P. O. Box 99 - 28900 RR 12 Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (512)894-7123 Phone e-mail: [email protected]website: www.dsumc.org Our Mission: To make disciples for Jesus Christ Our Vision: In accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, the vision of Dripping Springs United Methodist Church is to identify, meet and nurture the spiritual needs of our congregation and community. WORSHIP SCHEDULE Main Sanctuary 8:30 AM Traditional Service Communion every Sunday 12:45 PM Bilingual Service Communion every Sunday The Foundry 11:15 AM Contemporary Service Communion every Sunday SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE Adult Education Hour 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Children’s Sunday School Hour 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CHURCH STAFF Senior Pastor Adam Thornton Associate and Bilingual Pastor Jesús Sámano Director of Community Life Brandon “Shook” Director of Adult Faith Formation Vicki Rector Director of Youth Faith Formation Sam Farrell Director of Children’s Faith Formation To be announced Executive Assistant to Pastor Patty Wright Music Director Adam Miller Church Administration & Finance Cara Mullen Director of Communication Krista Shook Nursery Director Kalyn Baskin Pathways School Director Mary Fernandez Facilities Coordinator Randy Voorheis PAGE 1 November 2019 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Our 17th year of participation with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child is coming this month. This is a world-wide project that brings Christ into the lives of children in many countries. The project uses your shoebox, containing your Christmas gifts, to shares the Gospel, using a book in the child’s own language, provided by your donation to Samaritan’s Purse. This is the 26th year that Samaritan’s Purse has sponsored this project. Boxes will be available to you here at DSUMC beginning Sunday, November 10th. Collection days are from November 18th - 24th. Consider packing a shoebox or boxes for a girl or boy, choosing ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-12. Labels & pamphlets with packing suggestions will be available. Each box should include a $9 check to Samaritan’s Purse (NOT DSUMC) or cash to cover the expense of shipping and the Gospel book. Tables will be set up in The Foundry and Main Campus for collection. Check out the website, samaratinspurse.org/occ, for suggestions and items NOT allowed. A personal note and/or picture can accompany your box. Always pack with prayer! Have fun packing. You will be bring joy to a special child!
Transcript
“SONGS OF THE PASSION” Saturday, March 24th at
7:00pm Featuring the combined choirs
of Dripping Springs UMC &
First Baptist Church of Wim-berley
and Full Orchestra a reception will follow the perfor-
mance in the Fellowship Hall
March 29th ~ Maundy Thurs-day Service 6:30pm
March 30th ~ Good Friday Ser-vice 6:30pm
Easter Sunday ~ Sunrise Ser-vice 6:30am
at The Foundry 8:15am Traditional, 9:45am Contemporary and 11:15am
Traditional in the Main Sanctu-ary
11:15 Contemporary at The Foundry
12:45pm Spanish service ~ Main Sanctuary
P. O. Box 99 - 28900 RR 12 Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Our Vision: In accordance with the teachings of Jesus
Christ, the vision of Dripping Springs United Methodist Church is to identify, meet and nurture the spiritual needs of
our congregation and community.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Main Sanctuary
8:30 AM Traditional Service Communion every Sunday
12:45 PM Bilingual Service Communion every Sunday
The Foundry 11:15 AM Contemporary Service
Communion every Sunday
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE Adult Education Hour 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Children’s Sunday School Hour 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CHURCH STAFF
Senior Pastor Adam Thornton
Associate and Bilingual Pastor Jesús Sámano
Director of Community Life Brandon “Shook”
Director of Adult Faith Formation Vicki Rector
Director of Youth Faith Formation Sam Farrell
Director of Children’s Faith Formation To be announced
Executive Assistant to Pastor Patty Wright
Music Director Adam Miller
Church Administration & Finance Cara Mullen
Director of Communication Krista Shook
Nursery Director Kalyn Baskin
Pathways School Director Mary Fernandez
Facilities Coordinator Randy Voorheis
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November 2019
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Our 17th year of participation with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child is coming this month.
