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Electronic magazine of First United Methodist Church in Grapevine, TX
Citation preview
CONNECT
www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org
facebook.com/fumcgrapevine
@grapevinefumc
pinterest.com/fumcgrapevine
youtube.com/FUMCG
firstmethodistgrapevine.org/truthcast
26
8
16
The Church at Work e-zine (electronic magazine) is designed to give you a glimpse into the stories being lived out through the ministries of First United Methodist Church Grapevine. Lives are being touched and changed
forever, and we want you to hear the story.
4 An Unlikely Partnership
8 Becoming a Neighbor
12 The Missing LINK
16 La Fuenta de Vida
22 A Heart for Latvia
26 Feed Our Kids
30 The Urge to Give
32 Upcoming Events
34 Healthy Living / Healthy Giving
4
If you have feedback about the e-zine or a story to tell, please contact:
Dr. Cindy [email protected], 817-481-2559 x222
or Melissia Mason
[email protected], 817-481-2559 x109
12
22
30
The Church at Work || 3
One was retired from IBM, the other was a senior in high school. It might appear to be
an unlikely partnership, but when two people have the same passion and vision, age
differential is not a factor.
The AIDS Orphans project was formed in 2008 by Donna Chabot and Rachel Davis
after they were brought together by former pastor Ken Diehm. Chabot had traveled
to Kenya with Diehm and other church members in the summer of 2008 in the church’s
second visit to the country after the initial trip in 2007. Diehm had asked the team
members to pray about an area in Kenya in which they would commit to serve. Chabot
By Joni Lehmann
An Unlikely Partnership
4 || The Church at Work
recognized that due to her love of children
and years of teaching youth Sunday
School, this was the area in which she
was needed.
“It’s the way my life has evolved,” said
Chabot. “After visiting Kenya, I felt there
was no hope for the children without
education and their basic needs being
met.”
Davis also had a calling for working
with underprivileged children after
seeing a commercial for World Vision,
according to Chabot. Rather than bring
an outside organization into the church, it
was decided that the new partners would
start their own.
“It was the perfect pairing of two people
aged 60 and 17,” said Chabot. “We were
a dynamic duo and it was an exciting
time.”
Eventually, Rachel’s twin sister Rebecca
also joined the team and the sisters
worked with the project until they
graduated from high school and left for
college.
It took the group four months from July
to November of 2008 to get the grass
roots effort off the ground. The names of
the first 80 orphans were hand-written on
index cards with the goal of having each
of them sponsored by Christmas, which
was accomplished. The number then grew
to 120 and was up to 220 by 2011.
Sponsors agree to a three-year
commitment of providing $20 per month.
What seems like a small amount to most
Americans is a life-saver for the AIDS
orphans, providing basic needs from food
to medical expenses to school uniforms.
All of the AIDs orphans have some type
of shelter, although for many it is in a hut
without electricity. Public education is free
in Kenya, but all children are required
to wear a uniform to attend. Without
sponsorship funds providing uniforms,
many children miss out on this basic
opportunity for an education.
The AIDs orphans are coordinated in
Kenya through the KAAGA Synod, a
branch of the Methodist church. Sponsors
are encouraged to write letters to their
orphans, which are delivered each time
a church team travels to Kenya in what is
designated as “AIDs Orphan Day.” Letters
can also be distributed through the Synod.
Our sponsors have seen great
improvements and changes in their
children over time. A young man named
Nicholas is Chabot’s sponsored orphan.
She began sponsoring him in 2008 when,
at the age of 19, he started third grade.
The Church at Work || 5
Nicholas is now 25 and hopes to graduate
high school this year and then plans to
attend mechanical training school.
Melissia Mason, who serves as FUMC
Communications Director, adopted a little
girl named Mercy when she was six. It is
remarkable to see the progression Mercy
has made as she’s evolved into a beautiful
young woman. Mason has also noticed
a significant difference in the letters she
has received from Mercy over the years,
specifically the educational growth she has
made from 2012-14. The ultimate goal is for
each child to graduate.
