The Thread Volume 9

THE

thread

God’s Story at FUMC this month

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

JOY

to the World

IN THIS ISSUE Advent Schedule

p. 1

Try Alpha

p. 3-4

Sid’s Butterfly Flutterings

p. 5-6

Music Ministries

p. 7-8

Letter From the Editor Children’s Ministries UMW Annual Bazaar Results

p. 9-10 p. 11-13 p. 14

Honoring a Loved One

p. 15-16

FUMC Foundation Update

p. 17-18

Notes From Missions

p. 19-20

Community Mission Day

p. 21

Celebrating Our Disciples

p. 22

What’s Coming Up

p. 23-28

Celebrations and Concerns

p. 29-30

What is Is Christianity the meaning relevant of life? today?

Why do bad things happen?

Why Jesus?

Can I really be forgiven?

3

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

What happens when we die?

What is the point of life?

#tryalpha

So You Have Big Questions

What is Alpha?

Alpha is an eleven week Then Alpha is for you. study on the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha Alpha provides an utilizes video, small group opportunity to discussion, and, of course, explore life and the food! We eat together, Christian faith in a discuss, make new friends, friendly, open and and learn what it means informal to be a Christian in a environment. secular world.

Discussion An opportunity to share your thoughts in a small group setting.

Try Alpha We will be starting an Alpha course with an introductory, “come and see� dinner January 10th.

No commitment needed, just enjoy some free food and learn more about the program.

Learn More Contact Gayle Harris at gayleharris3@aol. com or Pastor George at glumpkin59@hot mail.com. You can also visit www.alpha.org fredumc.org

4

S

5

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

I

heard a pastor on the radio make this statement: “People give in reference to remembering what has been given to them. If they think little has been given to them by God, they tend to return little and live with a “little” spiritual experience of God. Christmas time can be a time to consider how “much” has been given by uniting the Birth of Christ with the Death and Resurrection of Jesus– Christmas and Easter!

“

represents homemade goodies we can make and give in love to another.

The last package to be opened represents God’s greatest gift to us. It is an empty box representing the empty tomb. The resurrection gives Christmas its meaning. Merry Christmas and Happy Easter!

“To us a child is born, to us a Son is given…” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

...It is an empty box representing the empty tomb. The resurrection gives Christmas its meaning.

A youth director had an activity that united the two special seasons of the Christian Year. He used wrapped packages – the Gift. The object inside each package suggest what can be given as a gift during the holiday season. As each package is opened there is discussion that followed as to what the gift represents.

The first wrapped package contains a timepiece – which represents spending time with each other minus the iPhone and Tablets/Computers, etc. Something musical is wrapped as the second gift – representing the joy of angels singing and maybe planning a caroling evening at the nursing home. A wrapped dictionary represents the words we use – dismiss the iPhone again unless you want to talk about how much a card or phone call can mean and the importance of a hand-written thank you note…not email! A cookbook is wrapped and

Be Blessed, Pastor Sid

”

Rev. Sid Spiller has been our associate Pastor at FUMC since July of 2014.

He served as a pastor for over 35 years, and focuses primarily on pastoral care and senior adult ministry here in his retirement.

fredumc.org

6

O

ne of the music ministries’ busiest seasons is upon us! This year the music ministers of our congregation are going to present CELEBRATE LIFE! for our Christmas music celebrations. Celebrate Life is a youth musical that was released in 1972 and was written by Buryl Red and Ragan Courtney. Celebrate Life has sold over one million copies of the printed music since that time and has been presented more times than ANY OTHER musical ever written, with the possible exception of Handel’s Messiah which isn’t really a dramatic musical.

Celebrate Life was written in the ‘thick’ of the era of church youth choirs that travelled all over the place on choir tours and trips. Although the main churches that had

7

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

large youth choirs and presented this musical were mostly Baptist churches, there were many other denominations that shared it in the musical explosion of the 70’s.

Many lives have been touched by “Celebrate Life” over the years as the work premiered in 1972, underwent a revival for its 25th anniversary, and most recently rose to the forefront of church music circles for its 40th anniversary, following the death of its musical composer, Buryl Red. Buryl Red was a pioneer church musician who thought that guitars and drums and almost anything else that could be played had a place in the sanctuary next to the pipe organ. Red loved virtually every style of music as long as the presentations of it reached a level of excellence befitting the

glorious Savior that we love. Ragan Courtney currently is pastor of The Sanctuary Church in Austin along with his wife, Cynthia Clawson.

following Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, December 15th and 16th at 7 p.m.

