The Center for the Healing of Racism will hold its 26th Annual Juneteenth Ally Award Luncheon at St. Paul’s UMC in Fondren Hall.  

Award recipients:

• Tim Wise, one of the country’s leading anti-racism writers and educators, will deliver the keynote address.

• Houston’s SHAPE Community Center, which has worked to improve he quality of life for Houston’s African American community for the past 50 years.

• Maya Ford, who will receive an Individual Initiative Award for her courage to sit in silence alone in the parking lot of a detention center for migrant children and families.

Tickets are $60 and can be purchased by contacting the Center for the Healing of Racism at cfhr1@juno.com or (713) 520-8226. Tickets can also be purchased directly on the Center’s website. Sponsorships are also available.

Theme - "Splash Night"   

Fun games, crafts, play, snacks and supervised activities for children ages 6 months to 5th grade. Cost: $25 per child and $5 per additional sibling. Includes a light supper.  

Email childcare@stpaulshouston.org to make a reservation or call (713) 528-0527.

Veterans Helping Veterans will meet in the Jones Building (J-203) during the summer months.

Are you new here? Join us for Coffee with the Pastors, a family-friendly time of coffee and conversations with our St. Paul’s clergy and others in the Jones Building Lobby.

Guest speaker Michael Morwood will present “Reshaping Religious Imagination and Thinking” on Monday, June 3, 7–9 pm. This event will be held in Fondren Hall (2nd floor, Jones Building) at St. Paul’s UMC. It is free and open to the public.

Morwood is at the forefront of spiritual teachers who are allowing their thinking and teaching to be reformed by insights from the area that is often referred to as “the new cosmology.” He has authored numerous books, including In Memory of Jesus, It’s Time, God Is Near, and Is Jesus God?

Sponsored by the Kerley Endowment for Spiritual Advancement and Understanding, there is no charge for this event and no registration process. Space is limited, so we encourage those wishing to attend to arrive early.

Because of the unforeseen complications with the basement renovation and the organ, we are cancelling our 4 pm Evensong on Sunday. We are working hard to get the organ up and running as soon as possible. 

After morning worship services on June 2, join us to celebrate the ministry of Rev. Tommy Williams and his family on their last Sunday at St. Paul’s. All are invited to a Farewell Lunch in Fondren Hall, 12:15–1:30 pm.

On the menu . . . This family-friendly lunch will be held in Fondren Hall. We’ll serve up delicious food in a laid-back atmosphere with grilled burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers prepared by the Men’s Lectionary Bible Study. 

Expressing appreciation . . . St. Paul’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee will provide a card-writing and love offering station for the Williams family. We’ll enjoy special music and a slideshow tribute as well.

Calling all kids! . . . Parents, because we expect a sizable crowd, we’re making special plans for children to be supervised and enjoy fun activities together. Please check in your children in the Jones Building Lobby to join their age-based groups (non-walkers, 2–3 years, pre-K–1st grade, and 2nd–5th grade).

The children will eat lunch from 12:15 to 12:45 pm in Jones Building classrooms and then go outside on the Playground from 12:45 to 1:30 pm for playtime, face-painting, and snow cones provided by Kona Ice Truck.

Also, please save the date for a Welcome Reception for new senior pastor Rev. Dr. Jeff McDonald and his wife Lenee, on their first Sunday at St. Paul’s on July 7, at 12:15 pm. It will be a meet-and-greet reception with light refreshments.

If you have any questions or to lend your help for either of these goodbye/hello events, please contact SPRC representative Denise Childres via dchildresansell@gmail.com.

The 2nd Annual Texas Annual Conference Faith Community Nurse Gathering will be held in J-204 (2nd floor of Jones Building).

Celeste Ng - LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

Brazos Bookstore presents Celeste Ng, reading from her book Little Fires Everywhere. Q&A and signing to follow. This event will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. This is a ticketed event. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the event starts at 7 pm.

From the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You, a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town—and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs. 

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

Tickets admit one individual, cost $17, and include a paperback copy of Little Fires Everywhere. Tickets are nonreturnable. For more information, please contact the Brazos Bookstore at 713-523-0701.

Families with special needs members are invited to attend an informational luncheon on Sunday, May 19, at 12:15 pm in Fondren Lounge.

The speaker will be Tonya Knauth, PLLC, an attorney, mother of three children, and a long-time St. Paul’s UMC member. Her law practice focuses on wills and trusts, probate and guardianships. Sharing information and speaking with families to clarify their legal plans is a strong part of Tonya’s mission and purpose for her practice. She helps her clients in a multitude of ways: with legal planning for incapacity and death, with guardianships where planning for incapacity is not possible, and after the death of a loved one, to wrap up their affairs.

Lunch and childcare (for special needs children and siblings) will be provided with an RSVP to Helen Spaw, Special Needs Coordinator, via hspaw@stpaulshouston.org. Also contact Helen with any questions about this event or how special needs children are accommodated at St. Paul’s.

Choose a time (9:45 or 11:05 am) to attend Exploring St. Paul's. This gathering is for visitors and new members to learn about the St. Paul's community and ways to connect with each other and God. 

Contact Nina Hall via nina@stpaulshouston.org or 713-528-0527 for more details.

This workshop is being offered free of charge, but we need to know if you’re planning to attend. Please register below no later than Monday, May 13.

