From the Heart of your Pastor
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Prayer is a powerful conversation with the One who created us and knows us intimately. Psalm 139 reminds us, “Lord, you know all about me…when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me – in front and in back – and have put your hand on me.” Luke 12:7 reminds us, “Even the very hairs on our head are all numbered.” In other words – God knows every detail about who we are and what we need.
This is important understanding and key when it comes to prayer. Whether we are praying for ourselves, our family or our friends – God knows what is needed even if we don’t have all the facts or details. We can simply mention a name and God knows the circumstances and the need. In fact, God is already at work in that life before we even ask. We don’t ask specifically because of a God who needs us to provide the details, we ask specifically out of a one-on-one conversation filled with trust and honesty. Our specificity is a reminder to us that we are to ask for His Will to be carried out.
Often people will say, “But I prayed for healing and then they passed away. Didn’t God hear my prayers?” The answer is yes. God’s ultimate healing and wholeness did occur. They could no longer fight the fragility of their body here on earth but received a body of healing and perfection in heaven. If God knows what is needed before we even ask, and if God is already at work, then all I need to remember is that I just share words of love for the people I pray for and ask for God’s hand to surround them and provide what they truly need.
When we do not know what to say, Romans 8:26-27 reminds us, “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
There is both a great peace and a sobering reminder that God knows me through and through when I embark upon prayer. God knows my motives, my heart, my concern, and my worries. In my private prayer time I lift all of these to God in great detail, trust and honesty. In my group prayer time, I lay before God the pulse and heartbeat of the group. In my written prayers, I paint with broad strokes as a person speaking on behalf of a generation struggling to understand much like the psalmist. All of these are powerful conversations with a God who already knows what we need.
Those needs might be a hug, a prayer shawl, a prayer quilt, a Stephen Minister to walk one on one alongside us through the pain, a Sunday school class to keep us in their thoughts and prayers, a phone call, a card, or a cup of coffee and time to share with a friend, a small group we are involved with or a pastor. This church offers many ways we can pray for you in times of deep need. We highlight those ways below and invite you to connect with any of these that might calm your soul. In the coming weeks, we will be offering a Sermon Series entitled, “Pray Differently” where we will specifically explore the power of prayer.
New World UMC has at its heart and soul a foundation of prayer. I invite you to join those who are actively living out their faith through the ministry of prayer and become involved in one of these prayer ministries.
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A Closer Walk with Christ
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OCTOBER WOMEN’S WALK TO EMMAUS – Pastor Leslie will be the Spiritual Director on Walk #444 October 10
th-13
th at Greene Family Camp. This once-in-a-lifetime spiritual retreat is designed for those who are a part of a faith community and seeking to go deeper in their walk with Christ. It is a weekend of faith, fun, fellowship, prayer, worship, laughter, breaking bread around the table together and learning more about how Jesus calls us to go deeper. Deadline to turn in an application to attend is September 15
th. For more information and an application, please contact Pastor Leslie,
leslie@nwumc.org.
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Wesleyan Heritage Tour
March 7 - 15, 2020
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What do you know about the founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley? Did you know that the church of England sought to banish him from preaching in their country but because he owned one tiny piece of land (his father’s gravesite) he preached standing on top of the burial site? Learn how this man of faith and determination wanted all God’s people to have access to the faith. Join Pastor Leslie and her husband John for a breathtaking look at England and all the places where Wesley lived, learned and served churches as well as other historical sites. We depart, March 7
th, 2020 and would love to have you join the 3 pastors and members representing 3 churches who will be a part of this great group. For more information pick up a brochure on the desk in the entryway or click on the link below.
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McCurdy Mission Trip Meeting
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On Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., Room 28, there will be a meeting for anyone interested in participating in the New World UMC mission trip to McCurdy Ministries. The dates of the mission trip are October 6, 2019-October 12, 2019. McCurdy Ministries is located in Espanola, New Mexico.
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For our August lunch we'll have an opportunity to get to know our new senior pastor a little better. Come help us welcome, and get to know, Rev. Leslie Byrd. Join us for a pot luck lunch in the Fellowship Hall at 11:30 on
Tuesday, August 13
. Bring a dish to share with your friends, our guests and staff. Guests welcome!
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It’s a Girl!
Please join the New World Chancel Choir as we host a Baby Shower for our Pianist/Organist Jin Ah Kwon and her husband Eunsuk Oh.
All New World members and friends are invited to this
come and go party.
Where?
The New World Fellowship Hall
When?
Saturday, August 17th
2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Registered at Target
Jinah Kwon & Eunsuk Oh
Questions? Please contact either
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Sandy McGrew
817-929-5313
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Sherri Lucas
817-456-0652
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Interested in lowering stress level? Gaining some flexibility? Releasing tension?
