Perhaps it is a function of my age, but I have realized recently that I have begun thinking differently in a certain respect.

Simply stated, I no longer believe that all of history was aiming at this present moment.

I think this may be the adult version of object permanence. I was amazed to learn that infants, before a certain point, have no awareness that there is a world beyond what they see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. "Object permanence," refers to the ability to know that, for example, even if someone leaves the room, they don't

cease to exist.

The adult version of this is object permanence on a larger scale. It is a recognition that life happens, and the world keeps on going, regardless of the specific experiences I might have today.

Everything in the past, or even in my past, did not lead up to today. Or even tomorrow.

There is a future ahead of us. It is a future toward which God is leading us.

One of the things we do as followers of Jesus, and as a church, is to plant seeds. Sometimes we get to see the seeds take root and grow.

Sometimes we get to see the seeds we plant grow and produce more seeds.

Some of the seeds we plant may not produce more seeds until long after we are gone.

This is why we are content to aim at following Jesus "a bit" better today than yesterday; every little change, every bit of progress you and I make in the direction of Jesus sows seeds for the transformation of the whole world.

Whether it happens in our lifetime or not.

Because, nearly 2000 years after Jesus, we are still in the middle of something BIG.

E u l e s s F i r s t U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h November 2015

Church Matters

Church Matters

Inside this issue:

Prayer List 2

Birthdays /Anniversaries

2

Memorials 3

Food Pantry 3

Letter From a Member

3

Preschool 4

Things Christians Say Part 2

4

November Calendar 5

Important Dates 6

UMW 7

Stop Hunger Now 7

Euless First Kids 8

E1ement Students 8

Volunteers Needed 8

Esther Sermon Series 9

Shredding 9

AA Meeting 9

Stewardship Moment 10

If...Then 10

Highway Update 11

Advent 11

empower 200 university student volunteers across three countries to forever transform the lives of 1,500 orphans through nurturing friendships, modeling biblical love, and providing education.

Our very own Carla Fink has gotten involved with this ministry and has now organized this wonderful concert to help raise funds for the organization. The concert is free and will feature Whole Heart Quartet, but we will be

Allies in Youth Development, along with Allies volunteer, Carla Fink, invite you to a night of music and fun in support of their ministries. November 14 at 6:00 p.m. here at Euless First

Allies in Youth Development’s mission is to encourage in-country Eastern European university students to become volunteer mentors to orphans in their area. To accomplish this they seek to

taking a love offering to support their efforts.

Get a little preview on YouTube, search for Whole Heart Quartet. Or read their story at wholeheartquartet.com. Join us for a wonderful night of gospel music and fellowship for a great cause!

