A Message from Rev. Paul Rasmussen

Dear HPUMC,

I am honored to have the privilege of serving as the senior minister at Highland Park United Methodist Church during our Centennial celebration. As I look back through the pages of our history, I can’t help but be inspired by God’s grace and provision throughout. We have a lot to be thankful for, and one of the biggest roles in our story is played by Southern Methodist University. If you think about it, we might not be here without the founding of SMU in 1915.

The first SMU class registered in 1915 and school policy stated that each of the 700 students attend at least one church service every Sunday. Unfortunately, the nearest churches were located miles away, and a suitable form of transportation to and from campus didn’t exist. This was a problem. HPUMC was the solution. HPUMC first opened its doors in 1916 after Bishop Edwin Mouzon asked several Highland Park families to transfer their membership from other Methodist churches to what was then called Highland Park Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

I’m thankful for those charter families who made the difficult decision to leave their church homes where they were married, where their children were baptized, to take a leap of faith and trust that God would provide. Just two weeks before our great country entered World War I, construction began on a temporary church building affectionately known as The Little Brown Church. And by Mother’s Day 1917, the congregation held its very first worship service in that small building on Mockingbird Lane, the same site where our congregations have worshipped for almost 100 years.

I am thankful for each one of you, your passion for serving our neighbors in Dallas and across the globe, your love for one another, and dedication to Christ.

Over the course of the last 100 years, our church has placed a high value on creating multiple styles of worship, starting new churches, group life, generosity, outreach, family ministry, and developing leaders. We now refer to these as our core values, and this firm foundation, along with our faith in God, will guide us into our bright future.

God Bless,
Rev. Paul Rasmussen
Senior Minister

"I have had the opportunity to write music celebrating great moments in the history of several institutions - SMU, the George Bush Library, Texas Music Educators, the US Air Force. Doing the same for the people of my own church, bringing together the wide variety of music expression we use at HPUMC has been a great honor and privilege, not to mention more fun than I have had in a long time." John Wesley Gibson

In 2013, Paul Rasmussen became the 11th senior pastor to serve this congregation of over 15,000 members. Under his leadership, the congregation and staff of more than 100 continues the legacy of outreach in the community and the world.

Michael McKee is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin (1973), a Master of Theology from Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University (1978), and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Texas Wesleyan University (2005).

He was ordained deacon in 1975 and ordained elder in 1979 in the Central Texas Annual Conference, where he served several churches, including most recently 15 years as the senior pastor of First UMC, Hurst.

"I’m super excited to present a deep and light moment in the Centennial service - And by “deep and light” I mean - I get to present the genealogy the way Matthew presents it in his gospel. Sounds riveting, doesn’t it? BUT IT IS! Everything we believe hinges on the intricate web that is Jesus’ earthly family. EVERYTHING WAS SET UP IN THE BEGINNING TO WORK JUST SO! That’s deep!! Then you toss in a banjo with four chick singers - and you’ve got yourself good clean fun! Deep and Light. Happy to be in the mix with HPUMC." Kate Miner

Doxology

* John Gibson, arrangement
** Kate Miner, arrangement
Musical Direction: Dr. Alan Raines

He spent 3 years with Jesus. He watched Jesus work, heard him teach, and walked with him in Galilee. He was there on the night in which Jesus was taken to be crucified; fearing for his own life, he denied ever even knowing him. And after the greatest miracle in history, Jesus forgave him.

Before this man died, he passed on the testimony of what he had seen and heard.

The Gospel of Mark is that testimony.

Sunrise Service

6:45 am, Arden Forest
(Fellowship begins at 6:15 am)
Led by Rev. Paul Rasmussen

Traditional Worship*

Sanctuary
8:00 & 9 am, led by Rev. Paul Rasmussen
10:00 & 11:00 am, led by Dr. John Fiedler

Contemporary Worship*

Cornerstone
9:00, 10:00, & 11 am, Wesley Hall
led by Rev. Paul Rasmussen

Liturgy & Sacrament

Upper Room
9:00, 10:00, & 11 am, Room 632
led by Rev. Jeff Hall

Munger Place Church

Contemporary Worship
9:30 & 11 am, 5200 Bryan Street
led by Rev. Andrew Forrest

* May be viewed online at hpumc.tv

For a complete list of Holy Week Worship opportunities, go to: hpumc.org/easter