The Window - December 2022

I love this time of year when you open the newsletter to see all the exciting events going on in our church and community! The celebrations, time spent with family, and our intentional preparation of Emmanuel – God with us – is a glorious reminder of God’s goodness in our lives!

Please take time to look at all the ways in which you can be involved in worship and ministry this month as part of your holiday commitments! There are lots of opportunities to be engaged and invite others to join us here at First UMC!

One of the great traditions of many churches is getting ready for the advent and Christmas season, including those who will visit us during that period. We anticipate the special music programs, the invigorating worship, and the treasured time with our loved ones! One of the ways we mark that is through the time and effort we put into decorating our church and home.

Throughout the Advent season, we will continue to “unwrap” Christmas through the sermon series that pastors Bailey, Shera and I are doing together. We want to explore how we can reimagine the gifts, the food, the music, and the symbolism (like our Christmas tree) to dig deeper into our understanding of the birth of Jesus and his impact on the world! Additionally, our Christmas Eve service will be a joyous time to welcome the light of the world into our midst! And on Christmas Day, we will have one worship service at 11:00 in the sanctuary. This service will feature Christmas hymns and a heavy emphasis on the kids! We are inviting children to bring a toy with them to be blessed, and they will join me up front for a special Christmas message that they will help to deliver! One of the special events that morning will be to open a very special gift that will have adorned our Sanctuary throughout the Advent season. I hope that you and your whole family will plan to make worship that day a part of your Christmas Day festivities!

As we prepare for Christmas, I also want to encourage each of us to finish the year strong in our homes and in our church. The end of the year becomes a time when we make plans for the upcoming year, setting goals and making decisions about how our time and resources will be allocated. The church is no different, and we want to finish strong here too! It is our hope and intention always to fully fund the ministries we have committed to here at the church, to pay our shared ministries, and put ourselves in position to make a major impact in our community!

Dear Church family,

I’ve been thinking a great deal about Christmas this year; remembering wonderful times with loved ones. I’d like to share a few because they all had one thing in common... the answer to a question I loved to ask. Each eve before Christmas Eve, I would spend time with my grandmother in Houston. We would busily prepare for her BIG CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER and I would “help”. On Christmas Eve, she would get up at 4:00 in the morning to put the turkey in the oven and continue preparations. Each year I would ask why she got up so early to cook and she would reply, “Because I love you all! Of course!”. During the season of preparation before Christmas, my mother and I would shop. By shop, I mean we would gather my grandmother’s list of 15 people at two gifts each, and my two aunts’ lists of similar size and shop for their entire family. Then Mom would take them to their homes and wrap presents for hours. After, she would deliver them to Houston, Austin and Bay City. I would ask my mom why she did all of their shopping instead of letting their kids help. Her reply was

simply, “Because I love them”. My other grandmother always had us at her house for Christmas day. She was a “baker deluxe”! Eight of us gathered each year and each year she made seven pies… each of her family’s favorite. When I asked why she made so many pies, I bet you can guess the answer. She said, “Because I love each one of you and want you to have your favorite!”

Take a moment and relax and ponder over this beautiful Christmas Hymn:

Atkinson Minister of Spiritual Formation and Congregational Care

1 Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.

2 Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?

3 Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine; love to God and others, love for plea and gift and sign. This Christmas I encourage you to remember that the answer to, “Why did Jesus, the SON of GOD, take on flesh and become fully human?” is “Because He loves us!”. In response, during this Advent and Christmas season, I challenge you to look each day for ways to show the love of Jesus to both families and strangers, to friends as well as those who are not yet friends. Each Sunday of Advent you are invited to collect an ornament from your place of worship in the sanctuary, chapel or contemporary worship center. Attached you will find a suggestion for a random act of kindness. Let’s spread the love of Jesus throughout the season!

Soli Deo Gloria, Shera

(continued from page 1)

Please join with me in prayer and action as we get ready for a new year of God’s blessing among and through us. I’d encourage each of us to consider making a special gift to the church and its ministries, as we also share gifts with

our family and friends!

I want to wish each and every one of us a Holy and Blessed Christmas season! May the birth of the Christ child warm our hearts anew and may the example of his life inspire each of us to new heights in our walk with Christ! As

Charles Wesley’s famous hymn states, “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king!”

God’s grace and peace be with us all!

Pastor Todd

Shera

CHRISTMAS MISSIONS OFFERING

missions in and through this church. What is our mission? The material of missions may look like donating money, food, or clothes or serving meals. What is the substance beneath that material?

Christmas O ering 2022

In Acts 20, Paul speaks of the importance of completing his mission. The ministry Jesus gave him was to share the good news of God’s grace. The material looked like proclaiming and teaching. Paul also speaks of the kingdom God’s grace builds. The substance beneath the material is what the good news brings: God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

To this end, Paul quoted Jesus, saying, “It is better to give than to receive.” From a place of blessing in Christ, Paul longed to give to those in need. He gave not just materially, but relationally and spiritually as well, saying, “You know how I lived among you.” In giving, he participated in God’s kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven.

We are blessed in Christ here at First UMC. We get to donate money, food, and clothes and serve meals. How

can we seek the substance beneath the material? Through volunteering at things like Kid’s Beach Club at Bayless Elementary, Second Helpings here at the church, or Habitat for Humanity in East Lubbock, we can give relationally and spiritually. We can participate in God’s kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven.

