Progressive Dinner

An email was sent out Sunday evening detailing the events of our Christmas dinner this coming Saturday, December 1st. If you did not receive this email, please email ginny_rushing [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Joys & Concerns 11/25

Hi there -
Here are the Joys & Concerns for this week:

Michael is recovering well from his knee surgery.

Safe travels for Jason Lax's mom, Chris as she heads back to IL.

Karla's sister is unemployed & looking for a job.

Karla's friends Susan & Tim have twim boys with CP. Christian had a new shunt put in his brain this week to decrease some swelling - he's home & recovering.

Keenan's co-worker, Kaaren is terminally ill with Cancer (2-6 mos. to live). Also prayers for her husband, Ervin who also works with Keenan.

Everyone have a great week & we look forward to seeing everyone this weekend for the Annual Christmas Party.

Karla

Head Start Christmas Families

Hernandez Family

Mom/Dad - Each $50 gift card from Wal-Mart (Treasury)

We need 2 couples to sign up for each child. These are only suggestions given by the teacher, you may buy whatever you think is age appropriate. Each couple only needs to spend between $20-30. I have to deliver these gifts to the school on December 14th. I will need to have them by December 13th at the latest. Please post in the comments section which child you would like and what you will buy. For example, one couple can do clothes and shoes and another couple can buy toys and books. Head Start recommends gift cards for shoes. The items do not need to be wrapped this year. Please put the child's name on each gift. Please ask me if you have any questions. Thank you very much!!!!

-------- Karen------- ( Girl Age 10)

Webkinz
CD Player
Clothes (7 juniors)
Sweat Suit
Jeans

Rushing-toys
Haleys- clothes

-------- Galilea --------- (Girl Age 4)

Shoes (size 10 ½) (gift card)
Computer toy
Comforter (twin)
Sheets (twin)

Kuykendall- gift card for shoes and computer toy
Nasers- sheets and comforter

------- Isabel------------- (Girl Age 1)

Shirts (2T)
Jeans
Sweat Suit
Musical toys

Oldham- toys and sweat suit
Glover- jeans and t-shirts

-------Jordan --------- (Boy Age 14)

Clothes (Large-T shirt)
Jeans (34w x 32l)
Shoes (size 10 1/2)
Football

Allison's- football and gift card for shoes
Lax- clothes and jeans

------- Leonardo --------- (Boy Age 15)

Clothes (Large T shirt)
Jeans (36 x 34)
Walkman CD Player
Jacket

Comptons - jeans and the CD walkman

Leon Family

Mom/Dad - Each $50 gift card from Wal-Mart (Treasury)

---------Jevon------- (Boy age 3)

Gift card for clothes (size 3T)
Musical Books
Blocks (wooden)
Fire Truck
Puzzles

Wood- toys
Lincoln- clothes

-------Brandon--------- (Boy age 9)

Clothes (size 12 regular)
Shoes (7)
Basketball
Action figures (GI Joe, maybe add in a cool vehicle to go with it)

Wilkins - GI Joe Action Figure/Toy and basketball
Garcia- clothes and gift card for shoes

-------Marvin---------- (Boy age 16)

Clothes (Large men)
Nike Shoes (10-10 1/2)
Jacket
Basketball
Visa gift card

Taylor- basketball and clothes
Johnson-visa gift card

---------Elena------ (Girl born October 2007)

a warm winter jacket - (size 6 to 9 months)
diapers (size 1)
platex disposable bottles
Formula - Similac with Iron
Shoes - size 3 months
Winter Wear clothing - (size 9 to 12 months)
gently used stroller
crib toys that light up & play music

Rodriguez- formula and diapers
Hazelwood's- clothes and crib toys

Christmas Progressive Dinner - December 1st

Find below listed what we have so far in terms of volunteers to host/bring food. If you are not hosting, please reply in the comments which needed area you are willing to help with food. Though we are trying to keep the dinner in the Plano area, we are one house short. As of now, the Rushings will host that course, but if anyone in the Plano area would like to volunteer, please feel free! (Hosts listed in blue)

Appetizers (5:30-6:30)

1. Allison - Berger

2. Rodriguez - Wilkins

3. Rushing - Hazelwood

Soup/Salad/Bread (6:45-8:30)

1. Kuykendall - Lincoln, Taylor

2. Oldham - Wood, Garcia

3. Compton - Naser, Glover

Dessert (8:45)

1. Lax - Haley, Rodriguez, Johnson

If your name is not listed above, please RSVP in the comments listing what you would like to bring. Each soup/salad/bread house will coordinate with their food helpers as to what they will be having. Soup is a vague way of saying "something easy from a crock pot." Don't create too much work for yourself, keep it simple, and remember how much we will be eating at appetizers and dessert!

Addresses and groups will be sent later in an email, as I don't want to put people's addresses on the website.

UMCOR Missions

*These were briefly presented in class on Sunday 11-18-07. I have included a short informational statement describing each mission. I encourage you to visit the UMCOR website to further investigate the various missions that we can contribute our money towards. There will be further discussion on selecting a class mission.

Health
HIV/AIDS

United Methodist Global AIDS Fund

The fund supports education, prevention, care, and treatment programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in the US and abroad.

AIDS Orphan Trust

This program supports community efforts to care for orphans by assisting them with their daily needs, school fees, and moral and spiritual support.

