The Senior Point — September 2019 by The Woodlands Methodist Church

SEPTEMBER 2019 EDITION

THE WOODLANDS UMC

POINT UNDERSTANDING THE SEASONS

A MESSAGE FROM

CLIFF RITTER

“Do your best to get here before winter.” (2 Timothy 4:21, NIV) Okay, I’m finally beginning to understand this thing called “seasons.” You would think that after seven decades on this earth I would know a little something about spring, summer, autumn and winter, but it has taken me this long to really figure it out. The spring of our lives is all about growth and learning. It is a time of youthful energy, unbridled visions and dreams; a time of having all the answers but not knowing what the questions are. The summer is flexing our muscles of growth and putting what we’ve learned into practice; where reality sets in and you come to understand that if you don’t make the necessary “deposits” of life, then you cannot expect a “return.” And with the arrival of autumn, you begin to gather the leaves of all those dreams that fell to the ground which went unfulfilled. It is the golden age of life, when we try to count our losses and gains, celebrate the life we lived, and go in search of the peace that we didn’t know was there in the spring and summer. And then there is winter. A time of reflection for the soul; the time when we realize that significance means more than success; a time when we ask ourselves, “What can I leave behind that will enrich the lives of others?” The Apostle Paul knew something about seasons. In his letter to Timothy, his son in ministry, in essence he says: “spring has departed, summer has passed, the harvest has ended, and all is not yet accomplished. Get here and finish the work that God gave me to do. And yes, ‘do your best to get here before winter.’” The sense of urgency in these words carries the same claim on us today. Before the winter of our soul arrives, get to the place where God wants you to be, so you can say at the end of the journey: “I did my best! I kept my pledge! I served my God! I’ve finished the race!” Bishop Hayes, Bishop in Residence

CHRIST HEAD SCULPTURE DONATION We are so thankful to Erika Ludtke for her donation of the Christ Head sculpture to The Woodlands United Methodist Church. This beautiful work of art was created by her husband, well-known sculptor Lawrence M. Ludtke. According to the book Life in Bronze by Amy L. Bacon, Lawrence Ludtke was doing prep work for a sculpture of Brig. General James Robinson Risner. After photographing Risner from different angles, Ludtke was amazed at how happy and well-adjusted he looked. In reality, Risner had been a POW for seven years at the “Hanoi Hilton” in the Vietnam War. When the photos were developed and Risner’s face was frozen in time, Ludtke could see the hurt lines and the great pain this fighter pilot had experienced at one time in his life. The sculptor immediately stopped what he was doing and started modeling a small head of Jesus Christ. He took all the pain and suffering revealed in those pictures and sculpted it into the face of Christ. As one of his most treasured works, Ludtke kept the piece in his own personal collection. We feel very privileged to be the recipients of such a deeply meaningful representation of Christ. Thank you to Erika Ludtke for sharing it with our church family. Erika Ludtke and Dr. Robb

PASTOR TO SENIOR ADULTS

We have so much to celebrate in our church! The new construction is rapidly coming to completion and there are new spaces to explore across the campus. We celebrate the opening of the new Recreation Center and are excited about the many additions to that ministry. We also celebrate the new Children’s Ministry space, and we know they will be filled with lots of young children in the weeks to come. And, have you visited the recently completed Church at Woodforest? We opened the doors there for worship this Fall. They are already a thriving community, and I know they would welcome a visit on any Sunday. In early August, we celebrated the 90 and above birthdays of many of our Senior Adults at the Prime Timer’s Lunch. We had 30 or so celebrants in attendance out of a list of 88 senior adults who are over 90 years old this year. With friends and families, there were more that 130 people at the luncheon. It was a great time of fellowship, and it was a perfect picture of how God will honor those among us who have achieved long life. Thanks to Dr. Mark Lewis for leading our program this year with lots of humor and thoughtful reflection. In September, we begin to celebrate the new school year in earnest. Our Fall routines are getting back to normal and our schedules are more predictable. This is the perfect time to renew your commitment to attending a Sunday School class. You are always welcome! Thanks to each of you for being a great part of a great ministry! The Woodlands United Methodist Church celebrates our Senior Adult Ministry in many ways. I think we have the best people in the world in our ministries and in our small groups. Keep up the good work! Keep inviting your friends and neighbors to church! And, keep the faith! With grace and peace,

Cliff Ritter

PHOTO GALLERY THE WOODLANDS CAMERA CLUB The Woodlands Camera Club was established in 2006 under the sponsorship of The Woodlands United Methodist Church to bring together people interested in learning to capture God’s creations through the lens of a camera. We meet the first Monday of the month in Aldersgate Hall. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. with a fellowship and snack time before the program at 7:10 p.m. and ending by 9:00 p.m. We welcome all ages and levels of photography to join us for informative speakers and programs throughout the month, such as post processing your photos, and mentors to help you with many aspects of photography. We even cover photography with your cell phone, so you don’t have to own a lot of expensive equipment to make those memories. You do not have to be a member to come to these meetings; but if you wish to join, it is only $20 a year for a single, or $25 for a couple. Membership allows access to our Facebook page and field trips. You don’t have to be a member of TWUMC, as we welcome all who wish to be a part of this active, friendly group. We look forward to seeing you at a meeting soon. Check out our website at thewoodlandscameraclub.org.

