Citizenship in heaven page 2

Dinner @ Toler page 2

Upcoming events

page 2

Understanding Islam and Muslims

page 3

Coffee ministry page 3

Holy Week page 4

New members page 4

IN THIS

ISSUE

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | GARLAND, TEXAS | 801 W. AVE B | (972) 272-3471

March 2016

firstmethodistgarland.org

THE CRUCIFIXION | Copyright 2011 by John August Swanson Giclee 15.5” by 12.5” | johnaugustswanson.com

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE

it is the domain of the God who created

everything that exists – past, present and

future.

If we then claim to be “citizens” of heav-

en, we place our allegiance first in the

God who created us and claims us in Je-

sus Christ.

Such heavenly citizenship then calls us to

pay attention to how we choose and act in

our current context.

In other words, being a citizen of heaven

must inform and influence how we act as

citizens of the place in which we live.

How we choose, speak and act now mat-

ters – our heavenly citizenship should

make a difference in how we exist in our

‘worldly’ context.

My prayer is that the people of God-In-

Christ make their presence known by

speaking thoughtfully, offering compas-

sion and acting in ways that bear the hall-

marks of our citizenship.

After all, we are claimed by a God who

has offered infinite grace and mercy, and

we are called to offer to others what we

have been given.

Peace be with you…

MARCH HAPPENINGS

1 Tuesday Lenten Luncheon Noon | Schreiber Hall

New Life New Hope

Breast Cancer Survivors 7:00pm | 103/105

2 Wednesday Covenant Bible Study 10:00am | ROC

WINDOWS 5:30pm | Schreiber Hall

3 Thursday First Thursday Food Pantry | 10:00am | ROC

Bereavement Luncheon | Noon | Schreiber Hall

Tending the Temple 6:00pm | 113

5 Saturday Pure Joy! Youth Choir Spring Break Tour (New Mexico thru Mar 10)

Men’s Breakfast 8:00am | Schreiber Hall

6 Sunday Breakfast @ Austin Street | 5:00am Morning worship 8:30 & 10:50am | Sanctuary

pathWays worship 7:00pm | Schreiber Hall

13 Sunday Daylight Savings Time begins Morning worship 8:30 & 10:50am | Sanctuary

pathWays worship 7:00pm | Schreiber Hall

15 Tuesday Lenten Luncheon Noon | Schreiber Hall

16 Wednesday Covenant Bible Study 10:00am | ROC

Spring Blood Drive 4:00-8:00pm | LE 10

WINDOWS 5:30pm | Schreiber Hall

Candidates & Campaigning 6:30pm | 103/105

17 Thursday Tending the Temple 6:00pm | 113

19 Saturday Texas Tornado 5K 7:30am | Downtown Garland

20 - 27 Holy Week (see page 4)

28 Monday Church office closed

30 Wednesday Covenant Bible Study 10:00am | ROC

WINDOWS 5:30pm | Schreiber Hall

31 Thursday Tending the Temple 6:00pm | 113

Page 2 | First News

Valarie Englert Senior Pastor venglert@fumcgarland.org

A s I write this, Super Tuesday looms in the very near future.

Several states in our beloved Union will

hold presidential nominating primaries

or caucuses.

My word choice here is indicative of

personal concerns about this particular

election year – looms – instead of some

other more, well, positive-sounding,

future-type word.

I’m sure there are precious people who

are looking forward to the results of

Super Tuesday – hometown folks we

consider friend, family or confidante.

However, the rhetoric of this particular

campaign seems to have sunk to some-

thing lower than rhetoric; the discourse

often sounds like a shouting match.

Our frustration with the same ol,’ same

ol’ plots a course between Scylla and

Charybdis - we seem to veer too close

to chaos on one side and disaster on the

other side.

What is a ‘citizen of heaven’ to think or

do?

The apostle Paul reminds us that follow-

ers of Christ are foundationally

‘citizens’ of another domain.

Our citizenship in our birth-land, or the

nation-state in which we dwell, is sec-

ondary to our citizenship in heaven.

For Paul, ‘heaven’ isn’t some place far

away that we go to after we die; rather,

Citizenship in heaven

Mark BufordDirector of Communications

mbuford@fumcgarland.org

AThese were some of the questions addressed when more than 40 people from First United Methodist Garland visited the North Texason Sunday, February 28.

Organized as a to promote understanding and toler-ance between faiths, the visit included Siraj Akhtar101: Understanding Islam and Muslimsan opportunity to observe formal evening prayers.

In an informative, onesion, Akhtar debunked the myth that Muslims are mostly Arab and black, noting that only 200 million of the worldArab descent.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expect-ing a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3.20 NRSV

Dinner @ Toler a rousing success More than 60 volunteers from First United Methodist Garland served dinner to children and families impacted by the December 26 tornado on January 7 and 8 at Toler Elementary School.

This included ministry staff, who joined others in listening to tornado victims share their stories and concerns.

