From church to church, amen!


AMEN to First UMC, Weslaco, for a Dec.17 presentation of “Christmas Star,” written and directed by the Rev. Steve Clinton with a cast and crew of 60 people from ages 4 to 94. The hour-and-a-half musical included the choir, praise team and band, worship in motion dancers, and children. The musical told the story of the wise men, their families and servants’ journey to Bethlehem. Music was both traditional and contemporary. The church saw 470 people in attendance—larger than the Easter service attendance last year. On the following Saturday First UMC, Weslaco, worshiped with La Mesa UM mission church and presented the congregation with more than $1,000 worth of food in Christmas baskets.
AMEN to Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas for presenting an informative program at our recent district professionals meeting. The pastors came away with ideas and materials—and best of all, with real people (names and faces) who encouraged them to call for help and apply for available moneys to enhance the ministries of the McAllen District.
AMEN to First UMC, Falfurrias, for playing host to the district professionals meeting and providing a delicious taco soup on a cold day.
AMEN to Frank Cavazos and Aaron Saenz for providing an inspirational program about contemporary worship at the recent McSouth Leadership 101 (Laity) Workshop at First UMC, Weslaco. Cavazos is the pastor and Saenz is the worship leader for Valley Praise (a ministry of First UMC, Harlingen).
AMEN to Randall Hilburn for presenting a class on grant writing. There are funds available from various organizations. For assistance with grant writing for a specific church mission, contact Randall or Deb Hilburn in La Feria.
AMEN to Douglas Cannon for presenting an inspirational and informative class on “Ministry in Financial Terms” at the recent McSouth Leadership 101 Workshop (Laity) in Weslaco. We were reminded that we are one church—THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH—and we are worldwide. We have missions and ministry worldwide through our apportionments.
AMEN to First UMC, Kingsville, for hosting the McNorth Leadership 101 (Laity) Workshop. The Lay Leadership Committee provided coffee, tea and homemade breads for the gathering time. The United Methodist Men prepared brisket sandwiches for lunch.
AMEN to Bruni UMC for painting the trim on the church building and sign and for putting new signs up on the highway.
AMEN to San Juan UMC for playing host to its first two mission teams in the new Lawson Bunkhouse. The two dorms (classrooms refurbished with bunks) will sleep about 22 people. The church will soon send flyers out to let groups interested in missions know about the facilities.
AMEN to Susan Hellums for organizing the various work crews that have been putting the El Mecias Church building interior together.
AMEN to the NOMADS for coming to the McAllen District. These mission volunteers in RVs blessed many congregations. Among them were St. John UMC, Rio Grande City; San Juan UMC; First UMC, Falfurrias; El Mecias UMC, Laredo; and First UMC, Heb-bronville. NOMADS got involved in many projects, including home repair for the elderly and disabled, church repair and building, and refurbishing of mission space.
AMEN to Jet Throckmorton for providing yet another wonderful camp (Adventure Camp) at Camp Thicket. Throckmorton has been guiding our young folks in camps for more than 30 years.
AMEN to Rachel Toalson, conference staff writer for the Witness, for coming to our McNorth Laity banquet and our Laity Assembly in Kingsville to cover our events for the newspaper.
AMEN to the laity across our district and throughout the conference for attending the Laity Assembly in Kingsville March 2-3. Jay Brim, our conference lay leader, celebrated that 80 people attended this year. Ask your friends about it. If you didn’t get to come, you really missed out.
AMEN to Port Isabel laity for challenging us to transform our church and community by being present in community activities. They staffed a prayer booth (Prayer on Tap) right alongside a beer booth at a community event. Carol Loeb, the conference Council on Ministries chair, challenged us to find ways to be in the community regularly and often.
Do you have an AMEN to share for next month’s edition? If so, contact Mary Howard at (956) 421-3630 or yard23@aol.com.