FUMC Groves

FUMC Groves Under the Wesleyan Tradition
Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. Worship at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Evening Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Pastor Rev.

First United Methodist Church of Groves located 6501 Washington, 2 blocks north of 39th on Cleveland. Dr. Steven Diaz email [email protected]
Church Administrator Cheryl Perry email [email protected]
Mother's Day Out Connie Anselmo 409-962-0172

06/01/2026

FUMC GROVES' SNACK FOR THOUGHT...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3

Before anything existed, God was already there. He did not emerge from the darkness. He spoke into it. With nothing but his powerful word, he brought everything into being. These opening words of the Bible remind us that creation is not random or accidental. It is intentional, ordered and purposeful because it comes from God himself.

And already here, at the very beginning, we see the mystery and beauty of the Trinity. The Father is the Creator, the one who wills and designs. The Spirit of God is hovering over the waters, present and active, sustaining and preparing. And the Son is the One through whom all things are made. Father, Son and Holy Spirit together bring light into darkness.

That matters more than it might seem at first. The same triune God who created light out of darkness is the one who speaks into the darkness of our lives. There are times when life feels formless and empty, when sin, guilt or uncertainty leave us without direction or hope. Left to ourselves, we cannot create light. We cannot fix what is broken.

But God still speaks.

Just as surely as he said, “Let there be light,” he has spoken again to us in his Word. In Jesus, the living Word, God steps into our darkness. He brings forgiveness where there is guilt, life where there is death and clarity where there is confusion. The Spirit continues to hover, working through the Word to create faith in hearts that were once empty.

So, when your world feels chaotic or empty, remember where everything began. Not with darkness, but with God. And where God speaks, light always follows.

05/31/2026

Welcome. Peace be with you.

Trinity Sunday, May 31, Bulletin
05/31/2026

Trinity Sunday, May 31, Bulletin

June issue of The Messenger
05/29/2026

June issue of The Messenger

05/28/2026

FUMC GROVES' SNACK FOR THOUGHT...

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice… John 7:37

How often do you picture Jesus speaking in a loud voice? Over the years, countless artists have depicted Jesus with his gentleness in mind. Over the years, composers of hymns have depicted Jesus with his quiet humility in mind. Over the years, illustrators of children’s Bible story books have depicted Jesus with tenderness in mind—and for good reason. After all, when our Savior walked on this earth, he possessed all of these qualities, and he possessed them perfectly.

Nevertheless, a steady stream of these depictions in art, music and children’s illustrations may lead us to a misleading presumption. A benign, harmless picture of Jesus from my childhood may give my adult self the idea that Jesus sits quietly in a distant corner of my world, hands folded, mild smile on his face, ready to offer a hand when asked, but determined not to be a bother.

Such an idea about Jesus might be convenient, especially when my old, sinful self does not want him getting in my way. But such an idea is wrong.

The apostle John records that, when needed, Jesus did not hesitate to speak in a loud voice. He was determined to command people’s attention. He was determined that people fix their eyes on him. He was determined that people hear him.

This reminds us about something in connection with the Word of God. God’s Word is not simply information. In God’s Word, there is power. And the Holy Spirit uses that power to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, to melt hearts of spiritual stone—and to open ears that are spiritually deaf.

Never forget that, through his Word, Jesus Christ is speaking to you. He is speaking to you with patience. He is speaking to you with persistence. But he is also speaking to you with urgency. And, when needed, he will not hesitate to speak to you in a loud voice. He is determined to command your attention. He is determined that you fix your eyes on him. He is determined that you hear him.

After all, he died to wash you clean. And now he lives for you. He loves you that much.

05/27/2026

FUMC GROVES' SNACK FOR THOUGHT...

No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

The camera pans over an old, abandoned farm truck that has been sitting in the woods for decades. Ivy covers it. Moss covers it. A small tree grows through a rusty hole. Mice have built a nest in the cab. And over the years, the wheels have settled into the dirt. But then along comes a cheerful backyard mechanic by the name of Derek Bieri. With basic tools and good-natured humor, Derek goes to work on the hulk sitting before him. Despite setbacks and disappointments, he patiently persists until the thrilling moment when the long-forgotten truck roars to life and comes out of the woods under its own power.

