News in brief

Conference starts collecting flood buckets for cleanup
The Southwest Texas Conference has begun collecting flood buckets for cleanup after flooding in at least five communities.
Flood buckets can be delivered to San Antonio and McAllen, said Susan Hellums, conference Volunteers in Mission and disaster-response coordinator.
Flood buckets should be five-gallon buckets with re-sealable lids, Hellums said. A list of flood-bucket contents is posted at http://www.umcswtx.org/news/floodbucketshtm.htm.
All items included in the kits must be new, Hellums said. It’s important that kits contain only the requested items. Don’t include any personal notes or money in the kits.
For more information contact Hellums at (956) 648-8509 or shmcfirst@aol.com.

First UMC, Corpus Christi, offers free concert Sunday
Visitors can hear music “From Opera to Broadway and Beyond” Sunday at First UMC, Corpus Christi.
“Viva Voce”—Flicka Rahn, Andrew Moore and Brad Kisner—is to perform songs from “Les Miserables,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Jekyll and Hyde” during the 7 p.m. concert.
The free event is part of the July Christ in the Arts Series at First UMC.

Monthalia UMC wins award for best church history
A Southwest Texas Conference congregation has won the Kate Warnick Award for best small-church history in Texas during 2006.
Monthalia UMC, Cost, received the award for congregations with fewer than 400 members in March. The honor was presented during the Texas UM Historical Society meeting in Dallas. The society announced the winners in its June 30 newsletter.
Monthalia’s entry was titled The History of a Country Church: Monthalia UMC.

Former Texas pastors lead urban ministry workshop
Two former Southwest Texas Conference pastors are leading an August workshop in Iowa for pastors of downtown congregations.
The Revs. John Flowers and Karen Vannoy, who served Travis Park UMC, San Antonio, until July 1, are to illustrate how downtown congregations can live out a mission of unconditional love and justice through various outreach efforts.
The workshop is part of the Aug. 14-16 Renewal of Old Downtown First Church Seminar at Broadway UMC, Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Bishop Rueben Job Center for Leadership Development, a ministry of the North Central Jurisdiction, is sponsoring the event.
Church plays host to class on Christian mysticism
Colonial Hills UMC, San Antonio, is playing host to a three-year course on Christian mysticism.
Classes begin Sept. 15 for “Christian Mysticism: Its History, Widsom and Insights.” They are to meet one Saturday per month from 9 a.m. to noon from September through May.
Oblate School of Theology, the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health and Contemplative Outreach of San Antonio are jointly sponsoring the class. Ed Alcott is coordinating the course. A different Protestant, Roman Catholic or Orthodox speaker is to address each session.
Year I covers Old Testament foundations for mysticism and its New Testament roots. Year II covers medieval spiritual leaders and Reformation writers. Year III examines modern practices.
Fee for Year I is $250. Registration deadline is Aug. 1. Check www.christianmysticismsa.org, or call Sharon Mungo at (210) 465-9591 for information.