From Bogata to Burkburnett...How does this happen?

BY RICHARD B. HEARNE NTC Board of Laity, Chair It was mid summer of 1958 when the reality finally sunk it. For over a year I had hoped that someone down in the Administration Building of the Dallas Independent School District would make the decision to move the attendance boundary line just a few blocks to the north so that I would attend the newly built South Oak Cliff High School. I was, as I considered it at the time, unfortunately in the attendance zone that would force me to W. H....

BIG CELEBRATION: Effie Caffee 108th birthday party

BIG CELEBRATION—Rev. Don Pellikan, pastor, First UMC, Burkburnett, congratulates member, Effie Caffee, on February 2, when the Naomi Fellowship hosted her 108th birthday party. She has been a member of the church since 1922.  ...

Around the Conference

Birth Emerson Jane Lyle, daughter of Christopher and Lindsay Lyle, and granddaughter of Rev. Katherine Glaze Lyle, Leave of Absence, was born Feb. 28, weighing 8 lbs, 4 ozs. and measuring 21.5 inches long. Position Available First UMC, Duncanville, is seeking a Children’s Minister. Persons interested may send a resume to Rev. Jim Bowden at revdrjimbowden@gmail.com....

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference I just finished reading a great book entitled, “Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable” by Patrick Lencioni. In the book, Lencioni states that teamwork is the most powerful tool one has to accomplish a goal—not strategy, not technology, not money. Teamwork is sometimes rare in the church, especially among the clergy and laity. We are embarking on a bold vision and mission for the Annual Conference that will involve...

Civil Rights leader shares insights on non-violence quest in Dallas visit

BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR Editor “How can United Methodists become more faithful if we do not insist that our neighbor is loved by God and consider the problem of violence in all of its facets, especially in the home and family?”  Rev. James Morris Lawson Legendary civil rights leader and United Methodist minister Rev. James Morris Lawson was in Dallas Jan. 30–Feb. 1 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro, N.C. lunch counter sit-ins, one of the key events...

Bishop Bledsoe announces new leadership appointment

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe has announced his intention to appoint Rev. Sheron Patterson, senior pastor of Highland Hills UMC, Dallas, as NTC Communications Officer. This leadership appointment will take place at the 2010 Annual Conference June 6–8 in Wichita Falls and will be effective as of July 1. Bishop Bledsoe indicated that Rev. Lisa Greenwood, originally announced as the appointee for the position, requested an extension ministry appointment and the bishop and cabinet honored the...

WillieBuild 2010 set for May: Reflecting on the impact of Willie Tichenor's life

Editor’s Note: This reflection by Robert Doviak, a sophomore at Biola University, La Mirada, CA, and a former member of the Highland Park youth group, highlights his experiences with the late Willie Tichenor as the time nears for the fourth annual Carpenters for Christ/Habitat for Humanity WillieBuild project, scheduled May 8–22 in West Dallas. BY ROBERT DOVIAK Highland Park UMC, Dallas If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love,...

Methodist Charlton Medical Center honors first African American to enter School of Nursing

The Pastoral Care Department at Methodist Charlton Medical Center recently concluded February Black History Month celebrations by honoring Helen G. Green, RN, MS, the fi rst African American to enter the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Dallas. After graduating from vocational nursing school in 1957, Green realized that her dream was to become a registered nurse, even though she knew she might not have that opportunity at that time because of the color of her skin. For seven years, she...

MorningSong, the worship band for Aldersgate UMC, Carrollton, raised $6,178 for Haiti

MorningSong, the worship band for Aldersgate UMC, Carrollton, raised $6,178 for Haiti earthquake relief at a Jan. 30 concert. The music included styles the band doesn’t typically play in worship, including classic rock, country, bluegrass and folk tunes. Pictured from left are band members: Julie Spaight, Eric Johnson, Syble Crandell, Amy Forbus, Jordan Seibert, Peter Robbins, Rik Moen and David Crandell....

Methodists March to DC for Immigration Reform

BY DAWN MCMULLAN Special Correspondent An estimated 12 million undocumented people live in the United States, with Texas having the second largest population of immigrants in the country. Many local United Methodists feel it’s time immigration reform come to the top of our country’s agenda and plan to be part of a march on Washington, D.C., to make their views known. On Sunday, March 21, in coordination with the Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference, tens of thousands of people...

CALLING ALL ARTISTS: 55 years and better! C. C. Young's 11th Annual 'Art is Ageless' Contest and Event

The Point, Center for Arts and Education, at C.C. Young will host its annual “Art is Ageless” exhibition for artists age 55 and older April 22–May 24 at the 4847 West Lawther Drive facility in Dallas’ White Rock Lake area. Artists are invited to submit drawings, paintings, fiber arts, photography, sculpture, mixed media, language arts and other expressions of art and letters. All submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. March 31. The contest and show are both free and open to...

