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Growing Deep Roots to Share God's Love
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News and Notes
February 9, 2017
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We talk of love all the time, but do we know what it means? Love is the topic of our 3-week sermon series that begins this Sunday, February 12 . As we celebrate communion, raise money for missions, and observe St. Valentine’s Day, we will explore what it means to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves. We hope you'll join us.
You’ll find many definitions of the word “love” in Webster’s Dictionary and three specific words for “love” in the Greek language, including the one we will be discussing this Sunday, “agape.” Let’s consider the difference between the affectionate love February is most known for and the undying, unconditional love God gifts each of us.
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Laws of Love
"Love God"
February 19
Laws of Love
"Love Your Neighbor"
February 26
Laws of Love
"Love Yourself"
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In this Edition, You Won't Want to Miss These Stories!
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Habitat Build This Saturday!
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Our Special Needs Ministry Needs you.
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February 9
February 11
Habitat for Humanity Build
February 12
Scout Sunday, Pancakes Served After 9 a.m. Service, and Before the 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Services
February 19 & 26
Creekwood Missions Fair and Fundraiser, All Services
February 21
Creekwood MOMtourage, 6:30 p.m., Worship Center
February 26 - March 5
March 1
Ash Wednesday Service, 6:30 p.m.
March 5
Celebration Class Presents "Then Sings My Soul" a Singalong for All, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Lovejoy Cafeteria
March 12
Launch of 5-week Lenten Study "He Chose the Nails," Presented by Celebration Class, Open to All, 10:15 Sundays
March 19
VBS Registration Opens
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Our Thanks To You!
We've got some "Thank Yous" to send out for our birthday celebration last Sunday! First, we couldn't have done it without our celebration chair, Hannah Heres, who donated her phenomenal party planning skills to make our special day fun for all.
Thanks also goes out to Rodney Frye for coordinating the setup of the tables in the gym Sunday morning, and Linda Pitts and her Faith Friends small group for decorating!
We also want to thank Hannah's mighty crew who served us the yummy food from Two Rows:
Helen Fendley, Barrie Heres, Lisa Prins, Mike Russell, Candace Kasian, Tonya Vining, Jen Waldrop, Kelley Lawrence and Caroline Waldrop.
We send a shout-out to the Choir and Praise Band for blessing us with such awesome worship music, to Madeline Sanders for reading scripture, Jessica Tullos for leading our Lord's Prayer and Guy Wormald for guiding us in our Pastoral Prayer. (Interested in reading scripture in the future?
Click here to sign up.)
As always, we thank our media operators, the greeters and our ushers for doing what they do to make the worship service happen.
Thank you to Liz Goertz for organizing the t-shirts and Cheraina Dunn for the shirt design.
We want to thank all of you not listed here who grabbed a serving spoon, picked up an offering plate, directed a lost member and so much more!
Finally, a big thank you goes out to Caitlin Maxwell and Tom Kreuser for taking pictures for us. Here are a few of our favorites.
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Communion Offering
Imagine a kitchen with no dishwashing soap…that’s what some area families in need are experiencing because the Care & Share Closet at ACO is low on supplies. Let’s help them restock with our communion offering that will go towards items such as dish soap, toilet paper, paper towels, deodorant, baby wipes and diapers.
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Volunteers Needed
The special needs ministry would like to invite you to prayerfully consider being a part of the special needs ministry. There is a place for every age and every gift set. It is an exciting time to jump in with lots of new opportunities this spring! Please contact Stephanie Hunter smacmillanhunter@gmail.com to begin the conversation.
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Habitat Build This Saturday, February 11
Our next Habitat build is scheduled for
Saturday, February 11. We still need a few volunteers to make this day a success and
would love to have you
join us.
Click
here
to sign up for the build.
There is required training for first time
volunteers, but this training can be completed very
simply online.
Click
here
for the training.
Contact
Christina Shepherd
with any questions.
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The Creekwood Habitat crew at the January build.
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If You're So Inclined ...
Did you know Creekwood has a presence on Google? Did you know some people find us via a Google search? And, one thing they'll likely read is the review section. Would you like to share your opinion of our church?
Click Here
to share. It takes less than two minutes (unless you have a whole lot to say).
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We Need Some Drivers
The 2017 sign up for the golf cart ministry is up and running. Come join us in this unique serving opportunity. Drivers need to be 25 years of age, or older, and have a valid driver's license. Sign up
here
. Help us give someone a lift.
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Last Call For Name Tags
Don't forget to grab your name tag this Sunday!!!
D
on't you find it easier to talk with someone you don't know that well, when you at least know their name? How many times have you been talking with someone, thinking:
What is your name? I know I know it.... Did I have a trick I had made up to remember it--what was it?
How many times have you wanted to make a proper introduction, but could not recall the name of the person you were seeking to introduce? Sure, "my friend" works, as does, "Oh, Hey...." but a name is so much better, don't you agree? This is why we have name tags. Did you know you have a name tag? Maybe not, because most name tags, though designed to be put on each Sunday, stay on the board in the Gathering Area. This Sunday, plan to pick up your name tag, use it, and then stick it in your purse or your car for next Sunday. Wouldn't it be great to have a Gathering Area full of people with name tags? Let's try to make it a reality. We'll have the name tags out, readily available, near the south entrance of the Gathering Area this Sunday.
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Mission Ministry Statement
Creekwood UMC is passionate about building the Kingdom of God by serving families and children in need. We strive to develop long-term relationships with the people and organizations we partner with, both locally and globally. Our goal is to make a high-impact, positive experience within the area and through the lives of all involved.
