November 2026
November 2026
November Sermon Series:
More Than Mustaches: Grown Men, Lost Boys
Our culture keeps talking about an epidemic of loneliness, but it hits young men hardest. They've lost their sense of purpose and belonging, and for the first time in a long time, they're showing up at church looking for answers. The question is: will we be ready? Because the truth is, we already have what they need: not a career plan, not a girlfriend, not even "be more like David or Paul." The answer we have is Jesus Himself. And this series isn't just for young men, it's for everyone who loves one, whether that's a son, a coworker, a friend, or a spouse. Join us for four weeks in the Gospel of John as we discover what healthy masculinity looks like through the life of Christ. So come ready to learn and have some fun this November.
More Than Mustaches: Grown Men, Lost Boys
Our culture keeps talking about an epidemic of loneliness, but it hits young men hardest. They've lost their sense of purpose and belonging, and for the first time in a long time, they're showing up at church looking for answers. The question is: will we be ready? Because the truth is, we already have what they need: not a career plan, not a girlfriend, not even "be more like David or Paul." The answer we have is Jesus Himself. And this series isn't just for young men, it's for everyone who loves one, whether that's a son, a coworker, a friend, or a spouse. Join us for four weeks in the Gospel of John as we discover what healthy masculinity looks like through the life of Christ. So come ready to learn and have some fun this November.
Calendars
Upcoming Events
Staff
Community Space
Church Ministry
Student Ministry
Leadership & GGG Meetings
Kids & Family Ministry
FUMC
Methodist Men
Pastor's Corner
Belonging Looks Like This
The Gathering has wrapped up for the fall, and I’m still smiling about what I saw around those tables. I watched babies and littles run across the room to greet their church grandparents, who were every bit as thrilled to see them. I watched adults carry drinks for little ones and become an extra set of hands for parents whose hands were already overflowing. I watched our students get genuinely excited to play with the kids, then turn around and connect with every generation in the room. I watched students give their friends a tour of the church and invite them to come back for more than just Wednesday night. I watched the joy on our men’s faces as they cooked and saw people delight in what they’d made. None of it was flashy. All of it was holy.
Here’s what I think is happening: for a long time we’ve been a multigenerational church, with lots of generations under one roof. Now we’re becoming an intergenerational church, where those generations are woven into each other’s lives. That’s the difference between going to church and belonging to a church, and it matters more than we might think. Research from the Fuller Youth Institute, which followed hundreds of young people from youth group into college, found that of all the church factors they studied, relationships across generations were the strongest link to a faith that lasts. Students who served and built friendships with younger kids were especially likely to keep their faith. Meanwhile, Lifeway Research found that about two-thirds of teens who attended church regularly stepped away for at least a year after high school. The top reasons were moving away to college and no longer feeling connected to the people at church. Going to church makes it easy to leave church. Belonging travels with you. We are raising kids and students who know in their bones that they belong to the church, and when they head off to college or a new job, that knowing will send them looking for a church to belong to again.
That’s true at every age. Moves happen, and a move is the most common reason adults end up changing churches. Finding a new church home takes real intention, and people who know what belonging feels like will go searching for it again and again. This isn’t limited to The Gathering. What I’ve seen happening there is happening all over our church. But The Gathering has been fertile soil, a place where this deep knowing has reawakened among us. Now I see it blossoming across the whole of our church, and growing deeper. Thank you for every hug, every carried cup, every meal, and every invitation. You are what belonging looks like.
With Gratitude,
Pastor Melissa
The Gathering has wrapped up for the fall, and I’m still smiling about what I saw around those tables. I watched babies and littles run across the room to greet their church grandparents, who were every bit as thrilled to see them. I watched adults carry drinks for little ones and become an extra set of hands for parents whose hands were already overflowing. I watched our students get genuinely excited to play with the kids, then turn around and connect with every generation in the room. I watched students give their friends a tour of the church and invite them to come back for more than just Wednesday night. I watched the joy on our men’s faces as they cooked and saw people delight in what they’d made. None of it was flashy. All of it was holy.
