Video follows life of Rio Grande City church


By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
The story wouldn’t fit into a brochure, even if they tried.
Because the activities at St. John UMC, Rio Grande City, are “irregular” at best, said Pastor Pasha Buck, members needed a way to show visitors how to get involved.
So they are producing a DVD.
Dubbed “Filming St. John,” the project spans one year at the church, beginning with Easter 2006 and concluding with this year’s Lenten observances.
“When I took a look at the whole of our activities for the year, I realized how very much we actually do,” Buck said. “Except it’s not regular. It’s very hard to describe that in a brochure or handout. So I thought, ‘We have a little movie here.’”
Once finished, the DVD will be distributed to each member, and copies will be kept on hand to brief visitors about St. John activities.
Activities are sporadic because most parishioners live significantly long distances from the church, typically hold two jobs and have lives that make getting regularly involved difficult, Buck said.
“That’s the sort of thing that’s hard to describe,” Buck said. “Not all of these people are free to come on a regular basis. We have winter Texans who will come for our communion service, if at no other time.”
It’s a challenge the church has handled well, she added, evidenced by the almost doubled attendance in the last two years.
Buck’s husband, John, an 81-year-old who picked up video skills in his retirement, is primarily handling the production. He is helped by two other members when he is featured in the DVD—for example, when he is singing with his coed quartet.
The DVD highlights activities such as:
> St. John’s celebration of its 23rd anniversary in its current building.
> Last year’s Open House Month celebrations, which included an opera singer.
> The church’s annual barbecue fundraiser, when “big band” music was heard on the church grounds, and people from all over the region attended.
> Bishop Joel N. Martinez’s visit Feb. 25.
John Buck said the video currently runs 45 minutes. He said he began the project as a way to remember the church after he and his wife leave it this summer.
“It’s been such a joy to be here,” he said. “It’s such a nice church, and there are such nice people.
“But then we thought maybe it should be available for everybody in the congregation, and maybe it could even be a tool for getting people to attend.”
I don’t know if people like DVDs all that much. Maybe some people would watch it, at least in part.”
John Buck said he hopes to have the DVD available by June.
Pasha Buck said the video will remain very focused on the church and its members, highlighting the fluidity of the congregation. With its winter Texans and Teach for America teachers, membership quickly shifts in the church.
But the DVD will provide members a way to remember those who were involved but have moved on, she added.
“For members, it will be a constant reminder every time they think about it or look at it, not only of how much we do and how integrated our young people are into the ongoing life of the church, but also what a gift they are to each other,” Buck said.