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Welcome to the pilot issue of The Church at Work!

This new e-zine (electronic magazine) is designed to give you a glimpse into the stories being lived out through the ministries of First United Methodist Church Grapevine. Lives are being touched and changed forever, and we want you to hear the story. We hope to make this a quarterly publication.

If you have feedback about the e-zine or a story to tell, please contact Dr. Cindy Ryan ([email protected], 817-481-2559 x222) or Melissia Mason ([email protected], 817-481-2559 x109).

4 The Message of Pentecost

6 Mariposa! Mariposa!

10 Building Community

14 Faith for the Moment

17 The Church in Balance

19 Next Steps

20 The View from Heritage Hill

24 Help for Hard Times

27 Serve Over Summer

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The Church at Work || 3

The Message of Pentecost

By Melissa Lamprich

“... suddenly from heaven there came

a sound like the rush of a violent wind,

and it filled the entire house where they

were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire,

appeared among them, and a tongue

rested on each of them. All of them were

filled with the Holy Spirit and began to

speak in other languages, as the Spirit

gave them ability.” Acts 2:2-4

4 || The Church at Work

P entecost Sunday* is a perfect day to be Methodist, with the wind-driven red flame as the

Church’s symbol. As the second chapter of Acts tells us, weeks after Jesus’ resurrection the Holy Spirit brought a strong wind and tongues of fire to fill the house where the believers were gathered, and they began to talk in other languages.

The commotion attracted a crowd, people from all parts who had assembled in Jerusalem for a Jewish holiday. The worldly group marveled that each one of them could understand what was said in his own language. When some questioned the disciples’ sobriety, Peter spoke up and said, “No, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning.”

A few weeks ago, I visited the Culto de Alabanza (Spanish language worship service) in Founders Chapel. The question I had before visiting was whether I would feel like an outsider, one who spoke nada Spanish? Quite the contrary: I was hugged by a complete stranger welcoming me to church; everyone shook everyone else’s hand. In a wonderful personal touch, Rev. Alvarado asked if there were any birthdays or anniversaries to acknowledge. Children and adults used maracas delightfully to augment the singing. I understood the children’s sermon about the Bible as our personal GPS device. Of course, the communion service and the blessings that came with it needed no translation. Nor did the love I felt around me. As an Anglo-American who can’t roll her r’s for the life of her, it was a day of revelation.

No flames, no wind, no commotion, but the Holy Spirit was there in full force. It was a day of Pentecost for the Spanish-speaking members of our church community. There were also no questioning doubters. As a German-American, I thought of my English-speaking Michigan grandparents who told that while they heard Mass in Latin they read the Bible in German, the language closest to their hearts.

First Methodist Grapevine, indeed, celebrates Pentecostal inclusion every Sunday of the year at 11:15 AM in Founders Chapel and at 12:00 PM at the Heritage Campus. Just like in Acts 2, todo el mundo es bienvenido. Everyone is welcome. •

* Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension

Thursday, which is traditionally 40 days

after Easter. This year, Pentecost is Sunday, May 27.

Melissa Lamprich and her husband Larry have been members since 2007. She enjoys working with the Flower Delivery Ministry and Feed Our Kids. She volunteers at the Go Center at the Heritage Campus, and is now a newly commissioned Stephen Minister.


Mariposa!

Mariposa!By Carmen Drew

W hen I retired from teaching Middle School in 2008, I knew that going

on a mission trip was one of my long term goals. Also on my “Bucket List” was to continue to work with children, learn Spanish, garden, become a professional artist/quilter, travel and be the best grandmother possible... not necessarily in that order.

Only God knows his perfect time. When the youth Costa Rica mission trip was planned for March 2012, I felt a nudge that it was time for me to go. I could also visit one of my best friends and her family who had moved to Costa Rica in July 2011.

I was excited, anxious and fearful of traveling part of the trip alone. But, I was assured I wouldn’t contract malaria. The water was drinkable. Costa Rica also has medical services available if needed.Being 61 years old, I wasn’t sure if the youth would want to hang out with me. Could I keep up? Would I need naps? I wrote out a list of fears and gave it to God and Pastor Armando.