This is a world-wide project that brings Christ into the lives of children in many countries. The project uses
your shoebox, containing your Christmas gifts, to shares the Gospel, using a book in the child’s own
language, provided by your donation to Samaritan’s Purse. This is the 26th year that Samaritan’s Purse has sponsored this project.
Boxes will be available to you here at DSUMC beginning Sunday, November 10th.
Collection days are from November 18th - 24th.
Consider packing a shoebox or boxes for a girl or boy, choosing ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-12.
Labels & pamphlets with packing suggestions will be available. Each box should include a $9 check to Samaritan’s Purse (NOT DSUMC)
or cash to cover the expense of shipping and the Gospel book. Tables will be set up in The Foundry and Main Campus for collection.
Check out the website, samaratinspurse.org/occ, for suggestions and items NOT allowed.
A personal note and/or picture can accompany your box. Always pack with prayer! Have fun packing.
You will be bring joy to a special child!
Wave upon Wave...
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Seeking and Sought
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
A couple of Sundays ago, you may remember me talking about how we are serving too many masters. I believe that I commented that we were not faced with the dilemma of facing two masters. Instead, we face the dilemma of serving many more that two. The truth is, in our scramble to be “successful” in life, we have signed on to too many things. As one person recently told me, “I don’t feel like I have any time to think.” They weren’t far off. John Wesley famously said, “Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.” Now I am not advocating that we adopt the life of a Cistercian monk, but I can’t help but think that we would be better situated if we had more time to be considerate.
You might say, “Adam, I don’t need someone telling me that I am overcommitted, I need someone to offer encourage-ment and empathy.” Right you are. I am not writing to heap condemnation upon you or to increase your burden. It is not my intention to throw guilt at you or somehow make you feel “less than.” I would like you to consider the possibility that while you are seeking a better life, a better job, a better place to live, a more fulfilling vocation, a sense of meaning, a grasp of the things of God, and so on, you are being sought. The Lord is looking for you; specifically, time with you.
You also might remember that in addition to talking about all the things in which we are involved, I also spoke about how the church might be complicit in adding to those burdens. After all, we too have need for people to step into roles of service. We need children’s ministry volunteers and youth ministry volunteers. We need ushers, and taco-makers, and WOW meal servers. We have need of people to serve in those areas and many more. We (the local church) can be guilty of the accusation Jesus leveled at the Pharisees, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46)
Though this can certainly be the case, because the local church will quite often take as much as you will give, it is also fair to consider that we individually might bear some of the burden. When did we begin to think that busy-ness equaled success? Certainly, from the perspective of our faith, doing more things does not mean that we are becoming like Christ. It can actually have the opposite effect. When we are pulled in many directions, we often become exhausted and resent-ful. We resent having to go to events to which we felt pressured to commit ourselves. We don’t win, and in the case of the local church, it doesn’t win either.
Which brings us to Jesus’ words to the Pharisees. It seems to me there are two takeaways as Jesus addressed the Pharisees. First, when the local church is demanding, when we clamor to fill needed servant roles, we must be careful not to put unreasonable burdens upon those seeking to follow Jesus. It doesn’t mean that following Christ will not come with choices, but rather we should do everything to help shoulder the burdens of one another and thereby fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6). Second, we need to examine our own lives and examine our commitments and the loads we are placing on our family. Are we tired and resentful? Are our children? Are our spouses? That is a clue that we have too many masters and it is time to evaluate how we can simplify our lives.
So what’s the point of all of this? We are about to enter into the busiest season of our lives: the fall holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Let’s take this time to look deeply at what God is calling us to do in order to serve only one master and Lord, Jesus Christ. I will be praying that the Lord will simplify our lives and help us to be better disciples (me included). My hope is that you will join me in that prayer.
