in this ISSUE Church Budget Page 2 Music at Southminster Page 3 What’s happening page 4 In Our Community page 5 Bible Study page 6 Fellowship page 7 Youth & Children News page 8 School News page 9 Calendar & Schedules page 10 & 11

the Signal

“In thy light shall we see light” Psalm 36:9

February 2015

Southminster Presbyterian Church

Share The Story

If you’ve been in church within the last month, then there is a good chance that you’ve noticed that something is different. I’m not talking about having only one worship service, or having the service at a different time. There is an undeniable energy in our church. People seem to be excited about the new direction that we are moving as a church, and God is continually moving and working among us in unexpected ways. I could give you statistics about how Sunday School attendance has tripled, or how worship attendance with a single service is higher than worship attendance split between the two services in the past, but quite frankly I am not concerned with those numbers. One of our high school youth asked me the other day about the size of our youth group, and I told him, “I’d rather have 4 or 5 youth who are passionate about living out their faith and growing as disciples of Jesus Christ than 50 youth who are apathetic about their faith.” Numbers just don’t do a lot for me. Can they indicate growth? Absolutely, but what I care the most about is what is happening in the lives of the people. Are they being challenged in their faith? Are they not only passionate about reading God’s Word, but letting it actually shape and mold them into who God is calling them to be? Are they reaching outside of the church in the same way that God has reached out in love to them? These are questions that concern me more than the numbers.

While we are seeing attendance numbers at the highest numbers they’ve been in recent years, we are also seeing people in our congregation growing in faith. This past January we began a journey through the Bible together called The Story. Through the course of this 31 week long journey we are reading chronologically through the majority of the Bible, and the most exciting thing is that the whole church is doing the same thing every week. From 2 years old to 102 years old, everyone is reading the same stories from the Bible. We are only 3 weeks in as I write this article, and I can already tell that people are having those “AHA!” moments as they begin to understand how the story of all these people in the Bible are connected to God’s big story.

We are not doing this study for just the members of this church. Something begins to

happen to us as we truly read, digest and live by God’s Word. The Holy Spirit compels us to invite

other people into this story. When we truly understand what it means to live a life as a disciple of

Jesus, we are filled with unexplainable joy and passion that overflows from our hearts. When the

love of God overflows from our hearts, it’s got to go somewhere! So we share that love with others

and invite them to join us as we follow Jesus. Each week we will have our cart with The Story

resources in the narthex outside the sanctuary. Right now I have about 50 adult books left, a little

under 20 of the kids, children and preschooler books left, and about 8 of the youth books left. I

want to encourage each person in our church to think about someone in your life that you could

invite into The Story. I want you to begin to pray about how God could use The Story in their life.

Then I want you to invite that person to come to church with you, and give that person their own

book. If we truly believe that God’s story is the greatest story that has ever been told, then we

cannot keep it for ourselves. Just as God reached out and invited us into God’s story, we must

continue His good work and invite others into God’s Story. We must continue to share the story.

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Southminster Presbyterian Church

4200 Cartwright Road

Missouri City, TX 77459

(281) 499-2310

www.southminpres.org

Non Profit Permit #4 POSTAGE PAID Missouri City, TX 77459

Southminster Church

Rev. Kent Landry……....………………..........................Pastor Rev. Andrew Keyes……………………………..Associate Pastor Rev. David Northcutt…………….....………..Parish Associate for Pastoral Care Pam Drake………….…..…………................Church Secretary John Ryan…..……………………………………………...Treasurer Christy Balenene……………………………..Business Manager Scott Lofgren...................................Facilities Coordinator Andrew Meddaugh…..………………………...…… Music Staff Mary Sinclair..…...……….………….………………...Music Staff Gabriele Hodges...............................................Music Staff Jane Rusk……….................……………………….Signal Editor Jeanne Peabody…………..…………….Childcare Coordinator

Southminster School

Angela Holden.………………..Head of Southminster School Karen Rombach....................................Preschool Director

OUR MISSION

Exemplify Christ's love to children, the community,

and one another through education, service, and

outreach.

OUR CORE VALUES

Nurturing children and youth

Service to others (community)

Personal investment in the church

Strong support to church members in need

Our Deepest Sympathy is

David Newell and family as they grieve the l death of his Uncle Bob Baker.

Kathryn Batek and family as they grieve the death of her brother, David Alford.

