The Flame FUMC Allen October 2013

Summer 2013

First United Methodist Church of Allen 601 S Greenville Ave Allen, TX 75002 www.fumcallen.org

03I S S U E

O c tO b E r2 0 1 3

A New Service, The Way, Debuts at FUMCby rev. brian McPherson

Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. Acts 9:1-2

The Way, a new worship experience

that premiered at FUMc Allen

in September 2013, is named for

a style of worship that has deep

historical significance for Christians

around the world. the early church

community was defined not only

by its worship and communion but

also by its teachings. The Way was a

descriptive, intentional name given

to the early christian community

that was struggling to understand the

teachings of Jesus and what it meant

to follow Him in the world in which

they lived, even at the cost of their

own lives.

today, we are still asking the same

questions asked by the early church community:

“What was Jesus teaching us? What does it mean

for us to follow Jesus in our world?”

At FUMc Allen, we strive to answer those

questions all the time--in our worship, small

groups, bible studies, and Sunday school classes.

In 2013, we set a goal to create an additional

Sunday morning worship service, one that would

reach a new demographic within the church and

the community of Allen.

The Way is a teaching service that focuses on

Scripture and offers real-life application for

what we learn every week. We describe this

service as a scripturally centered

worship experience where the

bible meets life. teaching lessons

include history, culture, traditions,

politics, morals, philosophy, and

other faith experiences. We call The

Way a “traditional-plus” worship

service because the experience

draws on the best of ancient and

traditionally understood sources

of liturgy, hymnody, litanies, prayers,

and significant modern expressions

of worship.

If you have not been to worship in a

while or you are simply looking for

a different worship experience, we

invite you to check out The Way on

Sundays at 11:00am in FUMc Allen’s Fellowship

Hall.

to learn more, contact rev. brian McPherson,

[email protected].

The FlameIn this issue:Jedis 4 Jesus changed My Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Prayer Shawls Offer A Ministry of caring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Fall bazaar Supports Missions through Gifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Summer 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

A New Service, the Way, Debuts at FUMc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Upward basketball rewards All Who Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Mission Waco/church Under the bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

casa De Esperanza(House of Hope) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Hiker sings her Praises of the Hallelujah Hikers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

11: 0 0 a m S u n day s

IMPACT Vacation Bible School

Music, Arts, & Drama (M.A.D.) Camp

DARING Youth Choir Tour

Something Wonderful: A Rodgers and Hammerstein Concert



Upward Basketball Rewards All Who Playby Alexis Sullivan

UPWArD basketball is a great

program. the relationships you

build at UPWArD’s summer

camps are above all else.

the kids really enjoy playing

basketball while worshiping

God. the skills and teamwork

achieved really help the children

grow in their personalities.

My two weeks of basketball

camp as a coach helped me

learn about patience, caring,

nurturing, and loving others.

the experience will always

stay with me.

From basketball courts to

everyday life, worshiping God

should always come first, and

the kids seemed to learn the

importance of worship through

UPWArD basketball. this

experience was rewarding for

all the youth and teens involved,

whether a coach, a nurse, or a

drill leader. It’s all fun in any kid’s

eyes!

I cannot wait to be involved in

UPWArD camp next year, and

I encourage everyone to take

part in this great program. You

will be the one who benefits

the most!

What I did on my summer vacation...“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled

with darkness than in a land flooded with light.” John Keith Falconer

Mission Waco/Church Under The Bridgeby Jeff McPherson, Alan Quick, and Debbie Meaders

Jeffthis summer, I had the opportunity

to go on the senior high mission

trip to Waco, texas, and serve with

Mission Waco. this trip was a great

reminder about loving my neighbors

as myself.

While on the trip, we experienced

a poverty simulation that gave me

a whole new perspective on the

poor, both urban and rural. We don’t

see homeless on the street very

often in Allen, and we don’t see for

ourselves the needs that people in

poverty require. We donate to Allen

community Outreach and other

organizations, but after living as the

poor live, I can see how much these

donations mean to people and how

much faith is in their lives.

