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Diamondhead United Methodist

Church

5305 Noma Drive Diamondhead, MS 39525

Phone 228.255.6888

Email: dumc@cableone.net

Links

Seashore District Website

The DOVE

December, 2008

As I write this newsletter article we are only days ahead of Thanksgiving. Advent begins three days later. It is appropriate that a time of expectant waiting in remembrance of our Lord’s first advent and in anticipation of his second coming is preceded with a day set aside for gratitude.

We have much for which to be grateful. The bondage of sin and death are broken through Christ and a hope-filled future is ahead. Despite the present condition characterized by so much fear, struggle and despair the Body of Christ knows that her future is secure. Many of us have experienced significant breakthroughs in our lives. The often desperate prayers of many years are being answered. God is faithful!

The first Advent came at a low point in the life of the people of God. Their confidence was shaken. An occupying power, Rome , committed much sacrilege. Hypocrisy reigned among the leadership of the religious elite. People groaned over the weight of their own transgressions, a lack of vision and no possibility for renewal of heart, soul and life.

Is our time so different? We struggle to break free from our own imprisonment. Many things bring dishonor to the Body of Christ. Against the holiness of God we wonder why and how God can withhold wrath against our culture, the church and our lives.

The birth of Christ happened not because of a prior revival, a renewed commitment to holy living, fervency of prayer and worship or any effort of humankind. The “Word becoming flesh” is God’s initiative. God chose to have mercy in offering the gift of his Son. The blind were given sight, the demon possessed set free and the outcasts given a seat at the banquet table.

We live as recipients of this Good News. Christ came, he conquered and now reigns supreme. I pray that knowing this will lift this church so that it will more fully live as a home where love is served.

During these next weeks of Advent we await more of the great things of God. Let us yearn, pray and work so that we may be found ready for the “second advent.”

Serving with Christ and Making Disciples,

Brother David

Table of Contents

A Word from Brother David Page – 1

Prayer Requests - Page – 3

Random Thoughts by Bill Yordy - Page 4

Birthdays & Anniversaries Page – 5

Calendar of Events Page - 6

Church News Pages – 6 -11

DOVE NEWS DEADLINE

3^RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH

Diamondhead United Methodist Church Staff

Pastor..…Rev. David L. Newton

Administrative Assistant….Joyce Minton

Choir Director……..Rita Wilson

Praise Band Leader…….Leslie Henderson

Pianist……...……Gloria Dupree

Nursery Worker…..Tobey Porter

Prayer Requests

We ask that you would pray daily for the individuals listed below. These are members of our church family, friends of our church family, and some people who simply need our prayers. If you know someone who is in need of prayers -- no matter what the cause may be -- please contact the church office (228-255-6888) so we can make sure your special someone is added to our Prayer List and/or our Prayer Circle

Family of Tanner Adam	Sean Hoover	Dana Pasley
Bill Alfred	Fred Ingram	Michele Pendergraft
Beth Bigger	Helen Ingram	Tom Pendergraft
Jordan Bursener	Bob Johnson	Nancy Pettit
Cabe	Emily Jones	Karen Randolf
Gary Carter	Richard Jones	Brother Ray
Emalie Cormier	Shianne Kennedy	Bridgett Robinson
Earlene Cosper	Robert Kirkup	Pat Romaine
Betty Crider	Jim Kirka	Tina Roundtree
Michelle Crisp	James Klein	Rusty Rusic
Jason Cuevas	Walter Lance	Neuva Sears
Brenda Dawn	Laura Lucore	Tristen Seoul
David Deblanc	Menton Matthews	Paige Trowbridge
Scott Deary	Venessa Matthews	Steve Trowbridge
Pam Dufrene	William Matthews	Steve Uncapher
Eddie Durham	Amiricol Magee	June Verdi
The Ferrells	Fred Meyer	Dorothy Vines
Mary Beth Fuller	Don Miller	David Wahl
Tyler Gardner	Dempsy Milton	Julie Walters
Betty Garrett	Bev Olszewski	Roger Williamson
Gavin	Chris O’Quinn	Charlotte Yordy
Elizabeth	Missy Overheu	Diane Yordy
Ruff Gray	Richard Palatine	Acahualinca Methodist
Family of Stephen Hoda	Joan Parmalee

Random Thoughts; Perspective

By Bill Yordy

A few weekends ago I was taking some friends for an airplane ride. I always enjoy giving rides; particularly first time rides to children and their parents. Quite often there is a sense of apprehension when we first start as the sights and sounds of an airplane in the takeoff roll are different than most people have normally experienced. At Diamondhead the view during the takeoff roll is much like driving down the Interstate with trees on both sides and pavement ahead. As the airplane climbs way from the earth and we “clear the trees” however, the whole perspective changes and the view becomes a vast panorama of the entire area spread before us. About that time the expressions change to smiles and exclamations of “wow” and “look at that” become commonplace. As we fly around the area and experience an airborne view of where my passengers live, go to school, and go to church the entire experience becomes a happy, even festive, event. When we returned from that last flight and I asked “how was it”, and the answers were “That was cool!” I was a happy person.

