Shaped by Miracles: Dr. Mary Spradlin

How very good and pleasant it is
  when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
  running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
  running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
  which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
  life forevermore. (Psalm 133, NRSV)

Wow! How abundant is our life together when we seek to love our God and love our neighbor through ministries of service, fellowship, and Christian formation. I believe one important blessing that God gives to us is the knowledge that we can participate with God in changing lives for the better.

Some of these stories may be new to you: perhaps you didn’t realize that our church was involved in some of these ministries. But, even so, please know that you are an important part of each of these ministries. Your financial gifts to the operating budget allow us to provide staff, curriculum, facilities, and “starter budgets” for the many ministries of our congregation. “Second-mile gifts,” those we give above our pledge, help make many of these ministries possible. Your gift of presence at worship on Sunday morning helps create a vibrant community where guests feel drawn to linger and return. All of the many ways that you are faithful to AHUMC make these miracles – and many more – possible. Thank you for being a vital part of this faith community. Thank you for your part in changing lives and making of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

God Bless,

New Heights Sunday School: Brenda Roberts

I began attending Arlington Heights United Methodist Church at approximately the same time that Dr. Jim Pledger, Associate Pastor, began teaching a new Sunday School class - NEW HEIGHTS. God led me to this church, and He also led me to this class. We meet in the first room on the left after entering from the door across from the parking lot - the awning door.

Upon entering the room, one immediately feels the presence of a spirit  - the Holy Spirit - I would presume. There is a feeling of belonging and anticipation. Dr. Pledger helps to create the “feeling.” His sense of humor and humble demeanor are contagious. He wanted his class to know each other in a  social, friendly way, and he  encouraged us to meet monthly at a casual dinner party. Sue Newby organizes the parties with themes and casual food that we all provide. Generous members open their homes for our gatherings. The women in the class also meet casually once a month. Dr. Pledger knew what he was doing because we have “bonded,” so to speak. Lifetime friendships have been formed. 

Not all of the class members attend the parties; the parties are only a small part of this class; however, they do provide time and opportunity to support one another. The class sessions are the crux of the matter. Dr. Pledger is so well prepared and so well read that one feels as though he or she is attending a graduate school course taught by a good friend of Jesus. The lessons are truly gifts to us. They inspire, comfort, promote thought, and leave one wanting more. Spirited applause and conversation often follow the lesson. What a treat - trusted, enthusiastic Christians and friends gathering for worship. The room itself is filled with the presence of God. How lucky was I to have timed my joining of this church when I did. Love lives here. Join us!

New Heights Sunday School: Joni Wells

Since joining AHUMC I have been amazed with the friendliness and “can do” attitude of so many members. I knew but a few people when joining, but through the Service Matters program I met so many more. When Dr. Pledger mentioned his idea for a new class, I was hesitant; I had not belonged to a Sunday School class since high school. I volunteer in the office and attend many of the Heights Nights, but one more thing to do on a Sunday morning. Hmmmm.

Dr. Pledger gathered several souls from various other classes and prospective members and those who did not attend a class. And, then . . . a class was formed: New Heights. His interpretations of the Bible and the lessons taught have been eye-opening and his side comments make us smile and laugh. Our ages range from early 20s to mid to late 70s. All of us seem to have found a common bond through our study, questions and socialization.

After one year, we have selected leaders in the class as well as mission project leaders, social organizer and a PR person to spread the word. We even have a newsletter with “Jim’s Gems” that is sent each week to recap our last meeting and to remind of future lessons and events at the church. Recently, we studied “Alcohol, Tobacco, substance abuse and other medical issues and what the Bible says” led by Dr. Michael Jann. This month we are discussing “The Will of God” and reading Leslie Weatherhead’s book of the same title.

Visit the class to find out the reason we are growing and loving our worship more and more.

