Welcome to this edition of Grace Notes a Newsletter from Grace United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX.
This newsletter comes to let you know about happenings at Grace, and to invite you to reflect on your walk with God as you strive to follow Jesus’ summary of the commandments: to love God, one another, and oneself.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man”
Col. 3:23
Spring is here! Seeds are being planted, flowers are starting to bloom. Change is among us. Most often when things change, that’s an indication that more work is on the way. I am in the middle of our monitoring season at
work. And with that, my daily work schedule has changed. With the addition of duties, I am no longer able to move through my days as I normally have. I’ve had to make changes.
My biggest challenge with those changes is making sure that my attitude is the way that God desires it to be. One way that I keep my attitude in check when additional responsibilities have been placed on me is to
think, “what if God asked me to do this or that?” When I approach my days with the attitude of doing what I do for Christ, things change.
As I thought about spring and changes, I couldn’t help but to think about Grace. Seeds that were planted earlier this year are starting to bloom. Ideas, activities and plans that were put down on paper, are starting to
take shape. Change is definitely upon us Grace! In order for us to move through these changes we may
have to do things that we are not used to doing. We may have to take on tasks that we normally would not have to take on. With the tasks that are ahead of us, I can’t help but to think, “what if God asked?” Would our response and ttitude be different? Would we be more willing if God asked?
As a part of the Body that makes up Grace, everything we do, we should do with the attitude as if God asked. As a matter of fact, no matter what we are doing, be it at home, work, or Grace, we should do it from the heart as if we were doing it for God. Grace is on the move. We are growing, we are changing and with that change comes more responsibilities. So, if you are asked to help with the changes at Grace, think...“What if God asked?” before you respond.
Blessings& Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastors Column
Grace to you,
Look at God! Words do not seem adequate enough to express the excitement that I have about God’s faithfulness over the course of just nine (9) months. It would take me a lot longer to than I have to innumerate the tangible joys and successes that we have observed while seeking to fulfill the vision of
Grace UMC Arlington.
At Grace UMC Arlington, God has called us to; Bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus
Christ, by making disciples through our words and actions in cooperation with God’s grace.
In efforts to fulfill this assignment, we now feature;
- A weekly and growing Children’s Church
- Children’s confirmation classes
- Sunday school classes for every age
- Weekly Bible classes and adult fellowships
We have;
- Increased our active membership over 150%
- Increased our weekly attendance over 100%
- Hosted our first annual “Relationship Seminar”
- Increased our anointed staff of musicians
- Improved the aesthetics of our current physical location, while still looking forward to a location that better serves our needs.
For our community, we are;
- Actively providing food for the Life Shelter in Arlington
- Providing life skills seminars, i.e. the very successful “Relationship Seminar” and upcoming “Financial
Freedom Seminar.”
Technologically, we have;
- Created a viable website: www.Graceumcarlington.org
- Established our presence on Facebook
- Established weekly CD recordings of Sundays messages
Let’s continue to stay faithful in cooperating with God as we fulfill this ministry! Stay in Love with God and each other,
Pastor Bates and Rona
--------------------------------
Sharing Grace
Rhythm Melody Harmony Form Tone-Color - Introduction to Music Group Instruction Ages 21 and above.
Requirements
1. Time to practice at least 30 minutes every day.
2. Time to attend Music Class the first and third Saturdays…12:00 noon until 1:00 pm.
Classes will begin April 6, 2013. Location: Grace United Methodist Church. Register with Pam Pinkerton - Name and phone number please.
Ann Thompson, M.A., M.Ed., B.S. Certified Music Educator.
*****
Handy Reference List -EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:
When in sorrow Call John 14
When men fail you Call Psalm 27
When you have sinned (non-Christians) Call Acts 2:38 and 8:35-40
When you have sinned (Christians) Call Psalm 51
When you worry Call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger Call Psalm 91
When God seems far away Call Psalm 139
When you are lonely and fearful Call Hebrews 11
When you grow bitter and critical Call 1 Corinthians 13
When you feel down and out Call Romans 8:31
When you want peace and rest Call Matthew 11:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God Call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance Call Romans 8:1-30
When you leave home for labor or travel Call Psalm 121
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish Call Psalm 87
When you want courage for a task Call Joshua 1
When you think of investments and returns Call Mark 10
If you are depressed Call Psalm 27
If your pocketbook is empty Call Psalm 37
If you are losing confidence in people Call 1 Corinthians 13
If people seem unkind Call John 15
If discouraged about your work Call Psalm 126
If self pride/greatness takes hold Call Psalm 19
If you want to be fruitful Call John 15
For how to get along with fellow men Call Romans 12
For Paul's secret to happiness Call Colossians 3:12-17
ALTERNATE NUMBERS:
For dealing with fear Call Psalm 34:7
For security Call Psalm 121:3
For assurance Call Mark 8:35
For reassurance Call Psalm 145:18
PLEASE NOTE: Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day! Feed your FAITH, and DOUBT will starve to death.
