November 2018
October Happenings
Pastor's Note
This month in worship we will focus on the book of Ruth. Ruth is a wonderful story in our Old Testament that tells how two immigrant women are welcomed into new lands and renewed life. Ruth and Naomi are given a fresh start after devastating loss, and we see that the radical hospitality of many helps them to move from emptiness to fullness, from bitterness to sweetness, from uncertainty to confidence. And that movement is all made possible through individuals extending the hesed, or loving kindness, that we originally receive from God.
Ruth is an inspiration to those who feel like outsiders and is a clear calling to those who feel like insiders - that we can all come together to experience God’s love. I find that to be an important message even today. There are other themes in the book of Ruth that we will pick up each Sunday, but I encourage you to read through the whole book this week ahead of worship (it is only 4 chapters long) so that you can get a good, full feel of the story yourself.
As you read, I hope you see examples of hospitality and I hope it inspires you to think of new ways this church can share loving kindness and hospitality with our neighbors, so that we may all experience the renewal that God provides!
Coming Up...
Saturday, November 3
Set your clocks back - Daylight Saving Time ends tonight
Sunday, November 4
All Saints Sunday
4:30 p.m. Meet at Oak Lawn UMC to serve Community Meal to homeless neighbors
Monday, November 12
1:00 p.m. DoveNotes - come make greeting cards for those on our prayer list! (No "making" skills required)
Sunday, November 18
Way Forward Discussion (see below)
Thursday, November 22
Thanksgiving Day - church office closed
Friday, November 23
Church office closed
Tuesday, November 27
6:00 p.m. Young Lives
Daylight Saving Time
Don't forget to set your clocks back this Saturday, November 3 for the end of Daylight Saving Time! We will see you at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
All Saints Sunday
Next Sunday, November 4, we will remember the members of our congregation who have passed away this year. During our service, we will offer a time not only to pray for our fellow church members but also to lift up the names of others in our lives who have passed away this year. We invite you to consider your loved ones prayerfully and be ready to lift up any names next week during our service.
Reminder About Pledge Cards
Thank you to everyone who has turned in pledge cards for financial commitments in 2019. Those pledges are a huge help as we begin to put together our budget for 2019, which we will start building this month. If you still have a card you have been meaning to turn in, please do so as soon as possible, and if you did not receive a card but would like to pledge, please stop by or contact the office and we can get you one.
Dallas Community Taizé
Dallas Community Taizé is a collective church partnership between Grace UMC, White Rock UMC, Greenland Hills UMC, and Cochran Chapel UMC. We meet the second Sunday each month at 6:30 p.m., rotating amongst our own churches and other worshiping spaces, to experience the peace and freshness found in the Taizé style of worship. We hope you will join us for our November worship service at Cochran Chapel UMC!
Way Forward Meetings
Bishop Michael McKee is hosting another information session about the plans and decisions being made in the United Methodist Church concerning homosexuality on Saturday, December 1, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Lovers Lane UMC and all laity are welcome to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to update people on the plans and the process before us. There will be a short time of question and answer, but it will not be a time to debate the merits or shortcomings of each plan.
We will also offer a time for deeper discussion of the upcoming decision on homosexuality here at Lakewood UMC on November 18 right after worship. It will be an opportunity to learn what has happened and is happening, and a time to have a conversation about possible results of the decision. Join us and share your thoughts, whether this is completely new for you or you’ve been following along closely.
Happy Birthday to...
Noah Robertson 11/1
Kent Olds 11/3
Elaine MacKay 11/4
Joan Mayo 11/15
Alan Noel 11/20
Charolette Noel 11/29
This Month, We Pray for...
Kathryn Bagley; Gail Baldwin; Lynn Bruce; Carole Bryde; Linda Castor; Shirley Dunn; Wilma Elrod; Mary Ann Finley; Jean Fowler; Leck and Cynthia Heflin; Harold Logan; Jan Logan; Carolyn Miracle; Marie Miranda; Mike Miranda; Tim Miranda; Pat Norvell; Jorge Ortiz; Brandon Owen; Pontis Ministries; Susan Price; Kathy Purvis; Shelly Robertson; Elizabeth Robbins; Robin Robbins; Dillon Rosten; Ginny Salinas; Beth Saxton; Debbie Schwartz; Jeanne Scroppo; Linda Simmons; Alan Smith; Kelly Smith; Travis Smith; Chris Venable; Betty Watson; Louise Williams