Guía de la iglesia

There are times in life when we turn to others and say "Give me a hand". We can say that in the simplest of ways and in the most challenging of ways. When Googling the phrase, I found this definition: " to help, aid or assist". As I type those words, I am thinking of the people of Louisiana that will need the greater community around them to come to their aid in the days and weeks ahead. I know there have been times in my life when I have needed help...aid...assistance...in simply finding my way thru challenges. And at times, the only one who could provide what I truly needed is God. In our Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs series in the morning, we will be reminded of the words that Tommy Dorsey wrote when he needed God's help the most: "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand." And those words well echo countless others, like a Psalmist who was in a similar place and wrote similar words. And those words remind me of other words some of us have sung when life has challenged us the most: "And I will rise, when he calls me name..." Join us tomorrow for a message on "Give Me a Hand and Rise". See you in the morning!

Reminder...if you want to know all that's happening at Faith and connect with over 550 within our greater Faith community, go to our Faith UMC Spring page. Thanks for your interest in all God is doing at Faith UMC.

Last Sunday, we looked into what it takes for all to be "well with our soul". But there are those times when our souls haven't been well that we need a large dose of grace. Have you ever been there? Tomorrow morning, we will continue in our Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs series with a look at "What's So Amazing About Grace?" The bottom line is that I believe we all have known the "sweet sound" of Amazing Grace that has led us home time and time again. The verse we are diving into as we look into this great hymn is from Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Also, tomorrow morning is when we officially receive and welcome Rev. Jennifer Gros as our new Associate Pastor. A reception will be held after each service to welcome Jennifer and her family to Faith! Finally, you might want to plan ahead as I have done and set your DVR to record the FIFA Women's World Cup Final between the United States and Netherlands. And I've already silenced my notifications. (But we will offer grace to those who just can't resist checking on the match and when you shout your enthusiasm, we will know that the Holy Spirit is moving you in worship.) Have a great Saturday and we'll see you in the morning.

Last night, Susan and I went out to dinner with Donyale and Damon before she begins her new appointment at First Methodist Houston. In talking about what is ahead, one of the things she will do is attend the Day of Wellness as a new clergyperson within the UMC. Our Conference has put a Wellness Program in place to assist clergy with self-care. So much of that comes out of what God desires for all of us...to be well and whole as children of God. Tomorrow morning, I invite you to join us for worship and take up the challenge to walk with one another along the Pathway to Wellness and Wholeness. The message will include a look at one of the great hymns of the Church, It Is Well With My Soul. For all of the years that I have sung that hymn, it has given me pause to consider how well my soul might be. How is it with your soul? Join us at 9:30 and 11:00 for a journey along a pathway that God has prepared for us!

Just. Do. It.

From the time I was a young child, I have imagined so much when it comes to my faith. From imagining God to imagining creation. From imagining the beginning to imagining the ending. And then imagining everything in between. Tomorrow morning, as part of the series on Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, we will look at some of the words of the most popular Contemporary Christian song of all-time, I Can Only Imagine, thru scripture and our imagination. And our imagination can lead us to live even more expectantly, not only for what is to come in the end, but for what is just around the corner today. Join us this morning for a great day of worship on this Father's Day weekend! See you soon!

When is the last time you felt human? I know...it didn't take long this morning to feel our humanness. Maybe as you rolled out of bed. Or at least before you got the first cup of coffee in you. But in all seriousness, we feel our humanness most of the time. So when is the last time you felt holy? As much as our humanness is part of us, so is that which is Holy! Jesus said that we would know God's Spirit "intimately, because he will make his home in you and will live inside you". (John 14:17) In the morning, on Pentecost Sunday, we will take a journey From the Holy to the Spirit. And that journey will be introduced with a hymn that stirs me more than any other hymn: "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty". Join us "early in the morning" as " our song shall rise to Thee" and as we worship the One we know as "merciful and mighty".

I've had a couple of friends now for many years. I used to think they were polar opposites of one another. But over the years, I have discovered that they have more in common than I ever realized!! And even though I thought that I would eventually unfriend one of them along the way, I have found that I cannot, as he dances in and out of my life from time to time. In fact, you may have become acquainted with my friends along the way...Doubt and Belief. I hope you will make plans to join us in the morning as I will be preaching into how the "riseness" of Christ helps us to live an overcoming life. And we will begin in the morning by coming alongside Thomas, who has been unfairly portrayed over the years, and look at Between Doubt and Belief. Bring your doubts. Bring your beliefs. And join us for a great morning @ Faith!

