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WORSHIP
SERVICE INFORMATION
Wednesday Night Live On Wednesday nights, we have a small, informal worship service in the Sanctuary beginning at 6:00. All are welcome. Wednesday Night Live will take a break after December 18th for the holidays.
SPECIAL SUNDAYS COMING UP
- Dec 1 First Sunday of Advent-Hanging of the Greens
- Dec 8 Second Sunday of Advent- Cantata Sunday 9:45 and 11:00 (We will not have an 8:30 service this day)
- Dec 15 Third Sunday in Advent- Children’s Christmas Musical at 9:45 only
- Dec 22 Fourth Sunday in Advent
JOY! A Christmas Cantata, on December 8th at the 9:45 and 11 a.m. services. Featuring the Sanctuary choir, the praise band, the handbell ensemble First Bells, and a gospel ensemble with original narration provided by Carol Bissett. Come celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus. This Cantata will feature different musical styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, to praise and gospel/Bluegrass.
Little Lambs to Bethlehem Christmas Musical The kids will be putting on a musical December 15th at the 9:45 service and we are so excited! It is going to be funny, cute and tell the Christmas story from a unique perspective. Our kiddos have put in an incredible amount of work, so we hope to see you there!
Past worship services are available to watch online here.
MUSIC
The choir and handbell programs are continuing weekly rehearsals:
- Sanctuary Choir – rehearsal start time has been pushed back to 7:45 until Cantata rehearsals are over.
- Sonrise and Sanctuary Choir- Sundays, 8:00 a.m. in the choir room.
- United Bells – Tuesdays, 5-5:55 p.m. in room 213.
- First Bells – Tuesdays, in room 213.
Please contact Michael Kahl for more information or if you are possibly interested in participating in one of these ensembles. It is going to be fun! Anyone over the age of 12, is encouraged to participate.
GROW
ADULT MINISTRIES
RISE Camp Chaperones You’re not too old to attend our children’s Mid-Winter camp, if you go as a chaperone! Amber Garcia would love for you to come help out. Fill out the application here.
ADVENT VESPERS Join us on Friday evening, December 6 for our trip to Texas Lutheran University for their annual Advent Vespers. We’ll depart the church parking lot at 6:30, enjoy the always-lovely service, make a dessert stop on the way home, and be back to the church about 10:30. Sign-up is on the Adult Bulletin Board. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Cost is $10 per person to help offset the van rental charges.
WOMEN’S RETREAT is a little bit earlier than normal this year. The weekend is February 28-March 1 – that’s a return to a Friday and Saturday schedule. The location is beautiful Camp Capers near Comfort, TX. If you haven’t attended in other years, this is a lovely facility with hotel-style accommodations, comfortable meeting spaces, great meals, and big, beautiful grounds. Karen Horan will be our guest speaker, and your retreat design team is already working on plans to make this weekend special as we explore our spiritual journeys with our own favorite cups and mugs. Plan to come along. Register early to assure yourself the nicest rooms! Registration Brochures are available in the information hallway.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE is a midweek ministry with food, fellowship, worship, and study opportunities. Doors open at 5. The Fellowship Team starts serving at 5:15 on Wednesday nights. Remember to register for meals by Monday each week, so they have enough food for everyone! Please click here to sign up/register. If you prefer signing up on paper, there are paper sign ups on the windows across from the Welcome Center in the main hall and on the podium stand in the Narthex on Sunday morning.
6:00 – 7:00 Optional activities
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- Worship / Communion in the Sanctuary
- Fellowship and Games in WH
- “42” Dominoes in Rm 118
- Pastor Don’s Bible study in Rm 219
- Activities for children and youth in the upstairs children’s and youth rooms.
WENDESDAY NIGHT LIVE will take a break after December 18 for the holidays. Watch the weekly news for updates.
CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT Attend our first (in a long time) church-wide retreat. The dates are Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6 at Highland Lakes Conference Center. We have arranged hotel-style accommodations and are planning fun activities ranging from table games, to a silent disco, to high ropes, to hiking in the beautiful hill country, to corn hole. There will be worship and break out sessions for adults, kids, and youth. And a campfire in the evening. Early registration cost is $75 for adults and $50 for children 3 – 18 yrs. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Progressive Dinner Host and Volunteer Sign Up Our Student Ministry will be having the yearly progressive dinner on December 8th. We’d love for you to host a small group of Youth in your home for appetizers, dinner, or desserts! Click here for more information or to sign up.
Nature/Gardening Group is taking a break until Spring.
Evening Game Group meets Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to about 7:00 in Room 118.
Coffee Connection FUMC men gather on Tuesday mornings at 7:30 at Casa Garcia for breakfast and conversation. Hosted by Pastor Don.
Pickleball We are continuing pickleball through the year, Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Wesley Hall. Watch the church calendar for schedule changes. Some weeks we meet off campus to make room for FUMC ministries that need the gym. When we go off campus we meet at 7pm. Contact Lori Oden for details.
