Happy New Year!

Can you believe it????  The year is almost over!  Still trying to figure out where it went.

The Church Office will be closed Friday, Dec. 31st & Monday, Jan. 3rd.

The First United Methodist Church of Sweeny would like to wish you & yours a very Happy & SAFE New Years!

Contact the Church Office or Pastor to see where you can help!

Newsletters Online!!!

I hope this post finds you enjoying your Christmas Season! 

If you notice to the right of your screen, there is a new list that says Newsletters and has a date listed under it.  If you click on that date, it will allow you to see a downloadable copy of our newsletters.  When printing, please keep in mind that our newsletters are designed to be printed on legal (8.5x14) paper.  You can print it on 8.5x11, you just need to verify your print settings are to shrink to fit the paper.  You should see a link for "File" & "View" above the image of the newsletter, this will allow you to save or print.
Hope you enjoy the newest feature of our Churches site.  If you have any suggestions, comments or complaints, please contact Anna in the Church Office at  sweenyfumc@windstream.net

Christmas Message from Bishop Janice Riggle Huie

Lingering Over Christmas

Some seasons of the year are like ladders by which we climb to a purer air and a higher, broader view of life. Christmas is such a time.

Darkness is overcome by light. Cold is overtaken by warmth. Choirs sing like angels. The power that created all the galaxies, all the stars in their courses, becomes flesh and blood in a barn. A sweet, innocent creature is conceived by the extravagant love of God and is born as all infants are born — in the flesh and blood of humanity. The Incarnation can be accepted only with awe and wonder. Jesus was wholly divine and Jesus was wholly human. Like love, the incarnation cannot be explained — only rejoiced in.

In all the “busy-ness” of Christmas — the family gatherings, gift-giving, meal preparation, parties and more, the wonder, joy and awe of the Incarnation seems to disappear quickly. We drop back to our former levels of ordinariness, routine, chores, children, parents and jobs. Often we are left with only a haunting dream by which we remember the mystery and joy of Christmas Eve.

What if we could climb the ladder again and see the stars and hear the angels again? What would it be like to wonder again at the miraculous love of God? What would it be like if, at least for a time, we could linger over Christmas?

Luke offers us such a ladder for lingering. He leaves us with the word “ponder.” “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Ponder is an interesting word. It may sound a little heavy to our ears — as though “ponder” is calling us to strain for some higher level of intellect. Dr. Eugene Peterson helps us here. He paraphrases, “Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.”

What did Mary ponder? That the son of God was born in the rudeness of a barn? That Joseph protected and cared for her, even though he understood less than she. The strange visit by the shepherd who told them about the angels announcing that the birth of this child would bring peace to all people.

After the last gift is opened and all the Christmas decorations put away, what if we were to linger over the Incarnation as one carefully carries a precious memory? What if we were to ponder Christmas — to hold Christmas dear and deep within ourselves? What if we were to begin the new year, not only with new resolutions for a better life, but also deeper level of wondering about a love which changes the world?

Somehow in this Child, in the mature human being he grew to become, is the gloriously impossible mystery of God. There is the power to love beyond all understanding. There is the power to make us whole. There is the power to bring life out of death — even to you and me.

May Christ fill you with joy, awe and wonder as you linger over Christmas and ponder the birth of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,
Janice Riggle Huie

Christmas Festival Sign Ups

Our Annual Christmas Festival will be on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010 from 4pm-6pm in the Family Life Center.  Entry fee is 1+ canned good per person.  We need volunteers to help with the booths as well as food/prizes.  Below is a list of the games & things needed still.  Please email or call the church office to sign up or get more information.  We also need volunteers to help setup for the festival at 2pm (you don't have to work a booth to help setup/clean up).  We appriciate any and all help.  Thanks for helping us provide this wonderful event for the children of the community.  
God Bless ~
Jessica Pate & Anna Turner

Christmas Festival 2010 Sign Up

Volunteers
(We will need at least 2 volunteers per booth, you are welcome to find extra people to work your booth part of the time so that you can enjoy the festivities as well. Please remember that all volunteers will need a background check as of 2010.)