Scott Marshall
*******
Grace UMW have started the New Year with joy and enthusiasm. In January we held an installation of 2013 officers. We were happy to have our Pastor there to wish us a happy and blessed New Year along with Rev. Penny Stemley. We were installed by Mrs. Barbara Green, Vice President Central Texas Conference UMW.
In February, Mrs. Anne Thompson presented a timely program celebrating Black History Month. Mrs. Thompson closed the program with the singing of Lift Every Voice and the National Anthem. For the month of March, the program was “Seeing the Power of Sisterhood”, presented by Unit President Billie Ray.
Grace UMW are active members of Church Women United and Mrs. Anne Thompson participated in the annual World Day of Prayer which was held March 1, 2013 at St. Luke UMC in Ft. Worth. The 2013 theme was “I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me”.
New Lives School, a school for young girls to make a better life, is a project of Church Women United and Grace UMC. They are in need of baby supplies (baby lotion, shampoo, powder & diapers). If you do not have time to shop, you can make a monetary donation and give it to Mrs. Curtiss Mims, Treasurer.
Please join us for the following events:
April 6 – Central Texas Conference – A Great Day of Service.
April 9 – UTA Wesley Foundation Dinner for Students, 6-7 pm
April 27 – UMW meeting, “Prayer and Self Denial” 10 am.
********
Volunteer Opportunity:
The purpose of the Outreach committee aligns with Grace's mission "...to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, by making disciples through our words and actions in cooperation with God's grace."
We fulfill this mission when we connect our neighbors with the church in practical, tangible ways. Showing people that we care lets them see the love of God in action, and this makes a difference in their lives.
Ultimately, our prayer is that these acts of kindness will cause them to want to get to know God better and connect with the church, to become disciples.
We usually meet once per QTR, and also have conference calls and/or additional meetings when we are planning for upcoming events. Here is the list of events that we have planned for the remainder of the
year:
July 15 - July 19 - Vacation Bible School
August 3 - August 4 - Back-to-School Extravaganza/Health Fair
November 23, 2013 - Thanksgiving Baskets (distribution)
December 21, 2013 - Angel Tree/Christmas Baskets (distribution)
For more information, please see Rev. Penny Stemley
---------------------------
News around the church from United Methodist News Service
http://umns.umc.org
Haiti 2013: Rebuilding St. Martin Methodist
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — It was a joyful Sunday recently for Lucienne
Bazile and Noelzina Doavil at St. Martin Methodist Church. That was a dramatic
change from a Sunday in January 2010 when services were amid the rubble of the
church and school left behind by the earthquake days before. Doavil and Bazile
were grieving then. United Methodists have helped to give Haitians a dramatic
turnaround from the despair of three years ago. Read more stories about how
United Methodists are helping with Haiti’s recovery at umc.org/haiti.
The right rockin’ Rev. Sherry Cothran
NASHVILLE,Tenn. — “When I was a child, I was either going to be a missionary in Africa, in a rock band or on Broadway,” said the Rev. Sherry Cothran Woolsey., former lead singer of the alternative rock band The Evinrudes. “The rock band won out.” But after a hit song, years of touring and a busted record deal, this rocker went back to her childhood wish list, and it led her to seminary. Nowadays, the Rev. Sherry Cothran Woolsey rocks the pulpit as senior pastor at West Nashville United Methodist Church, a small urban congregation across town from the music venues in which The Evinrudes made noise. She also has combined her musical gifts with an interest in Hebrew texts to produce the album “Sunland,” featuring stories of women in the Old Testament.
UMM to gather under banner of Christ
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist leaders expect 4,000 men to attend the 11th national gathering of United Methodist Men on July 12-14 at Belmont University in Nashville. The event is titled “Inside Out for the Glory of God.” To register, visit gcumm.org.
************************
Trivia Question:
In the song, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," what did the writer mean by Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Coming for to Carry Me Home? The writer also wrote, I looked over Jordan and what did I see, a band of Angels coming after me. What does Jordan represent, and a band of Angles coming after me represents what?
