THE HILLTOP NEWS
2820 Laredo Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76116
817.244.1153
[email protected]
April 4, 2017
The purpose of Western Hills United Methodist Church is to
continue the ministry of Jesus by making disciples through faith, hope and love.
Wednesday—April 5
9:30 p.m., ESL Class
5:30 p.m., Bible Study
6:30 p.m., Disciples Choir
6:30 p.m., Handbell Choir
7:00 p.m., Culto de Oración y Meditación de la Biblia
7:00 p.m., Chancel Choir
Thursday—April 6
9:00-11:00 a.m., Food Pantry
6:00 p.m., Alzheimer’s Support Group
Saturday—April 8
6:00 p.m., Praiz’n
Sunday—April 9—Palm Sunday—Choir Cantata
9:30 a.m., Lenten/Easter Study
10:50 a.m., Combined Worship Service
3:30 p.m., Joseph Bible Study
5:00 p.m., U.M.Y.F.
Monday—April 10
9:30 p.m., ESL Class
5:30 p.m., Girl Scouts
Tuesday—April 11
9:00-11:00 a.m., Food Pantry
Wednesday—April 12
9:30 a.m., ESL Class
5:30 p.m., Bible Study
6:30 p.m., Disciples Choir
6:30 p.m., Handbell Choir
7:00 p.m., Culto de Oración y Meditación de la Biblia
7:30 p.m., Chancel Choir
Thursday—April 13—Maundy Thursday
9:00-11:00 a.m., Food Pantry
10:00 a.m., UMW Day Circle
6:00 p.m., UMW Night Circle
6:00 p.m., WH North Neighborhood Association
7:00 p.m., Maundy Thursday Worship Service
Saturday—April 15
10:00 a.m., Children’s Easter Event
6:00 p.m., Easter Vigil
Sunday—April 16
7:00 a.m., Sunrise Service
9:30 a.m., Sunday School
10:50 a.m., Combined Worship Service
Monday—April 17
9:30 a.m., ESL Class
5:00 p.m., Stephen Ministry
5:30 p.m., Girl Scouts
Tuesday—April 18
9:00-11:00 a.m., Food Pantry
1:30 p.m., Heavenly Needles
3:30 p.m., Planning Your Funeral
Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem was filled with great acclamation by
all the people who received him. Surely, Jesus’ reputation of doing signs of
wonder preceded him. It has been said that the four gospels, Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John, are essentially passion narratives, that is, stories that
tell of the suffering, death, and entombment of Jesus. However, the power
of the narrative is how the story culminates. Jesus is raised from the
dead! So, this coming Sunday, we will come to church to remember and
the passion of the Christ begins by reenacting Jesus triumphant entry into
Jerusalem.
The passion story begins with words of acclamation shouted by the
multitudes. It was an affirmation that the one who rides into Jerusalem on a
donkey is none other than the anointed one of God. In the telling of this
story in Matthew, somehow the story does not flow in the way one might
have anticipated. The anointed one of God does not ride into Jerusalem as
a warrior king that returns as a victor from battle. Rather, the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords arrives to Jerusalem as the Son of God in a most
unanticipated way. Jesus arrives on a donkey! He is surrounded by
ordinary people who are followers of Jesus. What does it mean? Perhaps
that is why we are invited today to stop and reflect and remember the great
acts of God. Actions that, in appearance, are unusual and which we are
invited to seek in faith in order to understand.
The shouts of the people are surmised by the acclamation found in the
Gospel of Matthew chapter eleven, verses 1-11. “Hosanna to the Son of
David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in
the highest heaven!” Take time to read the passage, let the acclamation
find a setting and a voice in you. Then, meditate on this acclamation so
that you become a participant of those who welcome Jesus into
Jerusalem. The acclamation rises from your heart for you have internalized
it and it speaks with passion what your heart is feeling. Follow this with
prayer. Allow your faith in God to connect to the Holy One. Let prayer
flow in such a way that you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding
your voice in prayer. Finally, find rest and peace in active contemplation in
affirming what you have just experienced.
