First United Methodist Church
123 West Church Street
Barnesville, Ohio 43713
740-425-3245
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage PAID First United Methodist Church
Barnesville, Ohio 43713
740-425-3245
Permit #3
Pastor John Partridge
secretary@barnesvillefirst.com pastor@barnesvillefirst.com
Wow! In just a few weeks it will be Christmas. I have been
fighting a deadline to write papers and complete assignments for
my application for ordination. They were all due on December
The Cross and Flame
1st so by now I have either turned them in (I hope!) or asked to
postpone my application until next year. What deadlines are you
fighting? I know many of our high school and college students
have busy schedules and many class assignments that they have
been working on and many adults are in the middle of planning,
baking, decorating and making other preparations for the upcom-
ing holidays. Have we left anything out?
Amid all the gift exchanges, dinners and Christmas parties that
we will attend at work, church, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rotary,
Kiwanis, and many other clubs and organizations to which we
belong, have we scheduled time to be with God? I don’t mean
just to plan on attending church on Sunday or coming to our
Christmas Eve service but finding time to remember the story of
Christmas. Many of us have heard the events of that first Christ-
mas repeated so many times we can almost recite them, but has
everyone? The events surrounding the birth of Christ two thou-
sand years ago remain so amazing even today that we can only
read them with wonder and amazement. The Christmas story, or
at least parts of it, is familiar to many of our friends and neigh-
bors even if they have never attended church and yet, this story is
fundamental to everything that we believe as Christians. Because
our neighbors and friends are at least passingly familiar with the
story, and because even the unchurched are celebrating a holiday
they may not completely understand, this is an ideal time to con-
nect with them and explain what it’s all about.
Continued on page 2
Page 1
 MISSIONS (LOCAL BENEVOLENCE) &
H. I. S. (Hearts In Service)

DECEMBER
FAMILIES TO HELP AT CHRISTMAS

PLEASE HAVE ALL GIFTS WRAPPED AND THEIR NAMES ON THEM AND INTO THE
CHURCH OFFICE BY DECEMBER 15, 2010

Kay Allison
Kay was at the coat give-away
Front Door Mary Martha 166 Pine Lane
Barnesville, Ohio 43713
5 Ron & Carol Preston 5 Tom & Mary Lou Michelli 425-3850
12 Joanne Cook & Liz McKelvey 12 Tom & Mary Lou Michelli
19 Joanne Cook & Liz McKelvey 19 Dave & Marsha Ward Her daughter (Kim) lost her job and has children
24 To be announced 24 To be announced Kim & Kay’s sizes are medium women’s
26 Joe & Doris Brown 26 Dave & Marsha Ward
Kay’s grandchildren:
Shayla-Age-10 – shirt & pants size girls 10-12, shoe size women’s 6
Interests are music, likes to draw and any girly stuff
5) Steven & Thomas Ervin Kavone-Age 4-shirt & pants size boys 6, shoe size boys 1
12) Karlee & Kaylee Wehr Interests are trucks and cars
little boy is requesting a used 16inch bicycle with training wheels if anyone wants to
19) Abigail Starr & Madyson Little get rid of one.
26) Payne Johnson & Kyden Anderson
Could use sheets (King size & Full size) & Towels & washcloths
********************************************************************************************************************
Angela Stephens
435 S. Lincoln
5) side table: In Loving Memory of Gladys Apt. C-7
Ackerman Barnesville, Ohio 43713
By: Myron 740-238-8817
5) side table: In Loving Memory of Bernard Ethan Giesey-age 7-size boys 10-12, shoe size-4
Groves Emma Giesey-age 4 - size 8, shoe size 1
By: Carol Groves & Family