There are many success stories like
Nicholas and Mercy, but some have
also ended in tragedy. According to
Chabot, “It is the successes which keep us
going.”
After coordinating AIDs Orphans for the
first five years, Chabot has stepped back
this year. Trudy Hughes, who worked
with Chabot after the Davis sisters left for
college, has taken on responsibility for
the program and has additional orphans
that need to be sponsored. The children
range from age 3 to 17 and sponsors can
designate their preference for a male or
female.
Although not as involved as she once was,
the program is still close to Chabot’s heart.
“It was my dream. It’s nice to know I have
this person across the world that I pray for
and he prays for me.” W
If you would like to sponsor one of
the available AIDS orphans, contact
Trudy at [email protected] or 817-
481-2559 x150.
Left: Nicholas in 2008
Below: Nicholas in 2014
6 || The Church at Work
Joni Lehmann has been a member of FUMC Grapevine since 1999. She enjoys participating in Kenda’s Wednesday evening bible study, Suddenly Single and the Campus Angels ministry. She has served as a writer for the church e-zine for the past year. Joni works as the Associate Director of Communications for the Big 12 Conference.
Above: Mercy over the years...
Right: What a difference a couple of years of education makes! Mercy’s simple letter from 2012, compared to her
“novella” of 2014...
Below: AIDS Orphan Celebra-tion Day in July 2014...
The Church at Work || 7
“I bring my daughter here because it’s a safe environment, and because she
loves it so much that I have to drag her away each day.”
How can we get to a place where parents have to drag their kids away from the
‘police station’ because they love it so much? Safety, trust, change. That’s the
formula for becoming a neighbor to the neighborhood. Safety, trust, change. That’s
the formula that the Community Outreach Center has followed on Mustang Drive:
Create a place that is safe for everyone, learn to trust and to be trusted in the
community, and watch profound changes occur.
In 2009 the Grapevine Police Department and the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
entered into a collaborative partnership to open a Community Outreach Center on
Mustang Drive in order to serve the needs of a marginalized community. The results
have been profound: a 51.6% decrease in crime since the center was created.
So, to what does the center owe its success? “Love does no harm to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). In short, the center has
Becoming a Neighbor to the NeighborhoodGrapevine Community Outreach Center
By Colby Mowery
8 || The Church at Work
The Church at Work || 9
become a trusted and cherished centerpiece
of the neighborhood, affectionately referred
to as “la policía” by the majority of the
community.
When I think of ways that the
outreach center embodies a good neighbor,
I think of Raquel. Raquel first stepped into
the outreach center nearly two years ago,
mom and dad on either side of her, and
wide eyed. She had been caught at school
with alcohol, and had not completed the
community service hours assigned to her.
Now she only had a few days to finish the
hours before the punishment became more
severe. Her mother and father had the
confused look of two weathered parents.
How could their daughter do this when they
had worked so hard to provide for her and
give her a better life in the United States?
We decided that we could find a
project for Raquel – picking up trash
and cleaning the computer lab at the
center. Raquel’s father brought her to
the center and called every day for two
weeks to make sure that she was doing
the service assigned to her. At the end
of her service hours, Raquel asked me if
she could continue to come to the center
and help out, as she enjoyed some of the
interactions with the kids.
Raquel continued to come to the center 3
to 4 days a week, and eventually became
a tutor in the recently-formed after-school
program. Each week, we noticed that
Raquel participated more and more,
and even began to encourage other kids
in their studies and with their problems
at home or school. As Raquel began to
spend more and more time encouraging
others, more and more girls began to
10 || The Church at Work
Colby Mowery and his wife MJ have been members of FUMC Grapevine since 2013. They enjoy attending the bilingual service and being involved in the community on Mustang Dr. where Colby works as the coordinator for the Community Outreach Center. In his spare time, Colby enjoys soccer, running and fishing.
seek her out as a role model. Eventually,
Raquel began to compete in beauty
contests and to shadow reporters to learn
how to conduct interviews. This led Raquel
to realize that she had the potential and
the position to talk with young girls about
self-image and to affirm their self-worth.
