Dear Church Family,

Our world has been upended. At least, the way we have always done things has been changed. We who are so used to gathering in person are currently not able to meet. And we can speculate as to when all of this will change, and when all of this will go back to the way it used to be. But the truth is, several weeks in now, we just don’t know.

But I want to assure you that church has not been cancelled. We continue to meet, digitally. We have noon day devotionals on our facebook page several times a week. We have Sunday morning worship there as well. And for the last several weeks of Lent I have been sending out e-mail devotions of the Lord’s Prayer.

All of this is very similar to our ancient history. We’ve done this before. Martin Luther experienced it when the Bubonic Plague hit Wittenburg in August of 1527. And the early church, out of fear of persecution as well, met in homes and in catacombs underground even. If ever there was a message of death, and new life springing forth, we know that we have already weathered that moment of potential demise and that God remains faithful to see us through the other side.

Church looks different, but much remains the same. Here are a few important ways it stays the same:

Worship. I know. I know. We can say that it’s hard to worship online, impossible perhaps if you don’t have a cell phone or computer. But have you considered singing a hymn? Pull out a hymnal and sing as best you can, with a joyful noise! Worried that it’s not very joyful? Take heart. Back in the 1800s we were called shoutin’ Methodists because we sang loudly (and sometimes on key!).

Reading the scripture. We are not banned from reading God’s Word. If anything, we have more time to do it. Now that we have the time, are we doing it?

Praying. Again, we have never not been able to pray. And we continue to have that opportunity. Do you want it to be communal? When was the last time you called someone on the phone and prayed with them? Wherever two or three or gathered,” the scripture reminds us. That works across the telephone lines.

Giving. Now more than ever, the church needs your tithes. We need your offerings. We need your gifts. Mail in your check or money. Or call the church office and someone can come by to pick it up. Or give online, either through automatic withdrawals via your bank, or the new VanCo system that we just started. Call the church if you have questions and we can help you get that set up!

Serving. What a wonderful opportunity to think creatively about ways to serve. Many of you have found needed supplies in toilet paper and other basic food staples. Others have organized by sewing masks for hospital workers (more than 80 at last count!). Let’s continue to think and pray and plan for how we can serve.

We are just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential. Jesus took a rag tag group of disciples, and built the church on their abilities (even working with their failings). It’s easy to feel as if we are failing in all of this. The reality is, we are just getting started! Grace and Peace, Pastor Don

APRIL 2020 APRIL 2020

The Spirit...

Benbrook United Methodist Church

Vision Statement: Our vision is for Benbrook UMC to be Benbrook’s vibrant, loving, Christ-centered fellowship for worship and witness, united in mission and service to our neighbors.

Focused on Christ; United in Prayer

BUMC Staff

Rev. Don Petty Senior Pastor

Cindy Merworth

Director of Music

Quanzhou Yan Pianist

Terry Grant

Preschool Director

Jane McMillan Administrative Assistant

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“Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom.” —Margaret Elizabeth Sangster ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ring the bells of hope Scripture Reading: Psalm 138 Only in the darkness can you see the stars. —Martin Luther King Jr. They still tell the story at William and Mary College of daffy, magnificent President Ewell. For a century and a half, this prestigious Virginia school had been a leader among American universities. Then came the Civil War. In the hard days of reconstruction that followed, William and Mary went bankrupt. Soon it had a deserted campus, decaying buildings and no students. As with so many Southern schools after that tragic war, everyone wrote it off as dead. Everyone, except its president. He had given his best years to advancing the liberal arts through that school. He refused to give up now. So, every morning, President Ewell went to the deserted campus, climbed the tower of its main building, and rang the bells, calling the school to class.

He behaved as though the school was still there. People thought he was crazy. Nevertheless, every day for seven years, President Ewell rang the bells at William and Mary, in defiance of the despair and hopelessness that would destroy everything he held valuable. Eventually and miraculously, it worked. Others caught his vision. Students, teachers and money returned. Today, America’s second oldest university thrives again, because of the hope of a single man. Today, people suffer all around the world. Churches are shuttered by the threat of disease and uncertainty and scattered by the fear of disease and uncertainty. Many people are shut up in their homes or apartments having no else to go: no work, no restaurants, nor entertainment venues. It’s such a different atmosphere from the bustle and high-energy life we’re used to. But we persist, wherever we are. We worship God in our homes and online with a virtual community of believers. We read the Bible. We pray on bended knee. We give thanks. We help others in their time of need. We walk humbly with God. We’re ringing the bells of hope. And someday, we shall have our reward. —Timothy Merrill

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A reason to laugh

The week after Easter, some churches observe Holy Humor Sunday — a tradition dating back to the fourth century. Early Christian theologians coined the term “risus paschalis,” or “the Easter laugh,” saying God played the supreme joke on death. Some believers celebrated Bright Monday, gathering the day after Easter to mock Satan’s defeat. On the first day of April, remember that “we are fools for Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:10, NIV). Then later in the month, take time to smile and laugh, knowing that victory is yours, thanks to Jesus.

