CITY POINT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 7301 Glenview Drive, North Richland Hills, TX 76180

www.citypointumc.org 817-284-9371 info@citypointumc.org

“City Point United Methodist Church will be a Biblically faithful and caring community without walls, responding to God’s grace and reflecting Christ’s life.”

Rev. Dr. Jeff May Senior Minister

Jeff@citypointumc.org

Rev. Amy Tate-Almy Pastoral Care

Amy@citypointumc.org

Sharma Castillo Director Program Ministries Sharma@citypointumc.org

Laurie Thompson Office Administrator

Laurie@citypointumc.org

Allison Whetsel Ward Choir Director

Allison@citypointumc.org

Candiss Krug Organist

Candiss@citypointumc.org

Bill Munson

Building Superintendent Bill@citypointumc.org

JULY 2020 Newsletter

Church Business Office Hours: STAFF WORKING FROM HOME The church office is currently closed but you can still reach the staff by email, calling

them on their cell phone, or by leaving a voicemail at the church 817-284-9371.

THE

POIN

#citypointhasleftthebuilding

My Dear Church Family: I am praying for each and every one of you on a daily basis. I trust that you are safe and doing all that you can do to stay that way. These are challenging times. Stay safe. Stay patient. Our church committee chairs have met with our Lay Leader to plan a restart of our worship services. Let me share with you how this process will proceed. First, the officers of our

congregation will submit a plan to the district superintendent to receive suggestions and to check for anything that we might have not considered. Then, a reformulation of that plan will be presented to the church leadership team for a vote. If passed, that plan will be implemented in the near future. In order of priority, the following will take place: The church office will open for a short period of time on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays BY APPOINTMENT ONLY and a full two weeks before our first Sunday back in worship. We will restart our church worship services with full safe guards recommended by the CDC. Small groups will be allowed sometime after worship services restart. Larger groups will be allowed in the building sometime after the successful restart of small groups. Please be in prayer for all of your congregational leaders as we strive to be fair and safe in all activities and ministries. Sincerely In Christ, Pastor Jeff

The complete prayer list is currently being emailed out on Monday mornings to church members. To add someone to the prayer list please email Laurie at Laurie@citypointumc.org or leave a voicemail on the church office phone at 817-284-9371.

CHURCH FAMILY Jack Elrod

Patty Hawkins Ampa Hinson

Richard Homer Inez Howe

Geri Orr Tracie Wilkins Peggy Zeiman

FAMILY & FRIENDS

Gene & Polly Hayes - Jana (Jeff) May’s parents Helen Carter - Mary Knowles & Linda Harden’s sister

DeAnna - friend of Jana May Wendy Fausset - friend of Char Hudak Nikki - Paul & Rita Romaker’s daughter

Expressions of love and sympathy are extended to the following families

Janet Kuchenmeister and family in the passing of her daughter, Debbie.

Doris Gillard and family in the passing of her brother-in-law, Joe Webb. Prayers also for Doris’ sister, Lou Webb.

Larry Atkinson and family in the passing of his brother, Billy Atkinson on June 3.

GIFTS GIVEN

BIRTHDAY FUN-D Happy Birthday to the following contributors to the Birthday Fun-d. Geri Orr

ENDOWMENT FUND In Honor of Church Birthday Given By: Marletta Tucker

IN HONOR/APPRECIATION Given To Samaritan Fund By: Lamoine & Evelyn Chandler Given In Honor Of: Conkey & Ann Chandler

If your JULY 9th - AUGUST 11th birthday is not listed

please contact the church office. We are including the August birthdays through the 11th

and will include the rest of August in the August Newsletter.

July 12

Ron Haynes July 16

Susan Scott July 17

Sally Bustamante July 18

Eddie Tate, Jr. July 21

Larry Atkinson July 23

Chris Balsly July 27

Jade Bridegam July 29

Joan Truman

August 1 Ed Balsly

Lynda Homer Thien Nguyen

August 3 Gaylene Donnell

August 8 Peggy Tolbert

August 10 Pat Peters August 11 Drenda Witt

We hope your

birthday is as

special as you are.

It’s such a treat to wish happy birthday

to someone so sweet.

We hope your birthday is full of sunshine, rainbows,

love, and laughter.

Thoughts From Pastor Amy

Emotionally, things are tough for many of us. We cannot turn on our televisions, get on Facebook or use our smart phones, without seeing and hearing negative news. Right now, we are aware that there are things in our world which are causing pain for many. We were already collectively grieving because of the pandemic and now, after the month of June, we find ourselves collectively grieving the pain and suffering of many due to

social injustices and racial tensions. We tend to assume that grief goes along with death. Obviously, that is true. But grief is bigger than that. The discouragement, depression, anxiety that you may be feeling is a result of grief. Be kind to yourself and others! I encourage us all to take time to spend with God in prayer. Ask God to grant you peace and comfort during a dark time. Ask God to guide you in faithful response to the pain you see or encounter. And then, listen. Actively listen for God to speak to your heart.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise God, my Savior!" Psalm 42:11

Please let me know how I may pray for you. You may email me or comment on our church Facebook prayer page. You may attend our July online grief group. Email me for the link. Keep praying for one another and for our world!

July/August Grief Support

Grief Support Group will meet for prayer, tears, laughter, memories and support! We are open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one no matter the time frame. You cannot put a time limit on grief and we all grieve uniquely.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13, at 12:30 p.m., via ZOOM! The link will be emailed out to everyone currently participating in our group. Any newcomers can reach out to me via email at amy@citypointumc.org for the link as well.

