Take Time to Be Holy
This is the title of an 1882 hymn by William D. Longstaff. Though venerable, its message is eternally contemporary:
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
The need to find that place apart from the craziness of the world is not just a vacation need but a daily need. It’s why Jesus pulled His disciples away for some “down time” together (Mark 6:31–32). It’s why I am thankful to hear of our members getting away over the summer or even just a long weekend. It’s why I urge my staff to take their PTO; they are better when they have been away to a quiet space somewhere else for a while. It’s why I am glad when I hear that a member has started a new prayer routine, found a helpful prayer app, or is going on an Emmaus Walk—they are looking to Jesus and “like Him (they) shalt be.”
The extended benefit of this is what Longstaff says in this second verse: “Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.” When we take care of ourselves, we see more clearly the Jesus who is in each other and in the gathered body of Christ; the benefit is exponential for the church.
I have enjoyed our time away in the mountains of Colorado, but I am looking forward to being back with my church family this Labor Day Sunday in order to see Jesus in each one of you. But I tell you in advance: some of our staff will be gone—I told them to go take some time to be holy somewhere!
Breathe peace,
Matt
A Ridiculous Vision?
Rev. Judith Reedy, Guest Writer
These last two Sundays have been inspirational and energizing! Derek set us up for the race with a fast-paced charge of “On Your Mark, Get Ready, Get Set, Go!”
Stacey followed up with “Surrounded and Still Running!” As Stacey reminded us, these stories are written for us. They have been written for FUMC Plano since we first began meeting together in 1847. Obviously, the meaning, the charge is different for each of us. Those before us, and certainly those to come, may not look like us, but the stories written are for those who are living an example that others can follow.
Stacey told of pastoring a new church start in an elementary school. Everything – chairs, screens, music and much more – at the end of any given Sunday, had to be stuffed back into a trailer for a week. She asked the question, “If there had been a week when we could not have unlocked that trailer of stuff, would we still have been the church?” The answer was/is “Yes!”
The journey, our journey, is not finished on any given Sunday. It is a lifetime journey – staying alert to whoever needs us along the way. Trying to imagine what that will look like may, on most days, turn out to be a “ridiculous vision,” which happens to be Jarrod’s sermon title for this coming Sunday.
Jesus had quite a few “ridiculous visions.” I’m guessing you have had a few of those yourself. Stay tuned for Rev. Johnston’s Word this Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Judith
Fleshing Out Our Faith
Rebecca Grogan, Guest Writer
At our last 1st Thursday Night Book Club, we reviewed a book we all liked but felt should have been “fleshed out” a bit more. The language was flat and without passion. Aren’t we kind of like that as Christians? We’re trying, sometimes absently, and we believe, we’re striving to put our faith to work, but we need a little “fleshing out.”
Maybe we need to consider getting out of our comfort zone. What would it take for us to move our comfort needle? Is it missional work that needs to be fleshed out? Talk to Stacy Spears or her mission co-chairs, Cassandra Bowell or Suzanne Babb. There are so many opportunities at our church for you to experience!
Maybe we need to experience a new way of thinking, so try a class like a book study, a Bible study, or Book Club. It gives rise to reading you might not do on your own. It is amazing how many Christians shy away from biblical reading and thought. It is so valuable in fleshing out our faith and widening our comfort zone of witness. The good thing about these activities is discussion and debate, making it easier to understand and develop your own faith statement. Everyone grows! Come talk to me. We are doing a study of the Gospels because a member asked if the study was possible.
Maybe we are good at witnessing our faith through interactions and sharing, and we want to work with children or youth. This is an area always in need of strong, patient, and loving adults. Yes, they will test you, but what better way to stretch your comfort zone and flesh out your witness? Talk to Sarah Henson or Mardi Bowen to see where you can contribute.
I’m just hitting the obvious opportunities to flesh out your faith and witness. It is hard to do anything in our church and not grow in faith. I have a challenge for all: invite a friend or friends to come to church WITH you. Flesh out your witness. You can even let your friends know this is a challenge for you. I bet they will help you out! Let’s put a little more flesh, a little more color, and a little more passion into our faith.
A Review: Something Greater
Photo by Anita Hord
By Nancy Bryan-Ellison
From the moment the first note rang out, Something Greater felt like a production far bigger than its modest five-week rehearsal window. I had the rare privilege of having a “front-row seat” to its journey from concept to stage—helping with everything from casting calls to promotional graphics—and I can honestly say that what opened on stage looked and felt like the work of a company with months of preparation, not weeks.