Sacred Circle Time: Addie Klemm

Sacred Circle Time is a weekly service during our church’s 10:50 and 11:03 services for preschool aged children. Each week we learn about stories from the Bible and spend time worshiping our God. We start by creating a sacred space, we hear a story from the Bible and do activities or crafts that relate to our story. I am often surprised by what the kids find most interesting and I love helping them learn Bible stories through questions and crafts and activities. But every week, it is the end of our lesson that is most impactful to me.

Every child is individually told that they are a blessing from God. They get a blessing on their hand with our special “blessing balm” and their excitement and joy is overwhelming. As adults, it seems obvious that these beautiful children are blessings, but even still, it can’t be repeated enough. I am so grateful that I get to help to remind them that they are all blessings from God. And every Sunday at Sacred Circle Time I too am reminded that each one of us are wonderful blessings.

Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission: Christine Coleman

Each summer, we send students to serve in various places as construction missionaries. This summer, 27 students and adults to serve in Caldwell, Texas with CTCYM.

CTCYM, or Central Texas Conference Youth in Missions, seeks to place students where justice, kindness and grace are needed. On the first night work team students and adults are divided up into teams with students and adults from the other churches, (we had 14 teams from 7 churches this past year!)

From a logistics stand point, it may seem to be a bit of an organizational nightmare - 80-120 people sleeping in a single church, needing showers daily, sending teams out to complete painting, wheel chair ramps, and more.

But from a relational standpoint, it is amazing. The students rarely complain. They experience the heat, the humidity, the too-loud ice machine drop every hour nightly, and wake up each morning with smiles, ready to serve. And they (or a parent, or close friend) paid to do this. We had 11 adults who were running around getting food, supplies and getting tools so to that the teams could do the work, and they were always kind, always helpful and always encouraging.

Part of CTCYM is building relationships with other churches and with the clients, which is what stands out about this trip over others: it’s not just building the immediate church body, but the larger church body with other churches who serve and other people people served. It creates a connectional ministry that is bigger than you can imagine.

Companions in Christ: Linda Allen

“Companions” is also AHUMC shorthand for the group of women who meet each Wednesday morning to share lives and further our Faith journeys in loving community.  I have been a part of this group for 10 years.  Others longer, others less.  Currently, we have about 20 regular attendees.  Together, we share a journey of holy discerning about our Discipleship to Jesus Christ.

We prepare ahead to discuss a lesson each week using the curriculum from is a multi-topic collection of curriculum for small group study and spiritual formation (click here to go to the curriculum). We’ve been through the Companions curriculum more than once and in  between, we read books or other short studies on various topics. As we journey together, we have become familiar faith fiends. I know that I can safely admit my struggles and lean on knowing and empathetic shoulders. Whether it is again reminding myself that I am not in control (as much as I’d like to be) or admitting that I do not stop often enough to quiet my distractions and simply listen for the whisper of the Divine, I am strengthened by the deep knowing that my sisters also share this journey.

I have especially been blessed to find new ways to practice and deepen my Discipleship.  Barbara Williams, a longtime Companion and life artist, brought to us the book Praying in Color which has transformed my prayer life.  The encouragements and faith challenges offered by ancient mothers and fathers of our faith included in the book, Devotional Classics, have inspired me to change my habits of intentional gratitude and to seek my Christ-serving purpose in everyday tasks (like washing dishes or saying hello to the grocery clerk).

Ultimately, growing my faith in this loving, intimate Christian community has encouraged and challenged me to keep moving on my path to knowing and following Christ. Sometimes the path is unpleasant but rewarding (such as when I first journeyed through the Forgiveness lessons and unflinchingly faced how I do, or do not, forgive myself and others). At other times, the path is enlightening and full of surprising new perspectives (such as when I first met author Barbara Brown Taylor through her book An Altar in the World).

