Weekly Reminders

I like this short poem about Gabriels’ conversation with Mary, based on Luke 1, from the poet and pastor, Carolyn Gillette.

Jesus, by God's Holy Spirit, was so wondrously conceived,
Born unto the Virgin Mary, who your promises believed.
"There's not a thing that God can't do!" The angel said. "Not one!
For Mary, God has favored you and you will bear God's Son."
So Mary answered, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord."
She knew that she could well rely upon the angel's word.
O God, what awesome things you do; You call, surprise and bless!
As Mary answered, may we, too, respond by saying, "Yes!"

As Gillette points out, Mary believed in God’s promises and was willing to be part of God’s work. Out of her faith and willingness, God was able to do the miracle of the incarnation. Do you ever wonder if God is still looking to do miracles in this world? No, not “literally” to become incarnate again. But maybe he is still looking to do his work in the world. And maybe he all he needs is for people to believe in him and to be willing to be part of his work? Do you believe? Are you willing?

Blessings, Pastor John

Thank You, Gracias, Merci, Grazi, Danke, Arigato …
Many thanks to all of those who helped decorate the church on November 24. Many hands made for light work!
Many thanks to all who participated in the playground dedication, particularly to our generous and sacrificial givers and the hard-working Trustees.
Many thanks to all our Soup cooks and dessert makers last Sunday, what a nice lunch we had!
Many thanks to Mike McGarity and the cooking crew for the “Breakfast for Dinner” last Wednesday night, to Camdyn Moon for being our photographer, and to Santa for taking time to visit us in this busy season!

Prayer Team
Would You Like to Be Prayed For? On the first Sunday of each month, the Prayer Team will be meeting in the chapel at 10:15 a.m. We will be praying for those on the prayer list, and for any individuals who would like to receive prayer.

Praise Report
The granite markers have been refinished and placed around the church. Thank you to TJ & Melissa Dias with Southern Granite Company for redoing the markers, and to Mart Clamp with Clamp Sandblast for setting them. They look great!

Christmas Parade, December 7.
A good way to support our community, and maybe get ideas for a float next year, is to attend this year's Christmas Parade! It starts at 4 p.m. at Safehouse and ends in the downtown square. Sunday, December 7th.
*Due to the timing of the parade, we will not have an Evening Service this week.

Eagles Gate Farm Christmas Party
Margie Beeson & Fritz Bronner wish to invite you to join them for the 5th annual Eagles Gate Farm Christmas Party! The party is Saturday, December 13, 2025, starting at 6:00 p.m., located at 1037 Bakers Ferry Rd. Elberton, GA 30635. RSVP by calling (818) 694-9277 or (818) 694-9266, or just come! You can read more about Eagles Gate Farm at www.eaglesgatefarm.com.

Enjoy good food, great conversations, and the Holiday Spirit!

Staff Christmas Bonus
Dear EFMC members:
Elberton First Methodist has so much to celebrate this Christmas!! God is leading us to be the best we can be, and we are working hard to do His will.
Our church staff is doing a fantastic job without complaint, and with pride and enthusiasm. In appreciation, SPRC would like to reward our staff with an End-of-Year Bonus. If you would like to contribute, simply write "Staff Christmas" in the note section of your check. The deadline for donations is December 15.
When you see Staff members around the church, thank them!!! A lot of work goes on behind the scenes that makes things go as smoothly as they do.

In Christ - Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee

Community Christmas Musical
Members of the Elberton First Methodist Choir, the First Baptist Choir, and other community church choirs have been working together once again to share a Christmas Cantata with the community! This year’s program is titled “Let the Whole World Sing.” There are two opportunities to enjoy the Christmas Cantata, Sunday night, December 14, at 6 p.m. at Elberton First Baptist; and Sunday morning, December 21, at 10 a.m. at Elberton First Methodist. We are looking forward to this wonderful celebration of the birth of Christ!

Favorite Hymn
On Sunday, December 14, we will have a special time for you to call out your favorite Christmas hymn during the 11 am Service!

The Classic City Band Holiday Concert
Tom Hodges will be participating in The Classic City Band Holiday Concert. The concert is in Hodgson Hall at UGA on Tuesday, December 16, at 7:30 p.m.

EFMC is hosting a Blood Drive this Monday, December 8, beginning at noon. If you would like to donate, go to www.redcrossblood.org or scan the code above.

Subscribe to weekly emails by clicking the button below.

In 1959 Bill Gaither graduated from Anderson College, Indiana, with a bachelor's degree in English and a minor in Music. He went to work as an English teacher, pursuing music on the side. In 1963 he was asked to play the piano for a revival meeting in the area that featured the preaching of Dr. Dale Oldham. The meeting went well and afterwards Dr. Oldham asked Bill to write a song that included the words, “He touched me.” Gaither, who would later say that “songs are like whispered answers to questions of the heart”, took the words from Oldham as the theme of his first hit song, “He Touched Me.” This song would later be recorded by the Imperials, Elvis Presley, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and, more recently, Steven Curtis Chapman. Bill Gaither might have been writing about the woman that Jesus made whole in Luke 13:10-17.

We are looking at the Luke passage this week and the spiritual wholeness that Jesus wants to bring to us all.

Blessings,
Pastor John