First United Methodist Church Grapevine
CONNECT www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org
facebook.com/fumcgrapevine
10 @grapevinefumc
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pinterest.com/fumcgrapevine
9 youtube.com/FUMCGWorship
firstmethodistgrapevine.org/truthcast
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The Church at Work e-zine (electronic magazine) is designed to give
you a glimpse into the stories being lived out through the ministries of First United Methodist Church Grapevine. Lives are being touched and changed forever, and we want you to hear the story.
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An Example for Believers
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What is God Asking You to Do?
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I Left My Heart in Costa Rica
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Happy Kids. Eating. Playing.
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A Community Affair
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Light in the Darkness
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Overload
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Home-Grown Calling
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A Look Ahead
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If you have feedback about the e-zine or a story to tell, please contact: Dr. Cindy Ryan cindyr@fumcg.org, 817-481-2559 x222 or Melissia Mason melissiam@fumcg.org, 817-481-2559 x109 The Church at Work || 3
An Example For The
Believers
By Lindsey Breunig
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eing the hands and feet of Christ doesn’t have an age requirement. Whether you just finished fourth grade, or retired from your life-long job... there is a unique place for you to serve. This summer, the children and youth of First United Methodist at Grapevine reminded me that age is only a number. I witnessed a recurring theme throughout my summer... the young setting “an example for the believers.”
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young; set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) 4 || The Church at Work
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t began at 8:30 AM on Monday morning; it was the first Mission Swim of the Summer for the fourth and fifth graders. Thirteen happy tweens loaded up the church van and headed to the Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE) Donation Station. The girls and I worked around clothing bins, sorting by season and hanging donated clothes to be sold in the resale shop down the street. There was a mother and daughter working with us also. I will never forget watching the mother’s shocked reaction when I explained that our tweens willingly come to volunteer at GRACE.
great group when the workers at GRACE complimented the tweens at the end. Mission Swim wasn’t a one-time deal. After going back four more times, it was very humbling to hear from the tweens that they “found it rewarding knowing that what they were doing was going to someone in need.” (Zane Gravitt) The work done at GRACE helped others, but it also made a statement to other believers watching from the outside: There is no age limit to serving others.
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The boys took charge outside as donating cars pulled into the driveway. They unloaded donations varying from old TV stands and toys to bags of clothes. At the end of the day, I was told that all the boys did much of the unloading without being asked. It was as if they had made a game
ervice didn’t stop with Mission Swim. The tweens continued their summer of service with Ignite Your World, a new overnight mission trip hosted by our church. After a long day of work, each night we all came together to worship and grow closer to God, something new for many of the tweens. Singing songs and a powerful message was the perfect way to end after a long day of work.
out of volunteering. Who could unload the most? Who found the coolest toy? I was very proud and honored to be with such a
I will never forget the night after worship when a girl broke down into tears. She
The Church at Work || 5
quickly assured us these were happy tears. While serving at “Feed Our Kids” and the Senior Center she realized how lucky she was to have her family and friends. She was thankful to get the chance to go on mission trips and let us know this mission trip was only the beginning for her.
Ignite was only the beginning for many of the tweens. Serving and taking time for others was more rewarding than the tweens had anticipated. Nathan Firmin is an excellent leader to these tweens. When asked if he ever thought the tweens were too young for missions he responded, “Never. We just
6 || The Church at Work
needed to find what they could do to change peoples’ lives.” Hearing these “God moments” from the children was yet another sign of the young setting an example for other believers through their actions and testimonies. Once again I was in awe that it didn’t matter how old you were to make a difference in a person’s life.
