Weekly News
Mission: Grow in God's grace. Love with all our heart. Serve with all our strength.
|
|
Dear Friends in Christ,
Last week in our “BYOBible” series, we explored “the BIG STORY and the Stories” – how the biblical stories make more sense if we know the BIG, SWEEPING STORY of Scripture, just as scenes from a movie (or a film clip) make more sense if we watch the whole movie. In light of this, I posed the question – “what would you say if someone asked you to summarize the overall message of the Bible in a minute or two?” To prime the pump for our thinking, I offered the following garden variety summary in three movements (I took more than a minute or two, but what’s new about that?):
-
It all starts in a garden. God created and called two humans to embody God’s loving reign on earth in their beautiful Edenic garden spot. But these humans rejected the reign of God through their “my will be done” fruitful rebellion, and we observe their tragic loss of Eden and humanity’s downward spiral of epic, escalating BROKENESS over many generations in Genesis 4-11.
-
So beginning with Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12, and continuing with Isaac and then Jacob (renamed Israel – remember that name!), God called a new people to go to the Promise Land. There at the crossroads of the world’s 3 most inhabited continents (and the ‘garden spot’ of the ancient near east), the children of Israel would have maximum exposure and could exemplify a “Thy will be done” community where God’s love and justice reigned. Surely all the families of the earth would be blessed by them, right? But time and time again, in generation after generation, Israel lapsed into “My will be done” brokenness in relationship with God, one another and creation. So just as the initial couple were expelled from the garden of Eden, the children of Israel were ultimately expelled from the Holy Land in the form of the Babylonian Exile in 587 B.C. While some did return to the Holy Land years later, their ‘my will be done’ cycle of brokenness persisted.
-
So ultimately God sent his Son to fulfill the vocation originally given to but rejected by both Adam, Eve, humanity and the children of Israel. Jesus lived faithfully into the “Thy Will Be Done” calling (epitomized in the Garden of Gethsemane) through his sacrificial life, death and resurrection, and embodied perfectly what it is for God to reign in forgiveness, love, truth and justice on earth, to the end that his forgiven and Spirit-filled followers would continue in that vocation until the redeemed creation becomes THE Garden of God when the Son returns as proclaimed by the last book, Revelation.
This summary has been helpful for me to try to keep the “BIG STORY” of Scripture in mind, understanding the many Biblical ‘stories’ (and our individual life stories) in light of what God is doing to redeem us and all creation (Romans 8:21). I am looking forward to continuing the conversation this Sunday as we explore best practices of interpreting Scripture for maximum spiritual benefit. I can’t wait to see you either at 8 (RISE UP outdoors), or in the Ministry Center for 9 (modern – register here) and 11 (traditional – register here).
Yours warmly in Christ,
Pastor Tom
P.S. UPDATE: After consulting our Medical Advisory Team about recent downward trends in area Covid cases:
- We will continue to reserve the right-hand section in worship for unvaccinated persons or those who wish to follow all protocols (mask-wearing, social distancing).
- Additionally, we will continue to mask around all non-vaccinated persons (Stringfellow School and other children).
- We will still ‘encourage’ mask wearing in other areas of the worship center, but that is a matter of individual discernment for those who have been vaccinated.
P.P.S. All are welcome to join the Methodist Men for a hearty breakfast and a presentation on the ‘Shroud of Turin’ this Saturday morning, 7:45-9 a.m. in Wesley Hall.
P.P.P.S. Sanctuary repairs continue, but so do supply chain issues regarding carpeting. We will definitely keep you in the loop regarding any positive developments!
|
|
|
|
Join us in Worship
this Sunday,
October 17
How to Read Your Bible, Part 2 -
Interpreting and Reading the Bible
2 Peter 3:13-18 (NRSV))
|
|
We encourage you as an individual or a family unit to dialogue
|
|
Sunday Morning Schedule
All indoor worship services will continue to be held in the Ministry Center until further notice. The Sanctuary is still under construction.
|
|
|
UPDATE: After consulting our Medical Advisory Team about recent downward trends in area Covid cases:
- We will continue to reserve the right-hand section in worship for unvaccinated persons or those who wish to follow all protocols (mask-wearing, social distancing).
- Additionally, we will continue to mask around all non-vaccinated persons (Stringfellow School and other children).
- We will still ‘encourage’ mask wearing in other areas of the worship center, but that is a matter of individual discernment for those who have been vaccinated
|
|
Click here to register. You will receive a confirmation email (from eSPACE).
|
|
Click here to register. You will receive a confirmation email (from eSPACE).
|
|
Sunday Life Groups at 10 am
Our Sunday morning Life Groups (formerly Sunday School) continue.
- Children age 0-4 years meet in the Ministry Center nursery.
- Children age Kindergarten-5th Grade meet in Room 207 (upstairs in Smartt Hall).
