UMs to join in local Thanksgiving events

Churches to take
part in community
services during November

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
Many Southwest Texas United Methodist congregations, as part of local ministerial alliances, are participating in community Thanksgiving services in November.
“The Thanksgiving service is an opportunity for the community to come together to give thanks for all of our blessings,” said the Rev. James Schendel, pastor of Jourdanton UMC. “With the events in our country this year—the hurricanes—we give thanks not only that we’ve been spared a lot of misery but that we could help others. That’s what churches do. We help where we’re needed. And that’s what we give thanks for.”
The Thanksgiving celebration, which involves churches across Atascosa County, is “a tradition that’s been going on for 10 to 15 years,” Schendel said.
Christmas wreaths are part of the tradition. The wreaths are exchanged and displayed in the churches during Advent.
“Each church is asked to bring a wreath,” Schendel said. “It’s a reminder that we’re all in this together—that we all work for the same company.”
Atascosa County churches take turns playing host to the annual Thanksgiving celebration, which attracts 70 to 90 people, Schendel said. First Baptist Church, Pleasanton, is host for this year’s gathering, set for Nov. 20.
A Thanksgiving celebration that includes New Fountain UMC, Hon-do, dates back more than 50 years. Two historical churches, the 148-year-old United Methodist congregation and 150-year-old Quihi Lutheran Church, are to mark Thanksgiving together Nov. 20 at the Lutheran church.
The Rev. Charles Parker, New Fountain UMC pastor, said the event draws about 180 people.
“Lots of times we bring in outside folks who know about the tradition but don’t have a long history of church attendance,” he said.
The opportunity to worship together is “one of Christianity’s basic needs, to be one body,” Parker said.
“It’s real important for all of us to do our best to reach out to other denominations or neighboring churches to get a better understanding of what we’re all doing,” he continued. “Too many times we bury ourselves in our own walk of faith. Being together shows the community that we are not strangers.”
The Stockdale Ministerial Alliance comprises six churches, including Christ UMC. The Rev. Carolyn McGuire, pastor, said the alliance’s Thanksgiving service accomplishes a number of things, not the least of which is raising funds for emergency relief.
Stockdale is located where Texas 123 intersects with U.S. 87.
“We get a lot of people coming through here,” McGuire said. “Some need gas, food and lodging, and the funds provide those things.”
The Stockdale celebration is planned for Nov. 20 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Some 200 people are expected to attend.
The ministerial alliance “makes an active presence in Stockdale,” McGuire said. “We want churches to be at the forefront. We want to be visible when people come here.”
The outreach to the growing Stockdale community is noticeable, she said.
“I’m amazed at how many people in town invite newcomers to church,” McGuire said. “It seems like every church has visitors every Sunday.”
Building a traveler emergency fund is a goal of the Schulenburg Ministerial Alliance’s annual Thanksgiving worship as well. Schulenburg is at the crossroads of Interstate 10 and U.S. 77.
At Thanksgiving and on Ash Wednesday, churches in the community join in worship and take up a special collection for the travelers fund, which is administered through a local bank, said the Rev. Mark G. Adams, pastor of First UMC, Schulenburg.
About 100 people are expected to attend a community Thanksgiving service Nov. 20 at First UMC. Local newspapers and radio stations advertise the event to the surrounding area, Adams said.
The message, he said, is, in effect, “If you don’t have a church home, come see what we do.”
“People can talk to church members following the service,” Adams said. “They can see church leadership in action and working together.”
A community worship service, he said, “reflects the Christian legacy left to us by our forefathers and fore-mothers.”
The celebration location rotates among Schulenburg churches, as do the responsibilities of the worship leaders, Adams said.
“It’s nice to hear different themes,” Adams said. “This time the local Catholic priest, who is German, is preaching. It will be interesting to hear about Thanksgiving from the German Catholic tradition in South Texas.
“What’s great about the community spirit is that we’re all in the race for holiness together.”