Full Story - University Park United Methodist Church

UPUMC LIFE
FEBRUARY 2014 | Vol. 2 | No. 1
A PUBLICATION OF UNIVERSITY PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Full Story
page 4
University Park United Methodist Church | 4024 Caruth Blvd., Dallas, 75225 | 214.368.1435 | www.upumc.org
HANDY CONTACTS:
Staff may be reached by calling the church,
214-368-1435, or by e-mail:
RACHEL BAUGHMAN
Executive Pastor of Discipleship
Ext. 134 ...................rbaughman@upumc.org
DR. REBECCA BRUFF
Senior Associate Pastor/Mission Outreach.......
Ext. 113............................rbruff@upumc.org
NANCY BRYAN
Director of Communications
Ext. 157..........................nbryan@upumc.org
DR. DAVID CHILDS
Director of Music
Ext. 115..........................dchilds@upumc.org
LINDA DURBIN
Office Manager & Event Planner
Ext. 101......................... ldurbin@upumc.org
MATT GASTON
Lead Pastor
Ext. 105.......................mgaston@upumc.org
CONSTANCE HARP
Finance Manager
Ext. 132 ............................charp@upumc.org
ALICE KARNES
Assistant to Music Ministry/Membership
Ext. 116 ........................ akarnes@upumc.org
GREG KLUGIEWICZ
Facilities Manager
Ext. 199........................ gklugie@upumc.org
RYAN KUECKS
Assistant Director of Communications
Ext. 140.........................rkuecks@upumc.org
MARK POPE
Worship Initiatives and Music Associate
Ext. 159.........................mpope@upumc.org
NEIL MOSELEY
Minister to Adults and Families
Ext. 123.....................nmoseley@upumc.org
GEORGE O’REILLY
Administration & Development
Ext. 148........................goreilly@upumc.org
FELITA RATTLER
Director of Child Care
Ext. 205........................ frattler@upumc.org
BEN RIGSBY
Minister to Youth and Families
Ext. 144........................ brigsby@upumc.org
JENNIFER TUCKER
Finance Assistant
Ext. 109.........................jtucker@upumc.org
DR. DAMIN SPRITZER
Associate Director of Music/Organist
Ext. 107......................dspritzer@upumc.org
JENNY TABOR
Children’s Ministry Assistant
214-564-6503..............jennytabor@me.com
PAGE 2
ma t t ’s m us ings
Telling our story
The things we do,
the habits we create,
the practices we
undertake become
the stories of our
lives. A part of our
family story that I
have enjoyed beyond
measure is the time
that I spent, every evening, sitting next
to Blaine’s bed, reading. Over the years,
we thrilled to the adventures of Bilbo
and Frodo, Aslan and Prince Caspian,
even Gus McCrae and Captain Call
in Lonesome Dove. We both loved that
time—reading until we couldn’t keep
our eyes open. We would read, and
then we would say our prayers, taking
part in the story of God’s love for us.
The stories of scripture, especially of
Jesus, told us of God’s love lived out in
the world.
I really miss those times with Blaine,
that chapter in our story, but I really
enjoy our new story, too, and I have so
much hope for the chapters yet to be
written.
The story of Jesus continues to be
written, too, with new and fascinating
chapters. Each conversion and baptism,
every new member and journey of faith
adds to that great collective story of our
transformation and the coming of God’s
kingdom. UPUMC is and always has
been part of God’s story of salvation.
In this 75th year of our story, we
will celebrate all the amazing things
that this congregation has done, all the
lives changed, all for the glory of God.
Our next two sermon series, moving us
toward Easter, are entitled Jesus’ Story
and Ours (Feb. 2–March 2) and Where
Is Our God? (March 5, Ash Wednesday–
April 20, Easter). Our Lenten devotional
is also designed to help us reflect upon
and tell our own developing faith
stories.
I hope the next three months will
find us all taking time to share our
stories, the stories that God is still
writing with our lives, both within and
outside of our church home.
Prayers and peace to you,
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor, mgaston@upumc.org
JESUS’ STORY AND OURS
WHERE IS OUR GOD?
