Church Matters. Presents. Plan to Move Forward. Inside this issue:

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1 December 2018 Church Matters E u l e s s F i r s t U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h Inside this issue: Prayer List 2 Birthdays / Anniversaries Food Pantry 3 Memorials 3 UMW 3 End of Year Giving 3 Discipleship Journey 4 Preschool 4 Benevolence 5 Stew Follow-Up 5 Altar Flowers 6 Euless First Kids 6 Abundance Café 6 November Calendar 7 Important Church Dates 2 8 Blue Christmas 9 Advent Calendar 9 Pastor s Open House 9 SPR and Finance Message 10 Night of Hope 10 From the Pastor 11 Leadership 11 E1ement Students 12 Christmas Offering 12 Presents Christmas morning is marked with the presents under the tree. The tradition started as we remember the gift of Jesus and the gifts that the Magi brought a young Jesus. We all have great memories of this tradition throughout our lifetimes. Some gifts were unique while others were total duds. As we prepare our hearts this season for the coming of Christ, may we refocus on the gift of Christ Jesus. In 2018 we will be preparing our hearts through a look at Presents! Traditionally throughout the season we prepare ourselves for the birth of a Messiah by looking at the gifts of hope, love, joy and peace. This year Plan to Move Forward In early November, the Euless Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the Plan of Development for the purchase of this property, and the City Council votes on the same Tuesday, November 27th. The sale of the 6.62 acres Euless FUMC occupies is currently scheduled to close in the first week of December. Additionally, our purchase of the property at Ash Lane is expected to close around the we will continue this, but will add an element. Many modern families are working to put the focus back on the birth of Jesus and away from the desire for more and bigger gifts. They are using a rhyme to help keep the gift buying in focus: something they want, something they need, something they wear and something they read. Beginning December 2 with same time. You might recall that both of these were initially scheduled to have been completed by this past October. Our Real Estate Team, headed by Brad Tribble, has worked hard to keep these deals working and moving in the right direction. While there has been no change in the final price of either purchase or sale, deadlines and earnest money payments have changed. Every dollar of a Hanging of the Greens service, and throughout the season of Advent, we will look at Presents. As a part of the season we are inviting Sunday School classes to join us in an advent curriculum by James Moore called Christmas Gifts: That Wont Break. We will be providing a copy to each of the Sunday School classes. We will also, once again, be publishing an Advent book. This book will have all of the worship services for the season, calendar, daily devotionals, and children s activities. Join us and unwrap the meaning of the season! earnest money, though, counts toward the final price, and the final price hasn t changed. We are blessed to have a team of committed people working so hard for the good of the church! We are also blessed to have so many people continuing - faithful, and constant - in prayers that we follow God toward the future God has for Euless FUMC!

2 Prayer List New Concerns: Andrea & McGill, Ollie O'Sallis' family Bryan Craig and family, Judy Mulholland's son Caraban in Mexico Chris, Ollie O'Sallis' family Deborah Carter, Darlene Carter's Daughter Eradicate Ebola Erwin Young, Paula Wood's couson Evelyn Gary Gilby Gertrude, Ollie O'Sallis' Mother God's Blessing Hazel Mae Hurlbut, Brenda Hurlbut's newborn granddaughter Jim Cook, Ric & Shelly Grant's Brother-inlaw Jo Kemp Joy Price, John Elder's mother Judy Torres Katy Hurlbut Marla Williams, New Empolyment Matthew Simmons Merideth Sparks Pat Davis, David Davis' Aunt Paul Cordes, Ric & Shelly Grant's neighbor Paul Ivey, June Ivey's son Peace Rose Marie Wallace, Patsy Brown's friend Roxanna Berg Sean Latoya, Ollie O'Sallis family Shannon Davenport, Franny Springer's friend Terriw Russell, Billie Bradford's cousin That Jesus come back to the world now Victims of Wild Fires Continued Strength and Healing: Alan Moffatt Alberto Schimer, Bernardo & Arthur Schirmer's dad Alissa D'Amore, Marjorie Haddock's friend Ann Burns Ann Keller Annette Kelleher Arthur