- Students grades 6-12 meet in the Student area in the Ministry Center.
- Adults meet in their regular classrooms around Wesley Hall and the back hallway.except Seekers Class meets in Wesley Hall (until construction is complete). Please check with your teacher to see if your group plans to meet.
Please note: To enter the main building, you must go through the Breezeway doors or the Rosenburg Chapel doors. You will not be able to enter the main doors on either side of the sanctuary.
|
|
|
|
UMM Monthly Breakfast ...
will be this Saturday, October 16 from 7:45-9:00 am in Wesley Hall. Our guest speaker will be Dr. George Oliver who will present a program on the Shroud of Turin. This program is open to all men and women. Please preregister here so that we can get a head count for cooking.
Read more information about the speaker and program below.
|
|
Shroud of Turin – Icon or Artifact?
The Shroud is believed by many to be the burial cloth for Jesus of Nazarine. Based on documented history and many scientific tests of the cloth, and backed up by The Testaments, the cloth and the image on it apparently has endured 2000 years. Dr Oliver has followed the developments in the authenticity of the cloth for about 50 years. He is a scientist who understands the technicalities of these tests through the past century from the first photograph in 1898 to modern techniques. An explanation of the methods and results may lead you to believe the origin of the sacred Shroud as an icon or may show it to be a well-documented artifact. The premise of this set of ideas may be one of the first explainable junctions of science and Christian religion. A possible theory of the origin of the image on the Shroud will be presented.
Dr, Oliver Received his PhD in Physics from the University of Oklahoma.
He then held a Postdoctoral and Assistant Professor of Biophysics faculty position at M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, while doing research, clinical practice and teaching.
He advanced to Associate Professor of Radiology at Washington University, St Louis, MO.
He has extensive experience teaching X-ray technology classes for under-grad, graduate and medical school students.
|
|
Mobile Check-In
Did you know that you can now check-in to Sunday morning worship using your smartphone?
-
You must have an account set up on Realm (our church management database). If you do not have an account, click here to create.
- Then, download the Realm Connect mobile app from the Apple App Store (Apple IOS) or Google Play (Android).
- Then, each Sunday morning you will get a message to check-in. You can select which service and Life Group, plus who in your family is attending.
|
|
Sunday Morning Learn and Sing
Our Learn and Sing group is growing. I would love to have a couple more people help out on Sunday morning. Here’s what I need:
- help facilitating activities
- encouraging the children
- crowd control
|
|
Children’s Christmas Musical
We have begun our practices for the Christmas Musical, but we need more singers. If you can spare 45 minutes on Wednesday's 4:45 - 5:30 pm, come join us. We are learning, "Unplugged Christmas". This will be performed as our family service on Christmas Eve. Let me know of you have any questions, otherwise, I hope to see you at practice. Ministry Center, 4:45 - 5:30 pm. kbraem@fumccoppell.org
|
|
Click here for the latest Student Ministry full newsletter.
|
|
Sunday Morning
All students are welcome Sunday mornings - middle, high school and Confirmation (that sign up is here) at 10 am. Donuts are back for students on Sunday mornings! We will start together for announcements, then move to separate spaces. Students can Zoom in if they would like, same zoom link for all classes, they will move into breakout rooms. Zoom link here.
High School will most likely meet at Einstein's on Denton Tap for breakfast at 10 am! Text and email Saturday with final info.
|
|
We're in the Big Questions series and a student asked the questions, "Are different religions connected? Are they the same God and we just experience God differently?" Meet us outside on the Ministry Center patio for dinner and games, then move inside for worship. Inside, masks are required and we will be spaced out. Email Christy with any questions.
|
|
October 21
What's Siesta N Snack? Just a once a month after school time to hangout together. We have a snack and take a break from the week!
|
|
Mark your calendars for October 24!
We will have a middle school party, dinner together, followed by a high school party. Friends are invited! More details to come. If you can volunteer to be a Ministry Safe adult at either MS or HS, please email Christy.
|
|
Mission of the Month
Our mission ministry for this month is the Partnership in Honduras. For more than 20 years, the United Methodist Church has had a growing presence in resource-challenged Honduras. Today, the Mission there consists of 22 congregations and numerous United Methodist-affiliated organizations. Our support for this mission will assist them in continuing their work of being a Christian presence and as they do the hard work of cleaning and rebuilding after two major hurricanes struck late last year.
To support this partnership, make checks payable to FUMC with memo “Honduras” or you can TEXT 2 GIVE. Text FUMCC to 73256. You will receive a link and simply follow the instructions.
|
|
Caregiving Heroes
The mission of Caregiving Heroes is to provide support and education to family and friends in our community who are assisting loved ones with aging or other concerns. We do this by providing valuable local resources, understanding and compassionate support.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
