March 3rd Is Coming, Are You Ready?

“It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” Remember that phrase, today’s version would be, “It’s March 3rd . Do you know where your precinct polling location is?”

In the March 3rd primary, Dallas County voters will be required to vote at their designated precinct polling locations instead of countywide voting sites. This is a shift from previous elections where countywide voting sites were available. And the number of early voting locations will decrease from 450 to at least 250, making it more challenging for voters to access early voting.

Under state law, the parties have wide authority to decide how to run their primaries, but they
must agree on whether to use countywide voting. If the Republicans don’t want to offer it, Democrats can’t offer it either, and the Republican Party of Dallas County decided to go back in time and away from countywide voting on election day.

The change to precinct-specific voting may confuse voters who are accustomed to the flexibility of countywide sites. There is concern that some voters may go to the wrong location and be unable to vote. Democratic leaders have expressed worries that these changes could disenfranchise voters and complicate the voting process. The Dallas County elections administrator has acknowledged the difficulties in educating voters about these new procedures, emphasizing the need for clear communication, yet all of the polling locations for the March 3rd primary in Dallas County have yet to be finalized. All registered voters will receive their precinct information via their voter registration cards via
mail.

Now that you have found your voting location, are you ready to wade through the ballot? There are more than 18 statewide elected officials up for election in the March 3 primary in Texas. This includes positions for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of General Land Office, Commissioner of Agriculture, Railroad Commissioner, Texas Supreme Court Justices (4 positions), and the Court of Criminal Appeals Judges (3 positions). Add to this list your State Board of Education representative (8 positions are on the ballot out of 15 total, do you know what district you live in?), U.S. House Representative, Texas Senate representative (16 of the 31 are up for election, do you know what district you live in?), and your Texas House representative (all 150 positions are on the ballot, do you know what district you live in?) There is a lot at stake on March 3 rd so stay informed, do your research and be aware of these
dates:

Early Voting begins on February 17 and ends on February 27, 2026, and Countywide voting
centers will be an option for citizens in Dallas County.

Election Day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3, 2026, and you may only cast your vote at your precinct polling location.

Like many of you, I have watched the recent news in Minneapolis and all over the world, leading me to feel despondent, cynical, and helpless.

But I also know that giving into those feelings is how the powers of evil win, so I wanted to do something, even if it feels small and insignificant.

But here is a thing I also know: when we work together to do small and insignificant things, our power and help snowballs into something bigger.

The more I see our government let us down, the more I see the importance of mutual aid – simply helping those who are affected by ICE directly, caring for our neighbors.

If you want to help people in Minneapolis
Give directly to those who have been affected by ICE to help pay for rent, utilities and food. There are two different neighborhoods in Minneapolis that have been particularly affected: Powderhorn and Columbia Heights

If you want to help people in Dallas
ICE is not just in Minneapolis. It’s in Dallas too, just not in as large numbers. But our neighbors are still being ripped from their families and taken away. Valerie Palmer has been learning and training with an organization in Dallas called Vecinos Unidos that has many different ways we can support our immigrant neighbors including donating our time or our money.

Our very own Owenwood is also helping out in the ways they can through food and diaper distribution and more. Donating or volunteering with them would also be a direct way to help our immigrant neighbors.

If you want to help stop ICE
This one may not seem like much, but if everyone in our church calls their representative on the same day -- that can have an impact. If you can, I’d like you to make 3 calls on Monday, Feb. 2nd. If you can do it everyday -- even better.

• Senator Ted Cruz
• Senator John Cornyn
• Your House Representative

There is a great website called 5Calls, that after you sign-up, will give you the contact info and even a script to say about a particular issue.

I don’t know if you are like me, but I hate talking on the phone to people I don’t know. Often it is an answering service, but sometimes you will get a staffer. Just be polite and quickly state what you are asking for. They will add your call to a database they keep for marking how many constituents are for or against something that the senator needs to vote on. It is also important to still call representatives you agree with to let them know they are on the right track. Be sure to include your name, address and your zip code.

Pray
This also may not seem like much, but I do believe prayer can sustain us for the long fight ahead.

If you have any questions or want to get more involved with JAG, please email us at jag@wrumc.org 

Thanks for reading,
Megan Howard, a co-leader of JAG

JAG is presenting an Immigration class from 9:30-10:30 on Sunday, November 16 in the Mix. We hope you will be able to attend. We will watch a video interview by George Mason and a DACA student.  WRUMC member Shery Goodwin, a public defender for immigration, will also speak.
 
