FirstNews
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF DALLAS
OCTOBER 2015
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 What does it mean to be given Grace by others? Giving Grace could be defined in many ways: speaking kindly to those you love (or maybe don’t love) or being non-reactive toward those who do wrong to us. My concept of giving Grace is to treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. When we talk about God’s Grace, we remember the sacrifice of his Son for our salvation. FirstChurch provides its members with Grace on a daily basis through its adult and children’s programming, weekly services, Sunday school classes, mission trips and a multitude of other gifts. FirstChurch also provides Grace for the outside community such as the recent school supply and clothing drive for children in local schools. Please join me in helping to repay these many gifts of Grace by FirstChurch and support our 2016 Commitment Campaign. Your contributions allow our church home to continue giving Grace not only to its members, but also the outside world as well. God has provided us with so much. It is our responsibility to respond to God’s Grace. Lauren Syler On Oct. 18, we will come together in worship for a Service of Commitment and Thanksgiving, in a ritual of giving and receiving our pledge for the coming year. For your convenience, you may also send your pledge via e-mail to wwestberg@fumcdallas.org or visit www.firstchurchdallas.org/give.
1928 Ross Avenue Dallas, Texas 75201 214-220-2727 firstchurchdallas.org Dr. Andrew C. Stoker Senior Minister
T
he weather is changing, school is back to a routine and pumpkins can be found throughout the grocery store which means – Fall Festival is just around
the corner! Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. New this year, plan to enjoy a burger or grilled cheese from In-N-Out Burger! Sunday school classes and groups gather together to create a fantastic festival for FirstKids and guests. This year, funds raised will support a ‘spiff up project’ on the 2nd floor landing to increase seating, and open the space to gather both parents and kids to enjoy community and coffee. Kids, invite your neighbors and start your costume dreaming now, and plan on a super night of games, activities and fun!
Tickets at firstchurchdallas.org/fallfestival
5-7pm
Pavlina Panova, Pressed Leaves and Clay The Goodrich Gallery exhibit for October showcases the talent of Pavlina Panova. Her exhibit opens with the gallery’s traditional Artist’s Reception on Sunday, October 4, from 12:00 - 2 p.m. in the gallery. You can enjoy the exhibit daily through Sunday, October 25. The gallery committee hopes you will stop by to meet the artist on October 4 and revisit many times during the month. Pavlina Panova was born in 1959 in Bulgaria where she had a successful career as a published author, literary critic and teacher in Bulgarian Language and Literature. In 1999, she and her family came to America and since then they have been living in Irving, Texas. Soon after her arrival, she enrolled as an English as a Second Language student at North Lake College. At the same time she started creating small pictures with pressed leaves and became passionately involved in this new artistic way of expression. After a few years of experimenting with pressed leaves and other natural materials, she realized that she needed more knowledge for developing her style. In 2007 she went back to North Lake College as a full time credit student majoring in Art and English. She gained not only practical skills, but also theoretical knowledge which has tremendously influenced her work. Since then, she has been transforming and applying different techniques in her work with pressed leaves. For the last few years she has been actively
working in a new direction of combining clay reliefs and leaves. In 2011, she graduated with an Associate’s degree in Art. In 2013, Pavlina started teaching a Pressed Leaves and Flowers Class and Clay Jewelery Class at North Lake College. She has been a guest speaker for the Sustainability Program at North Lake College. “My art is a symbiosis of the cultural heritage I came with from Bulgaria and my new life in America as an artist. My main medium is pressed leaves, but I also use a wide variety of natural materials such as flowers, seeds, fruit and veggie peels, herbs, etc. Nature gives me the materials to work with and inspires me with its creative power and beauty. I believe in the transforming power of art and its ability to make people better and more spiritual.”
