THE WOODLANDS UMC
JULY 2019 EDITION
POINT
SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY TRIP Several members of our Senior Adult Ministry enjoyed spending time touring, shopping and eating in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our tour guide greeted us at the Albuquerque Sunport and took us along the Turquoise Trail with a stop in the old coal mining town, now artist community, of Madrid for a quick shopping trip. In Santa Fe we took a walking tour to see the State Capitol Building, San Miguel Mission and paused for a group picture on the steps of the Loretto Chapel, home of the Miraculous Staircase. We drove to Chimayo and had lunch at the Rancho de Chimayo before visiting El Santuario de Chimayo, a church built in 1816 and known for big healing powers through its dirt. Our last day in Santa Fe was spent visiting local museums and making those final purchases. We were blessed with pretty, cool weather while we were there.
A MESSAGE FROM
CLIFF RITTER
PASTOR TO SENIOR ADULTS
Baseball, hotdogs and apple pie. We’re moving into the season that is genuinely American. July 4th is always a favorite holiday of mine. Our family loves fireworks! Fortunately, we are surrounded by great communities that offer grand and inspiring displays of the latest and greatest fireworks of all. Make sure to wear your red, white and blue as we celebrate our Independence together. I also appreciate July for more personal reasons. I usually take a little personal time away from the church (work, if you insist!) to recharge the batteries. We will spend some time in Bolivar this year, close to home but far enough away considering the ferry ride that separates the beaches from the Island. Of course, you can drive all the way around, but who has time? The Galveston Ship Channel is a good, imaginary barrier that keeps me from sneaking back to the church for one meeting or two. So, once there, I hope to stay put. We also hope to spend a little time tending our mini-orchard in East Texas. That time is typically spent riding a lawn mower, complaining about the heat, and praying for rain. It’s good for the soul.
LaFonda Patio
Group Photo on the steps of the Loretto Chapel
Finally, Lauri and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in July. Thirty-nine years. It gets better every year, mostly because Lauri is infinitely patient. I know, some of you will say we are just getting started! Our Senior Adult Ministry will press on as usual in the month of July, for those who like to stay a little closer to home. We have lots of exciting and interesting events planned. Check the calendar enclosed here to see where you might find a place to participate. Try something new in July, just for fun!
St. Francis Cathedral
Inn and Spa at Loretto in Santa Fe
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FROM SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY! — The Woodlands UMC
Stay cool! Spend time with family and friends. And, know that God is with us…even when the weather gets hotter than…you might imagine! We have a lot to celebrate, and we give thanks each day! With grace and peace, Cliff Ritter
PHOTO GALLERY SANTA FE TRIP Our Senior Adult Ministry traveled to Santa Fe for their ministry trip. Fellowship, good food and fun were had by all!
Tour guide, Tam Chavez, talking outside Capitol Building
Ferol and Olin Johnson
Fay Dillon
Wanda Drake, Lelah Feeley, Darlene Daniels, and Kathy Wynns
Pam and Steve Bertone
Church at Santa Fe Plaza
Jane Cannon and Martha Taylor
Scott Bucker
Larry Grotts
Dale and Marilyn Clinton
Lil Whitehouse and Larry Grotts
Linda Henderson with textile
UPCOMING EVENTS MUSIC BINGO Friday, July 19 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall Join us in our first gathering of music bingo! Where there is life there is music and where there is music there is life! There will be prizes to be won and sweet treats! All senior adults are welcome! Register by emailing Teri Rossi at trossi@twumc.org GOSPEL SHOW & SING ALONG Wednesday, July 31 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall Join us as we welcome David McKenery, our organist and Music Associate and his gospel group called “SpiritWind”. David’s group has been performing together since 1983! Most recently David & SpiritWind have been leading “Gospel Music Nights” at Dosey Doe Café, here in The Woodlands. SpiritWind will entertain us with some of their gospel music favorites and a sing along! You won’t want to miss this opportunity! Register for this event by emailing Teri Rossi at trossi@twumc.org AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES Friday, July 26 | 2:30 p.m. | Music Suite Join us in viewing Yankee Doodle Dandy, a 1942 American biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as “The Man Who Owned Broadway”. It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf. A big thanks to Dr. Mark Lewis for providing this special film! No reservation is needed. All senior adults are welcome. For more information, contact Glenda Bailey at glendabailey@gmail.com
LUNCH BUNCH Tuesday, July 9 | 11:00 a.m. | Red Phoenix Hunan Restaurant We are returning to one of our favorite places for Lunch Bunch. Join us at The Red Phoenix Hunan Restaurant located at 3091 College Park Drive, The Woodlands. (This is in the strip center behind Sonic and Whataburger). All senior adults are welcome. Reservations are due by Monday, July 8 at noon. Call Dolly Loftiss at 210.844.2062 PRIME TIMERS LUNCHEON Wednesday, July 3 | 11:15 a.m. | Asbury Hall Our speaker is our member, Marc McCoy, who wrote The Time of My Life based on his revelation from God and a terminal cancer diagnosis. You won’t want to miss his testimony! Reservations are due by noon on Friday, June 28 to Joyce and Ken Nesmith at 281.367.5519. Cost is $7 per person. Checks are preferred, payable to TWUMC. SENIOR ADULT GAME NIGHT Friday, July 12 | 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall Join us for a night of fun, fellowship, games and light refreshments. The cost is $1 per person. Please bring a snack to share. All senior adults are welcome. For more information, contact Ann and Jerry Armstrong at 281.419.2666 or Jerry and Lil Whitehouse at 225.937.4893