Schirmer Baker and Michelle Ingram Barbara Borland Brenda Dacus Brianna Davis Brooke Rust, Dottie Rust's daughter-inlaw Burton family Cameron Mode and family Candy Klasen Carol Rust, Dottie Rust's daughter Charles Farris, Charlotte Everett's son Charlotte Everett Clara Klasen, Ken Klasen's mother Curtis Borland Denise Foley Donna Smith, Denise Foley's sister Doug Graham Doug Stapleton Ed Zachow Glada Rose Gordon and Linda Roberts, Nancy Bickel's friends Gwynn Herrick Honor Vaughn, Teresa Sprague's mother Jamie Nalley, Surgery Nov. 2 in Sioux Falls, SD Jerry Doubt, Marilyn Long's cousin Jerry Hunt, Sheri Lusk's father Jim and Ila Gravely, Arthur Schirmer's grandparents Jimmy and Jan Isabel and family Jo Kemp Joe Brown, Jackie Robinson's brother John Hoge, Jim & Susan Hoges' son John Lewis Johnnie Girod Judy Mulholland Julia Freeman, Linda Martin's friend Julie Belcastro, Donna Bertram's daughter June Ivey Kathy Walton, Billie Bradford's friend Kay Urfer, Michelle Barker's mother Kellsey Abbott, Sherwood and Cheri Abbott's granddaughter Kevin Maines Landon Power Larry Everett, Charlotte Everett's husband Les Foley Lilia Olvera and her family Lillian DePuy, Linda (Larry) Lewis' mother Lincoln Smythe and family Mark Baker Mark Rust, Dottie Rust's son Marlene Hill, Vic and Judy Torres' friend Mary Esping, Amber Hawthorne's Mom Mary Guyton, Dottie Rust's niece Mary Lib Saleh Michele Heroux and family, Amber Hawthorne's friend Mike Sprague, Stephen Sprague's brother Nick and Lisa Schoenberger, Ron Coats' friends Nick McMillon Nolan Fisher Nolan Hardwick, Barbara Collier's father Ollie O'Sallis' family & friends Pat and Skip Rasmussen, Linda (Larry) Lewis' sisterin-law and brother Pierre Tshimanga's family Richard and Sue Morrow Robbie Breaux, Audrey Coats' friend Rose Marie Barnes, Patsy Brown's friend Sam Stearns and parents Shirley Maggard Shirley Mercer Stan Clarke, Sue & Richard Morrow's friend Sue Martin Sydney Marie Peel, Pat May's great niece Terron Muller, Les Foley's niece Tim Schaneberg Vicki Smith Wayne Maggard Protection: Alex Saracay (National Guard) All Police Officers and Firefighters Allen McCleland (Army), Vic & Judy Torres' grandnephew Colton Hardaway (Army) and Zack Pulver, Michael and Lore Osborn's son and son-in-law Daniel Collier (Air Force), Bob Collier's grandson David Lansana (Army) Eric Sheer (Marines), Vic & Judy Torres' grandnephew Gavin Haubrich (Air Force) Jim Orsund, Ellen and Aaron Garcia's friend Josh Crow (Navy), Annette Kelleher's son Justin Knighton (Navy) Kayla Brown (Army), Jackie Robinson's niece Kevin Balentine (Army), Cindy Balentine's son Mason Vaughn (Marines), Stephen and Teresa Sprague's nephew Matthew Lee (Air Force), Michelle Barker's brother Nathan Hannah (Army), Patsy Brown's grandson Nicholas Best (Navy), Glenn and Kaye Best's son Rebecca Smith (National Guard), Patsy Brown's granddaughter Samantha Reed (Navy), Patsy Brown's granddaughter Stephen Tate (Army), Janet Ledbetter's son Tracy Wood (Peace Corps), Rex and Paula Wood's daughter If your prayer request has been left off, please resubmit it. All requests are for 30 days only and will need to be resubmitted after that time. Birthdays Anniversaries Page 2 December 02 Millie Richter, Claudia Chico 03 Iris Elliott, James Knowles 04 Kent Polenz, Michael Osborn 08 Reagan Long 13 Norma Lively 14 Carla Miller 15 Owen Pyron 17 Teresa Watts 19 Chris Brooks, Courtney Barton 20 Rachel Heyduck 21 Brenda Hankins, Brenda Hurlbut, Brendan Gerardi December 06 Rex & Paula Wood 07 Jay & Billie Bradford 17 Joe & Jennifer Tindel 18 Kent & Tami Polenz 20 Lewie & Linda Moore

3 Food Pantry December Food Pantry Schedule: 07 Doris Brown, Janice Kasten, Linda Lewis, Hedy Taylor 14 Joe Tindel, Paula Wood, Rita Young 21 Darlene Carter, Brenda Hurlbut, Teresa Sprague 28 Nancy Bickel, Georgia Hill, Jill Schaneberg The Food Pantry Volunteers are busy getting ready for Christmas. We will be filling small bags of food as a Christmas gift to our clients. It won t be a full meal, just some of the extras we have on our shelves. We are asking you, the congregation, to help us with 'stocking stuffers' for our clients children on Christmas morning. Items requested include small games, books, coloring books, hair accessories, hair bows, hair barrettes, baseballs, footballs, hand mirrors, shaving lotions, perfumes, etc. Thank you for the help you give to our Pantry. God Bless Everyone