Vol. 10, No.

10
Vol. 13, No. 1

October 1, 2014
January 1, 2017

A 20:17 Year
But he looked directly at
them and said, What then
is this that is written: The
stone that the builders
rejected has become the
cornerstone? - Luke 20:17

The Wills Point Community Angel Tree program for 2016 is

complete! Thanks to countless individuals, churches, and local
businesses who picked an angel, gave gifts and food, donated funds,
and/or gave of their time, clothing and toys for 309 children and food
for their 112 families were distributed. Our volunteers collectively
spent hundreds of hours shopping at numerous stores in several
cities and sorting items received in an attempt to make sure that the
children receive the right size clothing and at least one of their wish
list items and that their families receive a good quantity of food. This
truly was a community-wide effort, neighbor helping neighbor.
Thank you for helping to make Christmas 2016 special for some very
needy Wills Point families!

In this Edition
Youth, K6, & Small Group (pg. 2)
Notes from the Loft (pg. 3)

Important Dates (p. 4)

Calendar (p. 5)

In 1896, Rev. Charles M.

Sheldon began to create a
fictional story that he
would preach on Sunday
evenings. It was a story
about a pastor who
challenged his
congregation to filter
every decision in life
through the question,
What would Jesus do?
As the story unfolds, the
characters who take this
challenge seriously
experience radically
transformed lives. They
begin to understand the
(cont. on pg. 6)

There are great opportunities arranged for you

to help in our local schools. Posted in the hallway beside the Seeker's classroom in the Deen
Building is a display of opportunities to help
with tutoring or to read to a child. Background
check forms are posted there as well. Please
consider how you can offer your time in this
way to impact the children in our community.

Have you
ever wanted
to
experience
for yourself
the land of
our Lord?
Here is your chance to literally walk where Jesus
walked. Pastor Dave is coordinating a trip to the
Holy Land. You will have the opportunity to
share the experience with your pastor and
other pilgrims from your congregation. The 10day trip will depart on November 13, 2017 from
Dallas. An outline of the trip can be found by
going to eo.travelwithus.com and searching the
Holy Land Classic 2017 trip. Brochures with
details are available at the church office. Sherri
Rowe has also prepared a comprehensive cost
estimate to supplement the brochure. Dont
miss this opportunity to see and learn about the
land of the Bible.

Youth group has resumed its regular schedule!

Join us Wednesday nights from 5:30 pm until
7:30 pm. We have several new opportunities
for the kids! Dinner is provided, as well as a
great time of fellowship and fun! Dont miss
out!

K6

K6 Kids Choir & K6

Kids meet on Wed.
evenings, 5:30 pm
until 7:00 pm. Dinner
is provided. Its
always a great time!

Food Drive
We have sponsored the Middle
School back pack program for
many years now. This
vital program sends backpacks
filled with food home each
weekend with students in
need. We have recently found
that the Junior High is in desperate need of the food items as well. Items
should be easily opened and consumed by a
child (nothing requiring a can opener). Small
containers and single-servings are helpful, as
well. These can include (but are not limited to)
cracker packs, pop top meal cups, cups of fruit,
single serve cereal, and so forth. Any and all
help is greatly appreciated. I was hungry, and
you gave me food. (Matthew 25:35)

A look inside one of the Angel

Tree Sorting rooms. People from
all different denominations
coming together to work for the
kids of Wills Point!

All the gifts and food bags arranged just before

handout to the Angel Tree recipients.

NOTES FROM THE LOFT:

Fritz and I want to thank each member of RMUMC for the very generous Christmas bonus. We are
most grateful for the opportunity to be connected in service with this body of believers.
As our Pastor is quick to remind us, all thanks must first go to God, and then to the faithful and
committed choir members, who have sustained our music ministry since its inception by Bob and
Sue Brown, in 1970. Without their dedication, there would be no choir. Thanks also go to Theresa
Turner and members of the Ladies' Handbell Choir, who lug those bells all over creation to play for
the glory of God and represent our church so well. To Amy Goodson for directing Children's Choir
and Bell Choir Ministries and Youth Praise Band, "Guardians of the Gospel," and, in addition, our
wonderful Contemporary Service Praise Band, "Contemporary Prayz," with its faithful members,
Arthur Galope, Jr., Brett Marley, and Rob Groover, I express my deepest thanks.
When you see any of these people, or their ensemble members, please give them a big hug and
heartfelt thank- you for their efforts.
Happy New Year!
Bob

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 the church for details

(903-873-2569).

