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pastor's note
I attended St. Vincent's House’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Prayer Circle yesterday. Sharon Lewis, the City Council Rep for District 1, offered a proclamation from the city. Rev. Walter L. Jones recited MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech from memory with such passion that I swear Dr. King was speaking from behind the lectern. It was stunning.
We ended our time together with prayer and singing. After forming a large circle, everyone grabbed the hand of the person next to them and started singing a gospel song by Hezekiah Walker. The chorus sings:
“I love you. You are important to me. I need you to survive.”
Telling someone “I need you to survive” is such raw sentiment. I don’t think I’d ever formed that particular sequence of words before, let alone sung them to another human. It was both holy and haunting. Most of the predominantly white religious spaces that I grew up in don’t have songs like this one.
We’ve never needed them.
“I need you to survive” can be framed at least two ways: 1. I need YOU to survive. (I need you to not be killed.) 2. I need you TO survive. (I need you so that I won’t be killed.)
In that singing, the Spirit was calling those whose very survival is in question to life in all its fullness. Today’s call was (rightfully) pointed towards those who continue to live in spite of the persistent sin of racism, but it’s call to all who find their very existence in question... immigrants, transgender persons, and so on.
And that call demands, in the words of Walter Bruggemann, a “tenacious solidarity” from me... from us. So I’ll continue to show up and pray until we’re finally able to sing new songs.
We ended our time together with prayer and singing. After forming a large circle, everyone grabbed the hand of the person next to them and started singing a gospel song by Hezekiah Walker. The chorus sings:
“I love you. You are important to me. I need you to survive.”
Telling someone “I need you to survive” is such raw sentiment. I don’t think I’d ever formed that particular sequence of words before, let alone sung them to another human. It was both holy and haunting. Most of the predominantly white religious spaces that I grew up in don’t have songs like this one.
We’ve never needed them.
“I need you to survive” can be framed at least two ways: 1. I need YOU to survive. (I need you to not be killed.) 2. I need you TO survive. (I need you so that I won’t be killed.)
In that singing, the Spirit was calling those whose very survival is in question to life in all its fullness. Today’s call was (rightfully) pointed towards those who continue to live in spite of the persistent sin of racism, but it’s call to all who find their very existence in question... immigrants, transgender persons, and so on.
And that call demands, in the words of Walter Bruggemann, a “tenacious solidarity” from me... from us. So I’ll continue to show up and pray until we’re finally able to sing new songs.
-Pastor Michael
Food Distribution
*this month’s distribution is on the fourth Monday because of the MLK holiday*
Join us on Monday, January 26th, starting at 3pm for this month's food distribution. We'll meet in the north parking lot of Moody Methodist Church (2803 53rd St.) to pack groceries and register clients, and then at 5pm, we'll load groceries into cars. Come for any or all of that time!
Join us on Monday, January 26th, starting at 3pm for this month's food distribution. We'll meet in the north parking lot of Moody Methodist Church (2803 53rd St.) to pack groceries and register clients, and then at 5pm, we'll load groceries into cars. Come for any or all of that time!
Cold Weather Donations Needed
As the cold weather approaches this weekend, Central is preparing to help our friends stay warm. We would appreciate any donations of blankets, coats, hats, gloves, pillows, etc. More information and needs will be announced Thursday or Friday. If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy or call the church number at (409) 206-0548.
Partnership Class
Why does Galveston Central Church do what we do? What are our values? What do we believe? What is our connection to the United Methodist Church? What does it look like to officially "join" Central?
We want to try and answer all your questions about Central at our next Partnership Class on Sunday, Feb. 1st immediately after service! To help us get a headcount, please email Amy if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.
We want to try and answer all your questions about Central at our next Partnership Class on Sunday, Feb. 1st immediately after service! To help us get a headcount, please email Amy if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.
Night of Worship
Join us at Bay Harbour UMC (3459 FM Rd 518 East, League City, TX 77573) on February 5th for an evening of worship with other United Methodist Churches in our area.
Our very own Ezra will be leading worship with leaders from Bay Harbour, League City, Dickinson and Watershed UMCs. All are welcome to come sing with us starting at 7pm!
Our very own Ezra will be leading worship with leaders from Bay Harbour, League City, Dickinson and Watershed UMCs. All are welcome to come sing with us starting at 7pm!
Choir at Central
Choir rehearsal will start back in February!
There will be two sessions to choose from this season:
Wednesday evenings 6:30pm - 8:00pm
or
Thursday mornings at 9:00am
Both rehearsals will work on the same music to sing on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
All rehearsals held in the Kids’ Room.
If you have any questions, reach out to Ezra.
There will be two sessions to choose from this season:
Wednesday evenings 6:30pm - 8:00pm
or
Thursday mornings at 9:00am
Both rehearsals will work on the same music to sing on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
All rehearsals held in the Kids’ Room.
If you have any questions, reach out to Ezra.
Want to Provide a Meal?
*We have an immediate need to fill dates in January*
Are you part of a group that wants to help us feed our hungry neighbors? Consider providing food for lunch on a Tuesday or Thursday or breakfast on a Sunday morning! On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we need volunteer groups to bring in lunch for about 120 people and serve it from 10:30am - noon. On Sunday mornings, we ask volunteers to bring breakfast for 50 people and serve at 9am. Sign up HERE or contact Amy for more details.
Are you part of a group that wants to help us feed our hungry neighbors? Consider providing food for lunch on a Tuesday or Thursday or breakfast on a Sunday morning! On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we need volunteer groups to bring in lunch for about 120 people and serve it from 10:30am - noon. On Sunday mornings, we ask volunteers to bring breakfast for 50 people and serve at 9am. Sign up HERE or contact Amy for more details.
Got any Coffee Mugs?
If your cabinets are overflowing with mugs that you don’t use, we would be happy to take them off of your hands!
Each Tuesday and Thursday, we brew over 350 cups of coffee for our community. In order to reduce waste, we use dishwasher-safe mugs.
We will gladly accept your donated coffee mugs during our open hours. Reach out to Amy if you have any questions.
Each Tuesday and Thursday, we brew over 350 cups of coffee for our community. In order to reduce waste, we use dishwasher-safe mugs.
We will gladly accept your donated coffee mugs during our open hours. Reach out to Amy if you have any questions.
