Branching Out Newsletter
 Weekly News
December 12th through December 16th, 2018
Sunday Worship Services
9:00am in the Sanctuary

11:15am in the Sanctuary
Choir Practice: Wednesdays 6:45pm in Sanctuary

Praise Band Practice: Wednesdays 7:45pm in the Sanctuary
Sunday, December 16th

Luke 1:68-79 (NRSV)









BLOOD DRIVE

Sunday, December 16th
8:30am – 12:30pm



Kyle United Methodist Church is hosting a blood drive! Come lend a helping arm and save local lives. It’s easy, just make an appointment online at  https://www.wrbdonor.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/50521 . We’ll be stationed in the Church Parking Lot.

If you have eligibility questions, check out We Are Blood’s website. If you have more specific questions or would like assistance signing up, call We Are Blood at 512-206-1266.

For questions specific to our drive, contact Jodie Claes at  jodieclaes@gmail.com , (512) 787-6711.

*Remember! Eat a full meal before donating and bring your photo ID.
Breakfast Taco Sales this Sunday!

Youth Group is selling breakfast tacos as a fundraiser to raise money for Mid-Winter Retreat and Summer Mission trip to Puerto Rico. All tacos are $2 each. We will have corn tortilla options available as well.

Youth will also be selling their bracelets and crafts on Sunday as part of the fundraiser.

As always, the youth appreciate the support of our congregation!

Come Sing a Joyful Noise!

What: Christmas Caroling
(music packets provided)

When : December 16th

Time: 4pm - 5:30pm

Where: Meet at the Silverado Subdivision Community Pool . Children, Youth and Adults encouraged to come! Parents must accompany their children. No regular youth group this day.

After caroling, we will gather at the parsonage (103 Wallace St) for hot chocolate and cookies!
Children's Nativity Pageant
Sunday, December 23rd at the 11:15 Service

All children are invited to participate in our Children's Nativity Pageant!! Children who are attending the service can put on a costume and will be directed on stage when it is their turn... no practice or preparation needed! Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to get in costume.

Join us for the
Best Birthday Party Ever!

Sunday, December 23rd at 10:00am.

We'll celebrate Jesus' birthday with games, snacks and crafts during Sunday School time in the Family Life Center and then get ready for the Children's Nativity Pageant at 11:15!
SAVE THE DATE!

Youth Christmas Lock-in
Friday December 21st 8:00pm - Saturday, December 22nd 8:00am

It's the most wonderful time of year! Time for our Youth Christmas Lock-in!  All youth 6th-12th grade (and their friends!) are welcome to come! All youth must have a current permission slip on file (they will be provided if you need one). If your youth is not able to stay the whole night, that is ok too! You are welcome to pick them up at any time.

We will make pizzas, play games, do a Gingerbread House decorating competition, watch movies, have a Nerf War and more!   Please bring a $10 gift for a Gift Exchange.

Please sign up below if your youth is attending. We will need help Chaperoning the evening and help with food and supplies as well! Sign up if you're able.
Gift and Craft Market Fundraiser Success

Thank you to all who gave of their time and to those who donated items to make this year's Gift and Craft Market a success! Because of your generosity, the Craft Market was able to generate over $1700 for the church!
Fill the Stable Project
 
During Advent, the congregation at KUMC prepares our hearts for the Christ child by remembering that Christmas is not our birthday but Jesus' birthday. If Jesus transformed lives and changed the world, we want to honor him and follow in his footsteps for his birthday.
 
This year, instead of giving money for poinsettias in memory or honor of loved ones, we are giving to Heifer International so that livestock and training can be given to families around the world. Not only does Heifer International give livestock and training, they follow up with families and communities. The most beautiful of the Heifer principles is called "Passing on the Gift." After their livestock give birth to their first offspring or their projects are established, families that received resources from Heifer pass on these gifts of first fruits to other families in need in their community, allowing them to help others as they have been helped. So the gift of being blessed to be a blessing is given through your original gift, too, as it multiplies!
 
Ways to donate to Heifer:
 
·          Look for bulletin inserts forms if you want to give in memory or honor of someone, and include in offering plate with your check or envelope marked "heifer"
 
·          Children will be given banks during Children's time and Sunday School to collect change to donate to Heifer
 
Watch the stable in the Sanctuary fill up with animals as we make our way through Advent to the celebration of Jesus' birthday!
 
