This Week

@FUMC Allen

August 3 2014

It's safe to assume that each of us comes from families of one kind or another. The make-up of American families has certainly changed over the years, but I have no doubt that although the dynamics have changed, we want our family to be happy, healthy, faithful, and sane.

Many parents and grandparents think and reflect how we can continually improve the dynamics of our families to perhaps increase the level of meaning and happiness we experience.

Bruce Feiler, in his book, The Secrets of Happy Families, shares this thought:

Nearly a century and a half ago, the great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy began Anna Karenina with one of the most famous lines in all the world of literature. "All Happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." When I first encountered this line, I thought the first half, in particular, was inane. Of course all happy families are not alike: Some are large, some are small; some are boisterous, some are quiet; some are traditional, some are nontraditional.
Writing this book has changed my mind. Recent scholarship has allowed us, for the first time in history, to identify some building blocks that high-functioning families share; to understand the techniques effective families use to overcome challenges; to pinpoint the skills each of us needs to conduct ourselves more successfully in this most maddening of human institutions. Is it possible, all these years later, to say Tolstoy was right: All happy families do have certain things in common?

As we quickly approach fall and the beginning of a new school year, we'll spend the next five Sundays considering secrets to happy families in light of the Biblical witness. Sunday sermons will offer Biblical wisdom, relevant and practical family tips, all in light of The Secrets of Happy Families.

If you want to know more, check out www.brucefeiler.com.

August 3 - How Agile Is Your Family?
August 10 - A Time to Eat
August 17 - On a Mission
August 24 - You Didn't Just Say That
August 31 - Game On

Will we see you in church this Sunday?

Senior Pastor

FUMC Allen

SHINE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR HELP!

VBS begins at 9:00am on Monday, August 4, and our 400 kids in attendance will need snacks all week.

We still need several items and could use your help:

Please stop by Shine VBS table on Sunday, August 3, and pick up a card or two representing a needed snack item, purchase the items, and return to the church Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

You can also pick up some of the following items while shopping this weekend and return items on Sunday or Monday morning:

Needed Items:

Cheese flavored popcorn
Flat-bottomed ice cream cones
Cheerios/Toasted Oat Rounds
Bugles Corn Snacks
Grasshopper Cookies (Keebler brand)
Snacks for the volunteer breakroom (chips, cookies, brownies, vegetable trays, and sandwich trays)

Thank you in advance for all of your support of SHINE Vacation Bible School!

This Week

Sun Aug 3/2014-Sat Aug 9/2014

Sun Aug 3

COMMUNION SUNDAY: Today's COMMUNION OFFERING benefits UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response, Advance #901670, which is the UMCOR Rio Grande Conference Immigrant Relief fund. For more information, visit www.umcor.com.

Today is the last chance for our SHINE VBS volunteers

to attend their required training! Join us at 12:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Contact Mary Freeman, MaryF@fumcallen.org.

The Cindy Robinson READING GROUP meets at 2:00pm in the parlor to discuss Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller. Contact Nancy Lessner, lessnern@att.net, for more information.

Mon Aug 4-Thu Aug 7

TRIUMPH ALL STAR SPORTS & GAMES engages kids, grades K-6, in a new sport every day! You can still register your child in All Star on Monday at 1:30pm. Camp runs Monday-Thursday. $70 fee includes a T-shirt. Contact Greg Schell.

Mon Aug 4-Fri Aug 8

SHINE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, 9:00am-12:30pm, for children entering pre-K (by 9/1/2014) through grade 6. VBS IS AT CAPACITY; ENROLLMENT IS CLOSED. Contact Mary Freeman.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON
We need volunteers to help set up and serve when FUMC Allen hosts the Allen Ministerial Alliance senior adult luncheon on August 12, 9:30am-12:30pm, at St. Jude Catholic Church. Also accepting donations of home-baked cookies/brownies. Register online at www.fumcallen.org or contact Margo Naramore.

LUNCH IN THE PARK
FUMC Allen is preparing lunch for the children at the Boyd Elementary playground on August 14 and 15. Every weekday this summer, different churches and service organizations have been feeding between 90-105 kids. If you can help, contact Teresa Gray.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

Volunteer to help with the BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, an outreach partnership of Allen Community Outreach and FUMC Allen, 9:00am-12:00pm, on August 16. Shifts are available on Friday as well as Saturday before, during, and after the event. Contact David Wuensch.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

Do you have a compassionate heart? Are you a good listener? Consider serving as a Stephen Minister, a trained lay person who provides quality, one-on-one Christian care to those facing a crisis or life-changing challenge. Through 50 hours of training, Stephen Ministers are equipped with life skills to give quality Christian care. Training begins September 8, 7:00pm-9:00pm, in CLC206. Application required. Contact Lynn Seal-Cupp, lynnseal3@gmail.com.

Next Week & Beyond

Sun Aug 10/2014-Thu Sep 11/2014

Sun Aug 10

Make an appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org for the RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE coming to FUMC Allen, 8:30am-1:00pm, in the east parking lot. Contact Ruth Swingle for more information.

School supplies are on sale now so please consider picking up a few extra items as you shop these next few weeks for FILL THE BUS. Bring your donations to the west entrance of the church on August 10 from 9:00am-4:00pm where you'll be greeted by our wonderful Girl Scouts who will receive your donations. Click HERE for a list of needed supplies.

