First Connections - 2020, Jan-Feb

fi rs t co n n e c ti o n s STORIES OF LIFE AND FA I T H

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RICHARDSON JAN/FEB 2020 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1

Service is Joy Jennifer Shiller and her son, Prescott, delivering bread to church visitors.

A Bright Light p.4 A Culture of Service p.9 Blessings in the Bubbles p.10 Wonderfully Made p.12

join us for worship! traditional worship

503 N. Central Expressway P.O. Box 830877 Richardson, TX 75080 972.235.8385 fumcr.com

sanctuary 8:45am, *9:45am, 11:00am

modern worship

Senior Pastor Dr. Clayton Oliphint

worship & arts center *11:00am

Director of Communications Kristen Ceaser Managing Editor Tracy Thomas

zimbabwe worship chapel 12:00pm

Graphic Designer Kyle Henson Communications Team Kevin Burns Francy Collins Leslie Kring

* live stream at fumcrlive.com

Contributors: Jennifer Rawlinson Rohini Drake Kacie Rendon Cheryl Bishop Tim Griffy First Connections (USPS 022-024) is published six times a year, by First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080.

Periodicals postage paid at Richardson, TX and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: First Connections, PO Box 830877 Richardson, TX 75083-0877

January Sermon Series

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VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1

a message from our senior pastor

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appy New Year! 2020 is here, and it is the perfect year to check our vision. Why are we here? What has God called us to do? Who is our neighbor? These are great questions for the church to reflect on as this new year unfolds. One thing seems crystal clear to me: we have been put here to serve.

The Bible is filled with passages about purpose. Most of these point to the reality that, as much as we want to make life about us, it’s really not. God has

blessed us in order that we might be a blessing to others. Jesus told us that the way to find abundant life is to empty ourselves in service. Jesus modeled this by washing the feet of his disciples,

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reminding them that he came among them not to be served but to serve. Serving others in the Spirit of Jesus leads to life.

Another way to say this would be to quote the book of James, “Faith without works is dead.”

Part of our mission statement at FUMCR is “serve people with Christ.” We recognize that, along with welcoming and growing, we exist as a church community to serve God, and to serve our neighbors, locally and globally.

Serving is in our Wesleyan DNA as United Methodist Christians.

Having received so much from God, we strive to live our faith in action.

Our Church Council has voted 2020 to be the Year of Service at First United Methodist Church Richardson.

In this Year of Service we will celebrate the ways our members are already engaged in serving, both within the walls of the church, as well as in the community and world. We will also seek to inspire each other to

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serve by lifting up opportunities, again, both in the church and the community.

My little brother, Kelley, had a favorite poem from the Indian poet Tagore that always inspired him: I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.

Service is joy! I hope we all discover that truth in 2020, the Year of Service.

In this issue of First Connections, you will see ways that some of our members are already engaged in serving. I hope you will be inspired by their stories. We also encourage you to share with us ways that you are serving in the community or opportunities where our members can make a difference.

I believe this Year of Service will be a season of revival within our congregation, as we focus with 20/20 vision on why we exist: not to be served, but to serve others in Jesus’ name.

I’ll see you in worship, around the campus, or out serving in the community.

In Christ,

Clayton Oliphint senior pastor

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1

A Bright Light

by Jennifer Rawlinson

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t is Tuesday morning in the main office of FUMCR. The door opens, and I hear the sound of a motorized scooter making its way to the workroom and a sweet voice saying, “Is the diaper full?” and, “Want to hear my joke?” Michael “Mike” Rowe is here to shred our sensitive documents as he has each Tuesday for the past 21 years. (The “diaper” is the trash bag in the shredding machine.) Mike greets each staff member with, “Good morning, ____,” calling them by name and sharing his joke of the day, each week a new joke, rarely repeating one since I joined the staff in 2006! I believe last week’s joke was “Why did the girl write TGIF on the tops of her shoes?” Of course, I had no idea. With a smile, he said, “Because Toes Go In First!”

The zingers are endless, as are his great attitude and warm spirit.

Mike was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on January 7, 1980, to Cheryl and Robert Rowe. Robert shared, “Mike had a normal childbirth, but at 6 weeks, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and had surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain.

There was brain damage that resulted in IDD, Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, along with physical and visual impairments. Mike entered RISD at the age of two, and with the help of his teachers, he learned to walk, talk, and read. At an early age, Mike had

a love for music and began to sing along to records and tapes, which helped with his speech, but also his ability to memorize and to develop perfect pitch. If you tell Mike your birthday one time, he will remember it forever. Mike began telling jokes when he was about 14. He enjoys the reaction of his audience, even if they are groaners.”

