Rick Mang: Certified Therapeutic Music Entertainer and Village Chaplain

Rick is a retired United Methodist Church pastor who is proud to provide music for children and senior adults, as well as providing pastoral support as a community chaplain, especially to individuals and families who are not part of a church home in Hood, Summervell and Johnson Counties in North Central Texas. In addition, Rick is currently serving as the part-time pastor of the Waples United Methodist Church in Granbury, TX.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

KidLinks Extended An Offer, and I Said "Yes!"

Ever had a day when you felt like singing at the top of your lungs . . . "Zipidee do-dah, Zipidee day, my oh my oh what a wonderful day!"

Yesterday, Monday, May 15th, was one of those strange yet wonderful days of multiple affirmations coming my way. It was one of those rare "really good days" that you remember with fondness for a while. In the course of the day, I received not one but three major affirmations. To tell the truth, my head was starting to swell just a little bit.

One affirmation I can share about involves a phone call I received from my good friend and ministry/music colleague, Rev. Jim Newton of Kidlinks.org. Jim is a long-time friend, but he is more than that. As I have shared before, Jim is one of my musical heroes!

Jim and I have been in multiple conversations, since late 2022, exploring the possibility of my joining KidLinks as a part-time Therapeutic Music Entertainer once I retired from full-time pastoral ministry. The conversations centered around my singing to children in hospitals and other venues in the Tarrant County area.

Jim's call yesterday evening was to share with me that I am now part of the KidLinks TME team! Yep, it's official! It's taken awhile, but we got the green light. I've dreamed, hoped and prayed for this opportunity for several years. To be asked to join this team is especially affirming.

I will also get the chance to help KidLinks develop a therapeutic music program for Special Education students in local schools. This is one of my pet dream projects that I've wanted to work on, and will hopefully now get that chance, possibly working with my youngest daughter, Meredith, who is Special Education teacher in a nearby school district.

I am excited! I've waited over 10 years to be able to rejoin the KidLinks team (formerly Hugworks). Now it's time to relearn old songs, and memorize new songs, and go through a retraining time. I should be back singing in hospitals some time this coming July!

Good things do come to those who wait!

Zipidee do-dah . . .

Monday, May 15, 2023

Waples United Methodist Church

It's been my honor to be currently serving as the Interim Pastor at the Waples United Methodist Church in the northeast Granbury, TX area. Their historic sanctuary is well over a century old. The people are wonderful and have welcomed my wife and I with loving arms since we first arrived in January of this year. Even though this is a part-time appointment, it has been such a pleasure to serve in ministry with these fine people. They have a very active missions program including a food pantry and thrift store.

If you are currently looking for a new UMC church home because your current congregation plans to disaffiliate from the UMC, then please consider visiting this church family. They worship at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings. Sunday School for adults is at 9:45 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Every child or teen who worships with us will be instantly loved by a room full of "grandparents!"

The Waples UMC website is: https://www.waplesunitedmethodist.org/. You can also join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/waplesunitedmethodist.

Wiley Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Granbury, TX

I really enjoyed finally connecting with the great staff at Wiley Funeral Home & Cremation Service here in Granbury, TX. I was asked to officiate a memorial service there this past Saturday. Roy Knowles, and his daughter Sydnie Knowles are the managers and it seems to me like they are doing a great job. The staff went out-of-their way to help me feel welcomed and comfortable. I hope to have the opportunity to be with them again as a service officiant or singer/musician.

I have 31 years of full-time pastoral ministry experience. If you have need of a pastor/chaplain to assist you with a funeral or memorial service, then please let me know. It is my honor to help whoever needs my services, especially those who do not have a church home by choice or because of a bad church experience.

You can contact me at revrickmang@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 11, 2023

My Retirement from full-time ministry is Official!

Earlier this morning at Glen Lake Camp in Glen Rose, TX, I was granted official retirement from full-time appointive ministry during the AC23 Clergy Executive Session of the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was an emotional moment, but it was also a moment of great personal satisfaction! I am so appreciative of all my clergy colleagues who honored those of us in this year's retiree class. 30 & 1/2 years of full-time service at churches in Palo Pinto/Graford, Waco, Godley, Hewitt, Grapevine, Crowley and Comanche/Gustine. Years ago, I wanted to wear a Hawaiian shirt at my elders ordination. That didn't happen. But I did get to officially retire in one. It was a good day. My heart is in a good place. Now it's time to focus my efforts even more on my grandchildren, and on RM2 (Rick Mang Music) and "My 5-Gallon Bucket Adventures" Facebook page.

A special thanks to my wife, Liz, and my family, for sticking up with me and all the ups and downs of being a pastor's family. I love you all!

Rev. Rick Mang is a Certified Therapeutic Entertainer who sings for children in hospitals and for senior adults in various venues. He also provides music for community groups and events, and for churches as his schedule permits. Rick is a retired United Methodist Pastor who is now proud to serve the citizens of Hood, Summervell and Johnson Counties as a Community / Village Chaplain. In that capacity, Rick is available to officiate weddings as well as funerals, memorial services or services of remembrance. In addition, Rick has lead grief recovery classes and provided short-term grief counseling. Rick strives to be available to "anyone" who needs his services, schedule permitting. He has a 31 year full-time professional history of being able to serve not only a church, but also the citizens in the entire community as well. Rick feels called to provide music and pastoral support for children, senior adults, and for individuals and families who are not part of a church home by choice or due to a previous bad experience.

DISCLAIMER . . .

It goes without saying . . .

The announcements, updates, thoughts, opinions, ideas, stories, meditations, prayers, recommendations, and other information written anywhere on this blog, are usually my own ramblings and responses to things I have seen, heard, read, experienced or witnessed. I write out of the ever changing and conflicted struggle that exists between my head and my heart as I try to live out my life mission in the best and most productive way I can.

What I write or share in no way reflects the views of any church, denomination, political party, family member, friend, relative, writer, musical group, musician friend, artist, fishing buddy, fellow hiker, walker, other blogger, city, state, county, nation, or for that matter anybody else you possibly could ever hope to think of.

Sometimes, the words and thoughts of others are so well written, and touch me so deeply, that I am moved to share them. When and if I share the words and thoughts of others, I honestly try to give and acknowledge appropriate credit, and will do so if you bring it to my attention that I haven't.