Announcements

Bread Run Volunteers needed: We are in need of volunteers to help deliver day old bread from Albertsons to area ministries. It is a wonderful ministry and it really helps agencies provide supplemental food for their clients who need food assistance. Please contact Wanda Spencer at 972-359-7167 or Janet Hunt in the church office.

Volunteer contact group: If you would like to be on a mission volunteer e-mail group list to be informed of volunteer opportzunities to reach out to our community and beyond please e-mail Janet Hunt at janet.hunt@suncreekumc.org.

Suncreek’s Congregational Care Committee is beginning Stephen Ministry where members of our congregation will provide Christian care to church members and others in our community by developing one-on-one relationships. For more information contact Janet Hunt.

A Cancer Support Group is being formed for those dealing with or recovering from cancer. This group will meet to share experiences, offer information and care for each other. Please contact Betty Scillian for more information.

Click here to download this month's Calendar of Youth Activities.

Mission Possible Kids is for 1st – 5th grade students. Agents are assigned TOP SECRET missions such as making gifts for hospitalized children, raising money to end world hunger, collecting goods for food banks – all while earning Mission Stars for their official MPKids T-shirts after each completed mission.

More than 75 agents have signed on as MPKids agents at Suncreek working to change the world! Our first completed mission (code word: Busy Bags) will help 250 children in area hospital ERs, waiting rooms and homeless shelters.

Our next mission (Code Word: Candy Cane) will be on Nov. 30th at Headquarters (Palmer Hall) from 6:00 – 8:00. The second part of this meeting will be on Sat., Dec. 8th from 3:00 – 5:00. We’ll meet at Headquarters and then divide into teams to spread joy throughout the surrounding neighborhoods.

New agents may sign up at church or at any MPKids meeting. For more information, contact Adriene Morgan.

Suncreek 101, our introductory class on Methodism and Suncreek Ministries, is being offered on December 2, 9, and 16 in the Sr. Pastor's office (room B101) at 11am. This popular three-week class is for all visitors, new members, and anyone who is interested in Methodism or would like an overview of the wide variety of ministry opportunities available at Suncreek. It is also an excellent way to meet others in our church community! No advance registration is required.

Suncreek United Methodist Men: All men are invited to attend the monthly UMM meeting in Palmer Hall on Friday, December 7 at 7am (6:45 am for coffee and donuts).

The How Bazaar Arts and Crafts Festival will be held on Friday evening, December 7 from 4:00 to 8:00pm and Saturday, December 8 from 9:00am to 2:00pm in Palmer Hall. Suncreek's Congregational Care Committee is sponsoring this event. If you would like to sell some of your creative endeavors, or are a vendor with items to sell, please call Christy Parker at 972-396-2943 to reserve a table.

	The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be Sunday, December 9 at 6pm. It will feature Suncreek's choirs and an orchestra.

Suncreek's United Methodist Women invite all women to their Annual Christmas Party and Cookie Exchange on Tuesday, December 11 at the home of Michelle Spangler. A light dinner will be provided beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please bring 3 dozen (or more) of your favorite Christmas cookies to exchange with the other guests. If you have questions about UMW, contact Carmen Hartjes at 972-517-4376.

On December 16, Suncreek Youth will meet at the church at 2:00pm to go Caroling at Victoria Gardens nursing home. Contact Evan Jones for more information.

On Sunday, December 16th at 6:00 p.m. children in grades 1 – 5 will present The Backwards Christmas Pageant. This play has been specifically written for church productions to provide children with a new, funny, and refreshing venue to present the Christmas story. For more information, contact Adriene Morgan.

Candlelight Service at Suncreek UMC

Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight Services - December 24 at 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm, & 11:00pm   Come join us on this majestic and holy night!     Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball, our extraordinary Senior Pastor preaches at all services. Nursery and child care will be available at 4, 6, and 8pm.  Infant care will be available at 11pm.

Music leadership:
4pm     Children’s music ensembles
6pm     Youth music ensembles
8pm     Adult Music Ensembles
11pm   Adult Music Ensembles

Sunday Worship, December 30 at 9:30 and 11am
Worship is at 9:30am or 11am. No 8:15am service or Sunday School. Childcare will be provided. Start the new year by joining us for this service of light. Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball will preach at both services.

2008

Dead Poets Society - On January 1 Suncreek Youth are invited to join us for A night of poetry, singing and experiencing God in new ways. Contact Evan Jones for more information.

The UMW Alpha Omega Book Club invites all women to join them for conversation about books. The next meeting will be Saturday morning, January 5, from 9-11am. The reading selection is Ana’s Story by Jenna Bush. It is based on her work with UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is an account of a girl who fights against all odds to survive. If you would like to know more about the book club, contact Paula Cheek at 972-359-8140.

Epiphany Sunday is January 6 – Suncreek will return to our regular worship schedule with services at 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00. Holly Gotelli will be preaching that Sunday.

The Allen Senior Luncheon will be on January 8 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Suncreek is sponsoring this month's gathering. If you can lend a hand, please contact Janet Hunt.

Suncreek invites ALL adults to participate in a 4-week Sunday School Open House from January 20 – February 10. During these four weeks, our Adult Sunday School classes will be studying and discussing books by Rev. Jim Moore, our guest lecturer for the 2008 Palmer Studies in the Faith. Several of Rev. Moore’s books will be available for purchase in the narthex January 6 and January 13. Representatives from each class will also be available on those Sundays to introduce you to members of their class. You are invited and encouraged to purchase a book and make plans to spend the next 4 weeks in Christian fellowship on Sunday morning as our congregation steps together in this spiritual learning journey.

The Suncreek United Methodist Women's Annual Retreat will be at Kaleo Lodge on Feb 1-3. More information will be available soon.

This year’s Youth Mid-Winter Retreat is February 1-3, contact Evan Jones for more information.

	An Adult Mission Trip to Juarez, Mexico is planned for January 24-28. If you would like to participate, send an e-mail message to adultmissiontrip@suncreekumc.org. Cost estimates for the trip are about $350 per person. This includes airfare (approx. $188), lodging, and building materials. Scholarships are available. Click here for info about past trips to Juarez.

Created by God, a human sexuality course, will be offered to 6th and 7th graders Feb. 8th, 6:30 – 9:00 and Feb. 9th, 9:00 – 4:00 in Palmer Hall. There will be a parent meeting on Feb. 7th. For more information contact Adriene Morgan or Evan Jones.

Suncreek's 2008 Palmer Studies in the Faith will feature Dr. James W. “Jim” Moore on February 17-18. T Dr. Moore will be speaking on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Monday evening. He will also speak at a luncheon for clergy on Monday. Dr. Moore is a best selling author over 36 books. He is Abingdon Press' top selling author. He is an acclaimed preacher and pastor. He served as Senior Pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church –Houston (over 7,500 members) from 1984 to 2006.


	Our Youth Music Ministry is proud to announce their spring presentation of Once Upon a Mattress. Performances will be held on February 22, 23, 29 and March 1. Auditions are scheduled for the week of December 10. Those interested in auditioning for the show or participating in the technical crew or orchestra should contact Rev. Kevin Holland.

	Our next Family Mission Trip to Juarez, Mexico is March 15-19. If you are interested in being part of this trip, contact Janet Hunt.