To my fellow pilgrims on this journey:
We find ourselves once again at the beginning of a new year together. For Jan and me these past 12 months have been an incredible blessing. We give God all the praise and glory for bringing us to this place. We have found a love and a community that has taken us deeper into the heart of God and for that we will always be grateful.
As for you all, my goodness what you have done, and what God has done in you and through you is spectacular. You have rallied around one another to care for one another. You have stepped up to serve every time there has been a need. You have been willing to engage in this life with Christ with great abandon. I see you. I see the Spirit of God in you. I see the beauty of the Risen Christ through you.
One remarkable note for 2022 is your generosity. I have said time and again that when we are generous we are most like God - and you have been generous throughout the year. So much so that I am humbled and excited to tell you that this church finished 2022 with more in giving than in expenses (and that speaks volumes as we ended up needing to spend more than we had budgeted). Ending the year with a surplus also happened in 2021, and maybe 2020, but both those years included PPP funds the church received. This year it was all due to your faithful giving. The Spirit of God's generosity has certainly taken hold in this place! Well done, good and faithful servants.
As for 2023, we have much to look forward to. The Activity Center is sure to be fully operational in the coming months. That will mean there will be opportunities for fellowship and connection in ways I know we all enjoy. We will soon also begin a new once-a-week afterschool ministry - "Fruits of the Spirit". We will need to be generous with our time and energy for that to be effective and meaningful (but we know the spirit of generosity is strong in this church). Additionally, I hope to see more small groups formed and possibly meeting in homes where people can more deeply connect and live a life of faith together. And I expect we will begin to dream a bit about what God has in store for us and how we might ready ourselves and our facilities for that work. There is much to look forward to and to pray about.
I am excited to begin working with the 2023 Board of Stewards and all the members of the church to establish some goals and set the vision for the year ahead. If this year is anything like the last, by the end of 2023 we will have good reason to praise God for all He has done.
Thank you for letting me share the journey.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
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Upcoming Events and Happenings
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Children’s Corner
January
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FUMC Brenham Children's Ministry
This is a brand new year! What a fantastic time to pray for a fresh start and a renewed focus on Jesus. Each day as you pray for your prayer partner please consider praying for:
Dear God, Thank you for all the exciting things this New Year will bring. Thank you for the chance to make changes and set goals. Please help (PRAYER PARTNER) to make realistic resolutions and remind him/her to keep trying even when they fail. Thank you for giving us a fresh start every day. I know you walk beside (PRAYER PARTNER) to cheer him/her on. Thank you for this New Year. Amen.
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Thank you to our awesome Children's Sunday School teachers during the fall. You have been a huge help: Kathy Campbell, Casey Henly, Haley Henly, Angela Rhodes, Justin Rhodes. Also this semester we had many of the youth help as well: Braelyn, Brynn, Finnigan, Graceyn, Mason, and Trinity. Thank you for being willing to step in and get your hands dirty! Finally, a huge thank you to our Children's Church teachers: Graceyn Stroech and Emmie Behrens. You two stepped in when you saw a need and you have been rocking the stories and activities with the Celebration children each week. Thank you!
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Handbell Rehearsal
Wednesday evenings 5:45 PM
in the Fellowship House
Choir practice
Wednesday evenings 7:00 PM
in the sanctuary
Rehearsals
Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM
in the sanctuary
Anyone who would like to participate
is welcome to come or contact Matt
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Members
Audrey Boney
Beverly Duree
Marshia Foster
Jan Herbst
Virginia Hodde
David Husmann
Gary & Kay Ivy
Mary Jane & Clarence Jean
Beverly Leyrer
Shirley McIntyre
Debbie Pauler
Paul & Linda Pipes
Jean Pool
Red Powell
Pastor Kay Reed
Tom Rogers
Edna Rote
Cathleen Smestuen
Jan Stratton
Jody Tyson
Hank Voelter
Elaine & Ron Walberg
Faye Wubbenhorst
Others
Family of Cheryl Buenger
Bruce Buenger
Chuck Burley
Mark Collier
Dorene Drake
Haley Dugas
Rick Fitzgerald
Yvonne Hegefeld
Kathi Ivy
Sharon & Fred Ketcham
David & Linda Kiemsteadt
Alyssa Lasater
Don Manchester
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Kay and Douglas Marek
Michael Mathis
Susan McMurray
Cindy Mullins
Janice Murphy
Steve Nelson
Lisa & Georgie Oresco
Jim Pool
Carrie Polwart
Karen Presley
Sue Quin
Stan Royal
Frankie Rudd
Barbara Scates
Cory Schibler
Britany Sims
James Sockwell
Marissa Spangler
Susan Stollman
Barbara Wilganowski
Linda Wilson
Amy Wrigley
Emerie
Linda-Gary Hewitt’s Aunt
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Please let us know if the prayers of the church have been answered so we can praise God and keep this list updated.
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Sunday December 4, 2022
Offering: $16,641.00
Sunday December 11, 2022
Offering: $26,216.00
Sunday O December 18, 2022
Offering: $16,900.00
Sunday December 25, 2022
Offering: $15,605.00
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2022 Budget: $623,815.00
_______________________
Offering Needed Each
Week: $11,997.00
Average Weekly Offering
YTD: $11,784.00
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Worship & Discipleship Opportunities
First United Methodist Church
9:15 AM:
Celebration Service
9:30 AM:
Connections Small Group
9:45 AM:
Faith Builders Sunday School Class
Adult Fellowship Class
10:00 AM:
Sunday School classes:
Children and Youth
Adult Seekers Class
11:00 AM:
Traditional Service
The Traditional Service is broadcast each Sunday on
Brenham Radio
KWHI/AM 1280 at 11:00 a.m.
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Newsletter Deadline
Your next newsletter deadline will be
Thursday, January 19, 2023 by 4:00 PM.
If you have a submission for the newsletter, please email your written article to fumc@fumcbrenham.org or submit a handwritten article to the church office.
Thank you.
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Methodist Weekday
Childcare Development Center
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CLASSES WILL RESUME AS SCHEDULED ON:
JANUARY 17, 2023
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408 North Baylor, Brenham, TX 77833-3213
979-836-2008
Methodist Weekday Child Development Center
979-830-8661
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Church Staff
Rev. Mike Lindstrom, Senior Pastor
Pastor Madison Garcia, Associate Pastor
Chris Ann Stroech, Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Matt Hulon, Minister of Music
Diane Garrett, Organist
Maxwell Burgess, Celebration Worship Leader
Kris Trevino, Office Manager
Julia Ramirez Administrative Assistant
Michelle Lookingbill, Lead Administrator
Lelli Hernandez, Child Development Center Director
Lelli Hernandez, Nursery Coordinator
Cindy Mathis, Custodian
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