I don't feel dressed without having a pen, pencil and notebook with me!

I'm at the age where I pretty much know what I like to have with me in terms of every-day-carry.  

I like 4"x6" sized notebooks (Rite-in-the-Rain, Moleskine and Leuchtturm1917).  I have a 3"x5" Rite-in-the-Rain memo book in my left back pocket pretty much at all times.  And I carry a Rite-in-the-Rain BK-16 bolt action pen and/or a Pentel GraphGear 500 (0.7) mechanical pencil.  I don't waste money on other notebooks, pens or pencils.  These work.  I like using them. They have never failed me. I almost don't feel dressed if I don't have them with me. 

I figure my short-term memory is about 3 seconds long, and getting shorter the older I get.  So I write down an lot of thoughts, ideas, to-do lists, names and phone numbers, and pretty much anything else that I know I would forget if I didn't write it down.  At the end of the day, I enter important stuff in my calendar, to-do list or in the Day-One Journal app on my iMac.  

It Just Occured to Me That I "Saw" the Waples UMC Campus Years Ago . . .

This thought came to my mind as I was leaving the church yesterday after worship. I was the last to leave. I took this picture and when I looked at it . . . something came to mind that I haven't thought about in many, many years.

When I was 17, in the middle of my senior year of high school, I received a call to enter the ministry. The picture I took on Sunday was the church I saw in my mind at the moment of my call, except that I'm pretty sure it was on a mountain in Colorado.

I was 65 when I finally found this church, but it was located in a wooded grove of oak trees (not pine trees) in far northeast Granbury, TX. It's the Waples United Methodist Church and I am blessed to be the part-time pastor there. The people who make up this church are so easy and fun to love! They are quick to say "Thank You, I Appreciate You" and "I Love You!" They believe that these are the most powerful, kind and loving words in all the world!

Singing for the Couts UMC 60+ Seniors Event was a Success!

I really enjoyed singing for the Couts UMC 60+ Seniors group Saturday, July 22nd, in Weatherford, TX. We had great audience participation, especially when we all sang "I Believe in Music!" So great to reconnect with friend and retired clergy colleague Dawne Hood Phillips who leads the senior ministry at Couts. The one and only Missy Buchanan was the featured speaker. SMissy is an internationally known author and speaker on embracing and empowering the process of aging faithfully. She gave an absolutely outstanding presentation that related to everyone there. I hope we can work together again in the future.

I'm Now the Pastor at Waples UMC

It's been my honor to have served 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.  

And, as of July 1st, I have been appointed as the Pastor!  No more interim in my title.  

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.

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 . . . 

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.

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!

If Change is to Be, It Has to Begin With Me!

Every Tuesday morning, unless I'm out of town, you can find me at the local Whataburger at 8:30 AM for a weekly "Fella-Ship" meeting of guys from my church.  We gather to support one another, discuss our recent doctor appointments, share fishing reports, and show pictures of our families to each other. We also discuss local news and current events. At 65 years old, I'm the youngest of the bunch.  

One 90 year old attendee refers to our group as a "gathering of the wise guys." He means this as a compliment. Each of us in attendance are former career professionals having experience in very different business endeavors.  Grocery store manager, stock broker, corporate problem solver, military officer, and the "preacher."  When we gather, we discuss all sorts of topics, and occasionally (almost weekly) we come up with a great solution that would solve one of the problems of the world. The only problem with this is that nobody want to, or will, listen to us. 

One particular matter we are all frustrated about is the ever increasing number of people, from all walks of life, who refuse to make any effort to get along with others, especially those who think or believe differently than they do.  We've each seen more and more people choosing to make fools of themselves in public places, more so than any of us are accustomed to. We lament the decline of people having the desire to get along, what one of us called "community spirit." One thing for certain, we are all just dog tired of it all. 

We've all pledged to each other to try and help one another grow in our faith, in our level of patience with others, and in choosing to be kind as often as possible.  I'm not sure who taught me the phrase, "When in doubt, choose to be kind," but I offer my heart felt thanks to whoever it was.  This rule-of-life has been a blessing to me, and to others, in more situations than I can remember.   

I recall an old line, I think it was from a song, that if there is going to be any change in the world, then it has to first begin with me individually.  I think the quote is, "If it's going to be, let it begin with me!" To quote from a John Lennon song, we can't "give peace a chance" if we only expect others to be peaceful, but not ourselves.  I can't change the world, but I can change myself.  I can also control my response to others as well, and in so doing, avoid reacting emotionally, but responding out of my faith and core values. 

I'm a big guy (6'5" and 280), but I try to be the most cheerful person that I can be everywhere I go!  My face sometimes aches in the process, because smiling uses more muscles than frowning. The old adage is that you can't smile unless you want to.  It's true!  Frowning is our "default." Give you face muscles a work out by smiling!  

Perhaps kindness towards others begins with a smile!  

So, I'm not going to join in with the frowning crowd.  I'm going to be part of the smiling crowd.

If it's going to be, let it begin with me!  That's how I can make a difference. 

Rick ><>

 He cast over and over and over, and finally, Brazy hooked into and landed a solid 1-pound rainbow trout. Not bad for a almost 6 year old!  Outstanding!

A New Season . . . and the Return to a Familiar Path!

I am happy to share that in January of 2023, I will be visiting with Jim Newton and the folks at KidLinks (kidlinks.org) about my returning to sing (part-time) to children in hospitals as a therapeutic music entertainer.  

I've been spending a lot of time since the first of October thinking about this . . . and it's clear to myself, and to my family, that this is one of the paths that I need to travel in the this next chapter of my life.  

I've asked why I have chosen this path.  The answer is simple.  Doing this will be good for my soul.  And in truth, the path is calling me to explore the possibilities. 

Jim Newton is one of my music heroes, and I hope, after our conversations, that I can begin my re-training under his tutelege. 

More to come.