First Street Weekly - July 29, 2022

07.29.22

Greetings Faith Family,

What a joy it has been to serve as the interim worship leader these past few months. It is truly a passion for me, and I am extremely thankful for the team that serves faithfully week to week, helping to facilitate spirit-filled worship within our faith family. Among the many volunteers, Brady and Logan lead worship for our children and youth ministries, extending the same heart of worship to all ages within the church. Thank you everyone for your faithful dedication.

I will admit, it seems that over the past few months many of our worship sets have been formed based solely on what is occurring in my own faith journey. My first thought was to blame myself for being selfish, planning our corporate worship around what I need. Yet, the Spirit is at work and has used my own expression of worship to guide and reach the hearts of those who join us each week. This caused me to dwell on that thought, and the more I have, the more I realize how God uses our life to speak into the lives of others. Who would have thought???

So, this leads me to a question. Have you seen God using your faith journey to speak into the lives of others? If not, do not be dismayed, because he is. Ask Him and he will show you. If the thought that your broken, guilt saturated, barely-able-to-keep-your-head-above-water daily life impacting others brings you trembling fear, then know that you are in the right place. Living into that truth is terrifying, but it is surpassed by overwhelming joy and satisfaction when you live into that truth. You begin to see God using your story to change the lives of others and it becomes contagious.

My hope is that you begin to experience the many ways that God is using your life to breathe life into those around you. Thank you for allowing me to be your worship leader over these past few months and thank you for joining in with the story that God is telling through my life.

Blessings upon you.

Brandon Martin

Nothing says summer like Ice Cream! Come join us for a church-wide fellowship in the HUB this Sunday, July 31 @ 6:00 PM! We will enjoy ice cream, table games (including Farkle), and lots of laughs. If you are an ice cream connoisseur, feel free to bring your favorite homemade version to share. If you just like to eat ice cream, then bring your favorite store bought version or some toppings to share.

This is your opportunity to make a difference in one student's life at Hewitt Elementary. Kid's Hope is a wonderful mentoring opportunity that unites one child with one mentor for one hour a week.
For more information, please contact our church's Kids Hope USA Program Director, Linda Erlanson. She can be reached at 254.716.3888 or email linda.erlanson@gmail.com

SCHOOL SUPPLY NEEDS FOR HEWITT ELEMENTARY

We are collecting monatary donations for Hewitt Elementary supply needs. You may make your donations to First Hewitt and designate on your giving for Hewitt Elementary supplies. Place donations in offering box at the back of the Worship Center or drop off at the Church Office.

7th ANNUAL SUMMER CAMPUS PRAYER WALK

Sponsonored by Midway Moms in Prayer. Come join our faith family as we pray over Hewitt Elementary. Thursday, Aug. 4 at 4:30pm at Hewitt Elementary. We will go inside the school to pray.

Are you looking for a place to serve in the life of our faith family?

Below is a short list of the needs that our staff is praying for God to provide in the days ahead. Each member plays an important part in the ministry of our church. Please prayerfully the way you could use your time, gifts, and abilities in the life of our church body.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

4 Preschool teachers during the worship hour (serving once every other month or more frequently)
3 Nursery teachers during the worship hour (serving once every six weeks)
1 Special Needs helper during the Sunday School hour (serving once every 3 weeks)
1 Preschool Assistant during the Sunday School hour (serving 1^st/3^rd/5^th Sundays)
2 Small group boys’ teachers during the Sunday School hour (serving every other month or every other week)
2 Preschool teachers serving on Sunday nights

Please contact Michelle Schlappe at michelle@firsthewitt.org or call the church office at 254.666.2741 if you would like to volunteer in these areas.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Sunday School Leaders - 1 or 2 teachers who could invest in the lives of students
4 Adult Volunteers - We need adults to come hang out with us on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Join us for worship and encourage our students!
Youth Ministry Team - 5 Leaders to help shape and coordinate ministry to students.

Please contact Clayton Knight at clayton@firsthewitt.org or call the church office at 254.666.2741 if you would like to volunteer in these areas.

ADULT MINISTRY

3 Adult or Senior Adult Sunday School Teachers
2 Life Group Leaders & Host Homes
3 Audio Team Trainees for Sunday mornings (serve 1 a month)
3 Slide & Graphics Techs for Sunday mornings (serve 1 a month)
1 Co-Leader for Financial Peace University

Please contact Susan Malone at susan@firsthewitt.org or call the church office at 254.666.2741 if you would like to volunteer in these areas.

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer Subs to answer phone from 11-2 Monday-Thursday

Please contact Gayle Terry at gayle@firsthewitt.org or call the church office at 254.666.2741 if you would like to volunteer in this area.

Senior Tuesdays - 2 to 4PM

Please join us as we fellowship through exercise and activities.

Beginning September 6, we will begin a 42 tournament.

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Grandparent's Day Celebration September 11

Join us for an INDOOR PICNIC from 12PM-2PM
Lunch, games, crafts, sharing, photo booth.
Reservations Deadline September 7. Call 254.666.2741

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Operation Christmas Child Mission Project

Thanks so much for your support of Operation Christmas Child as we support missions around the world during the Christmas season. We have begun packing 100 boxes as the items are being donated. This is an update of some of the items that are still needed through June:

jump ropes
small packages of crayons

Our item requested for August is coloring books.

The Senior Adult Ministry is hosting a Senior Adult VBS at Heartis Waco on Wednesday, August 3rd from 2-4pm. You are invited to join us; however, we need to know if you will be atteding so that we can have plenty of root beer floats & craft kits ready. Please call the office at 254.666.2741 if you plan to attend.

Fall is just around the corner and we can't wait to kick off a new year of ministry at First Hewitt. Promotion Sunday has been set for Sunday, August 14, 2022. This is the day that all of our children and youth will promote to new Sunday Morning Bible Study classes. It is also the day that marks the beginning of the fall semester of ministry at First Hewitt!

To celebrate the day, we will once again be hosting a church-wide catered lunch fellowship after worship on that Sunday! The cost of the lunch is $7 per person or $25 for a family. Tickets will go on sale on Sunday, July 24th.

Don't miss this great day! Invite a friend to join you!

August Prayer Focus & Bible Reading Plan

Each month, we as a church family are seeking to consistently read God's Word and pray for the Gospel to be known in different parts of the world. Our August edition of Together for the Gospel is now available at the church or by clicking here.

Our prayer focus for the month of August is: Somalis of Somalia

Financial Update

Monthly Giving Requirement: $63,528
July Giving Weekly Total Receipts: $55,800

Year to Date Required: $431,996
Year to Date Received: $453,645
Year to Date Surplus/Deficit: + $21,649

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