The Gruene UMC NEWS
OCTOBER 2017
Gruene UMC Pumpkin Patch... more than just pumpkins! It’s officially fall and the Gruene UMC Pumpkin Patch is NOW OPEN!
UMCOR, Appalachia Service Project, UM Army, and others.
Every fall we receive a semi truck full of pumpkins that we sell to the community. It’s amazing to see how our church family comes together to volunteer their time at the pumpkin patch. We unload the pumpkins, prepare and decorate the pumpkin patch, and meet and assist the many visitors who come. We invite families to come out on Saturdays and enjoy tractor hay rides, fall crafts, and to take pictures. We also invite visitors to join us on Sunday for worship. It’s a great way for us as a church to share God’s love with the community.
The Children’s & Family Ministry uses the money to help with planning their activities and events through out the year such as: Trunk or Treat, Helicopter Easter Egg Drop, and the Princess Ball. It also helps pay for Children’s Sunday School books and curriculum.
All money we receive from the purchase of pumpkins goes towards many of our ministries. Our Youth uses the money to help pay for the mission trips they take over the summer months such as:
Our Missions Ministry uses the money to help with our many missions: Steve’s Pantry; Church By The River, Turkey Tailgate, Easter Hams. We are so grateful to have the Pumpkin Patch! It’s been a blessing to our ministries but most of all we are happy that we are able to share the love of Jesus with our community in this way. For more info and to sign-up and volunteer, email Brandi at brandi@grueneumc.org.
This Month • The Pumpkin Patch • Pumpkin Delivery • Care Team • Remix Groups • Arts & Crafts Show • Student Ministry • Children & Family • Walk To Emmaus
Calendar Church Directory Photo Sessions (Last Call) October 2nd October 3rd
Missions & Muffins Arts & Crafts Vendor Show October 7th 9a.m.-3p.m. Family Promise October 8th –15th 2nd Pumpkin Delivery October 8th after 9:40 a.m. Service Administrative Council Meeting October 15th at 12:30 p.m. Praise and Worship Night
October 25th Fall Festival October 29th 5-7 p.m.
The Gruene Care Team needs YOU!!! The Care Team helps in several ways to meet the needs of those in our church and we’d love for you to be part of the team. There are many ways to serve and please read the following to see how you might be a part of this ministry. CARDS We send “Get Well”, “Thinking of You”, and “You are in our prayers” cards to those who could use a boost, prayer or friendly word. Karen Emerson sends us an email requesting cards (including the address and information). Send a card, if you can. Our feedback has been that recipients truly appreciate them! MEALS: A Sign up genius is sent to volunteers for those in need of meals due to illness, surgery, or recuperation. If this is a Mission area for you, there a 3 ways to serve *Preparing and delivering a meal , *Making meals and cookies for future needs or *Getting restaurant gift cards for those needing help. TRANSPORTATION: Help in driving others to church or doctor appointments. FUNERALS and RECEPTIONS: Needs are: Setting up, Food preparation, Serving, and Clean up. Peggy Smith and Karen Emerson have taken care of these events for several years and we need a co-chair to help with this area. Please consider this important role. ***There are tables in the Gathering Area with sign up sheets and Care Team members to answer questions. Please stop by or email Ann Burnett at rdrburnett@yahoo.com
Let’s Hear It For Our Servant Volunteers! This is such an exciting time in the life of our church! As a church, we are looking at new opportunities to connect in community. In our children’s ministry, that community is in the form of small groups. On September 10th, we kicked off Small Groups for Kindergarten through 5th grade. We believe that our most valuable resource in helping people see God is YOU, someone who knows God personally. People can’t see God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. But people CAN see people who follow God. People CAN see the church. More than twenty of our servant volunteers are being the church by pouring into our Children’s Small Groups! It is an honor and a joy to be a part of a church who partners with families to raise kids spiritually. Amy Howell, GUMC Kids & Families amy@grueneumc.org
Beth Moore Bible Study: Nunzy Alves will be leading the study “The Quest”. Will take place Tuesday evenings for 7 weeks. Starts October 3rd. Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study: The group will be reading “The Sacrament of Happy- What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World”. . Start time is 9:45am in Motown. Gruene Thumbs: Do you want to help grow food that helps feed hungry folks in our community? Do you have a “gruene” thumb? Volunteers are needed to work and tend the garden. Thursday Morning Coffee & Fellowship: This is a group that gets together to have coffee and fellowship. Takes place every Thursday morning at 9am in MoTown. Motherload Moms Group - Join us Wednesdays at 7:00 P.M. in the nursery for this 10 week Bible study by best selling author Max Lucado as we get to know 10 women of the Bible and what we can learn from their stories. Cost is $13 and childcare is available . For more info contact Jennifer Weatherton at gumcmotherload@yahoo.com. Tuesday Morning Book Study - This fall the book study will be "The Sacrament of Happy-What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World". Please join us at MoTown at 9:45am All are welcome. If you have questions, please contact Betsy Tucker at betsytucker197@gmail.com or Linda Sickles at lindasickles@me.com.
