First United Methodist Church

201 E. Hospital Street, Nacogdoches Texas 75961

NEWSLETTER
Volume 7, Issue 18
November 5, 2014

NOVEMBER
05 - Common Ground
Wednesdays: 5:00 pm Meal FLC; 5:40 pm Communion Service - Chapel; 6:00 pm Classes
09 - Veterans Breakfast at 9:30
am - FLC
10 - Primetimers meeting
at 10 :30 am - FLC
12 - Last - Common Ground
Wednesday: 5:00 pm Meal FLC; 5:40 pm Communion Service - Chapel; 6:00 pm Classes
13 - Heart-to-Heart Chorus Practice at 9:30 am - Choir
Room and Peformance at 10:30
am - Westward Trail
20 - Heart-to-Heart Chorus Practice at 9 am - Choir Room
and Peformance at 10 am Meadowview Place

East District Training FLC

23 - Thanksgiving Covered
Dish at 12 noon - FLC

Community Thanksgiving
Choir Rehearsal at 3 pm Sacred Heart Catholic Church
24 - Community Thanksgiving

2 pm delivery of food to the

Shut-ins

6 pm Service; 7 pm Dinner

Inside this issue:

A Word from our Pastors
- pg 2
Calendar - pg 7
Christmas Poinsetta - pg 6
Community Thanksging - pgs 1 & 3
Hanging of the Greens
- pg 1
Memorial Gifts - pg 3
Missions - pg 3
Positions Available - pg 3
Prayer Concerns - pg 8
Thanksgiving Covered
Dish - pgs 1 & 3
Thank you - pg 6
UMW - pg 6
Veterans Sunday
- pgs 1 & 3
Wesley Foundation - pg 3

WORSHIP/SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES

8:45 am
Contemporary Worship Service
9:45 am
Sunday School
10:55 am
Traditional Worship Service

Church Office (936) 564-8308

Fax (936) 564-8582
Email: info@fumcnac.org
Website: www.fumcnac.org

Office Hours: Mon-Thur: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; Fri: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Closed for lunch 12:00 -1:00 pm

VETERANS SUNDAY - November 9

JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST AT 9:30 AM IN THE FLC HOSTED
BY THE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. SPECIAL GUEST
SPEAKER - Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Jerry A. Singleton
After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Jerry attended pilot
training at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Texas. He then completed advanced helicopter training after which he was sent to Southeast Asia. There he was assigned to an Air Base in Northern Thailand
flying rescue missions over North Vietnam. While on such a mission,
Continued on page 3

THANKSGIVING COVERED DISH

CHURCH-WIDE THANKSGIVING COVERED DISH
Our Thanksgiving Covered Dish Luncheon will be held on Sunday, November 23th in
the Family Life Center immediately after the Late Service.
We ask each family to bring one dish according to the plan shown below (be sure to prepare enough for your family and 8 other people). Turkey, dressing and bread will be furnished by the church. Members who worship at the Early Service are urged to return for the
Continued on page 3

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE

Each year the churches of Nacogdoches sponsor a Thanksgiving Service and Dinner
at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2508 Appleby Sand Road. The service is scheduled for
6:00 pm on Monday, November 24, 2014, and a complimentary dinner will follow at 7:00 pm.
This year our very own Dr. Jeff McDonald will deliver the message.
Continued on page 3

HANGING OF THE GREENS SERVICE

Sunday, November 30 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Our sanctuary begins to wear its Christmas apparel. As we make ready for
the birth of the Child, we make ready ourselves and the sanctuary of our
hearts. The service will be family-centered, including children as readers
and participants.
****** Plans to decorate the Sanctuary to be ready for the first Sunday of Advent
will be Sat, Nov 29 at 8 am. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 am. All are welcome!

