TEACHERS & TOPICS | MEMBER NEWS | CHURCHWIDE NEWS
SAVE THE DATE | MINISTRY NEWS | GIFTS AND MEMORIALS
THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Traditional Worship | Dr. Tim Bruster | 9:30 & 11:00 am | Sanctuary
DiscipleChurch | Rev. Brooks Harrington | 8:30 am | Leonard Memorial Chapel
Chapel Communion | Dr. Len Delony | 10:30 – 11:00 am | Leonard Memorial Chapel
eleven:eleven celebration | Charles Gaby, MA, LPC | 11:11 am | Wesley Hall
“Outside the Holidays”
Dr. Tim Bruster, Senior Pastor
Friends,
One of the beautiful Christmas carols is O Little Town of Bethlehem. One of the lines reminds us that Advent and Christmas are not just times of remembering and celebrating a long-ago event, but are times that bring to our present lives—all that we are and all that we do—the presence of Christ to shape us and inspire us. It says, “O Holy C Abbeynn Abbey hild of Bethlehem…be born in us today….O come to us, abide in us, our Lord Emmanuel.” Emmanuel—one of the names of Jesus—means “God with us.”
In my “fireside chat” message delivered via YouTube from my living room on the weekend of the ice storm, I told about an experience that Sue Monk Kidd recounts in her book When the Heart Waits. She was visiting a monastery about two before Christmas. As she passed a monk walking outside, she greeted him with, “Merry Christmas.” The monk’s response caught her off guard a bit. “May Christ be born in you,” he replied. It was not what she expected. She expected the usual “Merry Christmas” in reply.
His words seemed strange and peculiar to her at the time. What did he mean, “May Christ be born in you?” At the time she was unsure of what he meant, but years later, after growing and maturing in the faith, she felt the impact of his words. She discovered that Advent is a time of spiritual preparation. It is also a time of transformation. It’s “discovering our soul and letting Christ be born from the waiting heart.” (San Francisco: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1990, pp. 181-182)
I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday and then again in our Christmas Eve services on Tuesday. May Christ be born in you.
Grace and Peace,
Tim
RETURN TO TOP
One Big Sunday School Class: Where Do We Go From Here?
Sunday | December 22 | Wesley Hall | 9:30 – 10:30 am
Come share the out-of-the-box ways you turned Advent Inside Out! Advent is a season of blessing others – but in the process, sometimes things happen you didn’t expect. This is a chance for fellowship and reflection on what was meaningful to you and yours this season! Light refreshments will be provided.
TEACHERS & TOPICS
Classes Meeting on Sunday, December 22
Aldersgate Couples | Room 333 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Cana Disciples | Room 332 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Covenant | Room 331 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Creative Couples | Room 321 | 9:45 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Downtown Singles | Room 340-341 | 10:50 am | Class Christmas Breakfast
Foundations | Room 336 | 9:45 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Genesis Couples | Room 351 | 9:45 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Good Neighbors | Room 334 | 11:00 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
8:30 am In-Depth Bible Study | Room 350 | The Letters of Paul: When, Where & Why | Dr. Lamar Smith
Inquirers | Room 352 | 9:30 am | Jewish Holidays & Holocaust | Paul Kessler
Journey | Room 230 | 10:00 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Koinonia | Room 224 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Loyalty | Room 334 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
New Horizon Singles | Room 231 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
New Passages | Room 352 | 11:00 am | NOT MEETING
Partners | Room 320 | 9:45 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Sojourners | Room 335 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Trinity Fellowship | Room 340-341 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Twosome | Room 154 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Veriditas | Room 272F | 9:30 am | Book Study: Jesus for the Non-Religious
Wesley Bible | Room 350 | 9:30 am | Attending “One Big Sunday School Class” | Wesley Hall
Classes Meeting on Sunday, December 29
Aldersgate Couples | Room 333 | 9:30 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Cana Disciples | Room 332 | 9:30 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Covenant | Room 331 | 9:30 am | Dr. Judith Carrier
Creative Couples | Room 321 | 9:45 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Downtown Singles | Room 340-341 | 10:50 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Foundations | Room 336 | 9:45 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Genesis Couples | Room 351 | 9:45 am All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Good Neighbors | Room 334 | 11:00 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
8:30 am In-Depth Bible Study | Room 350 | The Letters of Paul: When, Where & Why | Dr. Lamar Smith
Inquirers | Room 352 | 9:30 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Journey | Room 230 | 10:00 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Koinonia | Room 224 | 9:30 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
Loyalty | Room 334 | 9:30 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
New Horizon Singles | Room 231 | 9:30 am | All Church Breakfast | Wesley Hall
MEMBER NEWS
12.9 – 12.22 FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION PROJECT
The Hospitality Team invites FUMC members and friends to share hospitality with others by baking goodies and taking them to local fire and police departments Dec. 15 – 22. Pick up containers and instructions in the Welcome Center this Sunday from 10:30 – 11:11 am or contact Sammye Dunn (sammyelou9@gmail.com).
