THE WOODLANDS UMC
MARCH 2019 EDITION
POINT THE GATHERING PLACE
A MESSAGE FROM
Thank you to our Gathering Place volunteers! This group puts in endless numbers of hours to make sure our Gathering Place participants are well cared for and loved!
PASTOR TO SENIOR ADULTS
CLIFF RITTER
Spring comes early around here! There are so many signs of new life around us. It is a wonder for each of us to behold. Spring is a time of celebration and renewal.
First row: Elizabeth Berry, JoAnn Johnson, Carla Burchard, Wanda Obrien, Jean Abernathy, Linda Mercer, and Dee Hansen Second row: Art Burchard, Rosalind Gosney, Charles Berry, Natalie Benson, Katelin Warren, Jane Fuller, Betty Rae Barney, Nedra Brandt, Cindy Hoffman, Pam Baker, Connie Norton, and Jerry Barney Third row: Chuck Abernathy, Robert Obrien, Charles Lindahl, Morris Davidson, Berry Wertz, Ken Ellis, Susan Fronk, Ted Hoffman, Sharon Reimer, Priscilla May, Valerie Ellis, Jan Cissna, and Jerry Brandt
Kimberly Constant, Connecting Ministry and Outreach As Pastor of Connecting Ministry and Outreach, I call myself the “cruise ship director” of our vibrant and active church community. Working alongside Connecting Ministry Assistant Michelle DeCantillon, we make it our goal to connect with our first-time visitors, frequent attenders, and new members to answer their questions about the church and help them get plugged into the life of our congregation. Every week, I reach out to first time visitors who have attended either Harvest or Traditional worship services. I also follow up with a handwritten note card to those who have visited three times, and again to those who have visited ten times. The goal is to convert visitors to members so that we can continue to grow our wonderful church with committed followers of Christ. In addition, we host several informational gatherings. Two of those are beneficial to all our church members, even those who have been here since the beginning! “Starting Point,” which is held three times a year, provides information about the newest programs, mission opportunities, small groups, and Bible studies. This is a great meeting to attend if you are interested in trying something new or learning about the latest offerings. We’ve also begun hosting monthly “Coffee with the Pastor” gatherings, an informal question and answer session and chance to get to know our pastors a little better. Perhaps I am a little biased, but I like to say that I have the best job in the entire church. I love meeting new people and helping to make our big church feel like a family! Kimberly Constant, Connecting Ministry and Outreach
Before the first full week of March is over, we will find ourselves on the threshold of the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday is March 6th this year. It is one of my favorite worship services in the Christian calendar. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or the classic reminder, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” It begins the season of reflection and introspection. I hope you will join us for all the planned activities in the Lenten Season. Our Senior Adults will be busy, as usual, in the coming month. We will be signing up volunteers for our prayer team that will support the Good Friday Service at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. You may remember the days when we celebrated Easter at the Pavilion. This year we will host the Good Friday worship event. There will be many opportunities for volunteers, but I especially want our Senior Adults to consider praying with our friends and neighbors upon request. We will announce training events to be scheduled in the weeks leading up to Easter. We will get a nifty tee-shirt to wear that evening to help identify us as members of our prayer team. We will be doing God’s work as we serve others. I hope you will join me in this community outreach. Watch the Sunday bulletins for more details. God has been so gracious to us! There is no day better than today to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Tell a friend, share with a neighbor, that Jesus loves them! With grace and peace, Cliff Ritter