First Church News & Updates - August 9, 2019
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Don't miss the fun tomorrow at the Summer Sizzle Car Show. We are expecting about 100 cars including two 1929 vintage models, plus food, fellowship and fun for the whole family!
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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: “A New Day at Pride Rock”
It's the finale for the Lion King sermon series! This week we have more fantastic music including the riveting
“He Lives in You.” All three pastors will be preaching at all three services. Will they be the lion, the warthog and the hyena? Who knows? You will have to come to find out.
Special thanks to all of those who helped make this series so memorable and powerful.
Please invite your family and friends to 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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Words from Will...The Alternative
As I watched the horrific news about the massacres in El Paso, Dayton and California, I began to ask,
“What can we do?” As I heard voices of blame shouting to each other and people retreating to their opposing corners, I thought,
“Surely, we can do better, for ourselves and for the generation that is to follow us”. There was one subject Jesus taught about more than anything else, the kingdom of God. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer,
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” He saw himself, his miracles, his teachings and his sacrifice on the cross as representative of that kingdom. Asking us to pray regularly about it, tells us that Jesus thought it was of primary importance for us, too.
So what is the kingdom of God? It is the reign of God in our lives and present in the world as an alternative way of thinking, speaking, acting and relating. In a world, where race and past violent history was dividing his world, Jesus told a parable of the kingdom we call the Good Samaritan, in which the hated Samaritan was the hero. Jesus did not go around Samaria, as most Jews did, rather he went right through it and freely associated with those who lived there, offering living water and new life. In so doing, in both his words and his actions, he was an alternative to the world around him…which made him controversial. We are that alternative society who follow in his footsteps. Racial reconciliation and valuing people with holy dignity are part of what it means to be Christian. Hate is an evil we both combat in ourselves and in the society around us.
Jesus also taught an alternative understanding of power. In Luke 22:25, Jesus tells his disciples,
“The kings of the nations lord over one another...But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and one who rules like the one who serves.” In a society that tends to idolize power and force, Jesus saw his disciples as the alternative. He still see us that way. This includes an alternative understanding about violence. We
“turn the other cheek” rather than resort to retaliation or escalation. Jesus said at the Garden of Gethsemane to his disciples,
“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).” Some of Jesus’ disciples were revolutionaries who wanted to overthrow Rome with violence. Jesus told them they were to be the alternative.
On my phone, advertisements for video games that involve being a sniper are offered free of charge. Children learn the ethic of Halo and other violent games early on. Our television and movie life continue to push the envelope of violence. We have become desensitized and the violence of US American society continues to rise...an acceptable response to being fed up. We are called to be the alternative. Watch this one, because the argument you will hear from others and within yourself is,
“This is part of my freedom to choose. I can handle it.” When that happens, we are dealing with willfulness (the prelude to sin) not discipleship.
I join with all of you in fervent prayer for the families of those who were killed and maimed. But prayer and staying with the status quo is not a workable or faithful strategy. The problem is that we get co-opted by those around us and by our own desires within. We are part of the problem. Rather than face that, we stay quiet. I fear that the old film title,
Silence of the Lambs, may sometimes describe the Church of our day. How might the people of God at First UMC Round Rock find our witness and our voices in a racially and culturally divided and violence-addicted society? I look forward to hearing your answers to that very important question.
Sincerely in Christ.
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Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
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Weekly Giving: $ 45,775.03
YTD Revenue: $1,294,965.31
YTD Expenses: $1,422,841.12
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Thank you to Wanell Soslow...
Wanell retired on Thursday after 24 years as the First Church Office Manager. We appreciate your service and wish you much joy in your retirement!
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Many of our recent high school graduates are heading off to college soon, along with those already enrolled in college, and we like to send them some First Church love through our Church Mouse program. If you are a college student, please
sign up for the church mouse program by August 24.
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It's time to sign up for Kids of the Kingdom Chimes. Fall semester begins August 19.
Kids of the Kingdom Chimes welcomes children entering grades 3 -- 5 who would like to ring hand chimes. 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 have a recital at the end of each semester.
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In the Alleluia Chorus, our elementary students (grades K – 5) 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.
Register today!
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What a great mission project!
Children’s offerings this summer will go to support e-NABLE, an amazing group of individuals from all over the world who are using their 3D printers to create
free 3D printed hands and arms for children in need of an upper limb assistive device. Teams of volunteers use 3D printers to print out the plastic parts needed to build a prosthetic hand. A supply kit, costing $20, is also needed to complete the prosthetic device.
Click for more information about e-NABLE.
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This week at First Church...
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Saturday, August 10
- 9:00 am - Summer Sizzle Car Show, Parking Lot
Sunday, August 11
- 8:30, 9:40 & 11 am – Worship Services
- 9:40 am – Sunday school for all ages
- 9:40 am - Methodism 101, Bldg. 5-222
Monday, August 12
Tuesday, August 13
- 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
- 6:30 pm - UMW Lydia Circle, Bldg. 4-2/Payne Cottage
Wednesday, August 14
- 6:15 am – UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, FLC/Bldg. 3
- 7:00 pm – Jubilation Bells rehearsal, North Suite
Thursday, August 15
- 9:30 am – Heart to Heart Quilters, 115 Winsted
- 7:00 pm – Council Oak Bells, North Suite
Friday, August 16
- 8:30 am – Round Rock Helpers, Bldg. 4-2
- 8:00 pm – Narcotics Anonymous-Right Stuff, Bldg. 4
Saturday, August 17
- 7:00 pm – First Church Bridge Club, Bldg. 5–127
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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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