Let me know if you know the answer. Scott Marshall
*********
This newsletter comes to let you know about happenings at Grace, and to invite you to reflect on your walk with God as you strive to follow Jesus’ summary of the commandments: to love God, one another, and oneself.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man”
Col. 3:23
Spring is here! Seeds are being planted, flowers are starting to bloom. Change is among us. Most often when things change, that’s an indication that more work is on the way. I am in the middle of our monitoring season at
work. And with that, my daily work schedule has changed. With the addition of duties, I am no longer able to move through my days as I normally have. I’ve had to make changes.
My biggest challenge with those changes is making sure that my attitude is the way that God desires it to be. One way that I keep my attitude in check when additional responsibilities have been placed on me is to
think, “what if God asked me to do this or that?” When I approach my days with the attitude of doing what I do for Christ, things change.
As I thought about spring and changes, I couldn’t help but to think about Grace. Seeds that were planted earlier this year are starting to bloom. Ideas, activities and plans that were put down on paper, are starting to
take shape. Change is definitely upon us Grace! In order for us to move through these changes we may
have to do things that we are not used to doing. We may have to take on tasks that we normally would not have to take on. With the tasks that are ahead of us, I can’t help but to think, “what if God asked?” Would our response and ttitude be different? Would we be more willing if God asked?
As a part of the Body that makes up Grace, everything we do, we should do with the attitude as if God asked. As a matter of fact, no matter what we are doing, be it at home, work, or Grace, we should do it from the heart as if we were doing it for God. Grace is on the move. We are growing, we are changing and with that change comes more responsibilities. So, if you are asked to help with the changes at Grace, think...“What if God asked?” before you respond.
Blessings& Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastors Column
Grace to you,
Look at God! Words do not seem adequate enough to express the excitement that I have about God’s faithfulness over the course of just nine (9) months. It would take me a lot longer to than I have to innumerate the tangible joys and successes that we have observed while seeking to fulfill the vision of
Grace UMC Arlington.
At Grace UMC Arlington, God has called us to; Bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus
Christ, by making disciples through our words and actions in cooperation with God’s grace.
In efforts to fulfill this assignment, we now feature;
- A weekly and growing Children’s Church
- Children’s confirmation classes
- Sunday school classes for every age
- Weekly Bible classes and adult fellowships
We have;
- Increased our active membership over 150%
- Increased our weekly attendance over 100%
- Hosted our first annual “Relationship Seminar”
- Increased our anointed staff of musicians
- Improved the aesthetics of our current physical location, while still looking forward to a location that better serves our needs.
For our community, we are;
- Actively providing food for the Life Shelter in Arlington
- Providing life skills seminars, i.e. the very successful “Relationship Seminar” and upcoming “Financial
Freedom Seminar.”
Technologically, we have;
- Created a viable website: www.Graceumcarlington.org
- Established our presence on Facebook
- Established weekly CD recordings of Sundays messages
Let’s continue to stay faithful in cooperating with God as we fulfill this ministry! Stay in Love with God and each other,
Pastor Bates and Rona
--------------------------------
Sharing Grace
Rhythm Melody Harmony Form Tone-Color - Introduction to Music Group Instruction Ages 21 and above.
Requirements
1. Time to practice at least 30 minutes every day.
2. Time to attend Music Class the first and third Saturdays…12:00 noon until 1:00 pm.
Classes will begin April 6, 2013. Location: Grace United Methodist Church. Register with Pam Pinkerton - Name and phone number please.
Ann Thompson, M.A., M.Ed., B.S. Certified Music Educator.
*****
Handy Reference List -EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:
When in sorrow Call John 14
When men fail you Call Psalm 27
When you have sinned (non-Christians) Call Acts 2:38 and 8:35-40
When you have sinned (Christians) Call Psalm 51
When you worry Call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger Call Psalm 91
When God seems far away Call Psalm 139
When you are lonely and fearful Call Hebrews 11
When you grow bitter and critical Call 1 Corinthians 13
When you feel down and out Call Romans 8:31
When you want peace and rest Call Matthew 11:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God Call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance Call Romans 8:1-30
When you leave home for labor or travel Call Psalm 121
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish Call Psalm 87
When you want courage for a task Call Joshua 1
When you think of investments and returns Call Mark 10
If you are depressed Call Psalm 27
If your pocketbook is empty Call Psalm 37
If you are losing confidence in people Call 1 Corinthians 13
If people seem unkind Call John 15
If discouraged about your work Call Psalm 126
If self pride/greatness takes hold Call Psalm 19
If you want to be fruitful Call John 15
For how to get along with fellow men Call Romans 12
For Paul's secret to happiness Call Colossians 3:12-17
ALTERNATE NUMBERS:
For dealing with fear Call Psalm 34:7
For security Call Psalm 121:3
For assurance Call Mark 8:35
For reassurance Call Psalm 145:18
PLEASE NOTE: Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day! Feed your FAITH, and DOUBT will starve to death.
