Change of pace Page 2

Upcoming events

Page 2

Graduating seniors Page 3

Welcome new

members! Page 4

IN THIS

ISSUE

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | GARLAND, TEXAS | 801 W. AVE B | (972) 272-3471

June 2015

firstmethodistgarland.org

Mark Buford Director of Communications mbuford@fumcgarland.org

C onsidering the challenging environ-ment in which he grew up, Henry Martinez’ arrival at First Methodist

Garland is nothing short of a mira-cle.

Abandoned by his mother at two-and-a-half years of age.

Reared in a rough Houston neigh-borhood.

A high school dropout caught up in gangs and selling drugs.

In his words, an “unheard voice.” Seeking assistance. Seeking direction. Not knowing where to turn.

Heck, it’s a miracle he’s alive!

And yet here he is.

Recipient of a Summer Intern in Ministry (SIM) Fellowship from the North Texas Annual Conference of the United Method-ist Church, Henry is immersing himself in the ministries of First Methodist Garland for two months this summer.

A SIM Fellowship offers an opportunity to “try on ministry.”

AN UNHEARD VOICE MARTINEZ’ PASSION REACHES BEYOND CHURCH WALLS

But ask Henry and he’ll tell you this is more than a trial for him.

“I have a passion for ministry,” he said. “I want to be ordained as an elder in the Unit-ed Methodist Church. To help others know Jesus the way I know Him.”

Hard to imagine given the harsh ex-perience of his 23 years.

Yet this once ‘occasional Catholic’ now considers his faith “stronger than ever.”

His life took a turn for the better when Henry went back to earn his diploma at Cesar E. Chavez High.

He subsequently received a Pell Grant, which he used to attend technical school and earn a certification in aircraft maintenance.

For the past six years Henry has worked as an aircraft mechanic, most recently as a test tech on turbine engines for Dallas Air-motive at Love Field.

It was during this time he met his girlfriend Blanca Charles, who invited him to visit Oak Cliff United Methodist Church.

Henry quickly became involved as a vol-

continued on page 4

Henry Martinez

With our children out of school, we are offering all kinds of fun, creative activities (K.A.M.P!, VBS, Strings Camp), as well as opportunities for being in mission with other communi-ties (Sneedville, Tenn., Sager Brown, Sacramento, N.M.).

And let’s not forget having some plain fun (Mary Poppins).

We’re having fun in worship as well.

We will be hearing from some of our other preaching voices, which I think enriches the life of a worship-ping community.

Hearing other preach-ing voices wakes us up a bit, and gives us even more to ponder as God’s word comes to us in new or different

voices.

Our Sunday evening pathWays ser-vice offers a casual worship vibe - perfect for long summer evenings.

The variety of music and changing devotional leaders offer a welcome antidote to the same ol,’ same ol.’

We will enjoy musical soloists and visiting choirs, who will bring musi-cally creative ways of hearing the Word.

And our own Eldred Marshall will bless us with a piano recital right smack in the middle of the summer, offering us the opportunity to let our hearts and souls be carried away on the wings of beautiful music.

Yes, we’re changing the pace a bit here this summer.

Let God’s Spirit carry you away and refresh your own spirit!

May you be filled with the joy of a God-given change of pace this sum-mer!

UPCOMING EVENTS

“GOD’S HEART” Sun June 21 8:30 & 10:50am|Sanctuary

Senior Pastor Valarie Englert continues “Scriptures to Live By” sermon series with her message “God’s Heart,” based on Hosea 11:1-11.

PURE SOUND YOUTH CHOIR Sun June 21 8:30 & 10:50am|Sanctuary

Youth from Bethany United Methodist Church Austin open 2015 Summer Choir Tour to Nashville, leading morn-ing worship at First Methodist Garland.

PATHWAYS Sun June 21 7:00pm|Schreiber Hall

Weekly casual worship opportunity with music, prayer, devotionals.

WATER & THE WORD Wed June 24 6:30 - 8:30pm

Weekly swimming, fellowship and devo-tion for youth grades 7-12. This week host-ed by Sally and Ray McDonald @ 412 Rocky Glen Circle in Murphy.

YOUTH SUMMER MISSION TRIP June 27 - July 5|Sneedville, Tenn

Youth grades 7-12 assisting with home repairs, other tasks as part of United Meth-odist Church Global Board of Ministries Jubilee Project.

“TOO DEEP FOR WORDS” Sun June 28 8:30 & 10:50am|Sanctuary

Senior Pastor Valarie Englert continues “Scriptures to Live By” sermon series with her message “Too Deep for Words,” based on Romans 8:26-27.

PATHWAYS Sun June 28 7:00pm|Schreiber Hall

Weekly casual worship opportunity with music, prayer, devotionals.

“OUR STORY OF GENEROUS COMPASSION” Sun July 5 8:30 & 10:50am|Sanctuary

Associate Pastor Clay Womack concludes “Scriptures to Live By” sermon series with his message “Our Story of Generous Compassion,” based on Deuteronomy 26:1-12.

NEW LIFE NEW HOPE Tues July 7 7:00pm|103/105

Monthly breast cancer survivors group. For more info, e-mail l.dyer1226@gmail.com.

Page 2 | First News

Valarie Englert, Senior Pastor venglert@fumcgarland.org

W hen I was a kid, I spent at least two weeks every summer with my grand-

mother in the Pineywoods of deep east Texas.

