IMPACT Magazine Summer 2015 by First United Methodist Church of Denton

Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Our Church, Our Ministries Children’s Day Out Read the story, page 3

Our Church, Our People

Latin-American Ministries

The Bigger Picture

Inspiring stories of a diverse congregation united by a life-changing experience with Jesus Christ.

Exciting new outreach to our growing Latin-American community is “unstoppable.”

Learning how we make connections throughout the world through our worldwide church.

IMPACT | Magazine Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Impact | Ministries hildren’s Day Out addresses the need C for Christ-centered day-care provided by a staff dedicated to loving and teaching these precious children.

Impact | Missions Life-changing mission experiences impact giver and receiver.

12 Impact | Events Share the impact of numerous activities and

events at FUMC-Denton.

13 Impact | Culture eeking to serve the growing LatinS American community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

14 Impact | Bigger Picture

UMCOR is on the front lines providing for needs because of the United Methodist connection.

15 Impact | From the Pastor odern-day disciples continue to witness to M the power of the Gospel.

Impact | People

Share the inspiring stories of members who exemplify the FUMC-Denton mission of Shining God’s Love Into Every Life.

16 • Impact | Next Big Thing Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts while

16 • Impact | Services Worship is at the heart of a

supporting numerous non-profit ministries.

mission-minded church. You are invited!

On the Cover: Kelly Courtney, Kylie and Kaden. Kelly’s grandparents were

long-time members of the church and his mom was a CDO teacher. Kelly has been through CDO as well as his daughter Kylie, now in Kindergarten. Kaden is currently a CDO kiddo.

Editor’s Note

Welcome to the new IMPACT Magazine.

irst United Methodist Church of Denton is excited to launch IMPACT—a quarterly publication that portrays the church’s vision, mission and people. But more than that, the impact they have on the lives of our members and friends, in our community and in the world. We poured our love and dedication into IMPACT believing it will make a difference in our readers’ understanding and faith, encouraging them to live a Christian life and to reach out in service to others. Working on a project like this, it is impossible not to get personally involved with each story, with the people profiled and their Christian convictions. Each photo illustrating the beautiful, happy faces, sparkly

2 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

eyes and hard-working hands were inspiring. Equally inspiring were their experiences, their mission and their service, which made such a difference the lives of others as well as their own. This magazine is about showing the work Jesus Christ does through His followers and how that work can change the world. It is about revealing what compels Christians to move mountains to help people in need, to offer their hearts to the ones who think they’re broken and lost. It is about living beyond their ordinary lives and offering their extraordinary commitment to God’s grace and glory. More than anything it is about inviting and encouraging all people,

regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, marital or financial status to love and accept, to believe and share, to grow and build for and with God. It is about Shining God’s Love Into Every Life! — Martha Ware, Managing Editor

IMPACT Content

First United Methodist Church of Denton, Publisher Alan Heath, Executive Editor Martha Ware, Managing Editor Erika Dorsey, Graphic Designer Photography Credits: Martha Ware Clay Thurmond UMCOR Guatemala Mission Team

IMPACT | Ministries Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Our Church, Our M inistries 6

Story by Martha Ware

Sebastian works in the puzzle center which promotes fine motor skills, sequencing and hand-eye coordination.

hildren’s Day Out (CDO) is an important outreach of First United Methodist Church of Denton’s Children’s Ministry. It serves families from the Denton community, providing a stellar pre-school experience for infants through four years old. CDO started as a two-day-aweek program called Mother’s Day Out and was housed in classrooms on the first floor of the main building before it was remodeled. Later, Mother’s Day Out moved to the Monroe Building and became a four-day-a-week program serving about 40 children. In 1974, Kay Jennings, current director, wanted to find a good program for her daughter to attend and one with which she could become personally involved. CDO met both needs. She started teaching threeyear-olds in the main building. Once the program moved to the Monroe Building, Kay became its director. WWW.FUMC-DENTON.COM 3

IMPACT | Ministries Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Kay received her teaching degree from North Texas State University (now UNT). Prior to working at FUMC-Denton, she taught kindergarten and high school. She loves working for this church. Working with great people and the ability to impart great values to young children has kept her here for over 40 years. One of Kay’s main contributions was changing the curriculum to help children grow in a learn/play environment. For example, if children are at the science station, they are playing games that teach. “It is a mix of playroom and classroom. We want to ensure they are playing and learning at the same time,” Kay said. “When they get out of pre-K, they are ready for kindergarten anywhere.” She receives great satisfaction when kindergarten teachers around town report they can tell when a child came from Children’s Day Out. “They do just great!” She says the success of the program is due to many dedicated teachers that pour their hearts into their work. “When parents meet us for the first time, they see the love and dedication of the staff and the low teacher/ child ratio. They love to observe the Christian setting when they tour our place.”

