Weekly e-newsletter
Our Mission: 
Grow in God's grace.
Love with all our heart.
Serve with all our strength.  
A Word from Pastor Tom
Dear Friends in Christ,
 
Tis the season to be inviting!
 
This morning I was reflecting on one of the reasons I am active in a church community today. Because in the Fall of 1974 Charlie Bond invited his neighbor to MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) and was there to greet him and make sure he was comfortable, he became active in the youth group. It was in the context of that youth ministry that I (Charlie’s neighbor) began to experience a Holy Spirit nudge to consider ordained ministry. All from a friend who invited me a couple of times (I was hesitant at first) to MYF. 

That is a reminder to me of the importance of invitation . People usually don’t wake up and say “I think I’ll go to Christmas Pops or Christmas Eve Candlelight at that Methodist Church in town.”  But people usually do respond positively to an invitation from a neighbor or friend, especially this time of year. 
 
So while I offer no guarantees that the person you invite will become a United Methodist pastor, I do guarantee that a warm, “come with us” invitation from a friend will plant seeds of God’s grace in another persons’ heart. And that is what we are called to do as a community of faith, ‘ sharing God’s love with all of our neighbors’, one neighbor at a time.
 
So come and bring a friend for Sunday morning worship in one of our two beautiful worship venues, stay for the cookie jamboree (when else can you buy such delicious cookies for such a great cause - Lydia Patterson Institute), and come back for Christmas POPS at 4 or 6:30 pm. (back by popular demand and at two convenient times!). See you Sunday at 9:30 am!
 
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Tom
 
P.S.  Saturday Evening will be special as well as we participate in the City of Coppell Lighted Mini-Parade in the Park. Meet at 5:30 pm at Andy Brown Central – Wear a festive hat and shirt/sweater and join in the fun representing FUMC in the city’s lighted motor free Mini-parade through the trails of this picturesque Coppell park. Glow necklaces/bracelets provided so we can be “Sent to Shine” (or glow!).

P.P. S. If you would like to participate in the Christmas Pops Silent auction to defray concert expenses and support Coppell Cares:  https://www.32auctions.com/fumccoppell
Sunday
Join us for Worship
on December 8
Second Sunday in Advent

Light
Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8

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 December 1 services.
Sanctuary
Click here to listen to sermon.
Click here to watch service on facebook.
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.
FUMC members provided Christmas gifts for 86 foster children! Thank you and Merry Christmas from the grateful staff of Methodist Children’s Home Dallas office.
This Week
The Cookie Jamboree began as a fund raiser for United Methodist Women in 1986. Being able to select from dozens of different types of cookies has always been the most fun part. Families buy for holiday entertaining, neighborhood gift-giving and personal nibbling!
YOU can help by baking cookies and donating them for the sale. Bring you cookies/sweets in a foil lined box to the church on Saturday, December 7 between 11 am and 1 pm or Sunday, December 8 by 9 am. Please leave them in Room 301 off of Wesley Hall.

The sale is this Sunday, December 8 from 9-11 am in Wesley Hall and the Ministry Center. You purchase a box for $10 and then fill it with your favorites.

This year the funds raised will be used to buy sports equipment for Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI).

We need bakers and helpers. Sign up today.
An unforgettable evening full of Christmas fun for all—with very special guest, Santa! You will hear timeless Christmas melodies from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version of “A Mad Russian’s Christmas” to Pentatonix’ “Sugar Plum Fairy” and all in between.
We've expanded to two concerts this year so that more people can enjoy the Christmas cheer! Both will be held in the Ministry Center building at First UMC Coppell at 4 and 6:30 pm.
 
There is a silent auction online only from December 5 through December 9. Some of the items in the auction include: a 3-day cabin stay in YMCA Rockies, diamond jewelry, desserts a month club (12 total), music lessons, and much more! Proceeds beyond concert expenses will benefit Coppell Cares.

Click here to go to the auction.
Christmas Eve Family Service - Sign Up by December 8
It’s time to sign up to participate in leading Christmas Eve Worship! Children in Kindergarten through 5 th grade are invited to participate in the pageant. All participating children must attend and be present on Christmas Eve at 3:30 pm for a worship service at 4 pm in the Sanctuary. There will be no official rehearsal for this service but we will have a run through on Sunday, December 22 at 10:40 am in the sanctuary for those with speaking parts. It is imperative that participants come early Christmas Eve to get last minute directions. Costumes will be provided for our main characters and will be ready for pickup on Sunday, December 22 in the Rotunda during the 10:40 am Sunday School hour. Every person in attendance will have a community role including all adults!

Parts available are: Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, Star, King, Angel, Shepherd, Reading part, Innkeeper, or worship element.
 
