First Connections Summer 2022

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 SUMMER 2022 VOLUME 17, ISSUE 2

Confirming Faith, Building Community p.4 Take Joy With The Class Of '22 p.6 With Gratitude p.10

God Squad

Welcome To FUMCR! p.16

2021-22 members have completed their missions! New recruits welcome this fall!

join us for worship! traditional worship

sundays, 8:45am, 9:45am & 11:00am* sanctuary *livestream available

503 N. Central Expressway P.O. Box 830877 Richardson, TX 75080 972.235.8385 fumcr.com Senior Pastor Dr. Clayton Oliphint

online worship

Director of Communications Kristen Ceaser

sundays, 9:45am

fumcr.com/online

Managing Editor Francy Collins

on demand anytime

youtube.com/fumcr

Graphic Designer Kyle Henson Communications & Media Team Kevin Burns Shandon Klein Ben Chamness Leslie Kring Eric Czechowski Tyler Payne Rohini Drake Tracy Thomas

modern worship sundays, 11:00am worship & arts center

Contributors Melanie Jackson Pavielle Jenkins Joel Eichler Cheryl Bishop Rohini Drake Allison Jean Drew Presley Scott Luginbill Mike Lightfoot Pam Hughes First Connections (USPS 022-024) is published four 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

Join us for a sermon series exploring six aspects of life worth celebrating!

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Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

P S A L M

a message from our senior pastor

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

J

une is a great time for celebration. We celebrate the 136th birthday of FUMCR this month! We celebrate our Confirmation class and graduating seniors. We celebrate (even as we grieve) that two pastors we have helped train up, Dr. Scot Bontrager and Dr. Josh Fitzpatrick, are moving into new appointments and new seasons of ministry. We celebrate the addition of two new pastors to our clergy team, Rev. Allison Jean and Rev. Scott Luginbill. We celebrate our Online Ministry.

As you read through this issue of First Connections, you will see

that we have so many amazing things happening in and through our church. It’s a great time for celebration!

Celebration is also the name of our summer sermon series.

The Bible has much to say about celebrating, rejoicing, and praising God. I find in my own life, and in the world, it seems to be a lot easier (and in fashion) to complain about what’s wrong than to celebrate what’s right. In fact, sometimes all we hear is bad news. Our faith reminds us that we have much to celebrate every day if we just look around. This is not sticking our head in the

sand and ignoring what is wrong.

Rather, it is balancing our lives by pointing to all that is right.

Each and every day we have is a day the Lord has made! We can rejoice and be glad in it!

I hope to see you at the Celebration Station (our church) in worship this summer, and if you’re going to be out, join us on our other Celebration Station (our online services). Every day is a great day to praise the Lord.

Let’s celebrate our lives.

In Christ,

Clayton Oliphint senior pastor

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CO N F I R M I N G FA I T H Building Community B Y M E L A N I E JA C K S O N , CO N F I R M AT I O N CO O R D I N ATO R

As I sit in my desk chair and try to formulate the words for this article, my eyes find a small green origami heart sitting next to my keyboard. One of my Confirmands gave me this heart at the Confirmation Worship Service in April.

It is a small token, but it reminds me of our year - lessons on John Wesley, grace, prayer, the Gospels, the Wesleyan quadrilateral, baptism, and then finally how all that relates to being Confirmed. But most importantly, I am reminded what is at the heart of Confirmation: community.

Each year, Confirmands spend an entire school year studying what it means to be a Methodist. This includes asking very real questions about God, organized religion, and why faith matters. This past year especially, these questions became poignant as the teachers and I realized that these kids were embarking on a different journey than before. They had questions and doubts, and they expressed a lot of wonder about what we were teaching them, but they were also doing this after having missed over a year of their childhood worshiping in the sanctuary or the worship & arts center or attending Sunday school. Some of the students had been attending church online, but many had not stepped foot in the building for over a year before coming to Confirmation. We not only had to teach them about our Methodist faith, but we also had to go back to why we need faith at all and what a church community offers, especially entering the tumultuous teenage years.

These lessons hit home even more when we went on our Confirmation retreat in March. We visited Congregation Beth Torah for a Friday evening Shabbat service. We were welcomed with open arms to their service and then were allowed to ask questions of their faith while feasting on homemade, traditional Jewish cookies and an extremely moist chocolate cake. There were numerous questions as not many of our students

had been exposed to a Jewish service. Much of the conversation centered on not only the Jewish faith but also the Jewish community and how they support and love not just one another but our world. The next day, we visited the Holocaust and Human Rights Museum in downtown Dallas. The museum does an outstanding job of pointing out who the upstanders were during this time - who stood up for what was right, who gave a helping hand when all seemed hopeless. Once again, they saw how community matters. Community carries us in time of pain. Community is whom we can rely on when we can’t rely on ourselves.