Truly, all my fears were set aside when I met up with Jenny, Pastor Armando, Russell Gravitt, Pastor Roberto and his wife Anna, and the youth in San Jose. Riding on a bus for 3 to 4 hours with teenage rappers, joke tellers and the “adults” on the trip made me realize one more time that FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. What a God gift I would have missed if I had not pushed my worries off onto God’s plate. He showed me that age doesn’t matter if you can move and serve and “zip line.”

We arrived in Las Juntas on Friday night. 24 hours later, we found ourselves in the city park of this little town orchestrating a Vacation Bible School for the community. It was truly a blessing more for me than the people I served that night.

In my attempt to explain the rare experience of that Saturday night in the park, I decided to write what happened through the brown eyes of a little 4th grade girl, Yirlan Fabiola Palacios. This might have been her perspective. I hope it was...


M a r c h 1 0 , 2 0 1 2 - a t t h e p a r kD o e s s h e u n d e r s t a n d m e ? M a r i p o s a ! M a r i p o s a !I ’ l l j u s t k e e p s h o w i n g h e r m y b u n d l e o f c o l o r e d p i p e c l e a n e r s , t a p p i n g h e r o n h e r k n e e t o g e t h e r a t t e n t i o n . . . a n d m a y b e I c a n b e f i r s t .

N o w a l l m y f r i e n d s w a n t m a r i p o s a s ! T h e l a d y w i t h t h e s i l v e r h a i r s e e m s t o u n d e r s t a n d . S h e i s s m i l i n g a n d l a u g h i n g a n d h a s t h i s g l o w a b o u t h e r . S h e l o o k s l i k e t h e h a p p i e s t p e r s o n i n t h e w o r l d . S h e c a m e w i t h t h e b i g k i d s f r o m T e x a s t o o u r l i t t l e t o w n o f L a s J u n t a s .

I k e e p a s k i n g m y s e l f . . . w h y ? W h y w o u l d s h e c o m e h e r e ? S h e i s s i t t i n g o n t h e c o n c r e t e i n o u r l i t t l e p a r k s u r r o u n d e d b y m y f r i e n d s m a k i n g p i p e c l e a n e r b u t t e r f l i e s f o r u s . I ’ v e n e v e r e v e n s e e n a p i p e c l e a n e r b e f o r e t o d a y ! I w a n t t o g e t h e r t o m a k e a h u n d r e d o f t h e m j u s t f o r m e !

N o w s h e i s t r y i n g t o t e a c h u s h o w t o m a k e t h e m . H e r S p a n i s h i s t e r r i b l e ! S h e j u s t a s k e d m y f r i e n d ’ s d a d , “ H o w i s y o u r p o t ? ” I t h i n k s h e m e a n s , “ H o w i s y o u r d a y ? ” M a y b e w h e n s h e c o m e s a g a i n h e r S p a n i s h w i l l b e b e t t e r .

Y e s ! S h e m a d e m y b u t t e r f l y f o r m e ! I t h i n k s h e l i k e s m e . I h o p e I g e t t o s e e h e r a g a i n !


M a r c h 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 - a t s c h o o l

I d i d n ’ t k n o w t h e y w e r e c o m i n g t o m y s c h o o l ! T h e p e o p l e

f r o m T e x a s , I m e a n . I l i k e t h e b i g k i d s . T h e y s a y t h e y a r e

i n H i g h S c h o o l . I w o n d e r i f “ h i g h ” m e a n s o n a m o u n t a i n

l i k e w e h a v e i n C o s t a R i c a .

T h e b i g k i d s p l a y g a m e s w i t h u s a t r e c e s s , h u g u s , l a u g h

a n d s o m e e v e n s p e a k S p a n i s h !

P a s t o r A r m a n d o a n d P a s t o r R o b e r t o a r e t e l l i n g u s t o b e

l i k e s o l d i e r s f o r C h r i s t . I t h i n k I a m t o o y o u n g t o b e a

s o l d i e r .

N o w t h e y w a n t m e t o m a k e a r m o r . O u r h a t i s S a l v a t i o n .

O u r s h i e l d i s F a i t h . O u r s w o r d i s T r u t h . W e l o o k p r e t t y

f u n n y ! B u t I l i k e t h e s e p e o p l e . T h e y a r e k i n d a n d h a p p y .