 
Check out Heifer.org for more information about their work!

The Living the Questions Adult Sunday School class will begin its next study series on Sunday, October 14th, Prayer and Your Life.

Throughout the 11 week series, we will explore our current prayer lives, how the Bible tells us to pray and who to pray for, how to be more mindful in our prayers, when we should pray, and so much more.


 Join us as we all grow in our prayer individual prayer lives and explore prayer as a means to support each other, the church, and the world!
PRAY BALL Kicking For Winter

On Friday, December 7th, PRAY BALL, our Kyle UMC Kickball team will play their first game in what is their 9th year of playing in the Kyle Parks and Recreation kickball league.

This, the Winter 2018-19 season will begin on December 7 and run through February 23, 2019. The 16 members of the team include Anne Duhon, Ariel Martin, Drew Guingrich, Emily Guingrich, Frankie Bates, Jeff Earle, Leslie Carrales, Mario Mata, Michael Martin, Paul Mojica, Sean Claes, Tammy Swaton, Thomas Simcoe, Ann Miller, Tabitha Phillips and John Rogers.

We will play Friday evenings. If you’d like to keep updated about PRAY BALL and the schedule, visit the team’s Facebook page - 

Pray Ball is a mission of the church where we strive to be examples of Christians in the world and meet people where they are to pray with them and play a silly kids game.

PRAY HARD. PLAY HARD. HAVE FUN.
KUMC Blessings Box

During Advent, you can support our Blessings Box by doing a Reverse Advent Calendar . Collect items for each day of the month and bring to the church!

Remember, you can always drop off items directly to the box if you have them. Please share with friends...this box is for the whole community to "Take what you need, Leave what you can and Above all, be blessed!"
1. Cereal
2. Peanut butter
3. Stuffing mix
4. Boxed potatoes
5. Boxed Macaroni and cheese
6. Canned fruit
7. Canned tomatoes
8. Canned tuna
9. Dessert mix
10. Jar of applesauce
11. Canned sweet potatoes
12. Cranberry sauce
13. Canned beans
14. Box of crackers
15. Rice
16. Oatmeal
17. Pasta
18. Pasta sauce
19. Chicken noodle soup
20. Soup
21. Canned corn
22. Canned peas
23. Canned carrots
24. Canned green beans
25. Diapers
SAVE THE DATE! Youth Mid-winter – February 22-24, 2019

2019 Mid-winter February 22-24, 2019
(Friday, 7 pm – Sunday, 11 am)
Stoney Creek Ranch (New Ulm, TX) 

More information coming soon!
*No Youth Group 12/16. Youth can go caroling with the church from 4:00-6:00pm. See Caroling information above.

Join us for Food, fun and fellowship every Sunday from
6-8pm in the Family Life Center.
All 6th-12th graders and their friends are invited!

If you have any questions, please contact Youth Director, Alissa Villarreal at childrenandyouth.kumc@gmail.com .

Sunday Night Youth Group is starting back up again and we need your help! 

The first Sunday of the month we do a fellowship meal and all the other Sundays we just hang out and have snacks.  

We could really use help with those meals and snacks! If you, your family, your ministry group or Sunday School group would like to sponsor a meal or snacks, please sign up below!

You are welcome to make a monetary donation, provide supplies for a meal, prepare a meal and drop it off or come prepare the meal on Sunday and stay to hang out! Our youth really appreciate the support of our congregation! 
We're adding a class in January!

Our Children's Ministry is growing! In order to better accommodate growing class sizes and age ranges, we will be re-introducing our Kinder-2nd grade class in January!

We will have three Children's Sunday School Classes! Toddler-PreK, Kinder-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade!
For more information, or for ways you can help with Sunday School, please contact Children's and Youth Ministry Director, Alissa Villarreal at childrenandyouth.kumc@gmail.com
Join us Sundays at 10:00am in the Family Life Center for Sunday School.

  • More show than tell
Animated Bible story videos use visuals and sound effects, giving kids the opportunity to retell the story in their own words.

  • Bible-centered approach
Kids interact with the Bible in every lesson, following the arc of the biblical narrative.