All through December, you have the opportunity to give to our Missions Offering. We are grateful for any amount you feel called to give. We also encourage you to ask God how He may want you to give relationally and spiritually. What gifts has God given you to help serve His kingdom?

As you give in whatever way you feel called, we would love to invite you to join the mission team. We meet quarterly to discern God’s will for missions in and through this church. We want to have a good representation of the membership of this church that all voices may be heard. If you are interested, please email me at mspaulding@fumc.com or call me at 806-763-4607 ext. 220 for more information.

Hear the good news that the kingdom of God is upon us. May it be on earth as it is in heaven.

Grace and Peace, Michael Spaulding, Director of Missions and Outreach

Hoodies (and More) for Bayless

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Hoodies (and More) for Bayless drive in the month of October. Bayless Elementary recently began cleaning out and restocking their clothing closet and the clothes you all generously donated will empower them to meet the needs of their students this winter. We received monetary donations from a couple of Sunday school classes and groups which helped provide new plastic bins to improve organization in the clothing closet as well as shoes for students. Your generosity is an expression of God’s love and kindness. It will make a difference in the lives of students at Bayless Elementary.

Second Helpings Family Promise Bayless Elementary/ Kids Beach Club

Food2Kids Texas Tech Wesley Foundation

SENIOR ADULT THANKSGIVING

Kids and parents are loving the new turf on the playground!

Our Life TOge Ther

BAPTISMS

Congratulations to Kyler and Camille Barkley on the baptism of their daughter, Clara. Rev. Bailey Barkley baptized Clara November 6 in the 11contemporary service.

Congratulations to Alexander and Petra Higby on the baptism of their son, Arie Alexander. Dr. Todd Salzwedel baptized Arie Sunday, November 27 in the 11traditional service. The proud grandparents are Pieter and Lou Ann Bergstein.

BIRTHS

Congratulations to Zach and Jordanna Stephens on the birth of their daughter, Cameron Joy. Cameron was born October 27. She weighed 7.5lbs and was 20 inches long.

Welcome to Tom and Eleanor Homer on joining First Lubbock October 30 the 9:30 Contemporary service with Rev. Bailey Barkley. Tom and Eleanor are transferring from Lake Ridge UMC.

Welcome to David Caffey on joining First Lubbock November 6 in the Chapel service with Dr. Shera Atkinson. David is transferring from St. Luke’s UMC.

Welcome to David and Patty Vannoy on joining First Lubbock November 6 in the 11 traditional service with Dr. Todd Salzwedel. The Vannoys are transferring from Lake Ridge UMC.

SYMPATHIES

Sympathies o the Henson family on the death of their mother, Betty. Betty passed away October 23. A time of fellowship and remembrance was held October 30 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. A graveside service was on October 31 at Resthaven. Betty was a member of the Friends of Music, the Homebuilders Sunday School and a member of First Lubbock since October 14, 1958.

Congratulations to Jared and Katie Alderson on the birth of their daughter, Brinley Shae. Brinley was born November 5.

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to Jan Pendleton on joining First Lubbock October 30 in the 11 traditional service with Dr. Todd Salzwedel. She is transferring from Shallowater UMC.

Sympathies to the Rankin family on the death of their father and grandfather, Elbert Eugene Rankin. Gene passed away November 8. A memorial service was held November 14 in Bowman Chapel officiated by Dr. Todd Salzwedel. Gene was a member of the Homebuilders Sunday School and a member of First Lubbock since June 18, 2000.

Sympathies to the Ross family on the October 27 death of their father Clayton Joseph, 91. A lifelong member of First - Lubbock, Clayton served on its Board of Directors (‘70s-’80s) after joining the HI Robinson Sunday School class in 1956. There was cremation; no memorial service was held.

EVERLIVING TRUST

In honor of Dennis Hargrove by HI Robinson Sunday School

In honor of Eric McKnight by HI Robinson Sunday School

In honor of Don Walker by HI Robinson Sunday School

In honor of Dr. Kitty Harris by HI Robinson Sunday School

In honor of Mark Griffin by HI Robinson Sunday School

In honor of Martha Webster by HI Robinson Sunday School

In memory of Monty Neeb by Ambassadors Sunday School

In memory of Linda Brown by Mike Brown

In memory of Charles Neeb by Jean Self

In memory of Denece Harris by Tom and Lindy Jones

In memory of Clayton Ross by HI Robinson Sunday School

In memory of Kevin McKelvy by HI Robinson Sunday School

FRIENDS OF MUSIC

In memory of Denece Harris by Charles and Paula Key

GENERAL

In memory of Denece Harris by McMillan Sunday School

In memory of Charles Neeb by James and Kim Arnold

In memory of Lois Moore by Steve and Sonya Crow

In memory of Janie Reeves by Steve and Sonya Crow

MUSIC MINISTRY

In memory of Kyle McFarren by Carolyn Sowell and Sally Murray

In memory of Betty Henson by Doris Winder, Ranae Hairston, and Charles Winder

In memory of Betty Henson by Donnell and Sharla Echols

TREASURED TIMES

In memory of Wanda Peacock by Winnie Clymo

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID

Lubbock, Texas Permit No. 594

1411 Broadway Lubbock, TX 79401

Return Services Requested

Traditional 8:45 a.m. - Sanctuary 9 a.m. Bowman Chapel 11 a.m. Sanctuary

Contemporary 9:30 a.m. Christian Life Center 11 a.m. Christian Life Center

1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 fumc.com

The Window is a monthly publication of First United Methodist Church, Lubbock