Kay Jennings, CDO Director 4 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

The Infant II class receives lots of love and snuggles from their teachers. CDO is one of the few programs in Denton that provide infant care, which is in high demand as evidenced by the long waiting list.

Over the last 41 years Kay’s perspective on education has changed. She has learned that children from any socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity and gender benefit from Christian education. “Life has evolved and many mothers now have a career, so the need for a longer day program has grown tremendously.” CDO now offers parents great child care from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. And they provide care for infants as young as six weeks. Kay cannot imagine doing anything else. She’s always loved children. Even as a child, she used to play teacher with her dolls and teddy bears. “There are children that spend a long time here every day, so we are their second family. Some children come from blended families and we try to give them some stability, a place where they feel comfortable, where they know they are loved and cared about. It is great to know that they will do well when they go to kindergarten, both socially and emotionally. It is rewarding to know that we are impacting their lives so they can impact someone else’s life, as well.” There are countless stories about the impact CDO has had in the lives of children. It is very rewarding when children from very challenging settings and situations come to understand the unconditional love of God. These children are able to

pull through and have centered and balanced Christian lives. CDO has been impacting families for generations. Kelly Courtney, Kylie and Kaden are a great example. Kelly’s grandparents were long-time members of the church and his mom was a CDO teacher. Kelly attended CDO and so did his daughter Kylie who is now in Kindergarten. Kaden is currently a CDO student. Understanding CDO’s curriculum is very important. “We are not trying to preach to the children. We incorporate Christian features, stories, music and chapel time with the same curriculum children would find in other programs. We use themes. For example, if the theme is Community Helpers, all activities support that theme including art activities, math and earth science. Also, we have our set curriculum for each age group but each year we may adjust it according to the group of children we have. We are always seeking to adapt in order to most effectively serve the children we have. It is always a work-inprogress.” Kay loves to listen to the children singing during chapel time. “They are just so excited. They learn the lyrics and sing with so much enthusiasm. Rev. Deana taught them the “If you are happy and you know it clap your hands” song and they absolutely love it! If someone else is doing chapel time and doesn’t

IMPACT | Ministries Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

end by singing that song, I can guarantee they will not leave.” She feels very blessed to have so many great people working with her as she recognizes the challenge that many face working for a non-profit which generally has a lower pay scale. One of the struggles of her profession is not getting too emotionally involved in every obstacle faced by the children. “You want to become a child’s advocate, to solve all the problems,” said Kay. Learning to accept that teachers don’t need to do everything the way she would in order to be effective and understanding their approach might

Ruth smiles with delight as she takes advantage of the baby bouncer, which helps to stretch the leg muscles of growing infants. CDO recently expanded the number of infants they can serve, but they remain at full capacity.

work even better than hers can also be tricky. “It’s all part of the growth process.” “Learning from the children is also very interesting. They teach you all the time. Not judging is one of the things I have learned from them. And using the computer was sure another one,” added Kay. Kay does hope to add more infant rooms in the future. “We are full and we keep a waiting list. But it is so hard to have to turn a parent away and they are in tears because it is their first baby and they are concerned about what they see in other day care programs.” Realistically though, it would take another building to accommodate her dream, which she knows is not exactly easy. But who knows what the future might bring?

Thanks to a comprehensive curriculum, dedicated staff and Kay’s passionate leadership, CDO scored first place in the 2015 Best of Denton (where Denton residents vote for the best local organizations/businesses/ services) after scoring third place in 2014 . Here is what parents say about FUMC-Denton Children’s Day Out: “My husband and I wanted to let you know that the group of teachers you have in Infants-II are the sweetest, warmest group of ladies! They explained everything so openly and easy-to-follow. They truly love working with children and it shows. I am so happy with the Infants-II teachers. I have been visiting my son at lunch time for the first two months. Yes, I am a first-time mom. So I have seen these teachers in action and let me tell you; they are so good! Those babies are happy. The teachers talk and play with them, They make sure the children are comfortable, the room is spotless and I sure appreciate all they hard work they do for my Luke.” —Silvia R. “We were very apprehensive about letting anyone take care of our daughter but we couldn’t be happier with CDO. It is so wonderful and comforting to have teachers that love her and are excited to see her every day! She is so excited to go to school every morning. I can tell that CDO has contributed positively to her development, too. Ellie really looks forward to going to church to see her friends and teachers. We will be here as long as we can!” —Sarah R. “It is, indeed, difficult to describe in a few words how incredible CDO is and how much it means to my family. For nearly seven years, CDO has surrounded my sons with love and compassion. On each of two thousand mornings, teachers and administrators smiled broadly and warmly welcomed my boys into a safe and nurturing environment. My sons feel at home at CDO; their teachers are like family. In this place, my boys have developed self-

