBA Caroling & Cookies for our shut-ins

(some cookies and drivers are needed)

Contact Rick Leake for more info

Youth Winter News Weekly Events @ Church

Sunday School 10:00am

Sunday Night Youth Group 5:00pm-7:00pm

Wednesday Night Dinner/Bible Study 5:45pm-7:30pm

No evening activities on December 21st, 25th, 28th, or January 1st due to

Christmas Break. Sunday School will still continue on Sunday Mornings.

Upcoming Events

Details will be sent out via Facebook and

Remind101

December 18th Children’s Party

(Youth Volunteers Needed)

January 6th

, 2017 Crowder, Britt Nicole,

Colton Dixon, Tenth Ave North, Sadie Robertson, Thousand Foot Krutch, Newsong, Andy Mineo,

Tony Nolan

Sunday, December 11th 9:00 am & 11:15 am

Directed by Bev Moore

Children’s Ministry

Sunday, December 18 5-7pm in FLC

Van Transportation Provided Kids up to 5th grade

Christmas Worship

Opportunities!

Here we go again, into the crunch of Christmas celebrations, giving, devotions and worship. But this year is not like other years. No, not due to a super moon, or a slump ending championship (although those things are cool) but because this year Christmas falls on Sunday!

We will have our traditional Christmas Eve services with the Children’s puppet program at 6pm and candlelight

services at 8 and 11. But the next morning we will come together to celebrate His birth! So, we will have one

service Sunday December 25th at 10:00 am. There will be no nursery, Sunday school or Children’s church to allow

our wonderful workers and volunteers to take part in the worship. Pajamas will be acceptable attire for our little

ones this particular Sunday and there will be an opportunity for group pictures after the service. This will be an intimate, relaxed service to reflect an intimate and

special beginning to the life of Our Savior. Please come and worship with us!

Voices of Praise Christmas Schedule The Voices of Praise Children’s Choir is ready for The

Christmas season! There will be several opportunities to hear them sing this month. Here is a list for your

convenience.

Wed Dec. 14th: 5:45 pm VOP choir will sing at a local nursing home. We will meet at the church for supper and then go together by van to perform. Pick up at the church

at 7:30. Wear a red, white or green shirt with black pants or jeans.

Sat. Dec. 17th: 11:00 am Full practice in the Sanctuary.

Sun. Dec. 18th: 11:00 am Christmas Musical

We hope you have a meaningful Christmas

with many opportunities to express love. Elly Nicholson and Erin Miller

Blessings to My Church Family,

My prayer, especially at this time of the year, is that each and every one of you have a very blessed Christmas filled with God’s love and blessings.

The team continues to make preparations and plans for the 2017 mission trip. Below is a portion of an e-mail from Mary talking about some of the needs and projects that we will be working on while we are there. Also included are some pictures from Nuevo Pital where VBS was held a few weeks ago. This is an area where we had to hold VBS on a gravel road because there was no place else to hold it. It is a government housing project much like our Hillcrest Bruce but not as nice. We will be holding VBS there when the team goes, along with a session in Pital and Santa Fe. Of course that may change; we never know for sure. The pictures also show feeding the children that day in Nuevo Pital. Mary told me that they fed approximately 55 children that day. The feeding program also continues at Pital and Barrio Chino. They are feeding around 60 children every week.

“First of all, thank you all for your prayers! I am so thankful to God for so many details that He takes care of even before a need is expressed.

We can use Brillo pads for the stoves and sinks, a coffee maker, a toaster, a few wooden spoons, dish towels, and large skillets.

We need to remodel the big dining hall with a new roof, close the building over walls and under roof, install new windows and air conditioning. When the churches come, that hall is like an oven. Very Hot!

We need to work on the New House across the road; close it in, put the floors down, two additional rooms are going to be put on the second floor. The living room area will be open to the roof with wood ceiling like the guest house. The chimney has to be finished.

We have some exterior siding, but the men have been so busy with projects away from here to get it on. A team coming next week may be able to do some; they are new from the Dallas area so we will have to see what we can accomplish after they arrive.