And there’s still time to get involved in this musical presentation, just come on to practice and we’ll get you started!

The Life of Christ is revealed through music and drama beginning with Jesus’ birth, his ministry, his death, and his resurrection. The If you have any questions please email me at musical numbers and the drama are closely don@fredumc.org, or call me at 997-7679… intertwined as the four gospel writers, To God Be the Glory!!

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, share more of the Christ story through their dialogue between musical numbers.

The musical numbers will feature the Chancel Choir and Praise Team with several soloists, supported by keyboards, guitar, percussion and orchestra. The kids from our Kid’s Music Academy will also be featured in a comic relief piece, “Three Kings” along with participating in other songs.

This will be THE event that our congregation will want to encourage the community to include as a part of their 2015 Christmas plans. Our membership is asked to attend the Sunday morning presentation on December 13 at 10:30, then encourage and BRING their neighbors and friends on the

Don Doss joined the FUMC staff in April of 2007 having served in several other Boerne and Kerrville churches. Don is FUMC’s Director of Music Ministries, and he oversees all of the musical groups and music ministry work that happens here. He personally directs the Chancel Choir and the Praise Team as well as the Kid’s Music Academy. fredumc.org 8

The Not So Fun Stuff

Tricia Small is one of the newest member to the FUMC family.

She graduated from UT Austin with a journalism degree last year, and joined the staff las November. She is passionate about transforming lives by sharing the love of Christ.

9

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

H

would end up with a very, very long ello Church! Your friendly December newsletter. neighborhood communications director So instead I would just like to here, bringing you my SECOND express my deepest gratitude to each December newsletter as part of this and every one of you. You cannot church body. What an incredible imagine how you each have blessing, friends. Even though impacted my life and the ways I’ve Thanksgiving will have passed by learned and grown in my short the time this edition of The Thread twelve months among you. I read a goes to press, I’m writing to you a devotional recently that compared week out from Thanksgiving Day, our following God’s calling in our and although lives to a trail of cookie the bible tells 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray crumbs that eventually us to pray without ceasing, 18 give leads to a big, ceaselessly delicious cookie at the and to have an thanks in all circumstances; With each crumb, attitude of for this is the will of God in end. each faithful step we thanksgiving take fully trusting in Christ Jesus for you. always, this the Lord, the crumbs time of year -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 get bigger and sweeter always makes and more of the big me reflect a little more on all the picture is revealed to us. That’s what many blessings I have to praise God this year has been for me. for.

We have come a long way, church.

And I mean seriously, the blessings And I can’t wait to continue telling are endless. This year at FUMC has your stories and sharing the infinite completely rocked my world to the love of Christ with the world core. When I graduated from college, alongside you, my precious brothers I never in a million years could have and sisters. Short and sweet this imagined I would have ended up in month, friends. There are not words full time ministry. I didn’t have any sufficient enough to express my joy idea what God’s plan for my life was and thankfulness about this season of at that point. And as you all know, life. Praise be to God. His plan was to bring me here. I could list out for you all the ways Peace, The Lord has blessed me, but we Tricia

“

”

fredumc.org 10

NEWS FROM OUR Child Development Center T

he Child Development Center is excited to share some photos of our “Books With Babies” program. Molly Wyatt has been coming in to share stories with our little ones, and it is a blast!

We would also like to invite you to come see the children sing some Christmas songs during the United 11

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

Methodist Women Tea on December 10th. The infants, toddlers and preschoolers will all perform at 2:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall following the UMW Worship Service.

If you would like to help support the CDC this holiday season, there is a Christmas tree with wishlist items in the Children’s Wing. Donating one or two of these items makes a major

difference in ministering to our precious children and families throughout the year.

Thank you to all of you for your support to this mission of our church!

Amy has been a member of FUMC since 1985, and joined the staff as director of the Child Development Center in 2011. She has 27 years of experience in special education.

fredumc.org fredumc.org 10

12

December 6th— Special Project Mission Mania is a children’s event to teach children that we demonstrate God’s love through acts of service. We have done this in Pioneer Club for the last year and will continue to do it during the 2015-16 school year. The children and the recipients of these outreach/teaching events have enjoyed them so much that we are now extending these service opportunities to our Sunday School families.

