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April 23, 2010
Volume 156, Number 51
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Youth Worship Conference inspires many
 More than 300 students and adults participated in the Youth Worship Conference. A youth choir, a dance team and a drama team performed during the 11 a.m. Sunday service at First UMC, Boerne, the culmination of the weekend.
workshops, culminates in service
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
After 48 years as the Youth Choir Rally, the conference’s annual gathering of students got a facelift.
Now dubbed the Youth Worship Conference, more than 300 youths attended this year’s event April 16-18 at First UMC, Boerne—a better attendance than leaders have seen in years.
Decreased participation is part of what influenced the change, said Russell Miller, music minister at First UMC, Boerne.
“For many, many years, we had hundreds of youth participating in this event,” he said. “But there has been a steady decline in the past few years. Many things might be a factor, including fewer youth choirs in churches and even school, so that choral singing is less familiar to youth. Also, the advent of praise teams and contemporary worship has changed the face of youth music in many churches.
“The thought was to create a conference that was more about worship than about choral music. Many different kinds of worship arts and many styles of worship were incorporated into this event.”
 During the final worship service for the Youth Worship Conference, a student-led drama team dramatize the Scripture reading on which the Rev. Rusty Freeman, conference director of youth ministries based his sermon.
But this year’s event included workshops that allowed students to experience and learn about dance, drama, choral singing, songwriting, preaching and storytelling, prayer, media, creating a sacred space, rehearsing and resourcing a music team, hymnody and liturgy, Miller said.
He added that the weekend still featured a “strong choral component” in that students still had a chance to participate in the large choir experience that they might not get at home.
“We worshiped together in traditional, contemplative and contemporary ways,” Miller said. “It’s all about understanding why we worship and offering the best we have to God in our worship, no matter what style of worship it is.”
The culmination of the weekend was a worship service, with students participating in various parts of the service, he said.
The Rev. Rusty Freeman, conference youth ministries director, said leaders decided to change the format of the weekend because it was “planted in the hearts of many of us.”
“Whereas Youth Choir Rally reflected the needs of generations 50 years ago until just recently, Youth Worship Conference is now the fulfillment, completion and second chapter involving the youth of our conference in collective worship and music traditions,” Freeman said.
“YWC was created to honor and worship God. We aren’t as much putting on an event as we are putting on a weekend worship service. Some of our planning is very detailed and purposeful. However, the initial intent is to praise God, build up worship leaders and encourage worshipers. We want God to meet with his people in a powerful and anointed way.”
Miller said leaders are hoping youth will take what they’ve learned back to their home churches.
“We want the youth to go back to their churches excited about worship, in whatever style it happens to be, and committed to being active participants and leaders in worship,” Miller said.
This year is a pilot year for YWC, Freeman said. He hopes it could eventually become a nationwide offering to The United Methodist Church.
“It’s a slow-moving yet powerful revival, reawakening the passion within us all to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ,” Freeman said. “I believe God is calling his people to return to passion-filled worship. Regardless of style, traditions or types of music (or instruments) God could care less about any of that. Our God just calls people to worship him.
“What we are doing at YWC will hopefully spill over to the local churches who are themselves wrestling with what passionate worship looks like. Often youth and young people lead the charge for revival. So let it begin with YWC, the hearts of students and catch blaze in our local churches that the world might know Christ is alive and moving.”
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The Upper Room celebrates 75 years
 During The Upper Room's 75th anniversary celebration at Travis Park UMC, San Antonio, hundreds of participants took communion together and participated in a worship service. The weekend event featured workshops intended for personal and congregational growth. The Upper Room had its beginnings in the congregation of Travis Park UMC.
Managing Editor
The Upper Room celebrated 75 years of ministry April 10 and 11 at Travis Park UMC, San Antonio.
Hundreds attended and the weekend event, titled “A Closer Walk with God: Celebrating 75 years of Prayer and Spiritual Formation with The Upper Room,” was deemed a success by leaders.
Begun as a daily devotional guide, The Upper Room was the brainchild of a group of San Antonio women who believed that families needed a shared time of worship and Bible study to sustain them during the Great Depression.
Frances Craig, a member of the then-Travis Park Methodist, spearheaded the effort and englisted her 100 member Sunday school class to pray for the creation of the devotional.
The first issue of The Upper Room daily devotional guide was printed in April 1935. Creators printed 100,000 copies of the first issue, believing in its need. It sold out.
By the seventh issue, leaders said, a half-million copies were being printed.