and Merry Christmas. Memorials/Honorariums In Memory of James Fuller/General Budget: Joe Cannon United Methodist Women The holiday season has begun! December includes our monthly meetings and supporting United Community Centers Teen Christmas party in Ft. Worth with cookies. Please bring homemade cookies to the church by December 9. Charlotte Everett will take them to the party. Plans are being made for Do you have an idea? Officers will be at the December meetings and would like to hear from you. I would like to thank all UMW members and supporters of UMW for a very generous year. Four missions and the church were supported with funds raised at bake sales and breakfasts to which you contributed. Packing parties and district UMW meetings were also hosted. As always, our mission work is an outward sign of our love. Harmony Hope (1st Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.) and Thoughtful Friends (2nd Thursday at 6:00 p.m.) are wonderful groups of ladies and would like to welcome anyone who would like to learn more about United Methodist Women. End of Year Giving We know life gets extremely busy at the close of the year. During the holidays the church office will be closed on the Wednesday following Christmas. If you need to make your end of year financial gifts and find the office closed, please be aware that there is a locked mail box near the Swor Parlor doors. This is a secure box, and we check it every day that the office is open. Thank you! Page 3

4 Discipleship Journey Euless First will be presenting an expanded Discipleship Journey small-group study program this Fall and Winter to help persons follow Jesus Preschool together a bit better today then yesterday. We understand that our journey with Christ is one that takes action to learn more. We hope that you will find Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible Good women behaving badly: a spiteful boss, a defiant employee, a manipulative mother, a desperate housewife, an envious sister...honey, we know these women. We've lived with them, worked with them, or caught a glimpse of them in our mirrors. Now let's take a look at their ancient counterparts in scripture: Sarah mistreated her maidservant, Hagar despised her mistress, Rebekah manipulated her son, Leah claimed her sister's husband, and Rachel envied her fertile sister. They were far from evil, but hardly perfect. Mostly something this fall for you to participate in. Registration is available on the connection card of the bulletin as well as online. Here is what we are offering in regards to short term studies in the near future.: good, yet slightly bad. In other words, these matriarchal mamas look a lot like us. Join Pastor Rachel and Jo Tarrh in a fun study to look at these women of scripture and see the parallels in our own lives. This study is 8 sessions, costs $10 and will begin in January Page 4 It s the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Excitement is in the air as preschool is in anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the arrival of Santa! The Christmas program this year is entitled, Christmas in the Kitchen, by Cathy s Music. Our preschoolers are going to make cookies AND the cookies they make will help them tell the Christmas story! Footshaped cookies will make their feet skip on their long trip to Bethlehem. The preschoolers will dress up as animals in the barn and discover that God has given each of them something that they can give away to the newborn Savior to show their love. Along with milk & eggs & wool, the barn animals will deliver heart-shaped cookies to Mary and Joseph. Our preschool angels will deliver round smiley-face "joy" cookies to the shepherds when they tell them that God's promised savior is now lying in a manger and brings joy to the whole world. The shepherds don't have time to bake so they buy some star-shaped cookies to celebrate the light that Jesus brings to all of our lives. Our programs will be Thursday and Friday, December 13 & 14 at 10:00 a.m. A special thanks to Mike Springer for running the sound and to Carol Bolton and Larry Kramer for setting up the stage! The week after our Christmas program, we will have our Christmas parties on December 18 and 19. Then we will be on Christmas vacation from December 20 until January 7. Please continue to save Box Tops. Our October collection earned $231. Thank you for all of your support!

