News in brief


900 pounds of chicken
Memorial service marks death of John Gibbs, 79
Mission Home supported by Southwest Texas UMs
San Antonio church plans summer music fest Aug. 18
Bulverde mixes show tunes into special worship times
4 free lab screening dates slated for clergy wellness
Signup deadline approaches for senior Christian retreat

900 pounds of chicken
fill 3 freezers in La Vernia
La Vernia UMC had three freezers full of chicken last month to share with people in need.
Volunteers packaged more than 900 pounds of fresh chicken for freezing July 26 at the church. The poultry came from Tyson Foods in Seguin as a gift to the La Vernia Christian Food Pantry.
The chicken is now being distributed to registered food pantry clients. The food pantry is operated by the
La Vernia Ministerial Alliance.

Memorial service marks death of John Gibbs, 79
The memorial service for the Rev. John R. Gibbs was Aug. 2 at Coker UMC, San Antonio.
A retired Southwest Texas Conference clergy member, Gibbs, 79, died July 30 in San Antonio.
Gibbs began his ministry in 1951. He served congregations in Austin, Bandera, Laredo, Llano, Harlingen,
San Antonio and Sterling City.
He directed the Wesley Foundation at Texas A&I University, Kingsville, from 1952 to 1956 and was associate director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Texas at Austin from 1958 to 1960.
Gibbs served on the conference staff from 1968 to 1971 and was superintendent of the San Angelo District from 1980 to 1985. He retired from active ministry in 1991.

Mission Home supported by Southwest Texas UMs
Southwest Texas congregations ranked among the top givers for 2007 to the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio.
Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio, led the list of all top supporters with total contributions of $21,760, the summer Mission Home newsletter reported.
Other top givers from Southwest Texas among congregations with more than 500 members were Coker UMC, San Antonio; First UMC, Boerne; First UMC, Gonzales; First UMC, Marble Falls; Tarrytown UMC, Austin; Trinity UMC,
San Antonio; and University UMC, San Antonio.
Among congregations with fewer than 500 members, 10 of the 30 top supporters were from Southwest Texas: Crestview UMC, Austin; First UMC, Lampasas; First UMC, Mission; Floresville UMC; Gaddis Memorial UMC, Comfort; Highland Lakes UMC, Buchanan Dam; Hope UMC; Mon-thalia UMC, Cost; New Fountain UMC, Hondo; and Schertz UMC.

San Antonio church plans summer music fest Aug. 18
St. Andrew’s UMC, San Antonio, is playing host to its second Summer Music Fun Fest Aug. 18 from 3 to 8 p.m.
The program includes live Christian music by Joyful Noise Band from La Vernia at 3:30 p.m., Nail Driven Hands from San Antonio at 4:15 p.m. and Progeny from San Antonio at 6 p.m.
The fest is free, though food and activities require tickets purchased on site. Activities include a dunking booth, basketball, pingpong, arts and crafts, a playscape, and mini golf.

Bulverde mixes show tunes into special worship times
Bulverde UMC is mixing Broadway songs with a gospel message for special worship experiences Aug. 24-26.
Besides singing and speaking, the worship times—set for 7 p.m. Aug. 24 and 25 as well as 9 and 11 a.m. Aug. 26—are to include drama, dance and multimedia projections.
Theme for the event is “Masquerade: A Safe Place to Remove Our Masks.” The sanctuary choir is to sing tunes from West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, and Jekyll & Hyde.
“We will make extensive use of lighting and costumes and props—all to tell the story of what it means to come out from behind our masks and be real with God and each other,” said Steve Angle, director of worship arts.

4 free lab screening dates slated for clergy wellness
Participants in the voluntary Clergy Care Wellness Program can have free lab work done next month at one of four sites.
Labs are to run from 8 to 11 a.m. at the UM Center, San Antonio, Sept. 18; Tarrytown UMC, Austin, Sept. 20; Mount Wesley Conference Center, Kerrville, Sept. 25; and First UMC, Corpus Christi, Sept. 27.
Online health risk assessments can be done anytime from Sept. 7 to Oct. 19 at www.benplan.com/hms.
Participants have until Dec. 31 to complete a physical examination and wellness conversation.
To sign up for a lab screening, contact the Rev. Linda Jean Myers at (210) 408-4500, Extension 551; (888) 349-4191, Extension 551; or clergywellness@umcswtx.org.

Signup deadline approaches for senior Christian retreat
Registration deadline is Sept. 7 for next month’s “September in the Hills” senior Christian retreat in Kerrville.
The Rev. Sue White, Southwest Texas Conference evangelism consultant, is delivering the keynote talk for the Sept. 18-20 event at Mount Wesley Conference Center.
The program includes Bible study and 10 enrichment courses. Participants can take part in two of the 10 minicourses.
Registration fees range from $95 to $130 per person, depending on accommodations. For registration information check www. umcswtx.org/events.htm.