A Note From The Pastor

Give, and it will be given to you. A good portionpacked down, firmly shaken,
and overflowingwill fall into your lap. The portion you give will
determine the portion you receive in return. Luke 6:38
Its officially autumn. Weve had a few cool days, the leaves are beginning to fall, as well
as the acorns, and the days are getting shorter. Lenee and I were raking leaves and I
was reminded of one of my favorite books.
Once there was a treeand she loved a little boy.
So begins The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein. It is the a story of a boy who would
come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk
and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the
tree, and the tree gave and gave.
Sometimes we might see ourselves as being the boy in the story, always wanting a bit
more, but always returning to the tree our source.
And yet, as disciples of the living Christ, we are called to be more like the tree. Always
giving, and giving our best, and never complaining. As the tree continued a lifetime of giving, the final words of the book
are, And the tree was happy.
It is a wonderful parable of the Christian life. A lifetime of serving and giving will be returned in ways we could never imagine. I hope to hear the words, and Jeff was happy.
We are headed into a busy and joyful season in the life of the church. Just before Thanksgiving you will be receiving a letter about the 2015 Stewardship Campaign. On Thanksgiving Sunday, November 23, we will bring our commitment cards to
the altar, in much the same way our ancestors celebrated the harvest.
November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting and preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. All a time to remember to give and it will be given to you.
Peace,

From the Associate Pastor

29

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up,
as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
~ Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)

What a mess! With the election coming up, it seems that we hear more mud slinging and slander than meaningful
conversation and debate. Each new campaign ad is bent on dragging the name of the opposition through the dirt. While
this is an effective tactic to win elections, its a poor example of how Christians should act.
In Ephesians, Paul writes this verse near the end of a long description of how he expects Christians to act. Refraining from evil talk is part of our new selves, created in the righteousness of Christ. Moreover, not only are we to refrain from
evil talk, but all our conversations should be focused on building up and giving grace. Now thats a lofty goal and one that is
not easily met.
Paul is saying that as Christians, even our conversations should be holy and glorifying to God. And notice that this
holiness does not come from the content of the conversation. Its not about how right or wrong someone is. Instead, holy
conversation is defined by its goal, which is to build up and give grace. I wonder how different the election season would be
if candidates lifted up their relative proposals for bettering the world, rather than tearing each other down? Even more
though, I wonder how different our own conversations would be, if we were less concerned about being right and more
concerned with granting others Gods grace?

Blessings,

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Continued from page 1 - Veterans Sunday - Jerry A. Singleton

flying a CH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green"), on November 6, 1965 he was shot down over North Vietnam. After evading the
enemy for five days he was captured by the North Vietnamese. Jerry was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for
more than seven years. He was released on February 12, 1973. Jerry then attended Dallas Theological Seminary and
finished his Air Force career as a chaplain. (Military awards include: Silver Star [2]; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying
Cross [with V device]; Bronze Star [3 with V devices]; Purple Heart [2]; and the Prisoner of War Medal. Upon retiring
from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1985, Jerry attended graduate school in Accounting at the University of
North Texas and became a CPA. He retired in 2002.
In 2008 Jerry married the love of his life, his wife, Geri. Between the two of them, they have four sons and 13
grandchildren. Jerry and Geri currently live in Burleson, Texas.
Continued from page 1 - Thanksgiving Covered Dish

good meal.
If your last name begins with A F - please bring either Sweet Potato or Potato Casseroles
If your last name begins with G M - please bring either Green Beans or Broccoli
If your last name begins with N S - please bring Desserts (please have your dessert sliced or cut at home)
If your last name begins with T Z - please bring Green or Fruit Salads
Continued from page 1 - Community Thanksgiving - Nov 24 - 6 pm Service; 7 pm Dinner

Thanksgiving meals (200 last year) are also delivered each year to those who are homebound and to poor families in the Nacogdoches area. In order to provide the necessary amount of food, we need six volunteers who will agree
to cook a turkey and deliver it to the gym at Sacred Heart by noon on November 24, 2014. We also need volunteers
who will help deliver the meals in the afternoon (2 4 pm) on November 24. Everyone is invited to join the Community Choir which will rehearse on Sunday, November 23 at 3:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. If you would
like to participate in this mission of sharing during the Thanksgiving season, please email sharon.b@fumcnac.org or call
Sharon Bright in the Church Office (936) 564-8308. May God bless you and keep you!!!
____I will cook a turkey and deliver it to Sacred Heart. ____I would like to help deliver food to the poor and homebound.
____I would like to participate in the Community Choir.

