This week, Rhonda Lynn Broussard, a very dear and special member of our church family went home to be with the Lord. Visitation will take place at Levingston's Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and services will be here at the UM Temple at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday.
As we remember Rhonda we are reminded of laughing and singing and genuine worship (some of my own fondest memories are of her worshiping with us at the VBS kickoff and the times that she was able to sing with the praise team). We are reminded of times of joy and the blessing that she was to our individual lives and the life of our church. As we lean into God in these moments of loss, I am reminded of these words penned by Charles Wesley:
If Death My Friend and Me Divide
If death my friend and me divide,
thou dost not, Lord, my sorrow chide,
or frown my tears to see;
restrained from passionate excess,
thou bidst me mourn in calm distress
for them that rest in thee.
I feel a strong immortal hope,
which bears my mournful spirit up
beneath its mountain load;
redeemed from death, and grief, and pain,
I soon shall find my friend again
within the arms of God.
Pass a few fleeting moments more
and death the blessing shall restore
which death has snatched away;
for me thou wilt the summons send,
and give me back my parted friend
in that eternal day.
Charles Wesley, 1762.
I pray that these words are as encouraging to you as they have been to me. They have been words of hope in many times of loss in my life.
Join me as we continue to pray for the family and for one another throughout this season:
Eternal God,
we Praise you for the great company of all those
who have finished their course in faith
and now rest from their labor.
We praise you for those dear to us
whom we name in our hearts before you.
Especially we praise you for Rhonda Lynn Broussard,
whom you have graciously received into your
presence.
To all of these, grant your peace.
Let perpetual light shine upon them;
and help us so to believe where we have not seen,
that your presence may lead us through our years,
and bring us at last with them
into the joy of your home
not made with hands but eternal in the heavens;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Preparing for Sunday Worship
Have you ever run up against the odds? Have you ever been discouraged by people and obstacles in life? If you answered yes, then you won't want to miss Rev. Jesse Brannen's sermon entitled "Discouragement" this coming Sunday.
As preparation for Sunday worship, we invite you to sit with the passage of scripture that Rev. Brannen will be preaching from. It comes to us from the prophet Nehemiah, chapter 13, verses 6b-13, and reads as follows (from the New International Version):
"Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense. I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, 'Why is the house of God neglected?' Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because these men were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their brothers."
We look forward to seeing you Sunday morning!
As preparation for Sunday worship, we invite you to sit with the passage of scripture that Rev. Brannen will be preaching from. It comes to us from the prophet Nehemiah, chapter 13, verses 6b-13, and reads as follows (from the New International Version):
"Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense. I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, 'Why is the house of God neglected?' Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because these men were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their brothers."
We look forward to seeing you Sunday morning!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Prayers for all of those going to BIG HOUSE
This Thursday our junior high youth will be going to BIG HOUSE. What's that you ask?
BIG HOUSE is an acronym, which stands for Believing In God and Helping Others Understand through Service Everywhere.
BIG HOUSE is for Jr. High youth (those who have completed 6-8th Grade), who work to repair and repaint needful churches and social agencies. Work Projects for BIG HOUSE include; painting churches, doing landscaping, handrail repair, preparing meals, stocking food at a pantry, etc.
On Thursday, more than 2 dozen of our youth and a number of adult volunteers will be heading out to participate in this year's BIG HOUSE.
We ask that you keep the youth and adult volunteers in your prayers this week. Pray for the work that God will do in them and through them. Pray for their safe travels.
Thanks to each of you going on this trip for your faithfulness and service! We are anticipating stories and pictures from the trip when you return. You are truly a blessing!
BIG HOUSE is an acronym, which stands for Believing In God and Helping Others Understand through Service Everywhere.
BIG HOUSE is for Jr. High youth (those who have completed 6-8th Grade), who work to repair and repaint needful churches and social agencies. Work Projects for BIG HOUSE include; painting churches, doing landscaping, handrail repair, preparing meals, stocking food at a pantry, etc.
On Thursday, more than 2 dozen of our youth and a number of adult volunteers will be heading out to participate in this year's BIG HOUSE.
We ask that you keep the youth and adult volunteers in your prayers this week. Pray for the work that God will do in them and through them. Pray for their safe travels.