Shiwoo ices cookies and has fun using his fine motor skills while enjoying the texture of the icing.

confidence, empathy, creativity and important life-skills. Here, they have learned to love learning. CDO is a place where learning, play, music, language and art combine with God’s love to inspire children to soar to new heights socially, intellectually and spiritually. CDO truly is an amazing place. If you want to give your child the amazing gift of a quality education wrapped in the ribbons of love and compassion, I can think of no better place to begin than at CDO.” —Jake B., Father of Wills and Rhys. FUMC-Denton Children’s Day Out has state-of-the-art facilities, decorated and equipped to fulfill the needs of each age group. Children also count on a great playground and outdoor play area. But more than anything, what makes our CDO the 2015 Best of Denton is our staff’s passion and dedication to an inspiring, motivating and high-quality education.

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IMPACT | Missions Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Story by

Martha Ware

Our Church, Our Missions M

ission trips are a great way for our members to extend their service to different communities in need. Our church provides opportunities for everyone. One of our most impactful partnerships is with the Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya (ODIM). Joanna Dwyer, who was a member of North Haven UMC in Dallas, founded ODIM in 2005. When Joanna retired in 2014, Jeff Hassel joined ODIM as executive director after serving as pastor in UMC churches in the U.S. and as a missionary in Lithuania. According to Jeff, ODIM got its start offering humanitarian relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Stan, which killed thousands and devastated Guatemala in 2005. Since then, ODIM has grown within the San Juan and San Pablo La Laguna communities to create sustainable health and education programs. For the past five years, FUMCDenton has organized mission trips to Guatemala to do construction work and provide medical services. The construction crew has built houses and a clinic in San Pablo, a small Mayan village on the shore of Lake Atitlan, a beautiful setting surrounded by volcanoes. Despite the beauty of the setting, the poverty in which the people live is unbelievable. Katy Dawson, who has

6 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

3 Construction volunteer teams work side-by-side with local construction workers to build housing for families of high need. Here, a grateful Guatemalan family receives the key to their new home from ODIM volunteer coordinator, Joel Enright.

participated in a couple of the trips, said, “The people are friendly and welcoming, and our interactions with them have been wonderful. The villagers speak Tz’utujil, one of 22 Mayan dialects. Although Spanish is the official and only common language of Guatemala, Mayan children only learn Spanish when they begin school. Even with the language challenge, I have learned more from them than I could possibly teach.”

“ Even with the language challenge, I have learned more from them than I could possibly teach.” — Katy Dawson

ODIM offers scholarship programs to 20 students to help ensure their future success. During a recent trip, two of our team members volunteered to interact with students helping with English and Spanish, talking to them about their lives and answering questions about our culture. “Last year the team worked on the construction of a house made of concrete blocks. We found that we had enough money to purchase a toilet and make a bathroom of sorts in this tiny little house. The owner and his family were in tears when we told them about it. Indoor plumbing is a rarity there. Most feel lucky to have a shack made of bamboo stalks, with spaces between the poles, doors consisting of a piece of cloth and roofs made of pieces of tin,” said Katy. That is one very

IMPACT | Missions Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

practical way we offer help. Katy recounts a humorous story: “One day in a shop I walked by an elderly lady, probably the mother of the owner. After I smiled and greeted her, she immediately asked, ‘¿Cuántos años tiene Ud?’ (How old are you?). Asking a person’s age is very common and not considered rude there. Upon hearing that I was 84, the lady in awe exclaimed, ‘But you have all your teeth!’ Obviously the dental clinic in San Pablo did not open soon enough to help this lady.” There were plenty of opportunities to help these people spiritually, as well. The foreman on the construction project, who spoke enough English to converse, was going through a rough time with family problems, often bringing his daughter with him to the site. Pastor Don, with his calm, patient

demeanor, keen insight and counseling skills, interacted well with Miguel, helping him think through some problems. Needless to say the two formed a firm friendship. And, it seems that after the trip, Pastor Don is also a pro with the trowel! The most incredible and relevant thing coming out of the trip though is the impact the experiences have in the participants’ lives. Marsha Morton, one of the nurses who participated in the last Guatemala Mission Trip said: “Differently from the experiences I have had in other mission trips, the Mayas were so open and willing to interact with me as a nurse. They wanted to shake my hand, hug and kiss me as a thank-you gesture. They wanted to unload their daily burdens. This experience allowed me to reconnect with the true