12) POINSETTIAS

19) POINSETTIAS

26) POINSETTIAS

Page 6
 MISSIONS (LOCAL BENEVOLENCE) &
H. I. S. (Hearts In Service)
FAMILIES TO HELP AT CHRISTMAS December Birthdays 17 Nancy Wells
4 Grace Stephen 20 Teresa Valine
PLEASE HAVE ALL GIFTS WRAPPED AND THEIR NAMES ON THEM AND INTO THE
CHURCH OFFICE BY DECEMBER 15, 2010
6 Royann Brill 22 Beth Brill
6 Ethan Samuel Geisey 23 Brian Yarnall
7 Vicki Van Horn 24 Angie Kemp
Aaron & Shannon Koher & Family 7 Dal Wildman 24 Natalie Doan
They were at the coat give-away
9 Amanda Ervin 24 Carol Stukey
32211 S. Leatherwood Rd. 10 Melissa Doan 25 Mary Ann Cheffy
Barnesville, Ohio 10 Melinda Lemke 27 Terence Carpenter
740-630-3051 11 Theresa Lemasters 27 Max Plumly
11 Stephen Harris 27 Justin Valine
Aidan Koher- Age 7- shirt & pant sizes 10, likes video movies 12 Nicole Miller 27 Dean Wehr
Masyn Koher- Age 3- shirt & pant sizes 4T, likes trucks & cars 12 Ryan Keadle 28 Brady Rockwell
12 Ron Menges 29 Ryan Daniel Wehr
12 Evan William Woodward 29 Barb Pfeffer
Jami Garey Family (single mom)
13 Gina Carvin 30 Brad Gray
they will be moving Woodsfield sometime in the future 13 Lori Pisula 30 Sherry Angelo
Jami was at the coat give-away
13 Darren Rinehart 30 Aaron Corder
111 Mackey Drive 501 Woods St.
14 Kelsey Secrest Van Dyne 31 Olivia Starr
Apt 14 Woodsfield, Ohio 43793 16 Lauren Hoffman
Barnesville, Ohio 43713 16 Amy Crosier
Use Barnesville address for Christmas 16 Beverly Gray
425-1416

Zackri Groves Age 14 - shirt size –men’s small, pant size 28-30,
Zackri’s interests are hunting, fishing & videos
Laci Garey Age 6 – shirt size girls 8, pants size 10 likes any kinds of girly stuff

December Anniversaries
2 Jerry & Tammy Rush
8 Greg & Cheryl Pohl
12 John & Jean Barker
26 Carl & Joann Smith
31 Jeffrey & Elizabeth Reed
31 Adam & Candi Eccleston

Page 15
Continued from page 1
This Christmas I hope that we will all remember to find time to remember Jesus. I hope
that we will take the time to read the story, to re-familiarize ourselves with it, and to read
it to our children and grandchildren. I hope that while we wish our neighbors a Merry
Christmas that we will also ask them if they understand why Christians celebrate and
then explain why the story fills us with joy and hope. Who knows where these conversa-
tions might go, but there’s a chance that our friends might just want to know more about
Jesus when you’re done.
Jesus would like nothing better for his birthday, than for each of us to introduce our
friends to him. May God richly bless each of you.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor John
MISSIONS COMMITTEE: The committee will meet Sunday November 14,
2010.
Lay Leader Janet Smith complimented Chairman Ron Preston on his report
at the Charge Conference.
PASTOR’S REPORT: Pastor John reported that there are 16 young people
in the Confirmation class, which includes the Main Street UM Church and
Somerton UM Church.
After a discussion of our increase in our Sunday school classes,
Chuck Groves moved to adjourn the meeting. The next scheduled meeting
will be Monday December 13, 2010 at 7:00pm in the Edith Bishop Nims
Fellowship Hall.

ST.VINCENT DE PAUL IN NEED

Below is a list of foods or health items that will be
needed before the winter months begin.

NOODLES PORK & BEANS

CANNED BROTH CANNED FRUIT
CEREAL PEANUT BUTTER
CORN CANNED PASTA
JELLO
PUDDING
MIXED VEGATABLES OR ANY CANNED SOUP
We appreciate any non-perishable items
December 5, 2010
December 12, 2010
December 18, 2010
The Mission’s Committee will be collecting food
each Sunday for
St. Vincent de Paul. Please bring in your donations on these dates and put
them in the wooden box in the parlor OR if you cannot get out to bring them
in yourself, please call the Church Office at 425-3245 and we will make
arrangements to pick the items up. THANK YOU!

