Vision 2025...countdown to launch!

During the past fifteen months, the Core Vision Team, facilitated by MGroup of Austin, have prayerfully and carefully constructed a ministry framework for the next chapter of our congregation’s ministry together. It is not a manual of specific plans, but rather a set of initiatives that are designed to set movements loose within our ministry and position our congregation for our next efforts in reaching people with the life-changing love of Christ.

 

Beginning Sunday, September 16 and continuing through October 7, initiatives for three major ministry arenas and two support arenas will be presented. Actualizing these initiatives will dramatically increase our growth in Spirit, number and impact for ministry. There will be implementation teams that will lead these initiatives. Some will involve our standing committees and existing leadership teams and many others will necessitate the creation of new teams and sub-teams.

Be in prayer now as we prepare as a congregation to dream together not only about who our church will become between now and 2025, but also who we will become in that process. God is getting ready to do a new thing in and through us all...in the pulpit, in the pew and the loft, and in the mission fields.

You are invited to the Vision 2025 Launch Lunch

September 23 from 12:15 to 2:30 pm in the Family Life Center.

Do sign up for the Vision 2025 Lunch on September 23 from 12:15-2:30 (website sign-up is available). In worship services, you will be getting snapshots of the Vision, but the lunch gathering is where, after a light lunch and main presentation, you will have opportunity to ask questions and even sign up to be part of one of our implementation teams. This will be an exciting, informative and holy gathering.

Please register so that enough food is provided. Click here to register.

Sermon title: "A Step of Faith"

Scripture:   Joshua 3:1-8, 15-16a

Dr. Pat McCain will be preaching at 8:30, 9:40 and 11 am.

We will have a Pastors installation ceremony. It is an occasion to formally recognize the calling of the pastors, and will include everyone's call to ministry

Please join us in worship this weekend...Sunday at 8:30, 9:40, or 11 am. All services will be in the Family Life Center.

A Celebration of the Call to Ministry This Sunday

It has been my long-held passion that the ministry of lay persons is as important if not more important than the pastors. The specialized call for pastors is to equip the congregation for the fulfillment of their calling. We are leverage people. So this Sunday, about 50 minutes of the service will celebrate your call.

In the last ten minutes, the pastoral team at First Church will be installed. It has been a prayerful process in partnership with our Staff/Parish Relations Committee and three cabinets (Central Texas, Northwest Texas and New Mexico Conferences). God has provided for First Church in a powerful way, just as God has done throughout our staff changes over these past few years. It is appropriate as we prepare to launch Vision 2025 this next week, to join together as clergy and laity, and express our thanks to God for our common ministry together and commit ourselves anew to the call God has placed on us. The service will be beautiful and moving.

The Rev. Dr. Pat McCain will be our preacher in all three services. You will enjoy his inviting way and his heart for Christ. Do make plans to be here Sunday and to bring someone with you. God will definitely show up and God invites us to do the same. See you there.

Sincerely in Christ,

A Fresh Approach to Revelation Coming September 16

5:30-7:00 pm in the Sanctuary

The pastors had a major planning meeting for this study and guess what we discovered? We come from different viewpoints!

We have had 61 early registrants for the class and it’s not too late for you to sign up. We believe the class will stretch, inform and bless you. If you haven’t signed up so far, please do and let us know how many of you are planning to eat so there is plenty of food. Click here to register.

One of the great books we have read in preparation for the course is Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael J. Gorman. If you want to scoop the pastors, you may want to get a copy for yourself.

A feature of the class is participation in a private Facebook page for sharing of questions, insights and resources. Enjoy the food, enjoy the presentations by our pastors and enjoy the learning and growth in small group discussion. We hope you will join us!

Giving last week: $25,084.50

Year to date Revenue: $1,428,404.27

Year to date Expenses: $1,536,065.55

 

2018 Budget: $2,481,067.63 

Camp Big Church is this Sunday, September 9 

All kinders and their parents are invited to the sanctuary for Camp Big Church at 9:45. A light breakfast snack will be served. There will be no Sunday School for our kindergartners this week. Please RSVP to rhanda@fumc-rr-org. Click for details...

Welcome to Boy Scout Troop #157! Join us for a Troop Open House. 

Saturday, September 8, 9:30 am - 12 noon at the First United Methodist Church, Round Rock. We will play scouting games, eat deep-fried Oreos, learn Dutch oven cooking, and work on some Webelos adventure requirements. Also, meet our adult leaders, tour the Troop facility, and check out various Troop equipment.

The By The Book Sunday School Class is resuming on Sunday, September 9. 

We will have a variety of teachers/leaders this season. Our first study will be “What the Prayers of Jesus Tell Us About the Heart of God” by Shane Stanford. Join us for this 5-week study on the true meaning and impact of words Jesus prayed. Location: Bldg.5-148. Time: 9:40 am.

New Fall Bible Study begins Thursday, October 11, 7:00 pm, Bldg. 5-127 

Join us for a six week Bible Study entitled Does It Make Sense To Be A Christian? Hear the evidence that backs up your faith and how that evidence helps you to both defend and proclaim the reason for your hope in Jesus Christ. Click for details...