Al l ies in Youth Development

From the Pastor : In the middle of something BIG

Church Matters

Genesis Ramirez and family,

Gordon and Linda Roberts, Nancy Bickel's friends

Greg and Kelley Morris

Honor Vaughn, Teresa Sprague's mother

Hungry people of the world

Jason Schmidt

Joe Brown, Jackie Robinson's brother

John Lewis

Keith King, Brandi King's father

Kellsey Abbott, Sherwood and Cheri Abbott's granddaughter

Ken and Cynthia Miginton

Kevin Maines

Kim, Tami Polenz' friend

Kristina Blaylock, Linda Martin's friend

Lee Barnes, Faye Stinneford's brother-in-law

Lee Swann

Leslie Cummings

Lisa Moffatt, Lynne and Alan Moffatt's daughter-in-law

Lois Weems, Joyce Humphrey's mother

Marlene Hill, Vic and Judy Torres' friend

Maxine and Bill Wallace, Kimberly Knighton's friends

Michele Heroux and family, Amber Hawthorne's friend

Michelle and Baker Ingram

Mike and Paula Stewart

Mike Sprague, Steven Sprague's brother

Miss Johnnie, Patsy Brown's friend

Misti Abbott Schweitzer, Sherwood and Cheri Abbott's daughter-in-law

Monica, Bill Farmer's friend

Nick and Lisa Schoenberger, Ron Coats' friends

Prayer L ist Ron Hight

Ron Menix, Sharon Menix’s son

Rose Marie, Patsy Brown's friend

Ruth Hight

Sandy Rapp, Nancy Bickel's friend

Stan Clarke, Sue & Richard Morrow's friend

Susan Downey , praise for the birth of Laura Rose

Susan McGehee

Suzanne Kutinski

Sydney Marie Peel, Pat May's great niece

Terron Muller, Les Foley's niece

Tom Bigby

Trinity Nicolas, Jackie Robinason's son

Vinece Carlisle, Eileen Mode's friend

Warner Muirhead

Military: Chris Maxson, Billie

and Jay Bradford's friend

Chris Mulford, Pat Bailey's grandson

Colton Hardaway and Kayla Davis, son and daughter of Michael and Lore Osborn

Daniel Collier, Bob Collier's grandson

Dirk Van Ingen, Katie Lucas' friend

Eric Sherrer, Justin Sherrer, Patric Owen, and Alan McCleland, grandnephews of Vic and Judy Torres

Gail Worofka

James Fiaccone, Sue Fiaccone's grandson

Josh Crow, Annette Kelleher's son

Justin Knighton

Matthew Lee, Michelle Barker's brother

Sam Weatherby, Gary and Carol Turner's nephew

Stephen Tate

Travis Thomas

William Crowder, Yvonne Rohlfing's son

Bir thdays

Albert Nicolas, Patsy Brown's relative

Alton Ray

Ann Wilson

Baby Thomas Humiston

Belize Mission Trip

Billy Smith, Jackie Robinson's friend

Bobette Banks, Billie Bradford's friend

Burton family

Cameron Mode and family

Carol Rust, Dottie Rust's daughter

Cassie Sumner, Sally Rhymer's friend

Charlotte Everett

Cheryl Bowie, Billie Bradford's friend

Cory Hall, Kathy Knowles' friend

Doris Alexander, Dottie Rust's sister

Dylan Whitten

Ebola survivors

Ed Lewis, Linda Martin's friend

Families of the shooting victims in Oregon

Family of Maria Bayne

Family of Marlene Mielcarek, Sally Rhymer's friend

Nolan Hardwick, Barbara Collier's father

Ollie O'Sallis and her family and friends: Cordnell, Mardell, Christopher, Steven, Sean, Latoya, Andrea, Urias, Jackie, Jay, Gertrude, Gwen, Tina, Janice, and sister Rosa and family

Pat Holland, Cindy Balentine's sister

Peace to all families who are struggling

Pierre Tshimanga's family

Pope Francis

Praise for the women who prepared for the UMW Sunday celebration of UMW and its purpose

Rick Mellegard

Robbie Breaux, Audrey Coats' friend

Robert Gonzales

Robert Nail has a great grandson (joy)

Roger Ivey

Ron Coats

10 –Brianna Ingram, Mike McGehee, Don Wilson

11 –Stephen Tate, Marla Williams

14 –Kevin Maines

12 –Elizabeth Penland

16 –Kimberly Knighton

18 –Amanda Robertson

November

02 –Sharron Hines

03 –Carol Bolton, Joseph Putnam, Teresa Sprague

04 –Jeff Mayer

05 –Trent Daves

06 –Carla Fink

07 –Ric Grant,

09 –Ruth Hight

November

08 –Rob & Toni McMillon

12 –Doug & Faye Stapleton

15 –Joe & Sheri Roberts

21 –Jerry Maloney, Jr

22 –Brandi Bishop

23 –Leah Bennett, Brittany Naylor, Grace Mcann, Alton Ray

24 –Chris Biles

25 –Myna Moody, Clark Moffatt

27 –Janet Ledbetter, Brian Phillips

28—Larry Lewis

30 –David Davis

If your prayer request has been left off, please resubmit it. All requests are for 30 days only and will need to be resubmitted after that time.