Cheryl and Robert, along with Mike’s older brother John, are very proud of Mike and all that he has accomplished.

Mike volunteered at Presbyterian Hospital two days a week for six years, shredding papers, delivering dinner menus to patients, and, of course, telling jokes. Mike also has a paid job as a receptionist at Lifepath Systems.

He likes to tell people, “I start my 12th year next June!” He’s memorized 50+ phone extensions, and he knows all of the delivery drivers and clients, as well as all of their birthdays. Another audience for his joke of the day!

FUMCR members and staff feel blessed by Mike’s presence.

His jokes keep us laughing and lighten things up on the sometimes challenging days. I

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have the privilege of helping him out to his DART ride, seeing how loved he is by his drivers, sharing jokes, marveling at how he knows my birthday, my husband’s, and all of my children’s birthdays (even the day of the week it will fall on in any given

year, except for leap years, which are a challenge!), and especially sharing our love of music of all genres. He will say how certain songs “just make me feel good, you know?” And I do. Music stirs our souls, and we have shared that for 14 years.

Clayton Oliphint shared, “Michael has been a part of my experience of FUMCR since my first week here in 2001. Through

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all of the ups and downs of the seasons of life, Michael’s presence in our office every Tuesday is a bright light. His joke always makes my day better. He has an amazing memory of people, names, and birthdates. He brings a lot of joy to our office through his service and presence.”

“Michael reminds me of my family’s birthdays when I forget, which is often!” remarked Cathy Schimcek, Finance Associate and member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class with Cheryl and Robert.

Mike loves to tell people he volunteers at his church. He has a sense of pride about his length of service and it fulfills the need we all have to be needed and wanted. So please join your hearts with mine and give God thanks for the life, love, laughter, and service of Michael Rowe. Come by the church office some Tuesday morning to hear Mike’s joke of the day. You will be lifted up by his spirit and blessed by your time with him.

Thank you, Mike, for so many wonderful years at FUMCR. We look forward to celebrating you in 2020 as you turn 40!

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SUMMER

CAMPS

registration begins March I

Year of Service Start the New Year’s Revolution with us! fumcr.com/year of service

a culture of service

by Rohini Drake

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he first service I attended at FUMCR was from a seat in the choir loft.

When the doors to the sanctuary opened and I caught a glimpse of the grandness and beauty of the sanctuary, it literally took my breath away.

I imagine many people who walk into our church for the first time have a similar experience.

But the physical allure of this place isn’t why my family and I have decided to make FUMCR our church home. It’s because someone saved me a seat in choir rehearsal when I was brand new and didn’t know anyone.

It’s because a Sunday school teacher made an extra effort to get to know my kids so they felt more comfortable going to a new classroom. It’s because a greeter in the balcony remembered our names and told us how happy she was to see us again. It’s because the communion servers look my kids in the eyes and tell them “Jesus loves them.”

We’ve felt welcomed and loved by the people at this church and that’s why we want to grow and serve here.

As FUMCR begins a Year of Service, I’m excited by the possibilities for growing deeper into our culture of kindness and service. Since joining the staff in 2018, I’ve started to understand that loving and serving others has been part of the identity of FUMCR for a very long time. I’ve

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Rohini Drake, FUMCR Engagement Coordinator, with her family

learned about people that have served in positions for decades and have met people that are just starting to think about ways that they can serve others.

This church is a place where people of any age or ability can

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find a way to reach out to others around them. During the Year of Service, I’m looking forward to finding ways my family and I can be part of FUMCR’s mission of “serving others with Christ”.

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blessings in the bubbles G

rowing up, my family took care of my greatgrandmother, Mam Maw, who lived in an assisted living facility. My mother was her primary caregiver, and so as children we would go visit Mam Maw frequently. We loved going to see her, and she was always an important figure in our lives.

Our family had the joy of having Mam Maw here on earth until my junior year of college when she passed away at the age of 96.

My mother took such delight in caring for my great-grandmother and instilled in us the belief that caring for our elders was not only enjoyable and fun, but a privilege. When I had my own daughter,

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by kacie rendon

Eleanor, in 2017, I wanted to provide her the same opportunities and experiences I had growing up.

When Eleanor was 6 months old, I contacted Pastor Don Hood after I saw a request in the FUMCR bulletin for homebound visitors, and he connected us with Ms. Nelda Burrow.