SAVE THE

DATE

February 18 Ash Wednesday Service

7:00pm

March 22 BLOOD DRIVE

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Audio Visual

1st Benny Gilbert

8th Rick & Niki Bramer

15th Debbie Yoho, Brad Federwisch

22nd Jon Schwartz

Tellers

1st Myron Goforth &

Frank Haines

8th Bea McClung & Pat Welsh

15th

22nd Travis Boyd & Richard Early

If you have an article or

event that you’d like

included in the Signal

Newsletter. Please email

Jane Rusk at her new

email address

emailjanerusk@gmail.

com by the 15th of the

prior month. Your ideas

are also appreciated &

welcome!

Worship Assistant

1st David Northcutt

8th Adam Hauschel

15th Scot Alexander

22nd Jack Burgess

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES & BUDGET NEW CHURCH BUDGET

On the second Sunday in November 2014, this church held Commitment Sunday and the congregation responded with an open heart and the willingness to pledge on average 11% more than previous in order to try and address a balanced eighteen month budget beginning January 2015.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.

The eighteen month budget for Southminster Presbyterian Church is currently established at $1,008,493. Congregational pledges received reflect $901,000 and projected non-pledged income is estimated at $68,400. This new budget cycle will reflect a deficit spend of $39,093 of which we pray will be offset by those members who have not submitted a pledge card to date.

Deuteronomy 16:17

Each of you must bring a gift of proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

Please feel free to contact the Church Treasurer, John Ryan or Resources & Management Committee Chair, Brian Wolf with

any questions about the budget or church finances.

AudiCommunion Servers February 1, 2015

Preparer Kay Hardcastle

Servers

Joanne Dunmire Kathy Pitts

Myron Goforth Brian Wolf

Frank Haines Jon Schwartz

Robert Hodge Nell Schwartz

Southminster Presbyterian Church and School Church 6 month stub budget from July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014

Church Income July to Dec YTD Budget 2014 July-Dec Budget

Pledged/Non Pledged/Loose Plate Giving 316,998 300,722 300,722

Church Expense

General Benevolence/Per Capita Presbytery 6,498 6,498 6,498

Christian Education & Youth 3,286 5,763 5,763

Congregational Care & Fellowship (1,463) 5,250 5,250

Diaconate (95) 300 300

Mission & Evangelism 10,017 11,898 11,898

Resources and Management & Stewardship 268,738 272,846 272,846

Worship & Music 1,297 5,605 5,605

Principal and Interest on Building Debt - Church 33,477 41,798 41,798

Total church expense 321,756 349,958 349,958

Church Net (income - expenses) (4,758) (49,236) (49,236)

Southminster School 12 month budget July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015

School Income

Southminster School 965,590 900,692 1,455,995

School Expense

Southminster School 675,444 664,450 1,310,985

Principal and Interest on Building Debt - School 57,001 78,500 145,000

Total School Expense 732,445 742,950 1,455,985

School Net (Income - Expenses) 233,145 157,742 10

Southminster Presbyterian Church

2015-2016 18 Month Budget

Income

Pledged/Non Pledged / Loose Plate Giving $ 969,400.00

Total Income $ 969,400.00

Expense

General Benevolence/Per Capita Presbytery $ 19,500.00

Christian Education & Youth $ 24,040.00

Congregational Care & Fellowship $ 8,000.00

Diaconate $ 900.00

Mission & Evangelism $ 55,900.00

Resources, Management & Stewardship $ 760,358.00

Worship & Music $ 15,865.00

Approved Non-Budgeted Expenses $ -

Principal and Interest on Building Dept - Church $ 123,930.00

Total Expense $ 1,008,493.00

Projected Deficit Spend $ 39,093.00

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS May God continue to shower you with blessings and happiness. May He always keep you in his tender and loving care.

