Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (Mops)

Caroling To Shut-Ins

Lunch Bunch

S.E.C.A. Food Help

Decembers Womens Brunch

New Members Class

Tents For The Homeless

Longest Night Christmas Service

White House Christmas Ornaments

Advent Study

Advent Dinner

Next UMM Meeting

Stephen Ministry

Brown Bag Lunch Ministry

Lend - a  Hand

We Need You! on the Sound Board

Crossbearers

Church Officers for 2008

Tabernacle's History

United Methodist Men

Tabernacle has a wonderful support group for mothers. MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) is a wonderful time to be inspired by other moms and take some time for yourself! Your children will have excellent care in the nursery by our Moppets program, led by Kim Carryer. Come to our December meeting this Monday, Dec. 8th. We meet in the Fellowship Hall around 9:15 a.m. and each bring some really yummy dishes to share! After some food and fellowship, we will take part in a devotional and then Debbie Stadtler has a fun craft planned for us all to do! During this busy holiday season, come and take a break with some of your sisters in Christ! See you there! Please contact Linda Schueler for any questions at 786-0368.

United Methodist Men

Susan Pleasants and Susan Thompson are planning a trip to sing to our Shut-Ins. This will be on Thursday, December 18th from 5:00  7:00 p.m. We will meet at the church at 4:45 p.m. For more information please contact Susan Thompson or Susan Pleasants at the church office 786-6162.

United Methodist Men

Come join us for Lunch Bunch on December 17th at 12:00 p.m. noon in Fellowship Hall. We will be singing Christmas music and doing a gift exchange. Bring a wrapped Christmas ornament, cookies, or some type of gift not to exceed $10.00. Also bring a side dish. The meat and dessert will be provided. Put on your reindeer antlers, your Santa hat, or your elf costume and join us for a lot of Christmas fun!

United Methodist Men

On December 2nd, the Sr. High Youth sorted and stacked the food donations at SECA. Usually, we have to carve out a place to stand amid all the boxes and bags of food as we begin sorting and it takes several trips to really get the donations sorted. At the end of sorting, we usually have stacked high and deep, rows of beans, corn, peas along with many other categories.

Not this year! We didn't have rows and stacks of corn- we had two and 1/2 boxes. There was not one jar of peanut butter in the sorted food. Even cranberry sauce, in past years extremely plentiful was few and far between. The room was half empty when we arrived and really bare at the end. After years of helping at SECA during this time, we can testify to the extreme need for food for our community. There will be hungry families in our community this winter. Children will go to school with empty tummies.

- Cases of vegetables are needed- the cost of a venti drink at Starbucks.

- Cases of Peanut Butter are needed- the cost of a movie for 4.

- Cases of Tuna- a dinner out at a moderate priced restaurant.

This Christmas we all have less, but our community need us to be creative with our resources. The Sr. High Youth challenge our church family to find cheaper alternatives to some of our recreation- coffee, movies, dinner out and to use the saved money to feed the hungry. Because this year, the hungry are here.

United Methodist Men

This Wednesday, December 10th at 10:00 a.m., please join us in the Fellowship Hall for our traditional Pictionary brunch. Please bring a dish to share and enjoy playing Pictionary with your sisters in Christ! Some of them are quite competitive! It is so much fun and such a release during this sometimes stressful season! Come and join us for food, laughs and lots of fun!

Also, starting in January, Womens' Brunch is going to be the first Wednesday of every month. I am hoping that more of the wonderful women of Tabernacle will be able to join us and be inspired with this year's focus on the 6 pillars of Tabernacle UMC. On January 7th, join us as we talk about Fellowship. Be there to experience Fellowship at its best and meet some of the amazing women in our church!

United Methodist Men

The next new members class will be Sunday, January 25th from 2-6 p.m., not December 28th as previously announced. Having a single extended session helps people get introduced to the basics of the salvation message, the history, plans and current ministries of Tabernacle, ways to get involved, something about Methodism and the expectations involved in membership. Use the attendance registration portion of the bulletin to let us know that you will be coming to CLASS 101Church Membership. Thanks.

United Methodist Men

The Sr. High and College group will be collecting gently used tents for the homeless during the month of December. Any size is needed. Many of the homeless lost their tents during the hurricanes in the late summer and as the weather gets colder, it's critical to provide shelter. If you need a tent pick up, call Cynthia Hay at 786-9350. Tent donations can be left under the information tables in the Multi-Purpose Room. Please be sure that each tent has the appropriate hardware.

United Methodist Men

Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of all the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.

For these reasons, Tabernacle Church will offer a special "Longest Night" service on December 21st at 4:00 pm. Please come and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge God's presence for those who mourn and for those who struggle.

If you have other questions concerning this service, please contact Susan Pleasants at 786-6162 or e-mail at visitation@tabumc.org.

United Methodist Men

The UMW have the 2008 White House Christmas Ornaments for sale. Each ornament is $20. Ornaments will be available for purchase each Sunday during Fellowship Coffee Time at 9:30 a.m. and at other church events. For more information or to purchase your ornament, please contact Kristi Worthen at 785-9401 or e-mail at kkandy@comcast.net.

