First Church News & Updates - December 27, 2019
|
|
We hope you had a blessed Christmas. If you were in town and attended one or more of the Christmas Eve services, we know you received a special blessing there.
Our Alleluia Chorus Children's Choir provided wonderful music last Sunday. Enjoy
The Friendly Beasts.
|
|
The church office is closed today. Office hours will be 9 am - 1 pm, December 30 and 31. The office will be closed on January 1. Office hours will be 9 am - 1 pm, January 2 - January 4.
Happy New Year!
|
|
Experience Love. Spread Hope.
|
|
Reminder:
In order to allow our Sunday School teachers and volunteers some extra time with their own families during this special season, there will be no child care for children 2 years and under, Children's Sunday School, Bible Buddies, or Youth Sunday School. Most adult Sunday School classes will not meet. Check with your class leaders.
|
|
A New Decade Begins – A Time to Seek God
I am remembering Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters inviting us to watch their documentary, “20/20.” It was an invitation to a way of seeing the news. Now 2020 is just days away. In a sense, January 1, 2020 is just another day on the calendar, nothing magical about it. But in another sense, God does invite us to an adventure in this new year, a new way of seeing what He is up to and would like us to become. One of my favorite hymns sings,
“This is the day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on.”
At First Church, 2020 is a year when we will be moving on in some very important ways:
- Continuing our efforts to connect people to Christ and to one another
- Launching new initiatives in Christian education and leadership development
- Expanding our mission work in our local communities - adding to our already outstanding ministries with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and our growing school partnership with Callison Elementary
- Enhancing what we do in worship
- Taking next steps in becoming stronger financially.
This will likely be the most important year I have seen with you as senior pastor, and I am excited.
Because I want to serve you and our Lord the best way possible, following my week’s vacation between Christmas and New Years, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee has approved additional time in January for study leave – for spiritual renewal and seeking God about our ministry together, for sermon preparation and writing of Biblical Study materials, and for consulting with other great ministries to learn fresh approaches to reaching people for Christ. I have discovered that spiritual and ministry growth require intentional time and effort, and I am overdue.
I am confident that Pat and David will serve well, and I hope to come back and discover that attendance in worship grew while I was in renewal. I know that by then we will be fully ready to do our first build for
Sleep in Heavenly Peace. We had a goal of financially sponsoring and building 20 bunk beds. You have already funded more than that, so now the question for our Local Village and our Missions Steering Team may be
“How many build days will we have?” Isn’t that just like First Church? What a joy it is to serve with you. Pray for me and know that I will be fervently praying for you.
Sincerely and Expectantly in Christ,
|
|
Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
|
|
Finishing Strong in 2020
Our Finance Committee wants you to know it’s not too late to make an end of year gift to First Church. The completion of our ministries both inside and outside the walls invites our very best effort. We have reached more people in the name of Christ in this year than ever before, and your generosity has helped make that happen. You may bring a check with you to worship, put your gift in the mail or
give online.
Your gifts are helping change lives and change our world!
Thanks so much.
|
|
Wonderfully Made (formerly
Created by God) is a class for 5th and 6th grade students and their parents. It is a course on human sexuality from a Christian perspective. The class is intended to help open communication between tweens and their parents on this important topic. It deals with the basics of growth, sexual development and reproduction, providing an opportunity to obtain accurate information, as well as a better understanding of what it means to be
Wonderfully Made by God.
We only offer this course for these two grades, and only once a year, so don’t miss the opportunity for your child to participate!
Registration is open online for $60 through December 31. Starting January 1, the registration fee will be $75.
|
|
2020 Middle School Leadership Development Class
We are so excited to announce this new class that is being offered by our ministry! Starting in January we will be launching a Leadership Development Class specifically designed for middle school students who are looking to grow in faith and in leadership. We will be using the highly recommended
Habitudes curriculum developed by Dr. Tim Elmore and the staff Developing Leaders which seeks to
“empower the emerging generations with skills to lead in real life.”
We are so excited to have the chance to offer this study to your students and hope that you will encourage them to join us on this semester long journey! Classes will run on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:45 pm starting on January 15 and ending May 6.
|
|
Disciple Now (DNOW) is an in town Spiritual Retreat weekend for students in grades 6-12 on the weekend of February 21-23. Students will stay in host homes (by gender and age) and be led in Bible Study and discussion by young adult leaders. Worship rallies will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings with a live band and speaker. Students will participate in a mission/service activity on Saturday. We encourage students to invite friends to join us in this life changing experience. The
Disciple Now Kickoff Meeting will be on
Wednesday, February 19 at 6 pm for students, parents, leaders and host home parents.
One of the new additions to
DNOW this year will be a special Ignite gathering on January 12 that we are calling
PRE NOW! At this gathering students from all participating churches will come together for games, worship, to learn about the theme for this year.
Click for more information.
|
|
37 days until the First Church Build Day for
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
|
|
This week at First Church...
|
|
Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29
- 8:30, 9:40 & 11 am – Worship Services
- 9:40 am – No Sunday school for children and youth
Monday, December 30 - Office hours are 9 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, December 31 - New Year's Eve. Office hours are 9 am - 1 pm
Wednesday, January 1 - Happy New Year! Church office is closed
Thursday, January 2 - Office hours are 9 am - 1 pm
Friday, January 3 - Office hours are 9 am - 1 pm
- 8:30 am - Round Rock Helpers, Bldg. 4-2
Saturday,January 4
|
|
Betty Robertson
Communication
First United Methodist Church Round Rock
|
|
Just a reminder... You're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in First United Methodist Church. Don't forget to add
newsletter@fumc-rr.org
to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!
|
|
First United Methodist Church | Round Rock, TX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
