09-01-2009 Newsletter

Please Pray For One Another

First United Methodist Church Rosenberg, Texas

Death: Tommy Sue Foerster (A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Thursday here at First UMC Rosenberg.) First United Methodist Church

Sanctuary: 1127 Third Street Mailing address: 1106 Fourth Street Rosenberg, Texas 77471

vegetables and canned fruit. The pantry was hit hard this past week and is in need of almost everything! Please make a donation this week. As vacation season comes to a close and you’re wondering what to do with all the little bottles of shampoo and tiny bars of soap you collected during your travels, please think of the food pantry if you need a place to donate these personal toiletry items. Thanks!

Phone: 281-342-3333 or 281-232-3246 Fax: 281-342-3333

Food pantry items for September are canned

Web site: www.fumcrosenberg.net

Christopher Bailey Larry Bolton Scott Cayton Jason Johnson Jeremiah Judkin Rachel Miller Dannielle Pope Needler Cash Radowick

Check us out in color!

Concerns: (8-9) Charlie Schultz, Margaret Richardson, Wayne Morris, Linda Moody, Elaine Bergman, Mary Malone, Cynthia Balzen’s father Jerry Alford, Ben Oldag (8-16) Henry Wittneben, Beau and June McGuire, Don Vogelsang, Rodne Rosenbaum, Margaret Stuart, Bill Castillo (Lou & Ellie Cumings’ son-inlaw) (8-23) Joel Salas, Cynthia Balzen, Bob Whitley, Al Liebman and family (8-30) Ginny Tielke, Hellen and Jake Bellais, Barb Nippler (Kim Spano’s mother), Kody Spano recovering from second knee surgery

www.fumcrosenberg.net

September 1, 2009 y Volume 24, Issue 34

Ramblings: Growing Up I’m sitting here in my office trying to think of a really clever way to get you to register for the growth groups that start this fall. I thought about starting with a humorous story that has nothing to do with growth groups and then through the magic of my weird mind, make a connection from out of the blue. But I decided that I have done that too many times. And besides, that’s hard. I thought about telling you what being in a growth group entails (It is a ten week commitment for once a week. The group gets together and has a time of gathering—snacks, drinks, etc.– a time for discussing the message from the previous Sunday worship time, a time of prayer, and then go home. The group is also encouraged to have two purely social times during the three months— going out to dinner, watching a ball game, a rousing game of lawn darts, etc. The group is also going to have an outreach project they do as a group—it may mean going to Smith Point to rehab a house, working in a homeless shelter, or whatever else the group decides.) I thought about telling you about the benefits of being in a growth group. (First, growing in your Christian life. Second, making new friends. Third, making a difference in the lives of others. Fourth, getting to have some God time. The list could go on, but I think the point is made.) I thought about going though your reasons not to be part of the group and breaking them down. (“I’m too busy.” No, not really. You just need to see that this is an important part of your Christian growth and since God is pretty adamant about us growing for him, this should be high on your list. “I don’t know anybody at the church.” This is exactly why you need to be part of a growth group. It does more than grow your relationship with Christ, it helps you make friends

with people who are growing. “I was in a small group once before and I didn’t like it.” Sometimes we have to try something again to make it work. It could have been the group you were with or maybe just the mindset you had at the time.) I thought about quoting scripture where we are told to gather together and do good for others. (“They all joined together constantly…” Acts 1:14— ”Greet also the church that meets at their house.” Romans 16:5—”Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:3031) Ultimately I decided against all of those things and just tell you that this is a new thing you probably don’t understand. It won’t be like anything you have been part of before. New things can be scary, but they can also be exciting. Growing isn’t without its struggles and for all the benefits that are in it for you, I’m not asking you to be part of the groups for your sake, but for our church’s sake. Before we can take our church to the next level of service for God we need to be intentional about making ourselves stronger in Christ. This will happen best in groups who aren’t put together to last forever, but to help each other through a period of growth. There will be new groups in the spring and summer as well. You can get fed in worship each week, but it’s not until you start feeding others through a growth group that you will start growing. I look forward to being in a group with some of you (not as a leader—preachers need some downtime, too). Signups are available through the communication cards each Sunday. IGS, John

We will not publish a newsletter next Tuesday, Sept. 8, because of the Labor Day holiday.

