Crosswinds Newsletter
September 22, 2021 - Volume 583
A Word from the Pastor
A couple of Sundays ago, Pastor April and I were hosting a group of 12 at our Next Steps meeting. Next Steps is opportunity for friends who have been visiting the church to connect with the pastors and find ways to plug in. Someone asked about Lord’s Acre. Amy Norman just happened to be walking by, so I asked her to share a word about this special event. She went on to say that Lord’s Acre is a microcosm of the church. It’s the entire church working together for the purpose of doing ministry to our community. What a powerful way of thinking of Lord’s Acre! 

Lord’s Acre is quite the undertaking. It requires so much planning and even more help to pull it off. It’s too big for a few dedicated servants to do on their own; it takes the church community. Amy is right about that. During the week of Lord’s Acre, our folks will be working diligently to cook, organize, and set up. The church will be a buzz of activity. I always appreciate the kind of fellowship that comes out of this extended time together. 

The day of Lord’s Acre is a celebration. We work hard, but we also get to enjoy the event itself and an amazing turkey dinner. More importantly, we have the chance to reach new people in our community for Christ.  Lord’s Acre draws people to our church who do not come on Sundays. Many people may not have a church home. When they come onto our campus, we have the opportunity to connect with them. Lord’s Acre is more than just an event; it’s a ministry to our community and a chance to live into Jesus’ call to reach new people. 

With that being said, I want to encourage you to participate. There are several ways to get involved and you’re certainly not limited to one. You can donate items for the auctions and country store. We need help in the kitchen, both during the week and the day of. You can also sign up to help set up during the week and serve on the Saturday of the event. The signup sheets are located in the Family Life Center on the back wall. Please consider what time and energy and resources you can offer for Lord’s Acre so that it can be a great success!

Pastor Brady Johnston
The Pumpkins Are Coming!
The Pumpkins Are Coming!
And we need your help this Sunday, September 26th!
The Pumpkins Arrive this Sunday, September 26th. Every year, we open our little patch to the community with our annual pumpkin patch. But in order to do that, we need help unloading, setting up and decorating so that it can be enjoyed by all! This Sunday, September 26th after church, we will do just that! We will will start with a pizza lunch following the 11 AM services for all the helpers. Then we will head across the street to let the fun begin! It can be hard work, but it truly is fun!! We have jobs for everyone, whether you can do heavy lifting or not. Anyone can help!
Sign Up for a 2 Hour Shift
Afternoon, Evening & Weekend Shifts Available
We also need help working the Pumpkin Patch in 2 hour shifts throughout the next 5 weeks. If everyone chips in, we can easily cover all shifts. The Pumpkin Patch ministry benefits Youth Missions, but we feel it is important that it is supported by the entire church. Please take a look at the Pumpkin Patch sign ups by clicking the button below and see if you could give 2 hours of your time. Minors need to be accompanied by an adult, but we will sign off on your community service hours worked. And remember, you don't have to sign up alone. Sign up with your Discipleship Band, Emmaus Group or Sunday School Class!

Thank you for your support. We’ll see you in the patch!
Blood Drive This Sunday
September 26th, 9 AM - 2PM
Our community blood supply is as low as we've seen it in 30 years. There is a severely limited reserve at the end of each day; a reality that we could face for many more months. The blood collected during our drive will be on a hospital shelf within 72 hours of its collection, impacting patients and their families IMMEDIATELY! If you are healthy and have not donated in the last 56 days, please consider clicking the button below to schedule your appointment today!

Let’s intentionally save lives together!
Join us for Trunk-or-Treat on Sunday, October 24th from 3-5 PM! We will have games, candy, bounce houses, pumpkins and more! 

