Sunday, November 27
First Sunday of Advent
Pastor Cynthia Engstrom Preaching // Isaiah 2:1-5
Worship at 9:45 am
New Online Worship Time is 5pm (during Sundays in Advent)
The full worship service will be available!
AFTER WORSHIP
Fellowship (Conversation & Coffee) in Labyrinth Room
Social Justice Sunday School (Sanctuary)
Questions: A Sunday School Class to Nourish the Soul (Room 212)
Children’s Choir & Sunday School in Children’s Wing (2nd Fl)
Youth Sunday School in Room 302
SUNDAY EVENING
Childcare Available
5pm - Emmaus Youth Choir, Handbells, Book Study
6pm - 7:30pm* - Youth Group, Sanctuary Choir
*extended rehearsal time through 12/4
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Experience the Season of Advent: beginning this Sunday!
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We will have special services, caroling, and more!
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Back Together Again!
 Welcome to Travis Park Church United with Faith (UWF), formerly known as United Methodist Women (UMW) and Women of Wisdom (WOW).
We'd like to get our group back together again--in person or via Zoom. We're going to have our first meeting Thursday, December 8 from 7:00-8:00pm at the home of Mary Jo Villalobos.
Our connection is to a larger organization (United Women in Faith). As it fosters spiritual growth and develops leaders, United Women in Faith seeks to improve the lives of women, children and youth in the United States and internationally.
The Travis Park Church group fully supports all who wish to be a part...all genders are welcome! We are calling our group United WITH Faith instead of United Women in Faith.
Please join the group on Realm to learn more! You can also email Mary Jo Villalobos or Shirley Watkins to get connected!
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Angel Gift Sponsorship
Deadline to sign up is next Wednesday, Nov 30th!
If you are able to sponsor a child or family with Christmas gifts for our Angel Party this Christmas please click the Signup Button and we will work to match you. This year if you don’t have time to shop in stores, you can buy online and have it delivered to Velia Suarez (our Angel Party Coordinator), and a volunteer will wrap it. Gifts should be wrapped and labeled and brought to church no later than Sunday, December 4th.
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Angel Christmas Party
Saturday, December 10 from 11am-1pm
Update: We still need a Santa and a Santa suit!
Sponsored children and their parents will join us for a special Christmas party just for them with pictures with Santa, food, activities, crafts and more! Please contact Juliette Clark if you would like to help fund or volunteer at the Angel Party. Any donations should be clearly marked "Angel Party".
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Take the 2023 Pledge
Become a pledging household this year!
Letters have gone out to all households of Travis Park Church. As a family, please prayerfully consider your pledge for finances, time and talent. If you’re already giving of your time and financial support, Thank You! We’re asking all to prayerfully discern a small step up in commitment this year. Consistent, automatic giving is so helpful to our planning and budget.
If you did not receive a letter in the mail, you may pick one up at The Welcome Center on Sunday morning. If you need to update your home address, please let us know.
If you are ready to pledge, please bring your letter with you on Sunday and put it in the offering plate!
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Rise & Shine - Rock & Roll!
The Rock and Roll Marathon will pass by our church doors on Sunday, December 4th. Let's be there to cheer them on!
Before COVID, it was tradition to gather together and cheer on the marathon runners and give them them toilet paper to wipe their runny noses. We will gather at 7am (leave plenty of time for traffic, road closures, and parking) in front of the church; runners will begin passing shortly thereafter. If you come early to church, please park in the Travis Garage, not the St. Mary’s garage, enter on Pecan Street, and be prepared to pay to park.
Streets and parking lots will be open following the marathon in time for church!
Shirley Watkins is the contact for this event. Dress warm and get ready to cheer! This is so much more fun with friends!
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Kairos Cookie Bake
Saturday, December 3 from 8am-5pm in the Travis Park Church Kitchen
Calling all folks who like to bake cookies! The Kairos Ministry is a non-denominational Christian group that sponsors spiritual retreats to incarcerated siblings. David Stone is participating in a five day Kairos in January at the Torres Unit in Hondo, Texas and to make a long story short...we need to bake 10,000 cookies! We can do it together!
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Alternative Christmas Cards are Back this December
TRIPLE the blessing: for the giver, for the receiver and for our ministries!
The Travis Park Church Alternative Christmas program gives us the opportunity to support our ministries and those that are served by our ministries. Designate a $5 donation to Corazon Ministries, Deborah’s House or Travis Park Church’s Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) Committee and you will receive a Christmas card to give as an alternative to a traditional gift.
