August 28, 2026

West U families, please join our 90th-anniversary celebration by participating in the new pictorial directory!

Photography Dates & Hours:

September 22, 2:00 – 8:00 PM

September 23, 2:00 – 8:00 PM

www.ucdir.com

Church Code: tx908

Password: university

A registration table will be set up (with two laptops) in the sanctuary every Sunday in August.

Participants get a free 8x10 photo print and free directory. If September 22 & 23 dates do not work for you, please email Mattie Loucks at mattie.loucks@gmail.com

Let's Cover Our Preschool in Prayer!

As we gear up for a wonderful new school year, we want to surround our little ones with love and support. Join us on Sunday, August 30th, during the 11:00 am worship service for a special Blessing of the Preschool. Pastor Morgan will lead a dedicated time of prayer for our preschool students, teachers, and staff. We hope you'll be there to help us send them into the new year with joy and faith!

Explore the Geography of the Bible
with Dr. John Beck

BIBLE WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 11-13

Have you ever considered how the physical landscapes of the Middle East shape the message of Scripture? Join us for an immersive Bible Weekend featuring Dr. John A. Beck! An award-winning scholar, adventurer, and former university professor, Dr. Beck has dedicated his life to illuminating the intersection of God's Word and biblical geography.

Why Bible geography?

To deepen engagement with God’s Word
To inform Bible teaching and preaching
To expand understanding of the Holy Land
To enhance Holy Land travel experiences

Dr. John Beck: "I experienced what I call a geographic conversion of my Bible reading. Details that I had missed or ignored leap off the page, offering new and exciting insights into old and familiar passages."

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Throughout the weekend, Dr. Beck will lead several learning sessions, each a unique exploration of different components of scripture and Bible Geography. You are invited to attend all of them or the ones that fit your schedule.

Session 1: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Drummet

Session 2: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Drummet

Session 3: Sunday, Sept. 13 | 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Drummet

Sunday Worship: Sunday, Sept. 13 | 11:00 AM, featuring Dr. Beck

Following Sunday worship, stick around to celebrate Rally Day with our traditional potluck in the High Court.

Learn more about John Beck by visiting his website at johnabeckauthor.com.

Roll Up Your Sleeves: Give the Gift of Life

September 20 | 9:00 am – 1:30 pm

Roll up your sleeves and help us save lives! The Donor Coach will be parked right outside the church, ready to welcome lifesavers like you. It only takes a little bit of your time to make a massive difference for someone in need.

The Donor Coach will be parked by the church. All successful donors score a pair of cozy socks and a free cholesterol screening! While walk-ins are warmly welcomed, we'd love for you to book ahead.

Book Appointment

Pack Your Bags for "The Journey!"

Our 6th-8th graders are invited to an unforgettable weekend away! From November 13-15, we're heading up to Forest Glen in Huntsville, TX, for a retreat centered all around discovering Wesleyan Grace. It’s going to be a fantastic time of faith, fellowship, and outdoor fun for $300/person.

MS Retreat Registration

Calling our High Schoolers: Want to get involved? We are looking for high school volunteers to help lead and mentor during the weekend. We'd love to have you! Email Hanna to volunteer!

Help Us Serve Up Some Fun!

We are looking for enthusiastic Silent Auction Co-Chairs to help make our upcoming Youth Group Spaghetti Dinner a smashing success. The big event is this spring, and we need your talents to help curate amazing items and run the auction. Every single penny raised goes directly toward youth camp scholarships!

Ready to help us make this event pasta-tively amazing? Reach out today to get involved! Email our Youth Group Director Hanna at hbowker@westumethodist.org.

A Big Step for Your Upper Elementary Student

Join us during the 11:00 AM service on Sunday, September 20th, as we present Bibles to our 3rd–5th grade students!

If you would like your child to participate and receive a Bible, please register by emailing Teresa Jones at tjones@westumethodist.org. Please include your child's name and grade.

Exciting News for Families:

New Children’s Sunday School Starts Sept 20th

Join us for the launch of our brand-new Children’s Sunday School starting September 20th! This class is specifically for kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade, and will be full of energy, discovery, and community.