Adam Thornton, Senior Pastor
Sermon Series “Life in the Spirit”
November 3rd ~ All Saints Sunday ~ “A Cloud of Witnesses ~ Hebrews 12:1-3 November 3rd 6:00pm “All Saints Candle Service”
November 10th ~ “The Work of the Spirit” ~ John 14:15-25; 16:5-16 November 17th ~ “The Fruit of the Spirit” ~ Galatians 5:16-26
November 24th ~ “The Gifts of the Spirit” ~ Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Bilingual Service Sunday
at 12:45pm Main Campus
Sanctuary
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Church News...
PAGE 4
December Emmaus Gathering Celebration!!
November 5, 2019 elections will be held at the Chapel in the Hills, Wimberley, located at 14601 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley TX 78676. Please try to attend.
DSUMC will have their next local gathering on December 10th at 6:30pm. Come and celebrate the Christmas season with your Emmaus sisters and brothers. A BBQ dinner will be provided. All you have to do is come hungry. Or...maybe, bring a dessert to share. There will be an advent devotional and the singing of Christmas Carols.
We’ve had a full fall already with fire truck visits, parent-teacher conferences, and our annual
Costume Parade and Pumpkin Patch Party! Besides preparing for Thanksgiving, November will
be another busy month with our “Walk the Walk” fundraiser supporting our playground project.
The children will gather donations and be Olympians for the day using the miraculous bodies that
God gave them to run, walk, march and skip laps around the gym and move through various
obstacles. In this season of thankfulness, I want to personally thank the DSUMC community for
your support of the church and its ministry through Pathways School.
We appreciate you!!
Mary Fernandez, Director of Pathways School
!!Annual Tamale & Salsa Sale!!
The International Mission Team will be selling tamales and salsa to benefit an International Mission trip in 2020. The specific destination will be determined in 2020. Last year’s proceeds of approximately $1,400 went towards our August mission trip to Panama working with the missionaries we support there, David & Cindy Ceballos. We built concrete block stoves in the mountain area outside of Santiago to help alleviate smoke related health issues.
We have begun taking orders for tamales & salsa and will continue every Sunday, before and after worship, in November for delivery Sunday, Dec. 15h. Pricing is unchanged from last year: $10 per dozen tamales; $10 for a quart of salsa. Contact Susan Wernli at [email protected] for more information.
Ladies 5th Annual Retreat
We will return again to Camp Buckner in Kingsland for our 5th annual Ladies Retreat.
When? Friday, January 10th - Sunday 12th. This is a time for renewal as we look forward to the new year 2020. There will be time for relaxing, time for playing, time for study and time for
prayer. Our theme is “Wildfire, Life in the Holy Spirit”. Join us on this journey of deepening intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Cost for the weekend is $150 for double occupancy and $210 for single occupancy. This cost covers everything for the weekend: room, meals and supplies.
After coming through a busy Holiday season you are invited to take this time to rest and renew for the new year. Register online at dsumc.org/retreat. If you have any questions, contact Vicki at [email protected].
Hanging of the Greens Sunday, November 24th at 6:00pm. Join us as we prepare for the Advent Season. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall, divide into groups and begin decorating at 6:00pm. After decorations are complete, there will be Chili, Cookies and Hot Chocolate in the Fellowship Hall.
Bring the entire family to participate in this Christmas Tradition at DSUMC.
Preparing for Christmas
On Wednesday mornings we will prepare for Christmas by digging into what the Bible says about Jesus's arrival on earth. There is no homework- just videos, hand-outs, and Bible reading. November 6th - December 4th at 9 am on Wednesdays in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Betsi Johnson [email protected] or Barbara Scates [email protected] for more information. Childcare available.
Youth Sunday School ~ 10:00am in F4 at The Foundry
Wednesday Night Youth Activities. 5:30pm WOW meal in the Family Life Center
6:30pm Youth Activities at The Foundry
We will meet in November on the 6th, 13th, and 20th. There will NOT be Youth on the 27th, the week of Thanksgiving
We are rocking and rolling!