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outh Ministries give tweens a next step into missions with the High School and Middle School Mission Trips. This summer I was able to go as an adult on the Middle School Mission Trip to Waxahachie, Texas. A dear friend of
mine, Amy Quirk, and I say, “It was the best decision we’ve ever made.” I have yet to take that back, and have never been so excited to see other youth wanting to go again next year. I was a part of Team 8, and we became a new family throughout the week. We were given the task to rebuild a wheelchair ramp and paint a garage for a local church member who had grown too weak to do regular activities. Our team grew a quick bond on the first day, huddled under a tent due to the pouring rain for the entire work time. The week only got better. It didn’t matter how early it was, the youth were ready to
work. Hands and feet were exhausted, yes. But as a team we pushed each other to try new tools or to perfect the strokes for painting. A lunch devotional went longer than planned one day when our team opened up about their mission trip experience. The majority of my team had been filled with anxiety when preparing for mission trip, but the week had taken away all their preconceived worries. They were replaced with statements like, “Mission trip is my new favorite summer activity,” or, “I’ll be back next summer.” Whether it is because of new friendships or a passion to work, it is a good feeling to hear about mission trips making a positive impact. A member of Team 8, The Church at Work || 7
Reagan Isbell, was asked what she learned from mission trip. She responded, “God wants us to serve others and not be all hung up in our own stuff. We are changing peoples’ lives and their thanks and the smiles on their faces are priceless.” I am yet again reminded that God doesn’t have an age requirement to serve him.
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can only imagine the talk going on at the lunch tables now that the kids are back in school... stories of unloading cars with donations, children being fed and wheelchair ramps being built. As the stories are told, it’s hard to believe someone volunteered to give up a part of their summer for this. The exchange of stories is yet another way our kids will be setting an example for the believers. This summer ended much too quickly. As I headed back to school, I had a new feeling of satisfaction for what had been done. I was humbled by the fact that I got to witness the children and youth being the change in the world. I got to witness children and youth at work, doing something good for others. It is a wonderful thing to see someone jump to the challenge or out of their comfort zone all in the name of Christ. The children and youth not only helped someone in need but because of the example they set they reminded me that I can do anything no matter how young I am. d
8 || The Church at Work
Lindsey Breunig is a sophomore Community Health major at Baylor Univeristy. This summer she served as our Children’s Ministry Intern. She grew up at FUMCG and has been active in children’s and youth ministries.
High school Mission trip Q&A Q: Lindsey Breunig | A: Lauren Maynard
Q: What did you do on mission trip? A:
This year I helped rebuild a fence, re-roofed a woman’s house, and installed smaller steps on her back porch so they were easier for her to get down (not as steep). She had bad diabetes and walking around was getting harder.
Q: How many mission trips have you gone on? A:
This year was my 7th CTCYM (Central Texas Conference Youth Missions) mission trip. [I’ve also gone on] two Costa Rica Mission Trips and three mini mission trips.
Q: why do you keep going back? A:
I keep coming back because I love serving others and making a difference in someone’s life. I like knowing that I may have given someone hope or improved their living conditions. I also have made a bond with the other teens in my church whom I attend all the mission trips with. The week of June 16-21, 97 Senior High youth and adults went to Muskogee, Oklahoma. They worked on 13 different projects and logged almost 4,000 volunteer hours serving others.
The Church at Work || 9
What is God asking you to do?
By Susan Green
In the backdrop of the turbulent times of the 1960’s a young girl was growing up in Texas. Having a hyper-awareness of the conflicts going on in distant places, she saw a bloody war reported on the nightly news and scenes of racial unrest. She heard passionate discussions among the adults in her life: neighbors, parents, aunts and uncles. “Clean your plate; there are hungry children in Africa,” someone would say. Schoolwork was finished quickly and then she had time for “free reading.” Pouring through saved issues of National Geographic magazine imprinted her brain with scenes from far-away countries where children were crowded into shared benches at schools with dusty floors and limited lighting. 10 || The Church at Work
Some schools, in spite of their bleak conditions, gave off a “vibe” of energy and enthusiasm. The teachers and principals have a lot of love for their students and an inspiring passion for learning. They are accomplishing much with their limited resources!
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ast-forward fifty years and you will find that girl transformed by changes brought by time, experiences and God-given opportunities. I am a newly-retired school teacher, a new grandmother and a first-timer on a mission trip to Kenya. Rev. Armando Alvarado preached a sermon on the day the Kenya Team was commissioned, encouraging all of us to be open, aware and willing to follow God’s call. He asked, “What is God asking you to do?” As we traveled Kenya over the next few days, we faced that question over and over again.
Other schools, in comparison, seemed to have an aura of sadness, where food and water were scarce, classroom conditions were darker and more crowded, and children’s hands were often burning with fever. We were able to teach Bible School lessons in the schools, working with 6th-8th graders at three of the synod schools. The students crafted bead bracelets in the colors of the flag of Kenya. Each bead color represented a key topic from the Bible lesson: gold (heaven), black (darkness of separation from God), red (blood of Jesus), white (forgiveness) and green (growth). These were joyful days of communicating with the children and sharing our common bond in the love of God.
