Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he has done. Psalm 96:3 (NLT) WWW .FRAZERUMC .ORG VOLUME 21, N UMBER 4 D ECEMBER 2008 Members make 2009 In His Steps Commitments By Jack Cunningham News Staff Writer In November, Frazer members made their commitments to serve and Find the Christmas give in the coming year, as part of the annual In His Steps stewardship campaign. Commitment Sunday was Nov. 9, with many members plac - you’ve been longing ing their Commitment cards on the altar, indicating where they felt God for at Frazer. was leading them to serve and give in 2009. By Nov. 30, Frazer members had turned in 2,089 Commitment cards and pledged $8.4 million in Frazer offers a variety of financial support for 2009. events and worship “Our stewardship of God’s gifts to us is an important part of our walk. PHOTO BY LEE WERLING opportunities to help Each of us must pray not only for our financial plans but our service plans Members bring their 2009 In His Steps Commitment cards to the altar and take Holy families celebrate the for the next year as well,” said Dale Kocher, chairman for the 2009 In His Communion during the 9:30 a.m. worship service in the Sanctuary, Commitment season and find the true Sunday, Nov. 9. meaning of Christmas. Steps Campaign. Continued on Page 4 For a list of events, see page 8. Frazer says farewell to Rob and Lauren Webster, honors couple for their years of service By Mike Presley excited about this new opportunity News Staff Writer in Kansas City.” Rob began his new job as direc - As the Frazer Family prepared to tor of video production in early give thanks to God during the December at Church of the F M P M Thanksgiving holiday, Frazer Resurrection, the largest United . r O e o a members gathered in late Methodist Church in the United States. t n z . h t e B o g November to say “thank you” to r “I love starting new things; that’s d o o M two long-time staff members i m x s how I’m wired,” Rob said. “A cou - e t e 2 who are moving on to a new m C r ple of years ago, I realized creative - 4 y 1 h o , ministry opportunity. ly I wasn’t challenged as much. I 3 u r A i 4 r a L c After several years at Frazer, Rob was moving into sort of a mainte - 7 l h U 3 and Lauren Webster are moving to nance mode. So I’ve been looking n 6 i 1 Kansas City, Kan. Rob led the con - for an opportunity to start some - t e 2 d 4 temporary worship praise band thing new.” - 1 since 2000 and produced many of 3 The church honored Rob and 4 the creative elements that are a part 7 Lauren at an event Nov. 20 in of the service. Lauren served in Wesley Hall. The event featured a many roles at WFRZ, Frazer’s TV performance by the praise band, station, led technical teams for the highlights from videos produced worship services and directed sev - by Rob for the contemporary serv - PHOTO BY LEE WERLING eral drama productions. ice over the years and tributes from Rob and Lauren Webster, pictured with daughter Bennett, were honored for “It is bittersweet,” Lauren said. Teaching Pastor John Schmidt, their years of service to Frazer during a Farewell Worship Concert Nov. 20 “We love Frazer and will miss our Coordinating Pastor of Discipleship in Wesley Hall. Rob and Lauren are moving to Kansas City in December, where Rob will serve as director of video production for many friends here, but we are Shane Segars and others. Church of the Resurrection. Continued on Page 5. ‘A Christmas Tale’ shares the true meaning of Christmas in a new way By Mac McLellan News Staff Writer N O M P U N E o Only a few more days remain until “A Christmas Tale” unfolds in Frazer’s . n R S P t M g . R P Sanctuary. It is the Christmas story as you have never seen it presented. o P I A O T m o “I am excited about it because it is so different,” said Alan Peavy, who is I F D s N e I t r T o a one of the 10 storytellers who make up the cast. “It stays true to the story, y . g , O A e 7 but I have never done anything like this before. It is unique in that it R 7 L G embraces every aspect of worship here at Frazer. It will make people think a lot about the real meaning of Christmas. You will have to experience it to understand.” Continued on Page 8 Page 2 FRAZER FAMILY NEWS December 2008 december Ella Williams gets a close-up look at the Holy Family on display at Frazer last Christmas. Photo by mom Suzanne Williams. Rhon Carleton submitted this photo of the stunning Christmas tree his wife Carol decorated in the family’s “Christmas room.” Jorie Welch captured this beautiful Christmas tree and surrounding scenery at Callaway Gardens last year. Madeline Belle, daughter of Mark and Maggie Martin, enjoys “reading” a good book. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Grief Support Group - 5:30 p.m. Men’s Breakfast - 6:30 a.m. - Dementia Daycare - 9:30 a.m. - 3101 Women’s Christmas Brunch - - 3105 Fellowship Hall 9 a.m. - Fellowship Hall Alzheimer/Caregiver Support Group Baptism Orientation - 5:30 p.m. - 11 a.m. - 3103 - 3106 Stephen Ministry Supervision Groups - Singles Small Groups - Orchestra & Choir Rehearsal - 5:30 p.m.- Fellowship Hall lobby 6 p.m. - 3105 7 p.m. - Choir Room, Sanctuary TNT - 6:55 p.m. - Fellowship Hall Celebrate Recovery - 6:30 p.m. - 7207 30 1 2 3 4 56 Communion - 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. - Noon Salad Luncheon - 12 p.m. Adrenaline Jr. High Worship - Dementia Daycare - 9:30 a.m. - 3101 Men’s Ministry Pancake Chapel Fellowship Hall 6 p.m.- CRAVE Room Breakfast - 7 - 11 a.m. - Lupus Support Group - 6 p.m. - Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Fellowship Hall Pathway to Membership New Elevate Sr. High Worship - 3101 Group - 5:30 p.m. - 8114 6:30 p.m.- East Sanctuary Member Orientation - 8 a.m. - 7205 Angel Tree Gift Delivery Singles Small Groups - Celebrate Recovery - Hanging of the Greens - after 11 a.m. 5:30 p.m.- Fellowship Hall lobby 6:30 p.m. - 7207 service - Asbury campus Grief Support Group - 5:30 p.m. - Orchestra & Choir Rehearsal - 3105 7 p.m. - Choir Room, Sanctuary A Christmas Tale - 7 p.m. - Angel Tree Gift Return - Atrium Sanctuary MDA/ALS Support Group - S.P.I.R.I.T. - Fellowship Hall Children’s Worship Arts Christmas 6 p.m. - 3101 Program and Birthday Party for Jesus - TNT - 6:55 p.m. - Fellowship Hall 5:30 p.m. - 7 Wesley Hall 8 9 10 11 12 13 Baptism Orientation - 8 a.m. - Grief Support Group - 5:30 p.m. - 3105 Dementia Daycare 9:30 a.m. - 3101 3106 Parkinson’s Support Group - Singles Small Groups - 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. - 3103 Fellowship Hall lobby Orchestra & Choir Rehearsal - A Christmas Tale - 7 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Choir Room, Sanctuary Stephen Minister Supervision Sanctuary Sjogren's Support Group - Groups - 6 p.m. - 3105 6:30 p.m. - 3104 Celebrate Recovery - TNT - 6:55 p.m. - Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m. - 7207 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The Joy of Christmas play - 5 p.m. - Asbury campus Merry Christmas Grief Support Group - 5:30 p.m. - 3105 Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service - New Member and Baptism 5 p.m., 7 p.m.- Sanctuary Fuzion service - 6 p.m. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Grief Support Group - 5:30 p.m. - 3105 Happy New Year! Singles New Year’s Eve Party - 7:30 p.m. - 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 December 2008 EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARY PAGE 3 Got peace? LIFE AT OUR 2008 Frazer Membership Growth Peace on Earth… isn’t that HOUSE what we all hope for at Christmas time? Well, peace DEBBIE SCHMIDT was nowhere to be found on 700 a cold night in December New Members about 15 years ago. 449 It all started when John inherited the Frazer live nativity scene back when he was a new staff member. You may remember it. We had a stable with real sheep. College kids would dress up as wise men, angels, Mary and Joseph. We 350 used a doll for the baby Jesus. Every half hour, on the lawn Professions of Faith 247 in front of the church, John would read Luke’s account of the Christmas story and the drama would unfold. Goal Year to Date This particular year we had more drama than we wanted. I 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 had decided to hire a babysitter for our boys so that I could actually help with the production. When I arrived at the sta - ble, there was plenty of time before the first performance so I thought it would be fun to go into the pen and visit with the sheep. I have never been around sheep but I have always heard that they are sweet, docile and quite dumb. Scripture talks about them all the time.