Vol. 3 • No. 26 
December 13, 2004
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The Meaning of Advent
Though Advent (literally "arrival") has been observed for centuries as a time to contemplate Christ's birth, most people today acknowledge it only with a blank look. For the vast majority of us, December flies by in a flurry of activities, and what is called "the holiday season" turns out to be the most stressful time of the year.

It is also a time of contrasting emotions. We are eager, yet frazzled; sentimental, yet indifferent. One minute we glow at the thought of getting together with our family and friends; the next we feel utterly lonely. Our hope is mingled with dread, our anticipation with despair. We sense the deeper meanings of the season but grasp at them in vain; and in the end, all the bustle leaves us frustrated and drained.

Even we who do not experience such tensions -- who genuinely love Christmas -- often miss its point. Content with candles and carols and good food, we bask in the warmth of familiar traditions, in reciprocated acts of kindness, and in feelings of general goodwill. How many of us remember the harsh realities of Christ's first coming: the dark stable, the cold night, the closed door of the inn? How many of us share the longing of the ancient prophets, who awaited the Messiah with such aching intensity that they foresaw his arrival thousands of years before he was born? ...

Read the rest of the article by Charles Moore here.

Christmas Lessons and Carols
Available on the General Board of Discipleship worship-preaching-music website -- a service of Christmas Lessons and Carols with music selected from The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing, based upon the traditional service from The Book of Worship. This service works well at any time during the Christmas season, but perhaps especially on Christmas Eve. It may be freely adapted for your own use.

Advent Words with Christmas Music
— Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources, General Board of Discipleship

The question comes up every year, and most congregations have partisans on both sides. On one extreme, only Advent hymns, songs, and anthems are included prior to Christmas Eve; and all the traditional and beloved carols are saved until Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the one or two Sundays following Christmas. On the other extreme, the First Sunday of Advent brings Hanging of the Greens, poinsettias, the creche, and "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Many congregations are somewhere in the middle, being faithful to Advent themes and music early in the season, while gradually introducing a few Christmas hymns as Christmas approaches, saving "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" for Christmas Eve.

Many people want to sing Christmas songs during Advent because everywhere around them, except in the church, the world is observing Christmas with lights, parties, decorations, trees, concerts, school and choir programs, radio and TV, and their own shopping. Everything seems out of sync when the church seeks to preserve the integrity and message of Advent by putting off its Christmas celebration until Christmas Eve.

If you are a pastor or musician who wants to sing Advent hymns in Advent, here are three excellent Advent hymns that have been set to music of familiar Christmas hymns:
- "The King Shall Come," using Antioch ("Joy to the World")
- "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night," using Mendelssohn ( "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing")
- "The People That in Darkness Sat," using Christmas("While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night")

To download the music, click here.

Christmas Gifts to Benefit Wesley Glen and The Methodist Home for Children and Youth
The Rev. W. Hamp Watson, Jr. has edited and written two books that benefit Conference Ministries. His new book, "More Big Words for Our Time --A Lift for the Living, A Gift for the Grieving," will benefit Wesley Glen. Wesley Glen is a network of group homes sponsored by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church for adults with disabilities.

"More Big Words for Our Time" contains six more messages from Frederick Wilson and ten messages from Watson. Watson’s friends, Frederick’s friends and friends of Wesley Glen have financed all the printing and production costs so that every penny of sales will benefit Wesley Glen. If you would like to purchase "More Big Words for Our Time" or if you would be willing to sell some to benefit Wesley Glen, contact Rev. Hamp Watson (see contact info. below). The cost of the book is $14 plus $2 shipping cost for a total of $16 with check made out to Wesley Glen and mailed to the address below.

Watson's first book, "Frederick Wilson Still Speaks – Big Words for Our Time," which netted more than $20,000 for The Methodist Home for Children and Youth, is still available for $16.00. This includes postage and handling. Make out this check to The Methodist Home and send to the address below. Mark somewhere on your check—"Big Words." As soon as the check is received a book will be mailed to the address you designate.

For more information or to order a book, contact Rev. W. Hamp Watson, Jr.:
149 Cambridge Way / Macon, Ga. 31220-8736 / 478-475-1763 / whwatson2@cox.net.

Free Downloads from GBOD
The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) invites you to check out their free downloadable resources Resources include leaflets or handouts for new members, for study groups, for hospital or nursing home visitation, in the church foyer, as discussion starters. Use them any way you feel they will be of help to persons seeking information and inspiration. Titles includeMinistry in My Community, You can Make a Difference, Caring for Others, and more.

UMW Retreat Set for April
On the weekend of April 1-3, 2005, women from all over South Georgia will come together at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island for the South Georgia Conference United Methodist Women's Spiritual Growth Retreat.  Rock-Solid Faith (In A Shifting-Sand Society ) will be the theme and focus of the event.   You are invited to come "search and discover" the sustaining power of a strong foundation of faith in times of uncertainty and turbulence.     

