River rite reflects 'John the Baptist' style: San Juan UM Fellowship celebrates baptisms

Some might regard cancelling a Sunday worship service as a serious sin. That was not the case for San Juan UM Fellowship, Garland, when it decided to cancel the regular June 29 Sunday worship to travel to Dinosaur Valley, located near Glen Rose, about two hours from Axe Memorial UMC, where the fellowship gathers each week. "The purpose was not to delve into the ancient past, but to look to the future and celebrate the baptism of nine persons "John the Baptist" style," says pastor Rev. Javier...

Jazz, art, and drama festival at Northaven UMC, Dallas

Northaven UMC, Dallas, will host a festival of the performing and visual arts, Sept. 14-16, featuring the Freddie Jones Jazz Ensemble, a silent art auction, a book fair and a staged reading of "Jonah and God," a new one-act comedy by Dallas playwright Vicki Caroline Cheatwood. All performances will be held in the North Dallas church's dramatic circular sanctuary, completed in 2005, which features state-of-the-art acoustics. The event is free and open to the public. Donations to support the...

Family show set at First UMC, Plano

Join Mark Thompson, a performer with "for HIS kidz," at 6:00 p.m. Sept. 9, at First UMC, Plano. Thompson's high energy presentation for all ages is full of music, stories, puppets, comedy, and fun audience participation. Tickets are now available with a suggested donation of $5.00 per person with a $20.00 family maximum. Tickets are available by contacting Kathy Richmond, Minister with Children at 72.423.4506. First UMC, Plano, is located at 3160 E. Spring Creek Pkwy. at the intersection of...

Around the Conference

NTC Volunteers In Mission, announce a free "Disaster Recovery Team Leader Training," Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Covenant UMC, Carrollton. For more information, please contact Rev. Marji Bishir, 972-526-5000, 800-969-8201, or bishir@ntcumc.org. *** Lakewood UMC, Dallas, announces its "Fourth Annual Arts & Crafts Bazaar," Oct. 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Oct. 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call 972- 380-7349. ***NTC ArtSpirit, Dallas, and the Bishop...

Wellspring UMC, McKinney, has a 'Place to call Home'

BY DR. JOAN GRAY LABARR Editor Wellspring UMC, a new church start in northwest McKinney, has made another big step forward with the purchase of ten acres of land near Baker Elementary, a new elementary school where the congregation will soon be meeting. The land is located on CR 161 north of Hwy. 380, between Custer Road and Lake Forest. Plans are to develop 161, which is now a gravel road through the country, into a multi-land thoroughfare. At $60,000 per acre, the total purchase amounted...

St. Luke 'Community' UMC, Dallas, holds youth revival

BY MILSE FURTADO Communications Fellow Based on a song by R&B singer Omarion ("Ice Box"), St. Luke "Community" UMC, Dallas, Youth Revival theme was "J.C. Ice Box Tour --- Setting Hearts on Fire for the Things of God." The revival was Aug. 8-11 at Saint Luke "Community" Life Center. Planners labeled it very successful, with 140 youth registered for day activities and double that number for worship services. According to Rev. Bob Davis, St. Luke "Community" Youth Pastor, the theme was...

Trietsch Memorial UMC, Flower Mound - North Texans developing Mozambique leaders

BY REV. MARJI BISHIR NTC Associate Director For the last eight years, members of Triestch Memorial UMC, Flower Mound, have been supporting students at Africa University (AU), a UM related school in Zimbabwe, with scholarships. Marylin Hurlbut, Barb Williams and Joseph Moore spearheaded the efforts and found other individuals who would commit to fund scholarships for three young men in August 1999. The beneficiaries were Lawrence Manganhela, John Massochua, and Joaquim Muando. All three...

Dedication, grand opening set Sept. 9 for C.C. Young Center

Years of hard work and dreams will be realized Sept. 9 as C.C. Young Retirement Center hosts the dedication and grand opening of its state of the art Learning and Cultural Arts Center (LCAC). The Dedication Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Rufus C. "Buddy" Porter Auditorium of the new facility. Those wishing to attend the dedication are requested to call 214-841-2909. The public open house and tours are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. NTC Bishop Alfred L. Norris will lead the...

Oak Lawn UMC to celebrate 133rd anniversary, Sept.14-16

Oak Lawn UMC, Dallas, will host its first annual "Celebration Revival Weekend," Sept. 14–16. The event will feature oldfashioned, soul-stirring summer tent worship services and a variety of other activities. "We will have something special for everyone," says Rev. Derrick Wright, pastor of Oak Lawn UMC. "If you are looking to experience and celebrate the unconditional love of God, then "Celebration Revival Weekend" is the place to be." The event begins Sept 14 at 7:00 p.m. with an outdoor...

Ecumenical spirit of Taize community shines in weekly Garland service

Every Saturday evening, a small group of worshipers from different denominations gather around a table that is ringed by Greek icons and handmade crosses from Guatemala and El Salvador, and covered with candles. in a Taize worship service. In the dim light provided by the candles and stained glass windows, they share a time of prayer and contemplation in the manner of an ecumenical monastic community based in France, whose influence continues to spread around the world. "Contemplative forms...

