This week at First United Methodist Church in Grapevine | January 6, 2016
Communion Sunday, January 10
Baptism Renewal
Rev. Jenn Pick (English) | Rev. Armando Alvarado (Bilingual)
Worship at 8:30, 9, 9:45, and 11 AM

Water has always been a powerful symbol of God's love for us. The waters of our baptism welcome us into God's family. They say, "You belong here. You are loved." As we enter the new year and read about how God once again tore open the heavens at the baptism of Jesus, we too will be remembering our baptisms and touching those renewing waters.
A Very Generous Congregation

Just before Christmas, we sent a letter notifying the congregation of our end-of-year financial challenge. At that time, we needed an additional $160,000 to pay all of our apportionments (United Methodist connectional giving) and $40,000 to replenish our reserve fund, totaling $200,000. We then gave an update on our progress following the last Sunday of the year which stated we had cut our goal by more than half, needing $90,000. Last week's information presented a remaining need of $77,000. Since then, a number of generous members have come forward to bring that number down to $28,000. That is an amazing accomplishment, which shows the true generosity and commitment to ministry of this congregation. Our lay leadership and staff want to thank you!

The last day churches in the conference can make apportionment payments for 2015 is this Monday, January 11. Anyone wishing to help make up the remaining $28,000 may bring a donation by the church office or give online by this Sunday. Please indicate "2015 Apportionments" in the memo of your gift. Please note that your donation will be recorded as 2016 giving, but we hope your gift will be above and beyond your planned giving for this year. If you have any questions, please contact Trudy Hughes (trudyh@fumcg.org) or John Mollet (johnm@fumcg.org).
This Week...

01/06/2016 - Simplify.
Do you find your inner world cluttered? Are you overbooked? Are you exhausted?  Bill Hybels shares ten steps to stop living at a frenetic pace and discover a new journey toward satisfaction, purpose and meaning. Simplify, a five week series, will be led by Fred Rigdon and Sandra Nasr. The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from January 6 to February 3, from 6:30 to 8 PM. The cost of the book is $21. For more information or to sign up, contact Fred Rigdon (crigdon1@verizon.net) or Sandra Nasr (sandranasr58@gmail.com)....»

01/08/2016 - Bryan's Buddies Special Needs Respite Night
Bryan's Buddies is respite care that provides a safe and fun evening out for special needs children and their siblings held in the Family Life Center at our church. Our next Bryan's Buddies respite is Friday, January 8, 6:30-9:30 PM....»

Make plans to join us for "Rocking Through the Decades," a dinner and concert benefiting the Costa Rica Youth Mission Trip! Youth will be visiting adult Sunday School classes this Sunday, and will be available before/after all services to sell tickets. The Youth Praise Band will rock on Sunday, January 24, at 6 PM in the Family Life Center, performing top hits from past decades. Tickets are $15 each / $45 max per family, which includes a great meal of hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings! Tickets are on sale online and in the church office. ...»

01/10/2016 - Latvia Luncheon
Have you been considering getting more involved with our Latvia Village? We'd love to have you come learn more about Latvia over lunch this Sunday, January 10, at 12:30 PM in Leach Hall. The Latvia Village team will provide the food. We invite you to join us to hear about our 2016 trip plans, projects at our partner church in Riga, and more about all of the ministries in Latvia. RSVPs are appreciated (to help with food planning), but not required. Contact Melissia Mason (melissiam@fumcg.org) or Julie Croft (juliecroft@hotmail.com)....»

01/10/2016 - Recognizing Addiction
Christine Rodriguez from Grapevine Valley Hope will be with us on Sunday, January 10, for a presentation about recognizing and finding help for those with addictions. This special event is part of the continuing education that our Stephen Ministers take part in. Because there are many who may benefit from the information, we invite anyone who is interested to attend. The presentation will be from 12:30 to 1:30 PM in Room 2001....»
Upcoming Events

01/11/2016 - Precepts Study of 2 Peter Orientation
How to Be Kept From Falling - In a day when false teachers are leading countless people astray, to live effectively for Christ we need to know the truth. 2 Peter looks forward to the return of Christ and the warnings and hopes that promise raises. Learn to live effectively and grow in spiritual discernment through this Precept class which includes a discussion and video, with light homework. We would love for you to join us! Two convenient class times on Mondays: 9:30-11:30 AM or 6:30-8:30 PM. Workbook Cost $20 for 8 weeks. Orientation & pick up workbooks on January 11; class begins January 25. To enroll & order workbook contact Nancy Johnson (817-424-0297/ pajnaj@verizon.net) or Judy Grosbach (817-488-6771)....»