“ Attending school presents a real sacrifice for them but within the last year, two of them completed their Registered Nurse degrees.” — Molly Tampke meaning of being a nurse. “One day, on the way to the clinic in San Pedro, we smelled fresh bread baking and we ended up in a family bakery. The rolls cost eight cents each so we bought a dozen. When the baker realized that we were the medical staff at the clinic he refused to take the dollar (which is a meaningful amount in

2014 Mission Team, including FUMC-Denton Lead Pastor Don Lee, heading to a worksite. Work can be physically challenging, especially due to the high elevation and the heat of the Guatemalan sun. But volunteers are rewarded by the knowledge they are providing housing for needy families. WWW.FUMC-DENTON.COM 7

The joy that comes from serving is apparent as members of the FUMC 2014 volunteer team pause briefly for a “smile break.” Top left: Team members Marsha Morton, Carlos Araoz and Penny Ashley. Top right: Volunteer coordinator Joel Enright. Bottom left, bottom right: Team members Molly Tampke and Katy Dawson.

San Pedro). As we were leaving I left the dollar with the baker’s young son, knowing that he would give it to his father. The next day there was a bag of rolls and the same dollar waiting for us at the clinic. Message received.”

weekends, driving two hours on a twisting road up a mountain, while during the week working at the clinic, has been inspiring. Attending school presents a real sacrifice for them but within the last year, two of them completed their Registered

“ It has given me the place and the time to reach out and help people whose world could not possibly be more different than mine and yet we live on the same planet.” — Marsha Morton Molly Tampke, a long-time FUMC-Denton member who is deeply involved with the Guatemala Mission Trip, said that she has some enduring memories. “Seeing some of the Maya staff go to school on the 8 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

Nurse degrees.” Some easy and accessible items in the U.S., such as eyeglasses and canes, are almost foreign to those people. “Giving eyeglasses to children who could not see clearly was

amazing. One boy had a book three inches from his eyes to read. After getting the glasses he was able to hold it 10 inches away and see it clearly! It was priceless to see the smiles on the two elderly people who received canes. They will be less likely to fall on the slippery pavement of those hills,” said Penny Ashley, another one of the nurses traveling to Guatemala. There are countless other stories to be told, memories to be cherished and lessons to be learned with deep realizations, life-changing experiences and funny facts. Yes, lives are changed. But it is difficult to say whose lives are changed the most, those who give or those who receive. As Joel Enright, volunteer coordinator with ODIM said: “The team from FUMC-Denton made a big contribution to our mission of providing high quality health and housing services in Guatemala. Some helped to provide care and share their experience in our two community clinics, while others toiled in the powerful Guatemalan sun to build a house for the family of Rosa and Juan. It was wonderful to watch how they connected to the people here. In the end, that’s why these volunteer trips are important, not just for the work but to create connections between people from different cultures and backgrounds.” Marsha Morton thoughtfully said, “It has given me the place and the time to reach out and help people whose world could not possibly be more different than mine and yet we live on the same planet.” That is why our church believes, encourages and supports missions to our church family, to the local community and to the world.

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IMPACT | People Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Our Church, Our People + Janet Fisher

irst United Methodist Church of Denton is a diverse congregation united by a life-changing experience with Jesus Christ. We are faithful and believe in “Shining God’s Love Into Every Life.” We welcome believers and seekers, individuals and families, those who are well off or less fortunate. Our goal is to make a difference in the lives of our members and our community and to contribute to a better, united and selfless world. We believe the church is the physical presence of Jesus Christ in the world. We believe we are called by God to be the hands and feet of Christ as we serve God’s children and love one another. We have open doors, open hearts and open minds and what makes our church is our people. In this section we will share the stories of our people, how they impact lives and how their faith and love for God impact their own lives.

Dalton Gregory

Kathryn Stream

Katy Dawson

Story & photos by Martha Ware

We will give you a little taste of these stories by sharing the experiences and faith of four FUMC-Denton members who are directly and deeply involved with our missions and vision: Janet Fisher, Dalton Gregory, Kathryn Stream and Katy Dawson. Katy Dawson has been involved with ODIM and the Guatemala Mission Trip for a few years. ODIM has started as a humanitarian relief group offering help to Guatemalans after the devastating Hurricane Stan in 2005. After funding and supplying manpower to build the San Juan Clinic in 2008, ODIM was recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the IRS in 2012. FUMC-Denton has done amazing work with ODIM, supporting the medical clinic in San Juan and helping with the construction of a new clinic in San Pablo. In 2014 we also helped them build an indoor restroom for a Mayan family.

