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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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Question: Why do most churches,
working to stretch each and every dollar to fund their ministry, give away offerings to others? We suggest two
answers: 1. With God there is always enough, and 2. A deeply rooted life is focused on empowering the world around it. At Creekwood we emphasize missional involvement, with an eye not only on our local community, but also keen vision on our global community. To this end, a core principal of our vision is to prepare our young people to go out to all corners of the world to be servants of Jesus Christ. This Sunday, we invite you to join us as we discuss growing deep roots through serving.
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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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November 13
Growing Roots Through Service
November 20
Giving Thanks
November 27
Launch of Advent Sermon Series: Socks and Underwear
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UPCOMING EVENTS
November 10
November 13
November 14
Creekwood Office Staff Serving Lunch at Austin Street Shelter, Office Closed Until 2 p.m.
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
Thanksgiving; Church Office Closed
November 25
Church Office Closed
November 27 - December 4
Creekwood Hosts Family Promise, Student Center
December 4
December 4 & 11
December 4 - 18
Plano Santas' Warehouse Helpers
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
Festival of Carols w/ 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.
This past Monday, we staffers got a real taste of the output of this week's volunteer highlight, the Creekwood Celebration Class.
The Creekwood Celebration Class is long-standing, having been in place for 9 years. The ~100 member group, which began with just twelve members in 2007, now averages 50 attendees on any given Sunday. They meet during the 10:15 a.m. Sunday school hour at the Lovejoy Elementary Gym. (For now the Lovejoy Gym....as you know, we've got our eye on a new Children and Adult Ministry Building to accommodate the growth of our congregation overall, and the growth in our small group offerings specifically). The group is primarily comprised of retired, empty nesters, many of whom live at nearby Heritage Ranch.
Recently, the group wanted to treat the Creekwood staff to a home cooked meal to show their gratitude. We happily accepted but we're here to tell you--the gratitude is ours, for them. As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for from this exceptional group. They continually bless Creekwood and
our surrounding community in so many ways.
Many are active Harpers Helpers, enabling us to effectively mentor children at Princeton's Harper Elementary. Many sing in our choir and, in fact, this class contributed a portion of the funds that were used to purchase the choir robes. Several of the class members are greeters (Interested in joining them in greeting? Click here.)  and a good number are ushers. Celebration members are often the ones picking up the donuts and cutting up the donuts so we don't sugar overload anyone. Many support our worship leaders by volunteering to read scripture during service and through their serving of communion.
Many of the Celebration class members volunteer annually at Vacation Bible School, and this important community outreach would not be possible without them.
Several Celebration members signed up to serve on the prayer team for our Growing Roots building campaign, and many are members of our sewing ministry, crafting the special prayer quilts so many of us have been blessed with. The class is beyond generous. They give their first Sunday of the month offering to Our Brother's Keeper. And they are often the first ones to sign up to make cookies for our various church  events. They Celebration class hosts a reception following the Creekwood Christmas choir performance. Mark your calendars now to join us for the Festival of Carols December 18 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Worship Center.
Please join us in thanking this BIG
-hearted "
small
" group for all they do for Creekwood. Their steady presence and strong commitment to our vision continually contributes to the success of our church and its missions. The Celebration class so clearly illustrates the abundance available through small group study, fellowship and mission.
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 Growing Roots Prayer Walk
We'll be holding a special event in support of our Growing Roots campaign this
Sunday, November 13. Before the first service or after any of the three services, you are invited to a prayer walk on the site of the proposed new Ministry Building. Participants will walk the outline of the building, stopping at four defined stations, and they will be given small flags that they will be asked to write a short prayer on before placing onsite. We invite you to join us in prayer.
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Communion Offering
Thank you to everyone who gave to our communion offering last Sunday in support of Plano Santas. You generously contributed $1,595 to this very special organization. Learn more about our long-standing partnership with Plano Santas here and here.
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December Calendar Planning
Below are Christmas season events you'll want to have on your calendar. You can always find more information regarding our upcoming events on our
website calendar.
December 4 and 11, Plano Santa's Toy Drive
Let's help families in need in Collin County enjoy a blessed Christmas that includes nutritious food, needed clothing and toys for children.
December 7 and 8, Live Nativity In the Barn
Presentations on the hour and half hour, beginning at 6 p.m. Last presentation begins at 8 p.m. Bring a jar of peanut butter to support the efforts of the Assistance Center of Collin County and the Plano Santas.
December 18, 7 p.m., Festival of Carols
The Creekwood choir presents Festival of Carols, with performances by the Children's Choir and Handbell Choir. Come enjoy the spirit of Christmas with us.
Christmas Eve:
1:00 p.m. Worship Service in the Barn
3:00 p.m. Family Worship Service With Children's Performance
4:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship Service
6:00 p.m. Contemporary Worship Service
7:30 p.m. Traditional Worship Service
9:00 p.m. Worship Service in the Barn
Christmas Day:
10:15 a.m. Worship Service Followed by a Potluck Lunch
New Year Day:
10:15 a.m. Worship Service. Celebrate the New Year With Us.
