11-03-2009 Newsletter

First United Methodist Church Rosenberg, Texas

PUMPKIN PATCH CLEAN UP DAY IS CANCELED!

www.fumcrosenberg.net

Selma Danklefs, Cynthia Balzen’s father and her aunt, Clay Wittneben, Henry Wittneben (10-25) Robert Hill, Beau and June McGuire, Linda Seay’s prayer team efforts (11-01) June Gammage, Scott Davis, Susan Scarborough

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

Food pantry items for November are soup and meals in a can (chili, spaghetti, beef stew). The pantry is in need of almost everything! We are out of peanut butter and spaghetti sauce. Please make a donation if you can. Thanks!

First United Methodist Church

(10-18) Bill Castillo, Bob Whitley, Al Liebman and family, Larry Bolton,

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

of Donna Kelley

Check us out in color!

Bergman, Karen Setliff, Pat Baggette and family, Suzette Scott, the family

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

Concerns: (10-11) Dovie Werlla, Wayne Morris, Linda Moody, Elaine

Web site: www.fumcrosenberg.net

Please Pray For One Another

November 3, 2009  Volume 24, Issue 42

Ramblings: The Big Day Yesterday we had a big day at the church. First, it was All Saints Day. This is the day that we remember we are not alone in this journey with Christ. As Paul put it: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

We remembered the saints who “have fought the good fight,” “finished the race,” and “have kept the faith.” We paused at both services to remember our friends and family who died this past year. Pete Caldwell Jr. Emma Carter Tommy Sue Foerster Sandy Harger Rubye Hill Henrietta Krc Marilyn Meiners John Milton Nell Norwood Ben Reimer Clarence Wagner It is important to remember that these people may have left our physical presence but that God promises us that they are with him forever. He also promises us that he is with us forever. Therefore, if we are with him and they are with him, they must be with us forever as well. This can really be expressed through another big part of the service we experienced yesterday: Holy Communion. Holy Communion is much more than some bread and juice (we use grape juice instead of wine in the UMC because we want to invite everyone to

the table). We understand that the table belongs to God and not to man or denomination. It is a timeless place. A place of God’s grace and assurance. It is at this table that we can experience a special time with God and with all the people who have been to that table (and with the ones who will be at the table in the future). It is at this place that the whole body of Christ comes together. It is because of this special relationship with Jesus Christ that we have a special relationship with those who have come before and those who come after. This connection was expressed through another big part of the service we experienced yesterday: the consecration of our financial commitments to God through our church. Many people believe that pledging our support for the ministry of the church is just done so the finance committee will know how much they have to spend next year. If you are one of those people you are missing the point. We make our commitments not just to our church, but to that great cloud of witnesses who have gone before and to the untold number who will follow us. It is only through our giving that the ministry of the church happens. It is only by our giving that people are added to the great cloud of witnesses. Each of us is here because of the faithfulness of those who have gone before. Their giving made it possible for us to have the wonderful facilities and programs that enabled so many to come to an understanding of God’s love and grace through Jesus Christ. We must continue their work so the rest of the saints can join us in the future. If you didn’t turn in your commitment card Sunday, bring it with you this Sunday and join the cloud. IGS, John

Opportunities To Serve Tuesday, Nov. 3: 10:00 a.m. - Growth Group meeting 5:30 p.m. - Young Families 7:00 p.m. - Women’s Prayer Group Wednesday, Nov. 4: 5:00 p.m. - Children’s Choirs 6:15 p.m. - Handbells 7:30 p.m. - Sanctuary Choir rehearsal Thursday, Nov. 5: 6:30 p.m. - Women’s Growth Group 7:00 p.m. - Praise Team rehearsal 7:00 p.m. - United Methodist Men’s executive board meeting Friday, Nov. 6: 10:00 a.m. - 49ers games and lunch Saturday, Nov. 7: Anahuac Work Day 8:00 a.m. - United Methodist Men’s quarterly breakfast Sunday, Nov. 8: 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. - Youth (grades 6-12) 6:00 p.m. - Growth Group meeting Monday, Nov. 9: 9:00 a.m. - MOMS 10:30 a.m. - Prime Chimers 7:00 p.m. - Staff Parish Relations Committee meeting 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.