Of course, the work remains at Pital, this is the rough list: ceiling, ceramic, finish the eaves on two sides, some plastering, flooring and kneeling area, a roofed area at the front door, and electrical work

Thank you again for the funds. I want to prepare the details on what I must have for the end of the year. Pital friends will be pleased with your gift. Blessings to you all, Mary and all”

As you saw in Mary’s email, we sent money down to support this ministry. Every time I think about feeding the children like we do with the Backpack Ministry, I am reminded of something that Marion told me during one of my first trips. Children/people do not and cannot understand the love Our Lord has for us if they are hungry. I have thought about that many times and know that is so true.

Also you saw in Mary’s e-mail some work that needs to be done to finish the church in Pital along with work at the farm. I am so thankful and blessed that our church has taken on this mission. Thanks for your prayers, gifts and support. None of this could be done without ALL OF YOU! Please continue to pray for Mary, Pital Church and people and the team as we travel to be Our Lord’s hands and feet doing HIS work in Costa Rica.

In His love and Service, Edurado

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10:00 Intercessory Prayer 6:00 Stephen Ministry 6:30 Cub Scouts 7:00 Boy Scouts

2 3 2:00 Puppets Trip (2pm Sat - 2pm Sun)

4 9:00 Traditional Worship 10:00 Discipleship Hour 11:15 Contemporary 4:00 Cantata Rehearsal 5:00 Youth & Children

5 5:00 Girl Scouts 6:30 Stephen Ministry 7:15 Stephen Ministry PS

6 6:30 Cancer Support 7:00 Praise Team

7 5:00 Joyous Sounds 5:45 Dinner 6:30 Adult Classes 6:30 Puppets/Kids Choir 7:30 Chancel Choir

8 10:00 Intercessory Prayer 1:30 Belleaires 6:00 Stephen Ministry 6:30 Trustees Meeting 6:30 Cub Scouts 7:00 Boy Scouts

9 10

11 9:00 Cantata 10:00 Discipleship Hour 11:15 Cantata 5:00 Youth & Children

12 9:30 Staff Meeting 5:00 Girl Scouts 6:30 Stephen Ministry

13 6:30 Children’s Council 7:00 Praise Team

14 5:00 Joyous Sounds 5:45 Dinner 6:30 Adult Classes 6:30 Puppets/Kids Choir 7:30 Chancel Choir

15 10:00 Intercessory Prayer 6:00 Stephen Ministry 6:30 Cub Scouts 7:00 Boy Scouts

16 17 2:00 Widow/Widower’s 6:30 Community Caroling

18 9:00 Traditional Worship 10:00 Discipleship Hour 11:15 Contemporary 5:00 Jesus Birthday Party TBA Community Caroling

19 5:00 Girl Scouts 7:15 Stephen Ministry PS

20 6:30 Finance Meeting 6:30 Cancer Support 7:00 Admin Council 7:00 Praise Team

21

No Activities

22 10:00 Intercessory Prayer 1:30 Belleaires 6:30 Cub Scouts 7:00 Boy Scouts

23

OFFICE CLOSED

24 6:00 Puppets/Candlelight 8:00 Candlelight Service 11:00 Candlelight Service

25 10:00 Christmas Service

Merry Christmas!

26

OFFICE CLOSED

27 7:00 Praise Team

28

No Activities

29 10:00 Intercessory Prayer 6:30 Cub Scouts 7:00 Boy Scouts

30 31

Happy Birthday!

Happy Anniversary!

5 Ken & Kay Bush 22 Matt & Kim Hart

25 Doug & Garnet Riffe 26 Greg & Arland White

27 Randy & Cynde Elkins Mark & Paulette Meenach

Rodney & Erin Miller 29 Jim & Susan Ifert

31 Jack & Susie Daniel

2 Shirley Dixon 3 John M. Hinkle 4 Ashley Crawford 5 Hollie Crank Candy Lett 7 Kent Mansfield 8 Susan Hunt 9 Josh Daniel 10 Lynda Cannon John Hinkle David Bolen 11 Jack Daniel 13 Susie Carter 14 Skippy Simmerman 17 Brandon Miller Russ Ryan 22 Mark Meenach 23 Linda VanHoose Valerie Highley 25 Carol Barnhorst 31 John N. Cannon