Here's what your family can look forward to:

Hands-On Learning: We’re launching with The Method Lab: Wesley's Way—a fun, interactive series where kids explore the foundational building blocks of our faith and worship.

Childcare for Little Ones: Have younger children? Nursery childcare will be available for our younger friends so everyone has a safe, tailored space to learn and play.

Options for Parents: While the kids are in Sunday School, treat yourself to a morning of growth and connection! Check out our Adult Sunday School Classes to find a group that fits you.

We can't wait to grow together this season—see you on the 20th! Questions? tjones@westumethodist.org

Next. Level. Fun.

KOTC & Crossover Registration is Open

KIDS ON THE COURT

September 8 - December 15, 2026

Kids on the Court is a weekly afterschool program where K-4th graders join Mr. A, Ms. Jahaira, and Coach Jones for snacks, open gym time, and organized games.

KOTC K-2nd - FULL

CROSSOVER

September 8 - December 15, 2026

Crossover is a program designed for our 5th graders to help build their faith through fun activities, games, devotionals, and snacks!

WUUMC Selected for The Parish Project

We're asking YOU to take the survey below TODAY!

The Texas Annual Conference has a new program to support churches in exploring their strengths & weaknesses, learning about their mission field, and preparing a next step to greater fruitfulness. This program, called The Parish Project, is designed around prayer, reflection, and curiosity all as paths seeking the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Churches are grouped together into learning cohorts and engage together over a 9-month process. Each church forms a small team of 8 people to represent the church at the learning sessions and to also bring the exploration "home" to the congregation along the way. More information about The Parish Project is available on the Conference website.

Take the Survey!

With the Conference about to launch only the third year of the program, it's exciting to announce that our congregation has been selected by the Conference for this 2026-2027 round!

Our very first task as a congregation is to complete a congregational survey. This will help us better understand ourselves and how we understand our church's ministries. Please click the button below to take the survey. Every church member is invited to take the survey. The survey will be open until August 28.

Joining our pastoral staff on our Parish Project team will be 6 laypersons selected in conversation with the Committee on Nominations and the Board of Stewards. Our team includes Lucy Leonard, John Cheek, Jean Best, Jennifer Weitzel, Leslie Perryman, Mattie Loucks, Rev. Joy Johnston, and Rev. Preston Morgan. Please lift them up in prayer as they join the teams from Bellaire UMC, Magnolia UMC, and St. Mark's UMC (Pecore) to not only learn together but to guide the congregation as a whole through parts of the process.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO TAKE THE SURVEY!

Take the Survey!

Have you ever heard someone say, "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it"? While having faith in Scripture is essential, taking verses out of context can completely change their meaning. This Sunday we’re turning to Philippians 4:1-13 to look at what Paul really meant when he said he could "do all things." We will learn why biblical literacy is so important for the modern church, and how to read Scripture responsibly.

Spotify Playlist

Wondering what else is happening? The dates below highlight the events featured in this week’s issue. To see everything coming up in the life of our church, check out our full calendar at westumethodist.org.

Blessing of WUUMC Preschool

During our 11 AM service we will be praying for a year full of joy, growth, and God's love for our precious preschoolers!

Rally Day

Kick off fall with us September 11–13 for Dr. John Beck's Bible Weekend sessions, Sunday's 11 AM Rally Day worship, and a celebratory potluck lunch!

New Children’s Sunday School Starts

Elementary Bible Presentation during 11 AM worship service

Blood Drive 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM in the Donor Coach parked by the church.

Pictorial Directory Photography Sessions

2:00 – 8:00 PM

Pictorial Directory Photography Sessions

2:00 – 8:00 PM

Volunteer to Be a Liturgist or Communion Server!

Worship Volunteers Needed! We would love for you to take an active role in our Sunday services. We are currently looking for Liturgists to lead the congregation in reading the Call to Worship, Scripture, and Affirmation of Faith, as well as Communion Servers.

Sign-up

Nurture the Next Generation

Do you have a heart for kids? We need Sunday School volunteers for the 10 am and 11 am hours! No prepwork is required, and serving even once a month makes a huge difference. To help create a fun, faith-filled environment for our children, contact tjones@westumethodist.org.