HANDY CONTACTS:
Staff may be reached by calling the church,
214-368-1435, or by e-mail:
RACHEL BAUGHMAN
Executive Pastor of Discipleship
Ext. 134 [email protected]
REBECCA BRUFF
Senior Associate Pastor/Mission Outreach.......
Ext. [email protected]
NANCY BRYAN
Director of Communications
Ext. [email protected]
FELITA BURNEY
Director of Child Care
Ext. 205....................... [email protected]
DAVID CHILDS
Director of Music
Ext. [email protected]
LINDA DURBIN
Receptionist
Ext. 100......................... [email protected]
MATT GASTON
Lead Pastor
Ext. [email protected]
ASHLEY HALL
Office Manager
Ext. [email protected]
CONSTANCE HARP
Finance Manager
Ext. 132 [email protected]
GREG KLUGIEWICZ
Facilities Manager
Ext. 199........................ [email protected]
RYAN KUECKS
Assistant Director of Communications
Ext. [email protected]
MEREDITH MASON
Minister to Children & Families
Ext. 134....................... [email protected]
MARK POPE
Worship Initiatives and Music Associate
Ext. [email protected]
NEIL MOSELEY
Minister to Adults and Families
Ext. [email protected]
GEORGE O’REILLY
Administration & Development
Ext. [email protected]
BEN RIGSBY
Minister to Youth and Families
Ext. 144........................ [email protected]
TOVA SIDO
Mission Strategist
Ext. [email protected]
JENNIFER TUCKER
Finance Assistant
Ext. [email protected]
JENNY TABOR
Children’s Ministry Assistant
[email protected]
PAGE 2
ma t t ’s m us ings
Only Six Children
in the Nursery?!
Let the little children come to me, and
do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
That was the
exclamation all
of us had at staff
meeting when
Felita reported that
number for the 11:00
Easter worship hour.
That small number
would normally
indicate that worship attendance was
critically low - especially for an Easter
Sunday - but the reality was the
sanctuary was full!
So how was it that there were only
six children in the nursery? The rest
of them were in worship!
Families brought their children,
even the very small ones, into the
sanctuary to worship the risen Christ!
Seemed like everywhere I looked, a
father or mother was toting an infant
carrier. It was a wonderful view from
the front, and evidence that families
are getting the message that children
are welcome in worship. They are
most likely to learn when they see
their parents worshiping. It’s how the
faith is most effectively passed on.
Martin Luther said that the most
important calling for a Christian is
to raise another Christian. It’s why I
invite parents to bring their children
to the communion rail; children learn
by doing with adults who love them.
Thank you for being the church
of Jesus Christ that welcomes the
children; in the process, some of our
nursery workers just may get a day
off!
Summer reading
and church
Selections for Matt’s
monthly summer sermon series
This summer Matt Gaston will
preach on three books, one Sunday
a month for June, July and August.
These readings are not difficult or
long; however they are important.
They come recommended by
UPUMC leaders who have attended
the Healthy Church Initiative
(HCI) over the last eight months.
By reading these selections and
discussing them this summer, more
of our members will develop an
understanding about what effective
churches are doing to reach people
with the message of Jesus.
The selections and sermon
dates are listed below. Follow along
through the summer from wherever
you are, and catch the sermons on
our website (upumc.org/sermons)
if you are out of town. Books are
available at Amazon.com.
June 22
July 27
Simple Church
by Thom Rainer
& Eric Geiger
The Externally
Focused Church
by Rick Rusaw
& Eric Swanson
Grace, peace and joy; He is still risen!
A ՝