SANTA FE TRIP PHOTOS
Ortega Loom1, using Spanish colonial style loom
Madrid, NM
Santa Fe Plaza
Group Photo outside Rancho de Chimayo before lunch
Darlene Daniels and Carolyn Lentz
Martha Taylor and Helen Burgdorf
Barbara Barlow, Margaret Sambrooks and Marilyn Stinson
Memorial to NM Nat’l Guard
Virginia Bettes and Ruth Myers
SMALL GROUPS CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP Friday, July 5 and 19 | 11:00 a.m. | Allen Parlor A support group for caregivers of family and friends with chronic, long term or terminal illness. Group is led by Rev. Cliff Ritter. GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN GROUP Wednesday, July 17 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Allen Parlor Come and join us on the third Wednesday of each month. We can plan, share and get to know each other as we travel this journey together. Group will be led by Lois Crowley. For more information, contact Teri Rossi at 281.297.5935 GOLDENAIRES CHOIR Tuesdays | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Music Suite The Goldenaires, our senior adult choir, is the perfect way for you to spread joy through singing. No audition is required. For more information, contact Ed Wandling at 281.355.0053 THE GATHERING PLACE Monday, July 1 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall The Gathering Place is for adults who have been diagnosed with early to moderate dementia. Join us for the Gathering Place. The theme for this month is “In a Pickle”!
SUPPORT SHEPHERD CARE Shepherd Care is our ministry of friendship for our members who are in local nursing homes, senior adult residences and private residences. New shepherds and new lambs are always welcome. Next meeting is August 8. If you know of someone in need of companionship or if you would like to volunteer to be a Shepherd, please contact Kay Meador at 936.321.5159 COMPUTER SUPPORT MINISTRY Warning about computer scams: If you get a message screen about an immediate problem on your computer – DO NOT Click on it to cancel or call the number. Shutdown your computer and then restart your computer! If you need computer assistance, contact Jerry Barney at 281.826.3232 ELDERRIDE We are so grateful for our ElderRide ministry! Our ElderRide team drives our members to over 125 appointments per year. The total mileage driven is about 4000 miles per year! Contact Ken and Linda Keith at 936.271.3810 if you need a ride to a medical appointment. Please call at least 48 hours in advance. PARKINSON’S DISEASE EXERCISE AND SUPPORT GROUP Parkinson’s Disease Exercise and Support Group meets every Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in Aldersgate Hall. For more information, contact Dale Mefford at 936.443.5351, or go to the Houston Area Parkinson’s Society’s website. We are in the north group.
MEN’S BOOK STUDY Wednesday, July 10 | 10:00 a.m. | Infant Care Room Join us for our last class Dare to be UNcommon by NFL football coach Tony Dungy. This group will break for the summer and reconvene on Wednesday, September 11. Stay tuned for our next study! For more information, contact Jerry Barney at 281.826.3232 SENIOR FITNESS Tuesdays and Fridays | 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. | Aldersgate Hall Join us twice a week for a muscle toning, strength training and stretching using hand weights, tubes and chairs. Segments include warm-up, strength training, stretching and cool-down. Modifications can be made for any fitness level. SENIOR ADULT FITNESS INTERMEDIATE CLASS Thursdays | 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Aldersgate Hall Move through a variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength. This is a functional fitness class and all exercises can be adapted to your personal fitness level. PEGGY’S BOOK CLUB Tuesday, July 16 | 12:30 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall Bring a brown bag lunch and join us in discussing the book The Joy Stealers by Rob Renfroe. If you’d like to read ahead, next month is Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Coffee and cookies are provided. Everyone is welcome! For more information, contact Libby Heintz at 936.271.7660 PARK MANOR WEEKLY WORSHIP Wednesdays | 4:00 p.m. | Park Manor Join us and our clergy as we take a ministry of presence to the residents of Park Manor nursing home. Everyone is encouraged to join in reaching out and enriching the lives of these people who, for the most part, are no longer able to attend church outside the home. PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY Those who love to knit or crochet are invited to participate. Although most of the hand work will be done at home, we will meet occasionally for fellowship and to pray for the recipients of our shawls. Shawls will be given in faith, hope and love to those in need. For more information, please contact Connie Norton at concetta44@comcast.net or 281.292.3875. Next gathering is September 13. SINGLE LIFE WIDOWS Friday, July 12 | Gina A. Price, Attorney at Law Friday, July 26 | Martha’s Bloomers, Navasota For more information about Single Life Widows, contact Terry Loughridge at 281.297.5932
SINGLE LIFE WIDOWS Single Life Widows met for lunch at La Madeleine restaurant!