REVIVE winter retreat: February 7-9. Register at revivetexas.org (Cost is $250 and scholarships are available). Lead team Application is open (16-19 years of age only). CITYWIDE: February 28-March 1 (cost $50) SKI TRIP: Red River, New Mexico: March 14-17 (please let me know if you are interested ASAP)
Cost is approx. 500 (pending lessons and rentals)
Sam Farrell ~ Director of Youth Faith Formation
Email [email protected] to be added to the youth email list. We have Remind texts now! High school: text @dsumchs to 81010;
Middle school text @dsumcms to 81010; and Parents, text @dsumcyp to 81010.
Also, follow us on Instagram at @DSUMCstu_min for updates!
DSUMC CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Calling all instrumentalists!
We have been tremendously blessed to see our chancel choir and handbell choir grow each year with wonderfully talented and dedicated members of this body of Christ. Our music ministry continues to explore additional ways we can offer our gifts and talents to God in worship. One such way, that’s very exciting, is the formation of a DSUMC Chamber Orchestra!
If you play an instrument and would like to find a place to offer that gift back to God, we have a place for you! Open to all ages and skill levels, this is a non-auditioned ensemble that will rehearse weekly and enhance worship on certain Sunday mornings by accompanying the choirs and congregational singing.
Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just getting started, we would love to have you and your gift of music in worship here at DSUMC! For additional information, contact Adam Miller at [email protected].
CHOIRS AT CHRISTMAS
Dripping Springs UMC has enjoyed a standing tradition of preparing special musical offerings of worship during the Advent & Christmas season each year. We look forward to sharing this year’s Christmas cantata with you! We’ll be performing Joseph Martin’s “Canticle of Joy” during the 8:30am service on Sunday, December 15th. Complete with small chamber orchestra and a dedicated chancel choir, this musically-driven service promises to be a glorious time of worship and uplifting of spirits…we hope you will join us!
***
We’re also excited to announce that our choir will be joining with members of other choirs in the area (including a number of local churches and high school choirs) to sing at the annual Lighting of the Tree ceremony at Christmas on Mercer this year! Performing both sacred and secular carols and singalongs, this is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to collaborate with members of our community to serve that community!
If you’d like to know more or if you’d like to come and sing with us on this special occasion, please contact Adam Miller at [email protected] and we’ll be thrilled to have you join us.
Mission: Helping Men Grow IN Christ so others may KNOW Christ. Vision: UMM is Home Base for all the men of the church; the place to plug in and go out in fellowship/ministry/service. All men’s activities fall under this umbrella. Challenge: For us, as MEN, to step up and be a shining example of the spiritual backbone of the church.
All men in the community are encouraged to join us. Our meeting provides a forum to communicate what is going on in the life of our church.
UMM ~ 3rd Saturday of the month at 8:00am ~ contact Larry Swofford at [email protected] Men’s Bible Study ~ Tuesdays at 12:00 (bring lunch) in room 106 ~ contact Frank DeRosa at [email protected] Men’s Tuesday Evening Small Group ~ 6:30pm in room 106 ~ contact Brandon Shook at [email protected]
UMM NEWS…
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
The UMM enjoyed fellowship and some great breakfast from Shawn Taylor and his team at last month's meeting. Our special guest was Area FCA Director, Nate Thurlow. He talked about how Branch Rickey was the first person to support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes over 50 years ago with a personal check. The focus of FCA is to support the coaches and the athletes to meet the needs of students to help lead them to Christ. Nate, like all FCA staff members, are 100% faith-based support just like the missionaries we support around the globe. If you are interested to know more about FCA and support their mission, please reach out to Ross Van Burkleo at [email protected] who is on the Board at FCA or connect with Nate directly at https://my.fca.org/donation?name=natethurlow
We have so many opportunities to serve at our church. Jim Street talked about the upcoming “Home in a Week” mission that will be coming to our church on Saturday, December 7th. We will be working on the flooring which will require framing nail guns and chop saws. Please reach out to Jim at [email protected] for more information.
