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The Compass
e-news and events |
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| Greetings! | |
I have to let you know that we are now in one of my favorite times of the year. As we enter December and approach Christmas, I get excited about seeing old friends and extended family members, singing Christmas songs, seeing my children excited about a special gift, and most of all the special attention given to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I want to remind you of something that can get overlooked during this busy time of year though, and that is the opportunity to extend a simple invitation to your friends and family to join you for church on a Sunday or Christmas Eve. This year we are scheduling two times to choose from on that evening, 4:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
I also want to introduce to you information about our Christmas Offering 2011. Our Theme for this special offering is Blessed To Be A Blessing. I will be sharing more details with you in worship and on our website, but I would like to take a moment here and give you a brief overview.
The purpose of this special offering is to provide funding for some very specific ministry opportunities that are not a part of our annual budget. First of all, our desire is to have a greater impact on our church's ability to fund mission work. A portion of this offering will go to assisting Fellowship of Montgomery members, Nori and Ruben Mares, as they move from Montgomery to Honduras and make a two year commitment to serving there with Hope 4 Honduras. I have personally served with Nori and Ruben in Spain and Honduras, and that is only a small portion of the work they have done and the sacrifice they have made for the Kingdom of God.
With this special offering we will also be able to fund some of the needs we have in our children's ministry. God has blessed our church with many children to minister to, and our wonderful leaders love to make sure that everyone of them have fun as we teach them about the love of Jesus. As we make plans for summer camp and day trips, our desire is to improve our transportation capabilities for the children by renting busses. This will allow us to increase the safety and comfort of our children instead of utilizing multiple personal vehicles.
Then finally, you have heard me on several occasions talk about our need to build an additional building. We recently sent our plans back to the architect for revisions and hope to have drawings and details to present sometime after the new year. Through this special Christmas offering we will also set aside resources in our building fund as we continue to pray, plan, and prepare for future expansion.
Our goal for Blessed To Be A Blessing is a God-sized goal: $15,000. Will you take some time to pray about making a special, sacrificial offering either right now online or during one of our December worship services? This gift to the Lord, above and beyond our normal tithes and offerings, will truly be a blessing to people young and old, here and abroad.
On Sunday and over the next few weeks I'll share even more details with you. Please be sure to indicate on your check or envelope the amount that is given as a tithe and the amount to be set apart for the Christmas offering.
These are exciting times for Fellowship of Montgomery! Please join me in praying for this offering and praying for spread of the Gospel through the work of the church.
May the Lord continue to bless you,
Pastor Dale
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FM Angel Tree
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Fellowship of Montgomery has a Christmas mission opportunity available for you and your family. We will have names available on the tree in the foyer of children you can bless this Christmas with some gifts. If you would like to help sponsor a child please pick up a tag no later than Sunday, December 4th. There is a $25 limit per tag or $100 if you want to sponsor all the gifts for one child. Gifts are due back on December 18th with the original tag on the gift. For more information please contact Angie Reed a areed@misd.org.
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| E-Giving | 
Fellowship of Montgomery now has an option for you and your family where you can give your tithes and offering online. All you have to do is go to our website and click on the E-Giving tab or follow this link. After that, you will be prompted to set up an account to make it more convenient for you to give.
With this new service you will also have the ability to use any form of payment including direct draft from your account on an automatic basis. In the future, your family will also be able to use this system for youth and children's camp payments, mission trip deposits, and other giving opportunities. |
FM Ladies Christmas Party
|  Ladies it's time for our Christmas party! This is a wonderful outreach opportunity so be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to join us. This time of great food and fellowship is scheduled for Sunday, December 11, at 5:30pm at the home of Misti Angelo ( click here for a map).
Please bring a side dish of your choice (appetizer, vegetables, fruit, or dessert). The main course and drinks will be provided. Also, bring a $10 wrapped gift if you want to participate in our Christmas Gift Exchange (this is not a white elephant gift). Dress is Christmas Casual. RSVP to Kim Talbert at kim.talbert@texhomeland.com or call/text 936-203-0704.
We are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with the women of Fellowship of Montgomery.