Trunk-or-Treat is one of the biggest community events we host each year, bringing thousands of people onto our campus. It is a great opportunity to invite our neighbors with a welcoming spirit! But to make Trunk-or-Treat truly successful, we need DECORATED TRUNKS. So start thinking about how you can decorate your trunk in a family fun way. Sign up by clicking the button below.
Though each “Trunk” provides treats, we need extras to have on hand, in case some run out. Please consider donating candy, but don’t wait! If we don’t have enough reserve, we will go buy more the week before. All candy must be wrapped. Please do not donate candy with nuts or chocolate. Donations can be placed in the bin outside of Miss Keelee’s office.
Saturday, October 2nd
October will be here before we know it! Lord's Acre is an annual church wide event that is fun for the whole family! Funds raised go towards ministries and special needs of the church. Some things will look different than years past. The 2021 schedule is as follows:
8:15-10:15 AM - Silent Auction & Country Store
9-10 AM - Face Painting 
10-10:30 AM - Children's Auction 
10:30 AM - Live Auction 
The Turkey Dinner will immediately follow the Live Auction in the Church Courtyard
But, We Need Your Help
We need items for both the Silent and Live Auctions. We ask that you please think quality over quantity when assessing your contributions, as space is limited. Note that we are not able to accept donations of large furniture. If you have something to donate, call Laurie Lundberg at 972-877-8838 and leave a message. Drop donations off in the FLC starting Thursday, September 30th.
Calling all Crafters and Home Bakers
We also need to fill our Lord's Acre Country Store with beautiful creations and delicious treats! We would love your homemade donations for the Lord's Acre Country Store. Baked goods, savory mixes, seasonal decor and more are big hits each year. So share your talents, whatever they may be. If you have ideas or questions, please feel free to contact Cheryl Weadon
Sign-up Sheets in FLC
Help is needed setting up, breaking down, during and especially in the kitchen. Sign up sheets located on the back wall in the FLC.
Ways to Help in the Kitchen
Mandy Scott is doing the turkey and dressing lunch for Lord's Acre and she needs plenty of help.  Please contact her at Mandy or 817-939-1991and see what you can do to help.  

Here's what she needs: 
-Cornbread without sugar (contact her to see how much and when she needs it)
-One more person to help on Wednesday, September 29th
-Two people to help Thursday, September 30th
-Three people to help Friday, October 1st
-Several people to help on sale day, Saturday, October 2nd

Turkeys will need to be cooked and deboned and dressing will have to be made. Each day will begin at 8 AM. NOTE: Because you will be handling food, all volunteers need to wear a mask.
Saturday, October 9th
This year, our Lord's Acre Garage Sale is combining with our Annual Garage Sale the week after Lord's Acre, to allow for more space and volunteers. So if you've been decluttering and saving those treasures for the garage sale, it's almost time! If not, now is a great time to declutter and know that your donations will help support ministries of the church. More details coming soon!

Info on Garage Sale

Drop off starts Thursday, October 7. Large furniture items will be accepted, But we are not able to pick them up. Large items will need to be dropped off at the church.
Hillcrest Parsonage Sold! 
Hooray!  
On Tuesday, we closed on the sale of the Hillcrest parsonage. What is even more exciting is that we will be paying off the Family Life Center note in the next few days. Praise the Lord!  

I want to say a special thank you to all the committees who worked to put this together. I also want to highlight Grant Hughson and Stephanie Frankiewicz for their hard work and dedication to the church in the sale of the parsonages.  

Pastor Brady Johnston
Mark Your Calendars
September 26th: Carter Blood Drive
September 26th: Pumpkins arrive
September 27th: Pumpkin Patch opens
October 2nd: Lord's Acre Festival
October 3rd: Senior Sunday gathering
October 9th: Church-wide Garage Sale
October 24th: Trunk or Treat
See weekly information below.
This Week at FUMC
Discipleship Bands meet at various times throughout the week. New Discipleship Bands can form at any time! For more information, please contact the church office.

Godly Play Children's Worship gathers during 8:30 and 11 AM worship services. Elementary age children are invited to go with our Children's Ministry Team to worship together in the Fellowship Hall. Of course, children are always welcome to stay with their parents throughout worship.