Anniversar ies

Page 2

In Memory of Mary Martinez/Children's Ministry: Richard Morrow, Mike and Beverly Springer

In Memory of Fred Pallett/General Budget: Bud & Joann Dotter, Charlene Merritt

In Memory Of Deceased Loved Ones/PEF: Friendship Class

something awful! I am so blessed.

Tom’s son Calvin also lives here. He goes to a branch of the University of Texas.

I also, have found a friend at church– Sandra and I help put the church bulletins together a couple of times a month.

I went to the weddings of my two oldest grandsons, in Colorado in June and August.

Dear Friends,

I read in the newsletter that the Lord’s Acre is going to be a little bigger and better than before– as usual. Sounds like a lot of fun with a lot of busy workers.

I go to Grace Fellowship Methodist Church here in Katy. I go with my son Tom and his wife Cyndy.

Tom sells health insurance so he is home most of the time, and he spoils me

Last week I was in Galveston with my daughter and granddaughter.

But I most always talk to a friend or two back in Euless every week. It is too hard to let go!

I love you all so much–

Love again-

Millie Richter 5811 Misty Island Ct. Katy, TX 77449

Memor ia ls & Honorar iums

Food Pantry resume giving the bags on Nov. 6th. We have plenty of reusable cloth bags for the items to be put in (with the church logo!). If you did not get one Sunday, we will have them for you to pick up this coming Sunday. WE NEED FULL THANKSGIVING BAGS !! As of Sunday, Oct. 11th, we had 50 bags, and we need 200!

In 8 weeks, we will start giving out Christmas bags. As in the past, they are not full meals but items that are used to prepare Christmas meals. Also, at that time we give stocking stuffers to the children. Please help us by providing things such as pencils, pens, socks,

books, puzzles, small toys, cologne for boys and girls, small bags of Christmas candy, etc. Anything will be appreciated.

If you have any Christmas decorations that you will not be using, we would be glad to take them off your hands and put them out for our clients to choose from. This has brought a lot of happiness to them in the past. We gave a Christmas tree last year to someone that had never put one up in her apartment before.

Our needs in the Pantry are: canned fruit, canned green beans, macaroni and cheese and anything that you see in the grocery store.

Food Pantry Volunteer Schedule:

October:

23 –Brenda Hurlbut, Darlene Carter, Sheri Roberts

30 –Pantry closed.

November:

6 –Kathy Chapman, Brenda Hurlbut, Linda Lewis, Hedy Taylor

13 –Phyllis Augustus, Gloria Daves, Dottie Rust, Jill Schaneberg

20 –Marie Bean, Darlene Carter, Sheri Roberts, Judy Torres

It’s five weeks until Thanksgiving, but we will start giving out this year’s Thanksgiving Bags on Oct. 23rd. We will be closed on Oct. 30th and will

Page 3

Church Matters

Letter From a Member

In Memory of Clody Phillips - Jo Tarrh's Mother/General Budget: Fresh Start

Church Matters

Angel News:

Preschool got a “facelift” in October. Rachel Heyduck painted a new Preschool sign that is hanging out front of the preschool entrance. A Preschool Family whose family business is Ignite Imaging put a new sign on our door with our logo, email and phone number. Both improved the appearance of our school. Special thanks to them from the

preschool!

Preschool will have several families participating in children’s activities at this years Lord’s Acre. The Preschool will have a special 10:00 a.m. performance. October has been a fun month with a Community Helper unit that included visits from a dentist, the Euless police department and fire department. We had school pictures taken by

Potatohead Studios and will finish the month with our annual Pumpkin Parade complete with super heroes and Disney princesses.

November will be filled with Pilgrims and Native American activities and our annual Pow Wow. We will have the week of Nov. 23-27 off as we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families!

Things Chr is t ians Say. . .

Page 4

Euless F i rs t Preschool

burned alive or beheaded for attending church or worshipping Christ. A world in which families lose their homes and livelihood for their allegiance to Jesus.

That is persecution.

