12/3/25 CRFUMC Email Blast

Matt Franks
4 hours ago
8 min read

Join us this Sunday Morning

9 a.m. Worship

10 a.m. Community Faith Time

Join us online in one place in our Connection Point

https://www.fumccr.org/connectionpoint

Here you can access our bulletins, prayer requests, and several other resources to connect with us.

Upcoming Events

December 7th

UWF Cookies Sale and Carol Sing Gathering

December 11: 10 am and 6 pm,

Little Blessings Christmas program

December 13at 7 p.m.

Colorado Brass Concert

December 14th

Christmas Shirt or Sweater Sunday

December 17at 6:30 p.m.

Blue Christmas Worship Service

December 21at 3 p.m.

Castle Rock Orchestra Concert

Christmas Eve Worship December 24th

4 p.m. Modern Service

6 p.m. Traditional Service

11 p.m. Midnight Candle Light

December 28at 9 a.m. The First Sunday After Christmas

Every Wednesday 4 p.m. Bell Choir Practice 5:30-7 p.m. Chancel Choir Practice

Marvelous Monday’s 10 a.m. @ Coff33 in Downtown Castle Rock

Sunday’s

9 a.m. Worship

10 a.m. Community Faith Time

Our Monthly Newsletter Can Be Found Online or underneath the TV in the Welcome Area. https://www.fumccr.org/newsletter

Advent Videos

We have all the Advent videos we are putting together in one place. Here you can find the poems that Julie reads in worship, the focus Friday's during advent, the Meditation Monday's and others. Check out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1bDTifVExIsHuqnPoI61mdgvmpp0aA1

What is Community Faith Time? While some may think of Sunday School as formal classes, we see this as something more—an intentional space for connection and spiritual growth. Our faith grows best when we journey together, and our three unique settings create room for everyone:

Nursery (ages newborn–4): A caring space where our youngest members are loved and nurtured, giving parents and older siblings the opportunity to participate in other groups.
Living In Faith Together (LIFT Group, ages 5+): In the Fellowship Hall, all ages gather to learn, play, and share wisdom together, strengthening the bonds of our church family.
Soul Café (Adults): A relaxed, conversational space to reflect on the day’s sermon and dive deeper into what it means to live out our faith in daily life.
Common Grounds (For anyone at the tables in the coffee area): Grab a snack and coffee or tea and just fellowship.

If you’d like to join a group or volunteer, especially in the Nursery, please email Pastor Matt.

Looking for Giving Tree Angels

Sunday, Dec 7 is the deadline for returning the wrapped and tagged gifts to the church.

Questions?

Marcia Schmid at schmid3@comcast.net

Bonnie Thompson at bjthompson1965@msn.com

Celebrate Women’s Christmas – Saturday, December 6, from 10 am – 2 pm. All women are invited to celebrate Women’s Christmas. This is a time for women to take a few hours near the beginning of the holiday season to refocus, relax, and renew. Feel free to invite a friend. Lunch will be provided.

The day will be led by Ashley Franks

and Rev. Brenda Lear. Sign up at the Welcome Center or by emailing Rev. Brenda at

b.clear.72@gmail.com. Please note this a change of date from a previous post.

Cookie Walk Reminder

Bring your cookies to the kitchen no later than 9 am December 7. There is freezer space available if you need to bring them earlier. Join the carol sing as you select your cookies.

Cookie Walk and Carol Sing

Cookie bakers and buyers are needed for the UWF on December 7th to be a success. Bring your cookies to the kitchen on or before 8:00 am, then stop by to purchase a tasty supply of cookies and a carol sing-along at 10 am following worship. See Phyllis Tumey or Laryce Nitsch for more information.

Leah Circle, United Women in Faith

The December 11 gathering for Leah Circle will be a Potluck Luncheon. In addition to a covered dish, please remember to bring any one or all of the following for Help and Hope: 1) an unwrapped children’s toy, 2) a birthday bag containing cake mix, frosting, and candles, and/or 3) Christmas wrapping paper or gift bags. We gather at 11:45 for lunch, devotions, and a program. All women of the church are welcome.

Tuesday Morning Advent Bible Study

Tuesday Morning Bible Study will begin their Advent study on November 25th in the church library at 9:30 am. Materials for “Messages of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace throughout the Bible” will be provided. Per usual, we will use our own various Bible translations in seeking understanding. Bring your Bible and join in our discussion.

Contemporary Advent Bible Study

Rev. Sarah’s Bible Study will be discussing What Do You Want for Christmas? by James W. Moore: Monday nights, December 1-22 in person and on Friday evenings, November 28 - December 19, 6:30-8:00 pm on Zoom.

Love Gifts

As Christmas and the end of the year draw near, we will once again offer the opportunity for our church members to make a donation to our Celebrations Fund, which provides love gifts for our three staff members – Rev. Matt, Rev. Sarah, and Theresa. All donations will be divided equally among the three. Please.make your donation by December 15 and tag it “celebrations.” You also have the option of offering your own, more personal gift to these individuals.

Blue Christmas Service

Join us for the Blue Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 17th, at 6:30 p.m. This intimate service offers comfort and healing for those facing challenges or grief during the holiday season, providing a space for reflection and renewal.

