MEALS ON WHEELS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27

7:00am-1:00pm

Sign up THIS SUNDAY to help serve Collin County Meals on Wheels on Thanksgiving Day, November 27. Early estimates show we'll to prepare almost 900 meals this year so we need more food and more volunteers.

Please pick up a foil pan to fill with mashed potatoes or dressing. Donate green beans, cranberry sauce, or pie.

We also need more volunteers to package meals in the gym: three shifts are available on November 27.

Contact Teresa Gray. 

Let the light of Christ be your guide during Advent.

Pick up your copy TODAY of LIGHT OF LIGHTS, our recommended devotional guide published by Upper Room that will guide you as you read, pray, and reflect on the coming of the Christ Child.

These devotional books, which parallel Rev. Harris' upcoming Advent series, The Light of Christmas, are $7 each. 

Sun Nov 23

LAITY SUNDAY, a special service where our non-clergy members lead in all aspects of worship. 8:15am 9:30am 11am in the FUMC Allen sanctuary.

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Jimmy Smith, LPC, leads us in exploring our God-given inner gifts that can fill our holiday with possibilities of extraordinary moments. 5:00pm in the parlor. Contact Rev. June Franck.

Thu Nov 27

Happy Thanksgiving CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

MEALS ON WHEELS on Thanksgiving Day needs more donations of food as we now expect to assemble almost 900 meals for our neighbors. Sign up on November 23 to help package these meals to be delivered throughout Collin County. Or contact Teresa Gray.

Fri Nov 28

Thanksgiving Holiday CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 

CHANGE THE WORLD

CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

Visit the Change The World CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE table THIS SUNDAY to learn of ways to give back this holiday season.

• TRINITY RIVER MISSION Help us sponsor 10 low income/at risk Dallas families and provide clothing and Christmas gifts. Nov 30-Dec 13.
• SEND HOPE Pick up a ziptop bag from boxes at church entrances and fill with Christmas gifts for the children of Honduras. Nov 30-Dec 21.
• JUNTOS SERVIMOS Donate blankets for Casa Bugambilia in Mexico. Nov 30-Dec 28.
• SHARE A BEAR, BEAR A CARE Leave a new 6"-18" stuffed non-musical teddy bear in the pew to help children in crisis. Nov 30-Dec 21.
• ALLEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH Adopt a child, teen, or senior adult's Christmas wish list. Nov 30-Dec 8.
• BLOOD DRIVE Give the gift of life when the Red Cross returns to our east parking lot. 9am-1pm. Nov 30.
• CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING supports Change The World, Habitat for Humanity and Project Transformation.

CHALLENGES ACCEPTED

• MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP In November, volunteers collected, assembled, and mailed 23 boxes filled with 290 stockings to soldiers in the U.S. and overseas. Contributions helped cover the $1,009.48 needed for postage. 
• KIDS AGAINST HUNGER On November 9, 70 volunteers donated 140 total hours to assemble 24,624 highly nutritious vitamin-fortified meals to be sent to children in Honduras. 

November 30

9:15am-12:30pm

FUMC Allen Gym
 

Friends and neighbors are waiting for your invitation and want to experience the real gift of Christmas.

Stop by the gym on November 30 and create a special keepsake ornament for your family tree and another for you to gift as an invitation to join you in worship during the Advent or Christmas season.

Contact Mary Freeman. 

Sun Nov 30

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

FAMILY ADVENT ACTIVITY 9:15am-12:30pm Gym
  

Fri Dec 5

Bring the whole family to the City of Allen's TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, 6:30pm, at Allen Civic Plaza. FUMC Allen will be there sharing cookies and brownies with the kids. The 35-foot Christmas tree will be lit at 7:15pm.

Sat Dec 6

REBUILDING LIFE Widow Support Group meets offsite  for dinner at the Heritage Ranch Country Club, 6:00pm. This year's gift alternative will be donations for Brother's Keeper. Contact Peggy Weygandt, 214.335.3406.

Last evening of Wednesday night programming for 2014.

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 www.fumcallen.org.

APT G, A PLACE TO GO for Special Needs Youth. It's A Three-Ring Circus, 7:00pm-9:30pm. Youth Wing/Fellowship Hall.

Sun Dec 14

DARING Youth Choir and Catalyst youth ministry invite our youth, grades 7-12, to participate in an AFTERNOON OF CAROLS. We will gather at 4:00pm, load school busses and visit local nursing home and assisted living facilities to sing carols and visit. We will return at 6:00pm for cookies, cocoa and a white elephant gift exchange. ($5 max value - optional)  Absolute last day to register is NOVEMBER 21. Reserve your spot on the bus at www.fumcallen.org.

Thu Dec 18

XYZ CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON 12:00pm Fellowship Hall

Last day to register for UPWARD BASKETBALL & CHEERLEADING, a sports program for grades K-8 that encourages personal and athletic development in a positive Christ-like environment. The $100 league registration fee includes player uniform. Details available at www.fumcallen.org.

Sun Dec 21

DARING Youth Choir CHRISTMAS CAROLING 4:00pm-5:00pm

Youth Ministry TACKY CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY 5:00pm-7:30pm Whirlyball in Plano. 

WOMEN IN MISSION
CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

December 7 12:15pm

FUMC Allen Gym
Join us for our annual Christmas luncheon. Bring your favorite dish for a potluck buffet, enjoy a Christmas sing-a-long led by Sisters In Song, and hear speaker Sandra Fowler present Cook, Create, & Celebrate The Holidays.

Register online, sign up between worship services on November 30, or contact Pam Chevrefils.
 

 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

AUDIT TEAM
The Finance Committee is seeking volunteers with accounting or financial experience to serve on an audit team. Previously the church spent up to $15,000 dollars for an outside firm to conduct a professional audit of the churches financial records. We believe we have the capability within our membership to accomplish this in-house, at no cost, saving money that can go toward more ministry. 

We anticipate that the work would require just one or two meetings to develop procedures and a perhaps a Friday-Saturday to conduct the actual review of the financial records. If you have experience with accounting/auditing and would be willing to serve on this team, please contact Church Administrator Larry Wright.
 

ADVENT WORSHIP
Participate in Advent worship with your family! We need volunteer groups--families, small groups, Sunday school classes-- to light the candles and lead the congregation in liturgy at 8:15am, 9:30am or 11:00am worship during the Advent season. Contact Rev. June Franck. 

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Coming Out of the Darkness is the theme for our youth ministry New Year's Eve Lock-In from 8:00pm, December 31, to 7:00am, January 1.

We need Ministry Safe-certified adults to serve in three-hour shifts or longer.

Not yet Ministry Safe-certified? Just volunteer, and we will train you. Contact Eric Pugh. 

Contact Information

Alison Thomas 

Director of Communications

First United Methodist Church of Allen

972.727.8261

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 5,932 hours.

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