Feb. 2, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The Wisdom of Our Foolishness
March 9, Matthew 4:1-11
God Is in Our Wilderness
Feb. 9, Isaiah 58:1-12
The Foolishness of Our Worship
March 16
God Is in Our Searching
Feb. 16, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
A 39-Inch Yardstick
March 23, Exodus 17:1-7
God Is in Our Provision
Feb. 23, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
For a Different Construction Project
March 30 , 1 Samuel 16:1-13
God Is in God’s Choice of US!
March 2, 2 Peter 1:16-21
Check the Wiring
April 6, Psalms 130
God Is in Our Waiting
Get more insight the Wednesday before worship at Pastor Matt’s weekly Bible study
on Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m., where he examines the text for his sermon.
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
mu s i c a n d wo r s h i p
The Season of LENT
by Dr. David Childs
SHROVE
TUESDAY
PANCAKE
SUPPER
Tuesday, March 4
5:30-7 p.m. in the
Activities Center
Come and celebrate the tradition
of having pancakes at our annual
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper,
hosted by our Young Adults. All
of the proceeds benefit Project
Transformation.
Wednesday, March 5
Come & Go Service: 7-8:30 a.m.
Worship Service in Sanctuary:
Noon & 7 p.m.
Matt Gaston preaches Where Is
Our God? from Joel 2:12-17
Children’s Service:
6 p.m., Caldwell Room
Holy Week at a glance:
Palm Sunday, April 13
8:45 & 11 a.m., God Is in Our Contradictions, Matthew 21:1-9
Noon, Eggstravaganza
Maundy Thursday, April 17
7 p.m. with Chancel Choir in the Sanctuary
Good Friday, April 18
7 p.m. with soloists and instrumentalists
Saturday, April 19
Easter Prayer Vigil, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Prayer Labyrinth
Union Prayer Vigil, 8 p.m., 5622 Dyer St., Dallas, Texas
Easter Sunday, April 20
Sunrise Easter Service, 7 a.m.
Easter Sunday Services, 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m.
God is on the Way, Matthew 28:1-10
Children’s Service: 9:45 a.m. in the Activity Center
SAVE THE DATE
Playground
Dedication
Sunday, April 27
5-6:30 p.m.
Lawns of Dallas will be grilling
hamburgers and hotdogs.
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
Music Notes
Thank you all for your
support of the Music
Department in helping
us make disciples of Jesus
Christ through our ministry.
Change is difficult and can
sometimes cause anxiety
and uncertainty.
After more than 15 years
of broadcasting a half hour
of music and spoken word
on Dallas’ classical music
station WRR, UPUMC has
made the difficult decision to
not renew our contract.
We are sorry to part ways
with WRR and are saddened
to end our long association
with the station. Despite
serving a number of
regular and loyal listeners,
our thirty-minute segment
was not reaching a large
enough audience to
justify the $40,000 yearly
fee. After much discussion,
the Administrative
Council unanimously and
prayerfully determined that
such a sizeable amount of
funding could best serve
the church in missions and
outreach, programming,
and communications.
Cherub Choir
Since September 2013
the Rev. Rachel Baughman
has served as the Cherub
Choir Director, despite her
incredibly busy schedule. We
are excited to announce that
Mark Pope will be leading
the Cherub Choir this year,
and we are delighted he
has so enthusiastically and
comfortably stepped into
the role. We are excited
about the many wonderful
opportunities that lie ahead
with him at the helm.
Cherub Choir Meets
Wednesdays at 5:30-6 p.m.
in Room 302 (upstairs in the
Music Suite). E-mail Mark
Pope, mpope@upumc.org if
your child wishes to sing.
Farewell Alice Karnes
After almost ten years
faithfully
serving the
people of
UPUMC as a
staff member,
we are saddened
to have to bid a
fond farewell to Alice Karnes,
our Music Administrator.
Alice is one of the nicest,
gentlest and hardest
working staff members to
have served our community,
having spent the majority of
her tenure working with Jody
Lindh. Be sure to thank Alice
for her wonderful service
over the years, and I ask for
your prayers for Alice, her
family, and for the church as
we move forward. Alice and
Keith and their family are
members at UPUMC having
joined in June 1996.
Our Office Manager and Event Planner,
Linda Durbin, is recovering at home
from minor planned surgery. She’s doing
extremely well, but will be gone for
the month of February. To plan events,
contact Ryan Kuecks. For baptisms and
weddings, contact Rachel Baughman.
