Lease Feedback – Under “Resources” Tab

November 19, 2009

The Church Council would like your feedback regarding our current opportunity to lease our facilities. Please use the form available on the “Lease Feedback” page (found under the “Resources” tab) to offer your feedback.

Christmas Play Practices Scheduled – All Ages

November 19, 2009

On Sunday, December 13, we will be presenting a Christmas Cantata and Play called “Celebrate his Birth.” We will be practicing the music on Wednesday evenings in November and December from 7:30-8:30 PM and practicing the music and play on Sunday, November 29th and Sunday December 6th after the late service (lunch will be served!).

If you are interested in singing in the choir, but are not able to give a full year commitment this is the perfect time for you to come and sing. We need help in other areas, too:

• Set construction (nothing fancy!)
• Costume cleaning and pressing
• Lighting

Questions? Contact :

• Cathy Peterson
• Steve Hawkins
• Judy Knoll

Advent Decorating—November 29

November 18, 2009

Do you enjoy decorating? Do you appreciate our Christmas tree, wreaths, and other decorations that are put out every year during Advent? Then we need you to help us decorate the church for Advent this year. A few of the tasks that we are looking for help with include:

• Putting up and decorating the Christmas Tree
• Hanging wreaths on the front doors of the building
• Putting out garland or other decorations in the narthex or sanctuary
• Other ideas that you may have

The first Sunday in Advent is November 29, which would be the day that most decorating takes place. If this sounds like a good way for you to use your gifts and interests, contact Matt Cleaver.

Thanksgiving Eve Service at Hope

November 18, 2009

Thanksgiving will be celebrated this year at Hope on Wednesday, November 25th at 7:30 PM. We will again join with the United Methodist Church of Cedar Hill and Thanksgiving Tabernacle. Please note the date. In the past few years we have had it on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. This year it will be on Wednesday.

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner November 22

November 13, 2009

Mark your calendar for our annual Family Thanksgiving Dinner November 22 following the 10:30 service. We will provide:

• Turkey
• Dressing
• Gravy
• Drinks

Please help us by bringing 2 of the following:

• Vegetable
• Salad
• Dessert

We will need 5 people to prepare a turkey and/or dressing, provide and set up table decorations, and a clean-up crew since we are using the china and silverware. There will be a sign up sheet on the counter by the coffee pot.

Questions???
Contact Judy Knoll
at 972-642-5355 (home)
or 214-542-5330 (cell)
or judy.knoll {at} gpisd(.)org

December Newsletter Submissions Due November 16

November 9, 2009

Please note the following deadlines for upcoming Newsletter submissions. They have been changed due holiday schedules:

• December submissions due Monday, November 16
• January 2010 submissions due December 14
• February 2010 submissions due January 13

Conversation about Leasing Space: November 15

November 8, 2009

It’s Not Like it was Before
This Time it is about Money
Come Join in a Conversation about Leasing Space
November 15th at 9:15 AM

Several years ago Pastor Cooper came to us to ask if their church could lease space at our church. Council entertained the thought for a while before Pastor Cooper himself dropped the idea. About a year later Pastor Cooper came back and reintroduced the idea of leasing. Again we entertained the idea. As we considered the first response without regard to money, we entertained the second request. Only this time our coming year’s finances were predictably tougher than before. We could see how it would be helpful to us financially. Because we had entertained
the first request without concern for our finances we therefore rightly said “it wasn’t about the money.” The request ended up not passing the congregational vote. The idea was behind us.

This time it is about the money. We have an opportunity to lease space again. This time it is a different church, Thanksgiving Tabernacle, pastored by Rev. Edsel Duréus. (Pastor Duréus has participated in Thanksgiving services with our church before. Some of you may remember him from those evenings.)

The council has not made any decisions regarding the possible lease situation except to say, “Let’s bring this before the congregation and have a conversation about it.” If our financial lot had not changed we wouldn’t have even entertained this so soon after the prior vote. But because we are in a much tighter financial situation the council decided to go ahead bring it before the church to hear your thoughts. So please come and find out about the situation and in turn share your thoughts. We’ll see you November 15th during Sunday School hour in the sanctuary.

Pastor Joel