5 Benevolence Giving/Pastor s Emergency Fund Euless First United Methodist Church has worked hard for several years to help the people in our community. One way that we did this was through our benevolence giving, or what we call the Pastor s Emergency Fund. This is how it has worked for at least the last 7 years: residents of in the Hurst, Bedford, or Euless cities call in almost every day and ask for assistance, are asked to call back on Tuesday mornings to see if we have funds available. If we do have funds, appointments are made for them to come in that morning. Pastor Beverly lovingly meets with them to discuss their needs, then she writes them a check toward a bill that they need help paying. Often times the check is for $25 toward their total. This has been a compassionate ministry that we have lovingly contributed to and supported. However, we are in a season of needing to analyze every ministry in our congregation. We are looking at the value, the energy needed, and the benefits at these ministries. Every ministry will be looked at in the coming year, in light of our mission and vision. This is not an attack on any ministry, bet an analysis of what is working and what is not. With reflection on the Pastor s Emergency Fund, Church Council has decided to stop giving away funds in We are very much aware that the need has not ceased, but probably increased. We also know that we are not be helping as much as we would hope. We encourage you, if this is a ministry you have contributed in the past, to give to NEED. NEED strives to assist every client who walks through our doors. However, our focus and efforts are targeted to families living in the 13 Northeast Tarrant County zip codes in our service area, We prayerfully move forward in ministry and support those in our community that are doing great work. Thank you for all of your support and past help. Stew Follow-Up During the month of October, Euless First had some great time Stewing on our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. We wish to take time to thank everyone that supported this campaign. We concluded the event on November 4 with a stew dinner and an update on current number of pledges and amount pledged. We thank everyone that has already turned in their pledge cards. This is a way for us to prepare for the coming year and grow in our trust and faith in God. We currently have received 91 pledge cards for 2019 with a total of $368,000 pledged. Our goal is to have 110 pledges for $400,000. We are 82% to our goal of a number of pledges made and 92% to our goal of money pledged. We are excited to say we have 18 new pledges (people who have never pledged before), and 25 families that have increased their pledge from previous years. Here is a brief history of recent pledging: 2016 $346k with 98 pledgers, 2017 $347k with 100 pledgers, 2018 $371k with 97 pledgers. 15 first time pledgers is looking very positive. Thanks again for your support. We will keep you updated. If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, it is never too late! 2018 $371k with 97 pledger Page 5

6 Page 6 Altar Flowers Altar flowers are a wonderful reminder of the beauty of God s creation, and we are blessed to have them in worship as often as possible. If you would like to purchase flowers for a Sunday in 2019, please contact the church office at to schedule a Sunday. This is a wonderful way to honor a birthday of a loved one, or to Euless First Kids I am filling in for Jamie this month at least filling in to write the newsletter. December is a fun time of year for kids. They are excited about Christmas and all the gifts that come. We will be taking time as a church to look at focusing on the gift of Christ more than physical gifts this season as a congregation. Our theme is Presents. We will be using a poem to guide us through the season that many parents use to help themselves keep Christ as the center of the holiday, and keep the gift giving under control. We all know that time we got our kids a Abundance Cafe Abundance Cafe is our weekly breakfast on Sundays in the Family Life Center Café. We merely ask for a donation. This is a great time to have a cup of coffee and enjoy fellowship with our fellow churchgoers. We want to thank the cooks for all the great breakfast goodies provided each remember the saints that have gone before. However, we are also aware that flowers may not be the biggest need in our world. Flowers might be beautiful, but you know that we are working towards some big changes in the coming years. If you would like to make a donation to the church or to little bit too much and it was too