The Vista

News and Events for Vista Ridge United Methodist Church

September 27, 2024

Let’s Journey “Into the Unknown” During Worship on Sunday

Sunday, September 29 | Discovering the Mystic Within

Step into the unknown as we begin a captivating journey through the mystical side of faith. Discover what lies beyond the surface of belief and experience a deeper connection with the divine. Come and awaken the mystic within you.

Worship Service | 10 a.m. | Sanctuary

Worship Livestream | 10 a.m. | Church Website or Facebook

Communion Chapel | Communion Chapel will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the sanctuary.

Prayer Requests/Let’s Connect | Please complete this form to request prayer and to let us know if you joined us for online worship and be sure to say hi in the livestream chat.

Ministry Moment: Love Thy Neighbor Added as New Core Community Partner

Following is a Ministry Moment from Lay Leader James Kunke announcing a new core community partner.

One of the great things about Vista Ridge UMC is the way our congregation boldly steps up to meet the call of serving people in our community. It fires me up every time as I feel the Holy Spirit working through all of you!

During Lent, we held a weekly clothing collection in support of Love Thy Neighbor, a Lewisville nonprofit that receives and sorts donations of used clothing and then gives that clothing away for free to neighbors in need. The response was huge, and when Lent ended the clothing donations kept coming. Vista Ridge steps up!

Several members of the congregation already regularly volunteer at Love Thy Neighbor, including the awesome Greg and Marilyn Rimling who head up the clothing program. And through September, we have collected more than two tons of clothing donations, estimated at about 17,000 individual items.

Clearly, the heart of our congregation has been touched by this opportunity to clothe our neighbor—

both in material and in love—as an addition to our strong ongoing efforts to feed, comfort, and welcome them into a Godly community.

Which leads me to some exciting news. Acting on a recommendation from the Community Outreach Work Team, the Servant Leadership Council approved naming Love Thy Neighbor as an official core partner through which VRUMC can spread the love and grace of Jesus.

Let’s keep stepping up, Vista Ridge family, as we support all of our core partners in our shared mission of making disciples by addressing both the physical and spiritual needs of the people around us.

- James Kunke, Lay Leader

Love Thy Neighbor has volunteer opportunities to sort clothing and stock the store on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and to help shoppers on the first and third Saturday mornings. Email the church office at vrumc@vrumc.org with your interest.

Nonviolent Communication Workshop Planned for October 13

Are you looking to enhance your connections with others and navigate difficult conversations with more ease? Join us for Nonviolent Communication: From Judgment to Connection, set for 1-3 p.m. Sunday, October 13. The free workshop, led by our own Cathy Weiskopf, will focus on how to connect more deeply and respectfully with others.

Cathy is formally trained as a spiritual director through HeartPaths DFW and has received additional training in the Enneagram as well as feelings and needs based communication. She writes and teaches on a variety of topics.

Register to participate in the free workshop.

Nonviolent Communication Workshop Registration

Churchwide Fall Feast Set for October 20

Let’s thrive in joyful community during a churchwide Fall Feast on Sunday, October 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign up to bring a food item for the potluck lunch, which everyone will enjoy.

The afternoon will include a bounce house and activities for the kids, football on the TV, and various games, such as dominoes and cards. Sign up to participate.

Fall Feast RSVP

Free Discernment Academy Being Offered During October

The Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church is offering a Discernment Academy for anyone who wishes to have a better understanding of themselves and what it takes to lead vital congregations as well as new ministries to reach new people.

The free, six week online academy begins Monday, October 7, to help participants discover their leadership style, strengths and weaknesses, intercultural competency, and learning style and then to incorporate those discoveries into their leadership practice.

To learn more, and to register for the academy, use the button below.

Discernment Academy Registration

Adopt-A-Spot Supporting Keep Lewisville Beautiful

Clean Up Litter Along Adopt-A-Spot to Support Community Partner

With cooler temperatures during the next few months, consider supporting our creation care initiative by cleaning litter along our Adopt-A-Spot.

In community partnership with Keep Lewisville Beautiful (KLB), our church cares for an Adopt-A-Spot on Denton Tap Road. Our spot encompasses the street median from Highland Drive to Vista Ridge Mall Drive. Help support this creation-care initiative by selecting a date that works for you to clean the area of litter.

The cleanup dates are listed on Sundays but can be done any time that week. Supplies (trash grabbers, gloves, trash bags, and safety vests) can be found in Room 114. Volunteers must complete a KLB release form annually. Contact Laurie Kunke, laurie@vrumc.org, for assistance.

Sign Up to Support Adopt-A-Spot

https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/154654

Register for Blood Drive

Sisters in Christ to Begin New Book Study on October 2

Sisters in Christ will begin a four-week book study on Wednesday, October 2, and is inviting any interested woman to join them for If the Church were Christian by Philip Gulley. The group meets from 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays.

The book focuses on considering what the church would be like if more Christians modeled their lives after Jesus, embodying his love, compassion, hospitality and forgiveness.

Participants can join in person or via Zoom. Barbara Sepdham will lead the discussion and can be contacted at sepdham@hotmail.com with your interest, for the reading schedule, and for the Zoom link. The book can be purchased either in paperback or ebook.