Glorify God and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by welcoming all neighbors home to grow in faith and serve Christ. 

Dear Lakeside Family,

This past Sunday, we welcomed 13 new members, including children and teens, into the Lakeside family! As we heard the membership vows—prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness—we renewed our own covenant alongside them. Their welcome was a joyful reminder that God is bringing us together across generations to grow in faith and serve Jesus Christ. We are the church together. Our membership vows express a covenant—a relationship grounded in God’s grace, in which we promise to worship, grow, serve, and care for one another.

Our stewardship series, Committed: A God-Centered Life, invites us to explore these vows and practice them in our daily lives. We began with witness, hearing Glenda Clark share about Jubilee Prison Ministry. Through visits, prayers, encouraging placemats, and sponsored meals, this ministry helps incarcerated women experience the love of Christ. It reminds us that our witness takes shape through both the stories we share and the mercy we offer.

On September 27, we considered our commitment to prayer. This Sunday, October 4, we will focus on presence. What does it mean to show up for God and for one another? Our presence matters. When we gather for worship, share life, and stand beside someone in a difficult season, we help make the church a community where God’s love can be experienced.

I invite you to join us Sundays at 10:30 AM as we continue this series and prepare for Commitment Sunday, October 25. Please begin prayerfully considering a financial pledge for the coming year. A pledge is a practical way to live into our vow of giving and our covenant with one another. It expresses our intention to help sustain the worship, care, welcome, and ministry we share. It also helps Lakeside plan faithfully for the year ahead.

I am grateful to be part of this church with you. May God deepen our commitment and help us live these vows with joy.

Grace and peace,

Rev. David Johnson, Pastor

Join us at Lakeside for Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 25, from 5:30–7:00 PM! Bring your family, invite your neighbors, and enjoy an evening of costumes, candy, and creative trunks.

We need our Lakeside family to help make this a wonderful welcome for our community. Start planning your trunk decorations, gather your candy, and get ready to greet the children and families who come our way. Whether your design is simple or elaborate, your friendly welcome is what makes the evening special.

We’ll award trophies in five categories, so bring your creativity and a little friendly competition! Watch for trunk registration information in the newsletter and at church.

Together, we can help our neighbors experience Lakeside as a place of joy, connection, and belonging. Mark your calendar and start dreaming up your trunk!

What does it look like to actually practice the way of Jesus in everyday life?

Sign up for Practicing the Way and join in this study on following the way of Jesus. We are offering three different small group times meeting at Lakeside so you can choose the one that best fits your schedule. Start dates below:

-- Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM — beginning September 20

-- Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM — beginning September 22

-- Saturday mornings at 7:00 AM — beginning September 26

Here is a link to the digital copy of the book. There will be some print copies available tomorrow. 

Whether you are new to small groups or have been part of one for years, this is a great opportunity to grow in faith alongside others.

Christian formation does not happen by accident. We become more like Jesus as we learn His way, practice His way, and walk His way together.

Choose a group, invite a friend, and join us this fall as we practice the way of Jesus together.

On September 20,  we heard from Ms. Glenda about Jubilee Ministries. When she shared about Jubilee Prison Ministry in worship, she reminded us that a witness to Christ can be as tangible as a meal, a prayer, or a place at the table.

Jubilee is a nonprofit, interdenominational ministry that offers incarcerated women a weekend of Christian community. From November 6–8, Glenda will serve as the Agape coordinator for a Jubilee weekend at the Carol Young Unit in Dickinson. About 36 women residents and 40 volunteers will take part. Through conversation, prayer, and hospitality, the weekend seeks to help women experience healing, renewed dignity, and the love of Jesus Christ.

Glenda offered several ways to participate.We add our name and a message to a link in the prayer chain with each link reminding the women that someone is praying for them. Some were able to sponsor a meal for $5. Our children began making placemats during Children’s Ministry that act as a small gesture of kindness. Please pray for the women and volunteers during the November 6–8 weekend.

As Glenda shared, one participant described the experience as “three days when I wasn’t in prison.”  I lift this ministry up because of the call ti visit the prisoner in Matthew's gospel and because in the gospel of Luke Jesus says that he has sent "to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Jubilee Ministries is one way to follow in the call of Jesus and to welcome our neighbors home into the gracefilled embrace of God's love. We are thankful for Glenda and the volunteer team going to make that invitation tangible. 

May the women know that they are seen, loved, and never beyond the reach of God’s grace. Amen.

David

This year we are hosting Symphony Inspira and their 2026-2027 concert series. Their first symphont is coming up the last Saturday of October. Join Symphony Inspira for Symphony Most Strange, an evening celebrating the unmistakable film music of Danny Elfman. From the dark and dramatic to the strange, whimsical and wonderfully theatrical, this concert brings some of Elfman’s most memorable music to the stage.

Saturday, October 24, 2026
7:00 PM

Lakeside United Methodist Church
14303 W. Lake Houston Parkway
Houston, TX 77044

General Admission: $20
Children age 10 and under: FREE

Seating is general admission. Join us for a delightfully strange night of music with Symphony Inspira!

In the Pink is coming up, and Lakeside would love for you to join us! This special event supports Project Mammogram, a ministry that helps provide breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services for women and men who might otherwise be unable to afford them. Lakeside will have a table at this year’s event, and only a few seats remain. Tickets are $175 per person. If you would like to attend with our Lakeside group, please let us know soon.

Can’t attend but still want to help? Volunteers are also needed on the day of the event! You can serve behind the scenes and help make this important fundraiser possible.

Learn more about In the Pink:
https://app.betterunite.com/nehf-inthepink2026

Come enjoy a wonderful event—or lend a hand as a volunteer—as we support lifesaving care for our neighbors!

Creating a safe, welcoming church environment for children and youth is something we all share responsibility for.

At Lakeside, Safe Sanctuary training helps us make sure our ministries are places where children, students, families, and volunteers can feel secure and cared for. It gives us common expectations, clear practices, and the tools we need to protect the young people entrusted to our care.

We are asking members of our church family to consider completing Safe Sanctuary training. Anyone can complete the training, and having more trained adults gives us greater flexibility when help is needed throughout the year.

This is especially important if you think you might ever be willing to serve with children’s ministry, Sunday school, youth group, special events, VBS, or other ministries involving children and students. Even if you are not currently scheduled to serve, completing the training now means you will be ready when an opportunity comes along.

Providing a safe church does not happen because of one pastor, teacher, or ministry leader. It happens when all of us work together.

How to Complete Safe Sanctuary Training

1. Follow this link: https://www.ministryopportunities.org/TXACUMC

2. Once you reach the page, scroll down to Houston, Lakeside UMC and click on it. This is important so that your training is counted as part of Lakeside’s Safe Sanctuary roll.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the required background check and Safe Sanctuary class.

4. The class is completed online and takes approximately 60–90 minutes.

Even if you are not sure when you might serve, completing these steps now helps Lakeside be prepared when opportunities arise.

Thank you for helping us create a church where children and youth are welcomed, protected, encouraged, and given the opportunity to grow in faith.

Jesus showed us what service looks like: humble, loving, and focused on others. He came “not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28), and he calls us to follow his example.

The Lakeside Serve Team is everyone who helps make ministry happen—from children and youth ministry to worship, greeting, ushering, announcements, and behind-the-scenes support.

Every act of service is a testimony of God’s love and a way to participate in the ministry of Jesus. As we serve, we live out Lakeside’s mission to welcome home all our neighbors to grow in faith and serve Jesus Christ.

There is a place for you on the Lakeside Serve Team. Come use your gifts to help others experience the love of Christ.