Duck Pond (pick a duck out of the pond to see what prize is on it's underside):

Spinner (spin the wheel to see what prize you win):   Lucy Miller

Plunko (drop the disk from the top to see where it lands as it bounces down the board):  Jane Pate, Kristy Lavendar, Sue Ellen Netherley

Washer Toss:  Gayle Horn

Cake Walk: Glick Family

Bingo:

Cards:  Kay Brightwell

Entry Door:  Jeanette Nelson, Ruby Mickey


Supplies & Prizes for Games
(We are planning for 200 children & their parents, plus 20 or so volunteers)

Sandwich Size Ziploc Bags:  Anna Turner

Cupcakes (for cakewalk) {we need a lot, this is a very popular game}:  Pastor, Jane Pate

Cookies (for cakewalk)  {we need a lot, this is a very popular game}:  Brightwell Family, Ruby Mickey

Any Valentine or Easter or Patriotic Cards (blank, not filled out) {We will be making/signing cards for the troops}:


Dinner
Hobo Stew:

6 pounds of cooked Hamburger Meat (can choose any quantity, ie/ 1 pound, 2 pound, etc.):  2lbs each- Sue Walker, Kay Brightwell, Jeanette Nelson


Saltine Crackers:  Karen Bailey

Ritz Crackers:  Karen Bailey

Corn Bread (several pans/muffins):  Lucile Burttschell, Mary Kessler, Glick Family

Advent Festivities

There are lots of activities planned at the church in the coming month.  Please check back for updates.

Saturday, Dec. 4th - 4pm
Holiday In The Park Parade.  Line up at the Elementary School at 4pm.

Sunday, Dec. 5th - 8:45am
Children's Christmas Program Rehearsal.  We will meet in the Sanctuary to practice for the Christmas Program.

Sunday, Dec. 5th - 3pm
Caroling Hay Ride.  We will meet at the Church parking lot and carol through Sweeny.
We will be decorating the Family Life Center for the Christmas Festival after the hayride.

Sunday, Dec. 12th - 8:45am
Children's Christmas Program Rehearsal.  We will meet in the Sanctuary to practice for the Christmas Program.

Sunday, Dec. 12th - 10am (during Service)
Children's Christmas Program.  The children will be performing during service.

Sunday, Dec. 12th - 4pm-6pm
Christmas Festival in the Family Life Center.  Entry fee is 1 canned good per person.

Sunday, Dec. 12th
Deadline for Lights of Love

Sunday, Dec. 19th - 8:45am
Christmas Party for Jesus during Sunday School.

Sunday, Dec. 19th - 10am (during Service)
Christmas Cantata.  The hand bell choir & the choir will be performing during service.

Sunday, Dec. 19th - 6pm
Lights of Love tree lighting ceremony in the prayer garden.

Sunday, Dec. 19th - following Lights of Love tree lighting
Open House at the Parsonage

Thursday & Friday, Dec. 23rd & 24th
Church Office will be closed

Friday, Dec. 24th - 7pm & 11pm
Christmas Eve Service

Saturday, Dec. 25th, Merry Christmas!!!- Noon
Lunch at the parsonage

Thanksgiving for the elderly & those needing a helping hand

Our Local Police Department is helping sponsor a Local Thanksgiving Dinner this Saturday, November 20, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church of Sweeny, Texas, from 11:30 until 2:00 or when the food runs out.  They are serving the elderly and those needing a helping hand.  They could use some more volunteers willing to help serve.  Just show up at the Family Life Center and ask for Mona . . . tell her Pastor Sherry sent you. 

Services for John Robert Nelson

Graveside service for John Robert Nelson will be Sunday, November 21, 2010
College Station Memorial Cemetery in College Station at 1:30 p.m.

The family has asked me to extend a special word of Thanks to Shorty Kessler and Ray George for their help during this difficult time.

Happy Veteran's Day!!!

Thank you to all the soldiers past & present, who have served in the different branches of the military, so that we have the rights and freedoms we have today! 

