First Church News & Updates - December 7, 2018
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Today is
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Each year on December 7, Pearl Harbor Survivors, veterans, and visitors from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft. It is all the more poignant this year as we mourn the death of
President George H. W. Bush, who enlisted on his 18th birthday and became the youngest pilot in the Navy. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II. On one mission over the Pacific as a torpedo bomber pilot he was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and was rescued from the water by a U. S. submarine. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action. Rest in peace, President Bush.
Don't miss
Ring Noel
tomorrow! Enjoy this First Church E-News.
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Experience Love. Spread Hope.
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This Week in Worship - 2nd Sunday of Advent
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Sermon: "All I Want for Christmas is Peace"
This Sunday we light the Advent candle of Peace
Dr. Will Cotton will preach at the 8:30 and 11 am worship services. Rev. David Johnson will preach at the 9:40 am worship service.
Holy Communion will be served at all services. Special music will be provided by the
Kids of the Kingdom Chimes at 8:30 and 11 am.
Please join us in worship this weekend. The 8:30 and 11 am services will be in the Sanctuary. The 9:40 am service will be in the Family Life Center.
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Experiencing Love and Spreading Hope at Advent
What a great Advent Season we are having at First Church. People are experiencing love at First Church through our beautiful music ministry, our inspiring worship services, our fellowship gatherings and study groups, and the educational and fun experiences of our children and youth.
Hope is being spread through building beds for families in San Antonio by our youth, gifts for foster children, Christmas stockings for homebound seniors, cookies for troops and a host of efforts sponsored by classes and groups in our congregation.
People both inside our congregation and those who visit have said to me that there is a
buzz happening among us. Some of that buzz is created by persons having a first-time encounter with the love of Christ. For others it is a spiritual renewal or a new direction that God is calling people into. I never tire of that happening in the lives of people.
Tomorrow night at 7 pm, we get to experience our first
Ring Noel under our new Handbell Director, Chris Burton. On staff, we have already appreciated his creativity, energy and new ways of being in ministry. I can’t wait to experience his ministry with you tomorrow night through our fantastic handbell choirs in partnership with our Choral Union, soloists and dramatists. Make sure and invite someone to come with you. No other congregation in the nation experiences what we do in Ring Noel!
Then, I invite you to make plans for
Christmas Eve. After a carol sing on Sunday morning, December 23 at 9:30 and 11 am (both in the Family Life Center), we will gather in four Christmas Eve services on Monday evening, December 24. The
5 pm service for children and their families in the sanctuary will take place against the backdrop of a living room. The Christmas story will be told in a whole new way. Our children and youth will be singing and there will be the lighting of candles.
At
7 pm, we will have our traditional triumphant Christmas Eve services led by our Choral Union. Again, we will light candles and remember the love of God through the Christ Child that forever changed the world. I will be preaching at both the 5 and 7 pm services.
At
9 pm, we will celebrate Crossroads Christmas Eve with a whole new style of service. It will be a contemporary candlelight service and it will be deeply moving. Pat McCain will preach this service.
Then, at
11 pm, we will be having our first ever Jazz Candlelight Communion service with Michael Rosensteel leading the singing of our carols. David Johnson will preach this service. You will want to come early to get a good seat and an up-close parking space.
Actually, inviting someone to Ring Noel and to one of our Christmas Eve services are ways you can help people experience love and you can spread hope at the same time. Let the love of Christ become “catchy” through you this Advent!
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Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
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Consider an End of Year Gift to First Church
This has been a very special year at First Church and we want to finish strong, funding all of our great ministries and reaching as many people as possible with God’s love. Doing so will also position us for a banner year of ministry in 2019. You are invited to make an extra gift to our church’s ministry to help make that happen. Soon you will be receiving a letter from Finance Chair, T. J. Gleeson, sharing his heart as well as where we are financially through November. For what you have already done and for what you will yet do, hear our heartfelt thanks for your generosity.
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What's coming up in Advent?
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Children’s Ministry invites families to join us on December 16 for a brand new Christmas Event,
A Christmas Story. Families will be invited to make a few Christmas ornaments. The Christmas story will be told by some special characters. Children are invited to come dressed as an angel, an animal in the nativity or a shepherd.
Click here for more details and to register. Please register by Wednesday, December 12 to ensure we have plenty of ornament supplies.
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If you're tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck and would like to manage your money smarter, this 9-week course is for you. Join Pat and Monica McCain as they facilitate Dave Ramsey's
Financial Peace University.
Click for details...
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Advent Mission Opportunities...
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Thank you
from Cheryl Glasgow, Kairos Prison Ministry
Kairos has been blessed by your generosity and was able to provide a total of 5,000 greeting cards to women incarcerated in Lockhart. Inmates will receive 5 cards each and will have the opportunity to share love and hope with others outside the prison walls. Please know that you are a blessing to these women and you have touched their lives through your love and support.
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It's not too late to order a poinsettia...
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This week at First Church...
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Saturday, December 8
- 7:00 pm - Ring Noel, Sanctuary
Sunday, December 9
- 8:30, 9:40 and 11 am - Worship services
- 11:00 am - Becoming a Girl of Grace, Bldg. 5-223/224
- 11:00 am - Guatemala Team Meeting, Bldg. 5-225
- 11:40 am - Alleluia Chorus Children's Choir rehearsal, Bldg. 4-2
- 4:30 pm - Youth Choir rehearsal, South Suite
- 5:00 pm - Grief Support Group, Bldg. 5-148
- 5:30 pm - Ignite Student Ministry Snack Supper, Bldg. 4/Payne Cottage
- 6:00 pm - Ignite Middle School Student Ministry, Bldg. 5/2nd floor
- 6:00 pm - Ignite High School Student Ministry, Bldg. 3/FLC
Monday, December 10
- 4:00 pm – Kids of the Kingdom Chimes, Sanctuary
- 5:00 pm – Revelation Ringers, Sanctuary
- 6:00 pm – Advent Recital – Youth/Children, Sanctuary
- 7:00 pm - Boy Scout Troop #157, Bldg. 3/FLC
Tuesday, December 11
- 8:30 am - UMM Tuesday Breakfast group, Juárez Restaurant on South Mays
- 9:30 am -Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-122
- 9:30 am - First Church Crafters, 115 Winsted
- 12:30 pm - Brown Bag Theologians, Bldg. 5-122
- 6:00 pm - Outreach Team, Bldg. 5-136
- 6:30 pm - UMW Lydia Circle, Bldg. 4/Payne Cottage
- 7:00 pm – LEADFirst, Bldg. 5-122
Wednesday, December 12
- 6:15 am - UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, FLC/Bldg.3
- 9:30 am - Women's Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232/234
- 6:00 pm - HeartSong Choir rehearsal, South Suite
- 6:30 pm - Women's Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232/234
- 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir rehearsal, South Suite
- 8:00 pm – HS Wildfire Bible Study, Bldg. 5-223/224
Thursday, December 13
- 9:00 am - Council Oak Preschool Christmas program, Sanctuary
- 12 noon - Mom LIfe, Bldg. 5-122
Friday, December 14
- 8:30 am - Round Rock Helpers, Bldg. 4-2
- 9:00 am - Council Oak Preschool Christmas program, Sanctuary
- 9:30 am - MOM Weekly Gathering, Bldg. 5-232/234
- 7:00 pm - Round Rock Community Choir Holiday Concert, Sanctuary
- 8:00 pm - Narcotics Anonymous-Right Stuff, Bldg. 4
Saturday, December 15
- 11:00 am - Alleluia Chorus Rehearsal & Celebration, Bldg. 4/Payne Cottage
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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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