(979) 793-6185  PO BOX 26  Needville, TX  77461   needvilleumc.org

March 11, 2011

Dear Needville UMC Family,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we enter the blessed season of Lent. I would like to begin this letter with a heartfelt “thank you” to the youth and youth leaders for the great worship service they led last Sunday. What a blessing to have so many young people involved in the life of our church.
Currently we are in the midst of a sermon series on spiritual gifts. Hopefully you are asking God to make clear to you not only what your gift is but also how you can use that gift to further His Kingdom here on Earth. When we become members of The United Methodist Church we vow to uphold the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our offerings. It is my prayer for you that in this letter you will find an area where you can put your spiritual gifts to service.

The Edge

Beginning Saturday, March 26, 2011 our congregation will embark on a new adventure. At 6pm that evening we will begin The Edge worship service in the Youth/Family Center. This weekly worship service, geared for a younger crowd, will have music led by our Praise Band, a message relevant to today’s issues, and use various types of media in an environment comfortable for those in their 20’s. Service will last less than an hour. Please invite younger folks you know who are not currently attending services. Feel free to come and check out this vital, new ministry.

Opportunity-Filled April

District Lay Speaker Academy April 1 & 2 – The Southwest District presents a Lay Speaker Academy, Preparing Laity for Ministry, “Learning and Leading.”  Lay speaking is a wonderful way to serve the church.  Classes offered prepare participants to lead worship services and speak during the sermon time on Sundays when clergy are not available.  Classes are helpful to anyone who teaches or leads a class.  For more information contact the office.

Survey Sunday  -  April 3 – we will go into the neighborhood surrounding our church buildings and reach out to our community. There are still many places in which you can serve Christ on this day. Most of all we need people who are willing to go to homes, ring the doorbell and take a short 3-5 minute survey with the person who answers the door. Please contact Kathleen Mires to let her know of your commitment to reach those who live in the shadow of our church.

Holy Week Services – Palm Sunday, April 17, 10:45am – traditional procession of palms by our children

Maundy Thursday, April 21, 7:30 pm – service of holy communion remembering The Last Supper

Good Friday, April 22, 7:30 pm – service remembering the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

The Edge, Saturday, April 23, 6pm – our new service continues with its Easter celebration

Easter, April 24, 7am – Community Sunrise Service at Immanuel UCC
10:45am – NUMC Celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord

Confirmation/Change the World

Since early January, our Confirmation Class has been meeting weekly to learn about the United Methodist Church, John Wesley, and make decisions about their role in Needville UMC. On Sunday, May 15, we will accept into membership those confirmands who choose to join the church. The United Methodist Church will hold its second annual Change the World weekend at that same time. Based on the results of our community survey, the Confirmation Class will be helping with the efforts to meet the needs of our neighbors on Saturday, May 14. Please save those dates now as a time when you can support both our own newest members and be Christ’s hands and feet in our neighborhood.

Website Update

www.needvilleumc.org now has a new look! Use this resource for sermon podcasts, details on upcoming events, the pastor’s blog, a place to refer persons interested in info about the church, and links to the youth group’s and church’s facebook pages.

Food Pantry

Needville Ministerial Alliance is seeking volunteers to serve in the food pantry.  If interested, contact the office.

Innerchange Freedom Initiative

In February, NUMC was blessed to hear from Tommie Dorsett, the director of the Innerchange Freedom Initiative at the Carol Vance Unit in Sugar Land.   InnerChange provides educational, values-based program services to prisoners on a voluntary basis to help prepare them for reentry to society, employment, religious and community service, and family and social relationships using values reflected in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

As our Confirmation class learned last week, Jesus wants us to visit those in prison (“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” -Matthew 25:36). Innerchange Freedom Initiative offers us the chance to serve Christ by visiting those in prison. I would highly recommend participating in one of their Freedom Walk orientation tours.  Two are scheduled for April 14 & May 12.  Please let me know if you would like to attend one and I can get you setup.

Looking Ahead

Fish Fry – Saturday, May 7
VBS – July 11-15
Summer Camp July 18-22
Back to School Sunday – August 21 – we will send students and teachers back to school with our prayers, support, and a blessing of backpacks.
National Night Out – Tuesday, October 4 – we will continue to reach out to our neighbors surrounding the church in such a way that we make Jesus Christ’s love visible to them.