New world has a weekly yoga class on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Just $10 per session with an accredited yoga instructor. All skill levels welcome and all poses can be done from a chair for anyone with balance concerns.
If interested, please email Jessica Stewart at
yogaessence@ymail.com
on Thursday morning to confirm your attendance.
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Join us for a great day of fun, food and fellowship!
Stay tuned for more information.
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Want To Strengthen Your Spiritual Life?
Wesley Group
Sundays 6:30 – 7:30 pm in Room 28
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When he founded the Methodist Church in 18
th
Century England, John Wesley, assembled small groups to reach out, offer support and provide accountability and religious instruction to one another. This practice continues today in the Wesley Group. Wesley Group is a group of people who are looking for a closer connection to Christ. Each week they examine their relationship with Christ and how God is moving in their lives. The current group is on Summer Break and will resume meetings on Sunday, August 18
th
at 6:30pm. You are invited to join the group!
New Groups can form and meet on different days with leadership provided to them if Sunday does not work for you. You are invited to check out this group and do as Jesus suggested, “Come and see.” For more information, contact Sarah Cantrell 817-461-8727 or
sjc0317@aol.com
.
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BLESSING OF BACKPACKS, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS for a new school year is on Sunday, August 18
th during the 9:30 am service. During the 8:00 am and 11:00 am service, we will also pray for the students, parents and teachers in a special way. Students from preschool age all the way through those who will be attending College are invited to bring their backpacks, totes, or lunch boxes and we will pray for a year guided by God’s wisdom, the love of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit to watch over these young persons.
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Wish lists for our Neighborhood Schools
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Collection Area
New World Fellowship Hall
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Collection Dates
August 4-25
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All school or classroom supplies donations are welcome
(not just the ones on the wish lists above).
Everything donated will go to help our neighborhood schools. Questions?
Erin@nwumc.org
or 817-460-4212
New World UMC
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2201 N Davis Dr.
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Arlington, TX 76012
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nwumc.org
Love God
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Love Neighbor
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Make DIsciples
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Vacation Bible School is a Wrap!
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If you were raised in the church, you probably have memories of going and helping with Vacation Bible School. I believe last week will leave a lasting memory for 60 children and the 47 volunteers. It was a week filled with learning, singing, creativity, exploring, and fun activities. Our theme was “To Mars and Beyond - God’s love and power are as big as the universe!"
We focused on 4 Bible Stories. The first day we focused on FAITH through the Old Testament story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. The second day was on to the New Testament looking at KINDNESS in the story of The Good Samaritan. Day three we learned about THANKFULNESS in the story of The Ten Lepers. The fourth day we learned about HOPE through the story of Jesus, following his resurrection, and bringing comfort and hope to two friends on the road to Emmaus.
Amy Vitek and Nancy McGrath did a great job of bringing the Bible Stories to life. The children loved the music and choreography taught by Susan Alexander and Sarah Duer. Our Science room was filled with fun science projects taught by Chris Church, Cheryl Erickson, Jay Johnson, and Pastor Leslie tied the science in with our Bible stories. In Art we we painted terra cotta pots and planted flowers in them and gave them away on Sunday, and painted t- shirts that said “God’s Love is Out of this World". Our lead Artists were Pastor Erin, Amanda Camp, Diane Kuykendall, and Kristen Hunter. Lots of fun space games and activities were enjoyed in Recreation lead by Kelsy Lucas and Sarah Bush. The rest of our volunteers kept the children moving from station to station, provided a fun snack time, and assisted in the various areas.
We had about 36 children share the music and choreography they learned at the 9:30 am worship service last Sunday. I hope you were able to see the children sing, if not, there were lots of videos taken and shared of the children singing and dancing. Their praise and joy were very contagious! What a tremendous blessing these children were!
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THANK YOU!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
The word "Thank You" seems not nearly enough to express the gratitude we have for all the Youth and Adult Volunteers who came and helped last week. The Bible School was a great success because of the volunteers! Everyday the volunteers were heard talking about how much they were enjoying being with the children. They also had fun with the music (there is video proof of this)! It was so great to see so many people of different ages working together. Thank you for being a part of passing our faith from one generation to the next!
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Important Youth Dates
August 4
Shine
5:30-7:30
August 7
Mid-Week hangout
12:00-3:00
August 11
Shine
5:30-7:30
August 18
NO Shine
September 13-15
Shine Fall Retreat
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“
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well”.
Psalm 139:13-14
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Our Gifts and Our Presence
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Text To Give:
817-789-4129
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Worship Attendance:
Sunday, July 28 - 331
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