First UMC Denton member Jon LeRoy and John, a guest, perform at First Meal, which provides food and fellowship on Sundays to those in need. 

 

Church members Don Oldham, Bunny Hodges and Beckah Maxwell-LeRoy serve pancakes. First Meal, begun in 2010, has grown from a monthly program to a weekly one shared with Faith UMC (Corinth), Denton Wesley Foundation and Trinity UMC (Denton).

 Photos by Jessica Wright

 

 

The School of Christian Mission is taking online registration for its weekday and weekend programs, providing studies and fellowship for women, men, teens and children. 

 

The weekday program, patterned on vacation Bible school, offers eight hours of class time in four different schedules Monday-Thursday, July 18-21, at First UMC Richardson. Child care is available. Go to www.ntcumc.org/pages/

detail/1834. 

 

The weekend cooperative mission runs Friday-Sunday, July 22-24, in a retreat-style gathering at Austin College in Sherman. Adults will take “The Journey” spiritual growth study and will get to select a second study. See www.ntcumc.org/pages/detail/1835.

 

 

 

The Rev. Annelda Crawford of Pleasant Mound-Urban Park UMC in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas received the Grove Award for Outstanding Pastor at a leadership luncheon at Eastfield College. The awards are presented annually to honor community leaders in Southeast Dallas. She was one of five nominees in her category and received the most votes from residents, businesses, organizations, City Council members and others.

 

 

Hamilton Park dinner theater to aid Bethlehem Center Hamilton Park UMC in Dallas will present the play Unconditional Love by Brandon Gordon, a benefit dinner theater for Dallas Bethlehem Center, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 23. 

 

 Dallas Bethlehem Center has provided early childhood programs to financially disadvantaged children for 65 years and is the only African American United Methodist Church-related institution in the North Texas Conference.

 

 Led by executive director Petrella Booker, Dallas Bethlehem Center serves a high-risk population with programs designed to help parents in developing social, emotional, language and academic skills in their children for a better chance to succeed in life. The center relies on grants and donations to fund its program. 

 

 Individual tickets for the play are $25, and tables are available at $150. Call the church at 972-235-4633 to reserve seats.