The Vine
The Newsletter of Bellaire United Methodist Church ISSUE 52.6
April 4, 2016
Pastor’s Note Dear Friends, What a wonderful Easter at Bellaire UMC! For those of you who were able to attend one of our Easter Sunday morning worship services, you know that it was a beautiful way to celebrate the resurrection. We had over 600 people in worship on Easter, and many more over the course of our Holy Week services. I have included on this page a painting by one of my favorite artists that depicts the empty tomb visited by the women on that first Easter morning. One of the things we will remind ourselves of over the next six weeks is that the empty tomb long ago still makes a difference today. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very foundation of our lives and our hope as Christians, not just something we remember once each year.
He Qi, He Is Risen
In the life of the church, Easter is an entire season, and for the fifty days from Easter Sunday through Pentecost, the people of God continue to celebrate the risen Lord. We’ll do that throughout all of our worship services over the next six weeks. This past Sunday, April 3, we began a new series called Life After Death. We will read through a number of stories that tell of what happens when Jesus shows up after the resurrection. One thing we will discover is that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in the world today, and available to each and every one of us. I look forward to worshiping with you this Easter season at any of our worship services. Our schedule has returned to normal after our Lenten combined 11:11am services with Contemporary worship at 9:00am in the Sanctuary, Traditional worship at 11:11am in the Sanctuary, and International worship at 11:11am in the Chapel. He is risen! Pastor Seann
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Coming Up Blessing of the Animals Saturday, April 9 | 2:00-4:00pm
If you love your pet, don’t miss this event! Bellaire UMC invites our congregation and the entire community to bring their pets to the “Blessing of the Animals” on the front lawn of the church. This tradition remembers and celebrates St. Francis of Assisi who was lovingly devoted to all creatures in the animal kingdom. Following a brief worship service led by Pastors Seann Duffin, Jim Love and Diane McGehee, attendees can present their pets to one of the pastors for an individual blessing, and they will receive a commemorative picture of that memorable moment, compliments of Nicky LaWell Photography. Attendees can also visit with BUMC’s Faithful Paws pet therapy group, veterinarian Dr. Garnett Von Eiff, pet nutrition experts from Natural Pawz, a professional dog trainer and a groomer from Rover Oaks Pet Resort, and more. Plus, you will see some adorable adoptable pets brought to this year’s event by Bassett Buddies, Westie and Scottie Rescue, and Houston Cocker Spaniel Rescue. Help us spread the word by inviting your friends and neighbors to join us on April 9 between 2:00 pm and 4:00pm! Remember that all pets should be friendly and either on-leash (dogs), in protective carriers (cats), or in cages (birds, small mammals), fish bowls, or terrariums (fish, reptiles). For more information, contact Steve Smith at (713) 703-1093 or steve@roveroaks.com.
Coming Up Vacation Bible School June 13-17 | REGISTER NOW!
Sign up now for this year’s Vacation Bible School. We will go on a “Cave Quest,” following Jesus who is the light of the world. Forms are available in the church office. If you would like more information, or want to know how you can help, contact Margaret Miller at mmiller@bellaireumc.org.
Power Camp — Register Now! Power Camp is a summer day camp ministry of BUMC for children pre-K (4) through entering grade 6 whose mission is to provide a positive Christian environment which includes education, recreation and fun, while also providing a safe sanctuary for children in Bellaire and its surrounding communities. We look forward to spending time with your children this summer! For session dates, more information, or to register, please visit www.bellaireumc.org.
Food Truck Friday Friday, May 6 | 5:00-7:00pm Save the date for an exciting event here at Bellaire UMC. On Friday, May 6 we will welcome our neighbors for an evening of food and fun on the front lawn of the church. We will have food trucks, refreshments, games for kids, and live music. Please contact Pastor Seann at (713) 666-2167 or sduffin@bellaireumc.org for more information.
Bellaire UMC to Host College Pastoral Intern Bellaire UMC has been chosen by the Texas Annual Conference for the unique opportunity to host a summer college pastoral intern. There will be more details to come, but for three months this summer we will be the place where Abbey Weaver, a student at Abliene Christian University, will explore the call to ministry that God has placed on her life. The internship is funded by the Texas Annual Conference, but as the host congregation, we are responsible for finding Abbey a place to live for the summer. Do you have a spare room in your home? A garage apartment? Do you know someone who does? Would you be willing to host Abbey? Please contact Pastor Seann at (713) 666-2167 or sduffin@bellaireumc.org for more information.
MinistryCorner The BUMC Community Service Group assembled twenty-four Easter baskets last week for foster care children at the Chimney Rock CPS Shelter. Each basket was lovingly filled with puzzle books, candy, granola bars, Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, a Bible verse card, and a card from Bellaire UMC. What a great way to share God’s love with our neighbors! To learn more about the Community Service Group or how to get involved with future service opportunities, contact Barbarba Nowotny at barbara@nowotnycpa.com.
Friday Night Dance
Second Friday of Each Month | 7:00-9:00pm | Fellowship Hall
Combat Dementia by Dancing? Dancing was the only physical activity associated with a lower risk of dementia. New England Journal of Medicine, June 2003 The above noted study is but one of the growing evidence that stimulating one's mind by dancing can ward off Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, much as physical exercise can keep the body fit. Frequent freestyle dancing was shown by the study to reduce the risk of dementia by 76 percent—twice as much as reading—and playing sports or practicing choreographed dance sequences which had no benefit at all. Dancing also increases cognitive acuity at all ages. Why? Dancing integrates several brain functions at once — kinesthetic, rational, musical, and emotional — further increasing your neural connectivity. So what can I do? Attend the Friday Night Dance, here at the Fellowship Hall of BUMC, on the second Friday of each month. The next dance is on April 8 and starts at 7:00, ending at 9:00pm. Admission is $5 per person, with first timers free. Both singles and couples are encouraged to come. But I don’t know how to dance? During the break in the middle of the dance Joe and Dixie (past dance instructors) will show you the basics. You’re also encouraged to dance with the regulars at the dance, since dancing with other partners actually improves your dancing. What should I wear? Leather soles on your shoes allow you to slide along the floor better.