Our next Mission Mania project will be to stuff and decorate gift bags to take to a nursing home. $57 was donated during the Factory ministry fair, but we will need additional donations. The items needed are: paper towels, travel size items shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brush, mouth wash, hand cream, soap, face towel. There is a box in the Fellowship Hall for donations. Thank you for your support.

On December 6, after attending Sunday School, the children and their families will have a pizza meal and then fill, decorate and deliver their gifts to a nursing home.

Our youth and children performed a puppet show during our November 22nd advent celebration to prepare for our Coming King.

NEWSFLASH

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

MISSION

13

MANIA

Sharon serves as Children’s Director for FUMC. She is also deeply involved in Wounded Warriors at Nebo and Cards for Christ. She feels called to share Christ’s great love for humanity through her service.

Submitted by 2015 UMW Bazaar Chairperson, Lizzie Bispo

Thank you to everyone who supported the 2015 United Methodist Women Bazaar this year. Net profit for the event was $12,309.32 with 25% going directly to our church Missions Committee.

In addition to future pledges to local programs, we were able to support other missions directly by donating furniture to the Child Development Center, yarn to the Prayer Shawl Ministry, shoes to young man recently released from jail, many items to a Church based resale shop in Crystal City, and Spanish/ English children’s books to San Vincente Christmas mission

Results party. The Wonder Workers were very happy to see some items sold that have been taking up storage space at church for years. We are still trying to find a new home for the 20-foot altar tree!

We are already planning for next year. Call Lizzie Bispo if you are downsizing, cleaning out closets, or have things to donate for the 2016 sale. We have plenty of available storage space! fredumc.org fredumc.org

14 12

HONOR A LOVED ONE T

he Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Memorial Garden and Columbarium is a beautiful place to peacefully pray and reflect on the life of a loved one.

You might consider reserving a niche or adding a plaque to the memory wall. To learn more about this part of our church, visit fredumc.org, or pick up an informational brochure in the narthex.

15

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

To help meet the needs of our church’s members in the time of a loss of a loved one and to provide a place for memories, prayer and reflection.

PURPOSE:

Each niche is $1800 and will hold up to two urns. To purchase a plaque for the Memorial Wall (pictured left), the cost is $175 each or $300 total when you purchase two together.

COSTS:

Top Left: Columbarium-The Columbarium in the Memorial Garden is a meaningful place for your loved one.

Top Right: Testimonial-“Each time I visit my loved one’s memory plaque, it brings back sweet memories in a beautiful garden setting,” said J. Hoopman.

Bottom Left: Memorial Wall Plaques, In Loving Memory- Honor a loved one’s life and memory with a plaque on the Memory Wall. fredumc.org 16

YOUR FUMC foundation T

he Board of the FUMC foundation is happy to announce the 2016 grant awards to our deserving church ministries! They are listed to the right.

In November, the board of directors looks at the interest income earned on all gifts, grants, devises and bequeaths. 90% of this interest income derived plus 4% of the total value of the equity and bond investments may be distributed to the benefit of the Fredericksburg United Methodist church and/or the United Methodist Church.

Remember The FUMC Foundation in your “Charitable Gift Donations” this year. Your gift will help the church you love for years to come as a living legacy to your generosity.

HOW TO GIVE

•

Write a check or give cash

Make the Foundation the beneficiary of your life insurance policy •

Memorial gifts or tribute gifts •

•

Real Estate

•

Personal property

•

Stocks or bonds

•

Planned gifts

•

Qualified charitable gift

The FUMC Foundation is established to provide a means through which enduring charitable gifts will become a living memorial and a perpetual source of financial support to benefit the church and its programs. It is the vehicle for receiving and managing gifts that look to the future and enhance the ability of the church to promote its ministries and care for its property.

PURPOSE: 17

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

WE ARE PLEASED to announce...

