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Growing Deep Roots to Share God's Love
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In this edition, you won't want to miss these stories:
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When a seed begins to grow it spreads roots that instinctively find the water, a behavior God gave to it. Biologically the plant is responding to stimuli informing it where to grow and where to distribute resources so that it can establish deep roots and bear fruit. As humans, we are similar, learning the world as we grow. Creekwood's mission is to help shape our worldview to be one firmly rooted in the life-giving reality of Jesus Christ in the world. This Sunday let's consider, together, how we can grow truly deep roots through purposeful learning.
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Feedback on the sermon series? What new information have you learned? We'd love to hear from you.
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October 30
Growing Roots Through Learning
November 6
Growing Roots in Sharing
November 13
Growing Roots Through Service
November 20
Giving Thanks
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UPCOMING EVENTS
October 30
Lunch with the Pastors, Open to All Prospective Members, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Worship Center
November 6
November 10
November 13
Growing Roots Campaign Prayer Walk Following
Each Service
November 20
Stewardship and Growing Roots Commitment Sunday
Club 56, 12:45 - 3:00 p.m., Tile Room Children's Center
November 21
CSM (Creekwood Student Ministries) Service Day at Samaritan Inn
November 24
Austin Street Shelter Thanksgiving Serving
Thanksgiving; Church Office Closed
November 25
Church Office Closed
November 27 - December 4
Creekwood Hosts Family Promise, Student Center
December 4
December 4 & 11
Plano Santas Angel Tree
December 5
Creekwood Church Council, Open to All, 6:30 p.m., Worship Center
December 7 & 8
Live Nativity, Creekwood Barn, Shows On The Hour and Half Hour, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
December 18
Christmas Cantata f/ Creekwood Choir, Handbell Choir and Children's Choir, 7 p.m., Worship Center
Club 56,
12:45 - 3:00 p.m., Tile Room Children's Center
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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.
Today we're featuring two members we've highlighted in the past, but for a different impactful cause they recently spearheaded.
The following quotes just might sum up our volunteer pair and they are quite fitting quotes with Halloween around the corner (boo!):
Two heads are better than one. -Proverb
When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
-Proverb
But, this one sure is good:
It takes two flints to make a fire.-Louisa May Alcott
...because these gals are on fire--on fire for helping others, for seeing a need and taking action--they are on fire for doing God's work.
This isn't the first time we've highlighted Jennifer Waldrop and Crystal Childers. You may recall we highlighted them earlier this year for, once again, chairing our huge VBS (Vacation Bible School) effort, a member and community outreach event that impacts so many children each year, introducing them to the love of Jesus. (And, as a side note, Jen and Crystal retired this year so we are actively recruiting new VBS co-chairs. Let
Wendy McConney know if you are interested. Feel free to ask Jen and Crystal about what's involved.)
This time, the girls went out of state with their love and dedication.
Jen Waldrop is from South Lousiana--Denham Springs to be exact--so when she began to hear about the devastation caused this past August by all the flooding in that area, it hit home. Jen explained, "Ninety percent
of the town took on water ranging from 6 inches to 8 feet. The majority of the school libraries and teachers lost their entire collections so I decided to have a book drive." And, book drive she did. She worked with her contacts at Lovejoy ISD, placed bins at each of the schools, advertised the cause and Field-of-Dreams-Build-It-They-Will-Come-Style the books started coming in--10,000  books to be exact. And, once the books came in, Jen jumped on the task of sorting all the donations by grade level.
 She then turned to her partner in crime, Crystal Childers, for the delivery. They had a lot of books to deliver, a trailer full of books, in fact. So on one recent, kind of misty, Friday morning these girls hooked up a full trailer (girls can do anything boys can do....) and headed south, where they delighted a slew of teachers and administrators with their haul. The books are already blessing many children in Denham Springs, many of whom are learning in temporary structures and less-than-ideal-classroom settings.
We loved hearing Jen's story and knowing the love she shared with her hometown, but, equally, we loved a side story she shared with us we want to pass along.
Jen and Crystal headed out for some Cajun food during their trip. When they sat down at the restaurant, they saw two policemen finishing up. Jen asked the waitress if she could cover the officer's meal by picking up their tab. Jen's big heart would go here regardless, but because of another hometown tragedy, this gesture was even more significant to her. You may recall a tragic police ambush in Baton Rouge this past July where three officers were killed and three others were wounded, including Jen's high school classmate, Nick Tullier, who remains, today, in a coma. Nick was responding to a call to take down an active shooter targeting policemen when he was injured. (Click here to read more about Nick and the tragedy.) Once Jen orchestrated her picking up of the tab, a not-so-discrete waitress blew her cover, and the two officers walked over
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Officer Nick Tu
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to thank Jen and Crystal. As they approached, Jen realized with surprise that she had just bought the meal of another former classmate, and this officer, too, was pulling for their friend, Nick.
God works in mysterious ways, indeed.
So, we invite you to join us in thanking Jen and Crystal for sharing love so far and wide, and for being those "two flints" that start a fire. Let's thank them for stepping up and truly making a difference. One way you might thank them is to join them in prayer for Nick and his family. And, if you are interested in supporting Nick and his family
click here for the Go Fund Me page.