I’m very happy that we were once again able to have Confirmation class after not being together the year before.

A community, especially one of faith, is not something to be taken lightly. These kids had to relearn that concept of community, what it means to worship together, and to rely on the people around them. Slowly but surely, we are rebuilding our community in Confirmation. We ask the kids to participate in worship, to do community service, to understand one other, and most importantly to be at church. All of these are aspects of a healthy community that we now understand is vital to our well-being and sometimes even our humanity.

This year’s Confirmands hold a special place in my heart as I relearned lessons I thought I knew but that I now understand with more clarity. They’ve challenged me to understand and re-engage with my church community as a vital aspect of my faith. Faith does not stand alone; it stands alongside one another, and as these Confirmands move forward into their own faith journeys, I hope they know that FUMCR is always alongside them in their faith, no matter the doubts or the questions. They have community here in us, and this church is always here to remind them they are important, they are special, and they are loved. Confirmation teaches many things about our Methodist faith, but the most important of these is love given in small tokens of appreciation, which in this case was a small, green origami heart.

TAKE JOY WITH THE

'2

CLASS

OF

On May 22 we celebrated our Class of 2022 seniors in worship and a luncheon. We are so proud of this class, all they have accomplished, and all they set out to do. They have shown resilience over the last two years with all the world has thrown their way, and I have no doubt they will continue to shine as they step out into what is next.

– Joel Eichler, Director of Student Ministry

22

It was a day acknowledging a threshold moment. A place between what has been and what will be.

Between what has been studied, learned and accomplished and all the more there is to study, learn and do. It is so very good to mark growth in celebration, and then so very good as well, to celebrate having further to grow. To note a mile-marker on the longer way and to take joy both in the distance traveled and the distance yet ahead.

– Rev. John Ballenger, Woodbrook Church, Baltimore

Over $45,000 was awarded to these graduating seniors thanks to the generosity of our FUMCR members.

Jack Orr Memorial Youth Choir Scholarships – Mack Grant, Thomas Hogan Forrest Orr Memorial Scholarship – Cormac Boylan Spencer F. DePuy Memorial Scholarship – Mack Grant John Garrett Russell Memorial Scholarship – Mia Hamby Craig Kelly Memorial Scholarship – Joey Murawski Hutchison Family Scholarship – Anna Hord Dorothy & JL Davis Memorial Scholarships – Jack Casey, Faith Fraser David M. Bailey Memorial Scholarship – Amanda Gallo Singles Fellowship Class Scholarship – Leilani Harrel Ben Marshall Honorary Scholarship – Luke Mulkey Men of Faith: Bob Moxham Scholarships– Keller Brown, Adam Gillett, Sam White United Women in Faith: Ruth Thomasson Heart of a Servant Scholarship – Kaylee Moody Joy Anderson Scholarship – Mack Grant Sherry Calvert Scholarship – Faith Fraser

COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULT NIGHTS

SUMMER 2022

All young adults, ages 18-35, are invited to fun gatherings this summer!

June 28 - Axe Throwing July 19 - Cooking Class Aug 9 - Potluck and Karaoke fumcr.com/YAsummer

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connecting online

by Rohini Drake, Director of Welcoming and Online Ministries

F

or those who are part of the FUMCR family worshiping and connecting online, church sometimes looks like a computer or TV screen, a phone propped up next to a cup of coffee, or even listening to a worship service in the car on a weekday afternoon. Connecting to the church and each other has been happening in chat boxes and through texts with the online ministry team throughout the week. Relationships that have begun online have deepened as we’re able to pray for, support, and even celebrate with friends we only know through a screen name or from an image on a Zoom call. We continue to look

for new ways for our online church family to grow in their faith and build friendships with each other. Through launching a video version of the More Than Sunday podcast, adding new sets and people to the online ministry team, and planning for future online classes and connections, we’re excited to see how God continues to expand our church family throughout Texas and beyond. As we were recently challenged to “Lead with Love” in our neighborhoods and communities, we found this message being shared not only locally in Richardson but also as far away as Colorado, Canada, and even Australia!