It was a welcome change of pace from my usual routine of school, homework, piano lessons and regu-lar church activities.

Grandma would let me sleep late and, when I awoke, fix me a big break-fast with eggs, bacon, bis-cuits (made from scratch) and gravy (sometimes).

We would do chores around the house, and then I would help her fix a big lunch based on the vegetables in her large kitchen garden.

Often, this would include speckled butter beans or purple hull peas she had picked that morning (before I was up), cornbread made on top of the stove (a hot oven would have heated up her air conditioning-less house), sliced cucumbers and toma-toes, peach preserves and slices of garden-fresh melon.

In the heat of the afternoon, we would read, nap and peruse seed catalogues.

Supper would be leftovers from lunch (often cold), and at dusk we’d head out to the garden to pick pests off the cabbages and check on the general well-being of her yard - al-ways full of blooming flowers in summer.

Those summer weeks were a time of shifting gears, rest and fun.

We’re changing the pace here at First Methodist Garland this summer as well.

Change of pace Refreshing our spirit

Page 3 | First News

Krystal Braswell Garland High

Daughter of Marie and Bobby Braswell, Krystal plans to at-tend Texas A&M Commerce in the fall.

Her goals include earning her doc-torate, becoming a zoo veterinarian and breeding animals.

A member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta mathe-matics honor society, Krystal partic-ipated in First Methodist Garland’s youth group and Pure Joy! Youth Choir. She served as Pure Joy! pres-ident for the 2014-15 school year.

Kirstyn Blankenship Garland High

Daughter of Aubrey and Bobby Blanken-ship, Kirstyn was a member of the Color Guard and FFA at Gar-land High.

She served on the First Methodist Garland Youth Council and partici-pated in Sunday School and mission trips.

Erin Draganski Wylie East High

Daughter of Julie Long and Ed Draganski, Erin plans to attend Collin College for a year or two before transferring to a larger university.

She wants to major in Business Management or Dance with a goal to open her own dance studio.

A member of the Wylie East choir,

Interact and Skills USA, Erin served on the First Methodist Garland Youth Council, sang with the Pure Joy! Youth Choir, worked as a Vacation Bible School (VBS) volunteer.

She also helped serve breakfast to the homeless at Austin Street Shelter and participated in several mission trips and choir tours.

Emily Krayer Sachse High

Daughter of Kim and Karl Krayer, Emily plans to major in Cin-ematography at Ste-phen F. Austin State with a goal to become a producer, director and author.

At Sachse High, Emily participated in theater, was a member of the Writers’ Club and helped produce the weekly Mustang Report video newscast.

A member of the First Methodist Gar-land Youth Council since her fresh-man year, Emily served as co-vice president for the 2014-15 school year. She also worked as a VBS volunteer.

Collin Luna Naaman Forest High

Son of Rene and Scott Luna, Collin plans to attend Texas A&M.

He is pursuing a career in Sports Manage-ment, and plans to work in the business office of a major sports team.

A member of the National Honor So-ciety, Lumberjacks and theater at Naaman Forest, Collin has been an active participant in the First Method-ist Garland youth group and mission trips.

Congratulations and God’s blessings TO THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015!

Maria Perez Garland High

Daughter of Mary and Manuel Perez, Maria plans to attend a community college with a goal to own a beauty shop.

A member of the Garland High Color Guard, she served as both a VBS and Kids for Arts, Music & Praise volun-teer at First Methodist Garland.

She was also a member of the Pure Joy! Youth Choir, vice president of the youth group and a frequent partic-ipant in mission trips.

Chris Roberts Naaman Forest High

Son of Lynn and Jere-my Lambert, Chris plans to attend Rich-land College in the fall with goals to serve in the Marines and be-come a writer.

A member of the Naaman Forest choir, Chris has also been active in the Pure Joy! Youth Choir, the Chan-cel Choir and youth activities at First Methodist Garland.

Isabel Waite Home School

Daughter of Sarah and Wayne Waite, Isabel plans to attend the Dal-las Institute of Funeral Service, where she will study for a career in embalming.

An active member of the First Meth-odist Garland youth group, she also plans to become fluent in Japanese or Korean.

Page 4 | First News

First United Methodist Church 801 West Avenue B Garland, TX 75040

unteer leader with youth and young adults.

But his defining moment came when women from his church provid-ed donuts and cof-fee to day laborers, who expressed thanks for what would be their only meal of the day.

It was this small act of kindness and the profound grati-tude with which it was received that sparked Henry’s passion to “spread the love of Christ beyond the church walls.”

Seeing this passion, Oak Cliff Senior Pastor Edgar Bazán encouraged Henry to apply for a SIM Fellowship. The rest, as they say, is history.

“My goal, my passion, my plan,” said Henry, “is to create an organization I call ‘The Unheard Voice.’

“To provide a place to go for those who don’t know where to look for help or even who to ask.

“And to give those willing and able to help a place where they can turn those thoughts into action.”

“We are delighted to have Henry with us at First Methodist Garland this sum-mer,” said Valarie Englert, Senior Pas-tor.

“I hope he will be blessed by the knowledge and experience he gains from us.

“With his great passion for reaching beyond the church walls, I know he will be a blessing to us.”

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

James Olivarez with wife Jessica

Larry Johnson Fran & Mickey Starks

continued from page 1

An unheard voice

Henry Martinez & Blanca Charles