Feb 4th—Theresa James

Feb 6th—Betsy Wood

Feb 7th—Mary Sinclair

Feb 8th—George Bisong

Feb 9th—Shivanna Sharma

Feb 11th— Maxwell Burgess

Feb 13th—Skyler Bramer

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 Whispers Bibles

Study 915a

3

4

MWM Brown Bag

5

Chancel Choir

730p

6 7

8 Sunday School 9am

Fellowship 10am Worship 1030am Deacons 545p Worship 6p Mission/Evang 7pm

9 Whispers Bibles

Study 915a

Wings Bibles Study 7p

10 Quilters 9:30a

Food Pantry 10a

CE/Youth 7p #1852 7p

11

MWM - Brown Bag 615p

GraceNotes 730p

12

Chancel Choir

730p

13

14

Divine Diners 630p

15

Youth Group 6p-7p

Congregational Care

7p

16 Whispers Bibles

Study 915a

17 Quilters 9:30a

School Comm 7p

#1852 7p

18

Ash Wed. Service 7p

19

Chancel Choir 730p

20

21

Date Night 6p

22

Sunday School 9am Fellowship 10am Worship 1030am

23

Whispers Bibles Study 915a

24 Quilters 9:30a

Food Pantry 10a

#1852 7p

25

MWM 615p

26

Chancel Choir 730p

27

28

what’s happening, when FEBRUARY CALENDAR

Feb 14th—Val Imperial & Ray Rusk

Feb 18th—Jeff Cooper & Ellen Earle

Feb 21th—Alexander Hodges

Feb 27th—Randy Corbin & Kent Landry

Feb 28th— Andrew Christie & Andy Holden

Recycling Cans - Bring to Church February 1 Newsletter Deadline February 15th

Music at Southminster

Adult Choir Prerequisite: Sing in tune

Time Commitment: Rehearsals on Thursday nights (7:30 pm) Sing on two Sundays/month (average)

Youth/Children’s Performing Arts Groups

Prerequisite (Youth only): Sing in tune

Time Commitment: Children: Rehearsals on Sunday nights (6:00-6:45 pm) Sing on one Sunday/month (average) Participate in musical play

Youth: Rehearsals on Sunday nights (7:00-8:00 pm) Sing on one Sunday/month (average) Participate in Youth Choir Dinner Theatre Adult Praise Band

Prerequisite: Read music and sing in tune or play an instrument

Time Commitment: Rehearsals on Wednesday nights (7:30 pm) Play/Sing on two Sundays/month (average)

Youth Praise Band

Prerequisite: Sing in tune or play an instrument

Time Commitment: Rehearsals are 3 times per month. Play on Sundays, 6-8 times/year. Handbell Choir

Prerequisite: Count to six

Time Commitment: Rehearsals on Sundays after worship service (about twice/month) Play on Sundays about eight times/year Last, but not least ... Do you play a musical instrument? Would you be willing to play once

in a while during worship?

Join us and share your talent. Contact Gabriele Hodges gghodges@windstream.net or

Andrew Meddaugh andrewmeddaugh@gmail.com or call the office (281-499-2310).

in the

SCHOOL Teaching Christ’s love

Page 9 Page 4

Spring Happenings at Southminster School We have LOTS of fun things come around the bend. We hope our church family will join us when

appropriate. Also, we have LOTS of opportunities to volunteer at school and would LOVE to see your

smiling faces; one day or once a week…we can use YOU!

February 3rd begins Open Registration for the 2015-2016 School Year for all families

February 12th and 13th Preschool Valentine’s Day Parties

February 13th Elementary Valentine’s Day Parties

February 16th President’s Day-No School

February 19th and 20th Preschool Rodeo Days

February 20th Elementary Go Texan Day

February 20th Date Night

February 24th PTO Multi-Cultural Day

February 27th Elementary Science Fair (VOLUNTEERS needed)

March 6th Ensemble ACSI Competition (VOLUNTEERS needed)

March 9th-13th Spring Break-No School

Saturday, April 18th is our Southminster School Gala, The Social. This year the event will be held at

the Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land. The PTO is working really hard to ensure a

great time is had by ALL. Please email them at PTO@southminsterschool.org for questions OR

if your company would like to sponsor part of the event or if you have something you could

donate to the cause. All funds raised go directly to the school to enhance the educational

experience for ALL children of Southminster. As always we need you to make this event

successful. Thank you in advance for participating.

PRAYER & THANKSGIVING

Team Butterfly thanks you for your support! We greatly appreciate your prayers, your

encouragement, and your donations for our recent marathon efforts. Through your

generosity we were able to raise greatly needed funds for Presbyterian Children’s

Homes & Services. Your support sustains us through our training, walking, and running.

We cannot thank you enough. Becky, Barb, Doug, Dustin, Joann, Clara, & Dorothy

CONGRATULATIONS ON THOSE GRANDBABIES!!

Bonnie & David Northcutt new grandson,

Crockett, born 01/05/15

Cheryl & Randy Corbin new grandchildren,

Mason & Maya born 12/2/2014

Ellen & Doug Earle new grandson

Skylar, born 12/09/2014

BLOOD DRIVE

SUNDAY MARCH 22 Sunday, March 22 is the date to save for our next Blood Drive here at Southminster. Be a superhero and give the gift of life. Every donation can help save as many as three lives – mothers, children, husbands, neighbors. It just takes a few minutes of your day and makes a powerful impact on our community. The mobile unit will be set up in the fellowship hall and appointments will be available from 8:30 am until 12:45 pm. Walk-ins are welcome. Watch for sign-up sheets in the narthex beginning in March.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

A new committee has formed at Southminster as a result of the visioning process. This Committee is looking for new members . If you have a background in communication or just love the process of communicating with groups of people, or just have an idea for our committee please contact J.O. Dravis—jodravis@gmail.com for more information.

