New Connections at Parkway

Pastor's Update

Hi Parkway,

2024 brought a fast start to a new year! In what is normally a slower season of the church, your staff and leadership have been working through important decisions and thinking about new ways to invite and gather people into community to grow and serve others. If you've been able to be at Parkway on a Sunday morning over the last few weeks, you've heard me say that we are coming into a season of trying new things all aimed at helping make real connections among Parkway people.

We're working on making room for and fostering connections because we strive to be a church that goes further than 'Hi, how's it going?' on a Sunday morning. I, along with Parkway staff and leadership, are inviting you to make connections because it is often through the relationships that we build with others that God works goodness and growth in our lives.

Take a look at some of the upcoming things at Parkway and find a place where you can step into a new connection:

Scout Sunday – THIS SUNDAY, February 11^th

Parkway has long been a hub of scouting programs. We currently charter several troops and provide space for others. This Sunday, February 11th, we are inviting all scouting groups connected to Parkway to be a part of Sunday morning. We will celebrate accomplishments from the last year. All scouts and leaders are invited to wear their scouting uniform.

Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 14^th

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent – a season of preparing to celebrate Easter by taking a step back, slowing down, and doing the work of spiritually decluttering the practices and habits that pile up in the midst of a busy life. To mark the start of Lent, Parkway will meet Wednesday evening at 7pm in the Worship Center for a traditional service of music, Scripture, and receiving ashes in the shape of a cross on either your forehead or hand (but is optional).

It's been my tradition to offer ashes to any of our Parkway Children’s Day School teachers that would like them. I will be in the Ministry Center starting at 7.30am on Ash Wednesday. If you would like to receive ashes at the start of your day, all are welcome to stop by the Ministry Center between 7.30am - 8.30am to receive ashes and a blessing.

Table Talk - Connecting throughout Lent

We are trying something new in Lent. Table Talk is a chance to share a meal with other Parkway people. It's not a Bible Study. It's not a Grow Group. It's just a chance to connect around sharing a meal and get to know people you might not otherwise run into in the course of a week or a Sunday. It's a simple way to connect to other people and live together as a Parkway community. You can click HERE to let us know what days of the week you are available. Once we see the responses, we will send more information on how to plan and connect for Table Talk.

Getting a Parkway Men's Group Off the Ground

All Parkway men are invited to join in on two events in February as we try to (re)start a Men's Group. The goal of these two events is to connect with other men at Parkway and start the conversation about what a healthy, sustainable, and meaningful Men's Group will look like. Join in on one or both February events:

Men's Breakfast

Thursday, February 15th

Black Bear Diner (13590 University Blvd., Sugar Land)

7am

Trivia Night

Tuesday, February 27th

Flying Saucer in Sugar Land Town Center

Meet at 6.30pm, Trivia Starts at 7pm

Parkway will cover some appetizers, anything else is on you.

Taking it to the Streets, Round 2

It's been a tradition at Parkway to spend a Sunday morning serving outside the walls of the Worship Center. Last year's Taking it to the Streets never quite came together due to both settling into a new normal after the pastoral transition and due to lack of projects in the immediate area.

We are trying to make Taking it to the Streets happen in 2024. We are looking at two tentative dates in April. At this point we are looking for possible projects or contacts who would know of projects. If you have suggestions for either of these, please reach out to Vince Cordova at vcordova@lufkin.com

There are many ways, some new, to connect in the season ahead. I'm looking forward to trying to new things, getting to know people better, and seeing where God leads us through it.

Justin

Parkway United Methodist Church | parkwayumc.org