The Songs of Christmas: A Devotional Journey

Welcome to The Songs of Christmas, a four-week devotional series designed to guide you through the Advent season with reflections on beloved Christmas carols and scripture. Each week, we’ll explore a different song and theme, considering how these timeless hymns reveal truths about God’s love, presence, and peace in our lives.

If you would like to download this devotional to print out, click here.

How to Use This Devotional

This devotional series is meant to help you prepare your heart for Christmas by creating space to reflect on God’s work in the world and in your life. Here’s a suggested approach for each week:

1. Set Aside Quiet Time: Choose a specific day or time each week when you can dedicate around 15–20 minutes for each devotional. Consider lighting a candle, playing soft music, or finding a quiet space to help set a reflective tone.

2. Read and Reflect on the Song Lyrics: Each week’s devotional centers on a classic Christmas carol. Spend a few moments listening to or reading the lyrics of the song. Let the words resonate with you and draw your heart toward the theme for the week.

3. Read the Scripture Passage: After focusing on the song, read through the recommended Bible passages. As you read, consider how the verses connect to the song’s message and how they speak to your own life during this season.

4. Engage with the Reflection: Each devotional includes a short reflection on the theme. Take your time reading through it, letting the words sink in. Think about how the theme applies to your own expectations, longings, and experiences this Christmas.

5. Use the Reflection Questions: At the end of each devotional, you’ll find questions for personal reflection. Spend a few moments with these, journaling your responses if that’s helpful, or simply pondering them quietly.

6. Close in Prayer: Each week, close with a prayer, inviting God to work within you throughout the Advent season. Pray that His presence would grow clearer to you, and ask for the grace to embody His love and peace in your interactions.

A Journey Through Expectation and Hope

Through this devotional series, our hope is that each carol and scripture will help you rediscover the meaning of Christmas—not only as a celebration of Jesus’ birth but as an invitation to experience His love in fresh, transformative ways. May The Songs of Christmas draw you into a deeper awareness of God’s work in your life and the world around you, filling your season with hope, peace, joy, and love.

May you be blessed as you begin this journey!

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Week 1: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4, Luke 4:18-19
Theme: Expectations Fulfilled in Unexpected Ways

The Advent season brings out deep expectations. We await celebration, joy, and connection—yet often find ourselves longing for something more, a sense of peace or justice that’s often hard to define. The Israelites shared this longing as they anticipated a coming messiah, whom they believed would liberate them from oppression. They expected a conquering king, yet the story of Jesus seems to bring something much different.

Isaiah’s prophecy in 42:1-4 speaks to this, describing a servant chosen by God, who “will bring justice to the nations” but “will not shout or cry out.” This description is a paradox of strength in quietness, power in gentleness, as Jesus fulfilled this role of bringing justice, joy, and healing without force or violence. Luke 4:18-19 captures Jesus’ fulfillment of this calling: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to set the oppressed free.”

This song, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, reflects a yearning for freedom and healing. In our lives, too, we may expect a bold intervention, yet find Jesus working in unexpected, quieter ways. Advent invites us to look beyond our assumptions and recognize God’s work in subtle yet powerful ways.

Reflect:

• What are you hoping for this season?

• How might God be working in ways that don’t match your expectations?

• Pray for eyes to see God’s presence in surprising places.

Daily Bible Readings:

• Day 1: Isaiah 42:1-4 — The Servant’s gentle and humble mission.

• Day 2: Luke 4:16-21 — Jesus proclaims the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

• Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25 — The angel announces the birth of Jesus.

• Day 4: Isaiah 9:6-7 — A prophecy of the coming Prince of Peace.

• Day 5: Micah 5:2-4 — Bethlehem chosen as the birthplace of the Messiah.

• Day 6: John 14:25-27 — Jesus promises the gift of His peace.

Reflect each day on how these readings reveal the gentle, unexpected ways in which God works to bring peace, hope, and justice.

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Week 2: O Little Town of Bethlehem — "All the Hopes and Fears"

Scripture: John 1:14, Micah 5:2
Theme: God’s Presence in Our Messiness

The story of Christmas begins in Bethlehem, an unlikely place. Micah 5:2 calls Bethlehem “small among the clans of Judah,” yet this town becomes the stage for the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” an incredible statement about how God entered into the “hopes and fears” of everyday life.

O Little Town of Bethlehem brings this message home. Despite its humble setting, Bethlehem represents God’s profound choice to enter into humanity’s experience with all its struggles and uncertainties. Jesus’ birth in a simple manger sends a powerful message: God doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances but meets us where we are, in the mess and the mystery of daily life.

As you reflect on this song and scripture, think about how God meets you in your current circumstances. What hopes and fears are you carrying, and how can you invite Jesus into those spaces?

Reflect:

• Consider an area of life where you need God’s presence.

• How does knowing that Jesus dwells among us bring you comfort or courage?

• Pray for the ability to welcome humility, even in life’s messiness.

Daily Bible Readings: 

• Day 1: Micah 5:2 — The humble town of Bethlehem as a place of God’s promise.

• Day 2: Luke 2:1-7 — The birth of Jesus in a humble stable.

• Day 3: John 1:14 — The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

• Day 4: Psalm 139:7-10 — God’s presence with us, no matter where we are.

• Day 5: Matthew 11:28-30 — Jesus’ invitation to bring our burdens to Him.

• Day 6: Psalm 34:17-19 — God’s closeness to the brokenhearted.

Allow each day’s reading to remind you that God meets us exactly where we are, bringing light to all our hopes and fears.

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Week 3: Winter Snow — "God in the Small and Silent Things"

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-12, 1 Peter 4:8
Theme: God’s Gentle, Transformative Presence

Winter Snow poetically captures the quiet way God often works. It compares God’s presence to a snowfall—gentle, transformative, yet not imposing. This reflects the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, where God’s voice isn’t in the mighty wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a “gentle whisper.” This is a powerful reminder that God often speaks not through loud proclamations but in stillness.

1 Peter 4:8 reminds us, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” Much like snow blankets the earth, God’s love covers us, transforming and renewing us from within. The beauty of a snowfall is in its quietness; it changes the landscape without fanfare, just as God’s love works in us, softening hearts, healing wounds, and bringing peace.

Take time to reflect on where God’s quiet work might be unfolding in your life. During Advent, you can look for ways God’s love blankets your life, bringing peace and gentle renewal.

Reflect:

• In what areas of life do you feel God’s quiet presence?

• How can you embrace this gentle transformation?

• Spend time in silent prayer, listening for God’s whisper.

Daily Bible Readings:

• Day 1: 1 Kings 19:11-13 — God’s voice in a gentle whisper to Elijah.

• Day 2: Psalm 46:10-11 — An invitation to be still and know that He is God.

• Day 3: Matthew 6:25-34 — God’s care for the small details of our lives.

• Day 4: Philippians 4:6-7 — The peace of God that transcends understanding.

• Day 5: Isaiah 55:10-11 — God’s word and work quietly but effectively accomplish their purpose.

• Day 6: Colossians 3:12-14 — Love as a covering over all things.

These readings encourage us to look for God’s quiet, transformative presence in our lives, like a gentle snowfall that changes everything without force.

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Week 4: O Holy Night — "The Law is Love and the Gospel is Peace"

Scripture: John 1:4-5, Romans 13:10
Theme: The Light of Christ in a Dark World

The lyrics of O Holy Night speak to the wonder of God’s love breaking through darkness. John 1:4-5 proclaims that “in Christ was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Christ’s love isn’t simply a feeling but a transformative force that changes the world, pushing back darkness with peace, compassion, and forgiveness.

Romans 13:10 reminds us that “love does no harm to a neighbor,” calling us to live by a love that actively seeks peace. The holy night of Christ’s birth brought this peace to earth, not as a temporary gift, but as a guiding light for our lives. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we can carry this love forward, allowing it to illuminate our relationships and actions.

Reflect on where you can let Christ’s light shine in your life. What would it look like to live out this “law of love” each day, bringing peace into dark places?

Reflect:

• Where do you feel called to share Christ’s light and peace?

• What would it look like to live by the law of love?

• Pray that Christ’s light will shine through you this season, drawing others to peace.

Daily Bible Readings:

• Day 1: John 1:4-5 — Jesus as the light that shines in the darkness.

• Day 2: Romans 13:8-10 — Love as the fulfillment of the law.

• Day 3: Isaiah 60:1-3 — The light of God rising over His people.

• Day 4: Matthew 5:14-16 — Our call to be the light of the world.

• Day 5: 1 John 4:7-12 — God’s love and our call to love one another.

• Day 6: Luke 2:8-14 — The angels announce the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

As you meditate on these readings, let them illuminate the beauty of Christ’s love and the call to live out that love as a light in the world.

Day School Named Best In Richardson

We are thrilled to announce some exciting news—Arapaho Methodist Day School has been honored with a Silver Award in the Dallas Morning News Best in DFW Choice Awards! This recognition is a direct reflection of the outstanding dedication and commitment of our teachers, staff, and families to providing an exceptional early childhood education experience.

