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THE VINE NEWSLETTER OF BELLAIRE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD AUGUST 2016 VOLUME 52 ISSUE 10
MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD
THE GAMES THE WAY GOD DESIGNED OUR BODIES IS A MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER AS A CHURCH: EVERY PART DEPENDENT UPON EVERY OTHER PART, THE PARTS WE MENTION AND THE PARTS WE DON’T, THE PARTS WE SEE AND THE PARTS WE DON’T. IF ONE PART HURTS, EVERY OTHER PART IS INVOLVED IN THE HURT, AND IN THE HEALING. IF ONE PART FLOURISHES, EVERY OTHER PART ENTERS INTO THE EXUBERANCE. YOU ARE CHRIST’S BODY—THAT’S WHO YOU ARE! YOU MUST NEVER FORGET THIS. ONLY AS YOU ACCEPT YOUR PART OF THE BODY DOES YOUR “PART” MEAN ANYTHING. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:25-31 (THE MESSAGE)
The Summer Olympics are my absolute favorite sporting event! I remember as child setting the VCR to record the track and field events that I couldn’t watch live. This weekend, I’ll watch the opening ceremonies with friends and family and then set the DVR to record all the events that I want to make sure I don't miss. Part of the reason I love the Olympics is that I love the idea of athletes from all the countries of the world coming together with both a spirit of celebration and intense competition. Every athlete at the Olympics is there to do his or her very best and also to serve as a representative of people from their home country. Over the next several weeks in worship, we will have the Olympics in mind as we think about the Christian life in athletic terms. As always, the scriptures will guide us, and in them we will find some athletic metaphors that may deepen our understanding and experience of our faith. Unlike the Olympic athletes, Christians are not competing with one another. But like each competitor in Rio strives for the gold, God calls every Christian to do his or her very best for God’s kingdom, because we—the body of Christ—are representatives of Jesus here on earth. In Christ, Pastor Seann
MEET MARCUS I am excited to announce that aNer a months-long search and interview process, we have hired a new part-Pme Director of TradiPonal Worship here at Bellaire UMC. Marcus J. Jauregui will begin serving in this posiPon on August 14. I am confident that he is an excellent addiPon to our team, and I am incredibly excited about working with him to lead our tradiPonal worship service and music program into the future. Marcus holds a Bachelor of Music in choral music educaPon from Centenary College of Louisiana, and this December, he will graduate with a Master of Arts in music educaPon from Texas Woman's University. In the spring of 2016, he was named Region 10 Secondary Educator of the Year by the AssociaPon of Texas Professional Educators. This August, he begins his tenure as Director of Choirs at Pershing Middle School in Houston ISD. Marcus is a lifelong Methodist and most recently served the music ministry at First United Methodist Church in Irving, Texas.
Marcus J. Jauregui
Over the course of several weeks, Marcus met with our TradiPonal Music interview team and received their unanimous support. He has rehearsed with the choir and received a posiPve endorsement from that group as well. He has also met with the Staff-Parish RelaPons Commi^ee and a few members of the staff, all of whom were impressed and excited by his personality and qualificaPons. You will have the opportunity to welcome Marcus this month, and I look forward to him joining the Bellaire UMC staff. In the meanPme, we conPnue to be extremely grateful to John Haw for his excellent leadership with both our internaPonal and tradiPonal choirs over the past several months. John will conPnue to lead the music program for our internaPonal worship service, and he and Marcus will be collaboraPng in a number of ways in the months ahead. God’s peace, Pastor Seann
A NOTE FROM MARCUS Gree$ngs! I am excited to begin my tenure at BUMC on Sunday, August 14 in our tradi$onal worship service. Our choir season will commence on Wednesday, August 17, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite any and all to join us from 7:00-8:30pm. Whether you're a returning member or someone who usually only sings in the shower or in the car, I'd love for you to consider joining choir! If you have any ques$ons, I can be contacted via email at mjjauregui@gmail.com!
A N O T E FROM ABBEY
WEAVER
Dear friends, During my 0me here at Bellaire UMC, I have go;en to experience many wonderful aspects of the life of this church. I par0cipated in Vaca0on Bible School, UM ARMY, and the Beginnings Bible study. I was able to take part in the Sunday morning services in a variety of ways. It was made possible for me to a;end Sunday school classes, youth Bible studies, funeral and memorial services, commi;ee mee0ngs, visits to hospitals and assisted living facili0es, Bible study at SEARCH, and even Annual Conference. This summer has been full of opportuni0es for educa0on, prac0ce and growth. Through these experiences, I have learned more about the abili0es God has giLed me with in order to serve God’s kingdom more fully. I have loved geNng to work among people of different ages and backgrounds. It has been awesome to see the many Godgiven giLs and talents that are at work in this church and community. Witnessing the members of this church serve others and devote life0mes to the glory of God has been exci0ng and inspira0onal. Working in the church office has been a great experience! The BUMC staff is made up of people who are passionate about loving God and loving people, and I have learned much from working alongside them. I have go;en to know the stories and faith of many people through conversa0ons in the office and hallways of this church building. I have seen the dedica0on of those who work behind the scenes to make disciples of Christ. I would like to thank all of you for the generosity and kindness you've shown me during my 0me here. This church’s hospitality has made my internship such a wonderful experience. “Thank you” to each person who has wri;en a note of encouragement, invited me to share a meal with you, stopped by the office to talk, and prayed for me this summer. A special note of thanks to Phebe Chen and Mark Ward for hos0ng me in their home and invi0ng me to be part of their family during my 0me here. I have greatly enjoyed geNng to know so many of you, and being able to work alongside you in ministry this summer. I have felt the love of the body of Christ, and I am encouraged by the support of the local church.