WESLEY FOUNDATION
Homemade Bread Needed
The Wesley Student Foundation will have its Service of Bread on Wednesday, November 19th. For this annual service
they need homemade breads of all kinds; yeast, pumpkin, banana nut, etc. If you can provide a loaf or two, please deliver them to the Wesley Foundation by noon on Wednesday, November 19th. If you have any questions or need further
information, contact Joan Greenly at 936-564-7257 or via email at sfawesley@gmail.com. Thank you.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE
We have positions available for Director of Preschool and Assistant Director of Preschool. For more information, visit
our website www.fumcnac.org or click the following link http://www.fumcnac.org/jobs/ or call the Church Office
936-564-8308.

MEMORIALS
Memorial Gifts were given:
In Memory of Virginia Abernathy from Jeff & Lenee McDonald, Steve & Dayna Westbrook, Bill & Lynn Teague,
Jean & Bob Bryant, Carolena (Nita) Turner
In Memory of James Raney from Bill & Lynn Teague
In Memory of Dick Muckelroy from Carolena (Nita) Turner
In Memory of David Dobbs from Jimmy & Margie Rodriguez
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MISSIONS
Celebration Sunday (Thanksgiving Covered Dish), November 23
While we all can be thankful for Gods blessings during this Thanksgiving season, we want to remember that there are
many who are facing struggles in their life situations. We are fortunate to have two ministries in Nacogdoches serving
those less fortunate. They are Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) and GODTEL (Gods Open Door To Eternal
Life). We will celebrate our participation in these ministries during our church services and learn more about their organization from their representatives during our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon at noon in the FLC. This celebration
will conclude our month-long collection of items needed for both ministries. Information is detailed in the following section.

November Collections for Love INC and GODTEL

Bring any of the following items and place in collection baskets at the church, or they can be delivered to Love INC, or
GODTEL. We will collect from November 2 through December 7.
Items for GODTEL (They serve mostly homeless men, and this is what was requested. Outer clothing and
coats are not needed at this time.)
new mens undergarments (boxers and t-shirts)
mens gloves
mens socks
mens casual or tennis shoes
toiletries (regular or travel sizes)
liquid cleaning supplies for disinfecting (no aerosols); example: Lysol liquid
Toys needed for Nacogdoches County Christmas Blessings organized by Love INC
new toys or gift items for children from infants to 13 years old
gift items for the Mothers Table (new or gently-used Christmas decorations, lotions, scarf, something for the
kitchen, jewelry, etc.)
Christmas wrap, bows, ribbon, bags
some like-new toys will be accepted to give as extras