The team from First Methodist Grapevine was joined by people from two other churches in Temple and Salado. We were sent off with loving support from our churches. Our itinerary included visits to many schools, churches and local homes.
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n our visits to the Kenyan schools, I was shocked that my fifty-yearold images of African schools were still the common reality. In this age of advanced science and technology, how could these scenes still be true? The Church at Work || 11
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he day we met the homeless street kids of Meru moved the hearts in all of us. What a humbling experience to arrive in this desolate trash dump alleyway to the greetings of a group of young people singing to us and clapping: “Welcome visitors, welcome visitors!” From their outdoor home strewn with litter, we moved to join them at the local All Saints Church where the twice-weekly meals funded by our church are served. If you could share their meal of rice and beans, you would meet... the group’s leader, Silas… a pregnant teenage Veronica and her boyfriend Titus… baby Dennis and his mother Nancy… a young boy Paul who plays the role of Dennis’ father… Derrick, who was the first to be befriended by Bishop Catherine to begin this ministry… Carolyn and Agnes, two teenage girls who hope to become seamstresses… and many, many more needing food, comfort, attention, love and support. Worship time was shared with this family of children, including fervent rap/poetry performances by volunteers from the 12 || The Church at Work
audience. They expressed the pain of their lives, longing for relief and hope in God for their futures. Thankfully, plans are forming and actions are being taken to help change the plight of these children. Thinking of the laments of David in the Psalms and of Job and of the prophets… how long must one have to wait, Dear God? “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
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any of you from First Methodist Grapevine and other Texas churches sponsor children who are orphans* due to the toll of AIDS on Kenyan families. An uplifting, joyful celebration was shared as the children from this program along with their guardians and health care/social workers travelled into Meru from villages near and far. Songs, dances, prayers, speeches and a shared meal were all part of the schedule for the day. We brought your gifts and letters to exchange with those who are supported by our church family. Lots of hugs, laughter, tears, stories and trinkets were traded, and many of us got to meet our sponsored children face to face! Lots of love was shared!
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e might think that “the poor” have nothing, but oh, we would be so wrong! What I repeatedly witnessed with my whole being were people living the true fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). May we learn from them… May we follow their example… May we all become more open and aware and willing to do whatever little bit that God calls us to do. d
* The term “AIDS Orphans” has been revised to “Vulnerable Children” in order to minister to a wider variety of needs, including the street kids.
Susan and her husband Darrell have been members of FUMCG since 2009. She is a retired school teacher. She serves as a Stephen Minister and on the Feed Our Kids, Blankets of Hope, Campus Angels, Weekend Food and Project Read teams. She is also involved with teaching Sunday School and Gardening on the Grounds.
The Church at Work || 13
I Left My Heart in Costa Rica
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By Colleen Davis
y husband, Al, and I knew early on that we wanted to participate in the Costa Rica mission trip, but his work
schedule kept us from going until this last trip. I did not realize immediately that this trip would be to the Methodist Home. I became filled with unease as I wondered about the emotional toll of working at an orphanage for four full days. Would it be sad? Would I feel helpless to really help? I had not learned very much about Ray and Lidia’s mission and vision until we got there. We began our week by attending worship service on Sunday morning at a small church up a mountain. Ray translated the sermon, and everybody there was very warm and welcoming. Language barriers don’t mean very much when you are surrounded by loving people that appreciate you being among them. 14 || The Church at Work
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This would also be the church that we would go to on Monday and Tuesday evening to provide a Bible study for
s I mentioned, it was with trepidation that I entered the Methodist Home.
I was worried that it would be like an
the children in the area. That was very
institution. I worried the conditions would
rewarding as well. The children were
be unbearable. I was selfishly wondering
eager to learn and interact with us. They
how it would affect me, forgetting for a
very carefully worked on their crafts, and
moment why we were there: to work in
proudly showed them to us so that we
honor and love for His Glory.
could take pictures of them. When we arrived at the home on Monday This is the place, and these are the
morning, we were introduced to Ray and
children, that stole my husband’s heart. If
Lidia Zirkle. They sat us down to show us
you attended the mission celebration on
a slide show and to explain their vision for
August 25, you saw us on the video, and
the home. They told us about their initial
could easily see his emotions. It was a
startup, about some of the children that
wonderful two evenings of sharing God’s
had been there, and about problems they
love.
faced along the way.