Dates: We will have a table in McNees Hall on December 4, 11, and 18. Cash and check accepted.
Contact: Heather Mace-Meador via email or 210-389-1248.
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One Day Women's Retreat
Saturday, January 28, 2023
This year’s one day retreat is located at Slumber Falls in New Braunfels.
Please wear comfortable clothes, tennis shoes, and a jacket. Also, Chef Connie is returning again to cook fabulous meals for us! If you choose, please bring a cash love offering for her, which will be collected the day of the retreat.
Travis Park Church fully welcomes our transgender and non-binary siblings. If you want to be part of this group or this event, please come as you are!
Location: Slumber Falls, 3610 River Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78132
Cost: $40 – registration required
(scholarships available)
Breakfast and Lunch is included.
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New Book: The Hole in Our Gospel
New SNL Study begins THIS SUNDAY!
We will study the Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? We encourage you to buy local, but you can view the book on Amazon here. This new study will be led by Cody Miller.
Find the group on Realm Connect under SNL Book Study (formerly known as Pastor's Book Study). This group meets at 5pm in Room 212.
Please read Chapters 1-3 for discussion on November 27th!
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Ready for Advent!
Last Sunday we enjoyed hot chocolate, decorated the McNees Hall and the Sanctuary, and put up the Christmas Tree. Thanks to all who participated! Bobbi and LeRoy Kroll also began their work on the bulletin board near the elevator...check out the completed project this Sunday!
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Shoutout to our behind-the-scenes A/V crew!
From left to right: Rudy, Charlie Paul, and Mia (not pictured: Marcelino)
We appreciate you sharing your time and talent with us!
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Thanksgiving Lunch at Corazon Cafe Last Sunday
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The Lost Sacrament: Last Sunday we observed Transgender Day of Remembrance and observed the sacrament of foot washing. Special Thanks to Claudia Delfin...we are so grateful for your presence and your words.
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Peace Market this Weekend!
November 25-26
The International Peace Market/Mercado de Paz is now in its 33rd year, and since the beginning, has combined the arts with economic empowerment, international and cultural exchange, and social consciousness. The Mercado provides an alternative to Black Friday where goods are mass produced and where individuals fight traffic, long lines and shop within a stressful environment. There will be live music and poetry. Our very own Rachel Jennings will be reading a few of her poems at 3pm on Saturday!
Learn more about the event here >
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The Work of God Beyond the Walls - Storytelling Café
Monday, November 28 at noon
Join us for a 1-hour Storytelling Cafe via Zoom. Do you have a story to share about connecting to God and neighbor? Are you eager to connect with others who experience the well of God's grace beyond the walls of the church?
The conversation will be hosted and facilitated by Rev. Bob Clark, Transformational Communities Network, and Rev. Ray Altman, The New Wineskin Initiative. It promises to be a time of refresh, renewal and reimagining.
Please register to receive the Zoom link information.
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Church Calendar
Sunday, November 27 - Advent Begins!
Wednesday, November 30
Deadline to become an Angel Gift Sponsor
Saturday, December 3 - Kairos Cookie Bake
Sunday, December 4
Rock and Roll Marathon runs by our church!
Next Steps Coffee Hour with Pastor Cynthia
Angel Sponsor Gift Donation Deadline
Wednesday, December 7
Leadership Board Meeting at 6pm
For more information, contact Beth Smith.
Thursday, December 8
Back Together with UWF (Formerly United Methodist Women or UMW)
In person meeting at 7pm
Saturday, December 10
Angel Christmas Party - 11am to 1pm
Christmas Caroling
Friday, December 16 – The Menger Hotel at 6pm
Sunday, December 18 – Morningside Meadows at 5pm
Monday, December 19 – Riverboat Barge at 7:15pm NEW DATE!
Special Service: The Longest Night
Wednesday, December 21 at 6:00 pm
This service touches on Elusive Joy and embraces the loss and loneliness that can be felt during the holidays due to death, disease, poverty, or abuse. Come as you are.
Christmas & Christmas Eve Services
Saturday, December 24 @ 5:00 pm – Christmas Eve
Sunday, December 25 @ 9:45 am* – Christmas Day
*Wear your jammies in person and enjoy singing carols. This service will livestream on YouTube and Facebook at 9:45 am. Feel free to watch from home.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Women's Retreat
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Churchwide Town Hall + New Members Joining
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Do you have questions about any of the groups and events mentioned? Are we missing something? Please email us as info@travispark.org.
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