Raquel used the platform of the after-
school program to positively encourage
young girls and help them find their niche,
just as she had found hers in helping
others.
Raquel’s story is just one of the many
stories about lives being changed and
people being encouraged through
the Community Outreach Center. The
outreach center has worked to bring
physical and emotional security to the
neighborhood, just as a trustworthy
neighbor whose door is always open,
and whose ear is always attentive. The
outreach center is a place that sends a
message of belonging: you are welcome
here... all are welcome here. Trust then
flows out of this security.
But trust is a two-way street: it is only
given inasmuch as it is reciprocated.
The center has become a neighbor
because it also depends upon and
trusts in the community. This mutual
trust and confidence can lead to great
changes, and even transformation on
both a personal and neighborhood level.
So, what kind of a neighbor are you
becoming? W
The Church at Work || 11
LINK is the “Missing Link”
By Carolyn Ann Walgren
12 || The Church at Work
What kinds of social interaction and
fellowship opportunities are available
outside the home when special needs
children become adults and no longer
have those opportunities through school?
Apparently, there are very few.
FUMCG member Joyce King wants to
change that. On Tuesday, September 9,
Link held its first gathering.
There was a craft table, a
small bowling game, cookies
made by some wonderful
United Methodist Women
(UMW), lemonade and water,
and great music by the band
Mariachi Allende. Several
adult and youth volunteers
were there, with warm hearts
and smiles, ready to socialize.
Link appears to be the “missing link”
for adults with physical or mental
disabilities. The idea for this new ministry
arose out of Joyce’s coordination and
volunteer work through our Helping Hands
ministry and at the Access-Life Expo. As
the foundation of the Helping Hands
ministry is to allow all of God’s children to
“come to me” as stated in Matthew 19:14,
Joyce recently realized that adults were
in need of a loving and nurturing social
environment.
“After volunteering at the Access-Life Expo
for the last couple of years, I realized there
was a need for avenues for fellowship for
adults, ages 18 to 80. There
is nothing for them beyond
high school and subsequently,
isolation is a big problem,”
Joyce said.
Further, she expressed, “I’ll
see parents in the grocery
store with adult children with
disabilities and realize they
need social interaction in a
place just for them.” This realization was
confirmed by a very conversant adult child
and his parents who attended Link’s first
event.
“I don’t have a lot of social interaction,”
explained 43-year-old Andy Morrison. “I
work at the Dallas Public Library and at
The Church at Work || 13
the George Bush Presidential Library. But
most of the people I’m around are normal.
They don’t always know what to think of
me.”
“What is normal?” I asked.
“Neuro-normal,” Andy explained. “That’s
a term doctors use to describe people who
don’t have neurological disabilities or
deficiencies.”
H is mom explained that Andy has
Asperger’s. At the Link event, she
said, “This is nice, especially for parents,
to bring their adult children somewhere
that no one will judge their actions. Since
he was small, I knew the only place
I would get help for him would be in
churches.“
When I asked Andy what he would like
to see Link provide in the way of social
interactions and fellowship, he both
wittingly and seriously replied, “That’s
like asking someone, who has only had
bread and water their entire life, what
they would now like to eat and give them
endless options.”
“Good point,” I said with a smile. Some
of the ideas are bowling, movies, card
and board games, art classes, BINGO,
or just dinner together. Simply, anything
14 || The Church at Work
low-cost and tailored to disabled adults
and their needs for fellowship and social
interaction.
When needs have arisen over the years,
FUMCG’s Helping Hands has reached out
to meet those needs with the pairing of a
“buddy” for children’s Sunday School and
Vacation Bible School, as well as a monthly
respite night called “Bryan’s Buddies.”