What does the Bible Say about Immigration?
Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:35b, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Corinthians 12:24b-26a
 
What does the United Methodist Church say?
Regardless of legal status or nationality, we are all connected through Christ to one another. Paul reminds us that when “one part suffers, all the parts suffer” as well.
(1 Cor. 12:26). The solidarity we share through Christ eliminates the boundaries and barriers which exclude and isolate. Therefore, the sojourners we are called to love are our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons, and daughters; indeed, they are us.
(Book of Resolution #4271, Welcoming the Migrant to the US)
 
We express our utmost concern for the passage of anti-immigrant laws, which adversely affect the wellbeing of citizens and residents of this country as they engage in providing humanitarian aid to undocumented persons in several states.
(Book of Resolutions #4272, Faithfulness in Response to Critical Needs)
 
What do you say?
Take action for Justice:
*Join a rapid response team in your area to support and learn more about opportunities for engagement, partnership, and solidarity
**Contact your legislator utilizing any of our Action Alerts to support legislation that protects immigrants and honors their dignity.
**Support the Immigration Law and Justice Network through donation and volunteering
Source: “Faith & Facts Cards” by Church & Society” of the United Methodist Church.
For more information contact: advocacy@umcjustice.org
 
Reflective Questions:
1.  How can we shift the public narrative about immigration to reflect a theology of mutual    blessing rather than fear or exclusion?
2. What legislative changes should we advocate for to align our policies with the biblical        principles of Leviticus 19?
3. What fears or myths about immigration do we need to unleash in order to live into Matthew 25:31-46?
Source: Church & Society Bible Study Book- “Called to Journey, Called to Welcome: A Biblical Perspective on Immigration”

Division, Dangerous Rhetoric, Hate and Violence

“A house divided against itself cannot stand…”
 
After Abraham Lincoln accepted the Illinois Republican Party’s nomination as the U.S. senator in 1858, he spoke these famous words. He saw the signs of the country’s division, rhetorical speech, and a possible Civil War approaching. This was not the first time these words had been spoken; Lincoln was quoting the words of Elbridge Gerry.

Elbridge Gerry was one of the Founding Fathers, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate at the Constitutional Convention, Governor of Massachusetts, and Vice President for James Madison. Gerry strongly opposed the formation of political parties as he believed they would lead to politicians’ loyalty to their parties over the Constitution and the country’s needs and unity, but in 1812 he fell to the temptation of partisanship. As Governor, he and his party created the first twisted state district map for Massachusetts, which people thought looked like the shape of a salamander. His name became forever associated with the term ‘Gerrymandering’ which has come to be known as a symbol of political division. As Texans residents in 2025 are quite aware, the practice remains throughout American states today. NOTE: There is a picture of the gerrymandered Massachusetts map of 1812 at the end of this blog.

America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence on July 4, 2026. Unfortunately, political division has grown in our country over the last few decades and currently seems to be accelerating. Divisions within families, friends, or countries can lead to hateful rhetorical speech, which often leads to various forms of violence. We already can see the cracks in our political systems and society today, and physical violence is increasing.      Resource: Substack- The Great Transformation with Mike Madred:
                                           Sept. 12, 2025, article: “House Divided.”

Now is the time for Christian Americans to stand up in unity against division, hateful speech, violence, corruption, greed, and excessive power in our country.
 
How can we stand in unity against the current harmful words, actions, and governmental systems?

One way to stand together is through WRUMC and the JAG committee which began meeting this summer. As stated in the UMC Social Principles, United Methodists are strong believers in environmental, social, economic, and political justice. JAG will present these justice themes within the areas of Education, Advocacy, and Outreach. We are now in the process of narrowing the list of multiple justice choices and hope to focus on a few specific themes. The entire White Rock Church family will be able to participate through the JAG educational and discussion classes, provide advocacy resources, and promote specific outreach opportunities. We will also show discuss UMC websites for you to learn about the UMC Social Principles and the Book of Resolutions.                

JAG also requests that you engage in conversations on various justice and other discussion themes. Today’s discussion questions are:
1. What is your perspective on today’s four topics of division, dangerous rhetoric, hate and             violence?
2. What are the underlying root causes for these four topics?
3. There are no easy solutions, but can your group brainstorm steps leading to solutions for any of these topics?
4. What is your interpretation of Luke 12:51-52? Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I have come instead to bring division. How and why would Jesus come to divide?
 
Please allow all participants to voice their opinions and be respectful of differing perspectives. JAG would love to hear about the results of your conversation. You can email us at  jag@wrumc.org with questions, concerns, and comments.
 
NOTE: Our first JAG classes will be on the topic of Tyranny and Authoritarianism and will be on Sunday, October 19 and 26 from 9:30-1030. Please read the small, short book, ‘On Tyranny’ by Timothy Snyder (hard copy or e book) before you attend the class. We will present video resources on both topics and have time for discussions. The subject is political but not partisan and all perspectives are welcome.
             
