The Journey. SPEER-itual Moments. In this issue: First Christian Church of Allen

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1 In this issue: Final 2015 Troop #2112 Court of Honor 3 Re-NEW Bible Study 3 Angels Arriving 3 Annual Congregational Meeting 2015 Advent Devotional Booklets 4 4 Deck the Hall with Golf Balls 5 Thanksgiving Sunday 5 Decoration Time 5 Poinsettias 6 Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving 6 First Sunday of Advent 6 Poinsettias Order Form 7 The Journey First Christian Church of Allen November 16, 2015 Volume 13, Issue 42 SPEER-itual Moments Thanks.for the wonderful meal all those great dishes all those fabulous desserts the turkey and dressing and gravy and the ham the decorated tables everyone who helped break it all down after worship and the feast and thank you for your love, and your faithfulness, and the witness and ministry we share together. It is one of those Sundays that leaves a marvelous afterglow (or maybe that s the chocolate pie and the pineapple pie sorry, I couldn t try them all, although I saw a few of you who tried). one more Sunday to share our deepest gratitude with God for the many blessings we know. Devotedly, Gary There is one more Sunday to give thanks and then we will turn our eyes toward Advent and Christmas. I still can t quite believe we are at this point in the year once again already here Christmas only 38 days from now but before that before Advent begins and we wait let us come together

2 Here s What s Happening November 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:15 am Coffee/ Fellowship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Worship NEW Mini-Sermon Series Begins pm Boy Scout pm Re-NEW Bible Study (at the Church) 5 6-8:30 pm Girl Scouts :15 am Coffee/ Fellowship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Worship New Mini-Sermon Series Continues Guest Pianist: Mary Margaret Waters 9 10 am Disciples Women 10 7 pm Boy Scout 11 VETERANS DAY Church Office Closed 7-8 pm Re-NEW Bible Study (at the Church) Boy Scout Circle 10 Experience at Texas Motor Speedway 14 Boy Scout Circle 10 Experience at Texas Motor Speedway am Worship/ Thanksgiving Dinner Boy Scout Troop #2112 Circle 10 Experience at Texas Motor Speedway pm Boy Scout Court of Honor pm Re-NEW Bible Study (at the Church FINAL-begin holiday break) :30 pm Girl Scouts THANKSGIVING SUNDAY 9:15 am Coffee/ Fellowship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Worship Thankful Sermon Series Continues After Worship, Congregational Meeting After Meeting, Decorating of the Sanctuary Rev. Gary H. Speer Out of Office 25 Church Office Closed 26 THANKSGIVING DAY Church Office Closed 27 Church Office Closed FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10:30 am Worship ONLY (Advent/ Christmas Carols; Advent Candlelighting; NEW Advent/ Christmas Sermon Series Begins) 30 Rev. Gary H. Speer Out of Office

3 Final 2015 Court of Honor The final Court of Honor for will take place on Tuesday evening, November 17, beginning at 7 p.m. This is a time to recognize individual scouts for their achievements during this last quarter, and the troop as a whole. We continue to give thanks for this active, vital troop based here, and part of the ministry of FCC, Allen. Re-NEW Bible Study This is the final Wednesday for Re-NEW Bible Study November 18 and then we begin our holiday break. We continue our study of Psalms, and will look at a few more this Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. here at the church, and then we will resume our study sometime in mid-january, Angels Arriving Yes, as we continue to march toward the end of another year together, one of the special ways we end the year is the arrival of angels as we get ready to make Christmas a little nicer for some children in need in our community. This year we have three children as our ACO adoptees all of them girls ages 10, 7, and 5. We know as in years past this congregation will come through in a wonderful way, and Christmas will be made better for these three girls because of you. This coming Sunday, we will have the angel tree tags ready for pick-up. All gifts must be returned by Sunday, December 6, for delivery later that week. All gifts will be brought to the church, UNWRAPPED with the angel tag attached, and placed beneath our Chrismon tree. If you like, you can also add in some wrapping paper and bows.