Many North American Christians claim to be persecuted when in reality, their social skills need improving (see numbers 1 from last month and 4 above).

Having someone get mad at you is not always persecution.

Having someone laugh at you for your faith is not persecution.

Nor is the brake job you need on your car ‘persecution’ (it’s just a brake job).

Or losing your bid on a dream home in a bidding war. Even if you lost out because someone doesn’t like Christians, that’s not exactly suffering for your faith.

If you think you’re being persecuted for your faith in

6 Things Christians Say That Sound Like Faithfulness…But Aren’t by Carey Nieuwhof

Part 2– Last 3 Things

4. I’m just misunderstood

A surprising number of people feel misunderstood.

And they say things like “Jesus was misunderstood, and so were the prophets.” Well, yes. But the people who frequently claim to be misunderstood might find that changes if they learn to communicate more directly and more clearly.

Often Christians who claim to be misunderstood simply lack self-awareness.

Sure, there are moments in every person’s life where each of us is genuinely misunderstood. Some people, though, seem to frequently feel misunderstood. As in almost all the time.

5. I’m being persecuted for my faith

Move outside North America or the West, and you quickly find yourself in a world in which people get

North America, travel more.

6. I’m taking a Biblical approach

I’ve seen more than a few leaders claim to be taking a Biblical approach as soon as they start to feel threatened or inferior to someone else.

Implicit in this claim is a sense that anyone who is doing better, growing faster or seeing more traction has cheated or sold out. Undertone: I’m being biblical…they’re not.

Progress doesn’t always come immediately, and sometimes it doesn’t come at all. Sometimes Christians claim to be faithful when, in fact, they’re just being ineffective.

What’s needed is greater diligence, a better strategy, a better team, a fresh perspective and a push past the jealousy and envy we all sometimes feel.

So get some gut level honesty.

Why not just say “I’m happy for them” and then get to work on the things God has given you?

Church Matters Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1– Daylight Savings Time End 2 3 4 5 6 7

8:00 Library Opens 8:30 Worship 9:00 Son Rise Cafe 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 3:00 Centro Familiar

Cristiano 4:00 Handbells 5:00 E1ement Students 5:00 Wesleyan Way 5:00 Arlington Life Shelter

6:30 Cub/Boy Scouts

7:00 Al-Anon & AA 7:00 Trustees

Meeting

10:00 UMW Harmony Hope

3:00 Beach Club 6:30 Alpha

7:00 Choir Practice 6:30 Men’s Coffee 7: 00 Al-Anon & AA

9:00 Food Pantry Open

9:00 Texas Premier Sports

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

8:00 Library Opens 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 3:00 Centro Familiar

Cristiano 4:00 Handbells 5:00 E1ement Students 5:00 Wesleyan Way

6:00 UMW Executive Board Meeting

6:30 Cub/Boy Scouts

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

7:00 Finance Meeting

3:00 Beach Club 6:30 Alpha

6:30 Boy Scout Committee Meeting

7:00 Choir Practice

6:30 Men’s Coffee 6:00 UMW

Thoughtful Friends

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

9:00 Food Pantry Open

8:00 Golf Tournament

8:30 Al-Anon 9:00 Texas Premier

Sports 6:00 Allies in Youth

Development Concert

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

8:00 Library Opens 8:30 Worship 9:30 Blood Pressure

Screening 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 3:00 Centro Familiar

Cristiano 4:00 Handbells 5:00 E1ement Students 5:00 Food Pantry Open 5:00 Wesleyan Way

Shred It– Shredding service day

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

6:30 Cub/Boy Scouts

7:00 Church Council Meeting

10:30 Preschool Pow Wow

3:00 Beach Club 6:30 Alpha 6:30 Girl Scout

Troop

8:00 Tarrant County Area Food Bank Workday

10:30 Preschool Pow Wow

7:00 Choir Practice

6:30 Men’s Coffee 8:45 Preschool

Thanksgiving Feast

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

8:45 Preschool Thanksgiving Feast

9:00 Food Pantry Open

8:30 Al-Anon 9:00 Texas Premier

Sports

22 23 24 25 26– Thanksgiving 27 Office Closed 28

8:00 Library Opens 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 12:00 Thanksgiving