2016 Foundation Grant Awards

Amount Granted

Prayer Shawl

600.00

(Supplies)

Puppet Ministry

500.00

(Start up materials)

Mission committee

2,000.00 (Mission trip scholarships)

Youth Ministry

1,100.00

(Portable sound system)

Communications

1,014.00

(Internet Graphics subscription service)

Trustees

6,751.00

(New wood flooring in the Narthex to match Halls)

Handbell Choir

2,500.00 (Repair and polish Handbells)

Choir Scholars Program

1,000.00

(College scholarships)

Chancel Choir

970.90

(2 Microphones)

Chancel Choir

1,598.00

(Portable speakers)

Worship Decorating

500.00

(New silk Flowers and banner)

FUMC Factory

1,000.00 (For supplies)

Awarded Grant Amount was:

$19,533.90

*For more information on the FUMC foundation, visit fredumc.org/ new3/?page_id=85724 fredumc.org 18

NOTES FROM A

group of missionaries will depart FUMC for San Vicente, Mexico on December 2nd to deliver all of the items our congregation has donated to that community.

Thank you so much to all of those who brought in items, prayed for this trip and supported our outreach as we share the love of Christ this Christmas season. Please continue to pray over these servants as they make their trip.

W

e would also like to thank all of those who donated to the Crystal City thrift shop, and a special thank you goes out to Judy Hutcherson for delivering the trailer of goods to Crystal City.

We are blessed by the outpour of support given to this mission.

19

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

DECEMBER COMUNION

RAIL OFFERINGS D ec. 6

-Fr e d e ricks b ur g Foo d Pa ntr y. I t h elps p rovid e g roc e ri e s wi th this offe ri n g fo r th os e i n n ee d in o ur c o m m u ni ty.

D ec. 24

- P rovid e nc e Plac e a nd M eth o di s t C hild r e n's Ho m e. Provid e nc e Plac e h elps p rovid e s h elte r a n d s e rvic e s for yo u n g wo m e n wi th u n pla n n e d p r e g na nci e s a nd a doptio n. T h e M eth o dis t C hild r e n's Ho m e in Wac o h elps p rovid e s e rvic e s to c hild r e n a nd yo u th d aily thro u gh r e s id e nti al c ar e a nd fos te r c ar e.

Did you Know? FUMC Supports Missionaries Worldwide.

I

f you remember quite a few months back, FUMC hopped on board a “Coffee For Camp Ministry” to support mission in Nicaragua.

Sara and Joey Espinoza (daughter and son-in-law of Gary Marburger) and their three children, serve in Nicaragua as FUMC-supported missionaries at a Young Life camp situated on a large coffee plantation. The income from that coffee funds scholarships, providing kids who wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise an opportunity to go to camp and learn more about Jesus. After spending seven months in Nicaragua with his sister and her family, Josh Marburger was recruited as a marketing representative for the coffee sales.

Since the spring, premium, fresh coffee harvested, roasted and bagged in Nicaragua has been available for purchase in our Fellowship Hall every fourth Sunday of the month. However, with the holiday coming up, coffee will be available on Sunday, December 20th. Thank you to all of those who have supported this mission and donated to this incredible ministry. To show our appreciation, we are running a Christmas special through December with suggested donations starting at $10 for one bag, 2 bags for $15, and 3 for $20. Remember, all profits go

toward camp scholarships, and one bag sends one child to camp for one day. We might even get a visit from Josh this month to hear about some exciting new products rolling out next year.

So stock up on Christmas gifts (who doesn’t love fresh, central American coffee??), but even better, your gift to friends and family is also a gift the many kids who will have an opportunity to hear about Jesus as a result of this program.

As Gary states on his website, “when you purchase this coffee, know that you are not only getting exceptional coffee, but you are helping change lives — not only the lives of the many Nicaraguan kids, who may be getting a once-in-alifetime experience, but also the lives of the workers and their families, who farm and harvest the coffee.”

For more information, you can visit the following websites: http://marburgerorchard.com/ http://beyondbeanscoffee.com/ http://www.facebook.com/LaFincaVidaJoven http://www.younglife.org/Pages/default.aspx fredumc.org

20

FALL COMMUNITY O

mission day

n Nov. 14, a mission team from FUMC traveled to Blanco to work on a home that had been damaged in the Blanco River Memorial Day flood. Team members were: Jim Ryan, Hugh Reeves, Becky Reeves, Nick Longley, Cathy Welliver, John Doudna, Tom Canfield, Linn Brady, Beth Brady, Al Bispo, Cloyd Phillips, Tom Cleckler and Barbara Banks. We met at 8am and arrived on site just before 9am ready to work. And boy, did we work!

bedrooms to be used later, then relevel the floor.