I recently heard an analogy comparing Christian Discipleship to a cellphone. We are all keenly aware that our cell phone has a charge, and are contentious about maintaining that charge. We know which cords and devices we need to charge it. We know we have to plug it into an active power source. We probably have a set routine to safeguard  it’s charge: we plug it in consistently overnight, have charging gear with us when we travel, and we make sure the power outlet is the real deal, not one that’s switched off or inactive.

Likewise, as children of God, we have a charge. We were created with the Divine Spark within us. To maintain that spark, we must safeguard its charge. My Discipleship practices (worship, prayer, study, service, community, and others) are the routines I use to keep it charged. My fellowship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are my charging gear - only through knowing and being close to them can I stay connected to the source of the Divine Spark, the one and only Holy and Living God of all creation. If I fail to recharge, my Divine Spark will be used up by the wear of daily living, just like my cell phone charge. I must be intentional about the care and nurture of my Divine Spark. When I need it most (for me or for someone else) it will shine bright, not dwindle.

I pray you also have a holy community that encourages and builds your faith in the ways Companions continues to build and nurture mine. Because to “make disciples for Jesus Christ” we must first be disciples, and for that, we must know whom we follow. Blessing in your Discipleship journey and May your Divine Spark be fully charged always!

Graceful Souls: Robin Burroughs

In March of 2015, a group of women from the Horizon Seekers class decided to start meeting

outside of our Sunday School time for a bible study. This unnamed group was an answer to

what the men had already been doing for about a year with their group, Journeymen. We

picked a book, a location and eventually a name, Graceful Souls.

The “grace” part of our name has two meanings; to emphasize our deep gratitude for the grace and love God bestows on us, and also “grace” in the action of giving thanks for food. You see, each time we meet we share a meal. From the outside looking in, it may look like the first half of our meeting is just eating and chit-chat, but it’s so much more. This is where we talk with each other about our jobs, our families, and our struggles. By the time our bible study part of the evening starts we are all close, and have even been able to start praying for the needs of our friends.

Stage HOPE: Suzanne Bramlett

Stage HOPE is a cancer support group that meets on the second Monday of each month in the Church Library at 6:00 PM.  This group provides a community for newly diagnosed, those in treatment, post treatment patients, and their caregivers.  We recognize the need to maintain confidentiality in all areas of discussion and fellowship.  We emphasize the power of God as the foundation of shared hope, love, and support.

We are survivors.  No matter what type of cancer has been diagnosed, we all share one thing in common--HOPE.  Even though we are on individual paths, our journey is the same. A bond is formed between us that allows us to be one. The meetings are a wonderful opportunity to express feelings, emotions, and seek answers to questions from someone who has been on the same journey. And we manage to find humor and laughter while sharing our experiences.

Stage HOPE is a welcoming group and open to all seeking this type of support.

United Methodist Men: Van Burroughs II

The men of Arlington Heights United Methodist Church loosely organize ourselves into a cohesive group in order to achieve a few certain, and some uncertain tasks. While being a man certainly allows you membership in the group by simply showing up (key point being to show up), being a woman does not necessarily exclude you, as we have had lots of help and participation from some women in the church for various events and fundraisers. But, generally speaking, it’s a group for guy’s that focuses on providing avenues to serve the community, grow ourselves spiritually, and build relationships that provide support, motivation, and challenge us to be better servants of the Lord. We are chartered members of the national United Methodist Men organization, and we sponsor our local Boy Scout Troop (Troop 43, which is fast approaching 100 years old. The 2^nd oldest troop in North Texas by last account, and 30 boys strong as of the meeting last week).

All that being said, the core of the group continually tries to find additional avenues for discipleship by periodically starting up new bible studies or devotional groups at different times to try to ensure we have a community available for everyone given the great variety of schedules, demands, and responsibilities we all juggle. Just recently, we started another bible study meeting at Vickery Café Friday mornings. There’s the long storied men’s prayer breakfast Mondays at Old South Pancake House. Journeymen Meets the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday’s, and there are a small few who participate in a focused bible study of no more than 4 members meeting once or twice a month before church on Sundays.