Luncheon 3:00 Centro Familiar

Cristiano 3:00 Charge Conference 4:00 Handbells 5:00 E1ement Students 5;00 Wesleyan Way

6:30 Cub/Boy Scouts

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

3:00 Beach Club 6:30 UMM

Dinner and Meeting

6:30 Alpha

7:00 Choir Practice

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

8:30 Al-Anon

29– First Sunday of Advent 30

8:00 Library Opens 8:30 Worship– Hanging of

the Greens 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship– Hanging of

the Greens 3:00 Centro Familiar

Cristiano 4:00 Handbells 5:00 E1ement Students 5:00 Wesleyan Way

6:30 Cub/Boy Scouts

7:00 Al-Anon & AA

Page 5

November

1 Daylight Savings Time Ends

All Saints Sunday– Join us in worship as we celebrate the loves of those who have died in the last year

SonRise Café will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Café

Wesleyan Way Study in the Swor Parlor at 5:00 p.m

Prepare Meal for Arlington Life Shelter at 5:00 p.m., to help contact Gloria Daves

2 Trustee’s Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room

3 United Methodist Women Harmony Hope Meeting in the Swor Parlor at 10:00 a.m.

8 Wesleyan Way Study in the Swor Parlor at 5:00 p.m.

9 UMW Executive Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Finance Committee Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

12 United Methodist Women Thoughtful Friends Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

14 Golf Tournament at 8:00 a.m. Iron Horse Golf Course in North Richland Hills

Allies in Youth Development Concert and Reception 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary and Swor Parlor

15 Blood Pressure Screening between the two worship services

Wesleyan Way Study in the Library at 5:00 p.m.

Food Pantry open from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

16 Shred It- shredding service will be at the church, Bring your items up and have them shredded for free.

Church Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room

18 Tarrant County Food Bank Workday, meet at the church to carpool at 8:15 a.m.

22 Thanksgiving Luncheon 12:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center

Euless First Charge Conference will be at 3:00 p.m. in the Swor Parlor

Wesleyan Way Study in the Swor Parlor at 5:00 p.m.

24 United Methodist Men Dinner and Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Swor Parlor

26-27 Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

29 First Sunday of Advent Hanging of the Greens during both worship services

Wesleyan Way Study in the Swor Parlor at 5:00 p.m.

Regular Events:

Sundays– Worship at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.; Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.; Handbells at 4:00 p.m.

E1ement Students at 5:00 p.m.

Mondays- Al-Anon meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Library, and AA meets in Rm 203 at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesdays- Beach Club at 3:00 p.m. at South Euless Elementary School

Alpha at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center

Wednesdays– Choir Practice at 7:00 p.m.

Thursdays– Men’s Coffee at 6:30 a.m.; Al-Anon meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Library, and AA meets in Rm 203 at 7:00 p.m.

Fridays– Food Pantry from 9:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. except 5th Fridays

Saturdays- Al-Anon will begin meeting Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. in the Library on the 14th; Texas Premier Sports meets in the Gym from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Important Dates

Page 6

Church Matters

Uni ted Methodis t Women month at 10:00 a.m. or 2nd Thursday each month at 6:00 p.m. (childcare provided) in the Swor Parlor. We are gearing up for our Christmas projects and working on other service projects that we need help with, and this is a chance for you to share your God given gifts with others. So come join us and learn for yourself just what this group of women do to serve as God's hands and feet.

We also want to extend an invitation to all members of Euless First

UMC to join us for the grand opening of the LORD'S ACRE BAKERY.

This is a special business as you are asked to BAKE something yummy, BRING it to the store and then BUY something else yummy.

So help us make this a successful enterprise and help the Lord's Acre have wonderful desserts to go along with the Boy Scouts lunch, or just something delish to snack on, all being served in the Family Life Center.

