November2022 Newsletter

Greetings Fremont Family,

This fall, I am feeling very conscious of my treasures, and thus, I am feeling very alive! Let's see, first there is the beautiful parsonage, a newly restored home for our family. Then, there is the Centennial Celebration, the joy of that Sunday will stay with me for a long time. There is the new "Come to the Waters" class that is beginning to discover deep friendship with each other. There is our new partnership between the Dream Team and the Parish Collective. There is the activity that we shared together in the month of October like hosting Mark Charles and the pop-up Coffee event with Leroy Barber. I could go on and on...I feel so thankful and so very alive.

The month of November marks our annual Stewardship Campaign. The time when, every year, we prayerfully consider our giving to the ministry at Fremont. Every year, I am astounded at your generosity. Every year, you amaze me with your faithfulness. These past few years have been trying ones to stay the least. The stress of the global pandemic is not over even as we come back to life. In the midst of so much transition and uncertainty, you continue to declare your gratitude to God by sharing your treasures, and for that, I am so thankful. 

Our theme for this year's Stewardship Campaign is "A Future With Hope." The theme seemed a perfect way to complete our 100th year of ministry. We are not over. This is not the end. In fact, this is the very beginning. As we move forward together in life and ministry from here, may we recommit ourselves to God's future, and may we offer our gifts and our service to God and one another as signs of our gratitude and hope.

**Consecration Sunday will be November 20. On that day, we will pray over and commit our returned pledge cards to God's purposes and blessing. 

TGrace and peace,

Pastor Erin

Next United Women's Meeting

Fremont’s United Women in Faith will meet on Dec. 7 at 10:00 am at Jan Plummer’s home, 3926 NE 19^th  Ave. Sarah Richardson will provide the program on the year’s theme, ‘Healing and Joy on our Journey to God.’  Please contact Jan at janplummer@msn.com if you will be attending in person.  If you would like to attend via Zoom, please contact Trina Leschber at aleschber@aol.com.  All Fremont women are invited to attend.

A Chance to be Thankful

Join the United Women in Faith in the World Thank Offering, by setting aside coins or bills whenever you feel especially grateful to God’s gifts in your life.  Our contributions will join with others to support the UWF missions: turning faith, hope and love into action on behalf of women, children and youth around the world. Our Thank Offerings will be consecrated in worship on Nov. 20.

Book Group

Our next book discussion is coming up early in November. The date has changed to Monday, November 7th, and we will meet at The Wardenaar home at 420 NW 11^th Ave., Unit 501 at 7pm. We're going to read the latest book by one of our favorite authors, Colson Whitehead. From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, this gloriously entertaining novel is “fast-paced, keen-eyed and very funny ... about race, power and the history of Harlem all disguised as a thrill-ride crime novel" (San Francisco Chronicle).Put it on your calendar now, and get your hands on a copy of this book!



Advent is coming! Help us decorate.

One of the traditions at Fremont is to decorate the sanctuary with poinsettias during Advent. This year we are looking forward to using white and burgundy poinsettias.  You can help make the altar area glow by buying one in honor of or in memory of someone.  Please send $10 to the church with a note stating who is buying the poinsettia and who it is in honor or memory of. 

Stewardship Season is Coming…

"A Future with Hope"

Stewardship Season marks the time of year when we reflect on our relationship with our resources, and review our priorities, and we are invited to consider making a monetary pledge to Fremont for the coming year.  Pledged giving forms a vital part of financial planning for the church, and our regular giving allows our church to meet our monthly needs.  Our pledged giving represents  65% of Fremont’s total annual income, so we understand that our church depends upon us.  Together, we ‘make it happen’ each year to continue our church missions and programs. 

We also know that generosity with our financial resources is actually good for us, the givers.  Financial generosity is a 'win-win'!  

You will receive a pledge letter and return envelope in the mail in the next week, so please be looking for it.   May we each consider the gifts of grace and goodness that we have received from God.  We share the good news of a 'Future with Hope' when we return our pledge cards this season.  

Robert Greaves, Finance Chair

Christmas Trees at Fremont for 2022

With excitement, gratitude, and yes, a dash of trepidation, the Fremont Tree Sales planning team has reviewed our resources,  is making preparations for another season of selling trees.  We hear from many people in the community that buying a tree from Fremont is part of their holiday tradition.  As always, our Fremont tree sale depends on a lot of volunteer time and some long hours on the lot.  The tree sale will pay off in ways far beyond financial success as friendships develop and our connection with the community grows.  We always need the financial boost to meet end of year expenses, and our donation to the NE Emergency Food Program is important to their year end planning as well.

Pedro Muñoz, our longtime tree supplier, has found a source for the kinds and costs of trees that our customers appreciate.  We have already made a deposit to Pedro that solidifies our commitment.  Kathy and Vince, our longtime  friends at Engels Evergreens, are glad to provide our wreaths again this year.  We will soon be recruiting for volunteers to help build the lot and help sell the trees. We plan to begin sales the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26, and plan to sell trees for about 2 weeks after that.

What can you do now?  Please keep the Fremont tree sales in your prayers.  Think about if you can volunteer for a shift or two.  Plan to stop by the lot to buy a tree or wreath and to cheer on the volunteers. 

Charge Conference - November 30th

This year's annual Charge Conference will be held in person at Fremont UMC with our District Superintendent, Rev. Tim Overton-Harris presiding. Charge Conference is an event in the life of local UM churches where we celebrate "the state of the church." We will participate in adopting clergy salary for 2023, reviewing life and ministry at Fremont through updates from Trustees and Finance, and celebrating where we are headed for another year to come. Join in person on Wednesday, November 30th, 5:30 - 8:00pm.

Fremonter Details

Fremont Newsletter Articles and Production 

The Fremonter Newsletter has always been a critical part of how we communicate, worship, prayer and celebrate together; over the last 2 years it has been even more important! The news letter cannot happen without all of you!

We would love to encourage everyone to contribute articles to the monthly news letter. Interested in sharing, here is how and when to do it. 

• Fremonter articles are always due the 4th Friday of each month; for example: articles for December 2022 are due Friday November 25th. 
• Need a couple more days? That's ok, just contact Comfort by the Friday, let her know what your article is about, approximately how many paragraphs it will be, whether it has or will need photos or graphics - and we can give you a few extra days to submit. 

• Please submit your articles in a simple word or google document - if you have photos you would like included, attach them to the email. Do not put them in the article.