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WORSHIP
SERVICE INFORMATION
11:00 Gospel Service This Sunday the Stringtown Texas Band will lead the 11:00 worship. It’s sure to be a joyful worship service.
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.
Questioning and Answering This Sunday, Pastor Theresa will complete her two part sermon covering the questions we ask of God and the answers we give to God’s questions of us.
The Basics: Rediscovering Our Core Mission (begins next week) As we stand on the threshold of a new season, both in nature and in our spiritual journey, it’s time to refocus and reconnect with the heart of our faith. The past few years have been a whirlwind of change, challenging us in ways we never expected. From the global upheaval of the pandemic to the shifts within our own United Methodist Church, we’ve navigated stormy waters together. Now, as we look ahead to 2025 (yes, it sounds futuristic!), it’s time to ground ourselves once again in the bedrock of our beliefs and purpose. Our first sermon series, “The Basics,” aims to do just that by focusing on the fundamental mission of the church: to love God, love people, and make disciples of Jesus Christ. “The Basics” isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about action. We’ll explore practical ways to live out these core principles in our daily lives, reigniting our faith’s fire and our impact on the world around us.
SPECIAL SUNDAYS COMING UP
- Sep 8 Gospel Service (11:00)
- Sep 15 GAP Blessing
- Oct 6 UWF Sunday
- Nov 3 All Saints Sunday
- Dec 1 First Sunday of Advent
Past worship services are available to watch online here.
MUSIC
The choir and handbell programs are back to weekly rehearsals:
- Sanctuary Choir – Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in the choir room or sanctuary.
- 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.
Music Calendar of Events:
September 8th-Gospel and Bluegrass Sunday at 11 a.m. service
October 9th-Cantata rehearsals start, 7-7:45 p.m. and will take place every Wednesday until the Cantata in December.
GROW
ADULT MINISTRIES
CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT Start planning to 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!
OVERNIGHT TRIP TO GLEN ROSE We are planning a brief trip to Glen Rose (southwest of Ft Worth) for September 27 – 29 to see the outdoor musical, The Promise. This passion play has been produced and performed for many years and is a lovely re-telling of the life of Christ. We will explore picturesque Granbury and perhaps visit Dinosaur Valley State park. Contact Karen if you are interested.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE Wednesday evenings are going to be wonderful this fall. There will be something for everyone – kids, youth, and adults! Plan to join us this fall beginning September 4. We’ll have dinner every week along with opportunities for prayer and worship, studies, fellowship and games, and activities for kids and youth. Dinner will begin at 5:30 each week with the opportunities for fellowship before and after we eat. Activities and studies will wrap up at 7:00.
Here is the schedule:
5:30 – 6:00 Dinner served by our Fellowship Team. Menus to be announced in advance
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
- “The Lord’s Prayer” study by Hamilton, with Kyle Forlano in Rm 217
- Activities for children and youth in the upstairs children’s and youth rooms.
Planning to enjoy the meal at WNL? Our AMAZING Fellowship Team have planned all the meals for us! They have requested that everyone intending to eat a meal, register in advance. Information about food being served each week included information on sign up. 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.
Disciple 1 Bible Study begins Thursday, August 29 at 2 in room 217. Meetings will be held weekly from 2 to 4. 
Nature/Gardening Group meetson the 4th Tuesday of the month at 2 PM in room 118. Programs to be announced. Everyone is welcome.
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 all summer, Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Wesley Hall. 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.
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. Our September Lunch Bunch will be at Las Fontanas, Creekside, at 11:30 am on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
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.
FAMILY MINISTRIES
We’re going on a CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT, and registration is now open! See details in the adult section above.
September: Calling all moms! Need a break? Calling all moms! Join us for a fun and thrilling Moms’ Night Out at the escape room on September 20th at 6 PM. Challenge your mind, bond with fellow moms, and enjoy a night of laughter and adventure.
We will leave from the church at 6:30 PM to head to Extreme Escape. Our escape room is titled “Trapped below”.
Afterwards we will grab a bite to eat. Don’t miss this chance to unwind and have a blast! Register here.
October: Ready to get crafty? Join us for a relaxing and creative Moms’ Night Out making polymer clay earrings on October 18th at 6 PM. No experience needed—just bring your creativity and enjoy a fun evening of designing unique, beautiful earrings. Connect with other moms, unwind, and take home your gorgeous creations! We can’t wait to hang out!
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
The biggest need in our student ministry going into Fall of 2024 is for volunteers. In student ministry, that need starts with parents and then extends to the entire church. We have created a link where you can go to sign up to volunteer at any and/or all of our Student Ministry events (MYF, Sunday School, Wednesday Refuel, Top Golf, Lock-in, and Friendsgiving) this fall. Descriptions of the volunteer positions can now be found in the Student Ministry group on Church Center in the Resources section, as well as the link to the sign ups page. Once you sign up, you will be automatically added to the Student Ministry Volunteers group where specific communications and further resources, like Safe Gatherings links and curriculum will be found as the semester progresses.
Like we said on Sunday, in order to maintain our church’s and students’ safety, volunteers are necessary, so any events that don’t receive enough volunteers will be cancelled, per church policy. If you’d like to sign up, you can follow this link: https://fumcnb.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/category/85583
Thank you so much for helping make our student ministry possible! If you do have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
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- Announcements:
- This Sunday night at MYF, we will be continuing our lessons on worship music with a look at the song ”Trust in God” by Elevation Worship. We’ll also be playing free-for-all dodgeball! See y’all there.
- Next Sunday (September 8th), Student Ministry Sunday School starts back at the 11:00 service in room 206 (down the hall from the children’s ministry rooms).