We also welcomed the new Wild Game Dinner Chairman, Rush Baskin. Rush announced that the WGD event will be held again at Ranch Park on Saturday, February 22nd. Rush led the devotion about giving our time and talents and how God is with us when he quoted scripture from Phillipians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
The next UMM breakfast meeting will be on a special date, Saturday, November 9th at the Fellowship Hall at 8 AM. We will be the host church for the Captial District meeting for all the United Methodist Men's groups. We are looking for you to join us to help show the support we have for UMM at Dripping Springs UMC.
Finally, we would like to welcome our new leader Lance Brunett who will be the next United Methodist Men's Presi-dent for next year. Let us all pray and support Lance as he leads a great group of men for Christ.
Be sure to stay connected with the United Methodist Men at our website www.dsumm.org.
Continue to pray for our church, families, community and our country...and follow the path GOD has set before us.
Our Sunday morning Golf Cart Ministry is in need of volunteers before and after the 10:00am - 11:00am Education Hour
United Methodist Women is the largest denominational faith organization for women
with approximately 800,000 members whose mission is fostering spiritual growth,
developing leaders and advocating for justice. Members raise up to $20 million each
year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in
more than 100 countries around the world.
The organized unit of United Methodist Women is a community of women whose purpose is:
• To know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ.
• To develop a creative, supportive fellowship.
• To expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
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United Methodist Women...
UMW You are invited to attend one of the Methodist Women's groups. Make new friends and engage in meaningful and fun activities.
Below are dates these groups are meeting. Come and be a part of Methodist Women! For more information contact Gay Lynn Wilson at [email protected].
AGAPE CIRCLE The Agape Circle of UMW will meet Monday, November 4th
at 9:30 AM in the Church Fellowship Hall. All women of our United Methodist Church and guests are welcome to join us.
The program will be a service of “Thanksgiving” in which we will dedicate coins collected throughout the year for the
“World Thank Offering” (formerly, One Great Hour of Sharing). Refreshments will be served and a brief meeting will follow the program.
SHALOM CIRCLE
SHALOM CIRCLE meets 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm in Room 108. For further information regarding the Shalom Circle, email Kim Johnson at [email protected]
Please join us, Ladies!
The “Prayer Shawl” Mission is a tradition we support. If you love to knit or crochet, we need your help in providing
“comfort to those who need our prayers, love & support”. For more information, please contact Diane Vancura at [email protected]
Ladies’ Group Opportunities
Agape Circle ~ 1st Monday of the month at 9:30am in FH (see above article) Shalom Circle ~ 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm in room 108 (see above article) Book Club ~ 2nd Tuesday of the month at 1:30pm in room 108 ~ contact Linda Bruce at [email protected] (pg.3) Coffee Klatch ~ 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10:00am off campus (pg.3) Mom’s Connect Wednesday ~ 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall ~ contact Krista at [email protected] Crafters ~ Thursday 9:30am in room 106 ~ contact Sandy Skaalure at [email protected]
Hearts at Home Ministry
Dripping Springs UMC offers a "Hearts At Home" ministry for persons who are unable to attend church but would like to receive phone calls or visits on a regular basis and would also like to receive communion monthly. If you are aware of anyone who would be interested in this ministry or you would like more information, please contact Debbie Higgs at 512-627-6881.
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:13
Classes continue every week - Come Join Us! You are not too late – you can join anytime! GRIEFSHARE meets at Dripping
Springs UMC SUNDAY afternoons, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Our meeting is in room
106 in the hall near the Sanctuary.
We welcome you to our small group of supportive friends. We honor confidentiality so that you can feel free to
express your real feelings and repeat your story as many times as it takes. Please feel free to join anytime – each
session stands alone as a significant resource for healing. You deserve to take this time each week for yourself – to
look toward a brighter future, to make plans for the next stage of your life, to love yourself so that you can love others.