However, my heart was stolen by Ray and
When they began, they wanted a married
Lidia and their beautiful vision.
couple to be the guardians of these children. For a variety of reasons that did
“Hogar Metodista” is a fully operational Children’s Home where up to 11 children can live full time. Lidia Zirkel serves as the general director. Ray Zirkel is an ordained elder in the Methodist Church and serves as a professor at the Evangelical Methodist Seminary. In addition, Ray is a member of the Board of Directors of the Methodist High School and Elementary School; and, he helps to plant and develop local congregations. The Church at Work || 15
not work out. The home at this time has
area. I walked away from this trip feeling
a capacity for eleven children. They had
confident that these children are being very
to close down for a short period of time
well taken care of, and will have a bright
to regroup and rethink how to make this
future.
work. When they reopened, they hired three women (Tias, or Aunts) to be the guardians,
Of course, all of this cannot happen
and that has worked out very well.
without financial support. They have a few churches here in the U.S. that sponsor
Hogar Metodista brings in children that
them. We are one of those. I would like for
most likely won’t be adopted. The reasons
everybody reading this to please hold the
for this vary from being “too old,” “too many
Methodist Home, and all that are working
siblings,” or “too problematic.” While we
on helping it grow and succeed, up in
were there, there was a 9 month old little
prayer. Pray for blessings for the children,
boy with Cystic Fibrosis. He will most likely
and for Ray and Lidia as they continue
spend his entire life (until age 18) at the
to make their vision and mission a true
home. That sounds very sad, but these
demonstration of God’s calling and love.
children are in a true home environment. They get three nutritional meals a day.
I also ask each of you to pray about your
They have clothing, shoes, and toys. They
own possible involvement in helping this
have plenty of room to run and play outside.
wonderful mission. I strongly recommend
They have a trampoline, a playground,
that you ask people who have gone about
and a full size soccer field in the making.
their experiences, whether at the home, or
They have Ray and Lidia, and three Tias
in our village with Pastor Roberto. d
that love them. They attend a school that is rated 5th in the nation, and will learn English, French, and Manderin. When they graduate, they will be very capable of continuing their education anywhere in the world. In other words, these children will have a better chance of a good quality life than many, if not most, children in the San Jose
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Colleen Davis and her husband Al have been members of FUMCG since 2006. They have a daughter, Sarah, twin daughters, Rachel and Becca, and a son Andrew. Colleen serves with Weekend Food, Be Our Guest, Feed Our Kids, Never Go Hungry and the Costa Rica Village.
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Happy Kids. Eating. Playing. By Debbi Reecer
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Just imagine... for one day... 800 lunch sacks, 80 loaves of bread, 1,600 slices of turkey, 800 washed and scrubbed apples, 800 bags of chips, 800 packages of cookies, 800 frozen gogurts, 800 napkins. And you thought you had a hard time packing lunches!
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uch is the scene during Big Week at Feed Our Kids. The ministry was started by a few moms in conjunction
with GRACE to feed lunch during the summer to children who are on free/ reduced lunch programs during the school year. Each week of summer break, different groups provide lunch and recreational time to children in several complexes in the GCISD area. This summer FUMC Grapevine served all six complexes in our Ministry Mile for Feed Our Kids Big Week. That was followed by four more weeks of Feed Our Kids Grapevine Village Giant Month. “I know I am blessed to have the job I have that has let me be involved in this ministry for years and years now,” says church member Deb Scheiwe, who oversees the
ministry and received a volunteerism award from GRACE earlier this year for her efforts. “I know how much I look forward to my summer ministries, and Big Week is one of my favorite weeks of the whole summer.” Deb credits the countless volunteers who help with the gargantuan effort, whether they organize the kitchen and do food preparation and clean-up, assemble lunches, plan crafts and read books to the children, or do recreational activities. “I love how we have little kids and youth The Church at Work || 19
and parents and grandparents all working together,” she said. “We circle up and are prayed away each day.” This year brought its challenges without the use of the Family Life Center kitchen. Deb said the team “made do” by using the Weekend Food Room as their pantry, the
During our Feed Our Kids Big Week, 123 volunteers fed children at 6 different sites, logging in over 1,100 volunteer hours and serving over 3,300 lunches. For a month after that at the
smaller Leach Hall kitchen as the workroom
Grapevine Village, volunteers
and the Family Life Center as Lunch
served over 1,400 lunches and
Central. “We really figured things out with an assembly line for each site, with rows of lunch bags and fruit and bread and meat and cheese OR peanut butter and jelly and chips and cookies and napkins and even
logged in almost 800 volunteer hours…
For a Grand total of 4,773 lunches served to children in need!!
