APRIL 2016 EDITION
THE WOODLANDS UMC
POINT
A MESSAGE FROM
DON MEADOR PASTOR TO SENIOR ADULTS
A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS IN THE MINISTRY Join us to honor Rev. Don Meador and celebrate his 50 years of service as a minister. Please do not bring gifts. Hosted by the Meador family and the Senior Adult Ministry of The Woodlands United Methodist Church. Sunday, April 24 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Wesley Hall
THE GATHERING PLACE DESSERTS Nedra and Jerry Brandt bring desserts to The Gathering Place each month. In February, the couple delighted the group with red velvet Valentine cupcakes. The Gathering Place meets the first Monday of each month in Aldersgate Hall and is an outreach program for adults who have early to moderate Alzheimer’s or dementia. Volunteers are always welcome. For more information or to get involved, contact Senior Adult Ministries at 281.297.5935 or seniors@twumc.org.
I have had the honor and privilege of being a minister of the Gospel for many years. During these years I have officiated at many funerals or memorial services and I have grieved with many different kinds of families and individuals who have lost loved ones as a result of many different circumstances. And therefore I have also observed many different kinds of responses to the reality of death. There is a great difference in the response of those who know Christ as a living Lord who has opened the door to heaven and those who do not. The difference is HOPE. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, Chapter 4:13 writes, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. Encourage one another with these words.” You will read these words near the time we celebrate Easter, the day of resurrection, the most important day in the Christian year. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who proclaimed that “those who believe in me shall never die,” we are the people of HOPE. We are the Easter people. Yes, we grieve when we lose loved ones. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. After all, we are the Easter people! We are the people of HOPE! We are the followers of the One who said, “I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Because I live you shall live also.” Let us follow the advice of Paul and encourage one another with these words. Your friend,