Scott Marshall
*******
Grace UMW have started the New Year with joy and enthusiasm. In January we held an installation of 2013 officers. We were happy to have our Pastor there to wish us a happy and blessed New Year along with Rev. Penny Stemley. We were installed by Mrs. Barbara Green, Vice President Central Texas Conference UMW.
In February, Mrs. Anne Thompson presented a timely program celebrating Black History Month. Mrs. Thompson closed the program with the singing of Lift Every Voice and the National Anthem. For the month of March, the program was “Seeing the Power of Sisterhood”, presented by Unit President Billie Ray.
Grace UMW are active members of Church Women United and Mrs. Anne Thompson participated in the annual World Day of Prayer which was held March 1, 2013 at St. Luke UMC in Ft. Worth. The 2013 theme was “I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me”.
New Lives School, a school for young girls to make a better life, is a project of Church Women United and Grace UMC. They are in need of baby supplies (baby lotion, shampoo, powder & diapers). If you do not have time to shop, you can make a monetary donation and give it to Mrs. Curtiss Mims, Treasurer.
Please join us for the following events:
April 6 – Central Texas Conference – A Great Day of Service.
April 9 – UTA Wesley Foundation Dinner for Students, 6-7 pm
April 27 – UMW meeting, “Prayer and Self Denial” 10 am.
********
Volunteer Opportunity:
The purpose of the Outreach committee aligns with Grace's mission "...to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, by making disciples through our words and actions in cooperation with God's grace."
We fulfill this mission when we connect our neighbors with the church in practical, tangible ways. Showing people that we care lets them see the love of God in action, and this makes a difference in their lives.
Ultimately, our prayer is that these acts of kindness will cause them to want to get to know God better and connect with the church, to become disciples.
We usually meet once per QTR, and also have conference calls and/or additional meetings when we are planning for upcoming events. Here is the list of events that we have planned for the remainder of the
year:
July 15 - July 19 - Vacation Bible School
August 3 - August 4 - Back-to-School Extravaganza/Health Fair
November 23, 2013 - Thanksgiving Baskets (distribution)
December 21, 2013 - Angel Tree/Christmas Baskets (distribution)
For more information, please see Rev. Penny Stemley
---------------------------
News around the church from United Methodist News Service
http://umns.umc.org
Haiti 2013: Rebuilding St. Martin Methodist
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — It was a joyful Sunday recently for Lucienne
Bazile and Noelzina Doavil at St. Martin Methodist Church. That was a dramatic
change from a Sunday in January 2010 when services were amid the rubble of the
church and school left behind by the earthquake days before. Doavil and Bazile
were grieving then. United Methodists have helped to give Haitians a dramatic
turnaround from the despair of three years ago. Read more stories about how
United Methodists are helping with Haiti’s recovery at umc.org/haiti.
The right rockin’ Rev. Sherry Cothran
NASHVILLE,Tenn. — “When I was a child, I was either going to be a missionary in Africa, in a rock band or on Broadway,” said the Rev. Sherry Cothran Woolsey., former lead singer of the alternative rock band The Evinrudes. “The rock band won out.” But after a hit song, years of touring and a busted record deal, this rocker went back to her childhood wish list, and it led her to seminary. Nowadays, the Rev. Sherry Cothran Woolsey rocks the pulpit as senior pastor at West Nashville United Methodist Church, a small urban congregation across town from the music venues in which The Evinrudes made noise. She also has combined her musical gifts with an interest in Hebrew texts to produce the album “Sunland,” featuring stories of women in the Old Testament.
UMM to gather under banner of Christ
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist leaders expect 4,000 men to attend the 11th national gathering of United Methodist Men on July 12-14 at Belmont University in Nashville. The event is titled “Inside Out for the Glory of God.” To register, visit gcumm.org.
************************
Trivia Question:
In the song, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," what did the writer mean by Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Coming for to Carry Me Home? The writer also wrote, I looked over Jordan and what did I see, a band of Angels coming after me. What does Jordan represent, and a band of Angles coming after me represents what?
Let me know if you know the answer. Scott Marshall
*********