Relief chief to preach at Thanksgiving event

Southwest Texans can hear the head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief at a special worship service Nov. 20 in Corpus Christi.
The Rev. Paul R. Dirdak, deputy general secretary for health and relief at the General Board of Global Ministries, is to be guest preacher for the 5th Annual Bishop’s Thanksgiving Gathering.
The event is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 20 at First UMC, Corpus Christi. A reception is to follow the service. Theme for the evening is “Seasons of Generosity.”
The sermon by Dirdak, who oversees the relief committee, is titled “Grateful Hands Become Gentle Hands.” During the message Dirdak is expected to share stories about how The United Methodist Church responds to natural disasters and express appreciation for the generous way the Southwest Texas Conference has supported that work.
During the first nine months of 2005, Southwest Texas United Methodists contributed more than $1.4 million to disaster response. The money was designated for recovery work following the Dec. 26 tsunami in South Asia and various hurricanes in recent months along the Gulf Coast.
One hundred percent of all money given to relief committee disaster-aid appeals is used for relief work.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez, leader of the San Antonio Episcopal Area, has called Thanksgiving gatherings over the past five years as special times for the people of the Southwest Texas and Rio Grande conferences to celebrate their many blessings from God. He is president of the New York-based mission board.
Martinez planned the first Thanksgiving gathering—at Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio—in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
The second Thanksgiving gathering was also at Alamo Heights. University UMC, San Antonio, played host to the 2003 event, and First UMC, McAllen, was the site of last year’s service.
Martinez preached at the 2001, 2002 and 2004 gatherings. Bishop Alfred L. Norris, then leader of the Houston-based Texas Conference, was guest preacher in 2003.