December 25, 2011

On Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 11:00 am Lake Cities United Methodist Church will have one Christmas Day Service "Blessing of the Children and their Toys".

For more information please contact the church office at (940) 321-6100.

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On Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2011 Lake Cities United Methodist Church will be offering a variety of services:

2:30 pm - Autumn Oaks Home
5:00 pm - Children Friendly Service
7:00 pm - Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
9:00 pm - Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
11:00 pm - Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

For more information please contact the church office at (940) 321-6100.

Parent Meeting

On Wednesday, November 2, we will parent's Information Session with the Rev. Dr. Andy Stoker on the topic of bullying and how to talk to your students about it.

This meeting will be happening during children's and youth activities that evening for the parents.

The special event times for that evening will be posted soon.

We look forward to great turnout for this event.  Please invite your family, friends and neighbors who could benefit from this education session.  Any questions, please contact Beau or Dorothea at the church office at (940)321-6100.

HOME GROUP REPORT

Lake Cities United Methodist Church just launched its second Home Group, following the success of another Home Group that was formulated last year. Home Groups serve the church well in that they provide a setting for new members to become better integrated into the larger church. They also provide a learning environment for those who do not belong to a traditional Sunday School class.

Each group is bounded together by similar interests or stations in life. Lake Cities first Home Group is made up of younger families and individuals who have similar interests and needs. Likewise, the church’s second group is made up of older families who have similar needs.

Home Groups are launched at the home of the pastor. After matching new families with established families, the pastor sends out an invitation for interested individuals to attend a first meeting. At the first meeting, a model is presented for future gatherings which include a meal and a time for study. Participants are then asked if they would like to continue to meet and vote accordingly.

Each meeting starts with a meal. After a time of fellowship everyone gathers for a spiritual lesson. Each meeting lasts no longer than two hours. All family members are encouraged to attend, including children. At the end of the meeting, participants set the date and place for the next meeting. It is encouraged that families meet in private homes to develop personal relationships in a Christian setting. It is also encouraged that these groups meet at least once a month. The structure and setting of these meetings are designed to be simple and non-intrusive.

Oversight of these groups fall under the staff of the church. Study material is provided by the church or is endorsed by the church. Costs for materials are shared by the participants.

What makes Home Groups different from Supper Clubs? While each group hosts a meal, Home Groups have a different focus. Home Groups are support gatherings for the whole family. They devote time at each meeting for religious study. They are composed of the same group over their lifetime and work similar to a Sunday School class. Supper Clubs, on the other hand, are groups designed to promote fellowship opportunities with the various members within the church. They do not have lessons and change in participants from meeting to meeting.

What makes Home Groups different from Emmaus Reunion Groups? While each group meets as a small gathering, Home Groups are different than Reunion Groups in that they are open for everyone to attend, not just those who have been on an Emmaus retreat. Another area of difference lies in that Reunion Groups are more concentrated on spiritual support, while Home Groups focus on relational support.

Home Groups, while seemingly new, are actually historical in the United Methodist Church. Author Julie Gorman in her book Community That Is Christian notes:

"Outstanding in the history of small group influence is the name of John Wesley . . . For Wesley, the small cell was central to the church . . . These small groups promoted unity, quality, control, and fellowship and became sites for progress reports, praying . . . and enabling members to grow. Methodism brought this small group network across the ocean to the New World.”

Reverend Dave Browning notes in his book, Hybrid Church, “Small groups are a side door into the church . . . some people are attracted by the small fellowships and then find their way into the public worship service.”

In comparison to Sunday School, Home Groups is yet another option to discover a safe and alternative way for fellowship and religious study within the church. Like Browning, Lake Cities UMC view these groups as yet another way to help people become more involved in the church.

If you are interested in joining a Home Group, please email Pastor Rene’ Lawson at rlawson@lakecitiesumc.org. If you are interested in joining a Supper Club group, please email Pastor Dyan Dietz at dyan@lakecitiesumc.org.

You do not want to miss this!!

Lake Cities UMC's 2nd annual Craft Fair
Saturday, Oct. 15
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Do all your holiday shopping in one convenient place!
Thirty-one vendors in one location, including UMW, UMM, Ms. Dorothea and the children, plus our Golden Agers Group and their various crafts!
(Food vendors available for your eating pleasure.)