Wow! We hope you all felt as blessed to attend the UMW Sunday on October 11 as we felt to present this to the congregation. Thank you for your wonderful, heartfelt comments of appreciation afterward. We're so glad many of you were also able to attend our luncheon.

We would now like to extend an invitation to everyone to come and join us at our regularly scheduled meeting times, 1st Tuesday of each

Church Matters

Stop Hunger Now Success ! 10,000 meals was approximately $2,900. If you can help pay for these meals, donations would be very helpful.

Here is a look at the awesome service on the day!

October 18 was a wonderful morning at Euless First United Methodist Church. There was breakfast, worship, preparing for Lord’s Acre, and Stop Hunger Now!

We planned to make 10,000 meals from 9:15 a.m. to noon. While we started a little early (there were eager volunteers) we were finished by 10:40 a.m.!

It was fun to make all those meals and to see all the different people working together.

Thank you for all that came and helped. Maybe we can do more meals next year!

The cost to prepare

Page 7

Trunk or Treat is going to be a great opportunity for us to reach others in our community. Join us at the city of Euless event on October 31st at 4:00 p.m. If you want to participate we would love the help. Just let me know.

November is a special month as we gather together to remember the

things we are thankful for and to prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior in December.

Hanging of the Greens is November 29. You don’t want to miss it!

Our Family Christmas Party will be December 12 at 2:00 p.m., more details and location to be

Euless F i rs t K ids

values and we'd like to invite you to serve alongside us!

Looking Forward:

November 1 - BE. @ The E1ement Table: Fun Stuff

November 8 - LOVE. @ The E1ement Table: God in the Movies

November 15 - SERVE. @ The E1ement Table: E1UMC Food Pantry

November 22 - BE.LOVE.SERVE: Special Event

November 29 - BE. & LOVE. @ The E1ement Table: Worship

Have you noticed that E1ement Students are busy

serving?!?! Our students are awesome. They don't just attend school, they take college classes before they are in college, they play sports, they sing, dance, act, and play instruments. Some of them even manage to hold down jobs in the midst of all of those things... And they still make time to serve! In fact, SERVE. is one of our core

Page 8

another company Monday-Friday. However, the Staff Parish Relations Committee has found a way for Aubree to continue on as Director of Children’s Ministry. This means that she will not have office hours during the week, but you can still contact her by email at children@fumceuless.org.

You might recall that at the beginning of October we quickly announced that Aubree Marlow would be leaving Euless First, yet the next Sunday we did not have a reception. Well here is the latest on that development.

Aubree Marlow did begin a new full time position at

We are grateful Aubree can continue in ministry with us and our children . If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to speak with Pastor Steve.

Chi ldren’s Min is ter Update

Church Matters

December 6 - BE. & LOVE.: Progressive Dinner

December 13 - LOVE. & SERVE.: Christmas Gift

December 20 - SERVE. @ The E1ement Table: E1UMC Food Pantry

For more details on any of these events or to see photos, please visit our website: e1ementstudents.com.

Shane Mullin– Youth Ministry Director

announced soon! If you would like to host or have a fun idea for our get together, please let me know!

Aubree Marlow- Children’s Ministry Director children@fumceuless.org

E1ement Students

Church Matters

Come, join us in November for a short sermon series on the book of Esther. We don't often spend time on any one book of the Bible, but for three weeks we are.

Esther was written to tell the story behind the Jewish holiday of Purim. It is one of only two books in the Bible, the other being Ruth, whose lead character is a woman.

Esther is one of only two books in the Bible, the other being Song of Songs, that doesn't mention God by name.

Why is there a book in the

Bible, about a Jewish holiday, that doesn't mention God? Come in November and find out.

Esther is written about a time when Jews had been taken away from their homeland. This is known as The Exile. During The Exile, Jews lived entirely at the mercy of whoever had power in the land they had been taken to. Since many Christians feel similarly today; like power has been taken away from them, Esther offers hope to God's people of our day.

