-- Week of November 17, 2021 -- |
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Just Thanksgiving is a two-part series that explores how gratitude and happiness are directly connected. The act of being grateful seems simple, but it requires that we look deeper within ourselves. While sometimes finding gratitude is difficult when we are struggling, it becomes easier the more effort we give the practice. Gratitude is accepting reality and choosing to be grateful in spite of our first reaction. By deciding to replace ingratitude with gratitude, our worldview changes and we are happier. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we continue this series and Stewardship Celebration Sunday (Luke 17:11-18)!
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Worship with us in person or online
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Harvest Miracle Stewardship Seed: Giving |
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My name is Mark Howe, and I have traveled ten times to our Kenya Village. During each trip, I’ve experienced radical witness to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. They are truly planting the seeds.
Through First Grapevine’s Kenya Mission, we sponsor 12-20 evangelists across Kenya. Each evangelist touches thousands of lives traveling across the rural areas of Kenya. Each touch plants a seed, delivering the promise of Christ. I know this work would not be possible without the support of First Grapevine pastors and staff, whose time is not covered in mission giving. That’s why we gladly make our stewardship pledge for annual tithing. Blessings to all as we prepare to provide the seeds necessary to fund the budget of this church. The general budget provides the structure and launchpad for witnessing across our local and global villages.
Pictured is Sabachi Lodupoi (William) from the Kisima Circuit. The Kisima Circuit is a rural Maasai area, outside of Meru, Kenya. William travels between Maasai villages to bring people to Christ. Many are believers in tribal witch doctors or are Muslim. At times he is beaten and run off, only to return the next day to try again. One day, he lost his brother in a fight over cattle grazing in an open range area. He was back working for God in that rival village the very next day. William has incredible faith and is bold to share it with his people.
We have sponsored William since August 2014 with a mission gift of $125 per month to support his evangelism. We provide the funding for William to plant the seeds. First Grapevine provides prayers, encouragement, and presence in addition to mission gifts. We pray for them, and they for us. Their presence and our presence with them have given tremendous mutual growth to our faith. The work in Kenya is challenging yet, life-changing. We have the easy part of sending money and moral support, but it provides a lesson and inspiration to see what God can do both here and in Africa if we only TRY! If we only try, God will do the rest. Plant the seed, and it will grow.
Mark Howe
Stewardship Committee Member
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VAST Thanksgiving Dinner
Nov. 18 | 5:30 PM | Family Life Center
VAST will be holding their Thanksgiving dinner for the families on November 18 at 5:30 in our FLC. Greeters and servers are needed to show these families our First Grapevine hospitality. Please email Pastor Ali ([email protected]) if you can help. Thank you.
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Live Nativity on Christmas Eve
Dec. 24 | Outside of Sanctuary
We are so blessed to have a Live Nativity on Christmas Eve this year from 4:30-5:30 and 6:30-8:15 in front of the Sanctuary!
Children and adults are encouraged to participate, costumes will be provided and there will be live animals in the stable! This is a wonderful opportunity to bring Christmas alive!
We would love to have volunteers for the following things:
- Stable designer and builders
- Seamstresses to help with very simple costumes
- Angel, Shepherds, Wisemen & Wisewomen
- A Holy Family or two; Mary, Joseph and a baby!
If you cannot participate, be sure and come by before or after your preferred service, bring your family and your friends! Come let us adore Him together!
Please e-mail Sue Schultz ([email protected]) that you want to be part of this amazing Christmas tradition!
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Youth Mini Mission
Nov. 19 - 21 | Friday at 7 PM Sunday at 4 PM | Founders Chapel Atrium
Our Youth Mini Mission is quickly approaching and we are so excited. We love to take any opportunity to share God's love with our local community through mini missions. Register for the three-day event below and make your payment of $25 online by selecting " Youth Payments" from the dropdown.
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Methodist Bike Project
Assembly
December 9
Through your generous gifts over the past 35 consecutive years, our church has been providing new bicycles and helmets to the Methodist Children's Home in Waco. Thank you for all who have supported this project in the past! We are now accepting financial gifts to help with this year’s cost to provide 100 bikes and helmets to the children at MCH. Please note “MCH Bike Project” in the memo section your check or give online by using the link below. Bikes will be delivered to FUMC and assembled on Friday, December 9. Stay tuned for more details.
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Thanksgiving at the Slab:
Cooks Needed:
The Church on the Slab ministers to those less fortunate in Fort Worth. Our church provides a meal after the service on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Last year, they were not able to have Thanksgiving Dinner due to COVID-19. This year, dinner is on!
Our church has been asked to provide vegetables for (60) people for the Thanksgiving dinner on November 25, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. We need mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, yams, other vegetables and cranberry sauce. If you can cook but not attend the dinner, I will arrange to pick up the food and deliver it.
If you are interested in being involved in either the 3rd Sunday or Thanksgiving, please contact Jeff Murphy [(817) 793-3168 cell or j[email protected]].
Non-Cooking Help Wanted:
Additionally, there are also opportunities to serve as table hosts, servers, kitchen prep and greeters. If you are interested in these positions or if you just plan to attend the dinner, please contact Pastor Cherryll Wallace at the Slab. She would like to know how many are coming. (817) 353-0612 cell or [email protected].
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Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
National Collection: Nov. 15-22
There are millions of children in need around the world, many who have never received a gift. We want them to know God's gift of salvation through trusting and believing in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior and Lord. We have 2 ways to prayerfully prepare to pack your shoebox gift.
1) We have created a BASBO (Build A Shoebox Online) website specifically for our church. With just a few clicks, you can pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift online to help share the Good News of Jesus Christ with a boy or girl in need around the world. Simply select toys and other fun items you would like to include from the collection, and personalize your gift with your own letter and photo.