It wasn’t without its hurdles. Casting an impressive group of young adults for a complex, original biblical musical is no small feat. There were last-minute role changes, a tight timeline, and the sheer ambition of bringing to life an imagined excerpt from the “Lost Book of Nathan.” But this cast and crew didn’t just rise to the challenge—they soared. The teamwork was palpable, creating a production that felt seamless and alive.
Written by FUMC Plano member L. Kim Ross, with music by Ross and our own Director of Worship Arts, Robin Kaufman Anderson, this original work weaves scripture, history, music, imagination, and drama into a story that feels both ancient and urgent. Though rooted in biblical history, the production’s creative mix of modern dress and ancient imagery made the story feel startlingly present. King David in a suit and spectacles and Nathan the Prophet in Nikes, carrying a black briefcase, brought the characters into our world, while the all-white apparitions evoked a timeless, spiritual realm.
While the entire company brought depth and energy to the stage, four performances stood as pillars of the musical’s success:
Elbert Haney, a Music Education major at Collin College, opened the musical with a strong, clear solo that set the tone for the evening. Though many of his roles were brief, each was performed with precision and presence—especially his portrayals of Young King David and the Apostle Paul. As Young David, Haney’s playful energy and musicality lit up the stage; as Paul, his passion and authority commanded it.
Griffin Shoemaker (King David) brought both authority and humor to the role. His David could roar with righteous anger one moment and disarm with sly wit the next. One particularly memorable scene came as he described his vision of the temple to his wife, Shey—equal parts comedy and sadness—revealing a king both proud and human. Having known Griffin since he was a child, it was a joy to see him come full circle in such a demanding role. His dual connection to the church—as both actor and staff member—added a special note of pride for me personally.
Hudson Donnell (Nathan), a senior at Wylie High School, anchored the story as our narrator and trusted guide. Tasked with both telling the story and living within it, Donnell delivered with wisdom, warmth, and grounded authority. He gained my trust immediately. In the second-to-last scene, his delivery of the line, “Things change. That doesn’t change everything. Perhaps it is not that everything happens for a reason, but that God can create reason out of everything,” will be a moment of truth that stays with me for a long time.
And among these seasoned professionals was Haley Villaruel, a University of Texas at Austin graduate and first-grade teacher in Richardson ISD. This was Haley’s first performance in a lead role and as a soloist. Her portrayal of King David’s wife, Bathsheba (known as Shey in the production), was sweet and kind, embodying a strong matriarch of reason. The show also explored some dramatic history about Shey’s marriage to King David, including the murder of her first husband—a gripping storyline that added intriguing depth to her character.
At its heart, Something Greater is more than a work of historical imagination. It’s a story about navigating change, finding purpose in the unexpected, and trusting that God’s plans—even when they differ from our own—are greater than we can imagine. This production not only told that story—it lived it in its creation. And in that way, the team behind Something Greater delivered something greater than even they may have envisioned: a piece of theatre that inspires, entertains, and leaves the audience reflecting long after the final bow.
Support the Arts at FUMC Plano
If Something Greater moved you, please consider supporting our music and arts ministries. Your generous donations help us continue creating meaningful productions that inspire, challenge, and bring our community together. To give, please CLICK HERE and choose MUSIC MINISTRY from the drop-down menu. Every gift, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you for helping us bring stories like this to life!
Showing Up and Showing Out
I am still reflecting on the strong witness of our Crossfire Youth Ministry last Sunday—both youth and adults. They played the instruments, they sang the songs, they served communion, and they spoke eloquently in prayer and testimony. They showed up, they showed out, and they inspired! I was struck by several points our Minister to Youth and Families, Sarah Henson, made. One of those was that so much of youth ministry is about showing up—being present and available for each other and for others outside of the church family. Jacob Favre, adult chaperone and father of Maddie, spoke personally in his witness about the transformative effect just showing up has—for others and for yourself—even with the late nights of talking and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Daughter Maddie showed up and invited her friend Addie to come along; it was Addie’s first mission trip. I suspect it won’t be her last—she had a wonderful time.
It is this intentionality of witness that draws others closer to Christ. Interestingly, our worship attendance in the Sanctuary and online has been ahead of 2024, and for June and July, the increase has been 9% higher in the Sanctuary and 14% higher online than during the summer a year ago. Our people are showing up, showing out, and inviting others. That’s how things grow.
As part of our Bring 1 initiative this fall, we will have significant and celebrative opportunities every month to show up and show out. This weekend is one of them. The now four performances of Something Greater are filling up fast. We’ve invited friends to go with us Friday night. You can reserved your spot HERE. And on Sunday, after the 11 o’clock service, we will celebrate Jill Stoel’s thirty years of service—years that she and her late husband, Gerry, gave so generously to all of us in the kitchen—as she retires from her role as Kitchen Manager.