LUNCH AND LEARN WITH THE WOODLANDS CAMERA CLUB Friday, September 13 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall Do you love taking photos but need a little insight on how to get that perfect shot? You won’t want to miss this opportunity! The Woodlands Camera Club is presenting a Photography 101 class just for senior adults! Our presenters, Bill Blass and Mac Rodgers will cover the basics of photography, how a camera determines exposure, how ISO, shutter speed and aperture affect a photo and composition. There will be plenty of Q & A time! The cost of this event is $5 for a box lunch. Please register for this event by emailing Teri Rossi, Senior Adult Ministry at trossi@twumc.org

NEWSIES, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL On July 7, members of our Good News class attended a production of Newsies, The Broadway Musical presented by Class Act Productions! The musical is based on the 1992 motion picture inspired by a true story.

John & Kathryne Buckley

Nancy Brown

Dan & Vicky Shelledy

Ken & Valerie Ellis

Thom & Glenda Hudson

Dwight & Shelley Alexander

Jerry & Betty Rae Barney

Judy Marshall & Sandy Ramsey

UPCOMING EVENTS PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY Friday, September 13 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Allen Parlor Join us for our quarterly gathering. Those who love to knit, or crochet are invited to participate! For more information on this ministry, please contact Connie Norton at concetta44@ comcast.net or 281.292.3875 GRIEF SHARE Monday, September 16 | 7:00 p.m. | D206 Wednesday, September 18 | 1:00 p.m. | D206 A 13-week small group experience navigating the challenges of grief. This course explains both the spiritual and practical issues of grief. This course requires registration. For more information, contact Susan Goldsmith, Caring Ministries 281.297.5953 PRIME TIMERS LUNCHEON Wednesday, September 4 | 11:15 a.m. | Asbury Hall Join us in welcoming Holly Steinke with The Woodlands Township. Holly will be speaking to us on Emergency Preparedness! Reservations are due by noon on Friday, August 30 to Joyce and Ken Nesmith at 281.367.5519. Cost is $7 per person. Checks are preferred, payable to TWUMC. IT’S TIME FOR YOUR FLU SHOT Wednesday, September 4 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Flu Shots will be available in the Harvest Foyer. In addition to Flu Shots, Pneumonia, Prevnar 13 and Tetanus will also be provided. Medicare patients please bring your card and a photo id and Medicare will be billed directly. If you are not on Medicare all shots are $40.99 and Walgreens will file a claim with your health care provider for reimbursement. You do not need to be a member of the church to take advantage of this service. No appointment necessary. SENIOR ADULT GAME NIGHT Friday, September 13 | 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

LUNCH BUNCH Tuesday, September 10 | 11:00 a.m. Join us at Landry’s Seafood House, located at 1212 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands. They have a very nice lunch menu that has some new items you may not have enjoyed before. All senior adults are welcome. Reservations are due by Monday, September 9 at noon. Call Dolly Loftiss at 210.844.2062 SERVE IT UP! SENIORS SERVING SENIORS Saturday, September 28 | Harvest Worship Continental Breakfast and Kickoff Event | 8:00 a.m. Harvest Worship Missions Event | 8:30 a.m. Senior Adult Ministry is partnering with our Missions team to decorate and assemble Breakfast Bags for Meals on Wheels! The breakfast bags are delivered to our most food insecure seniors in Montgomery County. Our goal is to assemble 500 bags! The cost of this event is $10 which helps to cover the cost of the supplies and a t-shirt! This is a family friendly event! Register for this event by emailing Teri Rossi, Senior Adult Ministry at trossi@twumc.org SINGLE SIXTY-SOMETHINGS DINNER GAME NIGHT Tuesday, September 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Jones Library Registration is required. Cost is $20 per person. For more information contact Terry Loughridge at 281.297.5932 THE GATHERING PLACE Monday, September 9 | 9:30 a.m. - Noon | Jones Library The Gathering Place is for adults who have been diagnosed with early to moderate dementia. This month the Gathering Place will have a planning meeting. We’ll see you in October for our next gathering! AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES This event has been cancelled. Stay tuned for future scheduled movies. NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY TRIP December 6 – 11, 2019 Join our Senior Adult Ministry on a New York City Holiday trip! This trip is scheduled for five days and four nights. We’ll see the sites, a Broadway Show and the Rockettes! For more information or a copy of the trip itinerary contact, Helen Burgdorf at 713.822.5728 or hcburgdorf@comcast.net

PATRIOTIC SUNDAY 2019 On June 30, our members dressed in their red, white and blue to celebrate Patriotic Sunday! Friendship Class and Perspectives Class pictured. Dave Morton

Military Veterans

Gin Meinhardt

Military Veterans

John & Kathy Hoyt

Military Veterans

SMALL GROUPS CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP Friday, September 6 and 20 | 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 and Michelle DeCantillon. 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 MEN’S BOOK STUDY Wednesday, September 11 and 25 | 10:00 a.m. The Men’s Book Study reconvenes this month in Infant Care Room D105! Rev. Don Meador will lead a discussion about the Methodist denomination. He will answer questions and share things that many of us may not know. For more information, contact Jerry Barney at 281.826.3232 Sometime later we will begin a study of The Wesleyan Way by Bishop Scott Jones. In this exciting and inspiring study, Bishop Jones helps seekers and believers to envision and practice discipleship as a way of life. Presenting Christianity from a Wesleyan perspective, he invites participants into a deeper, more thoughtful, more active commitment to Christ. 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.