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| Life Groups |
 Life Groups are not simply a Bible study, they are so much more. At Life Group meetings, we hang out, get to know each other, worship God, study His Word, and then we DO his work! At Fellowship of Montgomery, we are doers of God's Word and not just hearers. So, join a Life Group today. For more information on how to become involved please email us at info@fellowshipofmontgomery.net, or you can find out more on our website. 
In the month of January, we will be starting a series entitled Guardrails. Guardrails will be the theme of our sermon series, but we will also be kicking off our Life Groups for the new year with this series. There will be a booth in the foyer in the month of December where you can receive more information about Life Groups and sign up for one near you. Have a brief look at what this series is about:
[Guardrails: a system designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas.] They're everywhere, but they don't really get much attention . . . until somebody hits one. And then, more often than not, it is a lifesaver. Ever wonder what it would be like to have guardrails in other areas of your life-areas where culture baits you to the edge of disaster and then chastises you when you step across the line? Your friendships. Your finances. Your marriage. Maybe your greatest regret could have been avoided if you had established guardrails.
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| Christmas Eve | 
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| FM Worship Ministry |
 The Gospel of Luke says that an angel came to Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a Son and she should call him Jesus and that he would save people from their sins. When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he thought about what he should do. If he married her, he would be unclean. He decided to privately break the engagement. But then he had a dream. An angel told him that the baby was the Son of God. As I sit in my car and at work and listen to Christmas music, I think about what Mary would have been thinking. As a mother, I remember carrying my daughter Sadie and wondering what was to come. Now, I didn't have the Son of God inside me, but I was still scared. A song always brings me to tears: A Baby Changes Everything by Faith Hill. Teenage girl, much too young. Unprepared for what's to come: A baby changes everything Not a ring on her hand. All her dreams and all her plans: A baby changes everything The man she loves she's never touched. How will she keep his trust? A baby changes everything She has to leave, go far away. Heaven knows she can't stay: A baby changes everything She can feel it's coming soon. There's no place, there's no room: A baby changes everything And she cries! Shepherds all gather 'round. Up above the star shines down: A baby changes everything Choir of angels sing. Glory to the newborn King: A baby changes everything Hallelujah! But this is the part that really gets me: My whole life has turned around. I was lost but now I'm found: A baby changes everything, yeah. Just because of a little baby, all our sins are forgiven. How amazing is that?! I know that when my daughter Sadie came into our world, she DID change everything in my personal life. But in the most wonderful ways. And when I look into those innocent eyes I think about how important Jesus really was to the world and how His unconditional love is so amazing. Just like the love we have for our children. Because we are all God's children! So when the worship team stands on the stage and leads worship with the congregation, just think about the amazing grace of God and how special it is to be able to sing out to him like the choir of angels did when Jesus was born. Speaking of music: If your young/not-so-young child has a very special gift in the performing arts and has experience on stage, please let me know so that I can cultivate that talent and lift it up in our Christmas service! I'm asking all of you to start teaching your little ones from ages 3 (or able to sing) to elementary school, the beautiful Christmas Hymn, Silent Night. For the children in middle school: Away in a Manager & Hark the Herald Angels Sing. LASTLY: We'd also like to ask for volunteers to help us in preparation for the Christmas performance, so if you would like to be assigned a very special task, let me know. As always, if there are any special requests regarding the music/creative portion of our services, please let me know. Marlies Worship Leader www.facebook.com/stillsmallvoiceband marlies@fellowshipofmontgomery.net |
UNION Worship Gathering: December 11th
|  Our First UNION Worship Gathering was a huge success with nearly 400 students and parents gathering together for a common theme, Jesus Christ. We are planning on having these types of events several times each year. Sunday, December 11th, students and leaders and adults from all over our community, regardless of denomination, age or race, will unite at 6:00 pm in the Montgomery High School Auditorium as one community, one church, to worship one God. It is sure to be rich time of worship. Adults and students alike please consider joining us as we spend time worshiping and growing our love relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. |
| Fellowship Outdoor Ministries | 
Fellowship Outdoor Ministries: We have recently started a new ministry at Fellowship of Montgomery that helps people grow together and fellowship through hunting and fishing. Currently we are studying a Navigators Bible study on Friday mornings at 6:30 a.m. If you would like to know more about this ministry please contact Terry Mann at tmann@elseyagency.com or Matt Wisenbaker at mattw@wisenbaker.com.