Katy has traveled to Guatemala with a group of church members and said, “It was simply a marvelous experience.” She can tell many stories about her trips: “One day, while taking a water break, the construction foreman approached her and started asking many questions about the U.S. and how we lived

Katy Dawson and a local worker pause for a break during the 2014 Guatemala Mission. WWW.FUMC-DENTON.COM 9

IMPACT | People Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

here. “That was a surprise to me because I thought I was actually the one interested in their stories,” said Katy. “One of the things that the trip does is to put things into perspective: our houses look like palaces compared to where and how they live,” added Katy. The main takeaways from her trips were how poverty and lack of resources impact people’s health and how the lack of information is a big influencer too. Simple things, such as teaching them to wash their vegetables before eating them or boiling the water before drinking it, can make a big difference in their well-being. Katy said that, “I have always received more than I had ever given from these trips. The feeling of helping, getting to know their culture, talking and relating to those people, seeing how they live and realizing that we have no clue about how people really live there, are experiences that would change anyone’s life.” Kathryn Stream, another long-time member, has also been involved with the Guatemala Mission Trip and has her heart in the Stephen Ministry and the Prayer Shawl Ministry. When Kathryn

“ I have always received more than I had ever given from these trips. The feeling of helping, getting to know their culture, talking and relating to those people, seeing how they live and realizing that we have no clue about how people really live there, are experiences that would change anyone’s life.” — Katy Dawson retired in 2008 she started to think about where she would like to spend her time. Not long after that, 10 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

Kathryn Stream along with Lead Pastor Don Lee and other Prayer Shawl ministry volunteers participate in the blessing of the shawls which will provide comfort to folks with health issues and those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Lisa, former associate pastor here, asked her if she would consider being either a Stephen Minister or a Stephen Leader. After attending 50 hours of classes in Dallas she became a Stephen Leader. So, what is Stephen Ministry? “It is a group of caring Christians who minister to others going through some kind of crisis,” says Kathryn. She adds: “Along the way with the listening comes also some spiritual time. Usually it is prayer or scripture reading, verses or songs that people like. But it is definitely a Christian caring group and that shows in the meetings.” She also says that it is important to know that the program and meetings are completely confidential and those receiving care do not have to be a member of the church to request a Stephen Minister. She started the Prayer Shawl Ministry a couple of years ago for her late husband Richard. She learned about this ministry through her son-in-law because his mom, Frances, had been making shawls for their church’s ministry (in Houston) for years. When Richard was hospitalized, both he and Kathryn received blessed shawls from Frances. Richard asked to be covered with the prayer shawl every night and she covered herself as well. She says that it made all the difference to them during that critical time. That inspired her to do the same for other people who need the same

type of support. Since last October, the Prayer Shawl Ministry has presented over 60 pieces (between shawls, lap robes and baby blankets) and with the yarn that was donated by our church members, 50 more will be made. “People in this ministry are very devoted and although they do not know who their shawl is going to, they make it with love and prayer,” Kathryn says. It is very touching for the recipient to realize that people they do not know are giving their time and love, as well as praying for them. “It is very comforting to know someone is doing that for you.” Dalton Gregory has been involved with the church’s programs since he was a small child. When he moved into the Junior High School department he saw a

Dalton Gregory, long-time FUMC-Denton member, serves the community as a city council member and the congregation by offering his musical talents and a mission-minded heart.

IMPACT | People Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Bible verse from the epistle of James on the wall that stuck with him: James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” After finishing school, Dalton worked as a teacher in Austin, as a “cross between a principal and a camp director” for a fifth grade environmental camp, as an Elementary Principal (for most of his career) and as an elected City Council member. He has been very busy since the first time he was elected many years ago. In the church, he has been involved in the Administrative Board, Finance, Building and Stewardship Committees. When Dalton, his wife and children moved back to Denton, they needed a church to call home. They decided to check FUMC-Denton’s Sunday School classes. They had

Janet Fisher with Saratov United Methodist Church Pastor Dmitry. This Russian congregation is one of the recipients of the support from the Marfa Ministry, founded by Janet.

School class they were part of got smaller, they started to participate in the New Horizons class, which adopted the Stone Soup event. He remains very active in that class.

