Pastoral letter, from Lance
School starting and Woodland Fall Programming signal a change of season beginning with Startup Sunday. Our annual Missions & Ministries Fair kicked everything off by showing us a wide variety of ways to live out our faith. Our children and youth promoted to their new Sunday School Classes. In worship, we welcomed George Mason to our pulpit and we listened to Grayson Hanchey read Scripture. We blessed our students, teachers, and other school staff with the Blessing of the Backpacks. After worship, we shared a meal of fajitas on National Fajita Day and had our Quarterly Business Meeting, where we heard about the progress of our renovation and our current cash-flow surplus and voted in three new members. Welcome Steve Forwood and Victor and Miriam Valenzuela.
Startup Sunday was a success!
Now it is time to get involved in a mission or ministry at Woodland.
We urgently need KidsHope mentors. Larkspur Elementary is struggling; COVID had a greater impact on Title I schools than on other schools.
Woodland, we can make a difference. As a mentor, you have one child that you encourage and help for about an hour once a week. The child’s teacher will give you some ideas of what you should cover each week, and I can help you as well. You may work on reading, comprehension, or math. You may work on STAAR test prep. You may shoot baskets, draw, or talk. You may give them tools to help them succeed in the classroom and in life. The time you spend with your child will be the highlight of both of your weeks.
Before you begin mentoring, you undergo an application, interview, and online training process. The KidsHope website has many resources available to help you succeed.
We also have many other opportunities to serve as well. Please find out more on our website Missions page and Ministries page.
Watch for a new opportunity to serve — we will be forming a team of people to help U.S. Citizens register to vote. Take a look at our Vote page to learn:
When the next election is
If you are registered to vote
If your vote matters (video)
We are here to help you find your place in missions and ministry.
Serving with you,
Lance Mayes
Associate Pastor of Community Engagement