Link is an effort to branch out further to
meet the needs of adults. Joyce’s hope is
that Link could expand and include other
churches in order to reach more people.
“It would be wonderful to be able to have
a social event once per quarter and rotate
churches,” she explained. It is also obvious
that other ministries within FUMCG would
offer assistance as well, just as UMW
displayed in making cookies.
Link would like to hold its next event in
January or February, and hopes the word
spreads so many more of God’s extra-
special (adult) children will come!
If you can help link Joyce to ways to reach
out to more guests or if you would like to
be a part of this wonderful ministry, contact
Joyce King at [email protected] or the
church at 817-481-2559.
Just as Andy’s mom recounted to Andy and
his dad as they were leaving the Family
Life Center that night, “This is a good
program!” W
Carolyn Ann Walgren and her family have been members of FUMC Grapevine since 2007. She and her husband Mark have two daughters, Ellen and Laura. Carolyn Ann has been very active in local outreach ministries like Be Our Guest and is the leader of the CONNECT Ministry, which helps GCISD students.
The Church at Work || 15
Although I’ll be sharing about the ministries in our Church, I believe it is important to give some background information, which will help us to have a complete picture...
T he Lord knows that we were praying for help with our projects in the Church. I ventured
to notify our brother in Christ Ray Zirkel, who was my teacher in Seminary at that time.
Some months later (late 2009), brother Ray called to tell me that a church in Texas wanted to
come here to establish missionary work in our country. He advised us that they were coming
to “explore,” to define which part of the country the Holy Spirit was guiding them to.
By Pastor Roberto Barrantes
“La Fuente de Vida” Iglesia Evangélica MetodistaLas Juntas, Costa Rica
We asked Pastor Roberto Barrantes to share his thoughts about our Costa Rica
Village of Las Juntas. The following is a translation from his original Spanish.
16 || The Church at Work
T rue to his promise, brother Ray and
the group arrived on the evening
of Saturday, February 24, 2010. Las
Juntas was the last leg of a tour through
several parts of the country. The next
day (Sunday, February 25) we met for
the first time at breakfast. With brother
Ray translating, pastor Ken Diehm told
me about the vision God had given him
and FUMCG. He asked us about our
vision and projects for the Church and the
Community.
Personally I was excited, as I realized
how the Holy Spirit was complementing
both visions of love to God and love of
neighbor. In his words, they said that
they wanted to work together with the
church where the Lord would lead, “...and
in addition, help to strengthen the local
Church while the Methodist Church would
serve as a channel of blessings for the
community, and the congregation would
be like a bridge to help.”
After breakfast, the group attended our
Sunday service and then invited my
family and I to lunch. We shared more,
prayed and said our good-byes.
S ome months passed, and on August
12, 2010, I received a copy of an
e-mail, sent by sister Debbie Price to
brother Ray Zirkel. It read, in part:
“First of all a very delayed thank you for everything you did for us in Costa Rica. How you managed to show us so much of Costa Rica in such a short period of time, is still mind boggling to me. You really gave us a picture of how the church is working in Costa Rica, and gave us a lot to think about.
I think that Ken has already mentioned to you that we are interested in pursuing a long-term relationship with Roberto and
The Church at Work || 17
his church in Juntas…
…We want to provide the things that they cannot provide for themselves, and help them live out their vision for their church and community, not impose our own. They are such a vibrant congregation, and we were so impressed with their spirit. We all fell in love with the church and its people….”
By God’s Divine Providence, the Lord
had given FUMCG a vision to adopt
our congregation and community as a
mission in Latin America. I have no doubt
that the Holy Spirit not only guided you
toward us, but joined our two visions: that
the Methodist Church would be a channel
of blessing for the community and that
the congregation would be a bridge to
help families.