Sunday School Classes meet between services from 9:45-10:45 AM. If your class is meeting and is not listed below, please ask your class leader to email Mary Beth's with class information. Thank you!
+Children's Sunday School Classes, Sanctuary building, various rooms
+Youth Sunday School Classes, FLC upstairs, Jr. High & Sr. High rooms
+Bill Theiss Fellowship Class, FLC room 109, led by Margie Faulkner
+Adult Bible Class, FLC room 110, led by Mary Ellen Humphrey
+Upper Room Class, FLC room 201, led by Linda Berrey
+Open Door Class, FLC room 107, led by Bill Bullinger
+Servant's Hands, FLC room 204, led by Carol Lee

Men's Monday Night Bible Study meets Monday nights from 7-8:30 PM in the Sanctuary Building Workroom. The study is coordinated by Don Garret.

Choir meets for rehearsals on Wednesday's at 6 PM.
Bell Choir meets Mondays 6-7
If you are interested in joining either choir, please contact church office CHOIR or Paul Martin.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 AM - 4 PM and Friday 8 AM - 12 PM.
This Sunday, September 26
Send
Romans 12:1-2
8:30 & 11 AM Traditional in the Sanctuary
11 AM Contemporary in the FLC
WayPoints are daily devotionals designed to help us prayerfully engage God’s Word so that we might respond in obedience. We encourage everyone to participate in the WayPoints. They are available at Waypoint and FUMC Facebook.
Creation Kids Links:

Stay connected in Creation Kids Children's Ministry! Follow us on our Facebook page, Creation Kids, and our Instagram page, @creationkidsfumcmidlo, to keep up with resources for connection. For more information, email Keelee Allen.
Junior & Senior High Youth Groups
have resumed and meet during
Wednesday Night Live

Stay connected in FUMC Midlo Youth Ministries! Follow us on our Youth Facebook page, FUMC Midlo Youth (public) and our Instagram page, @fumcmidloyouth. Youth and Youth parents, join our private Facebook Group, FUMC Midlothian Youth. For Remind 101 for Youth, text @7b2dff6 to the number 81010. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Brady.
We offer Nursery and Early Childhood Care (infant through pre-k) during our Sunday morning worship services. Please email Keelee with any questions. Thank you!
Prayer Requests
New
Bob & Cathy Slaydon - death of Bob's mother
Bill & DeAnna Edmister - death of Bill's father
Twanna Pitts - death of husband Terry
Jula Hill - medical procedure - doing well
John Lowe - surgery
Marsha Rose -Baylor Waxahachie hospital

Continuous Prayer
Karen Wilson, Dorothy Wares, George & Dee Culps, Don Lish, John Lowe, Chelsea Peel, Jim Sibley, Peggy Mathis

Military
ARMY - Matt Carroll, Tim Kruettner, Harold Barton, Josh Schenck, Austin Lockwood
NAVY - Matthew Price, Andrew Cantrell, Zachary Tucker, Thomas Shirley, Matthew Watford
AIR FORCE - J.D. Culps, Andrew Miller 
MARINES - Collin Johansen, Josh Dunaway,  Seth Allen, Bradley Perez, Elizia Delapaa  
NATIONAL GUARD - Derek Boots

Remember in Prayer
Our world, our country, our community leaders, all our military troops and first responders around the world, our church, our pastors, the staff, church members, visitors, and Midlothian community
If you'd like to thank the church in the newsletter and/or be become a part of the Prayer/Card Ministry, please send an email to Joy Price. Thank you!
Thank You for Your Generosity
Thank you for your generosity! We continue to do great ministry as a church because of you and your faithfulness. We encourage you to continue giving to the church's ministry either by mailing in your financial gifts or giving online by clicking on the button below. Every gift helps us do greater things for God's Kingdom!
Church Staff
Senior Pastor: Rev. Brady Johnston
Executive Pastor: Rev. Dr. April Fehler
Children's Director: Keelee Allen
God's Garden Preschool Director: Michelle Coffin
Traditional Worship Leader: Paul Martin
Contemporary Worship Leader: Jason Westbrook
Administrative Assistant: Mary Beth Mayo
Finance Coordinator: Barry Hornburg
Organist: Laurie Duke
Media Director: Valerie Dick
Facilities Director: Matt Sanders 
FUMC Midlothian | 972-775-3993
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8 AM - 4 PM
Friday 8 AM - 12 PM