Opportunities To Serve Tuesday, Sept. 1: NO Young Families 7:00 p.m. - Women’s Prayer Group Wednesday, Sept. 2: 5:00 p.m. - Children’s Choirs 7:30 p.m. - Sanctuary Choir rehearsal Thursday, Sept. 3: 7:00 p.m. - Ignited Worship Team rehearsal 7:00 p.m. - United Methodist Men’s board Friday, Sept. 4: 10:00 a.m. - 49ers games and lunch Sunday, Sept. 6: 8:30 a.m. - Blended Worship Service 9:40 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages 10:50 a.m. - Traditional Worship Service 5:00-7:00 p.m. - Combined Youth (grades 6-12) Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day The Church Office is closed. 9:00 a.m. - MOMS 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts (Trustees meeting moved to Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Education Building.) Tuesday, Sept. 8: No newsletter published today. 7:00 p.m. - Women’s Prayer Group Wednesday, Sept. 9: 5:00 p.m. - Children’s Choirs 7:30 p.m. - Sanctuary Choir rehearsal Thursday, Sept. 10: 7:00 p.m. - Ignited Worship Team rehearsal

FIRST CHURCH STAFF JOHN R. BLACK………………………………………….…...Pastor ADRIANE GRAY…………………………….....Nursery Coordinator DEBRA RADOWICK……………..…....…. Administrative Assistant KRIS WOLDY……………..………….…..………..…Music Director JOSE LUNA ……………………….……..………...Church Custodian GAYNELL PSENCIK………………….…..……...Financial Secretary JESSICA MYERS………………….…………………..……...Organist

GROWTH GROUPS FALL 2009 Sunday Night Group 6 PM Hurley & Ginger Johnson Leaders Robbie Hausler & Mark Band Location 2707 David St Rosenberg 77471 Time Hosts

Monday Morning Group Time 6:30 AM Hosts Ruth & Pat Cox Leaders Bob McCarty Location Richmond Coffee Station 210 W Highway 90a Richmond 77469 Tuesday Morning Group Time 10 AM Hosts Gloria & Tubby McCutcheon Leaders Sue Mealus Location 2617 Diamond River Dr. Rosenberg 77471

Pumpkin Patch Important Dates Sept. 19

Work Day

Sept. 26

Unloading Day

Sept. 27

T-shirt portrait day

Oct. 3

Grand Opening

Oct. 10

Picnic & Pictures

Oct. 17

Country Store & Harvest Café

Oct. 24

Fall Festival

Oct. 31

Trunk or Treat

Pumpkin Patch t-shirts are on sale now! All sizes are available (infant through adult 4XL). Cost is $8 per shirt for sizes up to XL. The price goes up $1 after that at every size increase. Order forms are available in the Education Building, Sanctuary Building and in the church office. Order now!

Tuesday Night Group 6:30 PM Jennifer & Lloyd Hartmann Leaders Glenda & Bill Munos Location 1810 Huisache Dr Richmond 77469 Time Hosts

Thursday Women’s Group Time 6:30 PM Hosts Linda Seay Leaders Margaret Lawley Location FUMC Fellowship Hall

Photos will be taken Sept. 24, 25 and 26 for our new church directory. Please make an appointment if you have not already done so by calling the office at 281-3423333. Appointment times are filling up quickly. You may also schedule an appointment with online registration at www.signup.olanmills.com

FUMC Rosenberg Women’s Celebration Event Saturday September 12th 9:30-11:30am In the Fellowship Hall Featuring our Celebration District Representative Holly Garrett "Getting Through the Impossible" Come and enjoy food and fellowship among Christian women. Call today to reserve your seat and spots in the nursery! 281.342.3333

Please call Debra in the office if you have any questions. United Methodist Men are selling tickets now for a chicken-fried steak supper on Friday, Sept. 11. Pick up plates from 5-7 p.m. by driving through the alley. Cost is $8. Proceeds benefit UMM projects throughout the year.

Thursday Night Group Time 7 PM Hosts Sue and Tony Ciancone Leaders Cheryl Davis Location 8942 Silent Willow Sugar Land 77479 A time to make new friends. Visiting, Discussion based on each week’s sermon, Growing together. Call the office to let us know which group you will be a part of this fall.

You will be asked to register with an email address so they can send you a confirmation of your appointment. You will be asked for the church phone number and you must use 281-342-3333 to get to FUMC Rosenberg’s signup times. Then choose your date, then your time.

They’ll Ring Again Our handbell group will start its fall rehearsal season on Wednesday, September 16th, at 6:15 pm in the handbell room off the choir robing area. If you’ve NEVER RUNG BEFORE, you are welcome to join us. We will lovingly teach you. If you’ve rung before, PLEASE JOIN US! We have so many opportunities this year. Please join us.

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Our stewardship campaign, based on Adam Hamilton’s book “Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity,” will begin Sept. 27. All budget proposals are due to the Finance Committee by Oct. 19. The budget will be finalized at the Finance Committee meeting on Nov. 16. A special Administrative Council meeting is set for Nov. 24 to review

and approve the 2010 budget and Nominations report in time for our annual Church Conference on Nov. 29 at 4 p.m.