big. Even if you have not done it, we have been pressured by the world around us. The poem says to give something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Another way to keep Christ as the center of the season is to do family activities like daily readings, such as Jesse Tree. The idea is that you read and discuss a scripture a day, and sometimes make an ornament to remember week! All donations from this ministry support Euless First s Missional Giving (previously known as Apportionments) unless otherwise indicated. Please join us each Sunday morning from 9:15 to 10:00 in the Café. We are currently working on the 2019 schedule. a future building in honor or memory of a loved one, in lieu of flowers, we will publish that as well on a designated Sunday. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of all the ministries at Euless First. We know that worship on Sunday is lifted to God and we give our gifts in knowing that God has given us so very much. the life and lineage of Christ. You can get a Jesse Tree book for free or for just a couple of dollars for Kindle readers online. Euless First Kids are in need of some more volunteers. As we gear up to move and focus on children here and in our future we need to add a Sunday School class on Sunday mornings. Please consider volunteering. Finally, Jamie s surgery went well, and we are hoping she will be back in Texas by December. Rev. Rachel Heyduck Please let Dave Lewis know if you can help. December cooking schedule: 02 New Beginnings 09 Fresh Start B 16 Biscuit Babes 23 Church wide breakfast bring breads and such

7 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 10:00 Al-Anon :30 Worship Hanging of the Greens 9:15 Abundance Café 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Hanging of the Greens 4:00 Leaders Study of Deep and Wide 5:00 E1ement Students 6:00 Scouting 6:30 Building Committee 7:00 Trustees 10:00 Harmony Hope UMW 3:00 Beach Club 6:00 New Beginnings Fellowship 6:30 Alpha 6:00 Handbells 7:00 Choir Practice 6:30 Men s Coffee 10:30 Pastor s Bible Study 7:00 Church Council Meeting 9:00 Food Pantry Open 6:00 Pastor s Open House 10:00 Al-Anon 5:00 Volunteers of America Christmas Party :30 Worship 9:15 Abundance Café 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 4:00 Leaders Study of Deep and Wide 5:00 E1ement Students Christmas Progressive Dinner 6:00 Scouting 6:00 Girl Scouts 6:00 Night of Hope 7:00 Finance Committee 3:00 Beach Club 6:30 Alpha Celebration Dinner 6:30 Cub Scout Pack Committee Meeting 6:00 Handbells 7:00 Choir Practice 6:30 Men s Coffee 10:30 Pastor s Bible Study 6:00 UMW Thoughtful Friends 9:00 Food Pantry Open :30 Worship Cantata 9:15 Abundance Cafe 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Cantata 5:00 E1ement Students 6:00 Choir Christmas Party, TBD 6:00 Scouting 6:00 UMW Executive Meeting 6:30 Building Committee Meeting 7:00 Choir Practice 6:00 Handbells 7:00 Blue Christmas Worship Service 6:30 Men s Coffee 10:30 Pastor s Bible Study 9:00 Food Pantry Open Christmas Eve 25 Christmas :30 Worship 9:15 Abundance Café All church provide breakfast 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship :30 Worship 9:15 Abundance Café 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Office Closed 5:30 Family Friendly Worship Service 8:00 & 11:00 Communion and Candlelight Worship Service Office Closed Office Closed 6:00 Handbells 7:00 Choir Practice 6:30 Men s Coffee 9:00 Food Pantry Open 9:00 United Methodist Men Ham Pick-up 9:00 Choir Rehearsal 10:00 Al-Anon 10:00 Al-Anon 10:00 Al-Anon Page 7

8 Important Church Dates December 02- First Sunday of Advent Hanging of the Greens at both Services 03- Trustees Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Swor Parlor 05- United Methodist Women Harmony Hope at 10:00 a.m. in the Swor Parlor 06- Church Council Meeting in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. 08- Volunteers of America Christmas Party in the Family Life Center 09- E1ement Students Progressive Dinner starting at 5:00 p.m. off-site 10- Finance Committee Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Swor Parlor 11- Alpha Celebration Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafe Cub Scout Pack 847 Committee Meeting at 6:30 in the Library 13- United Methodist Women Thoughtful Friends at 6:00 p.m. in the Swor Parlor 15- United Methodist Men Ham Pick-up beginning at 9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary 16- Christmas Cantata during both Worship Services Choir Christmas Party, location and time to be determined 17- United Methodist Women Executive Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in