Here are a few of the Veterans from the First United Methodist Church of Sweeny:

Craig Anderson

La Barker

David Brightwell

HK Brooks

Frank Burttschell

Robert Efird

Dan Ellis

John Folden

Lanny Henderson

John Hiers

Michael Horn

Wayne Jacobs

Charles Kling

Stephen Koether

Greg Miesmer

Bobby Nairn

C.W. New

PO Patrick

Tim Ryerson

Josh Summers

Jerry Turner

Chris Van Avery

Leroy Walker




(If you photo/name is not listed above and you would like it added, please email or bring a photo by the church office and we will get it added.  If you don't have a photo, let us know you served and we would be happy to add your name to the list.)

Sunday, November 14, 2010 is Louise Johnson Day

Church Family

It is fun to look back on the fun times we have had in the past. It is a blessing when we share good times together. We should never forget we are who we are today because of the hard work of all who have gone before us. As Louise Johnson moves to College Station we treasure all of the fond memories we have shared. She will be a blessing to St. Lukes UMC in College Station. We are losing one of our constant volunteers. She has been a large part of 3M's, helps out in the office every Monday as we prepare and send out our Church newsletter, coordinated volunteers for Feed My Lambs, helps with Fall Festival, Christmas Festival, Chicken Spaghetti Dinner. Louise, you will be missed.

Lord, thank you for blessing all of us with her sweet demeanor, her quiet ways and ready smile. Our lives are better because she has touched each one of us in a special way. Amen

Down Memory Lane

Down Memory Lane

John Kessler sharing his wisdom with Steven Koether at the 80th Birthday Party for our Church in 2004.

Chicken Spaghetti Dinner & Bazaar

Our 53rd annual chicken spaghetti dinner and bazaar will be held on Thursday, November 4th.


Tickets are available by contacting the church office. Tickets are $8 each.

The Bazaar & Country Kitchen are Open at 8:00am

Serving Times:
Dine In or Take Out
11:00am-1:30pm
4:00pm-6:30pm
(Take out for evening serving through 7:00pm)

Deliveries must be called in by or before 9:00am

979-548-2192 or the day of the dinner you can call 979-548-2193.

Hope to see ya there!!!

Fall Festival

First United Methodist Church of Sweeny's Fall Festival will be Oct. 31st, 4pm-6pm. Entry fee is 1+ canned goods that will be donated to West Brazos Cares. We will be having a Biblical Character Costume Contest. Come join the fun. Bring your camera and snap a photo at our photo booth. Play some games and enjoy dinner. Happy Fall Y'all!!!

The Church Directory is here!

Our Church Directory has arrived.  They are available for pick up in the Church office during the week and will be available outside the nursery on Sunday morning.

Fall Festival 2010

The Fall Festival is fast approaching! It will be October 31st, 4-6. We will be setting up for the festival on Saturday, October 30. We will have the time in the newsletter, bulletin & website.


This year we are moving away from a "Halloween" theme and making the Festival "Fall" themed with no ghosts, ghouls, goblins or monsters. There will be a biblical costume contest. Just think, ANYTHING in the Bible could be a costume: people, animals, queens & kings, seven deadly sins, etc. etc. etc. ..the list goes on and on....Use your imagination!!!!

I'm copying the signup list below so that everyone can see what's still needed as of this minute. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact the church office to sign up. You can e-mail, call or come by the office to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact the office at sweenyfumc@windstream.net  or Jessica Pate (Children's Ministry Coordinator) at smilegodlovesyou2010@hotmail.com .

Hope you can help whether it be volunteering, donations, or even just prayers for a good time to be had by all. If you have already signed up to help, THANK YOU!

See you there!!!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fall Festival 2010

Sign Up

Volunteers

(We will need at least 2 volunteers per booth, you are welcome to find extra people to work your booth part of the time so that you can enjoy the festivities as well. Please remember that all volunteers will need a background check as of 2010.)