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Women's Fellowship Dinner Tonight. Join Us!
The newly-formed Creekwood Women's Fellowship group, Heart to Heart, is holding a dinner tonight, 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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Three-Week Small Group Opportunity
Beginning
Sunday, December 4, a
special three-week series will be presented at
10:15 a.m. in the Lovejoy Gymnasium. The
series will be led by Charlie and Diane Crane.
It is simply entitled "Christmas" and is a fun and educational journey revolving around the things we wonder and question about Christmas. The group will discover amazing facts about the nativity, Jesus' actual birthday, all the people involved in the Christmas story and things we take for granted that just aren't true. Additionally we find out things like where Santa Claus came from and how he is connected to the birth of Jesus, the amazing story of how caroling got started, where Christmas trees appear in the Bible and so much more. This series is open to adults of all ages and extends a special invitation to folks who are new to Creekwood UMC. It will be a relaxed atmosphere and a great place to get to know other members of the Creekwood church family and celebrate this special season together. The potential for establishing a continuing small group from this series will be explored. Interested? Contact
Molly Trank to RSVP.
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Do You Have A Smiling Face?
If so, you'd be a perfect greeter at Creekwood! We rely on volunteers to serve as our hosts at the Worship Center doors each Sunday, and we've got a few empty slots. Our need is greatest at the 11:30 Worship Hour. "What's it take?" you ask. Greeters arrive 15 - 20 minutes ahead of service, grab a clipboard with a list of Sunday school class times and locations, and go stand by their designated door to greet people as they walk in. Most greeters sign up to serve every other month at their designated service hour. Interested in serving Creekwood in this important way? Contact
Alice Oates.
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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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Looking For A Way To Serve on Sundays?
We've got a fun one! T
he Creekwood golf cart provides often needed, and sometimes simply fun, transportation for so many of our members and guests weekly, be it someone needing a lift from the parking lot in to worship, or a student or Sunday school class member with a trek over to the Lovejoy gym.
We need drivers to power our Golf Cart program, and we've got short shifts available. If you are 16 years of age or older and have a valid driver's license, consider serving your church in this unique way. Click here to sign up.
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Creekwood will next host Family Promise November 27 - December 4.
Click here
to sign up to support this special cause. We still have a few spots left. This is a great way to kick-off the holiday season. 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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Angel Tree Benefiting the Assistance Center of Collin County
Last year your response was amazing. Our Angel Tree program resulted in gifts for more than 150 children being served by the Assistance Center of Collin County.
You will have an opportunity again this year to choose an "angel off the tree" and shop, wrap and return your gift to be specially delivered by the Plano Santas. You can even adopt a family if you or your small group want to provide for an entire family. Yvonne Booker, Director of the Assistance Center of Collin County will be here at Creekwood December 4 and 11 to assist you choosing your perfect angel. Join us in helping others this Christmas. Watch for the tree beginning December 4.
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Santa Needs Your Help
The Plano Santas organization is once again helping the Assistance Center of Collin County to provide food and gifts for families in need during the holiday season. Volunteers are needed to sort food and toys in the warehouse each day from December 4 - December 18. Children under the age of 14 are welcome to help and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Please sign up for a time slot here. Spots fill up fast so don't wait too long. This is a great opportunity for small groups to serve together. Thank you for your help in spreading God's joy by serving families in need during the holiday season!
Help is also needed to
deliver
items to families on December 17 & 18;
no
sign up is required for the delivery volunteers, just show up. Watch for more info to come
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Mission Success!
Our agents made over 20 Thanksgiving meal bags for Allen Community
Outreach
(ACO) last Sunday. Included with the bags are some cute "toilet paper" pumpkins to add to the festivities.
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Welcome Stephanie!!
Once again Creekwood has been blessed. We're excited to announce we have a new director for our Special Needs Ministry, and she is ready to take what we've seeded and grow it to the next level.
Stephanie Hunter, a California native and pastor's daughter, has a love for learning. She attended Fresno Pacific University and earned a BA in Secondary English Education. She then attended Grace Seminary in Winona Lake, IN, where she received an MA in Ministry. She next went to the University of North Texas where she obtained her Master's degree in Special Education, specializing in Autism  Intervention. She is currently persuing her PhD in Special Education with an emphasis in behavior and emotional disorders. (Feeling the nudge to get off your toosh yet....?) There's more--she plays ukulele and guitar, enjoys singing and knows some American Sign Language. She's also seen lots of our great big world, having taught English in South Korea and traveled to Japan, Mexico, Scotland and England.
Stephanie has worked in youth, student, kid and special needs ministries. She is passionate about helping every child learn about the love of God, and is committed to helping each one understand they belong to God's family and that they will also find acceptance, love and belonging through Jesus. Please join us is welcoming Stephanie to Creekwood!!!
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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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Youth Volunteer Day
CSM (Creekwood Student Ministry) will be volunteering at the Samaritan Inn on Monday, November 21.
We need to let the Samaritan Inn know how many students and adults to expect, so please
RSVP
by November 13. This will be a daytime event and is another great way to get into the holiday spirit!
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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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