A Periodical from First United Methodist Church in Temple, Texas

February 2009

The Word

Inside This EditionObservations of a “Floater”•

Epiphany Brunch•

Soldier of the Month•

Words about Advent•

December 2009

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in

her heart.Luke 2:19

The Word from Pastor Tom

This is my favorite time of year because I love giving gifts. The problem is that I can never wait until Christmas to give them. Today is November 20, and I could not stand it any longer so I gave Shannon her gift last night. Our daughters have adjusted throughout the years to compensate for my enthusiasm. I will ask them if they would like to know what I got them for Christmas. They always say no because they know if I get a chance I will tell them because I am so excited. Their discipline is the only reason they have any gifts to open on Christmas morning. I absolutely love giving gifts. I think the same is true for God. God loves giving each of us gifts. I think God is very happy when we celebrate Christmas because it means we understand the greatest gift of all – God’s love wrapped up in a person. This is what the word “Emmanuel” actually means, God with us. I hope you are excited about Christmas. I hope you feel blessed beyond measure during this holy season.

God Bless,Tom

Worship With UsContact Us

First United Methodist Church102 N 2nd StreetTemple, TX 76501254-773-5269contact@fumctemple.orgwww.fumctemple.orgMail: P.O. Box 773 with zip 76503

PastorsRev Tom Robbins - Sr. Pastortom.robbins@fumctemple.org

Rev Jane Woodward - Assoc. Pastor/Music Ministerjane.woodward@fumctemple.org

Rev Hubert Austin - Assoc. Pastorhubjan1929@att.net

Rev Tim Wilson - Assoc. Pastortim.wilson@fumctemple.org

TraditionalMain Sanctuary8:30am & 11:00am

ContemporaryNew Worship Hall9:00 am

Wednesday ChapelChapel10:30am

Sunday School10:00am

SermonsRadio Broadcast KTEM 1400 AM Sunday 9:30 amwww.fumctemple.org/?page_id=194

Wednesday Night Meal and Host Schedule

Last Wednesday Meal of the Year - Last Wednesday Meal in Dennis Hall

Dec. 9th Fat Boys’ BBQ Brisket/Sausage/Trimmings Men’s Prayer Breakfast

FUMC Event Calendar

OBSERVATIONS OF A “FLOATER”by Bill Horick - Retired Pastor

Golly, I had a great time at our church’s Harvest Fair on that gorgeous autumn Saturday in October.

I browsed around observing everything the event had to offer in its lavishdisplayofthingsmarketedtobenefitthechurchandhonorherLord.

There was something to behold everywhere on our campus, ranging from the Pumpkin Patch to food servers, decorative booths, bake sales, brightly colored balloons, building tours, a silent auction, and a concert by our Praise Band.

Iwasthereasoneofthedesignated“floaters”whosejobwastoroamaround greeting people, provide information, give directions, and offer a helping hand where needed. I was a volunteer like everyone else who made the Harvest Fair such a remarkable success. And really, my task was small, but my enjoyment was enormous. Part of that enjoyment came simply from watching people, church members and visitors alike, commit themselves to a noble Cause and have a great feeling for it. That’s comparable to the way we think about Christmas, isn’t it?

Thus it is that I want to make another observation. Now that Christmasisapproaching,Ithink“floaters”areagainneededbyourchurch.

You can be one yourself. You also will have lots to observe.

All you need do is to circulate from one Advent festival to another. Delight in how the sanctuary is so colorfully decorated. Catch the gleam in our children’s eyes. Hear the choral notes loud and clear. Cherish the meaning of God’s divine Word. Offer your gifts.

Thenwhenyourfloatingisdone,sitquietly and behold the splendor of Christmas in its entirety and scope. Ultimately it reminds us of what God did for us through the birth of Jesus Christ.

LikeourHarvestFair,Christmasisthesum total of God’s grace given to enliven, uplift, and inspire.

HappyAdventfloating,everyone.

