December 7, 2005

________________________PRAYER CONCERNS__________________________

FROM Jo Mackenzie, TXCUMC
Let us take a minute to pray for all of those and their families who
lost their lives on that infamous day so many years ago. These are men
and women whose colleagues helped secure our freedom, all of whom we owe
a debt that can never be repaid. May God bless them and God bless
America.

FROM Melinda McGee Brown, Wallis First UMC
Please pray for Teketria Buggs, age 12. She is from Orchard, between
Rosenberg and Sealy, on Hwy 36. She has been missing for several days.
The communities of Orchard and Wallis are in shock, and the school
children are also trying to deal with how one of their friends could just
vanish. Pray for her safe return and for peace in the community.


_______________________________BIRTHS_______________________________


_________________________DEATHS/FUNERALS_________________________

FROM B.T. Williams, Dir. Ministerial Services, Texas Annual Conference
The family of James "Jim" Gordon, husband of Martha "Marty" Gordon, a
member of our staff, will receive friends Wednesday, December 7, from
6-8 p.m. at SouthPark Funeral Home on Highway 35 in Pearland, Texas. A
celebration of life will be Thursday, December 8 in the chapel at
SouthPark Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at SouthPark
Cemetary.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Marty, five children
and eleven grandchildren. Please keep the Gordon family in your
prayers.

_____________________CONFERENCE INFORMATION______________________


______________________NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS_________________________

FROM Adkins Memorial United Methodist Church -
Small church, Big Heart - Help, Help, Help,
Help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is an S.O.S. Adkins is in need of Financial Support and/or
Helping Hands.
Our Building is not in the best of shape however, we still serve with
what we do have. The Electrical system is failing and I'm running out of
options. I have a list from the city on how to get the church up to
code from last year. (THEY GIVE YOU THREE YEARS OR THEY WILL SHUT THE
CHURCH DOWN). We have been taking it one project at a time, but new
occurrences are making it hard. We have lost electricity to the back half of
our church. The central air went out last week and our furnace has been
broken . If there is anyone out there that can help in any way, Please
Contact me: Tierra Dykes, Church Secretary (281) 804-0660 Cell ;
Email: TierDyks@aol.com; Home: 8606 Old Ledge Lane , Houston,
Texas 77088;
Church: 8022 Depriest , Houston, Texas 77088.
Rev. Curley Laster: (713) 434-2228/ office (713)434-9113

FROM Richard Heydeck
Murry Alewine will be presenting a piano concert of Christmas music
Sunday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in
Pittsburg. The concert is free - an offering will be received for future
building to replace the youth building that burned this summer. The
church is located at the corner of Mt. Pleasant & College St. in downtown
Pittsburg. For questions contact Tim Ruland at timman0107@yahoo.com or
903-856-2839.

FROM Frode Gundersen, Director of Music & Fine Arts
You are all invited to the following special music offerings at Marvin
UMC this month:
Wednesday, Dec. 7 (12:05 p.m.) - Christmas Downtown Luncheon Concert
-
30-minute holiday concert with soup & sandwich lunch following
($4.50) -
Tyler Junior College A Cappella Choir, Cheryl Rogers, director

Sunday, Dec. 11 (8:30 & 10:55 a.m. traditional services) - Camille
Saint-Saëns -
CHRISTMAS ORATORIO - Marvin Chancel Choir

Wednesday, Dec. 14 (12:05 p.m.) - Christmas Downtown Luncheon
Concert -
30-minute holiday concert with soup & sandwich lunch following
($4.50) -
Robinson Handbell Ensemble - Judith P. York, director

Sunday, Dec. 18 (8:30 & 10:55 a.m. traditional services) - A
CHRISTMAS
EXTRAVAGANZA! - featuring the Rose City Brass Quintet & Marvin
Chancel Choir

FROM Pastor Ken Jones, Mission Bend UMC
Mission Bend UMC, located @ Hwy 6 and the West Park Toll Road, is
having its annual choir and symphonic holiday spectacular this Friday
evening, December 9, @ 7PM. Admission is Free!
Our live nativity, as we "Walk thru Bethlehem" is on Sunday,
December 11, from 4-6PM; with a marketplace, and activities. Free admission.
Ken Jones, kjones@mbumc.org

_______________________THIS WEEK'S EVENTS_________________________

FROM Michael Hunter
REMINDER: Below are dates for Conference Safe Sanctuary Training:
Where: Lakeview Conference Center
When: Thursday, December 8, 2005 and Thursday, January 5, 2006
Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
Who needs to attend: Anyone that will be attending any Conference
sponsored event/camp/retreat where you will be working with children or
youth.
Example of camps: Winterfest, Mid-Winter, District Church Camp,
District retreats or outings.
For more information, contact : Michael Hunter, email
mhunter@aciglobal.com -
Call Home--254-359-4356, Cell--903-388-1246

FROM Mike Tyson
Come join us at FUMC-Lufkin's Twentieth annual Evening in Old Bethlehem
as we focus on the reason for the season.
The event will be held December 9th & 10th at the Expo Center
starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. We invite you to travel the
streets just as they were on the night that Christ was born. Watch the
townspeople as they search for the star that lights the way to the live
nativity. You'll see Wise men, basket weavers, live animals, even Roman
soldiers! The tax to enter the city is just .50¢. Come with us and
celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

FROM Kevin Otto
Wesley UMC in Nederland ('tween Beaumont and Port Arthur) is preparing
for its 17th annual Live Nativity production on Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, December 9, 10, and 11. Entitled "Journey to Bethlehem," the
production involves weeks of planning and preparation, as the front lawn
is transformed into the countryside of Israel 2000 years ago. Complete
with live animals (including a camel!), the 20-minute production will
take place every 30 minutes beginning at 6 pm and ending at 9 pm.
Children and their parents are also invited to make crafts and to sample
foods of the era. All activities are free. For more information, call the
Wesley UMC office at 722-7065 or visit us at 3515 Helena Avenue,
Nederland, TX 77627

FROM Dr. Williams, Pastor
McKinney Memorial United Methodist Church will celebrate its Christmas
Gala December 11, 2005. Come join us with Christmas Caroling,
refreshment and children's Christmas event. This celebration will take place in
the Community Fellowship Wing in LaMarque Texas.

