Celebrating Jenny Bates!
Dear Church Family,
We are excited to share with you that our Pastoral Intern, Jenny Bates, has been appointed to Arapaho UMC as the Associate Pastor of Student Ministries and to the Denton Wesley Foundation to work with Rev. Marianne Brown-Trigg as a campus minister!
Jenny has been part of our FUMC Denton family for over six years. Jenny has served on many committees, co-led the Glow LGBTQIA+ ministry, created opportunities for the broader community and the church to come together in pursuit of social holiness, contributed to teaching and preaching across worship and groups, and hosted Pub Theology—an approachable group that discusses the intersections of faith and real life for the last five years. Through Jenny's time here, Jenny has helped our church live out our faith with more authenticity and compassion, pastoring many and shaping us in ways we will always be thankful for. We are so sad to say goodbye, and we are overjoyed to see Jenny embark on this pastoral journey that Jenny is so deeply called to.
This Sunday, May 12, please join us for a reception honoring Jenny right after 11:00 worship from 12:15-1pm. This is a time for our whole church to let Jenny know how much Jenny means to us and how excited we are for this new adventure in ministry.
Then, on Monday, June 3 at 7 pm, you're invited to attend Jenny's Commissioning Service at FUMC Richardson: 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080, in person or online, as Jenny is commissioned as a provisional deacon in the United Methodist Church! This service will be live-streamed at ntcumc.org.
A side note—funnily enough, Pastor Scott hired Jenny before he found out he was being appointed to FUMC Denton, and before Pastor Jonathan found out he was being appointed to Arapaho UMC. It's a happy accident that Jenny and Jonathan will continue to work together at their next appointments!
Jenny's official last day at FUMC Denton is May 12. Let's send Jenny into this next chapter of ministry surrounded by the love of our FUMC Denton family.
Blessings,
The Lay Leadership & Staff at FUMC Denton