Page 2 Pate 5
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2010 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attendance: ****************************************************************************
Ron Preston Chuck Groves Greg Pohl Fran Wilkins **************STUDENT OF THE MONTH for December is Lily Rockwell. We
Pastor John Bill Hill Helen Detling Carol Stukey would like to let our college students know that we are thinking of them while they are
Brian Yarnall Janet Smith Pauline Doudna attending college. Liily is the granddaughter of Wilma Truax and the late Clyde Truax.
She attends Mount Vernon Nazarene University. If you would like to send her a
Chairman Ron Preston called the meeting to order. Pastor John opened the thinking of you card, you may do so with the information we have provided. Liily
Rockwell, R3063, 800 Martinsburg Rd., Mt. Vernon, Ohio 43050
meeting with prayer. The minutes were read from the October 11, 2010 meeting.
Pauline Doudna moved to accept the minutes, seconded by Fran Wilkins, motion
carried. H. I. S. (HEARTS IN SERVICE)
FINANCE REPORT: Chairman Brian Yarnall gave the following report. ANNOUNCEMENTS
OCTOBER RECEIPTS: $10,586.30 OCTOBER DISBURSEMENTS: $12,350.79 The next scheduled meeting will be
Giving of $10,000.00 from the Lloyd Ward Estate. Sunday December 5, 2010.
NET GAIN: $8,235.51 ********************************************
Chuck Groves made a motion to establish a Youth Activity Account which will Thank you to all who donated recipes
include Pastor’s Pals funds along with Methodist youth fund, seconded by Janet for our Church Cookbook. We are ex-
Smith, motion carried. pecting to be shipped December 13,
As recommended by the Finance Committee, Brian moved that the Christmas 2010. If you would like it by Christmas
Offering go toward the Youth Activity fund, seconded by Janet Smith, motion carried. there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin
Bill Hill moved to accept the Finance Report, seconded by Fran Wilkins, motion board in back of the church sanctuary.
carried. They will call the ones on this list first.
They will be $10.00 each. There were
TRUSTEES: Chairman Chuck Groves gave the following report. The heat tape has over 200 recipes received.
been replaced above the doors. The privacy fence at the parsonage is on hold. Up- ********************************************
coming projects are replacing the ballast in the Edith Bishop Nims Fellowship Hall and We will be planning a one day bus trip
hanging an awning above the elevator door. to Grace Brethren Church in
Columbus, Ohio sometime around the
WORHSIP COMMITTEE: Chairman Pauline Doudna gave the following report. first week in December. For more
November 21, Joe Miller will prepare a Thanksgiving Luncheon following the worship Information contact Nancy Detling
service. Pastor John will mail out 26 invitations to those who registered for the coat at 425-3418.
giveaway on November 4, 2010 to come to our Thanksgiving Luncheon. The Mis- ********************************************
sion’s Committee will deliver meals to the shut-ins after our Thanksgiving Luncheon We will be collecting individually wrapped
Sunday, November 21, 2010. November 28, 2010 is the 1st Sunday of Advent. Fami- cookies, candies and Christmas treats until
lies will do the Advent readings. December 12 will be Music Sunday and Hanging of December 12, 2010 for the Shut-Ins. The
the Greens. A Tasting Fair will follow the worship service in the Edith Bishop Nims Missions (Local Benevolence group will
Fellowship Hall. Christmas Eve Service will December 24 at 11:00pm. purchase the fruit from the Barnesville
F. F. A. The Sunday School classes will
be decorating boxes for the Shut-ins.

