1. family and parenting
2. children

WORSHIP
Traditional
8:15am
Contemporary
9:40am
Traditional
11:00am
November 9, 2014
Worship
Walk
Work
Family News
By the way . . . GIVING THANKS
Last Sunday was a true Celebration Sunday as the
church came together through joyous music, stirring
worship, and wonderful fellowship, culminating our
church-wide study, first: putting God first in our living
and giving.
We remembered the legacy of the believers who
have gone on before us and we considered what kind
of impact we will make with our lives. The climactic moment was our time
of Holy Communion that included our making financial commitments for
the coming year. Then we feasted in the beautifully decorated gym.
Thanks to all who made the day possible: the Worship Team, the choir
and Faith Matters band, sound technicians (for their extra setting up), the
Stewardship Team (Kalmbachs, Schweers, and Tylers), Carrabba’s, and all
of you who changed your schedules for this Sunday.
So far we have received 120 pledges, which total approximately
$700,000. That is a great start (about half the budget). If you were unable
to return your blue Commitment Form, please drop it off at the church
office, mail it, or put it in the offering plate on Sunday. It is extremely helpful for our planning if we know what to expect in our giving. Remember,
these aren’t merely dollars; these dollars represent ministry — people
touching people, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of
the world.
Grace and peace,
Lead Pastor
HOUR OF PRAYER
Tuesday, November 11
in the Fellowship Hall
Hosted by the Prayer Team on the second and fourth Tuesdays of
each month, this event offers a time for reflection, contemplation
and meditation through prayer, Scripture and music.
Fellowship 6:30 - 7:00pm
HeBrews Coffee House serves complimentary coffee to any person
who attends the Hour of Prayer.
Hour of Prayer 7:00 - 8:00pm
Pluck turkey feathers, help Missions Committee meet goal
Look for members of the Missions Committee in the Courtyard today,
November 9, with their colorful paper turkeys. Each turkey sports feathers
which list items for Thanksgiving food boxes.
This year’s goal is to provide 500 food boxes to community families in
need. The boxes will be packed on A Day of “Thanks & Giving” on Saturday,
November 22 from 10:30am to 1:30pm in the Family Life Center Gym.
If you prefer, pick up a bag that lists everything needed to feed a family
their Thanksgiving meal. Your food donations can be left in any of the red
bins that will be located around the church campus.
The Missions Committee will also add fresh produce and turkey gift
cards to every food box. If you would like to make a monetary donation to
help with these costs, please make your check payable to “BCUMC” with
"Missions" in the memo line, then place it in the offering plate or leave it in
the church office.
Plan to celebrate A Day of "Thanks & Giving" when United Methodist
Men fires up their grill to provide lunch for all volunteers.
Today is registration deadline for Breakthrough Prayer
Have you signed up for Breakthrough Prayer? The Bear Creek UMC
Prayer Ministry will present this special workshop, featuring noted
spiritual director, teacher and speaker Rev. Tommy Hays next weekend, November 15-16, in the Fellowship Hall. The Saturday session
will take place from 8:30am to 4:00pm and Sunday’s session is slated
for 12:15 to 3:30pm. Your registration and payment are due today,
November 9.
The registration cost is $15 for both days or $8 for one day. Price
includes lunch, catered by Jason’s Deli. Please obtain a registration
form at http://bit.ly/1BXxJdr or visit the Bear Creek UMC office or
table in the Courtyard, where payment can be made.
PROGRAM NOTE: Rev. Hays will deliver the sermon at all three worship services on Sunday, November 16.
Sunday, November 16
8:00-11:00am in the FLC Gym
Hosted by the Seekers Class
The cost of the hot buffet is covered by love offerings of whatever you can afford. A donation of $4
per adult and $2 per child (12 years and younger) is
suggested.
Bear Creek UMC Library hosts
NEW HOMES FOR OLD FRIENDS
(a sale of pre-owned books*, DVDs, and music CDs)
With thanks . . .