PAGE 3
tel l i n g o u r s t o ry: c e l e brat ing 7 5 years
I am the church. You are the church. WE are the church together!
We never outgrow the enjoyment
of a good story, just ask Hollywood or
J. K. Rowling or John Grisham. Stories
are more captivating than slogans and
more meaningful than statistics.
UPUMC has 75 years of participating
in God’s story of love, mercy and
justice. On November 12, we will
celebrate our part in God’s story as we
commemorate UPUMC’s founding.
Throughout 2014 we will be telling
our stories through pictures, videos,
fun facts and personal witness, inviting
our neighbors, family and friends from
throughout the life of our church to
participate in the story that God is still
writing through the Spirit-led work of
UPUMC.
What’s YOUR Story?
We want to hear your stories about UPUMC. Here’s how:
1. Video or audio, contact Mark Pope
2. Submit your story online, go to www.upumc.org/mystory
3. Write it down! Look for the Story Stations at the flatscreen monitors
in both lobbys. We will have paper and pens available with a basket to
submit your hand-written stories.
Telling Our Story in Technicolor!
by Mark Pope
Technicolor was invented in 1917 and over the next 2030 years absolutely transformed moviegoers’ experience
from a flat, monochrome pallet to a vibrant spectrum of
colors, shadows, and light. Moreover, it gave movie makers
a brilliant new tool to tell their stories in new and exciting
ways. Technicolor was the first of many steps that have lead
to the digital world of CGI, lifelike animation, and amazing
environmental sound.
UPUMC is moving into a time of discovering a new way to
tell our story - our personal stories, the story of UPUMC, the
story of University Park, and our world. Up until this time we
have relied, technologically, on WRR to reach into the world
and tell the story of UPUMC.
With the 75th anniversary of University Park UMC this
year, it is the perfect time to begin to tell our stories in new
ways! We are starting a video ministry this month, and you’ll
be able to find Sunday’s sermons on our website (as well as
YouTube and Vimeo). In addition, we will begin to have videos
from our congregation and staff to help us tell the story of our
church, our community, and our lives through the medium of
video.
I’m looking forward to this year as we begin to tell our
stories that will touch and transform not only the lives of
people hearing the stories, but the storytellers themselves.
This video ministry really can be our brilliant new tool to
spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through our stories in
new and exciting ways.
PAGE 4
what happened in 1939?
• This year marks the start of the Second World War,
the deadliest human conflict in history.
• In Bombay, Mohandas Gandhi begins a fast
protesting against British rule in India.
• Students at Harvard University demonstrate the new
tradition of swallowing goldfish for reporters.
• Batman, created by Bob Kane (and, unofficially, Bill
Finger) makes his first appearance in a comic book.
New York Yankees announce Lou Gehrig’s retirement
after doctors reveal he has amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis.
• Albert Einstein writes to U.S. President Franklin
D. Roosevelt about developing the atomic bomb
using uranium. This leads to the creation of the
Manhattan Project.
• MGM’s classic film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy
Garland, premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in
Hollywood.
• In Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt lays the cornerstone of the Jefferson
Memorial.
• La Guardia Airport opens for business in New York
City.
• The film Gone with the Wind, starring Vivien Leigh
and Clark Gable, premieres in Atlanta, Georgia.
• CBS Television begins transmission.
•
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
fi n a n ce
December update
Thanks to faithful giving from the congregation and
careful stewardship of our resources, UPUMC ended 2013 in an
excellent position to pursue the many programs planned for
this year. Over 500 families made contributions throughout the
year that enabled the church to fulfill its mission, ministry and
programs.
We started the year knowing that it would be a challenge to
meet revenue expectations and manage expense. As we moved
through 2013, contributions remained consistent, mirroring
historical giving levels. At the same time, church staff worked
hard to manage spending. December closed 2013 on a strong
financial note and budget for the year ended with positive net
income of $29,854.
For questions about the finances of the church, feel free
to contact George O’Reilly or Constance Harp in the business
office, or any member of the Finance Committee. For a list of
committee members, visit www.upumc.org and click on “Our
Staff and Leadership” under the “About” tab.
MAD Money
MAD Money is the $1 bills from the weekly collection plates.