Goodrich Gallery October Exhibit Gallery Hours 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - Noon Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday
FirstYouth offers a variety of opportunities
UPCOMING
for teenagers to find their place in the
Events OCTOBER 4 11 18 25
Higher Ground on the third floor Trip to the State Fair of Texas (2:30-8 p.m.) Fall Festival (5-7 p.m.) No Higher Ground (Disciple Now weekend 24-25)
NOVEMBER 1 A Service of Light & Remembrance 8 Higher Ground on the third floor 15 Higher Ground on the third floor 22 Hanging of the Greens 29 No Higher Ground (Thanksgiving) DECEMBER 6 Higher Ground on the third floor 13 Progressive Dinner Christmas Party (4:30-9:00 p.m.) 27 Winter Mission Trip to Houston
church community. Sunday school is a gathering place for learning and discussion, with each month focusing on a different topic or theme. YOUTH LUNCH Every Sunday, ALL youth are invited to meet in the Dining Room for lunch and relationship building right after service until 12:45 p.m. The lunch time has been expanded and we have a great team of volunteers ready to help develop small groups and create more intentional community for our students. HIGHER GROUND Higher Ground, our weekly youth get-together, offers a chance for youth to relax together and really dig into their faith – asking questions, serving together and learning to live a life of Christian discipleship.
SAVE THE DATE Discover the wonderful journey of growing older with integrity.
NOV. 1
First Church Fiedler Atrium
The final phase of life is a great opportunity for spiritual, emotional and psychological growth. Are you ready to embrace this phase of your journey? Join FirstChurch and Walnut Hill United Methodist Church for Conscious Aging, an 8-session program led by Dr. Mary Anne Reed.
Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. beginning Oct. 15 at Walnut Hill UMC Register at firstchurchdallas.org/conscious-aging
Around Our Table A New Monthly Podcast Gather with us around our table with fascinating members of FirstChurch. Hear about the adventures they have encountered, learn about their current favorites (books, podcasts, things to do with children), and debate current topics in our communities today. We hope that each time you listen you will feel as if you’re sitting around the kitchen table with close friends as we celebrate the joys of life together.
October’s Podcast: FirstChurch members Lindsay Mason and Molly Schayot join us this month for conversation and laughter around identity, parenting, education and even uprooting family to move across the world. Coming up in November: Alyson Richter and Seth Knight. Contact Jennifer Tolin, Director of Connectional Ministries at jtolin@fumcdallas.org for more information. firstchurchdallas.org/around-our-table
Family Enrichment Speaker Series
Sunday, Oct. t. 4 9:45 a.m. Fiedler Atrium Please join us for “Setting a Pace: Examining the spiritual underpinnings of a too-busy life” with Kathleen Fischer. Sponsored by Eve: A Circle of Moms.
Text Giving Now Available
1.
Text your giving amount to 214-306-8121.
2.
Set up your account (one time). Your number is remembered for future giving.
3.
Manage your giving easily using text commands.
Visit firstchurchdallas.org/give or contact Lynn Campbell at lcampbell@fumcdallas.org.
The North Texas Food Bank relies on the strong faith community to tackle hunger in our area. FirstChurch, youth to seniors, joined other local faith groups for the “Full on Faith” event on Saturday, Sept. 19.
h t e r o 4 f t e h Ann t a D e h t ual Save Wesley-Rankin GREAT Garage Sale
Oct. 30, 31
and Nov. 1
Donate starting Oct. 3! 2900 Bataan Street Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (except Mondays & Fridays) Sundays: Noon – 4:00 pm Volunteer! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need MANY volunteers to help sort and setup donations. To volunteer, Contact Kama Koudelka 214-663-1063. Shop! Come support Wesley-Rankin by shopping at the GREAT Garage Sale! Check out www.wesleyrankin.org for more details!
We need your items and can take anything EXCEPT: • Mattresses due to health laws • Tupperware (example: plastic storage containers, bowls, sippie cups) • Large appliances (example: refrigerators, dishwashers) • Box TV’s or non-working computers, printers, monitors • T-shirts • Books, Magazines, Periodicals • Building supplies (example: bricks, doors)
FirstChurch Welcomes Our Newest Members
Wesley (Wes) Adam Bailey and Dashiell (Dash) Wade Bailey with their parents Michael and Brooke and sister Rebecca
Rosalinda (Rosie) Bynum and son, Luke
Linda Salton and Bud Browne
David and Annette Smith, daughters Lauren Smith and Danielle Ferraro
Konrad Kaltenbach and Kim Henderson
Chad and Sondra Healy
Care & Concern DEATHS: Sincere sympathy to the families of:
Tom Dawson, father of Diane Giddens Eddie Rush, brother of Bea Rush Ruth Glaze, mother of Reverend Katherine Lyle Charles Curry, son of Paralee Curry John and Debbie MacDonald
Lenora Lane, Mother of Bob Lane Eugenia Ann Wharton, sister of Al Hearne Dorothy Longino, mother of Ellen Smith