Volunteers needed for Nacogdoches County Christmas Blessings

This years event will be held at the Expo Center on Wednesday, December 17th. Love INC, Toys for Tots, Empty
Stocking, and other organizations have united in this event to qualify participants and avoid duplication. There are a
wide variety of activities that you can participate in to help the Love INC staff make this a wonderful Christmas for the
working poor and others in need.
Process Applications for Christmas work in the Love INC office at your convenience, Monday- Thursday from 9
am to noon and/or 1 to 4 pm: come for one or more shifts during the weeks between November 3 rd and December 5th. Love INC is located on Ruby facing Powers Street.
Set Up Love INC will collect toys and other donation up to the event. The day before the event, December 16 th,
they will set up the Expo Center like a store, sorting toys by age and gender. MANY volunteers are needed to
put this together. You may want to encourage your UMW Circle or Sunday School class to participate. They
will begin at 9:00 am and work until they are done. Depending on the number of volunteers, they are usually
through by 5:00 p.m.
Choirs and Entertainment A stage and sound equipment is available this year. They are looking for singing
groups who want to come during the day of December 17th to help celebrate.
The BIG DAY December 17th. They need shoppers to walk around with the clients while they choose gifts for
their children. There is also a place for children who come with their parents to do crafts. Volunteers are needed to supervise the craft area while their parents shop. Clients will have assigned appointment times, and volunteers can sign up to help in 3-hour increments, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The event will last until 8:00 p.m.; volunteers are needed to help with tear down.
Love INC wants to thank those volunteers who have helped in the past. They hope you will join them this year.
This is as much of a blessing to the volunteer as it is to the client! For more information call Love INC at 936569-8555.
SERVICE SUNDAY DECEMBER 7TH. Mark your calendars and look for more information in the next Newsletter.
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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

A special thanks to all who contributed to the success of United Methodist Women Sunday on October 12th. We were
blessed by the support of our wonderful church staff, the dedicated members of Circle III who kept the kitchen running
smoothly and set our tables, and all those who served in our worship services that day. If you played a part in the joyful
day of fellowship, please know that your efforts were sincerely appreciated.
In Christs Love,
Katherine Whitbeck, Unit President 2014
UMW Officers for 2015 were installed by Texas Conference Nominating Committee Chair Joyce Hancock at the Unit
Meeting and Luncheon on October 12th and are as follows:
Ashley Johnson, President;
Colleen Abernathy, Vice President;
Mary Frances Bradford, Secretary;
Jo Taylor, Treasurer;
Audry Quick, Mission Coordinator for Spiritual Growth;
Nena Smith, Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation and Secretary of Program Resources;
Karen Embry Jenlink, Mission Coordinator for Social Action;
Ann Murray, Chair of the Nominating Committee.
UMW dates to remember: 4th quarter pledges and other mission giving due to Jo by Nov. 19 th; 2014 reading lists due to
Nena by Dec. 1; 2015 Planning Meeting for unit officers and circle leaders, Sunday Dec. 7 th in the church library after
second service.

Christmas Poinsettias Order Form

You may place your order in honor or in memory of loved ones and friends. Please fill out this form and place
it in the offering plate with your check or you may return it to the Church Office. Deadline for placing orders is
Sunday, December 7, 2014.
Please note: Poinsettias may be picked up after the 6:00 pm or 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Services.