“We are part of the FUMCR family, and it’s our home church no matter where we are.” -Abe Saboleh Sr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

studio open house

more than sunday

Stop by Middlebrooks Studio (between Shawver Welcome Center and the south side sanctuary doors) to get a behind-the-scenes look at where we tape online worship, podcast episodes, and interviews. Be the first to see our multi-purpose green screen (and floor!).

For the first time, More Than Sunday is being presented as a video podcast! In this new season, we invite two guests each week to share thoughtful perspectives on some tough questions. Watch on our YouTube channel or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

sunday morning, july 10

video podcast

Not in the area on Sundays?

Worship online with us at fumcr.com/online or later at youtube.com/fumcr SUMMER 2022

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MIK

E PR

OCH

DE ST E V

E HE

A LY

AND

ITU FOR

R AT HG

WIT

There probably aren’t many square feet of the FUMCR campus that Mike and Steve haven’t touched.

In the 10 years I have been on staff, I’ve seen them put new roofing and flooring on the First Center building, paint the entire upstairs of the education building, patch walls, install chair rails, build sign displays, construct COVID shields, and complete many other odd jobs. Any ask, whether a big dream like our new studio or a simple shelf repair, is accepted with a smile and a plan. When I first floated the idea of turning the former choir rehearsal room into a multi-scene video suite, the wheels immediately started turning and the pencil came out. Mike and Steve are both very involved in both Richardson Area and Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, building houses, working in the wall shop, even building corporate-sponsored playhouses to raise funds for the charity.

Secretly, I think they discuss our FUMCR projects on the lunch breaks at Habitat, because I had full drawings of the studio and a material list on my desk a week later. And to actually challenge them this time, we asked them to build us a green screen, which to be effective can’t have any corners that would produce shadows. How do you make a three-sided corner, without a corner? I still don’t know, you’ll have to ask Mike and Steve. Both tremendous craftsmen and true servants, I have been extremely blessed to be able to work, learn, and laugh alongside them throughout the past 10 years.

DREW PRESLEY

Have you ever noticed how some people will hear your vision and tell you that it’s impossible, while others will take on that vision and make it a reality?

Whenever I see something that needs to be done in the music program, my first call is always to problem solvers and visionaries, Mike Proch and Steve Healy. It amazes me how quickly we go from vision to reality. Their most recent projects include the beautiful rails along the front of our sanctuary choir loft, center rails in Fleming Rehearsal Hall, including Mike’s handcrafted wooden treble clef, and, of course, the beautiful, rustic stable for our Live Nativity in 2020. We are blessed beyond measure to have Mike and Steve working alongside our staff on so many projects. They take all of our dreams and visions and make them happen. We can’t say thank you enough.

MIKE LIGHTFOOT Steve and Mike are amazing, both in their talent and in their willingness to be so generous to the church with their time.

They have such a “can-do” attitude in the projects they approach, whether it’s new rails in the choir loft, a green screen and all the work they have done in the studio, or painting the walls to keep the church looking good. Besides all they do for the church, they are both active participants in Habitat for Humanity. They are the epitome of servant leadership.

CLAYTON OLIPHINT

serving people with Christ

by Rev. Pavielle Jenkins Pastor of Missions and Community Engagement

O

ur church has so much to celebrate when it comes to members serving in our community! I honestly could fill this magazine with stories highlighting the many ways members are living out our mission to serve people with Christ in Richardson and beyond. While I don’t have space to write about everyone, I do want to share about a handful of individuals putting their faith into action.

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Robin Kelly and a team comprised of Glenda Hanks, Sharon Odell, Gayle Ingle, and Christine Reavis plan, prepare, and serve a meal once a month to senior adults at the Network Senior Day. The Thursday gathering is open to all senior adults in the community and provides a place to socialize, play games, eat a meal, exercise, do art, and more.

Lisa and Robert Grinsfelder are long time members of Children First and are currently chairs of the committee, which includes Donna Bailey, Tim Griffy, Debbie Smelko, Kim Caston, Joan Neher, Cathy Phillips, Brandi Rucker, and Mary Ellen Szuwalski. This group’s passion for education and underserved children in our community is evident in their weekly presence at our partner schools serving in whatever capacity is needed at the time, as well as the work they put into providing books for students to take home at the end of each semester.

It is also apparent in the way that they have walked side by side with staff from Richardson ISD to make the pilot of We Read Together such a success. Eighty students were impacted by We Read Together this spring. These students lit up with joy each week as their volunteers arrived and were grateful to have the attention and presence of another adult who was invested in them and their education.

