NWH HAPPENINGS CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF SERVING!

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1 Volume 33 Issue 11 November 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS SERMON SERIES: LIVING IN A HOSTILE WORLD November 2 Not Your Father s World John 15:8; 16:33; 2 Timothy 4:3-4 CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF SERVING! I caught Tabitha Campbell and Renee Dominguez in the act of serving Sunday, October 12, 2014, praising and taking care of our Northwest Hills children in the nursery, allowing their parents to attend Membership 101 with David. Both ladies bought the children pumpkins and allowed them to paint them in the nursery. The children are so blessed to be in the care of Tabitha and Renee. Glory to God in the highest! November 9 Reason to Believe 1 Peter 3:15 November 16 The Hardest Commands Matthew 5:21-22, November 23 Christ the King Sunday Till Kingdom Comes JUST WAIT November 30 First Sunday in Advent Will God Come? Isaiah 64:1-9 Northwest Hills United Methodist Church 7575 Tezel Road San Antonio TX

2 FROM PASTOR DAVID... David Trawick Senior Pastor Different religions have different holy days and seasons. You ve probably heard of Ramadan, Yom Kippur, and Christmas. November, for some of us, is marked by the season known as Deer Season. (Seriously, this is going somewhere even for the non-hunter.) Deer hunters know the best times to find a deer are in the first hours of the morning and the last hours of the day. Finding their preferred food sources and travel paths to and from are important. They ve got to eat, after all! It is also true that the biggest bucks extremely sneaky and hard to find, but become most vulnerable during what is called the rut, a brief breeding season. In pursuit of does, mature bucks lose some of their caution. Sometimes they change so much you might think they were out of their minds. That provides the hunter with their best opportunity to take one down. Human beings are different in that there is no rut. But we re the same in that, left to our own drives, urges, and feelings, we re likely to do dumb things otherwise known as sins. Selfish anger, greed, materialism, the pursuit of pleasure, and more all flow from following our own urges, desires, and feelings like a big buck during the rut. That makes us vulnerable to a Hunter who would love to take us down. The Bible says, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) He s ready and willing to exploit our weaknesses and vulnerabilities to get us. So, Be alert and of sober mind. Paul wrote, Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5) Then he describes the mind of Christ in terms of his selflessness, his great love that was willing to sacrifice anything and everything for himself in order to bless us with salvation. Selflessness that resisted his own human urge to avoid suffering and the cross, love so great he would pay any price for our well-being. Have this mind among yourselves. Be alert and of sober mind. Good advice. But we can only follow it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Fortunately, the Spirit is always ready and available to help us. Our part is to open ourselves up to him by spending time in the Bible (called the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God in Ephesians 6:17), praying for God to shape our minds to be like his, and then responding faithfully when we sense him guiding us, even when, no, especially when, his guidance is contrary to our natural urges, desires, and feelings. Well, that s it. Now please excuse me. I ve got to go make preparations for my observance of this special season. GOD S NOT DEAD Friday, November 7 at 6 pm A devoutly religious college freshman must debate the existence of God with his skeptical philosophy professor in order to earn a passing grade in this faithbased comedy-drama featuring Kevin Sorbo and David A.R. White. Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper) is a Christian who never thought his faith would get in the way of his higher education. As a result, he is deeply shaken when, on the first day of his Philosophy class, Professor Radisson (Sorbo) begins the semester by demanding that each of his students deny the existence of God in order to earn a passing grade. Although Josh tries his best to graciously refuse, Professor Radisson informs him that in order to continue in the class, the disagreeable student must make an airtight argument for the defense. Not only that, but the semester will culminate in a debate between teacher and student on the subject. Should the class still remain unconvinced of God's existence, Josh will fail, sending his entire academic future up in flames. Duck Dynasty's Willie and Korie Robertson have cameos. This is a great family movie and a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors! For any questions contact Mandi Brought djb0808@hotmail.com or NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 2

