1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Connection
The
4308 W. Davis Street  Conroe, Texas 77304-4284  936.756.3395
www.fumc-conroe.org  Facebook FUMCConroe  Twitter @FUMCConroe
April 19, 2015
Stephen Ministry, FUMC-Conroe
———————————————
Traditional Services
8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. - Sanctuary
Dr. Jerry Neff
Inspiration Choir - 8:30 a.m.
Chancel Choir - 11:00 a.m.
———————————————
Contemporary Service
9:45 a.m. - Sanctuary
Rev. Mike Lindstrom
FUMC Praise Team
———————————————
Culto de Adoración
11:00 a.m. - Capilla de Fe
Emigdio Rosales
Today’s Mission Offering
goes to
“Clothes Line of Love”
Website
Today our church will commission seven new Stephen Ministers. Our
newest Stephen Ministers are: Cheryl Bolt, Annette Combest, James
Haack, Debbie McLin, Larry Snider, Jean Stewart, and Beth Withers.
These individuals have successfully completed 50 clock hours of
training to become Stephen Ministers at FUMC-Conroe. The training
includes pre-class readings of information in the training manuals/
books, guest speakers, and panel discussions. The recent training
classes took place on Sunday afternoons at our church and during a
couple of Saturday retreats. Kenneth C. Haugk, of Stephen Ministries
in St. Louis, Missouri, includes in his literature that “Hundreds of
thousands of Stephen Ministers have been trained so far, and tens of
thousands are being added every year. Each Stephen Minister brings
to his ministry a unique combination of gifts, personality and
character.”
You may visit the Stephen Ministry website for more information at
www.stephenminister.org.
“Stephen Ministry is a blessing in my life. My husband and I moved to
Willis in June, after spending 42 years in Silsbee, Texas. I am a
retired school counselor. Stephen Ministry is giving me a chance to
meet new faces and to get involved in the church by helping others.
The training covers many life experiences that can come our way. The
training is very thorough and teaches us what we are to do as a
Stephen Ministry Caregiver.”
Beth Withers
“Stephen Ministry Training prepares you to offer God’s love to those
who are hurting and need spiritual care. Stephen Ministry Training
equips you with the tools and techniques to be a better Christian
Caregiver to people who are going through difficult times/
circumstances. Stephen Ministry Training enables you to provide
loving, quality, Christian care when people need love, comfort and
support to get through trying periods in their lives.” R. Larry Snider
“My first and last impression of Stephen Ministry Training would have
to be ‘dedication’—the dedication our teachers, our class, and our
church has to serving each other, to helping each other to ‘weather’
and survive a very personal storm. Everyone involved in Stephen
Ministry exudes a dedication to serve our Lord by serving others, and
I’m very grateful to have a part in this ministry.”
Cheryl Bolt
The next training session will begin in September, 2015. If you are
interested in learning more about the Stephen Ministry training, please
call the church office.
Becoming disciples of Jesus Christ by knowing, loving and serving God
plain thoughts
Church ?
For a while I have been thinking about the question: “What is the church?” Each of us has
our own idea of what the church is, who the church is, and what and how the church does
what the church does—each of us has a response.
So, here is a thought: Church isn’t about Sunday mornings because God is calling us to be
servants in our community, in the world, every day. God is calling us to do God’s will,
which is to serve God and serve our neighbor. I found this response from Felicia Hopkins
in an unnamed article:
“. . . because I grew up in a single parent home, I know what it is like to run out of money at the end of the
month. So, I put bags of food in the trunk of my car and I drive around and look for people—single moms,
single dads, people who work hard every day making seven or eight dollars an hour. I pull up next to them,
pop my trunk, hop out and give them two bags of food. I tell them, ‘It’s not me. It's the Christ inside me.’”
When you learn the joy of serving in God’s will (to love God and love neighbor), you start receiving the joy,
and it doesn’t matter your current circumstance. When you don’t feel right, go do something for somebody
else, because that is what Jesus did for us. Then you’ll find the peace that passes all understanding. What is
God doing through you today?
God’s Keeping,
caring ministry
Stepping Outside Our Church
Throughout the years, as I have talked to families in our congregation, many of you have told me that you were
introduced to hospice when one of your loved ones was in their final months of life.
I kept hearing statements such as “We really didn’t know what to expect and how hospice was going to help.” But
the next statement that followed was always something like this: “Hospice held our hand throughout the time they
were with us. They helped us understand exactly what was going on, what to expect and how they were going to
help. These were very difficult times for our family, but hospice was wonderful for us!”
The conversation would quickly change to the individuals with whom these families came into contact that were on the
hospice teams such as the nurses, physicians, medical social workers, spiritual care coordinators and volunteers.
