Clergy appreciation dinner is success, thanks to many

Around the family table

We literally gathered around the family table Nov. 10 as more than 50 of our district clergy members, spouses and key lay leaders enjoyed a wonderful meal and pleasant conversation around the tables at First UMC, Harlingen. The smiles on the faces of the participants gave witness to the enjoyment experienced by all.
I thank Linda Jewell, McAllen District administrative assistant, for her delightful foresight and hard work in bringing together this clergy appreciation evening. Mary Catherine Edwards and Mickey Graham assisted Linda in planning and preparation. The youths of Wesley UMC, Harlingen, served the food. Bea Broyles, Howard Tozzo and the Celebration Brass provided the entertainment.
Thanks to all who made this event so special. And thanks to those congregations and individuals who contributed money so that the district could offer this event free to our pastors.
Now is the time of year during which you are working hard to see that all your church’s financial obligations can be met. Parishioners are catching up on their giving. Leaders are comparing money coming in to money needed by the end of the year. And pastors are plotting specific strategies to encourage faithful stewardship.
Please give full consideration to your payment of your apportionments. Work as hard at meeting that financial need as you work on the other needs of your congregation. People in the Valley and beyond are depending on your church to contribute fully to apportionments so that campus ministers can be paid, mission projects can be funded and camps can continue to serve our youth.
I thank those congregations that have already remitted their 2006 apportionments in full.
Also, in reviewing statistics of our district churches in the last 10 years, I was surprised to discover that total membership in the McAllen District is down only 200 from a decade ago. Although decline in membership is not good, it could have been so much worse had it not been for eight churches that have actually increased in membership over that time period.
In addition, 10 of our churches have increased their worship attendance from more than 10 years ago. And some of you have discovered that even with declining membership/worship attendance, it still takes a lot of hard work to prevent the loss from being greater and to inspire the church to reach out more. Keep up your good work.
I’m looking forward to our next professionals meeting Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. until noon at First UMC, Mission. Jennifer Sample from Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio will be our guest. She will talk about the ministries of that wonderful institution.
Randall Hilburn will inform us about grant-writing expertise available for our local mission projects. And Mary Catherine Edwards and the Camping Committee will share with us about new possibilities and needs in regard to our district camping program. I’ll see you then.
May God’s power be yours in the weakest moments of your day. May God’s love be yours in the angriest moments of your day. May God’s presence be yours in the loneliest moments of your day.