Newsletter|July 31, 2025

We are diverse. We are mission driven.

We are family. We are committed to Christ.

Project Transformation: A Thank You from Teresa Cochran

We wrapped our second summer Project Transformation camp this past week and the PT team would like to thank Martin for all their support in helping make it a great success. You are an amazing church that is consistent in being the hands and feet of God and especially when it comes to supporting our children and young adults you never falter.

You provided reading volunteers for 7 of the 8 weeks of camp, 2 hours a day for 4 days a week.

You provided a special lunch for the interns weekly

You provided special snacks for the interns weekly

You provided special gifts for the interns

You provided incentives for the children weekly

You provided volunteers to help make Family Fun Night a Success

You helped Diane Hutchinson provide several dinners for 30 interns and staff during the summer

You provided the funds for the PT kids to have a waterslide as they wrapped up camp

You provided labor to move furniture, set up tables and chairs, hang decorations from the ceiling, made balloon arches and amazing coral reefs

And a special thank you to Deanna for always being there to meet the needs of the interns

Anne Unrue for working with the Project Transformation reading coordinator and helping the children. Every child remained on level this summer and many advanced levels. Their teachers will be thrilled in the fall!

And a thank you to the staff for teaching God and Me Time, being available to support the interns, and stepping in to read with the children.

We will see you next summer!

*** Not on Teresa’s list …but I want us to Thank Teresa Cochran for all of her hard work on Project Transformation. Her job duties are too numerous to list…but hats off to you Teresa for a job very well done.

As an extension of our Martin UMC traditional services, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to transform our chapel into a vibrant and welcoming space for our new modern worship service, launching at the end of August 2025. This renovation will create an atmosphere that fosters contemporary worship, community, and connection. Our goal is to blend modern aesthetics with the sacred purpose of the space, ensuring it’s both functional and inspiring.

This is a fantastic service opportunity for our community to contribute their talents and time to a project that will have a lasting impact on our worship experience. We ask each of you to consider offering of your time and talents in the coming weeks to help Martin make this ministry happen.

There will be a table set up in Wooton Hall on Sunday, July 27^th that will have more information about what the plans are for the new modern worship service. There will also be sign-up sheets of all of the service opportunities and dates for when the work will be done.

Below is a list of all the opportunities that are available for you.

RENOVATION

August 2nd

Clean out library

AUGUST 8/9

Paint Hallways and Bathrooms

Patch and Repair walls in Chapel

(remove upper cabinets and paint wall)

Repair existing pews for use

Cover/paint windows on north side

Construct base wall for mosaic design

Patch and paint library walls

Clean carpet in library

A/V SOUND BOOTH

AUGUST 8/9

Set up sound booth

Install/ Set up sound board

Run A/V wiring from booth to stage

Set up speakers and sound on stage

Install/set up TVs

Set up lighting

Fabricate screening wall around sound booth

INTERIOR DESIGN

AUGUST 15/16

CHAPEL

Help construct/paint Mosaic wall on north wall

Paint doors and replace handles

Set up décor in chapel

LIBRARY

Paint mural on east library wall

Set up décor/ welcoming area

Set up seating

WEEK OF AUGUST 17TH

ROOM SET UP

Set up stage

Clean and set up chairs

Clean chapel after renovations/ interior design are finished

PROMOTIONS

START ON AUGUST 1st

Help with developing and implementing marketing strategy

Help design and produce handouts

Design and install any directional signage

Help with social media postings

Update/maintain webpage for new service

WORSHIP SERVICE

START WEEK OF AUGUST 24th

Greeters

Ushers

Singers

Band members

Lay speakers/readers

Service set up and clean up

You’re Invited: A Journey Through the Stories of Women in the Word!!!

Dear Friends,

We are excited to invite you to a four-week Bible study series focused on Women of the Word. During this time together, we’ll encounter remarkable women from Scripture whose courage, wisdom, and faith continue to speak powerfully into our lives today. Their stories remind us that God’s call and presence show up in the everyday moments of women’s lives, then and now.

What makes this study truly special is that we’ll gather in a new setting each week, creating space to experience different communities and voices. Each session will be led by a different female minister, each bringing her own insights and reflections on the women we’ll meet in the Bible.

We’ll gather in Soul Food from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Beginning with a light meal, we’ll share in conversation and community before diving into the lesson. Each session stands on its own, so whether you can come to one, two, or all four, we would be honored to have you.

Here’s our schedule:

August 11 – Martin UMC – Soul Food
Rev. Faiana Prescott-Funaki
August 18 – St. Paul’s UMC & Ash Lane UMC
Rev. Katie Newkirk & Linda Lewis
August 25 – FUMC Hurst
Rev. Sarah Garza
September 8 – FUMC Colleyville
Rev. Anne-Marie Berg

There’s no cost to attend, and we are glad to offer nursery care and carpooling upon request.

To help us plan, please register by August 4 using the link below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Pastor Faiana Prescott-Funaki.

Come, be renewed by the stories of our sisters in faith. We can’t wait to journey with you.

Link for Registration: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/1fa603b4/4yVrvxSsxka-I_wiN4zUIQ?u=https://fumchurst.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/04d86434-3502-4a6d-b0c5-29122e2f7f7e