April 10 was quite the event in Revive Worship. It was the second time for us to join with our La Jornada family to share in a bilingual worship service, followed by an amazing time of fellowship and food. La Jornada is a growing service at FUMCA and is a fun group of Christ’s servants that worship passionately every Sunday. It is such a joy to be in ministry with a worshiping community like Revive - people that are so fearless in worship and willing to jump in on an idea that might seem crazy.

The energy given to us by the Holy Spirit in the Great Hall on Sunday was rich. Center 313 and Jornada de Fe were so Christ-centered in their musical leadership and it was a blessing to witness our faith families singing God’s songs together in English and in Spanish.

It’s such a tangible reminder of what Jesus calls us to through Holy Communion - to be one family, undivided even though we have our differences, because there is one Jesus.

Our lesson from Revelation on Sunday spoke to us of a heavenly worship service, witnessed by the writer, John. A worship service where all of creations - heaven and earth - bow to worship the Lamb, Jesus Christ:

‘Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!”’ [Revelation 5:13]

We encounter that heavenly worship here on earth when we bridge divides, remembering that Jesus is the savior of all - not the savior of a few.

This is a revelatory truth in a world that likes to profile and divide up the children of God.

At the close of our worship, another revelation was shared, if it can be called that, that I am being reappointed at the start of our next appointment year (July 1) to another church.

There’s no easy way to share this news, and our Pastor-Parish Relations Committee Chair, Bill Campbell, did a wonderful job in sharing what’s coming next. But, as there were questions, I’d like to add a couple of answers.

One of the things I’ve felt called to do as I stepped into the UMC ordination process is to help start new churches.  I am passionate about reaching the unchurched and dechurched among us for the Kingdom of God - especially among young adults.

So, next year I’ve been offered the opportunity to start a Church Planting Residency with Union Coffee, a new church start in North Dallas.  Union serves great coffee, something I can’t live without, but also has created a unique community around a culture of food, service, fellowship, and … worship.  They are looking to plant new sites in the area.  I’ll be working there over the next year with the hope that I will join with them in planting a new site in our Central Texas Conference.

That could bring me back to Arlington. Or to Fort Worth. Or to Mansfield. Or... wherever the Holy Spirit may lead.

As we continue our study of the Book of Revelation, one of the things God reminds us of in the book is that God’s view of things is large. God’s offer salvation is large - limitless. And God’s church stretches through time - past, present, future. The UMC lives this out through the connection - we are a global church, focused on bringing the Kingdom of Heaven into local communities.

All that to say, that it is a blessing to know that pastors may change, and people may move, we are all part of the one, universal, and apostolic church.

Still, we have plenty of work to do together over the next several weeks!

In Christ,

Pastor Jarrod