SEPTEMBER 2019 EDITION
THE WOODLANDS UMC
POINT UNDERSTANDING THE SEASONS
A MESSAGE FROM
CLIFF RITTER
“Do your best to get here before winter.” (2 Timothy 4:21, NIV) Okay, I’m finally beginning to understand this thing called “seasons.” You would think that after seven decades on this earth I would know a little something about spring, summer, autumn and winter, but it has taken me this long to really figure it out. The spring of our lives is all about growth and learning. It is a time of youthful energy, unbridled visions and dreams; a time of having all the answers but not knowing what the questions are. The summer is flexing our muscles of growth and putting what we’ve learned into practice; where reality sets in and you come to understand that if you don’t make the necessary “deposits” of life, then you cannot expect a “return.” And with the arrival of autumn, you begin to gather the leaves of all those dreams that fell to the ground which went unfulfilled. It is the golden age of life, when we try to count our losses and gains, celebrate the life we lived, and go in search of the peace that we didn’t know was there in the spring and summer. And then there is winter. A time of reflection for the soul; the time when we realize that significance means more than success; a time when we ask ourselves, “What can I leave behind that will enrich the lives of others?” The Apostle Paul knew something about seasons. In his letter to Timothy, his son in ministry, in essence he says: “spring has departed, summer has passed, the harvest has ended, and all is not yet accomplished. Get here and finish the work that God gave me to do. And yes, ‘do your best to get here before winter.’” The sense of urgency in these words carries the same claim on us today. Before the winter of our soul arrives, get to the place where God wants you to be, so you can say at the end of the journey: “I did my best! I kept my pledge! I served my God! I’ve finished the race!” Bishop Hayes, Bishop in Residence
CHRIST HEAD SCULPTURE DONATION We are so thankful to Erika Ludtke for her donation of the Christ Head sculpture to The Woodlands United Methodist Church. This beautiful work of art was created by her husband, well-known sculptor Lawrence M. Ludtke. According to the book Life in Bronze by Amy L. Bacon, Lawrence Ludtke was doing prep work for a sculpture of Brig. General James Robinson Risner. After photographing Risner from different angles, Ludtke was amazed at how happy and well-adjusted he looked. In reality, Risner had been a POW for seven years at the “Hanoi Hilton” in the Vietnam War. When the photos were developed and Risner’s face was frozen in time, Ludtke could see the hurt lines and the great pain this fighter pilot had experienced at one time in his life. The sculptor immediately stopped what he was doing and started modeling a small head of Jesus Christ. He took all the pain and suffering revealed in those pictures and sculpted it into the face of Christ. As one of his most treasured works, Ludtke kept the piece in his own personal collection. We feel very privileged to be the recipients of such a deeply meaningful representation of Christ. Thank you to Erika Ludtke for sharing it with our church family. Erika Ludtke and Dr. Robb
PASTOR TO SENIOR ADULTS
We have so much to celebrate in our church! The new construction is rapidly coming to completion and there are new spaces to explore across the campus. We celebrate the opening of the new Recreation Center and are excited about the many additions to that ministry. We also celebrate the new Children’s Ministry space, and we know they will be filled with lots of young children in the weeks to come. And, have you visited the recently completed Church at Woodforest? We opened the doors there for worship this Fall. They are already a thriving community, and I know they would welcome a visit on any Sunday. In early August, we celebrated the 90 and above birthdays of many of our Senior Adults at the Prime Timer’s Lunch. We had 30 or so celebrants in attendance out of a list of 88 senior adults who are over 90 years old this year. With friends and families, there were more that 130 people at the luncheon. It was a great time of fellowship, and it was a perfect picture of how God will honor those among us who have achieved long life. Thanks to Dr. Mark Lewis for leading our program this year with lots of humor and thoughtful reflection. In September, we begin to celebrate the new school year in earnest. Our Fall routines are getting back to normal and our schedules are more predictable. This is the perfect time to renew your commitment to attending a Sunday School class. You are always welcome! Thanks to each of you for being a great part of a great ministry! The Woodlands United Methodist Church celebrates our Senior Adult Ministry in many ways. I think we have the best people in the world in our ministries and in our small groups. Keep up the good work! Keep inviting your friends and neighbors to church! And, keep the faith! With grace and peace,
Cliff Ritter