Recently, I had a conversation with a young woman named Sabra, who is the Volunteer Coordinator for Silverado
Hospice in the Conroe, Willis, and Woodlands areas. She was telling me that the families in Silverado Hospice are in
dire need of volunteer assistance. That’s when my wheels started turning and I began thinking about our warm and
compassionate congregation. If some of us could give one hour a week, what a blessing we would be to a family in
need.
Now, you are probably asking yourself, “What would I be doing?” Here is a list of some ways to help:
 Visit with patients and their families
 Read to the patients or help with hobbies
 Grocery shop
 Help with minor household chores
If this ministry touches your heart and you think you might be interested, please call Janet Cable in the church office at
936-756-3395. Remember, you can do this by yourself or with a friend.
~ Janet Cable ~
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youth ministry
Sunday, April 26
9:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
11:00 Recognition
If you are a graduating senior and did not receive information in
the mail, please contact Ruth Ann Person for more information.
We want to make sure that all of our graduates are recognized.
Youth Confirmation Class
begins Wednesday, April 22
5:00 p.m. - -6:00 p.m.,
Upper Room
Registration for UMARMY, our Sr. High
Mission Trip, has begun. Youth and Adults can
go online to www.umarmy.net/Registration/
Indv/1224/ and register. Signed Waiver and
Emergency Medical Authorization forms are
needed and can be found outside the Youth Office. After you have
registered, submit your signed forms and payment of $250.00 to the
Youth Office. Deadline to register is Monday, April 27.
Be sure and mark your calendar for the
Sixth Grade Lock-In on Friday, May 1.
We will need all youth to come and help.
Sign up on the bulletin board downstairs.
This class is for any youth in
7th-12th grade who has not yet
been confirmed or who may
want
to
re-affirm
their
confirmation vow. This is a
six-week class that will be
taught prior to Wednesday
Night Youth. For more
information, contact Ruth Ann
Person.
lifespan ministry
CHILDREN & FAMILY
Nana Puddin’
Tuesday, April 21
6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Friday Night Family Night
baseball game at SHSU
May 15 at 6:30 p.m.
$8.00 includes hot dog, popcorn & drink.
Sign up & prepay for your tickets in the church office.
Adult Open Gym
Tuesday Nights
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Come join us for a pickup game of
basketball, volleyball etc. . . . .
Nursery available
SENIOR ADULTS
Trip to The Brookwood Community
Wednesday, April 29
* Tour * Lunch * Shopping *
Sign up on the ledge outside the church office.
Vacation Bible School
June 22 - 26
$5.00 per child
4 years old (as of 6-26-15) through 5th grade
Register & pay online at www.fumc-conroe.org
SINGLE ADULTS
Single Adult Game Night
Saturday, April 25
5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in Room 131
Call 936-447-6813 to RSVP
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music / worship ministries
Thanks for your great music in worship! You bless us with your continuous service. A special thanks to
the Rejoice Ringers and Scott Moore for your contribution to all three services. Our Children’s Music
Ministry ends the spring session today following their singing in our morning worship. We will all meet
at Incredible Pizza for our End-of-Choir Party at 12:30 p.m. Our thanks and appreciation go to Tonya
Haack, Ruth Ann Person, and Amanda Williamson for leading our young singers so capably. Enjoy
your break! We’ll begin a new session following Labor Day.
New activities are in the works. Keep that prayer list actively engaged!
Heartwarmer for the week: “What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it does to us;
it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God.”
(Monica Baldwin)
Friendly Reminders:
Check out the newest recycle list!
Cell phones, iPads & tablets; inkjet cartridges; Apple iPods;
Smart Watches & Fitness Bands; gold, silver & platinum jewelry
Use your Kroger Card #82528/Randall’s Card #2293.
hispanic ministry
Que es un Don
Espiritual?
Es un atributo especial
que el Espiritu Santo da
a cada miembro del
Cuerpo de Cristo, segun
la Gracia de Dios. Es un
regalo de Dios para sus
hijos, segun el Espiritu
Santo quiere y reparte
(1 Cor. 12:11; 1 Pedro
4:10)
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Cual es el proposito de
los Dones
Espirituales?
Perfeccionar
a
los
Santos (Efesios 4:12);
edificar el cuerpo de
Cristo
(1
Cor.
14:3,12,26); y legar a la
unidad de la fe y del
conocimiento del Hijo de
Dios.
Reunion de Lideres este
Sabado, 18 de Abril
en la capilla
5:00 p.m.