3 FROM PASTOR PHIL Phil Bland Associate Pastor LIST SEASON We're entering what I call "list season. Lists of candy, costumes and parties for Halloween. Lists of food and family members to have for Thanksgiving. And, of course, the almost ever present Christmas gift list. What's on your list? I can't help but notice that we also have lists for God. Lists of things that are going to make God happy and therefore get us into heaven. For example, things like going to church as often as we can or volunteering whenever the church asks. We also have a lists of things not to do because we're afraid that doing them will make God angry and will keep us from getting into heaven. Things like don't drink, don't smoke, don't cuss, don't go to places you shouldn't go, don't watch TV shows you shouldn't watch. What's on your list? The apostle Paul also had a list of things he had done to make God happy. In Philippians 3:5-6, he tells us that he was a Hebrew--God's chosen people. He was a member of the Pharisees, a Jewish sect which followed the law of Moses in the strictest sense. According to Paul, he obeyed the law without fault. But then after giving us his list of accomplishments to be right with God, he does something unexpected; he says, "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless..." What? Worthless? Why? He continues with, "because of what Christ has done." What did Christ do? He lived a life perfectly pleasing to God. In other words, he did everything that makes God happy and nothing that makes God unhappy. What does that mean for us? Because Christ lived that perfectly pleasing life and then humbled himself to the point of dying on a cross, God will transfer his righteousness to us. The only thing we have to do, the one and only one thing, is have faith in Christ. That's what Paul is telling us in verse 9 when he says, "I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God s way of making us right with himself depends on faith." So there's really only one thing that needs to be on our list of things to do, or not do, to make God happy; have faith in Christ. What's on your list? What's on your list of things to do, or not do, to be right with God? Hopefully, it's the same as Paul's list: 1. Have faith in Christ. 2. Remember #1. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD NOV NW Hills has participated in Operation Christmas Child for several years. Start gathering your goodies for this special gift! The boxes will be available, Sunday, November 2 and the deadline to return your shoebox is Sunday, November 23. No boxes will be accepted after the 23rd! HOW TO PACK A SHOEBOX 1. SHOEBOX. Use an empty cardboard or plastic shoebox (average size). You can wrap the box, lid separately, but wrapping is not required. 2. BOY OR GIRL Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the age category: 2-4, 5-9, or Download and print the appropriate boy/girl label from purse.org. Mark the correct age category and tape the label to the top of your box. 3. FILL WITH GIFTS Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child (toys, school supplies, non-liquid hygiene items, accessories, a personal note). 4. INCLUDE $7 DONATION PER BOX Help cover shipping and other costs related to delivering your shoeboxes to children overseas by donating $7 for each gift you prepare. You can give online to discover the destination of your box. Or, you can write a check to Samaritan s Purse (note OCC on the memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the items inside your shoebox. If you are preparing multiple gifts, please make one combined donation. Note: Follow Your Box is only available through online giving. Remember to Pray for the children who will receive your shoebox gifts. 5. DROP OFF Place a rubber band around each closed shoebox and bring it to the church by the November 23 (no later!). NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 3

4 Lynda Byrd Chair LET S TALK MONEY Stewardship Musings over the past two years has given emphasis to a variety of stewardship practices. In an effort to broaden our understanding of stewardship as being so much more than money, the intent has been to present the many ways that we can be good, even better stewards. And yes, stewardship is about money. So let s talk about this important form of stewardship. The Internet is amazing for finding every imaginable topic. Seeking research for this article, I wanted to find an exact number of times that money is mentioned in the Bible. Good luck on that! From 100 to more than a thousand were the numbers I found. Suffice it to say that the topic of money gets a lot of attention in the Bible. It s not always obvious that money is the main theme in many instances because the references cover so many areas of our lives: budgeting, debt, taxes, contentment, business, giving, lending, investing, planning, prospering, the love of money, success. And each of these categories can be traced directly back to money. For some reason, sermons, Bible studies, and other references to money are uncomfortable topics for many. The Bible speaks to every possible human condition and interest. Perhaps more than any other single topic, it references money. So why is this topic often difficult to embrace? It would be wonderful if there was a quick answer for this question. Money is at the center of all that we do. It orders our decisions based on how much or how little we have. It is a temporary source of joy and excitement; equally so for disappointment and sadness. We make major life decisions for ourselves and those we love, with money playing a key role. Monthly, the Finance Committee meets to evaluate how our congregation is doing toward meeting our goals, obligations, needs and wants. Much like a family does, there are musts to be addressed. As a congregation.., always there is ministry to be done, the core purpose of our being. Nothing occurs by happenstance. Planning, projections, prayers, and perseverance are just a few of the necessities that support the church s efforts. And every member plays a role, just like a family. When Jesus called the disciples over to see the offering made by the widow, he did so because her gift was sacrificial. He noted that others were dropping coins into the offering from their abundance, while her gift was all that she had. When we make our commitment, are we stepping out on faith, believing that we can always give more; or do we hold back, budgeting our own needs and wants? Money, perhaps it isn t an easy subject, but try living without it. Christ, doesn t always pose the easiest path for us, but try living without Him! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10 Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God s accomplishments. To rehearse God s accomplishments is to discover his heart. To discover his heart is to discover not just good gifts but the Good Giver. Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. It does to anxiety what the morning sun does to valley mist. It burns it up. Max Lucado, You ll Get Through This It would be impossible to efficiently operate our homes, were we not deliberate in our financial planning and regular assessment. Northwest Hills is no different. It s necessary, it s responsible to take time to assess where we are and to ask everyone to be a participant in the maintenance, plans and goals. Money makes things happen, and at Northwest Hills, things happen that touch the lives of every member and countless lives beyond the congregation. NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 4