Only the $1 bills will be pulled as “Mission Appointed Dollars”
for use in a specific area of mission designated by our Mission
Action Council. In January, our MAD Money totaled $732, and
went toward Austin Street Center, Crossroads, The Stewpot,
City Square, and North Dallas Shared Ministries. Throughout
the month of February our MAD Money will provide support
through educational programs for children like Dunbar
Elementary, Christ’s Foundry after-school programs, Open Door
Preschool, and Agape Not Home Alone. Reading ignites the
imagination, opens opportunities, and changes lives.
Set Free
We began 2013 with a building loan balance of $6.126 million.
During the first quarter, the church conducted a three-year
debt reduction campaign which resulted in $4.3 million being
pledged by 294 members. So far, gifts totaling $2.223 million
have been received for the Set Free Debt Reduction Program.
These gifts have reduced average monthly payments by $6,500
per month.
Have you seen the new website? Besides the new
look, our members now have a new (and better) way to
give. This new process is called UPAccess. It’s a database
that integrates with our church records allowing
members to access all of their member information.
Once registered, you can:
• give online and track your contributions
• register for events
• update your own profile, including changes to
address, phone number, credit card information
• view the church directory
Now that we have transitioned to this new online
system, we are required to migrate all recurring credit
card accounts from our old system to the new and
improved UPAccess. Those who take part in recurring
giving must register through this new system online to
ensure that your giving continues for 2014. The church
business office is unable to make this change on your
behalf due to security measures utilized to protect your
card information. Specifically, the church does not
keep your card number and associated date/security
identifiers.
To register your name with UPAccess, go to upumc.
org/upaccess. After registration, follow the following
steps to establish your recurring gift:
1.Select GIVING on the menu bar.
2.Enter information relating to the amount,
frequency and start/stop date of your gift (be sure
to indicate recurring gift).
3.On the FUNDS page, identify how you want the gift
used (e.g., Pledge/Offering).
4.On the PAYMENT METHOD page, select ADD NEW
PAYMENT METHOD and then enter your credit
card information.
5.Verify your information and submit for processing.
Once your recurring gift is added to UPAccess, our
Finance Manager, Constance Harp, will be notified
automatically to cancel your information from our
old system. Constance is available at 214-368-1435 if
you have questions or need more information about
recurring gifts.
Sterling silver cross pendants
Sterling silver cross pendants are back just in time for
Valentine’s Day. This pendant depicts the open-arm Jesus
that is just above the entrance to our
sanctuary. Designed by James Avery,
it’s only $50, chain not included.
Complementary gift wrapping.
Contact the Rev. Rachel Baughman,
rbaughman@upumc.org.
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
PAGE 5
m i n i s try s t o r i e s
DBC Song & Story results
by Gerald Meinecke, Dallas Bethlehem President
On Saturday, Dec. 22, University
Park UMC took part in the first ever
collaborative Christmas Pageant
between several UMC churches and
Dallas Bethlehem Center. Estimated
attendance was 350-400, and Christmas
presents were distributed to almost 100
children. There were many people from
UPUMC involved in providing financial
support, Christmas gifts, and buying
Bethlehem Star Ornaments.
The Rev. George Battle, III, deserves
many kudos. He started planning this
event in July. He formed an Arts Team
which included four of our South Dallas
neighbors Veronica Williams, Kelly
Miller, Yolanda Battle, and Vanessa
Baker, as well as Van Gilbert and Fran
Anderson. Participants in the program
included:
• St. Paul UMC’s Music Director, Eric
Spencer, who served as pianist
• Inspiration, Inc. from Ennis,
TX, a theater troupe led by Fran
Anderson
• Master of Ceremonies – Dr. Lynn
Parsons, Zip Code Project - NTC
• Pancake breakfast served by
Preston Hollow UMC
• Black Mahogany Dance Troupe,
led by Van Gilbert and including
South Dallas representatives from
Charles Rice Elementary, St. Phillips
Academy and Cornerstone Baptist
Church
• Despite the adverse weather, about
40-50 UPUMC members attended
the event, and many UPUMC
children acted in the program.
Rachel Baughman sang a beautiful
solo, Jenny Tabor, Rebecca Bruff,
and Mark Pope also helped in the
planning of the pageant.