Blessings,
               JAG

1812 Massachusetts Gerrymandered State District Map

Humanitarian Crises: 
Wars, Genocides, Natural or Forced Starvation, & Displacements
 
Historically, armed conflicts date back to at least 2700 CE with Sumer and Elam in Mesopotamia, though experts suggest even earlier confrontations occurred over resources among prehistoric communities in today’s Middle East.

Contemporary humanitarian crises are complex and widespread, impacting populations globally through conflict, deprivation, and forced migration. In regions like Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali, people face violence, hunger, and insecurity. The Israeli Palestinian crisis is notable for its severe human impact and geopolitical significance.
Using the World Population Review” statistics from 2024, there were 16 wars, conflicts, and terrorist insurgencies taking place around the world. According to the Genocide Watch website, there were 11 “Genocide Emergencies and Warnings.”   The IFPRI website’s 2025 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) reports that in 2024, 53 countries/territories were facing elevated levels of acute food insecurity. The top five heading towards the Catastrophe Phase 5 level are: Palestine (Gaza Strip), Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.

According to multiple sources reporting on the Israeli Palestinian humanitarian crisis, over 60,000 people, including women and children, have been killed in Gaza, and more than 150,000 injured. Thousands have continued to die from lack of health care, doctors, aid workers, and journalists continue to lose their lives in ongoing incidents, and the UN reports that 1.9 million people remain displaced.

Question: At his moment, why is the Israeli Palestinian crisis the one we are highlighting?
Answer:  Because the U.S. supplies the weapons for the current aggressor.
 
What does UMC say about the Israel and Palestine Crisis
“The Israeli Palestinian conflict has a long history of pain and terror perpetrated by many different actors. Since 1967, the Israeli government has been the occupying power of the Palestinian territories. Under Israel’s continued military occupation, Palestinians have undergone gross injustices and human rights violations including the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements, restrictions of water rights, home demolitions, displacement of Palestinian civilians, transfer of Israeli settlers, and use of excessive force. While there are legitimate concerns for Israel’s security, measures to promote security and peace cannot be built on the occupation of the Palestinian people.”

The United Methodist Church calls for an end to the Israeli occupation; we affirm our commitment to nonviolent responses and the inclusion of all voices harmed by the conflict – including Muslim, Christian and Jewish - in seeking a just and durable peace.”

Resources United Methodist Book of Resolutions,
6111 Opposition to Israeli Settlements on Palestinian Land

• Alex Awad on the Biblical Call to Action to build peace.
• Hagai El-Ad’s Address to the UN Security Council on October 14, 2016

Social Principles of The United Methodist Church 2025-2028
Church & Society – www.umcjustice.org    www.resourceumc.org  (topics)
              Food Justice: Par. 160 Stewardship of Creation, C (Page 25)
              Government: Par 163 Government Responsibilities (Page21)
                             Church and Governments (Page46)
              Government: Par 163 Basic Rights and Freedoms (Pages 50-51)
              War: Par.163 Government Responsibilities, F (Page 46,49-50)

Related 2020/2024 Resolutions
2100 “The UMC Church, Food, Justice, and World Hunger
4108 “Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land”
4109 “United Nations Resolutions on the Israel-Palestine Conflict”
4163 “Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, War Crimes”

“Questions to Ponder” and Share Conversations with Others.
                    (These are complicated questions to a complicated issue!)
1. Will there ever be an end to wars and will the world ever live in peace? Why or why not?
              If the answer is negative, what are the reasons that will continue wars vs. peace?
2. How do we learn to live with wars throughout the world? Accept them as inevitable?
              Try to do what we can do to try to prevent them? Other ideas?
3 What can we do as individuals, churches, societies, and countries to promote peace?
4. How can we help with the current wars, genocides, natural famines/human-caused        famines, and displacements of large groups of people which cause migrations?

Share your thoughts, concerns, or questions at jag@wrumc.org
 
Link to a Substack written by a Gaza Mother: “Mothers & Grandmothers Against Genocide”   OR look up Munira El Najar on Substack to go directly to her site.

PARADIGM SHIFTS
Paradigm shifts involve a complete transformation in the underlying assumptions, theories, and methodologies that guide a field of knowledge or work. They challenge existing frameworks and establish and establish new ways of thinking and approaching problems. They often lead to significant breakthroughs, advancements, and disruption within their field. (Chris Drew- Helpful Professor.com)

Examples: (Chris Drew- Helpful Professor.com)
Geocentrism to Heliocentrism          Industrial Revolution
Flat Earth to Spherical Earth             Digital Revolution
Quantum Mechanics                         Internet Revolution
Theory of Relativity                            Human Rights
Darwin’s Evolutionomen’s Suffrage

Did you know that different faiths have also gone through paradigm shifts? Phyllis Tickle describes this subject in her book, “The Great Emergence” (2008, 2012). In Chapter 1 entitled, “Rummage Sales: When the Church Cleans Out Its Attic”, she states that Christianity has experienced a change of thinking about every five hundred years.
First Century:   The Great Transformation:  Birth of Jesus and the beginning of Christianity

 6th Century: Pope Gregory the Great presided over the tumultuous last decade of the 6th Century at the beginning of the Dark Ages (476 – 10th Century). He laid the foundation for the Monastic movement which allowed Christianity to survive through this difficult era.

