Growing Together

Reaching Higher

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2011 SHARINGTHEHEART.ORG

ADULT DISCIPLESHIP AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:18)

Growing Deeper

2

There’s Something in the Wind

O ne of the

pictures of the

Holy Spirit of God in the Bible that

is most interesting to me is Jesus‘

picture of the Spirit as wind. Christ

likens the way that God‘s presence

moves in our lives and in our

world to a blowing wind: ―The

wind blows wherever it pleases.

You hear its sound, but you cannot

tell where it comes from or where

it is going‖ (John 3:8).

This comparison does not come as

a surprise, as the words for ‗wind‘

and for ‗spirit‘ are the same in the

original languages of both the Old

and the New Testaments. But the

idea that Jesus points to in his

statement is the notion that we

humans don‘t easily observe how

and from what direction the Spirit

of God moves, but the effects of

that movement are often very

obvious. When God has arrived

and has been at work and has filled

our lives, it is usually

unmistakable.

Jesus points out that we do not

control the ‗wind.‘ Instead, the

wind of God‘s Spirit powers us. A

little later in the Book of John,

Jesus tells us that one of the chief

reasons that God has sent the Holy

Spirit is to teach us (John 14:26).

God powers our lives as God‘s

Spirit instructs us according to

God‘s Word how to live in God‘s

ways. Our role and responsibility

in this process is to stand like

windmills who are open and ready

to receive the wind that gives us

the power we need to live the lives

that God created us to have.

How will you become a ‗windmill‘

for God‘s power in 2011? How

will you stand tall, strong, and

ready for God to teach and lead

you into deeper discipleship? Our

hope is that you will connect with

places of learning and growing in

the community of faith like those

contained in the following pages.

Come learn and grow together with

us. And find the strength and the

exhilaration of spirit that will

power you into and through this

new year.

Rev. John Harman

Adult Discipleship Pastor

“The wind of

God’s Spirit

powers us.”

3

Growing 2011

Join the Journey

I f you are new to First United Methodist Church, you‘ll

find the Join the Journey experience to

be an opportunity to make a meaningful

connection. It is especially designed to

answer your questions about the Christian

faith, the Methodist Church, and life in the

church family. As you explore some basic

topics in Christianity, Methodism, personal

Bible study, and service and discipleship, you

will get to connect with other newcomers and

begin a journey of learning and spiritual growth together in

this family of faith.

The weekly sessions work around United Methodist Bishop

William Willimon‘s This We Believe: The Core of Wesleyan

Faith and Practice (Abingdon Press, 2010). They are

designed to inform and equip you to understand and respond

to the biblical call to a life of discipleship.

We hope that every person in the church

family has a regular place of connection

where you can learn and grow in community.

We believe that Join the Journey will help

you find a pathway to that connection that is

right for you.

See the schedule below and visit the Join the

Journey page under Short Term Studies at

sharingtheheart.org/adults to learn more. You can register

there using the online form, or stop by the Information Desk

in the main church lobby and let us know you‘d like to Join

the Journey. This is an ongoing class that you can join at any

time in the 12-week cycle.

Begins Jan 9

10:05 am

Room C210

Week 1 Come to the Table: The Feast of Fellowship Week 7 We Believe: In the Guidance of Scripture

Week 2 We the People: Our United Methodist Heritage Week 8 Personal Bible Study Basics

Week 3 We Believe: In One God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Week 9 We Believe: In Christian Work and Witness

Week 4 We Believe: In Jesus Christ and His Reign Week 10 We Believe: In the Gift of the Church

Week 5 We Believe: In the Work of the Holy Spirit Week 11 Serving in the Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the Church

Week 6 We Believe: In Salvation for Sinners Week 12 Called to Grow: Intentional Discipleship

Join the Journey January 9 – March 27, 2011

Join the Journey

4

Making Connections Every Friday Morning

On Friday mornings at 7:00, men

gather at the church for coffee and

Bible study together to start the day.

The study is led by experienced Bible teachers from within the

group and encourages interaction and fellowship as well as

praying for needs that are shared. This large group studies

through books of the Bible by reading and discussing a new

section each week.

This time of Bible study and connection is

open to all men, and welcomes visitors and

those who are only able to attend occasionally.

