Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Light
Volume 12, Issue 5 May 2016
Inside This Issue
Prayer—Merton 1
Beginning Again—Hinzie 2
Calendar—Spring 2016 2
Spotlight on Angel George-Peter 3
May 2016 Birthdays 3
You Can Take All This World—Long 4
Garrison Keillor on “Methodists” 5
Pentecost 6
Church Bulletin Bloopers 6
Bible Verse: Acts 2 7
PRAYER I have no idea where I am going, I do not see the road ahead of me, I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, And the fact that I think I am following Your will Does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You Does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire In all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything Apart from that desire to please You. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road, Though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always Thought I may seem to be lost And in the shadow of death. I will not fear, For you will never leave me To make my journey alone. Amen. (Written by Thomas Merton, author and Trappist monk.)
Page 2 The Light
BEGINNING AGAIN By Linda Hinzie Everyone in northwest Houston has a flood story – whether the story took place this year or in previous years. My story took place in 2001. In June 2001 Tropical Storm Allison devastat-ed southeast Texas. The worst flooding oc-curred in Houston where 70,000 houses were damaged. My mom’s house was one of them. At that time my mom was 75 years old and had been a widow for nearly 12 years. Since her home faced White Oak Bayou and her house had been flooded in 1998, she felt certain that she would, again, be affected. So as the water rose, she packed two bags – one with her wal-let and insurance papers and the other with medicine, her good jewelry, and clothes. When the rain stopped, a Jersey Village fire department volunteer rescued her and two other ladies. Although the boat was a small bass boat, it was able to take them out of their flooded homes. As the boat puttered down Jersey Village Drive, they saw another JV resi-dent. He was surveying the damage from his jet ski. As he turned and sped away, he un-knowingly made a wake which overturned the small boat. Everyone ended in the water… and my mom’s two bags went floating down the street. They were able to retrieve one bag. However, the fast current swept the other one away. Eventually, my mom made it to Jersey Village Baptist Church, a designated relief station, and called us. Mark and I got her to our house where she bathed and then went to bed. After we all rested, we began planning what to do. “I wish,” Mom said, “I hadn’t lost that bag. It was the one with my ID and insurance papers.” Not long after that, Mom’s neighbor came to our door – with her bag. The water was so high that the bag had floated over the fence and made its way to the backyard of Meg and Charlie Crady. As my friend Joleen would say, “What a God thing!” After that flood, Mom sold the house “as is”
and moved to another neighborhood. She had to start over in a new location with new neigh-bors, etc. Whether we are aware of it or not, there is for all of us a pattern of “beginning again.” Each night as we go to bed we experience a little ending. That day is gone forever. Each morn-ing we begin again. As so, whatever our “storm” story, we begin anew with God’s mer-cy and seek to recognize God at the center of all that we are and all that we have.
Calendar—Spring 2016
May 7 7:30 PM Houston Choral
Society Concert
May 8 Mother’s Day
May 14 7:30 PM Houston Symphonic
Band Concert
May 21 8:00 AM Men’s Breakfast
May 25 11:30 AM Prime Time Luncheon
May 30 Memorial Day
June 13-17 Vacation Bible School
June 19 Father’s Day
June 23 Last Choir Rehearsal
July 3 Patriotic Services (Breakfast)
May 2016 Birthdays
May 15 Andrea Siceluff
May 22 Susan Bowlin
May 23 D Comstock
May 29 Angela Baird
Page 3 The Light
SPOTLIGHT ON ANGEL GEORGE-PETER In the United States, moving is a common oc-currence. Many people move because of a job transfer. Others move to be closer to family members. And some are fortunate to move to their dream home because they have retired. Very few of us, however, have had to move be-cause of war. Born in Ras Al Kaimah, United Arab Emirates, Angel George-Peter was part of an Indian Christian family. Due to the Gulf War, her family had to move to India. While in India, Angel completed her elemen-tary and secondary education. She then went to college and received a Bachelor of Business Management degree and later a Master’s de-gree in Business Administration. In addition to acquiring her education while living in In-dia, Angel married her husband Isaac Jacob! She and husband Isaac are blessed with their son, Kevin. Currently, Angel works as a substitute teacher for CFISD schools and has continued her edu-
cation. Only recently, she has finished her Master’s Degree in Education Administration. When not working, Angel enjoys such hobbies as embroidery, crocheting, drawing, and cook-ing. “Most of all,” she says, “I love to travel and read.” “My parents,” Angel says, “were a great bless-ing in leading me and my two siblings to Christ.” Her father is a minister in the Tamil Full-Gospel Church in Dubai, UAE, and is still ministering “for God’s Glory.” Her favorite verse is Isaiah 62:3. “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal dia-dem in the hand of your God.” She explains: “We learn in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that God chose foolish and weak things to shame the wise and the strong. In spite of our weakness, God sees our heart and inner soul. He does not leave or forsake us. Instead, God sees us as a crown of beauty in his hand. God doesn’t see us as peo-ple see us.” Angel’s favorite anthems/praise songs are “Be Thou My Vision,” “It is Well with my Soul,” and “Bless the Lord, O My Soul.” She shares: “These songs have brought life to me during circumstances where I saw no light or hope. God sends his people, at the right time and at the right moment, to bless someone in a des-perate situation. But for me, God also sends right songs to speak life to me.” Angel and Isaac joined Foundry in 2015. “We are very happy to be a part of the Foundry family and are looking forward to many more blessed memories through our great fellowship with God’s people. To be the hands and feet of Christ, to help people in need for God’s glory, is a great joy.”