Renewing Hope through Mission

Renewing Hope through Mission Hearts and Minds for Mission October 13 • 8:30 am – 4:00 pm First UMC, Richardson "Isaiah's Hope for the Nations"Dr. Rich Nelson, Professor of Old Testament "Wesleyan Witness in Mission"Dr. Rebekah Miles, Associate Professor of Ethics "Self-Care for Volunteers in Mission" Dr. Jeannie Stevenson-Moessner, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care "Renewing the Local Congregation through Mission"Dr. Robert Hunt, Director of Global Theological Education "New...

Around the Conference

UMCOR, Mississippi Annual Conference, is presenting a "Disaster Response Academy," Sept. 10-15 at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman, MS.The event includes two 3-day events, Training and Mission. Cost is $90 each. For more information, please call C.J. Caufield, 662-290-0636, cjcaufield@hotmail.com.***NTC Clergywomen have scheduled their next meeting, Sept. 13, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at First UMC, Richardson. Bring your own lunch. For more information, please call Rev.Margie Steele, 972-424-8500.***First...

Methodist Dallas Auxiliary Meeting

Methodist Dallas Medical Center (MDMC) Auxiliary announces its meeting, Sept. 6 at 10:00 a.m. in Hitt Auditorium. Parking is available in the Service Building parking lot. Church and UMW representatives are requested to register at 9:30 a.m. to register their attendance. The feature is Methodist Hospital's Palliative Care and Hospice RN, Nancy Grabb, and Mary Stewart-Hall. Devotion is by First UMC, Duncanville, and refreshments will follow the meeting. For more information, please call...

Disaster Recovery Team Leader Training

Disaster Recovery Team Leader Training Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. Holy Covenant UMC, Carrolton Covering: Budgeting Scheduling Packing Insurance Lessons Learned And more For more information, please call Rev. Marji Bishir 972-526-5000 or 800-969-8201, email, bishir@ntcumc.org.    ...

Irving 'Great Days of Service' carries on tradition

BY DR. JOAN GRAY LABARR Editor One of the first lessons of home ownership is that home and hearth come with the responsibility for constant upkeep. The demand is constant, the requirements twofold: do the work yourself or have the resources to hire it done. For a variety of reasons, and increasing age is a major one, homeowners are unable to keep up with timely repairs. Small problems become big ones, sometimes insurmountable issues that can endanger health and safety. Often the city...

Suburban, urban UM congregations invest in youth

The lives of over 35 inner-city youth, ages for 12 to 17yrs. old, were enriched by an investment from Ray and Susan Larson of First UMC, Coppell. The couple underwrote an innovative summer program, presented by Highland Hills UMC, Dallas, called "Operation Uplift," designed to expose inner city youth to business and entrepreneurial practices. The Larsons and Rev. Dennis Wilkinson, First UMC, Coppell, joined the young people at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on a field trip. After a tour,...

'Step out of the boat and follow Jesus' 2007 "women Water Walkers' conference, Sept. 21-22

First UMC, Rowlett, will present its 2007 "Women Water Walkers" Conference the weekend of Sept. 21-22 featuring author Carrie McDonnall. Retreat leaders explain that the reference to women walkers is grounded on the gospel demand to step out of the boat and follow Jesus. Theme for the conference is "A Jewel in His Crown: Living a Life Faithful to the Gospel of Christ." The theme is based on Rev. 2:10: "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." The...

Biggerstaff Prayer Garden

Biggerstaff Prayer Garden First UMC, Coppell, honors longtime minister Sunday, April 29, was a special day at First UMC, Coppell, as the congregation dedicated a new prayer garden in honor of former staff member Rev. Jo Biggerstaff. Pictured from left are, Rev. Jennifer Scott, Tracy Fisher, Rev. Biggerstaff, Rev. John Rosenburg, Wichita Falls District Superintendent. Rev. Susan Bryan, Rev. Dennis Wilkinson, Rev. Frank Rahm and Music Director Nathan Frank. Rev. John Rosenburg preached at...

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas Saturday, Sept. 29use dedicated volunteers to go Plano Super Bowl • 2521 Ave. K For more information, please callDarci Johnson 817-277-1148 x375 dajohnson@bbbsnt.orgTodd Bristow 972-423-9559 x382 tbristow@bbbsnt.org...

Perkins School of Children's Ministry 2007 theme- 'Social Justice for ALL God's children'

Perkins School of Children's Ministry is scheduled Sept. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on the SMU Dallas campus. Perkins and the NTC co-sponsor the school which focuses on equipping children's leaders and teachers. Theme for 2007 event is "Social Justice for ALL of God’s Children." The day will include numerous workshops divided into four time periods, 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., 12:50 to 1:45 p.m., 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., along with worship and the keynote address in Perkins...