Duck Pond (pick a duck out of the pond to see what prize is on it's underside):

Spinner (spin the wheel to see what prize you win):

Plunko (drop the disk from the top to see where it lands as it bounces down the board):  Sue Ellen Netherly & Jane Pate

Washer Toss:

Needle in a Haystack (search for prizes in pile of hay):

Bowling:

Fishing Pond ("fish" over the wall for prizes): Brooks Family

Cake Walk: Glick Family

Ring the Pumpkins (try to toss a ring over the stem of pumpkins for a prize):  Gayle Horn

Cards for the Troops:  Kay Brightwell

Supplies & Prizes for Games

(We are planning for 200 children plus 20 or so volunteers)

Individually Wrapped Candy
Goldfish Crackers (Large boxes &/or individual packs)   Jeanette Nelson
Plain & Fruit Cheerios  Sheri Van Avery
Candy Corn   Anna Turner
Popcorn (already popped)   Jessica Pate
Twist Ties   50-Anna Turner
Snack Size & Sandwich Size Ziploc Bags  Leslie Follett
Cupcakes  (for cake walk)
Cookies (for cake walk)

Dinner

Nachos:
Chips (about 8 bags of tortilla chips)
Dip Pastor Sherry

Hot Dogs:
Buns:  Kay & Jimmy Brightwell
Hot Dogs  Kay & Jimmy Brightwell
Relish, Mayo/Mayonnaise, Mustard, Ketchup   Karen & Buddy Bailey
Chili   Frank & Lucille Burttschell
Onions
Shredded Cheese  Sheri Van Avery



53rd Annual Chicken Spaghetti Dinner & Bazaar

53 years ago, the women of the First United Methodist Church of Sweeny started something so good that today, they are not only still doing it, but doing it on a grand scale.  Our 53rd annual chicken spaghetti dinner and bazaar will be held on Thursday, November 4th.

When the Chicken Spaghetti Dinner started in 1957, the women served 70 dinners.  They now serve more than 1,000 plates.

Tickets are available by contacting the church office.  Tickets are $8 each.

The Bazaar & Country Kitchen are Open at 8:00am

Serving Times:
Dine In or Take Out
11:00am-1:30pm
4:00pm-6:30pm
(Take out for evening serving through 7:00pm)
Deliveries must be called in by or before 9:00am
979-548-2192 or the day of the dinner you can call 979-548-2193.

Hope to see ya there!!!

Here's a trip back in time for you:

This photo is from the 7th annual dinner & bazaar.  Pictured are Betty Whitehead, Ora Kahla (seated left to right), and Melitta Watzon.

This photo was taken at the 40th Annual Dinner & Bazaar.  Pictured from left are: Betty Jo Spencer, Inez Updike, Linda Holcomb, Gloria Patrick, Homer Shurtz, Richard Johnson, Tom Holcomb, Jim Riley, PO Patrick, Peggy Ellis, Dan Ellis, Agnes Whitehead, Helen Tillman Cox, Ora Kahla, Harold Brooks and Vivian Brooks.
In 1997, at the 40th annual dinner, more than 700 dinners were served. 

If you have photos from these or other Chicken Spaghetti Dinner & Bazaars held at the First United Methodist Church of Sweeny, we would love to have copies for our historical room.  Please contact the church office.  Thanks & God Bless

9/27/10 New Office Hours

Hi everyone!!!  Just wanted to announce our new Church Office Hours.
We are now open Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.

God Bless You!

9/10/10

Hi everyone! I was cleaning the Church office today and came across a list of the past preachers of the First United Methodist Church of Sweeny. I have added a tab at the top of the page so you can see our past preachers. I will be adding photos of them as I find them.
Roll of Ministers

Enjoy & God Bless,
Anna
Church Administrator

Mission Service Hours

Turn in Your Mission Service Hours


“Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  (Colossians 3:17)

Whether you mow a neighbor’s lawn or work as a volunteer for an outside organization, keep track of your hours and turn them in the following Sunday. Work done at/for the Church also counts. You can drop it the offering plate or leave it in the office door/window. As seen on the front of each Sunday’s bulletin, a record of your service hours reflects our combined witness in a tangible way and may encourage others within the church to do service outside the church. Please list what you did and hours spent so that we can insure you aren’t counted twice.  You can also turn in mileage spent doing service work.

Our Current Total is:  3617.75

Note of Thanks from Luna/Looke Family

We, along with Vicki's sister, Sally Looke, would like to express our appreciation to the church and our church family for all the kind thoughts and prayers during Opal Looke's illness and recent passing. They were comforting and it is our blessing that Mom is now resting peacefully in a better place.
Thanks you all.
Bruce and Vicki Luna, Sally Looke

Prayer Requests

"We seek you , Lord Jesus,

Open our minds to know you more dearly,

Open our hearts to love you more clearly,

Open our lives to follow you more nearly,

in all that we think, say and do."

