FirstNews
a monthly publication of First United Methodist Church, Dallas
Save the Date! Promises Kept Kick-off Breakfast Sunday, Sept. 21 Fiedler Atrium Look for details in FirstNews Weekly.
September 2014
Some of the most important things we do in life come with a promise. Certainly, there are little promises along the way, but the really important things often involve a contract and an agreement between two parties. In religious circles, we often call promises “vows.” A vow is a way of honoring the God and the other. It indicates hope for a better tomorrow. But no matter what you call a promise—a vow, a covenant, a contract—what we’re talking about here is all based on trust. Theologically speaking, we are living into a sacred trust. God has freely given us the responsibility to care for the Earth, for one another and for ourselves. When we choose to live into that sacred trust we become faithful disciples. Discipleship engenders our becoming a part of a community of faith where we are sharing our lives through vulnerability and grace. When we become members of the Church, we enter into that sacred trust to show and share God’s responsible and responsive Love. This sacred trust is held together by five key principles: prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Beginning September 15 FirstChurch will enter into a study and sermon series called Promises Kept. As we look forward to ministry year 2015, we will explore together the ways our belonging at FirstChurch impacts one another and our community through the five principles of our sacred trust. For the coming year, I am looking forward to building on my commitment to Christ and sacred trust with FirstChurch in these ways: Prayer: I promise to pray daily, especially before meals. Presence: I promise to be fully present in each conversation with active listening. Gifts: I promise to tithe—to give back 10% of my income—to FrstChurch. Service: I promise to read with a student at J.J. Rhoads Learning Center with Reading Partners, 30 minutes per week. Witness: I promise to invite new acquaintances to worship services atFirstChurch. I will need your help this year to maintain my promises. Will you join me? Together, we can make a marked difference for FirstChurch and for our community. Together we are held... In God’s Love, Andy
Welcome Our Newest Members BAPTISM FROM AUG. 17
Ava Hope Salinas with her parents Marco & Alison Salinas, & sister Isla NEW MEMBER FROM AUG. 24
BAPTISM FROM AUG. 17
BAPTISM FROM AUG. 24
Ainsley Taylor Neal Thatcher Kirk Elam with her parents Jeff & with his parents Kyle & Crystal Samantha Neal, & brother Elam, & sister Lilly Grace Wyatt
BAPTISM FROM AUG. 24
Alfred Rhyne Kuzov with his parents Alfred & Candice Kuzov, & sister Aurora Rose
BAPTISM FROM AUG. 31
Sunday Worship Sunday, Sept. 7 Not Far at All Acts 17:22-28 Communion Sunday Russ McCall
Zoey Olivia Blacketer with her parents Jordan & Sara Blacketer
Care & Concern DEATHS: Sincere sympathy to the families of Bob Bell, father of Beverly Godbey Bobbye Lee Godbey, mother of David Godbey Lester Norwood, grandfather of Jillian Bunn Lorene Rodden, sister of Lois Davis Virginia Myers, mother of Kelvin Meyers James Schoolfield, brother of Dudley Schoolfield BIRTHS: Congratulations on the births of Clara Parker Hamilton, daughter of Zachary and Callie
Sunday, Sept. 14 Nowhere To Run To Psalm 139:7-12 Sunday, Sept. 21 Promises Kept: Promises, Promises Genesis 12:1-9 Sunday, Sept. 28 Promises Kept: The Premise of Prayer Luke 11:1-13 Sunday worship: 8:45 & 11 a.m. Sunday school: 9:45 a.m.
Hamilton Sadie Grace Brookshire, daughter of Keith and Michelle Brookshire
Missed a sermon? Click here.
Fellowship - Learn - Connect Oct. 5 – Oct. 26 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. Be a part of something new! Become a Rhoads Reading Partner! This fall we’re beginning a partnership with Joseph J. Rhoads Learning Center. Through a program called “Reading Partners” members can help boost a child’s reading and comprehension. Consider a commitment of once a week, for 3 months and see what a difference you’ll make in a child, and what an impact they will have on you! Contact Dottie Dunnam for more information or click here.
Whether you are a visitor, new member or a long time member of the FirstChurch family, the EXPLORING THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH. Ministers of FirstChurch would like to invite you to join them for FirstCoffee! They will help you to answer some of these questions: 1. What does it mean to be Methodist? 2. Who was John Wesley? 3. How does the United Methodist Church make decisions? 4. What makes FirstChurch Dallas unique? 5. How do I really make a deeper connection with this faith family? Light refreshments and coffee will be provided each week! Click here to register. Left: On Sunday, Aug. 24, FirstChurch members enjoyed the Discipleship Fair where they learned ways to connect within the church. Program areas set up booths with information and answered questions about their ministry areas.
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TAKE THE FIRST STEP. Lunch. Learn. Connect. Explore membership at FirstChurch during brunch with Senior Minister Dr. Andy Stoker. This interactive forum offers a brief history of FirstChurch along with opportunities to connect with us in ministry. Sunday, September 21. firstchurchdallas.org/firststep
Learn how to put your spiritual gifts into practice and utilize your natural, God-given talents and strengths as we discover exciting ministry opportunities together. October 5. 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. & 12 – 2 p.m. $20 includes book and lunch. firstchurchdallas.org/strengths
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Dinner and Distinguished Guest Speaker Sept. 9 - Nov. 25 6:15 - 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays in Room G-05
Wednesday, Sept. 10 Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
As a friend or relative of someone with mental illness, do you have any of these questions? • What do I do if there is a crisis? • How can I get a clear diagnosis for my relative? • How can my relative and I communicate better? • What local services in my community am I missing out on? • How do I take care of myself in all of this?
Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, Associate Professor of New Testament, is sharing The Power of ‘We’: Bible Study for Our Time. The suggested donation for dinner is $5/ person.
You are not alone. Mental illnesses are common. You are invited to join in Family-to-Family, a free 12-week course for family and friends of individuals with serious mental illness. Many family members describe the impact of taking this course as life changing.
This is our FirstChurch University Celebration and Kickoff Event and your final chance to register for a course! Childcare is available. Click here to sign up for the dinner and lecture, or stop by the FCU table in the Atrium on Sunday. FCU classes begin Sept. 17. Still haven’t registered? Click here to find your course…
To register or to find out more, please contact FirstChurch member, Jim Wintle or Rev. Wally Butts, Associate Minister of Spiritual Life.
Thursday
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FirstSeniors Outing
FirstSeniors and Crossroads Chapter AARP are partnering for an outing to the Dallas World Aquarium downtown. The bus will leave the church at 11:15 am and return by 2:30 pm. Cost is about $18. Folks will have lunch on their own at one of the three restaurants there. Contact Tom Downing (214-450-1626) for details. Friday
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Parents Time-Out
cause profound, positive changes in parentchild relationships, even when dealing with emotional and behavioral challenges like ADHD and autism. No chanting or incense—just a time out for your brain! Childcare provided. 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Crossroads Center
by Amanda Ripley. Review presented by Randy Mayeux. (Not necessary to read book prior to review). Food trucks will be set up at the Atrium Entrance at 11:30 and offer delicious food for purchase! Noon, Fiedler Atrium Sunday
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UMW Unit Meeting
Visitors are welcome and Light dinner served at 6:00 p.m. encouraged to join us to hear our Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. speaker, Ms. Cheryl Nevels, Principal of JJ in Crossroads Center. RSVP to Sherrye Bass Rhoads Learning Center. Please reply to Joy by Sept. 10. Mitchell (jjgmitch@earthlink.net) Noon in the UrbanLife Center Tuesday
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Church Council Meeting
Join instructor Heather Ellett for our monthly meditation group as Thursday Urban Engagement Book we learn relaxation techniques that help Review even the busiest parents stress less and laugh more. Modern research shows how simple “The Smartest Kids in the World: meditation techniques practiced daily can And How They Got That Way,”
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Music and Arts News Filberto Chapa acrylics
The Goodrich Gallery is delighted to welcome back Filberto Chapa. His acrylic
Goodrich Gallery September Exhibit
work will open with a reception in the gallery on Sunday, September 7, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. and
Gallery Hours
remain on display through Sunday, September 28.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
The gallery committee hopes you will join them
9 a.m. - Noon Saturday
at the reception to view the exhibit and meet this
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday
delightful local artist.
There is an element of mystery that draws one to the art of Filberto Chapa. His compositions can be simple or complex and are always creatively arranged.
Filberto Chapa
One definitely finds influences of Picasso and Matisse. However, Chapa manages to make his work totally his own by expanding ideas that are uniquely his.
Colorful portraits of
women abound with his beautiful stylizing of the elements.
These
expressions of mystery create works of life that draw the viewer into the artist’s vision.
Chapa welcomes you
to his work. Enjoy! 6
Out and About with the Goodrich Gallery Sunday, September 21, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. in UrbanLife A You are invited to join the Goodrich Gallery for the second annual Out and About event as we continue to explore themes of art and spirituality with our Arts District Neighbors. Dr. Johan Elverskog, Altshuler University Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at SMU, returns to FirstChurch to speak about Islamic art and its spiritual significance. The afternoon begins with lunch and lecture in UrbanLife A; then we’ll adjourn to the Dallas Museum of Art for a tour of their permanent collection of Islamic Art. Johan Elverskog is Altshuler University Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at SMU. He is the author and editor of numerous articles and books, which have won several awards and also been translated into Chinese, Korean, and Russian. All of this work focuses on the history of Inner Asia. His work has been supported by the American Council of Learned Societies, the Ford Research Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation, among others. He has also been a fellow at the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Studies, the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and the Käte Hamburger Kolleg at Ruhr Universität. Cost is $20 per person and includes lunch, lecture, and art tour. Free childcare will be provided at the church. To register and make childcare reservations, please click here. For more information, contact Music and Arts, 214-220-2727, ext. 218.
Register NOW for Children & Youth Music Programs! Kickoff Sunday: September 7 Children: Carol Choir (K-1): 9:00-9:45 a.m. Cantate Choir (2nd-3rd): 12:35 - 1:35 p.m. Counterpoint Choir (4th-6th): 12:35 - 1:35 p.m. Orff Ensemble (2nd-3rd): 1:35 - 2:20 p.m. Steeple Ringers (4th-6th): 1:35 - 2:20 p.m. Joyful Noise (3 & 4 year olds) will continue this year as part of the Sunday school hour. No registration is required.
Youth (7th-12th grades): Carillon Ringers: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Variations Youth Choir: 12:35 - 2:00 p.m.
Never been in Variations or Carillon before, but want to join this year? Click here. Returning Variations and rising 7th graders, watch your email for registration information!
To register for children’s music programs, click here. 7
On Friday, Aug. 1, FirstChurch participated in the Mayors Back to School Fair at Fair Park in Dallas. Over $5,000 was contributed to the effort including a bike & book giveaway in conjunction with the Dallas Public Library. See letter from Mayor Mike Rawlings at left.
Right: FirstChurch distributed backpacks, uniforms and school supplies and served breakfast to families at the Back to School Party in Fiedler Atrium on Sat., Aug. 16. 8