Dallas Bethlehem Center Auxiliary Remembrance Program

March 25—10:00 am University Park UMC, Caldwell Room 4024 Caruth Blvd. at Preston Road, Dallas 75225 A Dallas-based actress will read “Personal Testimony”, the hilarious short story by Lynna Williams. A luncheon will follow the program. Please take this opportunity to honor or remember a special person with a donation to Dallas Bethlehem Center. Checks may be sent to Louise Bosco, 8429 Bocowood, Dallas, Tx 75228. Names of those being remembered or honored will appear on...

REACHING All Ages and Stages of Believers with POWERFUL Practices Designed to Build Passionate DISCIPLES in Your Church

All ages and stages of believers are invited to a workshop designed to build passionate disciples in the local church. The events, called “Creating Contagious Faith,” will be held in four different churches throughout the NTC. Revs. Debbie Lyons and Wendy Curran are providing leadership, and other facilitators include: Revs. Katherine Glaze-Lyle, Andy Lewis, Ben Marshall and Liz Moen. The seminar will help churches identify their basic church profi les to understand specifi c...

Bishop Bledsoe named 2010 Owen lecturer

The 2010 Owen Lenten Lectures at Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas, will feature Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe as guest speaker for the March 30–April 1 series entitled, “When Words Aren’t Enough.” All of the lectures will be at 12:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a luncheon in Watson Hall. The schedule includes: March 30, “The Woman with the Alabaster Jar”; March 31, “Humility: Washing the Feet of the Disciples”; and April 1, “Sacrifice: The Last...

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference The feeling of jetlag still lingers, but the memories of present-day miracles fl ood my mind and my soul. The difference that the Zoe Ministries Giving Hope program makes in the lives of orphans is amazing. Our team of twelve persons returned from Rwanda after nine wonderful days spent visiting children orphaned by genocide, HIV/AIDS and malaria. Many of the children were raising other children. Of the nine million plus population in Rwanda,...

Gifts continue for Haiti emergency relief: UMCOR gives update on role of volunteers

St. Luke “Community” UMC volunteers pulled up to the NTC Ministry Center on Feb. 25 with a big trailer filled with 540 Haiti Emergency Relief health kits for UMCOR. Helping unload the boxes are, from left, Bernard Cicero, George C. Green, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Marji Bishir, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries Sally Vonner, Michael Cleaver and Linda White. BY REV. MARJI BISHIR Assoc. Dir. Connectional Ministries The North Texas Conference...

'Body, Mind, Spirit' lecture includes special recognitions

BY JOHN A. LOVELACE Special Correspondent It wasn’t exactly handwriting on the wall, but the dozens of charts and graphs that Rice University sociologist Steve H. Murdock projected onto an oversize screen Feb. 17 in a Southern Methodist University auditorium contained what one honoree of the evening called “maybe scary” data. The two-hour event—reception followed by program —was the latest in the Body, Mind and Spirit lecture series sponsored by United...

Vietnam mission trip still has volunteer openings

The North Texas Conference Division of Local Pastors and Volunteers in Mission (VIM) are joining efforts with Living Faith UMC, Highland Village, to send three teams of volunteers to Vietnam June 17–July 1. Rev. Son To, Living Faith’s pastor, is the nephew of Revs. Ut and Karen Van To, who head the United Methodist Vietnam Initiative. The groups include: Teaching Team, made up of NTC clergy who will train church leaders and local pastors for ministry at Wesley Theological...

Around the Conference

NTC clergy and laypersons are invited to the annual Minister/Lay Golf Tournament April 27 at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch. The 27-hole tournament is sponsored by the Texas Ministers Golf Association. Please contact Don Dendy at 214-957-0544 or Dondendy@aol.com for more information. A registration form is available on www.ntcumc.org; select “What’s New” on the home page. Owenwood UMC, Dallas, invites guest talent to a March 19 Haiti Relief Gospel Concert,...

Home Communion Resources: Cokesbury to offer special presentation April 10

This is the third in a new monthly series of articles on resources and training available through the Dallas Cokesbury store. Cokesbury is the retail arm of the United Methodist Publishing House. BY KATIE SHOCKLEY Manager, Dallas Cokesbury Store The last time you received communion, did you notice who in your congregation was missing? Did you wonder when, how, or if someone who was missing might receive the sacrament? How do you feel when you miss an opportunity to participate in Holy...