In closing, an ember removed from a fire is quickly extinguished. Nowhere does scripture affirm following Christ in isolation. A disciple is a person who chooses to follow Jesus. Simply put, a church is a group of people who are being disciples and making disciples. I would encourage you to pray for our church as we attempt to be as faithful to God as we know how to be, to attend worship services regularly so that the ember of faith in your life will not grow cold, to give generously so our church can continue to do its part in building the kingdom of God, and to serve, as Christ became a servant we to are called to be servants.

God’s richest blessings to you and yours,

Rev. Mark McClanahan

I like the way our group can work together to accomplish a task larger than I can do alone.

I love that when we sing and do acolyte and talk about God.

I really like gathering together to study God’s word and to share in services of worship.

The sermons

Pastor Mark’s sharing of the word of God.

I love the Psalter and many other thinks about our church, but what I love the most is seeing all the familiar faces and loving looks.

Loving acceptance

What I like about our church is the choir and children who sing.

Our church is small.

The beautiful stained glass windows. The people in our church.

The friends and family that have been here for life. We have a great pastor.

I really love our church, cause our whole community is allowed to the church, and we all just come together.

Children’s Church

The fellow church members: Friendly, Open, Sincere

Our church family who is with you through everything.

Small, casual

This church has a strong support system – emotional, physical and monetary. This church is full of loving, caring people.

The love.

Most people are friendly.

Presence of the Holy Spirit.

Altar flowers.

Stained glass windows. Especially Jesus above the altar.

The acceptance of all who walk through the door.

Is honestly not boring. I like it.

Friendliness.

That church is open to anybody out there that have no where else to go.

I really like how no mater if you come every Sunday or every chance you get you’re welcome the same way.

The people are very welcoming.

The warmth of friends.

Fellowship.

The way we respond. The church itself.

I feel loved and welcome when I walk in the door.

I love this church because of all the beautiful people that are here – the love and fellowship and kindness that is shown constantly.

I love this church for all the kind and wonderful people. The music is awesome.

Jesus Christ is here.

Everyone loves and helps you.

Extended family.

Food, fun & fellowship.

Playground and video games.

Family. I feel the spirit when I’m with my Church family.

The sincere and loving manor the pastor delivers his sermons.

Family. I feel so great to have a church family.

Needville United Methodist Church is a warm and loving family.

Pastor’s dedication. God’s love and the love we have for each other.

Everybody is friends with each other.

I feel a part of a family, God’s family when I’m in our church. I feel God’s love when I’m here.

Fellowship and support of one another and perseverance in times of trials individually and with the church to sustain God’s word.

I like the fact that members of our church care for each other we are here for one another.

I love the way our family has been welcomed and received into this church.

The results of our Consecration Sunday are miraculous! When we give to God as we’ve indicated on our estimate of giving cards, NUMC will have over $30,000 additional resources in 2011 to use to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to a hurting community and world. Thanks to you for your participation and thank God for his eternal goodness.

When neighborhood kids who are starting to come to youth want to go to camp or UM Army, we can send them. As new ministries are started and our facilities are used more, we’ll have the funds for materials, supplies and utilities required. Because of your faithful and generous response, when we as a church feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome a stranger, give someone clothes, visit people who are sick or in prison, we will be able to do even more than we have done before!

Thank you God! Thank you NUMC! I love you! I love being your pastor!

Hebrews 10:23-24 reads “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

How do we stir one another to love and good works?

Verse 25 begins, “not neglecting to meet together…”

As the school years begins to assert new routines in your home, ensure one of those routines is gathering to worship God.

During the August 5th Sunday lunch after service, I shared my vision for the future of our church. I reminded those who were there of the story Jesus told about the house built on sand that fell during the storm and the house built on rock that survived the storm, my image for the future of our church is SOLID GROUND. From the position of solid ground I believe our church can do anything God leads us to do.

We need to be on solid ground on Sunday mornings. First and foremost we need to be there. Special attention needs to be paid to our nursery and usher/greeter ministries as they will have the greatest impact on the first impressions of our guests. I want to encourage and thank leaders of all of our Sunday ministries. We are on solid ground when we pay special attention to the details: being there early, being ready to go, sharing what God has given you during preparation. Key to Sunday is the time we spend sharing the faith with all.