Even though we will always miss our loved ones, a new normal of renewed energy, joy and abundance awaits as we
slowly work through the grieving process. Come – you are loved!
GriefShare is a 13-week seminar for people 18 years and older who are navigating through life after a loved one’s
death. This helpful, encouraging seminar features weekly video interviews with top Christian experts on grief and
recovery topics as seen from a biblical perspective. There are personal testimonies from people who have experienced
all the tangled emotions after bereavement. The video seminar is combined with support group discussion of the
materials presented during the video. There is also a workbook filled with weekly exercises, practical tips,
encouraging words, a gospel presentation and much more. In sharing your feelings and thoughts with others who
are also grieving, you will find loving support and encouragement to find your way back to a new normal.
Register at https://dsumc.churchcenter.com/groups/classes-bible-studies/grief-share.
If you have questions or want a private meeting to see if GriefShare is right for you, contact Linda Snow at 512-619-
9975 or email [email protected]. If you have trouble making the phone call, please – just show up!
Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. Upstairs in Upper Room
Special Notice: Please attend Tuesday, December 10 for a special SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS presentation!
Are you divorced or separated? Please feel free to join our supportive class at any time! The class discussions are confidential; we respect your privacy. This may be the class that brings closure and healing to a very hurtful time in your
life, whether it’s going on now or you went through a divorce a few years ago and simply continue to have issues with the pain it causes.
This 13-week Christ-centered program includes three main parts—video, group discussion and personal Bible study. The
videos feature teaching from over 50 leading Christian counselors, teachers and pastors who speak on topics important to
people in separation or divorce. The videos also contain real-life stories of people who’ve been through a marital
breakup; they share their pain, challenges and path to healing.
During the discussion time, the group will discusses concepts presented in the videos and share what is going on in
everyone’s lives. Each participant receives a workbook that contains a daily Bible study for personal reflection and
application throughout the following week.
The DivorceCare sessions address divorce-related concerns, such as how long is this pain going to last? Will I survive?
Are these feelings I’m having normal? Where is God in all this? You’ll gain insights on how to handle tough emotions
such as anger, depression and loneliness.
DivorceCare is held Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the Upper Room. Cost: $15.00 (scholarships available) Nursery available
How to get started: register at https://dsumc.churchcenter.com/groups/classes-bible-studies/divorce-care or
Call the church at 512-894-7123 or call Linda Snow for more information: 512-619-9975 or just show up.
As our service times have changed: 8:30 Traditional, 11:15 Contemporary at The Foundry, and 12:45 Bilingual – I continue to thank you for all the ways you serve our body of Christ through your prayers, presence, service, witness and gifts! I give thanks for all who step up to serve as Liturgists, Communion Servers, Ushers and Sanctuary Organizers. This is truly one service where you pray and show up! No prior planning or study required!
If you have changed services due to the new times, will you consider serving in your new service or in the alternate service? If you are considering serving, please talk to me, Linda Snow, and also click on this link for task descriptions of ushers, communion servers, liturgists and Sanctuary organizers http://www.dsumc.org/worship/ Everyone should experience the joy of serving (helping out) during one of our worship services. I would be pleased to walk anyone through the ‘how to do it’ process so that you are comfortable with serving.
You can find scheduling for worship servants on Planning Center for the 8:30 Traditional and 11:15 Contemporary -- https://www.planningcenteronline.com. Each Sunday is left open to allow you to sign up for any Sunday and any service in which you feel led to serve – where there is a needed position. Many of us attend one service and then serve in the other! Let me know if you need help on Planning Center with getting a password or with navigation once inside the website. You should be able to edit your profile with personal information and also indicate how you are able to serve. You can also block out the dates you are not available to serve. Once your name is on a specific date, you will receive a reminder email the Tuesday before the service.
If you have questions or suggestions, or would like to join the Worship team, contact Linda Snow at 512-619-9975 (call or text), email [email protected], or talk to me at church!
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24
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Caring Ministry...