FROM Rev. J. C. Dorman at Galveston Central UMC
We are now celebrating our 120th anniversary at Central UMC in
Galveston.
On Saturday, December 10th at 2:00 PM, there will be a piano recital
in Stokes Hall with refreshments following. On Saturday, December 17th
at 10:30 AM, there will be a live musical extravaganza in the Sanctuary
with a luncheon to follow. The church is located at 3308 Avenue O 1/2
(corner of 33rd St. and Avenue O 1/2). For additional information call
409-762-2138 or email revjcd1@aol.com.

FROM Donna V. Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul’s UMC,
Houston
Advent Meditative Retreat at St. Paul's UMC, Houston
To add peace, well-being, and understanding of the Advent season,
St. Paul's UMC is offering a women's Advent silent half-day retreat.
Based on the Benedictine theme of hospitality, it will be at the church on
Saturday, December 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The morning will be dedicated to meditation, concluding with a
wrap-up lunch and conversation. Participants will need to bring socks, warm
clothes, pillows to sit on, a wrap for keeping warm, and journaling
material.
The cost is $10, and childcare is available through the church's
December Kids Day Out program. For more information or to register,
contact Rev. Gail Williford at 713-528-0527 or
gailwilliford@stpaulshouston.org.
For a complete listing of Advent-related activities at St. Paul's,
please see www.stpaulshouston.org.
St. Paul's is on the corner of Main and Binz/Bissonnet, across from
the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It is within one block of both Museum
District MetroRail stops, and free parking is available in two lots
across Fannin Street from the church.

FROM Donna Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul's UMC, Houston
St. Paul's UMC, Houston, will hold an Advent Lessons and Carols service
at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11. The service will include anthems by
the St. Paul's Choir, congregational hymns, scriptures, and prayers.


_____________________MARK YOUR CALENDAR________________________

FROM Donna Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul's UMC, Houston
St. Paul's UMC, Houston, will hold a Children's Candlelight Service in
the Sanctuary at 4:30 p .m. on December 18. The children will lead the
service, including music from the Children's Choirs, a live nativity,
scripture reading, carol singing, and the lighting of individual
candles.

FROM Michael Hunter
Due to many things happening in our conference in the past few months,
we have decided to change the due dates for Winterfest and Mid-Winter
retreats. We want everyone that can attend be able to attend these
exciting retreats. The new due dates are Postmarked by December 19, 2005.
All late fees are waved. Last date to register postmarked December 30,
2005. After that no more registrations will be accepted.
For more information, call:
Michael Hunter, Home--254-359-4356, Cell--903-388-1246
email-- mhunter@aciglobal.com - or
Sandra Roberson, 281-492-8

FROM Michael Hunter
I have had so many call and ask about these dates, I thought I'd better
send them out again.
Retreat dates for:
7th & 8th Grade (Winterfest)
Senior High (Mid-Winter)
Winterfest Retreat - Junior High
January 13-15, 2006
January 20-22, 2006
Lakeview Conference Center

Mid-Winter Retreat - Senior High
January 27-29, 2006
February 3-5, 2006
Lakeview Conference Center

For more info contact: Michael Hunter at Home--254-359-4356,
Cell--903-388-1246
email: mhunter@aciglobal.com or
Sandra Roberson at 281-492-8031- sroberson@stpeterskaty.org


FROM: Billy Watson, St. Peter’s UMC, Katy -
Digital Storytellers Seminar, February 25, 2006 -
You and your media ministry team are invited to Midnight Oil
Production’s Digital Storytellers Seminar on Saturday, February 25, 2006, 8 a.m.
- 4 p.m. at St. Peter’s UMC in Katy. Len Wilson and Jason Moore (both
formerly of Ginghamsburg UMC, and co-founders of Lumicon) established
Midnight Oil Productions in 2002 "to further the vision of worship for
the digital age through ideas, resources and seminars that work for local
churches." The cost for the event is $109 for individuals and $89 per
person if 2 or more come from your church. This includes 4 sessions with
Len and Jason, a digital film festival, seminar related materials, a
meal, refreshments, and more. For more information about Midnight Oil or
the Digital Storytellers Seminar, visit www.midnightoilproductions.com.
For more information about the event in Katy, contact Billy Watson at
bwatson@stpeterskaty.org or 281-492-8031, ext. 304.


_________________RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NOTICES______________________


_______________________JOB OPENINGS/JOBS WANTED__________________

Below are the most current openings and job information. Previous job
postings can be located on the conference website: www.txcumc.org.
Thank you

FROM Dr. George Wesley Welborn -
First United Methodist Church of Brenham is looking for part-time choir
director to lead music in two traditional Sunday morning worship
services. Please contact me at pastor@startel.net.


______________________WANT ADS (Items Needed.Wanted)__________________