the vine · in final victory, and the continual coming of christ into the lives and hearts of...

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World December 2016

NEWS BRIEFS

bullardfumc.org facebook.com/bullardfumc twitter: @FUMCBullard

If you would like to know more

about how to become a

member of Bullard First United

Methodist Church, contact

Rev. David Brasher at

(903)894-6762 or

[email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ushers for December

Gary & Belva LeVrier

Neal & Becky Thompson

The Vine Bullard First United Methodist

Children’s Choir practice

will be on Sunday afternoons

at 4:30 pm. Contact Sharon

Troxell for more information

at (903) 714-0430.

Kids on a Mission will be held

December 4 and December 11,

3:30-4:30pm in the Family Life

Center. We will continue to learn

about the 10 commandments in

Bible time, and we’ll also enjoy

games, music and mission projects!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Advent comes from the Latin word, adventus, meaning

"coming." It is a season to prepare for the coming of

Christ. As we consider the coming of Christ, we do so

in various ways -- we focus on the promised coming of

the Messiah to the Jews, the coming of Jesus being born

in Bethlehem, the promised return of the risen Christ

in final victory, and the continual coming of Christ into the lives and hearts

of believers.

The color for Advent has traditionally been purple. Some churches have

adopted blue for Advent.

In high liturgical churches there is a greater distinction between Advent and

Christmas. Whereas Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas, the

season of Christmas doesn’t officially begin until Christmas day and lasts

until Epiphany, 12 days later. Some churches hold fast to the distinction of

Advent and Christmas seasons. During Advent they only sing Advent

themed hymns and wait to sing Christmas carols until the 12 days following

Christmas day.

As you’ve probably noticed, even though our church is rich with tradition,

we are not what you might call a high liturgy church as I’ve described above.

Our United Methodist Church is like most in our area and we combine a

mixture of both Advent and Christmas songs leading up to December 25. As

well we celebrate Advent with the wonderful symbols of the season, which

include the use of the Advent wreath, evergreens, the Christmon Tree, and

other beautiful imagery.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Becoming%20a%20Member%20at%20Perritte

Inviting - Connecting - Growing - Sending

A Note from the Pastor’s Desk continued

Such traditions, whether they be high church or just everyday church, are important means whereby we celebrate

the birth of the Christ child, Jesus. I hope that you and your family will make plans to join us for all our special

Advent/Christmas worship experiences as we draw near to God who first drew near to us in Jesus Christ. You

can see a list of special December events in this newsletter.

See You Sunday,

David Brasher

Special Advent Music

Church Office Hours

The church office will be closed Thursday, December 22 through Monday, January 2, 2017 for the Christmas

holiday and New Year. Normal office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 3.

Supper with Santa

Supper with Santa!!!

Mark your calendars for a church wide “Supper with Santa” on Wednesday

December 14 at 630pm.

Join us for a lovely supper, Christmas Carols, and a visit from SANTA! We

will also read the REAL Christmas story together. Please join us and bring

your friends! Please call the office to sign up or go online to the church

website, then click on “upcoming events” then “Supper With Santa” and scroll

down to register so we will know how much food to prepare! No cost for

participation, and please tell your friends! We also need help with decorating,

cooking in the kitchen, and hospitality! If you can help please contact Deirdre

at 903-343-2857.


Poinsettia Plants

We will be decorating our beautiful sanctuary with poinsettias during December. If you would like to order one or more, please fill out this form. The poinsettias are $8 each or 2 for $15. You may leave your order and check in the church office or offering plate. These names will be printed and displayed in the Foyer on Christmas Eve.

Given by: _____________________________________________________________________ In Memory of: _______________________________________________________________

In Memory of: _______________________________________________________________

In Memory of: _______________________________________________________________

In Honor of: _______________________________________________________________

In Honor of: _______________________________________________________________

In Honor of: _______________________________________________________________

Number of Poinsettias: _______________ Total Amount: $ _______________


United Methodist Men

In the month of December

Pre-K - Kindergarten will be taught by Pam Morton

1st - 3rd will be taught by Sandy Barbour

4th - 5th will be taught by Coral Hand

Children’s Sunday School

Please bring your friends and join us every Sunday morning for

adventures into the Word of God!

