Greetings: 

Todd JordanIn the conclusion our 3 week worship series on The Promise as foretold in Isaiah, we will focus on the promise itself:  What exactly is it and what does it mean for, especially amid a world of broken promises and failed guarantees.  As we get ready for Thanksgiving and begin looking at Advent and the Christmas Season, it is critical to bear in mind why Jesus came and what has been accomplished through him.  Join me this week as we tie it all together and look to the Gift that will fulfill the Promise.
  


Dr. Todd Jordan
Senior Pastor
Quick Links
In This Issue
Announcements
Children's Ministries
Host Ukraine
Hanging of the Greens
Youth Ministries
Strawbridge Music and Fine Arts
Young Adults
Adult Class Information
Advent Study
Mission Milby Christmas Party
Christmas Giving Tree
Let's Deck the Halls
Women's Tea
Blood Drive

Happy Birthday
 

Andrew Morgan11/20
Norman Graff11/20
Stephen Schellinger11/20
Emily McLallen11/20
Elizabeth Herink11/21
David Bornstein11/21
Emma Prater11/22
Holland Vavra11/22
Joshua Morgan11/23
Doris Moomaw11/23
Sophie Merkle11/23
Kelly McLean11/24
Marla Meriano11/24
Braden Hopkins11/24
Caroline Stewart11/25
Cody Welborn11/26
Andy Gorham11/26

 

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Children's Ministries
    
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Sunday School
10:05 a.m.-11:05 a.m.
All Kindergarten-4th graders will meet in the SAC
at 10:05 a.m. and then go to their age
 appropriate rooms.
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Children's Chapel
After the children's conversation  at 11:15 a.m. worship, children 4 years-Kindergarten, may attend Children's Chapel in Room 105.
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Kids 1st
1st in Faith, 1st in Fun, 1st Sunday of each month. 
 Kids 1st is for children in third and fourth grade. 
They meet the first Sunday of each
 month for fun activities from
5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. 
Snack supper is available for $3.00. 
 Join us! 
 Friends are always welcome.
 
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56 Ministries at SUMC
 
Sundays:
Sunday School: 10:05-11:05am 
  5th and 6th graders will meet in Room 200 for confirmation!  This will be their Sunday School for
Fall and Spring.
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Mission 56
 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
5th and 6th Graders join us for a Sunday Night Bible Study and Hangout.  We will have Bible Study, games, and
 snack supper ($3.00)!
Meet us in Room 200!
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Mid High Power Hour
 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Meet in the Strawbridge Activity Center (SAC)
6-8th Graders
 We will take your children to school!
(Permission form must be on file prior to leaving SUMC campus)
 
 
Questions regarding Children's Ministries contact Pastor Emily at emily.bankston@strawbridge-umc.org
 
Strawbridge Music & Fine Arts Ministry
 
 
 
   
 For more information contact
Pastor Laurie Purcell at



 
 
   
 
 
 
 


 

 

 
 
 
Announcements 
FAMILY PROMISE
Strawbridge will host two to three families from Family Promise during the week of December 6, 2015. Sign up for volunteer opportunities will be available on each Sunday in the hallway prior to the start of Sunday School classes and end on December 6 or perhaps one week earlier if all slots are full. Special thanks to those that have helped in the past and those that have already signed up for this rotation.
 
A graduation party will be held on November 30th for one of our guest families at 7:00 PM. The party will be held at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 1400 FM 1960 Bypass Rd E, Humble, TX 77338. The party is currently slated to be held in room 103 of the Church and this is near the SW corner of the building which is in the back of the Church. Please join us to give Michael, Bridget and their delightful 14 year old son Mycah a sendoff to their new home! If you would like to donate items for this family please contact Charlie Burnett at 713-252-2124 or caburnett1@comcast.net. Gift cards from Walmart or Target are very appropriate should you care to provide one.
We would also like to encourage donations of gift cards from Walmart or Target in any denomination for use to purchase Christmas gifts for Family Promise families. Please give these to Charlie Burnett at the sign up Kiosk or drop them by the Church Office prior to noon on December 14th. Be sure to clearly mark any envelopes left at the Church Office "Family Promise".
 
TAX INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Please remember that all 2015 contributions must be dated prior to year-end and delivered to the church office or postmarked by 12/31/2015 to receive credit for the tax year 2015. To ensure your church contributions are tax deductible, do not file your 2015 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgement of your contributions from the church. Some of your contributions may not be tax-deductible if you file your tax return before receiving a written acknowledgement of your contributions from the church.
 
Year-end contribution statements for 2015 will be mailed by 1/31/2016.
 
CANNED & NON-PERISHABLE FOOD DRIVE
Please bring canned & non-perishable items (especially cornbread mix and stuffing mix) to church on Sunday, November 22nd. Bring them to the Sanctuary and place them on the rails. These items will be donated to area food banks. 

THE COFFEE CORNER 
Visitors and New Members meet by the church office at 10:05 a.m.-11:05 a.m., Sundays for coffee and fellowship!
 