In addition to the poverty simulation,

we worked with kids at Street camp

and worshiped with the homeless at

church Under the bridge. the people

we met in Waco, and especially those

at the church Under the bridge,

demonstrated a stronger and more

mature faith than I do. this observation

has inspired me to become a more

open christian. Mission Waco is a

wonderful operation, and I’m thankful

for the experience.

AlanServing as an adult chaperone, I

attended both the junior and senior

high mission trips to Mission Waco,

joining 53 youth and 13 other

adults in many mission activities.

Although both of my kids have

long since graduated from FUMc

Allen’s youth program, I still relish

the opportunity to go on these

memorable and moving adventures

whenever possible.

Our youth have a contagious sense

of optimism and a strong desire for

deeper christian experiences. they

also share a lot of laughter, love,

innovation, silly songs, and games.

this year’s trip was the most moving

trip I’ve experienced in 10 years.

through the poverty simulation,

I gained a heightened sense of

appreciation for a multitude of things

that the middle class routinely take

for granted. How humbling it was to

wander very hot city streets with

six youth and no money, wondering

where we would get lunch, only to

have a nice old lady give us cold

drinks and more chicken than we

could finish. It seems that the poorer

people are, the more eager they are

to help others.

The rest of the week was filled with

compassion for so many. I visited at

length with a lady at a nursing home

who exemplifies “poor in spirit:” she

had experienced a lifetime of bad

events, including losing her 90 year

old mother when a stranger shot

her, but she told me the highlight of

her life was knowing God. I talked

with a man at the shelter who had

recently experienced some bad luck,

but he related to Job and knew that

God would turn things around. He

was extremely uplifted by our youth

leading a worship service. two nights

later, he told me he got the job we

were both praying for, and the next

night, he was no longer at the shelter.

Most people at the shelter were

very open about their growing faith

and genuinely thankful to God for

what little they had.

At church Under the bridge, I talked

with a man who had come out of

prison and was working hard to help

another family member get her life

turned around. I heard the testimony

of former addicts welcomed into

the church who had God’s help

conquering their addictions. At

Street camp, I saw a glimpse of the

Kingdom of God where our youth

joined with young kids from poor

neighborhoods, and everyone was

just an innocent child wanting to

have fun with one another.

Debbiethe senior high mission trip to Waco

began with a poverty simulation

We were given $40 in play money

and allowed to keep four items.

Determining which four items was

difficult. Should I keep my pillow

or my deodorant? What about my

blanket and soap? I decided on a

toothbrush, toothpaste, hair tie, and

backpack.

First up was a trip to the clothes

closet to exchange our clothes and

shoes for what we could buy for

$3.00. I quickly learned that finding

a good pair of shoes that fit was like

finding a needle in a haystack. Back

at Mission Waco, we were given the

option of sleeping inside for a $20

fee. Knowing that meals were going

to cost us $6 and that “chance

cards” were to be expected

throughout the weekend, I opted to


Hiker sings her Praises of the Hallelujah Hikersby Karen Elstoen

As a long-time member of

the FUMc Allen Hallelujah

Hikers, I’ve experienced a

variety of enjoyable benefits

from the hiking activities that

are an intricate part of this

recreational ministry.

I’ve enjoyed the chance the

group provides for fellowship

and getting to know other

church members. I’ve made

many connections and

developed real friendships

with my fellow hikers. those

connections have opened

doors for encouraging and

supporting one another.

the opportunity to be outdoors

and get exercise provides

encouragement. Our health is

such an important factor of life,

and without it, living a full and

happy life serving our creator

becomes very difficult.

being outdoors in God’s

beautiful creation provides

tremendous peace and

inspiration, from hearing the

birds sing, feeling the air and

sunshine, and walking along

peaceful streams and lakes.

All in all, hiking provides an

opportunity to experience a

release from the pressures and

problems of the world.

the Hallelujah Hikers have

been a blessing to me, and I

thank God for the opportunity

to be a part of this group.

