This Week

@FUMC Allen

November 2 2014

And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. (Joshua 6:16)

At this point in the story, the walls of Jericho come tumbling down, and the Israelites began their occupation of the Promised Land. This story has long inspired Israelites much like the movies Saving Private Ryan, and Patton have served as inspiration to citizens of the United States. However, becoming fixated solely on the military movement can cause us to lose sight of the liturgical movement: the marching of the Israelites was an act of worship and obedience.

How do you think their worshipful procession and obedience led to the outcome?

Jericho Prayer Walk

We call this procession the Jericho Prayer Walk. Their occupation of the Promised Land was much more of a spiritual occupation than a tactical one. God's chosen people were given specific instructions regarding a seven-day march. They were rewarded for their obedience when Jericho's was delivered to them.

On one hand, the walls of Jericho were a tangible boundary to a very fertile land. On the other, the walls represent everything that may have separated them from God's promised future. We may not understand a tangible wall separating us from a fertile land, but surely, if we're thoughtful, we can understand intangible elements separating us from God's desired future.

I hope you will join the congregation this Sunday, November 2, from 12:00pm-5:00pm for our own Jericho Prayer Walk around the walls of FUMC Allen. The purpose of this prayer walk is to unite our church family in intentional prayer regarding the future of our church and prayer for our neighbors, those who travel the roads to the east and the west, and for those who worship, study, and play at FUMC Allen.

When you start your walk at the green canvas awning at the east entrance of the church, a staff member will provide you with a prayer guide and will answer any of your questions. You'll find sign posts around the facility to call to your attention specific ministries people, organizations, and neighbors for which you can pray.

Our desired outcome is not to see our physical walls come tumbling down but to ask God's guidance in removing any intangible walls that separate us from God and from our neighbors. Our prayer is to seek God's guidance in aligning God's will for our church with what we believe is God's vision for our future.

We hope you can plan to allow at least 30 minutes this Sunday to take the time to pray for the witness of our church and all of the ministries that endeavor to offer meaningful relationships, hope, compassion, instruction, and mercy.

Plans and Strategies

Seeking God's vision and direction for our church is much more spiritual than tactical or logistical. If you want to read a New Testament story that emphasizes how vision is more spiritual than tactical, read Acts 2, the account of the day of Pentecost. Note where it is foretold that the older people will see visions and their young will dream dreams.

The church had a spiritual birth, not a strategic plan. The plan came after the coming of the Holy Spirit.

I'm not suggesting that a church shouldn't have a strategic plan. Rather, quite the opposite. I'm suggesting that before a plan can be specific and strategic, it must begin in the spiritual realm of our relationship with Christ.

The Jericho Prayer Walk is an effort to prepare our souls for the future God has in store for the members and friends of FUMC Allen. Thankfully, it isn't the first time we've prayed for our church, and I know it won't be the last!

I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday when we'll celebrate the lives of the saints in our church family who have shared the physical journey with us but now live and pray for us in life eternal. Following worship, I look forward to sharing the prayer walk with you.

Rev. Todd Harris

With the holiday season almost here, WELCOMING MINISTRIES needs volunteers who will commit 20 minutes one Sunday per month to extend our warm FUMC hospitality to all who enter our doors.

Visit our table in the gathering area today to learn more.

Contact Rev. Maxie Moore.

The 2014 CHANGE THE WORLD CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE begins next Sunday, November 9, at 12:00pm in the gym with a Kids Against Hunger food packaging event and the Military Support Group Christmas stocking packaging.

For more information, contact David Wuensch.

This Week

Sun Nov 2/2014-Sat Nov 8/2014

Sun Nov 2

ALL SAINTS DAY 8:15am 9:30am 11:00am

Join your church family TODAY as we participate in a JERICHO PRAYER WALK. We'll unite in the spiritual discipline of prayer between 12:00pm-5:00pm as a way to prepare our hearts to consider a new vision and plans for our church's future.

Wed Nov 5-Sat Nov 8

All boys and girls in grades 5 and 6 are invited to attend CREATED BY GOD, an age-appropriate human sexuality class, November 7 and 8 at FUMC Allen. Mandatory parent information meeting is November 5. $45 includes book, materials, lunch, and snacks. Register online at www.fumcallen.org. Questions? Contact Mary Freeman.

Wed Nov 5

SOUL FOOD CAF� is open for dinner from 5:30pm-6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. This week's menu: chili, corn bread, salad, ice cream & cookies; hot dog meal for kids. $5/adults; $2/children; $18 family max. Take-out boxes available. RSVP on the back of your registration form TODAY or e-mail Rev. Maxie Moore, MaxieM@fumcallen.org, by Tuesday noon.

Sat Nov 8

TODAY is THE GREAT UMM SMOKEOUT! All proceeds support UMM scholarships, missions, and ministries. Contact Tracy Holloway, umm@fumcallen.org.