Have you ever had a checklist that seems never-ending? Let's help our neighbors still recovering from Harvey get some things checked off. 

You’re invited to serve on St. Paul's Harvey Recovery Team on Saturday, May 11, 8:30 am-4 pm. Work may include:

- installing insulation
- hanging drywall
- painting walls and trim
- cleaning up debris from storm damage
- doing yard work (mowing, weeding, etc.)

Come for any part of the day. We will train you on the job; ages 13 and older welcome. More details via www.stpaulshouston.org/harvey or contact Amy Taylor, Director of Missions, via ataylor@stpaulshouston.org or 713-528-0527.

Our popular Friday-night program for children 4 months to 5th grade will resume in June. Kids Night Out includes a full schedule of games, crafts, play, snacks and supervised activities from 6 to 10:30 pm while parents enjoy an evening on their own. The cost is $25/child/night ($5/each additional sibling).  A light supper is served around 6:30. During December, this activity becomes Kids Day Out.

Kids Night/Day Out is available for families of St. Paul’s Church and School. Reservations, which are required due to limited space and staff, are accepted for each date up to two weeks in advance.

For questions or special needs, please contact Ellen Edwards via eedwards@stpaulshouston.org.

St. Paul’s Methodist Foundation of Houston was established in 1960 as a permanent endowment to undergird the church’s facilities and ministries. Thanks to generous donors throughout the years and prudent investment strategies, the Foundation now has a robust fund balance of over $20 million and is uniquely positioned to be here for good. Being here for good means the Foundation: 1) safeguards financial stability for the church’s future and 2) supports St. Paul’s commitment to pursue the common good.

Each year, the Foundation takes a portion of its fund earnings to provide scholarships to college students and makes grants to support the efforts of local ministries and international missions. In 2018, the Foundation made 23 grants ($79,208 total) to non-profit organizations.

We invite you to the Foundation’s 2019 Annual Dinner where guests will enjoy a delicious catered meal ($15/person) and hear from representatives of local non-profits supported by Foundation grants. Panelists will be:

• Lisa Levy (SEARCH Homeless Services)

• Rev. Dr. Matthew Russell (Iconoclast Artists)

• Kyttie Sanford (Emergency Aid Coalition)

Guests will also get an update on Revive capital project renovations and receive a copy of the 2018 “Here for Good” Annual Report.

For questions, please email foundation@stpaulshouston.org or call 713-528-0527.

To pay for your meal online, visit our online giving platform. The Foundation Annual Dinner is $15/person. Select “Payments” from drop-down menu.

We hope you’ll attend the Youth Banquet this year. Tickets are $25/person. If you are a graduating senior or 2019 confirmand, you will receive a complimentary ticket.

Even if you can't attend, please consider making a donation in honor of Tiffin Wilsford, who has served for 20 years in youth ministry at St. Paul’s.

Jennifer West says, “When we asked Tiffin how we could honor this milestone, he requested donations for mission trip scholarships, supplies, dinners for UMY, and other programing needs.”

“Our goal is $20K for 20 years! We are also looking for 20 new volunteers to serve on youth mission trips, teach Sunday School classes, and more.”

If you’d like to volunteer, or send a note of gratitude and/or photos for a memory book for Tiffin, please email Oksana Schwack, Assistant Youth Director, at oksana@stpaulshouston.org by April 29.

To give online, go to www.stpaulshouston.org/give and click GIVE ONLINE. Make a one-time donation by choosing “Other” from the drop-down menu. Put “20 for 20” in the memo line.

For more information, visit www.iconoclastartists.org.

David Oluwo, a baritone/bass in the select choir of St. Paul’s Choral Scholars, will present a recital on Sunday, April 28, at 4 pm in the Sanctuary. He will perform classical selections from arias to art songs by Fauré, Schubert, and Poulenc, as well as spirituals. He will be accompanied by pianist Brittany Ruhmann.

The recital is free of charge, though donations will be accepted to help defray costs of his attending the invitation-only Colorado Vocal Institute in Copper Mountain and the highly competitive Schmidt Vocal Institute in Oxford, Ohio.

Saturday, April 27 ■ 8:30 am–3 pm
Location: Wesley Community Center, 1410 Lee St.

In the Jewish tradition, mitzvah involves doing a good deed. This churchwide serving day will benefit Wesley Community Center, one of our partner organizations. Wesley has been serving the Northside community since 1904 providing early education, programs for children and youth, employment and financial services, a community garden and food co-op, and programming and social services for seniors.

Various mission projects will be available for people of all ages. There will be projects ideal for families with small children, but childcare will be provided for those who need it. 

Our popular Friday-night program for children 4 months to 5th grade includes a full schedule of games, crafts, play, snacks and supervised activities from 6 to 10:30 pm while parents enjoy an evening on their own. The cost is $25/child/night ($5/each additional sibling).  A light supper is served around 6:30. During December, this activity becomes Kids Day Out.

Kids Night/Day Out is available for families of St. Paul’s Church and School. Reservations, which are required due to limited space and staff, are accepted for each date up to two weeks in advance.

Please use this secure link to register and pay. For questions or special needs, please contact Ellen Edwards via eedwards@stpaulshouston.org.

For more details, contact Rev. Karyn Richards-Kuan via krichards-kuan@stpaulshouston.org.