Possible Study Materials for New Year

Check out this DVD study series! It might be worth trying!

http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=921712

Linking Bible study to global mission and local service projects, this six-session small group resource enables congregations to discuss and act on the imperatives of scripture.

Each week, participants will read and discuss a gospel story, watch a video profiling an inspiring, world-changing mission effort, and envision together how they can change the world locally and globally. Participants won’t just read about Jesus feeding the 5000 or healing the lepers, but will be inspired by contemporary ministries feeding the poor and preventing malaria. Participants will be challenged to take a leading role in the congregation’s missional efforts, serving in a homeless shelter as a group, raising funds for disaster relief, or planning a church-wide day of service.

Jesus called us to follow him, to live a life of active faith, feeding the poor, healing the sick, welcoming the alien, and rescuing the desperate. It’s easy to get stuck in our religious habits of just going to church, tossing a few bucks in the offering plate, and occasionally reading our Bible—but Jesus has bigger plans for us. We are called to be his hands and feet in the world. He wants to use us to change the world.

Notes from Sunday, November 27

Cupcakes for Coats is soon to be finalized. Leanne will take care of switching out one coat for one student that was too small. Nancy Lambert will help her facilitate this exchange. Leanne will also deliver (if she hasn't already) the few coats that were to go to homes in the country. Blake also reported that Mrs. Kowalke has one student who did not receive a coat. If Leanne's last delivery doesn't take care of this situation, Blake will report to Ryan the missing size so that this too can be taken care of. There are 5-7 extra coats that will be placed in the MAM room should other needs arise.

Our Sweet Shoppe will begin on Sunday, Dec. 4. Nicole will make caramels for the kick-off, but we could certainly use other items to fill in. We would welcome candy of any kind as well as baked goods, hot chocolate mixes, etc. The Sweet Shoppe will run three Sundays total: Dec. 4, 11, 18 with Ryan's mom doing peanut brittle on Dec. 11, and Leanne making toffee on Dec. 18.

Money raised from this project will go toward our Christmas Angel Project, which will include personal hygiene gift sets for those gift recipients in junior high or high school. We'll also want to pick up some infant and toddler gifts as back-ups. The deadline for the Christmas Angels is Dec. 11 with delivery slated for Dec. 13, which will coordinate with the delivery date of the Christmas food baskets by the Pairs and Spares. A time for this delivery has not been determined as of yet.

We are also planning to help out at the elementary school's February Literacy Night. We will provide cookies and punch as well has door prizes. We will use the following break-downs for door prizes:

PK-K
1-2
3-4
5-6
Adults.

Nicole also suggested that we could hand out pencils and erasers to every child in attendance. Ryan will take care of this.

We also discussed Assessment Incentives for this school year. Pool passes and carnival wristbands seem to work well at the elementary level, but we are considering moving to fewer, grander prizes at the junior high and high school. Flat-screen televisions and DVD players were discussed. This needs to be finalized at a later date after further discussion. Once this is done, perhaps we can revisit our concept of having an Assessment Achievement Recognition Banquet later in the spring of 2012.

Dates to Remember

Coat delivery November 20 (coat delivery following Thanksgiving lunch at church)

Christmas Angel Launch November 9 (UMW Bazaar)
Christmas Angel Delivery December 14 (time TBA)

Christmas Sweet Shoppe December 4, 11, and 18.

Christmas Program at Church December 11.

Cupcakes for Coats

Wow, we've now topped 60 dozen cupcakes with donations nearing $1,500 for our Cupcakes for Coats project. Please get additional orders to Ryan ASAP as he has taken on the job of cupcake order organizer. Leanne is now checking on supplies for this project: cupcake liners, cake mixes, boxes, etc., but we will need to borrow your cupcake pans for the day of the Great Bake, which is Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Three Tiers.

On that day, we will stop for lunch around noon and eat Mexican food that was purchased and frozen from a fundraiser at the Catholic Church. Please feel free to pitch in by bringing a dessert or a side dish. Plates, cups, napkins, etc. will be provided. We will then work into the afternoon, probably in two groups: bakers and sorters.

Deliveries and pick-ups will take place on Sunday, Oct. 30 following morning worship at the Satanta United Methodist Church. For ease and convenience, sandwiches will be served for lunch that day.

Then it will be time to purchase coats. Bi-lingual forms were distributed at parent-teacher conferences, and we are anticipating the purchase of as many as 50 coats. In the event that our revenue tops our need, we will discuss alternatives for purchasing coats with the remaining total. We could, perhaps, expand into Sublette, or we could also use some of our funds to help the kids at Youthville purchase coats or other cold-weather apparel.

One thing is for sure, there will be many children this winter who know the joy of a warm coat and, hopefully, a warm heart.

Possible Source for Coat Purchases

These coats (boys and girls) from walmart.com run $17.97 each with free shipping for orders totaling more than $45.00. Buying from one source would be ideal.

Notes from Sunday, October 1

Cupcakes for Coats is a go! We'll need to work on getting the word out this week. Ryan will put something in the newspaper and hang signs as a start. Remember, we plan to bake at Three Tiers on Saturday, Oct. 29. Delivery and pick-up will take place on Sunday, Oct. 30 following lunch at the church. We'll talk menus later!Leanne will take coat application forms to the grade school to be distributed by individual classroom teachers.

We have donated a lovely winter scene decorative set to Russell Child Development for its annual Fantasy Tree Festival. Stephanie will take care of pick-up and delivery.

We still plan to provide food for the yearbook kids' Nov. 10 Parcel Post Auction fundraiser. At this point, Ryan will make chili, and Leanne will make taco soup. We will provide relishes and cheese, paper goods, drinks, and desserts as well.

We've also begun brainstorming ways to develop our assessment incentive program for the Satanta schools. Karen thinks the junior high and school students would like some time off rather than the traditional assessment prizes. Nicole thinks that we should consider an assessment banquet at which we recognize all those who met and exceeded the standards. This is an idea that is certainly worth exploring. We'll discuss it further next Sunday!

Cupcakes for Coats