Rev. Donna Ware conducted worship services at First United Methodist Church for the first time on Sunday, June 20. The Father’s Day attendees at both services joined in a brunch at 10:00 am to meet and greet the new pastor. Remarks from Lee Auvenshine, the Staff-Parish Committee Chairman, and Pastor Ware emphasized optimism and a sense of excitement as the church builds on a firm foundation and looks to the future. In a sense, a change in pastors always is a new beginning for all involved. See pictures below.

   The new pastor - Rev. Donna J. Ware.  WELCOME, DONNA!

The entire congregation of our Church is invited to attend and participate in a covered-dish brunch at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center on Sunday, June 20th. The covered-dish brunch will occur between both worship services to welcome our new Pastor, Donna Ware. 

The members of our Church are also invited to participate in a pounding, as a house warming gesture for our new Pastor, who will be moving into the parsonage this week.  Members are invited to bring household items such as food, cleaning supplies and paper goods. These gifts, which can be dropped-off at the Church office during the week, will be presented to Pastor Ware at the brunch on Sunday.

On another topic: Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers (or fathers-to-be)  in the congragation!

 This is not the last of Reed’s Ramblings, it’s just the last from here. You can read Reed’s Ramblings always from wherever I am.

For now, this is good bye. It has been a great and wonderful time. I look forward to coming up to celebrations and events of our church. We will share those as friends and companions. Now for some last thank you notes: For all of you, thank you for putting up with me for the last 10 years. Without you, we would never have accomplished all we did. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, the memories and for all the time both good and bad we have gone through as a family.Thank you all for the celebration last Sunday. Thank you for the gifts. I don’t know who all contributed what but just know that as a gift, what a wonderful surprise!!

Thank you, Quilters, for the quilt.Thank you, dear little princess, for the pink heart.Thank you (I think) for the church wagon dinner bell!!

Thank you, one dear lady, for allowing me to once again be your pastor.

And again, thank you all for your caring and support. You will always remain in my heart and a part of my soul. For Cathy, the girls and from me, God bless.  Peace and Grace. Reed. 

The congregation celebrated 10 years of ministry with Reed and Cathy Justus with a brunch between worship services Sunday, June 13.  Reed and Cathy are moving to a new appointment starting next Sunday so this was a time of remembrance, celebration, thanksgiving, and best wishes for the future.

Lee Auvenshine chaired the event with a number of speakers relating the good times of shared ministry, the positive accomplishments, and confidence for the future both at this church and in Reed’s new appointment. The quilters presented Reed and Cathy with a beautiful friendship quilt.

Cathy may have summed up the spirit of the day best by saying, “When we began our appointment here ten years ago it was just our next appointment, but over time it became much more than that to us.”  The feeling Sunday was that it was much more than that to all of us. Pictures follow:

Well, it is here…SUMMER AND THE HEAT!! So I thought I might share some thoughts about it all. Most are tongue in cheek so just enjoy.

It’s been said that the way to hades is paved with good intentions. The good news it that it’s a government project so it isn’t done yet.

If you think it’s hot now, just wait…

You gotta love people who say, “It isn’t the heat, its the humidity.” NO IT ISN’T, ITS THE HEAT.

You don’t have to worry about the devil during summers in Texas. It’s even too hot for him.

During the heat just be like a kid. Take off all the clothes you can, sun through a sprinkler and eat a pop sickle. Grape is the best.

 Move to Australia. It’s winter down under right now!

Cathy offers this one. She used to do it as a kid. Take your pillow and put it in front of an air conditioner vent. Then lay down on a nice cool pillow.

 David offers filling cans filled with ice and put them in front of a box fan. He calls it Red Raider ingenuity.

Finally, come to church. We turn on the air the day before. Just remember, to come at 9 and stay so that we don’t have to open the doors again until 12. After all, you do want to save energy don’t you?

Peace and grace. Reed.