Another work party had preceded ours and had started removing the flooring. They found that the floor joists had some serious termite damage at the ends, so the plan was altered. Under the direction of reconstruction foreman Daryl, we first removed the remainder of the flooring in the largest bedroom and the living room area across from it. After that we braced around a central wall, dismantled it and followed up by removing all the floor joists and cedar piers in the two rooms.

Next came reconstruction: We placed 16" square concrete blocks on the ground as piers, leveled them and laid six treated 4x6" beams across them. Next we built and installed joists that ran the width of the home, about 24'. Lastly, we re-framed the wall that had been removed and dismantled the bracing that had held up the walls while we were working. DONE! It was a very full and busy day, but also it was extremely rewarding to be able to accomplish as much as we did. We were all very tired but felt very good about the day. We cleaned up and left

The home, owned by a young man named Robert, has been located high on the banks of the Blanco River for about 100 years and has never been flooded before. This year it had 3-4' of water throughout the home. The living room, which measures about 16'x30', was originally a Lutheran Chapel used by circuit riders and on land owned by Robert’s great-grandfather. Robert’s grandfather added on to it and made it into a two bedroom home.

The flood had caused the cedar floor piers to sink into the mud in some areas so the plan was to carefully remove the wood flooring from the living room and two 19 Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

21

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

CELEBRATING OUR

T

here’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes here at FUMC to make our church a warm and welcoming environment both for our congregation and as part of the Fredericksburg and Hill Country community. One of our faithful servants, Mel Mueller, in addition to doing routine maintenance in the building (you can find him up on a ladder checking lightbulbs regularly throughout the week), he also put hard work into repainting our sign out in front of the church. The Board of Trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to Mel for his work on the sign and all that he does for our church. If you see him, please add your thanks! fredumc.org

22

THE month

Sun

Mon

at a g

Tue

1 7:00am Men's Breakfast-City Cafe 7:30am Child Development Center 8:00am Wonder Workers 9:00am Living Well College 9:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry-Library 12:00pm Al Anon - Rm 11 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 5:15pm Living Well College Board Meeting 5:15pm Women's Emmaus Reunion Group 5:30pm Girls Basketball

Wed

2

7:30am Child Developm 9:30am Knopp Retireme 10:00am Fredericksburg 12:00pm Alcoholics Ano 3:30pm Pioneer Club 5:00pm Kid's Music Aca 6:00pm Pioneer Club Fa 5:30pm Middle School Y 6:00pm Bell Choir Pract 7:00pm Chancel Choir P

9

6 9:00am Contemporary Worship 9:30am Agape Hour 10:00am Sunday School 11:10am Traditional Worship Service 3:00pm Special Music Club Concert 5:00pm High School Youth

7 6:30am Bacon & Eggs Group-FH 7:30am Child Development Center 10:00am Cards for Christ 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 4:30pm Child Development Board 6:00pm Stephen Ministry Leadership 6:30pm SPRC Meeting 7:00pm Boy Scout Meeting

8 7:00am Men's Breakfast-City Cafe 7:30am Child Development Center 8:00am Wonder Workers 9:00am Living Well College 9:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry-Library 12:00pm Al Anon - Rm 11 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 5:15pm Women's Emmaus Reunion Group 5:30pm Girls Basketball 5:30pm Mission Committee Meeting 6:00pm Finance Committee 7:00pm Church Council

13

14 6:30am Bacon & Eggs Group-FH 7:30am Child Development Center 10:00am Cards for Christ 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 12:00pm Lunch Bunch-Rm 2 4:30pm Child Development Board 6:00pm Stephen Ministry Leadership 6:30pm SPRC Meeting 7:00pm Boy Scout Meeting

15 7:00am Men's Breakfast-City Cafe 7:30am Child Development Center 8:00am Wonder Workers 9:00am Living Well College 9:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry-Library 12:00pm Al Anon - Rm 11 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 5:15pm Women's Emmaus Reunion Group 5:30pm Girls Basketball 7:00pm Celebrate Life Christmas Presentation

16

20 8:30am Coffee for Camp 9:00am Contemporary Worship 9:30am Agape Hour 10:00am Sunday School 11:10am Traditional Worship Service 3:00pm Music Club Concert 5:00pm High School Youth