In addition to Esther, we will meet characters like

Mordecai, Haman, and Xerxes. Each of these has something to teach us. Also, though God is not actually mentioned in any of the 9 chapters, we believe there is a lot to learn about God from the book of Esther.

Plan to read the entire book - it is no more than 10 pages or so, before we start the series November 8th.

You'll get even more than usual out of the sermons if you'll prepare.

Esther Sermon Ser ies

Page 9

Euless First United Methodist Church feels privileged to have an AA group meeting twice a week beginning in November.

Meetings will be Mondays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in room 203. Meetings are at the same time as Al-Anon meetings so that family members and AA members can find support at the same time.

If you or anyone you know is in need of help

What is AA? Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.

please go to aa.org. Our meeting as well as others in the area are available.

AA is a wonderful group to have using our space. Along with Al-Anon, AA is taking responsibility for the space and thus will be contributing financially to the church.

Our prayers go out to the organizers of these groups and those that will find hope in their midst.

AA Meet ing

16. If you have items that you would like to shred for free, please bring them to the church

Once again Euless First will have a shredding truck to shred outdated paperwork on November

November 8 thru 15. For questions please contact Bob Collier, or Sally in the church office 817-283-4421

Shredding

HANDLING OUR WEALTH Part 4 of 4: The Dangers of Wealth

The past three issues of First Fruits Findings have focused on what the Bible has to say about dealing with our wealth and possessions. Three principles have been highlighted:

God is the owner of everything.

We are to be generous with what has been entrusted to us.

We are to prudently manage what has been entrusted to us.

In this final article in the series, we will look at the dangers of wealth.

Like many things in life, wealth is relative. When we read the word “wealth”, we may not think this applies to us. We are not Bill Gates, perhaps we don’t have a stock portfolio, or maybe even the idea of putting together a vacation in the sun is a remote possibility. However, as middle-class Americans, we really are among the very richest people in the world. If you're really curious about that, go to www.globalrichlist.com and type in your household income. Be prepared to be shocked by how rich you are by world standards. Whatever the level of our wealth, it is significant because it is a trust from

God. However, the power and influence of money can cause harm if we let our possessions possess our hearts. The Bible warns about dangers that come with wealth. It is easy to think that what we have gives our lives value, satisfaction or security. It can become a measure of comparing ourselves to others. Do we want others to evaluate us on our income, our profession or what we own? A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Luke 12:15b. Chasing wealth for the purpose of self-gratification never satisfies. Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. Eccl. 5:10

Another danger is misguided trust. It is easy to trust in our assets instead of allowing God to fill our lives with what we really need. Our security shifts to the temporal rather than the unseen, eternal promises of God. When you get down to it, stewardship is not about giving, it is about trust. It’s relinquishing control of something that is so much a part of our daily lives. God promises to meet our needs, but we need to step aside and allow Him to do so. We need to have enough trust in

God that we leave room for obedience when we sense God calling us to something out of the ordinary.

Finally, we hinder God’s plan and purpose when we fail to use our resources in the way that God intends. We live on a groaning planet that needs the love of God in tangible ways. Half of our world – three billion people—live on less than $2 a day (purposedriven.com). Millions of people have never even heard the Word of God. As someone said, “I believe that God’s people possess God’s provisions to accomplish and fulfill God’s purposes in the world.”

Do we take Jesus seriously when he warns how hard it will be for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven? Wealth, in itself, is not wrong. It is our attitude towards wealth that matters most to God. Do we see it as God’s gift to us to manage in His best interest? Simply put, we are to use our wealth, money and resources in this present life with an eye on eternity. We are to invest what God has given us now to accomplish His long-term goals. What a responsibility. What a privilege!

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b

Church Matters Stewardsh ip Moment

Page 10

Online Giving Link

angles. We concluded the campaign with prayerfully placing our commitment cards at the altar rail during worship and a fellowship meal.

While we will continue to take commitment cards, here are some results we would like to share with you.

Our official annual stewardship campaign has concluded for 2015. We had a wonderful time hearing Pastor Steve preach during this series in September.

