12-01-2009 Newsletter

Dessert Theater on Dec. 6

First United Methodist Church Rosenberg, Texas

Sunday, Dec. 6, at 10:00 a.m., the Believers Sunday School Class will present a Christmas play called “The Magi, A Journey of Faith.” Please come to the Fellowship Hall for dessert and coffee during the Sunday School hour! You’ll laugh a little and gaze in wonder at the profound message unfolding onstage. Admission is free. Brought to you by Miss Teri (Mathis) and the Believers Sunday School Class: Allyson, Brody, Chelsea, Dylan, Emma, Hayden, Katrina, Lauren, Justine, Logan, Matthew, Meg, Olivia, Owen.

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

Please Pray For One Another Death: Ralph Ashford (Leah Murphy’s grandfather) Concerns: (11-08) Wayne Morris, Linda Moody, Elaine Bergman (11-15) Bill Castillo, the Bates and Clayton families, Bob Whitley, Al Liebman and family, Larry Bolton, Selma Danklefs, Henry Wittneben, Debra Radowick’s father, Maddie (a second grader in Mandy Growns’ classroom at Campbell Elementary who has a brain tumor) (11-22) Robert Hill, Beau and June McGuire, Roger Clark (11-29) Danny Norris’ brother, Robert Brown, Richard Cutrer, Larisa, Susan Scarborough, Ellie Cumings, Angie Analis, Glenn McDuffie, Eric White, Erma Brooks, Sam Smith, B.J. Hall, Connie McNutt Stone

First United Methodist Church

ings that the families can use. Donations must be made by December 13. Please call or email Margaret Lawley at 281-633-1255 to donate or volunteer. Thank you for your support.

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

Anahuac Comeback: Home for Christmas

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

Time is running out! We are down to the wire getting the four houses ready for occupancy by Christmas. Two more work trips are scheduled: December 5 and December 12. In addition there are many "little" teams going to Smith Point on week days. There is still time for you to be involved in the wonderful work of Anahuac Comeback. If you have been before, try to sign up and come again. Take a look at your garage and attic to see if you have beds, desks, coffee and end tables, kitchenette sets or other furnish-

Web site: www.fumcrosenberg.net

The Children's Choirs will be singing at the City of Rosenberg's Annual Gazebo Lighting on Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:30pm. Come hear the children sing, see a special visitor from the North Pole, and enjoy refreshments. The Gazebo is located at City Hall on Fourth Street in Rosenberg.

Check us out in color!

Rosenberg Gazebo Lighting

www.fumcrosenberg.net

December 1, 2009  Volume 24, Issue 46

Ramblings: Making our annual report to the DS What a great day I had yesterday! We had great worship services (a little light in attendance because of the Thanksgiving holiday). We followed that up with a great church conference (or as I like to call it, “Our great show off meeting”). That was quickly followed by the next-to-last meeting of the growth group that Misty and I belong to (don’t worry, there will be new growth groups starting in the spring — look for sign ups in January). And to top it all off, while I was at the store getting lunch stuff for the kids (taking lunch is much cheaper than buying lunch at school) Misty and the kids decorated the Christmas tree and I got home in time for us to have our traditional “putting the angel on top of the tree” moment (Brittany had the honor this year). For those of you who haven’t been to a church conference, you may not understand what one is. Church conferences are our top organizational meetings for a local church in the United Methodist Church. We hold church conferences only for special purposes — for things that are so important we don’t want them approved by just our regular Administrative Board. We call church conferences for things like purchasing land, deciding to build buildings, to approve candidates for ordained ministry, for taking on serious debt (yuck, bad stuff), for starting a new church or for closing an existing church. In addition to these

special called meetings we have an annual conference meeting where we make our ministry reports to the district and conference. As you can see most of these conferences are called for fun stuff. The District Superintendant is in charge of the conference and either she (or he in the case of a male DS) presides over the conference or an elder she appoints runs the meeting. (Many of the other DS’s have other elders handle many of the annual conferences, but one of the many things I like about our DS is that she comes to each church to hear how things are going.) Additionally, there are two different kinds of conferences, church conference or charge conference. At a charge conference only the members of the Administrative Board have a vote. At a church conference all members of the church have a vote. We like to have church conferences. While this is probably more than you really wanted to know about church conferences, you will want to know this: we had the best church conference ever (at least in my memory). We were able to leave the DS speechless with our reports of no debt going into next year, new ministries that are changing people’s lives, and new people coming into relationships with Christ. Great job! I am looking forward to a better church conference next year. IGS, John

December is our month to collect for Helping Hands. Non-perishable food and personal toiletry items will be accepted all month.

