UNIVERSITY EVANGELICAL
METHODIST CHURCH

Tuesdays: Prayer and fasting for revival. The sanctuary will be open at noon.

12 Pillow Making for the elderly at The Vintage. Saturday, 10am.

13 Childrens Music Program Sunday Afternoon, 3pm.

24 Christmas Eve Service. Thursday, 6:30pm.

31 Watchnight Service (TBA) New Year's Eve.

LONG RANGE PLANNING...

By Andrew Hogue, Editor at-large

The history of our congregation is a complicated one. We have been through many changes in membership, leadership, location and even denomination.

Nearly a century of service in the Lord and a few generations after its inception, we remain a spirit- filled warm-hearted church willing to serve Jesus. Our small congregation has stood the test of time-- And we still stand strong for Christ, and serve as an influential body of believers in our community despite our small numbers. Our impact cannot be ignored.

What does God have in store for the future of our humble church? Are we to stay small and continue as we are? Are we to advertise and amass a large crowd? Are we to focus on facilities and adding on to our building? It is clear that we are called in the scripture to witness to the lost, and we know that any church could benefit from doing a little more of that. So what is our plan? Where will we be in 5 years? In 10 years? or (take a deep breath...) 20 years? To gain understanding of what each member would like to see in the years to come, and in order to have some ideas to base future strategies upon, an informal long-range planning meeting was called.

Many ideas were presented. One of which dealt with eventually expanding our children's facilities in order to welcome younger families. Talk was made over starting a new advertising campaign for next year. There was a suggestion to improve the appearance of our sanctuary (see picture above). But beyond the physical, those present at the meeting were more concerned with the spiritual side of our church. We discussed visiting those in our neighborhood and in our congregation more actively. "Deeper" bible studies were proposed. Though we all had different ideas of what exactly that means, we agreed that we would look into studying a greater variety of biblical topics in our studies, starting with going from Genesis to Revelation beginning in January. Pastor Charlie Mulholland has proposed a period of fasting and prayer to ask for God's guidance on the growth and improvement of our church.

In 20 years, it is possible that we could have 2,000 members, a new church building and be a force for wide-spread spiritual awakening in our fair city. Then again, we may remain small, focussing on the spiritual growth of those that do come. Either way, this writer hopes that we can keep the level of friendliness and prayerfullness that we have now. God has indeed blessed us. Regardless of where we'll be, how far we grow, or what we will be doing, we all agree that the Lord's will shall be done. Keep our church's future in your prayers. And if you have any ideas on how our church can benefit, feel free to mention this. We want your input! YOU are the church. (Look up 1 Peter 2:5,9)

SHARON's MOTHER VISITS... For the month of November, we were pleased to have with us Sharon Shellis' mother, Jennie Lisi, from London England. They were able to go to Hot Springs, Arkansas during the last week of her visit, and according to Sharon they had a really nice time. Mrs. Lisi, we hope you'll come see us again the next time you're in the States!

PRAY FOR AN INJURED SISTER...

Jean, one of our newer visitors, has been injured in a car wreck. We haven't all the details here, but she is recovering well and will be coming back soon. Please pray for her complete recovery, and ask for God's healing touch on those involved in this accident.

CHILDREN's CHURCH...

Oftentimes, children will feel overwhelmed by a Sermon geared towards adults. Their attention spans can barely focus on a 30-minute speech, even if John Wesley himself were at the pulpit! Unfortunatley many children grow-up thinking church to be boring and unproductive. Melanie Sawyer has graciously spearheaded an effort to create Children's Church during Sunday morning services, to better reach these children for Christ at a level they can understand. She incorporates worship into it by leading them in singing, and has plenty of crafts and games to accompany the lesson. Melanie, we salute your concern for these younger ones! "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 19:14)

BULLETIN AVAILABLE...

Just as this newsletter chronicles the events of our church on a bi-monthly basis (though not lately, pardon the delay!), our bulletin is there to provide a weekly summary of what's going on with University EMC. Randy Jackson is doing a fantastic job on our bulletin, but it's not 100% effective unless we let him know what to put in there! If you have any announcements, upcoming activities, or miscellaneous statements, contact him at 464-3320, and he will be more than glad to type them in.

RADIO SHOW?