N o t a l l t h e p e o p l e i n o u r t o w n a r e t h i s h a p p y . I h e a r m y

m o m a n d d a d t a l k . T h e y s a y t h a t t h e r e a r e f e w j o b s t o

m a k e m o n e y t o p a y f o r f o o d a n d a p l a c e t o l i v e .

I ’ m l u c k y I g o t o s c h o o l . M a n y o f m y f r i e n d s d o n ’ t . I t

c o s t s $ 1 0 0 t o p a y f o r t h e b o o k s a n d u n i f o r m s .

M a y b e t h e p e o p l e f r o m T e x a s c a n h e l p u s . M a y b e i f w e

p r a y l i k e t h e y t e l l u s t o , G o d w i l l h e a r o u r p r a y e r s . I f

G o d i s a n y t h i n g l i k e t h e p e o p l e f r o m T e x a s , I h o p e I g e t

t o m e e t h i m t o o !


Carmen and her husband Rocky have been members of FUMC Grapevine since 1990. Carmen works with children in Project Fun on Mondays and the Spanish Service on Sunday mornings. They are also a part of the Open Door Sunday School Class.

T his began my first friendship with a

little girl in Las Juntas, Costa Rica. I would love to go again. Yirlan has changed my life. I hope God has changed hers. •


Nestled under tall trees in the

shadow of a large municipal

complex lies Shady Oaks Mobile

Home Park, one of Grapevine’s poorest

neighborhoods. This Scribner Street

community, located in north Grapevine,

is home to several hundred adults

and children who are the focus of our

Grapevine Village.

As programs and services for those

living within our Ministry Mile grew,

church members served many residents

from the Shady Oaks community, and

began to develop an understanding

of their needs. Then in June of 2008,

when Rev. Armando Alvarado joined

the staff of First

Methodist Grapevine,

we were able to offer

ESL classes and then

a worship service in

Spanish. Attendance

continued to grow in

that service and more

relationships were

developed with the

Shady Oaks residents.

Through these efforts, the Grapevine

Village was born. This ministry is

focused on improving the quality of life

for those burdened with poverty right

here in our own community. Feed Our

Kids and Be Our Guest neighborhood

BuildingCommunity in the Grapevine Village

by Pam Fry


meals are just a few of the many

ministries which focus on helping the

Shady Oaks residents and others in need

in the immediate area. Some of the other

outreach programs include local mission

days, a casserole ministry, Project Fun,

Project Pass, Project

Read, Weekend Food

and one of the newest

ministries – Project

Repair.

Facing Troubles TogetherChurch members knew

they were called to help

their neighbors, but the

“how” was the difficult

part. “There’s not a book

or instruction manual,”

comments Grapevine Village Lay Leader

Donna Price, “we pray about it.” Donna

explained that this ministry isn’t about

putting a band aid on problems. “In

everything Grapevine Village does,” she

said, “we want to instill the idea that we

(FUMC Grapevine) don’t have all the

answers and we are not going to solve all

their problems. But what we can do is let

them know that if we care

about each other in God’s

love, then we never have to

face troubles alone.”

One of the troubles Shady

Oaks residents face is poor

living conditions. Some of

their mobile homes have

structural issues; others

lack safe plumbing and

electrical systems. That’s

where Project Repair

fills a desperate need.

Rick Schultz has been

overseeing repair work

at Shady Oaks, and along with groups

of church members and volunteer help

from the Aggie Men’s Club, they have

“We don’t have all the answers and we are not going to solve all their

problems. But what we can do is let

them know that if we care about each other in God’s love, then we never have

to face troubles alone.”


completed repairs to five homes since

the fall of 2011. Volunteers have painted,

repaired electrical issues, replaced

flooring, leaky roofs and kitchen cabinets

and work surfaces. Through volunteer

efforts, the Grapevine Village Team plans

to continue repair work until all needed

repairs are complete.

Residents who want to

participate in Project

Repair must submit

applications outlining

the work needed and,

according to Donna

Price, they must also

agree to help with repair

work in their home, or

on a neighbor’s home.

“Through this program,”

she said, “we hope to not only make

homes livable and safe, but for residents

to develop trust and to be there for each

other.”