Songs in the Snow II - Colorado Brass

Saturday, December 13th, 2025, 7:30pm (MST)

Step into a winter wonderland as Colorado Brass unwraps a sparkling evening of festive delight! Come hear us conjure a concert filled with merry mischief and warm, glowing cheer. From snow-dusted carols to jolly toe-tapping favorites. Each piece is a musical bauble, hung with care to transform the night into a shimmering soundscape of holiday wonder. Bundle up your Christmas spirit and join us, because when the band begins to play, this season becomes just a little more magical.

The discount code for 50% off the ticket price is "fumccr50"

Buy your tickets here: https://www.coloradobrass.org/tickets-2songsinthesnow.html

Christmas Eve Service Times December 24th

4 p.m. Modern Service

6 p.m. Traditional Service

11 p.m. Midnight Candle Light

King Soopers/Safeway Gift Cards:

Did you know that 5% of your grocery purchases can be returned to our church if you have a Safeway gift card to load and reload OR have signed on with King Soopers and designated FUMCCR as your nonprofit organization? Did you know these funds help fund projects in and around the church? Would you like to help bring us back into the $2-3K column?

If you frequent Safeway, simply purchase a grocery card from Theresa Kepple and add money. That card becomes the card you use to purchase groceries. If you wish to use King Soopers, go to KingSoopers.com/CommunityRewards and follow Step #1 to create an account and Step #2 to register our organization (FUMCCR). You will need to add our NPO number which is NPO#QM168.

Christmas Photos

Immediately following worship on November 30, December 7, and December 14, have your photo taken in front of the Christmas tree in the Sanctuary. Singles, couples, and families will receive their digital photo by email within a few hours from Julie Bailey.

Pictures for Submission To CRFUMC Publications

If you have photos to share from the season you can email them to or if you post on social media share the hash tag #castlerockfumc

Pastor Matt : matt.franks@fumccr.org

Julie Bailey: juliesings@gmail.com

December 28th 9 a.m.m Worship Only

A fun Worship Experience that will be filled with a Continental Style Breakfast sign up for items on the welcome desk, games, and a time to gather together as a community for the 1st Sunday After Christmas.

Advent 2025

Connect with all that we offer during Advent Here https://www.fumccr.org/advent2025

We are also delighted to offer Holy Communion every Sunday during Advent in the Library before Soul Café. This is a simple, come-as-you-are time of prayer and connection—a quiet and meaningful way to begin each week as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming.

The holiday season, often portrayed as a time of joy and celebration, can be a particularly challenging time when coping with loss. If you are grieving, please know that you are not alone. We warmly invite you to join our new Grief Recovery Group for support and shared healing.

This initiative is thoughtfully timed to begin shortly after our Blue Christmas Worship Service on December 17th and before Christmas Day, offering a focused space for reflection and support during this busy and often difficult season.

Group Details at a Glance

First Meeting: Monday, December 22, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM (Meetings will last approximately one hour)
Location: The Library
Focus: The group will be guided by the book and workbook, "Removing the Sting of Death," with a strong emphasis on weekly shared conversation and compassionate support.

Meeting Dates

December 22, December 29, January 5, January 12, January 19, January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 3

We understand that taking the first step to address your grief can be difficult. Please know that this group offers a confidential, compassionate, and welcoming place to process your loss with others who understand.

If you have any questions, or would like to let us know you plan to attend, please contact Charlene Smythe directly:

Phone: 719-459-3101

Email: gncsmythe@gmail.com

GriefShare – New Session Beginning January 26, 2026

Our next GriefShare session begins Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at AdventHealth Castle Rock Hospital.To register or learn more, use the link below and select the AdventHealth 1/26 group listing:

Castle Rock, Colorado GriefShare Groups – Grief Recovery Support – GriefShare

If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact me at the phone number or email listed below

Clarence Hughes

720.218.0072

clarencehughes@yahoo.com.

Putting Our Faith Into Practice

Looking for a Good Devotional Book? Check out https://store.upperroom.org/

Weekly Readings

Monday: Isaiah 11:1-10

Tuesday: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Wednesday: Romans 15:4-13

Thursday: Matthew 3:1-12

You can find the Lectionary Readings at lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Quote of the Week:

“Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.” - Randy Armstrong

Prayer for the Week:

God, because You are with me, I have no reason to fear. Help me to stop worrying. Help me to relax and rest in the promises of Your Word. I know You are with me because the Bible says so. I also know You never will give me more than I can handle. Lord, thank You for giving me the faith to trust You in this situation, and the strength of character I need to get through it in perfect obedience to Your Word. I pray right now for Your wisdom and guidance, Your favor and protection. And in the name of Jesus, I receive Your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen." (Joyce Myer)

Loving God we lift up to you

Our World

The United Methodist Church

Mountain Sky Annual Conference

Bishop Kristen Stoneking

Our Pastors and Staff

Little Blessings Families

Marlyn Deam Friend of Karen Oliver

Leona and Garrett Mathes, sister and brother-in-law to Chuck Bailey

Anne Shuman

Nick Roy, brother of Cheryl Smith

Barb Christensen