To sign up, call the church office at 972-462-0471 by December 8 and give the name, grade, and part preference of each child.
Advent Wreath Worship Readers
We are looking for families and individuals to help lead sanctuary worship on Christmas Eve at 11 pm. Sign up today to read the advent wreath litany and light the candle. For more information, please contact Martha Hagan-Smith at mahgan@fumccoppell.org .
Advent Giving Opportunities
Annual UMM Bike Drive
Christmas is fast approaching and United Methodist Men (UMM) is holding their annual bike drive again this year! The drive will benefit the Metrocrest Holiday Store, which serves low-income families in Coppell and surrounding communities. A donation of $100 will provide a bike and helmet for one child. Let's beat last years 213 bikes!!

Ways to Donate:
  1. Bring a check or pay by credit card at the UMM table in Wesley Hall or the Ministry Center this Sunday morning after worship.
  2. Bring a check to the church office anytime before December 11.
  3. Go to FUMCCOPPELL.ORG. Select OTHER as the fund option, and enter BIKE DRIVE in the memo box
Supporting CCA this Christmas
You can offer hope to the community through donating items to the Christian Community Action (CCA) food drive, toy drive, or volunteer.

  • Food Drive: Bags with list of Food Panty Items are available in Wesley Hall, Wilkinson Hall and worship exits. Simply take a bag and fill it up with the products listed and return to the designated bins in Wesley Hall and Ministry Center. Current needs are: all purpose baking mix, sugar, flour, canned yams, canned fruit.
  • Toy Drive: Come by the tree in the Narthex to pick up an ornament tag (s) or pick up an ornament in the church office anytime. Shop for the item listed and then return the item (not wrapped) with the tag attached to the tree no later than December 15. These items will stock the CCA “Christmas Store” where underprivileged families who are enrolled in the CCA program can come get gifts for their kids.
  • Volunteer: CCA has various volunteer openings for the holiday season. To sign up as a volunteer, go to ccahelps.org; click on participate. 
Austin Street Center Opportunities
  • Christmas Morning: Our church members share a wonderful tradition of serving a hot breakfast and caroling at Austin Street Center Christmas morning. We gather in the parking lot on the east side of the church at 5 am, fill up the cars with food, and drive down to serve breakfast at 6 am. If you are able to bake egg casseroles (we need them hot at 5 am) please sign up online. Baking pans and recipes will be distributed on December 8 and 15 between services in Wesley Hall & Ministry Center. We need servers and singers, too. All ages are welcome to join us. Signup today. Questions, contact Fawn Marshall at fawniece@gmail.com.
  • Donations: Current needs are: new or gently used sheets (prefer twin), blankets, bath towels, scarves, gloves, long sleeve t-shirts, hoodies, sweat shirts, men's & women's long pants. Place donations in the Austin Street bin in Wesley Hall.
New Members



Joined December 1


Don and Liz Beless
Upcoming
Hope and Healing Service
Christmas is a great season to celebrate the work of God through the birth of Christ. As church, we celebrate God’s love, relationships, gifts, and gathering before a new year comes. Let us not forget, that for some, Christmas comes with some sadness and heartache over the loss of significant people, challenging circumstances, disastrous events, or just plain loneliness. 
 
On December 18 at 7 pm in the Rotunda, the church will hold a Hope and Healing service for all who need a time to reflect on life, gain strength from community, and find the hope in this season. Come join with the community of faith at FUMC, Coppell for this special service.
Holy Land Pilgrimage Meeting
Our Holy Land pilgrimage is just a little over a month away! We will be having an important FYI meeting led by Paula King and Rev. Linda Roby of Educational Opportunities (our tour group) on Sunday, December 15 at 11:45 am in Wesley Hall. Please make every effort to attend.  We have 63 registered in our group! This promises to be a wonderful, spiritually-enriching journey of a lifetime.  Click here for pertinent travel info that will address some commonly asked general questions about Holy Land travel.
The Financial Peace University (FPU)
The class starts Monday, January 20, 7-8:30 pm in the Library and runs nine weeks. Dave Ramsey, personal finance guru, will guide us through nine weeks that covers saving, budgeting, debt, investing, college planning, real estate, giving, and more. Go to fpu.com/1103660 to register. Contact Robert Gambill at rjgambil@gmail.com with questions.
Missions
Give Hope, Receive Joy - Mission of the Month
December funds are designated for Coppell Cares which was started by FUMC Coppell to help families and individuals in our community who have needs driven by financial challenges. We depend totally on donations and faithful people serving from our church. We operate behind-the-scenes working through a school care team and a community care team to uncover and deliver on short term needs. Your gifts ensure this much needed ministry continues to transform the community of Coppell. Make checks payable to FUMC with memo “Coppell Cares” 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 .
Stephen Ministry
Are you experiencing the Christmas blues?
 The joy of Christmas can turn into a time of painful loneliness and emptiness for those who have suffered a loss or who are going through a difficult time. But help is available. Our Stephen Ministers are ready to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care. They will listen, care, encourage, pray with and for you, and support you through the holidays and as long as your need persists. For assistance contact: Leah Moore at leah@firstlewisville.org . Our Stephen Ministers are there to care!