My 0me here has gone by too quickly. I begin the fall semester of my senior year at ACU on August 22nd. I look forward to returning to Abilene and geNng back into the groove of the school year. I am excited to be reunited with my friends who have become my family. However, one of the things I am most looking forward to is connec0ng my experience here at BUMC with the lessons I will be taught in the classroom. Moving forward from this internship, I am s0ll confident that God is calling me to work in some sort of ministry seNng. Like I have said, I am confident that although I may not yet know how God is going to use me in the church, I am following a path that is well protected by the Lord’s grace. As I con0nue this journey, you will all remain in my prayers. I am forever grateful for Bellaire UMC and all of you. Grace and peace, Abbey Weaver
Make sure you get all the latest informaPon about what’s happening at Bellaire UMC! If you don’t currently receive our weekly email updates, please contact Pastor Seann Duffin at sduffin@bellaireumc.org to be added to the list.
OPPORTUNITIES Fall Fun Fes<val Would you like to volunteer with this year’s Fall Fun FesPval? We need dedicated folks to work in front and behind the scenes leading up to the event and on the day of the fesPval. If you are ready to be part of the team or would like more informaPon, please contact Pastor Jim Love at jlove@bellaireumc.org or (713) 666-2167.
CCSC — Jingle Bell Express This December, Bellaire UMC will again be the host site for ChrisPan Community Service Center’s Jingle Bell Express program, and it is a great way to put your faith in acPon and make a difference in our community. Jingle Bell Express began as one of the first outreach programs of the ChrisPan Community Service Center. In 1980, volunteers got together to act as “Santa’s Helpers,” making dreams of Christmas a reality for 40 needy families. Due to the resounding support of many wonderful Houstonians, this program has blossomed. In December 2015, holiday joy reached 830 families and their 2,537 children through Jingle Bell Express. Jingle Bell Express involves hundreds of volunteers. Help is needed in every phase of the program from registering clients, organizing toys, sekng up the ‘store’, and even helping parents select toys. Many churches, local companies and individuals donate goods and in-kind services for this tremendous undertaking, and CCSC can always use more contributors. Here’s how you can help: (1) Volunteer as Site Coordinator (or Co-Site Coordinator). In this role, you will help coordinate the logisPcs of the event at BUMC. You will develop relaPonships with other lead volunteers through monthly meePngs (August—January) and will play an integral role during the Jingle Bell Express event (December 5-10). This is a great opportunity to help your church connect with our community. (2) Volunteer to serve on the Food Team, Toy Team, Hospitality Team, or Child Care Team. All of these teams have opPons to serve prior to the event or during. Contact Pastor Seann Duffin at sduffin@bellaireumc.org or (713) 666-2167 to volunteer or for more informa$on.
TO SERVE WORLD METHODIST CONFERENCE In late August, the Texas Annual Conference will host the World Methodist Conference here in Houston. The World Methodist Conference is a worldwide associaPon of 80 Methodist, Wesleyan and related UniPng and United Churches represenPng over 80.5 million people. A number of volunteers are needed, speciďŹ cally in the area of airport greeters (IAH and Hobby) in four (4) hour shiNs as guests begin arriving in Houston in mass numbers August 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st to a^end pre-conference events. If you are willing to assist, please contact either of the following team members directly as soon as possible: Rev. Linda ChrisPans (lchrisPans@stlukesmethodist.org) or Juanita Jackson (jjackson3014@sbcglobal.net) A training event will be held for all volunteers on Tuesday, August 16th, 7:00pm at the Hilton Americas, Room TBD and on Saturday, August 20th, 10:00am, Hilton Americas, Room TBD. All volunteers are encouraged to a^end one of the training sessions.
This fall, Bellaire UMC will celebrate its 70th anniversary of ministry in Bellaire. Be on the lookout for some BUMC history and ways that you can help as we celebrate this milestone.