At the end of my presentation I asked the congregation to do 4 things: Pray * Give * Lead * Serve. As the school year begins I’m excited about continuing our task as a church of being disciples and making disciples.

Nancy & I would like to express our thanks to everyone for the overwhelmingly gracious welcome everyone at Needville UMC has shown us. We very much appreciate the delicious pot-luck on our first Sunday and we are grateful for the gifts in the pounding and have been usiing them daily. The work efforts of all who spent time on the parsonage and our yard go beyond anything we could have hoped for. Everything looks so good and we cannot adequately express our appreciation for all of the time and effort that was spent on our behalf.

We are looking forward to the time God allows is here in Needville and we are eager to serve God with you in whatever endeavors God chooses for Needville UMC.

Tribute to Ms. Marcella Young, Principal, Linden-Kildare Elementary
Presented to the Linden-Kildare CISD Board meeting April 15, 2010

For several years now I’ve tried to figure out how I could be invited to speak at a Ms. Young appreciation event or God forbid her eventual retirement party. Allowing Ms. Young would let such a thing take place. I might have to overcome vicious rumors that some United Methodist preachers bore their congregations nearly to death. Too soon the McClanahans will live 250 miles away. I decided rather than wait in Needville, Texas for this improbable invitation, I’m going to give my speech for Ms. Young right now.

At the outset, I want to say Ms. Young is among the very best leaders I’ve ever met, period. I remember the first honor roll assembly I attended at L-K Elementary to support my older children, John & Kelly. There was no way for me to know what to expect. Ms. Young was the last person to enter the gym. I was amazed at everyone’s reaction as she walked to the podium. It got quiet…tomb quiet. All movement ceased. Everyone sat up a little straighter. Ms. Young did what she does after every report card. She recognized her students for doing great work at school. From that first honor roll I began to understand, at L-K Elementary, what Ms. Young says happens.

In 2004, my insight into Ms. Young and her leadership abilities began to increase. That year our youngest son, Caleb, was diagnosed with autism. As Nancy and I sat literally shell-shocked in our first ARD meeting, we arranged that our three-year-old would be escorted by one of his parents to Mrs. Jesse Biscamp’s ECI room in the kindergarten/1st grade building.

Daily over the next 3 years I escorted Caleb to class. Mollie, when she started kindergarten, very reluctantly joined us Caleb’s second year. Through all of this, I gained new insights into Ms. Young’s leadership. Mostly this happened as I watched people who were not where they were supposed to be: they would take furtive glances around corners to make sure the coast was clear, try to hide behind the awning posts, reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoon characters. I’m speaking, of course, about teachers and staff. The students know better than to go somewhere they are not supposed to be. They know, at L-K Elementary, what Ms. Young says happens.

I will never forget Caleb’s first day of school. As he and I walked around the corner by the cafeteria there was Ms. Young. Ms. Young said, “Good morning, Caleb. Can you tell me good morning? Can you say, ‘Good morning to Ms. Young?’” Looking at Caleb, Ms. Young said, “You’ll tell me good morning one day.”

Caleb looked down and to the side. There was a hint of a quiver. I could tell with all of his being he wanted to implode, disappear right there on the spot. Incidentally, I’ve seen that very same reaction when non-autistic children are speaking to Ms. Young. Not a sound was heard from Caleb that day.

I have no idea if Caleb has ever said a single word to Ms. Young. Today, I can report for a fact every day he says, Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad. He says good morning to his brother and sisters by name. Ever since his vocabulary allowed, our family tradition is for Caleb to say grace at every meal. This year he started reading as he prays. Every day I hear him say, I love you, Dad! I love you, Mom! When Caleb started school in 2004, his mother and I knew every word he had ever said by heart. We could count them on our hands. So much time has passed since we lost count of all the words that Caleb can say.

When I give thanks to God for the many blessings the McClanahans have received since moving to Linden, among them is at L-K Elementary, what Ms. Young says happens!

Thank you Ms. Young.

Thank you Linden-Kildare Consolidated Independent School District.

Respectfully submitted, Mark & Nancy McClanahan

November 8th Sermon Supplement

Texts

 Colossians 1:15-23 
 Colossians 1:24-2:5 

Quotes

Christ is not valued at all, unless he is valued above all.
-Augustine of Hippo

The highest Christian love is not devotion to a work or to a cause, but to Jesus Christ.
-Oswald Chambers