Prime Timer events are open to those 50+.

The Prime Timers enjoy breakfast and fellowship on the third Saturday of each month at Westside Café. A Bible Study is held every other Friday at 1:00pm in the home of Frances Covington. All church related activities have been suspended until further notice. Especially at this time of social distancing and isolation remember our home bound members and those in the nursing homes. Please consider sending them a note or making a call to brighten their day.

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Relay For Life Update

The safety of volunteers, patients, and staff always comes first. Based on guidance from health officials, over 750 in-person events have been suspended through mid-May.

This is why Benbrook has made the decision to Keep Calm and #RelayOn! What does this mean? It

means we are going virtual on May 2, 2020! While details are still being ironed out, we encourage you to be on the look out for updates to come!

One out of three people in the US will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Help even the odds in the fight against cancer. The funds we raise through Relay For Life will not only honor survivors and remember loved ones, but also help give cancer patients and their families the resources they need, like free rides to chemo, free places to stay near hospitals, and a live 24/7 helpline for answers and support.

Since 1991, death rates from cancer have dropped 27%. That translates to more than 2.6 million lives saved.

For the last 16 years BUMC has had a team participating in Relay For Life. It’s not too late to join our fundraising efforts. Together, we’ll be a part of making a difference in this important cause. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Daffodil hope

In Lisa Genova’s novel Love Anthony, Olivia lives on Nantucket Island, where winter is long but daffodils bloom even while it’s still cold. In one scene, she watches the flowers “shivering in the wind, impossibly bright and fragile and brave against the cold grayness.”

Struggling with deep grief, Olivia finds hope in the bright yellow blooms after a long, bleak winter. She embraces the daffodil as a sign that summer will come again — and that “life will return to her as well.”

In Christ, God gives us hope that sometimes appears vibrant against the grayness of earthly life. We cling to it because we’ve seen the promise made good before — winter yielding to summer, a new beginning granted — and we trust that new life will return to us, as well.

Lunch-to-Go Postponed Due to the Covid-19 social distancing and church closure we are not able to provide lunches at this time. We will schedule another date when we are able to return to church and normal activities. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances." —Robert Flatt

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Egg-stra facts

Although Easter eggs were once part of pagan

spring festivals, they’ve become Christian symbols of new life. A cracked-open shell also represents Jesus’ empty tomb on Easter morning. • The early Christians of Mesopotamia began staining eggs red in honor of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross. Red eggs remain part of Greek Orthodox celebrations today. • For Lent, some families used to give up eggs and dairy, so they prepared a pancake feast on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. They solved the egg surplus by hard-boiling them in various broths, which led to colored eggs. • In medieval times, churches held “egg-throwing” festivals. The priest threw a hard-boiled egg toward the choir boys, who tossed it back and forth. When the clock struck 12, whoever was holding the egg got to keep it. • In some European countries, children go from house to house to collect Easter eggs. • Each year, the PAAS Dye Co. sells more than 10 million egg-coloring kits, which consumers use to decorate 180 million eggs. • The tallest chocolate Easter egg ever produced weighed 16,000 pounds — more than an elephant!

YUM!

PAGE 4 Benbrook United Methodist Church

1122 Bryant Street

Benbrook, Texas 76126

Office Hours:

9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday thru Thursday

Phone: 817/249-1257 Fax: 817/249-0264

E-mail: bumc@benbrookumc.org

Web Site: www.benbrookumc.org

JOYS AND CONCERNS - Please use this list during private prayer.

Celebrations

Remembrance and Celebration of Life

Joan Lamb-Hardin 3-24

Ongoing need for prayer

Dr. David Rhodes Kievlan Joyce Warhurst Diane & Ron Meyer Jimmy Montgomery Greg Gibson Angela Zarate Patricia Clayton

Pastor Don Petty and family Church Staff and Lay Leadership Police Officers and Firefighters

Homebound Jean & Thurman Hefty Lolly Pinkston Assisted Living Nursing Facilities Theda Kornegay Aggie Cassady Dell Smith Jane Johnson Barbara Spears Joyce Kimberlin Linda Sullivan

Please inform the Church office of any changes to this list.

Remember to keep members of our military and our nation’s leaders in your daily prayers.