Peanuts for Christmas

Part of our

family tradition at this

time of year is to watch

some of our favorite

seasonal shows and

movies. Among those is A

Charlie Brown Christmas,

which we watched this

past weekend. (Actually I

had to re-watch it since I

fell asleep the first time!)

Many of you are familiar

with this classic show that

celebrates its 50th

anniversary this year.

Since it is a favorite of so

many people, I want to

share a few thoughts from

the show that might

encourage us in this

holiday season.

1. You can't

out-decorate the dog.

Don't Children and youth (pg. 2) Methodist Day School (pg. 3)

Important Dates (p. 4) Calendar (p. 5)

Vol. 10, No. 10 October 1, 2014

(cont. on pg. 6)

In this Edition

Vol. 11, No. 12 November 1, 2015

We will be offering a six week study called The Christmas Experience beginning Tuesday, December 1. Each session involves a video segment followed by group study and interaction. You will have two opportunities to participate each week, as sessions will begin at 10:00AM and 6:00PM in the Deen Building. Choose the one most convenient for you, and prepare your heart for celebrating the Christ child. Be sure to check the weekly bulletin for scripture reading to prepare for each week’s lesson.

December 24, 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Communion Service You won’t want to miss the annual candlelight service. It is always beautiful. This year, we are hosting a “baby shower for Jesus”. We are asking that you bring any baby items with you to the service. All collected items will benefit the ABC Room.

The Youth Group meets every Wednesday night, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. This year, they are starting a band! Come join us for the fun, fellowship and FOOD (dinner is served each Wednesday!)

K5 Kids Choir & K5 Kids are off to a great start! Join us on Wednesdays for choir, then stay for dinner and devotional time from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Did you know that by taking a moment to cut out a label from some of your grocery items our local schools can receive money

to obtain items they need? Simply look for the Box Tops for Education label found on a variety of products (i.e., cereals, paper products, office/school supplies, produce, clothing, etc.), cut out the label, drop it at the church office, and our local schools will receive $0.10 per box top!

Youth Service Project Our Youth Group is looking for ways to serve our congregation with possible service projects. If you have any small jobs you may need done, please contact Jerry Don Huff 214-458-2004. Thank you all for your support!

Donations Welcomed The Youth are looking for donations of soda to

help fill their machine in the Deen Building. If you would like to help, please bring some of the following: Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, A&W Root Beer, Sprite, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and/or Diet Dr. Pepper. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Food Drive We are sponsoring the Middle School back pack program once again. This vital program sends backpacks filled with food home each weekend with students in need. Items should be easily opened and consumed

by a child (nothing requiring a can opener). Small containers and single-servings are helpful, as well. “I was hungry, and you gave me food.” (Matthew 25:35)

Thank You’s Dear Russell Family,

We appreciate the support and especially the prayers for us

since our accident. Your prayers continue to be answered.

We know that God has been with us every step of the way.

We are truly blessed and continue to improve.

We still miss all of you,

LaNell and Lawson

Methodist Day School

Our director Amanda Crawford celebrated her 15th year at the Methodist Day School. She started working October 27, 2000. She was hired by Kellie Padilla, and started working in the “Baby Room”. She has worked in most of the class rooms and now is our Director. When Amanda is not at the Day School, She is busy with her own family. Her 2 oldest daughters, attend Stephen F. Austin, one is a senior and the other a sophomore. She also has 2 active boys, one in 8th grade and one in 4th grade. If you have a chance, drop by and tell her congrats. She is doing a super job and we appreciate her. On November 18, 2015, our day school board helped serve Thanksgiving dinner to the children and their parents and grandparents. We had a feast: Turkey, dressing, mashed pota-toes, corn, green beans, cabbage casserole and mac & cheese, home made by our youth in our church, and dessert. All was so good. Speaking of our youth, they have volunteered to help paint some of the class rooms in the Sowers building. Some of these rooms are used by ours children’s Sunday school. Thank you youth and leaders. At the present time we have 79 children enrolled in our Methodist Day School, with 9 full time staff.

