New Videos - Temple Day School

Over the next few days, we will be sharing with you the videos that are being produced for our use on our website and on a DVD that can be given to first time guests. We will also be utilizing these videos on our website so folks can view them there as well. As a matter of fact, some of them are already there...but we wanted to put them up here as well so we could get feedback on the work that is being done!

Here is the first that has been completed involving the Temple Day School and the Mother's Day Out programs here at UMT.

Russell and Forest in Tyler News

As many of you know, Forest and I recently went to Tyler, Texas to finish our training for Mustard Seed Ministries. While we were there, the Tyler branch of Mustard Seed Ministries was interviewed about their ministry. Considering that we were expanding this ministry to Port Arthur, the news crew also interviewed me and got some video of Forest and I. The video has been included below for anyone that missed the link on Facebook!

Shaun Groves Coming in Worship

On April 17th and 18th (in all services), we will be welcoming singer/songwriter Shaun Groves as he comes to lead us in worship, deliver a message of hope and tell us about his partnership with Compassion International. First, mark your calendars for these dates. Then, consider how you, your family, your Sunday school class, or your small group might partner with Compassion International in their work around the world.

Here is just a snippet of what is happening with Compassion's work in Haiti:

A Weekend with Shaun Groves

Encounters (our Saturday night service) started booking Shaun Groves (you've been reading about him in the Messenger) to do an evening where he would lead worship, deliver a message of hope, sing some of his original songs, and share about his partnership with Compassion International. This Saturday Evening with Shaun Groves has now turned into an entire weekend!

Over the next month, between now and Shaun's time with us on Saturday April 17th and Sunday April 18th, we will be sharing more about Shaun Groves and Compassion International on both the UMT and Encounters' blogs. Each week we will present you with a video or some pictures and information about the vital kingdom work that Compassion is accomplishing.

This week we wanted to start by just sharing a little with you about Compassion, so we offer you this video as an introduction:



If you have any questions about the events for the weekend of April 17th and 18th, please feel free to contact Russell in the church office.

By the way, to find out more about our special guest, Shaun Groves, go check out his website by clicking here.

Shaun will be in all three worship services on this April weekend...so mark your calendars!

New Website Up!

In case you haven't checked it out yet, we have gone live with our new website! You can find it over at www.umt.org. You will notice a lot of familiar content and some new stuff too. The graphics are new and over the course of the next few months, we will be changing out the flash component and building the calendar of events. Additionally, we will be adding more of our own photos from events and happenings around the church.

We invite you to check out our new site and let us know what you think (either by emailing the webmaster from the site or leaving a comment here). Thank you for your patience during this time of transition.

Blessings,

The communications team at UMT

Spotlight on Ministry - Week of December 7, 2009

Do you enjoy working in the kitchen? Is your favorite thing in the world creating delicious meals for others to enjoy? Then we have ministry opportunities for you!

Every month there are numerous opportunities to serve in kitchen related ministry. From Meals on Wheels to Midweek Encounters and from Thanksgiving meals (or other special events) to feeding guest mission teams at our facility, the kitchen is a happening place with lots of opportunities to serve.

If you have a passion for cooking and serving, then we encourage you to contact the office and we will get you connected to a kitchen ministry that works with your schedule!

Two Musical Worship Experiences on the Horizon

Part of coming together and worshiping as a group is telling about our story, the story of God, and how God's story intersects with ours. This is done week in and week out through the worship songs and hymns that we sing, the sermons we hear, the sharing of our gifts, celebrating what God is doing in our lives and praying for one another.

During special seasons of the Christian calendar, we have the privilege of experiencing our stories through special musical services provided by different choirs and groups within the church. This Advent season presents two incredible opportunities for us to experience the Christmas story through music!

After weeks of practice, our children's choir will be presenting their musical "Shepherds, Sheep, and a Savior" this Sunday at our 8:30 and 10:50 worship services.

On Sunday, December 13th, our Chancel Choir and orchestra will be presenting a Christmas Cantata at the 10:50 a.m. worship service. This cantata is the Christmas story from Prophecy to Fulfillment, with music and lyrics by Pepper Choplin, celebrated as if the story is brand new. It is his desire to offer us a fresh experience in singing of Christ’s birth. Choplin calls up folk styles to celebrate the story in Appalachian, Irish, Cajun and Early American flavors. There will be some new instruments in our orchestra, too.

Come and enjoy these special presentations of the Christmas story with your family and be sure and invite a friend!