About The United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church was created on April 23, 1968, when The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and The Methodist Church merged. The denomination shares a common history and heritage with other Methodist and Wesleyan bodies. The lives and ministries of John Wesley (1703-1791) and of his brother, Charles (1707-1788), mark the origin of their common roots.

John Wesley (1703-1791)	Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Western Hills United Methodist Church History

The energy and excitement could be felt throughout the community, but there was a void in the community - there was no church. The Methodist District Board recognized the rapid growth of population and that the community could not be adequately served by existing churches in the Western Hills area.

Bishop William C. Martin appointed the Reverend Carl P. Mehaffy, Jr. with the challenge to survey the community and to inform the residents a new Methodist church was forming on June 12, 1959. The thirty-seven-year-old minister was enthusiastic with his new assignment and must have felt missionary instincts as he walked door to door to 800 homes in the hot summer of 1959. He visited with these families to ascertain if the people would join a church in the community. The response was warm and receptive, and the families were even more enthusiastic when Carl returned in the evenings with his gracious wife, Jackie. In the company of these young families, the beginning pastor began to feel quite "mature."

The survey concluded that there was a need for a Methodist Church, and arrangements were made with the Fort Worth Independent School District to rent facilities at Waverly Park Elementary School. However, the church could not use the facilities until September when school started. Many of the potential members met in the Mehaffy's home in anticipation of the church's first service. Central Methodist Church was very supportive of Carl and the new church. Book reviews were held, and the proceeds were donated to Western Hills Methodist Church. The youth at First Methodist Church held car washes to raise money for Western Hills Methodist also. As a result of this generosity, Western Hills Methodist Church had $900 in its account before the first service was held.

Carl, Jackie, and their two young daughters, Judy and Kay, went to Cokesbury in Dallas to purchase the necessary appointments for the new church. The management was dubious about providing credit but became convinced when the persuasive pastor suggested that he would take his business elsewhere. With love and care, $450 of the $900 account was spent for candlesticks, the baptismal bowl, collection plates, communion trays, and the beautiful cross, all of which the church still uses in its worship services. Hymnals were also included in this purchase.

The church continued to meet and grow and groundbreaking for the new church building commenced on Sunday, June 19, 1960 at the current address on Laredo Drive. The first service held in the new building was on December 18, 1960. 267 persons were in attendance. In 1965, the educational building was enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation. Carl and his family remained with the church until 1969. In February of 1960, the church purchased its first parsonage at 3012 Conejos Drive.

Fort-eight years, numerous pastors and their families, a new sanctuary, many congregational families and a new parsonage later, Western Hills United Methodist is still going and growing strong!

About WHUMC

At WHUMC, we are committed to focusing on family and faith! We hope to enhance the spiritual growth of our members and visitors and community by providing sound and meaningful experiences through worship, education, outreach, personal involvement in the ministry of the church, and the general nurturing of the congregation in keeping with the example and teaching of our Lord.

We invite all people to join us on this spiritual journey guided by scripture, tradition, experience and reason that leads us to a Christian faith exemplified by the loving relationships with God, others, and ourselves. We are a diverse congregation that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ and grows spiritually through small group fellowship for study.

We hope you will share this important experience with us!

 

 

Calendar @ WHUMC

April 2011

Upcoming & Ongoing Activities

Monthly Activities
First Monday: Altar Guild

First Monday: Finance

Second Sunday, bimonthly: Church Council (March, May, July, September, November, or as needed/called)

Second Thursday: UMW
Fourth Saturday: UMM Breakfast

"Why Not Now?" Contemporary Worship Service

Join us Sundays at 5:00 p.m. for our contemporary service...come as you are! Very informal and very uplifting, this service is sure to warm your hearts and souls! Lots of food, fun and fellowship!

"If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now"
~TobyMac "City On Our Knees"

News & Announcements @ WHUMC

Current Newsletter (Hilltop News) Download it here! {The deadline for the next newsletter is April 25th!}

The Reason? Children's Easter Party Join us Saturday, April 23rd @ 10AM for this free event! If you would like to volunteer or donate, the following items are still needed:
~ Bright and pastel plastic Easter eggs
~ White lunch sacks
~ Candy
~ Hot dogs, chips, popcorn
~ Monetary donations made out to "children's department"
Contact Brandi Nemec by phone at (817) 223-2042 or by email at brandi_nemec@yahoo.com.

Bring-A-Friend Sundays are the second Sunday of each month.  Don't forget to bring a friend with you!

Need a Handy Man? The United Methodist Men will make minor repairs as their schedule allows and they are able. No payment is necessary but they do request that a donation be made to the Food Bank. Please contact the Church Office. Click here for a printable Request Form or click here to email a request.