Sunday school teachers are still needed for substitute teaching. Please also

consider a one month commitment to teaching one of our classes! The

kids will benefit from learning from you and you will be blessed by them

as well!

Children’s Corner

Merry Christmas! Can’t believe December is already here! We’re busy planning for our second annual Supper

with Santa. Please plan to join us and bring your friends! This is a church wide event for all ages. I hope you will

attend. We do still need help with this event! Please let me know if you can help in the kitchen, with decorating,

or hospitality. Please also participate in the upcoming Bullard Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 8 at

6pm. We’ll pass out invitations to our church and Supper with Santa and celebrate the birth of Jesus with our

community! Call or text me if you can help!

In November the Kids in Mission participants made special fall decorations for the Thanksgiving Meal. In

December we will continue our study of the 10 Commandments in Kids in Mission. The kids will also be

working on our Angel Tree project for the Christmas season.

Blessings and Peace,

Deirdre

903-343-2857

The next meeting of the United

Methodist Men will be on

Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

All the men of the church are

invited to join us for food,

fellowship and ministry.

New Members of BFUMC

Clyde & Sarah Stewart

(joined on October 30, 2016)


Cindi Wolcott

(joined on November 6, 2016)

The Vollmer Family

(Oscar & Peggy, with sons, Jonathan &

Oscar and daughter Tori)

(joined on November 13, 2016)

PICTURE UNAVAILABLE

Children’s Polar Express Movie Night



Praise God that we served:

34 families, with a total of 120

people, of which 78 were adults

(29 seniors) and 42 were children

under 18 years old. Three new

families were served in November.

Bullard Mission House

Information & Schedule

Mission House Clinic

307 West Cain Street

For an appointment, please call

(903) 894-0109

The fax number is (903) 894-3411

Bullard Mission House Number

(903) 521-5711

Bullard Mission House

Food Pantry

202 Phillips Street

(BFUMC Storage Building)

PLEASE NOTE:

Bullard Mission House Food Pantry

will be open on

Wednesday, December 7

and Tuesday, December 13

from 9 am until 12 pm.

Bullard Mission House & Mission Clinic


United Methodist Women


Our favorite time of the year is here at long last! We are planning so many exciting things for this meeting that

our President, Barbara Gotcher has asked us to begin our meeting at 9:30 A.M. instead of the usual time. (This

will be the last time that Barbara will be presiding as President because the new slate of Officers will begin in

January).

+ Our Bible Study will continue with Chapter 14 "Conflict in the

Church" from Acts 15, (page 47 in the study book.)

+ We will fill the Gift Sacks for our Sideline Saints. (Don't forget

your assignment.)

+ We'll hear a report on the Audit Report from our Treasurer, then

vote on the amount to be sent to the four Charities we support.

+ Martha Dinwiddie will give our Opening Prayer and Ruby Cables

will have the Devotional.

+ Hidden Gardens will be our destination after the meeting. YUM

+ For those who did not take their Gift Sacks to be delivered after

lunch, they will be waiting at the church. (We often carpool to

Hidden Gardens.)

+ All ladies of the church are welcome to join us {Dutch, of course}.

Love & Hugs,

Kathleen Kyles VP

Youth Group Dinners

We continue to plan for Youth Group

Dinners through 2016.

We greatly appreciate any adult who can

volunteer to bring a meal. Please contact

Tammy Lundgren or feel free to sign up

on the sheet posted in Harper Hall for any

days you can assist.

Youth Group Dinners

In Memory of

James Cawley

Given by:

Richard & Martha Dinwiddie

Special Gifts


Children Decorating for Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving 2016


Acolytes

Young saints from 2nd grade through 6th grade:

You are invited to join the acolytes who bring in the light each

Sunday! This is such a blessing to the congregation, and it will

be to you, also. Think about being part of our church’s worship

experience! There’s always room for one more!