The Best in DFW Choice Awards celebrate the top businesses, schools, and services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Earning this award places us among the best, and we couldn't be prouder of the work happening at Arapaho Methodist Day School every day.

We want to extend a huge congratulations to our amazing teachers and staff. Your passion for nurturing young minds, creating a warm and supportive learning environment, and fostering each child's growth and development is the heart of what makes this school so special. Your hard work has been rightfully recognized!

To our wonderful families—thank you for believing in us and for being such an important part of our community. Your trust and support make everything possible, and this award is as much yours as it is ours.

Back To School Prayers Of The Community

At AUMC, we are are praying for everyone heading back to school. We asked parents, teachers, nurses, ministers, professors, administrators and all of those involved with school to write prayers for us to consider.

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From Craig (a parent)

Holy God,

 Our children have returned to their classrooms after a summer of fun.

With the return to school comes both excitement and anxiety. 

While summer is a time to explore, we know that it will continue as students return to learning. May both the excitement and anxiety that resides within also fuel the drive for exploration that is needed for our children’s educational and mental growth.

As our kids return to school, we leave them in the hands of teachers, coaches and administrators. Holy God may your hands be over those educators as they guide our children. May our children’s minds be open to new ideas.

The new school year also brings the joy of seeing old friends and making new. We pray that our children will be examples of love to all those they encounter. 

Finally, God, we ask that you keep your protective hands over our children. The book of Psalms reminds us that “children are a gift from the Lord.” May you watch over our own gifts during the school year.

Thank you for the gift of our children and thank you for the gift of your love. May our love for you, for our children, and for our neighbor be on full display throughout the school year.

In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

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From Brittany (UTD Campus Minister)

Loving God,

We lift up our college students. We know college can be a time of life that is exciting, complex, challenging, joyous, perspective-shifting, and transformational - often all at once. We pray that college students know that they are surrounded by the love and care of so many people, and that they are never alone because you are with them. 

It can be common to lose sight of who we are - in the fullness of how you created us, with our unique gifts and identities. Help our college students to surround themselves with the people and groups that will help them to live with integrity and alive-ness. Help them to find "their people" - to find their clubs, majors, sports teams, and other extracurriculars that help them align most fully with who they are. In the midst of all the change they are experiencing, help them to stand on the solid ground of your love.

We pray especially for the newly graduated high school seniors starting college for the very first time. We pray for the transfer students who are moving to new colleges and universities. We pray for those who are needing a fresh start. We pray that they will feel and experience your peaceful and grounding presence, stronger than any anxieties they are carrying. 

And finally God, please help us at Synergy Wesley Foundation and the more than a thousand other United Methodist college ministries around the world, that are preparing for our outreach and ministry with college students this school year. Help us to connect with college students in meaningful ways, so that they know there is a faith home for them - on campus through Synergy Wesley Foundation and off-campus through Arapaho UMC, so they have a supportive faith community and home-away-from-home during their college years. 

We give you thanks for the opportunity and blessing to walk alongside college students during this special and sacred time in their life's journey, and to serve with them in such vital and impactful ways. 

Amen

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From Shannon (a parent)

Dear God,

I pray your blessings on all our students as they begin a new school year.  May their curiosity lead them to learn more about your creation, including the unique gifts they can offer in this world.  May their ears, eyes and brains be tuned in to listen and learn so that they may continue to grow into the special people you created them to be.  May their bodies feel attended to so that they will be ready for varied experiences.  And may they have enough moments of playfulness and positive connections to enrich and nourish them throughout their days.  In your all-encompassing love I pray.  Amen.

From Catherine (a school nurse)

God, give me the wisdom, patience and compassion to treat each student that comes my way. 

Help me to know the best course of action to treat each child whatever the ailment and let me respond quickly and efficiently in urgent situations 

Children are your most precious treasure and you’ve entrusted many to my care. Let me hold them in the same regard that you hold your all of your children. 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity for another school year. May I be a supplement, a needed one, at a house for learning for your burgeoning young adults. 

Amen

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From Mark (a university professor)

God,

You created us with a sense of curiosity, inquiry, and wonder.

Thank you for the gift of working with and guiding students in their inquiries.

Thank you for the opportunity to advance knowledge and understanding through our own inquiries.

May our classrooms, labs, libraries, and workspaces be places for open exploration and journeys to truth and wisdom.

May our teaching and research stir us to love you and our neighbor more deeply.

And may it all be for your glory.

Amen

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From Clelia (a maestra/teacher)

God, here I am. Presente. 

Same classroom, same desks, even the same old rug…

Yet,it's a new school year, and a new set of niños y niñas will come through the door. I don’t know them yet, but I can visualize their smiles and their eagerness to be here, their safe place. It’s a new school year and I am their new maestra. God, let us create a circle of trust that will multiply in growth and learning. 

God, I also think of the newcomers, those who will show up for the very first time to our Texas school. You know their journey, what they saw and experienced. I welcome them, still I wonder… Will they be interested in learning to read and write? They just endured the impossible. They made it here!  Are they finally safe? God, be the reason they feel loved and sheltered here, in my classroom with their new friends. Reading and writing will open doors of opportunities they never knew existed. 

God, here I am. Use me. 

I pray that my classroom will be a haven of safety for all my students. There is no meaningful learning without the assurance of belonging. Each child comes with a story, their story. Partner with me, God, to unfold the chapter that I get to help write this year. Who is in my classroom this school year? A future bilingual teacher? A doctor? An activist? A pastora? Use me, God. Let’s shape our community’s future together. 

I also pray for strength, endurance, patience and motivation. This is not an easy job, God. Calm my mind during those times that deadlines are drowning me. Throughout the testing season, remind me that numbers and scores do not define my value or the value of my students. Equip me with compassion and understanding for my co-teachers, principals and school helpers. We are in this race together. Cover us with your supernatural protection. We carry the future in our hands. 

God, here I am. Allow me to wholeheartedly live my purpose.

Finally, let me, the maestra, live wholeheartedly in the months to come knowing that your presence covers the ordinary moments that make up a meaningful life. My job as a maestra is ordinary, but the task ahead of me is extraordinary. With your help, this will be a purposeful academic year. 

Here I am, God. 

Amen

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Announcing A New Pastor

Beginning on July 7, 2024, Arapaho United Methodist Church is excited to announce that our new senior pastor will be Rev. Jonathan Perry. Pastor Jonathan along with his wife Lindsey and two children, will be joining AUMC from First United Methodist of Denton. Pastor Jonathan has been serving as their Executive Pastor of Strategic Leadership as well as Pastor of Open Worship. Additionally, Pastor Jonathan's work has centered and continues to center on social justice, leading interfaith partnerships, racial justice initiatives, as well as supporting immigrants and asylum seekers.

Rev. Jonathan Perry, an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, has been appointed as Senior Pastor of Arapaho United Methodist Church. Jonathan and his family come to our church from First United Methodist Church of Denton, TX, where he served as Executive Pastor of Strategic Leadership and Pastor of Open Worship. His ministry has been marked by a dedication to creativity, collaboration, and inclusivity, fostering vibrant faith communities where all are welcome and find belonging and sacred purpose.

Jonathan and his wife, Dr. Lindsey Perry, have been married for 18 years and have two children: Hudson, age 10, and Grace, age 7, as well as a cute pup named Bella, and an 18-year old cat with seniority named Kitty. Lindsey works for Compassion International, a faith-based international development agency that serves children in extreme poverty in 26 countries around the world. Prior to coming to Arapaho, Jonathan served at FUMC Denton beginning in 2016, when he was first appointed as Associate Pastor to establish Open Worship, an inclusive worship community dedicated to embracing diversity and providing a safe space for all, particularly the LGBTQ+ community and others whose faith journeys left them searching for a home.

In 2021, Jonathan was named Executive Pastor of FUMC Denton while continuing to serve as pastor of Open Worship. In this dual role, he led the staff and spearheaded strategic initiatives with laity, including a campus master plan, financial sustainability pathways, and affordable housing initiatives, as well as missional work in areas like racial reconciliation and care for immigrants and asylum seekers at the Border and in the DFW area.

Jonathan's passion for serving both in the Methodist tradition and with those from other backgrounds deconstructing and reconstructing faith is shaped by his own journey. Jonathan grew up in Panama City, Florida, as the son of a pastor in the Baptist tradition. After much seeking, it was in the community and theology of the United Methodist Church that he found a spiritual home and a renewed sense of purpose.

Jonathan, Lindsey, and their family are excited to embark on the next chapter of their ministry at Arapaho UMC. With a focus on building relationships, empowering the church, and serving others. They look forward to contributing to the vibrant community and amazing work taking place at Arapaho UMC as it continues to be a creative, constructive, forward-leaning Christian community, committed to becoming more like Jesus Christ.

Advent: A Holy Invitation

Advent: A Holy Invitation to Perceive

By Lindsay L. O’Connor

I am about to do a new thing;

now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?