Senior Adults See what our Bellaire United Methodist Seniors (BUMS) are up to: Tuesday, April 12, 2016: Join us for a tour of Galveston with an onboard tour guide who is customizing her tour to show us the historical side of the island when it was wide open in the old days, before all the slot machines were dumped in Galveston Bay. We’ll pick up our guide at 10:30am for a two hour tour on the bus. Then we will have lunch at Millers Seawall Grill whose menu varies from burgers, shrimp, fish, chicken fried steak, to calf liver & onions. The cost of the tour is $7 and lunch will be on your own. We will leave the church at 9:00am from the parking lot across Newcastle. Make your reservations by signing the reservation list in your Sunday school class, by calling Tom & Sandra at 713-703-1153, or by emailing us at tandswms@att.net. Thursday, May 5, 2016: We want the BUMS to experience the new programming at the Planetarium in Hermann Park. It opens in mid March; the ads for it look amazing! We will try to get in for an early showing. Lunch, of course, is on the itinerary. Details to follow. Thursday, June 16, 2016: We are planning to return to Galveston to tour the new Bryan Museum. Put the date on your calendar. We still have to work out the details. In April we will be calling for bus dates for July–August. Even though we don’t have a bus set up for August yet, we had to make reservations for the next annual melodrama, “Klondike Kalamity,” performed by the Cast Theatrical Company in Rosenberg on Saturday, August 6. We have 30 tickets reserved and had to work at getting those before they sold out. This is a very popular event in the Rosenberg community. We had lots of fun at “Riding the Rails” last August, being up close and personal, throwing pop corn at the villain, etc. This will be a new show this coming August. The price of a ticket is only $16. Your payment guarantees your reservation. We can’t order any more tickets. Think about getting your ticket as soon as possible. On the way to Rosenberg, we will have supper at the Live Oak Grill in Sugar Land. We will let you know about departure times later. Bible Trivia Answer: Actually there are no days between Passover and the beginning of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Passover ends on a Saturday and the Festival of Unleavened Bread begins on the next day. Texas Trivia Answer: (You’re not going to believe this) Van Cliburn was only 13 when he made his debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra? Bible Trivia: Who were the disciples that witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration? Texas Trivia: The horse-and-rider contests of the Hispanic charreri’a were the basis for what current, popular Texas sports event? (Take a guess) For more information on Bellaire UMC Senior Adult activities, please contact Tom and Sandra Williams at 713-703-1153 or tandswms@att.net.
BUMC NEWS Ministry Grants Available
BUMC Prayer List
Deadline Extended to April 15!
The following names are on this week’s prayer list. Please join us in praying for these individuals.
If your group is in need of funding for a ministry or Lynnelea, Mollie, Anita, Kelley, Ellie, Leslie Kay, mission in our community, the BUMC Council on Debra, Beth, Marcella, Riley, Cleta, Charles, Robert, Ministries has grant funds available. Chelsea, Thomas, Hope, Eugene, Betty, Kris, Shirley, If you would like your project or group to be Jeffrey, Casey, Larry, Geraldine, Brad, Melissa, Rose, considered for funding, please fill out a grant request Nick, Linda, Anne, Mary Ann, Will, Misty,Men's form by April 15, 2016. The forms are available in Ministry, Women's Ministry, Nick, Cathy, Jake, Clara, the church office or via email. Ivo, Van, Melissa, Mary, Stephanie, Annetta, Barbara, For questions, or to receive a form by email, please Hollie, Marcella, Pat, Ashlea & Dustin, Joyce, August, contact Jim Love at jlove@bellaireumc.org or Cathy Emma, Luke. In the hospital: Mary Ann C. (Sugarland), Johanna T. Beathard at cbeathard@comcast.net (Barton House Hospice), Pat W. (Memorial SW).
Financial Update & Faithfulness EASTER OFFERING UPDATE This year’s Easter offering supported the World Service Fund, a vital fund that enables the work of United Methodist ministries throughout the globe. Our goal was to raise $10,000 for the World Service Fund, which is also one of our annual connectional commitments (apportionments). Through your generosity, we exceeded our goal and raised a total of $13,159. Our commitment had been that any money raised over our goal would go to support youth ministry at Bellaire UMC. So, not only have you provided needed support for the World Service Fund, you have helped fund life-changing ministry for young people right here at BUMC. Thank you so much for your generosity!
The work of ministry happens at Bellaire UMC because of your faithfulness in worship, service, and giving. Here is a brief overview of our giving so far in 2016. 2016 Giving to Date $ 289,173 2016 Expenses to Date $ 300,097 Difference - $10,924
Average Worship Attendance During Lent
Holy Week Attendance
9:00 Contemporary — 121
Maundy Thursday — 107
11:11 Combined Trad./Int’l. — 169
Good Friday — 110
Average Sunday Sch. Attendance During Lent — 187
Easter Vigil — 42 Easter Sunday — 614
4417 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, Texas 77401 www.bellaireumc.org 713-666-2167 Bellaire United Methodist Church
THE BELLAIRE UNITED METHODIST NEWSLETTER USPS 048-820 is published semi-monthly by Bellaire United Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at Bellaire, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address change to, The Bellaire United Methodist Newsletter, 4417 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, TX 77401, 713-666-2167; FAX 713-663-6397. Second Class Postage Paid at Bellaire, TX 77401