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Page 5

how you can HELP?

CARING TONS

Please continue to bring your items each Sunday. This Months suggested food

products are: Flour 2lb, sugar 2lb, cooking oil, saltine

crackers, toothpaste, tooth brushes, bath bar soap, toilet paper, shampoo,

paper grocery bags

FOOD BANK Our days to work at the EFBHN Food Pantry:

February 10th & 24th 10:00am - 1:30pm.

425 Stafford Run Rd,

Stafford, TX 77477

Please come and join us!

Donations needed: Bath Bar Soap, Flour, Sugar, Cooking

Oil, Saltines, Toothpaste, Tooth Brushes,

EYE GLASSES

Dorothy Goforth is collecting

eyeglasses for a mission in

Peru. Please leave them in

the treasure box in the

Narthex.

RECYCLING

Thank you for your

recycling efforts. Please

remember to bring your

aluminum cans the first

Sunday of each month.

Our local & worldwide

COMMUNITY OF FAITH How you can show Christ’s love SHYG

Sr. High Youth Group &

MIGHT Middle Schoolers in God’s Hands Together

All Middle and High school

students welcome!

Schedule

Sun. Feb. 01 - No Youth Group Sun. Feb. 08 - 5:00p-7:00p Regular YG Sun. Feb. 15 - 5:00p-7:00p Regular YG Sun. Feb. 22 - 5:00p-7:00p Regular YG

Fri. Feb. 27 - Sun. Mar. 1 - 5:00p-3:00p Conclaves

Upcoming Events — March Youth Sunday - March 22 - 10:30am

YOUTH & CHILDREN MINISTRIES

EMPTY BOWLS PLANNING IS IN FULL SWING!

Fort Bend Empty Bowls will be held on

April 17, 2015

at Texas Safari Ranch.

We're excited to announce the following sponsors who have committed for the event

Whole Foods Market Sugar Land - Creme de la Creme

Keller Williams Southwest - Cordon Bleu

Sterling McCall Lexus - Chef's Delight

Mary McCaine - Soup de Jour

Kelly Showalter and Bruce Bird - Soup de Jour

Request for Auction Items

It is time to begin collecting items for silent auction baskets. We would like to have

100 prime silent auction items this year and will begin collecting between

Feb. 1 and March 15.

If you wish to make a donation or for suggestions, please contact Carolyn Couch at

ccnana42(at)yahoo(dot)com or(281) 743-1812. We would like to make sure that we

have a variety and no duplication.

Items which have sold well in the past are: Tickets to Astros, Skeeters, Rockets or

Texans; Wine, Beer, or Liquor; Baskets with labeled items for your favorite teams, such

as Astros, Texans, Rockets, UT or TX A&M; Restaurant gift certificates; Lottery Tickets;

Sur La Table Cooking Lessons; Tower of Games; well made hand made items, such as

cake, wooden crafted items, puzzles, quilts; round of golf for 4 with lunch.

Please be generous with your donations and let's make this EMPTY BOWLS very

successful.

Request for Sponsorship

Do you or someone you know own a business and want to get your name out to the community?

Sponsoring Fort Bend Empty Bowls 2015 is a great way to do that. Sponsors at the Soup de Jour level or above get a table at the event, recognition during the event and

an ad in the event program. The benefits increase with each sponsorship level. You may also want to sponsor with a group of friends or in memory of a loved one.

Download the sponsorship for here and send to ministry@humanneeds.org. All

donation amounts are welcome.

UPWARD SOCCER - SPRING 2015

The Upward Challenge

Upward Soccer has returned for another amazing spring season! Upward is the sports ministry here at Southminster that helps kids develop athletic abilities in specific sports while also helping them to develop Christian character through devotionals, scripture memorization, etc. Upward is a great way to bring together two things that most of us love: Jesus and sports! This is looking to be our biggest soccer season yet, and we are praying that God will work in the lives of the kids, families, coaches, volunteers, and everyone involved.