I n the midst of this interaction, with
the Church (love of God) and with the
community (love of neighbor) the Holy
Spirit guided our churches, training us
and transforming our own lives. I have
seen how the Holy Spirit has worked
in many of us, but also in many of the
missionaries (adults and youth), who
have come to Las Juntas.
This was the vision that Pastor Ken Diehm
shared that Sunday morning, February 25,
2010. That vision has come to pass, by the
faithfulness of the Lord, to Him be all honor
and glory.
We also glorify the Lord because through
our Methodist connection, the various
ministries of our local church in Las Juntas
have been developed. We’d like to share
about some of these ministries:
MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICEEvery 15 days this Ministry collects food
from the members of the congregation for
delivery to other families even more needy
than themselves. This ministry performs
activities such as meal preparation and
the sale of used clothes. With the resources
obtained (always insufficient), the ministry
18 || The Church at Work
has helped people who don’t have the
money to attend medical appointments,
purchase eyeglasses and purchase
food. The ministry provides financial
support to families that are going through
difficult times, support in the education
of their children and the payment of
basic services. It has helped families of
the church as well as those outside the
church.
MINISTRY OF WOMENIn spite of the fact that the majority of
our church members are women alone
and heads of their own households,
the Ministry of Women raises funds for
its annual project “Week for Jesus” to
support families of the communities
(money from the Church also support
this project). In addition, the Ministry of
Women cooks food for Mission Groups,
and in turn, donates funds assist those
attending activities of the Conference (the
Church also supports transportation) or
whatever the church needs.
METHODIST YOUTH MINISTRYThe Youth Ministry is one of the ministries
with the least economic capacity, since
young people are studying and do not
yet work. They raise funds to be able to
participate in various activities appropriate
to their age, such as camps and activities
of spiritual formation. (The Church also
supports the payment for transportation).
MINISTRY OF DISCIPLESHIP, EVANGELISM AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAs part of the Annual Work Program
adopted at the end of last year 2013,
training was provided to the facilitators
or Sunday school teachers to work with
children. They were divided into groups
according to age segments and the Church
has purchased training materials for
teachers, appropriate for each segment
of age (4 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 17
The Church at Work || 19
years of age). Young people over the age
of 18 years do not have space for Christian
formation on Sundays, so they gather
on Saturdays in the afternoon with their
leader. Children under the age of 4 also
lack space for their class, and so they
remain in the sanctuary on Sundays.
Throughout the year, there are courses
of Christian education and courses
for baptism. By means of the program
“Seminar in Your Church,” members have
been taught subjects such as homiletics,
hermeneutics, systematic theology 1 and
systematic theology 2.
If the Lord allows for this, on September
28, along with other local chruches, for the
first time we are going to have the Month
of the Bible, with evangelistic sermons on
the Word of God.
MINISTRY OF SMALL GROUPSWe have established some small groups in
homes, but it has been difficult to sustain
them in time. To each group, the church
gives a manual of Bible study, which the
members copy. They meet once a week
for a lesson. At other times they have had
activities of community outreach.
MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTSThe Church takes strategic efforts toward
the goal of an integral development of
character, emotion, creativity, spirituality,
sociability and corporality for each child.
This Ministry is in charge of the Group
of Guides and Scouts N°73. It has been
difficult to sustain and develop it because
of a lack of volunteers committed to the
time required, and a lack of resources to
implement the methodology and equipment
needed. However the Group to participates
in some activities to the extent they are
able. There is also work to open bridges
20 || The Church at Work
Pastor Roberto Barrantes used to be a fireman in Las Juntas. He retired, then answered the call to ministry and now serves as Pastor of La Fuente de Vida. He attends seminary in San José. He and his wife Anna have five children, all of whom are married except the youngest, Bitia, who attends the University of Costa Rica. All of his sons have also served as firemen.
of evangelization and discipleship,
both inside the group and outside in the
community.
