T HE C LARION

23606 FM 2100 Huffman, TX Phone: 281-324-1541

www.LakeHoustonUMC.com Email: lhumc1541@gmail.com Volume 31, Issue 5

Ma y , 20 1 7

Dear friends,

Greetings in the

name of the Lord Jesus

Christ! It is hard to believe

that summer is so soon

upon us. As I write this, we are less than a week out

from Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Easter is the day

that separates Christianity from everything else. It is

the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus that gives us hope,

gives us life, and brings about the forgiveness of our

sins.

It is the Resurrection that is the central mes-

sage of Easter, the central message of our faith.

There is much evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus,

and there are numerous resources for those looking

for historical proof. For me, the most telling proof of

Jesus arising from the dead on that long ago day is

the message we read in the Bible.

Charles Colson, in his book Born Again, said

he believed in the Resurrection because none of the

disciples “cracked” under interrogation or torture. No

one admitted that they had faked Jesus’ death, that

they had stolen the body and circulated the false story

of the rising from the dead. Colson, some of you may

remember, served as a lawyer on the staff of Presi-

dent Richard Nixon, and ended up serving time in jail

for offenses related to the Watergate Scandal. Colson

had a profound conversion experience, and later

founded “Prison Fellowship” ministries, authored sev-

eral books on the Christian faith and life and became

a popular speaker and leader.

Colson had the experience of being among the

most powerful people in the world, the staff of the

Nixon White House, and he saw the Watergate cover

up fold up with just the beginning of an investigation.

He said if these men in the White House who attempt-

ed to cover up their involvement in a burglary and

various “dirty tricks” in the 1972 Presidential cam-

paign gave in when they had such resources, it

seemed impossible that the disciples — poor, power-

less and afraid — would not have caved in under Ro-

man threats. If there had been a conspiracy or fraud,

someone would have given it up.

Instead, these men and women who followed

Jesus became empowered, filled with the Holy Spirit

and changed the world. Jesus is alive, and nothing

would move those men and women from the truth

they had seen, and the power they witnessed.

We have witnessed changed lives, too. My life

has changed from an encounter with Jesus, and from

an encounter with Christ’s people. In the first chapter

of Colossians Paul writes that Christ is the head of the

body, the Church. We are the Body of Christ, and all

of us are important, and it is important that we are

together. I’ve put three questions to a few groups

lately, and I’d like to offer them to any of you.

1. Why do people need Jesus Christ?

2. Why do people need the Church?

3. Why do people need Lake Houston United

Methodist Church?

We’ll reflect a little more on these questions

next month. I welcome any responses to pas-

tor@lakehoustonumc.com

Faithfully in Jesus Christ,

Pastor Frank

For More information about

Lake Houston Christian

Women please contact:

Ann Williams at 281-324-

2169

NEXT MEETING: May 9th @

10am

Lake Houston Christian Women will

celebrate our last meeting before our

summer break on Tuesday, May 9th,

at 10:00 am in the CFC with a lunch-

eon catered by Marsala's. We do not

meet in June, July or August; we will

resume our regular monthly meetings on the 2nd Tuesday in Septem-

ber. If you have been thinking about checking out this great group of

women who provide a great service to our church and community and

enjoy fun and fellowship, come on in. If you have any questions, feel

free to call the church office or call me at 281-324-2169.

CPR info for June 17th

CPR/AED Training available June 17th at 9:00 am

The class will include choking, rescue breathing, CPR

(adult, infant & child) and use of the AED. Cost is

$35.00/person

Lana Walker invites you to help local women in

crisis get a fresh start on life through the

Handbags of Hope Ministry!

Each week we deliver 10 handbags filled with

small necessities and niceties to the Family

Time Crisis center, and we always welcome your donations!! If you have gently

used purses or wallets to donate, please bring them to the church drop off bas-

kets.

We also welcome your small monetary donations or donations of any of the

items that are included in each handbag. A list of the needed items is attached

to the Handbags of Hope collection baskets. If you prefer to write a check to

LHUMC with Handbags of Hope in memo. Thank you

Join us on May 14th -

We will be recognizing our graduating seniors.

Save the

Date!

July 17th-21st

6:00 to 8:30pm

We are getting ready for another successful Vacation Bible School at Lake

Houston UMC. YOU are invited to be a blessing to many children in our

community by joining us! Be sure to mark your calendar and save the date.

(Please note that this year’s fun will take place in July instead of June.)

Watch online and at church for more information about this exciting and fun

children’s min- istry event!

If you have questions or al-

ready know you’d like to vol-

unteer, con- tact Christen

FAMILY PROMISE TEAM

Missions......

The Promise Team!