11th Century: Great Schism (1054) The Greek Patriarch in Constantinople and the Pope in Rome could not agree with theology about communion and the Holy Spirit. The result was the origin of Roman Catholicism and Greek or Eastern Orthodoxy. and Eastern Christianity.

16th Century: Great Reformation (October 31, 1517)
 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church which resulted in the split between Catholicism and Protestantism.

21st Century: Great Emergence: Tickle, who passed away in 2015, believed we are living in another time of a new paradigm shift, composed of the centuries of changes of the first four shifts, and the continued changes of the 20th Century. In Christianity, some of the changes she mentioned are: 1) The new belief of uncertainty and no absolute truth (no ‘Sola Scriptura’ from the 16th Century), 2) search for the historic Jesus, 3) Pentecostalism and Fundamentalism, and many secular issues, such as immigration and government change.


Thoughts to Ponder and Conversations to Have
with family, friends, and church classes/groups

-Discuss your personal changes in thinking and basic assumptions at different seasons in
 your life.
-What is your opinion about the subject of paradigm changes? (Note: Keep in mind that changes in faith beliefs accompany the scientific and personal shifts in thinking and assumptions.)
-What other shifts have occurred in the 20th century that have had an impact on where we are now? What about in the last 50 years? (1970-2025)
-Do you think knowing history helps to understand the present?
-What is the role of churches of all faiths during a paradigm shift?  What is the role of Christians and the Christian church?  Do our Methodist Social Principles change or evolve?
(www.umcjustice.org   or    www.resourceumc.org)

Conversation Rules: Be respectful. Show empathy and understanding concerning different perspectives. Give everyone who wants to talk a chance. Share your ideas with JAG.
Have Fun!

NOTE:  Another current issue is Christian Nationalism, as it is currently in our government. PRRI by Robert P. Jones will be having an on-line seminar on the subject on Tuesday, August 5 at 12:00-1:00 CT. It is “Understanding Charismatic Politics Today: Spiritual Authority and Political Power.” If interested, you must register to watch it live or to be able to watch it later.
FYI: The current administration will be mentioned.

In closing, we ask that you read scriptures on:  
Accepting Change:  Ecclesiastes 3; Isaish 43:19, Romans 12:2              
Separation between Government and God: John 18:36;  Mark 12:17/Matthew 22:21

Blessings,
JAG

If you want to join the JAG Committee, or have questions, concerns, or topic suggestions, please email us at jag@wrumc.org  

Older generations may remember the “Moral Majority” of the 1980s. Younger generations may remember the “Character Counts!” curriculums of the 1990s and even in later years. Currently, there are a variety of Character Education programs taught in schools. One internet source stated that the 7 Pillars of Character Education are: Kindness, Respect, Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. That sounds great! But…
Do we see these traits widely exhibited in our American culture? We can all name examples of the roots of the problem. More importantly, we need to have conversations to find solutions.
 
 
Thoughts to Ponder & Discuss with family, friends, and church classes/groups.  There is a list of character traits here.
 
-Discuss your opinions about character traits, values, and morals using the attached list.
Feel free to add adjectives and nouns to the list.
-What are your best traits? What do you think are the most important traits for our leaders
and for society? -What traits do you see lacking in the U.S.?
-What can we do to improve this issue as individuals, communities, and our country?
               
Conversation Rules: Be respectful. Show empathy and understanding concerning different perspectives. Give everyone who wants to talk a chance. Be non-partisan.
Share your ideas with JAG. Have Fun!
 
Galatians 5:22-23
Blessings!      
                JAG

Email jag@wrumc.org to be added to our email list, or if you have questions or comments for JAG.

We hope you find this video by James Talarico on the Separation of Church and State informative: Watch it HERE: 

As Pastor Kerry has told you, multiple UMC churches have a committee called the Church and Society group and WRUMC has created our own. We have named the WRUMC group the “Justice Advocacy Group” which we will refer to as JAG. The JAG Committee will meet once a month in the library after the church service. The meeting is open to anyone who is interested in helping.

A vast network of UMC leaders, including 52 writing teams and over 4,000 readers and reviewers, completed the UMC Revised Social Principles in 2020, adopted in 2024 and came into effect on January 1, 2025. The Social Principles consist of four Communities: Creation, Political, Economic, and Social. JAG has utilized the information from the Social Principles to develop the vision for WRUMC.

JAG hopes to have a blog twice a month in the WRUMC newsletter with updated information about our progress. We also want to provide sources for you to research the history of various monthly themes, to provide names of online advocacy groups, and to provide current local opportunities to help others during this fast-changing time for America and the world.