Thanks to each of you going on this trip for your faithfulness and service! We are anticipating stories and pictures from the trip when you return. You are truly a blessing!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
UMTemple Shirt Sale starts Sunday
The Communication Committee of UMT is sponsoring a shirt sale - the best way to get out the word that UMT is a great place to grow spiritually and personally is for YOU, the body [and hands and feet!] of UMT to 'show your colors' by wearing a UMT shirt when you minister and work and enjoy recreation activities.
Shirts available are: T-shirts, polo shirts, dri-mesh shirts, denim shirts, and dress shirts. The t-shirts are screen-printed with the UMT logo, all other shirts are embroidered. We also have hats and tote bags. Stop by the table in the main hallway to see the samples!
Order yours soon so you can show your colors and your support of UMT to everyone you meet!
any questions, email Ruth at rhstanley[at]yahoo[dot]com.....
Shirts available are: T-shirts, polo shirts, dri-mesh shirts, denim shirts, and dress shirts. The t-shirts are screen-printed with the UMT logo, all other shirts are embroidered. We also have hats and tote bags. Stop by the table in the main hallway to see the samples!
Order yours soon so you can show your colors and your support of UMT to everyone you meet!
any questions, email Ruth at rhstanley[at]yahoo[dot]com.....
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Encounters Update
This past Saturday (July 11th), we launched our first Christian 12 step meeting called Came to Believe. The meeting was both well attended and well received. Finally, Port Arthur has a 12 step group where Christ is central to the recovery process.
This meeting is an ongoing meeting that takes place every Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. and we want to encourage everyone to help spread the word about this fantastic ministry. If you know of someone that may be interested they can contact Russell in the church office for more information or to pick up flyers for the meeting.
This is just another step in our process toward launching a 3rd service and a larger recovery ministry here at the United Methodist Temple. The larger ministry, known as Encounters, is beginning to take on a life of its own. Much has been done in the past month to further the process along, but there is still much to do.
If you have heard about Encounters and wondered how to get more information or get plugged in, then this is for you:
This coming Thursday (July 16th) at 6:00 p.m., we will be hosting an Encounters launch team meeting in the Life Lessons room at the Temple. The meeting is open to everyone, whether you are just seeking more information or are looking for somewhere to serve; all are welcome.
This week we will take a closer look at our upcoming schedule of events and get updates on what teams are forming and what some next steps are to stay on track for our target launch date of January 9th, 2010.
Come join the excitement and see what God is doing here at the United Methodist Temple!
This meeting is an ongoing meeting that takes place every Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. and we want to encourage everyone to help spread the word about this fantastic ministry. If you know of someone that may be interested they can contact Russell in the church office for more information or to pick up flyers for the meeting.
This is just another step in our process toward launching a 3rd service and a larger recovery ministry here at the United Methodist Temple. The larger ministry, known as Encounters, is beginning to take on a life of its own. Much has been done in the past month to further the process along, but there is still much to do.
If you have heard about Encounters and wondered how to get more information or get plugged in, then this is for you:
This coming Thursday (July 16th) at 6:00 p.m., we will be hosting an Encounters launch team meeting in the Life Lessons room at the Temple. The meeting is open to everyone, whether you are just seeking more information or are looking for somewhere to serve; all are welcome.
This week we will take a closer look at our upcoming schedule of events and get updates on what teams are forming and what some next steps are to stay on track for our target launch date of January 9th, 2010.
Come join the excitement and see what God is doing here at the United Methodist Temple!
A Day Worth Celebrating
Today, folks from all of our Sunday school classes and from both of our worship services mixed and mingled as we celebrated the conclusion of our successful building campaign. How did we celebrate you ask? With lots and lots of food, of course!
To all of those that prepared the food and those that helped serve and staff the brunch, we offer a huge round of applause and a hearty thank you for your gifts of service. For those that helped to make the vision for the building campaign a reality, we offer our thanks to God for the gift that you all continue to be to our community. A final round of thanks goes to our audio visual folks for an incredible slide show of all of the physical work that has taken place at our church over the past few years.
We encourage you to keep and eye out here, on the website, in the Messenger and in the Template for more opportunities to fellowship (and eat!).