a toothbrush! Not to mention the coolers and water jugs and paper towels and hand sanitizers and books and crafts and balls and on and on and on.” The whole crew felt no greater reward than seeing all the happy kids, eating, playing and enjoying the fun. One of the biggest satisfactions came when GRACE coordinator Lori Stevens said she loves our Big Week because “she knows our church will just take care of things,” Deb shared. The fun doesn’t end with Big Week! Sue Schultz led a team of faithful volunteers from our church - many of them residents of
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the Grapevine Village - in “Giant Month.” For four weeks, the team fed about 90 meals a day to kids in the Grapevine Village (Shady Oaks) area. Deb reflects on the ministry, “Feed Our Kids is so amazing. I am so grateful that our Church recognizes the importance of helping our friends and neighbors in our ‘ministry mile’ in small and BIG ways!” d Debbi Reecer has been a member of FUMCG since 1997. She serves on the Campus Angels and Angel Food teams. Debbi and her husband Rich attend the Open Door Sunday School Class and worship at the 11:00 AM service. They have a son, Matt, who is a student at Texas Tech University.
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A Community Affair
Back to School Fair Serves Over 1,700 Students By Joni Lehmann
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id you know that one in four Grapevine-Colleyville ISD students is economically-disadvantaged? Thanks to the second annual Back-toSchool Fair and the work of GRACE providing an additional 500 backpacks and supplies, over 1,700 economicallydisadvantaged students were presented with supplies and services prior to the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year. The event was held at Grapevine High School on August 10 with the assistance of over 300 volunteers, including many from FUMCG. Participants were provided with backpacks, school supplies and gift cards in addition to information on social and school services. Families register in the spring to be a part of the program. FUMCG has sponsored a booth both years to provide information about the Church, Thrift Shop and Justice for our Neighbors. “It is amazing to see the kids’ faces when they receive their school supplies,” said Associate Pastor, Dr. Cindy Ryan. “In the past some kids have showed up for the 22 || The Church at Work
first day of school with nothing. It makes a huge difference when they are prepared.”
Although several different organizations have provided school supplies over the years, the inaugural Back-to-School Fair in 2012 marked the first time that school and community members and organizations had convened in one place at one time to provide products and services to the families needing them the most.
The distribution process is unique within itself as each family has a volunteer that walks them through the fair to provide individualized attention. Volunteers wear t-shirts identifying the organization they are serving with. Many are leaders within the “It’s very important FUMC first started serving in community and school local schools 10 years ago as district. that we see the reading volunteers. Once inside the schools, volunteers became need and come “This provides an eyeaware of additional needs and opening experience for together as a the program evolved. Three those that may not be aware community.” years ago the church hosted a of the circumstances many Back to School Drive. During of our neighbors are faced this process it became evident that a more with,” said Ryan. “It was very important community-wide effort and streamlining that we see the need and come together as of resources were needed to provide all a community.” the services many children were lacking. he Back-to-School Fair is one This led to the birth of CONNECT as of the programs sponsored by Mollet, Ryan and Walgren met with district CONNECT and partners with leaders who gave them the green light and GCISD, GRACE, the Women’s Division of assigned a school official as a liaison. the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, In two short years the Back-to-School and the Grapevine Colleyville Education Fair has more than tripled the number of Foundation. CONNECT (Connecting children assisted and made strides through Student Needs with Community Resources) CONNECT with assisting families with was formed less than two years ago thanks
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to the initiative of Ryan, senior pastor John Mollet, and long-time church member Carolyn Ann Walgren. A representative from the school district, Marina Flores, also serves with the program. The purpose is to identify, understand and meet the needs of GCISD students through school and community resources.
additional needs throughout the year. d
Joni Lehmann has been a member of FUMC Grapevine since 1999. She enjoys participating in Kenda’s Wednesday evening bible study, Suddenly Single and the Campus Angels ministry. Joni works as the Associate Director of Communications for the Big 12 Conference.
