We are proud to volunteer regularly at White Rock Center of Hope, an organization that "provides Basic Needs assistance to address today’s needs (Food Pantry, Clothing Closet, and Financial Assistance to prevent eviction and utility disconnection) and Personalized Empowerment (Financial Education and Employment Services) to help build a better tomorrow." White Rock views people in need of support as whole human beings, reflecting the image of God we believe each person embodies. On a recent trip to the center, we helped to support over three hundred families!

Learn more at their website.

Our church building serves as a meeting location for a local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. The grip of addiction is powerful and destructive, a disease that ends lives and destroys relationships. But help is out there. The AA twelve-step community has proven to provide the support people need to manage their addiction and build up their lives stronger than ever. It's not a strictly Christian organization, but we can think of few better demonstrations of the resurrection we encounter in Jesus!

This AA chapter meets at First United every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 p.m.

First United Lutheran Church is one of over 9,000 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The third largest Protestant denomination in the United States and the Caribbean, we are the progressive mainline expression of Lutheranism in our country. In the Lutheran church, we have a diversity of viewpoints on many issues, but are bound together by a laser-like focus on the grace of God, who choses to bring renewed life to us (both now and in the life to come) simply because of God's love, expressed most powerfully in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is divided into 65 regional church bodies. Our region, made up of about 100 congregations in the northern parts of Texas and Louisiana (as well as single congregations in Durant, OK and Clovis, NM), is overseen by Bishop Erik Gronberg, and his staff. Their work allows us to do ours, and to reach far beyond what the resources of a single congregation could do. We are indeed the Body of Christ together!

Our Lutheran church body here in the United States is just one of 150 church bodies in 99 different countries who take part in the Lutheran World Federation. We have many different cultures and languages, but all proclaim the same Lord Jesus, and experience God's grace through the lens of Lutheran theology. Each church is an independent entity, but all have covenanted to walk together in faith.

Merit is a preschool serving learners from 6 weeks old through five years of age. The school is a for-profit organization that shares its location with our church property, and while they are not a ministry per se, we are grateful for their presence alongside us. The school has a wonderful reputation that is well-deserved, and gives children a strong start to their development!

Learn more at their website.

So many Americans struggle with their weight. As people of faith, we see God's image reflected in the diversity of creation—and that means we strive for positive body image, and abhor fat shaming. But being overweight brings significant health problems that can shorten life and limit your abilities. The Weight Watchers company offers a community of support and guidance to help with the struggle.

Weight Watchers meetings take place at First United on Friday and Saturday mornings.