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| EMERGENCY APPEAL
Rio Grande Flooding
Bishop Dorff Recently toured homes along the Rio Grande to assess the scope of the damage and determine how we might help those who have lost their homes
Avoid Yellow Page ad Scam
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Annual Conference
2010 Highlights
Bishop Dorff’s Sermon from the
Ordination Service
Rev. Tyrone Gordon’s Sermon
from the Service Renewal
Rev. Clayton Smith’s presentation,
"Creating a Culture of Generosity"
2010 Announced Appointments
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Bishop Dorff visits DRC in Africa to deliver bed nets
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Clarification regarding
the position of the
United Methodist Church
and health care
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Walk to Emmaus
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New Church Development
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Current News
Summer camps see record high attendance It is the place a movement is started— the epicenter. It is the place from which the earth, the communities, the hearts are shifted, shaken, shattered. “It is the epicenter that can determine whether a movement is small or large, whether that movement will move out into the world and carry the word of God with it or not,” said Becky Jackson, Southwest Texas Conference youth events coordinator.
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OA + IG ≥ VBS ÷ SCR x 345 = CG in Southwest Texas
Once upon a time a local church lay leader called together 11 older adults (OAs) who were class leaders with influence yet claimed no teaching skills. In obeying the Spirit’s call to an intergenerational (IG) evening vacation Bible school (VBS), they donned costumes, read from scripts, and had fun leading the 12 tribes (classes) through a dynamic and memorable week. Their team ministry was greater than or equal to (≥) the way they’d always done VBS. Together they did more than any individual could have ever accomplished alone. Many lives became transformed within a culture of growth (CG) in that one blessed summer week. READ MORE
New leadership elected to Methodist Healthcare Ministries board Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM)—the largest private funding source for healthcare services to the uninsured and under-served in South Texas and half owner of the Methodist Healthcare System, largest healthcare system in South Texas—has tapped local real estate broker and owner, Richard T. Gilby as chair of the board of directors.
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Empowering your ministries to make disciples of Jesus Christ,
our website serves as a valuable resource to you—the more
than 120,000 members in 350 congregations across the
southern third of Texas.
Jim DorffBishop
San Antonio Area
| Newness of life always begins and ends with God
Dear Friends, Our God always has something new in store for us. During these past few weeks many churches in our Conference have experienced the joy and excitement of receiving new pastors. Pastors and their families are in the process of getting settled into new homes, schools, friends and places of ministry.
As I reflect on the newness of life I pray that pastors and churches in ministry together for the first time will willingly and with great vigor enter into each other’s lives.
The Good News begins with the goodness of God in Christ and the new opportunities presented for new relationships and proclamation of the Gospel. After all, we must remember that our common mission is to reach out to those not in the church. In fact we intentionally appoint pastors and their families to a “mission field,” not just a local church or extension ministry. The newness comes with the new ideas and fresh insights we can bring to one another as we consider taking our churches into our communities. What’s new for you? For your congregation? If your pastor is returning for another year, what will you do together this year which will bring a sense of excitement and expectation? This is another year the Lord has made. Rejoice. Be glad in it. Use it and look for some newness of life. Newness of life always begins and ends with God. The presence of the risen Christ brings the joy and the peace.
Last week I was in Rio Bravo ( a small community just south of Laredo). One of our Rio Grande Conference pastors and one of our Southwest Texas pastors joined me in surveying the results of something “new” for those folks living near the river. Water had filled their homes. All their belongings were piled in a heap by the curb. Still wet. Some folks sat under the trees in their yards. They were wondering what to make of this new development in their lives. I couldn’t help but wonder myself. They could do without this kind of “newness.” However, I understood again what it really means to be the church. Our newness comes from the opportunity to share with each other. We are offered the opportunity to join with those folks and others around us in standing together in the effort to rebuild. The old becomes new.
Yesterday becomes today and tomorrow. The Gospel is not only proclaimed, but lived. Our God always has something new in store for us.
Thanks be to God.
Blessings, Jim.
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