In closing, we ask that you read James 2:14-26.
(17: So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.)
(26: For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.)
WRUMC is certainly not a dead church!

Blessings,
JAG

This is Us - Summer Worship Series

What stories have helped mold you into the human being that you are? I think about standing next to my grandpa in a worship service as we both held the hymnal and sang a hymn praising God. I realized that my grandpa wasn’t singing and he turned to me and said he wanted to listen to me. When I sing songs to praise God today, I often think of my grandpa and the way that he encouraged me to use my voice.

I grew up in a large United Methodist church in Houston, Texas.  I sang in the youth choir every Sunday at the 8:30am worship service and participated in youth mission trips and youth summer camps. However, all of these activities were only with people from my home church. When I was in sixth grade, I participated in Confirmation class and to be honest, I don’t remember anything that I learned. For unknown reasons, I have a vivid memory of learning about the ten plagues, but that memory may have been from a Sunday School class. When I went to college, I was a Religion major but I don’t remember learning anything about the history of the United Methodist church until I was in seminary at Perkins School of Theology at SMU.  That’s doesn’t mean that I didn’t learn about United Methodism before, I just don’t remember it.  

In my United Methodist history class at Perkins I heard the stories of our United Methodist faith, and my faith came alive. I wanted to learn more!

As we talked in our staff meeting about a summer worship series, we wanted to share the stories that help make our United Methodist faith come alive. They are the stories that mold us as United Methodist Christians. I hope telling these stories of our faith will help us to grow more in love with God, more in love with one another, and more in love with our neighbors. Telling our story is so important because we share the transformative love and grace of God. I look forward to telling the story with you.

Blessed to be in ministry with you,

Rev. Kerry Smith

Greetings!

Psalm 133 begins with the joyous declaration, “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” You may look around you right now and not find much unity, but I believe that every time we gather for worship and join our hearts, our voices, and our breath together to offer our praise, thanksgiving, lament, questions, and concerns to God, we are practicing what it means to live together in unity. Worship is a holy and beautiful rehearsal for how we live as the people of God in the world, and it is my honor and humble privilege to be part of leading worship as the Interim Minister of Worship and the Arts at White Rock for the next few months.

My love for music, the arts, and worship began when I joined the Cherub Choir at St. Luke’s UMC in Lubbock, Texas at the age of 3.5. For the next 15 years, I grew up in the music ministry and Sunday school programs at St. Luke’s, benefiting from a superb choir conductor—Mr. Wert—and numerous Sunday School teachers who poured into me and the other children. Because of their presence and witness in my life, I discovered early on how music and the arts play an integral role in forming us as Christians by teaching, tending, nurturing, and equipping us in community with one another. So, when it came time to go to college, I knew I wanted to study church music as I followed my call into sacred music. While in undergraduate school, I discovered a love for the organ while falling in love with and marrying Justin, both of which influenced my decision to attend Perkins School of Theology as a Master of Sacred Music student. As I started my graduate work in sacred music, God was already laying the groundwork to expand my call into disability theology, which I did through a Master of Theological Studies and PhD in Religious Studies at SMU. Yet, through it all, I always came back to worship as central to my calling, even when I did not fully understand what that meant. After completing my PhD, I knew God had a place for me to fulfill, but it took over a year before I fully understood that that place is Discipleship Ministries, where I now serve as the Director of Worship Arts and the co-lead of a new initiative focusing on formation of nondisabled and disabled children through anti-ableist worship practices. It’s amazing how God’s grace leads us where we need to go!

We have a lot ahead of us in the coming months as a community. The journey through Advent, Christmas, and into 2025 (can you believe it?!) present us with opportunities to companion one another in song, prayer, meditation, and joyous witness to the work God is doing in, through, and among us. I’m especially looking forward to the children leading us through the Christmas story during their pageant on December 8, complete with drums, costumes, and shepherd-themed antics. And then, on December 15, the choir will lead us as we remember the promise God has made to us, the promise God fulfills among us through the Christ child, and the promise God calls us to live out in the world through hymns, anthems, prayer, and proclamation.

All this to say, I am so blessed to do the important work of worship alongside such a wonderful community!

Blessings and peace,
Lisa

A little history from White Rock UMC’s fiftieth anniversary celebration:
The White Rock Methodist Church was officially organized on the afternoon of September 17, 1939 with Dr. Harry S. DeVore presiding as District Superintendent. Rev. Leland C. Spurrier was appointed as pastor. At that organizational meeting 55 members were received. During the months that followed, a great deal of work was accomplished by pastor and people working together. By August 1940 they had built the stone building which came to be known as the Little Chapel Church, where the first service was held on August 18, 1940.