Tue Aug 12

Volunteers are needed to help set up and serve at the Allen Ministerial Alliance SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON at St. Jude Catholic Church when FUMC Allen is responsible for hosting. Setup begins 9:30am. Bring the family! If you cannot attend, we are accepting donations of home-baked cookies or brownies. Register online at www.fumcallen.org or contact Margo Naramore, MargoN@fumcallen.org

Sat Aug 16

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH 9:00am-12:00pm FUMC Allen. Contact Mary Freeman, MaryF@fumcallen.org.

Tue Aug 19

Caregivers United welcomes Mary Jane Douglas, certified benefits counselor for North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging at 7:00pm in the parlor to talk about MEDICARE BASICS and other government programs for individuals 60+ or those on disability. Contact Bev Allen, allenbev1945@yahoo.com.

Sun Aug 24

BACK TO SCHOOL BLESSINGS 8:15am 9:30am 11:00am

Sun Sep 7

BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO CHURCH 8:15am 9:30am 11:00am

Mon Sep 8

STEPHEN MINISTER TRAINING begins on at 7:00pm-9:00pm, in CLC206. Application required. Questions? Contact Lynn Seal-Cupp or Rev. June Franck.

Thu Sep 11

Today is the last day to register for our UPWARD INDOOR SOCCER league for kids 4 years old through grade 6. Teams practice once per week beginning September 22 and play six Saturday games beginning October 4. Contact Greg Schell, GregS@fumcallen.org.

A Message from Maxie

Are you looking for a way to serve your church?

The Welcoming Ministry visitation team needs volunteers who would be willing to deliver a guest bags to our first-time guests. This important outreach ministry gives us a change to become better acquainted with our guests and treat them to a wealth of information about our church as well as a batch of fresh baked cookies.

On average, our team delivers one to three bags each week to families who live within a five mile radius of the church. You would only be expected to make deliveries once a month.

We also need people to serve one Sunday a month as greeters at our entry doors! We want our first-time guests to feel welcomed from the moment they enter our doors for worship and Sunday school.

If you would be willing to help with either of these ministries, please contact Rev. Maxie Moore, 972.727.8261, x414.

Frisco RoughRider
Ticket Vouchers Available

Recreational Ministry has an inventory of ticket vouchers good for any remaining Frisco RoughRiders home games.

The vouchers are $20 each for a baseball game, food (unlimited

Hot Dogs, Brats, Sodas), and a baseball cap. Contact Greg Schell, GregS@fumcallen.org.

For a calendar of remaining home games, click this LINK

Stewardship

He that observes the wind shall not sow and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19-20

Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of your increase so that your barns will be filled with plenty and your presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Remember to give before you go on vacation this summer.

Our summer months are not only the busiest months of the year but also the months when giving is the lowest.

You can give online safely and securely by setting up your pledge donations on EngagingOnline.

In This Issue

SHINE Vacation Bible School

This Week

Volunteer Opportunities

Next Week & Beyond

A Message from Maxie

RoughRider Ticket Vouchers

Stewardship

This Sunday's Sermon

Sunday, August 3, 2014

How Agile Is Your Family?

Rev. Todd Harris, preaching

Sanctuary

8:15am 9:30am 11:00am

This month's COMMUNION OFFERING benefits UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response, Advance #901670, which is the UMCOR Rio Grande Conference Immigrant Relief fund. For more information, visit www.umcor.com.

This Week at The Way

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Join us as The Way welcomes author, teacher and theologian, Dr. Tom McFaul who will lead us in a four-week series based on his book, "GOD IS HERE TO STAY: A New Conversation Between Faith and Science."

We have copies of the book available for purchase at our service in the Fellowship Hall. $20.00 each. Supplies are limited.

11:00am

FUMC Allen Fellowship Hall

Women in Missions/UMW Fall Bazaar

The UMW Fall Bazaar returns to FUMC Allen on Saturday, October 25, from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The event still has space available for additional vendors.

Booth fee is $55.00.

All booths are located inside the building.

Lunch available in Fellowship Hall

Contact Carole Smithwick, 469.675.8225, to reserve your space.

DISCIPLE Bible Study

Interested in enrolling in a Disciple Bible Study, a program that encourages people to live as Disciples of Christ?

Disciple I (34 weeks): You will read about 70 percent of the Bible
Disciple II (32 weeks): Genesis and Exodus and Luke and Acts.
Disciple III (32 weeks): Prophets of the Old Testament and the writings of Paul
Disciple IV (32 weeks): Writings of the Old Testament and the Gospel of John and Revelations

The study is designed for participants to read 20 to 30 minutes daily and come together weekly for a two-hour class time to process the readings for the week. Classes would begin the last of August and follow the school year!

To learn more, contact Rev. Maxie Moore.

Join Our Mailing List!

For a complete listing of church events, visit our online calendar.

Questions?

Visit our FAQ page.

Visit our website at www.fumcallen.org

Do you have a Prayer Request?

Join our Prayer Chain Ministry.

Contact a pastor regarding a specific prayer request.

As Christians, we are called to go OUT into the world to do the work of Christ. At FUMC Allen, we track the hours our members IMPACT the community working as volunteers for various service organizations, such as Allen Community Outreach, schools, sport teams, scouts, and more.

Our 2014 year-to-date total is
2,941 hours.

Report your service hours on the registration form found in this bulletin, and keep up the great work.