North Texas Conference News

Merry Christmas from the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church

A salute to almost 200 churches that have paid 100% of their apportionments so far

I offer my deepest apologies for the incomplete listing of churches that was printed in the Dec. 9 edition of the UMR. Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe and members of the Cabinet are very aware that many, many more congregations and pastors have sacrifi ced and worked hard to pay their apportionments. The second-mile efforts of each and every one of the almost 200 churches are cause for thanksgiving and celebration. Again, we apologize for the truly unintentional slight felt by any of our churches, and we rejoice in their example as an inspiration for us all.

Sheron C. Patterson, UMR editor

In this edition, we shine a light on small membership churches in the East and North West districts to gain valuable insight and inspiration about the power of our connection.

First UMC Burkburnett

The Rev. Don Pellikan was to the point about his congregation’s paying out 100 percent. "We just do it. It is a part of our responsibility, and there's no need for a big spotlight. We don't do it to get a pat on the back. Paying apportionments is a part of being United Methodist."

Mount Calvary, Wichita Falls

The Rev. Ricky McGee i s excited about his church's 100 percent payout. "This church has really understood the importance of the connection. From the teachings of previous pastors, such as Rev. Sylvester Shed, through today with me, we have taught the fundamental principles of tithing. Our people understand how to give. We are excited about growing spiritually and in our giving. We teach tithing to Mount Calvary and to the connection."

His advice for others striving for 100 percent: "It is not the size of the church, but the heart of the members."

First UMC Bogata

"If we are going to transform the world, we've got to pay our apportionments," said the Rev. Carol Sparks. "It takes all of me to handle Bogata, That's why it's so important to pay our apportionments so others can handle things all over the world in our ministries. Here at Bogata, we are very proud of never not having paid. It is a priority in our budget. My members put it like this, 'You do what you've got to do because it’s the right thing to do.'"

Her advice for others: "Make the apportionments personal to your members. Highlight each of the ministries. And pastors: Make sure that you understand them. If the pastor does not, the people will not either."

Tinney Chapel, Winnsboro

When it comes to paying apportionments, the Rev. Sue Gross said, ":This is something we do as Methodists. We've lost several members this year, and for a congregation of 35, the loss really hurts.

"But in spite of it, we got it done. To help my people understand how apportionments work, I posted around the sanctuary all the items on the apportionment list. I wanted them to see where our church is helping around the world.

"Some people erroneously believe that the money is for the Bishop and conference leadership. It is not."

The 100 Percenters

Aley	Coppell First	Kirkwood	Rosalie
Allen First	Cottage Hill	Ladonia	Rosser First
Alvord	Cumby	Lake Creek	Rosston
Anna	Custer Road	Lakeway	Roxton
Annona	Cuthand	Lakewood	Royse City First
Antelope	Dallas Grace	Lannius	Sadler
Arapaho	Decatur First	Leonard	Saint Jo
Arbala	Denton First	Lewisville First	Saint Phillip's
Avery	Deport	Lone Oak	Salem-Kinser
Axe Memorial	DeSoto First	Lone Star	Saltillo
Becker	Duncanville First	Martin Memorial	Shady Grove
Belk	Ector	Marvin	Sherman First
Bellevue	Electra	McKinney First	Sherman Grace
Ben Franklin	Enloe	Mesquite St. Marks	Shooks Chapel
Beverly Drive	Era	Miller Grove	Sivell's Bend
Birthright	Faith	Mission	Southwood
Blanton Chapel	Fellowship	Montague	Stony
Blossom	Floral Heights	Morris Memorial	Sulphur Bluff
Blue Mound	Flower Mound	Mt. Calvary	Sulphur Springs First
Blue Ridge	Floyd	Mount Tabor-Sumner	Suncreek
Bogata	Forest Hill	Mount Vernon First	Sunset
Bonham Wesley	Forestburg	Mount Zion	Telephone
Boxelder	Forney	Mulberry	Terrell Warren Chapel
Bridgeport	Friberg-Cooper	New World	The Woods
Bryson	Friendship	Nocona	Tinney Chapel
Burkburnett	Gafford Chapel	Northaven	Tioga
Byers	Gainesville First	Northgate	Tira
Caddo Mills	Garvin	Oak Cliff	Tom Bean
Callisburg	God's Kingdom	Oak Haven	Trenton
Campbell	Good Shepherd	Oak Park	Tyler Street
Caney	Greenville Wesley	Old Saltillo	UM Church of the Disciple
Carrollton First	Grove Hill	Paris First	Umphress Road
Celeste	Hail	Pecan Gap	University Park
Chambersville	Harless Memorial	Perrin	Van Alstyne
Chapel Hill	Haven Chapel	Petrolia	Verona
Charleston	Heath	Pickton	Virginia Point
Chicota	Highland Park	Pilot Point	Westview
Chinn's Chapel	Holliday	Pine Forest	Wheatland
Clarksville McKenzie Mem	Honey Grove McKenzie	Pleasant Grove	White Rock
Clarksville St. Paul	Howe	Pleasant Mound-Urban Park	Whitewright
Cochran Chapel	Iowa Park	Pleasant Valley	Wichita Falls St. Mark's
Cockrell Hill	Irving First	Plymouth Park	Williams Chapel
College Mound	Jacksboro	Poetry	Wilson Chapel
Collinsville	Josephine	Ponder	Windom
Commerce First	Justin	Powderly First	Winnsboro First
Como	Kaufman	Price	Wolfe City First
Cooper	Kavanaugh	Quinlan First	Woodland
Cooper Creek	Kessler Park	Rhome
Copeville	Kingston	Rockwall First

