First Church News & Updates - July 19, 2019
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All eyes are on space this weekend as we celebrate the
50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Space Mission. Were you watching when the astronauts landed on the moon? Did you know that the first liquid poured and the first food eaten on the moon were communion elements. Watch this video from
Guideposts about that special communion service.
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Leap forward 50 years and you can see the
International Space Station circling the earth this weekend. The best time is 9:21 pm tonight.
Spot the Station.
Enjoy this First Church news.
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Experience Love. Spread Hope.
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Summer Series - Remember Who You Are: The Lion King
Sermon: “Reclaiming the Pride Lands"
Please join us in worship at 8:30 am, 9:40 am, and 11 am this Sunday.
All worship services will be in the Family Life Center.
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Mission Focus for Summer Series
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Ordering made easy...use our
Amazon Gift List
. Items will be shipped directly to the church!
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Words from Will - Celebrating Our Congregational Leaders
One of the secrets to being a great large congregation with high impact ministry is the ability to provide direction through Spirit-led, gifted and multipliable servant leaders. Next week, I will highlight our staff. This week, I want to celebrate our unpaid servants who lead so powerfully and selflessly. First are our administrative committees:
- Administrative Council (the chairpersons of our administrative and ministry arenas, our lead delegate to Annual Conference, and our director level staff, giving overall guidance to the First Church ministry)
- Trustees (providing able guidance and resourcing for church property and grounds),
- Finance (raising funds for ministry and monitoring our spending for efficiency and harmony with our congregation’s mission),
- Staff-Parish Relations (who hire our director level staff, provide overall staffing direction and are a major support and feedback network to staff), and
- LEADFirst (who nominate and develop leadership).
Most of these have shorter term task forces as well as subcommittees that assist them with specialized expertise for a targeted effort (e.g.
Vision 2025 for Church Council and the congregation as a whole,
Emergency Preparedness and Property Use for Trustees, and
Long-Range Finance and a
First UMC Foundation for Finance). In the past, you have watched other small task forces develop to lead short-term fundraising efforts for capital improvements (e.g.
First Match for AC, security and care of our trees). Soon another will be developed for
Communications. Through these standing committees and task forces, more people are sharing their gifts in the name of Christ and making a difference spiritually and materially.
Thanks to each of you!
But that is only the beginning. A large congregation like ours has many mini-congregations inside, each with leaders who offer their faith, hope and love in powerful ways:
Music ministry, Sunday School classes, Student Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Women’s Ministries and
Men’s Ministries. Then there are those who facilitate
Bible Studies, LifeGroups, Stephen Ministry, Support Groups and
Study Groups. Worship is enabled by our
ushers, tech teams, Holy Communion servers, liturgists and those who decorate for special seasons. The church’s hospitality and involvement are led by our
Andrew Ministry, Greeters, Parking Posse, and
Welcome Home as well as by people in those larger groups named above. We’re still not done, when you consider the fellowship groups large and small that meet to eat, play and just enjoy being together in the name of Christ. Thanks to all who lead these efforts in which people are finding a place to belong and grow in their faith.
Now let’s get to our local, regional and international missions efforts, what we call
The Villages. In each village are a variety of mission efforts that reach people both long-term and short term (get a Villages brochure for a full description). Many of them are done in partnership with other groups to increase their ministry. In addition, most of the larger groups named above also have a network of local, regional and international missions they are doing. The missional impact of First Church is rapidly expanding, thanks to these leaders who are stepping in to give their precious time and effort.
Does this even begin to capture the ministry of leaders in our congregation? Not at all. In fact, it is a mere snapshot. Words cannot express my deep appreciation. Christ is reaching, saving and growing lives through you.
Sunday promises to be a surprising one for all who attend. Make sure and bring someone you know and love to Church with you.
Sincerely in Christ,
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Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
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Weekly Giving: $38,831.95
YTD Revenue: $1,157,798.04
YTD Expenses: $1,234,398.66
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New to First Church? These two events are just for you!
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Save the date for Summer Sizzle...Saturday, August 10!
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BEE a Ringer! It's time to sign up for Children's Chime Camp. August 6 – 8
We had a great week in Chime Camp this week. There is still space available in the August Chime Camp. Register soon for the August session. Our summer chime camps are unique opportunities for children in grades 3 - 5. Three days of reading, rhythm and fun.
More details...
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Do you love children? Children's Ministry is in need of additional paid staff to work in our nursery on Sundays and Friday mornings and various evenings. The days and hours are flexible, so you can still attend a worship service or other activities. If you are 18 or older and interested, please email Tara@fumc-rr.org.
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News from our Friends of First Church...
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Supporting & Celebrating with our Friends at the
Round Rock Area Serving Center
Date: Saturday, August 10
Place: St. William Church Parish Evangelization Center, 620 Round Rock West Drive
First Church will have a designated table for the event. Tickets may be ordered on the
Round Rock Area Serving Center website. Please remember to put First UMC Round Rock in the space for company name so you will be seated at our table. Read more on our
church website.
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“May the Lord make your love grow more and multiply for each other and for all people so that you will love others as we love you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Malawi Mission 2019
by Diane Bouchard, VP International Missions, drops of grace
“The Warm Heart of Africa”: a nickname fitting for the friendly people and gorgeous landscapes of Malawi. On July 6, a group of young adults: Mallory Harwick, Evan Perez, and Kaci Builta, along with
drops of grace leaders: Diane Bouchard, Steve Bixler, and Beth Wade departed for this beautiful land. They worked alongside
drops of grace’s partner,
Somebody Cares Ministries. They will return on July 20 and have appreciated your prayers supporting this mission. These were their prayers and goals for the journey:
- We will have physical stamina to go the extra mile as we build a new home for a granny whose home was lost in the recent floods.
- God-willing, we will help the Freedom Girls realize their potential and encourage them to stay in school;
- We are determined to bring the word of God to those who are sick;
- We are determined to provide Professional Development to Pre-Primary Teachers who feel overwhelmed by the hundreds of orphaned and vulnerable children they teach each day.
- We pray for boldness to reach out and extend ourselves in love and that the Holy Spirit will have complete control and leadership in our lives.
We pray for a safe journey home and look forward to hearing more about their experiences on this important mission.
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This week at First Church...
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Saturday, July 20
- 12:00 pm – Free children's musical! SistersAct presents Frozen, Bldg. 3/FLC
- 7:00 pm – Bridge Club, Bldg. 5-127
Sunday, July 21
- 8:30, 9:40 & 11 am – Worship Services
- 9:40 am – Sunday school for all ages
- 12:30 pm - High School departs for Camp Eagle
Monday, July 22
- 7:00 pm – Why is it Always God's Fault?, Bldg. 5-127
- 7:00 pm – Summer Boy Scout Troop #157, Bdlg. 3/FLC
Tuesday, July 23
- 8:30 am – UMM Tuesday Breakfast Group, Juarez Bakery
- 9:30 am – First Church Crafters, 115 Winsted
- 12:30 pm – Brown Bag Theologians, Bldg. 5-122
Wednesday, July 24
- 6:15 am – UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, FLC/Bldg. 3
- 9:30 am – Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-124
Thursday, July 25
- 9:30 am – Heart to Heart Quilters, 115 Winsted
Friday, July 26
- 8:30 am – Round Rock Helpers, Bldg. 4-2
- 8:00 pm – Narcotics Anonymous-Right Stuff, Bldg. 4
Saturday, July 27
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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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