To all of those that prepared the food and those that helped serve and staff the brunch, we offer a huge round of applause and a hearty thank you for your gifts of service. For those that helped to make the vision for the building campaign a reality, we offer our thanks to God for the gift that you all continue to be to our community. A final round of thanks goes to our audio visual folks for an incredible slide show of all of the physical work that has taken place at our church over the past few years.
We encourage you to keep and eye out here, on the website, in the Messenger and in the Template for more opportunities to fellowship (and eat!).
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Recovery at the Temple
We believe that love, mercy, grace, redemption, and reconciliation are at the heart of the gospel. With this in mind, we want to continue to be intentional about meeting people where they are at and providing resources and opportunities for them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
To that end we would like to introduce you to a new outreach at the United Methodist Temple.
On July 11th, we will launch our first Christian 12 step meeting called Came to Believe.
This meeting utilizes the 12 steps, principles, and promises that are a part of other 12 step organizations (that were originally birthed out of a Christian organization known as the Oxford Group), but recognizes that the God of our understanding is found in the triune God whose face is Jesus Christ.
This group is open to all regardless of what the issue is that we wrestle with. This is because although we have found that our behaviors of choice may manifest themselves in a variety of ways (codependence, alcoholism, drug addiction, food issues, sex, gambling, cutting, relationship issues, and so on), we have discovered that the underlying causes of these issues are quite similar. Additionally, we have discovered that there is but one solution - a growing relationship with Christ.
If you or someone you know is looking for a safe place to process and work through these various issues, we invite you to join us for Came to Believe!
Here's the 411:
CAME TO BELIEVE
What:
A Christian 12 step meeting focused not on the differences of our dependencies, but rather on the healing and wholeness that is offered to us through Jesus Christ.
Who:
For anyone looking to strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ while journeying the 12 steps of recovery.
When:
Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
Beginning July 11, 2009
Where:
The United Methodist Temple
4101 Highway 73
Meeting will be held in the Life Lessons Room
(Just look for the signs near the East entrance of the church)
For more information (including directions to our facility) contact Russell at the church at (409) 962-5762.
To that end we would like to introduce you to a new outreach at the United Methodist Temple.
On July 11th, we will launch our first Christian 12 step meeting called Came to Believe.
This meeting utilizes the 12 steps, principles, and promises that are a part of other 12 step organizations (that were originally birthed out of a Christian organization known as the Oxford Group), but recognizes that the God of our understanding is found in the triune God whose face is Jesus Christ.
This group is open to all regardless of what the issue is that we wrestle with. This is because although we have found that our behaviors of choice may manifest themselves in a variety of ways (codependence, alcoholism, drug addiction, food issues, sex, gambling, cutting, relationship issues, and so on), we have discovered that the underlying causes of these issues are quite similar. Additionally, we have discovered that there is but one solution - a growing relationship with Christ.
If you or someone you know is looking for a safe place to process and work through these various issues, we invite you to join us for Came to Believe!
Here's the 411:
CAME TO BELIEVE
What:
A Christian 12 step meeting focused not on the differences of our dependencies, but rather on the healing and wholeness that is offered to us through Jesus Christ.
Who:
For anyone looking to strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ while journeying the 12 steps of recovery.
When:
Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
Beginning July 11, 2009
Where:
The United Methodist Temple
4101 Highway 73
Meeting will be held in the Life Lessons Room
(Just look for the signs near the East entrance of the church)
For more information (including directions to our facility) contact Russell at the church at (409) 962-5762.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Our Concert with Jana Alayra
If you hang around the United Methodist Temple for very long, you will discover two very important things. First, we have programming and worship that reaches a variety of interests. Whether it is contemporary or traditional, children or adults, discipleship oriented or social, there is something happening at the Temple for just about everyone. The second thing that you will notice with anything that the Temple undertakes, is a level of excellence. We simply won't engage in a program or outreach that doesn't meet this core value of ours.
To that end, huge props must go to our Children's Director, Brook Wommack, for her work in organizing and implementing an incredible Vacation Bible School kickoff last Sunday. For those who weren't able to be at the Temple last Sunday night, we were blessed with the return of Jana Alayra. She lead us in more than an hour of worship, story telling, testimony, dancing and laughter. It was an incredible time of fellowship and worship together. The sanctuary was alive with more than 200 people in attendance.
Here is a slide show containing some of the great moments of the concert (my favorites are the ones with the dads dancing with Jana!):
Special thanks to Jana, her husband and Brook for another great concert!