Happy Birthday!
Laura Bates
1-4
Barbara Lamb
1-5
Theresa Turner
1-5
G.R. Culpepper
1-7
Becca Rowe
1-8
Taylor Hulsey
1-8
Mark Hataway
1-10
Denise Basham
1-11
Herschel LyBrand 1-13
Sophie Nychka
1-13
A.J. Galope
1-17
Jim Briggs
1-19
Nathan Hullum
1-21
Joan Berry
1-22

Karen Samples
1-22
Linda Poteet
1-22
Annette Clemmons
1-24
Harriet Hardin
1-24
Rusty Miracle
1-28
Judy Culpepper 1-29
Maxine Page
1-31
Molly Brittain
1-31
Phillis Humphrey 1-31

January Worship Assistants

Altar Guild: Barbara Lamb (Chair), Bonnie George, Nancy
McDonald, Billie Cade, Rene Cartwright
Ushers: Carolyn Hawkins (Head), Robert Butts, Ron Butler,
Mike Roddy
Our Presence and Our Gifts
Dec. 4
Dec. 11
Dec. 18
the early service
52
50
52
Sunday School
96
110
75
Traditional Worship
93
132
64
$6,868.25
$7,759.00
$15,061.97

Dec. 24

Dec. 25

158

88
$8,161.50

Calendar of Events for December

Dates to Remember!
January 1, 10:30 a.m. Combined Worship (in the sanctuary)
January 2, 6:00 p.m. Trustees Meeting (Friendship classroom, church building)
January 7, 10:00 a.m. Cake at Crestwood
January 9, 5:00 p.m. Day School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m. Finance Committee
Meeting (Friendship classroom, church building)
January 14, 9;00 a.m. UMW Brunch Meeting (Deen Building)
January 22, 7:30 a.m. UMM Breakfast (Deen Building), 12:00 p.m. Church Council
Meeting (Deen Building)
January 28, 11:00 a.m. Neighbor to Neighbor (Deen Building)
January 29, 9:45 a.m. Brunch Potluck (Deen Building, NO SUNDAY SCHOOL)

Sunday

Monday

1
10:30am Combined
Worship Service
5:00 pm Disciple
Bible Study

2
10:00am Ladies
Prayer Group

8
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45am Sunday
School
11:00am Worship
5:00 pm Disciple
Bible Study

9
10:00 am Ladies
Prayer Group

15
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45 am Sunday
School
11:00 am Worship
5:00 pm Disciple
Bible Study

16
10:00 am Ladies
Prayer Group

Tuesday
3

6:00pm Trustees
Meeting

10

5:00pm Day
School
6:00pm Finance
6:00 pm Scouts

17

22
23
7:30 am UMM
10:00 am Ladies
Breakfast
Prayer Group
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45 am Sunday
School
11:00 am Worship
12:00 pm Church
Council
2:00 pm Crestwood
5:00 pm Disciple
Bible Study

24

29
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45 am Brunch
11:00 am Worship
5:00 pm Disciple
Bible Study

31

30
10:00 am Ladies
Prayer Group

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

5
4
5:30pm Youth & K6
Kids
6:00pm Ladies
Hand Bells
7:30pm Adult Choir

11
12
5:30pm Youth & K6
Kids
6:00pm Ladies
Hand Bells
7:30pm Adult Choir

13

18
19
5:30pm Youth & K6
Kids
6:00pm Ladies
Hand Bells
7:30pm Adult Choir

20

25
26
5:30pm Youth & K6
Kids
6:00pm Ladies
Hand Bells
7:30pm Adult Choir

27

Saturday
7
10:00am Cake at
Crestwood
6:00pm Rene
Cartwrights Small
Group Study

14
9:00am UMW
Brunch
6:00pm Rene
Cartwrights Small
Group Study

21
9:00am Crafting
with Christ
6:00pm Rene
Cartwrights Small
Group Study

28
Neighbor to
Neighbor
Lunch 11 am1pm
6:00pm Rene
Cartwrights Small
Group Study

Communion Offering will go toward

the Youth Summer Camp Fund.