Thank you very much for all those who participated in our last rotation with the families. It

was a great week and if you missed it, I hope you’ll be able to participate in June. June 25 –

July 2, 2017

As you know, we had a graduation since our last rotation so James and Cristal are all settled

in their home with the kids, of course. James is going thru some very intense sessions with

the VA but his eye is healing! Ultimately the more recent injury to his eye will heal and the

original injured eye will be addressed thru a transplant. He will also be going to school

soon. The housing allows he and Cristal to both work part time and go to school as

well. Cristal wants to be a nurse and James will study engineering. The kids are all doing

well and so excited to have a bedroom and a yard. The girls love school.

This left us with two families for the week. We did start out with 3 but the newest family felt

they could not commit to the requirements of the program and left mid-week. We do have a new family that just joined – so three families

Tracy and her two teens – such a wonderful family! She hopes to graduate soon

Denise and her 10 and 7 year old – also a delight and she’s is aggressively planning and working towards graduation

The newest family is Nikki and her 16 year old Eagle Scout. Can’t wait to meet them.

It is amazing how quickly you can get attached to these families with their hopes, dreams and great attitudes! Such a blessing to serve these

families and be a part of their lives for 7 days!

So mark your calendar! Melanie is already working on the Signup genius sheets for this session.

The missions committee met last month and looked at sev-

eral opportunities to assist various mission or missionaries

in the field. We are also seeking local missions to help those

in our church and community who might be in need of a

helping hand. Please let us know if you know of someone

who is in need of assistance. Judy Piercy 281 844

2473......We are here to serve.

Final note, our committee does not have appointed mem-

bers as many of the committee’s do. We would welcome

anyone to join us. Our next meeting will be the first Monday

of June (May will be cancelled).

Judy Piercy

The Prayer Corner by Janie Webster

Wonderful food for thought, from Os-

wald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest. It

speaks to my heart and I suspect it may speak to

yours...

It is not part of the life of a natural man to

pray. We hear it said that a man will suffer in

his life if he does not pray; I question it. What

will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him,

which is nourished not by food, but by pray-

er. When a man is born from above, the life of

the Son of God is born in him, and he can either

starve that life or nourish it. Prayer is the way

the life of God is nourished. Our ordinary views

of prayer are not found in the New Testa-

ment. We look upon prayer as a means of get-

ting things for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer

is that we may get to know God Himself.

"Ask and ye shall receive." We grouse

before God, we are apologetic or apathetic, but

we ask very few things. Yet what a splendid au-

dacity a childlike faith has! Our Lord says-

"Except ye become as little children." Ask, and

God will do. Give Jesus Christ a chance, give

Him elbow room, and no man will ever do this

unless he is at his wits end. When a man is at

his wits end it is not a cowardly thing to pray, it

is the only way he can get into touch with Reali-

ty. Be yourself before God and present your

problems, the things you know you have come

to your wits end over. As long as you are self-

sufficient, you do not need to ask God for any-

thing.

It is not so true that "prayer changes

things" as that prayer changes me and I change

things. God has so constituted things that pray-

er on the basis of Redemption alters the way in

which a man looks at things. Prayer is not a

question of altering things externally, but of

working wonders in a man's disposition.

------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, Father. May we live to know and learn of

You, Your Son, and Your ways. They are not

our ways, but so much higher. Grow us in pray-

er, we earnestly pray, that we may grow in holy

desire to give our utmost for You . Amen.

The C lar ion - May , 2017

CHILDRENS DIRECTOR: CHRISTEN THIBODEAUX

Acolytes for March: May 7 - Ella Thibodeaux

Samantha Soto

May 14 - Jamey Jordan

Kami Jordan

May 21 - Brinn Rhodes

James Rich

May 28 - Clara Johnson

Trace Watson

WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN'S CHURCH HELPERS!

May 7: Martha Johnson

May 14: Josie Soto

May 21: Lizzy Burkhart

May 28: Ms Ginny

In Children's Church

we are learning about

mercy. Kids know

what it means to get

into trouble, to do

wrong things, and to live in fear of the conse-

quences. Whether they know what mercy is or

not, they've tasted it every time Mom or Dad

holds back the full discipline due in order to

teach a greater lesson in love. God is our great-

est example of mercy. He sent his Son as total

payment for our sins so we wouldn't die. God

gives us above and beyond what we ask for and all

Jesus wants in return is for us to follow Him and

love Him, no

matter how old

or young we

may be!

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger

and rich in love. The Lord is good to all, he has

compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

Children's Church

helpers are

needed during

2nd service.

Duties will include helping prepare snack &

craft, walking children to the restroom or

be an extra set of hands. Please know

that you can help as often or little as

you'd like. Remember our Volunteers are

vital to help our children grow in Faith.

Coming July 17-21 July

17-21

Coming

Soon!!!