Churches at 90-99.9% of apportionments thus far

Archer City	Duncanville Trinity	Krum First	Sachse First
Argyle	Glen Oaks	Mabank	Sanger
Camp Wisdom	Greenland Hills	Oak Grove Decatur	Trietsch Memorial
Corinth Faith	Henrietta	Preston Hollow	Wesley Korean
Creekwood	Holy Covenant	Princeton	Whaley
Denton Trinity	Kemp	Richardson First	Wichita Falls First

Young adults in Reclaim join together to share their faith and good works

How to get through Christmas after the death of a loved one: Grappling With Grief

By JULIE YARBROUGH
Special Contributor

The journey through grief is marked by both secular and sacred holidays. With the rapid succession of Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, November and December can be a prolonged season of painful remembrance for those who grieve. Even under the best circumstances, holidays are emotion-laden. Grief intensifies occasions that remind us of our loss.

Most mourners dread the holiday pressure to do, buy and experience that is urged upon us by the season. Dread often creeps into our hearts as we begin to imagine what the holiday season will be like after the death of our loved one. In the quiet, we ask, "How can there be celebration without the one I love?"

At the holiday season, we are painfully aware of the absence of our loved one. Perhaps a beloved father always carved the Thanksgiving turkey or a devoted wife and mother created holiday excitement for the family by decorating the house at Christmas. When we grieve at the holidays, we remember the past and yearn for the one whose presence brought joy to every celebration.

Consider these strategies to help yourself through the emotional strain and sadness of grief at the holiday season:

Put the day in perspective. Remember that the actual holiday is just one 24-hour day.

Know your limits. Determine how much or how little you want to do.

Plan. Make a plan for the holidays.

Take care of yourself. Consider having a "good enough" holiday.

Decide about traditions. Create new traditions or modify your old traditions.

Be realistic about family.

Gatherings may be difficult. When you grieve at the holidays, your family may want everything "back to normal."

North Texas Conference United Methodist Church Deuteronomy 31.6 You may be expected to be "over it." Yet your grief may make it difficult to participate fully in the festivities. When you grieve at the holidays, do the things that are special or important to you. Take time for yourself — time to reflect, to remember, to forget. You may expect others to understand what you are feeling, but you alone know the depth of your grief. God knows your heart as you grieve through the seasons of life: "I will be with you, I will not fail you or forsake you." (Joshua 1:5 NRSV).

Our journey through the valley of the shadow of death inevitably leads us to the manger to celebrate Christ.

The power of Christmas transcends death and grief in Emmanuel, God with us.

Julie Yarbrough, a member of Highland Park UMC in Dallas, is author of Inside the Broken Heart: Grief Understanding for Widows and Widowers and the upcoming small group program "Beyond the Broken Heart" (Abingdon Press, April 2012).