Gaining a VoiceDonna, Armando and the whole

Grapevine Village Team work to

build community in the Shady Oaks

neighborhood as they focus on

relationship-building, education and

self-sufficiency as well as sharing our

faith. “Poverty is not just about not having

enough money, it’s about not having

control over your circumstances,” Donna

added. Through the programs offered by

our church, those provided by GRACE

and by other community volunteers, the

residents of Shady Oaks are building

their community. Residents are now

meeting together to discuss issues,

helping one another with repairs and

serving others through

volunteering for Feed Our

Kids.

Working with Francia

Arrigan, Director of

Programs at GRACE,

our church participates

in a monthly meeting

with City of Grapevine

officials and School

District representatives to discuss the

needs of the Grapevine Village residents

and to connect the neighborhood with

appropriate social services. Last month,

Armando noted, several residents also

attended the meeting. These are big

steps, Donna added, “In giving people a

voice, and control.”

While the work for Grapevine Village is

serious business, there is also room for

fun. The Grapevine Village Team hosts

several fiestas each year at Shady Oaks,

and has extended our week-long Feed

“Poverty is not just about not having

enough money, it’s about not having control over your circumstances.”


Our Kids commitment for an additional

four weeks each summer.

The work of transforming the Grapevine

Village is a large task, but one that has

been so successful due to the prayerful

commitment of church members,

staff, GRACE and local officials and

volunteers. With so much work left to

be done, there are many opportunities

for church members to help. Additional

physical volunteers, resources, and use

of spiritual gifts to help and educate the

residents are needed. There’s a place for

everyone who wants to participate in this

local ministry.

It’s been two years since the conception

of the Grapevine Village idea, Donna

said, and “It’s still an ever-changing

process, but the intimidation is gone…

every step of the way God has met us

where we were and turned a potentially

nice experience into a deeply powerful

and often life-changing experience for so

many people.” •

Pam and her husband Herb have been members of the church since 1991. Pam has served in many different capacities at the church over the years, but currently serves on the Board of Trustees, volunteers for Project Read and attends Journey’s Foundation Sunday School class and Kenda’s Serendipity Bible Study.


Faith for the Moment

“We go to build relationships, visit our friends,

and learn what it is really like to see God’s

Kingdom and faith acted out on a daily basis...“


Faith for the MomentMost people know that our church has

been involved in mission work in

Kenya. A team went there in March

and another team of five will be going June 30.

Our projects are many, including the Methodist

Guest House, Ntumburi Village kitchen and

dining hall, AIDS Orphans, Evangelists,

Families with Disabilities, water projects, and

many more.

I (Mark) have just completed my fourth trip and

I am often asked, “What do you do when you

go to Kenya?” The answer continues to change

for me. The first time I went I thought I would

just be working on construction projects. Boy

was I wrong! That is one of the things we do,

but today my answer is that we go to build

relationships, visit our friends, and learn what

it is really like to see God’s Kingdom and faith

acted out on a daily basis.

When your mind starts to wonder about

the things that you need, where does

your list start and stop?

For many of our friends in Kenya it starts with

water, food, and one or two sets of clothes. Very

few have electricity and they hardly think about

running water in the home or hut. Yet, when we

visit them they are thrilled to see and recognize

us from previous visits. They live their lives full

of faith for the moment... that God will provide

By Mark and Carol Howe


for them what they need for that day and

the next. They work hard to provide for their

families. They are thankful for good health

and the opportunity to work,

even in conditions that no

one would work under in this

country.

When we visited the school at

Kambereu, we brought new

sweaters to each student.

They sat outside on benches to

listen to the presentation and receive their

new sweaters. As we were completing our

visit, Isaac, one of the Synod leaders, spoke

to the children. His message was simple

and eloquent... one that should be heard by

each person in our church, our community,

and our schools. Focus on the things you

have, not the things you don’t have. Isaac

encouraged the children to focus on

all the blessings and opportunities

they have. They are able to go

to school and learn from good

teachers, and they must recognize

these blessings and use all their

efforts to reach their goals.