MINISTRY OF WORSHIP, MUSIC AND ARTSThis is one of the ministries which this year
has been developing in the best way. At this
time the band (Ministerio Hava = “Fuente
de Vida” in Hebrew) is recording CD’s
and then plan to sell them in order to raise
funds to enable them to sustain their group
financially.
Also the group of Performing Arts (Ministry
“Messengers of Praise”) is very active,
practicing and doing presentations in
special activities, within and outside of the
local Church. W
The Church at Work || 21
L atvia, our newest international
village, has held a place in my heart
for over five years. My family was introduced
to Latvia through the connection that our
previous church had with a Methodist
Church there. The excitement I possess
for the involvement of FUMC Grapevine in
Latvia is beyond words!
Members of FUMC Grapevine took our
first exploratory trip in September of 2013.
While we were there, our church learned
about and visited the thirteen Methodist
congregations as well as the Apple Festival,
held in Wesley Camp, and the Hope Center,
a home for young mothers. When we
returned, many thoughtful discussions were
held. The outcome was the introduction of
Latvia as our third international village.
W e embarked on our second trip
in July of 2014 with a team of ten
willing servants of God. The first three days
were spent culturally indulging ourselves
By Madeline Payne
A Heart for Latvia
22 || The Church at Work
with the history of Latvia through visiting
places such as the Occupation Museum, the
Open Air Museum, the KGB Building and
the Jewish Memorial. Upon that Monday,
our team divided into two groups, one group
going to volunteer at Wesley Camp and
the other going to be introduced to other
churches, the Hope Center, and the After
School Program.
M y desire to return to Wesley Camp
was fulfilled Monday afternoon
upon our arrival there. My brother, Conner,
and I had been to the camp on three
previous occasions and therefore knew
what to expect. However, for Isabella Brown
and Emily Hall, the other two youth that
accompanied the team to Latvia, this was
not the case.
Ana, the camp director, asked us if we
would like to be shepherds (i.e. counselors),
an offer we all eagerly accepted. We were
paired with another Latvian Shepherd
and assigned a group of kids for the week.
Though doubts about being incapable of
The Church at Work || 23
the responsibilities of a shepherd entered
the minds of Isabella and Emily, they
continued with the courage of God. By the
end of the week, they both fervently agreed
that being a shepherd was the best decision
they had made.
I sabella explains it in this way: “I was
a bit unsure at first about being a
shepherd as I wasn’t sure how much of a
help I would be with the language barrier
and all. However, by the second day I
was so close with my group that I couldn’t
imagine not being a shepherd. At the end of
the week I was reflecting on everything that
had happened while talking with my mom
and she reminded me of one of my favorite
quotes that states ‘God doesn’t choose
the qualified, He qualifies the chosen.’ I
was really able to relate to this because I
realized that I wasn’t qualified to be a
shepherd but God had chosen to qualify
me for the task.”
G od blessed me with a sweet
group of girls, ages ten to twelve.
Throughout the week, my girls taught me
Latvian and I assisted them in English,
though they could speak the language
extremely well.
We also bonded during activities such
as trips to the beach, campfires and
devotional time. In any free time we had,
the girls wanted me to teach them how
to play the ukulele, which I had brought
over and learned only a few weeks
prior. To this day, it amazes me how
relationships can form in such a short
amount of time. By the end of the week, I
24 || The Church at Work
had six new little sisters.
W hile at the camp, we were
involved in many arts and
crafts. The biggest hit was the yellow
t-shirts (which YOU, church, helped
provide) with the color-your-own Joseph
on the back. Though the kids immensely
enjoyed coloring their own camp t-shirts,
they had a marvelous time signing each
other’s shirts as well.
The picnic tables that our church funded
were a huge success. Not only were we
able to build and provide two brand-new
wooden benches that convert into a table,
but we also provided the camp with the
layout and supplies list for future teams
to build the picnic tables. Furthermore, it
was a fantastic learning experience for the
boys at the camp as they learned how to use
power tools while helping build the tables.
