________________________PRAYER CONCERNS__________________________

FROM Vetta Quackenbush, Lufkin Distr.
Prayers are requested for Rev. Judy Anderson, who is meeting with her
surgeon today. She is scheduled for a mastectomy on Thursday, Dec. 22,
at Methodist Hospital. Judy serves in the Lufkin District.

_______________________________BIRTHS_______________________________

_________________________DEATHS/FUNERALS_________________________

_____________________CONFERENCE INFORMATION______________________

______________________NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS_________________________

FROM Dr. Janice Gilbert-Williams, Senior Pastor
McKinney Memorial United Methodist Church will celebrate Christmas
morning worship @ 9:30 a.m. All are invited as we worship the birthday of
our Lord and Savior. We are located at 1607 Nashby Street in LaMarque
Texas.

FROM Terry T. Smith
What: Clergywomen’s Retreat
When: February 20-22, 2006
Where: At Lakeview
The retreat you have asked for is finally here! One night or two, it’s
up to you!
Rest - Revive - Rejuvenate - Rest
The retreat will begin at 6pm on Monday, Feb. 20, with dinner at a
restaurant in Palestine (to be named later). Following dinner, we will
return to Lakeview for hot chocolate and fireside conversation.
Tuesday morning: breakfast and salad bar lunch. You may sleep in,
walk around the lake, walk the prayer trail, or visit with friends.
Tuesday afternoon more free time and discussion groups with buffet at 6pm,
followed by a short business meeting and evening worship.
Wednesday morning we will have brunch, followed by the closing
worship service.
Email eaglerev@jas.net or phone 409-565-4083 for more information.

FROM -- Chris Radke, Property Manage, Cramer Retreat Center
Cramer Retreat Center has enjoyed serving the church and the community
this year. Please enjoy our Christmas Wish from our website:
http://www.CramerCenter.org/winter.html. 281-350-1355 - And God bless
us, every one!

________________________THIS WEEK'S EVENTS_________________________

FROM Linda Calvert, First Methodist Houston
Come join the First Methodist Family on Tuesday, December 20, at 7 p.m.
at First Methodist Houston’s Downtown Campus, 1320 Main Street, for the
Star of Bethlehem Presentation by Dr. Frederick Larson of Texas A&M
University. Scholars debate whether the Star of Bethlehem was a legend
manufactured by the early church or a miracle which marked the advent of
Christ. But if the star was a real astronomical event, what could it
have been? Come solve the mystery for yourself.
The Star demonstration is a multimedia presentation which begins
with the presentation of Biblical and other historical clues surrounding
the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. Larson will then pilot a computer
model of the universe across the skies of 2000 years ago, allowing the
audience to experience the celestial events the ancients saw.
For more information, call 832-668-1816 or email:
calvert@fmhouston.com

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 candle lighting. 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.

FROM Jill Krone, Director of Communications, First UMC Henderson, Texas
(Longview District) -
First United Methodist Church, located at 204 North Marshall,
Henderson, Texas 75652, invites you to experience hope, peace, joy, and love
this Christmas. Come, experience Jesus! Experience worship with First
United Methodist Church of Henderson, Texas.
Advent, 2005 *** Expect the Unexpected
The birth of Jesus Christ unexpectedly transformed the lives of
those who experienced it! Experience the wonder and awe of the season and
be transformed by the expectation of His coming!
Saturday, December 24, 5 pm - Christmas Eve Service - Experience
anew the wonder and miracle of God's presence as we share in the ever-new
story of Christ's birth.
Sunday, December 25, 10 am - Christmas Day Worship - Gather with
friends and family as we celebrate and give thanks for our most treasured
Christmas gift-Jesus Christ!
Blessing of the Gifts: Like a special gift, our Christmas day
worship service at 10 am holds the possibility of great joy and wonder. As a
part of this service, we invite every child to bring to church one
gift that they received, for a special time of blessing. We look forward
to sharing this worship service with you.

_____________________MARK YOUR CALENDAR________________________

FROM Steve Goad, Executive Director, Houston Area Respite Center
Gethsemane UMC/HARC New Year's Parents Night Out!!
I just wanted to drop a note to the pastors of the Southwest
District to tell you about the Houston Area Respite Center’s New Year's Eve
Parents Night Out for children with special needs. Parents of children
with mental retardation and autism find it difficult to get away, even
for a few hours. For an event like a New Year's Eve party, if they can
find a sitter, for a special needs child, it is far to cost prohibitive.
HARC, in association with Houston’s Gethsemane UMC, will be conducting
a parents night out for children with special needs for New Years Eve.
The event will run from 7:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. This will not only
give the kids a chance to play games, sing songs, make crafts, and in
general, have fun, but also give the parents a chance to get away for a
few hours and celebrate the new year.We are limited to 50 children
(including siblings) so we need parents to make reservations early (either
by phone to the HARC offices - 713-271-6001 - or by sending me an e-mail
harcexdir@harc-hou.org .I have a flyer with full information. For a
copy, email me at: www.harc-hou.org. I hope that you will pass it along
to parents of children with special needs in your congregation.

FROM Judy Gober, Cypress UMC
"This Day - How is it With Your Soul?" Please join us for the Texas
Conference Christian Educators Fellowship Annual Retreat, January 17 -
19, 2006 at Lakeview Conference Center. Our retreat leaders will be Rev.
Susan Keirn Kester and Rev. Mary E. Tumulty. Please contact Judy
Gober, jgober@cypress-umc.org, 281-469-0730 x 214, for registration
information.

FROM Jill Krone, Director of Communications, First UMC Henderson, Texas
(Longview District) -
"2 Moms" Featured in Upcoming Conference: Sharon Lovejoy Autry and
Laurie
Lovejoy Hilliard will be at Henderson First UMC on Monday, January 23,
2006, at 7 pm, as part of the "Mom...and Loving It!" Conference. These
2 Moms, both authors, speakers and singers, are credited with
inspiring moms of all ages to find contentment in REAL life!
Topics include 1) finding contentment in Real life, 2) passing on a
heritage of fun and faith, 3) growing in love with your difficult child,
4) what memories you are making, and 5) precious in His sight: reaching
the heart of your child. Tickets are available at the
church office for $10 each. Consider giving the gift of a ticket this
Christmas to all of the women in your life! (First UMC Henderson, Texas,
903.657.6588)

______________________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 John Reasons -
Faith United Methodist Church, 2403 Rayford Road, Spring, 77386 is
seeking a paid, part-time accompanist for Sunday morning worship and
Wednesday evening choir rehearsals. Please call the church office at
281-367-7776 with inquiries or fax resumes to 281-367-7174 or e-mail
faithumc@ev1.net.

FROM Jerry Anderson, Pastor
Music/Childen's Minister Wanted
Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church, located in Buffalo, Texas,
is seeking a
Mid-term graduate to direct Chancel Choir, Children's Choir, Children's
Programs, etc.
FULL-time position or will consider SEMINARY student.
Community has a 20% growth rate.
Buffalo is located on Interstate 45 & Hwy 79 halfway between Houston
& Dallas.
Contact at 903-322-4319 or E-mail smchurch@netzero.net.

______________________WANT ADS (Items Needed/Wanted)________________