-Isaiah 43:19

Three and a half weeks before my firstborn child was due to arrive, I spent the day on the couch. We were deep into the month of July in one of the hottest Texas summers on record. I had finished my last year of teaching, knowing I would not return in the fall, and had nothing to do but prepare for this baby.

Lazy, I thought. Why am I so lazy today? 

I couldn’t seem to make my body get up to get anything done. Little did I know, my body was doing plenty as I lounged on the couch that hot summer day. It was preparing to give birth that very night to our miracle baby, the one the doctor had said I had miscarried just over six months before.

The season of Advent invites us into the practice of hopeful expectation, which sounds lovely until we layer this onto the busy-ness, distraction, and sometimes even grief that may be present during the holiday season. Hopeful expectation requires a posture of quiet listening and opening to an awareness of the presence of the Holy, which is not separate from the secular but actually saturates the mundane if we will only perceive it. When we slow down, we make room for noticing, which paves the way for wonder, curiosity, creativity, and discernment. 

Hope can feel difficult to come by these days. However, it is not something we can conjure up on our own; it is something we receive when we are attentive to the Spirit because the Spirit is always breathing new life into the darkness. The world may seem to be languishing in darkness amidst unimaginable suffering, but the Creator is ever present, residing in the mystery of living, dying, and rising. When we tune into the movement of the Spirit, we begin to notice the subtle signs of a coming birth, and we receive the hope that accompanies new life. 

In July 2011, I was frustrated with my body’s refusal to cooperate with my desire to be productive, but I now see the irony of feeling unproductive when my body was quite literally producing new life. The process leading up to birth can include a period of a quiet that may look like a lack of productivity while something is brewing below the surface. 

We were created in the Divine image, and we are like our Maker when we create. Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, discouraged, or cynical can be a holy invitation to get quiet and still. A lack of energy and motivation for productivity might actually be a gentle invitation to surrender and notice what is forming below the surface, preceding the birth of something beautiful. If we will allow, God may even bestow upon us the honor of serving as the conduit for new life.

When we find ourselves lying on the couch—literally or metaphorically—and wondering why we are feeling so tired and unproductive, may we let ourselves get quiet and still. In the stillness, we become attentive as we watch for signs of coming birth pangs and prepare to behold the mystery of new life, for who knows what new thing the Spirit might be compelling us to perceive?

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We Need Music More Than Ever

We Need Music More Than Ever

By Shelly Niebuhr

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him—1 Samuel 16:23

I’ve always loved this verse. 

Because I know its true. 

Music heals us.

For twenty years, I worked as a musician in various health care settings, serving through community music programs, ensembles, as a singer-songwriter and as a Certified Music Practitioner. With guitar, percussions, songbooks and flutes in hand, I visited diverse patient populations in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, memory care units and psychiatric facilities.

I saw the healing power of music over and over again. I witnessed an angry, dying man relax and even smile, while listening to a therapeutic musician strum a harp at his bedside. I’ve watched elders’ sing and laugh who hadn’t sung or laughed in years when I played their favorite songs. And perhaps most powerful of all, I’ve witnessed walls of fear and anger crumble between people of different religions, races, orientations and political beliefs—when they drummed, sang and chanted together. 

Flutes, in particular, seemed to impart unique blessings. Irish folk flutes, silver concert flutes, Native American flutes—patients described these instruments as “breath prayers,” and “sounds that moved the deepest part of me” and “tones that healed my inner pain.”   

At a county hospital psychiatric unit, where seventy percent of the patients were escorted in by the police, the gentle notes of the Native American flute were the only sounds the anxious patients could tolerate. 

A woman, who was pacing back and forth while talking to herself, pleaded to me, “keep playing, please, keep playing. I can finally breathe again.” A young man, who had been lying upside down across the back of a vinyl couch uttering obscenities, sat upright, hummed with the flute and gently rocked side to side. During a pause, he said in a low, lucid voice, “thank you.”

At a memory care facility, a middle-aged woman closed her eyes and listened closely while I played the flute. We were in an over-heated room with other residents, who were drinking fruit juice and sporadically crying out. Yet this woman’s expressive face was clear and serene. I paused, leaned towards her and asked, “What do you hear?”

She whispered, “I hear quiet. It’s a quiet feeling coming from the flute.” She placed both hands over her heart, one on top of the other. “I didn’t know it was possible to feel this kind of peace. I don’t remember feeling this way before.”

She opened her eyes. They were shining with reverent wonder. Shining for what was unseen. Shining for what could only be felt.

I knew then I wanted to spend my life learning how to see and trust in things unseen, in things that do not pass away. 

And music would help me do that. 

When I lament and mourn the violence and injustice in our country, indeed in our world, I’ll play my cedar flute and imagine its gentle notes entering my heart, soothing and comforting it. I imagine it’s peaceful tones circling our hurting world, and the people in it. And somehow, I am restored, if only a little. But it’s enough to keep me going, to keep me praying.

When I feel the bone-deep exhaustion of being a caregiver, I’ll put on Mozart’s “Overture,” from The Marriage of Figaro and feel its soaring notes lift me out of myself into a place of renewal, and even faith. 

And when anger threatens to engulf me, I beat my frame drum with all my might, giving the anger an outlet, so it doesn’t poison me inch by inch. 

Music was part of God’s plan to heal Saul. How might God use music in your own healing, to help mend you? 

Ask God. 

And then listen to one of your favorite songs. Or sing, hum, play an instrument, or go to a concert. 

Open yourself to the music, see where it takes you. 

I leave you with lyrics of one of my favorite hymns, “There Is a Balm in Gilead.” 

Sometimes I feel discouraged

And think my work’s in vain

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my heart again

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Texas Heat and the Unhoused

Texas Heat and the Unhoused

Written By: David S. Gruber from Housing Forward

Have you, like so many of us, been lamenting the blazing Texas heat? It has been particularly intense this summer, which greatly impacts our unhoused neighbors. 

We are honored to introduce David S. Gruber, the Senior Director of Development and Communications at Housing Forward. Below, David shares what we can do to help community members experiencing homelessness amidst the extreme heat. Housing Forward is one of the local organizations that Arapaho UMC works alongside in an effort to end homelessness in our local community.

From David:

What can you do to help our unhoused neighbors during the extreme heat we are experiencing? This question can and should be answered on two levels, the short term, and the long term.

In the short term, our community has been blessed with several entities who provide or serve as cooling stations for anyone in the community who is trying to escape the heat. 

The Salvation Army has nine cooling stations in operation across North Texas. The City of Dallas’ libraries and recreation centers and the City of Plano’s libraries are open to the public during normal business hours. Our Calling is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 am until 1 hour after the heat index is below 105. The options on weekends are not as plentiful. Check our I Need Help page for more info. Sharing this information with our unhoused neighbors is a great way to help.

Let’s be frank, though, cooling stations are a band-aid solution. This is not to say that band aid solutions are not important. Johnson and Johnson estimates that since the invention of the band aid, they have sold over 100 million of them. Still, it can’t end there. 

What we really need to do is house people, because homelessness is a housing problem. Then they won’t need to go to cooling stations. Fortunately, we know exactly how to do that. In fact, In October 2021, Housing Forward kicked off the Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Rapid Rehousing initiative, aiming to rehouse 2,700 people by the end of September 2023. We have so far housed about 2,500. Earlier this year, Housing Forward announced that this initiative would be transformed into R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing with a goal of housing a total of 6,000 people by the end of 2025.

What can do to help? Did you know that you already are? It’s true. Arapaho UMC is a member organization of the All Neighbors Coalition, a collective of over 130 organizations across Dallas and Collin Counties, who work alongside Housing Forward in the fight to end homelessness in our community.

Make sure you take advantage of opportunities to educate yourself about homelessness and how we can solve it by listening to our podcast, We Are Neighbors, signing up for our newsletter, and watching our Hard Conversations series. 

It is not that easy to find rental properties to house all the people we need to house, so if you own or manage rental properties, we need your help. Let’s talk today!

Finally, exercise your responsibility inherent in the most prominent office in our land, citizen. Become a YIMBY (yes, in my backyard). Make sure your elected officials know that you support housing our unhoused neighbors in your neighborhood. That is the only way we can end homelessness together. 

A Prayer for Back to School

A Prayer for Back to School

By Lindsay O’Connor

God of new beginnings,
Be with us—students, educators, and we who love them—as a new school year begins. Bless us with awareness of Your presence amidst our excitement, stress, busyness, and anticipation. Allow us to be open to Your work in us throughout this new school year.

God of wisdom,
Help us to grow in knowledge and wisdom that comes from experience. Let us know the joy and fulfillment of learning in an embodied way that involves our heads, hearts, and bodies so that along with wisdom, we grow in humility.

God of compassion,
Some of us begin this school year with heavy hearts and weary bodies. Our grief, physical and mental illnesses, financial difficulties, broken relationships, and other personal struggles do not often follow a calendar and thus follow us into the school year. Let us know intimately the comfort available to us through You, and allow us the blessing of comforting others with the comfort we ourselves have received.

