Houston Trinity News

June 1,  2026
You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:34

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Romans 15:7

Friends,

Friends,

Summer has arrived. Almost all the schools are out, and we are all gearing up for time spent together on vacations, at camps, or wherever/whatever we are going or doing for the next three months.

There seems to be a different dynamic in summer, more time to spend with family. Less reason to worry about getting homework done or completing work assignments. Yet summer is also a time when family time sometimes runs too long. I had an interesting conversation with my dental hygienist as i sat in her chair this morning (granted it was pretty much a one-way conversation since she had my mouth pried open). Her summer vacation is a cruise with her two adult daughters and her brother and his three adult children. Her brother's comment about the cruise was he was happy that it was only four days long because longer than that might family disruptions might begin to show. When I had a chance to talk, I told her that every family has some dysfunction, that's what makes each one unique. Some dysfunction is larger than others, but we all have some. (If you don't believe me join us over the next four Sundays as we tell the story of Abraham and Sarah.)

That includes our church family as well. We don't always agree. We don't always want to head in the same direction. But we remain a family by joining together to move forward with whatever decision is made as a whole. We are preparing to embark on one of the most important efforts I believe we will take in the life of our congregation. In late June or early July, we are going to begin a six-month exercise to determine who we want to be in the next five years. Not only who, but how are we going to get there. This will be an effort for the entire church family, not just leadership, not just a few, but everyone. We will be creating a visioning/leadership team to shepherd the process. If you are interested in being part of that team, please let me know.

I am excited about where we have been but more excited about where we are going. As I said Sunday, God has called us into a partnership to do Godly work in West Houston. I know we are ready. We just need to decide who we want to be and how we are going to participate in that partnership.

I am excited about our church family and especially in the opportunity to watch our church family grow as we continue to welcome everyone that walks through our doors. I am excited to watch as the recently opened apartments begin to fill, and the new residents arrive at our doorsteps after we have welcomed them into our community.

Summer is here. Let's spend some quality time with our families: at home and at church.

God bless you. See you Sunday

This Week's Scriptures

<i></i><br><span><i><b></b></i></span><span><i><b></b></i></span><span><b></b></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span><b></b></span><span><b>Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”</b></span>


 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and invoked the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.

Genesis 12:1-9 (NRSV)

Calendar Reminders - June


June 1 - Bible Study - ZOOM - 7:30 - Exodus - led by Pastor Manuel

June 3 - Wednesday Night Bible Study - TBD- 6:30 - in person and ZOOM

June 7 - Sunday Worship - Communion

June 8 - Bible Study - ZOOM - 7:30 - Exodus - led by Pastor Manuel

June 11 - Wednesday Night Bible Study - Job- 6:30 - in person and ZOOM

June 13 - Youth Night Watch for emails to finalize date and place

June 14 - Sunday Worship

  • Confirmation

June 15 - Bible Study - ZOOM - 7:30 - Exodus - led by Pastor Manuel

June 18- Wednesday Night Bible Study - Job - 6:30 - in person and ZOOM

June 21 - Sunday Worship - Fathers Day

  • Council Meeting

June 27 - Women of Faith Prayer Meeting

May 29 - Youth Night

New Sermon Series - Forming a Family/Preparing a People

The story of Abraham and Sarah is complex, full of twists and turns, great faith, and crippling fear. Through it all, it is a story about a family that struggles and learns to love in ways that could be an invitation to the whole world. It is a story about the people of God who want to follow, even when their wisdom falls short. It is a story about blessing, about receiving a blessing, and then being a blessing. We begin this season after Pentecost by thinking about the church and about these examples of faith as we consider forming a family and preparing a people.

Series Titles

June 7 - To be a Blessing

June 14 - A Miracle Called Laughter

June 21 - Hearing the Voice

June 28 - God will Provide

New Member Class

If you are a visitor and would like to know more about the United Methodist Church and Houston Trinity, or are interested in joining our congregation, we invite you to attend a three-week class beginning June 21. We will meet at 9:00 in Classroom 1 for an hour. Then you will be able to attend our 10:45 Worship.

If you are interested, please let Pastor Ron know. We look forward to you joining us.

Church Directory

We need to update our directory. It is hard for our visitors to know who you are. We are trying to solve that problem by creating a new directory. We will soon be contacting everyone to update information. If you would like to provide a photo that would be wonderful. If would like to have a new picture, we will take it on Sunday mornings.