01/11/2016 - Preschool STEM
Mondays (January 11 - March 7 | April 4 - May 9) and Thursdays (January 14 - March 10 | April 7 - May 12), 10:45-11:30 AM, ages 3-5 years. Children are curious and crave opportunities to create, invent, and learn while having fun! The STEM class provides a collaborative, project-based learning environment and allows your child to use hands on techniques to solve real world problems, fostering creative, critical, intellectual learning. Join us for an exciting, noisy, stimulating class for you and your child! Space in this class is limited, so sign up online or contact Monica Vickery at monicav@fumcg.org today to reserve a spot! Childcare will be provided....»

01/11/2016 - A Disciples Path
A Disciples Path (Deepening your Relationship with Christ and the Church) Mondays, January 11-February 15, 7-8:30 PM in Room 2007; Sundays, January 17-February 21, 11 AM - 12:30 PM in Room 2007.
This six week study takes us on a journey into the Biblical foundations for a meaningful relationship with Christ and the church. The cost for the materials is $20 per participant. The study will be led by Dr. Jesse Sowell, retired United Methodist minister and Professor Emeritus in Religion at Texas Wesleyan University....»

01/12/2016 - Talk: Your Way to Healing
Talk: Your Way to Healing is a new peer support group sharing mental health issues that meets on Tuesdays at 7 PM in the Roundtable Room. The group is for anyone with depression or other mental illnesses to find support and hope. Questions? Contact Julie Sisk (siskthree@aol.com)....»

01/13/2016 - Children's Worship Arts
Children's Worship Arts resumes on Wednesday, January 13, at 6 PM in Room 2001. This is a musical program for children Kindergarten through Fifth Grades. The program consists of choral singing, experience with instruments, drama and performance. Questions? Contact Val Sellers at Valerie.sellers@hotmail.com or 214-236-7307. ...»

01/14/2016 - Baby and Me Story Time
Thursdays (January 14 - March 10 | April 7 - May 12), 10:00-10:30 AM, ages 6 months - 2 years. Classes begin with a few songs, include a new sign language component, and of course, a very special book to bed read aloud to the class! Each session will also feature a small craft or sensory activity for the children to enjoy. The class is not limited to mommies! It is a great opportunity to spend special bonding time with the little ones in your life. Childcare will be provided. Register online or contact Monica Vickery at monicav@fumcg.org to sign up today!...»

01/14/2016 - Blood Drive
Our next Blood Drive is coming on Thursday, January 14, 4 to 7 PM in Room 2001, and we need your donations. You may make your appointment online now or contact Cheri Rutledge at cherir@fumcg.org....»
All upcoming events...

More Info...
Missions | Compassion | Adults | Families: Youth | Tweens | Children | Nursery
Opportunities to Serve and Give...

Kids Against Hunger
This past Sunday, our Communion Offering went to our upcoming MLK Day of Service, Kids Against Hunger. Adding in the matching funds that were offered, we have already surpassed our goal of $6,000, which will provide 24,000 meals! Many of you have already signed up to help, and we thank you! We are doing well on volunteers, but could still use a few more at the 12-1 PM shift. Also, we need a few strong backs to help unload and load heavy boxes before and after the event. Contact Kathy Langham (kathy.langham@gmx.com) if you would like to help with that. If you require childcare, please contact Monica Vickery (monicav@fumcg.org). We'll see you on MLK Day of Service, January 18....>

Share Your Story
We need your help in seeking out stories about how our Villages have touched lives! When we fall in love with the people we meet in our Villages, it makes missions more about the relationship and less about the good deeds. We've been asking you all to share examples of how you have experienced this in "real life." If you haven't had a chance to share your story, or you know someone who has a good story that needs to be told, please go to our website at firstmethodistgrapevine.org/mission-survey to let us hear from you! 

God Can for the GRACE Food Pantry
Thanks for your generous donations! As we come out of the holiday season, GRACE is low on several standard stock items, including juice boxes, snacks, canned soup/stew, condensed milk, ramen noodles, canned fruit, condiments and toothpaste. Click here to view the full list (pdf). If you would like to donate any of these items, please bring your donations to the God Can bins outside the church office or in the Sanctuary Foyer/Atrium.
Give 150 for the Next 150 UDPATE
If you have completed your pledge card, we thank you! If not, please do so as soon as possible to help us with our budget planning! You may submit your commitment online, place your commitment card in the offering plate, or send/bring it to the church office. Additional cards are available in the pews and in the church office. Read more...»
 
