Thank you for your very generous support of this year's First United Methodist Church
Angel Tree! There are only a few "angels" left on the Rosenberg, Texas
tree. Imagine the smile you will put on your child's face
as they open your present this Christmas. Without you,
November 24, 2009  Volume 24, Issue 45
First United Methodist Church
Mailing address: 1106 Fourth Street
they would not have a Christmas at all! Don't forget to
Phone: 281-342-3333 or 281-232-3246
Sanctuary: 1127 Third Street
return your UNWRAPPED gift (with the ornament
Web site: www.fumcrosenberg.net
Rosenberg, Texas 77471
attached to it) NO LATER than THIS Sunday, Nov.
Ramblings:
Fax: 281-342-3333
29th.
Thanks, God!
Rosenberg Gazebo Lighting Thanksgiving is almost upon us. The
Check us out
traditional day of overeating, watching
in color!
The Children's Choirs will be singing at the City of Rosenberg's Annual Gazebo Lighting on football, and getting ready for the
Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:30pm. Come hear the children sing, see a special visitor shopping on Black Friday, is just a day
from the North Pole, and enjoy refreshments. The Gazebo is located at City Hall on Fourth or two away. It is a day made great in
our nation’s history by the stories of
Street in Rosenberg.
Pilgrims and Indians (Native Americans
for the more politically correct among
Dessert Theater on Dec. 6 us) getting together to give thanks to
God. It is a day we should be using to
Sunday, Dec. 6, at 10:00 a.m., the Believers Sunday School Class will present a Christ- offer thanks for our many blessings, but
instead we are most thankful for the
mas play called “The Magi, A Journey of Faith.” Please come to the Fellowship Hall for jumbo sized bucket of TUMS we picked
dessert and coffee during the Sunday School hour! You’ll laugh a little and gaze in wonder up at SAMS to get ready for the day.
at the profound message unfolding onstage. Admission is free. Brought to you by Miss Teri Have you ever thought about the
(Mathis) and the Believers Sunday School Class: Allyson, Brody, Chelsea, Dylan, Emma, situation those folks were in when they
sat down to give thanks? They were
Hayden, Katrina, Lauren, Justine, Logan, Matthew, Meg, Olivia, Owen. facing a terrible winter. Remember, they
were up on the east coast. If the east
Christopher Bailey coast was such a pleasant winter
Jason Berdou destination, then explain why so many
rich northerners have homes down here
Scott Cayton for the winter.
Jason Johnson During their first winter nearly half of
Jeremiah Judkin their people died. Sickness and cold
knocked them off and nearly doomed
Rachel Miller the entire group. They had barely made
Dannielle Pope Needler it through that winter alive and had been
Cash Radowick able to scratch a living from the land
during the summer months. But now
they were facing the prospects of
Please Pray For One Another another winter. They had to be afraid of
what was coming. There had to be a
sense of impending doom as the days
Concerns: (11-01) Scott Davis, Susan Scarborough got shorter and the wind blew colder.
But it was in this setting that they
(11-08) Terrie Bradley, Wayne Morris, Linda Moody, Elaine Bergman gathered to give thanks to God.
(11-15) Bill Castillo, the Bates and Clayton families, Bob Whitley, Al They surely gave thanks for God
pulling them through the harsh winter.
Liebman and family, Larry Bolton, Selma Danklefs, Henry Wittneben, They gave thanks for God giving them
the help of the Native Americans who
Debra Radowick’s father, Maddie (a second grader in Mandy helped them prepare for the upcoming
Growns’ classroom at Campbell Elementary who has a brain tumor) winter all summer long. They thanked
God for all he had done, but they also
(11-22) Robert Hill, Beau and June McGuire, Roger Clark thanked him for what he was going to
do. They believed that he was going to
get them through the next winter and so
they thanked him in advance.
www.fumcrosenberg.net
That is simply amazing. They had the
faith to know that God had promised
never to abandon them. He had
promised to see them through
everything life threw at them. They
didn’t understand it very well, but they
still thanked him for his love and
presence in their lives. They thanked
him for helping them persevere through
the hard times to come.
Do we do that? Do we have the faith
to thank God in the face of our
problems? As we face the raging rivers
of life, do we give God thanks for his
assurance or do we wait to thank him
only after he comes through?
On a slightly different note I noticed
something in the calendar today. From
Thanksgiving to the end of the
Christmas season (January 6—
Epiphany) there are forty days. Forty
days has always been important in the
history of God’s people (think flood,
think Jesus’ temptation after baptism).
In light of this “discovery” I would
like to make a suggestion. I think we
should make these forty days between
Thanksgiving and Epiphany forty days
of thanks. The challenge is to find
something to be thankful for each day
during this time and share it with others.
Here is how I am going to do this
(your method may be different). I am
going to post my forty days of thanks
daily thanksgiving in three places:
twitter, facebook, and email. If you want
to receive my posts you can follow me
on twitter (twitter.com/jrb1), friend me
on facebook (facebook.com/revblack) or
send me an email saying you want to be
part of the thanksgiving group
(john+thanks@fumcrosenberg.net). Let
me know how you are going to share
your thanksgiving so I can keep up with
you. Together we’ll make Thanksgiving
more than just a day of stuffing.