21 6:30am Bacon & Eggs Group-FH 7:30am Child Development Center 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 12:00pm Lunch Bunch-Rm 2 2:00pm Hannah Circle-Rm 2 7:00pm Boy Scout Meeting

22 7:00am Men's Breakfast-City Cafe 7:30am Child Development Center 8:00am Wonder Workers 9:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry-Library 12:00pm Al Anon - Rm 11 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 5:15pm Women's Emmaus Reunion Group 5:30pm Girls Basketball

23

27 10:00 Sunday School 11:10 Combined Worship Service

28 Church Office Closed 6:30am Bacon & Eggs Group-FH 7:30am Child Development Center 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 12:00pm Lunch Bunch-Rm 2

29 Church Office Closed 7:30am Child Development Center 12:00pm Al Anon - Rm 11 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 5:30pm Girls Basketball

30 Church Office Closed 7:30am Child Developm 10:00am Fredericksburg 12:00pm Alcoholics Ano 5:30pm Middle School Y

10:30am Celebrate Life Christmas Presentation 5:00pm Youth Progressive Dinner

7:30am Child Developm 9:00am Quilters 10:00am Fredericksburg 12:00pm Alcoholics Ano 5:30pm Middle School Y 6:00pm Bell Choir Pract 7:00pm Chancel Choir P

7:30am Child Developm 10:00am Fredericksburg 10:00am Knopp Retirem 10:30am Knopp Nursing 12:00pm Alcoholics Ano 12:00pm Diabetic Suppo 5:00pm Youth Christma 6:00pm Bell Choir Pract 7:00pm Celebrate Life C

7:30am Child Developm 9:30am Windcrest Retir 10:00am Fredericksburg 12:00pm Alcoholics Ano 5:30pm Middle School Y 6:00pm Bell Choir Pract 7:00pm Chancel Choir P

glance Dec. 2015

ment Center ent Social g Nursing Home Sing onymous ademy amily Dinner Youth tice Practice

Thu

3 7:30am Child Development Center 9:00am Living Well College 9:30am CDC Kid's Chapel 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 12:00pm Book Club 5:30pm Girls Basketball 6:00pm Praise Team Rehearsal-Sanctuary

Fri

4 7:30am Child Development Center 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Sat

5

12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

ment Center g Nursing Home Sing onymous Youth tice Practice

10 11 7:30am Child Development Center 7:30am Child Development Center 8:30am Biblical Garden Workday 9:00am Living Well College 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 9:30am CDC Kid's Chapel 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 1:30pm UMW Christmas Celebration &Tea 5:30pm Girls Basketball 6:00pm Praise Team Rehearsal-Sanctuary 7:00pm Boy Scout Committee Meeting

12 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

ment Center g Nursing Home Sing ment Center Communion g Home #1 Communion onymous ort Group as tice Christmas Presentation

17 7:30am Child Development Center 9:00am Living Well College 9:30am Helen Tainter Circle 9:30am Heritage Communion 9:30am CDC Kid's Chapel 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 2:00pm Friendship Circle 5:30pm Girls Basketball 6:00pm Praise Team Rehearsal 7:00pm Boy Scout Leaders

18 7:30am Child Development Center 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

19

24

25

CHRISTMAS EVE Church Office Closed at 12 p.m.

12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 3:00pm Children’s Christmas Eve Service 5:00pm Contemporary Christmas Eve Service 7:00pm Traditional Christmas Eve Service

26

CHRISTMAS DAY Church Office Closed 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

ment Center ement Communion g Nursing Home Sing onymous Youth tice Practice

ment Center g Nursing Home Sing onymous Youth

31 NEW YEAR'S EVE Church Office Closed 7:30am Child Development Center 12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 5:30pm Girls Basketball

12:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous

THIS month

at fumc

Special Events “Celebrate Life” Musical and Drama

Youth Middle School Youth Wednesdays from 5:30 –7 p.m. in the Youth Room

Sunday, December 13th at 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, December 15th at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 16th at 7 p.m.

FUMC Sanctuary

High School Youth

Christmas Eve Services

Youth Sunday School

Thursday, December 24th Children’s Worship at 3 p.m.

Contemporary Worship at 5 p.m.

Traditional Worship at 7 p.m. *All worship services will be candlelit and include communion.