Monday, October 31 ∆ 4- 6 pm

Invite your family, friends and neighbors to the church for Trunk or Treat! We will have a MAD SCIENTIST on hand to lead the kids in a variety of games including:

∆ Beaker Basketball
∆ Test Tube Toss
∆ Glow Toss
∆ Goop Scoop
∆ Glow Throw
∆ Formula Flash
∆ Duck Pond

Our mad scientist will also be making BOO BUBBLES and demonstrating other mad science experiments!

Want to help make this a safe and fun-filled event for the kids of the community? We need church members to come out in costume, decorate their "trunk", bring candy and hand out at our Trunk or Treat event.

We are having a BEST DECORATED CAR CONTEST! The winner will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to Texas Land & Cattle! So make sure to fill out the connection card and place in the offering plate or click here to sign-up!

If you would like to help by donating candy or other needed supplies please see the donation bulletin board in front of the office for a list of items that are needed. Thanks for all you do for LCUMC!

Sign-up for the best decorated car!

The Dead Sea Scrolls…

A class offered by Pastor Dyan Dietz
at Lake Cities United Methodist Church

Since their first discovery in 1947 by a Bedouin shepherd, the Dead Sea scrolls have ignited the imaginations of scholars and non-scholars alike. Amid confusion, speculation, international politics and religious passion, these scrolls and fragments, representing around 900 documents, have sparked research and debate for decades.

Beginning October 16, Lake Cities United Methodist Church will sponsor a six-week class exploring issues concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls. This class will look at the discovery of the scrolls, archaeological work at nearby Kirbet Qumran, various theories concerning who wrote and hid the
scrolls, and the scrolls themselves.

This is a six week course that will cover the discovery of the scrolls, the politics and controversy behind the possession and interpretation of the scroll materials, archaeology of the site at Kirbet Qumran, and the significance of the scrolls for Christianity today.

The course will be taught by Rev. Dyan Dietz who is a PhD student at Brite Divinity School studying second temple Judaism with a focus on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The course will meet for six sessions on Sunday evenings at 6:30, beginning October 16.   

The cost is $10.00 per person.  Come join us for dinner each evening at 6:00pm ($3/person).

Register online or call the church office @ 940-321-6100.

This class is open to anyone in the Lake Cities area or beyond.  

From the Desert to the Web: Bring the Dead Sea Scrolls Online

The American Nightmare...

Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These words capture well the state of mind of many of us in America today. We have witnessed dramatic market losses, the collapse of the world’s largest insurance company, and many bankruptcies and mergers. Every day seems to bring another piece of economic uncertainty.

A recent survey found that over three in four Americans are stressed about the economy and their personal finances. Half were worried about providing for their family’s basic needs. Over half of respondents reported feeling angry and irritable, and reported lying awake at night worried about this. The report concludes that, “The declining state of the nation’s economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people nationwide.”

Join us at Lake Cities United Methodist Church the next 4 weeks for a lesson series entitled Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. Our nation is experiencing what many have described as the “American Nightmare.” Increasing consumer debt (including credit card debt, auto loans, etc), declines in savings accounts, lower income growth, and a volatile stock market are all a part of our economic insecurity. We have lived in a society that tells us “you deserve it now,” whether or not we can afford it or really even need it. 

During this time we will explore what the Bible teaches us about financial management.  We’ll hear expert advice and stories about what others have learned by working through financial challenges. Each week we will provide you with some practical tools you can use to assess your financial situation and develop a financial plan with a biblical foundation.  We will learn how to win back the Joy through Simplicity and Generosity!

Lake Cities United Methodist Church invites all in our community to join us for this important lesson series.  Please join us and invite your friends to learn about truly experiencing simplicity, generosity, and JOY.

Small Groups Forming

If you would like to join a small group that will be studying the lessons in more depth on these same Sundays, click the button below to register to Join a Small Group Study.  Anyone wishing to order the study materials for the "Enough" series for any small group, or any individual, may do so from Cokesbury at a 37% discount!  

Join Small Group Study on Enough Series

Some of the principles that will be discussed are:

• what the Bible says about debt and wealth
• getting out of debt
• how to get out of credit card debt
• using the debt snowball to get out of debt
• which debt to pay off first
• how to build financial wealth
• how to obtain financial freedom
• the basics of the Dave Ramsey financial plan

"Enough" Calendar:

10/16/2011 Lesson 1: When Dreams Become Nightmares

10/23/2011 Lesson 2: Wisdom and Finance

10/30/2011 Lesson 3: Cultivating Contentment

11/6/2011 Lesson 4: Defined by Generosity

Celebration Sunday Potluck after 11am service - All are invited!

