FUMC - The Pastor's Pen

Homecoming

10/27/2021

There has been a Methodist ministry in Montgomery County since 1837, the year of our County’s founding. The city of Montgomery was the county seat and Bishop Littleton Fowler oversaw the founding of a camp for circuit riders there. In the 1850’s a structure was built and a building and cemetery are still in Montgomery today. Porter’s, then called Porter’s Mill, and then Porter, would be founded as a railroad siding for the timber business in 1878 then become a proper town with a Post Office in 1892. New Caney would progress also during these same years.

There are no records of organized congregations until 1905. Typically, circuit preachers would come from larger communities, like Houston and Montgomery, to minister to the laborers in work camps like Porter. Porter First Baptist claims 1915 as their founding date and it would be reasonable to think that the Methodist had an organized congregation in both Porter and New Caney by then.

On August 20,1967, both of these congregations were on a two-point charge and would merge into one church in Porter. The Reverend Weldon Porter, the DS in Huntsville would appoint Rev. Mason Neeley as pastor where they met in the “Porter Community House”. Neeley and his young family would begin ministry that day with a consecration service and the baptism of two infants. A short time later, the current “Admin Building” would become the church facility and sanctuary. It would have numerous remodels and improvements. In 1985, our existing sanctuary would be consecrated with our ministry growing and evolving into the work that we celebrate today.

Make no mistake! The history of our Friendship congregation is not a history of our buildings, but the works of many dedicated and sacrificial members committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our last homecoming was in 2014 and this year, in the light of incredible change and passing through the scourge of the COVID pandemic, we will gather on November 7 and celebrate over 50 years of service to the Porter/New Caney Community!

This is an opportunity to connect, re-connect, worship and celebrate our church family. Many have been isolated these past two years. There is no greater way to rejoice in our ministry together!

Please contact those that you haven’t seen in a while to join the festivities! We will celebrate communion and all of our Saints that have gone before us. Let us gather and have fun, great food and Christ honoring worship. Let’s have fun together.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

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Worship+1

5/31/2021

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Does God seem to get lost in the summertime at your house? It happens every year if we are honest. School lets out and things change. Let us do something different this summer. • Happiness research shows that buying stuff makes you happy for a moment. Buying an experience make you happy for a long time. BUT, having an experience and then sharing itmaking a social connection that lasts for a lifetime. • YES, we are going to miss a Sunday or two during the summer. Let us intentionally keep God in our travels and add one thing that shows that God is a part of the journey. It could be a book read, a good movie seen, a place visited or church worship somewhere else-you choose! Be creative and aware of God’s presence! • Collect trip pictures, stories and church bulletins from your journeys AND SHARE THEM ON THE WORSHIP+1 GROUP PAGE-you will find in linked to the website and on our public Facebook Page. We will have a drawing each week of the summer with an extravagant prizeSilliness is possible. Make Summer worship more than just church. Share where you Saw God This SUMMER and we will all be better for your experience! Check out the page for a book list, movie suggestions, scheduled activities, and spontaneous day trip ideas! ADD YOUR CONTENT! Blessings to you as we go and grow in faith this summer! All for Christ, Pastor Alan

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EVERY GOOD GIFT

4/30/2021

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James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Transitions can be intense. Moving from spring to fall creates life. Plants, trees and wildlife are busting out all over. The same transition also creates tornado season. Change is not a punishment. They are a practical reality of life. Our seasons At Friendship UMC, The COVID-19 pandemic, the economy and our personal walk with God are also transitioning. Following God touches all of the corners of our lives. Sometimes the changes are gentle, often they are as subtle as a hurricane. As we know that change is certain, transitions are unsettling. Back in March of 2020 we set two goal for this pandemic that we supposed to over by Easter 2020: first, to stay connected and second-to be a better church because of COVID. How did we do? Staying connected started strong. The year plus absences took their toll. Some have moved on, others have added video instead of in-person meetings, while even more are making their way back. ALSO, we have a thriving core that remains strong and new members that are active and growing. We did better than many organizations and are renewing relationship every week. Your church calendar is a balanced, carefully planned activities to encourage your personal growth! We have made many improvements to the facility, our communications, tailored our worship to video and are re-emerging with stronger ministries in small groups, education, and age level ministries. Now we move ahead and watch God work. The future is bright and our best days are ahead. May is about renewal, as seen in spring flowers. Renewal is our message, as lived inJesus Christ. He is the ultimate answer to our personal renewal and He is our unchanging anchor in this wonderful spring season of Friendship UMC. Blessings to you as we renew, re-invent, and innovate our mission to “inviting all people into a personal, loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

All for Christ,

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From The Pastors Pen

4/17/2021

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“In the beginning God Created...”. Genesis :1
Three truths. There was a beginning to all things. God was there . And in that beginning God created. All of us have a need deep down to create. Whether it is gardening, working on a house or car, Orr even cooking dinner, We are creative. The more we know God our Creator, the more we long to create.
It is the same in our activities at church. The way we decorate our worship space, organize a meeting or teach a lesson is satisfying when we tap into this God-Led creativity. Likewise, it is dull as mud if we just go through the motions. Now that we are emerging from this COVID-18 season, it is time to get creative.
I got my second shot last week and experienced two things: a sore stem and a lightening of mood. People all around me are smiling again and our attendance is caution growing. Yes, yes, the masks and hand gel are still a part of life BUT hope is conquering fear. In that hope is a new beginning, a NEW CREATION OPPORTUNITY. It is new day to be creative.
God is leading through this “re-start”. It is crucial that we get it right. God is creating a new opportunity that will have some old traditions and some brand new ways of living the Gospel and showing it to others. Let’s have some fun.
Be fearless in reaching out in faith, trying new things and re-visioning old ways. Where is go calling us to go, grow and wallow in the joy of a ew day? How can we “make all things new”. What are we being called to leave behind. Friendship UMC is looking a a blank canvas, a brand new day and excititement with new neighbors, new industry and fresh opportunities to create.

Look through this newsletter and see our usual activities with new eyes. Also, look at the wonderful new opportunities to worship, learn and serve. GOD BE PRAISED in them all! Share the excitement with me as we discover pass through the empty tomb this Easter and seize a brand new day!

All for Christ,

Pastor Alan

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