5 GOD S FISHING HOLE Tom Bader Emmaus Coordinator As a Christian, how often do you let other people s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or insensitive employee ruin your day? We need to learn that the mark of a successful person is how quickly one can get their focus on what s important in a bad situation. I was reading an article the other day about what is called, The Law of the Garbage Truck, which I would like to share with you. Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You ll be happy you did, and so will God. So this is the Law of the Garbage Truck. So now start thinking, how often do I let garbage trucks run over me? How often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, or on the streets? Now as I begin to see those garbage trucks, I see the load they re carrying. I also see them coming to drop off. As a good Christian, I should not make it a personal thing but smile, listen, and support them as I move on. What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? I bet you would have a happier day. The key to this law is you choose how to deal with the garbage you encounter each day. Will you allow the garbage to determine how you ll be perceived? Will you become a garbage dump and allow the garbage to make you like it is? Or will you become like a garbage truck, by picking up the mess of others and taking it to the trash on their behalf, and allow it to recycle and change both of your lives? Or better yet, how about becoming a recycler...one who seeks out those who are nothing but a hot mess and introducing them to The Recycler, Jesus Christ, and allow Him to cleanse them, change them, reuse them, and make them whole again. That s what God wants for all of us. You never know some of the garbage we encounter each day is God s way of getting us to bring it to Him on behalf of someone else. As a Christian, your actions not only speak for you, but your love of God. DeColores! 24th ANNUAL BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Saturday December. 6 8:30-11:30 am Tickets are on sale now! $5 gets you a yummy pancake breakfast with your choice of sides and a picture with Santa! Breakfast only is $3. Invite your friends and family. Tickets will be available at the door. VOLUNTEERS We need volunteers to help with serving and cooking. A sign up will be available at the Connection Center. Proceeds will benefit Kairos Ministry. The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry is to bring Christ's love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of becoming a productive citizen. We welcome your participation in this ministry. There are varied ways to participate. Adults can serve on Kairos teams that go into the prison or serve on a Kairos Outside Team outside of the prison, families can bake cookies for the prisoners, children can make placemats and write letters and everyone can sign the prayer chain and pray from their homes. Point of contact: Chuck & Susan Roach was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:36 NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 5

6 Monthly Events CLASS 101, Sunday, November 16 3:00 to 6:00 pm What it means to be a Christian What it means to be a United Methodist What it means to be a member of Northwest Hills UMC This class is for anyone wanting to find out more about becoming a Christian, about the United Methodist Church and about being a member of Northwest Hills Church. Class 101 is required before becoming a member of Northwest Hills. Class is led by Pastor David Trawick. There is a sign up sheet at the Connection Center, if you wish to attend the next class or call the church office at to reserve a place. LADIES OF LEISURE Meets Every Friday, 11:30 am The ladies meet each week at a different restaurant just for fun. If you would like to be included in the fun or would like more information, contact May Lang at (210) or maylang@sbcglobal.net. UNITED METHODIST MEN S BREAKFAST Saturday, November 8, 8:00 am Meet at the church and then drive to Denny s on 410 off Ingram Road. Contact George Hampton at TEXAS RAMP PROJECT Building Freedom for the Homebound Saturday, November 15, 7:00 am. Meet at the church. We build accessibility ramps for the homebound. So, if you like working with power tools and get satisfaction in doing a job that betters another person s life, this is for you! Sign up at the Connection Center. For more information contact Ron Gloyd at (210) PRIME TIME POTLUCK LUNCH Monday, November 24, 11:30 am Anyone age 60 and older is invited to attend. Bring a yummy dish to share and stay for a fun activity POINSETTIA ORDERS START IN NOVEMBER Order forms will be available at the Connection Center. You may purchase a plant in memory or in honor of a loved one. Plants are $10 each and payment must be with the order. Cash or checks are accepted. Checks should be written to Northwest Hills and designated as Poinsettias. Deadline to order is Sunday, November 30. A special bulletin will be available December 7. MAIN EVENT KIDS FELLOWSHIP & FUN! Sunday, November 16, 5:30-7:30 pm Mark you calendars now! The kids will be having fun and fellowship at the brand new Main Event on HWY 151. It's $10.99 for an hour of bowling, pizza and drink and a $10 game card. The kids can add Laser Tag at the event if they choose for an additional $6. Sign up at the Connection Center or Natalie Long at Natalie@nwhills.org. You must sign up by November 9! HEB CAMP FOR KIDS! March 12-14, 2015 You heard right! We are taking kids in 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th Grades to HEB Camp this Spring Break. The camp will cost $75 a child and is free for adult volunteers. This will be a wonderful time for relationship building, fun games and sports, hiking and most importantly, time in God's word and His beautiful creation. We are looking for adult volunteers to come and help out. Please let me know if you're interested and be on the lookout for registration information for your children. NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 6