God of unity in diversity,
Thank You for the creativity with which You have created us, for our diverse brains, bodies, and learning styles. Help us and others to see the gifts we bring, even when those unique gifts sometimes feel like burdens. Help us to companion one another well on the journey of self-compassion that leads to compassion for others. Let us not forget that we are all connected and that our well-being is inextricably tied to that of those in community with us.

God of goodness,
Allow our schools and educational institutions to be protected places where people grow and thrive without fear or threat of danger. Protect students and educators from every kind of violence. Help us all to work together to eradicate the forces of oppression that plague the most vulnerable among us, that we might partner with You in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth.

God of abundance,
Thank You for the abundance of goodness we don’t even know to ask for this year but will receive from You. Open our eyes to see the treasures hidden in the everyday, ordinary moments where You dwell.

Amen.

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Summer Reading List 2023

Summer Reading List of 2023

For many of us, summer is a great time to catch up on reading! The AUMC community is committed to the Christian call to inclusivity and to continually growing in our spiritual journey, which is reflected in many of the books we’ve been reading and sharing. We are excited to share these mini-reviews for books that members of AUMC have found meaningful and would love to hear about what you’ve been reading lately!

God Is A Black Woman

By Christena Cleveland

Review by Aaron Manes

Recently a friend texted me to say that she knew I had liked "Dance of the Divine Dissident" by Sue Monk Kidd and thought I would also enjoy "God Is A Black Woman" by Christena Cleveland. This book reads like a life journal and follows Christena’s story of growing up Black in a white world while discovering that her ideas of God were extremely limited. She finds comfort in her discovery of the Black Madonnas. 

Unique to Christina’s story is how she goes on a pilgrimage and interacts with these beautiful representations of grace and mercy. Her own story seems reflected in the faces of the Black Madonnas she encounters. She went through a lot of life moments in this book and it is beautiful how her faith grows in unexpected ways. If you are an audible person, she reads the book there, which I always prefer. 

The Beauty of What Remains

By Rabbi Steve Leder

Review by Beth Childs

This book helped me get through the darkest moments of my life. While my 6 year old son Luke was in hospice care and I was 9 months pregnant, I read this book in the hope that I could find some clarity in my all-consuming desperation. Leder discusses his own father’s death and how difficult it was to bear the enormity of his grief, even though he had been counseling and supporting bereaved families for dozens of years.  From this perspective, Leder reminds us that “death is a powerful reminder to buy less and do more, live more, travel more, and give more,” to focus on the present, to “stroll, listen, think, breathe, and relish your most sacred, finite, and beautiful blessing—Time.”  My son was excellent in savoring the present moment and finding joy in anything that he did, even if it was from his hospital bed while he was literally deathly sick. Leder’s words helped me to be inspired by my own son and the will to live so that I could honor his legacy and enjoy every moment possible with my own family.

The most important and lasting premise from Leder is that we can honor our loved ones by living as good ancestors. “Was she kind? Then let us be kinder. Was he strong? Let us be stronger. Was she generous? Let us give more. Was he forgiving? Let us forgive. Was she courageous? Let us find courage and not be afraid.  Did he love laughter? Then let’s lighten up.” If everyone lived the way my son did, with his bravery, his lightness and presence of heart, and kindness, our world would change for the better. This book did not solve my grief, but it did give me new purpose and revival as my daughter was born and I had to live in a world where my son no longer lived. I am so appreciative of the friend who sent this book to me and I recommend it to anyone who is grieving or will eventually grieve (so everybody).

Agatha of Little Neon

By Claire Luchette

Review by Brandi Manes

This novel tells the story of four nuns whose circumstances force them to move from their quiet life in the diocese out into the world. They oversee a halfway house, living alongside the residents and taking jobs in the community. Agatha, the main character, has never known life outside of the sisterhood and has to reckon with who she is all on her own - is this really what she believes? Who is she when she isn’t with her sisters? 

This book tackles a lot of important themes surrounding faith, independence, anger, patriarchy, and what it means to ‘do good’ in the world. The four sisters at the center of the book moved me to tears and made me laugh out loud. But the heart of this book, for me, is the writing. Claire Luchette writes beautifully about the difficulty of holding on to what you’ve been taught when the people you care about don’t fit into the narrative. How it feels when the people you’re supposed to trust turn out to be corrupt. The struggle between who you’ve always been and who you think you could be. 

“There were times when I did not stop at Amen. I could make the Beatitudes go on and on. There was never enough time to list all the blessed. Blessed are my students, I said, and blessed be their friends; blessed are the quitters; blessed are the nervous; blessed are those who hide; blessed are the messy; blessed are the ones who say 'Oh, that's over my head'; blessed are the late bloomers, and blessed are the foolish; blessed are those who lisp; blessed are the birthday party clowns; blessed are the waitresses; blessed are the awkward; blessed are those who burn the roofs of their mouths because they cannot stand to wait; and blessed are the heartbroken, the ones who haven't arrived at the other side of their pain. Thank you very much. Amen, amen, amen.” 

An Untidy Faith: Journeying Back to the Joy of Following Jesus

By Kate Boyd

Review by Amy Smith

Have you, like me, found your faith to be challenged? Have you possibly felt confused, anxious or even angry by so much dissonance in the church, in our communities, and even in our families in relation to it?

I was seeking information from someone who would not tell me what to believe or how to figure it out, but instead provide basic theological information along with biblical references and practical examples that could help me walk through these challenges while holding on to the faith I know and people I love.  Kate's book did exactly that. She humbly and authentically shares her experiences as she unpacks what knowing Jesus means to her and the key pieces that she came to realize, through study and faith, were most critical in continuing her walk with Christ. Through reading this book God has reminded of His love for me and ALL of His people. I hope you will check it out!

Divided by Faith 

By Michael O. Emerson & Christian Smith

Review by Clelia Peña

The race problem in American churches is unique to the United States. We live in a society where mostly well-intentioned Christians repeatedly subscribe to the same issues that keep us divided by race, socio-economic status, education and culture. In Divided by Faith, Michael Emerson and Christian Smith walk us through the history of how race divisions in the United States became what we see today in the American church. 

I should warn you, though, it is not an easy read. As I read about the atrocities in history and lack of action from the Church, I was flabbergasted. Why is it so hard to advocate for liberty and justice for all people? Sadly, I also realized things haven’t changed much in our society.

Reading this book left me with more questions: Is it possible to truly be One Church body? Will we ever be truly One in Christ? When will we all wake up to complete forgiveness and reconciliation?

I believe it all begins with awareness of truth. We can’t fix what we do not understand.  We stand at the divide (p.91). And we, as people of faith, need to do something about it. In the words of Emerson & Smith: “Of all people, Christians should be the most active in reaching out to those of other races, instead of accepting the status quo of division and

animosity (p. 65).” 

Would we dare to be uncomfortable while we heal?

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

By Kristin Neff

Review by Alicia Auping, leader of the All Moms Book Club

Last summer, our All Moms Book Club embarked on a journey of discovery as we read “Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself” by Kristin Neff. We spent eight weeks discussing a chapter or two each week, and I'm glad I took my time reading it because I needed that time to let it sink in and percolate in my consciousness.

I hadn't read many self-help books before, and definitely not any on self-compassion. I didn't even know what self-compassion was, and it sounded like it had the potential to make me squirm. This was a gap in my personal reading and also my vocabulary. Almost every concept and practice introduced was new to me. This was both gratifying and obnoxious. It was gratifying because that's the power of reading in a lot of ways. It was obnoxious because it did make me squirm and revealed the discomfort I have with being self-compassionate and cutting myself some slack.

The book is packed with things I never wanted to think about and didn't think would work. But over a couple of months of slowly digesting it, I found myself accidentally falling into some of the practices. And guess what? I felt better.

As I practiced self-compassion, I began to feel more at peace with myself. I was less critical of my own flaws and more forgiving of my mistakes. I also started to feel more compassion for others, as I realized that we are all in the same boat.

Since reading the book, All Moms has made self-compassion one of our core values. We believe that self-compassion is essential for our mental and emotional health, and we encourage all moms to practice it.

In the Margins: A Transgender Man’s Journey with Scripture

By Shannon T. L. Kearns

Review by Lindsay O’Connor

This powerful memoir-meets-Scripture-study tells the compelling story of a trans man’s unfolding understanding of his identity, blended with his evolving understanding of Scripture. Shannon T. L. Kearns is a former Christian fundamentalist who became the first openly trans man ordained to Old Catholic priesthood. He shares with vulnerability and tenderness about his struggles beginning in childhood as a gender nonconforming person situated in a fundamentalist evangelical context that was heavily focused on traditional gender roles/identities. His journey of becoming was closely tied to the deconstruction of his understanding of Scripture and who God is during a time when “deconstruction” was not yet a buzz word.