To that end, huge props must go to our Children's Director, Brook Wommack, for her work in organizing and implementing an incredible Vacation Bible School kickoff last Sunday. For those who weren't able to be at the Temple last Sunday night, we were blessed with the return of Jana Alayra. She lead us in more than an hour of worship, story telling, testimony, dancing and laughter. It was an incredible time of fellowship and worship together. The sanctuary was alive with more than 200 people in attendance.
Here is a slide show containing some of the great moments of the concert (my favorites are the ones with the dads dancing with Jana!):
Special thanks to Jana, her husband and Brook for another great concert!
A Connectional Church
The United Methodist Temple is a connectional church.
As a local and regional expression of the United Methodist Church, we reach out to numerous zip codes and communities with the grace of God, seeking to connect people in deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and with each other. This is reflected in our vision:
"A joyful people coming to Christ in a deeper, more intimate relationship,empowered and emboldened by the Spirit of God to restore hope, break down barriers, enrich lives, and reshape futures toward the fulfillment of God’s purposes."
and our purpose:
"We strive to be a loving family of Christ, extending grace to all through joyous, Christ-centered
Fellowship
Learning
Outreach
Worship, and
Service."
A place where Christ's love FLOWS!
But that is not what makes us connectional in the United Methodist sense of the word. What makes us connectional is our covenantal relationship with other United Methodist Churches in varying size regions expressed as Districts, Annual Conferences, Jurisdictions, and so on.
At times, people want to know what is happening in the life of the larger structures in which we participate. Simply put, they want to know what is going on in our 'connection'. To that end, we have placed links on the right of this blog that will take you directly to the websites that are maintained for these other parts of our connection.
Are you interested in what the Bishop and cabinet are up to in our Annual Conference? Are you curious about the next district wide training event or gathering? Are you excited to find out about what new curricula or discipleship tools are being developed for use in the local church? Are you wanting to know about all the ways we are involved in mission and ministry around the world? If you said yes to any of these questions, then the information you are looking for is now only a click away!
We invite you to check out the links on the right and see what is happening in the rest of our connection. Check back often for updates and information regarding the Southeast District, the Texas Annual Conference, and the larger United Methodist Church. We are truly part of a meaningful connection that is having a tremendous impact in the world. We hope that you are blessed by your participation in the connection!
As a local and regional expression of the United Methodist Church, we reach out to numerous zip codes and communities with the grace of God, seeking to connect people in deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and with each other. This is reflected in our vision:
"A joyful people coming to Christ in a deeper, more intimate relationship,empowered and emboldened by the Spirit of God to restore hope, break down barriers, enrich lives, and reshape futures toward the fulfillment of God’s purposes."
and our purpose:
"We strive to be a loving family of Christ, extending grace to all through joyous, Christ-centered
Fellowship
Learning
Outreach
Worship, and
Service."
A place where Christ's love FLOWS!
But that is not what makes us connectional in the United Methodist sense of the word. What makes us connectional is our covenantal relationship with other United Methodist Churches in varying size regions expressed as Districts, Annual Conferences, Jurisdictions, and so on.
At times, people want to know what is happening in the life of the larger structures in which we participate. Simply put, they want to know what is going on in our 'connection'. To that end, we have placed links on the right of this blog that will take you directly to the websites that are maintained for these other parts of our connection.
Are you interested in what the Bishop and cabinet are up to in our Annual Conference? Are you curious about the next district wide training event or gathering? Are you excited to find out about what new curricula or discipleship tools are being developed for use in the local church? Are you wanting to know about all the ways we are involved in mission and ministry around the world? If you said yes to any of these questions, then the information you are looking for is now only a click away!
We invite you to check out the links on the right and see what is happening in the rest of our connection. Check back often for updates and information regarding the Southeast District, the Texas Annual Conference, and the larger United Methodist Church. We are truly part of a meaningful connection that is having a tremendous impact in the world. We hope that you are blessed by your participation in the connection!
Our New Blog
First, let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Russell Hall and I am the newest addition to the staff here at the United Methodist Temple. I just recently began my journey with the Temple on June 10th of this year. It has been a whirlwind ride and I am loving every minute of it.
Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet and hang out with many folks from both services. I would like to offer you my thanks for the way that you have made Erica, Bailey and I feel welcome. From the pool parties, ice-cream socials, and craw fish boils to the times of conversation and prayer, you all have truly made us feel like members of the family. For that we are eternally grateful.
In the weeks and months to come, we will continue to meet and hang out with as many folks as we have the opportunity to. If there is anything that I can do to help equip, empower, or encourage your ministry here at the Temple, please don't hesitate to call the church office.
I also wanted to take the opportunity to tell you about a few of the exciting things that I am a part of here at the Temple.
First, you will notice that this blog and the website both are undergoing some changes. I am working with Ruth, and together we are redesigning these two communications tools with an eye towards functionality and outreach. You are likely to experience some changes in the look and feel of both sites in the weeks to come as we seek to make these sites more interactive and user friendly and even more reflective of who we are as a community of faith here at the Temple. While we will continue to update the website with current events, pictures and calendar items, this blog will serve as an additional way in which we can communicate what is going on at the Temple. On the blog we will be able to post even more pictures and articles about our life together. Additionally, we would like to see the blog become a place of deep reflection, conversation and participation. One of the ways that this can happen in the future is through conversations about our Sunday sermons, our Bible studies, our Sunday School classes, and posted Christian thoughts for the day. To that end, we would love to hear how what you experience on Sundays (or in Bible study or one of these other venues) is making a real impact on your life. Such testimony, when shared with others, can have a deep and transformative impact on those around us.
The second thing that I have the privilege of being a part of is the development of a third service and outreach ministry called Encounters. In a nutshell, Encounters is a place for folks who wrestle with all kinds of hurts, hangups and habits. It is a place for them to encounter the grace of God and experience real healing, real redemption, and real wholeness. From time to time you will see information posted here, on the website, in the Messenger, and in the Template; but if you are interested in following what is happening with Encounters in more detail, you are welcome to follow the Encounters blog by clicking here or on the link on the right side of this page.
It is an exciting time here at the United Methodist Temple. I am honored to be a part of what God is doing in this incredible place. Stay tuned for more updates very soon!
Shalom,
Russell
Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet and hang out with many folks from both services. I would like to offer you my thanks for the way that you have made Erica, Bailey and I feel welcome. From the pool parties, ice-cream socials, and craw fish boils to the times of conversation and prayer, you all have truly made us feel like members of the family. For that we are eternally grateful.
In the weeks and months to come, we will continue to meet and hang out with as many folks as we have the opportunity to. If there is anything that I can do to help equip, empower, or encourage your ministry here at the Temple, please don't hesitate to call the church office.
I also wanted to take the opportunity to tell you about a few of the exciting things that I am a part of here at the Temple.
First, you will notice that this blog and the website both are undergoing some changes. I am working with Ruth, and together we are redesigning these two communications tools with an eye towards functionality and outreach. You are likely to experience some changes in the look and feel of both sites in the weeks to come as we seek to make these sites more interactive and user friendly and even more reflective of who we are as a community of faith here at the Temple. While we will continue to update the website with current events, pictures and calendar items, this blog will serve as an additional way in which we can communicate what is going on at the Temple. On the blog we will be able to post even more pictures and articles about our life together. Additionally, we would like to see the blog become a place of deep reflection, conversation and participation. One of the ways that this can happen in the future is through conversations about our Sunday sermons, our Bible studies, our Sunday School classes, and posted Christian thoughts for the day. To that end, we would love to hear how what you experience on Sundays (or in Bible study or one of these other venues) is making a real impact on your life. Such testimony, when shared with others, can have a deep and transformative impact on those around us.
The second thing that I have the privilege of being a part of is the development of a third service and outreach ministry called Encounters. In a nutshell, Encounters is a place for folks who wrestle with all kinds of hurts, hangups and habits. It is a place for them to encounter the grace of God and experience real healing, real redemption, and real wholeness. From time to time you will see information posted here, on the website, in the Messenger, and in the Template; but if you are interested in following what is happening with Encounters in more detail, you are welcome to follow the Encounters blog by clicking here or on the link on the right side of this page.
It is an exciting time here at the United Methodist Temple. I am honored to be a part of what God is doing in this incredible place. Stay tuned for more updates very soon!
Shalom,
Russell
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