San Angelo plays host to Thanksgiving gathering

San Angelo is playing host to the Bishop’s Thanksgiving Gathering this year.
The sixth annual event is scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at First UMC, San Angelo.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez has intentionally move the Thanksgiving celebrations around the San Antonio Episcopal Area since 2004. He said he wanted to make sure he had the event in the San Angelo District before he retired in August 2008.
Martinez has called the gatherings each year since 2001 as special times for people of the Southwest Texas and Rio Grande conferences to celebrate their many blessings from God.
The gathering is expected to draw participants from across the Southwest Texas Conference as well as Rio Grande Conference congregations in Abilene, Ballinger and San Angelo.
The Rev. David Edgar, district superintendent, said he hoped that worshipers would fill First UMC to capacity for the special service.
Working plans call for adult and youth choirs—including singers from every congregation in the district—to present special anthems.
Martinez scheduled the first gathering—at Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio—in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington.
The first three Thanksgiving services were in San Antonio. First UMC, McAllen, was the site of the 2004 event. First UMC, Corpus Christi, was the host last year.