There’s a lot to be proud of, a lot to thank God for, and a lot to invite others to see—as we show up and show out for the Christ who animates us all.
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
Celebrating the Future Hope Now in Every Communion
In his very dense book Looking East in Winter, Archbishop Rowan Williams points out that the Orthodox Church experiences communion with a different perspective than those of us in the Western Church—both Catholic and Protestant. We in the West tend to celebrate the past: what Christ did that night around the table with his disciples as he said, “Remember me when you break this bread and drink this wine.” As Rowan says, communion is “turned into a backward-looking action, understood not as an anticipation of the consummated future (emphasis mine) but as a repetition of the saving past.”
Better understood, when we share communion, we are teleported side by side into that great future reality where Christ is all and in all, as Christ brings all of creation back into oneness with God. There is no more suffering; there are no more tears or pain. This reality was inaugurated by Christ’s death and resurrection, where all powers—including death—were brought under Christ’s control. That is the future reality we can experience and rejoice in every time we share together the bread and the cup. This is our confident hope—something I know is running in short supply for many.
Amplifying our communion and our communal hope Sunday will be our Minister of Youth, Sarah Henson, and the “fresh voices” of our youth as they witness, in a variety of ways, the hope they saw and manifested in their travels this summer. I am excited to be at table with them and with you as, together, we anticipate our consummated future with Christ, our eternal hope—NOW.
Yours in Christ,
Lead Pastor
Matt Gaston
There’s “Something Greater” Coming This Fall
It may be a bit of a summer lull right now, but something greater is coming—in fact, some things that will have us literally standing up and cheering.
Overarching these events will be periodic reminders to ourselves to Bring 1, meaning the event is one we’ll want to share with others—especially those who haven’t experienced our church, or perhaps Jesus, in a long time. We believe these monthly events will be real milestones—points of pride and excitement. They will include the consecration of our new “front door,” complete with driveway, parking, and landscaping. Later, we’ll consecrate our new Yardbird Maintenance Building, celebrate Trunk or Treat, and give thanks for being debt-free with a ceremonial note burning! All of this leads up to December’s community Christmas Pops Concert and our Christmas Eve services. You get the idea.
In addition to the new flooring, we’ll have multiple occasions to Bring 1—one friend, one neighbor, one store clerk we know who may not have a church home. These are all easy-entry opportunities to introduce someone to the ministries of our church. And two more opportunities are just around the corner in August.
Our original Something Greater musical will debut August 8, 9, and 10 in the Chapel. Written by our own Kim Ross and Robin Anderson, this theatrical production—performed by young adults—brings to life an imagined story of the prophet Nathan and King David, alongside the very real story of the royal lineage that led to Jesus.
Also in August, we’ll welcome our annual Fresh Voices series featuring outstanding preachers on four of the five Sundays while Cammy and I take some vacation time. Each Sunday is another opportunity to Bring 1 guest or family member.
I am very proud and very excited about what the Spirit is doing in our midst. Through June, our in-house worship attendance is up 5.5% over the same time last year. Our total attendance—both in-house and online—is up 9.5%. With our Bring 1 invitational effort, I look forward to reporting what the second half of 2025 looks like compared to last year.
Something greater is coming …
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
Refusing to Be Touched by the Pain of Others
I’m wrapping up our Reluctant Prophet series this Sunday as we explore Paul’s “prison letter,” Colossians 1:15–28. The section begins with a “hymn” (vv. 15–20) that the writer includes to clarify the centrality of Christ and his sacrifice for everyone and everything in heaven and on earth. It may be the most grand and poetic Christological statement in all of the New Testament.
Getting our minds and hearts around it can be a huge challenge because we naturally—and sinfully—categorize the world and all that’s in it: better/worse, higher/lower, richer/poorer, smarter/dumber, deserving/undeserving. We almost always place ourselves in the better-regarded category. This is our ego and our sin. By demeaning others so that we can feel better about ourselves, we distance ourselves from them emotionally. Their “worth” is less, and therefore less deserving of our care and regard. We cease to be touched by the pain of others. This is our sin—but this cannot be our way, says our New Testament prophet.