(cont. from pg. 1) blessings and the challenges of living with Jesus Christ as the
cornerstone of their lives. If you havent read In His Steps, I encourage you to do so. It is a story
that has blessed many people for the last 120 years.
Roughly 2,000 years ago, Jesus challenged the religious establishment of his own day. Many of
them were leading lives that, at least outwardly, had the appearance of godliness. They advocated
for obedience to the Law of God, yet they were in strong opposition to Jesus himself, questioning
his authority to speak and act on behalf of God and their faith. It was at that point that Jesus
reminded them of the words of their own scriptures (Is. 28:16; Ps. 118:22), pointing out that they
were rejecting the person who was the very foundation of their faith. They wanted to centralize
God and yet marginalize Jesus. They failed to recognize that God had made Jesus to be the
cornerstone of Gods redemptive work. Now, 2,000 years later, people are still struggling with his
authority.
I expect that most people who read this will already be professing Christians. If you are not, I invite
you to make that change in your life today. Confess Jesus to be Lord of your life, pray for his
forgiveness, and believe that by his grace Jesus gives you new life in relationship to God. Find a
friend who is active in a church; ask that friend to help you get connected so you can worship with
other believers and begin to grow in Christ. Begin the journey of faith, surrendering your heart and
life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The question, then, for all of us is this: Is Jesus the cornerstone of your life? Obviously we would
like to say yes to that, but is it the full truth? Maybe we have trusted Jesus for our salvation, but
we have not trusted him to be the absolute guide in daily life. If this is the case, I invite you to
move that direction in the coming year. Let 2017 be a 20:17 year, when we consider living as the
Rev. Maxwell challenged his congregation in Sheldons novel. Submit your daily choices to the
Lordship of Jesus. In all things great and small, get in the habit of asking, What would Jesus do?
It will help to solidify Jesus, not only as the cornerstone of your faith, but as the cornerstone of
your living.
Pastor Dave

January UMW Meeting

UMW will be meeting in George Hall on Saturday, January 14th, to plan our 2017 agenda. We will be
setting dates, discussing our programs and approving our budget for the coming year. Your in-put
and suggestions are important to us. Come join us for brunch and fellowship at 9:00 a.m.,
Saturday morning with a business meeting to follow.

Remember in Prayer:
Alice Kolb
AJ Boswell
Allen Thompson
Andie Kay Joyner
Beth Butler
Billy & Dorothy Bruster
Carolyn Solley
Chris Conn
Chuck & Nelda Currie
Jed Hagen
Crestwood Nursing &
Assisted Living
Dave & Dee Lutzinger
David Cartwright & Family
Dennis & Beth Basham
Denny McCormick
Desiree Rearigh
Don Wortman

Donna Gonzales
Emma & Whitney Kearney
Methodist Church (RMUMC)
Homeland Security
James & Brenda Brown &
Family
Joe & Ginger Hess
John Buffington
Joyce Fleming
Julie Edwards
Larry Wampler
Leslie Nychka
Liz Ellis
Melinda Thomason
Mickey Chapple
Norma Hundley
Our Armed Forces, America,
Our World
Mark Brown
Rick Forester & Family

Memorials/Honorariums
In memory of
Jean Heddin
Given by Molly, Bill, & Brad Brittain.
In memory of
Karen Forester
Given by
Ron & Daniel Turner,
Jim & Barbara Lamb,
Denny & Betty McCormick,
and Weldon & Bonnie George.

Ricky Lovvorn
Sherri Rowe
Student, Teachers,
Administrators
Suzanne Stanley
Tristan Parsons
Ted Deen, Sr.
Theresa Turner
Windy Howard

Thank You
Dear RMUMC Members & Staff:
How can we thank you enough for all yall do for
us here at the Middle School. Its a continuous
and constant stream of not only backpack food
that is regularly donated, but also your time &
food for our curriculum night last week, and now
the many books donated to our reading dept. The
giving of your time and service has blessed our
school beyond measure. Thanks to each and
every one of you.
Sincerely,
WPMS
From all of the staff here at RMUMC we would
like to thank you all for the generous Christmas
gift we each received! It is a blessing and a pleasure to work with and for you all.
Thanks Again!
RMUMC Staffers

Rev. David Cartwright, Pastor

Nancy McDonald, Office Administrator
Theresa Turner, Ladies Hand Bells Director
Kristi Adams, Pianist
Amy Goodson, K5 Choir Director

Dr. Bob Gilbreth, Music Director

Fritz Gilbreth, Organist
Kelli Huff, K5 Kids Coordinator
Jackie Cockerham, Financial Administrator
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

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