Name:__________________________________________

Contact No:_________________________

No. of Poinsettias:______________________________
In Memory of:__________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
In Honor of:___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
~~~Thank you for your help in decorating the Church Sanctuary this Christmas~~~

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THANK YOU
We would like to
thank all who donated candy for the
Fall Festival, there
was more than
enough to share

with our friends! We would like

to thank all who donated homemade bake sale items too, it
helped Childrens Ministry earn enough funds to
pay for the festival. Wed like to also extend an extra
special thanks to those who donated their time, we cannot
do these events without you!

Thank you First United

Methodist Church!
From the Childrens Ministry
Team

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Name Tags
Our new church name tags are available for purchase at $10 each. Orders may be made by calling the Church Office or on our website www.fumcnac.org. We think this is a great way to help people feel at home and welcomed.

SFA Lumberjack Basketball T-shirts

If you have not picked-up your T-shirts from our last order, please do so from the Church Office. There is still time to
order T-shirts - priced at $15.00 each. You may call the Church Office to order or on our website www.fumcnac.org.
Dates to remember - Nov 14 First home game; Nov 18 ESPN 24-hour television coverage of games. (SFA vs
Northern Iowa at 8:00 am). Deadline for ordering T-Shirts are November 9.
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FUMCNAC CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
05 - Common Ground Wednesdays:
5:00 pm Meal; 5:40 pm Communion
Service - Chapel; 6:00 pm Studies and
Activities
06 - Board of Trustees Meeting at
5:15 pm - Library
09 - Veterans Sunday - Breakfast at
9:30 pm; Program at 10 am - FLC
Confirmation Class at 6:30 pm - Rm
211
10 - Primetimers at 10:30 am - FLC
11 - UMW Circle VI Meeting
12 - Common Ground Wednesdays: 5:00 pm Meal; 5:40 pm Communion Service - Chapel; 6:00 pm Studies and Activities
13 - Heart-to-Heart Choruspractice at 9:30 amChoir Room;
performance at 10:30 amWestward Trails.
Finance Committee Meeting at 5:30 pm - Library
17 - Childrens Ministry meeting at 5:45 pm - Conf Room
UMW Circle III Meeting
18 - UMW Circle I meeting at 9:30 am - Parlor
UMW Circle II & IV meeting at 9:30 pm
UMW Circle VII meeting at 10:00 am
Preschool Board meeting at 6:30 pm - Library
20 - Heart-to-Heart Choruspractice at 9:00 amChoir Room;
performance at 10:00 amMeadowview Place.
East District Training - FLC
Evangelism Committee Meeting at 4:30 pm - Library
Church Council Meeting at 5:30 pm - Parlor
23 - Thanksgiving Covered Dish at 12 noon - FLC
Community Thanksgiving Choir Rehearsal at 3 pm (Sacred
Heart Catholic Church)
24 - Community Thanksgiving delivery of food to the shut-ins meet at Sacred Heart at 2 pm; Service 6 pm; Dinner at 7 pm (Sacred

Heart Catholic Church)

26 - Church Office Closes at 12 noon to Monday, Dec 1
29 - Decorating the Sanctuary at 8 am
30 - Hanging of the Greens Service at 6 pm

DECEMBER
06 - Christmas Open House
4 pm TubaChristmas Concert - Sanctuary
4 pm Service Saturday - Gathering Area/FLC
5 pm Music of the Season in the Sanctuary
5 pm Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Parlor
5 pm Wassail in the Gathering Area

ROOM RESERVATIONS
If you are planning to reserve a room in the Church for a
meeting, gathering, etc., a request can be made either by
emailing jim.j@fumcnac.org.com or by completing a
Building Use Form that can be found in the Workroom.

ACCESS ACS

To obtain an ACCESS ACS user ID, logon to

www.fumcnac.org, click the ACCESS ACS link at the bottom of the page. For more information, kindly contact Sharon Bright at 936-564-8308 or email
sharon.b@fumcnac.org.

Articles Due for Next Newsletter

The next Newsletter will be dated Wednesday,

December 3 , 2014. Articles for this issue should be
emailed to sharon.b@fumcnac.org by
3:00 pm Monday, November 24, 2014

BULLETIN DEADLINE

Please email all information to sharon.b@fumcnac.org