Pam Morton

[email protected]

903-752-0541


Acolyte Recognition 2016

Acolytes continued


Thoughts from a Layman

We live in a small subdivision of just seventeen or eighteen houses. It’s off the main road with one well

wooded street in and the same street out, with about five blocks of gentle little hills and few flat places. Most of

the time the only sounds are children playing, birds singing and once in awhile, like when the UPS man comes, a

dog barking. Its peaceful and quiet atmosphere has attracted two kinds of families; retired couples and families

with small children. The kids play safely in the street with bicycles, skates, and well, most anything that has

wheels on it or uses a ball. There is an abundance of kids and they all have pets. A lot of people here take walks

and for some reason dogs like to walk too. A family of three can start out on one end of our street with their dog

following and by the time they have traveled a couple of houses three more kids and two dogs will have joined the

walk along. I have noticed though that when our real fitness addicts go jogging that dogs generally don’t like to

jog, unless it’s their own dog just being loyal to its master.

The other day I was working in my front yard when up the street came three young mothers going for a

midmorning walk. One was pushing a stroller with an infant in it, there were two more preschool age kids, a

couple of dogs and bringing up the rear was a little dust mop of a dog that must have weighed all of three or four

pounds running his little heart out trying to keep up. Every once in awhile they would stop to let the little dog

catch them and then they would walk some more. The bigger dogs were walking along with their tongues out and

that “I’m a happy doggie” look on their faces. They were soon over the gentle grade in front of my house talking

and laughing as they went. About fifteen minutes later they came by on the return half of their trip with some

changes made in their little company of travelers. One of the mothers was carrying the infant, the smaller of the

two preschoolers was now being pushed in the stroller and the third mother was carrying a happy little dust mop

of a dog as they continued their journey.

On a good journey you can take time to smell the roses, watch the sun set, make friends with your fellow

travelers and just enjoy each other’s company. That is certainly what this trip was. In life’s journey the big ones

help the little ones, the strong help the weak, and the older ones point out things along the way to those who are

younger and less experienced. Each person watches out for the needs of his fellow travelers.

I’m sure you must have heard it said some time or another that life is a journey not a destination. If life is

pointed to a destination, there are two things that can happen. One is that we don’t get there and that’s

disappointing. The other is that we do get there and there are two possible outcomes. One is that we are

disappointed when we arrive at our destination and the other is that we are happy with where we have arrived. In

either case our journey is over and to continue life it is necessary to find a new destination. So then, life becomes a

series of trips seeking as a destination that special but elusive place where true happiness is waiting for us.

Jesus said, “Matthew 25: 35-39, “I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I

was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.” 37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” 40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.”


I think Jesus meant that we

are to help each other as we travel

our journey of life, helping others

as best we can and maybe

sometimes accepting help.

I remember a story about a

lad who went to the beach each

morning where literally hundreds

of starfish washed up on the sand

each day. He would take one and

throw it as far out into the water

as he could and then keep

repeating the process. A man had

watched him for several days and

finally went to him and asked,

“Why do you do that? There are

so many it couldn’t possibly make

much difference.” While the man

was talking the boy had picked up

another starfish and threw it as far

out as he could, then looked at the

man and said, “It did to that one.”

The number of people we

have befriended on our journey,

the number of people we have

helped and the amount of good we

have done in the world may not

make a drop in the ocean but it

may have been everything in the

world to the ones we helped.

When someone says to me,

“Lee, you’re a trip.” I take it as a

compliment.

See you in church Sunday,

Wee Cats Sunday School

hrist is born!

oly night in Bethlehem!

rejoice in the news!

n the sky a star!

hepherds following

raveling from afar

uch joy for us!

all glory to God!

avior of the world!

Come join the Wee Cats as

we celebrate Jesus!

3 years through Kindergarten —

always room for one more chair!

Pam Morton

Thoughts of a Layman

continued


Birthdays & Anniversaries

December 2016

1 Patsy Harper

Melissa Martin

2 Joe Maxwell

Dori Vestal

3 Pat Martin

5 Weston Amaya

Lisa Escolas

9 Pam Morton

12 Louis Escolas

14 Steve Bembenek

Russell Geesing

Rob Sheldon

Dick Spencer

15 Tammy Lundgren

18 Blakely Rivers

21 Debbie Staten

22 Jay Clark

David Tietz

25 Robert & Beth Head

Lacey Morton

26 Nancy Bishop

27 Ron England

28 Mardee Wade

29 Louis & Lisa Escolas

Elizabeth Guthrie

Chelsea McCown

30 Carley Pawlak

Danica Vestal

31 David & Michele Allen

Gerald & Patti Carr

Stephanie Head

James & Jennifer MacWhirter

Are You Traveling? Don’t Carry a Checkbook? Do All Bill Paying Online?

