November End-Of-Month Update

We are getting closer and closer to Christmas and 2012…doesn't it seem just like yesterday that we began 2011?  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you are now waiting expectantly for the baby Jesus!  I am so enjoying the beauty of the season this year…the cold, crisp weather, the beautiful lights, the Nativity story John is sharing with the children each week, the anticipation of being with friends and family during this special time of year.  And I'm taking Cindy's suggestion and trying not to overload myself with things that turn my mind away from the importance of the season.  Sometimes that is easier said than done, but I'm making more of an effort this year than in years' past.

Thanksgiving week was a special one for our youth group.  Many of them participated in the Mini-Mission event held here at our church.  The group of 40 kids and adults worked on homes in our ministry mile and the Grapevine village, as well as both our church campuses.  The people they helped were astonished that this group would spend their time repairing their homes for free.  One gentleman prayed that the group would actually show up…he was afraid it was too good to be true!  One lady said, "Why do you want to do this?  You don't even know me."  This group truly was the hands and feet of Christ for the weekend.  Thank you to the Iron Men for sponsoring the event, to Neil Payne for coordinating it and to the group of youth and adults who spent their time serving others in the name of Christ.  You are awesome!

Las Posadas was a great Sunday evening in the life of our church.  Approximately 250 people were here to participate in the worship service followed by food and fellowship in the Family Life Center.  The children's enjoyment in being a part of the service as well as having fun with the piñatas brought smiles to everyone!  

Please remember that we will be going paperless with your January statement.  We are in the process now of checking your files to accommodate email statements.  If you have changed your email address and forgotten to contact us, please do so now.  We need your current email address on file.  You may email Cheri Rutledge with your new one at cherir@fumcg.org.  Eliminating paper statements will help us be good stewards of our resources by saving paper and postage.

To help us close the gap between expenses and income, we will be accepting contributions for 2011 through noon on December 31.  The church office will be closed on December 26 & 27, so please plan accordingly.  Your contribution can also be postmarked on December 31 to receive credit in 2011.  Any contribution received in the January 1 offering will be applied to 2012.

Our Christmas services will be a little different this year.

The Downtown Campus schedule is:
    5:00 p.m. Communion & Candlelight in Founders Chapel
    5:00 p.m.  Family-Friendly Worship Service in the Sanctuary
    7:00 p.m.  Traditional Candlelight in the Sanctuary
    7:00 p.m.  Noche Buena en Founders Chapel
    9:00 p.m.  Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary
The Heritage Campus schedule is:
    6:00 p.m.  Traditional Candlelight Service

Our Christmas offering this year will benefit the following three ministries:

• Kenya Guest House
  This special project is one we have undertaken over the last several years in cooperation with the Methodist Church in Kenya. The purpose of the Guest House is to provide a source of income for the Kaaga Synod and to allow visitors a safe place to stay. 
• Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON)
  JFON is a program of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) that provides free, professional legal services to immigrants in monthly clinics. This program connects a national network of church-based, volunteer-led immigration clinics to asylum seekers and immigrants who need a helping hand to navigate the maze of rules and laws that affect their lives in the United States. 
• Metro Board of Missions
  The Metropolitan Board of Missions is the mission arm of the Fort Worth and Mid-Cities Districts of the United Methodist Church. Each year the board funds "partner ministries." These ministries serve a diverse population: children who need tutoring, victims of domestic violence, incarcerated parents and their children, those without homes and the hungry. 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Christmas blessings to each of you!