Page 4

Page 3

Tradition is an important part of life. As the years pass, each family
develops their own traditions. The season of Advent/Christmas is especially rich in
tradition. As we celebrate this wonderful season year after year, we develop a
series of traditions that have meaning for us individually, for our family, and for our
church. The “Hanging of the Greens” is a service that celebrates and explains the
important traditions that are associated with the season of Advent and Christmas.
Please join us for this special service on Sunday December 12, at 10:30am.
This service will combine the “Hanging of the Greens”, “Christmas Music Sunday”
and the “Children/Youth Christmas Program”. All people in our church
congregation and participating in the program are encouraged to wear their holiday
sweaters/sweatshirts to help make this a festive service.
As a continuation of the “Hanging of the Greens” service, in the Edith Bishop
Nims Fellowship Hall there will be a “Tasting Fair”. Everyone is asked to bring their
favorite holiday dessert (including cookies, candies, cakes, pies, etc.), their favorite
holiday cheese ball, holiday salad, vegetable tray, cheese tray, fruit tray or
appetizer.
A LITTLE BOY IN CHURCH
A little boy in church today is a busy little lad.
He often tries the patience of his mother and his dad.
He fumbles in his pockets; he needs some gum to chew.
He whispers something funny; he’s underneath the pew.
He draws a picture of a cat; it looks more like a bird,
The preacher preaches on; he hasn’t heard a word.
But try one’s patience he will, he’s lovable and dear,
He can’t sit still for very long, but aren’t we glad he’s here.
The above may sound really familiar to many of us. And I know that
sometimes parents feel as if they are hindering others in worship. Just
remember that this is the best place to train our children to worship God!
You cannot train them to worship outside of the Assembly. So just keep
up the good work and train them in the way they should go
(Proverbs 22:6). You would be surprised at what they are learning from
you! !
 Safely Home
I am home in Heaven, dear ones,
ANNOUNCEMENTS Oh, so happy and so bright
******************************************************************************************* There is perfect joy and beauty
DECEMBER OFFERING WILL GO TO THE YOUTH ACTIVITY FUND In this evening light.
*******************************************************************************************
If you would like any and all contributions given to the church to show in 2010 All the pain and grief is over,
please have them in by December 20, 2010. Every restless tossing passed;
******************************************************************************************* I am now at peace forever,
The Mission’s Committee sent in 9-pair of eye glasses, 3 glass cases, that were Safely home at last.
delivered to Lens Crafters. 50 egg cartons taken to Rosie Clark.
12 lb. greeting card fronts to St. Jude. Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
*******************************************************************************************
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Our church’s Newsletter is now available on line at barnesvillefirst.com then hit
Pray to trust our Father’s will.
the link for Newsletter.
******************************************************************************************* There is work still waiting for you,
2011 Offering Envelopes are ready to be picked up on the table in the parlor. So you must not idly stand;
If you do not see your name listed or want offering envelopes, please contact Do it now, while life remaineth—
Nancy Smith at 740-425-1095. You shall rest in Jesus’ land.
*******************************************************************************************
Thank you so much for everything. . . We are so grateful! When that work is all completed,
The Family of Connie Wyscarver He will gently call you Home;
******************************************************************************************* Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
I wish to thank Pastor John for his visits to the hospital when I was there. Also Oh, the joy to see you come!
thank you to those for the get well cards and prayers. All was greatly
Author Unknown
appreciated. Carol Groves THOSE WHO WERE CALLED HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD
******************************************************************************************* Betty Hasbrouck 10-26-2010
We want to thank all the members and friends of you church who have so gen- (Member of our Church Family)
erously donated to our food pantry. You are a truly caring group of God’s peo-
ple and we could not do our work without your help. May God continue to bless
your families and thanks again.
London Renee’ Hodge 11-07-2010
(Great Niece of Roy & Becky Steele)
St. Vincent de Paul, Virginia Waggle
*******************************************************************************************
Thank you for all your cares and concern during and after my surgery. Thank Connie Timmons Wyscarver 11-09-2010 (Wife of Ronnie Wyscarver)
you to Pastor John, and all who sent cards, made phone calls, visits and (Member of our church Family)
Especially for all your prayers. Thank You, Roger Wehr
 Sun Mon
December 2010 Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 9:15am BAMA Mtg 2 3 4
At Main St. UMC 6:00pm Hand Bell Wedding Rehearsal for 3:30pm Wedding for
Practice Lindsey McKelvey & Lindsey McKelvey &
5:30pm Confirmation 7:00pm Chancel Choir Kyle McGlumphy Kyle McGlumphy
Class Main St. UMC Practice

5 9:00am Trustee Mtg 6 7 8 9 10 11

(Pastor’s Study) Pastor John
Pastor John 9:30am Cluster Group Mtg.
7:00pm Pastor John Chaplain on Call 5:00pm Girl Scout
HOLY COMMUNION Village Council Mtg Leader Mtg 2:45pm Daisy Troop Mtg
2nd Sunday of Advent 6:00pm Hand Bell
Practice
6:30pm H. I. S. Mtg 7:00pm Chancel Choir Practice
12 9:00am Mission’s 13 2:30pm Brownie Mtg 14 15 16 17 2-9:30pm Olan Mills 18 9:30am-5:10pm Olan
Mtg (Edith Bishop Amanda McEndree will be taking pic- Mills will be taking
Nims FH) Pastor John 6:00pm Hand Bell tures for the people pictures for the peo-
3rd Sunday of Advent Chaplain on Call Practice who signed up for the ple who signed up for
2:00pm Pastor John 7:00pm Chancel Choir church directory the church directory
Barnesville HCC 6:30pm Finance Mtg Practice
19 20 21 22 23 24 7:00pm Christmas Eve 25
Tom & Lydia Young will Service at the
Presbyterian Church
become members of our Pastor John
church family Chaplain on Call 11:00pm Christmas Eve
Service at the First United
4th Sunday of Advent Methodist Church
26 27 28 29 30 31
NO WORSHIP
COMMITTEE MTG Pastor John
Chaplain on Call