3 congregations work together to refurbish rooms at Goliad church

Eighteen members of First UMC, Portland, partnered with workers from First UMC, Goliad, and Fannin Street UMC, Goliad, July 28-29 to refurbish three rooms inside the Fannin Street building.
Cathy Barton, First UMC, Portland, said the mission trip embodied Ephesians 4:12-13, which says, “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Darrell Edwards from Fannin Street UMC said, “The next time ya’ll go work somewhere, you need to call me. I want to go with you.”
Work July 28 included taping and floating various areas in the pastor’s office, the altar area and the choir room. Each room received two coats of paint. New baseboards were added to the pastor’s office.
The next day the group cleaned all the baseboards and trim around the windows and applied a coat of polyurethane to the wood to refresh it.
A counter top was given to Fannin Street as a gift from First UMC, Portland. Men from First UMC, Goliad, installed it and the new sink the following weekend.
Toward the end of the work, many workers came through the front door commenting, “Wow, I didn’t think that we had done much, but it really looks great in here.”
Workers were fed lunches by the ladies and a few gentlemen of First UMC, Goliad. Friends from Fannin Street served the evening meals each day. The meal times enabled workers to share fellowship and build friendships.
Members of the three congregations gathered a final time for worship at First UMC, Goliad. Members sang, heard a message from the Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., assistant to the episcopal office, and feasted at the Lord’s table. Fannin Street cooks prepared a final meal, after which workers said goodbye.
First UMC, Portland, plans on returning to Fannin Street to work on the ceiling in the sanctuary.
Contact Linda Morrow at portlandfumc-linda@ainternet.biz or call (361) 777-2000 for more details and specific dates.