IGS,
John
Opportunities To Serve FUMC Rosenberg was able to provide
6,440 hot dogs thanks to your generos- Hey, Youth!
ity. (Everyone was quite impressed and Thanksgiving week! Sweet! You get out of school for a few days...and if that's
Wednesday, Nov. 25:
we are now known as the "Hot Dog not something to be thankful for I don't know what is! But honestly, it's just a really
No scheduled activities Church!" awesome idea to take time out to just be thankful and be with family. So often we
Thursday, Nov. 26: Happy Thanksgiving! We estimate that prayer was accepted get caught up in the million and one things we have to do and we forget to stop
Church office closed and provided to 2,250 of our 2,500 and be grateful for all the things we have been given! I am so grateful for all of
you and the chance to be a part of this amazing First UMC family! We all need to
Friday, Nov. 27: guests! Unfortunately the day had to
be reminded to step back and just say thank you. So instead of my usual rant I'm
end early due to the rain, but it was a going to just leave you with my favorite prayer of Thanksgiving and wish you a
No scheduled activities
great day anyway! 13 Family concerns very Happy Thanksgiving!
Church office closed 181 response cards were completed 6 Dental needs
Saturday, Nov. 28: for people who needed further assis- 2 Childcare assistance "God, all things come from You. There is nothing that happens in our lives without
Anahuac Work Day tance. 1 Elderly care assistance Your knowing. We take it all for granted. The sun comes up in the morning. The
ocean rolls into the shore. The stars shine. The leaves change color. Thank you,
Sunday, Nov. 29: 1st Sunday of Advent 35 recommitments/salvations 1 Substance abuse
God for these gifts. Thank you for the people who love us in spite of ourselves,
31 people seeking a church 1 GED assistance thank you for for your son who was nailed to the cross. Thank you for the inde-
ANGEL TREE GIFTS ARE DUE TODAY!
home 18 Churches are following up on these pendence and perseverance of our forefathers who say beyond their own exis-
8:30 a.m. - Blended Worship Service 117 seeking assistance for job, needs. We were assigned 8 names so tences and created this nation. Amen"
9:40 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages health, finances, food, substance abuse our work is not over; we are now in the *Prayer of Thanksgiving from "The Book of Uncommon Prayer" by Seven L. Case.
10:50 a.m. - Traditional Worship Service 34 Employment needs process of connecting with these people Be Brave In His Love,
2:00 p.m. - Choir Rehearsal 30 Health needs and seeking to provide spiritual growth, Becca
24 Financial needs Christian love and a hand up! @ Youth Sunday: We prepare for Advent!
4:00 p.m. - Annual Church Conference
5:00-7:00 p.m. - Youth at First (grades 6-12) 

6:00 p.m. - Growth Group at the Johnson’s
Monday, Nov. 30: Christmas is just a few weeks away and we once The Children's Birthday Party for Jesus is Saturday,
9:00 a.m. - MOMS again have the opportunity to show our staff how very Staff December 5th from 3:30-5:00. This is a FREE community wide event.
much we appreciate all that they do for us throughout Christmas Kids can enjoy games, crafts, prizes, candy, storytime, facepainting,
10:30 a.m. - Prime Chimers refreshments, and more!! Volunteers are needed to work a booth
the year. We are collecting the love offering earlier so Love
7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts Offering from 3-5. Please contact Elizabeth if you are available to help:
that we can distribute it before Christmas, so we ask
elizabethfairfield@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday, Dec. 1: that you prayerfully consider your gift and bring it
10:00 a.m. - Growth Group meeting before Dec.13. Thank you for your part in this gift of A children's Advent Craft Day will be held Sunday,
5:30 p.m. - Young Families love and thanks to our hardworking staff. ~~ SPRC December 13th from 1:00-4:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Kids will have
7:00 p.m. - Women’s Prayer Group the opportunity to enjoy 10 Christmas crafts such as homemade
ornaments, cookie decorating, scrapbooking, painting, snacks and
Wednesday, Dec. 2:
much more! Pre-registration is required and only 40 slots are left.
5:00 p.m. - Children’s Choirs, then the Gazebo Lighting Cost is only $5 per child to participate in the afternoon of crafts.
6:15 p.m. - Handbells FUMC Adults must stay with children during the event - you don't want to
miss all the fun! Registration forms available in the Education
7:30 p.m. - Sanctuary Choir rehearsal Women’s Celebration Building or Elizabeth can email one to you. Don't wait or all the slots
invites you to our will be taken.
O give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name, make known
Christmas Gala Come and Go Kitchen Shower
his deeds among the peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:8 Benefiting Anahuac Comeback
Featuring Christian comedian Sunday, December 6, 2-3:30 PM
Karen Mayer-Cunningham
FIRST CHURCH STAFF Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 8 Sponsored by Thursday Night Growth Group
JOHN R. BLACK………………………………………….…...Pastor
Please come for punch and treats and learn more about the Fall Project
ADRIANE GRAY…………………………….....Nursery Coordinator First UMC Fellowship Hall
DEBRA RADOWICK……………..…....…. Administrative Assistant to get four houses ready for Christmas.
KRIS WOLDY……………..………….…..………..…Music Director $5 per person
JOSE LUNA ……………………….……..………...Church Custodian Olive Garden catered meal and dessert will be served Go to Target.com, Click Registry-Lists, Click Lists, enter Margaret Lawley, TX and
GAYNELL PSENCIK………………….…..…….Financial Secretary Call today to reserve your ticket! see lists for each family: Matthew Smith Point, Mark Smith Point, Luke Smith Point
281.342.3333
JESSICA MYERS………………….…………………..…….Organist
Nursery available upon request and John Smith Point. Gift cards and gifts selected at other places are welcome.
BECCA HYDE………………….…………………..…Youth Director