REMIX GROUPS ARE COMING! Remix groups are small groups of people (8-12 folks) who meet together once a week in someone's home to connect with others and grow deeper in faith. • Sermon discussion (remix) questions will be provided by pastors. The remix questions will provide ongoing curriculum but are intended to be conversation starters. •
We hope to start (at least) 10 Remix groups by the first week in November
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Each group will have a leader / facilitator (we’ll call them DJs)
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We will have leadership training in October.
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We will be working on ways to promote remix groups to the congregation via connections table and online
We are so excited about the possibilities for this ministry and the wonderful ways God brings us together. Several folks feel led to open their home and / or be a remix group leader (DJ). Many of you would like to participate in a remix group and you are looking forward to finding one that’s a good fit. More information and sign ups coming soon!
For more information about upcoming Bible Studies please contact the Gruene UMC Connections Team at connections@grueneumc.org.
Women’s Nov. 30th– Dec. 3rd A Walk to Emmaus is a time of spiritual renewal, bringing together prayer and action, personal spiritual growth and social concern. God meets each and everyone right where they are. It matters not if you are a brand new Christian or a seasoned one. It matters not if you are 20 or 120. God is there in a very real and personal way. If you have ever thought about attending an Emmaus Walk, The next women’s walk will be Nov. 30th-Dec 3rd. call Jamey Roy at (334)477-6591 for questions and/or more info.
Item of the Month This month Steve’s Pantry is collecting canned Tuna Fish & Vienna Sausage These donations will help benefit our friends who visit Steve’s Pantry. Please drop your donations off in the baskets in the gathering space at the church. Thank you in advance for your donations and support!
SAVE THE DATE! Pumpkin Delivery Sunday, October 8th The Gruene UMC Pumpkin Patch needs several volunteers to help unload all the pumpkins from the big semi truck that will arrive Sunday morning after the 9:40 service on October 8th After unloading we will have lunch...hot dogs, chips, and water. For more info, please contact Brandi Carnes at brandi@grueneumc.org.
Gruene Tree Learning Center News GTLC made it through the month of September with Jesus by our side the whole way! It is never easy dropping off your “little angel” for the first time… never! But God gave this preschool some of the most patient, kind, God loving, tender, and funny teachers a director could ask for. As I walked around observing the classes, I could hear their words filled with love and encouragement toward the children… it’s a beautiful thing…thank you Jesus! Many Blessings Rebecca Goossens GTLC Director gruenetreelearningcenter@gmail.com
Scholastic Book Fair Coming October 23rd thru October 27th
We are so excited to have our Scholastic Book Fair here again at GTLC! I remember as a young child being so excited to be able to get new books. GTLC does receive a percentage back of the sales….and with that we can continue to build our library upstairs (if you haven’t been up to see it you really should). Everyone is welcomed to come and browse during the school hours of 8:30 to 2:30 during that week.
OCTOBER 8th-15th! Hey, Gruene UMC! We will be hosting Family Promise October 8th - 15th. We are in need of volunteers to help set-up and tear down the rooms, clean laundry, stay overnight, and bring prepared meals and hang out with our guests. Any and all help is much appreciated. If interested, please contact Amy and Jesse Franklin at anenome10@hotmail.com or call (210) 213-0704.
LAST CALL!! Gruene UMC Directory Photo Sessions It’s not too late! We still have slots open for photo sessions in September. Sign-ups will be at the table in the gathering space on Sunday and also online Monday-Thursday at www.grueneumc.org/events. All families will receive a FREE 8x10 photo and a FREE Directory. You may also purchase additional photos.
Photography Session Dates
October 2nd & 3rd Times range between 2:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Please stop by the table in the gathering space to see what time slots are available and sign-up ASAP!!!
For more info contact Nadia at nadia@grueneumc.org.
Do you or your ministry have an event you would like to share in the Gruene UMC Newsletter? Please email your event info to Nadia at nadia@grueneumc.org. The deadline is the 15th !
Rev. Dan Harrington - Senior Pastor Dan@grueneumc.org
Brandi Carnes - Nursery Director brandi@grueneumc.org
Rev. Brock Gillman - Associate Pastor brock@grueneumc.org
Amy Howell - Children and Family Ministry Director amy@grueneumc.org
Rev. Aaron Carter - Associate Pastor aaron@grueneumc.org
Alyssa Rowe - Director of Student Ministries alyssa@grueneumc.org
Nadia Hoffman – Administrative Assistant nadia@grueneumc.org
Rebecca Goossens - GTLC Director gruenetreelearningcenter@gmail.com
2629 E. Common St. New Braunfels TX 78130 (830) 625-7200 Fax: (830) 625-7208
www.grueneumc.org OFFICE HOURS M-F, 8:30 - 4:30
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30, 9:40 & 11:00 a.m. (Main Building) 9:50 a.m. (Motown) “Come…be you, be filled , be loved. Go…be joy, be hope, be love. Be His! ”
See What’s Happening There are so many fun and exciting groups here at Gruene! To find out what’s going on, check us out on the Gruene UMC facebook page or on our website, www.grueneumc.org.