December 12 , 2005

________________________PRAYER CONCERNS__________________________

FROM Reverend Kevin Gilmore, Memorial Drive UMC -
My sister Shelley Larsen gave birth 12/10/05 to Sadie Lynn Larson 7
weeks premature. Sadie is in neonatal ICU at St. David's hospital in
Austin. She was 4 pounds 9 ounces, but her lungs are not fully developed
so she is being assisted in her breathing. Please pray for Sadie,
Shelley and husband Mike Larsen.

FROM James M. Crabbe, Pastor, Clinton Park U.M.C.
On Tuesday, December 13, 2005, I will have a catheterization and
possibly a cardio-version. I ask your prayers and joy. Ask God to guide the
doctors on their task.


_______________________________BIRTHS_______________________________


_________________________DEATHS/FUNERALS_________________________


_____________________CONFERENCE INFORMATION______________________

FROM Rev. Thomas (Tom) W. Daugherty
Attention all appointees to Extension Ministry in the Texas Annual
Conference! Please MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The annual meeting with Bishop
Janice Riggle Huie, as provided for in the Book of Discipline, has been
scheduled for April 4, 2006. The meeting will be held at St. Paul’s
UMC, Houston, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please begin now making your
plans to attend.

______________________NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS_________________________

FROM Chris Radke, Property Manager
The new Cramer Retreat Center newsletter is available through the
Cramer website at http://www.CramerCenter.org/newsletters/newsletter.pdf and
includes the conclusion of Rev. Kimberly Orr's article on meditation.
If you would like to share your retreat experiences or insights on
spiritual formation through our newsletter, please contact us at
News@CramerCenter.org
Cramer Retreat Center - 281-350-1355

FROM Shalom Mobile Health Ministry: -
Please don't forget to continue to spread your 'extravagant generosity'
to all and include those that do not have access to primary healthcare!
Shalom Mobile Health Ministry could use any cash donations or offerings
to help us finish this year and start 2006. If you can help, please
remit to: Shalom Mobile Health Ministry, 2101 Dismuke Street, Houston,
Texas 770023. Thank you and Merry Christmas. Diana Hearn, Executive
Director

FROM Danny Wayman
Good Experience:
As you look ahead to 2006, we hope you will consider spending a week of
Study Leave at Duke Divinity School. Applications for 2006 are
currently being accepted. Please visit the website to download an application:
www.divinity.duke.edu/studyleave .
The Study Leave program invites ministry professionals, both
ordained and lay, to Duke Divinity School for a week of self-directed study in
the divinity school community. Participants will study side by side
with pre-ministerial students in the library, worship with the community
in Goodson Chapel and be in conversation with faculty, all culminating
in a rich experience of reflection and renewal. Participants choose to
attend one of ten weeks in the coming year that best fits their
schedule.
Tuition is $500 and includes materials, accommodations and a meal
allowance. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you to campus soon.
Center for Continuing Education, Duke Divinity School; Box 90966;
Durham, NC 27708 - 919.660.3448 or 888.845.4216 - FAX 919.660.3528

_______________________THIS WEEK'S EVENTS_________________________

FROM Cheryl Smith -
The Order of Saint Luke will gather next Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 9:00 AM
for morning prayer. We meet monthly in the chapel of St. Paul's UMC,
Houston on a rotating schedule of morning prayer, noon prayer and mid-day
prayer. All who are called to the discipline of daily praying of the
hours are invited to become inquirers and/or members of the Order. For
further information about membership or meetings, contact
cherylsmith@firstumcpasadena.org


_____________________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, 281-492-8031;
sroberson@stpeterskaty.org

FROM Donna Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul's UMC, Houston
St. Paul's UMC, Houston, will hold a Service of the Longest Night at 6
p.m. Wednesday, December 21, in the Chapel. This will be a quiet,
meditative worship service to remember and acknowledge those places in our
lives that are difficult this holiday season so we might better prepare
our hearts for the coming of Christ.

FROM Donna Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul's UMC, Houston
St. Paul's UMC, Houston, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
congregation's initial worship service this Christmas Eve with four
worship services in the Sanctuary - at noon, 5, 7, and 9 p.m. Christmas
Day will be celebrated with one worship service in the Sanctuary at 10:30
a.m. All of the evening services will have congregational carol singing
and candlelighting. The individual services also will include:
" Noon. Service of Holy Communion.
" 5 p.m. Lessons and Carols with St. Paul's Chamber Choir.
" 7 p.m. Lessons and Carols with the full St. Paul's Choir.
" 9 p.m. Worship service with Holy Communion and the full St. Paul's
Choir.
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Houston, is at 5501 Main Street, 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


_________________RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NOTICES______________________


FROM John Harrington Beaumont Restorative Justice Coordinator -
Releasees from Texas Prison system:
John David Johns, 130 5th Ave., Nederland, TX 75627- DOB 7/02/70 (He
has a wife and children at 915 Silber Rd., #809 Houston, TX Ph 281 857
2346--if someone would like to help with last-minute Christmas gifts!]
Darrin Piazza, 1616 Hwy 356 Space 53, Nederland, TX 77627 - ph 409
722 7903 Brian Linscomb, 3501 Whipporwill, Orange, TX 77630 - ph
409 886 0050
Charles Dewey Hebert, 1589 Mandi Rd., Orange, TX 77650 - 409 745
0133
Tray Beverly, 2965 Houston St., Beaumont, TX 77703 - ph 409 832 9939
Jimmy Euglon, 2945 Ave. C, Beaumont, TX 77701 - ph 409 835 1227
Darryl Moaning, 9455 Lander Drive, Beaumont, TX - 409 866 5708 -
DOB 2/13/1961 Remember Hebrews 13:3 as we enter the Christmas season!

_______________________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 Rev. Beth Chenault
Strawbridge United Methodist Church in Kingwood, Texas (outside
Houston) is seeking a full-time Director of Youth Ministries for a large youth
Ministry. Experience preferred. Please contact Rev. Beth Chenault at
281-360-4500, or email information and resume to youth@kingwoodcable.com


______________________WANT ADS (Items Needed.Wanted)__________________