Instead, Paul states, we are to regard Christ as the “head of the body (the church),” “the firstborn from the dead,” and therefore, having “first place in EVERYTHING” (emphasis mine). Christ rose from the dead out of a love for all of creation that could not be killed. This is a love that commands our attention and our hearts—if we are open to it. It is a love that changes our orientation toward the world and all our categories within it. If we are indeed a people who are “going on to perfection in love” (Wesley), then we will find ourselves caring for and loving more and more people and things around us—even those that pain and disgust us—because Christ loves and cares for them every bit as much as Christ loves and cares for us.
When we realize that our hearts are softening toward this or that person or group, we can thank God that the Spirit is working within us. When we find ourselves being touched by the pain of others, we can be sure that God is healing pain within us—and that Christ is gaining a deeper foothold, placing God first in our hearts in ALL THINGS.
This Sunday, we will be graced by the Wesley Ramblers from the Wesley Foundation at Texas A&M as they help lead us in worship. Their “hymns,” like Paul’s, will lift Christ up as first place in everything. I look forward to seeing you in the healing place.
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
Being Present
The picture on the front page of The Dallas Morning News this morning captured the moment well. There, amidst the river-strewn debris near Camp Mystic in Kerr County, was a hand-painted sign that simply read, “Jesus Wept”—the shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35). It also captured the moment well when Jesus encounters Mary, Martha, and their grieving community after the death of their brother Lazarus. There is nothing else to do in that moment except cry. No finger-pointing, no what-ifs, no theological rationalization—none of that is of any help. Only crying is—being present with tears and hearts.
Like you, my heart has been heavy all week since the news broke … and continues to break. We immediately contacted longtime friends and members of FUMC Kerrville to confirm they were okay. They were. But they knew people who would never come home. It was heartbreaking. All I could do was affirm that Cammy and I were present with them in their personal and community losses, and in sadness of heart and prayer.
I often tell people that the book of Job is one of the great teachers of how to be both helpful and unhelpful in the face of unimaginable loss. Job loses everything to tragedy; there is nothing to do but sit in the stunned silence of his unspeakable grief. His two friends come, and for a week, simply sit with him—saying nothing. Counselors would tell you they could not have been more helpful to their friend. Then they blow it. They start asking questions about what he could have done to cause this. What did he do to deserve it? It is painful to read, in large part because it captures biblically what we so quickly move to: the blame-and-rationalization game. For people who are hurting, that is nothing but cruel.
No, at the end of the day, we are left gasping in our speechlessness in the face of such tragedy. Yes, there will come a time when hard lessons can be heard—about weather forecasting and warnings, about early response systems that rural counties have difficulty affording, and about the plain human tendency to minimize the importance of such things. But that time is not now. Now is the time to simply be present with those we know affected by this tragedy, and to be present with each other—sometimes in silence and tears that say, “I know.”
Lord, remember them unto your kingdom,
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
P.S. FUMC Plano is receiving donations for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). 100% of your gifts will go toward disaster relief in the affected area of our sister Rio Texas Conference. You can give HERE, and select “UMCOR Disaster” from the drop-down menu.
Wearing Shorts and a T-Shirt to Work
It’s not often that I do that—except when I work with the Yardbirds on a Friday morning doing yardwork at the church. But I’m wearing them today as I travel an hour and a half west to spend time with our youth at Conference Camp on Lake Bridgeport—the Mount Horeb for thousands of children, youth, and adults who have met God there over the decades. It is one of the great joys of my calling as a pastor.
During my time there today, I’ll hear stories from the youth about small group study and conversation, time in the pool and on the sand volleyball court, perhaps some shaving cream fights, late nights and tired days (especially toward the end of the week), camp food, silliness, singing—all told with lots of smiles and laughter.
For Courtney White, Matthew Hopson, Riley Hilton, Griffin Shoemaker, and Sarah Bush Henson—our FUMC Plano counselors there with some 150-200 youth—it is work, to be sure. But it is work made lighter by the knowledge that God is at work in all of it.
The leadership team has come together in a spirit of unity, purpose, and joy.
Griffin Shoemaker, our Modern Worship Leader, is not only leading music but also preaching his first sermon at Vesper Point.
Youth have been encountering the depth of God’s love as they sit on benches at sunset, staring at the cross on that same point.
Jaeson Antley, one of our youth, signed up for camp the day before it began—right after returning from South Korea with his family.
New friendships are forming as our youth connect with others from different churches, already making plans to reunite NEXT year at Bridgeport.
Inspired by the Spirit, our youth are reaching out and inviting others to experience what God is doing at camp.
All of these are just some of the energized evidence of God “passing by” at Bridgeport Camp and working wonders in their midst.
So I put on my shorts and t-shirt to go to work today—to see what all God has been doing in these young people’s lives. Hallelujah! Amen.
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,