• Matt Gaston and the Rev. Henry
Masters of St. Luke UMC opened
with prayer and closed with the
benediction.
Thanks so much UPUMC, for your
support in this program. It was an
amazing and moving event.
Back from Bethlehem
by Ben Rigsby
With our Advent theme “Bethlehem
Bound,” it was particularly exciting to
me because on December 29 I boarded
a plane headed to Israel. The two-week
trip was part of my seminary education
through Perkins at SMU. The trip was
worth three hours of class credit, and
it allowed me to see the scriptures in
a dramatically different light. When I
read the stories of the Bible I can now
see the space in my mind.
I was confronted with the modern
Israel as well. No longer are the rocks
and fields of ancient untouched. Now
they are covered with construction
and walls. On my trip I experienced
the taste of tear gas near the wall
in Bethlehem. I watched a car burn
after exploding in Nazareth and even
PAGE 6
witnessed snow on the ground outside
the holocaust museum.
I had come for the experience
though, and we were able to spend
a great amount of time in Jerusalem
studying with one of the leading
schools focused on peace in the region.
We were given tours of areas the typical
tour buses would not go, and through
it all learned to appreciate the culture
and religion of those who live in these
Holy Places.
Through being in the places where
Jesus walked, I was able to see God at
work through-out the centuries. God
was available to us in a way I have
never experienced before. God is at
work there now in the people who call
the Holy Land their home. God is at
work now in the memories of those who
visit, and God is at work now through
the stories that are told all over the
world because of the land we call Holy.
I invite you to consider how God is
and has been at work in your life and
ask will you add your story to those of
2000 years ago who sought to spread the
name of Jesus to the “ends of the earth.”
I would like to thank those who
supported me and made this trip
possible, as well as my church family for
their prayers.
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
Christ caring for people through people
by Sharon Adams, Stephen Minister
Are you a good
listener? Compassionate?
Non-judgmental? If so,
perhaps God is calling
you to be a Stephen
Minister. The Stephen
Leaders are excited about a training
class for new Stephen Ministers
beginning in early March.
Stephen Ministry is described as
a ministry that “provides a listening
witness to the caring presence of Christ
and His community.” Stephen Ministers
provide one-to-one, confidential,
compassionate care to people
experiencing grief, unemployment,
loneliness, divorce, financial stress,
a terminal illness, and other life
difficulties, typically meeting once a
week to share, listen, and sometimes
simply “be” with the person.
Amity Haugk, (the daughter of
Stephen Ministry’s founder, Kenneth
Haugk), relates the story of one
woman’s life crisis that led her to
receive care from a Stephen Minister,
and how that experience made a
powerful difference in her life. (Note
that this is not someone from our
congregation, since confidentiality is
paramount in this ministry.)
Susie, a woman in her 30’s, was
going through one of the hardest times
in her life when she ended an eight-year
relationship and, shortly thereafter, lost
her dearly beloved grandfather. When
she spoke with her pastor, he suggested
Stephen Ministry might be the answer,
and very soon she and her Stephen
Minister were meeting regularly.
In describing their time together,
Susie related, “During our visits,
my Stephen Minister just let me talk
while she listened. I actually didn’t
need advice from her—I needed
acceptance and affirmation. I had
a lot of loneliness, a lot of hurts, a
lot of uncertainty inside. I needed to
be validated and not put down. My
Stephen Minister did a wonderful job of
creating a warm, caring space for me to
process my emotions.”
Susie goes on to say, “I’d been
struggling with some spiritual wounds
that were pretty intense and needed
healing—things I didn’t want to share
with family and friends. I shared my
deepest hurts with her—some really
painful things that I feared she might
judge me for and that made me wonder
if God could possibly love me. After
I told her those things, I was really
nervous about her response. I was
worried that she would think I was
an awful person. But instead, she put
her arm around me and said, ‘I’m
sorry you had to go through that.’ And
that was a turning point for me. To
go from fear of judgment to a positive
affirmation of care, empathy—and even
sorrow for what I’d been through— was
so meaningful. It was the tangible
expression of God’s love in my Stephen
Minister that changed my life.”
Susie’s story exemplifies the logo
of Stephen Ministry: Christ caring for
people through people.