I look forward to return trips as the
relationship between our church and
Latvia continues to grow. W
Madeline Payne and her family have been members of FUMC Grapevine since 2012. Madeline is a freshman at Grapevine Faith High School, and is an avid tennis player. Her parents are Richard and Julie Payne, who serve as the lay leaders of the Latvia Village. Madeline and her brother, Conner, are active in youth and missions. She has served on the Middle School Mission Trip, Feed Our Kids and multiple Latvia teams.
A Special Note about our Latvia Village...
The Latvia Village Team has chosen
Riga First Church
as our first partner in ministry there.
The Church at Work || 25
By Pastor Armando Alvaradowith personal testimony by Maria Medina
Feed Our Kids Grapevine Village 2014
26 || The Church at Work
“According to the book of Acts, the Christian community in Jerusalem not only shared
communion through the Eucharist but also shared their meals and property as needed
(Acts 2:44-47). Pentecost formed a community that broke through not just the barriers
of language and culture but also the barriers of wealth and social class. Whether it is
through sharing our bread in communion or our struggles and hopes in life, Christ
calls us to form a community not through the imposition of a single standard, but by
sharing what we have and who we are with others.” (Luis G. Pedraja)
This summer was an amazing time
to see how we as a community of
faith shared our leadership and gave up
our authority, our power, to decide what
should be accomplished during Feed
Our Kids at the GRACE site. As a church
who believes in the Holy Spirit and trust
that God is leading us to reach out into
the community, we decided to encourage
families from the Grapevine Village to
plan and organize the four weeks of
Feed Our Kids. What an experience and
blessing that was!
Several ladies from the Shady Oaks
Mobile Park (Grapevine Village)
gathered one day and discussed what
types of food the children would like.
This is where we as a church realized
that when we encourage others to lead
and invite people to be part of our
community of faith, trust becomes a factor
and sometimes an issue. Our ability to
relinquish our control and give people the
opportunity to lead is truly the result of
radical hospitality.
Maria Medina is a member of our
church who lives in the community
which we call the Grapevine Village. She
is a mom of a teenage son, who is a junior
at Colleyville Heritage High School. Her
husband is a construction worker and she
takes care of children and makes some of
the best tamales in North Texas. I asked
her about her experience as a leader this
summer with Feed Our Kids. Here’s what
Maria has to say...
The Church at Work || 27
Each morning I would wake up and
pray to God, asking that today our
service to the community through Feed
Our Kids would go as planned. Praise
God it went well.
Planning for the four weeks and
discussing the type of foods we would
serve, we asked ourselves what the
children would like, only because we
did not want to buy and serve lunches
that would go to waste. As a leader and
mom, I have seen how much money has
gone to waste because the children do
not eat the type of food served.
My experience of working with others
created a whole new way of thinking. I
felt like we are part of something much
bigger. I learned from other people
how to do things in different ways
and even though I don’t know much
English, (enough to understand, but
not able to respond) it was as if I knew
28 || The Church at Work
the language because everything went
well.
The reason why I do this is because
in my heart I have a need to help
others. I don’t have lots of money,
but I have time, energy and a willing
heart for God. Some people from the
neighborhood would try to discourage
me and say, “You don’t know what
you’re doing,” but by the Grace of God
everything went well.
It was an honor to serve as the leader
for Feed Our Kids this summer. If
I could change anything, I would
try to encourage others from the
neighborhood to go to church, to serve
and be part of the community.
Maria Medina and her family have attended FUMC Grapevine since 2009. She and her husband Jaime have a son, Jonathan, who has attended several youth mission trips. Maria has been involved with Las Posadas, making tamales for activities and she participates in the Wednesday evening Spanish Bible Study.
Philippians 2:1-4 says “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his
love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means
anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with
each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front;
don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.
Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to
lend a helping hand. (THE MESSAGE)The Church at Work || 29
What makes us want to sacrificially share with other people or causes?