Please leave a comment below to be added to our Online Prayer List. Prayer List additions are open to anyone around the world. Please feel free to leave as much or as little information as you want, God knows for who/why we are praying. God Bless!

 

 

Unspoken Prayers and Concerns

updated as of

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are LIVE!!!! 9/2/10

Hi everyone! Thank you for visiting First United Methodist Church of Sweeny's little corner of the web! We are officially back online and will be adding more site content including history of the Church, Meetings, Events, Groups, etc. in the coming months. Please enjoy and if you have any comments or suggestions just send us an email. (See the contact us page for contact information)

Have a Blessed Day,
Anna Turner
Church Administrator

Photos of First United Methodist Church of Sweeny

Look for more information on the Church soon.

We will be adding more photos of the Church Campus in the coming months.

First United Methodist Church of Sweeny has an awesome stain glass window at the front of the Sanctuary.

This is the inside of the Sanctuary. This photo was taken in the 1960's.

Staff

Welcome to our Staff Page!

Below you will find some of the Staff that helps keep the Church going.

Pastor: Rev. Sherry Q. Crenshaw

revcrenshaw@windstream.net

Church Administrator: Anna Turner
sweenyfumc@windstream.net

Nursery Coordinator &

Children's Church Leader & Coordinator

Choir Director: John Poland

  

 

Musician: Greg Wiggers

  

Nursery Helper: Vannessa Hiers

Director of Education: Debbie Anderson

 

Director of Children's Ministries: Jessica Pate

smilegodlovesyou2010@hotmail.com

Sound System Technician: Johnie Glick

Sound System Technician: Julia Glick

Custodian: Felicia Mayberry



If you are a staff member and your photo isn't above, please contact the church office so we can get it added.  God Bless!

Map of 207 E 1st St, Sweeny, TX

Map of 207 E 1st St Sweeny, Texas by MapQuest

Roll of Ministers

Roll of Ministers of the

First United Methodist Church of Sweeny

J.L. Ross ~ 1924 (West Columbia)

J.L. Weatherly ~ (West Columbia)

C.T. Tally, Jr. ~ (West Columbia)

D.L. Landrum ~ (West Columbia)

R.D. McSwain ~ (a few months)

Ed Prather ~ 1927 – Brazoria Circuit

H.K. Christian ~ (from Boling) once a month

C. Pugsley ~ (West Columbia)

W.H. Edwards ~

Thomas M. Price ~ 1937 (at McKinney home)

L.E. Wratten ~ 1940

J. Roy Gibbs ~

H.A. Springfield ~ November 1943 – November 1944

Elza Love ~ November 1944 – November 1946

A.S. Kattner ~ November 1946 – June 1947

James M. Heflin ~ June 1947 – October 1949

Lloyd E. Williams ~ October 1949 – June 1951

H.V. Watts ~ June 1951 – June 1954

O. Ray Conger ~ June 1954 – December 1956

Glen E. Eckols ~ December 1956 – June 1962

J. Carr Peel ~ June 1962 – June 1964

Eldon L. Reed ~ June 1964 – June 1968

Spurgeon M. Dunnam, Jr. ~ June 1968 – June 1970

Alan R. Reed ~ June 1970 – June 1973

Reginald C. Brock ~ June 1973 – August 1974

Otis Sutton ~ August 1974 – June 1975

Dan B. Bynum ~ June 1975 – June 1980


Jim H. Crawford ~ June 1980 – June 1984

James E. McCullar ~ June 1984 – June 1988

Robert J. Pate ~ June 1988 – June 1990

Jay C. Barnes ~ June 1990 – June 1995

David N. Capehart ~ June 1995 – January 1996

Robert E. Hayes, Jr. ~ January 1996 – April 1996
Interium Pastor (District Superintendent)

George Wilson ~ April 1996 - ?

Bill Jobe ~ ? – June 2001

Alexander D. Lupo ~ June 2001 – June 2008








Sherry Q. Crenshaw ~ June 2008 - May 2012

Nancy J. Cobbs ~ June 2012 - Present