Stephen Ministry- Christ Centered
When Stephen ministers are trained, there is always a symbol before them that represents Christ. It is the most important part of what they do. To serve others when they are in the midst of life’s struggles, ministers must have the attitude of love and caring that Christ had. There are many other skills are necessary as well. It is a comprehensive training that is valuable for the Stephen Ministers as well as the persons they serve. A new training session is beginning to form. If you are interested in training for this ministry, contact Ken Heffley at 214-212-1548 or Linda Snow at 512-619-9975.
Prayer & Solitude Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,
left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him,
and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Mark 1: 35-37
Dear Friends,
This is the time of year when the pace of life seems to accelerate. With the extra activities of the holiday season and the end of the year in sight, we can feel spread too thin; like everyone needs something all at once. We have a heightened awareness of those in need and many opportunities to serve.
I am encouraged that in the face of great human need Jesus “went off to a solitary place” for prayer. Even knowing “everyone is looking for you,” he took time to be alone with God; to commune and fill before addressing the needs of the many that were coming to Him for teaching and healing.
I need this example of Jesus because when I feel a sense of urgent need from others it can be hard to set aside solitary time with the Lord. Sometimes it even feels selfish, though I know it is anything but that. It is essential to put on our oxygen mask first before we can help another. Prayer is as essential to service as oxygen is to breathing.
Some of you are walking with others in great, even overwhelming, need of body, mind or spirit. Some of you are in great need yourselves. All of us are called to serve each other. Wherever you find yourself, prayer is the place to prepare for service. Mark tells us that Jesus went to pray “very early in the morning, while it was still dark;” meaning before he did anything else that day. Our ability to serve is magnified when we follow His example. My experience is different when I pray before I start my work day; before I offer my time, gifts, money or energy in service to others.
In this season of thanksgiving and preparation, may we be drawn to a solitary place of prayer in the manner of our Lord, that we may be filled and prepared to serve.
DSUMC has a history of helping in and around Mercedes, TX ever since we have not been able to continue our construction mission work on the border in Mexico. We have had a request from Mercedes UMC for us to help the Herrera family. As far as the family is concerned, there are 6 children living at home. Evidently the 4 girls, ages 19, 15, 11 and 5 are crowded into 1 bedroom. The Front porch landing and screen need repair and an awning is needed to protect it from rain.
The father, Agapito Herrera, is currently in Houston having recently received a lung transplant which went well but will need significant time for recovery.
There is little to no money available for materials. The family's only real source of income is the 19-yr-old girl's job as a dental assistant. The 15-yr-old cleans houses twice a month. The mother sells items at the flea market and they all picked fruit in early summer. The kids are all doing well in school and are taking advanced classes.
The total cost for repairs has been estimated at $5100. $3000 has been pledged from our Mission Budget contingency funds. We are currently trying to raise additional funds for the project. If you would like to donate, please donate through DSUMC either online or by check. Be sure to mark “Herrera Family project” in the memo line.
We plan to take a team of volunteers down to Mercedes once the weather cools off in November. If you are interested in joining the volunteer team, contact John Berkebile directly at [email protected].
DSUMC MISSION CALENDAR
Nov. TBD Volunteer Team for Herrera Family Home Repairs in Donna, TX Nov. 16 ERT Training in San Antonio Dec. 7 9:00am - noon Home in a Week Pre-build DSUMC Floor Joists Jan. 18 - 24 Away Team “Home in a Week”, Mission, TX
Home in a Week 2020
Put it on your calendar! DSUMC will be joining other churches again this fall and winter to build a new "Home in A Week" for the Zuniga family in Mission, Texas. We will prebuild roof trusses, floor joists and walls beginning in November. In January, we will head to The Valley to put it all together.