We have an easy way for you to support the church with your financial gifts, no matter where you are! You can

give from your hotel room in Mexico or from your seat in the pews on Sunday.

What is Online Giving? Our giving tools provide the ability to donate on our website from your computer or on

your mobile device! After creating an account, you’re able to give a donation, or schedule a series of donations,

directly from your checking account or by using your debit or credit card.

To create your online account, visit our website and click on our Give button: http://www.bullardfumc.org/give

-now. Once on this page, you will go to the Give Online graphic in the middle of the page and be directed to a

secure, encrypted page, where you may give once or set up automatically recurring giving. You never have to

wish you had cash to put in the offering plate or remember to write that check at home!

Try it and see how easy it is!

Online Giving

http://www.bullardfumc.org/give-now

http://www.bullardfumc.org/give-now

Per the Worship Committee, the Altar Flower policy for the church is as follows:

Set price for altar flowers/per Sunday is $35.00 (there will be no special requests for kinds of flowers). If a

second person signs up for a Sunday, then one of two things can happen:

1. You can split the cost of $35.00 (for the two arrangements), if first person is agreeable.

2. If you want a complete complement of flowers which can be placed on the organ or piano (not the altar),

you’ll need to make your own arrangements with your florist, including payment.

When signing up for flowers:

1. Choose a date.

2. Print clearly the name of person/persons in “Memory or Honor of”

3. Print clearly the name of person/persons giving the flowers.

Please note that you can take the altar flowers home; the green plastic containers that the flowers are in need to

stay at the church. If you have any questions/concerns, contact the church office (903) 894-6762.

Altar Flowers


All Vine articles will be due by 3:30 p.m. on the 15th of the month. This “set” date will help everyone,

including myself, especially during busy or shorter months.

Please email an article as soon as possible, OR if you do not have an article for this next month, please let me

know and I will adjust accordingly. (NOTE: If there is no response by 3:30 p.m. on the 15th, I will presume that

you are not submitting an article.)

For any questions, please contact me at the church office.

Venus Burns

Articles Deadline

Teens & Adults – Ladies & Gentlemen!

Learn to run the sound board, create graphics and run screen

presentations for sermons. Update our church website and more!

We need more volunteers! Contact Bruce Woodard or Phil Shipp for

more information – [email protected] or (903) 941-0381.

Find Your Place... Want to get PLUGGED IN with a fun,

creative, 21st century ministry?

Find a place on our Technology Team!

mailto:[email protected]

We pray for… AWOL – Students & others who are

“Away With Our Love”

Active Military Personnel: Weston Amaya, Jordan

Anderson, Justin Anderson, Benjamin Barbour,

Daniel Barbour, Rusty McElroy, Jessica Roper, Tyler

Scarborough and others…

We pray for…Our Homebound - Side Line Saints -

Members & Friends:

Mary Cook

Ella Griffiths

Lorna Loftin

Grace McAlpine

Sue Ann McCullars

Kay Ritch

Our Gifts

Financial Results for October 2016:

October Year-to-date

Contributions $ 46,306.58 $ 419,852.86

Actual Expenses $ 43,893.66 $ 417,964.60

Budgeted Expenses $ 40,153.00 $ 415,026.00

Our Presence

Average Attendance: October: 179

Year to date: 184

Our Faithfulness


Please Let Us Know Didn’t receive The Vine by email?

Don’t miss important information and events each

month due to not receiving emails sent by Pastor

David or the church office. If you haven’t been

getting The Vine or emails, please put a note in the

offering plate, or call Venus at the church office (903)

894-6762.

Need a Name Tag?

Active Members and Visitors Name Tags are located

on the shelf (alphabetical order) in the Foyer. If you

need a Name Tag, please put a note in the

offering plate, or call Venus at the church office

(903) 894-6762.

Our Prayers

We pray for this week’s prayer requests…

**If there are additional names to be added or

removed, please call the church office. Also note:

Names will remain on the list for one month, unless

we are notified differently.