VBS

United Methodist Women “Hands” on Project 2017 for UMCOR

Health Kit

Value $12.00 1 hand towel 15” x25” to 1” x 27” Kitchen, cleaning and microfiber towels NOT acceptable 1 washcloth 1 comb Comb needs to be sturdy and longer than 6”. No pocket combs or picks, please. Rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable with a minimum of 6” teeth 1 metal nail file or clipper No emery boards, please 1 bath-size soap 3oz. And larger only. No Ivory or Jergens soap due to moisture content, do not remove from original packag-ing 1 toothbrush Adult size only, do not remove from original packaging 6 adhesive bandages 3/4” to 1” size common household Band-Aids 1 plastic bag One-gallon size sealable bags only $1 to purchase toothpaste

Assembly directions:

Set the$1 for toothpaste aside to be included in a separate envelope. Lay out the hand towel flat on a table. Lay the washcloth flat in the center of the hand towel. Place all remaining items on top of the washcloth. Fold over the sides of the hand towel to cover all the items. Grasp the bundle of items tightly and roll over the remainder of the hand towel tightly. Place the tightly rolled bundle in the plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag.

Important Notes:

All items must be new. Do not wash any of the items as they will be considered used. Please remove all packaging. All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the re-quested items - nothing more. DO NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be pains-takingly removed and will delay the shipment.

The C lar ion - May , 2017

There is one who scatters,

and yet increases all the more,

And there is one who withholds

what is justly due, and yet

it results only in want.

The generous man will be prosperous,

And he who waters

will himself be watered. As of April 9, 2017- We have paid $120,646.39

since the original loan of $200,000 in November 2011

Balance on Phase I loan as of April 9, 2017

Is $79,353.61

Projected Pay-Off Date June 2023

General Giving 3/26 4/2 4/9 4/16 4/23

General Fund $6,074 $8,564 $8,585 $7,880 $5,458

Building Use $25 $87

Bible Study Literature $50 $8

Sunday School Literature $38 $297

Water/Candy

Youth Food $148

Monthly Budget Needs $35,323 $35,323

Collections Month to Date $27,385 $31,105

Actual Month to Date

Expenditures

$32,450 $30,054

YTD Budget Needs $105,969 $141,292

Collections Year to Date $91,154 $122,259

Actual Expenditures Year

to Date

$97,738 $127,792

Attendance 164 133 187 335 155

Usher Help

Needed If you like to greet peo-

ple, give a hug, and gen-

erally be a welcoming

member of Lake Houston

UMC - ushering IS the job

for you. Please contact

Ann Whittington for the 8:30 service and Fred

Baker for the 10:45 service. Thank you

Each month LHUMC partners with Huffman First Baptist to provide a food pantry for the com-munity.

Participants are required to reside in the Huffman ISD. They are allowed to go once per month.

The food bank is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9am - 12 noon.

Attention Travelers: The small soaps, shampoos and other personal items that you find in hotel rooms are great items to donate to the food pantry. These items are kept in a basket on the counter so that those that need the items can help themselves. If you would bring these items home with you when you travel, then you can donate to the

food pantry. Just a way to help without spending any additional funds.

Our church is responsible

to stock the shelves with the following items:

Tuna

Diced Tomatoes

Peanut Butter

Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti Pasta

Jelly

Canned Meat

Soup

Canned Chicken

Macaroni Noodles

Canned Veggies

Canned Ravioli

Macaroni & Cheese

Canned Fruit

Any nonperishable food item is appreciated as well as toiletries.

We Collect POP TABS

For Ronald

McDonald House I want to say "Thank You" to everyone who so gener-

ously saves pop tabs from soda, soup, etc. cans for Ronald

McDonald House!! (There is a jar for them in the Sanctuary

kitchen and the CFC.) This is a big help for Ronald McDonald

Houses everywhere! They have made many thousands of

dollars from this program to help families who need to stay in

these Houses while their children are hospitalized near by.

Our church has saved a lot of tabs to help

them throughout the years. It is an on-going mis-

sion of ours. Thank you and God Bless you for

it! Sincerely,

Betty Frisk and Judy Cox

The C lar ion - May , 2017

2017

8:30am- Worship

9:45 am - Sunday School

10:45am -Worship

3:30pm - Youth

Praise Band

M O N

T U E

7:00pm- Prayer & Bible Study

Wed

6:30pm- Choir

P

T H U

F R I S A T

1

UMW

10:00am

2

AA 6:00pm

Prayer 7:00pm

3 4

UMM

7:00pm

5 6

7 8

9

LHCW

10:00am

AA 6:00pm

Prayer 7:00pm

10 11 12 13

14

Senior

Sunday

Mother’s Day

15

16

AA 6:00pm

Prayer 7:00pm

17

18 19

20

21 22 23

AA 6:00pm

Prayer 7:00pm

24 25

26 27

28

29

30

AA 6:00pm

Prayer 7:00pm

31

Communion

Rail Offering For May:

Youth Missions

The C lar ion - May 2017

Remember to pray for those in service to our Lord, especially ~ Mike & Jessica

Wanda Baker—Fell, very

sore ribs

David Binnig—New

pacemaker successful—

Carole Binnig’s husband

J u n e C a r l e t o n —

Northeast Hosp., symp-

toms of massive stroke—

Kathy Dodgen’s request

Jessica Chau—Can’t

move jaw

B e n C i s n e r o s —

Workplace accident, pro-

gressing—Jennifer Spitz

request

S h a w n C o n w a y —

Ongoing illness—Denise

Crouch’s husband

Tami Denton’s Fami-

ly—Died 4/9—Ann Whit-

tington’s request

Kathy Dodgen—Home

recovering from successful

appendectomy 4/21, reflux

surgery pending

Sherry Doller—Brain

cancer—Dorothy Brown’s

request

C o r d e l i a E w e l l —

Successful cataract surgery

4/26—Daralyn Schubert’s

mother

Greg C. Fletcher—

Abrasion on cornea

Marvin Franklin—Sore

on leg not healing—

Dorothy Brown’s request

Tracey Moore-Gray—

Cancer—Chips & Jane

Fountains daughter-in-law

Bill Hancock—Health

concerns—Frank Coats’

request

Frank Harmon– Acute

COPE—Sharon Mikolajcza-

k’s request

J a c k i e H a r m o n —

Radiation for breast can-

cer—Sharon Mikolajczak’s

request

Glinda Jackson—Cancer,

successful surgery 3/27—

Christen Thibodeaux’s

mom

James—Very difficult pro-

gram to overcome PTSD—

Judy Piercy’s request

Jilian—Family concerns—

website

Christine Jordan—

Surgery scheduled for 4/27

G a r y J o r d a n —

Recovering at home, sciatic

problems

Jim Jordan—Northeast

Hosp., Testing, heart fail-

ure and/or heart attack—

Gary Jordan’s dad

Levi David Klinker—

Born 4/2—Peggy Gatlin’s

grandson

Wanda Knight—Trinity

Rehab, intense therapy,

improving slowly—Marlene

Fletcher’s sister

Rita Lawson—Successful

hip replacement surgery

3/27—Kim Gore’s mom

Freda & Robert Lilly—

Home destroyed in fire—

Vanessa Cascio’s request

David Moore—Knee sur-

gery pending

Pat Moore—Nursing

ho me, st ro ke —Da vid

Moore’s sister

A i d e n N e w k i r k —

Memorial Hermann NE,

Asthma, improving—Lori

Morris’ request

Scooter Polk—Terminal

cancer—Denise Conway’s

request

Betty Raburn—Surgery

4/24 to remove kidney—

Candace Benoit’s aunt

Randy—Cancer all limbs—

David Moore’s request

Leonard Schneider—

Stint or bypass surgery

4/26—Marty Reed’s dad

P at r ic ia T er r el l —

Cancer—Joyce Lloyd’s re-

quest

Jerry White—Heart at-

tack, septic—Janet Free-

man’s request

Kimberley Whitehill—

Heart concerns—Ken &

Joyce Lloyd’s daughter

Edie Whittington—

Biopsy 4/11, negative re-

sults

Mike Wilkinson—Spinal

cancer, not doing well—

George Wilkinson’s request

Our Church

Our Nation

Homebound

Jane Allen

Harlan Broeker

Jack Bruner

Delores Culver

Paul Gatlin

Joyce & Kenneth Lloyd

Vera May

George Messinger

Carl Poteet

Nita Regan

Henry Schmidt

Jack Sherer

Anthony Thompson

Our Armed Forces

William (Brad) Ballard

Matt Bardwell

Sabrina Bardwell

John L. Belsha III

John V. Brahm

Richard Brahm

Grant H. Bruner

Roger Cassman III

Shailynn Cassman

Judy Champagne

Marcus Allen Colburn

Michael Stanton Cyr

Ean Davis

Bryan Dodd

Shawn Paul Dyer

Taylor Frasier

Allan Garies

Daniel Garies

Christopher Hall

Devin Haynes

Scott Heavin

Jason Heinrichs

Josh Higdon

Eddie Hillburn

Nate Hoag

Nick Lange

Brian Lilly

Nate Martin

Dustin Matthies

Joshua Matthies

Mike McDermott

Christopher Travis

McGinnis

Alton Moore

Thomas Moreno

Paul Musachia

Chris Neuendorff.

Jesse Neuendorff

Kris Casy Pelley

Chris Pummill

Tony Sharts

Eric Tapp

Jarrod Tatom

Ryan Vollemaere

David Walker

Austin Whittington

Jacob Whittington

Andrew Wickes

Austin Wickes

Jenny Wickes