To my fellow disciples,

My prayer for each of us is that we find the life that is truly life – the one found in

Jesus – and that we live our life with and for him. My desire for you and for me and for all those we might reach, is that we know, love, and follow Jesus more and more. He is the one we pledge our allegiance to. He is the Lord we follow. He is the one we look to for transformation and hope and renewal.

It is also something we do together. We were never meant to be solitary believers living our own brand of faithfulness. We are called to be connected to a community of faith. And I am thankful to be connected to this one. It is not a connection that comes naturally, it takes effort and commitment. This is why we ask members to take a vow when they join the church. It’s why we now use our “Joining Sundays” to also renew those vows – so we voice our commitment to one another.

During worship throughout the month of October we will be looking at those vows of membership and where Scripture connects to those commitments we make. We are the people of one book – the Bible – and so our life together must always align with and grow out of God’s Word.

I hope you will be in worship each Sunday during October for that conversation. I also hope you will be there because we will be talking particularly about one of our commitments – supporting this congregation and its mission with our gifts. We know that congregations that approach financial stewardship as a priority and from a biblical perspective see money not simply as a way to pay the bills, but a way to help us and others grow in faith, grow in our relationship with God.

October 30^th will be “Consecration Sunday”. Throughout October every member – of every age – is encouraged to pray this prayer: “God, what would you have me give?” And then, on October 30^th we will take time in our worship services to fill out an Estimate of Giving card, where each member/family can make a commitment based on what God has called them to give.

I love using this process for several reasons. One, it is grounded in prayer. It is not simply a budget calculation, but a God-directed work. Any time we rely on God’s direction we find a greater blessing. Two, it is not about making some arbitrary budget we think we need to meet. It may even be that the faithfulness of our members leads to a budget we never imagined. Lastly, it is not an intensive push to get people to give. There are no home visits or phone calls asking for a pledge. There may be an invitation to a celebration (yet to be figured out based on Activity Center challenges), but that would be it.

At this time, all I would ask of you is to begin praying – “God, what would you have me give?” Look over your finances as you pray. Let God show you what you could do to help further his work here at FUMC Brenham. I know that just spending time in that prayer will bless you. And then the generosity you offer will be exponentially better for your soul, I have no doubt.

I’ll see you on Sundays. May God bless you and may God bless us all.

Handbell Rehearsal

In September, we began our Walk With Jesus! Each week, we mark where we have been or where we would like to travel on a huge USA map! This is a visual reminder that Jesus is with us everywhere we travel! We have started at the beginning with the Creation story! We know that while God created EVERYTHING, and made us in His image, He was also there! God is everywhere! Each week, we have a different “Active” focus: ie craft, scavenger hunt, game, or mission. 

Attikus Grabarschick (10/16)

October 9: Prayer Partner Kick Off! We invite you to join us in praying for the children of our church! Beginning on October 9, we will have the names of children in the Sunday school program and Weekday Ministries Program. Choose a child and commit to praying for them!!

October 16: Movie Night! Join the us as we watch “Running the Bases” at 5 PM, Westwood Cinema 6.

OCTOBER Mission Sundays! The Children’s Sunday School, in conjunction with the Youth, will be collecting NEW TWIN SHEET SETS, TWIN MATTRESS COVERS, and NEW PILLOWS for Child Protective Services in October. Children pulled from homes many times are sent to a home that doesn’t have a bed for them. The CDC, in conjunction with St. Paul’s, has built twin bed kits for these kids. We are looking forward to having the youth and children help to build the beds, too, for their November mission focus. HOWEVER, the CDC is in need of the topping for these beds: sheets, mattress covers, and pillows. Collection boxes will be placed around the campus if you would like to help us be the hands and feet of Jesus! We will collect new twin sheets, covers and pillows through October 30. Thank you!

Click here to

Rev. Mike Lindstrom, Senior Pastor

Pastor Madison Garcia, Associate Pastor

Chris Ann Stroech, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Matt Hulon, Minister of Music

Diane Garrett, Organist

Maxwell Burgess, Celebration Worship Leader

 Kris Trevino, Office Manager

Iliana Flores, Administrative Assistant

Michelle Lookingbill, Lead Administrator

Lelli Hernandez, Child Development Center Director

Lelli Hernandez, Nursery Coordinator

Cindy Mathis, Custodian