The Vista
News and Events for Vista Ridge United Methodist Church
November 25, 2022
Join Us for A Little Bit More Advent Worship on Sunday
We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did. If we’re being honest, there’s probably something within the Christmas season celebration that awakens a Grinch within all of us. Maybe the gift we unwrap was all wrong, or memories that were supposed to be joyful never were. When everything seems wrong in the world, even joyful celebrations are much too loud. Rediscover and reinvigorate your Christian faith this Advent season as we look at this familiar classic through the lens of faith.
Sunday, November 27 | A Little Bit More…Peace
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or is it? Can we really mask all the pain, division, and violence of 2022 and claim we are expectant and prepared to welcome the Prince of Peace? Most are familiar with the Grinch story, but are you familiar with why the Grinch was so...green? Maybe his truth will allow us to be honest with our own truth and grow a little closer to true PEACE this Christmas.
Worship Opportunities
Traditional Worship | 8:30 a.m. | Sanctuary
Modern Worship | 11 a.m. | Sanctuary
Livestream | 8:30 and 11 a.m. | Church website or Facebook
The recording of each service is available after the livestream.
Prayer Requests/Let’s Connect | Please complete this form to request prayer and to let us know you joined us for online worship and be sure to say hi in the livestream chat.
Miss a Sermon? | The weekly sermons are available on the church website and posted to Facebook if you miss one or want to watch it again.
Support the Ministries of the Church by Making a 2023 Giving Pledge by Sunday
Every Vista Ridge family should have received an electronic and mailed copy of the stewardship information to support the ministries of the church during 2023. Prayerfully review the details and consider how you can support the church in living out its mission to grow deep, grow wide, grow strong and thrive in joyful community.
Please complete your commitment card by Sunday, November 27, so the church budget for 2023 can be finalized by the Servant Leadership Council. Let’s be all in for 2023!
If you missed any part of our Releasing God’s Blessings worship series, Rev. Ashley Anne’s sermons are available online.
61 Angels Adopted for Christmas
Our generous congregation adopted 61 angels in need for Christmas—51 Rockbrook students and 10 golden angels through Christian Community Action.
REMINDER FOR ANGEL ADOPTERS
CCA Golden Angels | Return gifts to the church by Sunday, November 27
Gifts should be individually wrapped and placed in a garbage bag with the name of the angel on a label.
Rockbrook Angels | Return gifts to the church by Sunday, December 4
Place unwrapped gifts in a garbage bag with the angel code on a label. Boxes are needed for any clothing items. Gift wrap also is being accepted, as the Lewisville High School Student Council wraps all of the gifts before they are delivered to the families.
Support the Church Through Amazon Smile Purchases
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to your designated charity.
Use smile.amazon.com on your web browser or activate through the Amazon shopping app for iOS and Android phones. The is no cost to participate. Once Amazon Smile has been activated, future eligible purchases will generate a donation for the church.
Join in Small Group Advent Study
Advent begins Sunday and there are opportunities to join an Advent study based on the book The Heart That Grew Three Sizes, which goes along with our churchwide Advent worship series.
About the Series | We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did. In this new Advent study, author Matt Rawle explores the faith themes in the Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, including how did the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes come Christmas morning? How did Christmas save the Grinch? Could it be that the very thing we think we hate is the one thing that changes our lives? This Advent and Christmas season, look at a familiar classic through the lens of faith and see how Christ speaks to us through our culture.
Get Involved | Following are the small group opportunities for Advent.
- Sisters in Christ | Wednesday, November 30 (second gathering) | 9:30 a.m. | Fellowship Hall Rooms 121-122
- Into the Word | Sundays starting November 27 | 9:45 a.m. | Room 119
- Open Door | Tuesdays starting November 29 | 7 p.m. | In-Home Gathering
Email the church office at vrumc@vrumc.org with any questions and for the address to the Open Door gathering.
A Little Bit More...Prayer Event to Be Hosted by Stephen Ministers on December 4
On Sunday, December 4, at 5 p.m., the Stephen Ministers will host an evening dedicated to prayer and preparing our hearts for Christmas.
As we enter this joyous season, we know there are many who are suffering in our circles of friends and families, in our community, in our country, and around the world. As we anticipate the arrival of Jesus and the knowledge of all He has already done for us, we have the opportunity to pause and pray for those who need the hope, peace, love, and joy that only Christ can bring.