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Light in the Darkness A
By Melissia Mason
nna steps into the crowded room with a shy smile. The toddler on her hip seems too heavy for her small frame. As the laughter and chatter in the room grow louder, a friend joins her in greeting the group. Their boys get down on the floor and start playing together. They’ve grown up together… moms and sons. Anna’s smile hides strength, laced with worry. The time is coming soon when she’ll need to leave the Hope Center and begin her adult life. She’ll be given a flat (apartment) by social services, because she’s an orphan. But her flat is several towns over - not near her school, not near her support system at the Hope Center. She’ll have nothing… no job, no completed education, no furniture, no income. Just her son and her determination.
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Anna’s story is one of many in Latvia that involve complex social issues, generational differences, and the growing pains associated with young lives coming into a post-occupation world fraught with change.
The Hope Center, for unwed (mostly teenage) mothers, is one of the outreach ministries of the small United Methodist Church in Latvia. The numbers in their congregations are few, but their desire to change lives for the better propels them forward.
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era smiles and laughs as she shares stories about “her kids.” The 15-20 children (age 2-14) who have filled this room after school every day have become like her own. She mothers them, feeds them a hot meal (often their only one), helps them with their homework and teaches them about the love of Jesus. Tears fill her eyes as she tells how they begged and prayed that the After School program would continue. She couldn’t tell them for certain that it would. Vera speaks animatedly about how some of the kids who also attend Sunday School got to go to Wesley Camp last summer. When they got back, they were so filled with joy that they wanted to share it with the other kids in their small
community. So they asked Vera if they could have a camp right there in their “after school” room. They planned the program, created and distributed an invitation and led the activities. Vera and the congregation helped with food and Bible teaching. At first, the kids were disappointed that their 70 invitations resulted in only about 25 children in attendance. But after their first 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM day, the kids were relieved that they only had to deal with 25! The children planning and running the camp were between 10 and 12 years old. The After School program is held in one room that is actually two apartments combined. These Soviet-era apartments provided 30 square meters of space per family (about 320 square feet). Originally, the space served as the Methodist Church in Liepa. When the church was able to get a building of its own, the room in this apartment building was retained for use as the After School program. Due to a gift from a donor through our church, the After School program will be able to open again this school year. This donation will keep it open until they find out whether they have received a grant from the General Board of Global Ministries. Our team also left a financial gift to help Vera provide something special for the children, at her discretion.
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eanwhile, in Prague… another small program for children and moms is growing at the English Speaking United Methodist Church (ESUMC). Under the direction of The Church at Work || 25
any organization. Others view religion as a crutch, only necessary for the weak. Still others fear persecution for their beliefs. The years of occupation in both countries color their perspectives and loom at the back of their minds. Occupation is not too far removed. The memory is vivid and recent… too close for comfort.
Rev. Michelle McKinnon-Young, the new church start is growing relationships with the locals who live near their location. The program is designed to teach English to both the children and the mothers, providing vital skills for their future. In addition to teaching English, the ESUMC also provides worship in English on Sunday afternoons. This ministry draws English-speakers of all ethnicities, including many who are just “passing through” and want a place to worship. Worship is held in the same building as the Czech worship service, which is also the location of the Czech District offices. There are about 200,000 Englishspeakers in Prague, and the Methodist Church hopes to reach more and more of them. The ministry is currently supported primarily by Michelle’s home Conference in Tennessee.
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t’s a slow, complicated process to start (or restart) a church in a country that is full of skeptics. Many citizens of both the Czech Republic and Latvia are wary of associating with religion. Some don’t want to admit affiliation with 26 || The Church at Work
How, then, shall we move forward? Those of us who visited Prague and Latvia have made friends there. They remain in our hearts and on our minds as we return to “life as usual.” We don’t know yet what our future involvement will be with Eastern Europe. But we can’t forget what we now know. We’ve received not just a history lesson, but a lesson in trying to bring joy to hopelessness… color to gray... light into darkness. It takes some time to turn things around… to build trust and common bonds. As we move forward into this uncertain future, our hope is that somehow we can make a difference. d
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 Melissia Mason has served as the Communications Director at FUMC Grapevine since 2005. She manages the website, social media, E-News, bulletin, advertising, etc. She was blessed to have the opportunity to travel to Prague and Latvia on the recent “exploratory” mission. She has two canine daughters, Meg and Maya.