“When that happened, we looked at each other and said: We don’t have to look any farther. This is a church that is doing the word, not only studying it…and this is our Sunday — Dalton Gregory School class.” both been members of our church before. One of the Sunday Classes was studying a series on world hunger, hunger in the US and hunger in the Denton community. They participated in all three classes along with other young couples and, at the end of the third lesson, people were saying, ”We have to do something about it.” The group decided to help the local community and organized an event to raise money for the local food pantry. It was the first Stone Soup, the name suggested by Donna, Dalton’s wife. “When that happened, we looked at each other and said: We don’t have to look any farther. This is a church that is doing the word, not only studying it,” Dalton added. “And this is our Sunday School class.” Dalton has been very active in the church since their move back to Denton in 1982. As the Sunday

Janet Fisher, another very active member of FUMC-Denton, has many stories to tell. Locally, Janet is involved with the Alternative Gifts Fair (AGF). AGF started 28 years ago and is different from most fairs. It is not a fundraiser for the church but an opportunity for shoppers to purchase unique and one-of-akind items with all proceeds going to missions and non-profits. In the last three years AGF has raised over $140,000 for missions.. But how did Janet get involved with AGF? Twelve years ago, when her husband Dennis was invited to conduct a professional band in Saratov, Russia, they started a relationship with a local Methodist church. Over time, this relationship grew and they got closely involved with its congregation. They met in a 150-year-old house, where the living room was the Sanctuary. In a

trade with a local developer, the Lead Pastor gave up the house and received the empty shell for a new church. Janet soon realized that the needs of the church were too many for her and Dennis to finance, so they started a fundraising project. The Lead Pastor for the Saratov church created some beautiful artwork for note cards and Janet was able to get a little space on a table at the Alternative Gifts Fair and surprisingly sold-out quickly. The following year, they sold not only note cards but Christmas cards, too. After a while they also started selling textile products. The initiative worked so well that Janet founded Marfa Ministry, a non-profit organization that supports churches that are struggling to be self-sufficient. “The whole experience just gave me a taste of how one person can make a difference,” said Janet. In January 2015, Kharkiv United Methodist Church in Kharkiv, Ukraine, also joined Marfa Ministry. Also in January, Marfa Ministry voted to include Moscow Theological Seminary in the ministry’s funding efforts. These four members are great examples of what our church represents, helping to transform the world one person at a time. They are excellent models of lives that have made an Impact.

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IMPACT | Events Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

Experience IMPACT at FUMC-Denton

September 13 Jammin’ Church Festival 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Church grounds Live music, free food and fun for all ages.

October 31 Share the Harvest 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Church parking lot and East Wing Trunk-or-Treat, Carnival Games, Hay Rides and Snack Supper. Admission: one can of food.

November 6–8 Alternative Gifts Fair Nov 6 – 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Nov 7 – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Nov 8 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Fair trade goods and one-of-a-kind items hand-made by local and third-world artisans. Friday admission – $5. Saturday and Sunday – FREE.

IMPACT Events July 1, 8, 15, 29, August 5, 12, 19 Justice In Everyday Life Workshop

October 11 Hispanic Culture Heritage Month

6:00pm to 7:30pm Facilitator: Ruth Bowen. Bring paper, pen, Bible, hymnal (if you have one) and copy of the 2013-2016 Social Principles to each session. Register online at http://fumc-denton. com/justice-everyday-life/. If you need childcare, please contact Brandi Southwell: bsouthwell@fumc-denton.com.

9:30 am to 1:00 pm Join us in celebrating the Hispanic Culture Heritage Month with desserts, drinks, piñatas and Mariachi band music.

October 4 Blessing of the Animals Service 1:00pm, Ivey Garden (weather permitting) This Christian tradition will be celebrated with a brief service, held in the Ivey Garden. It is open to anyone who would like to bring an animal companion. Our lead pastor, Don Lee will officiate. 12 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

October 11, 18, 25, November 1 Christianos Classes 1:00 pm (lunch begins 12:30 pm) Four-week discipleship course that introduces core values and beliefs of the United Methodist Church. Classes will be taught by our lead pastor, Don Lee: Session One: Prevenient Grace Session Two: Justifying Grace Session Three: Sanctifying Grace Session Four: The Means of Grace

December 4 Evening in Bethlehem 5:30pm to 8:00pm Live Nativity, live music, petting zoo, crafts and wassail. FREE.

