Pastor's Update

Join us for a Time of Communion
This Wednesday, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, we will be serving Communion in the Chapel. You are invited to stop by and receive the Sacrament. I hope you stop by for a few minutes and receive this Sacrament. I will have some devotional materials for you to read as you prepare to receive Communion. Feel free to come by yourself or with family or a friend. This is “come and go”, so stay for as log as you feel led. For more information, contact me.

Fashion Show and Luncheon
Saturday, November 14th, Worship Center
Join the Women of Parkway for a fashion show and luncheon benefiting 2nd Mile Mission’s Gifts of Love. Gifts of Love provides Christmas gifts for children and parents that are sponsored by 2nd Mile Mission. Fashions will be provided by Coldwater Creek and modeled by women of Parkway. Tickets are on sale NOW online and will be available this Sunday. If you would like to help or have questions, contact Nancy Draper.

Get in the Game…
I am not sure if Teddy Roosevelt was much into sports but I do know that TR understood about being in the game…being in the arena. In a speech he gave in Paris, he spoke these words,

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

I hear these words and I think about life of a Revolutionary. To be a Revolutionary means you and I have to Get In the Game…it means we can no longer sit in the bleachers. As Revolutionaries we have to do something. I get excited when I think about all the Church could be if we simply offered our hearts, our passions, and our talents to meet the needs that are all around us. Sunday morning, will you join me and Get in the Game??

Pretzel Prayers?!
This month, our 1st through 4th graders are learning that when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, he responded with The Lord’s Prayer. Using the acronym P.I.T.A. We are teaching the children how to include elements of Praise, I’m Sorry, Thanksgiving and Asking in their prayers. You will be hearing more about this in the Children’s Sermons (at both services) the next two Sundays.

In one of the upcoming lessons, the children will be taught how their church lifts up the “asking” prayers of the people by compiling them into a weekly prayer list which is sent out to a Prayer Team. Each child will be sent home with one of the “asking” prayers from the weekly prayer concerns. If you would like to have a child pray for your “asking” prayer, please email it to Mrs. Valerie by November 28th.

Have You Been on The Walk to Emmaus?
Smiles, songs, and hugs fill the room. Women, men, young and old, mindless of racial differences, join hands and sing about their unity in the Spirit, while a line of exhausted men enter. Most of them need a shave and a clean shirt, but what you notice is their beaming faces and quiet eyes. This is the scene at the closing moments of an Emmaus weekend, where the stories of lives touched and changed by grace are exchanged, and the glory and power of the Lord are made evident to all.

The Walk to Emmaus is a 72-hour experience, an Upper Room program attended mostly by United Methodists, but open to Christians of other denominations also. Those participating are called Pilgrims. The Pilgrims spend 72 hours living together. As a group of men or women, they study, sing, worship, talk, pray, and experience something like a New Testament community.

If are interested in learning more about Emmaus, please contact Marty. We are trying to put together a list of those who have attended an Emmaus Walk so please let Marty know. Be sure to watch the bulletin and Update for some great Emmaus opportunities.

THE REVOLUTION and A Life of Giving
If you have turned in your 2010 pledge/covenant card, "Thank You". If not, please do so as soon as possible. Your pledge makes a meaningful difference in our ministry and operating budget for next year and is necessary to fuel the mission of Parkway. Since we need to present the budget to the Church Conference, November 16th, we ask that you turn in your pledge card no later than Sunday, November 8th.

You may send it via any method that is convenient for you (i.e., you can place it in the offering plate on Sunday, drop it by the church office, drop it in the mail, or send it via email to stippett@parkwayumc.org). If you choose to send us an email, just let us know the amount of your weekly, monthly, or annual pledge, and whether it is an individual pledge or a pledge to be made jointly with your spouse. Please remember that every commitment is important, no matter the size, and is also an excellent exercise in courage, faith, and sacrifice.

Hope for One
When you look at the area that we are in, we are faced with a difficult task to reach out to an affluent community that may not see themselves in need. The truth is that everyone needs Christ. People may not turn to Christ on their own, but that is why God has placed us here. People need hope. They are looking for something to hope in. Many have placed their hope in everything but Christ. We have an opportunity to reach every family in the New Territory community and give them REAL HOPE.

We are going to professionally record and produce a CD with a mix of Top 40 and Christian songs and mail it out to every residence in New Territory. There are 4601 homes and 500 apartments. We can reach every home for only $5 per family. What a great and non-threatening way to get into every single family in our immediate area with the message of the Gospel. Please join me in supporting this project. Everyone can afford to buy for a family, and some of you, maybe a whole neighborhood. Encourage your kids to sponsor a family and make them feel like this is their outreach too. We have designated one of the walls in the worship center as the Wall of Hope. For every family that is sponsored, we will put a card up on the wall that says "Hope for One."

Family Promise
November 8-15
Did you know that the average age of a homeless person is 9 yrs old? Once each quarter, Family Promise and Parkway provides safe lodging, meals, welcoming care, and support services to help families in need. We are honored to be God's hands by hosting Family Promise guests during the week of November 8-15th, and need servant volunteers to provide evening meals and hosting in our Worship Center. This is a great time for Grow Groups to fellowship and serve for one day. We will have sensitivity training Wednesday, November 4th at 6:30pm for all FP volunteers. Sign-up now for the FP week by contacting Shirley Connally or see the white-board in the lobby.

Thank you, Parkway!!!
All 33 of our leaders and staff received PrayerGrams from you! Well over 100 PrayerGrams were submitted. Many of you also attended the Wednesday Prayer Meeting dedicated to Parkway Leadership and Staff. Thank you for praying and encouraging Parkway leadership and staff!

Come Pray for Fort Bend Political Leaders!
Wednesday November 18, 6 pm - 6:30 pm
November is election month. Join us to pray for wisdom and courage for Fort Bend political leaders. Come worship, praise, and pray with other believers in the Chapel. This is a great opportunity to make a difference in our community. Childcare provided in Ministry Building Room 168.

Church Conference, November 16th 7:00 pm

Check out our website for more events and activities.

Take care and God Bless….

Breathe Peace,