We have been incredibly blessed this year as we moved out of a challenging season. God has continued to pour out a spirit of love and grace into our congregation and through us into the Ringgold community. As we come to the end of the year, we give thanks for all that God has done, is doing, and will do through our faithfulness and service.

As we move into the last months of 2024, there are two ways we can give thanks in a material way. We continue to meet our bills and support our staff, but we have been struggling to keep current with our facility’s needs. If you can make a special gift to our Maintenance and Repair Fund, it would be a blessing to our hard-working trustees!

NCIC (Nourishing Children in Catoosa) feeds over 1700 schoolchildren every week during the school year. We don’t want to leave them hungry over the Winter Holiday, so our Thanksgiving goal is to collect enough 16 oz. jars to send one home with every student for the break. Watch out for those two-for-one deals in your favorite grocery and dollar stores and double your gift!

In football lingo, some teams have a “deep bench,” an abundance of skilled players ready to play. Ringgold United Methodist is a congregation with a “deep bench.”  We are blessed with an incredible abundance of skilled and gifted people who are ready to serve God’s Kingdom. On Sunday, November 24th, we will celebrate the many ways in which God’s grace flows through our congregation with a Laity Sunday Service at 9:00 and 11:00 am. Randy Sherrill will be bringing our message of Good News, and other folks will take part in giving thanks for God’s calling on our congregation.

Tax considerations are not our first or best reasons for supporting the missions and operations of our church or other organizations. However, when there are also tax benefits to a donation, it’s a welcome bonus. If you own investments that have appreciated over time (lucky you!), selling those stocks can add to your taxable income, even if you write a check to the church from the proceeds of the sale. If you are in the age group that is subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) from your IRA’s or other retirement accounts, you can instruct your broker to send part or all of that RMD as a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) directly to RUMC. You will not claim that as a charitable deduction on your taxes, even though it shows up on your year-end giving statement. Instead, it will be deducted from your taxable income and reduce the income taxes you pay. If you have a stock that has appreciated outside of your retirements accounts or you are not at the age you must take an RMD (and it’s a moving target!), you can instruct your broker to donate shares directly to RUMC and you can deduct the whole amount as a charitable contribution. We have an account at Fidelity for just this purpose. When you are ready to donate actual shares of stock, first consult your financial adviser as to whether this is the best choice for you. Then, contact Sharon Hardin (423-488-8454, treasurer@ringgoldumc.org) and she will give you the account information your broker requires. It can take several days for all the paperwork to be completed. Questions? Contact Sharon (treasurer@ringgoldumc.org).

Pickleball! Rain or shine! We have one court, play is geared toward beginners or those who want to work on specific skills. Paddles and balls are provided. Thursdays only (for now) in the gym from Noon until 2 PM.

Mark your calendars for 49er’s monthly meeting, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. After dinner we will welcome Shay Love, Coordinator for Crossroads Unity Family Park Project. Shay will share insights for the planned park in Ringgold to serve all ages and all abilities. The park’s emphasis will be providing an accessible environment for area families with disabilities.

Fried chicken will be provided for dinner. Make plans to attend and bring a side dish, salad, or dessert.

Over the past three years we have started an annual tradition in which we host a block party during the Ringgold Downhome Christmas Parade. We are excited to announce our annual block party will be returning again this year. The parade is Friday, December 6th, and its technical start time is 6pm although our location along the parade route normally has the parade getting to us closer to 6:15 or 6:30, but you’ll want to get there early to get a good parking spot and seat along the road. Bring lawn chairs if you want somewhere to sit!

Our festivities for the block party will start at 5pm including free hot chocolate, candy canes, fire pits, music, caroling, and more! This year, our men’s ministry will also be selling BBQ plates as a fundraiser to purchase bibles and fund scholarships for students within our church. Soon you will be able to sign up to serve through the church app if you’d like OR just come for fellowship and a great time!

