reggton News Advent FROM YOUR CHURCH FAMILY. MAY THE GRACE OF GOD FILL ALL YOUR DAYS.

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1 reggton News Our Vision We envision a family of God s grace where people are growing the LIGHT of Christ through intentional faith development. As we welcome and invest in all people, we seek a community that: Guides the personal and spiritual development of youth and children; Celebrates the power of God s presence and the wonder of God s creation through dynamic worship; Shares hope with the broken and poor-inspirit among us, as together we discover how much we all need God and each other. Works and shares with other organizations to fulfill the mission that God has set before us. Our Mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. From the Longview News-Journal FROM YOUR CHURCH FAMILY. MAY THE GRACE OF GOD FILL ALL YOUR DAYS. In particular, Longview Community Ministries would like to thank Greggton United Methodist s Alethea Adult Sunday School class for its challenge to the church s Welmaker-Joy Sunday School class, of bringing one canned good per person each Sunday in October. This challenge resulted in a total of 1,556 cans and cash to benefit LCM. Greggton United Methodist rep Sondra Allen reported that the challenge ended in a tie, and that LCM was the winner. We couldn t agree more. Donna Sharp, Director of Longview Community Ministries THANK YOU We are so thankful for those who have committed to faithful giving through the church. We want to thank those who made that commitment in their hearts and those who filled out pledge cards for the year. If you would like to fill out a pledge card and have not already done so, contact the church office and we will be glad to assist you. God has placed us here that we might boldly live as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing His light so that darkness shall never overcome it. Advent

2 is a wonderful time to spend with our church family!! Join us throughout the season (it begins Sunday, November 30th) as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and reflect on what it means for us to wait on the Lord. Be sure and pick up one of the Advent Calendars to guide you through the season. It s a great way for us to be doers as well as hearers of the Word. The calendars are located at the Information desk in the Welcome Center. November 30 1st Sunday of Advent 9am and 11am Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Holy Communion 3pm The Christmas Light party This year we really will be a light on a hill. Come join the fun. Bring strings of non-led white lights to hang or just join in the fun. Share a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie or two. Time to Order Poinsettias! Advent is here. So it is time to order poinsettias. You may order one by contacting the church office or at the Information Desk on Sunday mornings. Each poinsettia is $6. You may take your poinsettia home following the Christmas Eve service on December 24. December 7 2nd Sunday of Advent 9am Hanging of the Greens Making our Sanctuary Ready 11am Prepare the Way of the Lord John the Baptizer the Person December 13 The Spirit of Christmas Wesley McCabe UMC 4-6:30pm December 14 3rd Sunday of Advent 9am Let all the World Rejoice The Music of Christmas 11am John the Baptizer the Message December 21 9am and 11am Mary, the Mother of Jesus My Soul Gives Praise to God December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Services Wesley McCabe 5pm Greggton One Family in Christ One Service 7pm

3 reach Advent and Christmas are great times to invite your family and friends to share in the love of Jesus Christ. Invite people to worship, to your Sunday School class party, or to share in your small group! 5-10-LINK One of the exciting steps to better reach the people who are our guests is what our coach, George Fisk, taught is the 5-10-link. Here is how it works: For the 5 minutes before and after worship speak to those people within 10 feet of you that you do not know. Introduce yourself and genuinely listen to their story. Then link them to someone that you think might share in similar likes or interests as the person you just met. What a great way for us all to get better connected to each other. connect Family Camp January 2-4 Lakeview United Methodist Conference Center Famly Camp is a great time to connect with old friends and to have fun with new ones. It begins on Friday night and runs through Sunday at noon. There are rope courses and games, bicycles, fishing, and some mean board games. There is a time for Holy Communion, and devotionals and fun. Registration forms are available at the Information Desk and are due by Friday, December 5th. form Making Plans for a New You. The new year will bring with it opportunities for a new you. These are some of the opportunities that we will be offering to help your walk with Christ. Sunday, January 4th A Service of Reaffirmation of our Baptisms Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Course Emmaus Retreats for Spiritual Growth

4 send We Love our College Students! Each year we celebrate High School seniors from Greggton and wish them well as they go off into the college world. We have a large number of kids who are attending college from the Greggton family. We want these kids to know how much we love them. Soon they will be studying hard for finals can you believe it is already here! We want to send them each a care package to lift them up and encourage them. On Monday, December 1, we will gather at the church in the Conference Room at 6 pm to box up these packages to send to the students. WE NEED YOUR HELP! We want to send individual bags of chips, candy, etc., but most importantly home-baked cookies! If you think of something a college student would want, we will take it. Of course the cookies will need to be made close to the date, but all other items can be brought to the church office any time. And please come help package up the items for shipment on December 1. Let s remind these students that God loves them, and so does Greggton! Ways to Serve Two groups are collecting personal items to help those in need. The Trinity Mission group is collecting shampoo, deodorant, razors, dental floss, bar soap, wipes, mouth wash, etc to be shared at the Trinity Food Pantry on the 13th of December. Our WOW group is collecting items for Newgate Mission through Christmas. Along with hygiene items, gloves, scarves, etc are welcome. Finally Bill and Reba Mangham s daughter and family were recent victims of a fire in Dallas. Please keep the family in your prayers. Reba said that right now prayer is the very best gift that we can give.