Please note that our August grief group will be moved to August 17 due to Annual Conference being scheduled for August 10 for our conference.

Spiritual Opportunities Feedback and Photos

Share Your Shelter in Place Creativity I hope that by now you have had the opportunity to create a worship space at home. If not – it is NEVER too late! I encourage you to find a quiet place to create your worship space. Some items to include could be a Bible, cross, pitcher and basin, finger labyrinth, book of prayers or devotionals, candle, prayer beads, etc. You might also provide mandalas or biblical journaling pages and colored pencils. I look forward to setting up our labyrinth and prayer stations in the future, but much can be done at home.

As you are aware by now, I have posted both a video about the finger labyrinth and the mandala online. I have also published online links in the past two newsletters. They can both be accessed on the CPUMC website under “Caring Ministries.” I would LOVE to hear back from you concerning your experiences with the finger labyrinth and mandala or a picture of your worship space at home or artwork you created in re-sponse to meditation or bible study. Maybe you have gotten really creative during this time of sheltering at home. I would LOVE to share stories of your experiences, photos of your space or artwork, copies of poems or other things that have come out of this time away. Please feel free to email or text me. If you have ques-tions, thoughts or suggestions for more resources, please contact me.

Love, Amy Amy@citypointumc.org

You will find in this newsletter pictures that were in videos that were published to Facebook, and posted on our church website. We hope you enjoyed the pictures from Georgia Duncan’s 101st Birthday video and you will find pictures also in this newsletter from the Father’s Day Video. Below are a few additional pictures from that video along with the words that were used to honor the special men in our church family. You will also find below pictures from the online worship services that have been posted to Facebook each Sunday and can be found on the church website at www.citypointumc.org.

We celebrate all dads, father figures, teachers, fathers to the fatherless!

They catch you when you fall! He picks you up and brushes you off!

Encourages you to try again! He leads by example! Loves unconditionally! Helps those in need!

Fought for us all! Thank you!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 13 - 16

Facebook Live 6:30 p.m.

Power Up “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

Mission Focus ~ We are collecting food items to take to Project Help.

This year’s Vacation Bible School will be for EVERYONE! It is for children, youth, and adults!

You will need to register online. Each day of VBS you will receive a link to the daily video. There will be three videos each day of VBS, one for children, one for youth, and one for adults!

Each video will contain scripture, music, and a lesson.

This is a great way for families to worship together! Invite your friends, and family members to discover the Mighty Power of God!

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/oPcPMscKhjxg5Z6A9 Note - watch for VBS E-Blast with link to click on!

Please email or call Sharma if you have any questions or if you are interested in helping with VBS. (Sharma@citypointumc.org)

KIDZ KLUB STORY TIME ON FACEBOOK!

For the month of July we will be reading The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. Join Sharma Castillo each Thursday on Face-book as we read about all the fun adventures Elephant and Piggie have. Don't forget to share the story time on your Facebook page so your friends can enjoy the adventures.

WEDNESDAY SUMMER DEVOTIONALS

City Point UMC has been publishing a video devotion on our Facebook page each Wednesday evening since May 27. Thank you to Louis Murray, Mona Bailey, Ronda Hantz, Dana Tate, and Rev. Amy Tate-Almy. These videos are also post-ed on the church website each week and are included in the weekly Sunday E-blast with other videos that have been placed on Facebook each week.

We hope that you have been watching your fellow church members share their thoughts and prayers with you. This series is currently scheduled through the first of August, so keep watching!

Women’s ZOOM Bible Study

Beautiful Already: Reclaiming God’s Perspective on Beauty began on June 10. It is a mid-day online study for women of the church to take a lunch break and discuss social and biblical issues surrounding beauty. The Bible Study is facilitated by Rev. Amy Tate-Almy. Even if you have not joined us yet, you still can. The Study will go through July 15 and who knows, we might start another study after that. Feel free to take your lunch break over some faith-based discussions with fellow women of the church. The office sends out the ZOOM link every Monday via e-blast. If you do not receive this email with the link please contact the church office or Rev. Amy Tate-Almy at Amy@citypointumc.org for the link. NOTE—The Bible Study will not take place the week of July 1 but will resume July 8.

Ronda Hantz

SUMMER MISSIONS This summer we are offering a customized mission trip in a box. It will have daily devotion-als and suggestions for jobs that fit you and your family. These jobs could be collecting food, mowing/yard work, visiting, or home re-pairs. We are designing the mission experience around you. Please email or call Sharma if you are interested in taking part so that a Mission Box can be customized for you and your family. Sharma Castillo, Director of Program Ministries sharma@citypointumc.org.

PRESBYTERIAN NIGHT SHELTER

A great and mighty team of six continue to make sandwiches each month at their homes to be taken to PNS. Finding new ways in a much needed ministry! A new ministry is now making break-fast to-go each month. Thank you to everyone who helped make 100 Breakfast to-go's for the PNS this past month. Please contact Sharma if you would like to help with the breakfast bags for July 14!

Another great new Mission Box Ministry is a different way to help with the local food pantry at Northeast Emergency Distribution Center (NEED). Each Monday you will find a box outside the church office under the mailbox where you can drop off non perisha-ble items from 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Then Trudi Free will come and pick those items up and take them to NEED for their Food Pantry. If you are not able to make it on Mondays you can do the same on Wednesdays starting July 8. Thank you to those who have brought food up to the church the past several weeks and to Trudi for picking it up and delivering the items donated.