Mike Lightfoot, First UMC, Richardson, marathon runner

South Africa run dedicated to ‘something great’ BY MIKE LIGHTFOOT First UMC, Richardson Editor’s note: The following reflection was written by First UMC, Richardson, worship and music director Mike Lightfoot, who will be participating in a rigorous marathon in South Africa on May 24. Have you ever wanted to do something truly great? When I say great I mean something that is so big it seems almost impossible. And something that would change thousands of lives, now...

Trash & Treasure...Spring Fling

Library Giveaway Free! May 21, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm NTC Resource Center announces a “Trash and Treasure Spring Fling” May 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the NTC Ministry Center, 500 Maplelawn Drive in Plano. Books, VHS tapes, DVDs and curriculum materials are to be given away For more information, please call Rev. Liz Moen, 972-526-5000.  ...

Original hymn enriches 50th Anniversary Jubilee

BY PAUL CULP Chapel Hill UMC, Farmers Branch “In the Serenity Garden,” an original hymn written by Chapel Hill UMC member Barbara McConnell, was performed for the fist time on April 19 by Katy Seiley. The music and lyrics describe a walk in the church’s new prayer labyrinth, “Serenity Garden,” that is being completed in time for Chapel Hill’s 50th anniversary Jubilee celebration on July 12. The labyrinth area is on church property next to a newly...

2009 NTC Annual Conference to offer new opportunities

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt;"Times New Roman";} BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR Editor Expect some new and exciting scheduling changes and opportunities for dialogue as the North Texas Conference gathers for its 143rd session...

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference What do you do when facing what seems to be impossibilities in life? Most, if not all, of us have had to deal with some impossible situation where we thought there was no way out. Sometimes it’s called “being between a rock and a hard place.” Have you ever been between a rock and a hard place, not knowing which way to go, what to do? How do you face impossibilities in life? Impossibilities are those things and...

Argyle UMC move opens door to a new day

BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR Editor There was excitement in the air April 5 as Argyle UMC celebrated Palm Sunday 2009. As almost 700 members and guestsstreamed into the church’s new streamed into the church’s new building, theywere greeted by banners that read “All Things New – This Year Transform Everything.” After more than two years of planning and construction, the doors of the church’s new 18,012 sq. ft. building opened to begin a new day for the 115-year...

Argyle UMC commissions hymn for historic move

When Rev. John Thornburg, The Ministry of Congregational Singing, was commissioned to write a hymn for the opening of the new Argyle UMC building, he received some special challenges. One of these was to reference the fact that a distinctive feature of the old building was that it sat on the second highest  point in Denton County. “That led me to think of Jesus teaching on a hill, as he did in the Sermon on the Mount, and so I selected one prominent image from each of the...

Around the Conference

Northgate UMC, Irving, announces the “Bi-Annual Flea Market,” May 16, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call 972-252-8519 for further information. *** Fellowship of Local Pastors ans Associated Members announce a “gathering,” May 23, 10:00 a.m. at the NTC Ministry Center. For more information, please e-mail Maxie Moore, maxiemoore@sbcglobal.net. *** NTC Clergywomen announce a “brown bag lunch” meeting, May 28, 12:30 p.m. at First UMC, Richardson. For more...

Perkins symposium honors scholar

Attridge of Yale Divinity School on the occasion of his receiving the degree of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from Southern Methodist University during the May 2009 Commencement ceremonies. The symposium, on the theme “The Bible in American Public Life,” will be May 15 from 10:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m., in Perkins Chapel. It will feature brief presentations by four SMU faculty members who will address different aspects of that theme—Professor Mark Chancey, chair of the...

New building, activities expand scope of LTM

As United Methodists become increasingly interested and invested in spiritual development and formation, they find numerous opportunities to learn and grow in this very important dimension of the Christian life. One opportunity from which United Methodists and others in the Dallas area and beyond have benefitted is “Life in the Trinity Ministry,” or LTM. The ministry was co-founded in 1985 by Rev. Joseph (Joe) and Suzanne Stabile. Rev. Stabile is pastor of historic Cochran...