It seems to me that if the people

of Kenya can have faith for each moment

under these conditions, then it should be

easy for us - who are so greatly blessed - to

place our daily trust in God. •

“Focus on the

things you have,

not the things

you do not have.”~ Isaac Kinoti

Mark and Carol Howe have been members of FUMC Grapevine since 2001. Both are active in our ministries to Kenya and serve communion at the 11:15 AM worship service. Mark currently serves as our Lay Leader, and Carol serves on the Well committee.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18


Will Rogers, speaking about

Methodist Annual Conferences,

once said, “Methodist ministers are like

fertilizer. Spread them around and they

do a lot of good. Put them together in

one place and they start to stink.” As we

approach Annual Conference time, truer

words could not be

spoken. Just ask any

of our lay members

who attend Annual

Conference.

Ministers are

always better when

concentrating on

being sent out in

ministry, rather than

focusing on the place

we are being sent to.

When we concentrate

on the place, we think about the church’s

size, prestige and salary. When we

concentrate on being sent, we think

about service.

That is why I like the appointive system

of the United Methodist Church. We are

not “called” by a local church because

they like our preaching or personality

or politics. We are “sent” by the bishop

to serve the church and community to

which we are sent. Every minister should

remember, we are a servant to the local

church, not the boss. Just as Jesus said,

he “came not to be served, but to serve.”

(See Matthew 20:20-28.)

Those Jesus first called to

ministry were labeled

“disciples,” which

means followers or

learners. Later, as

Jesus was preparing

to leave this world, he

called them “apostles,”

or ones who are sent.

Those two words define

Christian ministry.

They remind us that,

at our very best, we

sit at the master’s feet

and learn, we follow wherever he leads

and are then sent out to do ministry in his

name.

Remember the story of Mary and

Martha? Mary sat at the feet of Jesus

while Martha was busy preparing to

serve Jesus a meal. Both of the sisters

are reprimanded in the story; Mary by

Martha and Martha by Jesus. But truth

The Church in BALANCE by Rev. John Mollet


be told, the two sisters embody true

Christian discipleship, the combination

of following and serving. They are the

example for all Christians.

We believe in the priesthood of all

believers. We understand that we

all, both lay and clergy, share in the

responsibilities of discipleship and

being an apostle. When we are at our

very best, we hold the two in balance.

We follow and learn

from the master,

then hear the great

commission to take

what we have learned

and share it with the

entire world.

I believe this is

the rhythm of the

Christian faith; the

continual movement

between sitting at

the Lord’s feet and

serving in his name.

One completes the other. If we attempt

to serve without connecting to the Lord,

what do we have to offer in our service?

If we spend time with God and fail to

serve, we selfishly hold onto the grace

of God’s presence. It is like breathing.

We must both inhale and exhale to live.

To stay alive spiritually, we must inhale

God’s spirit and exhale it over the

world around us. (See John 20:19-23.)

Our programming here at First

Methodist Grapevine should also

reflect that rhythm. We must offer

opportunities to sit at the feet of

Jesus through small groups for

spiritual formation, education and

accountability; as well as offering

the opportunity for our members to

breathe the spirit on the world through

our service. We must always keep

that balance in our church and in our

individual spiritual

lives.

Let me encourage you

to seek to breathe in

God’s spirit through

personal spiritual

formation, then exhale

that spirit through your

service. For it is in

both being a disciple…

following, sitting at

Jesus’ feet, breathing in;

and being an apostle…

being sent, serving, exhaling the spirit

of God, that we find the rhythm of the

faith and become a fragrant offering to

the Lord. •

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself

up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrif ice to God.” - Ephesians 5:1-2

John has served as Senior Pastor of FUMC Grapevine since June of 2011. Read thoughts from John daily on the 10 & 10 blog, which encourages you to read scripture for 10 minutes a day and pray for 10 minutes a day... every day!

www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/10and10

be a di s ci p le.. . be a n a po st le.. .


Next St e p sIn John’s article on “The Church in Balance,” he encourages us to maintain our personal spiritual health, while still serving others. Here are a few practical suggestions to get you started, from two of our congregation’s experts on Spiritual Formation, Pat Laster and Annette Sowell.

Take time daily to sit in silence with God, even if it is just a couple of minutes. Practice “listening” for what God is saying to you through quiet times of meditation.