I think some times our perspective of God is like that. As we go about our daily lives it’s much like the take off roll and all we see is what’s in front of us rapidly approaching and what’s around us is just a blur.

Christmas season is a time to “clear the trees” and take a broad look at God’s world and our individual relationships with him. As I look at the infinite nature of God from that night in the stable through the wonders he performs in our lives today I’m filled with a sense of awe and wonder. God can be anything and have anything and yet he has chosen to sacrifice his only son so that we all might spend eternity with him.

As we celebrate this Christmas season let’s all consider the broader perspective of what God means to us. As we enjoy our time with family and friends, and as we exchange gifts, let’s remember the priceless gift of Jesus that God has given us. All have to do is open our hearts to our Lord and we will be enveloped with his Grace and Love.

In Christ,

Bill…

Stacey Tucker December 1

Ed O’Quinn December 2

Brian Yordy December 2

Jacob Malley December 3

Barbara Harriel December 4

Leslie Henderson December 10

Alex Meyer December 11

Wilma Pope December 14

Nicholas Cuevas December 16

Margaret Smith December 19

Susan Plue December 20

Betty Crider December 23

Victoria Malley December 24

Brenda Keith December 25

Jamie Kingston December 28

David & Janene Malley December 15

David & Barbara Harriel December 18

Gerald & Lori Huthoefer December 18

James & Jeane Odom December 29

CHURCH CALENDAR

Every Monday

Every Monday

Every Monday

Every Tuesday

2^nd & 4^th Tuesday

1^st & 3^rd Friday

Every Wednesday

December 1

December 3

December 12

December 14

December 14

December 14

December 15

December 24

De

1:00-3:30 p.m.

6:00-9:00 p.m.

2:00 -3:00 p.m.

4:15-5:30 p.m.

12:00 Noon

6:30 p.m.

9-12:00 Noon

6:00-9:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

10:30 a.m. (combined)

2:00 p.m.

9-12:00 Noon

6:00 p.m.

Easy Bridge

Bridge

Nursing Home

Boy Scouts

Exchange Club

Girl Scouts

W W Cancelled in December

Food Pantry

Hanging of the Green

CCHEA Meeting/Potluck

Christmas Cantata

Bishop Ward speaker

Nursing Home Ministry

Food Pantry

Candlelight Service

On Sunday mornings our Heritage Service is held at 8:30. The Heritage Service is a traditional United Methodist Church service with music by a choir and pianist. The Celebration Service, held at 10:45 is less formal with music by our Praise Band and a regular feature children in grades K-4^th grade are invited to Children’s Church. Refer to our web site, http://www.diamondheadumc.org, for additional information about DUMC activities, and please feel free to call the church office at 255-6888 to learn more about Diamondhead United Methodist Church . Occasionally we have a combined service at 10:30 a.m. such as the Thanksgiving service or when we have a special speaker such as Bishop Ward on December 14^th.

CHURCH NEWS

CHRIST CONSTRUCTION CREW CALENDAR FOR

YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Children’s Church

The newly started Children’s Church begins in the sanctuary during the Celebration Service at 10:45 AM. Immediately following worship music by the praise band, children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to the fellowship hall for Children’s Church while the Celebration Service continues for adults. Children are learning Bible lessons and engaging in memory work. Bible story related arts, crafts and games supplement the learning experience. The children have formed a choir and will sing once a month at the Celebration service.

Attention: Youth grades 5-12. Volunteers needed for Children’s Church. See sign up sheet in the foyer.

For more information call Karrie Uncapher at 363-4864 or email the5uncs@yahoo.com.

For additional information about DUMC activities, please feel free to call the church office at 255-6888 or check our web site: www.diamondheadumc.org

Boy Scout Troop 210

DUMC is the Charter Organization sponsoring Boy Scout Troop 210. Currently there are ten scouts, ranging in age from 12 to 17 years old, in the troop. Andrew Lagarde is the Scoutmaster and his assistant is Scott Kimball. The scouts meet at the church each Tuesday at 4:15 PM.

Scouts participate in various service projects such as recovery work in storm damaged homes, and repair of our churchyard cemetery fence. They are also learning valuable life skills including first aid, water rescue and life saving, CPR, and orienteering. Hiking and camping expeditions are scheduled on a monthly basis. Two of the scouts – Philip Legarde and Cody Roth – are in the final stages of advancing to Eagle rank.

If a boy has completed fifth grade but not yet graduated from high school and is interested in joining the Scouts, he is invited to attend one of the weekly meetings with a parent to learn more about Troop 210 programs.