Our pastor Charlie Mulholland has plans for getting together a radio broadcast to spread the word of Jesus Christ. He is looking for anybody interested in helping put this together. If you would like to help, or have any questions or suggestions, call the church office or leave a message at 382-4824.

NEW MEMBERS... Frank and Karen Phillips joined our church December 6th. When you get the chance, greet our new members and welcome them to our fellowship. Frank, Karen, we look forward to serving the Lord with you!

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES...

Diana Johnson is assembling a choir for Christmas services this month, and is still looking for people to commit! All are welcome. Even if you feel you can't sing, come anyway and we'll help you get better for God's glory (which is who we're trying to please, anyway!)

A "Watchnight Service" is being scheduled for New Year's night. If you haven't been to one of these, you're missing a precious event! Instead of tolerating moral degradation on T.V. via New Year's Eve programming, or enduring celebrations of champagne and liquor at a secular party, make plans to bring in the year of our Lord 1999 with your church family! We begin the year with the Lord's Supper, followed by prayer.

There is a box in the back of our sanctuary devoted to food for the needy this christmas. Please donate canned or non-perishables to this effort.

Caroling at the Vintage has been discussed, but a date has yet to be set. See the bulletin for more details.

There will be a Children's Musical program on December 13th. Contact Diana Johnson at 387-0939 for more information.

Gail Scott would like to remind everybody of a pillow-making project for the elderly at the Vintage coming up Saturday December 12 at 10am. Call her at 387-2895 for more info.

Schedule of Services:

Sunday

Sunday School..............9:45am

Morning Worship.............11am

Evening Service................6pm

Tuesday

Men's Breakfast.................7am

Prayer and Fasting...........Noon

"Powerhouse of Prayer"...7pm

Wednesday

Bible Study........................7pm

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy 35th Anniversary to Gail and Jerry Scott (11/29). Congratulations!

LET ME GO!

By Wesley Duewel

Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!

They are watching and waiting for me

. Many perishing millions are waiting;

They are dying beyond the sea.

They are groaning and crying in the darkness;

They are wailing because of their fate.

Let me go, I must haste to the rescue!

Let me go, or I'll reach them too late.

Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!

They are sinking and dying in sin--

Awful suffering and anguish around them,

Hungry heart and soul-anguish within.

They are straying, in agony crying,

Oh behold how they fall to the ground!

And these wails and these cries of lost millions

Through eternity's ages shall sound.

Let me go, oh, how can I but go

When I see the lost millions in need,

When I see how they long for a Saviour,

How for peace and deliv'rance they plead?

For my heart is already among them,

I am praying while tears for them flow.

To our Christ and to me they're beloved;

Let me go! LET ME GO!! LET ME GO!!!

(Reprinted from the Voice of Evangelical Methodism, December, 1952)

EMC MISSIONS

Provided By Carol Ferris and the EMC World Missions Newsletter

Guadalupe Rocha, Director of the Life and Truth Bible Institute in Torreon, Mexico will be graduating from OMS Seminary in Mexico in July. She has been an active minister in Mexico City while at the same time, serving as director the Institute! In the past, she has been a missionary to Spain and is a graduate of the Institute which she now directs. She has been diagnosed with extreme exhaustion by her doctor and has to curtail her activities for a while. Please pray for her complete recovery, for the Holy Spirit to give her more time, and for her fantastic ministry to those in Mexico.

Also pray for Meda Jane Leach, who you may remember has visited our church on occassion. She is a teacher at the Life and Truth Bible Institute mentioned above.

Keep Vernon Perkins and his wife Ruth Perkins in your prayers, as they also travel to Mexico. They're in need of more financial assistance to continue their work there.

To help our missionaries, call headquarters at 1(317)780.8017 Request a copy of the EMC Missions Newsletter for more information.

WHO AM I?

The goal is to identify the "self-described" character of the Bible. Read slowly and think carefully on each one, and do not open your Bibles until ALL 10 CLUES have been read! If you guess correctly the first clue, you get a score of 100 points. If you guess by the 2nd clue, 90 pts., and so on. AFTER you are done, look up the scriptures next to the hints. (Answer in the next issue!)

The answer for the last issue is none other than King David!