When we see a person in need there is a tug within, encouraging us to help.
What is the source of this urge?
A friend who has a good sense of humor told this about herself. She was in
Dallas and saw a man holding a sign asking for money. She said,” I don’t
know why, but I felt sorry for him and held out a $20 bill.”
She knew that we are advised not to encourage such begging for a number of
reasons, including that it is illegal. Also, you have no idea how the money you give
them will be used.
By Rev. Melburn Sibley
The Urge to Give
30 || The Church at Work
Laughing at herself, she said he probably
told his buddies that if they saw a fat lady
in a red Buick, she is easy pickings!
What makes us spontaneously step out to
meet a need? Could it be the stirring of the
Spirit of God who lives in us?
We respond to the urgings
within because we have been
so richly blessed by God and
we know we have the resources
to meet some of the needs of
others. Caring is in the DNA of
a Christian.
Additionally, we know in our hearts that
Jesus would provide for others were He in
our shoes, and He is our pattern for living.
Wouldn’t it be better to help ten even if
nine simply want to take advantage, than
to refuse all ten and miss helping one who
really needs and deserves a lift?
What happens to us when we give of
ourselves and our resources to help
others? Isn’t there a satisfaction that
comes from knowing we have given a
lift to others, whether it is an individual
or a worthy cause such as the Villages,
Weekend Food, or GRACE?
Our actions of love put us in touch
with our Savior, for our giving is
an indication of our relationship
with Him.
We call this stewardship...
acknowledging God’s ownership.
Life itself and the abundance that we
enjoy are all a gift from God, who is the
source of all. The question is, how will we
use this gift?
“...we know in our
hearts that Jesus
would provide for
others were He in
our shoes...”
Rev. Melburn Sibley has been on staff at FUMC Grapevine since 2004, serving as Minister of Resource Development. He and his wife Martha have a daughter, Michele, a son, Michael, and three grandchildren. Melburn has served as the pastor of multiple churches, Superintendent of the South Texas Children’s Home and leader of over 70 capital stewardship campaigns in various denominations.
The Church at Work || 31
32 || The Church at Work
Coming up this quarter ...October
10/1-31 Pumpkin Patch!
10/5 World Communion Sunday
10/12-26 Stewardship Series
10/18 Fall Into Missions
10/26
Commitment Sunday | Fall Festival | Gospel Sing
November11/1 Texas Mardi Gras Gala & Auction at the Austin Ranch
11/2 Communion Sunday | All Saints Sunday | Service of Healing & Wholeness
11/9 Support Our Military Care Packages
11/23 WORSHIP TOGETHER IN GRATITUDE | ONE worship service at 9:45 AM
Potluck lunch to follow | Charge Conference at 3:00 PM
11/22-24 Thanksgiving Mini Mission
11/27-28 Thanksgiving Holiday
11/30 First Sunday of Advent
December12/1 Communion Sunday
12/14 The 78th Annual Candlelighting
12/21 Regular Worship Schedule | Happy Birthday Jesus Party during Sunday School
Las Posadas at 6:00 PM in Founders Chapel & Family Life Center
12/24 Christmas Eve Worship
All Services at the Downtown Campus 5:00 PM - Kid-Friendly Worship (Sanctuary)
6:30 PM - Traditional Candlelight Worship (Sanctuary)
8:00 PM - Traditional Candlelight & Communion (Sanctuary)
11:00 PM - Bilingual Candlelight & Communion (Founders Chapel)
12/28 ONE service hour at 11:00 AM | No Sunday School
English in the Sanctuary | Spanish in Founders Chapel
Watch E-News, Bulletin and website for full details!
The Church at Work || 33
Get ready to make a change for the better in 2015...
www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/stewardship
First United Methodist Church GrapevineDowntown Campus: 422 Church Street | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 817-481-2559
Heritage Campus: 4344 Heritage Avenue | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 817-571-1111
www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org