Come join us for a Children’s Christmas Program beginning at 5 p.m. in the fellowship hall followed by our “Lighting the Word for the World” program out under the shelter. After we ‘turn on the lights’, we’ll return to the fellowship hall for cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and hot cider. All we need now are some cookies and YOU! more…

Each Christmas we have asked the congregation to purchase poinsettias in honor or memory of someone. This year, instead of buying poinsettias, we are asking folks to make a $5 contribution in memory or in honor of someone. This money will be used for our Fisherman’s Fund to help with our outreach ministry. A donation designation form will be in our Sunday bulletins for the next three Sundays. more…

Many thanks to those of you who donated non-perishable food items for our annual Thanksgiving ‘delivery’ to East ,ashville Cooperative Ministries and a big ‘thank you’ to Joan Williams for delivering these items to the Ministry. She reports that many of their shelves are completely bare and folks who need help are standing in long, long lines.  more…

Children ll and under are invited to eat for free when accompanied by a paying adult on December 17 at the Good Grub Café All-Church Christmas party. Santa will be a special guest of the evening and is looking forward to greeting all his friends at Hickory Bend.

Pork Hash, Fancy Fried Yams, Apple-Carrot-Craisin Salad, Cornbread, Pound Cake with choice of Blueberry Sauce or Rum Sauce and Cool Whip

Good Grubbies, Swedish Meatballs and Noodles, Chicken Enchilada Dip and Chips, Cool Veggie Pizza, Oyster Cracker Snacks, Chipped Beef Cheese Ball and Crackers, Little Smokies, Spiced Pecans, Powdered Sugar Honey Balls, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Bars, Oats in a Jam Squares, and special guest Santa!

Please consider donating just one side dish or one dessert to the Christmas dinner this year. Many hanks to those of you who have contributed money toward purchase of the hams for the entree. We plan on delivering the meal on Christmas Eve at about noon, and the menu will be posted on the back bulletin board.

Well cyberspace that is. We have officially launched the Hickorybendumc.com website. Each week during church Stephanie will introduce a new tool to use on the site. We will be continually adding to the website, including photos, video, and even podcasts of each week’s sermon. more…

Once again this year, Hickory Bend UMC is participating in the Bethlehem Center’s Toys for Tots program. If you’d like to donate a toy or toys, please bring them (unwrapped ) to the church by December 7th and Becky Williamson will get them to the Bethlehem Center for us. Suggestions for toys are . . . toys for infants & toddles, baby dolls, board games, boy and girl gift sets, books, age appropriate card games, sport items (basketballs, footballs, baseballs & gloves), computer & video games, age appropriate CD’s, MP3 Players, CD & DVD Players, Action Figures, Purses, Make-up sets, scrapbook sets, sleeping bags, toy cooking sets.
This holiday season, remember those who are less fortunate and join us in our efforts to make this
a great Christmas for our community! If you have any questions, give Becky a call.

Luke 2:41-52
The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple. The conclusion of Luke’s infancy narrative.