The first service held in our present sanctuary was on June 14, 1957. The church membership had grown to approximately thirteen hundred members. During the sixties our church school space was expanded, and a pipe organ was installed.

For years it had been the dream of many in the congregation to have a chapel and activities building. This dream was realized in October 1976 with the dedication of the Minga Family Center.


White Rock United Methodist Church Ministers:
Leland Spurrier 1939-1940
Richard Irvin 1940-1945
Ed O. Williams 1945-1950
Guy Perdue 1950-1951
Clark Calvert 1951-1956
Warren McSwain 1956
Thomas P. Weaver 1956-1960
T. Herbert Minga 1960-1974
Ben Feemster 1974-1979
Lee Bedford 1979-1983
Gary Regan 1983-1990
Michael Walker 1990-1994
Michael Jackson 1994-2002
George Fisk 2002-2014
Mitchell Boone 2014-2022
Kerry Smith 2022-present

Dare to Dream
by Rev. Kerry Smith

Our theme for 2024 at WRUMC has been "God is good!"  Rev. Tom Palmer suggested this amazing theme and it is such a wonderful reminder of the importance of looking to see God's goodness all around us as a church and as people of God.

God IS good seen in the 85 years of ministry of White Rock UMC that we are celebrating this August and September.

Every time we celebrate Communion together, I think about all of the saints in the faith who have celebrated Communion at White Rock. I think of people who have made an impact on our faith and helped to teach us about God and God's love.

I spent the month of July in renewal, taking deep breaths, sleeping, reading (I read 20 books! Highlights were American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee and All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker.), praying, going to Maine with my mom and sister to visit family, and going to Croatia on a renewal for women in ministry. It was a gift and I'm so thankful to our staff at White Rock UMC and to our Leadership Board. Over and over again, God showed up to remind me of God's goodness.  

I'm looking forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday as we talk about how God works through dreams. Dreams are important, they help give us vision, and they are opportunities for God to speak to us.

God calls us to continue to dream as we look to partner with God and see how we can make a difference in our community as we live local, serve local, and worship local. I am so excited to see how God is going to move in the next 85 years at WRUMC!  

Celebrate because God is good today and all days!  

A note from Jennifer Locke

A church doesn’t feel like a home without relationships.

When my family and I began attending White Rock in spring 2021–as we all were emerging, awkwardly, from the pandemic–we wanted relationships. Community. We had a hunch that White Rock might be a good place to find this community. We wanted to build something here; to get to know like-minded people who cared about following Jesus and would help us through the ups and downs of our lives.

But finding community at church is not always easy. In fact, it can take a great deal of effort. Sunday only comes once a week. Attending church–especially a new church–is a vulnerable act. Will anyone say hello? Will there be anyone to connect with on a level that goes beneath the surface? If you get a good thing going, how do you keep it going?

Creating and deepening community has been my family’s primary objective since we made WRUMC our church home. I’m interested in every avenue through which that can happen. Now, we have community on Sunday via our Sunday school class (the parlor class). We also have a small group with whom we’ve been meeting since 2023.

Our small group members all have small kids who are involved in about a million different things on any given night of the week. Maintaining our gatherings has been anything but convenient. Our small group is scrappy and imperfect–yet I and my family are committed to it because we see the value of walking through life with people who are also willing to sacrifice convenience for connection.

There’s no blueprint; we’re making this up as we go along. But somehow, that’s enough; if enough of us keep showing up over and over again, we get to experience the joy of being witnessed by others who want the best for us, who know our private hopes and concerns, who love our rowdy kids, who take our prayer requests before God when they leave our gatherings. Each of us holds space for the other. It is the church in miniature, the church close up–and that is how I like the church best.

Renewal
by Rev. Kerry Smith

I have been a pastor for 25 years. In that time, the longest time off I have taken was in 2017 when I took 3 weeks off in a row to go on a family trip to Europe. Last fall I recognized in myself that I was tired, really tired. I had never had that feeling before.  I talked to Rev. Tom Palmer to explore what it would look like if I took off all of July. Tom was incredibly supportive and encouraging. I talked to Gary McNeil, Chair of our Leadership Board, and he was also supportive and encouraging.

There are always more tasks to be done at a church.

A wise person at White Rock asked me if White Rock was any different than any other church where I have been the Senior Pastor. There are more building demands at White Rock, air conditioning and the elevator to name just two. There is the unique aspect of building relationships with Community Partners at White Rock and Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space is an additional (but joyful) responsibility as well. I’m so thankful for all of the leaders at White Rock and Owenwood. I’m thankful for everyone who works so hard to make a difference in this community for God.