Upcoming Events:
- Sun, Sept. 8th> Sunday School resumes at 11:00 in room 206.
- Sun, Sept. 15th> Top Golf, meet at church at 4:30 to carpool, back at church between 8:00 and 8:30, depending on traffic.
- Sat, Sept. 21st> Pumpkin delivery day, volunteer hours available tentatively starting at 9:00 a.m.
Future Dates:
- There are still openings for volunteers on Sunday nights for both meals and mentors, Wednesday nights for Bible Study volunteers (the later time), Sunday School teachers for November and December, and chaperones for Top Golf and the Lock-in.
- Sun.-Mon, Oct 13-14th> Lock-in, more details coming soon.
- Sun, Nov. 17th> Friendsgiving and Football MYF, more details to come.
- Sun, Dec. 8th> Student Ministry Christmas Progressive Dinner Party, more details to come.
- Fri.-Sun, Jan. 17-19th> Student Ministry Midwinter Retreat, details to come.
- Announcements:
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FIRST KIDS
Christmas Musical We are so excited to announce that we are going to have a Christmas musical on December 15th at the 9;45 service! But before we can do that, we need kids who want to be a part of it. They can be ages 3 to 5th grade and they could be doing anything from singing to having a speaking role or even helping out backstage. If you think your kiddo might be interested, please register as soon as possible. The number of kids we have will help determine what musical we are going to do.
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!
Mom’s Night Out For September’s Mom’s Night Out we will be heading to Extreme Escape in San Antonio to tackle one of their escape rooms. Sign up below.
https://fumcnb.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2415422
We’re going on a CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT, and registration is now available! See details in the adult section above.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE returns in September! See details in the Adult section above.
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
IMPACT TEAM: September Donations The Impact team are collecting GAP Pack donations (food ministry for school children) this month. You can download the shopping list here: Gap Shopping list
Urgent Need: Our Christmas project is giving a $10 gift card from HEB or Walmart to the residents at Sunrise Village in San Marcos, about 110 total. Sunrise Village is a part of Southside Community Center that is a UWF Mission. They are listed on page 239 of the prayer calendar.
We are in need of gift cards. A while back our unit decided that 20 cards per circle would be needed. Right now we are very short.
If you have cards you have not turned in please bring them to the Sep 3 General Meeting and give them to Donna Huser or put them in an envelope marked for Rita Berry and put them in the UWF mailbox in the church office.
If you have not given, please help! Rita will also take money so she can buy the cards.
We need your help by the October General Meeting so we can see how many there are at that time.
- OCT 1 October General Meeting at 9:30 a.m. Come to Room 118 and then join UWF for a meaningful Prayer Walk in our Sanctuary.
- OCT 6 UWF Sunday at all three services.
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:
Do you have clothing or shoe donations that did not make it to the Annual UMW rummage sale? If so, our Wesley Nurse Hanna is looking for additional clothing donations for men, women & children of all sizes & fashions, including shoes. Donations can be dropped off on 9/13/24 between 9am-12:00pm at the Habermann House. And if you don’t have any clothes to donate but have some time, I can use your help sorting & hanging donated items on these dates. Thank you in advance for all the ways you support community outreach through the Wesley Nurse Ministry here at FUMC. From July 15th– August 21 (16) people have utilized our clothing closet, securing clothes for themselves as well as their children & spouses. Praise God!!
Parent/Child Wellness Group (at the Habermann House)
Parents and caregivers of tweens and teens, we have a FREE Wellness Group series for you and your child coming up in September!
Thursdays – Sept. 5, 12, 19, & 26
5:30-7pm
543 W. Mill St.
Register – https://forms.office.com/r/UePs6RGMVd
In partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.‘s Wesley Nurse, Hanna, and First United Methodist Church New Braunfels, counselors Miranda and Tamara will be leading a 4-week Wellness Group for parents and kids ages 9-12 and parents and teens ages 13-16.
Light meals and drinks will be provided, and participants will receive family engagement baskets after completing the series.
Master of Memory You are invited to learn ways to improve memory function. September 4, 11, 18 from 4-5 p.m at FUMC in room 219.
Protect Yourself Against Scams Join this one-night info session, September 25 from 4-5 p.m. at FUMC in room 219
Aging Well symposium presented by Nurse Hanna at the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation, 710 Landa St, September 5 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Tuesday Walk and Talks Nurse Hanna will be facilitating Walking Sessions on October 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 8 to 9 am.
NEWS
Volunteers needed: We believe it is important for our children and youth to feel they belong to a “Church Family.” One way you can help is to be involved in their ministries. We have a number of volunteer opportunities coming up, and any church member who completes the Safe Gatherings training is welcome to sign up to volunteer. One of the opportunities is on Wednesday afternoons, where Everett is looking for adults who can mentor kids before Wednesday Night Live. We want to provide a space for kids to work on school work and have fellowship with one another. There are other opportunities for teaching Sunday School to kids and Youth. Please take a look at the following links and see where you might be able to be a part of our kids’ “Church Family.”
Student Ministry Volunteer Opportunities
First Kids Volunteer Opportunities
We’re going on a CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT, and registration is now available! See details in the adult section above.
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.
RECENT PHOTO COLLECTIONS:
You can view photos of the rummage sale here.
Pictures of the ice cream social here.
Pictures of the Student Ministries Messy Game Night here.
Pictures from Backpack Blessings here.
Pictures from Pizza Olympics here.
Newsletter Deadline The next newsletter will cover November, December, and January. If you have information to include, please submit it before October 15. 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
The next newsletter deadline will be October 15, if you have ministry information to share for November, December, and January.
