First Church News & Updates - February 22, 2019
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Happy Friday. Here is a great way to start your day...our Jubilation Handbell team playing,
The Water is Wide.
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Enjoy this First Church E-News.
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Experience Love. Spread Hope.
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Our winter sermon series is
Community...I'll Be There for You.
Sermon: "The One about Community"
We will be celebrating the DNOW weekend and wrapping up the canned goods challenge.
Please join us in worship at 8:30 am (Sanctuary), 9:40 am (Family Life Center) and 11 am (Sanctuary) this Sunday. It will be a moving service of commitment and celebration as we conclude the Community series.
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Words from Will
“Like a Mighty Wind…and Watch for Early Breezes!”
In Acts 2, Luke writes that the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and the other 100 or so praying people of God
like a mighty wind. I do like the wind, but usually before the winds hit there are preliminary breezes. There are some wonderful breezes happening at First Church that excite my soul…
- An exciting Finance Committee meeting (they do happen!) in which leadership and participation was honest, positive and creative…with even a good deal of laughter.
- A report from our Student Ministry that their 3C (Christ Coffee Club) breakfast gatherings at coffee shops near two high schools are being well received. That’s gettin’ outside the walls!
- Meeting briefly with our Stephen Ministers as they continue to grow and learn and work to spread their ministry to other congregations. As I said to them, “Every great ministry has a maternity ward!”
- Catching a glimpse of David meeting with our LifeGroup Steering Team as they equip 18 persons to guide our first 11 groups. Should we fill those groups, there are a few more of us ready to fill in where needed to create more groups. Sign-ups begin on Sunday.
- Sitting with our Friends of First Church partners and leaders in Footprints Children’s Grief Ministry, Drops of Grace, and Backpack Coalition and seeing their expanding ministries that are touching thousands of people. You can still bring your food items for the DNow Food Challenge (benefitting the Backpack Project) on Sunday morning. We are tracking ahead of last year.
- Hearing about the great Disaster Relief Team participation in Victoria, with our biggest team yet. Your Harvey Ministry monies are still making a difference!
- First conversations on Debt Reduction and the creation of a Task Force to lead us in a Capital Campaign in early 2020.
- The new initiatives of United Methodist Women that are setting forth new strategies for growth and social justice.
- Several ministries who are saying, “We have plans we are developing that we want to bring before you, so you can see what we’re thinking.” Now, that gladdens any pastor’s heart.
This is at best a partial view of what God is doing. Breezes often do become mighty winds (movements of God that change lives and change the world). Thanks to all of you – congregational leaders and participants, staff and even those who are speaking ideas and needs from outside us. It is a profound joy to serve among people who, with holy daring, follow the Holy Wind of God.
Sincerely in Christ,
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Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
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Coming March 10: Lenten Sermon Series
Say What??? Taking a Second Look at the Teachings of Jesus
Jesus was not just an excellent teacher, he was a provocative one. Over time, with familiarity, the teachings of Jesus have been tamed and made nice...hiding the revolutionary and crucifiable Christ. Whether it was taking teachings they already had heard and giving them a twist, or creating a critique on religious, social, and political culture of his day, Jesus taught with an
edge. The readings and sermons for Lent will take us to that edge and have us all asking
Say What???
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New Pastor's Bible Study begins February 24
The Pastor’s Bible Study will finish this Spring semester with a four-week study of Philippians entitled
“Reclaiming Joy.” This great letter of the apostle Paul is one of his most inspiring and personal. All are invited to this class to be held in the South Suite of the sanctuary on Sunday evenings from 6 - 7 pm, with a light supper provided at 5:30 pm.
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You have the opportunity to participate in a new movement in the church by joining a LifeGroup! There is a group of 13 dedicated members who have become trailblazers in helping to shape a new vibrant movement of the church. The vision of the group is to develop deep relationships, experience spiritual growth, and create community change through service. For the first eight weeks, there will be a curriculum provided. Groups are invited to meet weekly for the first 8 weeks to get to know each other; then they decide how often they are to gather after that.
Registration opens this Sunday, February 24.You are invited to join us on this new adventure by signing up on
our website (registration link will not be active until Sunday). On March 31 we will celebrate the LifeGroups by having a launch party to allow the members and facilitators to connect for the first time. If you have any questions, contact Rev. David Johnson, david@fumc-rr.org or 512.255.3336.
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Love Goes First!
13 volunteers braved cold temperatures, rain and wind to bring hope to many of those still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. The first day, a team of four cleaned up three sites. This closed out those cases and allowed more families to be added into the system. The rest of the day was spent doing assessments and getting supplies ready for the work to be done over the weekend. Friday night the remainder of the team arrived. We had 6
newbies so we had to show them around the church...shower trailer, kitchen and sleeping quarters. After a few games of pool, air hockey and indoor basketball, we called it a night.
Projects were discussed at breakfast the next morning and teams assigned and lunches packed. We had three teams at various locations. Our first team textured 3 rooms and hallways. This included masking off floors and furniture. After a bit of mechanical issues, this team completed their task. Our second team had to demo an entire section of a house...
Click to read the full report.
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This week at First Church...
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Saturday, February 23
Sunday, February 24
- 8:30, 9:40 and 11 am - Worship services.
- 11:30 am - Alleluia Chorus Children’s Choir, Payne Cottage
- 5:30 pm – Snack supper for Adult evening studies, Foyer
- 5:30 pm – Ignite Student Snack Supper, Payne Cottage
- 6:00 pm – Ignite Student Ministries, FLC
- 6:00 pm – Pastor’s Bible Study, South Suite
Monday, February 25
- 8:45 am – Ring of Joy bells rehearsal, North Suite
- 3:45 pm – Kids of Kingdom Chimes, FLC
- 7:00 pm – Boy Scout Troop #157, Bldg. 3/FLC
Tuesday, February 26
- 8:30 am – UMM Tuesday Breakfast Group, Juarez Bakery
- 9:30 am – Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-122
- 9:30 am – First Church Crafters, 115 Winsted House
- 12:30 pm – Brown Bag Theologians, Bldg. 5-122
Wednesday, February 27
- 6:15 am - UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, FLC/Bldg. 3
- 9:30 am – Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232/234
- 5:00 pm – Revelation Ringers, North Suite & FLC
- 6:00 pm – HeartSong Choir rehearsal, South Suite
- 6:30 pm – Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232/234
- 6:30 pm – Jubilation Bells rehearsal, North Suite
- 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir rehearsal, South Suite
- 8:00 pm – HS Wildfire Bible Study, Bldg. 5-223/224
Thursday, February 28
- 9:30 am – Heart to Heart Quilters, 115 Winsted
- 12 noon – Mom Life, Bldg. 5-122
- 7:00 pm – Council Oak Bells, North Suite
Friday, March 1
- 8:30 am - Round Rock Helpers, Bldg. 4-2
- 9:30 am - MOM weekly gathering, Bldg. 5-232/234
- 8:00 pm - Narcotics Anonymous-Right Stuff, Bldg. 4
Saturday, March 2
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Betty Robertson
Communication
First United Methodist Church Round Rock
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First United Methodist Church | Round Rock, TX
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