As for our goals, here's where we stand at this point: 301 pledges, totaling $1,526,900, with 196 step-ups and 128 committed to auto-debit.
Opportunities to Grow...

Daily Devotional Readings | Sermon Archives | Give

Upcoming Studies and Groups
  • Serendipity Bible Study - Led by Kenda Diehm, this study resumes this week on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Thursdays at 9:30 AM, both in Leach Hall....»
  • A Disciple's Path - Deepening your Relationship with Christ and the Church, with Dr. Jesse Sowell. Class begins on Mondays, January 11-February 15, 7-8:30 PM in Room 2007 and Sundays, January 17-February 21, 11 AM - 12:30 PM in Room 2007....»
  • Simplify. Bill Hybels shares ten steps to stop living at a frenetic pace and discover a new journey toward satisfaction, purpose and meaning. Wednesday evenings from January 6 to February 3, from 6:30 to 8 PM in Room 2010....»
  • Precepts Study of 2 Peter - How to Be Kept From Falling. Learn to live effectively and grow in spiritual discernment. Two class times:  Monday 9:30-11:30 AM or 6:30-8:30 PM. Orientation & pick up workbooks on January 11; class begins January 25....»
  • Serving from the Heart. Singular Journey Sunday School Class is hosting a 4-week study led by Bev Campisi beginning January 17 at 9:45 AM in FLC Room 2002, and concluding February 7. This class explores the Biblical foundation of our spiritual gifts....»
  • Women in Transition. Times of transition (divorce, widowed, empty nest, retirement, job change) can be prime times to make some changes in our lives. The Women in Transition program empowers women with the benefits of Life and Executive Coaching with a Christian Perspective. A new session begins Tuesday, January 19....»
  • Exposing Depression. A new "Exposing Depression" class for women will meet on Thursdays, starting January 28, from 7 to 8:30 PM in Roundtable Room....»
The Well with Ellie Lofaro
Ladies, don't forget to get your tickets for the next gathering of The Well, featuring Ellie Lofaro! We will enjoy a warm meal from Wildwood Grill and live music to lead into our guest speaker.  Ellie's message is a wonderful blend of plainspoken truth, common sense practicality and disarming humor. Tickets are $25, which includes the program, entertainment and catered dinner. You may purchase tickets online or in the church office. Childcare is provided. Get more details at www.firstmethodsitgrapevine.org/ellie.

15 & 15 Daily Devotional
Make a new commitment to daily reading and prayer this year! Spend 15 minutes in prayer and 15 minutes reading scripture each day. Get a jumpstart with our daily devotionals, written by the pastors to correspond with the previous Sunday's sermon, on the 15 and 15 blog.

A New Year: Time to Reflect and Plan
by Tresia D. Eaves, MHR, PMP
As a Christian, you likely take the time each year to reflect on your journey and growth over the past year, acknowledge the knowledge you gained, learn from the mistakes you made, and set a focus on what you hope to accomplish toward growth in the upcoming year. I have a pretty methodical approach to this process in my life and I'll share it with you in hopes that it helps you find your focus for self-improvement in the coming year... Keep reading...
Caught Caring...
Gifts Given
A gift has been given to the Benevolence Fund by Mark and Barbara Maness in memory of Christopher Crater.

A Note from Riga, Latvia
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your loyal prayers and support through the year! Each time we see your name, a special thanks for you is sent to God. Without you, the church and its ministries would be very challenged. May the miracle of Jesus fill your hearts and souls with a great joy in your Lord, and in your life!
- Gita Medne (Pastor of Riga First Church - our covenant congregation)

An Accidental Ministry
by Bev Campisi
My grandmothers and great aunts always carried a handkerchief in their purses and I've inherited those collections through the years. It was about 15 years ago a church friend died suddenly and when I found her teenage daughter in the hospital chapel weeping at this unimaginable loss, I pulled out a handkerchief from my purse and gave it to her. Her awe at this little piece of cloth, handed so innocently, was notable. Later this young lady wrote me a note telling me how much it meant to her to have been able to cry her tears into the soft cloth instead of a paper tissue and she had washed and ironed it and slipped it in the card. I later returned it to her, saying it was a gift for her to always feel that comfort of not being alone. I do this for brides and their mothers too, before they go down the aisle. Keep reading...
First United Methodist Church | 422 Church Street | Grapevine, TX 76051

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First United Methodist Church Grapevine | 422 Church Street | Grapevine | TX | 76051