No faltes.
missions and community outreach ministries
Our church will be offering a book drive in May
so we can provide a book for each child at Sam
Houston Elementary who participates in this
AgriLife reading program.
Sunday, May 3
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in our Gym
Families Reading Every Day
Log in to Digital Donor at www.giveblood.org
and enter sponsor code: 3546
Watch for more details next week
about requested books.
A WAY TO SERVE OTHERS
Donate a Car or Van for
“Transportation to Independence”
“Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I
am, there my servant will also be. My Father will
honor whoever serves me.” John 12:26
Your donation can help families have
dependable transportation.
Contact the church office for more information
Stop by the Ministry Wall outside the Library,
the “Way to Serve” board outside the
Susanna Room, or go to www.fumc-conroe.org.
discipleship
Discipleship is the practice of being a Christ-follower through worship, prayer, study and
acts of compassion and justice found in witness and service. We become disciples as we
practice living out our lives through knowing, loving and serving God in the world.
TODAY
Why are we United Methodist?
Women’s Book Club
Sensible Shoes:
Join Rev. Scott Moore at 11:00 a.m.
Sundays, April 19 - May 10, in the
Susanna Room to find out more
A Story about the Spiritual Journey
about what it means to say
“I am a United Methodist!”
Tuesday evening, April 28
by Sharon Garlough Brown
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wesley Room
Come see what Annual Conference is all about!
Bring a dessert to share.
Sunday, May 3
9:45 a.m. in Faith Chapel
Led by Rev. Janet Stilwell
Hear about the upcoming resolutions.
Books on Amazon
Hosted by Dr. Jerry Neff
Childcare available
5
Youth Fundraiser
begins Friday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m.
ends Saturday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m.
All current sixth graders are
invited to come join our Jr. High
and Sr. High students and see what
being a part of our YOUTH group
is all about. We will play games,
eat dinner, have ice cream and
more. Bring soda or a drink to
share. Be sure to sign up on the
bulletin board downstairs in the
hallway and pick up a permission
slip.
MILITARY SERVICE
MINISTRY
Please help us keep our lists of
military service personnel and
their addresses current. Contact
Charlene and Jim Payne at
936.756.6947.
You can help lower the cost
of our summer activities for
several of our youth. In the
narthex, you will find a
clothesline
with
envelopes
numbered 1 - 100.
These
numbers represent the amount of
money you are asked to give.
1. Choose a card from those
remaining on the line.
2. Put the dollar amount written
on the front of the
envelope.
3. Place the envelope in the drop
box or in the church office.
Inside the envelope is a card with
the dates of when our youth will
be away from the church at
different summer events. We
ask your prayers for our youth
and adult leaders on these days.
On the back of the card is an
invitation to join us on Sunday,
August 9, for a Celebration
Luncheon. Our Youth will be
sharing photos and personal
stories of their experiences
throughout the summer. Thank
you so much for supporting our
youth!
FUMC-Conroe
Columbarium
Home Communion
Volunteers Needed
Call Janet Cable in the church
office at 936.756.3395.
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Construction will begin on the
Columbarium as soon as we have
enough niches purchased to
support the building costs. Each
niche holds two urns, at a total
cost of $3,000. A two-year,
interest-free payment plan is
available. If you would like to
purchase a niche, please don’t
wait. Sign up now! Call Chris
Gurley in the church office at
936.756.3395.
Youth Confirmation Class
begins Wednesday, April 22
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Upper Room
This class is for any youth in
the 7th - 12th grade who has not yet
been confirmed or who was
confirmed but may want to
re-affirm their commitment. This
is a six-week class that will be
taught prior to our Wednesday
Night Youth.
For more
information, contact Ruth Ann
Person.
We are a
Stephen Ministry
Congregation.
This week’s featured book from
our own church library:
Gardenias for Breakfast is a
delightful novel by Robin Jones
Gunn that explores relationships
between grandmothers, mothers,
and daughters.
Cancer
You are invited to join us for:
Service Day
Monday, April 20
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wesley Room
Project: Cough Pillows
for Hospital Patients
Coordinators:
Ellen McCarty, 756-5045
Betty Hosterman, 539-1536
Last month we stuffed and
stitched 82 pillows.
Support
Group
Wednesday, May 13
12:00 Noon – 1:15 p.m.
in the Church Library
This month our speaker will
be Dr. Anita Arora Gill, a
dermatologist. She will talk to the
group about the diagnosis and
treatment of skin disorders. Dr. Gill
is willing to look at any skin
problems that you might be
concerned about that day. Everyone
is welcome. Please come and join
the group. Lunch served. Call Janet
Cable at 936-756-3395 if you have
any questions.