All of those programs generally take care of themselves, which leaves the majority of the “formal” group of AHUMC Methodist Men to focus on our community service and fundraising. Every year we have the Methodist Men Pancake breakfast headed up by Jack Smith whose proceeds go towards awarding students in our community financial assistance in the coming school year. We also come together twice every year to cook 20+ briskets for our church to help with fundraising for the respective programs (Lord’s Acre, and Lightfoot). Most importantly, however, we meet in these different ways and establish relationships which enable us to grow as Christians, and through each other find the strength and the resources to be the best we can be.

Jo's Love: Betty Nethery

Our lives are fundamentally affected by “connections” e.g., family connections; friends, church and work connections.  “Jo’s Love” is all about connections; however, one of the most compelling features of these connections is that most of the people receiving JO’S LOVE have no personal connection with each other.

The first connection was formed with Jane Williamson and Carol Jackson through the marriage of their children.  When Caroline was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Jane designed and made a post-mastectomy pillow for Caroline and called it “Caroline’s Pillow.”  The second connection came because of Jane’s volunteer involvement with the Greater Fort Worth Susan G. Komen Affiliate which brought her in contact with many breast cancer patients and survivors.  One of those survivors and Komen volunteers was the third connection, Jo Robinson from AHUMC.

            Jane decided to make the “Caroline Pillow” and distribute them as gifts of love and support to post-mastectomy patients at Harris Methodist Hospital.  As a breast cancer survivor, Jo Robinson wanted to be a part of this ministry and helped with the cutting and sewing of the pillow forms.  For a number of years Jane and Jo were a team of two  making and distributing the pillows.

In 2012, Jo Robinson died a few weeks after being diagnosed with brain cancer.  Jo was an active member at AHUMC and to honor her memory and help Jane continue her “Caroline Pillow” ministry, Jo’s AHUMC friends formed “Jo’s Love”.   The main work of this group is stuffing the pillows.  The fourth connection came from another group of ladies (Zeta Amicae Auxiliary of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Greater Fort Worth Area Negro Business & Professional Women's Club) led by Delores Simmons) who knew both Jane and Jo through Komen volunteer activities and also wanted to became  part of Jo’s Love.  These connections have resulted in over 8000 women receiving this gift of love when they wake up from their life altering mastectomy surgery.  Each time Jo’s Love meets to stuff, they honor Jo Robinson’s life and always stop in the middle of their work to pray for the women who will receive the pillow. 

The final and everlasting connection is the one we can imagine in Heaven between Caroline Jackson and Jo Robinson. Jo and Caroline were both courageous women who led lives of service, love and joy.  Their connection will continue to be felt by all those who make up JO”S LOVE and who receive the pillows.

Comments from recipients:

There are really not enough words to say “thank you” to you.  I felt your gift was a true gift from God and for that I am so very grateful.  Blessings on you and your sweet ministry….

TOP TEN REASONS TO USE CAROLINE’S PILLOW

•        It provides comfort.
•     It is pretty.
•       It is soft to your skin.
•       It provides support for your arms.
•       It folds into a table on your lap.
•       It can travel with you.
•       It is like a friend that never leaves you.
•       It can bend around you.
•       It is the perfect size.
•       It is made with love!

What a blessing your pillow has been for me

Whatever moved you to this ministry, please know you are still deeply blessing women every day at an especially vulnerable time.

Your pillow is more than a “pillow,” it was an unexplainable feeling of even strangers caring about what’s going on in our world.  Keep up the magnificent work.  .  I think you are awesome to do this for people you don’t even know.  God bless you as you bless others

God bless you in your ministry of love, your kindness, your graciousness.  Your reward is storing up in heaven, waiting for you.  What a special, wonderful work you do.  I am 80 yrs. old and this gift has touched my heart. God bless and thank you.