Kearns explores ten stories and/or key concepts in the Bible from his perspective as a trans man. He asserts that “…transgender people have unique insights into life and faith that can enrich people who don’t have our experiences of the world.” Even as a cis-het woman, I found that much of Kearns’ deconstruction journey resonated—like Kearns, I have found God to be much better, kinder, and more expansive than I dared to dream earlier in my faith journey. I loved reading his unique perspective on familiar Bible stories and was challenged and encouraged by his prophetic vision, which the Christian church desperately needs. I highly recommend this book, particularly for folks who are deconstructing/reconstructing their faith.

Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change 

By Angela Garbes

Review by Alicia Auping

The pandemic illuminated a long-overlooked truth: Mothering is among the essential work humans do. Every mother I know has felt lonely, exhausted, and/or financially strained during these past few years. There are so many assumptions about care, work, and deservedness when it comes to mothering—what it is and what it can be—and I’ve never seen them addressed like this in a book.

A first-generation Filipino, Garbes places mothering in a global context—the invisible economic engine that has been historically demanded of women of color. She argues that while the labor of raising children is devalued in America, the act of mothering offers the radical potential to create a more equitable society.

It was very comforting to read this reframing of the physically and mentally draining work as opportunities. “Reproductive work,” AKA mothering, is highly skilled labor that impacts society at its core.

For the record, in this book, the work of raising children is referred to as “mothering”—an action that includes people of all genders and nonparents alike. Because, as we all know, it takes a whole village. And the work of our villages can be our most consistent, embodied resistance to patriarchy, white supremacy, ableism, and the exploitations of American capitalism.

A Home For Refugees

A Home For Refugees

Written By: Rev. Cathy Sweeney

I wasn’t sure we could get it all done.

We had planned for the weekend of April 21-23 to be a possible Refugee Services of Texas (“RST”) weekend, when Arapaho UMC sets up an apartment for a family that arrived in the DFW area.

But it was Monday, April 17, and we still had not been assigned a family. I wasn’t sure we could get it done.

That was my feeling when Arapaho member Kathleen Modine brought in the information about the Syad family of five, who had been assigned to us to help set up their apartment off Northwest Highway. “I don’t know how we’re going to do this,” I told her. 

It was silly of me to doubt. Kathleen picked up the phone and coordinated logistics with Andy Allbee, another Arapaho member. Whereas Kathleen is the liaison with RST, Andy manages the logistics around the large furniture storage unit Arapaho maintains to help with move ins. Andy and Kathleen crafted a plan: Andy would call for volunteers to help gather furniture and deliver from the storage unit, and Kathleen would inventory the soft goods we have on hand at the church.

Kathleen finished the soft goods inventory and delivered it to me on Tuesday afternoon. Because we have a list of required items from RST, I was able to post a sign-up genius around 5:30 that night. There were about 50 items still needed. I sent the link to Sunday morning classes and posted on our Facebook Arapaho UMC Missions and Justice Facebook group.

By the time I woke up on Wednesday morning, all but two of the items on the sign-up genius list had been claimed. Spirit led, indeed.

Over the next few days, donations poured in and were organized and delivered to the apartment. Members of the Housing Stability Team including Bob and Becky Douglas, Roger Baily, Virginia Shea, organized to set up the apartment, including making beds, filling the pantry, setting up the kitchen, arranging for a meal, and more.

Working with RST requires at least one skill: the ability to be flexible and adjust to unexpected circumstances. When we arrived at the apartment, we learned the Syads would be living in a one bedroom for a short time. Not sure how that was even possible, with five people in the family. We shifted and looked for bunk beds, finding an inexpensive set online. The Douglas’ picked them up and delivered to the apartment.

By Sunday evening, the apartment looked fresh, clean, and ready to move in. 

What a week, fueled by the power of the Spirit. If you’d like to learn more about AUMC’s work with RST and get on the list to help in the future, please contact Pastor Cathy: cathy@arapahoumc.org

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Seeking Justice

Texas Impact & Seeking Justice

Written By: Marilee Hayden

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. (Isaiah 1:17 NIV)

I am someone who views the world under the lens of how it “should be” rather than just accepting things as they are. For this reason, I have a lot of trouble trying to understand how there can be such disagreement among Christians about the very essence of God’s messages to us. I believe that Jesus was an advocate for social justice and that the fundamental nature of His advocacy was love and compassion. Jesus took action!

I came to AUMC as a seeker of social justice. To that end, I attended the Texas Impact/United Women of Faith Legislative Event with Pastor Cathy a couple of weeks ago. There were sessions about women’s reproductive rights, gun violence, climate, racial justice, immigration, education/vouchers, and voting rights. In spite of the ice, we took buses to the Capitol and met with the legislators in our districts who had managed to get to the Capitol that day. I felt really energized from the experience and welcomed the knowledge and opportunities to do my small part in making Texas a better place for all of us.

Since coming home, there’s been more news about the Governor’s agenda against trans kids and his warning to state agencies and universities that the use of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are illegal in hiring. The Texas State Board of Education has removed its opposition to vouchers. More books are being banned. There are many things happening in our state that will further disenfranchise people and make it difficult to get out of poverty. Some of my daughter’s friends (members of the LGBTQ+ community) are moving away because they are frightened to live here. It all feels so cruel and some days it just seems like the battle is too big and too insurmountable.

As a woman who owned a business and worked with women ranging from executive leaders to women who were on the front line, I am particularly concerned about the loss of reproductive rights in Texas. Our ability to control when (or if) we have children has a big impact on our career progression and economic well-being. Even though we’ve come a long way, pregnancy slows down our career growth.

For women with lower incomes, an unwanted pregnancy can mean financial demise. It’s a vicious circle because an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy can make it difficult to work. Childcare is expensive and it’s a requirement for young children. How are women living in poverty supposed to go to work if they can’t afford childcare? Whether we are pro-life or pro-choice, it seems cruel to institute an outright ban against abortion without implementing social and financial safety nets to mitigate the negative impact of the law. In addition, there is no exception for rape, incest or even age.

Bee Moorhead, Executive Director of Texas Impact, told us that change is slow and incremental. Bee told us that we may not even see much change in this legislative session. However, we must speak up and advocate for social justice because silence paves the way for even more inhumane treatment of people who are disenfranchised.

On Saturday I went to an event called A Challenge to Act with a Heart for Justice organized by United Women of Faith. My main takeaway from the speakers was that people of faith must take action. Talk without action is just talk. There are so many people at AUMC who advocate for social justice and are really good at it! Shandon Klein, a doctoral student at SMU, told us that we need to consider what our actions say about our belief in God and that we need to be cognizant of the power we hold in our churches. That power is the power to make change.

Pastor Cathy and I will be organizing letter writing campaigns, and I hope that many of you will join us. Texas Impact will be using mainstream civic engagement platforms to meet the legislative objectives. If you would like to be involved in letter writing or other legislative advocacy efforts or would just like more information on the Texas Impact agenda, please email me.

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My Journey Toward Racial Justice

My Journey Toward Racial Justice

Written By: Kenton Self

My grandmother could put a popsicle stick in the ground and in time it would grow popsicles.

Well, not quite, but she did have quite the green thumb, so as the grandson of Mamie Wagliardo, I spent a lot of time with her digging in the dirt. One of the lessons she instilled in me is that if you want to get the dandelion out of the yard, you can’t just break it off at the stem, you have to pull it from the roots.

Pulling dandelions takes a certain skill that one does not acquire on the first attempt. If the ground is too hard, it has to be softened. It’s frankly a whole lot easier to break the stem. When the yard is freshly mowed you can’t see a solitary dandelion that was cut off at the same height as the grass around it. You can pretend it’s gone. But it’s still there. Give it time, and those roots will eventually pop up another ugly dandelion.

The Journey Toward Racial Justice is an initiative of the North Texas council of the UMC.  It  was created in order to “create disciples of Jesus Christ who are courageously anti-racist in a broken and hurting world.” AUMC is committed to getting this initiative off the ground and to pilot the program. We are developing the program as we go through it. We are working out the kinks. No, not the kinks in the program (well, we ARE working out the kinks in the program, but that’s not the point of this) We are working out the kinks in ourselves.

I grew up in Dallas. My family has been in this city for generations. When I was going into the sixth grade, Dallas ISD started a desegregation process that bussed students from minority schools to white schools. A lot of my peers moved out of the district that summer.

We didn’t. We stayed.

It was messy. I didn’t have a mindset that welcomed people that didn’t look like me. I told jokes that were inappropriate. I harbored resentment against classmates of color who exhibited talents and intelligence I didn’t have. The roots were deep. The ground around the dandelion was hard. 

Over time, I was able to see the ugliness that I carried and of the system of racism I lived in. I’ve seen how my friends of color had to (and still have to) navigate the world by different rules than I  was afforded by my white privilege. I wanted to be a part of the solution. In my attempts to do better I have seen a bunch of ugly broken dandelion stems in my right hand. I have done well at keeping the grass mowed. But dandelion roots run deep.

