'Offering Hope' workshop St. Andrew UMC, Plano

Dallas Northeast District Superintendent Rev. Pat Beghtel-Mahle and Dr. LeRoy Howe, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at Perkins School of Theology, SMU, will give the keynote addresses for the Nov. 11 “Offering Hope and Giving Comfort to Those who are Grieving” workshop at St. Andrew UMC, Plano. Rev. Beghtel-Mahle’s subject will be “How a Pastor Can Help a Congregation Heal after Tragedy Strikes” and Dr. Howe will speak on “Faith, Hope and Love...

...From Burkburnett to Bogata...What are you doing here?

BY RICHARD B. HEARNE NTC Board of Laity, Chair This past week I was honored, as the Conference Lay Leader, to be invited to participate in the Clergy Retreat at Tanglewood Conference Center at Lake Texoma. It was interesting that at a retreat where the focus was “The Power of Introduction” by Rev. Jim Ozier, “Creating a Culture of Radical Hospitality” by Ms. Fiona Macleod Butts of Southwest Airlines and “Anticipating the Needs of Others” by Jorge Luna of...

Cambodian Fellowship marks new milestone

BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR Editor It has only been six years since the UM Cambodian Fellowship purchased property on Cottonwood Street in Carrollton and converted a former residence into a home for the congregation.  Since that date the fellowship has continued to grow in numbers, strength and facilities. Excitement was high in 2002 as the congregation, led ing room into a small sanctuary space and other rooms into offices and classrooms. The fellowship soon outgrew its cramped quarters,...

Christmas ornaments project for 'Ike' families

Clergy spouses in the Texas Conference are collecting or creating holiday and tree ornaments for families that lost their homes to Hurricane Ike. Jill Krone, who initiated the project, thought of the idea as she remembered what is was like when her family’s home in the Chicago area flooded years ago. “One of the more emotionally difficult times was looking the few months ahead to Christmas, now that our tree and our ornaments, many of which were handed down through the family...

Couple 'buy' home for UMMen

A white sheet of plastic covered the side of a one-story building on famed Music Row in Nashville. During a Sept. 24 dedication service, the plastic was pulled down to reveal a sign saying “Ed and Gwen Cole Center ––The General Commission on United Methodist Men.” South Georgia Area Bishop James King, president of the commission, presided over the 30-minute service which included the burning of a $600,000 mortgage. The event was largely the result of a $500,000 gift...

Debt-free for first time: Plymouth Park UMC, Irving, looks to future

BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR Editor On Sept. 28 Plymouth Park UMC, Irving, celebrated a milestone. The dedication of the recently remodeled sanctuary marked the first time in the church’s 52-year history that it does not have a debt. Plymouth Park UMC recently paid off an $800,000 debt, two years after the sanctuary was renovated for the 50th anniversary celebration. The sanctuary now seats 650, with handicap accessible places for wheelchairs and a fully-handicap accessible chancel. A new...

Labyrinth Theatre presents 'Christmas Carol'

The Labyrinth Theatre, Richardson’s professional regional theatre housed at Arapaho UMC, will present “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” Nov. 20 thru Dec. 13, as its Christmas production for 2008. The play, based on Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol,” tells the story from the perspective of Scrooge’s dead partner, who has been challenged with carrying the “chains he forged in life” forever, or helping Scrooge see the error of...

Lovers Lane UMC to host singles' seminar, dance

 The Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas, Singles Ministry is hosting a Nov. 1 city-wide event that offers single adults an opportunity to grow personally while dancing the night away. Dr. Terry Parsons, a UM clergyperson, psychologist and author of “The Intimacy Jungle: How You Can Survive and Thrive in a Lasting Marriage,” will begin the experience with a seminar on intimacy and relationship from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Asbury Hall. The dance will be from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in...

Pilot class launches Spanish immersion

BY JOHN A. LOVELACE Special Correspondent Two years from now, a conversation like the following may be commonplace in at least one in five North Texas United Methodist churches: Hola! Hola! Como estas usted? Muy bien, gracias! Como te llama? Me llama Maria. (See its English translation at end of this article.) The one-in-five goal comes from a resolution adopted by the 2008 Annual Conference highly recommending that “by 2010, 20 percent of the United Methodist clergy leadership...

Rev. Perry Crenshaw preaches for Lambuth UMC ‘Ushers Day’

BY BRENDA THOMAS Lambuth UMC, Dallas Lambuth UMC, Dallas, celebrated its annual Ushers’ Day on Sept. 14, as Senior Ushers, under the direction of president Catherine Bell, took the day off, and a young family duo, Michelle and R.D. Young II, served as ushers for a day. Rev. Perry Crenshaw, who is appointed to start a new church in the Dallas South District, was preacher for the morning. He explained that the new congregation is called “New Beginning Fellowship Church.” He...

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference What’s up with all this accountability stuff?” That was the question a local pastor asked me a few weeks ago. From the tone of his voice I knew he was not comfortable with the word. “Accountability” stems from the Latin word accomptare,  which means “to give an account for something.” In essence, as Christians we all are accountable to God for the things of God. The scriptures are full of stories...

Around the Conference

Beverly Drive UMC, Wichita Falls, announces its “50th Homecoming,” Nov. 1, 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Refreshments will follow at the gym. For more information, please e-mail Rev. Linda Marcum: beverlydrive@netzero.net. *** C.C. Young Retirement Center, The Point Center for Arts and Education, Dallas, announces a free “Broadway” concert by ”The Irving Corale” Nov. 2, 3:00 p.m. For more information, please call 214- 841-2831. Sorrow Norris...