Veterans Day, a federal holiday which honors those
who have served in the U. S. Armed Forces, is Tuesday,
November 11.
Please take a moment today to thank the veterans
among us, whose service helped to make our freedom
possible.
16000 Rippling Water Drive
NOVEMBER FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST
Houston, TX 77084
Sunday, November 16
9:00am-12:30pm in the FLC Gym
*Selection includes current fiction and non-fiction, classics (adult and
children’s), and a variety of topics from meditation to crafts, Only $1
for paperbacks and $2 for hardbacks! Proceeds benefit the library’s
outreach programs.
281.463.2330
bearcreekumc.org
THIS WEEK AT BEAR CREEK
Sunday, November 9
8:15am
8:30am
9:00am
9:40am
12:00pm
3:00pm
5:00pm
5:00pm
5:00pm
5:00pm
Traditional Worship Service
Youth Confirmation Class
KidzRock
Contemporary Worship Service
UMW Fall Luncheon
Youth Council
Men’s Bible Study
KidzRock Practice
Bear Creek Youth
Sunday Ladies’ Bible Study
Sanctuary
FLC 205-206
FLC 214
FH
FLC Gym
FLC 205-206
FLC 212-213
FH Choir Room
Off Campus
FLC 102
Monday, November 10
9:30am
6:30pm
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
Senior High Faith Group
FH
Off Campus
Tuesday, November 11
10:00am
6:30pm
6:30pm
6:30pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
Library Work Day
HeBrews for Hour of Prayer
Run for God
Cub Scout Pack 827 Den Meetings
Hour of Prayer
Boy Scout Troop 827 Meeting
Staff/Parish Relations Committee
FH Library
FH
FLC 205-206
Coke, FLC
FH
Hope 1-2
FLC 101
FROM YOUR BUDDY IN THE PEW: Vibrant Bear Creek
I recently discovered the Bear Creek UMC Library. It’s a little embarrassing to admit that it took almost three years to find my way to
this very large room in the Fellowship Hall. I don’t know how long it
would have taken if Amber Woodman, the church librarian, hadn’t
called and asked me to come by. I have heard about and read about
the church library, but always expected that it was a rather small table
in a corner somewhere. In fact, it is a very large church library that
Bear Creek is lucky to have. If you’ve never been to the library, please
stop by. You’ll be impressed.
Now, what does the library have to do with the Vibrant Church
Initiative? Amber has a special display of more than 30 books related
to the Vibrant Church Initiative. While I won’t try to list them all, it’s
interesting that so much information about a program that is still relatively unknown to many of us is so readily available if we just reach out
and get it.
At Amber’s suggestion, I am reading Renovate or Die, just one of the
many available VCI books. I’m only halfway through but it is helping
me to understand the need for renovation and the part I can play in it.
Let me suggest that you stop by the church library, say hello to Amber
and check out one of the VCI books.
If you have questions or comments or if you have information that
you would like for us to share with the congregation, please write to
us at vibrantbearcreek@gmail.com.