N E W S FROM TRUSTEES Roland Oberlin, Chair of Trustees The Bellaire UMC Board of Trustees is a team of elected leaders charged with overseeing and maintaining the buildings and property owned by Bellaire United Methodist Church. We wanted to give a brief update of some 2016 completed projects as well as some upcoming work. You may have noPced that we replaced the wooden deck in the Atrium area right aNer Easter. It had ro^ed out in several spots and was becoming a potenPal safety hazard. The cost of the materials for this replacement was covered by donaPons from Faithful Paws and two of our adult Sunday School classes, while the labor was donated by numerous BUMC members. Subsequently, we replaced the rain gu^ers and downspouts in the Atrium and cleaned out the underground drains, which were plugged with many years worth of debris. Also, we completed a small campaign to replenish funds for the transportaPon ministry to support the maintenance of the two church buses which are used weekly by a variety of groups within the church. We set a goal of raising $8,500 which was quickly accomplished due to the support and generosity provided by many of you. This was the first Pme since the buses were donated in 2008 that it was necessary to seek addiPonal funds to cover minor repairs and rouPne maintenance. Our physical faciliPes at Bellaire and Newcastle are anywhere from 20-60 years old, and in an effort to be good stewards of these buildings and ensure their effecPveness for future ministry, the BUMC Board of Trustees has developed a list of repair and maintenance items to be addressed in the months and years ahead. The Trustees are in the process of prioriPzing this list in order to be efficient stewards of the resources that we have available. As part of that work, we have iniPated a process for developing a comprehensive Master Plan for our campus and have begun discussions with a local architectural firm specializing in liturgical work. Throughout the master planning process, our architects will meet with various consPtuent groups within the congregaPon to receive input and help us determine how best to upgrade, remodel, and repair our enPre physical plant. A potenPal next step aNer master planning finishes in 2017 would be to enter into a capital campaign to fund renovaPon or construcPon projects. This will be an involved and Pme-consuming process, but previous faithful generaPons here at BUMC have blessed us with these wonderful faciliPes, and we are working hard to make sure they conPnue to be useful in our God-given work of making disciples for the transformaPon of the world.
NEWS
FROM THE BUMS Interested in joining up with the Bellaire United Methodist Seniors (BUMS)? Contact Tom & Sandra Williams at tandswms@a^.net or (713) 703-1153. Here are some upcoming events: Saturday, August 6, 2016: Make your reservaPons for the next annual melodrama, “Klondike Kalamity,” performed by the Cast Theatrical Company in Rosenberg. We have 30 $ckets reserved and had to work at gekng 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 popcorn at the villain, etc. This is a new show this coming August. The price of a Pcket is only $16. Your payment guarantees your reserva0on. We can’t order any more Pckets. Think about gekng your Pcket as soon as possible. On the way to Rosenberg, we will have supper, on your own, at the Live Oak Grill in Sugar Land. The bus will leave the church at 5:30 PM. This is an evening loaded with fun, laughter, and wonderful fellowship. Don’t miss it. Saturday, September 17, 2016: We are going to take you out to the ball game at ConstellaPon Field in Sugar Land to watch the Sugar Land Skeeters play the South Maryland Blue Crabs. Game Pme is 6:05, so we will leave the church at 5:00 PM to allow for traffic. We have seats under cover, on the top two rows between home plate and third base (like last year). We will have to walk maybe 60 feet on a flat concrete surface to get to our seats once we get off the bus. Super convenient! You may eat at the ball park (on your own) or eat before you come. The game Pckets are $15 each. Save the dates: Friday, Oct. 28 to visit the San Jacinto Monument/Museum Ba;leground and Wednesday, Dec. 7 to tour Christmas lights. Bible Trivia Answer: Amos came about 110 years before Zephaniah. Texas Trivia Answer: Davy Crocke; called his trusty rifle ole Betsy. Bible Trivia: (True or false) Siddhartha Guatama, a.k.a. Buddha was a contemporary of Isaiah. Texas Trivia: What is the oldest state law enforcement agency in North America? Sage Advice: Laughing is good exercise: it’s like jogging on the inside.
POWER CAMP We just wrapped up four weeks of Power Camp, a summer day camp for students pre-k through 6th grade. Each week, students worshipped together, studied Bible stories, and engaged in fun acPviPes ranging from arts and craNs to visits to crocodile farms. In addiPon, students parPcipated in a variety of mission projects to support Chimney Rock Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center and the SEARCH transiPonal housing facility. Power Camp is one of the clearest ways that this congregaPon is invesPng in children and their families right here in Bellaire. Thanks to everyone who helped make this ministry possible!
S AV E T H E DAT E
Financial Update Income through July 31: Expenses through July 31: Difference:
$684,031.26 $691,898.44 — $ 7,867.18
Even with a slight YTD deficit, our mid-year financial posiPon is strong, and we are current on our missional giving, including apporPonments. Have you considered giving online? You can make a one-0me giL or set up recurring dona0ons. Learn more at www.bellaireumc.org/give.
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