There is a lot to say about the Journey to Racial Justice program. The reading, the conversation, the invaluable partnership with Hamilton Park UMC, the events... We are doing a lot to help soften the ground. One moment in particular, though, stands out for me.

We recently took a tour of Dallas that highlighted the “Hidden History” of race. There were 90 of us in two buses from both Arapaho and Hamilton Park, sitting together and hearing stories many of us had never heard before. The last stop, though, was a story I knew. The last stop was Forest Avenue/James Madison High School. It’s an ugly episode within Dallas' racial past, when African-Americans began moving into a predominantly white neighborhood around Fair Park. (This article  tells the story of the school.)

When my mom was a girl, her family lived in that neighborhood. My uncle and aunt graduated from that high school.  My aunt still has vivid memories of living there and she has shared them with me often. When our tour stopped in front of that building, I felt a connection to the story, to the neighborhood, to the history, and to the system of supremacy that still inhabits that area and our whole city.

We have a long way to go. We have a lot of work to dismantle the system. It takes time and intention to soften the ground and pull the dandelions out. It takes active listening to the stories of others. The Journey to Racial Justice offers us an opportunity to move the story forward. I’m thankful to be a part of it.

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2022 Advent & Christmas Recommendations

AUMC Advent & Christmas Recommendations

The holiday season is upon us! This time of year is often a blur of activity that seems to leave little time for reflection. If you’re like many people, your well-intentioned hopes and plans to tend to your spiritual wellbeing and reflect on the deeper meaning of the Christmas season often fall by the wayside. If you are looking for practical ways to incorporate moments to consider and be present to the spiritual meaning of this season, consider these simple, concrete ideas shared by the Arapaho UMC staff.

Cathy’s Recommendations

In addition to the listing of Sunday morning classes below*, I'd like to recommend a few other individual Advent activities that I've come upon:

1. I'm a huge fan of Jan Richardson. She's a writer, artist, and United Methodist Minister who is known for word and image. She facilitates online retreats, and it's been awhile since she's had an Advent retreat. Thankfully, she's crafted one for us this year to include weekly readings, blogging, and reflections. The cost is $90, and you can join at any time through this link: https://www.janrichardson.com/adventretreat . Pastor Cathy will be participating along with anyone else who registers, so please let her know and we can share in discussion throughout Advent.

2. I'm also a fan of Doctoral candidate Katy Stenta, who is focusing her DMin studies on Creative Writing and liturgy, with a strong focus on justice, mercy, and light. She is a public theologian whose works are quoted in various media. You can learn more about her writings at katyandtheword.com . This year, she has created a calendar of Advent readings, starting on Dec 4. You can find those recommended readings HERE. Consider reading daily and journaling your thoughts about how the readings connect to the period of waiting during Advent. Waiting for what? And how?

3. John Pavlovitz is another of my go-to writers. His Advent devotional "Low: An Honest Advent Devotional" is a humbling look past the consumerism of Christmas, into the places where God comes into our lives as Jesus did at his birth. "As we walk the road of Advent, Jesus reminds us the invitation is not to escape this world to an elevated Heaven somewhere else, but to bring Heaven down. “God with us” is Jesus, getting low." You can purchase the devotional at our church site HERE. 

4.  Finally, Happy New Year! The church year officially "starts" with Advent, which means that Nov 27, 2022 was the first day of the new year: the first Sunday of Advent. The Revised Common Lectionary  (RCL) is a compilation of readings, over a three year cycle, that mirrors the liturgical year, and thus, Advent in December. The RCL is shared by most denominations that follow the liturgical year; thus, it's something that we have in common with other denominations. You can find the readings for this year's lectionary (Year A) HERE, and focus on the Advent readings for this season. Then, continue with readings through the year, if you'd like.

Aaron’s Recommendation

In Room 2 we will spend our Advent Sundays noticing what we see as we look at the paintings from Scott The Painter. In his book "Honest Advent" (co-written with Morgan Harper Nichols) we are able to notice new things about the story of Jesus' beginnings. Scott tells us that this book is a visual project in which he contemplated the vulnerability of the incarnation. My favorite part of the story to envision is seeing Mary as the new Eve. In his portrait entitled "Motherhood," Scott envisions a meeting between Eve and Mary. Eve's face is sad as she has dropped an apple and the snake is wrapped around her leg. And yet, Mary is there to comfort her. She places Eve's hand on her pregnant belly and strokes her hair. Mary steps onto the snake and they share a knowing gaze. These two women mean so much when it comes to representing the divine feminine of scripture and I am grateful for how vulnerable Scott presents them. 

You can view all of the artwork found in this book at https://www.honestadvent.com/artshow. 

Lindsay’s Recommendations

Our family (my husband and two daughters, ages 7 and 11) began a new-to-us Advent tradition a few years ago that the girls now look forward to each year. We like to find a book with brief Advent reflections to read after dinner on the nights that we are all home, and the girls take turns lighting the appropriate Advent candles. 

The key to making this doable and meaningful is to find a book that is interesting and easy to understand for both girls. It helps if it has very short readings that we can fit in on busy evenings. This provides a brief moment for us to pause, reflect, and discuss amidst all the hustle and bustle of the season. I’ve learned to let go of turning it into a “must-do” and instead, we simply enjoy it on the nights when we have time and let it go on the nights when we don’t!

Books we have used:

1. All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss – This has been our favorite so far! It has stories about the way various animals hibernate and makes a connection between winter hibernation and Advent as a season of darkness and waiting.

2. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones - If you start at the beginning, there are 25 stories leading up to the story of Jesus’ birth. This does an excellent job of showing how all the stories in the Bible point to the Jesus.

3. The Voices of Christmas audiobook by Nikki Grimes – This tells parts of the Christmas story through 14 poems, each written from the perspective of a different character in the Christmas story.

This year, we are going to check out one of Arnold Ytreeide’s Advent books. He’s written Ishtar’s Odyssey, Jotham’s Journey, and Tabitha’s Travels. These readings are a little longer but are written as a historical fiction narrative, so they are still engaging. This one is better for mid-late elementary and middle school-aged children.

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Live Like Luke

Live Like Luke

Written By Beth Childs

On November 4th, 2020 our son, Luke, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. That day, we began the most grueling journey of our lives. Because of the type of treatment Luke needed, we learned we would be living at the Children’s hospital for months. Even though our jobs were flexible and we experienced incredible support from our community and family, the disruption to our lives was unimaginable. While that year was the hardest of our lives, we were held, carried, fed, and loved by our beautiful community here at Arapaho United Methodist.

In the time that we stayed at the hospital, our eyes were opened to a world no parent ever thinks they will have to see. We were witness to small babies and toddlers alone in their room because their parents had to be at work. When a young child has to be left alone in the room they put a mesh net around the bed to protect them from falling to the floor. Every time I walked by a room and saw the mesh net, my heart broke. We observed families torn between their multiple children at home and their sick one at the hospital. We saw Go Fund Me’s created in desperation so families could pay the bills and stay afloat while still being with their child during treatment.  For people that are marginalized, a children’s cancer diagnosis is not only medically and emotionally devastating but also financially crippling.

After a brave fight, Luke died on October 2nd, 2021. His six years of life were remarkable. I have never met a braver, more joyful child. Derek and I want nothing more than to make our Lukey proud. We decided to honor and memorialize Luke through the Live Like Luke Fund. The mission behind Live Like Luke is to lessen the financial burden that comes with a childhood cancer diagnosis. To some, that means supplementing their reduced paycheck. Others need help with transportation costs or food for their tables. Whatever the cost, our goal is to lessen the anxiety and enable cancer families to focus their attention where it’s needed most. 

In recognition of the loving support poured on us by our church family, we’ve been involved in starting the Live Like Luke Ministry. This ministry’s mission is parallel to that of our Fund’s - while enabling us to more directly benefit families in dire need of financial support in Luke’s honor.    

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All Moms At AUMC

The Story Of All Moms

Written By Kasey Cummings

My husband and I started attending Arapaho UMC in 2015. Our roots at the church deepened as we connected with a handful of young families with children, and we yearned for a family of our own. Fast forward a year or two, and our ultimate dream was made a reality when our daughter Poppy was born. 

By 2019, my enthusiasm for motherhood was at its peak and I was thrilled to see an advertisement for a new Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) group kicking off at AUMC. My excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the group fell through before the first meeting. At the same time, I thought surely I could open the room for a handful of moms to meet, chat and drink coffee. I had no idea how this group would eventually evolve and ultimately impact my life and the lives of other mothers in our community.

Our first semester of MOPS was precious. The group had about 15 members, and as a leader, I flew by the seat of my pants. The group got to know each other and experienced a few comfortable months of content and camaraderie before we rang in 2020–hello, pandemic! 

