(Luke 5: 17-26)

Join us this Sunday as we discuss the power of community and the responsibility we have as a church to help others become closer to God so that they can find healing.

Our live stream will be available for our 9:30 AM service at FirstGrapevine.org/live. You may also watch the pre-recorded worship on Sundays at FirstGrapevine.org/watch, on YouTube, or our First Grapevine app. 

January 18 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and our Church will be closed in observance of the holiday.

This coming Thursday, January 14 at 6:30 pm and then again on Sunday, January 17 at 3:00 pm we will be offering our first community conversations for the New Year. This in place of the town hall meetings we have done before. Join me in prayer for our time as we share the good finish to the 2020 as well as the upcoming plans for the New Year. All are invited to register and attend. There will be opportunities for questions as well.

This Sunday, join us for our monthly Holy Communion from 12:00 PM (Noon) -1:00 PM at the south side of the Sanctuary. We will be collecting $20 Walmart or grocery store gift cards that will be distributed to GCISD students and families during the GCISD food distribution. Support those in the community and make plans to join your faith family for this wonderfully holy time. Our Drive-Thru Communions will now be scheduled on the first Sunday of each month beginning on February 7 from 12:00 (noon) - 1:00 pm. Join us in praying for our time.

During the first meeting, on January 19, 9:30-10:15 a.m., we will learn, “What Is A Healthy Lifestyle?” Adopt a healthy lifestyle with a focus on diet, nutrition, sleep, de-stressing, and movement. Email bonitar@fumcg.org to receive the Zoom invite.

Jan. 19 | 5-6 PM | FLC Tunnel

Tweens gather on Zoom every Sunday at 4 PM for check-in and catching up with one another, listening to a lesson, sacred circle and a time of blessing. We welcome all 4th - 6th graders to pop in even if you can't make it every week. Weekly leaders are Nicole Wilson and Mickie Siek. Questions? Contact (sandyr@fumcg.org).

Here we are — almost a year now of pandemic living. We don't know about you, but the duration is getting to us. We never thought we'd still be figuring out how to stay connected to one another, but we are. 2021 has it's own set of challenges and if you feel like sharing, Holy Listening is for you. This is your time to explore how you are feeling or have some chat time with Sandy. You'll have her undivided attention and anything discussed will be confidential. Register for a 15 minute slot on February 10th after school. We'll pretend to be face to face and make the most of Zoom. In the comment section, ADD THE PHONE NUMBER Sandy should use to contact you or method you would like to be contacted. If you have any questions ahead of time, feel free to contact Sandy (sandyr@fumcg.org).

As we enter the New Year we do so from a strong financial place. Thanks to each of you and your generous and sacrificial giving in the month of December, we celebrate all God has done among us. The list is long:

Yes, the list is long. God has been moving and working among us and through us my friends. As we begin this New Year we have much for which to be thankful. Thank you for being the hands, the feet, the heart of our Lord Jesus in the lives of people. I am blessed and proud to be the pastor of this congregation. And I have even better news for you. The best is yet to come!!

See you on the road,

Travis

I John 4:7

Wilhoite’s 40th Anniversary is today! Celebrate from 4-6 with free hors d’oeurves (and an edible arrangement from First Grapevine) and $1 draft beer. Lunch special rollback price today of $4. Stop in and wish our neighbor a Happy Anniversary! 

Our new healthcare ministry team has been busy. First Grapevine has created a partnership with Baylor Grapevine to help support their staff in the midst of this overwhelming pandemic. We want to write thank you messages to each staff person, which means we need to collect 1,000 thank you notes and need your help to accomplish this.

We need each of you to write as many thank you notes as you can to the staff at Baylor Grapevine expressing our thanks and prayers for them as they seek to keep us healthy in this pandemic. We ask that you do not seal the envelope as we are going to add some items that will hope will be helpful in reminding them that God is present and with them. As you complete your thank you cards, you may drop them in the basket with a bow on it at the front of the church office. Friends this is an all hands on deck ask. All of us can write a thank you note. They need to be reminded of how grateful we are for them and what God is doing through them. Let's get to work on those thank you cards.

Our healthcare ministry will also be supplying gift food baskets for all 59 departments at the hospital. We are working on that now. If you would like to help. please email Travis at (travisf@fumcg.org). Pray for those we are reaching and pray for our healthcare ministry as we seek to be good and faithful partners and offer them the love of God.

Our Loving Gratitude campaign is still in process! We have received commitments from 169 families totaling just a little over one million dollars! Thank you!!! However, we still need $500,000 more to meet our budgeted needs for 2021. The Finance team has worked tirelessly to produce a 2021 budget that is balanced and reflects, as best they can, our current economic situation. We are so thankful for this congregation’s commitment to helping us begin the year strong! Your commitments help the team plan for upcoming ministry projects and missional ways to serve our community. 

If you have not yet turned in your commitment, you may do it in several ways. You may go to our website www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/commit and complete the form. Please note that this form will not set up a payment method for you…this is only a commitment for 2021 giving. You may mail your commitment to 422 Church St, Grapevine, TX 76051 Attn: Trudy Hughes, or you may drop it off in the mailbox outside the church office door. OR, if you don’t want to mess with any of this, you can just contact Trudy Hughes at 817-481-2559 x 209, and she’ll be happy to get you all set up!

We are grateful for the way God is moving through our church…we see tangible evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence every day. Our country needs God's presence and work through the ministry of our church in this time more than ever. We are grateful for your prayers for our nation, our community, our church, and our families. We are grateful for each of you and your commitment to making our church the place people know to come to experience and share God’s love! 

In loving gratitude,

Your Stewardship Team

First Grapevine, A United Methodist Church

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