Northaven UMC, Dallas, offers interfaith theological series

Northaven UMC, Dallas is offering an interfaith theological series from May through September and culminating in a retreat in October. The series, “The Contemplative Life: Many Faiths-Shared Wisdom” provides the distilled wisdom of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and other major religions that converge in contemplative practice. Each presentation will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church.   Six outstanding local experts on the contemplative life from...

Lovelace receives Slater Award

BY BILL MATTHEWS Special Correspondent Deeeply respected religion journalist Mr. John Lovelace received the Norvell Slater Communications Award conferred by the Dallas Ft. Worth Chapter, Religion Communicators Council, in April, 2009.   Lovelace invested 45 years of “gainful employment” in the field of journalism, with much of his journalistic expertise used in or related to matters of faith. Lovelace, who has covered eight General Conferences of The United Methodist...

Former resident example of why MCH will receive honor

BY CARRIE ANDERSON Methodist Children’s Home  As a homeless 12-yearold living out of her family’s truck, Heather wanted nothing more than a place to call  home. After her mother passed away when Heather Reed was 11, her family lost their home in Houston, and her only sibling, an older brother, moved to a ranch near Waco. With nothing left for them in their hometown, Heather and her father moved to Waco.   A local church provided support for Heather’s family,...

Activities show new church moving boldly into future

 Compiled from material provided by Brenda Thomas, Community UMC, Dallas  Community UMC is making its presence known in the Dallas South District and the North Texas Conference. The new congregation formed by the merger of Lambuth and Crest- Moore-King UMCs, started out strong with a host of activities that witness to the new life of the church, which has its focus on a “brand new future,” to quote Rev. Zan Holmes, pastor emeritus of St. Luke “Community”...

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

  BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference   Well, after four months and a few days, we have finished our itineration of the six districts in the North Texas Conference. A special thanks to the district superintendents, the district lay leaders, and the many pastors, congregations, and institutions that enabled us to get a broader view of the great ministries taking place throughout the Conference. Leslie and I are eternally grateful for the wonderful hospitality we...

Around the Conference

First UMC, Grand Prairie, hosts a “Connections” Doobies/Elton Tribute Concert, May 2, 7:00 p.m. Love offeringwill be taken. For more information,please visit:www.connectionsband. net/page17page24/page24.html. *** Munger Place UMC, Dallas, announce a “Clothing Exchange,” May 2, at 5200 BryanSt., Dallas. Proceeds go toHistorical Building Preservationand Restoration Fund. *** Chapel Hill UMC, Dallas, is offering free a 10 ft. folding chair cart and ten 5 ft. round...

NTC to launch Rethink Church with May 6 event: Everyone invited to Oak Cliff UMC kickoff

The North Texas Conference will officially launch the new “Rethink Church” campaign with a grand sendoff at Oak Cliff UMC, Dallas, at 3:30 p.m. May 6, as United Methodists in cities across the United States join in a concerted effort to come out of our doors and reach out to people of all ages.  Everyone is invited to be part of the excitement that will showcase many of the ways that the conference has been innovative and bold in making a difference in the communities served...

Confirmation class shows hope for youth, church

Confirmation classes are signs of life and future ministry in United Methodist congregations. Community UMC, Dallas, made a stride toward that future with the presentation of its first confirmation class since the merger of Lambuth and Crest-Moore-King UMCs to create the new church.  Members of the class include: Donnie Ferrell, Jada Gibbs, Shatibra Gibbs, DeVon Kerney and Trey Young. These young people will continue their growth in Christian faith as members of the church’s first...

Bishop caps look/listen visits with Dallas South itineration

BY JOHN A. LOVELACE Special Correspondent   With at least 22 “stops” in fi ve days, Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe completed his Episcopal visits to the NTC’s six districts April 15-19 in Dallas South.   Only one stop might be classified as semi-episcopal, namely a Friday evening at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Otherwise it was show-us-tell-us time in churches and agencies for the bishop and his wife, Leslie, with Dallas South Superintendent Milton...

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference We began our itineration of the Dallas South District. This is the last district of our visits. The Dallas South District consists of urban, suburban, and a few rural churches in the southern end. It includes several large congregations, such as Highland Park, First Dallas, and St. Luke “Community” UMCs. There are some very small congregations as well. In order to serve the needs of the pastors and churches, the district...