From the first time we met her, Eleanor and I knew we had found a wonderful friend. We have been going to visit Ms. Nelda two or three times a month at her assisted living facility for the past 1½ years. Ms. Nelda is so wonderful to us! She keeps toys in her room for Eleanor to play with, and she has a jelly bean and marshmallow stash that Eleanor

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helps herself to whenever we go to see her. She worked with Eleanor for weeks to help her learn how to blow bubbles. We have such great conversations on topics ranging from events going on at the church and in our lives, our past experiences and memories, world events, music, and so much more!

Sometimes we just talk; other times we go out and about to places like Hobby Lobby or Whataburger. Our visits are always so much fun!

My husband likes to drop by and say hi to Ms. Nelda during our visits whenever he can. Recently, my mother and father relocated to the North Texas area and have also become members at FUMCR. They both volunteer at The Gathering, a monthly event for senior adults at FUMCR, and have had a chance to know Ms. Nelda as well!

Ms. Nelda has impacted my entire family in such a positive way, and our relationship is proof that friendships can transcend generations.

If you’d like more information on our ministry to homebound members, contact Karen Varner at kvarner@fumcr.com or 972.996.0138.

wonderfully made

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very spring my husband, Rod, and I seem to fill our weekends leading human sexuality workshops for preteens and teens. We have been facilitating these workshops since the early ‘90s when he worked in youth ministry and we were newly married. We have been passionate about having these honest, medically accurate, and spiritually grounded conversations related to anatomy, puberty, relationships, and faith ever since. Maybe the whole reason is because of the way I was raised.

Growing up with a pastor, who was a marriage and family therapist, and a high school teacher as parents, we talked openly and honestly about anatomy and sex. My dad was always one of the facilitators when our church offered human sexuality workshops for 6th graders through high school seniors. What I didn’t realize then, but that I came to know, was that every family wasn’t having the same conversations we were. And they certainly weren’t having those conversations with the same ease with which we were.

While I was in college working on my degree in education, I minored in biology, which furthered my understanding of the scientific principles and

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by Cheryl Bishop

anatomical information related to the human body, and I studied and learned how to teach children and youth about faith, so combining these two was very natural for me. I became a trained facilitator for Created by God about 10 years ago, and that has become one of the workshops that I teach most often.

Human sexuality is an incredibly important topic to discuss honestly and accurately with children and teens, and I strongly believe that the church is the appropriate place for these conversations and classes.

Many parents have not had a way to begin these conversations modeled for them, so these workshops can be a wonderful starting place. Where we, the church, can really help families is by providing the common language and the support to continue these conversations within their families.

Church is a place where children are nurtured in every aspect of their development (intellectual, social, spiritual, etc.), where faithful leaders will be honest and medically accurate, and where a partnership is created between family and church leadership, making it absolutely the place for human sexuality workshops to be offered.

But most importantly, I believe that every person involved in a

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workshop needs to hear boldly that each individual is a beloved child of God! Too many times the conversations about sex and sexuality and the conversations about faith and sacred identity happen at different times and in different contexts. Our calling as United Methodists is to wrap it all into one continuous conversation where we boldly proclaim our faith, teach and encourage healthy living, and support one another in all stages of life and living. I am thankful that FUMCR is a church that supports our children’s faith development and growth as related to every aspect of their lives. It’s a privilege to serve here!

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First United Methodist Church Richardson is committed to Welcome people for Christ, Grow people in Christ, and Serve people with Christ. Bringing our mission to life takes place every day of the week on the church campus, in the Richardson community, and across the world. We move with the confidence of knowing that we can make a positive difference, as we are Better Together!

As we begin the year, we embark on our Annual Stewardship Campaign. This is a time when you, as a church family, can share your plans for financial giving in 2020. Your response directly impacts the operating budget set by the members of the finance committee.

As we’re challenged this year to think about serving in new and different ways, it’s critical to have the financial participation of every member. Your generosity, at any level, makes a difference!

Please pray about your commitment to the Annual Campaign, and join us as we continue living out our mission for generations to come.

Find out more and make your pledge at fumcr.com/bettertogether Questions? Our Finance Office is happy to help!

Stachia Brothers Contributions Manager sbrothers@fumcr.com 972.996.0131

Dianne Weideman Director of Finance dweideman@fumcr.com 972.996.0106

Prayer transcends generations, and we are a praying church! Our music ministry has launched an inspiring program bringing together our seasoned Chancel Choir and our young Children’s Choirs to create “Prayer Partners.� Those partners not only pray for one another, but they also support each other through attending concerts or leaving small notes of encouragement.

we pray together. we learn together. we serve together. we worship together. we celebrate together.