Our Presence and Our Gifts Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 15 Nov. 22 the early service 65 41 56 50 Sunday School 86 93 86 79 Traditional Worship 79 105 95 95 $7,852.75 $6,394.00 $4,645.00

November Worship Assistants Altar Guild: Carolyn Hawkins (Chair), Marigrace Lang, Maxine Page, Barbara Lamb, Molly Brittain Ushers: Barbara Lamb (Head), Cathy Wilcoxson, Carolyn Hawkins, Ron Butler

Cal

en

dar

of

Eve

nts

fo

r D

ece

mb

er

Dates to Remember! December 1, 10:00am or 6:00pm Start of The Christmas Experience Study December 2, 7:00pm White Gift Service at WPHS December 6, 12:00pm Church Potluck and Ladies Hand Bell Christmas Concert December 6-11, George Hall Closed for Angel Tree Sorting December 11, 8am-2pm, 6pm-8pm, Angel Tree Hand Outs December 12, Christmas on the Bricks, Downtown Wills Point

December 13, 11:00am All Choir Christmas Program December 16, 6:00pm Kids Christmas Program and Spaghetti Supper December 24, 7:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Baby shower for Jesus benefiting

the ABC Room)

Happy Birthday!

Kellie Caldwell 12-1 Jack Golden 12-1 Robby Groover 12-3 Theil Shastid 12-5 Nelda Currie 12-6 Kelles Miller 12-6 Stan Reed 12-10 Kay Crosby 12-11 Tony Glover 12-11 Mary Helen Castleberry 12-17 Claira Huff 12-19 Clark Shupp 12-24

Suzey Caldwell 12-24 Katie Keller 12-26 Jim Lamb 12-26 Jared McDonald 12-28 Nancy McDonald 12-28 Jerry Don Huff 12-28 Jim Sandifer 12-29 David Berry 12-30 Margie Aston 12-30 Patt AuBuchon 12-31

Community Outreach Program Neighbor to Neighbor Lunch

11 am-1pm Fourth Saturday of each month

Deen Building - George Hall OPEN TO ANYONE

WHO CHOOSES TO COME

Please contact Gerda David for details (214-538-0192).

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 10:00am The Christmas Expe-rience 6:00pm The Christmas Expe-rience

2 7:00pm White Gift Service 7:30pm Adult Choir

3 12pm-2pm Art Class

4 5 10:00am Cake at Crestwood

6 Angel Tree 8:30 am Early Service 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship 12:00pm Potluck/Bell Concert

7 Angel Tree 10:00 am Ladies Prayer Group

8 Angel Tree 10:00am The Christmas Expe-rience 6:00pm The Christmas Expe-rience

9 Angel Tree 5:30pm K5 Choir 6:00pm K5 Kids/Youth Group 6:00pm Ladies Hand Bells 7:30pm Adult Choir

10 Angel Tree 12pm-2pm Art Class

11 Angel Tree 8am-2pm Angel Tree hand out 6pm-8pm Angel Tree hand out

12 Christmas on the Bricks, downtown Wills Point

13 All Choir Christmas 8:30 am Early Service 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship 2:00pm Crestwood

14 10:00 am Ladies Prayer Group 6:00pm Day School Board 7:00pm Finance Committee

15 10:00am The Christmas Expe-rience 6:00pm The Christmas Expe-rience

16 6:00pm Kids Christmas Program and Spaghetti Supper

17 12pm-2pm Art Class

18 19

20 8:30 am Early Service 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship

21 10:00 am Ladies Prayer Group

22 10:00am The Christmas Expe-rience 6:00pm The Christmas Expe-rience

23

24 Christmas Eve 7:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

25 Christmas Day

26 Neighbor to Neighbor (?) Lunch 11 am—1pm

27 8:30 am Early Service 9:45am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship

28 10:00 am Ladies Prayer Group

29 30 31 New Year’s Eve

Angel Tree Food Don’t Forget! We are collecting peanut butter and canned fruit, all sizes and quantities are welcomed!

obsess about your decorations. In the show Snoopy decorates his dog

house and enters it in a display contest. As you can expect, Snoopy wins first prize. Putting up

Christmas decorations can be quite fun and rewarding. If it becomes anything beyond that,

something may be wrong. If you are one of those people who go "all out" with decorating, let me

say first that my family and I appreciate it, as I am certain many others do as well. We love to drive

around and enjoy the Christmas lights displayed by others. Keep this in mind: the appreciation of

others, or even your own compulsion, should not create an oppressive burden for you. Decorate

to the extent that you enjoy it. Beyond that, let it go! Remember, Snoopy will always win the

contest.