Our Partners in Education group plans to provide cookies and/or Christmas sweet treats for the staff at our partner schools. We are planning to bake cookies and need your help. We will need approximately 54 dozen. If you would like to volunteer to bake some cookies and/or treats and then bring them to the church, sign ups will soon be available on the church app and you'll need to sign up by December 1 so we know we have enough.  Please deliver the items to church on Sunday morning, December 8.

For over 40 years, RUMC has ministered to families in need during the Christmas season through the Children’s Celebration of Christmas. This year’s celebration will be held on Saturday night, December 14th, and all families in the church are invited to join those who will be receiving special invitations to attend. The evening will include free pictures with Santa, a delicious meal, three or four special activity areas for families to complete Christmas crafts,etc., and Christmas carols with the whole evening reflecting the true meaning of Christmas. Our special guests will be those whose names we have received from local school counselors that believe these families can use a little extra help for Christmas.

In addition to attending on December 14, there are several other ways that you can help this be a great night for all those involved. On Wednesday December 11th, lots of hands are needed to sort and pack food boxes for each invited family. Also,volunteers are needed to help wrap Christmas presents for those who are invited. These will then be organized by families and placed in the hallway for the invited guests to take home on the 14th. In addition, during the month of November, you will have the opportunity to fill a red bag with paper and personal care items and a bag will go home with each family. When you pick up your red bag from the church entrances, you will find a list of items that are suggested for each bag. There are many items that cannot be purchased on food stamps, so our providing these cleaning supplies, paper supplies (toilet paper, etc.) and personal care items (i.e. soap, toothpaste, etc) is a huge help to the families.

December’s Communicator will have more details about the actual week of the Children’s Celebration of Christmas and you'll soon be able to sign up to serve through the church app, but go ahead now and mark your calendar for both December 11th and 14th. Then be sure to pick up a red bag beginning Sunday, November 3rd, fill the bag, and return it by the end of November. Thank you in advance for helping make the CCC 2024 the best one yet!!

November 49ers
Tuesday, Nov 12 • 6 - 7:30 pm

Youth Friendsgiving
Sunday, Nov 17 • 4 - 7 pm

Laity Sunday
Sunday, Nov 24 • During Worship

Hanging of the Greens
Saturday, Nov 30 • 10 am - noon

Have an article that you would like to contribute to an upcoming The Communicator newsletter? Email it to: newsletter@ringgoldumc.org

For an article to be included in the December edition, it must be submitted by November 17th.

General Budget
Full Year Budget: $610,500
Budgeted in September: $50,875
Received in September: $54,505
Spent in September: $47,584
Budgeted September YTD: $457,875          
Received September YTD: $428,533
Spent September YTD: $453,268

In Person :
9 AM: 69
11 AM: 64
 
Online:
9AM: 19
11 AM: 10

General Fund
In Honor of Children & Grandchildren
by Marie McMillen

In Honor of Carroll Cumbee
by Marty & Laurie McGee

In Honor of Lee Kay
by Ringgold United Methodist Women

In Honor of Chris Bryant
by Eddie Floyd

Maintenance & Repair Reserve
In Honor of Children & Grandchildren
by Marie McMillen

Missions – UMCOR
In Honor of Chris Bryant
by Eddie Floyd

NCIC
In Memory of Nan Pinkston
by Theo Pinkston

Ringgold United Methodist Church
706-935-4777 | www.ringgoldumc.org
7484 Nashville St
Ringgold, GA 30736

David Cott, Senior Pastor
Sally Ensley, Minister of Care
Kirsten Lankford, Director of Children’s Ministry
Michael Arnold, Worship Band Leader
Kodi Lowry, Director of Preschool
Taylor Lankford, Executive Director of Worship and the Arts
Marty McGee, Coordinator of Senior Adult Ministries
Pam Blaylock, Office Administrator
Drew Sherrill, Communications and Technical Director
Jamie Smith, Director of Youth Ministry
Carolyn Turner, Organist
Ann McMillen, Pianist