Read God’s Word daily. More than gathering information, ask yourself such questions as, “What are these words saying to me about how God wants me to live my life?” Try to imagine God’s presence with you at this time and consider what He is saying to you.

Practice Prayer.There is no one method that is better than another – just show up and start talking. God will do the rest.

Join a small group. Look for people who want to learn about faith and be accountable to each other. If you don’t know of a group you can join, contact one of the pastors for guidance. You may even choose to start your own.

Worship corporately in the company of other spiritual seekers.

Do one thing daily for someone else. A prayer, a good thought, a telephone call, an e-mail, a mailed card, a smile... they do wonders.

Look for God’s presence in every situation... ...either good or bad. Be reminded that, “...neither life nor death nor angels nor principalities nor anything in all creation shall separate us from the love of God.” (Romans 8:38)

Need help with your next steps? Call the church office at 817-481-2559 or contact one of our pastors (see www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/staff).


I was turning around after walking

kids to school and saw friendly

faces with donuts at the top of the hill. The

Heritage Campus was greeting parents

from the elementary school as they made

their way home after dropping off the

kiddos. I thought – friends and free donuts

– and quickly made my way up the hill.

There were hugs and greetings as many

had gathered. I introduced myself to

another, asking if he was a member

of this church or a new parent at the

school. All at once there was silence and

then a huge roar of laughter. I had just

introduced myself to Rev. Louis Carr –

the newly appointed pastor of Heritage

Campus. Yeah, he’s a member. And so

started our experience with the Heritage

Campus.

It’s been a little less than three years

now since the merger which created

FUMC Grapevine – Heritage Campus,

presenting a wonderful opportunity to

grow God’s presence and faith in our

community. And it’s no wonder that in

such a short time a strong family focus

has taken shape. Children and families

surround the Heritage Campus. Just next

door are Heritage Elementary School

and Heritage Middle School, and across

the street sits Colleyville Heritage High

School (CHHS).

By Barbie Deborah

The View from Heritage Hill


At the Heritage Campus, Rev. Louis Carr

asks all members to commit one of his

favorite verses to memory...

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the

evidence of things not seen.-Hebrews 11:1 KJV

It’s the definition of faith in action. And

great faith and hope from the Downtown

and Heritage Campuses has afforded

great rewards beyond imagination…

Holy week began with morning

devotionals and culminated with a

vigil fire from the eve of Easter Sunday

until the Sunrise Service Easter morning.

This tradition was begun by beloved,

deceased member Elan Allen. This time

allows families to reflect on Jesus and his

journey to the cross and ascension into

heaven.

Another long-standing tradition is the

yummy Fifth Sunday Pot Luck. Complete

with homemade and store-bought

favorites, Ms. Billie Martin’s banana

pudding is always a much-anticipated

treat!

And each Sunday, the Heritage Campus

stays busy with worship well into the

afternoon with a Hispanic service

beginning at noon, led by Pastor Alfredo

Medina.

At left: Heritage Campus youth intern Payton Carter says, “Heritage Youth is an AWESOME weekly gathering where junior high and high school students come together to worship Jesus, grow in their relationship with Him, and have a total blast while making new friends. Check it out for yourself and see what the youth at Heritage Campus are up to!

Heritage Campus Youth Video on YouTubewww.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/hcyvideo

Children’s Time on Easter Sunday. Heritage Campus welcomed almost 160 during Easter Sunday Service this

year, combined with another 45 attending Sunrise Service.


The benefits of the merger are apparent in the numbers

as well. Attendance continues to grow and is pushing

the Heritage Campus to begin conversations of adding

additional services beyond the current 10:30 AM service.

The first Easter he was here, Rev. Louis Carr remembers

having 24 in attendance. This past Easter, there were 157

in attendance... standing room only! Most Sundays at the

10:30 service we see between 80 -100 seated, a dramatic

difference from where we were at the start of the merger.

Strong numbers are also present mid-week at Worship

on Wednesdays (WOW), with music currently being

led by the youth. Rev. Louis Carr has spent the spring

preaching on Power in the Parables. During the summer,

the Wednesday night pulpit will be filled by each of the

pastors in turn.