ONLINE SHOPPING-www.umcmarket.org
Lots of online retailers will give a percentage of your purchase to
Strawbridge UMC through the UMCmarket! All you need to do is visit www.umcmarket.org and register. Specify the church, "Kingwood Strawbridge".  Then when you're ready to buy, just log into your UMCmarket account and shop at any of the partner retailers and, PRESTO, a percentage of the sale is given to the church. We need $100 in the account before we get a check, so the more the site is used the more the church benefits.
 
Shopping has never been so easy and you don't have to leave home, fight the crowds or find that perfect parking spot!
 
Sign up today at www.umcmarket.org.
 
 



Host Ukraine 
 
Here is an example of how one of our member families grew by stepping out of their comfort zone. What a great opportunity this is to share, live and grow and to be compelled by the love of Christ to make a difference in a world in need one child at a time!
 
Dear Strawbridge,

Our family hosted an orphan from Ukraine for the summer.  We showed him love of a family and had fun showing him Texas.  Little did I understand what God was doing in my life and my family's life.  Showing God's love to another helped our family to grow in so many ways, and God is teaching our family about love for each other and others. HE has grown my heart to serve the orphans in Ukraine, which  has led me to volunteer with Host Ukraine (hostukraine.org).  I will be traveling to the Ukraine on January 11th and returning on the 22nd.  While there I will be using my background as a school nurse to assist the team in assessing medical needs.

I would like to ask for prayers for the orphans and our team as we travel and share God's love with those in the Ukraine.

Sheela Allen

Strawbridge would like to help Sheela in her efforts by gathering the following donated items for the orphanage in Ukraine.  Please drop your items in the box located in the Activity Corridor and labeled Ukraine Orphans.
 
1) boys/girls underwear (all sizes)
2) socks
3) toothpaste
4) gum
5) coloring books
6) crayons
7) pens
8) pencils
9) bar soap
10) soccer balls
11) bubbles
12) printer paper
 

 
 
 

 281-360-4500
Youth Ministries
 
                           Strawbridge Youth are now on Remind 101.
  Text "@sumcupdate" then call 81010.
 
Sunday Mornings 
Breakfast & Discussion
10:05 a.m. in Rooms 201/203
 
  
December 6th
12:30-5:30 p.m.
Free Ice Skating at Discovery Green
 
December 13th
Christmas Party & Sock
Exchange
5-7 p.m. at SUMC
 
December 20th
Houston Food Bank
Departing 7:40 a.m.-Returning 1:30 p.m.
 
December 24th
Setup for Luminaries
12-2 p.m. at SUMC 
 
Contact Jon Ashley at
for questions or location information.

 
  
 
The Confirmation Study of Greg Ogden's book Discipleship Essentials will be covered in both Sunday School and Community Group.
 
Sunday School 
 (Room 209)  10:05 a.m.-11:10 a.m.
 
Community Group
  Tuesdays 7:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
 
Sharing a meal, creating community and all are welcome!
 
Contact Michelle Ashley at
Adult Class Information
New Adult Study-"Secrets of a Teenage Brain"
Join us in the Choir room on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.   We know that parents of pre-teen and teens face challenging issues every day.  Join us as we talk about strategies and solutions regarding social media, communication, respect, bullying and other topics related to guiding this age group.
Questions contact Pastor Beth Chenault at beth.chenault@strawbridge-umc.org.
  
Men's Bible Study Class:   Join us in Room 212 at 10:05 a.m., to study the bible and have fellowship with each other in a classroom setting. Contact Jerry Raymond at jerryraymond@comcast.net for further information.
 
Parents of Young Children:
Join in the Room 112 (Library) at 10:05 a.m.
Contact Cheryl Burnett with any questions at
 
  
The Seekers Class:
All are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings in Room 151 at 10:05 a.m.  Questions?  Please contact John Paradysz at johnparadysz@gmail.com 

New Directions Class:
We are studying "The Case for Christianity Answer Book" by Lee Strobel. This book provides simple. understandable answers to questions you've probably asked or heard about Christianity. Lee Strobel , a former atheist, uses his investigative journalism skills to dig deep into science, history and the Bible to find the truth. He offers what he has learned in an approachable question and answer format. Come join us in room 207, from 10:05 a.m.-11:05 a.m. 
 
 

 
 
 
Let's Deck the Halls!
 
Advent is almost upon us and we have lots to do to get ready for the birth of Jesus! One of the ways we prepare is to decorate our beautiful church facility. This season we are asking that each Sunday school class, small group, and ministry team consider decorating a tree. Your tree can be any size since we have room for free standing trees and tabletop trees. Your group will be responsible for set up, decorations, and take down. The time frame for setting up your tree is any time between Sunday, November 29 and Saturday, December 12. We have a few trees available at the church if your group doesn't have one to use. While participation is strictly voluntary, please consider how beautiful our church will look with so many trees representing all the many aspects of our ministry! Please contact Katie Marvin at katiesmarvin@gmail.com with any questions.
 
 
 
   
Our Holiday Blood Drive will be held on Sunday, December 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the donor coach in the parking lot.  This is a busy season for all of us and this drive is one of the most important of the year.  The local blood supply often becomes critical during the holidays and your donation is badly needed.  We'll be signing up donors this Sunday in the Activities Corridor.  Please stop by and make an appointment to give someone a Christmas gift which only costs you a little time but which can mean life to as many as three other people.  Please contact Skip Richardson 281-360-1164 for questions.