Spike will be at First Church this Sunday!
First Church News & Updates - August 10, 2018
 

We wrapped up another successful Children's Chime Camp this week! It is amazing what the kids can learn in only three days. Enjoy "Yankee Doodle".

"Yankee Doodle", Chime Camp 2018

Enjoy this First Church News.
This week in worship...
Sermon Series
This is last inning in the  Play Ball sermon series...a fun, intriguing and inspiring series which allows you to experience the good news of God's love in a fresh and life-changing way. Expect some surprises and fun music! Be looking for Spike this Sunday!

Sermon title: "The G.O.A.T."
Scripture:  Matthew 20:20-28

Dr. Will Cotton will be preaching at 8:30 and 11 am . Rev. David Johnson will be preaching at the 9:40 am service. 

Please join us in worship this weekend...Sunday at 8:30 am (Sanctuary), 9:40 am (Family Life Center) or 11 am (Sanctuary).
Words from Will...
Play Ball - The Finale!
So many of you have shared how much fun and inspiration you have experienced with our summer baseball series at First Church. Thanks to all of those who threw or caught first pitches, did interviews, sang special songs, worse special attire and offered great suggestions. We obviously could have done many more baseball-themed services, but those will have to wait some future year. 
Spike
Spike

We are excited to have Spike (the mascot of the Round Rock Express) with us on Sunday from 10:30-11:30 am (we are limited to an hour). As you leave from Sunday School, CrossRoads or arrive for the 11:00 am worship service, you will see him in the courtyard. Will Spike throw the first pitch in that service or participate in the children's sermon? As the feature character in Angels in the Outfield says, "It Could Happen!"

The worship planning team, David and myself have thoroughly enjoyed sharing the Word of God with you in this way. Our final sermon, "The G.O.A.T." will be one to remember and apply to your life in a powerful way. The music features a Men's Chorus, our choirs and praise teams, and the singing of your favorite hymns by the congregation, plus the singing of an intimate contemporary baseball song you may have forgotten. What a great opportunity to bring someone you know and love to worship at 8:30, 9:40 and 11:00 am.

See you then.


Sincerely in Christ,

Will Cotton Signature

Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
Save the date...new Pastor's Bible Study coming soon!
Revelation

Check out this new opportunity!
  • Pastors' Bible Study coming Sunday, September 16
  • Time: 5:30-7:00 pm (includes a light supper)
  • Topic: "A Fresh Approach to Revelation"
  • Location: Sanctuary and Narthex 

Sign-up begins next Sunday. More details coming soon.

MIssion Focus
Mission Panama

First Church's Mission Panama 2018 team is leaving August 25!
We're passing the chicken buckets for Mission Panama!  It's a tradition at First Church to support our mission teams as they travel to spread the love of Jesus.  Please prayerfully consider helping our 2018 team!  All money collected  will go to a local orphanage with which our missionaries have partnered This orphanage is for children and infants from homes that experienced domestic or sexual violence.  They have a building, but need more beds and they need to expand the facility, not to mention that they need to plant grass in the yard. Will you help us change these children's lives?   

And don't forget to pick up your prayer bracelet on Sunday.  
Make a small donation and take home a prayer bracelet to wear to remind you to pray for us each day!  We'll be in the courtyard all morning.

We leave in just 15 days!! Thank you so much for your support!

This year's team is our largest group yet with 24 members; 2 doctors, 1 nurse practitioner, 6 nurses, and a pharmacist along with a pastor, 4 translators, 1 missionary and 8 lay people. We will be working in clinics near Santa Catalina, serving the local community in the name of international service.

It's not too late to donate supplies
Over 400 Panamanian men, women, families and school children will receive care from our team in remote areas where doctors are scarce and medicine is expensive or unavailable. To do this we need your help!