1.) 100 I was of the tribe of Levi (Acts 4:36)

2.) 90 My name means "Son of Consolation" or "Son of Encouragement"

3.) 80 I was converted in the early days of christianity, probably having knowledge of Jesus through my family relationships

4.) 70 I became well-known for my benevolence (Acts 4:37)

5.) 60 I championed a man who had persecuted the Church (9:27)

6.) 50 The Church at Jerusalem sent me to Antioch to work. (11:19-24)

7.) 40 By the Holy Spirit, I was sent with a partner on a dangerous mission (13:2)

8.) 30 John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of St. Mark (Colossians 4:10) was my cousin (Acts 12:25, 13:2)

9.) 20 People mistakingly called me the false god "Jupiter" (14:12)

10.) 10 I teamed up with John Mark to evangelize Cyprus (15:36+)

YOUR SCORE____________

University EMC Fellowship

DIANA JOHNSON

Number of years w/ church: 2

Husband: David Johnson (praise leader)

Children: Paul, 38. Mark, 35.

Occupation: Registered Nurse; Shorthand typist, CPR Instructor, Housewife (as a choice!)

Education, Important positions, Church responsibillity, etc. Master's Degree, 18 hrs. doctorate hours. Several awards. Piano player for our church.

Hobbies: Writing music, creating things.

Favorite book of Bible: Psalms

Favorite Hymn (or tune): Belmont/Crimond (There Is a Fount Filled with Blood)

Favorite TV Show: Blank Screen

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Pineapple

Bad Habits: Impatience

Pet Peeve: "Getting interupted when I'm talking!"

If you were president of the United States for one day, what would you try to accomplish and why?

"A review of health care systems instead of making money from others on health misfortune. Also, would protect prayer in jobs, and in school."

One of the greatest joys of being a christian is getting to know other believers, as we are all one in Christ. This feature isn't intended to alienate some members or elevate others, it is meant to be a forum so that we may know our brothers and sisters in a better way. Selections are chosen at random. If you haven't filled out a UEMC Fellowship form yet, contact Andrew Hogue at 464-3320.

APPOINTMENT WITH THE KING by Sharon Shellis

Imagine we have a king of Texas who loves his subjects so much that he wants to supply their every need. He wants to meet with every person individually, so he invites you to the banquet set especially for you. To meet with you, talk with you, listen to your needs, your hopes and dreams. He can heal your past hurts and comfort you. He wants you to know him and to love him as he loves you. He sends a royal limousine to meet you and he waits excitedly.

You tell your friends about the invitation and you try to imagine what it will be like when you meet the king. You think of what the banquet will be like, what will the king tell you? What will he ask of you? You wonder if he has a special job for you to do. Will he tell you about the plan he has for your life? You tell yourself you are going to hang on to every word he says and cherish them in your heart, because the king has spoken to you.

Now imagine this: The big day comes, but you were out late the night before, so you are tired. You have planned other things for this day, hoping you can fit them all in before your 6pm appointment with the king. After being busy all day, you still think you have time to visit a friend befor you go to visit the king.

You are at your friend's house and you realize it's 5:45. You have no time to shower, let alone go home and put on your royal robes. You run all the way to the palace and you are too exhausted to even look at the banquet and don't even think to taste it. When the king talks to you, you are half asleep and even though you think you hear him, by the time you get home, you can't remember a thing he said!

The next day, you meet your friends. They say to you, "Tell us what it was like." And you say, "There was no banquet, or perhaps I didn't notice because I wasn't hungry. I may have spoken to him, but I don't think he answered me. But then, I was very tired and it was all such a rush."

WEB SITE AVAILABLE

Your church has it's very own place on the world wide web! For those who know how to get online, type in http://www. oocities.com/Heartland/Flats/8840 On the site is a brief description of what we're about, directions on how to find our church buidling, a schedule of services, and links to other EMC related sites and ministries.

Special features include a Real Audio sermon from Charlie Mulholland! This means our preacher can be heard anywhere on earth trhough a computer's speaker! Also, is a page dedicated to our Diana's choir activities, and a link to Andy Hogue's chat-room ministry.

If you would like a page of your own for this high-tech outreach, contact Andy at williamhogue@usa.net (email) or call 464.3320

End of issue 2