IMPACT | Culture

Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

IMPACT Culture “For there is nothing Impossible for our God” —Luke 1:37

ith this promise in our mind the Latin-American Ministry was born. FUMC-Denton Lead Pastor Don Lee had the dream and passion to reach out the Hispanic/Latino population and bring them to this church. In June 2014, Rev. Diana Wingeier-Rayo was appointed as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and to launch a new ministry to our Hispanic/Latino community. In October 2014, three Spanish-speaking people, looking for a Spanish program, began coming to our church. At the time, there was no formal programming. Originally the plans were for Rev. Diana to get to know the DNA and culture of the current core congregation before beginning to organize a structured plan to reach out to the Latino/

Hispanic local community. But, the Good Lord went ahead of our human plans. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “My plans are not your plans, your thoughts are not my thoughts and your ways are not my ways, my plans are higher than yours, says the Lord.” Rev. Diana started teaching the doctrine and the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church to those three Spanish-speaking people on Sunday mornings. Since then the ministry has become unstoppable. We began teaching Discipleship. In December 2014, we celebrated a multicultural Christmas event with the participation of 100 Hispanics and Latinos. It has been wonderful to see and hear the sweet smiling faces and hear the enthusiastic voic-

es of the bilingual Hispanic/Latino children in our church hallways! We hear “¡Hola!” all through the hallways by both English and Spanish-speaking folks in an attempt to communicate with one another. It is just wonderful! The Latinos/Hispanics, Caribbean and Indigenous South Americans are now a vital part of our church’s life. Currently, around 50 people attend classes every Sunday. Using Jesus’ model, we are training them to become effective disciples. Our vision: To Shine God’s Love into Every Life. Our mission: To make of every woman and man a disciple of Jesus Christ sharing the Gospel to others with passion and love. To see what we are about, please visit us any Sunday at 1:00 pm.

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“Porque No hay nada imposible para Dios” —Lucas 1:37 on esta promesa en mente, el ministerio Latino-Americano comenzó a poner los primeros fundamentos. El Reverendo Don Lee como el pastor líder, siempre soñó con un ministerio en español en su iglesia. In June 2014, Rev. Diana WingeierRayo fue apuntada como persona encargada de transmitir la misión de las mujeres metodistas, el comité de misiones y los ministerios Hispanos. En Octubre 2014, tres personas comenzaron a venir a FUMCDenton en los domingos. No había nada preparado para comenzar una enseñanza formal con ellos. Los planes pastorales eran sembrar bases bíblicas fuertes antes de comenzar un ministerio con la comunidad hispana. La idea humana era conocer a fondo la

siguiendo el modelo de Jesús. cultura y el ADN de los hermanos Anglos, antes de comenzar a invitar Tenemos la asistencia de 45-48 personas fielmente viniendo los a los Hispanos/Latinos a nuestra domingos. Nuestra visión es: iglesia. De acuerdo a Jeremías 29:11 Formar hombres y mujeres “Los planes de Dios son mayores discípulos con un corazón lleno de que los nuestros.” amor por los perdidos. Nuestra De manera que, la pastora Diana comenzó dando la enseñanza misión, es alcanzar toda la comunidad Hispana/Latina básica de la teología y creencia y formar familias Metodistas. De esa manera, en enriquecidas por el Diciembre 2014, ya teníamos diez inmenso amor de personas realmente comprometidas Dios en sus corazones. y emocionadas con el nuevo Te invitamos a que nos programa en español. Desde ese visites cada domingo a momento, ¡nada podría parar el la 1:00 pm. Te retamos crecimiento y alegría de las risas de a tener un corazón niños bilingües en los pasillos de lleno de amor por los nuestra iglesia! perdidos, al fin, ese Los Hispanos, Latinos, es de los evangelios. Caribeños e indigenas de diferentes partes de Sur América, están en — Rev. Diana nuestras vidas. Actualmente, Wingeier-Rayo, Associate Pastor tenemos discipulado sobrenatural

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IMPACT | Bigger Picture Volume 1 Issue 1 | Summer 2015

IMPACT Bigger Picture

Making a connection throughout the world

hat does it mean to be a “United Methodist”? First, we are members of the United Methodist congregation called First United Methodist Church of Denton. As a congregation, we do not stand alone. We are part of a connection or network of churches around the world that are identified not by its many parts, but by being part of a marvelous whole. In this column each issue, we will explore particular aspects of our “connection,” especially those that help us fulfill our vision of “shining God’s love into every life.” One United Methodist organization that does that in a mighty way is the United Methodist Committee on Relief, commonly referred to as UMCOR (um-core). UMCOR is an organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work reaches people in more than 80 countries, including the United States. They provide humanitarian relief when war, conflict or natural disasters disrupt life in communities who are unable to recover on their own. Among recent examples are relief efforts to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

UMCOR’s Global Heath programs place top priority on maternal and child health. 14 SHINING GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMING LIVES

Left: Happy, healthy children benefit from UMCOR programs. Below: UMCOR brings physical and psychological relief to victims of natural disasters.