UMW Mission Rm 18- Choir rehearsal moved to accommodate Blue Christmas Service, 7:00 p.m. in Choir Room 19- Blue Christmas Service at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary 24- Christmas Eve Services at 5:30, 8:00 and 11:00 p.m Office Closed for Christmas Holiday Regular Events: Sundays Worship at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Abundance Café at 9:15 in the Family Life Center Café Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Deep and Wide study in the Swor Parlor at 4:00 p.m. till December 9 E1ement Students at 5:00 p.m. Food Pantry on the 3rd Sunday evenings 5-7 p.m. Mondays- Tuesdays- Scouting at 6:00 p.m. in various rooms Al-Anon meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Library Beach Club at 3:00 p.m. at South Euless Elementary School until December 11, will return in 2019 Alpha at 6:30 p.m. in the Café until December 11 Wednesdays Bell Choir Practice at 6:00 p.m. in the Bell Choir Room Choir Practice at 7:00 p.m. in the Choir Room Thursdays Men s Coffee at 6:30 a.m. in the Swor Parlor Pastor s Bible Study at 10:30 a.m. in the Swor Parlor except December 27 Al-Anon meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Library Fridays Saturdays- Food Pantry from 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Al-Anon meets at 10:00 a.m. in the Library Page 8 Connect with us: Twitter.com/EulessFirstUMC Facebook.com/EulessFirstUnitedMethodist Youtube.com/sheyduck Pinterest.com/EulessFirstUMC Instagram.com/EulessFirstUMC

9 Blue Christmas Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in "I am feeling blue." Not everyone is up to being cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations, make parties and joviality painful for Advent Calendar many people here at Euless First and throughout our community. For the fifth year in a row, Euless First is a part of a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas. We again will have a Blue Christmas service that will be reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope. Our service will be December 19, at 7:00 p.m. We want to remember the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss and un certianty. Join us as together we find peace in the incarnation. Advent is always a time filled with parties and activities. We hope you will join us for this holiday season as we anticipate the coming of Christ and all that comes with it. Here is a look at what is coming this season: December 2- Hanging of the Greens worship with children decorating Fresh Start Christmas Party 4:30 p.m. December 7- Pastor s Open House 6:00-8:00 p.m. December 9- Youth Progressive Dinner 5:00 p.m. December 10 - Night of Hope at South Euless Elementary School 6:00 p.m. December 15- Choir Christmas Cantata Rehearsal 9:00-11:00 a.m. Ham Pick-up beginning 9:00 a.m. at the Church December 16- Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata. Choir Christmas Party at 6:00 p.m. location TBA December 18- Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. December 19 - Blue Christmas Service, 7:00 p.m. Join us for a time to remember the love of Christ in the midst of hurting and change. December 24 - Christmas Eve: Family Worship at 5:30 p.m. Communion and Candlelight at 8:00 & 11:00 p.m. December 25 - Merry Pastor s Open House Since their arrival in 2012, Pastors Steve and Rachel Heyduck have invited the congregation to their home for a Christmas Open House. This is a time for them to show you hospitality. It is their Christmas gift to you, their church family. This year the Open House will be on Friday December 7, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Their address is Daly Dr. Hurst, TX They ask you to drop by their home, have something to eat, and celebrate Christmas with them this Holiday season. Merry Christmas to all of Euless First United Methodist Church. May 2019 be our best year yet! Page 9

10 From your Finance and SPR Chairs Online Giving Link The Finance Committee and the Staff Parish Relations Committee have joined forces to support and encourage the staff of Euless First United Methodist Church this holiday season. We love the staff that we have; they do so very much for us. Our pastors that are with us at the hospital of a sick family member, the death of a loved one, or at the baptism of a new child, and they give their time and energy to care for us. We have a phenomenal Music team that brings their best every Sunday. Vicki and Mark work to make holidays unique as well as providing a community in the choir like no other. Then there are those that make sure the building is cared for and clean. Curtis and