This is the magic behind the wildly popular YouTube program entitled “Vice Grip Garage.” Each episode features a dead and forsaken car or truck that Derek manages to bring to life. One thing is for certain. These vehicles do not repair themselves. They start and run only because of Derek.

By nature, we are far worse off than any rusted wreck left in the woods. Not only are we born spiritually dead, but our attitude towards the true God is downright hostile. On our own, we have no ability whatsoever to trust in Jesus as our Savior from sin. There’s a greater likelihood that a dead farm truck from “Vice Grip Garage” would bring itself to life and drive itself out of the woods.

But that’s where the Lord comes in. Not only did he send his Son to become human and live a perfect life in our place. Not only did Jesus pay for our every sin through his death at Calvary’s cross, but he also raised himself from the grave. He has even sent God the Holy Spirit to bring our spiritually dead heart to life. Through the power of the Good News of Jesus, the Spirit has created within us the miracle of faith. And through this miraculous faith, we now receive full forgiveness, peace with God and eternal life as our personal possessions.

Giving life: There’s nothing the Holy Spirit enjoys more.

05/26/2026

FUMC GROVES' SNACK FOR THOUGHT...

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd. Acts 2:14

Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most successful comedians of his generation. Before his career blossomed, however, Jerry learned a hard lesson. He describes the first time he ever went up on stage. Until that moment, he says, you assume that the audience is in a mood to laugh, and as long as you’re reasonably funny and say a few funny things, you’ll be just fine.

That assumption died the moment he began to speak. The audience fell into a dead silence. As you stand there, Jerry says, all you can hear is the sound of your own quivering voice. The shock was so great that he could not remember his material. He retreated from the stage, crushed. That experience, however, stripped away his false assumptions and replaced them with a true understanding of what it takes to make it in the world of entertainment.

The night before Jesus was crucified, the apostle Peter had a brutal lesson to learn. His, however, was far more serious, far more profound. Until that night, Peter had assumed that, on his own, he was strong enough and brave enough to stand up for his master. After Jesus’ arrest, however, Peter’s assumption died the moment someone simply asked him if he was a follower of Jesus. The strength and bravery he thought he had were not there at all. Instead of saying, “Yes, I’m a follower of Jesus,” Peter lied. He said he didn’t even know this Jesus. And when two more people challenged him, he lied to them, too.

That night ripped away Peter’s false assumptions. He realized what a broken sinner he really was. But Jesus replaced Peter’s false assumptions with a true understanding. He carried Peter’s sinful failures to the cross. He died for them. Then he raised himself from the dead.

Ten days later, after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, Peter had another opportunity to stand up for Jesus. This time, Peter spoke boldly. The bravery and strength, however, did not come from Peter. They came from the good news of what Jesus had done.

Our bravery and strength come from the same place.

05/24/2026

Welcome. Peace be with you.

Pentecost Laity Sunday, May 24, Bulletin
05/24/2026

Pentecost Laity Sunday, May 24, Bulletin

05/22/2026

FUMC GROVES' EASTER SNACK FOR THOUGHT...

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:11-28

But the great question is whether there is any promise in Scripture that we shall be saved from sin. Undoubtedly there is. Such is that promise, "He shall redeem Israel from all his sins" (Ps 130:8), exactly answerable to those words of the angel, "He shall save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). And surely "he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25). Such is that glorious promise given through the Prophet Ezekiel: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances (Ezek 36:25-27). Such (to mention no more) is that pronounced by Zechariah, "the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, (and such doubtless are all our sins) might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days" (Lk 1:73-75). The last part of this promise is peculiarly worthy of our observation. Lest any should say, "True, we shall be saved from our sins when we die," that clause is remarkably added, as if on purpose to remove this pretense, all the days of our life. With what modesty then can anyone affirm, that none shall enjoy this liberty till death?

Address

6501 Washington Boulevard
Groves, TX
77619

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 2pm
Tuesday 8am - 2pm
Wednesday 8am - 2pm
Thursday 8am - 2pm

Telephone

+14099621076

Website

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