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  Youth Night

The date for Youth Night has not been set. Stay tuned for more information as more details are developed

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2026 Congregational Focus Corner

Community Outreach/Missions

We are nearing the first actions of our Missional Community program. Stay tuned for exciting information of the first effort we are taking in our community.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Velma Bailey, Mei Mei or any member of our Outreach committee.

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Samaritans Purse - Operations Christmas Child

The Missional Community is asking the congregation to prayerfully consider the Shoebox program we heard about this past Sunday. We will be considering how we are going to participate in this program as part of our outreach.

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Prayer

June Prayer Focus - Ephesians 6:18

"18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 

Our prayer focus for June is an important reminder that our prayers are powerful when they are they are guided by the Holy Spirit. During this month pray unceasingly for each other, for the church, and for the world. When the Holy Spirit helps us align our prayers with the works of God, they are powerful. Remember that we are created in God's image, called to continue Jesus' ministry and mission and this world and convicted to that work through the Holy Spirit. Allow the Spirit to guide your prayers and they can create works greater that we can imagine.

As we continue to walk our prayer journey this year pray daily to understand where our faith lies. Pray daily to understand that the power of men is nothing compared to the power of God. pray daily that we, the body, the church are beholden only to Christ, not to men.

If you are interested in being a part of the planning for our monthly prayer focus, please contact Mel Bernardo or any member of the Prayer Team.

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News from the Marvin Rader School

We had a week - long celebration of the 59th Founding anniversary of Marvin A. Rader School on Feb. 22 - 27. with the theme: Educating the Mind, the Heart and the Hands 59 Years Nurturing Faith and Service. The activities included Science Quiz Bee, Mathlympic, Storytelling, Clay modelling, Fun Games, Booth Sales, Cake Raffle or a Cause. The highlight of the celebration was a motorcade to promote our school.

Our school finally closed with the moving -up/ graduation and awarding of certificates on March 31.

The Parents Project of renovating the roof was a huge success. The parents were able to donate 56K and we were able to receive donations from friends abroad and local supporters for the project. The renovation was almost done.

Regards to all and please keep us in your prayers. 

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Prayer Corner

Please let Nini or me know if you would like to have your prayer request added to the newsletter.

This weeks' prayer requests.

Prayers for Healing
Jose Liwanag
Saffa Gabba
Christopher Hilton
Bruce Jocz
Pam Custer
Anita Solas
Louise Mosley
Michael Bhola
Jared Davis
Rev. Steven Newcombe -                FUMC Houston
Bill Robinson
Edgar Campbell
Josh Bridges
Florante Paz
Fawn Cumby
Christian Mirasol
Leticia Abenojar
Juanita Miller
Ruben Paz
Shellie Robertson
Teddy Ellison
Mel Bousley
Ben Bailon

Prayers for the World
The peace of God to reign.
For the Marvin Rader School

Open Hearts and Minds; Eyes that See and Ears that Hear 
Houston Trinity United Methodist Church

Prayers for Safe Travels
Safe travels for all our members and family who are traveling throughout the world.

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We come to you in prayer of confession of what we have done and what we have not done. A prayer of confession that we have walked into the world and failed to notice those around us who are suffering, who are abandoned, who are ignored or marginalized.

We come to you in prayer for our church. A prayer of hope. A prayer of love for those we gather with. A prayer of comfort those among us who are hurting. A prayer of safety for those among us who are traveling. A prayer of guidance for those among us who feel lost or alone.

We come to you in prayer for our community. For those among us who are lost, who have not heard the good news of our Savior Jesus Christ. For those in our community who need to be lifted up, held up, or loved because they feel none of those.

We come to you in prayer for our country. For our leaders. For those in power who make decisions that impact millions of people. We pray for an attitude of justice, peace and love. We pray for a willingness to the kind of mercy that you show for everyone one of us.

We come Lord, praying that your Spirit will continue to burn in our hearts, that the words of Jesus will be our example and that we will reflect your love to all the world.

Loving God, we come to you with thankful hearts for the grace that you pour upon us every minute of every day.

We pray all this in the name of your son, our Redeemer, our Savior, Jesus Christ,

AMEN