Here’s what I think is happening: for a long time we’ve been a multigenerational church, with lots of generations under one roof. Now we’re becoming an intergenerational church, where those generations are woven into each other’s lives. That’s the difference between going to church and belonging to a church, and it matters more than we might think. Research from the Fuller Youth Institute, which followed hundreds of young people from youth group into college, found that of all the church factors they studied, relationships across generations were the strongest link to a faith that lasts. Students who served and built friendships with younger kids were especially likely to keep their faith. Meanwhile, Lifeway Research found that about two-thirds of teens who attended church regularly stepped away for at least a year after high school. The top reasons were moving away to college and no longer feeling connected to the people at church. Going to church makes it easy to leave church. Belonging travels with you. We are raising kids and students who know in their bones that they belong to the church, and when they head off to college or a new job, that knowing will send them looking for a church to belong to again.
That’s true at every age. Moves happen, and a move is the most common reason adults end up changing churches. Finding a new church home takes real intention, and people who know what belonging feels like will go searching for it again and again. This isn’t limited to The Gathering. What I’ve seen happening there is happening all over our church. But The Gathering has been fertile soil, a place where this deep knowing has reawakened among us. Now I see it blossoming across the whole of our church, and growing deeper. Thank you for every hug, every carried cup, every meal, and every invitation. You are what belonging looks like.
With Gratitude,
Pastor Melissa
Ministry Snapshots
Picture Descriptions: 1) Student Workday at Glenlake Camp, 2) Methodist Men feeding the Varsity Cheerleaders, 3) Many members supported Cleburne Education Foundation at Nashville Lights, 4) Celebrating the baptism of Malina and August Bennight
Family Ministry
Last month I told you about the Future Faithful Families Project, which studied Catholic families where every one of the children grew up and stayed in the church. One thing showed up in those homes again and again: warmth. The kids knew they were loved,
knew they were safe, and knew they belonged. That’s the soil faith grows in.
You can throw all the seed you want on hardpan and not much comes up.
But warm doesn’t mean soft. Those families weren’t afraid to let their kids stumble, and that brings me to discipline.
Our Three Rule Parenting gives us a good frame for it. Do No Harm: discipline should never put a child’s sense of love, safety, or belonging up for grabs. Do Good: discipline should actually teach something. Stay in Love with God: the way we parent ought to look a little like the way God parents us.
That’s why I keep pointing folks to Love and Logic, a book and parenting resource from Foster Cline and Jim Fay. The idea is simple. Show real empathy, then let natural consequences do the teaching. Forgot your lunch again? “Oh man, that’s rough. I bet you’ll figure something out.” No lecture, no rescue, no yelling. Just love and a lesson. Better a kid learns from a missed lunch at eight than a missed rent payment at twenty-eight.
Here’s the hard part. Rescuing a struggling child usually feels like love, but a lot of the time it’s us soothing our own hurt as parents. Watching your kid struggle is miserable, and swooping in makes the misery stop, for you. But it takes away their chance to grow up, get back up, and build some grit.
God works this way with us. God could control every outcome and fix every problem for us, yet God chooses self-restraint, holding back and giving us room to choose, fail, and grow. Think about the father of the prodigal son. He didn’t chase the boy down or bail him out.
He let him go and watched the road every day. And when his son came home, the father ran. That’s a love that allows us to struggle yet never gives up on us, offering opportunities for us to grow and mature.
As always, if you want to talk it through and of this either to think about how to implement in your parenting or to discuss the theological aspect of this, reach out. I’d love to hear from you.
— Rev. Bill
knew they were safe, and knew they belonged. That’s the soil faith grows in.
You can throw all the seed you want on hardpan and not much comes up.
But warm doesn’t mean soft. Those families weren’t afraid to let their kids stumble, and that brings me to discipline.
Our Three Rule Parenting gives us a good frame for it. Do No Harm: discipline should never put a child’s sense of love, safety, or belonging up for grabs. Do Good: discipline should actually teach something. Stay in Love with God: the way we parent ought to look a little like the way God parents us.