I’m deeply thankful for the holy work God has called me to, and I want to renew that call. At first I had no plans for July, but then the Holy Spirit got busy. My mom invited my sister and I on a trip to Maine to see some of our relatives. I’ve never been to Maine! Then, a new person to White Rock, Sara, asked to get together for coffee. Turns out she works with a nonprofit that provides renewal for women in ministry (Go Holy Spirit!). Sara said if I could get myself to Croatia in July, all costs were covered by the nonprofit, Come Before Winter (https://www.comebeforewinter.org). So, I get home, put flights to Croatia in my computer and find out flights were $600 cheaper than normal (Go Holy Spirit!).  So, that is my plan for July.

Rev. Tom Palmer will be your pastoral leader for July. His email is tpalmer@wrumc.org

Please be in prayer for me, for the staff and congregation of White Rock UMC, and for our community that we may continue to grow and make a difference in this place.

I am so deeply grateful for each and every one of you. 

I am a worrier. I often repeat Jesus' words in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

There are times in our lives when life is hard. Our stress level is high, and the normal things that we do to help us to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually get pushed to the back burner.

We’re going to kick off our new series, “Stress… free or ful” this Sunday, talking about worrying and when life is hard. Then, we’ll spend the Sundays in June looking at spiritual practices that increase our well-being. The goal is to create a lifestyle that integrates spirituality and wellness.

Psychological research has shown the practices of meditation, awe, forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude provide practical ways to increase well-being. Yes, we can practice meditation, awe, forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude individually, but research shows they have more impact when practiced in a community. There is a Quaker saying that we each bring a light, but when we come together, that light shines brighter.

I look forward to shining brighter with you!

Blessed to be in ministry with you,

Rev. Kerry Smith

Awe in the every day
by Rev. Kerry Smith

Easter was glorious at White Rock UMC!  I have never seen people sitting in the balcony at White Rock UMC, but they were on Easter! The Easter Fest on Sunday morning was wonderful and I’m so thankful for the leadership of our Minister of Children, Youth, and Families, Sammy Waters, and her team. I loved seeing people trying to fly kites and kids filling their Easter baskets. I want to celebrate that we had more people here on Easter than the last year. We had more people here on Maundy Thursday this year than the last year. We had more people here on Good Friday this year than last year. White Rock is on the move and I’m so thankful for the growth in this place. God is good!

The joy of Easter continues because we are Easter people. We are Easter people because our identity is shaped by the idea that goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, light is stronger than darkness, life is stronger than death. We believe that God is constantly making all things new. We find meaning not in what we own or what we earn, but in how we reach out to one another in love and in service. It is hope transformed into action.

Sunday we been a new worship series called Awe in the every day. I want to challenge us during the great fifty days of Easter to open our eyes to see how God is at work in our world. How can we find awe every single day? How can we be reminded that God is at work and partner with God in sharing love and light with everyone that we encounter?  I’m so thankful for you and honored to be in ministry with you.  

God’s Blessings, Kerry

Let It Go
by Rev. Kerry Smith

 In her poem "In Blackwater Woods," Mary Oliver writes, "To live in this world, you must be able to do three things:
        to love what is mortal;
                 to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;
                and when the time comes to let it go, let it go."

Lent is a 40 day journey that takes us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As we begin this journey together, I think of the words of the prophet Joel who says, “Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

Lent is all about self-examination, so I encourage you to contemplate the following questions and try to answer them honestly and from a spirit of humility.

•Is my relationship with Jesus the central focus of my life?
•Am I willfully disobeying any known law of God?
•Do I need to seek forgiveness for anyone that I may have wronged?
•Do I desire and depend too much on popularity or possessions?
•Are my thoughts and actions pure?
•Am I lazy or neglectful in any areas of responsibility?
•Am I practicing peacemaking in all relationships and towards all people?
•Am I a faithful witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all my relationships?
•Do I have space in my life to hear God?

In order to hear Christ’s call to us more clearly in this season, many Christians take on a practice (scripture reading, prayer, service, giving) and put something aside (fasting certain foods, television, social media, other activities). Consider what practice you might take on or what you might fast from during this season.

The days stretch before us and invite us inward to that silent, holy space that holds our Spirit.
May this be a journey of inner reflection and examination as we see our lives through Christ's eyes and the truth and reality of God's love incarnate. May God's love flow over you and seep into your heart.

Come and See
by Rev. Kerry Smith

This past Sunday it was cold in Dallas. It was see your breath, bundle under covers, and drink hot cocoa beside a fire cold. And yet, people came to church. 

We had been working for a few months to transform a room on the second floor that had become a storage room filled with Christmas decorations, Easter decorations, Fall Festival decorations, and lots more. One of our church members moved everything in the room down two floors to another storage room. Another church member helped Roderick, our Facilities Manager, take up the old carpet and lay new wood flooring. Roderick painted the cabinets and the walls and installed new lighting fixtures. Sammy Waters, our Minister of Children, Youth, and Families bought supplies and put together shelving. We had been praying and this past Sunday, that bitterly cold day, was the first day for our new 9:30 am Sunday School class for Preschool-Kindergarten. What joy to see that transformed room filled with children in this welcoming and play-based classroom. 

