Go WEST - Welcome, Equip, Serve, Transform April 1, 2018 Volume 12 Issue 4 Sunrise Worship Service 7:00 am East parking lot - please bring lawn chairs Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Blended Worship Service 10:30 a.m. 802 North Elm Weatherford, Texas 76086 817-599-8601 Church Office 8am - 5pm Monday - Thursday Closed on Friday Visit us on the Web www.coutsmethodistchurch.com Sr. Pastor - Matt Hall
From The Pastor Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Happy Easter! We are in the middle of Holy Week as I write this, and I pray that the Risen Christ is welcomed into your heart, life and world during this holy season. Our special worship services this week include a Maundy (Holy) Thursday service where we remember the last night that Jesus spent with his disciples before he was betrayed. We will celebrate holy communion as we remember Jesus sharing this meal with his disciples. On Good Friday, the service will be different than most. The sanctuary will be bare and the mood solemn as we enter into the time when Jesus has been crucified. However, there is good news and it is not an April Fool s prank! Come Sunday, we celebrate Jesus risen from the dead! We will begin with an Easter sunrise service at 7:00 a.m. followed by our special Easter service at 10:30 am. I am looking forward to sharing in this wonderful celebration with you. I want to thank all of the Sunday School classes and individuals who Debt Reduction Commitment total $381,448 Loan Balance As of 1/31/17 - $908,567.67 are taking time to greet and welcome people as they arrive for Sunday School and worship. It does make a difference as we gather as God s people. Also, my prayer is that we as a church invite 500 new people to worship with us during this Easter season. We have a box in the foyer to put the names of the people you have invited. I ask that we keep all those we have invited in our prayers. This next week Butch Hott is changing the format of the Bible study that he leads. Following the Wednesday fellowship meal, there will be a brief time of worship where we will sing a few songs and have a brief presentation on the topic of the night. At that point everyone will break into smaller groups to discuss the topic. The overall theme is What Would Jesus Undo?. Come give this 6 to 8 week experience a try as we seek to grow closer to God and each other. On April 8 th following worship, we will have our follow-up meeting on Moving Forward with Mission. I know several groups have had the follow-up meetings in their area of interest. Even if you did not attend the first meeting, do come on the 8 th. Lunch will be provided. The Trustees of the church are also looking at different options to make our church and school safe during the week as well as on Sundays. Everyone will be informed as we flesh out the best As of 3/29/2018 - $707,186.43 Amount Paid through debt reduction $201,381.24 Page 2 Page 2 plan possible for us all. As many of you have heard, Bishop Lowry has appointed me and I have accepted the opportunity to serve as the pastor at First UMC and St Paul UMC in Breckenridge. Denise and I have enjoyed being a part of Couts journey with Christ during these past 4 years and pray God s blessings on you in the future. Be in prayer as we wait as a church as to who will be your next pastor. I do believe God has great things in store for Couts. At the beginning of this week, our worship leader, Tory Childers, resigned from his position here at Couts. Tory s time was brief but he will be missed and we pray God s blessings on him as he seeks to spend more time with his son. So, yes, we are looking for a worship leader and a head of school as we move forward. I would appreciate your prayers as we begin these search processes. Grace and Peace, Pastor Matt
April 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Wednesday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UMW 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 11:45 am Forward in Missions Meeting 15 16 17 18 19 Girl Scouts-5pm Cubs Scouts- 20 21 22 23 24 25 Youth 26 27 28 29 30 Church Office Closed today Worship Team 5:30 pm Adult Nurture / Outreach 7:00 pm Finger foods & 42 6:30 p.m. Breakfast 10 am Cracker Barrell SPRC 6:30 pm Wesley Found. Lunch - 11-1 Safety Committee 6 pm Chicks In Action 6:30 p.m. Regular Schedule 2:00 pm Daytime Prayer Force 3:30 pm Kidzone 5:30 pm Snack Supper 6:00 pm Bible Studies Tweens Music rehearsal 6:30 pm Evening Prayer Force Girl Scouts Meeting - 5pm Cub Scouts Meeting - CCA Board Meeting 5:30pm Girl Scouts-5pm Cubs Scouts- Finance Committee Meeting-6:30 m Trustees Meeting 6:30 p.m. Girl Scouts-5pm Cubs Scouts- Mom s Club 6:30 pm-9:30pm Emmaus - 6 pm 1st UMC Mom s Club 6:30 pm-9:30pm CCA Ranch Reunion 5-8pm
CCA Chapel Learning the story the Sermon on the Mount Tweens Tweens prep and work Mardi Gras and Easter Egg Hunt Stories of God Week of: April 8 Doubting Thomas Great 50 days of Easter April 15 Road to Emmaus Luke 24:1-35 April 22 Good Shepherd and the Wolf Psalm 23 April 29 Good Shepherd and the Lord s Supper Mathew 18; John 10 Upcoming Events: Wednesday March 28 Tweens: 5th Graders Invited to attend Wrinkle In Time film. Call Sarah 914 645 3697 for details. Cost 10.00 incudes dinner. Page 4