Stop by Room B110 (Parlor) any Friday and

discover this popular fellowship for yourself!

A Class for Confirmation Parents

Parents of children in this year‘s

Confirmation Class have a new

opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.

It‘s an adult Sunday school class called

Credo, and it tracks week-to-week right

along with the topics that the

Confirmation students are discussing.

This allows parents to connect with other

parents, to learn and grow as disciples

themselves, and to be able to connect

with their child about what they are

learning. By discussing and learning

about the same subjects as their children

each week, Credo helps parents to

understand, to reinforce, and to have

points of conversation about what it

means to be in relationship with God and

to be part of a church family.

Many parents participate in rotating

leadership in various parts of the

Confirmation program, so the Credo

experience is designed to accommodate

come-and-go needs. We hope that all of

the parents of our Confirmation Class can

participate regularly because of the

obvious benefits to families the class

offers, but Credo is a good fit also for

those who are able to attend only

occasionally.

Credo meets weekly at

9:00 am (the same hour

as Confirmation Class)

in Room A250, located

above the sanctuary. No

need to register, just

come join in!

A Special Connection the Last Sunday of the Month

Would you like to know more about McKinney First United

Methodist Church? Then join us for a Visitor Information

Class! We will provide

some church history and

some current information

about our ministries, and

we‘ll take you on a tour.

A small snack will be

provided.

The Visitor Information

Class will be held the

last Sunday of each

month. All are welcome! No need to register. For more

information you may contact Liz Greenwell at

[email protected] or 972-562-8556 ext. 24.

Next Visitor Information Classes:

January 30 and February 27, 2011

11:10 am in the Parlor

mailto:[email protected]

5

What is Financial Peace University?

Financial Peace University (often referred to as FPU) is an

important step to changing your financial future. It is your

Total Money Makeover Program. It takes knowledge from

God and turns it into real action in our lives through a step-

by-step process taught by best-selling author and financial

counselor Dave Ramsey.

FPU is a 13-week life-changing program that empowers and

teaches you how to make the right money decisions to

achieve your financial goals and God‘s plan for your life. The

course includes practical lessons on eliminating debt,

building wealth, giving like never before and much more!

Who is Financial Peace University for?

It‘s for everyone...from the financially secure to the

financially distressed. Over 1 million families and individuals

have attended Financial Peace University.

Applying God‘s Word radically changes your life. On

average, FPU graduates have paid off over $5,300 in debt and

saved $2,700 during the 91-day program!

What Will I Learn?

In this life-changing experience you will learn:

1. Cash Flow Planning—Luke 14:28: ―For which of you,

intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and

count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.‖

2. Debt Snowball Plan Technique to Eliminate Debt—

Proverbs 22:7: ―The borrower is slave to the lender.‖

3. How to Invest Wisely—Ecclesiastes 11:2: ―Give portions

to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster

may come upon the land.‖

How Do I Get Started?

Sign up now for the free preview class which will be held on

January 23 at 4:00 pm in Dyer Hall. The 13-week course will

begin three weeks later on February 13 at 3:00 pm, also in

Dyer Hall.

For more information or to sign up online, visit our website at

sharingtheheart.org/financial-peace-university. If you wish to

speak with someone about FPU, contact Kay Carlson by

email at [email protected] or you may call her at 972-

562-8729.

6

Growing New Year

Growing in Faith on Sunday Mornings

D id you know that hundreds of adults participate in

Sunday school classes at First United Methodist

Church every Sunday morning? Adult Sunday school is the

church‘s largest discipleship ministry and has much to

offer for study, growth, and fellowship.

Sunday morning groups include large

lecture-style classes, mid-sized guided

discussion Bible studies, and smaller

groups that focus on biblical topics in more

personal and informal settings. From

inductive Bible studies to topical book

discussions to marriage and family-focused fellowships,

FUMC has a variety of opportunities on Sundays that are

sure to include a match for your interests and style. More

classes and groups are being added also, so there is always

room for you!

Sunday morning classes welcome visitors and those who

just want to ―shop around.‖ The Adult Discipleship

Leadership Team (ADLT) and the leaders of the Sunday

classes encourage you to try the wonderful combination of

worship and group discipleship growth as a regular part of

your Sunday morning experience.

