Weekly e-newsletter
Our Mission: 
Grow in God's grace.
Love with all our heart.
Serve with all our strength.  
A Word from Pastor Martha
Greetings!

There’s a Bob Dylan song that I have been reflecting on all week: “Gotta Serve Somebody” that begs me to reflect on the question who do I serve? I find this song gets to the heart of the passage we will be talking about on Sunday in Joshua 24. The people of Israel and their leaders had a choice to make. They saw how God worked on their behalf over and over again and they experienced God’s blessings over and over again yet there was a choice to make. Joshua wanted them to know that today is decision making time - choose God or choose your alternative.

Serving the Lord God or serving earthly gods of this world was Israel's choice. Believe it or not, it is the choice that is laid before every human. We all are serving someone or something. In renewing God's covenant, Joshua makes this bold and profound statement, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." What about you? Is this your declaration?

Joshua understood that he, as the priest of his family, was charged with the responsibility to see that his whole house served the LORD.  He had the job of representing his whole house before God. But as for me and my house indicates that Joshua was determined on this course no matter what anyone else thought.  His relationship with God was based on the LORD alone, and he would serve God no matter what anyone else said or did. Joshua was a man that lead by example. What about you? Is your life a living example of God at work through you? Who do you serve? The world and all those around each one of us is watching. May we be faithful bold disciples witnessing to the world of God at work in us.

Martha
Sunday
Join us for Worship
on January 26

Distractions or Discipleship?
Joshua 24:13-18; 22-24

9:30 am
Concurrent services
in Sanctuary & Ministry Center

10:45 am
Learning Groups/Sunday School
Follow the links below to watch & listen to the January 19 services.
Sanctuary
Click here to watch service on facebook.
Click here to listen to sermon.
Elevate
Click here to watch service on facebook.
A Community Study, based on the weekly sermon, is available online at FumcCoppell.org . The study includes questions that relate to the Scripture used as well as ways you can challenge yourself in the week ahead to implement community and personal action items in your daily life.
This Week
Stringfellow School
All are invited to join us for our Open House this Sunday, January 26 from 2 to 4 pm. Come meet our teachers, see our classrooms and learn more about the ministry of Stringfellow!

Church member registration for the 2020-2021 school year is February 9 from 9:30-10:30 am. 

Community registration is February 12.

Click here for more information about the school.
New to FUMC?
The Next Steps class is designed just for you! Join us this Sunday, January 26 to explore Christian essentials, distinctive Methodist practices, the ongoing story of FUMC Coppell, and possibilities for your “Next Steps” in discipleship. Class meets in Room 301 at 10:45 am with a light lunch to follow. Please RSVP to Pastor Rick at rwilliamson@fumccoppell.org .
Wednesday Pastor's Bible Study Opportunities
Join us for a Bible study on the Gospel of John starting February 5 from 10:30-11:45 am (please note there is only a morning session). The teacher will be Sr. Pastor Tom Palmer. Participants will be using the book by N.T. Wright, John For Everyone Part 1 . Cost of the book is $12. Click here to sign up.
 
Join us for a Bible study Knowing Christ through the Book of Hebrews that continues with Rev. Rick Williamson from 5:30-6:15 pm. All are welcome.
FUMC Ukulele Choir
Interested in learning to play the Ukulele? Come join the choir this Sunday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm in the Choir Room (behind the Sanctuary). Click here to sign up. You can try ukulele for 2 weeks before purchasing it. If you do not want to purchase the instrument, you can rent it for $15 per semester (January - June). For more information please contact Anastasia Markina, Director of Sanctuary Worship at amarkina@fumccoppell.org.
Ready for Lent:
Lenten Meal Experience
Instead of giving up something for Lent we challenge everyone to consider taking something new on to grow in God’s grace and share God’s love with all of our neighbors in 2020.

During the season of Lent each Sunday the sermon series will focus on a different word in our discipleship journey and what it means for us to live that word out as Jesus did. On Wednesday, we will take that word and explore it through a worship experience around the table with tangible hands on ways to live the discipling word out in the world with our neighbors. It will begin with Ash Wednesday, February 26, with the imposition of ashes around the table in community and conclude holy week with a focus on the final hours of Christ’s life.
 