DUMC Opens Its Doors to the Community

As a further commitment to our youth, Diamondhead United Methodist Church (DUMC) has begun a WEBELOS Scouts Den. WEBELOS participation is open to fourth and fifth graders as they prepare to enter Boy Scouts. Meetings are held at the church two times a month. DUMC continues to sponsor Boy Scout Troup 210. Our church opens its doors to other community activities as well. The Diamondhead Exchange Club meets at our facility on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. A bridge club holds its matches in our fellowship hall on Monday evenings and Friday afternoons. In October we housed another storm recovery team from North Carolina .

Volunteer Recovery Crews Rebuild Mississippi Coast

DUMC hosts more recovery groups. A Missionary Supply Network team from West Columbia , SC worked to complete two new houses. We also housed a youth group from Jones Memorial UMC in Chattanooga , TN. While in South Mississippi they worked to clear debris from property near the coast. A team from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Concord , North Carolina , led by Catherine Ritch Guess, stayed with us when they conducted a Vacation Bible School for children in Pearlington. Ms. Guess is an author and composer. One of her main characters, Rudy the Pig, has a mission to help replenish the bookshelves of schools in Louisiana and Mississippi that lost their libraries during Katrina. The new Pearlington Elementary School library is one of the local projects. In September, Ms. Guess returned with Rudy the Pig and a group of sand sculpture artists from Ohio who demonstrated their unique craft in Hancock County . In October we housed another storm recovery team from North Carolina .

Everyone in Diamondhead is welcome to attend any of our church services and functions. For additional information about DUMC activities, please call the church office at 255-6888 or check our web site: www.diamondheadumc.org

SAGER BROWN

WHAT A BLESSING!

The week of November 9^th four members of DUMC made the annual visit to UMCOR Sager Brown. The church has been going for six years. We always receive much more than what we give.

UMCOR Sager-Brown is the only Methodist depot in the U.S. that ships out relief supplies all over the world after a natural disaster. UMCOR is located on Bayou Tesche in Baldwin , LA. It is a very serene and pretty location.

Our work assignments consisted of

· painting: bathrooms, outside ceiling walkways, windows

· caulking windows and doorways

· helping clean the facilities

· sewing school bags

· checking health kits, baby layettes, school supplies, and packing these kits ready for shipment when the need arises

In addition, Tuesday was their Food for Families day. Each month Sager Brown, along with Catholic Charities, feeds the low income families with boxes of non-perishable food. This month they also received their supply for December. A total of 600 families are provided for each month. We, along with other volunteers, helped certify clients and give out boxes of food.

Our dates are set for next year. We will be going from November 8 - 13, 2009. Please mark your calendars and plan on joining us for a wonderful and blessed experience.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

On December 14^th, we will have a combined service at 10:30 a.m. with Bishop Hope Morgan Ward as the speaker.

GULF COAST MESSIAH CHORUS PERFORMANCES

The Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus, welcoming our new conductor Dr. Paul McGahie, will perform Handel’s Messiah on Friday, December 5^th, 7:00 p.m. at the Gulfport High School Auditorium, on Saturday December 6^th, 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1340 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, and Sunday December 7^th matinee performance 3:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5007 Lawson Ave., Gulfport, MS (Bayou View subdivision). The Gulf Coast performances are free and open to the public, donations are accepted. Participants are volunteers from various communities along the Gulf Coast . For more information on this event, you can call Barbara Lightner, (228) 990-5273 (days) or (228) 875-4852 (evenings).

CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS

Thank you for the Campbell labels. While most of the labels are soup, please be looking for these additional products: Campbell's SpaghettiO's are on this list, as are all soups, tomato juice, beans, gravies, dry soup mix, individual microwave bowls of soup, and supper bakes. Additional brand names: Franco-American gravies, Pepperidge farms soups, breads, croutons, rolls and stuffing, Goldfish, frozen breads, cakes turnovers, dumplings and puff pastry, Swanson broths, Market Day, Prego Italian sauces, V-8 juices and soups. We are saving to get a van. This will take participation from everyone. If you have parents, aunt and uncles, adult children anyone you can ask to save for us we can achieve this goal in no time. Let's all work together to get our van as soon as possible. Place them in the green basket on the Narthex table. If you have any questions please call me: Deanna Harrison 228-222-3115

Methodist Men’s Group Formed

Our Methodist Men are in the process of organizing to support the mission of DUMC: “Serving with Christ – Making Disciples.” Breakfast planning meetings will be held from time to time on Sunday mornings at 7:30 AM before the Heritage Service. All men in the congregation are invited to participate. Visitors are welcome too. Meetings will be announced at least a week beforehand in the church bulletin. We have already discovered that there are a few good chefs in the group who can rustle up a hearty breakfast.