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. 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

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, September 17 | 12:30 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall Bring a brown bag lunch and join us in discussing the book The Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall. If you’d like to read ahead, next month is The Leavers by Lisa Ko. Coffee and cookies are provided. Everyone is welcome! For more information, contact Libby Heintz at 936.271.7660 PARK MANOR WORSHIP *Wednesday, September 4 | 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. *Note this worship service is once a month. SINGLE LIFE WIDOWS Friday, September 13 | 11:00 a.m. | Republic Grill Thursday, September 27 | 11:00 a.m. | Perry’s Steakhouse Register for these events online. For more information, contact Terry Loughridge at 281.297.5932 SINGLE SIXTY-SOMETHINGS Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m. | Room D207 Join us for our new study, Love Does by Bob Goff. This group consists of men and women eager to grow! We meet every Tuesday to grow spiritually through studying great books and enjoying lively discussions. We get together socially once a month which allows us time to learn more about each other. Watch the calendar for our scheduled events.

LANDRY’S BIRTHDAY LUNCH Our friends from the Perspectives and Friendship classes celebrated a special birthday!

COMPUTER SUPPORT MINISTRY The wolf is at the door. Microsoft support, Apple support, Internet support, Social Security, and the IRS will not call you about a computer problem! Don’t let the wolf on 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.

Back row (l to r): Linda Henderson, Vicki Hanks, Brenda McClendon, Helen Burgdorf, Geri Miller, Marilyn Clinton, Kay Meador, Dee Megee. Front row (l to r): Jane Cannon, Martha Taylor, Joan Bacon (Martha’s daughter)

SEPTEMBER 2019 SUNDAY 1

MONDAY 2

3 TWUMC Administrative Office Closed

9 Friendship Class 9:30 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Bring mana items

TUESDAY

Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Single Sixty-Something Dinner Game Night 6:30 p.m. Jones Library

10 Senior Adult Fitness

The Gathering Place Planning Meeting 9:30 a.m. Jones Library

WEDNESDAY

8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Lunch Bunch 11:00 a.m. Landry’s Seafood House Friendship Class 2:00 p.m. | Jones Library Fill mana bags

THURSDAY 5

Flu Shots 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Harvest Foyer Prime Timers 11:15 a.m. Asbury Hall

24 Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall

OCTOBER

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 – Noon Infant Care Room

Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Caregivers Support Group 11:00 a.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 Peggy’s Book Club 12:30 p.m. Aldersgate Hall

SATURDAY

Men’s Book Study 10:00 a.m – Noon Infant Care Room

Senior Adult Fitness Intermediate Class 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Parkinson’s Exercise & Support Group 1:00 p.m. Aldersgate Hall

FRIDAY

Senior Adult Fitness 8:30 – 9:20 a.m. | Aldersgate Hall Prayer Shawl Ministry Quarterly Gathering 10:00 a.m. | Allen Parlor Single Life Widows 11:00 a.m. | Republic Grill Lunch and Learn with The Woodlands Camera Club Noon | Aldersgate Hall 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

27Senior Adult Fitness

8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Aldersgate Hall Seniors Serving Seniors Single Life Widows Missions Project 11:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Perry’s Steakhouse Room TBD Friendship Class Mission Dinner 5:30 p.m. | Aldersgate Hall

The Woodlands United Methodist Church 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77380 281.297.5900 thewoodlandsumc.org

HOW WILL YOU SERVE? SENIORS SERVING SENIORS Saturday, September 28 | 8:00 a.m. | Continental Breakfast and Kickoff Event This is an on-site missions project on Serve it Up Saturday! Senior Adult Ministry is partnering with our Missions team to decorate and assemble Breakfast Bags for Meals on Wheels! The cost to participate is $10 per person. This is a family friendly event! Register by emailing Teri Rossi, Senior Adult Ministry at trossi@twumc.org ELIZABETH’S PLACE Thursday, September 12 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Jones Library Elizabeth’s Place volunteers mentor expectant and very young moms as they take on the responsibilities of their new parenting role. If you are a woman who has a heart for teenage mothers, we would love to talk to you about how you can support this ministry.

A GLANCE AT NEXT MONTH (OCTOBER) Senior Adult Planning Meeting October 17 Pastor Led Lunchtime Study October 21 and 28

BACKPACK BUDDIES Saturday, September 28 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Montgomery County Food Bank We partner with the Montgomery County Food Bank to pack weekend meals to distribute to elementary children. This is a family-friendly opportunity. Sign up for these events and other local mission opportunities at missions.thewoodlandsumc.org

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.