Hi Parkway People -- 

We have 3 more weeks in our current sermon series called "Designed to Thrive" - we'll carry it on through Easter Sunday on April 20th.

Our focus on building a Rule of Life with Spiritual practices and habits has made one thing clear to me — the desire to thrive should lead us into the work of thriving. It takes effort and intention to do the things that bring us peace, help us to know ourselves, and the day-by-day build on a relationship with God.

Part of how Parkway can help you in this work is by building out ways and opportunities to plug into that work alongside the community.

Take a look at some things that are ahead — from Holy Week well into the summer and look for the ways and places you can carry forward the work of thriving.

Palm Sunday, April 13th

Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week - We'll have a Palm Parade with enough palms for people of all ages. Parkway Children's Ministry and Day School kids will sing at the 10.30 service.

Sunday School for kids and students will happen like any other Sunday.

After the second service everyone is invited next door to the Ministry Center for lunch and Easter Egg hunts. Parkway will provide burgers and hotdogs.

Ways you can help make this happen:

Bags of empty Easter eggs are still available in the Worship Center. Pick up some eggs and return them filled with candy or prizes before Palm Sunda

If you have a grill you can bring to Parkway and help us cook a bunch of burgers and hotdogs on Palm Sunday, please respond to this email and let me know!

Please bring a dessert to share! 

Maundy Thursday, April 17th

There is no official Maundy Thursday event at Parkway, but there is a limited opportunity to try something different.

Parkway is partnering with Christ Church Sugar Land for their annual Seder Meal — a re-creation of the Passover meal Jesus and his followers would have shared together as the last supper. Here is a description from their website:

Families of all ages are invited to Covenant Hall for a special Seder Dinner to celebrate and reflect on all we have been given. This ritual feast will help us continue our journey to Easter, featuring both a Seder Dinner tasting with symbolic foods and a full meal. As we retell ancient stories, we’ll highlight the goodness of God and deepen our faith and understanding of Scripture.

Christ Church has initially blocked off 28 spots for Parkway registrations, with the possibility for more if we hit that limit. Please use this form to register. 

If we hit the limit, we may be able to get additional spots, but there is also the chance that we may not be able to. If you want to participate, please sign up sooner rather than later so we can get a sense of what is possible.

Good Friday, April 18th

Parkway will gather for a traditional Good Friday service in the Worship Center at 7pm. We'll be led by Jachin and the Parkway Easter Choir in remembering Christ's life and death as we look ahead to Easter Sunday. 

There is no childcare scheduled for the Good Friday service.

Easter Sunday, April 20th

Parkway will celebrate Resurrection with 3 Services:

6.50am - Sunrise Service in the Parkway Gardens

9am & 10.30am - Easter Sunday in the Worship Center

Day with Dad

Parkway will participate in the Day with Dad program at the Carol Vance Unit on Saturday, April 26th from 10am to 3pm. We'll be one of many organizations and churches that work together to create a fun, joyful day for the men incarcerated at the unit to spend time with their families.

Our job is to work a cookie craft table — helping children and families decorate cookies together. If you're able to help, use this form to register and submit the last four digits of your Texas driver’s license by April 15th. 

Looking Ahead to Summer...

VBS Registration opens next Wednesday, April 9th! Becky and her team are already at work prepping for all the kids that will take over Parkway June 9 - 13! Make sure and get all kids and volunteers registered when it opens! Register here ... https://www.fellowshiponegiving.com/App/Form/6ab5bef2-8499-42c3-a294-fcb7a1dc2ce1

Lakeview Camp: June 23 – 27th

We're working to get a crew from Parkway to attend Lakeview Summer Camp this year! Lakeview is a beautiful camp owned and run by the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. All students who have finished Kindergarten through 12th grade can register for a week of fun and spiritual growth. 

You can find more information, registration, and a link to the Lakeview website here. As a reminder, Parkway will cover $100 of the registration fee for all Lakeview registrations.

Becky is sending out more information soon about children's camp and Josiah is hosting two quick information sessions on Zoom for any student or parent that is interested in more information.

Those Zoom sessions are:

Sunday Summer Camp information

Time: April 6, 3:00 PM (15-20 minutes)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/85466072376?pwd=4ug6GwhIuuuNrd4aKJbTF5yLjJDFzc.1

Meeting ID: 854 6607 2376

Passcode: aP5C3i

Monday Summer Camp Information

Time: April 7, 7:00 PM (15-20 minutes)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84768307383?pwd=pmuoDZ2IFunJ1hprr7V8aygT4hhaoO.1

Meeting ID: 847 6830 7383

Passcode: u57cBL

U.M.ARMY

Registration for UM Army is live!

U.M Army is a work/construction local mission trip for students entering 7th-12th grade.

Parkway will cover $100 for each student that signs up for U.M. Army this summer! We’re excited to be able to make camp affordable for everyone! Thank you for all the ways that you contribute to Parkway so that we can provide opportunities like this.

We always have a need for adults with building experience. Please reach out to Josiah (jcanto@parkwayumc.org) if you are interested in being a part of U.M Army 2025. The cost for you to go is covered.

The link to register for UM Army can be found here. If accessing scholarship funds will make this trip possible for your student, please use the scholarship codes below when you register.

Scholarship codes:

SCHOLARSHIPFULL: Full amount

HALF: Half amount

Registration for U.M Army closes May 31st

If you have any questions about anything with registration or anything else U.M. Army, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Josiah Canto.

As you can see, there is no shortage of places to plug in and do the work of thriving at Parkway! I hope you and your family find a place to plug in, encounter God, and grow alongside the Parkway community.

Pastor Justin