July 30, 2015
Summer has been busy, happy, and full of new life here at Lakewood UMC. It is kind of hard to know where to start-- so here goes!
The work on refurbishing the houses, now named “St. Clare” and “St. Francis,” is nearing completion. The Missional Wisdom Foundation has funded and coordinated the work, and we are grateful and pleased! The students will be moving in soon, some may be here before you receive your newsletter. We will be welcoming them formally later in the month. One part of that welcome will be a “pounding.” We ask that each of you bring a household supply (like dish soap, paper towels, cleaning items) to gift each house. This traditional welcome for clergy folks is a warm introduction to a new place and a new life!
Our new Perkins Intern, Kathy Nations, will begin her time with us on Sunday August 16. I have met several times with Kathy as we have planned her time with us. She has much to accomplish, and is bringing some wonderful gifts! Kathy will be preaching each month and teaching several classes while she is here. She and her husband live in Denton. After church on the 16th, we will have a reception for her so everyone can greet her and visit awhile.
This past Sunday we enjoyed hearing from Rev. Jonathan Grace. What an amazing young man! We are grateful to him and his wife Rachel for coming, and to City Square and Highland Park UMC for sharing him!
We will be enjoying another young preacher on August 23 -- Adam White will be preaching one of his required sermons for his ordination process. I am Adam’s mentor for this process. A wonderful connection for us -- Adam lives in the Bonhoffer house (at Grace UMC) and is deeply involved in a house like our new student houses. He will be coordinating work and combined events for both houses.
All of this comes at such a happy time for our family as Megan and Darren prepare to marry. We are so grateful to all of you for your prayers and warm wishes. It is so much fun to have a wedding -- and we are doubly blessed. It seems like only a few days have passed since Zack and Laura’s April wedding. Life is good at the Landis house, and we thank each of you for your part in making this such a joyful time!
Gayle
HAPPY AUGUST BIRTHDAY TO...
Herb Sheaner – 8/12
Bob Neuroth – 8/18
Vince Zaby – 8/21
Gayle Landis – 8/24
Gail Davis – 8/27
Mark Ridlen – 8/27
Kathryn Bagley-Whitson – 8/29
If we are missing your birthday, please contact the church office so that we can get it in our database.
IN OUR PRAYERS...
William Rothe, Carly Rutledge, Eric Galvan, Elizabeth Robbins, Robin Robbins, Jean Fowler, Gail Baldwin, Martha Williams, Betty Watson, Rebecca Biggs, Alice Barnett, Charlotte Gibson, June Gartlir, Austin Pichot, Adelaide Hart and Marie Miranda.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Tuesday, August 11
Wesleyan Guild
Potluck Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Program at 7 p.m.
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Equal Exchange/Fair Trade coffee, teas and chocolates will be available for sale after church by the Library on August 9.
The following groups have scheduled meetings in August:
Trustees – Monday, August 17, at 6 p.m.
Church Council – Monday, August 17, at 7 p.m.
CALL-OUT FOR HOMEMADE JAMS, JELLIES OR PICKLES
The organizers for the fall arts and crafts fair would love to have some homemade jams, jellies, or pickles to offer for sale during their fair on October 24, 2015. If you have plans to be making any of these items, the group would so appreciate your possibly making a few extras to donate to the arts and crafts fair. It was suggested that maybe we could organize a “work day” where volunteers could help with the process and assembly. Anyone interested in leading this “work day”? Contact Nancy at fombyn@gmail.com or Genie at genie.short@gmail.com.
COMING SOON TO A PARKING LOT CLOSE TO ALL!
Yes, you guessed it! The Fomby and Estee families are putting together a GARAGE SALE in the church parking lot on Saturday, September 26!
Do you have items in the back of your garage or closet that serve no purpose other than to collect dust? Would you like to free yourself of them? Well, there is no time like the present to pull all of those unwanted – but still very special – items out of your house or garage and donate them to this very good cause.
All proceeds from the garage sale will be donated to the church. Stay tuned - more details will be forthcoming in the very near future.
The following letter from the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church was recently received in the church office…
Dear Friends at Lakewood:
On behalf of the entire Oak Lawn United Methodist Church family, I want to express our extreme appreciation to all of the Angels of Lakewood UMC. Your love and your commitment to be in ministry with “the least of these” is stunning, inspiring, and a wonderful example of the Christ-like hospitality which is our biblical mandate. And so when we were in dire need of men’s boxers to fill a critical need in the Community Clothes Closet, we reached out to you. And you more than answered the call!
The Men’s Clothing Drive began on May 17 and ran through Father’s Day (June 21). During that period, the Lakewood family collected nearly 100 pair of men’s underwear. I had the opportunity to visit your campus on two occasions during the clothing drive and saw the donation basket filling up. When the Lakewood Angels team would arrive here for Gayle’s Kitchen Angels, they would give us updates on the number of boxers collected. And so, were all taken by surprise when the boxers “walked off”…
In spite of that, the clothing drive was a rousing success! We collected enough men’s clothing to easily take us through the end of the year. And as for the underwear, they were fully underwritten! Hallelujah!
And so, we praise God for the Kingdom connection which yokes us together in Christ. And even though someone made off with the basket, the work we are all called to was accomplished…and we hope whoever got the underwear will make good use of them! More than that, this unfortunate turn does not in ANY way diminish the blessing you are to us and to God’s beloved. Indeed, we couldn’t ask for a better ministry partner…
In His Service…
Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler, Senior Pastor Rev. Gregg Alan Smith, Director of Outreach