Growing Deep Roots to Share God's Love
August 25, 2016

There's an old adage that says, "History is written by the victors."  Gradually, what is important to the winners becomes important to the losers.  This part of The Story sees Jesus challenge the victors in order to remind us of the original ideas God has, and in the midst of the challenging texts we'll read, we can see how acknowledging Jesus as the victor might just shape the world for the better.   We invite you to review the following scriptures ahead of time:   

Feedback on the sermon series? What new information have you learned? We'd love to hear from you.  
August 28
Chapter 33: "Revisionist History"

September 4
Chapter 34:  "A Kingdom in the Middle"

September 11
Chapter 35:  "The Greatest Commandment/Good Samaritan"

September 18
Chapter 36: "The Cost of Discipleship"
UPCOMING EVENTS


August 28
Official launch of Creekwood Special Needs Ministry
August 28 - September 4
Family Promise Hosting at Student Center
September 5
Labor Day, Church Office Closed
September 11 
Harper's Helpers Training for First Time Volunteers, 11:30 a.m. , Worship Center
Mission Possible Kids, 11:30 a.m., Children's Center
September 18
Harper's Helpers Training for First Time Volunteers, 11:30 a.m., Worship Center
Children's Choir Resumes, 11:30 a.m., Children's Center
September 17
Creekwood Habitat for Humanity Build
September 20
Creekwood MOMtourage Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Worship Center
October 1
Deadline to Commit to 2017 Creekwood Zoe India Mission Trip
October 11
Last Day to Register to Vote in the General Election
October 15
Creekwood Habitat for Humanity Build
Creekwood Fall Festival, 3-6 p.m.
  Volunteer Highlight
There are many, many volunteers working behind the scenes at Creekwood, and we love to share stories of how people are giving so  graciously of their time and talent. Over the summer as you see our volunteers in action, please share what you're seeing and who you think needs to be our next highlight. Click here to share.  We start back our highlights in September. 
Charge Conferencecharge
We are pleased to report that at our Charge Conference last Thursday the group voted unanimously to commence a three-year campaign to raise funds for our outlined campus expansions.  You can find the proposed plans here.  Watch for more information on the campaign over the following weeks.  If you feel called to serve in this endeavor, please contact Pastor David. Thank you to all those already on board with the campaign and this important effort to continue to grow deep roots to share God's love.
ssteachWant to Make an Impact?
We thank those of you who have signed up to help teach Sunday school to our children.  We are still in need of 5 one-time-per-month teachers for the 9:00 hour, and 6 one-time-per-month teachers for the 10:15 hour. Here is the breakdown:
  • 9:00 a.m. one teacher for the 4th Sunday of the month 
  • 9:00 a.m. assistant teachers for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month 
  • 10:15 a.m. 1st and/or 2nd Sunday of the month teacher for the Kindergarten class 
  • 10:15 a.m. assistant teacher for the 1st and/or 3rd Sundays of the month for the combined 1st and 2nd grade class 
  • 10:15 a.m. assistant teacher for the 1st and 4th Sundays of the month for the combined 3rd and 4th grade class, supporting Lynda Blaylock who will be teaching all four Sundays. 
  • We still need greeters for the Explorer's Sunday school welcome desk and in the preschool welcome area for the 10:15  hour.  Note, greeters miss maybe the first 5 minutes of worship or their Sunday school hour. This is a very easy (but essential!) job to take on and still join your family in worship at 10:15.  
Repeating what we shared last week, we asked two of our veteran teachers--Lynda Blaylock and Rick Adler--to share a little on the role, based on their experience:

Question:   How much time, beyond the hour of Sunday school, do you need to be a teacher?
Lynda: I only need to spend 30 minutes each week to prepare for Sunday school.
Rick:  I usually spend about 20 mins each week reading through the lesson plan to get ready for each week, usually Friday or Saturday, to give me a little time to think about the lesson.  
Question:  What draws you to  come back year after year?   
Lynda:  I come back because I grow in Christ by volunteering to teach.  I come back because these kids are awesome.   They think I am teaching them, but they are really teaching me.
Rick: I come back each year because of the children.  They are so honest and pure, and their love is from the heart.  I enjoy teaching them while they teach me.  I honestly believe I get more out of the weekly lessons than they do.
Request: Share a meaningful experience you had in the Sunday school classroom.
Lynda: Every week that I am in the class is meaningful to me.  I see these little hearts open up to God's word, and so often they have the most amazing insight.
Rick: Listening to children relate a bible story to their life is amazing.  They never fail to surprise and amaze me with their thoughts each week, often making me leave with more to think about how I approach situations.