Youth for Hire The youth group is also available for hire (for a donation) and are capable of doing such tasks as house work, yard work, babysitting, moving, etc. Please contact James or Ardis Freeman for more information or to hire the youth!

Food Pantry: The food pantry is always in need of food and money donations, as well as volunteers to assist in preparing and distributing the food bags (distributed to 76116 residents in need every Tuesday and Thursday from 9AM-Noon). Food donations can include: Canned meats (such as tuna), canned fruits and vegetables, spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, canned soups, rice, dried or canned beans, boxed macaroni and cheese, boxed crackers, etc.

Fort Worth ISD & Western Hills Elementary School: WHUMC is in the "Adopt-A-School" program; we have "adopted" Western Hills Elementary School. WHUMC was recently presented the Golden Achievement Award for Partnership Excellence by FWISD in recognition of our service to the school (ESL, clothes, supplies, mentoring/tutoring, parenting classes, Fall Festival).

Recycling fundraiser: Please donate any of the following to the church for recycling/fundraising: old cell phones, ink jet cartridges, videogames, portable DVD Players, laptop computers, MP3 Players, X-Boxes, Sony Playstations, Wii, digital cameras, digital video cameras (DVRs), digital picture frames, portable navigation & GPS devices (Garmin, Magellan, Tom-Tom).

Catch us on Facebook!

Weddings: Download our wedding brochure here and check out our profile on Momentville!

Download a WHUMC brochure here! feel free to share and distribute!

You need Adobe Reader to download and view .pdf documents, such as the newsletter, on our website. You can download Adobe Reader by clicking here!

Ministries offered @ WHUMC

United Methodist Men (UMM)

Assisting men to know Jesus Christ, to serve Him, to grow spiritually and seek daily to do his will. The UMM meet monthly on a Saturday morning for a breakfast and discussion session.

United Methodist Women (UMW)

United Methodist Women is an organization of approximately one million members whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Contact is Gerry Marten.

United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF)*

Youth and Young Adults are not just the hope of the church for tomorrow; they are the leadership of the church today. UMYF meets Sunday evenings at 4:30 p.m.  Contacts are James & Ardis Freeman.

Adult/Chancel Choir*

Come participate in the adult (chancel) choir! The choir meets Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. (except when rehearsals begin for Christmas and Easter Cantatas and start time is at 7:00 p.m.) under direction of Debra Rue with accompaniment by Allen Brown. A nursery is provided during this time. Contact is Debra Rue.

Hand Bell Choir*

Come participate in the hand bell choir! The hand bell choir meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:15 p.m. under direction of Allen Brown. A nursery is provided during this time. Contact is Allen Brown.

Food Pantry/Food Bags

The food pantry is setup to offer bags of food to needy 76116 residents. Bags are distributed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the church. Proof of residency is required. Contact is Shirley Fagan, Judy Van Roosenbeek, Vickie Peach or Mary Clark.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes*

Learn English as a Second Language! Classes offered Monday and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. (during school). Contact is Jann Green.

Other Ministries Offered

We have other ministries and events offered once a year or so, sometimes depending upon the need. These include but are not limited to: Fall Festival/Harvest Festival/Lord's Acre in the fall, a community Easter party and egg hunt, a community gift-making party, a yard sale, family internet safety classes, children's etiquette classes, computer classes and more! The contacts for these events vary.

*Nursery provided for children during this time.

See important information about upcoming events below!

Upcoming Dates!

Great Day of Service: April 16

PUMP Mission Trip (Palmer, Texas): June 23-26

 7-9 Grade Glen Lake Camp: June 26-July 1

 9-12 Grade Glen Lake Camp: July 3-8

 

 

Sunday School/Bible Study/Fellowship classes offered @ WHUMC*

WHUMC offers several classes. Please read about the classes below and feel free to visit or join us Sunday morning for learning and fellowship!

Nursery

Ages Newborn through 4 years; the nursery is located on the 1st floor, 1st room on left (east) {formerly known as the "3 & 4 Year Old Nursery"}; nursery attended by Miss Tamara & Miss Amy.

K-Second Grade (4-7 years old)

Located on the 2nd floor, last room on left (east); class taught by Dennis Robinson.

Third-Fifth Grade

Located on the 2nd floor, 2nd room on left (east); class taught by Joyce Brown.

Mid to Senior High (6th-12th Grade)

Located on the 2nd floor, at the top of stairs to left (east); class taught by James & Ardis Freeman.

Kingdom Seekers

Located on the 1st floor, 2nd room on left (east); lecture and discussion; social activities often include children; class taught by Terry Meyer.