5 children I am beyond blessed to call Greggton United Methodist Church "my church"! Last week I witnessed so many giving of themselves, in their time and talents, to help make our New Horizon Thanksgiving Feast and After School Program Family Night Dinner a tremendous success! Many Thanks to all who helped, especially Judy Pinkerton, who worked tirelessly in the kitchen and the Men's Prayer Breakfast Group for donating delicious turkeys! We were able to feed approximately 250 children and adults. It is hard to believe that Christmas is just weeks away, but our children have been practicing their Christmas songs for the Christmas Cantata and speaking parts for Hanging of the Greens Service. I am amazed at the talented children we have at Greggton and many thanks to our children's choir director, Mrs. Patricia! Advent calendars were passed out last week in church and there are a few extras on the welcome desk in the narthex if you would like one for a child you know. Upcoming events for children: November 30, pm Christmas Lighting Party December 7, am Hanging of the Greens service December 10, :30 pm Children's choir practice with choir and bells December 13, :30pm Christmas party at Wesley McCabe December 14, am Children's choir singing in Traditional Service December 18, :30am New Horizon Christmas Play and Santa visit I am looking forward to celebrating Christmas with you! In His service, Katherine Jones youth The youth have quite a bit coming up very soon. Please keep these dates for your calendar. Nov.30. No youth join us at the Light Party Nov.30 Ski trip deposits due Dec 14 Christmas Cantata First service Dec 14 Youth White elephant Christmas party 5:30pm Dec 21, 28th, January 4 no youth Enjoy time with your families! January 11 Youth resumes and mid winter retreat deposit due January 18 regular youth January 25 regular youth Thank you all for all your support and the privilege to work with these wonderful young people! Yours in Christ, Gene

6 of church staff Applications are now being taken for two staff positions: A part time financial secretary (10-12 hours) A full time director of discipleship to oversee our reach, connect, form, and send ministries. Job descriptions and applications are available in the church office. For more information contact Lisa Harris or Ricky Ricks of news and notes The Trustees have voted unanimously to sell the parsonage at 2300 Buccaneer. This action was approved by the Executive Council. The next step will be for the sale to be presented to the District Trustees team for approval. Upon their approval, our District Superintendent, Bill Taylor will call a church conference for all the members to vote upon allowing the sale. The Trustees will be coming forth with additional information over the next few weeks regarding the proposed sale. The Vibrant Church Team is pleased to announce that our new coach, George Fisk, is in place and beginning his work with our church. We are pleased to welcome George to our church over these next many months and we continue to execute the prescriptions contained in the report. The Accountable Leadership team will be underway in early January along with the input of the Staff Parish Relations Team as they begin discerning the best direction for our leadership. The Construction Manager, Tem Carpenter, reports that the back soccer fields have been re-leveled, seeded, and fertilized. A big thank you to Calvin and Lillian Bass for their support in underwriting this work. The camera security system installation for the children s area will begin on November 24, 2014 in the 300/400 halls.

7 life together Our Christmas Eve offering will be given to Newgate Missions. Speaking of finances. Anyone for Black Friday? Some of you may get this after Black Friday, but most will get it in time Are you one of those shoppers? Well, I hate to admit it, but I am. I have shopped on this hideous day for several years now. But last year when it started beginning on Thanksgiving Day, well that is just not fun! I want to spend time with family and enjoy the day. I mean, shouldn t Black Friday be on Friday?! We were talking about it all at Monday night prayer group, about that fact that there were already 2 tents in front of Best Buy last Saturday. I guess they are really wanting that bargain. It got us to thinking, what if we put just a small amount of that effort into the best bargain out there God! So if you are one of those people this year (and yes, I will probably be one of them), at least pass the time with folks in line and share the best deal on earth, the love of Christ! Blessings, Sonya Cline Gifts In Memoriam of Loved Ones A donation was made in memory of Lloyd Mallory by: Gerard and Mary Powlin. A donation was made in memory of Robert Oxsheer by: Anna Rhode. Donations were made in memory of Harriet Hall by: Richard and Kathryn Bixler, John and Janet Blake, Ginny Bower, Thomas and Carolyn Brazier, Marvin and Edwina Murph, and the Alethea Bible Class. As 2014 draws to a close, we are so thankful for the generosity of so many. We still have a ways to go to complete our mission promise that enables us to touch lives across the world. If you can give towards our completing our financial giving for the year, thank you in advance for your generosity.

8 Greggton United Methodist Church 1101 Pine Tree Road Longview, Texas (903) Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Longview, TX Permit No. 235 November 25, 2014