Straightforward curriculum and prepped art supplies will be provided to all volunteers. Teachers are able to spend their energy with the children in class, making a real difference on their given Sunday.  Are you ready to join us in this important, rewarding endeavor?  Simply email Wendy McConney .  
Made It!
Well, we all survived. Everyone is back to school and settling into a routine. Thank you to everyone who participated in our Back to School Blessings.  Our prayer is for continued blessings, learning and lots of fun in the 2016-2017 school year.
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Creekwood Choir to Tour London, England
May 22-30, 2017
Deadline to register extended to September 15

The Creekwood Choir at Creekwood UMC is planning a tour of London, England in May 2017, and you are invited to join us! The ensemble will fly non-stop from DFW to London Heathrow then tour Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Coventry, Bath and Warwick.  The choir will perform at the Wesley Chapel, the site of Wesley House. You do not need to be a singing member of the choir to participate in this trip. All arrangements for the trip such as airline, ground transportation, hotels and performances are being handled by US Integrity Touring Co.

For more information contact Mike Crawford at  mjcrawford5746@verizon.net  or 214-728-9452.
Adult Ministry 
smallgroupsSmall Group and Sunday School Sign Ups Wrap Up This Sunday
There is still time to sign up for fall Sunday school and small group classes, gatherings designed to provide meaningful fellowship, scriptural education and opportunities to serve.   We were so pleased and excited to see so many of you signing up and seeing some deciding to try one of our new groups, including the one-Tuesday-a-month women's fellowship group and the Sunday morning Living Methodism class. 

Another one of our new offerings is the Quarterly Dinner Group.  Member Karla Dean recently shared some of her past experiences being part of a dinner group at a previous church, and she was quick to say she'll be signing up for a group here.  She explained that her past groups, though formed with common interests and life stages, have always been somewhat heterogeneous, and that this added to the value of the experience.  "We had a single, older woman in our group who was just a delight and an excellent cook. We also had a single man whose wife died during our being together and who continued to meet with us monthly. The group was important to him as he adjusted to life without his life partner. We were part of his support system, which is a great way to minister to those grieving."

She continued, "Our group would rotate among one another's homes. The meal was potluck with the hosting home owner selecting the main dish, and the other couples/single persons supplying the other dishes to complete the meal." But, Karla said she gets why some groups will sometimes (maybe always!) choose to meet in a restaurant, "... not everyone is comfortable having to prepare their home for dinner guests." (So, for all of us who don't keep the house constantly visitor-ready, don't let this be a deterrent to this opportunity.)

Karla said, "Eating together, sharing life's past and present experiences with one another, praying for one another's needs and being there when life got really tough were important aspects to our group's cohesiveness....   We had been meeting/dining with them for nearly 6 years when we moved to Fairview, TX. They were an important part of our friendship circle in church, and we still miss them very much."  She wrapped this up with, " We're hoping to develop the same kinds of relationships with a few of Creekwood's membership couples/singles. I will be praying for the Lord to connect us with the couples whom He has chosen for us to join."  

How about you?  We're saying a prayer you'll answer your own call to grow through a small group at Creekwood, be it through a dinner group, a fellowship group, a traditional Sunday school class or maybe through a unique women's group that will be tying together moderate physical activity and spirituality.  Leotards for the Lord?  No, no...no leotards required. Check out   Body & Soul by clicking here
 
Click here for a full list of small group and Bible study offerings and sign up for your group(s) in the Gathering Area this Sunday.
Missions
Zoe Helps Ministry India Trip 2017
We are planning a trip to visit our working groups in India!  There are two options for dates: January 11-19 and February 15-23.  The total cost of the trip is approximately $3,000 and the deadline for committing is October 1st.  For more information, visit:  http://www.zoehelps-trips-of-hope/  or contact Leah Edwards at  leahedwards721@gmail.com.   Click here to read about our 2016 mission trip. 
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Calling All Golfers!!!
We have two golf tournaments coming up that benefit two of our core mission partners: ACO & Family Promise.  These tournaments help the organizations to raise vital funds for their yearly budgets.  We would love to have at least one team in each tournament, if not more.  The registration links are below.  Plea se register your team and list Creekwood as the affiliate.  Also, please email Annmarie and let her know that you will be participating.
 