This was a crucial moment in time for our group–when we truly banded together and became a family. It would have been easy to throw in the towel, say we tried our best, and hope that we’d all reconnect on the other side of the pandemic. Instead of giving up, we chose to pivot because if there was ever a time when moms need support, this was it! MOPS continued to meet on Zoom. We did anti-racism work. We left gifts on doorsteps. We commiserated together. We celebrated parenting milestones from afar. We shared our journeys with each other, and together we cried tears of happiness and grief in front of our screens. It was a harrowing and holy time. 

We entered our new normal in the fall of 2021 and hit the ground running with a full leadership team and a year’s worth of in-person content for MOPS. With 30+ members, we had a full year of blessings and connection. It was the picture-perfect ministry in the eyes of many. Even though we fulfilled countless opportunities to care for mothers in our community, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. 

The truth is, when you register to be a MOPS group, you agree to a list of values that don’t align with our beliefs at AUMC. Values that exclude people. Reflecting on my initial dream for the group, the words that came to mind were: Community. Inclusion. All. Moms of preschoolers need support, but don’t mothers of 8-year-olds need support too?! If we want to be a community, we NEED (all of) each other. Moms of preschoolers need moms of 8-year-olds to reassure them, “it gets better.” Moms of teenagers need moms of infants to remind them that they don’t need to wipe butts anymore! Another group that is not affirmed with the old model is our LGBTQ+ sisters. It is my opinion that we need to be explicitly welcoming to each and every mom in our community. It is through these reflections that All Moms was born.

It is my hope and dream that our All Moms group can serve as a model for other communities like ours. It is my dream that all moms can come together to support one another regardless of differences. It is my dream that our group will become a radiant tapestry of individuals; Black, brown, white, conservative, liberal, gay, straight, single, married, 18, 48, Jewish, Christian, Muslim. My dream is that the diversity, love, and support of this group will seep out the doors of AUMC and run into the streams of our wider community. That dream is becoming a reality with the support of this church.

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Is The UMC Splitting?

Is the UMC Splitting? 

FAQ on Current Events in Our Denomination

By Rev. Scott Gilliland

You may have seen stories or heard conversations about churches choosing to disaffiliate (aka: formally cut institutional ties with) The United Methodist Church (UMC). I have chosen to write this fairly concise–and hopefully informative–FAQ to address some of the more common questions/concerns I know have been swirling around in recent months and weeks.

Is the UMC splitting?

Short answer: No. Currently, some churches and pastors are leaving the UMC. Some are choosing to be independent/non-denominational, some are joining an existing Methodist/Wesleyan denomination, and some are joining a new denomination called the “Global Methodist Church” (GMC) which officially formed on May 1, 2022. The vast majority of UMC churches/pastors/people in the US will remain in the UMC.

Why are they leaving?

That’s a complicated question, but the fair answer I can offer is this: The kind of denomination or church that they wish to belong to is different–in important structural and theological ways–from the UMC. Most of the churches/pastors leaving have cited ‘strong traditional beliefs on human sexuality’ among their reasons for exit, and they wish to belong to a church/denomination that unanimously agrees with their traditional position.

Are all churches/pastors/people with “traditional” views leaving?

No. It is important to note that since our formation in 1968, the UMC has always been a big tent denomination where progressive, traditional, and centrist believers are welcomed and respected. John Wesley famously said, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?,” and the UMC lives into that Spirit. I trust we will continue this big tent vision of the church, especially in a season of polarization and division in so many areas of our lives. 

Why is this happening now?

Typically, it is not easy for churches to leave the UMC and also retain their property. We have a trust clause in our church law that essentially says church properties belong to the denomination, but in 2019, delegates gathered for a special global legislative session where a law was passed that specifically allows churches to disaffiliate and retain their properties so long as they meet certain financial obligations. It’s not a permanent change to our trust clause, however, and the window for churches to use this “exit ramp” will close at the end of 2023. 

How will this affect AUMC?

We will not feel the effects of this season directly. We will remain in the UMC along with the majority of churches in the North Texas Conference (our regional area, a triangle that includes Dallas, Wichita Falls, and Paris, TX). Last I heard, 10 congregations in our entire conference have entered into an official discernment process regarding disaffiliation.

At AUMC, we will continue to welcome same-gender weddings into our Sanctuary, support our clergy as they officiate ceremonies on or off-campus, and support LGBTQIA+ candidates for ordained ministry, all in accordance with our congregation’s vote in 2019.

How will this impact the UMC’s presence outside the US?

It is hard to say at this time. I am prayerful that most of our siblings in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines (the regions of the world where the UMC has an official presence) will remain in the UMC. At this time, the only conference that has officially declared an intent to disaffiliate is Romania-Bulgaria (to my knowledge).

In closing, I’m grateful that in recent years, AUMC proactively engaged in the clarifying work to know who God has called us to be. This allows us to lead non-anxiously in uncertain times, and to know what faithful work is ours to do.

Second Chances

Second Chances

Written by: Pam Wood

When asked to share what resurrection means to me, I of course, thought Easter Sunday. Obvious.  For a long time, Easter Sunday meant baskets of candy, egg hunts, chicks and bunnies, dressing up and going to church.

I guess I was about twelve when the importance of the day was about resurrection.  Yes, I learned the meaning of Easter before that in Sunday School, but for me, as a child, it did not really register.  Growing up in church, the concept just settled in, without truly understanding the depth.

Musically, it was especially glorious and uplifting.  It was like suddenly exhaling after holding my breath through the solemnity of Holy Week.

The definition of resurrection is the act of something dead coming back to life.  It is not limited to people.  Cities like New Orleans, Galveston, and Phuket, devastated by natural disasters have been resurrected.  It has taken time and effort, but they have been restored, improved and still recognizable as they once were.

And that brings me to the Resurrection.  Years ago, I read Marcus Borg’s book, The Last Week.  He wrote that the crucifixion demonstrated the political power of government, whereas the resurrection demonstrated the power of God at work.  That struck me so deeply that I had to write it down.  An insurrection brought resurrection.  Without the cross, there is no resurrection.  The power of God!

God’s plan to have Jesus come at a time when people were beaten down and hopeless had to lead somewhere.  His life could not just end.  After the effect he had on all who knew or had even heard of him, that would have only deepened the desperation, futility and hopelessness.

And we know how Jesus wrestled with the agony of being crucified.  Who wouldn’t?  What would I do if I knew I was going to die in some horrific way?  I would beg for it to happen in an easy, less painful way.  Just as Jesus did. Probably the most human emotion he expressed.  But by accepting the will of God, we all received an incredible gift of love, coming out of painful suffering.  His resurrection was a transformation and unlike those he had brought back to life, he was unrecognized by those who loved him and had known him.  His resurrection manifested the future, the culmination of what he had been preaching and teaching, the pronouncement of the Kingdom of God and they still didn’t get it.

So now I put all those thoughts into what resurrection means to me.  First, it is a promise of hope and joy now, AND a promise of life after death.  Nothing to fear. Once when visiting Cairo, I noticed everyone we passed walked with downcast eyes.  No one smiled.  It was as if they had no joy.  When I asked the guide why everyone seemed so sad, so solemn, she said their present lives hold no promise.  The afterlife as represented by the pyramids was what they were waiting for. So depressing.   We have the promise of God with us, which takes me to my second point.

The resurrection means comfort to me.  Jesus is always with me, even when I forget to acknowledge his presence.  He never leaves me, His assurance as Constant Friend is proof again of God’s love for us.  Jesus did not die and just leave us with memories.  He is present.

And lastly, the resurrection symbolizes second chances to me.  His friends and followers had a second chance to be with him and hear again what they had not truly heard before.  A second chance to understand.  That second chance gave them the opportunity to tell the “rest of the story”.

Jesus’ life on earth was perfect and amazing.  It is no wonder that people tried to get close to feel his presence, to touch his clothes.  They wanted that chance to know him, a chance that would change their lives.  His resurrection gives me that same chance to get close to him.  

So many times, I have messed up, fallen short, letting those I love down in so many ways.  But I know I have been forgiven and given a second chance.  I will continue to need second chances and the resurrection, through the promise of hope and the comfort of my Friend, gives me those second chances because of the overwhelming love of God.

Hallelujah—Christ is Risen!

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The Messy Middle

What Resurrection Means to Me: The Messy Middle

Written by: Lindsay L. O’Connor

Resurrection is messy. In my evangelical Christian upbringing, I learned that Easter is a time to celebrate, but I never heard anyone talk about the complexity of learning to hope again after death. This never occurred to me until I experienced death and resurrection within my own body.

A liminal space exists in which the lines between life and death are blurry, scary, and confusing. When Jesus appeared to the disciples, their initial reaction to his resurrected body was terror. Was he dead or alive or caught in some strange in-between place? If he was alive, was that supposed to suddenly erase the trauma they had endured when they witnessed his torture and death just days earlier? How do you celebrate life while your body carries the fresh scars of the death that preceded resurrection?

Early in my first pregnancy, I remember the intense anxiety of waiting for a week between appointments to find out if I had miscarried. I stood in the hospital parking lot with my husband when we got the call notifying us that the pregnancy was ending. As I grieved the loss of a life that had barely begun, we discovered days later that our baby was in fact alive and well. Now she is my 10 year old reminder that sometimes, miracles happen.