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2017 Mission Fair and Fundraiser
Throw back to the 50’s and join us on Sunday, February 19, as we kick off our fabulous 50’s fair & fundraiser. We’ll have cool videos and hip testimonies from ACO (Allen Community Outreach), Habitat for Humanity, Creekwood Student Ministry, Zoe, Family Promise and Plano Santas about how lives have been changed and how our community is benefiting from the generosity of Creekwood missions. You’ll also have the opportunity to sign up and get involved in the missions that best suit your gifts, time and calling.
Our goal this year is $27,500. If each family contributes $50, we will reach our goal to support these awesome ministries. You have one stop shopping this year as the Youth missions fundraiser is included in this event. We will not have a separate youth fundraiser. Join us for this fabulous cause!
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Empty Bowls
Do your grocery shopping Tuesday, February 21, at Whole Foods Market in Fairview to help raise money for Empty Bowls McKinney, a local effort for our community. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Whole Foods will donate five percent of their sales to help Empty Bowls raise money to fight hunger here in Collin County. You can also watch skilled artists create bowls throughout the day, and even try your hand at using a pottery wheel!
Started in 2012, Empty Bowls McKinney is an annual event that brings together artists, restaurants and community volunteers to benefit Community Lifeline Center, a non-profit that assists people in short-term crisis in North Collin County. At the event, local restaurants serve unique soups and desserts. When the night is over, everyone takes home a handmade bowl – empty, to remind us of the needs of our community.
Empty Bowls McKinney will take place Thursday, April 27, 2017. If you have any questions about the event, volunteers will be at Whole Foods to talk with you. You can also visit emptybowlsmckinney.com to purchase tickets.
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Next Hosting End Of February
Creekwood will next host Family Promise families in our Student Center
February 26 - March 5. Click here to sign up to help us show these families some Creekwood hospitality and love. There are a number of ways to serve individually or as a family or small group. Thanks to all your generosity, we only have a few more volunteer needs, including sheet washing after the stay, dinner hosting and participating in providing food for dinners.
"What is Family Promise?" you ask?
Click here
to learn more about this empowering program. Contact Creekwood lead Sarah Brown with any questions.
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Small Group Highlight
Today we're highlight one of our 10:15 a.m. Sunday school classes, an intimate small group called "Perspectives."
Member Frank Mitchell explains, "The background of our small group could not be more diverse. Our members come from a Baptist background, a Catholic background, a Jewish background and the group has high school students as well as middle-aged and senior adults. We have a
lively discussion every Sunday centered around the major characters of the Bible."
Group facilitator Jay Bartholomew shared, "We are continuing to work on the stories of the Bible and are currently in Numbers going through some of the stories of Moses leading the Hebrews in the wilderness."
Does this sound like a class you'd be interested in trying out? They'd love to have you visit. Contact group facilitator Jay Bartholomew at jaybartholomew@yahoo.com, or Director of Adult Ministries, Molly Trank at mtrank@creekwoodumc.org. Or, if you're looking for a different type of class, Molly would love to visit with you, too!
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Then Sings My Soul
Mark your calendars! The Celebration Sunday School Class will have a "Grandma Hymn" Sing Along March 5, from 10:30 to 11:30am in the Lovejoy Elementary cafeteria. Come sing the old favorite hymns with us. (The ones your grandma loved.) All are invited.
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Stephen Ministry
Are you, or someone you know, struggling? Stephen Ministry brings lay people into ministry by equipping them to provide one-to-one Christian care to people in congregations and communities who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Stephen Ministers undergo 50 hours of training where they learn to provide high-quality care to individuals experiencing a crises or challenge such as divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization, relocation, or loneliness. Stephen Ministry is for each of us. Our prayer is that you reach out in your time of need. Contact Associate Pastor John Thornton or Pastor David Lessner.
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Grief Support
The Collin County branch of VNA/Hospice (Visiting Nurses Association of Texas) offers a number of grief support events open to adults who are grieving the loss of a close loved one. The events are offered at no charge in the McKinney area. Click here to learn more. Upcoming includes:
6-Week Grief Support Group
Sharing the Journey: Coping With Grief
Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 pm April 6 – May 18 (skip April 27)
VNA McKinney Office – Virginia - between Ridge and Lake Forest
RSVP by April 3
Questions, or to RSVP, contact Susan Bryan, LPC at bryans@vnatexas.org
or by phone at (214) 733-5543.
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VBS JUNE 5-9, 2017
Save The Date
for Vacation Bible School!
Adult volunteers are needed. If you are interested in volunteering or serving as a coordinator, contact Wendy McConney.
Registration is scheduled to open March 19. Spaces are limited.
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Join Our Children's eNewsletter Distribution List
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
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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 7th through 12th graders (and beyond) 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.
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Club 56
, designed for our 5th and 6th graders, meets once a month for fellowship and mission. Here's what's coming up.
- On February 19, Mike McKee's Bishop's Rally will be held at Lover's Lane in Dallas from 2-5 p.m. The Club 56 group will meet at Creekwood at 1:15 to carpool.
Please RSVP to
Donna Bartholomew
if your child will be attending this event. This is a great activity to invite a friend to Creekwood!
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Junior High Small Group meets on Wednesdays, 7 - 8:00 p.m.
Sr. High Small Group meets at the Edwards house on Wednesday nights from 7 - 8:30. Contact Jared Phares for more information.
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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