The youth presence has risen dramatically, too, through

the AWESOME or awe-inspiring guidance of youth leader

Payton Carter. Upwards of 20 youth currently meet on

Wednesdays, and the Heritage Campus is planning to

add a Sunday night youth program that will explore a

deeper walk with Christ.

Notable also is the Heritage Campus Confirmation

Class completed mid-April, with three new members –

Mackenzie Edwards, Andy Hackney and Cade Deborah.

Recently, 6-year-old Eva Elmore took it upon herself

to raise funds to help defer costs of replacing the

playground in the back of the campus, which had to be

taken down due to old age and much use. In two short

weeks, Eva raised more than $3,500 with a lemonade

stand and announcements during Wednesday and

Sunday services.


Every month, the K-5 Sunday School

class visits the Atria, a local assisted

living and nursing home facility.

No matter the age, there are “doers” at the

Heritage Campus!

With this strong focus on children

and youth, the Heritage

Campus reached out and took on the

implementation of a Go Center, creating

a place on the Heritage Campus

where students from CHHS can come

to explore their future and receive

guidance on how to get there.

An incredibly hefty undertaking, the

Go Center (which operates during

the school year on Mondays and

Wednesdays from 4-5:30 p.m.) found

immediate support. Donations poured

in, including 25 computers, bus

transportation and volunteers to tutor

those needing help.

The Go Center represents Heritage

Campus’ commitment to our community

by supporting the Grapevine-Colleyville

School District and the betterment of

our future leaders through education

and career assistance. As the Go Center

continues to succeed, we hope to extend

the Go Center to Heritage Middle School

next year.

With all of these exciting milestones

there are more ahead… like the

inception of a family mission trip next

summer. We welcome you to come visit

us on this side of Grapevine and look

forward to sharing God’s blessings with

you! •

Barbie and her husband Jim have been members of FUMC Grapevine since 1999. Barbie has served on the Nursery Committee, Angel Food Ministry, Sunday School Staff, Vacation Bible School, and Circle of Friends woman’s group. She and her family have been attending worship at the Heritage Campus since October 2010.


When I was asked to contribute

to The Church at Work, I was

more than willing to share my own

experiences of how the church has been

at work to help my family through the

hard times. Our church family at FUMC

Grapevine has stood beside our family

during various difficulties and personal

tragedies in the past years we have

been a part of this congregation. And,

once again, we found our family in a

hard place – and needing the love and

support of our church.

My challenge came in the form of a phone call on a regular Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 on January 24. The call confirmed

that I indeed had breast cancer at the

age of 44, after a routine mammogram

showed a questionable mass and a

biopsy had followed. Shock, fear,

disbelief were just some of the emotions

that ran through my mind. I was young, I

had small children and SURELY this was

not happening to ME!

After many doctor appointments and

double mastectomy surgery on February

29, I began the real journey of treatment

of this horrible disease. Since the cancer

had spread to my lymph nodes, I am

currently in chemotherapy through the

end of July and will be having 6+ weeks

of radiation following that.

In the meantime, I cannot begin to

describe the outpouring of support,

prayers and love that I felt from so many

in our church. Our various pastors have

Help for Hard Times

by Robin Blankenship


been wonderful about being there for

big medical events, and they have

called so many times just to check on

me and our family. But they are only

our leaders; the people of the church

have really gone to work on my behalf.

Individuals delivered meals* almost

every day for a period of weeks. If

you’ve never had a major surgery, you

cannot imagine how helpful this was to

us, and to my parents who were helping

take care of me and our little boys.

As soon as word got out about my

diagnosis, I was literally FLOODED with

cards, Facebook Messages, words of

encouragement on Caring Bridge, text

messages and e-mails!

One of the most

amazing things that

has happened is God

allowing people to

reach out to me with just

what I needed to hear

at a particularly difficult

time. I have had so

many friends send

the perfect scripture

verse, an amazingly

poignant devotional

or very specific words

of encouragement when the senders

couldn’t have known how helpful they

would be!

Not a day or two passes without a special surprise. It’s not the material things

that make the difference. It is the

thoughtfulness and perfect timing of

each item. Homemade chemo pillows

and blankets, flowers and bracelets,

bath soaps and spa gift sets, gift cards

to restaurants for when I am really sick

and nothing sounds good to eat... I

have been blessed.