  • Continue the conversation
Kids walk away from lessons, retelling the stories they’ve learned and taking home completed activities.

We'll have 3 classes for the Fall: Toddler-PreK, Kinder- 2nd, 3rd-5th grade
Youth Sunday School

Spending time in community with other believers is an important part of every student’s spiritual journey. That’s why Bible Studies for Life: Students is designed around a plan to help disciple to students with wisdom, starting with real-life issues and connecting them to God’s Word in an intentional way.
Young Adults Group
The Kyle UMC Young Adults group is made up of all church attendees (no church membership required) between the ages of 18 - 40! Young Adults at KUMC currently serve in various areas of worship and church life including the Sanctuary Choir and Praise Band, the Missions Committee, Sunday School Teachers/Support Teachers, the Youth Leader, and many more. In addition, the group coordinates the Reverse Advent, support each other through a Facebook group, and will present other service and social activities near future.

If you are a member or simply attend KUMC and would be interested in getting involved with this wonderful group of Young Adults, please contact the Young Adult Representative, Krystyn Jensen at k.jensen0713@gmail.com or 512-618-7478. 


UMW Christmas Party
Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 7pm
At the home of Natha Caldwell
333 Silverado Drive
Kyle, TX 78640
Phone: 512-618-3908


All Women of the Church and Friends are cordially invited to come enjoy an evening of merriment, food and sharing as we celebrate the Christmas season.
We will be filling bags for our annual Christmas Giving to Kyle Police Department, Kyle Fire Department and Kyle Middle Schools. Home baked items and any purchased snacks are a welcome addition – please have them wrapped for giving.

Also, everyone is welcome to bring a $5.00 gift for our Christmas Gift Exchange that is the highlight of the party.
If you need a ride, please call Natha.

UMW News

DECEMBER 2018 CHEER AND TWILIGHT CIRCLES

The KUMW CIRCLES will not have their regular meetings in December due to the UMW Christmas Party on Saturday, December 15th – please see the notice in the weekly KUMC newsletter for more details. We will meet again next year starting in January.

We invite anyone interested in learning more about what we do to share in God’s love to
please come and visit the Cheer Circle. We welcome new faces and new ideas. We enjoy
working on our ministries and helping support local charities; focusing on women and children’s
needs. If you want to hear more about this wonderful opportunity of faith and service, please
call Circle Leader Lynne Kyle at 512-504-3888 or Secretary Shirley Ellis at 512-262-7292 with any
questions. We can offer a ride too!

The Twilight Evening Circle is an opportunity for those of us that cannot attend the daytime Cheer Circle to also share in devotional, prayers, fellowship and friendship. If you have any questions please contact Joan Goodwin, 972-679-3600. 
Prayer Ministry meets every Tuesday at 2 pm in the Sanctuary

Please visit KyleUMC.com and click on "ONLINE GIVING/E_TITHE at the top of the screen to get started. 

Directions on how to do this are located in the Front of the Sanctuary or in the Fellowship Hall.
Küber -- When you need a Spiritual lift...
The United Methodist Church not only supports helping conserve our earth's resources but also helping those who might need a lift to church. That's why we're starting our latest ministry: Küber. Küber is KUMC's way of giving our congregation a spiritual lift! (thanks  Paul Mojica )
If you feel called to share your ride, please let us know! If you're someone who needs a ride, let us know that too! We would love to help match people up.
email: kuber@ kyleumc.org
Dates To Remember!

12/16 Breakfast Tacos
Blood Drive
Caroling in the Community 4-6pm
No regular youth group
12/18 Prayer Ministry Meeting 2:00pm (Sanctuary)
12/19 Choir Practice 6:45pm (Sanctuary)
12/19 Praise Band Practice 7:45pm (Sanctuary)


If you would like to submit something for the weekly newsletter, you need to submit on Mondays, so we can send it out by Wednesdays. 

Here is the information/suggestions we need:
What is happening?
What committee or group is doing it?
What day? Time? Location? Deadline?
Who to contact (name, phone, email)

Please send submissions to admin@kyleumc.org
|Kyle United Methodist Church| 512-268-2331 |  admin@kyleumc.org | kyleumc.com