Crosswinds Newsletter
November 17, 2021 - Volume 591
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Another major season for the church is nearly upon us. Just a handful of days after Thanksgiving, the season of Advent will begin.
Advent includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve, but it is better described as a time of purposefully approaching the glory of Christmas. Advent means “expectation” and thus is a time of waiting in anticipation. It is intentionally moving toward the coming of God’s promise to us in Jesus Christ.
Advent is, in a sense, the antithesis of our experience of the Christmas season outside the church. Much of the Christmas season has us rushing from one thing to the next. There is more to do than we have time to do it all in, which leads to us feeling stressed.
Advent is different. It asks us to slow down--dare I say pause-- to soak in the event that has both happened and will happen again: Jesus has come down to us and Jesus will come again. These are the wonderful truths that lead us to celebrate a season that is chocked full of mystery and wonder.
While the season is indeed full, it can also easily be missed. If we don’t make room for it, the mystery will be choked out by the other demands pulling at us. So let us be diligent, stubborn even, in our observance of Advent. Ann Voskamp, in her book The Greatest Gift, captures so well the need to do this. She says, “In this day, this season, miracles will grow within, unfurl, bear fruit. And the heart that makes time and space for Him to come will be a glorious place. A place of sheer, radiant defiance in the face of a world careening mad and stressed. Because each day of Advent, we will actively wait. We will wait knowing that the remaking of everything has already begun.”
A side note: One way to help us enter this season as a church is to join us in decorating our church for Advent this Sunday following our late services. We will be working on both worship spaces, and we could use your help. See more information and the link to sign up to help in the article below.
Pastor Brady Johnston
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Decorate for Christmas
After Worship THIS Sunday, Nov. 21
Pizza will be served
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Advent begins November 28th! So we will be getting the church ready for Advent and Christmas on November 21st after worship and we need a lot of help!
We will serve pizza immediately following 11 AM worship then start setting up advent candles, trees, wreaths, garland and the altars. Anyone and everyone can help! We need help with heavy and light lifting as well as folks who are not afraid of heights. (That FLC tree is HUGE!) Please click on the button to let us know if you plan to help (even if you are a maybe) so we can better plan for setup, decorating and pizza. Thank you!
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Help Share the Gift of Advent
In Our Community
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Christmas is coming! Is your family ready to celebrate? Our Drive Thru Christmas ADVENTure is an interactive, drive thru event for families on December 5th from 6-8 PM. We will walk through the four weeks of Advent to help us get ready for the coming of Jesus in engaging, fun activities! Stations around our parking lots will focus on HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE and the miracle of CHRISTMAS and end with our live nativity. Bring your friends and neighbors, pile into the car, dress up in your favorite Christmas attire, and spread some JOY! See how you can help by clicking the button below! |
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This is a community event. There is no registration or cost to drive through. Please consider signing up asap, so that we can plan accordingly. Thank you! |
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If you have yet to get your pledge card in, it is not too late. We would appreciate you getting it to the church office as soon as you can. Again, these cards are a help to us as we make plans for our ministry in 2022. We would like to hear from every member family. Thank you for your help. |
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Sing in the Christmas Cantata
Rehearsing Now!
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Calling all adults and youth that like to sing!
Please consider joining us to perform in our annual Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 19th during the 8:30 AM Traditional Worship Service. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights at 6 PM in the choir room. Please join us! If you have questions, please click Paul Martin to send an email.
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Thanksgiving Meals Outreach |
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We are partnering with Midlothian Home Group to provide meals for seniors, shut-ins and families in need this Thanksgiving! We will need delivery drivers, money to purchase meals and packaged food donations. We will be providing groceries for families, so that they can prepare entire meals. Seniors & shut-ins will receive hot meals. We will need $325 to purchase these meals. Delivery drivers are needed for Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM and Thursday morning at 10 AM. You can find a list of need items or sign up to be a delivery driver by clicking the button below.
If you would like to contribute money, use Venmo or PayPal or drop it off with David Stanton. Contact David at 214-335-5207. Any funds we receive above the $325 needed will be used to purchase food for families or be used for future holiday meals.