The 2008 White House Christmas ornament honors the administration of President Benjamin Harrison, the twenty-third president of the United States. This 24 karat gold finished ornament is inspired by the Victorian Christmas trees that decorated the White House during President Harrison's term. The first recorded White House Christmas Tree, laden with baubles and garland and topped with American flags, is a canvas for all sorts of treats and toys.

United Methodist Men

What is the miracle of Christmas? Is it family gatherings? Finding that perfect gift? Standing in the shopping lines? Wrapping presents? Opening presents? Making dozens of cookies? Egg Nog? Although all of these are traditions of the Christmas season, they are not the miracle of this joyous time of year. It is simply that the one and true Christmas Miracle happened 2008 years ago in a manger in Bethlehem when our God came to earth in the birth of Jesus Christ. It is here that a single miracle happened for ALL of us because God came to do what we could not do for ourselves He saved us!

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life John 3:16

Please join us on each Sunday at 4:00 p.m.as we explore the Miracle of Christmas in an Advent study by James W. Moore. The remaining dates for this study will include December 7th, 14th, and 21st. Books will be provided, but to ensure that there are enough copies, please let me know that you plan to attend. For more information, please contact Megan Snell at 548-2351 or e-mail at megaslush@aol.com.

United Methodist Men

You Are Invited to the annual United Methodist Women Advent Dinner on Saturday December 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the Multi Purpose Room. The UMW. will provide the turkey; you bring a side dish to share. This is a wonderful way to have Christmas Dinner with your church family! There will be a video of the past years events at Tabernacle and the Bell Choir will perform a program of Christmas music. Come, slow down from the hustle and bustle, and enjoy the season of Advent with your family and friends. Mark your calendars now so that you dont forget and feel free to invite a neighbor! For more information, please contact Sherri Stadtler at 548-1629.

United Methodist Men

UMM ministries and fundraisers were approved at our January meeting as follows:

February/March, Westview on James Scholarships

Feb 16, Tues 5:30pm, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

April 4, Easter Sunday, 7:30am, Easter Morning Breakfast following Sunrise Service

April, Bowlathon

May 1, Saturday, Chicken BBQ

May, Mother Daughter Day Dinner assistance

June 6, Sunday, Fishing Rodeo

September, Thurman-Brisben Dinner

October 2, Saturday, Chicken BBQ

November 23, Tuesday, Thanksgiving Auction

December, Christmas Baskets

Other UMM ministries include Cub and Boy Scout sponsorship; Summer camp scholarships; support to a Pastor in the Sudan; support of a child in India thru the Children's Christian Fund; support to a missionary in East Asia; and other church and community needs we receive throughout the year.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER - All members of the congregation and guests are cordially invited to the UMM Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 16, at 5:30pm, in the Multi-purpose Room of Tabernacle. Bring the whole family and give Mom or yourself a break from the kitchen! And bring a good appetite for pancakes and all the fixin's, compliments of the Tabernacle United Methodist Men.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE NEW YEAR - "Be Ye Doers of the Word, and not Hearers only."

United Methodist Men

Stephen Ministry is a system through which members of Tabernacle United Methodist Church are trained and organized to help provide Christian care giving to members of our congregation and community. We have many needs for care in our congregation and community: people experiencing divorce, grief, a terminal illness, loss of a job, relocation, an empty nest, retirement, hospitalization, loneliness, and many other stresses or challenges.

Stephen Ministers:

- Are lay Christians selected, trained, and supervised by a Stephen Leader to provide effective Christian care.

- Make a commitment which includes 50 hours of training, on-going supervisory meetings, and an average of one 1-hour visit per week with the person receiving their care.

- Are named after St. Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early Christian church, commissioned by the apostles to care for the needs of people in the Christian community.

- Recognize this ministry as a confidential ministry in which continuous effort is expended to maintain the body of trust between the person receiving care and the caregiver.

Tabernacle plans to expand the care our congregation can offer by equipping and organizing additional members to provide Christian care as Stephen Ministers. This will give us a larger pool of lay ministers with the gifts, skills, and calling to bring Christ's love and care to those who most need it. A new Stephen Minister training class is set to begin at Tabernacle on Tuesday, 14 October from 7:00 - 9:30 pm. The 50 hours of Stephen Ministry training is broken down into twenty 2 ½-hour sessions. The training will be provided by Stephen Leader, Charlie Winters. At the completion of their training, the members will be commissioned as Stephen Ministers. They will then join eight active Stephen Ministers at Tabernacle in providing one-to-one care to individuals experiencing difficulties in life. Stephen Ministry training combines sound theological principles with contemporary psychology, says Pastor Steve, who strongly supports and advocates for this distinctive lay Christian caring ministry. The training is top-notch. The skills our Stephen Ministers learn and practice prepares them to provide a very high level of Christian care-giving. The training is intense because it explores some serious life issues, but it is also a growth-producing and enjoyable experience. The Holy Spirit may be calling you to the joy, commitment, growth, meaning, training, service, and care of being a Stephen Minister. Pray for God's guidance as you consider this distinctive lay Christian caring opportunity. For more information, contact Stephen Leader, Charlie Winters (540) 786-8896 or Pastor Steve Hay (540) 786-6162.