As Susie expressed beautifully to
Amity Haugk, “God’s love is always
there, but sometimes it can be really
hard to feel it, especially when you’re
going through a crisis. That’s probably
when people doubt God’s presence
the most, when their faith is the most
vulnerable. But a Stephen Minister is
Jesus’ hands and feet, just ‘being there’
for a hurting person. Stephen Ministers
express God’s love in a tangible way
that care receivers can feel.”
On a personal note, I remember
being told that, for life to have real
meaning, you must be involved in
something bigger than yourself! For me,
that has been Stephen Ministry. Might
it be for you as well? I can promise you
that the Stephen Ministry training is
life-changing, and whatever you give as
God’s servant in this ministry, you will
receive two-fold!
For more information about Stephen
Ministry and the training beginning in
March, call Sharon Adams, 214-9294032, or Dr. Rebecca Bruff.
Amigos Days just around the corner
Amigos Days’ goal for this year is to
complete 400 home renovations. With
Amigos Days new partners, Cross Way
UMC and Wylie UMC joining in, this
can be accomplished. These and other
participating congregations will be
blessed by reaching out to help restore
a home and improve lives while at the
same time strengthening their own
fellowship bonds.
On Feb. 6, UPUMC’s Amigos Days
organizer Ed Clark and Amigos Days
Coordinator Ann Meyer will be given
a complete and updated leadership
manual and find out more about the
process for this year’s work dates.
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
More than 30 volunteers contributed
to our 2013 Amigos outreach mission
activity. Four of those worshipped in
other churches and experienced firsthand the grace that makes UPUMC
stand out among other congregations.
2014 Work Dates:
April 4-5 and April 11-12
Contact Ann Meyer,
NTCUMC Amigos
Days Coordinator,
at 214-683-5409.
PAGE 7
adu lt m i ni s t ry
EXPLORE: Travel Ministry
Tuesday, March 18, 9:30 a.m.
Explore: Dallas Blooms at the Arboretum with lunch
Thursday, April 24, 11 a.m.
Explore: Musicals at Fair Park, Evita, with lunch
EXPLORE: Movie Days
1:30 p.m. in the Activity Center
Feb 4: Captain Phillips
Feb 18: The Butler
Mar 4: Gravity
Mar 25: Philomena
Apr 8: The Book Thief
Apr 22: 12 Years a Slave
UM W
Circle meetings
for February
Deborah Circle
A traditional circle with
morning monthly meetings
and guest speakers
Monday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m.
Caldwell Room
Valentine tray favors
Mary Martha Circle
This circle takes on a different
volunteer project each month
Monday, Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m.
Host General Meeting
Wesley Women
This circle meets in the evening
in members’ homes or at
Union and invites speakers.
Monday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
Location: Home of Gerry
Zimmerman
Program: ROMA study from
2013 School of Christian
Mission
Lydia Circle
A Bible study oriented circle for
working women with evening
monthly meetings. Always
welcome guests and new
members.
Monday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Location: UPUMC Library
Program: Chapter 6, Bad
Girls of the Bible
Class Offerings
Faithbooking, Thursday, Mar 6-27, 10-11 a.m. led by Rachel Baughman. The term
“faithbooking” is a term originated from Rhonda Anderson, co-founder of Creative
Memories scrapbooking company, who describes it as, “creating a photo album
specifically with the stories of miraculous moments ... recording history and helping
ourselves remember the memorable times God has intervened, reached out, and
changed our lives.” Join us Thursday mornings in Lent as you work alongside The Rev.
Rachel Baughman and others to discover another way to tell our faith stories.
21st Century Diary, Wednesdays, March 6-20, 6-7 p.m., led by Mike Baughman.
The Rev. Mike Baughman, a trained social media coach and community curator for
Union, will bring his expertise to teach us how to tell our story with social media. This
class will offer topics including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, podcasts, blogs,
Skype and more. If you have only a foggy idea of what these words mean, they’ll be
clear to you after taking this class.
Exploring God’s Story in Your Life: Practicing Spiritual Disciplines, Wednesdays, March
12-April 16, 6-7 p.m., led by Rebecca Bruff. Through personal journaling, and shared
conversation Dr. Rebecca Bruff will explore some of the classic spiritual disciplines,
including prayer, meditation, fasting, solitude, service, confession, and worship.