Robin not only thoughtfully plans a warm, delicious home cooked meal complete with dessert, but she goes above and beyond by hand crafting themed centerpieces and favors. Robin and her team share the love and compassion of Jesus through their cooking, first class service, and presence each month. David Blanchard and Shirley Sadowski also serve as hosts who guide and care for the seniors in attendance each week. There are also numerous church members who serve in other roles at Network. When you stop by the reception desk, a familiar face you will find is Carol Nance, who sometimes leaves from behind the desk to distribute food in the Network mobile food pantry at Mark Twain Elementary. If you head over to the food pantry or stop by the clothes closet, you will likely see many church members, including Jane Aitchison sorting and organizing food and clothes for clients to shop. Network served over 67,000 individuals and delivered more than 236,000 units of service last year. Network’s ability to serve so many people in need is only possible because of the volume of regular volunteers from FUMCR.

I celebrate our congregation for sharing the love and compassion of Jesus through service in little and big ways each day! If you are looking for an opportunity to use your time, talents, and gifts to serve others, I encourage you to visit fumcr.com/serve. I am also happy to speak with you individually to find where your passions meet the greatest needs of others in our community and around the world!

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Over The Counter Medicine Collection

Support our August medical mission trip to Panama by donating OTC medications in June Supply list and more at fumcr.com/Panama

SUMMER UMYF SCHEDULE June 5 – Bowling

July 24 – Free Play Arcade

June 12 – Dinner after VBC Setup

July 31 – Ohana Luau

June 19 – JH Pool Party

Aug 7 – Move Up Sunday

June 26 – Lake Day

Aug 14 – Back to School Sunday

July 10 – Sloppy Sunday

Aug 21 – Bob Ross Painting

July 17 – Texas Rangers Game

Sept 4 – Whirlyball

GET CONNECTED AT FUMCR.COM/YOUTH

Join us for Music Makers!

Open to all children who have completed grades 1-6 Camp dates: July 11-15, 9am-12:30pm Performances: July 17, 9:45 and 11am More information & Registration: fumcr.com/MusicMakers

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a prayer for summer offered by Cheryl Bishop, Director of Family Ministry God of love and light, Summer is a gift from you, Holy Creator. Thank you for setting the sun, moon, and stars in the sky and for the seasons that remind us that change is a pattern in life. During this time when students and children have a break from the school routine, we pray that they will find a rhythm of play and relaxation. As they experience learning differently, may they open their eyes to Your movement in the world. As they play with their friends, may they open their hearts to the dreams and hopes of those around them. As they swim in the refreshing water of pools, lakes, or oceans, may they be reminded of Your surrounding love and grace. As they serve others through missions and camps, may they find their calling as Your children who love You and love their neighbors. Everlasting God, we praise You for the opportunity to be Your light shining into the lives of those around us. Just as the sunflowers bloom and turn toward the sun, Your children bloom and turn toward You. We pray that throughout this entire summer that they will feel Your warmth, grow in grace and love, and be a witness for the world of a community that welcomes people for Christ, grows people in Christ, and serves people with Christ. In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen.

WELCOME Get to Know Rev. Allison Jean

A favorite scripture During the early Pandemic days, when we were scrambling to figure out how to do ministry and connect with folks, a dear pastor friend shared Galatians 6:9 with me: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I have held that verse very close in the past few years.

It is a wonderful reminder that I might not see the fruits of the work I try to do, but I trust that the Holy Spirit takes my meager offerings and uses them, multiplies them, far beyond what I could imagine.

A favorite restaurant This is a difficult question for a foodie! I could eat the California burrito from Ortiz’s Taco Shop in San Diego every day and never get tired of it. My husband, Cameron, and I love to try new restaurants anywhere we go, but if I had to choose a favorite place here, I would have to say Oni Ramen. Their Signature Miso is so good, and I love the Gyoza.

Beach or mountains I am certainly more of a beach person, although ice climbing in Ouray, Colorado, with Cameron was pretty fun. One of my favorite places in the world is Zuma Beach in southern California. When Cameron was in law school and we were dating long distance, we would share breakfasts at Zuma before saying goodbye at the airport.

Best concert you’ve seen John Mayer in the Hollywood Bowl for the Paradise Valley tour. The weather was perfect, the stage design was amazing, and the music was fantastic.

What can we do to support you?

Please come say hello! I am so excited to meet everyone, and I love to get out of the office and into the community. Let’s get coffee, lunch, take a walk, and find ways to serve with one another.

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TO FUMCR! Get to Know Rev. scott luginbill

A favorite scripture John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." I love the second half of this verse - that Christ has come so we may have life now in the present.