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 Join Us in Prayer
We invite you to join us in praying for our building campaign. Let's together reflect on what God may be calling us to do.
Click here for the daily devotional, and
here for an e-brochure detailing the project. Thank you to everyone who joined us in our celebratory kick off last Sunday!
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Lunch With the Pastors
We will be hosting Lunch With the Pastors this Sunday, October 30, immediately following the 11:30 a.m. service. This is the perfect opportunity for someone interested in our church to share a meal and discuss Creekwood with our ministerial leadership. Recurring visitors are encouraged to attend. Members are welcome to invite a neighbor. RSVP to Pastor John at
jthornton@creekwoodumc.org. Childcare will be available.
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Have a College Student?
The Faith Friends Bible study group is continuing their tradition of mailing care packages to our college students ahead of exams. The group is currently working to collect mailing addresses. Do you have a college student who could use some love and encouragement? Please
click here to provide:
Student's First and Last Name
Mailing Address
Help us enable the Faith Friends to bless and encourage our college students. Our desire is to reach all of the students with Creekwood parents. DEADLINE FOR INFORMATION IS
NOVEMBER 18.
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Boo! A Surprising Prayer
Join with the Lay Leadership team of Creekwood in "BOOing" your friends and neighbors this Halloween season. But, instead of candy, offer them prayer and a chance to pray for others. It's simple. Print off the "Boo Prayer" at
this link, tape it to your neighbors' or friends' doors and let the Holy Ghost do its thing.
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Pastor Appreciation Month Is Drawing to a Close
If you want to share a note of appreciation with Pastor David
click here, or Pastor John
click here. Notes and words of encouragement will mean the most to them, but if you're thinking about a token of appreciation, you might consider the following, because we got the scoop:
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Pastor David Likes ...
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Pastor John Likes ...
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Apples, oranges, grapes & pineapple
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Saxby's Coffee
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Trail mix/nuts, raisins & cranberries
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Nuts
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Chocolate milk & Arnold Palmers (iced tea/lemonade)
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Cheese
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Peppermints & Trident mint gum
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Unsweet Iced Tea
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Top Golf & Star Wars themed Sudoku
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Home Goods Store
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Reese's peanut buttercups & peanut M&Ms
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Gift cards to local-to-Creekwood lunch spots
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Zoe's Kitchen, Freebirds, any Mexican food!
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Pumpkin Patch
Our patch is open through Monday afternoon, 10/31.
All proceeds from the Creekwood pumpkin patch go to support Creekwood Youth mission work. Come get your pumpkin.
We rely on volunteers to run our pumpkin patch, and youth volunteers can earn service hours.
Click here
to sign up to staff the patch for a few hours. Recruit a friend and use the time to catch up!
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Women's Fellowship Dinner
The newly-formed Creekwood Women's Fellowship group, Heart to Heart, will be holding a dinner on Thursday, November 10, at 6:00 p.m. in the Worship Center. All women are welcome to attend. Contact
Tammy Adler to RSVP.
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Know Someone Struggling?
Do you know someone struggling? Many tough situations are fully amplified during the holiday season. As part of our Stephen Ministry, Creekwood has
fully trained ministers available to provide regular, compassionate, Christ-centered support to individuals in challenging situations. The needs this program is designed to support are broad, but some examples include: facing a terminal or chronic illness personally, or as a close family member; job loss; going through divorce or a marriage crisis; transitioning to a nursing home--personally or in the support role for someone in this position; and grieving the loss of a loved one. Click here to learn more. Contact John Thornton with questions or interest.
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Creekwood will next host Family Promise November 27 - December 4.
Click here
to sign up to support this special cause. C
ontact Sarah Brown for more information. If you would like to learn more about Family Promise of Collin County, please visit their website at familypromiseofcollincounty.org.
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We're Hiring
We are looking to hire two part-time Sunday School teachers/child care workers in our Little Explorers Classrooms (ages 0-5). The pay is $11 an hour. You must be 18 years old, able to pass a background check and have two solid references. It is mainly for Sunday mornings between the hours of 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., but there are occasional weekday childcare needs as well. Please contact Melissa Fritzsche the Director of Preschool Ministries at
mlfritzsche@gmail.com or 972-849-7479 if you are interested.
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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.
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Sunday school
is held each Sunday from 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. 5th - 6th graders will meet in the
tile room of the Children's Center.
7th - 8th graders meet in the garage of the Student Center and 9th -12th graders meet in the Student Center.
The Rise is held in the Student Center on Sundays, from 5 - 7 p.m. All youth are welcome to these evenings of worship, fellowship and fun. Meals are provided; a $5 donation is encouraged. If you are looking to help our awesome Student Ministry by providing a meal, or part of a meal, for The Rise click here to pick a date and sign up. We promise you'll have fun feeding and visiting with our students.
Middle School Bible Study is held Wednesday evenings, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Bring your Bibles (and dinner, if you'd like) and join us for fellowship and study. Contact Donna Bartholomew for more information.
Let's stay in touch.
Students and parents wanting to stay up to date with current activities, events and services, please text @elevatecu to 81010.
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Have a 7th - 12th grader and not currently receiving our weekly Youth Ministries' newsletter? Please
email us to be added to our distribution list.
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See what is happening on our Creekwood social sites.
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