Taylor Andre

Matthew Bunce

Judy Carroll

The Family of

James Cawley

Carolyn Cawley

Richard & Martha

Dinwiddie

Debbie Druivenga

Greta Faulkinberry

Jan FitzSimmons

Leslie Fossey

Sarah Geesing

Barbara Gotcher

Bill & Avis Halbert

Doug Hansen

Judy Hood

Reed Houghtaling

Chris, Andrea and Baby

Knox Knight

Joanie Lendermon

Keely MacWhirter

and Family

Hazel Mason

Teresa Morriss

James Murray

Milton & Barbara Odom

Ashley Oliver

Quentin & Norma Ott

Phyllis Rogers

Dr. Marjorie Roper

Chrystal Satterwhite

JoAnn Smith

Dick Spencer

Keith Spencer

Dana Swanson

Melissa Wright

Margaret, Jim Reagan’s

Cousin

Larry, Phyllis Rogers’

Son

Unspoken prayers

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Important Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Youth Parent Meeting: Sunday, December 4 at 3:30 pm Youth Christmas Party: Sunday, December 4 at 5:00 pm

Children’s Christmas Program: Sunday, December 11 at 10:30 am Christmas Cantata: Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 pm

Deadline for The Vine articles: Thursday, December 15 Christmas Eve Worship Service: Saturday, December 24 at 6:00 pm

1

Truth & Light Seekers

Group (FLC) 6:30 pm

Chancel Choir

6:30 pm

2 Men’s Prayer Group

6:00 am

AA (Harper Hall)

8:00 pm

3

4 2nd Sunday of Advent Kids on a Mission

3:30 pm

Children’s Choir

4:30 pm

UMYF (FLC) 5:00 pm

5

6

Kiwanis (FLC)

12:00 pm

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

7

UMW (Parlor)

9:30 am

Romans Bible Study

6:30 pm

8 Bullard Parade 6:00 pm

SPRC Meeting 6:15 pm


Group (FLC) 6:30 pm

Chancel Choir 6:30 pm

9

Men’s Prayer Group

6:00 am

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

10

113rd Sunday of Advent

Kids on a Mission

3:30 pm

Children’s Choir

4:30 pm

UMYF (FLC) 5:00 pm

12

Girl Scouts Meeting

6:00 pm

13

Romans Bible Study

6:30 pm

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

14

Supper with Santa

(FLC) 6:30 pm

15

SPRC Meeting

6:30 pm


Group (FLC) 6:30 pm

Chancel Choir 6:30 pm

16 Men’s Prayer Group

6:00 am

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

17

18 4th Sunday of Advent

UMYF (FLC)

5:00 pm

19 20

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

21

22 Office Closed


Group (FLC) 6:30 pm

Chancel Choir

6:30 pm

23 Office Closed


6:00 am

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

24 Christmas Eve

Worship Service

6:00 pm

25 Christmas Day

26 Office Closed

27 Office Closed

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

28 Office Closed

29 Office Closed


Group (FLC) 6:30 pm

Chancel Choir

6:30 pm

30 Office Closed


6:00 am

AA (FLC) 8:00 pm

31New Years’ Eve

Bullard First United Methodist Church

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PO Box 152, Bullard, TX 75757

The Vine deadline is Thursday, December 15 for January newsletter.

Email articles to [email protected]

All members of the church are ministers of the Gospel, equipped for sharing the grace of God with the assistance of:

Music Director Robert Boren Musicians Kerry Baham and Dr. Marjorie Roper Nursery Supervisor Ashlee Jones Youth Director Children’s Director Deirdre Leung Administrative Assistant Venus Burns Financial Secretary Patti Maxwell Custodian Tammy Lundgren Pastor Rev. David Brasher District Superintendent Rev. Marlin Fenn Bishop Bishop Scott Jones

Email the office [email protected]

Email Pastor David [email protected]

Visit us online at www.bullardfumc.org

Mailing Address PO Box 152, Bullard, TX 75757

Our Mission is to Make Disciples

of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the

World.

Bullard FUMC is located at 204 S. Rather St.

Bullard, TX and the office is open

8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday-Friday

903.894.6762 (office) 903.894.3245 (fax)

Bullard First United Methodist Church

the vine · in final victory, and the continual coming of christ into the lives and hearts of...

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