Heading the program staff as retreat speaker/inspirational leader will be the Rev. Marcia Cochran, pastor at Waycross First UMC.  Returning for their second tour as retreat musicians are singer and song leader Diane McBride of Lyons UMC, and pianist and keyboardist Judy Foga, of Ashburn UMC.      

Don't have anyone to keep your children?  During the total and small group sessions, the retreat will provide child care (for infant/preschoolers) and planned group activities for children in 1st - 8th grade.  Sunshine Bird of Moultrie UMC will be the main leader of the planned activities.  Brochures will be distributed beginning the first week in January. 

Questions?  Contact Mary Virginia Cox, Conference Spiritual Growth Coordinator at 229-924-2244 or mvrac@sowega.net.


Willie Nelson CD Benefits UM Mission Initiatives
In October of 2003, Willie Nelson appeared on the first General Board of Global Ministries Telethon for mission, entitled "In Mission Together for Christ and the World". Nelson's Gospel Collection CD was later introduced at the 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh.

Willie Nelson and his sister, Bobbie, who has been his pianist throughout his career, grew up in a Methodist church in Abbot, Texas. Willie says that gospel songs have always been dear to his heart. That's why he sings one or two gospel songs during every one of his shows. 

In the course of deliberations for the show, Nelson explained that gospel songs were so much a part of his life that he had put together a collection of gospel songs which he would be glad to make available to The General Board of Global Ministries, GBGMusik, to use in sales that would benefit the missions of The United Methodist Church.  Proceeds from the sale of this CD and songbook benefit the 11 new mission initiatives of the United Methodist Church, which are Senegal, Cameroon, Russia, Honduras, Latvia, Lithuania, Nepal, Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

Some of the songs included on the CD are:
         “Give me that old–time religion”                        
         “Are you washed in the blood”
         “Just a closer walk with thee”
         “I can hear my Savior calling”                          
         “I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold”
         “How great thou art”
         “Sing the wondrous love of Jesus”
         “I'll fly away”
         “Swing low, sweet chariot”
         “Farther along”
         “In the sweet by and by”
         “What a friend we have in Jesus”

He also consented for GBGMusik to release a songbook including the songs from the recording: Farther Along: Willie & Bobbie Nelson, The Gospel Collection, Singer's Edition.

The Willie Nelson CD, “The Gospel Collection”, may be ordered by check or money order, payable to “GBGM” in the amount of $18, which includes shipping and handling.  A companion songbook is also available for $5.95.  CD and songbook can be purchased together for $21, which also includes shipping and handling.  Please send your check or money order to GBGM CD Offer, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 350, New York, NY  10115.   Ordering information for the CD and songbook can also be found on the web at http://gbgm–umc.org/nelson or by calling (866) 588–4246.

PSST! The Upper Room's Got Clearance!
You know how there are times you have to clean your closet and toss out a few formerly beloveds? Well, even virtual stores have to do that too. The Upper Room (http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/) has opened its Clearance Vault and is extending a 20% online discount on qualified items in any of its stores. For the full scoop click here. Be sure to take advantage of this holiday offer. Some best-loved titles are on clearance and will not be reprinted. They'll make great gifts, so order now before they're gone.

News from the World Methodist Evangelism Institute
The World Methodist Evangelism Institute has just received one of their greatest challenges of the new millennium. They have been invited for the January South Pacific Leadership Training Conference in Fiji to train over 400 pastors and lay persons in evangelism ministries. This is their first such conference in the South Pacific in 15 years, and with your support these additional 280 South Pacific leaders can be trained to reach others for Christ in their region. What an opportunity! Please think of the Institute in your year end giving or your budgeting for next year. Every gift, however small per month or per year, will help to reach hundreds of new persons for Christ in this new Millennium. Their goal is to find 300 pledges of $50.00 a year and 100 pledges of $500 or more a year. If you would like further funding materials for your prayerful support, please contact Winston O. R. Worrell, Director, 404-727-6344. Visit www.worldmethodist.org for more information.

IRS Mileage Rate for 2005
The IRS recently announced that the mileage rate for travel for 2005 will be 40.5 cents per mile.  This is an increase of 3 cents per mile over this year's rate of 37.5 cents per mile.   Ministers may be able to use this information as they make their estimates of travel and expense reimbursement costs for 2005.  Ministers and lay persons who travel to conference related meetings will be reimbursed at 32 cents per mile if they request reimbursement. 

Church year rocked by hurricanes, trials and General Conference
Change for the United Methodist Church in 2004 assumed several forms: the orderliness in electing new bishops, the sweep of natural disasters, most notably by a relentless hurricane season in the United States and Caribbean, and evidence of evil at work in places like the Sudan. Homosexuality issues were central to two church trials of clergy. To read the entire UMNS article by Joetta Purdue, click here.

South Georgia United Methodists Continue to Give to Hurricane Relief Efforts
Through November South Georgia United Methodists have given a total of $167,255.59 to the Hurricane 2004 Fund.