“One Heart At A Time, One Child At a Time”by Lorene Tomblin

EPIPHANY BRUNCH – JANUARY 9TH, 2010

Arrangements have been made for another EPIPHANY BRUNCH to be heldon January 9th, from 9:30 A.M. to 12 P.M. in our new building at the church.Every woman is invited and encouraged to attend. It promises to be aninteresting and joyful event.

Ourspeaker,ChrisMcLain,isaUnitedMethodistVolunteer in Mission serving in Swaziland, South Africa. Swaziland is a small country surrounded on three sidesby the country of South Africa. Chris is the only United Methodist Volunteer in Mission in Swaziland. Her deep faith along with her life experiences have enabledher to integrate herself as a mission volunteer who works from within the church community to enable others to give and sustain God’s love through words and actions. She works mainly with women and orphaned and/or vulnerable children doing what she can to touch one heart at a time and/or one child at a time. This includes a variety of experiences from building a new Methodist school in a very poor community to arranging for a small child ravished by malnutrition andneglect to receive medical care in the local hospital and rocking her daily so she will learn what it feels like to be loved.

Chris is a member of First United Methodist Church in Round Rock. She was veryactive in her local church as UMW president, Stephen Minister, youth programs,Emmaus and missions. She co-led two mission teams from Round Rock UMC toAfrica before becoming a UMVIM. One day Chris attended an annual meeting ofUnited Methodist Women where she heard the experiences of a missionary speaker.Chris knew God was calling her to return to Africa to help the children. Chris hadan Epiphany! And she acted on it and became a Volunteer in Mission for the UnitedMethodist Church.

Epiphany is usually celebrated on January 6th. It is the Manifestation of God in Jesus Christ. By the guidance of a star, the Wise Men found the Christ Child and worshiped Him. This wonderful story is recorded in Matthew 2:1-12.

The Epiphany Brunch will also include special music and warm wonderful fellowship, and is sponsored by United Methodist Women.

Church-wide Thanksgiving LunchPhotos by Bill Potter

New Building DedicationFeaturing Bishop Lowery

New Building Dedication Service

December 13th 10:00 AM

Immediately Following the

Common Ground Praise & Worship Service at 9:00 AM

All Worship Services at their Normal times,

Reception to follow the Dedication

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!

Pumpkin Place was a huge success, despite the new location and tons of rain! None of it would have been possible without the help from so many wonderful volunteers!

From the unloading crew to the volunteers that came to read stories, sell pumpkins and keep it all organized. We did not have a total of funds raised at the time of the deadline for this article but every penny will go towards the expansion of our playground.

A special thanks to Pechal Cabinets that provided us with 40 pallets to keep the Pumpkins off the ground, to Marilynn Wilson for organizing and making calls to recruit story tellers and all the Sunday School leaders that took the time out to round up members of their Sunday school classes to help run Pumpkin Place!

Iris Rankin

Kenneth Bryon DeKay III enlisted in the Texas National guard at the age of 22 in 1989. In 1991 he entered active duty Army as an Infantryman with the 2ndBattalion,75thRangerRegimentatFortLewis,Washington. In 1996, he changed duty stations and was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment Headquarter at Fort Benning, Georgia where he was a Pre-Ranger Instructor. In 1998, Bryon left active duty for ROTC at Auburn University to complete his undergraduate degree. In 2000, he graduated from Auburn with a degree in Zoology with a Pre-Med concentration and also graduated from Troy State University with a Bachelors degree in Resource Management.

He entered into Medical School in 2001 at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Upon graduation in 2005, he entered into an Emergency Medicine Residency at Fort Hood, Texas at Darnall Medical Center. He completed the residency program in 2008 and was assigned to HHT 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, as a Brigade Surgeon.

Bryon is currently deployed to Iraq in the Bagdad area, and is expected to return in early 2010. Bryon has been married to Deanna for 22 years, and they have 4 daughters; Domenique (21,) Savannah (17,) Alex (11,) and Victoria (10.)