Learning Communities

We are pleased to offer a wide variety of classes, studies, and lectures to help you grow in your faith. There are opportunities for those of all ages and stages, with times in the morning, afternoon, or evening to accommodate most any schedule. See the full list of class offerings at fumcr.com/learn.

council corner

by Tim Griffy

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n late November, during a sermon focused on the one leper of ten who returned to Jesus to express gratitude for being healed, Clayton said “Christianity is all about our response to grace.” We express our faith in how we respond in tangible ways to what God has done for us.

FUMCR, as a church, had a wonderful journey through a Year of Gratitude in 2014. We wrote 365 notes of appreciation, took Gratitoads with us on vacation, and said “thank you” to the barista at Starbucks not by rote but with sincerity. Most of all, we tried to see God’s world through the lens of thankfulness and appreciation. I don’t know about you, but for me it was transformative in a fundamental way. I hope that even before our church’s focus I would have gone back to Jesus to say thank you, but after our Year of Gratitude I’m pretty certain I would have.

And now our congregation will be dedicating 2020 as a Year of Service. As I reflect on this, the words from Clayton above seem so appropriate. What is our response to grace? Certainly as we learned in 2014 it needs to start with gratitude for the love God has shown us — but is that all? Did the leper in Christ’s parable who did return to say

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thank you then go about his life as before? The brother of Jesus provides us words of guidance: Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:15-17) I know in my own life that God’s grace is totally unmerited and that faith is the only way I can begin to understand His boundless love. And I also know that my response to this wonderful gift cannot be limited

to the gratitude that I feel. It is so very challenging to live into the response that James describes for us, and I’m grateful (that word again!) that once again I will have my sisters and brothers at FUMCR on a yearlong journey with me. As we move into our Year of Service in 2020, please join me in finding the place where we can demonstrate our response to God’s grace and love in our lives. The variety and richness of the mission fields that FUMCR is involved in give all of us ample choices — so if you’re not already connected to a fruitful service opportunity, 2020 is the time to jump in!

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Memorial Gifts Memorial and honorary gifts are a special way to celebrate a life, birthday, anniversary, special occasion or to just say thank you, and they serve as genuine testimonies to others. Below are the gifts given as of December 12, 2019.

In Memory Of

Mildred Hulse by Bill and Betty Corbin

Sandy Brehm’s father by Tim and Missy Griffy

Jeri and Steve Wakefield’s son, Jeremy Scott, by Bill and Betty Corbin, Jolynne Harvey, Betty Bartula

Dianna Roberts by John Roberts Larry Cottam by Chuck and Bette Petri, Mary Henderson, Don and Gurli Hastings

Judy Wilson by Cathey and David Brooks Tim and Gladys Wende by Bonnie Borrello

Ron Woody by Steve Massey and Kitty Love Massey

Margaret Loftin by Ted and Janet Thompson, Monica Rankin and family, Bonnie Edwards

Bill Love by Steve Massey and Kitty Love Massey, Michael and Margaret Sauder Bob Diggs’ father by the Joyful Questers SS Class, Bonnie Edwards

In Honor Of

Mack and Gay Tunnell by Terrie and David Stroud

Sam Asmah by Chuck and Bette Petri

Cleo Cherryholmes by Joan Cook

Bob and Jean Macy by Bonnie Edwards

Wanda Knepper by Craig Weigel and family

Joan Huddleston by Sylvia Deadwyler, Bonnie Edwards, Pat Brown

Gladys Wende by the Dreyer Family

Rosanna Whitfield by Bonnie Borrello

Ron Dickson by Sylvia Deadwyler

The Senior Adult Council by Maxine Trager, Sharon Boutte, Joan Huddleston and Bonnie Edwards

Rev. Dr. Don Benton by Bonnie Edwards, Jennifer and Chip Rawlinson

FUMCR Pastors and Staff by Bonnie Edwards

We are here for you. Please contact us when you or a loved one could benefit from care.

Our staff offers counseling and referrals to community resources for those who are troubled, ill, facing life changes, or feeling lost. We offer sessions that address grief and separation/divorce, as well as on-going support groups for a variety of issues. Members offer care through many volunteer programs, including Stephen Ministry, visits, phone calls, and more.

Contact the caring team by calling 972.235.8385 or emailing caring@fumcr.com

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FEBRUARY 26 JOIN US AS WE BEGIN A SEASON OF LENT FOCUSED ON

ENCOUNTERING JESUS.

PERIODICALS

503 N. Central Expressway P.O. Box 830877 Richardson, TX 75080 972.235.8385 fumcr.com

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

A new sermon series on the strength we find in community. Coming February 2020.