This season we are putting forth a challenge for the

members of Southminster Presbyterian Church. The Upward team is

challenging the members of our church to step up their involvement

in the program in two specific ways:

Coach a Team – Our goal is for every team to have at least

two coaches. The first challenge is to have at least one

of those coaches be a member of our church. When it

comes to Upward nothing says that you care about the

kids and their families like investing in their lives by

coaching their children. This is also a great way to get to

know any parents on the team, especially if one of them

wants to coach as well. Team ages range from 4 years

old through 6th graders. Coaches receive training,

detailed practice schedules for each practice, and all the

help you could need.

Adopt a Team – Do you like encouraging children and

building up their self-esteem? Do you like watching

herds of 4 year olds chase a ball up and down a field?

Do you like FREE SNOW CONES? Even if you just like one

or two of those things, then this opportunity is for you!

Adopt a team to cheer for every Saturday morning. The

games begin March 21st and end May 2nd. Come make

the kids and their families feel special by cheering for

them! The challenge is to have at least 3 church

members adopting each team.

I hope that our church will rise to the challenge! Signup posters will

be in the Narthex outside of the sanctuary in upcoming weeks.

DATE NIGHT

Just clowning around!

Feb 21 6-9pm

Children Nursery – 6th Grade

A Group of caring individuals who volunteer

their Saturday evening once a month so that

parents can have an evening of fun and

relaxation.

$10 per child / max $25

Registration forms and information can be found on the church website.

Forms & payment accepted Sun 2/15-Noon 2/18

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learning & exploring

BIBLE STUDY

SUNDAY SCHOOL

9:00am - 10:00am

Sunday School classes that will be journeying through The Story curriculum. The Story is an abridged, chronological Bible that reads like a novel. There are no verse references, and Scripture

segments are seamlessly woven together with transition text into a single grand narrative. For those intimidated or overwhelmed by the unabridged Bible, The Story helps people understand

God’s Word more fully and engage with it more easily. The Story helps people of all ages understand God’s love and God’s plan for their lives.

We will have the following classes: Preschool, Kindergarten-2nd Grade, 3rd-5th Grade, Youth (6th

-12th), Young Adults, and Adults. Every class will be on the same chapter each week, regardless of age.

THE MARLENE CIRCLE

This women’s Bible Study meets in members homes on the 1st Monday of each month at 6:30pm. They are currently studying Wisdom For Today’s Woman; Insights From Esther by Poppy Smith.

Ann Sturrock 281-437-7798 or Marilyn Purcell 281-835-9322

WHISPERS This women’s Bible study meets on Mondays from 9:15-11:15AM in the MPR (Choir Room). The study from January 26 - March 2 will be Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God. The goal of the study is to have a life-transforming encounter with God. When

you recognize where God is working, you can join Him in what He is doing. Then you will experience God doing through you what only He can do. For more information, please contact

Lisa Landry at 713-447-5203 or lisalandrytx@gmail.com.

WINGS CIRCLE (Women in God’s Spirit) A Women’s group that meets in members homes on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00PM.

For more information please contact Pat Lynch 281-265-9795.

SUNDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP

Coffee and fellowship in the Narthex 10:00am- 10:30am

Do you want to connect with more members? Join us right before the service for refreshments and get to know your fellow church members a little better. Contact Joann Dunmire to volunteer and for additional

information joannleedunmire@yahoo.com

DIVINE DINERS

All adults are welcome for this time of fun and fellowship

Child care will be provided

Saturday, February 14th at 6:30

Southminster Church — Fellowship Hall Catered by La Escondida Mexican Grill

Fajitas and all the Fixin’s for $14.00 per person

So we know how much food to order and child care workers we’ll need,

Hosted by David & Bonnie Northcutt

Please RSVP by February 12th davidlnorthcutt@comcast.net or 713-594-8338

MID WEEK MANNA

Everyone is welcome to this weekly dinner and devotional time 6:15pm

Feb 4- Brown Bag Feb 11 - Brown Bag Feb 18 - Ash Wednesday Service

Feb 25 - Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, salads, rolls, and dessert

Meals are $5 a person—Dinner reservations are due Tuesday by 10 am RSVP to Marianne Irish 281-437-7888 or irish7171@aol.com

MINISTERS OF THE CLOTH - Quilters

Meets every Tuesday from 9:30 until Noon in the multi-purpose room. The group makes baptism quilts, comfort quilts for hospitalized members and for the apartment ministry, ‘wounded

warrior’ quilts that are sent to Brook Army Hospital, and kids quilts for Project Linus. We also make a quilt to be raffled or auctioned off for the Southminster School Gala. All skill levels are

welcome, we are always glad to welcome newbies and beginning quilters. Contact Dorothy Goforth at 281-814-1760 or dgoforth@dewpointcontrol.com