Posts by Alison Thomas (Page 2)
Because Someone Gave: A Story of Hope
Emily Wiley van Oosterom grew up at FUMC Allen, was confirmed here in 2002, graduated from Allen High School in 2008, and now lives in Amsterdam. When her daughter Charlotte was born three months ago, Emily began to reconnect with her faith family at FUMC Allen through our livestream and online presence. Emily reached out to me in July, knowing that she and her husband Marco were planning a trip to Texas. She very much wanted to have Charlotte baptized…
Focused on Hope Survey
Hope means to keep living amid desperation and to keep humming in the darkness. Hoping is knowing that there is love; it is trust in tomorrow; it is falling asleep and waking again when the sun rises. In the midst of a gale at sea, it is to discover land. In the eyes of another, it is to see that he understands you. As long as there is still hope, there will also be prayer. And God will be holding you in his…
CDC Recommends Indoor Masking in Collin County
Last week, the CDC showed that Collin County moved into the high-risk category in the Covid-19 community risk levels. This means that our community has demonstrated an increased level of COVID-related hospitalization and/or transmission. The CDC is now recommending masking indoors to decrease the risk of transmission. When you are in our building, you are welcome to wear a mask. We know they can be uncomfortable, but wearing a mask can help us to “do no harm” by providing some…
Worship Series: God’s Messy Family
Are your relationships picture-perfect like the happy ones we see on tv or advertisements? Or are they oftentimes more than a little messy? The relationships found in Genesis, the story of God’s chosen family (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau, and Joseph), were anything but perfect! And yet, God called them and used them for God’s good purposes. Join us for “God’s Messy Family: The Stories of Genesis,” a worship series that will help us see that God can take…
Celebrate the International Day of Yoga with a Free Yoga Class
In 2014, the United Nations adopted an International Day of Yoga to be celebrated every year on the Summer Solstice, June 21, which is the longest day of the year. To honor this year’s International Day of Yoga, church member and registered yoga instructor Liz Stubbs is offering free yoga classes on June 20 and June 21 for both new and existing students. Using a holistic approach, yoga links breath with movement, bringing a sense of calm to the mind, and…
Youth Ministry Needs You
As we are getting into the summer, our Youth Ministry program needs adult volunteers to help with Sunday school, Sunday youth events, and our upcoming summer mission project. As you may know, student ministry can not happen without the support of our church, parent(s), guardian(s), and adults. We ask that you pray on how you can support FUMC Allen Student Ministry this summer and into the future. We offer many volunteer opportunities from behind the scenes support to direct contact…
FUMC Allen Welcomes New Associate Pastor
FUMC Allen’s Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) met with the Rev Josh Esparza on Thursday, May 19, and joyfully accepted his appointment as our new associate pastor. Rev Esparza is a Dallas-Ft Worth native who grew up in Frisco, Texas. Josh has spent the past four years serving as the campus pastor of Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space, the second campus of White Rock UMC, and associate pastor at White Rock UMC. Josh began at Owenwood in 2018 with a…
SPRC Announces Staffing Update
In the United Methodist Church, pastors are appointed to serve a particular mission field and/or church for one year at a time. In 2017, Bishop Mike McKee appointed Rev. Jessica Wright to FUMC Allen as our associate pastor. This year, the Bishop and Cabinet have appointed Jessica to serve as the Associate Director of the Center for Missional Outreach of the North Texas Conference, effective July 1, 2022. This move is a wonderful opportunity for Jessica to live into her…
SPRC Announces Staffing Update
On behalf of the FUMC Allen family, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee would like to thank Susan Hale for almost 13 years of service to our church as a paid staff member. Now, God is calling Susan into a new season of life and service, which means Susan will be leaving her position as director of elementary ministry, effective May 15, 2022. Since 2010, Susan has served in several different ministry positions at FUMC Allen, including Director of Adult Discipleship and…
Bible Reading Plans 2022
As we begin the new year, FUMC Allen wants to help you and encourage you to read the Bible this year. We have identified two programs: The Bible Project, which has reading plans on their website as well as a brand new, highly rated mobile app, and The Connect Bible Plan, which is being used in our Children’s Ministry program.
Worship Series: Loving God, Loving Neighbor
As followers of Christ, we are called to love God and love neighbor. To help us learn how to be better neighbors, FUMC Allen elected to participate in the Good Neighbor Experiment (GNE) in 2022. We kick off our local experiment in worship right on Sunday, April 24, but the work has already begun. In February 2022, we established a team from our congregation who will be working with teams from other churches in our area to create events and challenges…
Sponsor a Child at the House of Hope
The House of Hope provides a Christ-centered home where children and youth can feel safe and secure while completing their educational goals. The House of Hope is home to 30-35 at-risk children and youth in the city of Puerto Lempira, Honduras. One of the ways we support this vital ministry is by sponsoring children at the house. These sponsorships not only offset the costs for raising and caring for a child or youth, but gives us the opportunity to communicate,…