"Darkness fell, His friends scattered, hope seemed lost - But heaven just started counting to three." (Bob Goff) There are times in life when hope has indeed seemed lost. Those days can seem like a Good Friday in our life. But Easter reminds us that all is not lost...not in the slightest!! We just need to "count to three" and wait. We wait in knowing that as Christ rises, Hope is Rising! On Easter Sunday, join us as we celebrate the Risen Christ and remember the power in the message about Hope Rising! Whether you attend one of our Traditional Services at 8:00 or 11:00 as we sing some of the great Easter hymns of the church, like "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "Crown Him with Many Crowns" or our Contemporary Service at 9:30 with songs, such as "This is Amazing Grace" or "Amen (Because He Lives)", the message of Hope Rising will be spoken loud and clear! Invite someone to join us this Easter who could use a message of Hope in their life! We will also have a special Children's Service in the Community Room at 9:30 and 11:00 for all children from Kindergarten age thru 6th Grade. Get ready to proclaim "HE IS RISEN"!! See you on Easter Morning!

Come and celebrate Palm Sunday with us at 9:30 and 11:00...@ Give a Shout Out to the King!!

If it's not about 'What You Know', then what is it? I think that depends on who you are and what drives you in life. There was a time in Paul's life that he thought it was truly all about "What You Know". But that changed and when it did, Paul changed. And when that change took place, Paul's mind changed. It was no longer about 'What You Know'. So how did Paul compete this statement? Join us in the morning at 9:30 and 11:00 as we learn from Paul's wisdom and discover what could be a new way of looking at life! In fact, it could lead you deeper into the holiness of Lent! See you in the morning!

When I saw this post this morning from Clergy Coaching Network, I thought of some of Isaiah's words that I'll be preaching into this morning - "I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love." Join us in worship this morning as we live into the Holy Abundance of this and so much more that God gives to us for the sake of ourselves and others. See you soon!

Abundance is not something we normally speak into when it comes to Lent. How can we fathom abundance when we have given up (fill-in-the-blank) for Lent and are pretty much feeling withdrawals from doing that about every moment of every day? 😕 Isaiah reminds us of what true abundance, Holy Abundance, is really all about. And what it is about is all of that which God knew we would need most in the midst of life! Join us in the morning at 9:30 and 11:00 as we seek to live into the Holy Abundance that God provides for us. (Hint: it contains everything that is far greater than any of the physical or material wants and desires we might think that we most need.) We can't wait to worship with you in the morning!!

As a preacher, there are messages that have such a place inside of you that you cannot wait to share it with others. Tomorrow is one of those days for me! For much of my life, I have been "In Search of the Holy". I have gone back to these words in Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy many times: "God's holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely better. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable. We are blind to it. We may fear God's power and admire God's wisdom, but God's holiness we cannot even imagine." And yet...I have tried all of these years! I have searched for it through words that were written centuries ago and words that are more recent. I have searched for it in the sights and sounds of the wonders of God's creation. I have searched for it in those still places where I have known that God is God. What I have found is the One who is "unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible, and unattainable." And yet, I continue to search and will continue to do so all of the days of my life. What does that search look like for you? What is your soul's desire? Have you found what you are looking for? Join us in the morning as we continue to respond to 'An Invitation to a Holy Lent" and are "In Search of the Holy". See you in the morning!

As I prepare to preach on Sunday on "In Search of the Holy", my heart hurts and is saddened for our brothers and sisters in New Zealand who had gathered to worship and search in a similar way as we will on Sunday. May the light that God has planted in our soul in Christ, be a light that will shine for all the world to see...especially in those who are experiencing the darkness of this world.

Join us tomorrow evening, Sunday, March 3 @ 6:30 pm as the Watoto Children's Choir will lead us in a powerful worship experience as they present We Will Go. Come early and get your seats as the Sanctuary is normally packed out for this event. And children love the experience too! https://vimeo.com/285066197

There is a question that I have been reflecting on of late: Where would I be without the church? I know...some could say that’s easy...without a job. 😃 But I am thinking more deeply and spiritually than that. When it comes to one of the greatest revolutions of all-time within the life of the church, the Day of Pentecost, God made it clear that the church had so much to do with bringing people together. In fact, in this week’s scripture reading, Luke wrote that on that day, the people that were brought into that faith community “committed themselves to...life together...”. (Acts 2:42) Those words tell me exactly where I would be without the church. And in the morning, I look forward to preaching into those words and reflecting on what it means for us to committ ourselves in doing life together. Join us at 9:30 and 11:00 as we worship together and seek to experience life together in an even greater way. And then have lunch with us after the 11:00 service as we talk into the upcoming Special Called Session of General Conference of the United Methodist Church. It will be a good way to conclude our morning after thinking about what “Life Together” can look like. See you soon!