Calling All Callers!!
The Connecting Ministry Needs
You! We are looking for folks
who will call our members
on their birthday and/or call our
first-time visitors to welcome
them to our church!
Call
Rev. Janet Stilwell for more
details 936-756-3395, or e-mail
at [email protected].
Both ministries are great ways to
help others from the comfort of
your home!
Pre-Annual Conference
Informational Meeting
You are i nvi t ed t o at t end
a P re -Annual C onf eren ce
In form at i onal
M eet i ng
l ed b y Dr. J err y Nef f
on S unda y, Ma y 3, at
9: 45
a.m .
in
Fai t h
C hapel . Hope yo u wi l l
be abl e t o at t end !
THANK YOU
I would like to thank all of you
for your support, condolences,
cards, donations and, of
course, prayers during the
recent illness and subsequent
passing away of my mother.
My church family was such a
comfort during this difficult
time.
Marie Underdown
Volunteers Needed
Sympathy to . . .
Would you like to volunteer to send
greeting cards to our homebound
members? Call Janet Cable at
936.756.3395.
. . . Rich Stanton on the
April 2 death of his brother,
William
Stanton,
of
Levittown, Pennsylvania.
PRAYER REQUEST OR PRAISE REPORT?
E-mail to: [email protected] - or call (936) 756-3395 - or visit our website at www.fumc-conroe.org
hospital
PLEASE PRAY FOR . . . OUR KNOWN HOSPITALIZED
St. Luke’s - Houston
Sondra Richardson
RECENTLY RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
Ann Churchill, Mary “Sue” Davis, Nannette McCarty, Donna Trice-Drummond, Nicola Weems
If you or someone you love has been in the hospital for 24 hours and you haven’t heard from the church, we don’t know you're there.
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week at a glance
Sunday, April 19
Third Sunday Mission Offering / Clothes Line of Love
7:00 am—Sunday Morning Men’s Coffee Fellowship/
Library (101)
8:30, 9:45 & 11:00 am—Worship Services/Sanctuary &
Faith Chapel
9:30 am—Small Groups for Youth/Upper Room
9:45 am—Small Groups for All Ages/All Classrooms
11:00 am—Children’s Sunday School (bilingual)/102
11:00 am—Small Groups for Adults/Asbury Room, 109
& 113
11:00 am—Why Are We United Methodist?/Susanna Room
(100)
12:30 pm—Children’s Music Ministry End-of-Choir Party/
Incredible Pizza
3:00 pm—New Hope Handbells/Sanctuary
4:00 pm—Inspiration Choir/M-1 & M-2
4:00 pm—Discipleship Team/Library (101)
5:00 pm—Y.O.U.T.H. Group/Gym, Upper Room & Sports
Field
Monday, April 20
9:00 am—Jesus in the Gospels/111
9:00 am—United Methodist Women Service Day/Wesley
Room
9:00 am—Day School/Children’s Area & Gym
7:00 pm—Boy Scout Troop 143/Wesley Room & 131
7:00 pm—Cub Scout Pack 143/123
Tuesday, April 21
6:20 am—Morning Breakfast Devotional for Montgomery
Jr. High and Sr. High/Whataburger
7:00 am—Tuesday Morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast/
Wesley Room
9:00 am—Day School/Children’s Area & Gym
9:30 am—Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study/111
10:00 am—Day School Nana Puddin’ Program/Sanctuary
5:00 pm—Daisy Troop 107016/Wesley Room
6:30 pm—Coordinating Ministry Team/Library (101)
6:30 pm—Nana Puddin’/Sanctuary
6:30 pm—Open Gym Night/Gym
7:00 pm—United Methodist Women Faith Circle/113
7:00 pm—Midweek Renewal/115
Wednesday, April 22
(continued)
6:00 pm—Chancel Bells/Sanctuary
6:00 pm—Time of Prayer Hispanic Ministry/Faith Chapel
6:00 pm—Y.O.U.T.H. Group/Gym, Upper Room & Sports
Field
7:00 pm—Chancel Choir/M-1
7:00 pm—Hispanic Bible Class/111
Thursday, April 23
9:00 am—Day School/Children’s Area & Gym
9:30 am—Disciple II Bible Study/113
10:00 am—Region 2 Girl Scout Leadership/Library (101)
10:00 am—“The Gathering Place” Memory Care/Wesley
Room
6:30 pm—Spring Fling/Wesley Room
Friday, April 24
12:00 pm—Church Office Closes
Saturday, April 25
5:00 pm—Soccer/Sports Field
5:30 pm—Single Adult Game Night/131
Financial Report as of March 31, 2015
Budget need through 3/31
$ 516,208
Received through 3/31
$ 590,890
Contributions over budget 3/31 $ 74,682
ONLINE GIVING FROM A MOBILE DEVICE
Scan this QR CODE to access the
online giving feature on your device.