Venmo - @David-Stanton-99
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Christmas Poinsettias
On Sale Soon
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Order Poinsettias in celebration of a loved one and help decorate the church for Christmas! Poinsettias will be placed around the altar in both the Sanctuary and the FLC. They may be taken home Christmas Eve after your service or they can be donated to the church. Online ordering begins November 28th. Orders must be placed by December 12th! More details coming soon! |
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It's almost time for Advent in a Box 2021! We have put together 4 weeks of interactive, fun-filled, faith-infused Christ-centered experience for your family. It's important to turn our eyes to the meaning behind the season and help each other enjoy holiday celebrations built upon the hope and truth of Christ.
In each box, you will find a way to celebrate each week of Advent with scripture, activities, games, and crafts to do with your family. Everything is provided except for common household items. We have 100 boxes available (at no cost) to our families, please sign up to secure your box. Please note, we have only one box per family available.
Our prayer for you during this season of anticipation and waiting for the coming of Christ is for God to reveal Himself to each of you and for your family to experience the welcoming and arrival of the King of Kings! May you be richly blessed this Advent season and enjoy time growing together as a family!
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Carter Blood Drive
Sunday, December 12th
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Our next blood drive will be here before we know it! Mark your calendars and schedule an appointment if you are able. 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! |
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Community Christmas Caroling
Wednesday, December 15th
Details Coming Soon!
Let us lift our voices to sing His praise and spread Christmas cheer!
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We have some opportunities to serve on the Audio Visual (AV) team and in the By The Well band. The By the Well band specifically needs help with drums, guitar and piano. However, if you are interested in performing with the BTW band, please contact us, no matter the area your talent.
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The AV team needs help running slides, sound, OBS (online broadcasting system) and help moderating in both the 8:30 Traditional and the 11 Contemporary services. No experience is necessary. We will train you in whichever area you serve!
Please consider serving in worship! We are flexible and able to work with your schedule.
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The Church office will be closed November 24th-26th in observance of Thanksgiving. Thank you! |
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November 21st: Decorate for Christmas (help needed)
November 24th-26th: Church Office Closed
November 28th: Advent Begins; Poinsettias Go On Sale
December 5th: Christmas ADVENTures (help needed)
December 12th: Carter Blood Drive; Last Day to Order Poinsettias
December 15th: Community Christmas Caroling (singers wanted)
December 19th: Christmas Cantata (singers wanted)
December 24th: Christmas Eve Services
December 27th & 28th: Church Office Closed
January 23rd: Confirmation Parent Information Meeting
January 30th: Confirmation Classes Begin
See weekly information below.
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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 Sandra Hill
+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.
April's Bible Study meets Wednesday's at 6:30 PM in FLC. Study Topic: “In the Company of Jesus”
Choir meets each Wednesday at 6 PM. Bell Choir meets Mondays 6-7 PM. If you are interested in joining Choir or Bell Choir, please contact church office or Paul Martin.
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.
Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 AM - 4 PM and Friday 8 AM - 12 PM.
Worship Together
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Sunday, November 21st
Hope through the Final Victory
Romans 8:28-39
8:30 & 11 AM Traditional in the Sanctuary
11 AM Contemporary in the FLC
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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.
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Sunday School: 9:45-10:35 AM
Godly Play: Children's Worship During all Sunday Morning Services
Wednesday Night KidsClub: 6:30-7:30 PM
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.
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Junior & Senior High Youth Groups
have resumed and meet during
Wednesday Night Live from 6:30-8 PM
and Sunday School from 9:45-10:35 AM.
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 @midloyouthto the number 81010. If you have any questions, please email the Youth Team.
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We offer Nursery and Early Childhood Care (infant through pre-k) during our Sunday morning worship services. Please email Keelee with any questions. For information regarding God's Garden Preschool, go to God's Garden. Thank you!
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New Prayer Requests:
Jill Martin (Aunt of Paul Martin) - surgery
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 - Josh Dunaway, 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
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Men, Women and Children (with the help of an adult), if you'd like to thank the church in the newsletter and/or become a part of the Prayer/Card ministry, please send an email to Joy Price. Thank You.
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Thank You for Your Generosity |
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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!
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Senior Pastor: Rev. Brady Johnston
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FUMC Midlothian | 972-775-3993
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8 AM - 4 PM
Friday 8 AM - 12 PM
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