7 Friday, November 28 Church Office Closed Sunday, November 30 First Sunday in Advent 6:30 pm Troop 228 Patrol Leader Council Saturday, November 1 SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR TONIGHT! Sunday, November 2 1:00 pm Pumpkin Patch Clean Up Monday, November 3 7:00 pm Girl Scout Service Unit Mtg Friday, November 7 6:00 pm Movie Night - God s Not Dead Saturday, November 8 8:00 am United Methodist Men s Breakfast Sunday, November 9 5:00 pm Board of Trustees 7:00 pm Troop 228 Committee Meeting 6:30 pm Writer s Group Wednesday, November 12 Saturday, November 15 7:00 am Texas Ramp Project 8:30 am Reach Out Day 3:00 pm Class 101 Sunday, November 16 Monday, November 17 9:00 am Mother s Day Out Staff Meeting 11:00 am Mother s Day Out Board Meeting 11:30 am Prime Time Potluck Lunch 7:00 pm Finance Committee Thursday, November 20 6:30 pm Boy Scout Armadillo District Committee Sunday, November 23 5:00 pm NW Hills Charge Conference Monday, November 24 11:30 am Prime Time Potluck Lunch Thursday, November 27 - THANKSGIVING Church Office Closed Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: WEEKLY EVENTS 12:00 pm AA 3:00 pm Youth Choir 5:00 pm The Way Youth Worship 6:30 pm Church Prayer Group 7:00 pm AA Women 12:00 pm AA 1:00 pm Needlecrafters 5:30 pm AA 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 228 7:00 pm AA 9:00 am Mother s Day Out 5:15 pm Worship Band Practice 7:00 pm Crew 228 Meeting 7:00 pm AA 7:30 pm Adult Choir Practice 8:15 pm AA Spanish Wednesday: 9:00 am Mother s Day Out 5:30 pm Wed. Snack Supper 6:30 pm Wed. Night Activities 7:00 pm Handbells 8:00 pm NA 12-Step Program Thursday: 9:00 am Mother s Day Out 7:00 pm AA 8:15 pm AA Spanish Friday: 11:30 am Ladies of Leisure Lunch 12:00 pm AA 7:00 pm AA Saturday: 9:00 am AA 10:00 am TOPS Weight Loss 7:00 pm AA Spanish SPECIAL DATES All Saints Day, November 1, 2014 Veterans Day, November 11, 2014 Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2014 Thanksgiving, November 27, 2014 First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2014 NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 7

8 NEW BIBLE STUDY IN NOVEMBER A new Wednesday night Bible Study will start Nov. 5 and end Dec. 10. If you missed the beginning of Wed. night classes, this will be a 5 week study of The Holiness of God by RC Sproul. A VETERANS DAY PRAYER God of all nations, you are our Strength and Shield. We give you thanks today for the devotion and courage of all those who have offered military service for this country We ask today that you would lift up by your Spirit those who are now at war; encourage and heal those in hospitals or mending their wounds at home; guard those in any need or trouble; hold safely in your hands all military families and bring the returning troops to joyful reunion and tranquil life at home. Give to us, your people, grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women and hold them always in our love and our prayers until your world is perfected in peace and all wars cease. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. Rev. Dr. Jennifer Phillips THANKSGIVING WEEK Because of the holiday week, Wednesday night activities will be cancelled for Nov. 26. Check with leaders of other evening events at the church to see if they will still be meeting. Since staff takes time off to spend time with family, please call the church office ( ) before visiting. The office will officially be closed Thursday and Friday. UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, December 6, 8:30-11:30 am Breakfast with Santa Sunday, December 7, 5 pm Youth Choir Christmas Musical A Chili Christrmas DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCHEON This will be our 4th year to prepare this very special meal This year we will be serving the families from Haven for Hope. We will need help with food donations, servers, food prep, setting up and clean up and more! Watch the bulletin & December newsletter for ways you can help make this happen! NOVEMBER 2014 NWH HAPPENINGS Page 8