The mission of Morning Star is to point people to the grace of God that we find in Jesus.
We pursue this mission through a vision of:
We pursue this mission through a vision of:
- inspirational worship
- radical inclusion
- alleviation of suffering
A four-part worship series called “Love, Actually: The Song of Solomon for Everyone” will begin on Sunday, April 12, 2026, as we take a closer look at one of the Bible’s most avoided (and intriguing) books with curiosity and humor. The first message in the series, “Delight,” is rooted in Song of Solomon 1:1-4 and 2:1-2.
Contemporary worship will take place in person and online (mstarlc.church and YouTube) at 9:15 AM, and traditional worship will take place in person at 11:15 AM.
All are welcome!
Contemporary worship will take place in person and online (mstarlc.church and YouTube) at 9:15 AM, and traditional worship will take place in person at 11:15 AM.
All are welcome!
Sunday Mornings at 10:15
Snacks are organized by Justy Wykert and brought by congregation members to be shared in between services. Check out the theme for next week below, and contact Justy at djwykert1@hotmail.com for more information. Thank you!
April Snack Themes:
4/12/26 - April Birthday Celebration: It’s time to say Happy Birthday to April babies. Cake provided.
4/19/26 - What on Earth: Let’s celebrate Earth Day with healthy treats.
4/26/26 - Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Baseball snacks are on the menu.
***PLEASE, PLEASE help support each week’s theme by bringing food to share.
I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of the folks that continue to provide wonderful treats and snacks each week and to the folks who's donations cover the cost of lemonade and miscellaneous supplies. I also want to express gratitude to all the helpers on Sunday mornings from set-up to clean up. All of your efforts are so appreciated. What a true blessing each of you are to me.
A million thanks for your continued participation,
Justy
Parables takes place at 10:15 AM and is storytelling project. Come early for the coffee and snacks; stay for the stories.
4/12 - Lynda McDowell
4/19 - Safer Sanctuaries, Part 1
4/26 - Safer Sanctuaries, Part 2
5/3 - Mission Team, Rick Kiley and Denise Armfield
Adult Sunday School on the Book of Revelation at 10:15.
April Snack Themes:
4/12/26 - April Birthday Celebration: It’s time to say Happy Birthday to April babies. Cake provided.
4/19/26 - What on Earth: Let’s celebrate Earth Day with healthy treats.
4/26/26 - Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Baseball snacks are on the menu.
***PLEASE, PLEASE help support each week’s theme by bringing food to share.
I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of the folks that continue to provide wonderful treats and snacks each week and to the folks who's donations cover the cost of lemonade and miscellaneous supplies. I also want to express gratitude to all the helpers on Sunday mornings from set-up to clean up. All of your efforts are so appreciated. What a true blessing each of you are to me.
A million thanks for your continued participation,
Justy
Parables takes place at 10:15 AM and is storytelling project. Come early for the coffee and snacks; stay for the stories.
4/12 - Lynda McDowell
4/19 - Safer Sanctuaries, Part 1
4/26 - Safer Sanctuaries, Part 2
5/3 - Mission Team, Rick Kiley and Denise Armfield
Adult Sunday School on the Book of Revelation at 10:15.
Beauty in Brokenness: Witness
Resurrection Poems by Morning Star UMC on April 5, 2026
From the 9:15 Service:
This is our witness,
The brokenness we must confess:
Under the weight of apathy and politics of war, we find ourselves at odds with sorrow.
Suddenly, in the disruption of the world we feel a shift,
A crack in the tomb, a sliver of light, as we remain resistant to promises of tomorrow.
So we look again for promises kept, because what we came to seek, we did not find.
Death’s door has been opened; In the end, a beginning rises.
As we come and see much more than we had in mind.
What joy we discover in everlasting life as to Jesus, we take hold,
With the hope that wherever the journey takes, we have nothing to fear.
Because Jesus meets us right where we are, truth be told.
To name the beauty in the brokenness:
This is our witness.
From the 11:15 Service:
Sometimes our brokenness prevails.
War and death shake us to the core, in our aging bones we quake.
We battle internally with our uncertainty, with what we want to see.
When the grave’s opened but so much unknown is still at stake.
Fear gives way to once buried hope. With prayer, the plot twists.
The grave is vacated and possibility revived for a future
Life without death we’d otherwise missed.
What a greeting of peace that Jesus speaks to the soul,
Meeting us right where we are, giving us living proof
In the life beyond death that makes us whole.
To this beauty, our witness never fails.
This is our witness,
The brokenness we must confess:
Under the weight of apathy and politics of war, we find ourselves at odds with sorrow.
Suddenly, in the disruption of the world we feel a shift,
A crack in the tomb, a sliver of light, as we remain resistant to promises of tomorrow.
So we look again for promises kept, because what we came to seek, we did not find.
Death’s door has been opened; In the end, a beginning rises.
As we come and see much more than we had in mind.