Wednesday, November 12
9:15am
10:00am
6:15pm
6:30pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
7:30pm
A Time to Pray Together
Library Work Day
Choir Ensemble Rehearsal
Middle School Faith Group
Redeemed Bible Study
Chamber/Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Deuel Band Practice
FLC 102
FH Library
FH Choir Room
Off Campus
FLC 102
FH Choir Room
FH
Thursday, November 13
9:30am
10:00am
7:00pm
7:00pm
Piece Makers Quilting Group
Library Work Day
Board of Trustees Meeting
Faith Matters Band Practice
Wesley 1
FH Library
FLC 101
FH
Friday, November 14
Saturday, November 15
8:30am
Breakthrough Prayer
FH
Sunday, November 16
8:00am
8:15am
8:30am
9:00am
9:00am
9:40am
11:00am
12:00pm
12:15pm
5:00pm
5:00pm
5:00pm
Fellowship Breakfast
Traditional Worship Service
Youth Confirmation Class
KidzRock
New Homes for Old Friends Sale
Contemporary Worship Service
Traditional Worship Service
Missions Committee Meeting
Breakthrough Prayer
KidzRock Practice
Bear Creek Youth
Sunday Ladies’ Bible Study
FLC Gym
Sanctuary
FLC 205-206
FLC 214
FLC Gym
FH
Sanctuary
FLC 212-213
FH
FH Choir Room
Youth Lounge
FLC 102
FH=Fellowship Hall, FLC=Family Life Center
TODAY’S SERMON
Kingdom Healing
MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS (MOPS)
Monday, November 10
9:30-11:30am
MOPS organizes collection for Operation Christmas Child
This holiday season, Bear Creek Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is
partnering with Operation Christmas Child to assemble 250
shoeboxes of goodies for children in need throughout the
world. Please consider donating new school supplies,
wrapped hard candy, hygiene supplies, socks, and small toys.
These items may be placed in the large box in the Bear Creek
UMC office by Friday, November 14. No other food, glass, or liquids,
please.
An outreach of Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child is a nondenominational Christian organization that provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people. The boxes are distributed to villages and orphanages, giving the children treats but most importantly, an opportunity to hear about Jesus.
If you have questions or would like a comprehensive list of shoebox
items, please contact Amber Bowers at teambowers@ymail.com.
A TIME TO PRAY TOGETHER
A relationship with God means bringing our
hearts’ concerns to Him both individually and as
a church family. For this reason, the Bear Creek
UMC Prayer Ministry Team has organized A Time
to Pray Together. Open to any person who wants to join in prayer, the gathering is held every Wednesday from 9:15 to 10:15am in the Family Life Center, Room 102.
Winter outerwear needed for those less fortunate
BEAR CREEK UMC MINISTRY STAFF
Dr. Jonathan Bynum
Lead Pastor
Rev. Will Knuckols
Executive Pastor
Matt Wallace
Director of Music
Michael Moore
Worship Leader
(Contemporary Service)
John Henley
Children’s Director
Lisa Gill
Youth Director
Do you have any new or gently-used sweaters, sweats,
jackets and/or coats to spare? As part of Bear Creek UMC’s
Day of “Thanks & Giving” on Saturday, November 22,
the Missions Committee will offer its “client” families the opportunity to select some warm winter
clothing when they pick up their food boxes. All
sizes are needed.
Please drop your donations in the collection bins around
the Bear Creek UMC campus.
Youth Sunday Morning
Children’s Sunday Morning
Children’s
Ministries
Be sure to bring your Bible
and offering each Sunday!
Sunday Mornings
9:30 Sunday School Classes
Age 2
8:00am-12:00pm
Nursery (Birth - 2 Years)
11:00am-12:00pm
Lil’ Church
(Age 3 Years - 1st Grade)
Education Building, Room 11
Age 3
Age 4-K
1st-2nd
3rd Grade
4th-5th Grade
Nursery
FLC 201B
FLC 202
FLC 217
FLC 216
FLC 203
Children’s Ministries info: contact johnh@bearcreekumc.org
KidzRock meets Sundays 9:00 to 9:30am
in FLC 214 as well as 5:00 to 6:00pm in the
Fellowship Hall Choir Room. Children (3
years old through fifth grade) are invited to
join the fun!
KidzRock performs once a month during the traditional or contemporary worship service. At the director’s discretion, the children may also
present Christmas and/or Easter musicals.
Parents of the KidzRock singers help the director. For additional information about this opportunity to serve, please contact John Henley,
johnh@bearcreekumc.org or 281.463.2330.
Have you heard?
The Children’s Ministry of Bear Creek will provide Advent
devotional materials to all children throughout the season.