That’s why I keep pointing folks to Love and Logic, a book and parenting resource from Foster Cline and Jim Fay. The idea is simple. Show real empathy, then let natural consequences do the teaching. Forgot your lunch again? “Oh man, that’s rough. I bet you’ll figure something out.” No lecture, no rescue, no yelling. Just love and a lesson. Better a kid learns from a missed lunch at eight than a missed rent payment at twenty-eight.
Here’s the hard part. Rescuing a struggling child usually feels like love, but a lot of the time it’s us soothing our own hurt as parents. Watching your kid struggle is miserable, and swooping in makes the misery stop, for you. But it takes away their chance to grow up, get back up, and build some grit.
God works this way with us. God could control every outcome and fix every problem for us, yet God chooses self-restraint, holding back and giving us room to choose, fail, and grow. Think about the father of the prodigal son. He didn’t chase the boy down or bail him out.
He let him go and watched the road every day. And when his son came home, the father ran. That’s a love that allows us to struggle yet never gives up on us, offering opportunities for us to grow and mature.
As always, if you want to talk it through and of this either to think about how to implement in your parenting or to discuss the theological aspect of this, reach out. I’d love to hear from you.
— Rev. Bill
Annual Basket Auction & Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch
Join us on Sunday, November 15th, in the Family Center following Late Worship
for our Annual Basket Auction and Church-Wide Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch!
We are looking for individuals, families, and groups willing to use their creativity to donate special-themed baskets or individual items for this year’s auctions. Whether big or small, your donation can make a difference! Think of fun, unique, and appealing baskets or items that will get everyone excited to bid.
Ready to participate?
Sign up in the main hallway of the church by Sunday, November 8th.
Empty baskets are also available if you need one to fill!
Donation Drop-Off Deadlines:
Tags are available in the main hallway or the church office.
All proceeds will support various FUMC ministries, including
local mission outreach and church camps.
Fun for the Kids, Too!
While the adults enjoy the auction, children will have their own special shopping table where they can purchase gifts for family and friends. We’ll also have games and crafts available to keep them entertained after lunch.
Thank you for your incredible generosity and for helping make this
annual tradition such a blessing to our church and community!
Questions? Please contact Alan Reed at 817-240-2888.
Join us on Sunday, November 15th, in the Family Center following Late Worship
for our Annual Basket Auction and Church-Wide Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch!
We are looking for individuals, families, and groups willing to use their creativity to donate special-themed baskets or individual items for this year’s auctions. Whether big or small, your donation can make a difference! Think of fun, unique, and appealing baskets or items that will get everyone excited to bid.
Ready to participate?
Sign up in the main hallway of the church by Sunday, November 8th.
Empty baskets are also available if you need one to fill!
Donation Drop-Off Deadlines:
- Thursday, November 12th, by 12:00 PM: All baskets and items.
- Sunday, November 15th, by 8:30 AM:
- Baskets containing baked goods may be delivered to the Family Center.
Tags are available in the main hallway or the church office.
All proceeds will support various FUMC ministries, including
local mission outreach and church camps.
Fun for the Kids, Too!
While the adults enjoy the auction, children will have their own special shopping table where they can purchase gifts for family and friends. We’ll also have games and crafts available to keep them entertained after lunch.
Thank you for your incredible generosity and for helping make this
annual tradition such a blessing to our church and community!
Questions? Please contact Alan Reed at 817-240-2888.
.God's Got Game - Mahjong
In order to participate you will need to RSVP
on the Calendar of events to guarantee a spot to play.
Simply go to fumccleburne.com/calendar
Click the date you plan to attend
Click the button that says "Register Now"
Input your information and click "Submit"
In order to participate you will need to RSVP
on the Calendar of events to guarantee a spot to play.
Simply go to fumccleburne.com/calendar
Click the date you plan to attend
Click the button that says "Register Now"
Input your information and click "Submit"
Signup in the Narthex
Recent
Archive
2026
September
October
No Comments