OVERLOAD a
s p i r i t u a l
m a t t e r ? By Dr. Cindy Ryan
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he most important book I’ve read in the past year is Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial
and Time Reserves to Our Overloaded Lives by Richard A. Swenson, M.D. The premise is that progress and technology have eaten away at margin. He writes, “Something’s wrong. People are tired and frazzled... anxious and depressed. People don’t have time to heal anymore... Modern day living opposes focus.”
Margin is the white space in our lives. It is where we have room to be relaxed and playful, contemplative and prayerful, thoughtful and slow moving. It is where we breathe. As fall approaches, I see it happening once again. It is right there on my refrigerator: a packed family
calendar, not the one hidden in Outlook
you fly? Can you go six months without
that is always clean, neat and magically
eating? It is God the Creator who made
contained within those calendar boxes.
limits, and it is the same God who placed
No, this is the real calendar—the color
them within us for our protection.”
coded messy one where you can literally watch the margins erode.
Margin is a spiritual matter. Each day needs margin. Some days need to be all
It is that telltale place where we have
margin. God’s been commanding it for a
added one good activity after another,
long time. It is called a Sabbath. In fact
never thinking to add in space, rest,
God commands that one day in every
downtime, breathing time, spirit time. We
seven be pure margin. Can you even
tell ourselves this is how it is—it is for the
imagine?
good of our careers, or our kids or our community or church. We secretly believe
What would happen to our spirits, minds,
God must like us running and exhausted
emotions and bodies if we respected
otherwise why would there be so many
margin? d
good things to be a part of?
Swenson writes, “We are not infinite. The day does not have more than twenty-four hours. We do not have an inexhaustible source of human energy. We cannot keep running on empty. Limits are real… overloading is the enemy. “ But, we say, can’t I do all things through Christ who strengthens me? Swenson replies, “Can 28 || The Church at Work
Dr. Cindy Ryan and her husband Robin have been members of FUMCG since 1996. Cindy was on the church staff from 1996 to 2004, then rejoined the staff in 2007. She is responsible for Evangelism and New Members, along with serving as staff liaison for many mission ministries.
Home-Grown Calling
I
grew up in this church. I was in children’s choir, went on the mission trips, and even worked in the nursery when I turned 18. I met some of my closest friends in the youth group, learned about my faith in Sunday school, and fell deeply in love with my Savior when I was about 13 years old. Church was always something my family did together. You might have seen us sitting in the third or fourth row, often to the dismay of my sister and I. Nevertheless, week-by-week, Sunday morning worship was something we never skipped, except for rare occurrences like vacation or sickness. From a young age, I was taught that that’s what you do – you go to bed early on a Saturday, wake up early the next morning and go to church (you might even let Mom curl your hair if it looks a mess, as mine usually did). Over the years, a lackluster filter developed over my view of attending
By Michele Crater
church. It seemed more a hassle than a need, and I could not understand why I didn’t get to sleep in on Sundays like my friends did. It wasn’t until I got older that the filter started to fade and I saw the beauty of the church. Not the building, with the stained glass windows and bright walls, but the people inside those bright walls. What was even better was when I saw the people inside the bright walls open their doors and let the light pour out onto this dark world. I’ve seen a lot of programming develop in this church, and it’s the people who give it purpose. I’ve been involved with my fair share of events, from Feed Our Kids to the Village Concept. Each time I had the opportunity to go out and serve, Matthew 25:40 came to mind, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did The Church at Work || 29
for me.” As I got older, it would resonate deeper through my soul as I started to understand what it means to be a servant and a follower of Jesus Christ. I was in high school when I learned that being a follower of Jesus Christ meant to love unconditionally. The idea of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ came to being, and I so badly wanted to know how I could take all of those Sunday mornings of sitting at the front of the church and turn them into more than a habit.
us at FUMC Grapevine. I got plugged into different churches around Stillwater, one of them being the Wesley Foundation at OSU. The Wesley has provided me opportunities to learn how to be one of God’s humble servants and rely on Him for peace and guidance. Walking through the doors, it’s clear to see the love pouring out of every door onto the OSU campus and it makes me want to love my students and brothers and sisters in Christ more deeply.