Dinner/Worship will be from 6:30-7:15 pm in the Rotunda from February 26 through April 8. Reservations are required. Suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family. Registration for February 26 will open on February 20.
Upcoming Opportunities
Caregiving Heroes Seminar 2020
The goal of this one-day seminar (February 8, 9 am-3 pm) is to provide support and education to family caregivers who are assisting loved ones with aging or other concerns. At the seminar, credentialed professionals will present an overview of topics ranging from legal considerations, finances, eldercare services, home alternatives, dementia, hospice, caregiver support and more. Cost is $10 which includes lunch. More information and registration on our website .
Help us create Valentine Blessing Bags for our college kids. Email your student’s name and college address to Rev. Martha Hagan-Smith at mhagan@fumccoppell.org by Sunday, February 9.
Calling all Scouts!
Scout Sunday will be February 9 where we will highlight the ministry of scouting to boys and girls participating in the various sponsoring organizations. We invite anyone interested in helping lead in worship to contact William Evans at william_g_evans@yahoo.com . We will have opportunities for scouts of all ages to lead in reading scripture, greeting, ushering, etc.
Volunteers Needed
Training Dates: Register at https://bit.ly/night2shinevolunteer
  • Thursday, January 23, 6:30 pm at St Ann Catholic Parish
  • Saturday, January 25, 10 am at FUMC Coppell
 

Event Details
February 7, 6-9 pm at St Ann Catholic Parish (180 Samuel Blvd, Coppell). Hosted by FUMC Coppell, St Ann Catholic Parish, and The Servant House, Lewisville. Join us for a prom night that you will never forget. Walk the red carpet, enjoy the royal treatment and dance the night away. Invitation only. Non-transferrable. For people with special needs 14+.
 
For more information, contact Mary at mmahaffey@stannparish.org or 972-393-5544 ext 1209.
Adult Ministry
Grief & Healing Support Group
A six-week support group for persons who have experienced the painful death of a loved one. It is designed to help individuals work through the grief process, grow through the loss, and find support from others.
  • new group begins Sunday, March 1
  • 3 to 4:30 pm
  • $15 suggested donation for book, "How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies," by Theresa A. Rando
  • Led by Carol Sheer & Ron Harrison
Call the church office at 972-462-0471 to register.
Missions
2020 Costa Rica Mission Trip
FUMC Coppell will be taking mission teams to Costa Rica again and we want YOU to be part of the team. Two teams will travel over spring break (March 8-15). One team will be made up of youth, college students and young adults. For more information or to sign up, email f umccostarica@gmail.com . Last day to sign up is February 5 with payment.
Mission of the Month
January funds are designated for Piecemakers which is a small group of women, active since 2011, who are now making wheelchair and walker bags and lap quilts for two of the local Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Centers (Sandy Lake and Vista Ridge).
 
Make checks payable to FUMC with memo “Piecemakers” or you can TEXT 2 GIVE . Text to 73256 with subject line as FUMCC. You will receive a link and simply follow the instructions.
 
Questions, contact Rev. Martha Hagan-Smith at mhagan@FumcCoppell.org .
Student Ministry
Camp Pike 2020 Dates are Friday, July 10 - Saturday, July 18
Registration is open. If you’re currently in grades 6 through 11 we’d love for you and your friends to join us at camp this summer! You do not need to be a member of FUMC to attend camp so please spread the word to your friends and classmates. Click here for more information and to register.
Stephen Ministry
Are You Experiencing a “Winter” in Your Life?
In addition to the cold weather outside, many people experience winters in their personal lives. A recent loss through death, divorce, or relocation may leave them feeling lonely. A hospitalization, a cancer diagnosis, or ongoing medical problems may leave them feeling isolated. The loss of a job, the fear of layoffs, or a financial setback can devastate one’s self-esteem. Family and personal struggles may leave them with nowhere to turn for support.

If you are going through a difficult time, our Stephen Ministers can provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care. They will meet with you privately on a weekly basis to listen, to support and encourage you, to pray with and for you, and to walk with you for the duration of your crisis. To find out more about Stephen Ministry contact: Leah Moore at leah@firstlewisville.org . Our Stephen Ministers are ready to care for you!