First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church Newsletter

Thanksgiving Week 2011 

 

In This Issue
Thanksgiving Outreach Dinner
Extravagant Generosity
Advent Decorating
College Care Packages

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Greetings:

This is a busy and important week coming up for our church.  Please make sure you read the information here to get the details of what is happening and how you can be involved.

We hope each of you have a happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving celebration.  We are expecting a wonderful celebration here on Sunday as we complete our Generosity Campaign, and look forward to the Thanksgiving Day Outreach Dinner.

For those of you who have been praying alongside of us for our 40 days of prayer - there are just a few days left, but already the effects of our prayers are evident!  God is doing great things and his grace is being shown right before our eyes.

We hope to see you on Sunday if you are in town.  If you are traveling - be safe, and we'll see you when you get back.


Yours in Christ,
David E. Payne, Sr. PastorDavid Headshot 2
First United Methodist Church
321 E. Harrison Ave.
Harlingen, TX 78550
956.423.0540/church
956.245.8279/cell

[email protected]
www.fumcharlingen.org

 

Thanksgiving Day Outreach Dinner
"When I was hungry, you fed me..."

We are set for our first Thanksgiving Day Outreach Dinner.  Please see below for ways that you can participate and be a part of it if you would like...

On Thursday, November 24, (Thanksgiving Day) we will be inviting people of need to join us for a Thanksgiving Dinner from 11AM - 1PM.  We are targeting people who usually eat at Loaves and Fishes, families from Bowie Elementary that have been identified by our Backpack Ministry, and our shut-ins who have no other plans for the day.

Volunteer Opportunities
There are several "time-slots" you can help with.  You are free to help in as many of these as you would like, or as you are able.

Wednesday, November 23 - 4:00 - 7:00PM

On Wednesday, we will be meeting at the Raimond Christian Center beginning at 4:00 PM to do "prep work" for the dinner, get things set up and ready, and make sure we are prepared for Thanksgiving Day.  We will have a chili supper at 6PM for those who are there that would like to join us.

Thursday, November 24 - 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday is the big day... we will have 3 shifts on that day.  The first one begins at 7:00 AM - this is for cooking, and all the preparation for the meal.  Secondly, beginning at 10:30 AM, we will be needing folks to help serve, greet, visit, and provide hospitality to those who will be eating with us.  Finally, we will need a clean-up crew - we will need to do dishes, break down tables and get everything back into place.  This will start around 12:30 and go until we are done (hopefully around 2PM).

It is not necessary to sign up for a particular shift, if you would like to help, show up ready to work, and we'll find something for you to do.

If you are unable to be there, but would like to help, you can make a monetary donation to "Thanksgiving Dinner" which will help cover the food cost.

Remember, our primary goal is to provide radical hospitality, with extravagant generosity, to those who come in the hope that they will get a glimpse of God's amazing love for all people.
Stewardship/Generosity Campaign for 2012
Extravagant Generosity

This Sunday, we will hold a Celebration Service for the culmination of our Generosity Campaign.  If you are planning on turning in a pledge card this year, Sunday would be an excellent time to do it.  If you are unable to turn it in on Sunday, we really need to have them by December 15 if possible.

First United Methodist Church has been holding our annual Generosity Campaign.  This is your opportunity to re-evaluate your participation in the ministry of First United Methodist Church and your response to Jesus Christ and his Lordship in our lives.

The information for this campaign was mailed to your physical address.  If you did not receive it or or are not on our mailing list, you may download the information here.  We hope you will prayerfully consider how Christ is calling you to respond this year.

Extravagant Generosity Cover Letter
Extravagant Generosity Information Newsletter
2012 Pledge Card

 
Sanctuary Decorating For Advent and Christmas
Wednesday, November 23, @ 6:00 PM
The Advent Season is just around the corner, and it is time to get our Sanctuary decorated for the season.  On Wednesday (while some are helping with the Thanksgiving Dinner) we will also be decorating the Sanctuary.

At 6:00 PM, we will be having a chili supper in the Raimond Christian Center - come join us for that.  After dinner, we will head over to the Sanctuary to decorate.  We'd love to have you join us!

Also, for the next two Sundays, we will have forms in the church bulletin for people to do memorials or honorariums for loved ones.  We will publish a list of these gifts in our Christmas week bulletins.  It is a great way to honor a loved one, and help with our worship area appearance for the Christmas season.
 
College Care Packages - We Need Your Information
Care Package
It is Care Package Time for our College Students

 

First United Methodist Church is preparing for our Care Package Ministry to College Students.  Twice a year we remind the students that they are loved and missed in our congregation.  We'd love to have you help us out.

 

Share Updated Information of Your College Students 

College kids tend to move around quite a bit.  We want to make sure they receive our packages so please contact Linda Broyles at 956.423.1245 or [email protected] with the address (as well as their cell number) of your college student for our "Winter Mailing".  Also please provide your name and your contact phone number.  

 

Help with the Mailing

If you would like to help with this mailing there are several ways you can.  Goodies needed...like cookies, trail mix, candy, hot chocolate mix, peanut butter crackers, peanuts, gum, etc. If you can bring goodies or help pack boxes for our students please join us in Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 3:30. Your help, as always, is appreciated. If you are unable to help and would like to contribute for goodies and/or postage costs please mark your check "College Outreach".