In worship we've been talking about "Who is Jesus?". I saw Jesus Sunday morning in the people of this church who commit to love children with their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness.

Jesus tells the disciples to come and see. Come and see how God is already at work and how you can partner with God. Come and see adults that model for children how to respect and honor all of God's people. Come and see a church family that speaks out against injustice and honors all of human life. Come and see God's goodness in this place because it is seen by me each and everyday. Thanks be to God!

"I was thirsty."

By Randy Austin, church member of White Rock UMC

It was 106 degrees, a typical August afternoon.  I had gone to pick up dinner from a local diner a few blocks from our home. I drove past two men and a woman standing in the median all holding signs with their various stories asking for money, help food, employment…I didn’t make eye contact.  I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and parked under the only shade tree.  When I looked up I saw one of the men hold up his sign and look directly at me. It said “PLEASE SMILE”.  For the next 10 minutes I sat in my truck and cried like a baby.

People in my own neighborhood are literally dying from the heat and from dehydration and I’m too embarrassed to even look at them. What can I do NOW!?

I immediately drove to the store and bought a case of water and began handing it out to everyone and anyone. Not just the people begging on the street corner but to the mailman, the UPS driver, the yard man, the roofers…you get the idea. Amazing things began to happen. That’s another story. I realized I couldn’t do this by myself so I went to Rev. Kerry and we decided to form a Water Ministry which also doubles as an evangelism ministry.

We now have 1,000 bottles of White Rock Branded water bottles for YOU to give to those that are thirsty and in need. What a simple and wonderful way to help someone and what an easy and non-threatening way to approach someone with love and grace and maybe, just maybe start a conversation about this place we call White Rock UMC or more importantly this man we call Jesus.

We hope you will join us in this life-saving ministry.  Our goal is to keep the water flowing.  The first batch is paid for and ready to go.  Our cost is 33 cents per bottle.  If you can help with a donation of an equal or greater amount we will be able to replenish our stock.  More details this Sunday, October 8th at the 10:50 a.m. service. Or you can call me directly at 214-632-0158 or email me at
Randyaustin156@gmail.com

Jesus said, “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.“
Matthew 25:35

Stories of Pilgrimage

by Rev. Kerry Smith

This past May I went on a pilgrimage with my mom. A friend shared with me before I left that a pilgrimage is like going on a long walk with someone you love, and that was definitely my experience. We walked 100 miles of the Portuguese Camino until our destination of the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It was an amazing, unforgettable experience.

A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place.

Over the next few weeks in worship we will be looking at the power of pilgrimage as we think about finding our faith and growing in our faith. It's so easy for us to go through life and the months pass, and the years pass, and our relationship with God stays the same.

How can we grow in our faith so that we feel closer to God?  I wonder what you can do today to spend time with God? 

By Rebecca Garrett Pace

We are currently ⅗ of the way done with our Taboo series, and we’ve done some good, and tough, work. We’ve talked about doubt, and named that it is not the opposite of faith, but rather a very important component of it. We’ve talked about holistic health and mental wellness, and how we can foster that wellness even in the midst of going back to school, balancing busy schedules, and finding our fall semester rhythms. And we’ve talked about religion and politics – perhaps the most cliché “taboo” topics – and how we are challenged to approach one another not with a “checkmate” attitude but rather with the humility of Christ.

With two more weeks to go, we have two very important, and very tough, topics still ahead of us, and so we felt it was crucial to give you a heads up, and to affirm our theology, before Sunday morning comes around.

For the next two Sundays (August 27 and September 3), we will be talking in worship about some very sensitive topics. On August 27 we will address mental illness and addiction, and on September 3 we will address mental illness and death by suicide. These topics will be dealt with gently and prayerfully, but we also fully encourage you to make the best choice for your family, your children, and yourself regarding participating in worship on these dates. (Children's Church will NOT be dealing with these topics, but we recognize that 3rd/4th graders and others who remain in worship may still be too young or not in a place to hear some of these conversations.)

If you read nothing else in this blog post, read this:
At White Rock UMC, we believe that God's love for everyone is unconditional and unending, and it cannot be altered by ANY situation or action. We do not believe that those who live with mental illness or addiction, or who have died by suicide, go to hell or are separated from God.

These difficult realities affect all of us, and we are committed to journeying alongside you on these difficult roads. If you or someone you love has been impacted by mental illness, addiction or death by suicide, please know you are not alone. Reach out to Rev. Kerry Smith (ksmith@wrumc.org), Rev. Tom Palmer (tpalmer@wrumc.org), or visit wrumc.org/recovery for more resources. If you feel you or someone you love may be a danger to themselves or others, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.