Please join us for an opportunity for:
Quiet, reflective prayer
To pray for loved ones who need hope and healing
To pray for those who have lost loved ones or struggle with the Christmas season
To pray for those who are suffering
To receive prayer for yourself
There will be four prayer stations representing the four Advent candles culminating with communion. We hope that you will join us for this special evening.
- Dede Saenz, Stephen Minister
PRAYER REQUESTS
To lift up a prayer request for this prayer event, visit the Welcome Center on Sunday and write your request on the provided notecard and leave it in the silver basket. You can choose to be specific with your request or if privacy is a concern, simply write something like my friend or my family member or use only a first name.
Virtual Meeting about Community Partnerships Set for December 1
Four Core Community Partners
- Christian Community Action Food Pantry | Food Security
- Rockbrook Elementary School | Education Equity
- Keep Lewisville Beautiful | Creation Care
- Denton County Friends of the Family | Family Advocacy
To Get Involved
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85039609663?pwd=Zk5ZdzFweHpSL2N2eWRQSTI3Q0JqZz09
Meeting ID: 850 3960 9663; Passcode: VRUMC
If you need to join the meeting virtually, please email vrumc@vrumc.org for the Zoom link.
Help with Creation Care Through Adopt-A-Spot
Our spot encompasses the median and sidewalk areas on Denton Tap Road, from Highland Drive to Vista Ridge Mall Drive. Help with this creation care initiative by selecting a date that works for you to clean the area of litter. It can be done at any time and takes about an hour to complete. Supplies, instructions, and release forms can be found in Room 114.
Vista Kids on Sunday
Check out the children’s activities and join us on Sunday!
Sunday Experience | 10 a.m. | Rooms 103-104
This week our kids will be wrapping up their series on the story of Esther. They will learn that God gives us peace behind the scenes throughout our lives by learning about Esther’s conversation with the king.
Children’s Church | 11 a.m.
Following Children’s Chat, have your children join Mr. Colin for Children’s Church. Throughout Advent, our children will be diving into the same series as our worship series, A Little Bit More, based on the story of the Grinch. This week we will be talking about when everything is wrong, how can we get a little bit more peace in our lives. Pick up your children after the worship service in Room 104.
Children’s Activity Bags | Before the start of worship, be sure to visit the Children’s Worship Corner at the back of the sanctuary and fill a bag with activities for your children.
Vista Youth News
Combined Mid High and Senior High | Wesley Hall
Youth Calendar
November 27 | No Youth Connect
December 4 | Advent Painting | 1:30-3 p.m.
December 11 | Christmas Event | 1:30-3 p.m.
December 18 | Whoville You Invite? | 5 p.m.
December 24 | Christmas Eve services
December 25 | No Youth Connect
Bridgeport Summer Camp (completed 6th-12th grade) will be June 26-30. Early bird registration of $375 runs January 4-31.
If you ordered a devotional, the books are available for purchase. Please see Bill Burden or Laurie Kunke for assistance.
Help Serve at the CCA Food Pantry
There are still some openings to serve at the Christian Community Action Food Pantry for the last quarter of this year. Sign up to serve today!
Our church works the pantry on the second and fourth Mondays of each month as checkers and baggers. Anyone interested is encouraged to get involved. Training to be a checker is available.
Volunteers report to the CCA Food Pantry, 200 S. Mill St. in Lewisville, at 5:45 p.m. and finish by 7:30 p.m. Thank you for supporting our community partner!
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Worship Attendance | 133
Giving | $9,683
2022 GIVING
To Date | $474,541
Vista Ridge United Methodist Church
CHURCH STAFF: Please reach out if we can help in any way.
Rev. Ashley Anne Sipe - ashleyanne@vrumc.org
Bill Burden - bill@vrumc.org
Madi Butler - madi@vrumc.org
Colin Craft - colin@vrumc.org
Carolyn Dennison - carolyn@vrumc.org
Christina Dixon - christina@vrumc.org
Laurie Kunke - laurie@vrumc.org
Hannah Rachal - hannah@vrumc.org
RESOURCES:
North Texas Conference of the UMC
Email: laurie@vrumc.org
Website: vistaridgeumc.org
Location: 2901 Denton Tap Road, Lewisville, TX, United States
Phone: 972.315.5225
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vrumc