| While teaching many years ago, a former student gave me a cross with a portion of the Mother Teresa daily prayer, “Help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through me and so be in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence. Let them look up and see no longer me but only You.” I love having that cross hang by my bedside to see every night before I go to sleep and waking each morning to start my day. This past Friday, the church was blessed to have several groups on our campus for the FISD Service Day. One group of teachers helped with shower ministry, a group of students helped Katelyn with her youth ministry, and still another group of students helped me organize children’s ministry supplies. While it was a gift to have accomplished so much in a short amount of time, these volunteers reminded me of how our church body has worked like this so beautifully over the years. Each week a faithful gathering of women meets on Monday to fold clothes for shower ministry. Then, on Tuesday, a small group heads into Houston to serve the homeless through that shower ministry. Every three months our cohort of caretakers help with Family Promise. Our grounds committee works tirelessly to keep the church looking and functioning in pristine shape. Friends Women gather monthly to not only organize functions and kitchen closets but to fervently pray over church matters. We havethe Elders, who use their spiritual gifts as they pray over the church separately each week and then all together monthly. We have the Stewards, who use their giftedness to care for our financial concerns, and we have our church Coordinators who also meet monthly to represent and lead the various ministries of the church. Additionally, there are a host of volunteers who help with music, missions events, VBS, and the teachers and leaders who help with the children’s and youth ministry. As one steps back and looks at the church as a whole, it is not one person we can thank but rather a community of believers joining together to bring about God’s kingdom using the gifts He has graciously given each of us. It is a breathtaking portrait painted by our church family simply by being obedient to serve rather than be served. Let us continue to use whatever gift we have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace. These gifts are not given to us for our own benefit, but to serve the greater body of Christ and to bring glory to God. Then, when using our gifts in this way, we not only build up the church but also reflect the character of Christ allowing others to “look up and see no longer me but only YOU (Christ)!” Thank you, thank you for all you do church family! I am eternally grateful! Tena |
| CQH Registration is Open! |
| HS | June 5-11 JH | June 10-15 |
| Registration for camp is now open!! Use the registration link below to sign up for both JH and HS camps. |
| Camp Registration! |
| Missions Night |
| Stop by the Coffee Cafe after the service to grab a flower for the amount you would like to donate to Missions. |
| Friends Summer Outings |
| This summer we plan to have a combination of service and fun outings each Tuesday for our children and students. The calendars are still being finalized, but plan to join us for Friends Summer Outings each Tuesday this summer! |
| Jack and Celesta Rea Reception |
| There will be a reception in celebration of Jack and Celesta Rea’s commitment to work in missions on May 5th after the service. We hope you will join us. |
| Financial Update |
| The church had a good first quarter financially. As of March 31st our year-to-date cash flow was in the black by over $50,000. Thank you for your faithful giving to the ministries of the church! If you ever have questions about church finance or would like more detailed information, contact Joyce Byrne at the church office. March Income: $83,951.38 March Expense: $79,046.67 Year-to-date Income: $292,349.54 Year-to-date Expense: $240,266.44 |
| The Alliance Medication Take Back Day |
| One of our community partners, the Bay Area Alliance, is hosting a Medication Take Back Day on April 27. For more information, please call Bay Area Alliance at 281-284-0370 or visit www.thealliancebayarea.org. |
| Handbell Rehearsals |
| Bell Friends will not have rehearsals until further notice. Contact the church office for details or updates. |
| Sunday Evening Activities |
| April 28 Kidzone and Bible Study 5:00 pm | Fuse 6:00 pm | Core 7:30 pm May 5 Kidzone and Bible Study 5:00 pm | Fuse 6:00 pm | Core 7:30 pm (Last Week of Sunday Evening Activities for the Semester) |
| “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 |