One sweet friend saw me fanning

myself while getting very hot in church,

and an adorable

portable pink mister

fan was delivered to my

porch that afternoon! (I

now bring it to church

every week.)

I’ve received beautiful

flowers – both from

friends & family and

from the wonderful

Altar Flower Ministry

at our church! Nothing

brightens your day

* One of the church’s ministries is called Angel Food. The Angel Food team will deliver a meal to families in need of support due to surgery, birth, illness, etc. In Robin’s case, friends both inside and outside the church stepped up and provided her family with meals. But not everyone is blessed with so many responses! If you would like to be a part of the Angel Food team to provide a meal during crisis for families who need it, contact Cheri Rutledge ([email protected] or 817-481-2559 x110).


more than getting back from a difficult

medical appointment, and finding

flowers left by your front door!

But – the biggest thing I have found through this journey is seeing the people of this church literally being the hands and feet of Christ to me and my family.

Each person has their own gifts and

way of helping and they just continue

to amaze me! Some close friends now

meet with me every Sunday night before

a chemotherapy round for “Chemo

Coffee with Robin” at a local Starbucks.

They are there to let me be “real” about

what I’m dealing with and how they

can help. For a “doer” like me who is

accustomed to being the one helping

others, it is a very humbling experience

to be ministered to... but one that is truly

life-changing.

I believe God gives strength to those

who are hurting through the people of

this church! I have an army behind

me in this battle, and I am eternally

grateful. As you see others facing a

crisis, REACH OUT in whatever way

feels right for you. You will make a

difference in someone’s life and will

allow Christ to work through your

efforts! •

“Without times of adversity, you would miss the powerful experience of God walking with you through the valley times of life.”

~ Charles Stanley

The Cancer Survivor Support Group meets the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in Room 2010 of the Family Life Center at First United Methodist Church Grapevine’s Downtown Campus (422 Church Street in Grapevine).

Group members are cancer survivors who offer support and encouragement for cancer patients, family members and loved ones whose lives have been impacted in any way by a cancer diagnosis.

Robin has been a member of FUMCG since 2002. She has served in various capacities, including Staff Parish Relations Committee and Finance Committee. She is currently a member of 2x2 Sunday School Class, UMW, Creative Learning Center Board, Angel Food Ministry, “Never Go Hungry” Casserole Ministry and Campus Angels.


Serve Over SummerSummer is one of the busiest times for outreach in the life of the church. If you’re looking for a place to serve, start here!

Summer Sunday SchoolSummer Sunday School for children runs from June 3 to August 19. If you would like to teach Sunday School during the summer, contact Linda McClure ([email protected] or 817-481-2559 x126).

Vacation Bible SchoolVBS is June 24-29. We’ll need help with everything from snacks to crafts to recreation to leading kids around! If you would like to help, contact Linda McClure ([email protected] or 817-481-2559 x126).

Youth ActivitiesThere’s still time to sign up to be a sponsor on the Middle School Mission Trip to Paris, TX on July 15-20. You can also offer your swimming pool to host summer youth events, volunteer to drive the van, or help with youth retreats. If you would like to help, contact Jenny Davidson ([email protected] or 817-481-2559 x116).

Feed Our KidsFeed Our Kids Big Week is July 9-13. In addition, we will serve Feed Our Kids at the Shady Oaks site for an additional four weeks beyond our big week in order to continue to build relationships with the Grapevine Village. Those dates are: July 16-20, July 23-27, July 30-August 3, and August 6-10. To help, contact Deb Scheiwe ([email protected] or 817-412-1762).

Project ReadProject Read volunteers go to the Feed Our Kids sites all summer to give books and read to kids. You do not have to work every week, just what works best for your schedule. Volunteers usually get to a site at 11:45 and stay as long/short as they want. (See Feed Our Kids for dates.)


www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org/give

First United Methodist Church GrapevineDowntown Campus: 422 Church Street | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 817-481-2559

Heritage Campus: 4344 Heritage Avenue | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 817-571-1111

www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org

While you’re out there conquering the world, don’t forget Mission Central! Your budget giving supports every ministry in the church, and keeps our doors open!

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