Many of the various classes maintain a web

page on the church‘s site at

sharingtheheart.org/adults. There you can

see a basic description of the group, the

meeting time and place, and a person to

contact if you‘d like more information.

Often you can also find a description of the

current study and other activities in which the class is

involved.

At FUMC we believe that a life of faith is a life of growth,

and we invite you to grow with us on Sunday mornings.

We welcome your presence and participation as we open

our lives together to the transforming experience of Bible

study in community.

Visit the Adult Discipleship area on the

FUMC website:

sharingtheheart.org/adults

There you will find more on the studies, groups

and classes that are part of our journey of

growth together.

7

Faith Connections Studies Revelation

Y ou are invited to join the Faith Connections Sunday Morning Bible Study for the second series in the Book of Revelation. The first

series (completed in the fall) looked at Revelation 1–3. The study resumes on January 16 in Revelation 4. We will have an opportunity

to discuss biblical prophecy and apocalypse as well as some of the crucial Old Testament background to the Book of Revelation. But most

of all, the book is a book of hope and victory and words of encouragement to the Church during the struggle of waiting for the Lord’s

promised return. As the very first verse points out, the purpose of Revelation is to reveal the person, power, and plan of Christ (1:1).

Would you like to know Jesus more deeply, experience his power more fully, and find hope in his triumphant plans for you and for the

world more tangibly? Look for Faith Connections on Sundays at 9:00 am in Room C210 beginning January 16.

Jubilee Explores “The Hole in Our Gospel” Jubilee, which meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 in C200, starts a new six-week series January 16 based on the book,

The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. This is a story of how a CEO faced his own struggle to obey God,

whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith.

Believing that the “good news” is more than a private transaction between God and us, Stearns challenges readers

with this question: What does God expect of us? Two thousand years ago, twelve people changed the world. Stearns

believes it can happen again.

Celebration Investigates Covenant

Celebration Class will be working through a seven-lesson series starting in January—The Covenant:

Lessons for Faith Communities. “One of the most powerful rituals in the ancient Hebrew culture was that of the blood

covenant. This binding agreement combined elements of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice. And when God made the

blood covenant with Abraham, our relationship with the Father was irrevocably altered. Discover the awesome nature

of the Covenant and the revelation of how this timeless ritual radically shifted when God sacrificed His Son on the

cross ...when the Covenant Maker changed Heaven and Earth to become the Covenant Keeper.” Celebration meets

each Sunday morning at 9:00 in B105 (the Bell Room).

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES/LOCATIONS

ROOM 9:00 10:05

A200 GENERATIONS

A215 ALPHA-OMEGA

A225 SOLO ACT

A250 CREDO BOOMERS

B105 CELEBRATION SEASONS

B110 CANAFAX FELLOWSHIP

B200 GENESIS

B205 HOMEBUILDERS

B215 LIFE APPLICATIONS

C200 JUBILEE

C205 COMPASS LEGACY

C210 FAITH CONNECTIONS JOIN THE JOURNEY

C215 ODYSSEY

CHAPEL LORA RYAN

For more information about Bible

classes and other discipleship

opportunities at First United

Methodist Church, visit the Adult

Discipleship area of the website:

sharingtheheart.org/adults

Homebuilders

HomeBuilders, which meets at 10:05 each

Sunday, will be starting a new book in Jan-

uary—Marriage: Learn-

ing from Couples in

Scripture. We will be

exploring actual stories

of couples in the Bible

to understand the spir-

itual aspect of marriage.

8

Footprints is a six-week group workshop whose participants

begin to write the stories of their lives. Footprints encourages you

to remember the people, places, and events in your life that have

made you who you are and to write those memories down as

short stories. With an experienced guide to lead the way and a

specially designed notebook for the journey, groups meet weekly

(or every other week in some sessions) to write

and to share their writing.

A Footprints group is currently underway and

would welcome your visit, and a new group will

begin soon. Groups are started seasonally through

the year, so contact the author and facilitator of

the program to learn more about the Footprints experience or to

express your interest in an upcoming session. Email or call Sue

Wagstaff at [email protected] or 972.548.2071.

What’s Your Story?