Now, I invite you to eagerly anticipate your participation in worship this
coming Palm Sunday at Western Hills United Methodist Church. The
acclamation is impressed in your heart and you cannot wait to share
it. Come this Sunday to worship with something to say to God in such a
way that you just cannot wait to shout it. Alleluia, Amen!!! Raul
Supporting My Church
Current Prayer Concerns:
Tamera Austin; Delaine Clifton; Linda Eden; Carolyn Grimes, mother of David Clay; Debbie Hibscher;
(Current prayer concerns will be posted for one month unless a request is received for the name to continue on the prayer list)
Ongoing Prayer Concerns:
Jean Adams, Beverly Contakos, Kaylan Covan, Sammie Ellis, Jan Fisher, Jessica Gray, Jann Green,
Kenneth Holley, Aaron Jennings, Allan Johnson, Ada Kyser, Doug McGlaun, Nancy Pittinger, Mildred
Rankin, Camille Redden, Brayson Robinson, Ann Tolleson
Our Military:
Sam Brooks, Jason Busby, Garret Comparini, Sarah Davis, Dan Fagan, Sarah Harris, Angela
Herrington, Trinity Herrington, Christopher Moore, Thomas Morton, Robert Newman, Daniel
Newman, Richard Ray Owens, Jr., Nicholas Perez, Jacob Rangel, Chris Sotello, Blake Strack, Johnny
Waldrop, Melvin Williams, Brandon Wilson
The deadline for the next newsletter is
Monday, April 17, 2017 by 12:00 p.m.
Weekly Prayer Topics:
Week 1 - patience
Week 2 - Easter preparations
Gifts of Money
Needed for General Budget
each week: $5,000.00
March 26th
With Presence
Sunday School Attendance:
March 26th
April 2nd
52
76
Spanish Worship Service
March 26th
April 2nd
15
15
Worship Attendance:
March 26th
April 2nd
Praiz’n Attendance
March 26th
March 18th
97
117
21
18
General Budget
$ 3,539.15
Heifer Fund
57.00
Food Pantry
138.00
U.M.Y.F.
130.00
Lilies
170.00
April 2nd
General Budget
$ 6,261.00
Heifer Fund
12.00
Food Pantry
75.00
UMYF
52.00
Memorials
70.00
Lilies
220.00
SECURITY TEAMS/
LOCK UP TEAMS
April 9th
Security: Brenda Bearden
Lock Up:
April 16th
Security: Jeff Shahan
Lock Up:
If you are unable to work on your assigned day, please make
arrangements for a substitute.
CANDY & WORKERS NEEDED
FOR EASTER PARTY
APRIL 15
We need candy and workers for the
children’s Easter Party on Saturday,
April 15.
Please place candy in the tub beside the office door.
If you can help staff the craft centers, please phone
Joyce Brown at 817-249-2526. Workers need to
arrive by 9 a.m. to set up for the 10 a.m. party.
Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group
This group will meet on Thursday, April 6th at
7:00 pm. Our guest speaker is Denise Helms.
She will deal with “Negotiating and Mediating
Disagreements about the Care of the Loved One
with Dementia.” This is an issue that many
families, at some point, deal with.
Denise and her husband own “Overture Home
Care.” They have worked with many families
dealing with dementia.
Saturday, April 22nd
NEW CLASS TO BE OFFERED
Rev. Sammie Ellis will be giving you an
opportunity to give your family a wonderful gift. A
Plan Your Own Funeral Workshop will be held in
the Searchers Classroom April 18th from 1:30 p.m. –
3:30 p.m. This may be the hardest thing that you
ever do, because no one wants to talk about death
and dying. Rev. Ellis has been teaching this class at
Tarrant County College Northbrook Center for the
last 2 semesters. She learned when she was a
Hospice Chaplain that being able to plan one’s own
funeral was a gift that someone could still give their
families, even when they were no longer in control of
their bodies. Please don’t wait until you are out of
control. As a Brownie Scout I learned to ALWAYS
be prepared even at the end of life.
Immediately Following the
Methodist Men’s Breakfast at
8:00 a.m.
Hey, Western Hills
Last night W.H.Y? met
a NEW special bunch of
puppets as well as a
couple of old friends
(Darla, the donkey and
Kermita, the frog). We divided into
writing groups, researched names for
the newbies, brainstormed ideas for
children sermons, and started on some
scripts for short plays with a
special message. Whew. We wore
ourselves out. (At least we wore out
the sponsors and the youth director).
((And by 'we', I mean the kids wore
us out)).
Anyhoo, in another month or so, we
will be ready to deliver some
children's sermons with a special
message, starring some VERY special
guests. Stay tuned!
Amy R. Bailey
W.H.Y? Director
Sunday, April 9th
10:50 a.m.
Choir Cantata
Saturday, April 15th
6:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 13th
7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 16th
7:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 15th
Children’s Easter Event
10:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 16th
10:50 a.m.