We looked at “If “we are people of God, “Then” we are people who respond from several different

We have received 87 pledges, for a total of $320,281. Of those pledges we have 17 pledges from families that have not pledged before.

Blessings to Euless First. If we are people following Christ better today, then our lives will reflect it in every way.

I f . . .Then

Church Matters

need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.” In the season with this name, we keep in mind both “advents” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.

Many of us are unfamiliar with Advent, I expect it might feel odd to think of the weeks before Christmas as something more than Christmastime. As children we may have had Advent calendars: sturdy, decorative paper displays with 25 little “windows,” one of which would be opened each day of December leading up to Christmas. Sometimes

What! It is not even November and we are already talking about Advent? Well yes. But as the season approaches we want to share with you a little about what the season is. Advent is the beginning of the Christian Calendar.

The Christian season of Christmas actually begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for twelve days, ending on January 6. (No, the twelve-day season of Christmas did not start with the song. It was the other way around.) The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent, we’re reminded of how much we ourselves also

Advent calendars are made of wood and feature twenty-five little boxes, each containing some little treasure. It is often a way to whet our appetites for Christmas, not that kids need much help to get ready for their favorite day of the year, mind you. Yet it has a much more serious purpose. It’s meant to get us ready, not for a present-opening party, but for a transformational celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Euless First does many things to get us ready for this time. This year again we will have an advent book with worship services, devotionals and much more about the season. We hope you will help us with devotionals as the time gets closer. Remember Advent begins with The Hanging of the Greens on November 29.

Advent

Our Building Committee had its first meeting on Sunday evening, October 18th. All members were present: Amelia Coats, Ron Coats, Lee Gilby, Steve Heyduck, Jerry Maloney, Jr., Lynne Moffatt, Tim Stinneford, Jennifer Tindel, and Judy Tribble.

Judy Tribble was chosen as Chair and Lee Gilby as Vice-Chair.

The committee discussed our situation. They spent time talking about the property the state will be taking. They began talking about the information we will need to have to make the decisions to move forward.

As this was the first meeting for this group, some time was spent

getting to know one another. The committee also did some team building. Specifically, each person was invited to share their favorite memories related to any of our church buildings.

They were also each asked to write a number on a piece of paper. The number they wrote down was the number of years they had been part of Euless First UMC.

Your Building Committee has a total of 216.5 years of being part of our church family!

The group’s next meeting will be on Monday night, October 26th at 6:30.

As you may remember, our Church Council named

nearly 60 people to a variety of short-term teams to study all the different ways the highway expansion will affect our church property.

At the meeting on October 26th, the Building Committee will meet with a good number of these folks and learn from them.

Our goal, you remember, in all of this, is to keep everyone in the church as informed as possible.

We all make better decisions when we have more information. And we are more likely to trust others when we have spent time talking to them and listening to them.

-Pastor Steve

Highway Update

Page 11

L e a r n i n g t o F o l l o w J e s u s a B i t B e t t e r T o d a y t h a n Y e s t e r d a y

106 N. Main St. Euless, TX 76040

Phone: 817-283-4421 fumceuless.org

Twitter.com/EulessFirstUMC Facebook.com/EulessFirstUnitedMethodist

Youtube.com/sheyduck Pinterest.com/EulessFirstUMC

Instagram.com/EulessFirstUMC

Sunday Worship 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Euless First United Methodist Church

PO Box 967

Euless, TX 76039

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

NPA# 225165

Permit No. 2

Euless, TX

76039

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Mission: Euless First United Methodist Church strives to follow Jesus Christ a bit better today then yesterday. Through these efforts we

develop a relationship with Christ and thus transform people, their lives, our community and the world.

Purpose: We seek to follow Jesus better by moving people from knowing God, to growing in relationship with God, to going forth with God to serve others, and finally, glowing for God by witnessing to their faith to

others.

Vision: Our vision is to be a community of God's love and grace so that the larger community and world see God by our actions and outreach.