FUMC welcomes Dr. Roby Barrett

On January 30, 2011, the United Method-

ist Women and the Adult Discipleship

Leadership Team wel-

come church member

Dr. Roby Barrett for a

special presentation,

―The Political Diversity

of Islam: The Present in

Context.‖ This event

will take place in the church parlor (Room

B110) at 2:00 pm and is open to all.

Roby Barrett, Ph.D., is an internationally

recognized scholar, professor, author, and

senior advisor on strategic issues related to

the Middle East. He has experience in both

the private and public sectors, and is

sought after by the international media for

comment on Gulf security, nuclear issues,

Iraq, Iran, and the Arab Gulf.

Dr. Barrett is the author of The Greater

Middle East and the Cold War: U. S. For-

eign Policy under Eisenhower and Kenne-

dy (2007), and The Arabian Gulf and Se-

curity Policy: The Past

as Present, the Present

as Future (2009),

among many other

publications. He pub-

lishes and presents in

conjunction with his

work as a scholar with

the Public Policy Cen-

ter at the Middle East Institute in Wash-

ington, and with other institutions where

he serves as a senior fellow.

Visit sharingtheheart.org/coming-events

for more about the background, achieve-

ments, and current interests of our guest,

and plan to join us for this fascinating edu-

cational opportunity. No registration is

necessary.

The Adult Discipleship Leadership Team keeps you informed

about what‘s going in classes, studies, and groups at FUMC at

sharingtheheart.org/adults. When you visit, you can easily find

your way to class information, online registrations, descriptions

of different ministries, and new

opportunities to connect.

Contact information for the adult

discipleship staff is available on the

site as well, and we welcome

questions and comments any time.

We are eager to help you find the

connection that is right for you, and

there are many possibilities at FUMC.

Become informed, look around, contact us when necessary, and

join the rich journey of discipleship that is such a special part of

life at McKinney First United Methodist Church.

Find More on the Web

9

Invitation to Romans

A new daytime Bible study on Thursday afternoons from

12:30-2:00 will begin on January 20: Invitation to

Romans, led by Rev. Sandy Stamey. The class will meet

weekly in the Parlor (B110).

So much of our understanding of the Christian faith is shaped

by our understanding of this magnificent book of the Bible,

and the work of so many key figures throughout Christian

history has been formed by its study. The importance of the

Book of Romans certainly cannot be overstated, and we hope

that you will take this opportunity to be in conversation with

the biblical text and with others in the study group.

This short-term (9-week) Disciple Bible

Study uses the same format as our full-year

Disciple classes and so integrates the

powerful combination of short daily readings

and a weekly meeting for discussion that

includes a brief video presentation from a

New Testament scholar.

If you are looking for a Bible study during the day that will

allow you to explore and discuss some of the foundational

doctrines of the Christian faith and

how they translate into our lives as

disciples of Jesus Christ, then we hope

you will take advantage of this

opportunity. Plan to spend about 30

minutes daily reading the Bible

assignments and reflecting over some

study questions. Then, plan to attend

the 90-minute group meeting to

experience the video and discuss what

you are learning and applying together.

To register for this short course, please visit the short-term

studies page in the adult discipleship area of the church

website: sharingtheheart.org/adults. You‘ll find an online

registration form there. You may also stop by the Information

Desk in the main church lobby on Sunday mornings to use

the signup sheet there. If you need more information, email

us at [email protected]

See you in Bible study in the new year!

Personal Bible Study Basics

Rev. Stamey

Jan 20 - March 17

Visit www.sharingtheheart.org/adults for information

about classes, studies, and groups for adults at FUMC!

H ave you been wanting to get into studying the Bible

on your own, but feel intimidated or overwhelmed or

unprepared to get started? A lot of us feel that way, but it

doesn‘t need to be so. God wants us to be listening to him as

he speaks to us through the Scriptures. We encourage

everyone in the FUMC family to read the Bible daily (see

the Reading Plan on page 10 for a suggestion) and to study

the Bible regularly—both in a group and on your own.

The short course Personal Bible Study Basics led by Pastor

John Harman will be offered in March 2011. In this very

basic class, you‘ll get some tips, strategies, and resources

that will help you get started in Bible study. By developing a

method and knowing where to start, personal Bible study

will be less daunting and much more inviting for you. This

interactive class is also a good place to ask questions that

you have about the Bible and about Bible study.