What I did on my summer vacation...“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled

with darkness than in a land flooded with light.” John Keith Falconer

Mission Waco/Church Under The Bridgeby Jeff McPherson, Alan Quick, and Debbie Meaders

play it safe and sleep outside under

the stars. I relalized keeping my

blanket or pillow would have been a

better option than the toothbrush!

throughout the simulation, we were

given a small taste of what it is like

to be homeless. On Saturday, we had

to find our own lunch. We walked

to the Salvation Army where we

were given three boxes of crackers.

We went without showers and air

conditioning. We experienced a

feeling of loss and confusion about

what lay ahead for us. As one of the

youth said, “I now know why I see

homeless people sitting on street

corners. they don’t know where to

go or what to do.”

After the simulation, we got to

work. We visited with residents

of low-income nursing homes; ran

Street camp for kids in government-

subsidized apartment complexes;

cleaned and painted apartments;

led a worship service at a homeless

shelter; and participated in a prayer

walk around the city.

We did all of this with a new sense

of purpose. Many of our stereotypes

about the homeless had been

shattered. We were able to talk to

those we were helping and hear their

stories. And we realized that any one

of us could be in similar situations in

the blink of an eye.

I am hopeful that this experience will

continue to fan the flame of service

in those who attended. I hope that

the flame will spread among our

friends and neighbors. We have the

potential to eliminate hunger and

poverty in our lifetime and that is

what christ is calling us to do.

Casa De Esperanza(House of Hope)by raeghen brewer

In July, a group from FUMc Allen

boarded a plane for Puerto Lempira,

Honduras, the last leg off our journey

to casa de Esperanza, the House of

Hope. In 1.5 hours, we would reunite

with all of the beautiful faces, pearly

white smiles, and joyous laughter of

the House of Hope children.

We were greeted by officers carrying

AK-47s and machetes waiting to

collect our passports, a sight that

signaled our return of my favorite

place in the world, Puerto Lempira.

From an outsider’s perspective, it’s

an ugly place: broken, beaten down,

dangerous, disease ridden, and

poverty stricken. true, it’s all of that

until you experience the spirit of

Honduras.

We walk the 15 minutes from the

airport to the rust-covered gates of

the house. My heart is beating with

excitement: I want nothing more than

to embrace all my angels. Finally at the

gates, I sprint to pick up the first kid

and fight back joyful tears. I did not

realize how much I missed this place,

and we are shocked by how much

they have grown in one year.

The first day is always the longest,

not only because we are emotionally

exhausted from the arrival but we

also realize it’s only 8:00am and we’ve

been up since 4:30am. Eventually, you

wish all the days seemed this long

because after the first day, the rest

blow by in a breeze.

In two weeks, we accomplish more

than we could have expected and

experience more joy than we can

imagine. Days full of laughter, worry,

and trust in Jesus.

Our biggest task was to build a two-

story jungle gym. We repainted the

school and the inside of the house;

distributed new clothes and shoes;

cleaned babies who had never been

bathed; and nursed sick babies to

health. We witnessed the House of

Hope soccer team win a nail biter

of a game. We took away fear of the

darkness during power outages by

teaching the children the simplicity

of star gazing.

We gave starving mothers hope

by providing them food from Kids

Against Hunger. We witnessed the

face, the body, the hands, and most

importantly, the love of christ in just

two short weeks of ministry with

Send Hope.

Most would look at the pictures of

Honduras and simply never want to

go, never want to experience the

dangers the country has to offer.

but Puerto Lempira is so much

more than that. It is warm smiles,

welcoming conversations, and a

quick willingness to offer help. It is

love-filled hearts and camouflaged

hope.

the House of Hope has provided

me a passion to serve an area of the

world that most people would write

off, a desire to take care of those

who aren’t given two thoughts about.

there is no place I would rather have

my candle burn than within the gates

of the House of Hope.


Jedis 4 Jesus Changed My Lifeby Kyra Stolarski

As a shy newly confirmed seventh

grader, I spent most of my Sunday

evenings at the church sitting alone

and friendless. My shyness prevented

me from reaching out, and I spent

more of my time watching the clock

than learning about God. I felt closed

off and secluded so like any normal

shy teenage girl, I decided to “quit”

youth.