Emmaus News: There are four New Braunfels Emmaus Community gatherings planned for 2025, alternating locations between FUMC and GUMC as follows:
Feb 13 – Gathering at FUMC
May 8 – Gathering at GUMC
Aug 14 – Gathering at FUMC
Nov 13 – Gathering at GUMC
New Women’s Emmaus Group will meet every Monday in Room 217 at the church at 1:00. Request to join this group.
Other Emmaus Reunion groups also meet on campus. Join the Emmaus Group for information.
Kenya Mission Trip We are still accepting applications for the mission trip. The Kenya trip is scheduled for February 6-20, 2025. Stay informed by joining the Church Center group.
Italy Trip Fall 2025 FUMC members and their friends and families are invited to join Karen Andrews and Michael Kahl on a trip to Italy next fall. Contact Karen or Michael, or join the Church Center Group, to get more information and express your interest in traveling to Italy.
LUNCH BUNCH meets monthly on the last Tuesday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch Bunch is not meeting in December. Contact Libby Meyer to RSVP.
ALASKA CRUISE FUMC CRUISERS are planning a May 18-31, 2025 Alaska trip with our travel agent Kay Sanderford.
Find more information here: PRINCESS ALASKA Group Brochure
If you missed the informational session, join the Cruiser Group on the Church Center App.
Mahjong Group meets every Thursday at 1:30-4:30pm in room 118 at church. We are a friendly group who love the game but also love each other. Come and join us for great fun and fellowship! Plan ahead for our annual Christmas party – Thursday, December 12 at 1:00-5:00pm at the home of Sherry Snyder instead of the church.
FAMILY MINISTRIES
We’re going on a CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT, and registration is now open! See details in the adult section above.
Our Moms’ Sunday School This class is open to moms of all ages and stages and can be jumped into at any time. Come join us! We meet in room 217 during the 11 AM service on Sundays.
STUDENT MINISTRIES
Announcements:
- We still have sign-ups open for Student Ministry Volunteers for this semester on Church Center at this link: https://fumcnb.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/category/85583. You can also find it on the church app in the Resources section of the Student Ministry group.
- We currently have no one signed up for dinner for the last MYF in 2024 (Sunday, December 15th), which will mean only snacks at MYF.
- Sign-ups for our Progressive Dinner Christmas Party are now available! Students need to sign themselves and their friends up to attend. Adults are needed to drive, host, and provide dessert. As always, the party will start with a gathering into groups at 4:00 at the church before heading to homes for appetizers and then new homes for dinner and then meeting back at the church for dessert and a white elephant gift exchange.
- Student Sign-up: https://fumcnb.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2562861
- Adult Sign-up: https://fumcnb.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2562927
- Registration is now open for our Midwinter Retreat, which will be happening January 17-19th at Highland Lakes Camp. The cost for the weekend is $175, which includes food, housing, activities, and t-shirt; it can be paid to the church via check or cash. Deadline to register is Friday, December 20th. Sign-ups for students and for adult volunteers can be found at this website: Youth MidWinter Retreat – The Rio Texas Conference (capitaldistrictumc.org)(Please be sure to print and fill out the Highland Lakes release form as well once you finish your registration.)
- We do need adults to volunteer as well to help chaperone and drive for the trip (sign-ups are at the same link). Adults who volunteer will be paid for out of the Student Ministry Volunteer budget and will only need to cover their own gas for the trip.
- Churchwide Retreat (April 5-6th) Registration can be found here: https://fumcnb.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2456642
Upcoming Events:
- Sun, Dec. 8th> Student Ministry Christmas Progressive Dinner Party, student and adult sign-ups here:
- Sun, Dec. 15th> Final MYF of 2024. We will resume on Sunday, January 12th.
- Fri, Dec. 20th> Midwinter Registration Deadline.
Future Dates:
- Sun, Jan. 5th> Student Ministry Parent Meeting at the church.
- Fri.-Sun, Jan. 17-19th> Student Ministry Midwinter Retreat at Highland Lakes Camp, details and registration here: Youth MidWinter Retreat – The Rio Texas Conference (capitaldistrictumc.org)
- Wed, Jan. 22nd> Confirmation begins, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Details coming after Thanksgiving.
- Sun, Feb. 23rd> NextGen Sunday during Sunday morning services.
FIRST KIDS
Christmas Musical It’s not too late to join us Wednesday evenings from 6-7 pm for our Christmas Musical rehearsals! They are so much fun and a great way to get kiddos of any age involved! You can also come a little early and join us for dinner at 5:30 in Wesley Hall. It’s $5 for everyone 5 years old and up and registration is on the church website or outside the welcome center.
Volunteers Needed Our children need volunteers to lead them on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings. If you have a heart to share in the kids’ joy of learning about Jesus and our faith, register to volunteer!
We’re going on a CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT, and registration is now available! See details in the adult section above.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE IS BACK! See details in the Adult section above.
