Opportunities and Announcements

Network Continues to Need Food

 Network gives out 2000 pounds of food a day, 10,000 pounds a week.The need is great and we can help!  During the month of March we will be collecting macaroni and cheese and jelly.  Put your contributions in the designated bins throughout the campus. Please do not bring unsoliciated items such as clothing, household items, books, or toys.  Network does not take these items and it is difficult to find the right agency to accept all these things. 

Come Celebrate the Seder

     Church and Society will sponsor an opportunity to experience a traditional Jewish Seder on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bartula Family Life Center.  Dr. Howard Cohen will lead us through the Seder ritual, explaining the history behind the different segments and walking us through the responses.  We will taste the traditional symbolic Seder foods and Howard will explain their meaning.    Passover is the oldest and most important religious festival in Judaism, commemorating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and His creation of the Israelite people.  The focal point of Passover is a communal meal, called the Seder, which mean “order” because of the fixed order of service.  Even though the Seder is a complete meal in Jewish homes, we will only taste the symbolic foods, so please each dinner before you come.  The purpose of our Seder is to afford us, as Christians, the opportunity to recall the dramatic and miraculous events which led to the exodus event of the Old Testament.  It is a wonderful way to learn about our Jewish heritage as we begin our Holy Week.    The Seder is open to all members of our congregation, family, and friends.  It is appropriate for families with older elementary children and youth.  Please call the church office by Sunday, March 21 or sign up at the Welcome Center to make reservations.

 Amigos Days Project

The Amigos Days Project will be 2 Fridays and Saturdays, April 16, 17, 23, and 24.  Amigos Days is a mission program of the North Texas Conference which pairs congregations and homeowners who need help with the outside upkeep of their homes.  This usually includes minor repairs, scraping, and painting the house.  Volunteers can work the number of days they are available.  The house that FUMCR will be working on will take only 3 days to complete so we will be working April 16, 17, and 23.  The house is in far southeast Dallas and needs minimal scraping, some repairs and painting.  This is a great project for a Sunday School class to help with as well as those people who like helping others but don't have specific carpentry skills. Sign up at the Shawver Welcome Center to participate.  Lunch, cold drinks, snacks, and water are provided.

UM Missionary to Visit FUMCR

     Chris Hena, one of the 5 United Methodist Missionaries that FUMCR has a covenant relationship with, will be in our church on Sunday, April 10.  She will be introduced at all worship services and will be speaking at 11:00 a.m. in the Odgen Fellowship Hall.  This will be open to everyone.  Chris is a Public Health Doctor and is assigned as project coordinator in Eastern Kazakhstan for the Board of Global Ministries Health and Relief Unit.  She facilitates a Comprehensive Community-Based Primary Health Care program, which trains local health workers to promote better health practices in their communities. 
     Prior to going to Kazakhstan, Chris was the first United Methodist Missionary assigned to Russia after the fall of communism.  She served in Moscow and the surrounding villages until from 1991 until 2000 when she was given a new assignment to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbajan and Tajikstan for 3 years before  being assigned to Kazakhstan.  Chris is a native of Liberia, graduated from college in Liberia, attended medical school in Russia, and a Master's degree in public health from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
      FUMCR has been a supporting church with Chris since 1992.  Missionaries only come back to the U.S. on furlough once every 3 years so this will be a wonderufl time to come hear about Chris' work.

Tutoring Partnership with Northrich Elementary

FUMCR has a partnership with Northrich Elementary on Custer for tutoring children.  There are many children who need extra help with homework and school work and a caring adult can help these children sty up with their grade level in the subjects where they need assistance.  If you have 45 minutes week to work with a child you can make a huge difference in the life of one of these children.  Tutoring takes place Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays from 3:00-3:45 p.m. on those days.  Subjects most needing tutoring are math, science, and reading.  Contact Joy Anderson, 972-235-8385 if you would like to be a part of this tutoring program.