Coffee for Camp Sales December 20th during Agape Time FUMC Fellowship Hall *Special Holiday Rates: Suggest donation of $10 per bag, $15 for two bags, or $20 for three bags. Stock up on Christmas gifts!

Combined Worship Service December 27th at 11:10 a.m.

FUMC Sanctuary

Sundays from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room

Sundays at 10 a.m. for all youth 6th12th grade in the Youth Room

Youth Progressive Dinner December 13th beginning at 5 p.m.

Poinsettia Sales Sundays beginning November 29th through advent.

Children Pioneer Club & Kids Music Academy Family Dinner Wednesday, December 2nd at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, following final Pioneer Club of the semester.

Children’s Sunday School

Senior Adults

Sundays 10-11 a.m. *Contact Sharon Massey at

Empty Cross & Lunch Trip

sharon@fredumc.org

Thursday, December 3rd at 10 a.m.

Meet at FUMC– transportation provided

Child Development Center

25

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

Weekdays from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. *Contact Amy O’Neil at 990-2320

Music Wesleyan Bell Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

FUMC Sanctuary

Chancel Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

FUMC Sanctuary

Praise Team Rehearsal Thursdays at 6 p.m.

FUMC Sanctuary

Music Club Concert Hill Country Youth Orchestra December 6th at 3 p.m.

FUMC Sanctuary

Children’s Ministry Donations As part of a special project in December, The children will be creating gift bags to take to a nursing home. We received $57 during the Factory ministry fair. However, we still will need a few items to complete our project. Please consider donating any of the following items: paper towels, travel size shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brush, mouth wash, hand cream, soap, face towel.

Beginning Sunday, November 1st there will be a box in the Fellowship Hall for donations. Thank you for your support.

Share Your Ministry

Looking for a way to share your Opportunities To Serve ministry with others? Contact the church office and pick a Sunday to feature the good work of your Open Position for a New ministry. You can share your ministry Children’s Director during one or both services and at a As many of you already know, our wonderful table just outside of the sanctuary.

Sharon Massey is stepping down at the end of This is a great way to let others know December as our Director of Children's what you’re doing to help others and Ministries in order to be able to give more time to encourage new members to join to family needs. Sharon has done an your ministry. outstanding job, and it will be hard to fill her shoes, but try we must! This is a part time position. If you are interesting in applying, or You Do You know someone who might be interested, We want to empower you to use your please contact Pastor George for a job individual gifts, talents and passions to description and other info. And keep our serve God and carry out our mission of ministry to children in your prayers! creating new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Decorating for Christmas Have some thoughts about how to Tuesday, December 1st has been set aside engage with FUMC and the as our big “Decorate the Church for community? Or an idea for a ministry?

Christmas Day.” We will be setting up our A community outreach event? Maybe new Christmas tree and hanging chrismons, you want to teach a bible study class? setting up the nativity outside, hanging Let us know how we can help you! Call wreaths and putting some other Christmasy the church office at 997-7679 touches throughout the church. Contact Maryneil Dance at maryneil@beecreek.net or just show up around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday! fredumc.org 26

what’s ahead

at fumc

27 Vol. 9 Dec. 2015 25 Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

fredumc.org 28 fredumc.org 26

1 Kay Daigle 1 Gerrie Sue Stein 1 Jacob Frisbee 2 Donna Cannon 2 Craig Sly 3 Jay Weinheimer 3 Bob Lee 4 Bill Tilley 4 Buzz White 4 Jim Harrington 4 Pat Weeden 4 Curtis Houy 4 Randall King 5 Patti Pavliska 7 Lydia Ramos 7 Judy Hoopman 7 Beth Brady 7 Gayle Harris 7 Galen & Martha Neitsch 8 David Lyngaas 9 Nellie Frisbee 9 Erika Andreassian 10 Betty Sue Sturrock 10 Agnes Houy 10 Jessica Doss 10 Fred & Billie Rowell 11 Kenneth Williams 11 Lorne & Meredith Itz 29