Our mission team raises funds to purchase common antibiotics and medicines to take with us for the doctors and nurses to use in clinic. Each team member will also take one extra suitcase filled with over-the-counter items such as:
  • Tylenol liquid
  • Ibuprofen liquid
  • Benadryl liquid
  • Claritin liquid
  • Zyrtec liquid
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Lotrimin (generic) cream
  • Adult multivitamins
  • Artificial tears
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
If you are able to donate any of these over-the-counter items, please bring them to the sanctuary and Family Life Center foyers or to the church office any time between now and Sunday, August 19. We also need a few more suitcases. If you have a large, wheeled suitcase that you'd like to donate, please contact Rae Frenette,512.255.3336 or rae@fumc-rr.org.
Ministry Focus
Children's Ministry
Promotion Sunday

August 19 is Preschool Promotion Sunday!
On Sunday, August 19, children currently in 3 and 4 year old Sunday School classes will promote.  Placement is determined by a child's age on September 1, 2018. Three year olds will meet in Pod B, Room 2. Four year olds will meet in Pod A, Room1. Children starting kindergarten will meet in Pod A, Room 2 or 3 (determined by alphabet). Children are 2 will also promote to 3 year old Sunday School.

All children will need a new registration form for the 2018-19 school year. If you have an older child, you should have already filled one out. Registration forms are one per family, but we do require a separate media release for each child.
J-Team

J-Team returns...with some exciting changes!
We will have a parent meeting for parents of 3rd-5th graders on Sunday, August 26, at 11 am in Bldg. 5-232. At this time, parents will learn about J-Team opportunities for their child and sign up to host a month of J-Team. Two or three families serve as hosts each month. Host families plan the activities and chaperone. The meeting on Aug 26 will allow our kick off event to be for children and host parents only.

New this year!  Our J-Team Kickoff event will be on Sunday, September 9 from 2 - 4 pm, and it will be a drop-off event!  
Also, we are excited to announce that the October and November J-Team events will be at a new time: 5-7 pm and will include pizza! We will stay on campus for these two events, allowing families with children in student ministries or parents who want to attend the new pastoral Bible study on Revelation to all be in the same place at the same time!
Student Ministry
Back to School Blast

We are starting our fall programming off with BLAST!
All middle school and high school students as well as their parents are invited to join us Sunday, August 19. We will have food, inflatables, games and fun. There will be a short parents meeting during the event. 
Adult Ministry
A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance Class to Begin September 11.
Do you have concerns about falling? Join us for a fun, informative class on managing falls and increasing your activity level. If you are 60 or older and are interested in improving your balance, flexibility and strength and learning to reduce your fall risks at home and view falls as controllable, register for this free 8 - week class. Tuesday mornings at 10 am beginning September 11. Click here to register...
Disciple Bible Study

Register today for DISCIPLE I Bible Study!
Disciple I will begin on August 29. http://fumc-rr.org/grow/adult-ministry/disciple/
JOY Senior Fellowship

JOY Fellowship Planning Retreat - Wednesday, August 15, 2018, 
10 am - 12 noon in Bldg. 5-127
Please join us on August 15 for a planning retreat to outline the program, meals, day trips, and ministry for the JOY Fellowship Senior Adult Ministries for 2018-2019. We need your input. 

Rev. John Clifford will be meeting with us to guide our discussions to better meet the senior adults of First Church. Breakfast snacks will be provided.

Please register by Tuesday, August 14.
drops of grace

UMW Lydia Circle meets on August 14, 6:30 pm, Payne Cottage
Come and hear about the Malawi Mission trip. Our guest speaker will be Diane Bouchard sharing information on her recent trip to Africa with  drops of grace®.  Their mission statement is drops of grace® shall exist to hear and act on God's call to partner with communities around the world to provide safe water, sanitation, health, education and shelter.

We hope you will join us for this informative program plus a devotional, refreshments and sharing of joys and concerns. All women of the church are always invited to join us. For more information contact Patti Ruth at pjruth1@gmail.com.
More from Adult Ministry...
  • The Wesleyan Way...a Faith that Matters. New study begins on September 12, 9:40 am, Bldg. 5-136. Click for details...
  • Wednesday Women's Bible Study is back on September 5 with a new study by Lisa Harper, Believing Jesus. Click for details...
  • Tuesday Women's Bible Study starts on September 11 with a study of Stuck by Jennie Allen. Contact Denise Blomquist at mommystruck@gmail.com. Click for details... 
Worship Arts
Kids of the Kingdom
Sign up today! Kids of the Kingdom Chimes is for children entering 3rd-5th grades who would like to ring hand chimes. Students will learn rhythm, reading, and ringing. Playing hand chimes is a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn to read music and ring. No experience is necessary. We will play in church 1-2 times per semester and a recital at the end of each semester. 
Click for more information and to register online. Q uestions? Contact Shari Sloane, shari@fumc-rr.org , or 512.914.7957.
Youth Choir

Sign up today! Youth Choir rehearsals begin September 9.  
Youth Choir is open to all youth from 6th-12th grades, giving our students the opportunity to lead worship and minister to the body of Christ through the gift of music. The ensemble will sing a variety of musical styles during morning worship services every 4-6 weeks and at special events. Our first rehearsal will be on Sunday, September 9.

Rehearsals will be held in the South Suite from 4:30 - 5:30 pm on Sunday evenings, prior to Youth Group.
The mornings when we sing in worship, we will use the time between the Sanctuary services to rehearse, replacing that evenings' rehearsal.  All dates are in line with the Youth Ministry schedule. 

If you'd like to be a part of this group or have questions, please contact Michael Rosensteel, Director of Music, michael@fumc-rr.org or 512.255.3336 ext. 140.
Children's Choir

It's time to sign up for Alleluia Chorus Children's Choir!
In the Alleluia Chorus our elementary students learn the skills of singing and music reading while they sing anthems of their own as well as join with the Choral Union in joint choral presentations. These early experiences create wonderful memories of joyful musical events linked with the worship of God-thus building the foundation for a walk with Christ.

Rehearsals: Sunday morning during the 11 am service. Children will join their parents in worship until just before the sermon (around 11:40 am) and then go to Bldg. 5-234 for rehearsal until 12:15 pm.


Contact director Jennifer Harvill for more information: jennifer.harvill@fumc-rr.org.
Caring Ministry
Church Mouse

Church Mouses Adoption Day is August 26!
A ministry called Campus Renewal reports the 70% of Christian teens are choosing to no longer follow Jesus after their first year of college. That is a pretty scary statistic. So often, these teens are leaving the church that they grew up in without making any connection with a new church. Here at First Church, we have a program called the Church Mouse program. Through this program, members of the congregation get the opportunity to be a small connection between a college student and their home church. Through prayer, cards and the occasional care package, adopted students get a reminder that someone here at First Church is thinking of them. It is a great way to do our part in combating this crazy statistic and loving on our young adults. 

If you would like to adopt a college student, be on the look out! Adoption day is August 26, 2018.
A Finance Snapshot...
Finance Update
 
  • Year to date Revenue: $1,251,544.51
  • Year to date Expenses: $1,330,627.75
     
  • 2018 Budget: $2,481,067.63
This week at First Church
Saturday, August 11
  • 3:00 pm - Eagle Court of Honor, Bldg. 5-232/234
  • 5:30 pm - Journey in Faith Social, Bldg. 5-127
Sunday, August 12
  • 8:30 am - Life Group - Be Awesome, Bldg. 4-2
  • 8:30, 9:40 and 11 am - Worship services
  • 12:15 pm - Welcome Home, Bldg. 3/FLC
Monday,  August 13

Tuesday, August 14
  • 8:30 am - UMM Tuesday Breakfast group, Juárez Restaurant on South Mays
  • 9:30 am - First Church Crafters, 115 Winsted
  • 12:30 pm - Brown Bag Theologians, Bldg.5-122
  • 6:30 pm - UMW Lydia Circle, Bldg. 4-2
  • 7:00 pm -LEADFirst, Bldg. 5-122
Wednesday, August 15
  • 6:15 am - UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, FLC/Bldg.3
  • 10:00 am - JOY Planning meeting, Bldg. 5-127
Thursday, August 16
  • 9:30 am - Heart to Heart Quilters, 115 Winsted
  • 10:00 am - A Matter of Balance, Bldg. 5-148
Friday, August 17
  • 8:30 am - Round Rock Helpers, Bldg. 4-2
  • 8:00 pm - Narcotics Anonymous-Right Stuff, Bldg. 4
Saturday, August 18
  • 6:30 pm - Bridge Club, Bldg. 5-127
There is always a lot going on at First Church. Visit the website , find us on Facebook or Twitter , and check the  Church Calendar so you don't miss out! 
First United Methodist Church | Round Rock 
512.255.3336 | newsletter@fumc-rr.org | http:// fumc-rr.org
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