Participants will have opportunities to grow in the practices that Christians have used
for centuries to foster the internal spiritual life, and to explore how our own personal
stories are part of God’s great story.
PAGE 8
GENERAL
MEETING &
LUNCHEON
Monday, Feb.
24, 10:30 a.m. in
Fellowship Hall
Speaker: the Rev.
Marilyn Dickson
Hostesses: Mary
Martha Circle
Meeting starts at 10:30
a.m. in Fellowship
Hall, followed by a
presentation by the Rev.
Marilyn Dickson (see
more in Community
News). Lunch will be
served immediately
following the program.
Cost for lunch is $5. Sign
up at the Connection
Center and pay at the
door.
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
PAGE 9
A new kind of new church start supported by UPUMC!
Union coffee wants to welcome you to University Park United Methodist Church.
We are a ministry of UPUMC that exists to meet the needs
of our surrounding community in three key ways:
hours:
Mon-Thurs: 7am-11pm
Fri: 7am-12am
Sat: 8am-12am
Sun: 11am-11pm
Swing by Union for a
FREE CUP OF DRIP COFFEE
OR FREE LATTE SIZE UPGRADE
214.242.9725 | uniondallas@gmail.com
location:
5622 dyer street
(behind Twisted Root &
down Dyer from Ozona’s)
M em b e r ne w s
We believe in the power of prayer
Deaths: John Wheeler • Sandra D. Lane • Kim Scherrer, friend of Carmen Emery • Dr. Ken Hemple, brother of Susan Hemple Smith • Otto Gruner,
nephew of Sam Gruner, on Dec. 26 • Laura Sullivan on Jan. 2 • Iris Lewis on Jan. 8 • James Wimberley, husband of Jean, on Jan. 12 • Judson Burch,
son of Paul and Carolyn Burch, on Jan. 14 • Tommy Turner, husband of Lu, on Jan. 15 • Ruthann Mangan, sister of Bob Munroe on Jan. 17 • Wade
Tull, father of Dr. Justin Tull on Jan. 21 • Patricia Oder, mother of Lisa Galloway, on Jan. 26 •
Jim Storey on Jan. 28
New Members
Births: George Fitzgerald (Fitz) Holbrook, son of Ashley and James Holbrook, brother of Hank,
Will and Sam, Nov. 22 • Lauren Bishop Nierling, daughter of Maury and Richard Nierling,
granddaughter of Phillippa Nierling, Dec. 12 • Walker Paul Wainscott, son of Tommy and Ashley
Wainscott, brother of T.J., grandparents Thomas and Kathy Wainscott, on Dec. 16.
Prayers: Lynne Balderson, friend of Mary Beth Matthews • Courtney Bono • Jill Borowski, cousin of
Joan Jackson • Susan Bryans, daughter-in-law of Jo and Leonard Bryans • Maxine Capus, friend of
LaVerne Thornberry • Linda Durbin • Michael Frezzo, friend of the Moreno Family • Virginia Gaffney,
mother of Lori Anderson • Joan Kaye, Mother of Cari Kerns • Kerry, niece of Art and Kathy Krueger
• Amy Lavine, friend of Darlene Irwin • Jean Lyon and her son Ken, friend of LaVerne Thornberry•
Billie McKinley, mother of Mike Mckinley • Helen Morgan, friend of Mari Madison • Ann Lovasz,
friend of Ashley Prince • Cyndi Phillips • Conor Rock, nephew of Katrina Gray • Kelli Sander • Lindy
Santerre, son of LaVerne Thornberry • Julia Schumway, friend of the Maurer’s • Tim Sholtes, brother of
Sandy Ladewig • Audrey Self, friend of Sharon Christen • Barry
Thompson • all the doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital
Dallas • homebound members • the unemployed and those
seeking new or better jobs
Karen & Steve
Puckett
Stephanie & Jon Ernst
with Hayden
Baptisms
Long-term Prayers: Kenneth Adams, brother of Linda Taylor
• Linda Adams • Bill Barker • Helen Bennett • Lynn Bruce,
wife of Dan Bruce • Jo Bryans • Rod Edwards, brother of Barry
Edwards • Carolyn Edwards, mother of Barry Edwards • Jack
Shea Laffere
Jessica & Stephen
Cameron, Wynn Moore’s father • Marla Curtis, niece of Barb