Wednesday, April 22
6:20 am—Morning Breakfast Devotional for Willis ISD/
Chick-fil-A
8:15 am—Day School Teacher Meeting/111
9:00 am—Morning “42” Gang/M-2
9:00 am—Day School/Children’s Area & Gym
9:30 am—“Mom-to-Mom”/115
10:00 am—Day School Nana Puddin’ Program/Sanctuary
10:00 am—Rose Hunt’s Bridge Group/131
12:00 pm—Brown Bag Bible Study/Wesley Room
Flowers in the Sanctuary
In honor of Roxy Thompson’s birthday,
by her husband, Frank Thompson.
First United Methodist Church
4308 W. Davis Street - Conroe, Texas 77304-4284
(936) 756-3395
www.fumc-conroe.org
April 19, 2015
Third Sunday of Easter
8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
A TIME TO PREPARE
PRELUDE
WELCOME
*EXPRESSIONS OF LOVING HOSPITALITY
(You are encouraged to tell those around you how much you appreciate their presence here today.)
*OPENING SONG
“Sing with All the Saints in Glory”
OPENING VOLUNTARY
8:30 a.m.
HYMN TO JOY
“A Call to Service”
Martin
Inspiration Choir
11:00 a.m.
“This Is the Day”
Berg
Little Angels Choir, Cherub Choir, Sounds of Grace
Doug Frankhouser, Cabasa; Alma Bigler, Triangle
*CALL TO WORSHIP
8:30 a.m. - Doug Bieniek
11:00 a.m. - Hannah Person
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Be filled with the Spirit of God and speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
People: We will sing with our lips and make melody to the Lord in our hearts,
for God is good and God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Praise God the Father at all times and give thanks for everything in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
People: We will make the most of every opportunity and praise God by living as children of light.
All:
Thanks be to God!
*HYMN No. 539
“O Spirit of the Living God”
FOREST GREEN
(Verses 1, 3 & 4)
STEPHEN MINISTRY COMMISSIONING SERVICE - 11:00 a.m.
TIME FOR OUR CHILDREN No. 558
Rev. Mary Tumulty
“We Are the Church”
PORT JERVIS
(Refrain / Verse 1 / Refrain)
CALL TO PRAYER No. 347
A TIME TO PRAY
“Spirit Song”
(Verse 1)
SPIRIT SONG
PASTORAL PRAYER
8:30 a.m. - Rev. Mary Tumulty
11:00 a.m. - Rev. Janet Stilwell
THE LORD’S PRAYER No. 895
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
A TIME TO PROCLAIM
“Take Time to Be Holy”
*HYMN No. 395
HOLINESS
(Verses 1, 2 & 3)
****
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH No. 884 “A Statement of Faith of the Korean Methodist Church”
*SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 5:21
*RESPONSE TO THE SCRIPTURE
MESSAGE
“My Tribute”
“Defining Moments: Commitment”
MY TRIBUTE
Dr. Jerry Neff
A TIME TO RESPOND
MORNING OFFERING
8:30 a.m.
“This Is the Day”
Berg
Little Angels Choir, Cherub Choir, Sounds of Grace
Doug Frankhouser, Cabasa; Alma Bigler, Triangle
11:00 a.m.
“A Call to Service”
Martin
Chancel Choir
*DOXOLOGY No. 95
“Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow”
OLD 100th
*INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
(You are invited to give your life to Christ or indicate your desire to become a member of this church by coming to the altar.
For information about this church and membership, visit the Welcome Center in the Lobby.)
*HYMN No. 421
“Make Me a Captive, Lord”
DIADEMATA
(Verses 1, 3 & 4)
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
*BENEDICTION
*CHORAL BENEDICTION
“Are Ye Able”
BEACON HILL
(Refrain)
*POSTLUDE
“This Joyful Eastertide”
arr. Kohrs
(*Those who are comfortable to stand, please do so.)
**** If you are visiting First United Methodist Church-Conroe for the first time, we are glad you are here! We hope you will register the gift of
your presence on our attendance pads which the ushers will collect during the singing of the second hymn.
ACOLYTES: 8:30 a.m. - Kerri Henry, Tanyr Sornson
11:00 a.m. - James Lindsay, Kellen Savoy
Prayer partners are available by the Prayer Basket on the front row.
Flowers in the Sanctuary
In honor of Roxy Thompson’s birthday, by her husband, Frank Thompson