Hotdogs for lunch: One component of the Convoy of Hope experience on Nov. 21 is a free lunch served to all guests and volunteers. This requires a grand total of 5,000 hot dogs. Three Rosenberg churches (First UMC, First Assembly of God and New Covenant Fellowship) have been asked to supply the hot dogs. Buns and condiments are coming from other sources. We have found a source for the hot dogs at a great price and are collecting donations to pay for them. If you feel this is one way you can help, please write a check to First UMC Rosenberg and write hotdogs in the memo line. Connection Team/Prayer Tent: volunteers to interact with guests as they exit, inquiring how the event was, as well as asking if the guests have any prayer requests (you wouldn’t think many people would want this, however, most do), guests will also be asked if they have a church home. Also, need volunteers to pray with the guests requesting prayer. “Connection Churches” will be matched to and follow up with those indicating they desire a church home. FUMC Rosenberg has volunteered to be such a followup/connection church. This is the only volunteer opportunity that requires advance training which will be held Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at First Assembly of God in Rosenberg. Training will last about 1 ½ hours. Volunteers in the prayer tent will work in pairs – you can partner up in advance or be assigned a partner that day – anyone over 13 can participate as youth will be partnered with an adult. FUMC needs to report a head count prior to the training so please call Judy Morris at 713248-5128 by Nov. 9 if you even think you might be attending the training! Judy Morris will be serving as a coach in the prayer tent, so you will have her as well as the other coaches available should you run into “hard” questions or situations you can’t answer or are unsure of.

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 BECCA HYDE………………….…………………..…Youth Director

Follow-up Efforts: connection churches are to attempt 3 visits in 3 weeks with each referred person and provide spiritual mentoring for 1 year. Visitation efforts are noted and shared with the Convoy of Hope office. This is an opportunity for individuals or groups (Sunday School classes, growth groups, etc.) to “adopt” an individual or family. As a connection church we are expected to make face-to-face contact with our referred people within 24 hours of the event, then for the 3 weeks following make face-to-face contact and perform a weekly act of kindness. We are to continue with contact for 12 months providing spiritual mentoring and assisting our referred individuals/families with accessing programs within the church. Examples would be: inviting them to church, Sunday School, growth group, etc; offering to pick them up the first few times or meet them at the door to help with the fear of meeting new people or the uncertainty of where to go or what to do; sitting with them at church and answering questions (or using a resource) about the Methodist Church, FUMC Rosenberg, being a Christian or any concern they might have that would be a spiritual impediment. Please contact Judy Morris (713-248-5128) or Debra Radowick if you or your group is interested in being part of the follow up; a short (30 minute) training will be Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. at FUMC Rosenberg for those interested or committed to follow up.

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Blessings

Psalm 66:5

FIRST CHURCH STAFF

Hey, Youth!

Saturday, Nov. 14 9 a.m. to noon Lunch will be served. Nursery available. Inside and outside jobs to be done.

Our late service Sunday was blessed by the special music during the offertory, provided by Katrina Berdou and Meg Black. Their piano offerings were beautiful. If your child or grandchild – or yourself, for that matter – has a talent to offer during worship, please let us know. God’s gifts are for sharing, and we’d like to share yours! Talk with Kris.

This past weekend I went to visit a friend of mine who just started at Sam Houston State University (Eat 'em up, Kats!) and we were just hanging out at a Sonic catching up since we hadn't seen each other in a while. He was telling me about some hard times he was going through with a group of people in some of his classes. They aren't Christians and they've been giving him a hard time about the things he believes. But my friend looked at me and said "The meaner they are, the more I can show them the love of Christ." Awesome! That's what I'm talking about! Ok so it's not fun to have to go through hard times but every hard time is a chance to show other people God's love and His strength. We can't do it on our own...we know that. But when it gets really dark God's love and strength fill us with a light that we can use to light our way back to happier times...and hopefully we'll be able to be a guiding light for others too. This world can seem like a dark and formless void (shout out to Meg!) but God created us to be filled with His light. Matthew 5:14 says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." As Christians, as a youth group, as a church, and as the body of Christ we are called to be a light for God showing other people the way to a better life in Him. You should know that I am one of those people who will listen to a CD over and over again and that is exactly what happened when I got my newest one. It's Britt Nicole's The Lost Get Found. We listened to the title track a couple of weeks ago at youth and I liked it and found the CD on sale and boom...now I have a new obsession. Because I am loving this music! Well currently (it varies by day) my fave song on the CD is called Glow. Fave part: "Turn the lights down so we can Glow, glow Watch us come alive We're gonna Show you something real Like a city on a hill Oh, oh We're gonna glow!" So this week light up and be a beacon for others and try and see that every moment of darkness is really a gift from God because it is a chance to glow for Him! In His Love, Becca Youth This Week: Movie Night!

Christmas Greenery is on sale now! Youth will sell greenery until Nov. 15 as a fund raiser. Please talk to a youth at church Sunday to place your order. There will be a table set up in the Education Building where you can view samples of the wreaths and other decorative greenery. Your order will be shipped directly to your home address or as a gift to another address.

Coming Soon! Watch for details! Our Angel Tree will be up on Nov. 15.