Their underlying goal is to assist the most vulnerable persons affected by crisis or chronic need. United Methodists believe all people have God-given worth and dignity. So in addition to disaster relief, UMCOR is involved in projects related to global health, alleviating hunger and poverty, providing assistance to refugees and training communities to be better prepared to cope with disasters. While UMCOR cooperates with other aid organizations to extend our reach, they recognize that their most important partners are the people they serve and believe that successful solutions to emergency or chronic conditions begin with the affected population. UMCOR provides these survivors not only temporary relief but long-term education, training and support. For those who want to ensure their donations go directly to serve the needy, UMCOR does so by guaranteeing that 100% of designated donations are spent on the projects donors specify. They are able

to do this as a result of one major offering taken each year in thousands of Methodist Churches around the world. This offering is called “One Great Hour of Sharing.” These funds along with other undesignated gifts underwrite their total cost of doing business. UMCOR has been doing this great work since 1940, so this year they are celebrating “75 Years of Being with Those in Time of Crisis.” To learn more about this relief arm of our church, visit their website at www.umcor.org.

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— Alan Heath, Executive Editor

IMPACT | From the Pastor

IMPACT From the Pastor “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:8.

ittle did the first Christian disciples realize the impact they would have as they fulfilled those words of Jesus. And His words were not just for them, but for the millions of disciples who would follow over the next two millennia. I am privileged to pastor a church that so intentionally fulfills the mission Jesus set for all Christians. That commitment is expressed not only in the mission statement of our congregation, but also that of The United Methodist Church—Shine God’s Love Into Every Life and Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. Jesus’ words for our church might be paraphrased: “And you will be my witnesses in the city of Denton, in the county of Denton, in our conference and in the whole world.” Yes, Jesus has empowered this group of FUMCDenton disciples to fulfill His commission in the 21st century. Our ministries do touch and transform lives through a variety of missions and ministries, whether it’s outreach to our growing Hispanic community, partnering with Tomas Rivera Elementary, feeding the hungry through the weekly First Meal program and through strong support of other ministries in the Denton area, and our annual Alternative Gifts Fair, just to name a few. That outreach takes on inter-

national proportions as we send folks and financial resources to the Central American country of Guatemala in our support of ODIM (pronounced “o-deem” in Spanish), the Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya. And “to the ends of the earth” might describe our active Eurasian minis-

and mortar joints. At times, he gently coaxed me on. Basically, I provided the labor, and Mike, the know-how. There’s no way we could have built that house without his guidance. I think Mike and I both gained from that relationship and parted friends. It was meaningful work and a blessing to see members from our team connect with people from San Pablo and San Juan as we visited, ate with, healed, and built together. Being Lead Pastor at such a missionminded church is such a blessing. And I will continue to pray that this group of disciples who call FUMCDenton their church home will maintain and strengthen our mission to each other, to our community and to the world. May God bless you as you touch lives for Christ.

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try as we have members involved in the support of Saratov United Methodist Church in central Russia. I had the privilege last summer of participating in a mission trip to Guatemala. Members of our team worked in two ODIM medical clinics, while others (including myself), helped build a home for a deserving family in the community. Few times in my life have I ever felt so out of my element! And yet, patiently, Mike (the site foreman) walked me through the process of how to set blocks, lay a plumb line,

— Rev. Don Lee, Lead Pastor

IMPACT The Next Big Thing

FUMC-Denton Service Times

Worship with Us It’s our members who make FUMC-Denton a welcoming church. We hope you will join us. Visit our website www.fumc-denton.com to learn more about the different services.

Sunday Worship Schedule: 7:30 am – First Meal A free breakfast for those in need followed by an informal worship service. Meeting in Flinn Hall Lounge during Monroe Center Renovation.

8:30 am – Traditional Worship Traditional, formal worship service featuring liturgy, organ-led hymns and choral music. Located in the Sanctuary.

9:45 am – Connection Contemporary An informal service in a relaxed, contemporary setting with a praise band. Located in Flinn Hall.

9:45 am – Sunday School classes for all ages each Sunday First United Methodist Church Of Denton 201 S. Locust Street | Denton, TX 76201 (940) 382-5478 | (940) 381-9124 (FAX)

www.fumc-denton.com

11:00 am – Celebration Worship (livestreaming and televised on Charter 191 and Verizon 39)

Incorporates elements found in traditional worship supporting the Bible-based preaching of our lead pastor. Located in the Sanctuary

11:15 am – 3rd Day Family Service (third Sunday every month) A family service, designed to help children find their place in worship. Located in Flinn Hall

1:00 pm – Ministerio Éxito Familiar (Ministry for Family Success) Bilingual Service (Spanish/English). A ministry focused on families. Located in Flinn Hall

5:00 pm – The Shore Worship unscripted, characterized by deep spiritual reflection, an emphasis on mission in the community. Located in Flinn Hall but meeting in the Square through June.