The Children's Birthday Party for Jesus is Saturday, December 5th from 3:30-5:00. This is a FREE community wide event. Kids can enjoy games, crafts, prizes, candy, storytime, facepainting, refreshments, and more!! Volunteers are needed to work a booth from 3-5. Please contact Elizabeth if you are available to help: [email protected]

Opportunities To Serve Tuesday, Dec. 1: 5:30 p.m. - Young Families 7:00 p.m. - Women’s Prayer Team Wednesday, Dec. 2: 5:00 p.m. - Children’s Choirs, then the Gazebo Lighting 6:15 p.m. - Handbells 7:30 p.m. - Sanctuary Choir rehearsal Thursday, Dec. 3: 6:30 p.m. - Women’s Growth Group meeting 7:00 p.m. - United Methodist Men’s board meeting 7:00 p.m. - Praise Team rehearsal Friday, Dec. 4: 10:00 a.m. - 49ers games and lunch 6:30-9:30 p.m. - Parents’ Night Out Saturday, Dec. 5: Anahuac Work Day 3:30-5:00 p.m. - Birthday Party for Jesus Sunday, Dec. 6: 2nd Sunday of Advent 8:30 a.m. - Blended Worship Service 9:40 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages 10:00 a.m. - Sunday School Class play in the fellowship hall 10:50 a.m. - Traditional Worship Service 2:00-3:30 p.m. - Kitchen Shower for Anahuac Comeback 5:00-7:00 p.m. - Youth at First (grades 6-12) 6:00 p.m. - Growth Group at the Johnson’s Monday, Dec. 7: 9:00 a.m. - MOMS 10:30 a.m. - Prime Chimers at Cambridge Square in Rosenberg 7:00 p.m. - Trustees meeting 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5: 6-7

FIRST CHURCH STAFF

A children's Advent Craft Day will be held Sunday, December 13th from 1:00-4:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Kids will have the opportunity to enjoy 10 Christmas crafts such as homemade ornaments, cookie decorating, scrapbooking, painting, snacks and much more! Pre-registration is required and only 40 slots are left. Cost is only $5 per child to participate in the afternoon of crafts. Adults must stay with children during the event - you don't want to miss all the fun! Registration forms available in the Education Building or Elizabeth can email one to you. Don't wait or all the slots will be taken.

Christmas is just a few weeks away and we once again have the opportunity to show our staff how very much we appreciate all that they do for us throughout the year. We are collecting the love offering earlier so that we can distribute it before Christmas, so we ask that you prayerfully consider your gift and bring it before Dec.13. Thank you for your part in this gift of love and thanks to our hardworking staff. ~~ SPRC

Staff Christmas Love Offering

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FUMC Women’s Celebration invites you to our

Christmas Gala Featuring Christian comedian Karen Mayer-Cunningham 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 8 First UMC Fellowship Hall

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

$5 per person Olive Garden catered meal and dessert will be served Call today to reserve your ticket! 281.342.3333 Nursery available upon request

Hey, Youth! Like most people, my family likes to decorate our house for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Usually my dad and I put the lights up outside while my mom decorates her "official" Christmas tree (we have 3...we take Christmas VERY seriously!). But this year my dad decided to go hunting so I helped mom decorate the tree. We got the tree up, the garlands out and fluffed, lights put up, all the snowmen out (my mom has about a hundred snowmen that decorate the house from December till February), and the nativity scenes assembled. Then my grandmother called and wanted to know what everyone wanted for Christmas so we spent about an hour talking about things that we "need." Then of course we had to decide what to get everyone else for Christmas...so off to the mall we went to do some holiday shopping...does this sound a little too familiar to you? Ok, maybe your house isn't invaded by mass quantities of snowmen but still...we all have our long lists of things we just have to get done to be ready for Christmas. I mean, it's a very special holiday and we need to be prepared, right??? Well, of course we do! But are we preparing for the right thing? Cause Christmas isn't really about the decorations we put up, or the presents we give or receive, or the food we eat. Christmas is celebrating the birth of Christ! This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. It's a special time in the life of the church when we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. Sometimes, in the midst of all the other things we have going on, we lose track of that fact. We get so caught up in planning the perfect Christmas that we forget that only Jesus is perfect and December 25 is just another day on the calendar if you don't set it apart as a day of celebration! Ok...you've heard this before...you know that Jesus is the reason for the season. But what are you doing about it? Are you setting aside special time each day to spend with Him? Are you reading scripture to prepare yourself for His coming? Are you looking out for those less fortunate and helping them? Are you giving of yourself and your time so that you can appreciate the sacrifice that God made for us when He sent His son to die for us? Because I know it's easy to get lost in the to-do list. Now you're thinking, well geez, Becca, do you want us to just not put up the tree, not decorate? Of course not! Just don't stop there! Use the time you spend decorating, baking, and even shopping as a reminder of what you are really preparing for. As you put up the ornaments say a pray for all the people in your life: the ones you love and the ones you...want to love. As you put up the lights on the house, instead of getting angry that 3 out of 5 strands don't work, remind yourself of all the good things that have been a light for you this past year. And as you cook and bake remember all the great things the Lord has made for you...and all that you can accomplish together if you will just let Him in. Count each day of Advent as a chance to prepare for the birth of Jesus and put praising Him at the top of and throughout your to-do list! Be Brave In His Love, Becca @ Youth Sunday: Game Night!

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Come and Go Kitchen Shower Benefiting Anahuac Comeback Sunday, December 6, 2-3:30 PM Fellowship Hall Sponsored by Thursday Night Growth Group Please come for punch and treats and learn more about the Fall Project to get four houses ready for Christmas. Go to Target.com, Click Registry-Lists, Click Lists, enter Margaret Lawley, TX and see lists for each family: Matthew Smith Point, Mark Smith Point, Luke Smith Point and John Smith Point. Gift cards and gifts selected at other places are welcome.