Rest in peace, Zachary, God s angel. I m glad I got a chance to know you and to see your smile. Pastor Rosie

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1 For God So Loved THE WORLD!!! On the morning of December 16, I attended a Catholic Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, for the purposes of eulogizing little Zachary Scott Rivera. Sitting here in this beautiful church overwhelmed me and inspired me all at the same time. I was overwhelmed at the task of mourning with and comforting the family, while trying to maintain my own composure from the loss I personally felt but could not express at the time. I was inspired by the priest s words of comfort given to the family, but not only to the family but to all of us who were there. The priest emphatically declared Trust God! God is with you! At once I realized that those words came as words of peace to all of us who trust in Jesus Christ. All the while listening to what the priest was saying, I began looking around the room, noticing people from all walks of life and of varying faith traditions Catholics, Methodists, Baptists all gathered together under one roof, unified by the One who came to save the world, Jesus Christ. As I listened to the Mass, and as the priest led us through the liturgical acts and words, some things said were familiar to me: The Lord be with you Lift up your hearts to the Lord Looking down at the kneelers and noticing the Catholic hymnals, I searched for more things familiar to my own Methodist tradition. In this hymnal I saw song after song that I knew and that everyone in any Christian church would know. I saw songs like They ll Know We Are Christians, reminding me that as Christians we have a lot in common, in our songs, in our liturgy, and in our acts of devotion. This all reminded me of a Christian organization which my mother introduced me to called Church Women United (CWU). Church Women United meets together, usually on a monthly basis, gathering to worship and to praise God as one united body of believers. Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, all gather under one roof to remind each other and the world that Jesus Christ is the One who unifies and brings us all together for the purpose of declaring to the world the Good News that God So Loved the World! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life is a continual reminder that all of us, regardless of the faith tradition we come from, have this promise, that God loves us and God sent Jesus to save us. Under the name of Christ all of a sudden we become one! By the power of God s Holy Spirit, it is Christ Jesus who brings us together and makes us one. What a beautiful picture of heaven God gives us to look forward to. I think little Zachary must be smiling at that. I am too. Rest in peace, Zachary, God s angel. I m glad I got a chance to know you and to see your smile. Pastor Rosie Happy New Year! God s Peace Be with You All! 1

2 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Office Closed Christian Men s Fellowship 8:30 AM COMMUNION NOMADS Project Jan RX Program 1:00 PM Men s Sunday Celebration COVERED DISH LUNCHEON UMW Meeting 2:30 PM 13 Trustees Meeting 5:30 PM BIBLE STUDY 11:30 AM & 6:00 PM Finance Meeting 5:30 PM CHURCH COUNCIL Consecration of Church Leaders & Committee Members for BIBLE STUDY 11:30 AM & 6:00 PM BIBLE STUDY 11:30 AM & 6:00 PM

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4 Hello from the COGS! We ve delivered the books, crayons and coloring pages to Driscoll Children s Hospital. Dorothy Calloway, the volunteer coordinator, met me at the hospital on Thursday, December 18. She was very excited about the donations and looks forward to our continued help with the coloring pages/crayons mission. She told me they give out 100 of the bags each day! So, all of our help is appreciated. We would like to thank Brianna and her mom for helping with stuffing the bags, and the donation of the stuffed animals. While the new stuffed animals can be given to the children, gently used donations are put up for sale at their Cottage Shop to help with fund-raising for the hospital. If you would like to donate crayons and coloring books, we will accept them at any time. The books will be a once a year drive, during the Christmas season (though we wouldn t say no if you find a really good deal on children/young adult books!). Also, we use sandwich bags, so if you find a deal on those and would like to donate them, it would be a big help! We look forward to the coming year, and our continued efforts to find more and more ways to give back to our community and to help where needed in the church. Happy New Year! Mary Anne Hartung Youth Director ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS Bible Study is back! Beginning Wednesday, January 14, 2015, we will begin Bible study in the new year, offering two times on Wednesdays: 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Books for the study "Before Amen: The Power of Simple Prayer" are being ordered now! Group order deadline will be Sunday, January 4, Please contact Pastor Rosie if you have any questions. I look forward to studying the word of God with you! Our Youth Group, C.O.G.S., is collecting coloring books, crayons, and children s books to donate to Driscoll Children s Hospital. If you would like to donate any of these items, please, leave them in the church office or call Mary Anne Hartung at Your donations are greatly appreciated! Announcement time has changed! If you have a special announcement that needs to be made in Worship, please contact the Pastor by the Tuesday prior to the service so that it may be included as a Special Announcement in the Order of Worship. All other brief announcements can be made just prior to the benediction. Thank you! 4

5 Dear Sinton FUMC, I would like to say thank you to everyone for all of the love & support shown to me and my family during the loss of my grandson, Zachary. During this difficult time I have felt God s love through every kind word, card & expression of sympathy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Sincerely, Missy Nañez Dear FUMC, The staff would like to thank everyone for the generous Christmas Love Offering! Thank You! Pastor Rosie Grattan, Missy Nañez, Isabel Encinia, and Mary Anne Hartung Dear First United Methodist Church Thank you so much for your gift to U.M. Army through approved Advance Special #2026. Your gift will help us accomplish our goal of 9 camps this summer that help folks in need & promote spiritual growth & leadership development in youth. Peace, Jenny Monahan 5

6 Prayer List: Kevin, Betty & Irene Wahl Richter Teresa Schubert Neta Deleon Ryan Rivera, Jr. Sam Nelson A.L. Nelson Denice Hadwin Stephanie Jetton Brezina Dale Umland Drawe Karen Reilly Patsy Bremer Matt Terhune Greg Rossignol Donelle Bethel & Hope Bethel Marilyn Moore Tracy Medlock Jeane Wolfe Tommy Hartung The Family of John Cuevas Carrie Shedd The Family of Hester Hatch The Family of George Rotzien Phylis Austin Gary Potter Linda Boswell The Family of Zachary Rivera Betsy Dane Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Long-Term: Sallie Brewer Arlan Maley Military: Wesley Hartung Cameron Collier Rachal O Cañas Crystal O Cañas Matt Lowder Kevin Campbell If you would like to add a loved one to our prayer list, please, call the church office at , or us at umc@att.net. Memorials (Received December 1-31, 2014) SAM MAY Charlotte Tee Walker JOE KIOUS Nina DuBose Alleta Waters DAVID MILLER Alleta Waters NOV. 2: NOV. 9: NOV. 16: NOV. 23: NOV. 30: ATTENDANCE & OFFERINGS NOVEMBER 2014 Worship -37 Sunday School-15 Total Offering: $2, Worship -38 Sunday School-14 Total Offering: $2, Worship -36 Sunday School-13 Total Offering: $3, Worship -53 Sunday School-20 Total Offering: $6, Worship -41 Sunday School-11 Total Offering: $6, GIVING TO FUNDS NOVEMBER 2014 APPORTIONMENTS FUND= $ BUILDING FUND=$ CHILDREN S WORK=$50.00 COMMUNION RAIL FUND= $21.00 GENERAL FUND= $15, MEMORIAL FUND=$ SPECIAL-COOK BOOKS=$10.00 SPECIAL OFFERING=$4, WESLEY NURSE=$ YOUTH FELLOWSHIP=$

7 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH P. O. Box 276 Sinton, Texas SINTON METHODIST NEWS 2015 A Publication of the First United Methodist Church of Sinton umc@att.net Website: 7