Dusten are here, at times after the rest of us have gone home and are getting ready for bed, preparing the church for ministries the next day. Our youth and children learn in the loving hands of Jamie Nalley and Shane Mullin. We also love our nursery workers. We have had some changes recently, but new employees, Liz and Ruth Ann, have stepped in to love our children so that they feel safe and welcome here on Sundays and more. Finally, we have Candice, our Financial Secretary who helps us make sure everything runs, by paying the bills and managing your gifts. We love our church, and this is in large part due to the people that make sure it keeps running. Because of their efforts, we would like to start a new tradition. This year, the Staff Parish Relations Committee, upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, will be sponsoring a Holiday Love Offering to be distributed to all our hard-working staff at the church. The SPRC will begin the collection the Sunday following Thanksgiving and ask that you mark your check, Love Offering. We encourage Sunday School classes as well as other groups, to take up an offering for our staff. We hope you will take this opportunity to show your appreciation for our staff. Thank you- Craig Richey SPR Chair & Dave Lewis Finance Chair Night of Hope Page 10 Hope. Be a part of sharing the Joy of Christmas with 4500 children and their families in the HEB community by partnering with 6 Stones for Night of VOLUNTEER - Euless First United Methodist Church is once again hosting the Night of Hope Party at South Euless Elementary School on Monday, December 10 at 6:00 p.m. MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN! We need help with greeting and registration, serving refreshments, assisting children with crafts, wrapping parents gifts, and distributing gifts and food. To volunteer, you must sign up online at 6stones.org/noh. SPONSOR - You can sponsor a child or children and 6stones people will do the shopping for you. Your generous donation will be maximized through the cooperation of area retailers. Donations can be made online at 6stones.org/noh, or you can donate through our church by giving a check to Euless First UMC with Night of Hope on the memo line. ADOPT - You can adopt a child or children and go shopping yourself ($65 per child). To adopt, you must go online at6stones.org/ noh to complete the form and get instructions. Go online to 6stones.org/ noh and follow the directions to register to VOLUNTEER, SPONSOR OR ADOPT. Please do so today! For more information, please contact Pastor Beverly at beverly@fumceuless.org or call the church office

11 From the Pastor December is the end of the year, and as I write this in mid-november, all I can think is, Oh my! The end of the year is almost here! Am I ready for the end of another year? Sunday, December 2 is the First Sunday of Advent, and Advent is the beginning of the Christian year or liturgical year. The Christian Year begins with a season of preparation for a celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Messiah, and carries us through an annual remembering of the life of Christ culminating in Easter, with the resurrection of course! 7 weeks after Easter we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the promised Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church. From Pentecost to Advent we observe a period called ordinary time. Ordinary Time can make up half the year! But if you think about it, most of our days are made up of ordinary time. The special events, the highs and lows really make up very few of our days overall. December meets us coming and going. December starts the beginning of the Christian Year and ends with the end of the secular calendar year. So: Is this the beginning of a year or the end of a year? Yes! In addition to beginning the Christian Year and carrying us through the life of Jesus in a year, December also rounds out a year for us. And either way, days keep coming; life keeps moving on. Calendars mark days and help us order our lives, but they don t control us. May this December be a time for you to experience the newness of life in Christ and the end of some patterns God is calling you away from. December also rounds out a year for us. And either way, days keep coming; life keeps moving on. Leadership Leadership at Euless First is quite the adventure. We are on the cusp of many large changes, and are thus gearing up for these changes. The leadership team, comprised of committee chairs and staff, have met several times and agreed on the top 4 leadership tips to help us prepare for the journey ahead of us. Invite