Newsletter April 2018 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Mark your calendars! 3/29 Maundy Thursday Service 6p 3/30 Good Friday Service 6p 4/1 SS 9:30a EASTER 4/4 Wed youth 5:30-7:30p "Baggage" 4/5 Last day to register CTCYM Matthew 28:6 KJV Sunday School & Service Time 4/8 SS 9:30a "Andy Stanley Study" 4/11 Wed youth 5:30-7:30p "Stress" 4/14 Amy & Katrina CTCYM Leadership Training Waco 1p-5p 4/15 SS 9:30a "Andy Stanley" 4/18 Wed youth 5:30-7:30p "Stress" Sunday School 9:30 am Service 10:30 am Snack Supper Menu: 4/4 Taco Salad 4/11 Tator tot casserole 4/18 Chicken parmesan To receive mobile updates by text message, text keyword coutsyouth to 77948. 4/20 CCA Ranch Reunion 5p-8p Youth Come SERVE!!!-Outreach and Service hours 4/22 SS "Andy Stanley" 11:45-1:45p Park and Picnic 4/25 Wed youth 5:30-7:30 "Stress" 4/29 SS "Andy Stanley Study" 4/25 Shepherds pie Check us out at CoutsYouth on the Facebook, and the Instagram. CONTACT INFO Katrina Nager - katrina@coutsumc.org Amy McSwain - amy@coutsumc.org For Questions about Couts UMC Youth Ministry, call the church office at 817.599.8601. Page 5
Maundy Thursday Worship Service Thursday, March 29th 6:00 p.m. Couts Sanctuary At this service we will commemorate the supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, when Jesus washed the disciples' feet (John 13:1 17) and instituted the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26 29; Mark 14:22 25; Luke 22:13 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25). Good Friday Worship Service Friday, March 30th 6:00 p.m. Couts Sanctuary Good Friday is the time of remembrance of Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial. This worship service will be a time of reflection and prayer. The sermon title is The Passion and the service will be built around the theme Were You There? Come and experience some of the symbols of Good Friday. Easter Sunday Sunrise Service Sunday, April 1st 7:00 a.m. The Sunrise Service will begin at 7:00 a.m. in the East Parking lot next to the Scout Lodge. There will be music and a message. Easter Sunday Worship Service Sunday, April 1st 10:30 a.m. This worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. There will be music from the Praise Band and the SonShine Handbell Choir and a message from Pastor Matt Hall. Mom s Group Meeting in Couts gym Friday, April 6th 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (nursery available) All moms and children are invited to come together for an evening of fellowship and food. It s designed to be a special time for Mom s to just get together and enjoy the company of others. Forward in Missions Meeting Sunday, April 8th 11:45 a.m. - lunch included This is a follow-up meeting from our initial meeting on February 18th. Groups will report on their fact finding meetings. The meeting will be led by Pastors Matt Hall and Dawne Phillips. Cracker Barrel Restaurant United Methodist Women Willing Worker s Breakfast Tuesday, April 10 10:00 a.m. Page 6 Finger Foods and 42 Tuesday, April 10th 6:30 p.m. - Fellowship Hall Everyone is invited to come Bring a light Finger Food to share with the group.
Emmaus Community Gathering Friday, April 13th 6:00 p.m. at Couts - Fellowship Hall Please bring a covered dish to share with the group. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. You do not have to have been on an Emmaus Walk to come and share dinner and fellowship. Wesley Foundation Lunch Tuesday, April 24th 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CCA Fundraiser - Ranch Reunion Friday, April 20 5pm - 8pm Please call Amy or Jennifer to volunteer to work at Ranch Reunion. They need help in all areas. You can also donate any kind of themed basket or items for the auction. Chicks In Action Meeting Tuesday, April 24th 6:30 p.m. - Fellowship Hall We will be serving Backed Potato bar, salad and desserts to the students at the Wesley Foundation on Tuesday, April 24th. Sign up to bring food or help serve. Sign up sheets will be available in the Welcome Center after Easter. New Small Group Worship and Study Begins in the Chapel at 6:00 p.m. Come for a few songs, a 10 minute Devotional and then break out into small groups for discussion. Wednesdays - starting April 4th What Would Jesus Undo topics: April 4th - Spiritual Indifference - Cindy Hott The Chicks in Action group will meet on Tuesday, April 24th at the church. The group will host a baby shower for Grace House Ministries. For more information, contact Kathy Smith First Series April 11th - Hollow Worship - Bob Sharp speaker - Chaplain at B & H Construction April 18th - Hypocrisy - TBA April 25th - Spiritual Pride Kurt Harris, speaker - Parker County Fire Marshall Church Nursery worker needed We are currently looking for a nursery worker for a Special Needs Child (non-verbal child) on Sunday Mornings. You would be working with another adult. For more information or to apply, please contact Cindy in the church office - 817-599-8601 - extension #10 Page 7 Free Self-Defense Class At Couts Shelly Gonzales would like to know if there is interest in a free self-defense class on Wednesday evenings. She is thinking of a 4-week class for beginners and wants to know if adults, youth, and/or children would like to attend. She is in the info-gathering stage and will plan based on what folks are interested in. What are your thoughts? Please send suggestions or ideas to shellymgonzales1@hotmail.com or call her at (214) 763-0332. Shelly is a Black Belt in self-defense and taekwondo.
Go Welcome, Equip, Serve, Transform Couts Methodist Church 802 North Elm Weatherford, Texas 76086 W E RE ON T HE WEB - V I S I T US WWW. C OUTSMETHOD I S T C HURCH. C OM Our Military April Birthdays Billy Burris Matt Couch Will Dowd Matthew Geyer Michael Gilliam Jeff Johnson Blake Hubbard Mike Hebert Hunter Hiett Kali Yarnell Lussier (back home in OKC) Michael Martin Matthew Mitchell Josiah Sorrells Doug Yarnell Cody Williams Page 8 April 2 Kim Safford Spaulding April 3 Cindy Hott April 4 Morgan Holderfield April 9 Mona Holderfield April 13 Karisma Linden April 20 Sharon Bohning April 21 Paula Noe April 25 Phebe Vidaurri April 26 Fred Coonce Paula Shelley April 29 Thelma Troy April 30 Donna Williams Dylan Worsham