2) Pick up a shoebox in the atrium/foyers and follow the instructions in the brochure on "How to Pack a Shoebox", fill it with the items you choose for a boy or girl and return the shoebox here during the National Collection Week, November 15-22. Most importantly pray for the child who will receive your gift. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Neil Anderson ([email protected])
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Youth Camping Trip
Dec. 3 - 5 | 4:15 PM | Founders Atrium
We've planned an amazing camping trip for the Youth this year. We have rented an awesome house near Jacksboro with dorm-style bedrooms and bathrooms and a firepit. Get ready for fishing, hiking, and more! We will leave on Friday right after school and return to church on Sunday afternoon. The cost per person is $75 and payments can be made to the youth payments fund online at FirstGrapevine.org/give with "camping trip" in the notes field. Scholarships are available.
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Campfire Christmas
Dec. 4 | 5 - 7 PM | Family Life Center
Families are welcome to attend the Campfire Christmas on December 4, from 5-7 PM at the Family Life Center. We will have fun and fellowship creating crafts, playing games, and making s'mores. If you're interested in attending or serving, we have a place for you. Please email Sandy Robinson to RSVP ( [email protected]). |
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Parents Night Out
Dec. 10 | 6 - 9 PM | 2013 and Leach Hall
Parents Night Out is back! Bring the kids for a Christmas Party with games, snacks, crafts, and a movie, while you have a night to yourself! Children 3rd grade and younger will meet in Room 2013, and the Tweens will meet in Leach Hall. Mark your calendar and sign up today, because spots will be limited! If you have questions or would like to know how you can serve our young families by volunteering with Parents Night Out, email Monica ([email protected]) or Sandy ([email protected]) for more information.
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Each year the Staff Parish Relations Committee gives everyone the opportunity to give toward a Christmas gift for our pastors and church staff to honor and thank them for their hard work. We would really encourage you to consider a gift to thank them for the hard work they have put in this year. If you would like to give toward this gift, please mark “staff love offering” in the memo of your online gift, app, or check. Gifts may be placed in the offering plate or brought to the church office. The deadline to give toward this gift is Sunday, December 12.
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Our worship spaces will be decorated with poinsettias for Christmas. This is a beautiful way to remember or honor your loved ones this holiday season. Please complete the information below to purchase your poinsettia(s). You may take your plants home with you after the Christmas Eve Services on December 24 or designate them to be given away. The cost is $13 per plant. Mark checks with “poinsettias” in the memo or pay online below. The order deadline is Monday, December 10.
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Last Week's Numbers & Gifts |
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Online: 658
In-Person: 329
Sunday School: 173
YTD Baptisms: 6
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Gifts have been given to the Endowment Fund in memory of Carol Hoffmeyer by:
Suzi & Dick Guckel
Kim & Ed Crater
Linda & Joe Krimm
Angelia & Mike Ozymy
Darlene & David Florence
Zona & Jim Peterson
A gift has been given to Youth Missions in memory of Delbert Yelsma (James Lawrence’s grandfather) by Kim & Ed Crater.
A gift has been given to Community Building Fund in memory of Jose Palma, Grant Palma’s grandfather, by Kim & Ed Crater.
A gift has been given to the Be Our Guest ministry in memory of Brian James by the Heymann Foundation.
A gift has been given to the Endowment fund by Carmen & Rocky Drew.
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We have been up and running now since June 1, 2021. Thank you to everyone who has been involved with this project. Special thanks for all the donations we have received and those of you who have shopped with us. It is so good to hear people say, "We are so glad you have opened back up," and for those who tell us, "We just found your Thrift Shop and love shopping here." It also gives us great joy to see someone so excited to find that one item that they have been looking for and that thrills them. We could not do this without the help from all our church family and the volunteers we have.
We will be closed for Thanksgiving, from November 21 - 27. We will reopen for shopping on Tuesday, November 30. Come and check us out if you haven't. We will close for the Christmas and New Years' holidays from December 19 - January 3. We will open for an exciting 2022 on January 4, 2022.
The Thrift Shop needs men's, women's, girls', and boys' winter coats.
We are still in need of volunteers. If you are interested in seeing what we do, please come work with us one day and let us show you. We laugh a lot, pray for each other, and try our best to show love to all of our customers.
I cannot put into words what the Thrift Shop has done for me. It was an answered prayer at a time in my life when I needed to be surrounded by God-loving people. I have often made the statement that this Shop has saved me and made me a much better person. My prayer for you is that perhaps you would get what you are looking for and not even know you were looking for it.
We wish each and everyone one of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Vickie Simpson
Thrift Shop Manager
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Community Building Corner: Salute To Veterans Dinner
It was an honor to host our Veterans during the Salute to Veterans Dinner. We can't say 'Thank You' enough to our Veterans. Thank you to our keynote speaker, Chaplain, Maj. T. Nathan Tucker and special guest, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne. Thank you to our sponsors, Matt and Nicole Wilson and Family and Lucas Funeral Homes, Community Building Committee members, staff, volunteers, and Veterans who made this event possible.
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We are so excited to start ramping up our ministries and missional activities. This is just a friendly reminder that we have some procedures to make your ministry or missional events successful. Our Media and Communication Guide lists deadlines for e-news, updates to the website, ministry spotlights, videos, and more. The First Grapevine Brand Identity Standard Guide will help to ensure that your marketing materials are in line with the church's brand standards. If you have an upcoming event, be sure to let us know by filling out the Room Request form on our website (FirstGrapevine.org/roomrequest) or by entering it into ServiceU so that our staff can help make your event possible. We couldn't do church without you. Thank you for helping others experience and share God's love!
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First Grapevine, A United Methodist Church
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