Soldier of the MonthKenneth Bryon DeKay III

Words About Advent and the Christian YearPastor Jane Woodward

The Church divides the year into periods of time we call Seasons. ThoseSeasonsintheyearare,inorder:Advent,Christmas,Epiphany,Lent,Easter, and Pentecost. They do not coincide with our yearly calendar. The season of Advent begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. This year, that is November 29th. The season of Advent lasts until Christmas Day. Christmas is a very short season, ending with Epiphany on January 6th.TheseasonofEpiphanylastsuntiltheseasonofLent,whichbeginswithAshWednesdayonFebruary17ththisyear.LentlastsuntilEasterSunday, on April 4th. The season of Easter lasts until Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd. The season of Pentecost lasts until Advent, which begins a new Christian year.

Eachseasonismeanttohelpusreflectonourfaithinspecificways.During Advent, we are asked to consider how we might prepare our hearts to receive Jesus in such a way that we might be changed. During the hectic activities that are a part of the season, we often do not take the time to stop and ponder how we might make room for the Christ child. If we are honest, we realize that our lives are often filledwithworldlyconcernsthat,inthe end, do not have much value. So, Advent is also a time to re-evaluate our priorities, and consider making some changes.

Somefamiliesfindithelpfulto place an Advent Wreath with candles in their homes and devote 15 minutes each week during Advent to read a scripture passage, offer a prayer, and talk with each other about what expectations and hopes they have for the coming Christmas season. A good time to do this is on Sunday evenings. You can purchase a small wreath and candles at any local store. For suggestions on scripture readings and prayers, go to www.gbod.org/worship. Click on “Advent Planning Helps and Resources”; then click on “Advent Wreath Meditations 2009.”

Music NotesPastor Jane Woodward

Chancel Choir And

Orchestra

“Messiah”

Soloists: Sara Baker, Kathleen Shelton, Zechariah Baker,

Joe Ahlert, and John Mischtian

“Christmas Day”

Soloists: Charlotte Winkler, Gary Holmes, Elisa Northen

Sunday evening, December 20th

7 p.m.

Sanctuary

2010 Pledges

Don’t Forget

Turn in your 2010 pledge Card Today!

Your Money at WorkCharlie Davis

MEMORIALS & HonorariumsNovember 1st - 30th

Pastors’ Discretionary Fund:INMEMORYOFHAROLDPAYNE:LoisSnyder

Building Fund:INMEMORYOFHAROLDPAYNE:Ken & Norma Morrison; Ethel Venable; FUMC Friendship Class; Mr. & Mrs. Chris Hrabal; Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Hering & Family; J.W. & Ruth Perry; Clyde W. Fleagle

IN MEMORY OF J.J. INMON:FUMC Friendship Class

INMEMORYOFALLENEWARD:Ethel Venable

Memorial Fund:INMEMORYOFALLENEWARD:Pat Daluymple

FIRSTUnited Methodist Church

102 N 2nd StreetTemple, TX 76502

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Temple, TX

Permit No. 123

Devotional by Hubert AustinFrom God’s Little devotional Book by Honor Books

Anoldtrainwaspuffingitswayslowlythroughthecountrysidewhensuddenly,itlurched to a stop. The only passenger in the three-car train quickly rose to his feet and wenttofindtheconductor.“Whyhavewestopped?”hedemanded.“I’masalesmanandIhave an appointment in less than an hour in the next town!” The conductor smiled, “Nothing to worry about, sir. Just a cow on the tracks. Gotta waitherout.”Thesalesmanreturnedtohisseat,fumingandfidgetinguntilthetrainbe-gan to creep forward again. It chugged along for a mile or two and then ground to a halt once again. This time the conductor found the salesman. “Don’t worry sir,” he said. “We’ll be on our way shortly.” The exasperated salesman asked, “What now? Did we catch up to the cow again?”

What the salesman didn’t know was that the train’s schedule allowed for these temporary delays. He easily made it to his appointment, but he was worn to a frazzle by his frustration. God’s plan for our lives allows for temporary de-lays. We will enjoy life much more when we respond to these delays with patience, rather than frustration.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 16:32