ACO Tournament- Monday, September 26, at Heritage Ranch
 
Family Promise Golf Tournament- Friday, October 14, at Twin Creeks
Hosting in the Worship Center This Week
We're hosting Family Promise August 29 through September 4 in the Creekwood Worship Center (due to construction in the Student Center) in conjunction with our partner, Grace Church.  In addition to the facility, Creekwood will be providing meals, dinner hosts and overnight hosts.  We will also be responsible for set up on August 28 and tear down on September 4.   
 
We anticipate three families coming to stay, for a total of fourteen guests, including eight children. We invite you to join us in prayer for these families and for the gracious volunteers who will be serving these families in their time of need and showing them Christian hospitality.   For further information, or to assist, contact  Sarah Brown  
Harper's Helpers

We're about to begin our third year serving our partner elementary school, Princeton ISD's Harper Elementary.  We're seeking  a return of our veteran Harper's Helpers and anyone else interested in investing in the lives of these precious students.   Needed are mentors, tutors and general volunteers for grades pre-K through 5th grade for the 2016/17 school year.  We'll again have the breakfast mentorship window during the 7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. time frame for those who may work during the school day.  We're also keeping the library helper role and the ever-important readers for pre-K.  New this year, we're adding lunchroom helpers to our program.  Volunteers will be able to pick their day, shifts will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and volunteers will help little fingers open milk cartons and assist in other such ways. 

Click here for a full list of opportunities and to sign up.  When you sign up, you will be asked to make note of a teacher or student request.  If you do not have one, just fill in "NA."  Also, close to the "Submit" button is a small question that asks you "weekly or twice monthly?" Please check the one that applies to you before submitting.  If you have any difficulty please contact Kelley Oleson.  Don't let the sign up process steer you away from participating.
   
If you missed it in previous newsletters, you can read some special testimony from returning Harper's Helpers Frankie and Joe Jewett here .

New this year, only the new volunteers will be required to attend a start-of-year training session. We'll have two options: September 11 and September 18, both at 11:30 a.m.  Veteran  volunteers wanting to participate again will just need to pick up their new shirt on the 11th or 18th.   

If you have any questions, please email Kelly Oleson  Join us in making a difference in the lives of the young children of Princeton.
Children's Ministries
Photo Release Form
The time has come to renew and/or get a NEW photo release form on file with Creekwood. As you know, we love to share pictures of our children around Creekwood in our newsletters. Additionally, we're close to launching a brand new website (yay!!) and our plan is to use a lot of real photos to highlight the personality of our church.  We also occasionally use pictures of children and youth on social media as well.

Please take the time to fill out the  form here and return it via email, or drop it off at the welcome desk this Sunday. Additional forms are available for pick-up in the Children's Center for your convenience at drop off or pick up.   If you do not wish to have your children's/your picture used, let us know.   All forms should be returned by this Sunday, August 28. 
Have an infant through 4th grader and not currently receiving our weekly Children's Ministries' newsletter, Explorers' Times?  Please  email us to be added to our distribution list.    
Student Ministries
If your youth isn't already plugged into a weekly small group (7th - 10th graders) or life group (11th/12th graders), please contact Donna Bartholomew to learn more about these life-changing groups.  
MeetingRoomsLiGht (Living in God's House Together)  Meeting Location Changes
Sunday school is held each Sunday from 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.  5th through 6th graders will meet in the tile room of the Children's Center.  7th - 12th graders will stay in the Lovejoy gym for at least the next two weeks.  
Join us for  T he Rise
 Sunday evenings from 5 - 7 p.m. We'll have dinner ($5), worship, hear inspirational messages and have small group breakouts.  Due to Family Promise hosting, The Rise will meet in the Children's Center this Sunday.

Let's stay in touch.  
Students wanting to stay up to date with current activities, events and services, please text @elevatecu to 81010.  Parents wanting to have more up to date information with deadlines, events and services, please txt @e88k7 to 81010.
Have a 7th - 12th grader and not currently receiving our weekly Youth Ministries' newsletter?  Please   email us to be added to our distribution list.