“I saw the people inside our bright walls open their doors and let the light pour out onto this dark world.”
I started to see the core concept of love rise to the surface of all the actions of others around me. I saw my youth group love each other despite school rivalries and develop a community of believers. I saw our Youth Pastor, Jenny Davidson, love the students who came through the doors and take an active interest in their lives. I saw our congregation love so many people across the world that they had never even met before... from Grapevine, Texas, to Meru, Kenya.
G
oing into college, I was nervous
I wouldn’t find that same sense of love at Oklahoma State University, but what’s wonderful about our God is that He calls all His people to love – not just 30 || The Church at Work
As I’ve grown up in the church and now find myself involved at the Wesley, I’ve learned a lot about unconditional love and try to incorporate it into my life each day.
That love has led me to a passion for international ministries, and I’m excited to see what the Lord reveals to me in the future. Does that mean some day I’ll live in Costa Rica or Kenya? I don’t know. But what I do know is I serve a God who pursues a girl dreading to sit in the third row of church with her family and molds her heart to long for Him. And for that, I am thankful. d
Michele Crater and her family - parents Ed and Kim and sister Jenni - have been members of FUMCG since 2002. She graduated from Coppell High School in 2011. Michele is now a junior at Oklahoma State University and serves as the Marketing Intern at the OSU Wesley Foundation.
A Look Ahead. . . October
10/1-31 10/6 10/12-14 10/20 10/20 10/26 10/27 10/27
November 11/2 11/3 11/23-25 11/28-29
December 12/1 12/8 12/15 12/15 12/18 12/22 12/24
Pumpkin Patch! World Communion Sunday - Special Music by Hugworks in Worship Youth Fall Retreat “Drops in the Bucket” - Stewardship Introduction All-Church Social at Parr Park Fall Into Missions “Drops in the Bucket” - Commitment Sunday Blessing of the Pets Gold Rush Gala & Auction at the Austin Ranch Communion Sunday | All Saints Sunday Thanksgiving Mini Mission Thanksgiving Holiday Communion Sunday | First Sunday of Advent The 77th Annual Candlelighting Christmas Camp (for kids) Las Posadas Traveler’s Service at Heritage (Christmas Eve early... for those who will be traveling) Regular Worship Schedule | Happy Birthday Jesus Party during Sunday School Christmas Eve Worship - NOTE NEW SCHEDULE! Downtown Campus 4:00 PM - Kid-Friendly Worship (Downtown Sanctuary) 6:30 PM - Traditional Candlelight Worship (Downtown Sanctuary) 8:00 PM - Traditional Candlelight & Communion (Downtown Sanctuary) 11:00 PM - Bilingual Candlelight & Communion (Downtown Founders Chapel)
Heritage Campus 6:00 PM - Traditional Candlelight & Communion (Heritage Sanctuary) 12/29 ONE Service at 9:45 AM (Downtown Sanctuary) No Sunday School
Watch E-News, Bulletin and website for full details!
The Church at Work || 31
Tell Me Something Good! “
Today, I am praising God for all the GOOD things that are happening within our Youth program at church. From #hooked on Sunday evenings at the Heritage Campus to the Wednesday night Bible Studies, the foundation of our Youth program is transforming. God is ALIVE in the hearts and souls of our precious teenagers. Thank you to all of the special individuals within our congregation whom have raised this ministry to a new, exciting level. I appreciate all of you!” ~ Angie Vaughan
“Tell Me Something Good” is a new opportunity for you to share something good you have experienced through the ministry of the church. It doesn’t have to be long or even eloquent... just something GOOD! We can all use some good news, right? We’ll share your “something good” in the next edition of our e-zine. Look around you... do you see something good happening in the ministries of the church? Please take a moment to let us know! E-mail Melissia at melissiam@fumcg.org with “Something Good” in the subject line.
Coming this fall...
Together, we can make a huge difference!
www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/stewardship
First United Methodist Church Grapevine Downtown Campus: 422 Church Street | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 817-481-2559 Heritage Campus: 4344 Heritage Avenue | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 817-571-1111
www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org