This is a family-friendly mission trip where you can use your skills, learn new skills or teach them to others. It is a great opportunity for families to work together, doing Kingdom work as we serve others. Here are the dates for your calendar:
November 16 - 9 am to Noon - Prebuild #1 - Roof Trusses - Gruene UMC December 7 - 9 am to Noon - Prebuild #2 - Floor Joists - Dripping Springs UMC January 4 - 9 am to Noon - Prebuild #3 - Walls - FUMC Seguin January 18-24 - "Away Team" - Bring it all together and build the home in Mission, Texas. Those interested in the Away Team can participate for part or all of the week. For more info, contact Jim Street at [email protected]
On September 29, 2019, The Hispanic Mission of DSUMC, celebrated their 7th Anniversary
with One Bilingual Worship Service and a beautiful Fiesta Del Barrio with a lot of food,
fun and live music.
7th Fiesta Del barrio, Hispanic Mission “Hands and Feet of Christ” “Manos y Pies de Cristo”
Scout Pack and Troop 101 News...
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NOVEMBER NEWS FROM SCOUTS 101 DSUMC is the chartered organization for three Boy Scout units:
Cub Scout Pack 101, Boy Scout Troop 101, and Venture Crew 101.
Pack 101 http://pack101.us/ Pack 101 Cub Scouting is a year-round family program designed for boys who are in the first grade through fifth grade (ages 6-10). Guests are always welcome to come to one of our Pack meetings to see what our Pack is all about before joining. We generally meet on the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00pm during the school year at Dripping Springs UMC. Please check the calendar to verify the date as it occasionally shifts due to holidays or district-wide school testing days. You also can check out the calendar at http://pack101.us/ to see what other fun activities we have planned.
CONTACT US Cub Master, Steve Sowrey at [email protected] Committee Chair, Ashley Tullis at 512-716-9193
Troop 101 http://www.t101.org/ Boy Scout Troop 101 meets every Tuesday night from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in The Foundry. Boy Scouts is for young men in 6th grade up to age 18. For questions or information on how to join the Troop, you may contact our Troop Committee Chair, Rebecca Fahey, at [email protected] or 720-234-7819 .
Recent Activities:
• Eagle project workdays at the Burke Center – Ben Sumrall - staining two wildlife rainwater collection systems
• Shooting campout on private land in east Texas led by certified trainers in gun safety and marksmanship
• Campout/service project at Camp Bowie September 27-29. The scouts performed a conservation project at Camp Bowie.
• Family Life Merit Badge
Coming Up:
• Philmont High Adventure – two crews attending in 2020
American Heritage Girls Troop TX-0522 and Trail Life USA Troop TX-0107 are ministries of DSUMC.
Linda Snow is the Charter Organization Representative for TLUSA TX-0107 and AHG TX-0522. We welcome new members and volunteers.
American Heritage Girls had a wonderful time camping this weekend at CO Bend State Park. We worked on hiking, got to see Gorman Falls and even took a cave tour! We are now looking forward to painting bowls for the Empty Bowl Project, serving on the day of that fundraiser, and enjoying our next campout at the Pound House where we will be able to work on many requirements from the "Our Heritage" badge.
If you are interested in joining AHG, please contact Cheryl Calvert at [email protected]
With cooler weather in the fall, we all think more about camping and enjoying experiencing God’s creation. In November, our Trail Life Troop will be joining other troops for our first Trail Junction. Trail Life troops across the nation are holding Trail Junctions this fall to compete in camping skill contests, learn new skills, renew friendships, and, most especially, praise our Lord together.
Our Adventurer patrol has been learning camouflage, our Navigators have been working on Outdoor cooking, and our Woodlands Trailmen are learning Outdoor skills.
This week MinistryWatch, highlighted Trail Life USA as a “Shining Light.” The vision of Trail Life USA is “to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.”
Are you looking for Christ-centered youth programs which are fun? We have them: American Heritage Girls for girls K-12 and Trail Life USA for boys K-12. We have camping, badge work, service, fellowship, and lots of fun. For more information about AHG contact Troop Coordinator Cheryl Calvert: [email protected]. For more information about TLUSA contact Troop Master Patrick Welton: [email protected].