After about a year of staying away,

my mom and sister began to attend

a Wedneday night youth bible study

called Jedis for Jesus (J4J). Soon, they

decided to drag my unwilling self

along.

Going to the first meeting was a little

scary, as I had been staying away from

youth activities as much as possible.

As I listened to the conversations

and questions that people had about

God and about being a christian in

general, I began to relax. by the time

the next Wednesday rolled around, I

realized I actually wanted to go back.

I’ve been going back ever since.

J4J is a group of awesome kids that

come to church to talk about a

passage of scripture and two songs

that relate to it. the entire program

is youth-led even though we have a

couple of grown-ups we call “yodas”

to keep us on track. We always have

a good time, and most of us never

seem to want to leave.

I probably would have never opened

myself up to God again if my mom

hadn’t taken me to J4J. being with

these people every Wednesday is

like being in a close-knit family, and

I’m really glad I get to be a part of it.

The Flame Issue 03 OctObEr 2013

Prayer Shawls Offer A Ministry of Caringby rev. June Franck

A love of knitting, crochet, and

quilting and the gift of caring

serves as the basis of a ministry

that reaches out to those

needing the assurance of God’s

presence in times of medical need.

Volunteers withing FUMc Allen’s

prayer shawl ministry craft shawls

and small blankets while praying

for the recipient. When the shawl

is complete, the crafter lifts a final

prayer before bringing their gift to

the church as an offering of love

and beauty.

Our pastoral staff shares these

handmade prayer shawls and

afghans with recipients who are

undergoing medical procedures,

experiencing extended hospital

stays or rehab, or celebrating the

birth of a child. the blessings ripple

from the giver to the recipient

who feels the unconditional

embrace of a loving God who

created us in community to care

for one another and use our

talents wisely.

the prayer shawl ministry began

in April 2008. to date, we have

distributed 293 items to members

and their extended families. the

baskets of handmade shawls

sometimes run low, but God’s

divine intervention always allows

them to appear at the right time.

Not long ago, I needed three

blankets--one for a new baby and

two for hospitalized members–

yet we had none in the church.

Within a day, more blankets

appeared in my office, an vision

of love in a rainbow of colors,

yarns, and fabrics that are visual

reminders of the diversity of

God’s gifts and the crafters who

make them.

New mother Jamie Armstrong

recently received a blanket

following the birth of her

daughter: “It touched our hearts

to know that we belonged to

a church family who was so

thoughtful and caring. We felt that

the love of God and our church

family was a part of the shawl

that wraps Kaylyn and keeps her

warm and safe in many ways.“

Fall Bazaar Supports Missions Through Giftingby Peggy breeze

the fall bazaar at FUMc Allen

began in 1978 when the United

Methodist Women began making

and selling hand-crafted items and

baked goods to raise money for

local and area missions. In 1991,

the bazaar expanded to include

outside vendors who rented space

to sell their wares at the church.

behind the scenes of each

annual bazaar is a tremendous

organizing effort that begins in

mid-April and continues until the

day of the bazaar.

Each year, the size of the bazaar

has expanded as the physical

church building has grown. We

now host more than 75 vendors

who offer everything from candles,

leather goods, and purses to

handcrafted jewelry, baby blankets,

and wooden crafts.

this year’s UMW bazaar is

Saturday, October 26, 9:00am

to 4:00pm, in rooms throughout

the first floor of the church.

We invite shoppers to not miss

the Wednesday Morning craft

Group’s handmade craft sale, the

used book sale, and the UMW’s

bake sale, all in the Fellowship Hall.

All funds raised from the craft sale,

bake sale, concessions, and vendor

booth fees go to support missions,

which include but are not limited

to Allen community Outreach,

collin county children’s Advocacy

center, Plano’s children’s Medical

center, Samaritan Inn, Hope’s

Door, Methodist children’s Home,

and Send Hope.

Documents

The Flame FUMC Allen October 2013