A favorite restaurant My home kitchen. I made a deal with Sarah when we got married. She cooks, and I clean. Sarah is a phenomenal self-taught chef. We love food and have great meals at home. Don't get me wrong, eating out is good too, and I usually like the hole in the wall family owned and operated kind of places. Best Thai food is Thai Star in Addison. I certainly need some suggestions of great places in Richardson.

Beach or mountains This is a tough question. The beach will always be home. Sarah and I were married on the beach in Gulfshores, Alabama, and honeymooned at Grayton Beach, Florida. We continue to go back to Grayton, and we named our daughter after that special place. However, the mountains are calling my name as well. I love to snowboard, and Sarah and I would do that at least once a year prior to having kids. It's time to go back and get our kids boarding. The beach and the mountains are places that I have always seemed a bit closer to God or at least more aware of God's beauty!

Best concert you’ve seen Sarah and I drove over from Shreveport to catch Bono and the Edge with U2 at AT&T Stadium. It was incredible! U2 and the Joshua Tree album were very instrumental in my formation growing up.

What can we do to support you?

The best thing you can do for me as I come on as part of the FUMCR team is to introduce yourself to me, and you may need to do that a couple of times. I'll try to remember your name and the connection. But it may take a couple of times. And I am good with grabbing a cup of coffee with you anytime and learning more about you!

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council corner

J

une can only mean one thing: it’s time for endless conversations about the heat. Watching the daily temperatures climb - and crowing about them to our friends who think they live somewhere “hot” is a time-honored Texas tradition.

Even while we had snow on the ground this winter, we reminded each other “don’t complain too much; come July we’ll wish we had snow.” And it only gets worse after we hit 100 degrees for the first time each year.

That beaming Texas sun can bring to mind a few thoughts. Our summer heat is brutal, turning cars and porches into ovens, and shriveling all but the strongest landscaping. Anyone who has experienced an unexpected

by Pam Hughes

sunburn can attest to the real, physical pain that the summer sun can bring.

But summer sunshine can also call to mind that special bliss that comes with long, lazy days. It’s the backdrop to sweet memories of baseball games, time spent at the pool, and sticky treats from the ice cream truck. It’s the sun that’s present as we start a day on the lake, and whose setting means it’s time to catch fireflies and watch fireworks. This side of the summer sun means refreshment, freedom and unbridled joy.

It’s my hope for all of us that we enter summertime with a joy-filled mindset. Each season is a gift from God, and this one brings so much for us to celebrate as our current sermon series is

reminding us. Celebrating the church, faithfulness, family, service, freedom, and a vision for the future reminds us of the powerful impact that gratitude and joy can have on our outlook and attitudes toward one another and toward God.

Memorial and honorary gifts are a special way to celebrate a life, birthday, anniversary, special occasion, or just to say thank you. Below are the gifts given as of April 30, 2022.

In memory of...

Sam Asmah’s sister by Pat and Robin Kelly

Randy Montgomery’s mother by Pat and Robin Kelly

Bob Cooksey by Kurt and Roblyn Mai, Mary Olson Boyer

Annette Reynold’s mother by Pat and Robin Kelly

James Hammack by Carolyn Dean, Bonnie Edwards, Betty Nickell, Betty Self

Cynthia Rutledge by Dennis and Beverly Seal, Darla Eaken, Gary and Bettye Key, Yvonne Rea, The Zimmerman Family, The Reed Family

Lee McCasland by Steve and Susan Harris Leah Ochoa’s sister Brooke Leonard by Leah Ochoa Marlen Walker by Betty Nickell, June Mohn Bob Campbell by Bill and Betty Corbin, Bud and AJ Carr, Bonnie Edwards, Jennifer and Chip Rawlinson, Betty Nickell, Jean Von Hoffman, John Goodrum

In honor of...

Paul Dempsey by Bill and Jill Landry, Elizabeth Bugno, The Garrett Family, The Coleman Family, The McFadden Family, Andy and Mandy Jackson, Gretchen Stewart Sandra Shawver by Dick and Jolynne Harvey

Virginia Howard’s 100th birthday by Bonnie Edwards

Barbara Silber by Teresa and Bobby Cave

Kay Fleming’s 90th birthday by David and Amy Fleming

Ashlyn and Trevor Trcka by Kelly Kimbrough

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PERIODICALS

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

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

July 3, 10:45 am - 1 pm Coleman Family Hall hosted by men of faith S5 per person or S20 per family

two hours of worship: traditional at 9:45am modern at 11:00am no sunday school