Click on the image to reserve your seat on the bus

All youth are invited to go CHRISTMAS CAROLING WITH COLLIDE at our local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

When we are finished caroling, we will return to the church for cookies and cocoa and a white elephant gift exchange.

We are renting buses, so we need everyone planning to attend to register online before November 10 to save your spot!

Contact Eric Pugh.

Church_Hiker HALLELUJAH HIKERS

Join the hikers on Saturday, November 15 as they travel to Lake Texoma to hike the Cross Timbers Trail at Juniper Point Park West.

Cross Timbers Trail has 14 miles of main trails that run along Lake Texoma. The group will meet at 8:00am underneath the green awning at the east entrance and return to FUMC about 2:30pm.

Please contact Bill Benjamin , 972.897.8595, if you plan to attend and/or can drive a car.

Next Week & Beyond

Sun Nov 9/2014-Sun Dec 14/2014

Sun Nov 9

CHANGE THE WORLD CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE BEGINS!!

Wed Nov 12

The Ruth Circle meet in Fellowship Hall at 10:00am to learn more about the Trinity River Project. Contact Judy Smith, 817.914.5722.

Thu Nov 13

In October, 31 clients seeking legal assistance were served by 12 attorneys, 15 paralegals, and many other volunteers; in 2014, God has made it possible for 357 families to find comfort and justice in His house. Our next LEGAL AID CLINIC is November 13 from 5:30pm-8:00pm in Fellowship Hall. Contact Kim Klieger.

Sat Nov 15

Register online today for SPORTS NIGHT at APT G, 7:00pm-9:30pm, in the FUMC Allen youth wing. APT G: A Place to Go is a parent/caregiver respite program, during the school year, for special needs youth/young adults, grades 6 and up, and their same-aged siblings. 7:00pm-9:30pm, in the FUMC Allen youth wing. Last day to RSVP is November 12 at 5:00pm. Contact SpecialKids@fumcallen.org.

Sun Nov 16

Learn more about our FUMC Allen's church doctrines, beliefs, and membership expectations at this monthly METHODISM/MEMBERSHIP CLASS, November 16, 11:00am, in the parlor. Contact Rev. Maxie Moore, MaxieM@fumcallen.org.

Wed Nov 19

CHARGE CONFERENCE 7:00pm FUMC Allen Sanctuary

Sun Nov 23

LAITY SUNDAY is a special service where our non-clergy members lead in all aspects of worship. If you want to participate at one of the three sanctuary services, contact Rev. June Franck.

Sat Dec 13

Join Jackie Campbell for her new Christmas COOKIE DECORATING CLASS
from 9:00am-12:00pm. Registration fee is $40 with an optional starter kit available for $35. Register online at fumcallen.org. Contact Greg Schell.

Sun Dec 14

CHRISTMAS CAROLING with Collide Youth Ministry.

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Join counselor Jimmy Smith on November 23, at 5:00pm in the parlor as he leads us in exploring our God-given inner gifts that can fill our holiday with possibilities of extraordinary moments.

Contact Rev. June Franck.

Contact Information

Alison Thomas

Director of Communications

First United Methodist Church of Allen

972.727.8261

Engaging Online

Need assistance logging into EngagingOnline, your online source to your membership data?

Email Engagingonlinehelp@fumcallen.org.

In This Issue

Welcoming Ministries

Change The World

This Week

Christmas Caroling

Hallelujah Hikers

Next Week & Beyond

Hope for the Holidays

Contact Us!

Click here to read our latest issue.

This Sunday's Sermon

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Walls Came Tumbling Down

Rev. Todd Harris, preaching

Joshua 6: 1-5, 20

Sanctuary

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

This month's COMMUNION OFFERING benefits the ministries and missions of Send Hope, serving the people on the Moskito Coast of Honduras. To learn more, visit send-hope.org.

This Week at The Way

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Blest Be the Tie That Binds
Baptism, Communion, and All Saints

Rev. Brian McPherson, preaching

11:00am Fellowship Hall

Words from The Word

I am the Lord your God who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go.

Isaiah 48:17

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth...and it shall prosper in the thing where I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

Honor the LORD with your substance and with the firstfruits of your increase. So your barns shall be filled with plenty and the presses shall burst forth with new wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Stewardship/Generosity Report

On October 26, we received $49,556 in the offering. We celebrate and thank you for your generosity. By year-end 2014, we need to receive $441,208 to complete our ministry funding and operating budget. If you have questions about your pledge balance; want to set up online contributions; or need information about stock transfers, contact Jackie Campbell. Together, by God's grace, we can do all things through Christ!

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 5,273 hours.

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

Do you have a prayer request?

Communications
The deadline for the Nov 16 Sunday worship bulletin is 5:00pm,
Friday, November 7.

Email items to spark@fumcallen.org.

Click HERE to read the Nov 2 worship bulletin.