Prayers are for this initiative to be a blessing to families as
they prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.
YOUTH COUNCIL MEETING
Today, November 9
3:00pm in FLC 205-206
9:30am
Junior High and Senior High
in FLC 207-209 (Youth Lounge)
11:00am
Junior High and Senior High
in FLC 207-209 (Youth Lounge)
Bear Creek Youth
Are you in junior high or high school? Mark your calendar for Sundays,
5:00 to 7:00pm in the Youth Lounge (FLC 207-209) for fellowship, dinner
and study. Contact Lisa Gill at lisag@bearcreekumc.org for more details.
Bear Creek Youth News
To be added to the list for our electronic youth
newsletter, email lisag@bearcreekumc.org.
Youth Ministries info: contact lisag@bearcreekumc.org
Fall Festival photos available
Would you like a photo that was taken at the Bear Creek UMC Fall
Festival on Saturday, October 18? Visit lilyqphoto.shootproof.com/
before Sunday, November 30 to order prints and high resolution files.
Visit facebook.com/pages/Lily-Q-Photography/1431590337061917 to
download, share or use pictures.
A special evening for 9th-12th Graders!
Monday, November 10
6:30-8:30pm
in the home of Christian Rumscheidt
Study: Godspell
Please bring your Bible, a friend, and $3 for dinner.
Christian Rumscheidt, Pat Miller and Christine Kalmbach
are leaders for this group. For more details, contact
Lisa Gill at lisag@bearcreekumc.org 281.463.2330.
A new group for 6th-8th Graders!
Wednesday, November 12
6:30-8:00pm
in the home of Rick and Julie Wilson
Study: Genesis
Please bring $3 for pizza and drinks.
Pat Miller and Jeff Jones are the facilitators for
this group. For more details, contact Lisa Gill at
281.463.2330 or lisag@bearcreekumc.org.
Itching to try a new recipe? Meet your taste testers!
We’ve been invited by our friends at Holy Covenant UMC for a
night of Heroes vs. Villains Gaga Ball. Put on your favorite hero or
villain T-shirt, bring a friend, and meet in our church parking lot tonight at 4:30pm to ride together to Holy Covenant. We’ll return at
7:15pm.
See you tonight!
Lisa
Parents and other adults are needed to provide
supper for a group of 20 on Sundays at 5:00pm. Meals
for gatherings of Bear Creek Youth are coordinated
through the online site “mealTrain.”
Suggestions include hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos,
pizza, cold cut or grilled cheese sandwiches, and
munchies such as chips or carrot and celery sticks with
salsa or dips. Help serving the meal is appreciated, but not required.
Contact Julie Wilson at rilwil@sbcglobal.net to access the site, or
call Lisa Gill at 281.463.2330.
Boy Scouts — Troop 827
ADULT EDUCATION: Guests welcome!
Boy Scout Troop 827 meets at 7:00pm on Tuesdays
in Hope 1-2. For more information, please call Assistant Scoutmaster Richard Young at 281.859.1406.
Adult Sunday School Classes
Sunday Mornings
BETWIXT & BETWEEN Current Study: 1 John
9:30am
Hope 1
COVENANT Current Study: Islam, led by Mike Terlouw
CROSSTRAINERS Current Study: TBA. Find CrossTrainers
on Facebook under "Bear Creek UMC CrossTrainers."
Asbury 2
FLC 211
FAITHFUL DISCIPLES Current Study: TBA
Asbury 1
FOUNDATIONS Current Study: Genesis
FLC 101
GENESIS Current Study: Islam, led by Mike Terlouw
Asbury 2
NEW HOPE Current Study: Seeing Gray in a World of
Black and White by Adam Hamilton
FLC 204
SEEKERS Current Study: miscellaneous
SERENITY Current Study: TBA
UNITED DISCIPLES Current Study: Islam, led by
Mike Terlouw
FLC 212-213
Coke 1
Asbury
Sunday Mornings
11:00am
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Current Study: Matthew
FH Library
LADIES’ BIBLE STUDY November 9, 16, 23; December 7)
Live A Praying Life, facilitated by Marilyn Wetzel
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY (November 9)
Problem Planet, facilitated by Russell Evans
Wednesday Evenings
Energizers, a group of active adults age 50-plus, enjoy
gatherings that include day-long excursions. The next
meeting is Friday, November 21 at 10:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Call Dot McLaren, 713.466.1898, or Joyce
Stewart at 281.463.4932 for more details.