the Holy Spirit to move you beyond your fears. Simplify and concentrate on reaching people in your mission zone. Invest time and energy in developing your teamwork skills. Create clear priorities. The first step we have taken is to read Andy Stanley s book Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend. We have been meeting on Sunday afternoons to discuss this book. This was suggested as a tip for us to simplify and concentrate our reaching of people in our mission zone. We were advised that we have the resources to do the most important things we need to do. The question is, Do we have the will? All over the world, many of the most rapidly multiplying church movements share this in common: the people are poor and the churches have very little money. Here, in the west, we tend to create ministry with very high overhead, along with the illusion that we can't afford to do what it takes to grow ministry. In reality, we always have the resources to do what we most need to do. We just have to do it. Keep Euless First in your prayers for the coming year, and join us as we look at what we will do, as God calls us. Page 11

12 Page 12 E1ement Students Wow! Is it December already? It's hard to believe that it's almost time for our Progressive Dinner and SERVE: Christmas Gift Project! These are great traditions that are really important in the life of our students. Speaking of which, some other really important dates are coming up in the spring and summer for us, and we need your help! Please take a look at the "Coming in 2019" section below, and take a moment to consider how you might get involved with helping the E1ement Students in the coming Christmas Offering Euless First United Methodist Church s 2018 Christmas offering will benefit the Methodist Children s Home serving Texas and New Mexico. The entire offering at all Christmas Eve services, unless otherwise designated, will go to MCH. Here is a bit more about the Methodist Children s Home and its ministry: The point of the Christmas offering is to put our focus on others this holiday season. We live in a world in which Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest days of the season. In reality this season is not about getting or giving gifts to our family (even though this is a wonderful reminder months - in particular, we could use some folks who will provide a meal some Sunday nights this Spring, and we will need any and all of you who would like to spend a week with us on a Mission Trip where we are able to give to others, expecting nothing in return. If you would like to know more about these opportunities (you know you do!), please contact Shane. I would like to particularly draw your attention to the Spaghetti Dinner and Cake Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, March 2nd. Find someone who was there last year, and let them tell you of the gift of Christ). The season is really about the birth of a savior! The mission of the Methodist Children s Home has always been to serve children based on their needs, not their ability to pay. While parents are asked to provide financial support for their child s care, less than two percent of our budget comes from family payments. Some faithfully give each year to ensure the daily needs of our children are always met, while others have given MCH the ultimate honor by including our ministry in their estate plans. Because we only use the earnings from our endowment fund, we must raise more than $3 million for annual operating expenses. We raise this money through why you don't want to miss out on this new tradition. It is a truly fantastic experience - and there is cake!!! In December: December 2 - LOVE. & SERVE. Christmas Gift December 9 - BE. & LOVE. Progressive Dinner December 16 - SERVE. E1UMC Food Pantry December 23 - NO E1ement Table December 24 - Christmas Eve Worship December 30 - NO E1ement Table Coming in 2019 January - Mission Trip Retreat & Chili Cook-off February - Midwinter Camp & Super Bowl Party March - Spaghetti Dinner and Cake Auction direct mail appeals, the annual Christmas offering in the United Methodist churches of Texas and New Mexico, and our monthly donor program and major gift support. Our ministry is built upon a foundation of charitable support. Every dollar raised through this Christmas offering will be used to share the hope of Christ with those in our care, and not for administrative costs. Please support Euless First this Christmas season as we support the ministry of the Methodist Children s Home. If you have any other questions about their ministry, please feel free to talk with Pastors Steve or Rachel.