Have you ever ridden on a ferry? One summer I rode on two. One was the ferry that provided transport for you and your car to Washington Island, WI where I attended a preaching conference. The other was a pedestrian ferry that took you to Mackinac Island, MI. There are no automobiles...
Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. -Mark 1:35Jesus is consistently portrayed in the gospels as having a balance ofengagement with God’s mission and time set apart to communionwith God. This balance...
June is upon us. June...the thermometer threatens the three-digit level. June...summer schedules for families begin with a bit more flexibility….annual conference for people called United Methodists. Annual conference is a gathering of delegates from each church in the Rio Texas...
I’m reflecting back 12 years ago. Makayla Grace Johnson was born at 2 a.m. on April 17 twelve years ago. Makayla is granddaughter number one, grandchild number two. She looked much like her mother, Stefani, when she was she was a baby. Emotions washed over me as I held six...
Inside/Out Weekend is coming up on April 6-7. This is a wonderful way to be the church out in the world. God’s nature is often described as love. Another word that could be used to describe God’s nature is sent. God is one who sent Jesus Christ into the world. Jesus sent his...
Easter is late in this calendar year – April 21. Here in the RGV we’ll be knocking on the door of summer! This also means that the season of Lent does not begin until almost a full week into March. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and it falls on March 6. An Ash Wednesday...
Our sanctuary checklist is being whittled down. Our partitions to close off the two overflow sections at the rear of the sanctuary have finally been installed. In addition, communion rail kneeling cushions are in place and handrails have been added to the side steps leading onto the chancel...
Prayer is a growing focus in the life and ministries of First United Methodist Church in McAllen. Our 10:45 am service has incorporated prayer stations into worship, our sanctuary has been equipped with cushions for our prayer kneelers, and our ongoing ministries of prayer continue. Recently...
If there is one lesson I’ve learned from a major building project thatlesson is patience. That lesson gets reinforced the closer we are to100% completion of the sanctuary with a few last things to be doneand issues resolved. The biggest project that awaits completion isthe installation of...
The saying time flies when you are having fun is certainly an accuratedescription of life and ministry as part of the McFirst family. Iam beginning the 10th year of my ministry as one of your pastors,yet it seems I just finished unpacking the last box a few weeks ago.Come to think of it, I did...