AIDS Awareness and Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS in Africa

This program supports HIV/AIDS educational programs to promote prevention, community care programs for orphaned children, health coordinator training, and literature distribution.

The Mutti AIDS Fund

Proceeds from this fund have supported HIV/AIDS ministries in the US to assist education and outreach programs. They also support HIV/AIDS programs that provide direct support to people impacted by the disease.

Health
Malaria

Community-Based Malaria Program
The Community-Based Malaria Program provides communities with comprehensive plans to combat malaria that are tailored to their specific needs. This initiative includes community training on basic measures to prevent sickness, free medications and consultations to those who are ill or who are especially vulnerable to malaria and providing insecticide treated nets to pregnant women and families with young children.

Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is a United Methodist-endorsed project that supplies mosquito nets and training on how to use them. This project is operated through the United Nations Foundation which uses its network established through the Measles Project to distribute nets and training. For $10, a net and training on how to use it will be donated through the United Nations' network.

Health
Hospitals

The following hospitals are part of this program that brings health and healing to communities throughout Africa and Asia. See website.

These are just a few of the missions that we could look at contributing our money towards. In an effort to make this as short a post as possible, please go the the UMCOR website to see about the programs in the areas of Health, Hunger, Immigration and Refugees and Emergency Response.

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/

Prayerfully consider our class mission:)

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. Just 11 days til the Holiday Party and Ornament Exchange.

We had a busy week this week. First and foremost please share a big congratulations to Suzanne. At the church conference Sunday night she was approved to be a candidate for ordained ministry sponsored by Custer Road. This is the first step in a long journey to ordained ministry but every methodist minister starts by being sponsored by a local church and we're glad to have Suzanne's come from Custer Road.

The church conference was very good. Ron and Tim laid out a spiritual vision and direction for our church we will be hearing a lot more about. I will try to go over some of that on of the future Sundays.

Sunday morning we had John Baldwin come speak to us about what it means to be an Acts II church. We learned a lot of the history behind this and some great insights from John on how we are currently serving as such and how we can continue to grow in that area. If you would like to thank John feel free to send him an email at jbaldwin@crumc.org.

On the missions front Sarah and Karla presented a couple of ideas for a class mission we can sponsor and take ownership of. We will discuss this more over the coming weeks. We also have our Head Start families coming up so please keep that in mind as we have 3 weeks to go for that.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. I thought it would be fun to look back at just a few of the things we have done this year to be thankful for as a class.
- New babies arrived and arriving soon
- 6 new members
- Friday Night Friends volunteer project
- Sponsoring a journey sunday school class for the summer
- Thanksgiving baskets
- Nursing home visits
- Fun times together at Super Bowl party, barbecue and dinners for six
Much, much more... Proof that not only is our class growing in size but also in its ministries and fellowship.

Have a wonderful holiday and safe travels for all those traveling.

JL

Red Bird Mission

Hi All,
This is a follow-up to Jason's email re: a possible new class mission. This is also something I have 1st hand experience in. I went to Red Bird 2 years in a row with our college Wesley Foundation mission trip.

Red Bird Mission, founded in 1921, a non-profit agency located in the Appalachian mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, empowers individuals and advocated justice by providing educational, health, and community outreach ministries to area low-income residents.

Areas of Ministry
EducationK-12 Christian School, Residential Dormitories, Early Childhood Development

Red Bird Mission School serves 265 students in grades K-12 and centers on developing the full potential of its students in a Christian atmosphere. The school is operated independently by the Mission and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. Red Bird Mission School provides quality education to students of the Red Bird area regardless of their ability to pay.

Health & WellnessMedical Clinic, Dental Clinic, Pharmacy, Lab, X-Ray, Public Health
Medical Clinic

A licensed primary care center and rural health clinic serves area patients five days a week with a staff of resident health care providers. Patients benefit from a modern outpatient medical clinic with laboratory, x-ray, and a contract pharmacy service on the premises.

The Dental Clinic offers a variety of dental services. The clinic provides complete services for approximately 3,000 patient visits each year.

Community OutreachCommunity Aid Ministries, Elderly Ministries, Family Ministries

Economic OpportunitiesCommunity Store, Craft Marketing

The Craft Marketing Program provides economic opportunity for craftspersons within an sixty-mile radius of the Mission. The Craft Program purchases the crafts directly from the artisan and then markets them locally and throughout the United States.

The Community Store is able to sell good, used clothing and household items at low prices to residents thanks to generous donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. In addition to meeting the clothing needs for people in the area, the store aides the local economy by providing eleven full-time jobs for community residents. In cooperation with the Community Outreach ministries, furniture, clothing, and household times are made available for people in crisis due to fire, floods, and personal situations.

Community Housing ImprovementWork Camp, Home Repair, Mission Facilities

This is a year-round work opportunity for volunteers in mission and service-minded groups. Work Camp strives to provide home repair for low-income community residents and maintenance for Mission buildings and grounds.

Ways to Give
Our ministries are funded through a combination of donations and internally generated revenue. Because of individuals and churches giving to us faithfully each year, we are able to continue ministry in Southeastern Kentucky.

You can go to their website to see a complete list of needs under Donations (it's much too long to post)....and of course to learn more about what Red Bird Mission is all about !

http://www.rbmission.org

Thanks,
Karla