The Vine - News Blog

Church Family Missions Day: Kids Against Hunger, Sunday, February 15; All Ages Welcome and Encouraged to Participate

 
Our next Family Missions Day will be held on Sunday morning February 15. All ages will be gathering together and working side-by-side as we prepare “meals in a bag” for the worldwide mission Kids Against Hunger. This missions service opportunity is for the entire church family at Arborlawn, so please consider joining in this fun and rewarding effort.
 

The three shifts on February 15 are 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., and the assembly lines will be in the Family Life Center. Some Sunday School classes have already signed up to participate, and we encourage other classes, small groups, and gatherings of friends to join us as we participate together as a congregation to answer Christ's call to serve in mission together.
 
It’s important for us to know how much food to order, so please register in advance if you want to participate. Look for signup sheets at the Connection Center in the Lower Commons outside the Sanctuary between worship services. If you cannot signup at the Connection Center, please email Donna Crawford with your shift preference to get your name on the list; or let her know if you have any questions about this mission project.
 
The bags we will be packing contain a variety of dry ingredients that are eventually mixed with boiling water to provide a nutritious meal. While many of the meals are shipped overseas, some groups in our own area are also recipients. This mission event is about providing finished bags to the Kids Against Hunger organization.
 
As a part of this mission we are also raising money for Kids Against Hunger by collecting quarters in an effort called Change for Change. We're intentional about quarters, because each of these meals costs a total of only 25 cents! Our goal on February 15 is to pack 12,000 bags, so that comes to $3000 we are hoping to raise.
 
Thank you in advance for working together to feed the hungry!

Arborlawn Welcomes New Preschool Director, Kathy Wymer

 
Arborlawn Children's Ministry is pleased to announce our new Preschool Director, Kathy Wymer.
 

Kathy is currently the Director of Camp Fire Child Development Center. Kathy graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsement and Math Specialization. Kathy served as a preschool assistant director and later started a private church preschool. She also has worked as the director of a specialized non-profit preschool for children with hearing impairments. Kathy was named as the 2014 Administrator of the Year for the DFW area. Arborlawn is so pleased to have Kathy start our new preschool.
 
Please look for more details about the preschool and when you can register coming next week.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Connecting With Arborlawn: February 8, 15, and 22

 
Guests, please join us for Connecting With Arborlawn Sundays, February 8, 15, and 22 from 9:50-10:40 a.m. in the Gathering Area outside the Family Life Center. During these three weeks we spend time getting to know one another, sharing our stories, offering a background of Arborlawn and the United Methodist Church, and helping you to find points of connection to spiritual growth, service, and fellowship. Come and meet our clergy Ben Disney, DeAndrea Dare, Bayard Pratt, Dave Brower, and Verne Fuqua.
 

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ArborlawnUMC.org

Revelation: Bible Study Class

 
From Anton Jacobs: The Bible Study Class has started a study of Revelation, so why not come and join us? Our teacher, Ken Bittiker, has spent two weeks making an introduction to the last book of the Bible. The class meets Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 270. The class has a bridge group and a “42” group that meets monthly. We have a class party at least once every six months. The class has supported the Snack Sacks program monthly for over ten years and also supports other local outreach programs. Come and join us on Sundays for a Revelation.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Seek God for the City 2015: Lenten Devotionals from the Prayer Ministry

 
Arborlawn’s Prayer Ministry invites and encourages everyone to participate in the annual Seek God for the City Lenten devotional series.
 

Booklets are provided free of charge; a gift to the congregation from the Prayer Ministry. Look for them at the Welcome Kiosks and in the church office. Read more about Seek God for the City at Waymakers.org. This year's theme is “Prayers of Biblical Hope.”
 
You might also be interested in the smart phone app for this project. It’s available in both Apple’s App Store and from Google Play and costs $0.99. Read more at Waymakers.org/app. The app is great for those times when you're away from your booklet.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

The Ascension Garden Project

 
Raised to date: $210,779
Estimated goal: $400,000
 
The proposed Ascension Garden project of Arborlawn is a dedicated and sacred space connecting the main Sanctuary with the Elizabeth Cramer Chapel. The project will include a beautifully designed columbarium, prayer labyrinth, and meditative garden, and will feature the Resurrection stained glass window from the former Westcliff campus.
 

Many of you may know that our own Paula Thomas was the catalyst and driving force behind the effort to create the Ascension Garden. It was her vision and passion to create a sacred and beautiful space so generations of people would have a place to honor their loved ones, to draw closer to God, to deepen their walk with Christ through prayer, contemplation, and meditation, and to secure a place of peace and quiet while surrounded and strengthened by the visible reminders and symbols of our Christian faith.
 
Those of us who knew and loved Paula have committed ourselves to completing the good work that God began in her. We promised her we would. That means we have work to do and promises to keep.
 
To date we have raised $210,779 in gifts and pledges toward the completion of the project ($50,000 for Niche Reservations). The total cost of the Ascension Garden project is estimated to be $400,000. If you wish to contribute to the general Ascension Garden fund, make a tribute gift (potential naming opportunity), reserve a columbarium niche, or if you would like additional information please contact the church office or speak with Kelly Keller or Ben Disney.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Kids Hope: One Hour a Week for Something Amazing

 
Do you have an hour a week for something amazing?
 
My name is Megan Madewell and I have been a part of Arborlawn UMC for many years. In fact, Ben Disney married my husband and me. He also baptized both our children. When I was sitting in church one Sunday morning, I heard Dave share Kim’s story about Kids Hope. It definitely got my wheels turning. I prayed about it and then I remember thinking, “I am not religious enough to help someone.” “How would I have time for that?” Or, “I am not old enough to have such wisdom that a child would need.” Then I heard from God, “You can do this.”
 

Fast forward and it’s now the second part of the school year and I have been meeting with my Kids Hope boy since September. I go the same time and the day of every week. We usually go outside and get the wiggles out and then our time seems to go so quickly. Week after week I look forward to seeing him. I have been feeling for some time now that I am not making a difference to him. Sure he likes to see me and we have a great time, but I didn’t feel like he cared if I was there or not.
 
Something was different last week. I went to the office to get him. He came down the hall, he saw me, his eye lit up, and he started smiling. I started waving to him. He came right up to me and gave me this incredible hug, which is something that he has never done. Then he grabbed my hand and said, “Let’s go.” On the way to our room, he looks at me and says, “I missed you.” My heart is full, and I then realized he changed me.  
 
That’s all it took. One hour a week.
 
[Editor's Note: If you are interested in becoming a Kids Hope mentor, please contact Laurie Ryan or Shirley Watkins.]
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org