Page 4 The Light
YOU CAN TAKE ALL THIS WORLD… From Life in The Middle By Kelly Long Sweet mother of mercy, one of my children needs new shoes. This has caused a whole slew of problems in my household. One kid’s mad because the other kid is getting some-thing new. We've had to have the "life isn't fair" talk about a dozen times in the last sever-al days. Also none of the shoes in our size and price range have pleased us. Where are the children who require $70 Nikes in 3rd grade??? Are their feet made of gold? I'd like to meet them so I can understand this bet-ter. Mostly this is just yet another reminder to me of how much stuff there is out there in the world and how little of it we really need. (I'm starting to dread Christmas already.....) The truth is some days it's really a struggle. I want to give my kids the world, to delight and surprise them and treat them, but deep down I know that's not really giving them much at all. For what do you benefit to gain the whole world but lose your soul? I want them to know generosity and welcome love from oth-ers, but at the same time I want to post a sign outside our house that says "Please stop giving us stuff". Where is the balance? Somewhere along the aisles of Famous Footwear I was be-ginning to lose it. There are lots of reasons to give in to the world, especially when it comes to our chil-dren. Fear of rejection, pride, a total lack of energy. Standing in the sun, looking over Cesarea Philippi at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon, the words to Jeremy Camp's song came into my heart....
In the morning when I rise Give me Jesus
You can take all this world But give me Jesus
The area is an ancient Roman city alongside a spring which feeds the Jordan River. The site paid tribute to the Greek god, Pan, and it was
here that Jesus declared He would build His church. "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" Matthew 16:18 And overcome it, it has not. Christ's Kingdom has outlasted it all. Those shrines, though pre-served and amazing to look at, are empty now.
That time has come and gone, but my Lord has not, neither in spirit or in word. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth!" Isaiah 40:28 How to explain to my sweet boys that this time too shall pass? These things that seem so big now are but specks of dust? Little by little, I guess. Shoe by shoe. Yeah, this world, you can have it. Give me Je-sus.
Page 5 The Light
*Methodists believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there. *Methodists usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins. *Methodists believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship vis-itation programs or when passing the plate. *Methodists think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle while passing the peace. *Methodists drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament. *Methodists feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fel-lowship Hall. *Methodists are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at the church. *Methodists still serve Jell-O in the proper litur-gical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna casserole adds too much color. *Methodists believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seri-ously. And finally, You know you are a Methodist when: *It's 100 degrees, with 90% humidity, and you still have coffee after the service. *You hear something funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can. *Donuts are a line item in the church budget, just like coffee. *When you watch a Star Wars movie and they say, "May the Force be with you," you respond, "and also with you." *And lastly, it takes ten minutes to say good - bye !
GARRISON KEILLOR ON "METHODISTS" We make fun of Methodists for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed, and also for their secret fond-ness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you were to ask an audience in New York City, a relatively Method-ist-less place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Methodists, they'd smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road! Many Methodists are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic inter-vals by putting your little head against that per-son's rib cage. It's natural for Methodists to sing in harmony. They are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally ful-filling moment. By joining in harmony, they somehow promise that they will not forsake each other. I do believe this: People, these Methodists, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you can call up when you're in deep dis-tress. *If you're dying, they will comfort you. *If you are lonely, they'll talk to you. *And if you are hungry, they'll give you tuna sal-ad. *Methodists believe in prayer, but would practi-cally die if asked to pray out loud. *Methodists like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas.
Page 6 The Light
CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS
For those of you who have children and don't
know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Jean will be leading a weight-management
series Wednesday nights. She's used the pro-
gram herself and has been growing like cra-
zy!
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday
morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch
in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital
this week for testes.
On Sunday, a special collection will be taken
to defray the expense of the new carpet. All
those wishing to do something on the new
carpet, come forward and get a piece of pa-
per.
Our next song is "Angels We Have Heard Get
High."
Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given
to church secretary.
Please join us as we show our support for
Amy and Alan in preparing for the girth of
their first child.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick
of our church and community.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles,
and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will
be used to cripple children.
The 1991 Spring Council Retreat will be hell
May 10 and 11.
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's
new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I
Upped My Pledge — Up Yours."
PENTECOST One of the principal days of the Christian year, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The Greek word pentecoste means "fiftieth day." Pentecost is the day on which the Christian church commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and others assembled in Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of the Christian church and the proclamation of its message throughout the world and is often re-ferred to as the birthday of the church. The li-turgical color for Pentecost is red. Traditional-ly, Pentecost has been a day for baptisms. Be-cause it was the custom in the early church for persons being baptized to wear white robes or clothing, the day also became known as Whitsunday, a contraction of white Sunday.
© 2016, Foundry UMC
Comments? Questions? Ideas? Send your e-mail to
Worship Ministry Staff
Cheryl Russell
Worship Administrator
713.937.9388 X123
Scott Mouton
Organist and Director of Worship
713.937.9388 X121
Alex Bruce
Foundry Choir Director
Robert Ashley
Worship Leader, The Journey Service
713.937.9388 X132
Doug Lacey
Audio Engineer
Worship Ministry Leadership Team
Sally Scott
Chancel Choir
Terry McLaren
Foundry Symphonic Band
Linda Hinzie
Managing Editor, “The Light”
Worship Ministry Newsletter
Doug Laughlin
Publisher, “The Light”
Worship Ministry Newsletter
Page 7 The Light
ACTS 2—The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blow-ing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tonguesa as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Meso-potamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one an-other, “What does this mean?”
13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