for our weekly Bulletin by 3:00 pm on Tuesdays.

Regularly-Scheduled Meetings
Mondays:
Mens Emmaus Reunion Group meets at 6:30 am in the Parlor (1st, 3rd, and 5th Mondays)
HRT Emmaus Reunion Group meets on Mondays at 5:15 pm - Barbara LaFours
Girl Scout Troop 1406 meets on Mondays at 6:00 pm in the Scout Lodge
Tuesdays:
Girl Scout Troop 1016 meets every other Tuesday at 5:30 pm in the Scout Lodge
Celebrate Service Rehearsal at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Wednesdays:
Christian Writers Fellowship at 5:45 pm in the Room 206
YoWe (Youth on Wednesday Evenings) at 6 pm-Worship and Message; 7 pm-Small Groups
Bell Choir Rehearsal at 6:00 pm in Room 207
Chancel Choir Rehearsal at 7:00 pm in the Choir Room.
Thursdays:
Grace Emmaus Reunion Group meeting at 8:30 am in the Library
Heart-to-Heart Chorus at 9:00 am in the Choir Room and performances at Nursing Homes at 10:00 am (2nd & 4th Thursdays)
Sundays:
Youth Praise Band practice at 4:30 pm in the Youth Lounge
Cub Scouts meets at 5:00 pm in the Scout Lodge
Youth on Sunday Night 5:30-Youth Open Gym; 6:30 pm-Youth Snack Supper; 7:00 pm-Youth Bible Study
Volume 7, Issue 18

Page 7

Our Staff
DR. JEFF McDONALD
Senior Pastor
jeff.m@fumcnac.org
REV. TRENT OLIVER
Associate Pastor
trent.o@fumcnac.org
BETSY BALES
Director of Preschool
preschool@fumcnac.org
SHARON BRIGHT
Office Manager
sharon.b@fumcnac.org
JEFF CAMPBELL
Director of Youth Ministry
jeff.c@fumcnac.org
DR. TOD FISH
Director of Music Ministry
tod.f@fumcnac.org
JIM JENKINS
Building Manager
jim.j@fumcnac.org
ELSA JORDAN
Director of Childrens Ministry
elsa.j@fumcnac.org
DR. ANDY PARR
Organist
andy.p@fumcnac.org
KATHY THOMAS
Financial Secretary
kathy.t@fumcnac.org
DR. GARY WURTZ
Celebrate Worship Leader
gary.w@fumcnac.org

PRAYER CONCERNSUPDATED, Monday, November 3 (am)

For a more up-to-date Prayer List, kindly contact our Church Office564-8308.
Doris Johnston, Darlene Mawson, Jacy Watson, Nancy Robinson (Jenny Johnsons mother), Avalynn Jackson (R. G. Deans great granddaughter), Dolly Cobb (friend of the Teague's), Rose Mary
Moffatt (Tanya Kellys mother), Kalynn Cole (friend of Carolyn Davis), Slaton Smith, Carolyn Mitchell, Joseph David Canino (Audry Quicks nephew), Katelyn Wolf (John & Gale Whites granddaughter), J. R. Wright, Browine Covin, Laverne Creech, Marsha Woznock (Ernestine Fountains
daughter), Bill Flynn, Tabatha Bienman (Cathy Johnsons granddaughter), Suzanne Stockard
(friend of Carol Ash), Savannah Coonts (Jerry & Mary Lynn Andis great granddaughter), Alli Babaneaux (Tom & Dorothy Franks great niece), Nano Harland (Trent Olivers grandmother), Mike
Rigsby, Ann Williams (Gale Whites mother), Gary Novosad, Jack Mathews, Nita DeGrand, Johnnie Johnson, Claudia Whitley, Melissa Scott (John & Pat Binghams daughter),
Courtney Allen, Kittie Dobbs, Jesse Richardson, Ernestine Fountain, Pat Marshall, Jeff Campbell,
Ashley Akin (Mary Akins granddaughter), Kitty Flynn, Molly Appleberry, Ellen Banskton, Amy
Ames (Debra Bankstons niece), Jana LaFour.

Military Personnel in Combat Zone

John Lewis, Erick Perez, Bo Russell, Mark Escoe, Ariel Santoyo, Bill Stephens (Pat Stephens
Williams brother)
Our Hearts Go Out To
Amanda Oldham and family on the passing of her father, David Hugh Sessions.
Sue Smith and family on the passing of her nephew, Larry Buchanan.
Janelle Ashley on the passing of her sister, Sue Morgan.
Names will remain on a published prayer list for 90 days. The prayer team appreciates current updates on requests. Please email your requests and updates to info@fumcnac.org If
you know of a member of FUMC who is in the hospital or who will be having surgery, kindly contact the Church Office - 564-8308. EMERGENCIES, call 936-585-2294.

The mission of the First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches is to make disciples through
Christ-centered service and outreach. With Gods help, we will do this through witnessing,
teaching and loving.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

First United Methodist Church

201 E Hospital Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75961

NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NACOGDOCHES, TX
PERMIT NO. 11