4 Annual Congregational Meeting This Sunday, November 22, at the close of worship, Rolin Green, Chair, will convene our Annual Meeting one agenda item the election of Board members Elders, Deacons, and Trustees. The Nominating Committee has done an excellent job, and a full slate is ready to be presented. Per our Constitution and By-laws, a written ballot must be used, and each individual candidate voted for. Here is the slate: Trustees: Rolin Green (serving ), Michael Harper (serving ) We wish to thank all of these wonderful candidates, and the Nominating Committee for their good work. One task will remain: the slate for the Officers of the Board for 2016: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary. Elders: Martha Hogan, Lynn Odle (serving ) Deacons: Gary Dyer, Lanette Dyer, Tim Love, Deb Madore, and Linda Parker (serving ) 2015 Advent Devotional Booklets Get ready for the Best Of 2015 Advent Devotional Booklet. That s right we are composing a booklet taken from past years, and putting it all together for this year s booklet. There will be devotionals for each day from November 29 (the First Sunday of Advent) all the way through Christmas Day. Get your copy on Sunday, November 29, and take time during the season of Advent to read each day s devotional and to spend time in prayer as we prepare ourselves to celebrate Christ s birth once again. The booklets will be ready for you on Sunday, November 29, as we begin the Advent season. The booklet will be comprised of devotionals written by folks across several years; some of them no longer with us; others who have moved on; and current members.

5 Deck the Hall with Golf Balls Really? Yes, really. It is not too soon to think about and get ready for our Annual Golf Tournament for 2016, and once again this year we are going to Deck the Halls with Golf Balls. A special table will be set up and your donated golf balls will help us with our goodie bags that we give during the tournament each year. You can start bringing them now! Bring a dozen or more, and help us deck the halls in this special way. Check your local golf stores or sporting goods stores, and if you find any good deals, let us know and we will share with the congregation. Thanksgiving Sunday This Sunday, November 22, is Thanksgiving Sunday. Although we already had a wonderful celebration this past Sunday, there is still one more Sunday for giving thanks as we continue this emphasis during worship. Gary has one more message Thanksgiving Grown Larger. Let s come together as a church family and continue to share our gratitude to God for our many blessings. We will return to our Full Morning Schedule this Sunday, all regular times for Fellowship, Study, and Worship. Decoration Time This Sunday, November 22, after the Brief Congregational Meeting, will some of you stick around to help us decorate the sanctuary for the Advent/Christmas season? It is time to make the sanctuary come to life for the Advent/Christmas season, and it always looks so beautiful when it is all done. We have the Chrismon tree to decorate; wreaths to put in place in the windows and on the exterior doors; and the garlands to be hung on the north and south walls (needing some laddersteady folks to help with these).

6 Poinsettias Enclosed in this newsletter, is the order form, also available here at the church on both entry tables all the information is on the form. This will add to the beauty of the sanctuary as we place the poinsettia plants in the chancel. Poinsettia order form Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving The Church Office will be closed November 25-27, (Wednesday-Friday) in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume regular office hours on Monday, November 30. First Sunday of Advent The First Sunday of Advent is November 29. We will begin the Advent season as we journey to Christmas once again. We will have WORSHIP ONLY on that Sunday (as it follows the Thanksgiving holiday) at 10:30 a.m. Gary will begin a new series of Advent messages helping to prepare us to celebrate Christ s birth. We will light the candles of Advent; sing the songs and carols of Advent/Christmas; and prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits for the birth of Jesus.

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8 Open Arms. Open Minds. Open Table. Open Hearts. First Christian Church of Allen (Disciples of Christ) 1207 Twin Creeks Dr. Allen, TX Tel: Fax: Senior Minister: Rev. Gary H. Speer Office Mgr./Admin. Assist.: Maryse Laurin Music Director: Betsy Durnin Childcare Attendant: Lin Rosenquist We re on the Web! fccallen.org Also on Facebook! First Christian Church Allen Worship Ministry for Sunday, November 22 Sermon: Rev. Gary H. Speer Worship Leader: Jim Waters Elder: Ron Linder Children s Sermon: Jim Waters Deacons: Mary Green & Mary Margaret Waters Sunday Morning Refreshments: Rev. Gary & Kathy Speer Altar Flowers: Richard & Pat Conner