JESUS IN BOAT Thank you to Dolly Loftiss for sharing this beautiful photo! The Jesus in Boat Sculpture is a statue of Jesus who keeps a watchful eye on the shoreline of Corpus Christi from his boat in front of the First United Methodist Church. The landmark hosts the title, “It is I:” taken from the Gospel of Mark 6:50 that reads: And Jesus said, “Take Heart. It is I; Have No Fear.”
First row, L to R: Betsy Sebastian, Theresa Thomas, Harriet Herman, Carole Hedemann, Gail Hunter, Judy Bridges Second row, L to R: Diane Thibodeaux, Jan Baier, Pat Hill, Patty Davide, Karen Weekly Back row, L to R: Kathy Wynns, Ruth Schneider, Linda Dugas-Katen, Pamela New, Sally Axelson, Sandy Ramsey, Ling Dekay, Terri Monfort
JULY 2019 SUNDAY 30 JUNE
MONDAY 1
TUESDAY 2
The Gathering Place 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
7
8
3
9
15
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Peggy’s Book Club 12:30 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
21
22
23
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
29
30 Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall
SATURDAY 6
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Caregivers Support Group 11:00 a.m. | Allen Parlor
11
12
13
18
19
20
24
25
26
27
31
1
2
3
Senior Adult Fitness Intermediate Class 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Parkinson’s Exercise & Support Group 1:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
Men’s Book Study 10:00 a.m. Infant Care Room
17
Senior Adult Fitness Intermediate Class 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Parkinson’s Exercise & Support Group 1:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Allen Parlor
Senior Adult Fitness Intermediate Class 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Parkinson’s Exercise & Support Group 1:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall
28
FRIDAY 5
Prime Timers 11:15 a.m. Asbury Hall
10
16
THURSDAY 4
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Lunch Bunch 11:00 a.m. The Red Phoenix Hunan Restaurant
14
WEDNESDAY
Gospel Show & Sing Along 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
AUGUST
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Single Life Widows Gina A. Price, Attorney at Law Senior Adult Game Night 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Caregivers Support Group 11:00 a.m. | Allen Parlor *Music Bingo 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall
Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Single Life Widows Martha’s Bloomers, Navasota Afternoon at the Movies 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. Music Suite
The Woodlands United Methodist Church 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77380 281.297.5900 thewoodlandsumc.org
HOW WILL YOU SERVE? LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES Willis Community Breakfast | Wednesdays, July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 | 9:15 a.m. Meet at Parmley Annex Building, 606 N. Campbell, Willis to provide and serve breakfast and activities to families in need at the Willis Support Center. This is a family-friendly activity! Creative Hands Ministry Thursday, July 11 | 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Loft Craft Circle Room Friday, July 19 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Loft Craft Circle Room Gather to work on small projects! We can use all skill levels to help cut, assemble, organize, iron and sew projects ranging from blankets for the homeless to tote bags for Human Trafficking victims. Hope Beyond Bridges | Saturday, July 13 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Food Preparation| TWUMC Kitchen 10:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Deliver food in church vans along I-45 Prepare a warm meal and deliver the food in church vans along the I-45 feeder road. This is a wonderful opportunity to offer prayer and hope to those we meet. This is a family-friendly opportunity for ages 10 and up.
A GLANCE AT NEXT MONTH (AUGUST) FRIENDSHIP CLASS ICE CREAM SOCIAL August 2 A 90 AND OLDER CELEBRATION OF LIFE August 7 SENIOR ADULT MUSIC BINGO August 16
RESOURCE CORNER CARING MINISTRY HOSPITAL VISITATION & PRAYER Congregational care is a priority for our pastors, leaders and congregation. Care may come in the form of a visit while you are in the hospital, at home while you are caring for a loved one, or a phone call to offer support. If you or someone you know is hospitalized locally or at the Texas Medical Center, please call Susan Goldsmith, Caring Ministry at 281.297.5953 or Teri Rossi, Senior Adult Ministry at 281.297.5935 and we will schedule a pastoral visit.
Visit thewoodlandsumc.org for information about these and other church events.