2. A little love can go a long way. Perhaps the most iconic part of the show is the tree

that Charlie Brown selects. He is drawn to the tree because of his compassionate Christmas spirit,

not being overly-impressed by the glitz and sparkle of the other trees. He brings it to his friends,

only to endure their scorn. He then takes it home and tries to decorate it, but it loses its stature

under the weight of a single ornament. Dispirited, Charlie Brown walks away. For some people this

year - possibly ourselves - the Christmas season will bring similar feelings of hopelessness.

Whatever high hopes we had and plans we have attempted come to nothing. This is where a little

love goes a long way. Linus has the right attitude about the tree: "Maybe it just needs a little love."

He puts his blanket around the base of the tree and straightens the branches. Others follow his

lead, working with the tree until it stands impressive and beautiful. You may encounter someone

this year who is feeling pretty "Charlie Brown-ish." A little love from you may change their whole

Christmas.

3. Jesus puts everything else in focus. Charlie Brown's struggle from the beginning of

the show is that he is searching for meaning. He is trying to make sense of it all: Christmas cards

(or his failure to receive them), decorations, school plays. Someone must be able to offer an

explanation of why we endure so much fuss. Once again Linus provides the answer. "Now there

were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by

night." Linus goes on quoting from Luke chapter 2, telling the story of an angel announcing the

birth of a Savior. Jesus is the answer to the "why." So when you feel stressed and distraught this

month, let your mind dwell on Christ. He will provide the peace and focus you need.

Pastor Dave

(cont. from pg. 1)

Opportunities to Dedicate Are you looking for a special way to honor or memorialize a special person or people? We have a great way to do just that! You can donate a 1/2 pew ($300), a hymnal ($30), and/or a Bible ($15) in honor/memory of your loved one(s). Contact the church office if you are interested.

Remember in Prayer: Allen Thompson Andy Anderson Annette Clemmons Audrey Cairns Ben Carter Bennie Scott Billy & Dorothy Bruster Chris Cagle Cody Clark Conner Mitchell Crestwood Residents David Cartwright & Family Debbie White Mr. Cory Denise Reed Dennis & Beth Basham Desiree Rector Edna (Ms. Galope’s sister)

Gerda David RMUMC Harry Reaves Henry McNair Homeland Security Jean Allred Jim & Diane Sandifer John Buffington John Neil Jonny Wade & Family Joy Bills Ken & Rosa Davis Liz Ellis Loulie Hunsecker Margaret & Ron Butler Mark & Betty Batchel Mimi Miles Missionaries in Iraq Molly Curtis Case

Nancy Pride Norma Hundley Our Armed Forces (America) Our World Mark Brown Pat Mitchell Students, Teachers, &

Administrators Theresa Turner Thomas Roddy Tracey Kinney Tricia Wyatt Trish Brian UMW Vicitims in Paris & Mail Windy Howard

Memorials In memory of

Vic Jordan Given by

Sammy & Donna Gunter, Dr. Bob & Fritz Gilbreth, Charlie, Stacey, Sarah & Elizabeth Ellis, Fred Smith, Ted Deen, Sr., and Robert & Linda

Greenwald. In memory of

Vic & Marlene Jordan In honor of their November birthdays,

Given by Jim & Margie Rodriguez.

In memory of Betty Reinhardt

Given by Billy & Dorothy Bruster.

In memory of Kenneth Willoughby

Given by

Ted Deen, Sr. In memory of

Arbee McKnight Given by

Sammy & Donna Gunter.

The Russell Report Russell Memorial United Methodist Church A Family Rooted in Christ and Reaching Out in Love 201 S. Fourth Street P. O. Box 335 Wills Point, TX 75169

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Rev. David Cartwright, Pastor Dr. Bob Gilbreth, Music Director Nancy McDonald, Office Administrator Fritz Gilbreth, Organist Theresa Turner, Ladies Hand Bells Director Kelli Huff, K5 Kids Coordinator Denise Ross, Pianist Jackie Cockerham, Financial Administrator Amy Skinner, K5 Choir Director Jerry Don Huff, Youth Director

Join us Sunday Morning! Contemporary Worship @ 8:30 Sunday School @ 9:45 Traditional Worship @ 11:00

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday