First Church News & Updates - November 29, 2019
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We are blessed to have Michael Rosensteel as Director of Music Ministry. He sang "My Tribute" last Sunday.
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Enjoy this First Church news.
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Experience Love. Spread Hope.
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Sermon Series - Bethlehem...the Wondrous Gift
Sermon title: What You Need to Know about Bethlehem
Please invite your family and friends to join us in worship at 8:30 am (Sanctuary), 9:40 am (Family Life Center), and 11 am (Sanctuary) this Sunday.
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Bethlehem: The Wondrous Gift
Today, Bethlehem is a small town 6.2 miles south of Jerusalem on the Central West Bank in Palestine. It’s population is about 25,000. It is a city rich in tradition back to the early days of Israel and is, of course, the birthplace of Jesus. While cited in scripture as small, it has always been a place of strategic importance and, for that reason, a place of occasional conflict (including today). What does it mean that the Savior of the world would be born there? What does that mean for our lives today?
The musical theme for Advent is the well-known hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Each week, we will sing a verse and preach from the scripture passage that goes with that verse. Those themes are echoed in
Ring Noel on Saturday, December. 7,
Have You Heard (Chancel Choir) and
Gather 'Round (Crossroads Band) on December 15.
Our featured mission for the season is
Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which has a vision that no child in our area will sleep on the floor. We begin funding for the beds with
Ring Noel and for bedding with our
Children’s Ministry and
Council Oak Preschool December Missions. Then in February we will do a church-wide build of the beds. What a great all-church effort in the name of Christ!
Many of you have shared how excited you are about the return of
Walk Through Bethlehem, under the leadership of Sharon Nobles and her team. Volunteers are still needed. If you haven’t viewed the
video, please hit the link and watch all the way to the outtakes...and then sign up. The event is free and open to the public on Saturday, December 14 from 10 am - 3 pm.
Advent concludes with four Christmas Eve services, with the children’s service an hour earlier than previous years at 4 pm. Other services will be at their regular times 7, 9, and 11 pm. The Jazz Candlelight Communion will be back for its second year at 11 pm.
As you can tell, Advent 2019 is going to be beautiful. What a great time to invite someone you care about to First Church, that they might experience God’s Wondrous Gift in the Christ-child.
Sincerely in Christ,
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Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
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This Week at First Church
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Ring Noel is a fabulous show which combines spoken word with music led by First Church’s handbell ministry. Come and hear the
Jubilation, Council Oak, Revelation Ringers Bronze handbell choirs, and
Song of Joy handbell trio. We will follow the shepherds as they are visited by angels and travel to visit the savior in the manger. Plan to arrive early. This is a popular event of the Christmas season. Admission is free and open to all ages.
This event also serves as a benefit concert. This year, First Church will focus our benefit on
Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that builds beds for children in our area who would otherwise be without. Their motto is
No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!
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Sharing Love this Christmas
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Cookies for Troops
First Church is baking cookies to be sent with love to the troops overseas for Christmas! Instructions, boxes and everything you need to package your cookies will be available for pick up on
Sundays, December 1 and 8. Take a box home and bake basic, sturdy and delicious cookies that will last for the trip to the overseas troops. Please bake any variety of cookie that excludes nuts: oatmeal, chocolate chip, sugar, etc. Boxes need to be returned by
Sunday, December 15.
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Mark your calendar for these upcoming Advent events
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Join us for J-Team on December 8
We're painting Christmas ornaments! Cost: $5.00. Please RSVP to Tammy Parks, Tammy@fumc-rr.org and she will send event door code.
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Poinsettias for Advent
Poinsettias will be used to decorate our Worship Areas during the Advent & Christmas Season. You can dedicate poinsettias in memory or honor of someone special in your life. Dedications will be listed in a special worship guide insert the Sunday before Christmas.
Order forms are also available in the Sanctuary Foyer, FLC and the church office. Just complete the order form and place it in the offering plate, drop it in the basket in the foyer or bring it to the church office during regular office hours. Please make checks payable to FUMC and memo: Poinsettia.
Following the last service on Christmas Eve, these beautiful plants are yours to take home and enjoy.
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Eagles are taking flight at Troop 157! We congratulate 3 more Eagle Scouts from our BSA Troop.
- Adam Michael Hui: His Eagle Scout Service Project was to design and build a granite path at the Simply Sparrow Care Farm to allow children in wheelchairs access to a meeting/gathering area. Adam is a senior at Round Rock High School.
- Jonathan Austin Zhou: His Eagle Scout Service Project was to design and build 4 benches that would be used by the tennis team at McNeil High School between matches. Jonathan is also a senior.
- Edward Christopher Chase: His Eagle Scout Service Project was to remove 1,200 bricks from around the historic Round Rock Stagecoach Inn, move them to a new location and build a Brick Memorial Garden after the Inn had been moved by the City of Round Rock. Chris is a sophomore at Round Rock High School and is very active with the lacrosse team. After he graduates, he hopes to enroll in an engineering program in college.
The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement in Scouts BSA. Congratulations to these young men and their families.
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This week at First Church...
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Saturday, November 30
Sunday, December 1
- 8:30, 9:40 & 11 am – Worship Services
- 9:40 am – Sunday school for all ages
- 11:00 am - Confirmation Parents Meeting, Bldg. 5-127
- 11:20 am - Alleluia Chorus Children's Choir, Bldg. 5-127
- 4:00 pm - Youth Choir, South Suite Sanctuary
- 5:30 pm - Student Ministries IGNITE, Bldg. 3/FLC
Monday, December 2
- 1:30 pm - JOY Fellowship Leadership meeting, Bldg. 5-124
- 4:00 pm - Kids of the Kingdom Bells rehearsal, Bldg. 3/FLC
Tuesday, December 3
- 8:30 am – UMM Tuesday Breakfast Group, Juarez Bakery
- 9:30 am – Tuesday Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-122
- 11:30 am - Women's Book Club, Bldg. 5-127
- 12:30 pm – Brown Bag Theologians, Bldg. 5-122
Wednesday, December 4
- 6:15 am – UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, Bldg. 3/FLC
- 9:30 am - Women's Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232
- 6:00 pm – HeartSong Choir, South Suite Sanctuary
- 6:30 pm – Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232
- 6:30 pm - Youth Bible Study, Bldg. 5-220
- 7:00 pm – Chancel Choir, South Suite Sanctuary
Thursday, December 5
- 9:30 am – Heart to Heart Quilters, 115 Winsted
Friday, December 6
- 8:30 am – Round Rock Helpers, Payne Cottage, Bldg. 4-2
- 9:30 am – MOM (Ministry of Motherhood), Bldg. 5-232
- 8:00 pm – Narcotics Anonymous, Payne Cottage, Bldg. 4
Saturday, December 7
- 6:00 pm - Ring Noel, Sanctuary
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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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