Fellowship Friday, an Energizers outreach ministry,
provides a loving, welcoming and fun environment for
family members with mild to moderate memory loss
who do not require skilled care. This program, a partnership between Interfaith CarePartners and BCUMC,
is designed to give caregivers some much needed time
away. The next Fellowship Friday is November 14,
10:00am-1:30pm, in the Fellowship Hall. The theme
will be Abundant Blessings and soloist Larry Emerson
will entertain with music from the ’60s and ’70s. Call
Dot McLaren, 713.466.1898, or Joyce Stewart,
281.463.4932.
Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS)
Adult Studies
Sunday Evenings
Energizers
5:00pm
FLC 102
FLC 212-213
7:00pm
BIBLE STUDY (November 12, 19; December 3, 10)
FLC 102
Redeemed: Seeing the Messiah in the Book of Ruth, facilitated by
Virginia Garner
Be a “church mouse” for an afternoon
The physical task of decorating the Sanctuary for Advent begins at
2:00pm on Sunday, November 23. Twelve adults and three 12-foot ladders
are needed for this undertaking. If you are available to assist, please contact Bill Clark at 281.855.4515 or 713.939.3418.
The lectionary readings for November 9 are:
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Psalm 78:1-7 (UMH 799);
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
The lectionary readings for November 16 are:
Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123 or Psalm 76 (UMH 797);
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
The deadline for submitting information for the Bear Creek Family News is
noon Tuesday, 10 days prior to Thursday publication. Articles must be submitted in writing, via email. Articles may be edited for content/length and
will be placed as space allows, or in order of event priority. Please email Vicki
Thomson, vickit@bearcreekumc.org.
MOPS is a group of women with children 5 years
old and younger, who share a love for their families
and enjoy fellowship with other moms going through
the same (although very brief) journey in life. MOPS
meets the second and fourth Mondays of every
month (during the school year), 9:30-11:30am, in the
Fellowship Hall, with a great MOPPETS program in the
Family Life Center KidZone Nursery. Email Mary Landis,
bcumcmops@gmail.com.
United Methodist Men (UMM)
Every male member of the church is a member of
United Methodist Men. The organization brings men
together with opportunities for service to church and
community, including its amazing Cooking and Barbecue Ministry. The group’s next “Last Monday” Dinner, which will feature an entertaining program, is
November 24 at 6:45pm in the Fellowship Hall. Contact: Phil Tyler, kestrelconsulting@yahoo.com.
United Methodist Women (UMW)
All women are invited to join United Methodist
Women. Please visit Bear Creek UMW on Facebook,
see updates at bearcreekumc.org/adults/women, or
call the church office at 281.463.2330.
Elizabeth Circle – December party in the home of Julie
Schweers. Date TBA. Contact: Julie Kunz,
marty.juliekunz@sbcglobal.net.
Grace Circle – Thursday, November 13, 6:30pm, in the
home of Pam Anthes. Contact: Laura Mann,
laura_mann@sbcglobal.net.
Miriam Circle – Friday, December 5, 10:30am, Christmas luncheon in the home of Anna Grosse. Contact:
Virginia Fleming, vafleming44@gmail.com.
Ruth Circle – Sunday, November 9, 12:15pm in the FLC
Gym for UMW Fall Luncheon. Contact: Deborah Rucker,
ggdr@earthlink.net.