70 attend Open House picnic
Sept. 10 at Christ UMC, Kingsville

Christ UMC, Kingsville, had an Open House Month event called “Neighborhood Picnic” Sept. 10 on the front lawn following the 11 a.m. worship service.
About 70 people attended the lunch. Several parents inquired about Sunday school for elementary-aged children.
Before the event, several members of the evangelism committee walked the area around the church inviting neighbors to attend the picnic.
Fliers were mailed, and an ad was placed in the local newspaper community calendar.
Many invitations, printed with colorful balloons, were hand-delivered.
Church leaders counted seven visitors at worship that morning.
Brisket, rice and beans were served for free at the picnic, along with ice cream and cookies.
A moonwalk with a clown on top entertained the 20 children, and a water game, furnished by new members Noe and Martha Hernandez, added to the fun. Prizes were given to the children in the water balloon games.
An open fire cooked the hot dogs, and a blue canopy provided shade and cover from an early rain.
To the northwest at 9 a.m., a colorful rainbow seemed to promise that the Holy Spirit had come to bless the picnic in spite of dark clouds looming to the west.
Church leaders called it the outreach event for which they had prayed.