1.24-26.14 INTENSIVE JOURNAL® WORKSHOP
Wondering what your new year may bring? Why not explore your thoughts with intention? Join The Intensive Journal® Workshop!
January 24 – 26, 2014 Wesley Hall | $145 (Sign up starts Jan.3 with a $50 deposit)
Workshop Schedule:
Friday | 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Saturday | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday | 1:00 – 5:00 pm
The Intensive Journal® Workshop offers you the perfect opportunity for intentional, deep reflection on who you are, where you are in your life, and the choices you make. More than mere “journaling,” this private, personal and proven process will help you tap into your inner guidance — and access answers to your life’s questions. No writing skills required!
Look for more details, coming soon!
To learn more about this method, please contact Paul Bodley (pgb76137@ gmail.com) or 972/922-5509.
RETURN TO TOP
MINISTRY NEWS
CHILDREN | ADULTS | YOUTH | MISSION | CCT | CCM | MWA | FIRST7TH | OUTREACH
Spring Academy sign up begins January 5 — watch for details, coming soon!
For more information on any of the Children’s Programs, please contact Nikki McInnis (nmcinnis@myfumc.org) at 817/339-5086.
SIGN UP FOR ADULT WINTER STUDIES NOW! STUDIES BEGIN 1.5.14
Brochures available in the Adult Education Office & Welcome Center. Learn more and sign up online by typing “Adult Winter Studies” in the search bar at the top right corner of the website.
1.18.14 – 1.20.14 Revolution Weekend
7th – 12th graders | Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center (Glen Rose, TX) |$125 for students | $75 for guests
$75 for chaperones (CHAPERONES NEEDED!)
Register and learn more here!
2.9.14 FIGHTING PENGUINS BASKETBALL BEGINS
Join us for another year of basketball beginning in February. Sign-ups will be available soon as we look forward to another great season.
12.5.13 – 2.27.14 ROOM IN THE INN Volunteers Needed!
Room in the Inn provides shelter to 12 single homeless men on Thursday evenings during the coldest (December, January & February) & hottest months (July & August) every year. Room in the Inn is primarily run with the help of volunteers who set up the facility, prepare the beds, make the meal, stay overnight and transport our guests to and from the Day Resource Center. Call Rev. Page Hines at 817/339-8881 or Elizabeth Becker at 817/339-886 to receive same week volunteer training.
Perhaps it is our own childhood memories of Christmas joy — and the excitement of surprises and gifts — that inspire us to give gifts to those who might not otherwise experience much joy at Christmastime. This year we’re celebrating that impulse — and turning it Inside Out.
Look for our Buckets of Joy, displayed throughout the church and act upon whichever giving suggestions suit your fancy. Bring your gifts to Room 147 between 9:00 and 12:30 each Sunday of Advent, and we’ll distribute your generosity to those in need. To view or download a list of giving opportunities — or to make a donation to the Bucket of Joy initiative, click here.
For more information about Buckets of Joy or FUMC Outreach Ministries, contact Nancy Tully (ntully@myfumc.org).
12.21 PETER MAYER CONCERT
7:30 pm | Wesley Hall | Tickets $20 online
Peter Mayer writes songs for a small planet—songs about interconnected- ness and the human journey; about the beauty and the mystery of the world.
Whimsical, humorous, and profound, his music breaks the boundaries of “folk”, and transcends to a realm beyond the everyday love song, to a place of wonder at the very fact of life itself.
Tickets available online here and at the door.
No new news this week, check back next time or visit the CCM page on our website.
Sunday, December 22
(The fourth Sunday of Advent)
America’s Classic Carols, featuring The Adoramus Vocal Ensemble
9:30 and 11:00 am | Sanctuary
Originally written as Christmas cards, these classic American carols by Alfred Burt will meld nostalgia with our anticipation of Christmas.
Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Eve
7:00 pm | FUMC Fort Worth Youth Choir
9:00 & 11:00 pm | FUMC Fort Worth Choral Union Featuring soloist Christian Teague
Our traditional Christmas Eve music and worship experience with carols and Christmas songs to herald our celebration of the birth of Christ.
To learn more about this exciting new FUMC Fort Worth ministry, go to www.first7th.org.
1.5.14 Children’s Spring Academy Sign Up Begins
1.21.14 Senior Ministries Event: George Bush Museum Tour
1.23.14 Youth going to Stars Game
1.24-26.14 Intensive Journal® Workshop
2.2.14 Roots of Change Begins