Vol. 9 Dec. 2015

12 Esten Cooke 12 Mike & Candy Campbell 13 Desmond Sagebiel 13 Ian Kendrick 13 Gail & Cyril Weich 14 Courtney Thompson 15 Dorothy Ketron 15 Maxie Hoerster 15 Ricky Moellering 15 Reagan Rabke 15 Geoffrey Jacoby 15 Kurtis & Patricia Karr 17 Carol Smith 17 Dennis & Sandy Phillips 18 Bill & Gary Eunice 19 Bill Wiginton 19 Crawford & Phyllis Guthrie 20 Stormy Maner 20 Flo Schverak 20 Fred H. Witters Jr. 20 Robert Houy 20 Ashlyn Smith 21 Jim Warren 21 Stacey York 22 John & Sherry Freeman 22 Bill & Beverly Harrell 23 Elgin Tatsch

24 Kristie Gedeon 24 Paul & Glenda Riefler 25 Jessica Eckhardt Burrow 25 Christopher Wehmeyer 26 Lena Mueller 26 Fred & Mary Segner 27 Bob Banks 27 Buzz & Pat White 27 Tom & Kay Telle 28 Fred Segner 28 Rhonda Strelke 28 Richard & Bee Troxell 28 Reg & Linda Gartner 28 Larry & Bonnie Stanley 28 Danny & Nancy Thompson 29 Mike Campbell 29 Jill Telle 29 Nina Smith 30 Jack Miller 30 Joyce Crenwelge 30 Dottie Pieper 30 John & Judy Hutcherson 31 Terry Hadsall 31 Steve McAnally 路 Dates and names in bold are anniversaries.

CONTINUING CONCERNS Nursing Home & OUR Military Retirement Center Carolyn Allen Ruth Braeutigam Clarence Durst Carol Dwyer Imogene Friedrich Fred Mesch Desmond Sagebiel Mabel Teschner Romilda Jaimson

Audrey Kothmann Norma Peterson Marvin Prochnow Marvel Pospisil Auralia Schmid Melrose Sultemeier Jimmie Tree Fred Kunz

OUR Missionaries

Scott Benfield Khristy Brazell Roland Cleveland Adam Duecker Gary L. Goin Dylan Guess Houston Haley Chance Harling Wacey Holladay Mark Klaerner Bryce Klein Jason Loving Alec Maples Quentin Moellering

Here I am.

Send me.

James Muncy Dennis Ray Phillips Chris Pieper Steven Ramsey Tyler Remini Jeffrey Schmidt Cody Segner Jason Smith Bruce Stafford Perry Waters Charlie Watson Ash Westerfield Weston Williams Dara Wydler Steve York Joshua Weaver Ethan Waterman

Central Asia: Brian & Cynthia -Isaiah 6:8 Eastern Asia: Misti Ecuador: Tim & Daina We also want to Madagascar: Adam & Suzie, acknowledge Jana and Leigh, Phoebe, Emma, Baylee & River who are serving the Japanese Detroit .We support them Nicaragua: Sara & Joey, Risa, inwhen possible, and hope to Micah & Jace ad them to our regular Philippines: Marsha support list in the future.

Connect Online!

www.fredumc.org

www.twitter.com/fbgumc

http://vimeo.com/groups/187577

www.facebook.com/pages/Fredericksburg-United-Methodist-Church/217593975003835

fredumc.org

30

Fredericksburg United Methodist Church 1800 North Llano Fredericksburg TX 78624-2917 **************************************

Connect with our staff Rev. George Lumpkin……Senior Pastor (glumpkin59@gmail.com) Rev. J. Sidney Spiller……..Associate Pastor (sid@fredumc.org) Don Doss……………………Director of Music Ministries (don@fredumc.org) Joel Griffin…………………..Director of Youth Ministries (joel@fredumc.org) Sharon Massey……………..Director of Children’s Ministries (sharon@fredumc.org) Kenneth Vaughan…………Director of Media Ministries (notagadget@gmail.com) Tricia Small…………………Director of Communications (tricia@fredumc.org) Amy O’Neil…………………Director of CDC (methodistpreschoolfbg@gmail.com) Judy Hickerson……………..Organist Linda Klein………………….Office Manager (linda@fredumc.org) Selena Hendrix……………...Director of Finances (selena@fredumc.org) Florie Hernandez……………Custodian Tammy Amerson-Wilson RN………Wesley Nurse (TAmerson-Wilson@mhm.org)

Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.—5 p.m., closed 12-1 p.m. for lunch, and Friday from 8 a.m.—12 p.m. You can reach the office at 830-997-7679, or visit fredumc.org to learn more about our worship and ministries.