Rotondi • Betsy Delgado, friend of Emma Dooley • Pat Dowling,
Carson with Stone
friend of Susan Rhoads • Jarvis Goree, nephew of Constance
Harp • John Jackson • Nat Haas, friend of Marilyn and Dolan
Jan. 18, Grace McMillan,
(not pictured)
McKnight • Bill Kendrick • Janice Kettler, sister of Darlene Irwin
daughter of Forrest & Ashley
Traci & Caperton White and Dr. Philip Kelton
• Lauren Maurer • Jon Moseley, father of Neil Moseley • Nancy
Moss, sister of Herb Hamilton • Lois Lee, mother of Suzanne
Karnes • Caroline McClendon, friend of Brown Bag Book Club • Megan Meinecke • David Misak, brother of Julia Swenton • Jason Moneymaker, Karen
Shatley’s son-in-law • Steven Pait & Family • Rusty Perry, friend of Joe Young • Sherri Schuetz, daughter of Joan Slaughter • Brenda Upton, sister of Darlene
Irwin • Reba Wooley, sister of Linda Taylor
c o m m u n i t y ne w s
Caladium Sale
Help support UMW missions
while ordering beautiful
caladiums for your yard!
Many varieties available.
Fill out an order form in the
Connection Center desk.
Sale starts Sunday, Feb. 9
and ends Friday, Feb. 28.
February Mission
Our church-wide collection
through February is gently
used toys and books. Books
can be for children or
adults; toys should be
clean, functioning and
fun! Bring donations to
the Connection Center
throughout the month of
February. If your family
would like to participate
UPUMC | FEBRUARY 2014
in delivering items to local
ministry partners, contact
Rebecca Bruff at rbruff@
upumc.org.
Gloria Thomas
Gloria Thomas is back to
speak to our young ones
during Children’s Time. Join
us in Sunday worship on Feb.
9, to hear her special message
with her friend, Clayborn. A
reception between services
in the Sanctuary
Reception Area
will give folks an
opportunity to
greet, meet, and
buy her book,
The Gospel
according to
Clayborn. Gloria
was a Christian educator in
the United Methodist Church
for nearly 50 years prior to
her retirement in 2004. Gloria
directed UPUMC’s Program
Ministries from 1982-1999,
guiding so many of our
families as they navigated life.
Church Conference
Join us right after 11 a.m.
worship in the Sanctuary on
Sunday, Feb. 9, to approve
the 2014 budget. Your vote
counts!
Annual Report
Be sure to pick up your copy
of the UPUMC 2013 Annual
Report. Copies can be found
all over the church or online
at www.upumc.org/report.
UMW Speaker,
Marilyn Dickson
The Rev. Marilyn Dickson
will speak during the
February UMW General
Meeting on Monday, Feb.
24 at 10:30 a.m. The Rev.
Dickson is a Certified
Spiritual Director, Adjunct
Professor at Perkins School of
Theology (SMU) for spiritual
formation, and Associate
Pastor for Caring Ministries
at First United Methodist
Church, Richardson.
She is also a Stephen
Ministry Staff Leader. She
and her husband Ron,
have four children, 11
grandchildren, and two
great granddaughters.
PAGE 11
1st Class Prsrt
US Postage
PAID
Dallas, TX
Permit #1851
a neighborhood church with a global heart
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
214.368.1435 | www.upumc.org
Wednesday Night
CHURCH NIGHTS
SAVE THE DATE!
Dinner 5-7 p.m. in the Activity Center:
Feb. 5: Chili
Feb. 19: Tacos
Feb. 12: Beef Stew
Feb. 26: Mardi Gras Gumbo
CHILDREN:
Child care available 4:30-9 p.m.
(Contact Felita Rattler,
frattler@upumc.org or 214-368-1435)
Children’s Handbells (Joyful Ringers): 5-5:30 p.m.
Children’s Choir (Cherub & Wesleyan): 5:30-6 p.m.
ADULTS:
Adult Handbells (Overtones): 6-7 p.m.
Pastor Matt’s Study: 6-7 p.m.
Chancel Choir: 7:15-9 p.m.