Rise Winter Camp Get ready for an illuminating adventure at RISE Camp! This weekend sleep away camp is designed just for 3rd-5th graders, where every moment is packed with fun, faith, and fantastic experiences. This will take place at John Knox Ranch on January 17th-19th and will cost $185. Register now.
Adults can come too, if they volunteer as chaperones. Fill out the application here.
1st Kids Worship (9:45)
Drop off kids with our volunteer in the sanctuary where they will participate in the first part of worship. Then, they will be taken to room 208 or the playground for a lesson and games. Kids are also more than welcome to sit with their family and then head out when it’s time.
1st Kids Connect (11:00)
We offer an 11:00 Sunday School for kids called 1st Kids Connect! Kids are welcome to attend both 9:45 and 11:00 where they will participate in a Bible lesson, activities, and games. Drop off for 1st Kids Connect will be in room 208.
Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer to help out with the children’s ministry, please let Amber or Mallorie know. We’d love to connect with you!
IMPACT
Seeking Additional Volunteers for Altar Guild Members meet once a month at 10:00 a.m. on the 4th Thursday. We straighten paperwork, check all pencils, upright pew Bibles and hymnals as well as dust window sills and altar furniture. In general, we tidy up the sanctuary prior to Sunday services. With a small crew our work is usually complete in 1 – 1 1/2 hours. Please leave your e-mail with Janna in the church office & she can forward it to the coordinator. By providing your e-mail a friendly reminder will be sent out a few days prior to a work day.
Wesley Nurse, Hanna is collecting winter outerwear, and she specifically is in need of childre’ and women’s items: coats, scarves, gloves, winter caps, etc. These items will be distributed Dec 4th.
Medicare Answers Nurse Hanna will have a Medicare rep at FUMC in room 217 on Monday and Tuesday from 10 to 12. As enrollment will be closing, it’s just a drop in ask question kind of session.
December’s Impact Focus is Manger Donations: Each Sunday during Advent we will be supporting area non-profits through donations of items or shopping to support their ministry.
- Nov 24th – Individually wrapped Snacks for Connections
- Dec 1st – New toys for children in Comal
- Dec 8th – Homespun Hope market
- Dec 15th – New Hoodies/Blankets for CIS/Homeless
- Dec 22nd – New Pet Supplies for the humane society
Mobile Communion Stewards We are now forming a group of volunteers who can take Communion out to our homebound members on the first Sunday of the month. You can request to join this volunteer group here.
UWF Calendar
- December 3 – Christmas Lunch/Dinner
- December 11&17 Circle Mtg (or alternate dates)
- December Kirkwood flowers & cards –Deborah Circle
Impact Sunday During Communion, the first Sunday of each month, attendees can contribute food and laundry supplies to baskets that will be available in the sanctuary, as well as to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund through offerings on the Communion rail. These donations will support our ongoing community impact ministries, such as our SOS Canned Food collection, our GAP Pack ministry, our Loads of Love ministry, our new community pantry, and more to help those in need in the community.
Heart for Homebound is looking for volunteers to help us on Wednesday afternoons as we visit our members who are no longer able to make it to church.
We meet at 1:30 in the Welcome Center and are usually finished with our visits by 3:30. Contact Martha Harrison for more information.
Hanna Salazar, our Wesley Nurse, shares this information:
Digital 3D Mobile Mammograms are coming to FUMC! The Christus Santa Rosa Mobile Mammography Unit is scheduled to serve the community in our parking lot on January 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Information about how you can schedule your appointment is posted outside of Hanna’s office. Hanna will be happy to share more information about breast cancer screening and the Mobile Mammography Unit.
NEWS
It’s time to order poinsettias to decorate the chancel area. If you would like to purchase one or more in honor or memory of a loved one, order forms will be located outside the Sanctuary this Sunday and next. Poinsettias will be $20 each. Order forms are due December 1 to receive recognition in a special bulletin insert.
Chaperones and Volunteers needed for our children’s RISE Camp, January 17th-19th. Whatever your gift, Amber G and Mallorie could use your help! Click here for details and the application.
PODCAST Mallorie Sarvis has published several new episodes in our Unveiled Podcast. The latest episodes include “Deep Dives” into the scriptures with Theresa. Check them out here.
Additionally, Mallorie is looking for members willing to share their faith stories. To clarify, she is looking for stories of how people found a relationship with Christ. She would prefer to sit down and interview folks on video, but if you are only comfortable writing yours, she’d love to share it. Contact Mallorie if you are able to contribute to this digital ministry project!
Have you downloaded our church app, yet?
You’ll have access to your the calendar and your ministry and fellowship teams right on your phone. If you’ve already downloaded the app and created an account, don’t forget to add your user picture! Find the apps here.
The next newsletter deadline will be January 15, if you have ministry information to share for February, March, and April. Click the link below to make a weekly news or newsletter request. Please note deadlines for submission. Inclusion in FUMCNB publications is limited to space availability and information may be edited to fit in the space available.
Let us know