Members, please bring a dish according to the first letter of your last name:

A-L: Entree

M-S: Salad or Side Dish

T-Z: Desert

Director of Music Ministries

Location:                Lake Cities United Methodist Church

Job title:                Director of Music Ministries

Hours:                   15 hours per week:

Sunday morning services; 8:30 am, 9:45 am, 11:00 am

Sunday evening Children’s choir and chimes practice

Wednesday evening Adult Choir practice

Thursday evening 9:45 service practice

Remaining time for Staff Meetings and Service Preparation

Staff supervisor:    Senior pastor.

Salary:                   $10,800.00 annually

Description of position:

The Director of Music is responsible and has oversight for every facet of the Music Ministry of Lake Cities UMC. The Music Ministry includes, but not limited to, Adult Choir, Youth Choir, Children’s Choir, music programming for a Sunday services and all necessary practices to produce a quality Music Program.

Strong communication and organization skills are essential to the Music Director. In order to adequately minister to the various groups within Lake Cities UMC, the Music Director must communicate and plan practice and programs with other Ministry Directors; such as Associate Pastor, Director of Youth Ministries, Director of Children’s Ministry and Preschool Director. It is necessary for all Ministries to work together to achieve the common goal of sharing the gospel of God’s Love and Grace.

The Lake Cities United Methodist Church and Lake Cities UMC Music Ministry, is a part of the living body of Christ and is ever evolving. The music program must be able to adapt to the needs of the membership and community.

Major functions of position:

• Recruit, train and support individuals to participate in the music programs.
• Coordinate and direct efforts of  the Music Ministry into all ministries within Lake Cities UMC through working with other Ministry Directors
• Develop an annual budget to purchase supplies. Maintain existing sound equipment and musical instruments.  Review equipment needs with the Pastor and Trustees.
• Plan, coordinate and direct all occasional and seasonal programming with all Ministries within Lake Cities UMC.
• Promote music ministry opportunities within and outside of the church.
• Participate in church administrative duties, meetings and other duties as directed.

Specific functions of position: These functions may be altered to accommodate changes in the Music program and current goals for the position as determined by the SPPR, Senior Pastor and individual filling the position.

• Plan and lead music for all Sunday morning worship. Hymn selections are to be in consultation with Pastor and Organist.
• Design, organize and implement music driven contemporary service
• Lead Music council
• Submit annual budget to Finance committee
• Conduct choir rehearsals and produce practice recordings as necessary
• Build a youth ensemble that will grow to a Youth choir. This will include weekly rehearsals and planning utilization of the ensemble into worship
• Coordinate and as necessary preview special music soloists and groups
• Conduct bell choir rehearsals for adult and youth hand bell choirs
• Plan and lead annual and special music programming for Lent, Easter, Christmas Cantata and Christmas eve and other occasions as identified
• Recruit instrumental musicians as necessary for special programming
• Keep church music library in order
• Support fund raising activities necessary for special musicians or programming
• Participation in professional organization (i.e. Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians and Other Worship Arts)
• Participation in at least yearly continuing education programs with emphasis on choral directing and church music
• Plan mission activities for Lake Cities UMC established music ministries
• Develop attendance tracking technique for individuals involved in music ministries with pastoral follow-ups as needed to facilitate participation

For More Information, please contact:

http://www.lakecitiesumc.org

Scott Kline, SPRC Chair - sdkcmk0726@gmail.com or 940-783-7186

Pastor Rene Lawson - pastor@lakecitiesumc.org or 940-321-6100

Come join us this Monday at 6:00 pm for fun, food & fellowship as we celebrate Independence Day! We'll have activities for kids of all ages including a water slide, kids train ride and volleyball. Dinner will start at 6:30. Hot dogs will be provided & BBQ sandwiches will be available for purchase. We are asking everyone to bring either a side dish or dessert. During dinner, we'll have some relaxing music from a jazz combo featuring our very own Ron Alexander. So, bring your lawn chairs & enjoy the city's fireworks from the best seat in town!