Searchers (30’s & up)

Located on the 1st floor, 2nd room on right (west); diverse open group; discussion and fellowship; social events; class taught by Larry Cornett.

Inspiration (All ages)

Located on the 1st floor, 1st room on right (west); shared leadership and discussion; mission involvement; social events; class taught by various members.

Fellowship (60’s & up)

Located on the 1st floor, last room on left (south); lecture followed by questions and discussion; mission support; monthly breakfasts; social events; class taught by Dwaine Robinson.

*Nursery provided for children during this time.

Click here for a printable floorplan/class map of the church building.

The Parish Nurse Program (or Faith Community Nursing Program) is a health ministry at Western Hills. This program will offer blood pressure checks, help with setting up medications, and offer health information.

Rose Ann, an R.N. and member at Western Hills , and Harris Hospital will be offering this service to us. If you would like more information, please call the church office, 817-244-1153, and someone from this program will call to help you.

The Nurse is available immediately following Sunday morning worship services or with appointment (call chruch office). Services include: blood pressure checks, weight checks, healthcare and immunization information, counseling and referrals.

Please take a moment to fill out this online survey to assist in assessing the needs of this program. The survey is anonymous. Thanks!

Survey, Part 1: Click Here to take survey

Survey, Part 2: Click Here to take survey

 

Photo Gallery

Click on any slide show for access to a link to view the images online.

You can view all available photo galleries here: http://picasaweb.google.com/WHUMCFW

WHUMC Landscaping

Easter 2010

Advent 2009

National Night Out 2009: 6 October 2009

Songfest & 50th Anniversary: September 2009

Stained Glass Windows

Elementary Singers Musical "Hurry On Down!" 17 May 2009

Boy Scout Pack 135 Bicycle Rodeo: 16 May 2009

Thanks to the following sponsors for a successful event: Academy Sports & Outdoor, Fort Worth Cycling & Fitness Center, Texas Medical Association, Walmart, Moritz Chevrolet, Fort Worth Police Department, West Side Cafe and Aerospace Engineers Optimist Club.

Youth Fundraiser: Adult Prom: 9 May 2009

Fall Festival 2008

National Night Out 2008

Vacation Bible School 2008

Easter 2008

Advent Season 2007
 

Fall Festival 2007

Staff @ WHUMC

Below is the staff directory for Western Hills United Methodist Church. To send email to a staff member, simply click on the email address next to the envelope icon.

Senior Pastor: Rev. Raul Gutierrez	Prior to coming to Western Hills United Methodist Church in February 2010, Rev. Raul Gutierrez had been an Assistant Pastor at Arlington Heights United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, TX where he was very active in the contemporary worship service. He is married to Elsa and they have one daughter, Jessica, who recently graduated college. pastor@westernhillsumc.org
Administrative Assistant: Betty Allison Photo not available	Betty Allison has been with WHUMC for many, many years! Her loyalty and dedication are greatly appreciated and Betty is very much loved around here! office@westernhillsumc.org
Music Director: Debra Rue	Debra Rue has been the Music Director for WHUMC since 19??. She is also the Music Director for Western Hills High School in Fort Worth. Email Not Available
Hand Bell Director & Accompanist: Allen Brown	Allen Brown has been the accompanist at WHUMC since 2000.  In 2005, he became the hand bell director as well!  Allen recently opened "Zoo Zone Pets" in southeast Fort Worth, too! Email Not Available
Youth Directors: James & Ardis Freeman Photo not available	James and Ardis Freeman have been active at WHUMC for quite some time now. They have been actively involved with children and youth activities. youth@westernhillsumc.org
Director of Adult Ministries: Terry Meyer	Terry’s passion is connecting people to God and each other through small groups. Terry has been an active church member in several United Methodist congregations. He has served in lay leadership positions as lay leader, in youth and adult education, in evangelism, in outreach, youth group leader, in missions, worship leader, and Emmaus. Terry has a BS in Psychology from Western Illinois University (Macomb, Illinois) and MA in Christian Service from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas). Terry and his wife, Edna, have four grown children. His interests are reading, movies, music, and nature photography. Email Not Available
Technology: Chester & Tina Shaw, Donald Nemec Photo not available	Chester and Tina are a husband and wife team that have been assisting with the technology of the church since 2006. They cover all aspects of audio, video, digital, web and media. Donald Nemec also assists with meeting the technology needs of the church by assistsing with Sunday morning PowerPoint presentation needs! christinashaw@gmail.com chestershaw@gmail.com dcnemec@nemeclaw.com

Directions & Map

Links of Interest

Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church

The Upper Room Daily Devotional

Emmaus

WestAid

Glen Lake Camp & Retreat

Bible Gateway

The Cyber Hymnal

Hymnsite

Daily Blessing Scripture