Special thanks goes to the organizations

and restaurants who graciously donated food for this community outreach: Kraft Foods (Garland plant) Olive Garden 4840 N George Bush Hwy

Olive Garden 190 E Stacy Road, Allen

Marshall’s Bar-B-Q 510 Walnut Circle West

Pizza Hut 5335 Broadway

Sali’s Pizza 1238 Belt Line Road

Chick-fil-A 2617 Lakeview Pkwy, Rowlett

Besa’s Italian Restaurant 7602 Jupiter Road

Page 3 | First News

Mark Buford Director of Communications mbuford@fumcgarland.org

A re most Muslims Arab or black? Do Muslims worship Muhammed? What is the Qur’an? Who was its author?

These were some of the questions addressed when more than 40 people from First United Methodist Garland visited the Islamic Association of North Texas (IANT) in Richardson on Sunday, February 28.

Organized as a Luke 4 Initiative (L4I) to promote understanding and toler-ance between faiths, the visit included Siraj Akhtar’s presentation, “Islam 101: Understanding Islam and Muslims,” a tour of the mosque and an opportunity to observe formal evening prayers.

In an informative, one-hour discus-sion, Akhtar debunked the myth that Muslims are mostly Arab and black, noting that only 200 million of the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims are of Arab descent.

A major belief of Islam, Akhtar shared, is that Allah (God) is “The One and On-ly Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign of the entire universe, The One and Only entity worthy of Worship.”

Islam recognizes many of what are re-ferred to as “Messengers of the past,” including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Mo-ses and Jesus, with Muhammed consid-ered “the seal of the Messengers.”

And though Muhammed dictated the Qur’an from revelation received for 23 years beginning at age 40, the Qur’an is believed to be “the exact word of Al-lah,” preserved by Muslims for centu-ries through complete memorization.

Muslims have “respect for all sincere believers in God” regardless of religion, Akhtar shared, noting that Jews, Chris-tians and Muslims have lived peacefully

Understanding Islam and Muslims for centuries. Synagogues and church-es “are protected in Islam,” he said.

The visit came about as a result of a contact between the First United Methodist Garland L4I team - includ-ing Chris Bender, Jamie Jenkins, Bradley Fletcher and Ralph Secketa - and IANT.

Akila Aziz, a member of the IANT Outreach Committee, and her daugh-ter, Amina, subsequently joined the L4I team.

Their participation was invaluable in modeling this event, a hybrid of IANT’s weekly Islam 101 and a re-cent community open house.

(Amina, a student at Plano East High School, is also working to establish a youth council within the Richardson Interfaith Alliance. She has already completely memorized the Qur’an.)

A reciprocal visit to First United Methodist Garland is tentatively planned for a group from IANT - in-cluding Imam Shpendim Nadzaku - on Wednesday evening, April 13.

Connie Miller Director of Welcoming Ministries cmiller@fumcgarland.org

D id you know that more than 200 cups of coffee, tea and cappuccino are served every

Sunday morning in the Garden Room at First United Methodist Garland?

That’s 80 pounds of drink product consumed each Sunday and 4,000 pounds per year. Or 10,400 cups of coffee per year.

Eat your heart out, Starbucks!

The First United Methodist Garland Coffee Ministry - spearheaded by Cindy and Joey Fisher - serves up some of the best-tasting coffee in Garland every Sunday morning.

Coffee Ministry serves warm hello

More importantly, this ministry helps create a friendly, welcoming environ-ment in the Garden Room. It serves as a great place to meet new people, and provides a warm welcome to our guests.

After creating this ministry and serv-ing faithfully for more than 10 years, Cindy and Joey are taking a break to get involved in other ministries God has placed on their hearts.

Which means First United Methodist Garland is looking for someone to take over management of the Coffee Ministry.

This does not require personally serv-ing every Sunday. A team of volun-teers is available for this task. What it does require is someone willing and able to tend to the details - coffee, supplies and so forth.

Looking for a place to serve? If you enjoy meeting and chatting with new people, this might be it.

Joey Fisher (right) serves up coffee and a warm smile to Kevin Quattlebaum

and others on Sunday mornings.

In the name of Allah, The Most Beneficent The Most Merciful

continued on page 4

Page 4 | First News

First United Methodist Church 801 West Avenue B Garland, TX 75040

Warm hello

PALM SUNDAY MARCH 20 8:30 and 10:50am | Sanctuary A service of scripture, music and prayer

LENTEN LUNCHEON MARCH 22 Noon | Schreiber Hall

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE Holy Week in Word and Art

MAUNDY THURSDAY MARCH 24 7:00pm | Sanctuary Holy Communion and remembrance

GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 25 7:00pm | Garden Room TENEBRAE: A SERVICE OF SHADOWS

EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 27 SUNRISE SERVICE 7:00am | Garden Room (breakfast follows)

TRADITIONAL SERVICE 8:30 and 10:50am | Sanctuary “Chit Chat & Idle Tales” Valarie Englert, Senior Pastor

PATHWAYS CASUAL SERVICE 7:00pm | Schreiber Hall

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!

Judy Martin

Billie Cochran with Kitty Williams (left) and

Louanne Trebbing (right)

Delores McClean

continued from page 3

If God is placing this important welcoming ministry on your heart, please consider signing on to lead our Coffee Ministry.

Help keep First United Method-ist Garland and warm and friendly place on Sunday morn-ings.

If you have questions or need more information, contact Clay Womack Associate Pastor or Connie Miller, Director of Wel-coming Ministries.

cwomack@fumcgarland.org

cmiller@fumcgarland.org