The evidence of life after supposed death—my daughter’s tiny flutter of a heartbeat—remains one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard. We were shocked and relieved. Still, after receiving the good news, my husband put it succinctly when he said we were “cautiously ecstatic.” That experience was a fresh reminder of the vulnerability of our joy. We had seen how fragile life can be.

The scar my body bears from the birth of my daughter was reopened twice. My second pregnancy ended in a miscarriage with complications that required the doctor to reopen the scar. What had been a reminder of miraculous life became associated with loss. In the first pregnancy, we learned to hope after grief. After the miscarriage, I saw a therapist who walked me through learning how to grieve after hope. I’m still not sure which was more difficult.

The scar was opened a third time when my second daughter was born—life, again, and almost unbearable joy that was entangled with my grief. As we delighted in our second daughter, I remembered in my second pregnancy when I had allowed myself to dance and sing with abandon to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” song, only to find out there would be no baby. I don’t regret my joy then, brief as it was, and I don’t regret the joy I allowed myself to receive when our rainbow baby was born after a blissfully uneventful pregnancy. 

My body carries the literal scars of my deepest joy and pain, all at the same site. Everywhere I go, I bring along this embodied reminder of life, death, and resurrection. Resurrection is glorious, but first, in my experience, it is scary, disorienting, and entangled with grief.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after He had arisen from death, His response to their terror was to draw them in closer to Himself. “Touch Me and see,” He said (Luke 24:39). In answer to the disciples “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering,” Jesus ate in their presence, offering further physical evidence of His resurrection. Then, He opened their minds to understand the scriptures He had fulfilled. Jesus offered a wholistic response to the disciples amidst their fear and confusion, connecting with them and meeting their needs in body, mind, and heart.

Throughout our lives, we move in and out of liminal spaces. Some are filled with joyous anticipation, others are marked by great suffering, and most are entangled with grief of some sort. Pregnancy, engagement, job loss, a cancer diagnosis, shifting beliefs, and significant life changes propel us into the discomfort of leaving behind one place while not yet being firmly planted in another. Every day, we stand in the liminal space between who we were and who we will be.

Jesus moves toward us in the uncomfortable thresholds between life, death, and resurrection. He stands with us in the liminal space and invites us to touch Him and see. May God give us eyes to see, minds to understand, and hearts to receive the mysterious gift of God with us in the in-between as we experience the discomfort and the glory of resurrection.

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Lent Reflections & Resources

Lent Reflections & Resources

The Lenten Season is a time of preparation for Easter on the Christian calendar. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and goes for six and a half weeks ending on Holy Week and Easter Sunday. For Christians around the world this time is typically marked by some sort of fasting. We celebrate “Fat Tuesday” or “Shrove Tuesday” as a day of feasting before we repent on Ash Wednesday and begin Lent.

In more modern times people have begun using Lent to fast something other than food or to add some sort of intentional spiritual practice to make their Lent more meaningful and to seek spiritual growth. Maybe you are an old pro at fasting or maybe this is new to you and you would like to try something this season. This blog can be used as a resource for you and hopefully may help you engage with something worthwhile this season.

Reflections from Rev. Scott Gilliland (Senior Minister)

One aspect of Lent I have grown to appreciate is how fasting not only invites us to "give up" something, but really to "make space" for something that could be holier, healthier, or more life-giving. I love that fasting roots me in the core concept that personal sacrifice is always in service of something greater, not simply for the sacrifice's sake.

This year, I want to fast from my phone more, especially while at home with my family or winding down in bed at night. Rather than addressing emails that can wait til morning or playing games that are designed as time-wasters, I'd like to make space for more present connection with my spouse and kids, and also healthier activities like reading a book, listening to a podcast, prayer and devotion, or riding the stationary bike that has grown *very* stationary. A simple but significant shift that could prove much holier, healthier, and life-giving for me and my family as a whole.

Reflections from Rev. Cathy Sweeney (Associate Minister)

While some are 'giving up' thin mints for Lent, I'm a little different. And I like thin mints way too much to promise to give them up, especially when they just became available in February.

My traditional Lenten practice is to read a devotional book daily, and journaling about the theme. That practice is meaningful and thoughtful, and helps me to stay in a contemplative spirit throughout the day (I read and journal in the morning). There are two seasons in the Christian calendar when these dedicated devotional times are effective: Advent and Lent. This year, I'll be using John Pavlovitz' "Rise: An Authentic Lenten Devotional."

Two others that I find intriguing and will probably use sometime in the future: Gayle Boss' "Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing." Some of you might recall that we read Boss' "All Creation Waits" for Advent in 2020. This is the Lenten companion book that focuses on animals that are nearing extinction.

And finally, "Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter," is an anthology of classic and contemporary theologians, authors, and contributors, each who brings a thoughtful lesson for us to reflect upon each day. Lots of journalling potential from these readings!

Reflections from Aaron Manes (Dir. Of Online Ministries & Spiritual Engagement)
I have always done different things for lent. I like an experiment just to see if I can do it. One year we fasted wheat (we ate a lot of chicken wings and salad that year). Another year I went really nerdy and did a project on the ancient Hebrew calendar and how it affected the way the gospels were written. This year I am doing something more simple and maybe that would work for you too.

I am not good at journaling but want to be better. I bought a guided meditation book and am planning to journal based on my centering prayer practice. If you need an introduction into centering prayer, I would recommend "Into The Silent Land" by Martin Laird or if you would like a daily meditation prompt I like a book called "Reflections For Ragamuffins" by Brennan Manning.

Whatever you decide as your Lenten practice - even if that is giving up thin mints - we pray the season is meaningful and reflective in a way that leads to spiritual growth.

Deeper Relationships & The Enneagram

Deeper Relationships & The Enneagram

Written By Ellen Parker Allen

“You can never change how you see the world.  All you can do is change what you do with how you see.” 

Suzanne Stabile

For most of my life, I believed that my way of seeing the world was accurate and true, that people who disagreed with me were just wrong, or at least unenlightened.  What a shock it was to learn, as I was introduced to the Enneagram, that other people genuinely saw things very differently, and that their views had merit!  They weren’t just being obtuse.  My lens was not the only reasonable way to see.  

The greatest gifts the Enneagram has offered to my relationships are awareness (particularly self-awareness) and compassion.   

Awareness is gold.  The Enneagram teaches us to observe ourselves, to watch ourselves in action, to “catch ourselves in the act”.  As we begin to see our own patterned, habitual, knee-jerk reactions, we can begin to make different choices.  In the words of Enneagram pioneers, Don Riso and Russ Hudson, “Once we understand the nature of our personality’s mechanisms, we begin to have a choice about identifying with them or not.  If we are not aware of them, clearly no choice is possible.”  Self-awareness gives me new freedom to choose my responses.  

As I watched myself respond to my husband in my conditioned pattern (often abruptly and aggressively, I’m sorry to say), a light switched on, and I realized I had a choice.  I didn’t have to respond in that same old way.  It was up to me!  This seems so intuitively obvious, in retrospect, but I had never realized I had such choices!  (I would have explained to you that, “It’s just the way I am.”  ‘Turns out I actually have choices about my reactions!)

In addition to self-awareness, the Enneagram has given me a richer awareness of others.  I can more easily understand how they see the world.  I have found new patience with my husband who has a real need to handle issues in the present moment.  He is driven by whatever is right before him.  I have often found myself annoyed by his need for me to drop what I’m doing and attend to the issue that is currently pressing for him.  The Enneagram has helped me to understand and accept his way of being.  He’s not trying to be demanding or controlling.  The current issue feels more urgent to him than it does to me.  Neither of us is wrong; we merely see the world differently.  We can more readily compromise without judging or accusing each other, now.

And my sister has always been focused on seeing and meeting the needs of everyone in her sphere.  She has always felt a need to include people I might have excluded from our gatherings.  In the past I have seen her as “creating work” and unnecessarily taking on the concerns of absolutely everyone.  I think she saw me as selfish.  When I might have chosen to invite a small intimate group to a gathering, she felt the need to cast a wider net, so as not to exclude anyone or hurt anyone’s feelings.  The truth is that both our views are valid, and it’s surprising how much easier it is for us to compromise, now that we both understand the Enneagram and are aware of each other’s viewpoints.  

Compassion springs organically from awareness.  In all honesty, I’ve never seen myself as a particularly compassionate person.  I was aware that I tended to be impatient and even a little judgmental.  But compassion has genuinely invaded my relationships since I began my Enneagram journey.  And I don’t have to force myself to be compassionate.  It’s just a natural outgrowth of the process.  What a blessing to be with family and with friends and know that their ways of seeing and being are beautiful and have merit.  The unique sparks they bring to the world are valuable.  

My relationships are deeper and more honest when I bring awareness and compassion to them.  That’s an enormous blessing that came to me through learning the Enneagram.

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