United Methodist Men

On the first Saturday of each month, we meet in the Fellowship Hall (or MPR) to make bag lunches for low income families downtown. Come be a part of our group! We need people at 10 a.m. to help put the lunches together, and we especially need people at 11:00 a.m. to help deliver the lunches. This month we are also in need of 150 juice boxes, 140 snack bags of chips or crackers, 80 fruit cups, and 19 loaves of bread. Additionally, we need toothpaste, toothbrushes and soap for the hygiene kits. Donations of time and supplies are greatly appreciated. For more information call 548-1928 or email Stacey at asklawson@aol.com.

United Methodist Men

The Mission Team is starting a Lend-A-Hand program so that church members may support and give back to each other. Team members will compile a list of church members/attendees who are willing to help others in the Tabernacle family and the skills they possess. These skills can range from making and delivering a meal to help with small home repairs. When a member of our congregation needs help with something they can fill out a help request and be matched with a volunteer willing to Lend-A-Hand We have times in our life where day to day things become difficult or not possible to accomplish and this program is a way we can work together. If you are willing to help, please fill out one of the forms found at our information tables throughout the church and return it to the Lend-A-Hand mailbox in Fellowship Hall or to a member of the Missions Committee.

United Methodist Men

The Contemporary Service is in need of someone to work the sound board. This person would need to be here by 8:45 on Sunday morning to set up the system while the singers practice for the service. The sound person would also need to be here during the service itself (9:45 to approximately 11:00). If you are interested in this position, please contact the church at 786-6162 or email visitation@tabumc.org.

United Methodist Men

The 4th Tuesday of each month, people from Tabernacle and Peace UMC go to Woodmont Nursing Facility from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m to visit, have fellowship, sing hymns, and have a short devotion. If you are interested in participating in this inspirational and personally uplifting ministry, please contact Amy King at 786-2419 for more information.

United Methodist Men

Tabernacle Webmaster

No one can state with complete accuracy the date of the beginning of the first Methodist congregation in the Chancellor neighborhood that subsequently came to be called Tabernacle United Methodist Church. In the early history of the Methodist circuit riders, they were appointed to a specific geographical area, rather than to a local congregation or a number of already established churches, called a circuit. It is known, however, that circuit riders had been appointed to the entire state of Virginia not long after the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. Even before that date, Methodism’s three earliest bishops, Francis Asbury, Thomas Coke and Richard Whatcoat, visited Spotsylvania County preaching the Gospel as understood by the Methodists. In all probability they rode past the location of present-day Tabernacle Church (Asbury’s Journal).

The earliest known date that an organized congregation of Methodist people existed in Spotsylvania County, is 1809, when a deed to a church was recorded in the clerk’s office at the courthouse. The name of the church, Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America, was located in the Brokenburg area. All traces of it disappeared long ago.

The Spotsylvania Circuit first appeared in the minutes of the Virginia Conference, in 1855, with the appointment of the Rev. Charles P. Moorman (Jan. 22, 1798 – Oct. 5, 1844), preacher in charge. Rev. Moorman’s circuit encompassed the entire county of Spotsylvania that had been served by other circuit riders prior to that date. There is in existence records that verify a “Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church” as early as 1842, however, most assuredly there was a congregation of Methodist worshippers in the Chancellor neighborhood several years prior to that date. According to tradition, the earliest Methodist church, possibly known locally as the Methodist Meeting House, the usual name given to churches at that time, was located somewhere on Motts Run.

Sometime prior to the Civil War (1861-1865), the Methodists in the Chancellor neighborhood erected a small frame structure at the juncture of Harrison and Gordon Roads. This Tabernacle Church appears on a number of maps used by the Confederate Army during the Battle of Chancellorsville and Salem church, May 1863. According to tradition, having been used as a hospital by the Confederates, at which time there was an epidemic of smallpox among the troops, the Methodist congregation, out of fear of catching the dreaded disease, burned the church and moved to its current location on Old Plank Road. They, therefore, erected the frame structure on what is now part of Tabernacle’s parking lot and which several current members can recall attending during their childhood and younger years until 1955. It was then, under the leadership of the Rev. Earle William Fike, Sr. (Dec. 7, 1904 – Jan. 31, 1993), that the loyal congregation completed the sanctuary and educational unit of the present Tabernacle structure. It was during the pastorate of the Rev. Edward Coleman Johnson (1973-1978) that the unit commonly called the “social hall,” with the children’s Sunday school classes on the first level was built. Space does not permit the writing of an adequate history of a church that has made such a contribution to the spread of Christianity, both locally, and far beyond her doors, including giving two of her sons to the Methodist ministry: The Rev. John Wesley Hilldrup (June 30, 1840 – buried, June 30, 1895), and the Rev. William Evan Thomas (Nov. 15, 1895 – May 1, 1947).

Tabernacle Webmaster