What joy we discover in everlasting life as to Jesus, we take hold,
With the hope that wherever the journey takes, we have nothing to fear.
Because Jesus meets us right where we are, truth be told.
To name the beauty in the brokenness:
This is our witness.
From the 11:15 Service:
Sometimes our brokenness prevails.
War and death shake us to the core, in our aging bones we quake.
We battle internally with our uncertainty, with what we want to see.
When the grave’s opened but so much unknown is still at stake.
Fear gives way to once buried hope. With prayer, the plot twists.
The grave is vacated and possibility revived for a future
Life without death we’d otherwise missed.
What a greeting of peace that Jesus speaks to the soul,
Meeting us right where we are, giving us living proof
In the life beyond death that makes us whole.
To this beauty, our witness never fails.
Maundy Thursday Naan Recipe
A huge thank you to Jill Summerlin for the wonderful bread she baked for our Maundy Thursday service! It was a highlight for many of us and, by popular request, she has been kind enough to share her annotated recipe below for any who would like to recreate it at home.
New Book in the Storybook Trail!
New on Morning Star's Storybook Trail: The Gato Taco. When a curious gato smells a taco, he’ll do anything to get a bite-even if the muchacho says, “Tacos are NOT for gatos!” But with every layer of beans, onions, and salsa, Gato learns a tummy-rumbling lesson: maybe tacos aren’t for cats after all...or are they?
This Week at Morning Star
Here's what is going on THIS week, April 6 - April 12:
Monday: Men's Bible Study on break for April 6
Tuesday: Food Pantry, 8A -12P
Wednesday: Aging Gracefully, 11A
Wednesday Night Activities, 6P - 7:30P
Kids, Youth and Adult Bible Study on Romans.
Meal provided at 5:30P (Kitchen Sign-Up)
Thursday: Women's Bible Study, 9A - 10A. In-person and on Zoom (link here)
Ladies' Bunco, 6P
Praise Band Practice, 6:30P
Friday: Choir Practice, 4P
Saturday: Ramp Build, 8A
Sunday: Walking through Grief: Reunion Sunday, 4P
Upcoming:
Food Truck Friday, April 17, 5P -8P
Office Hours:
Tuesday - Wednesday, 9:30A - 12:30P
Church Office closed on Monday, April 6, and Thursday, April 9.
Don't see something you need more info on? Check the Events & Upcoming Events Calendars in the app and online at mstarlc.church.
Monday: Men's Bible Study on break for April 6
Tuesday: Food Pantry, 8A -12P
Wednesday: Aging Gracefully, 11A
Wednesday Night Activities, 6P - 7:30P
Kids, Youth and Adult Bible Study on Romans.
Meal provided at 5:30P (Kitchen Sign-Up)
Thursday: Women's Bible Study, 9A - 10A. In-person and on Zoom (link here)
Ladies' Bunco, 6P
Praise Band Practice, 6:30P
Friday: Choir Practice, 4P
Saturday: Ramp Build, 8A
Sunday: Walking through Grief: Reunion Sunday, 4P
Upcoming:
Food Truck Friday, April 17, 5P -8P
Office Hours:
Tuesday - Wednesday, 9:30A - 12:30P
Church Office closed on Monday, April 6, and Thursday, April 9.
Don't see something you need more info on? Check the Events & Upcoming Events Calendars in the app and online at mstarlc.church.
Celebrations of Life for Homer Brown and Darla Jenkins
Please be in prayer for the families of Homer Brown and Darla Jenkins, each of whom were longtime members at Morning Star in previous years. A Celebration of Life for Homer Brown will take place on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 11 AM at University United Methodist Church (2000 South Locust Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88001). A Celebration of Life for Darla Jenkins will take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 11 AM, also at University UMC.
Holy Week Photo Highlights
Practicing Generosity at Morning Star
We want to make Practicing Generosity as easy as possible at Morning Star.
Text MSTARLC to 888.364.GIVE.
You will receive a text back with instructions on how to give on your phone.
Mail a check to:
2941 Morningstar Drive, Las Cruces, NM. 88011
On our website:
https://mstarlc.church. Click on Give and you can give online or simply click on the GIVE button below.
In person:
You can bring your gift to church on Sundays and drop it in the box at the back of the Sanctuary.
Questions or you need help setting up a recurring gift? Email Patty Groth:
finance@mstarlc.church
Text MSTARLC to 888.364.GIVE.
You will receive a text back with instructions on how to give on your phone.
Mail a check to:
2941 Morningstar Drive, Las Cruces, NM. 88011
On our website:
https://mstarlc.church. Click on Give and you can give online or simply click on the GIVE button below.
In person:
You can bring your gift to church on Sundays and drop it in the box at the back of the Sanctuary.
Questions or you need help setting up a recurring gift? Email Patty Groth:
finance@mstarlc.church
If there is anything you would like added to next week's The Star Weekly, send requests to Brishen at brishen@mstarlc.church by Thursday