Stay tuned as 2011 gets underway, and we‘ll be publishing

more information about the class schedule and how to

register.

10

P B R

T he third Gospel book in the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke, opens with a clear statement of purpose: having

carefully researched the facts of Jesus‘ birth, life, death, and resurrection from the firsthand eyewitnesses who

experienced them, Luke writes so that his reader ―may know the certainty of the things you have been taught‖ (1:4). Let‘s

begin this year as the First United Methodist Church family by grounding ourselves regularly in the certainty of who Jesus

Christ is and what he has done for us. Read and know the story. Then tell the story. We as people of God have the greatest

news ever given to proclaim in the world. As you follow these readings into the new year, you will know the blessing and

strength that come from giving attention to the Word of God, and you will become equipped in your witness as you live

out Christ‘s call to discipleship. You can get a copy of this reading schedule printed on a bookmark at the Information

Desk in the main church lobby, so join with the church family and let‘s read the Gospel together!

January 2011

1 Luke 1:1-25 14 Luke 5:1-11 27 Luke 10:1-24 7 Luke 14:25-35 20 Luke 21:1-38



4 Luke 1:57-66 17 Luke 6:1-16 30 Luke 11:29-54 10 Luke 16:16-31 23 Luke 22:63-23:25

5 Luke 1: 67-80 18 Luke 6:17-42 31 Luke 12:1-12 11 Luke 17:1-19 24 Luke 23:26-43

6 Luke 2:1-20 19 Luke 6:43-49 February 2011

12 Luke 17:20-37 25 Luke 23:44-56

7 Luke 2:21-40 20 Luke 7:1-17 13 Luke 18:1-17 26 Luke 24:1-12







GrowingTogether! GrowingTogether is the bimonthly newsletter of the Adult Discipleship Leadership Team (ADLT). Its purpose is to highlight

upcoming opportunities to connect and grow in the First United Methodist Church family, and to encourage you on your

journey of faith. We believe that a journey of faith is a journey of growth and that connecting with God through Bible study and

with one another in Christian community are essential to our growth. If the ADLT can provide information or guidance for you

along the discipleship pathway, please let us know: [email protected].

“. . . so that you may know the certainty of

the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4).

11

January FUMC Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9

7 6 5 4 3

10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

This Calendar features the opportunities to connect and grow contained in

this edition of GrowingTogether. For a comprehensive list of church-wide

ministries and events, visit the calendar at sharingtheheart.org.

7:00 am Men’s Bible Study


Every Sunday Morning:

8:00 am

Traditional Worship

9:00 am

Adult Sunday School

Traditional Worship

10:05 am

Adult Sunday School

Wellspring Worship

Traditional Worship

11:10

Wellspring Worship

Traditional Worship

1


8

Happy New Year!

2

11:10 am Visitor Information Class

2:00 pm Presentation: Dr. Roby Barrett

4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm

Disciple II, Disciple III

12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

7:00 pm Small Group

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study 7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study Footprints 7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer



6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study 6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups



9:30 am Advent Women’s Study 7:00 pm

7:00 pm Small Group


7:00 pm Small Group


FREE PREVIEW

4:00 pm, Dyer Hall

4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm


4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm


Join the JourneyJoin the Journey 10:05 am, Room C21010:05 am, Room C210



4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm



12

February FUMC Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

6

4 3 2

7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28

This Calendar features the opportunities to connect and grow contained in

this edition of GrowingTogether. For a comprehensive list of church-wide

ministries and events, visit the calendar at sharingtheheart.org.

5

Every Sunday Morning:

8:00 am

Traditional Worship

9:00 am

Adult Sunday School

Traditional Worship

10:05 am

Adult Sunday School

Wellspring Worship

Traditional Worship

11:10

Wellspring Worship

Traditional Worship

1 7:00 am Men’s Bible Study




5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups

5:30 pm

Disciple I

7:00 pm

Small Groups










7:00 pm Small Group


7:00 pm Small Group


7:00 pm Small Group


7:00 pm Small Group

3:00 pm, Dyer Hall

11:10 am Visitor Information Class

3:00 pm, Dyer Hall


4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm


3:00 pm, Dyer Hall


4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm



4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm


3:00 pm, Dyer Hall


4:30 pm

Disciple I

5:30 pm


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Growing Together

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