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UNION Weekend
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UNION Weekend is designed to be a life-changing experience for students from all over our community to come together, encounter God, and build deeper relationships with other students. Students spend the weekend in small groups in homes of church members, led by great leaders who lead groups to seek, question, and encounter truth. Large group gatherings are high energy, spiritually focused times for worship, teaching, and serving.We will be in need of transportation between homes and churches, food donations for our hamburger cookout, and set-up and tear down assistance. If you are interested in helping, participating, or registering your student, please contact Brian Roberson at brian@fellowshipofmontgomery.net.
Date: January 13-15 2012
Speaker: Greg Johnson Band: James Curlin Band Cost: $50 |
| FM Student Ministry | |
FM Student Update:
Wednesday Nights:
In December, we will be doing Story Time with Brian. This fun study is a tradition each Christmas in FM Student Ministry, and in this study, we will read a Christmas story each week and relate it to the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Each week, we will also have some fun Christmas traditions for the students to participate in.
 FM Student Text Group: We have a new way for parents and students to be updated each week for events and updates from the student ministry. Text fomyouth to 23559 and create you own unique username. We will stop using the current text system by the end of November; so we would love to keep your informed with this system.
Coats for the Cold Drive: From December through February we will be collecting coats to take to those that are homeless in our com munity. You can drop off coats on Wednesday nights in the drop-off box by the stage, and we will deliver this in February during our feeding the homeless mission project.
FM Student Winter Calendar/Newsletter & Parent Page: Click on this link to see the new calendar/newsletter of all that we will be studying the next few months, calendar of events, and opportunities to get plugged in. Also, we have a subscription that is free for parent to help you understand youth culture, things that your teen is going through, and other interesting facts. If you are interested in checking these out, please click on this link!
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| The Kove Pre-School Ministry | |
The Kove Pre-School Ministry Update:
Nursery: Each Sunday we enjoy providing our littlest ones with a loving and caring environment while parents participate in worshi p. Toddlers: In the toddler area, we get to have a lot of fun as we create a friendly, Christian environment where our kids enjoy singing, snacks, games, and Bible activities. Pre-K (3-5 yrs): Christmas time is HERE! We will be teaching a 5 week series that will help our youngest children get ready for the most wonderful time of the year. They will learn about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and help set some great New Year resolutions for them to work on with their families. Your children will have a blast with Andy and Craig as we gear up to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus! |
| The Wave Children's Ministry |
The Wave (K-3rd):
It's time to get started with our new series Get Ready For Christmas! Your children will have a great time as they once again discover the Christmas story and set some great New Year resolutions.
We would also like for you to join us on Wednesday nights as we continue to have fun and explore the Bible. We meet at 6:30 pm in the large room at the west end of our building to enjoy pizza and games with our friends. At 7:00 pm we move upstairs to The Wave to have fun and fellowship.
For those of you who are ready to experience a tremendous blessing, you should check out the possibilities of serving in our Children's Ministry (technical, teaching, and more). Please contact Rockey at rockey@fellowshipofmontgomery.net, or drop by and see him on Sunday mornings or Wednesdays evenings.
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The Ride Pre-Teen Ministry
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 The Ride Update:
Preteens (4th - 6th grade): On Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, Andy Van and Marissa Scholl invite you to join them for fun, games, and learning how to live out God's Word in everyday life. Come join us for a time of growing your spiritual life while having a great time with your friends.  The very first Christmas is a mysterious and miraculous story. We will be studying Christmas Stories, and how Christmas still affects us today. We will also have the official FM Elf Olympics, Wednesday, December 7th, at 6:30 pm in The Ride.
If you have any questions or would like to know how to get plugged in, please contact Rockey Butler at rockey@fellowshipofmontgomery.net.
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