By 1939 The Upper Room was being translated into three additional languages and had reached one million copies in circulation.
This year, the one billionth copy of The Upper Room will be printed.
Today The Upper Room has expanded to include programs, publications, prayer support and other resources, purposed to help believers of every age and denomination grow in their faith.
Each day, The Upper Room draws individuals from around the world into a “collective conversation with God,” said Sarah Wilke, publisher of The Upper Room.
“The power of these prayers reveals itself in the daily miracles of faith,” she said. “We know from letters and stories that hearts have been changed and lives have been transformed by God’s presence in these prayers.”
The Travis Park event was a time for people to be spiritually revived and included workshops, fellowship and a worship time on Sunday morning.
Bishop Jim Dorff preached during the service, saying The Upper Room has a real “mustard seed story” because one person and one congregation changed the world by encouraging others to spend time with God every day.
Dorff touched on The Upper Room in Scripture, saying the “upper room” experience is still happening today if we just look for it. It happens in confirmation days and it happens in the feeding of the homeless and it happens every time we realize Christ is present in our lives, Dorff said.
During the celebration, a framed collage was given to Travis Park with these words:
“Presented to Travis Park UMC on April 11, 2010 by The Upper Room in honor of our 75th Anniversary. Your vision for encouraging others to experience God every day gave birth to our “little devotional book” and has truly changed the world. Our deepest appreciation for praying us into existence. Sarah Wilke, Publisher, and the Staff of The Upper Room.”
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Kansas pastor to address cultures
of growth during annual conference
By Byrd Bonner
Chair, Conference Commission on Stewardship
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
A culture of growth through the development of principled Christian leaders entails a reflection on how generosity informs congregational life. Does your congregation have a clear, well-defined stewardship vision that aligns with its mission and vision for ministry? Is generosity viewed as a spiritual discipline in your congregation rather than a means to raise a budget? Does a deep and abiding trust in God inform the way that members of your congregation take care of themselves? Money? Time? Possessions? The world? Coker UMC, San Antonio, is just one of the congregations asking itself these and similar questions as a way of gauging generosity through a recent survey.
These and other challenges will be the focus of two-hour session at the upcoming Southwest Texas Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi on the afternoon of June 4.
The Rev. Clayton Smith, executive pastor of generosity at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., will keynote the Friday afternoon session of the Council on Ministries of the Conference. In sharing leadership models in the plenary session, Smith will provide challenging and inspiring information for practical application in local churches of all sizes.
His presentation will highlight how generosity as a spiritual discipline derives from a deepening trust in God. He will lead the lay and clergy members in examining ways for congregational leaders to communicate a compelling vision that remains positive in the face of economic crisis and conflicted culture. Smith will challenge church leaders, lay and clergy members, to sets the pace in congregational stewardship practices, and to value a continuous expression of appreciation in a celebration of faithful caretaking and generosity as followers of Christ.
Smith will lead us through informative presentation and interactive discussion as a conference that will be useful for congregations of all sizes. Look for questions at your district briefing designed to prepare you for this inspiring and practical session. Lay and clergy members will be asked to consider a set of questions in preparation for the Friday afternoon session to facilitate group discussion on the conference floor. A time for questions and answers is planned through text messaging as well as written questions sent to Smith via tellers.
Whether the questions at the outset of this article make you wonder, give you confidence or scare you to death, look forward to this Friday afternoon session in a new and different format. You are sure to return home with fresh insights for celebrating generosity as a leader in your congregation.
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Kerrville District news
Cultivating compassionate servant hearts
My wife Irene had foot surgery recently, which took longer than the surgeon expected. It was more extensive involving the shaving and breaking of bone and then rewiring her big toe back into place. She has never been on crutches up until this point in her life. It is awkward for her because she has to make adjustments in the things that she routinely does on a daily basis. I know that this isn’t easy on her for many reasons. She has to stay out of her teaching role for three weeks and I know that it is hard on her fifth-grade students. I know how much they love her and they know how much she loves them. Years ago her father had to have his leg amputated and I am aware that this is a reminder of what he went through morning, noon and night. Recovering from surgery is more than just physical healing. It is a total remake of who we are mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It takes a lot of patience to be a patient. This is especially hard for anyone who has a servant’s heart.
For you must know that Irene’s greatest strength is being servant to all. Her role model is Mother Theresa who spent her entire life serving the least of these. As Mother Theresa once said, “I am only a pencil in the hand of God.” Irene is such a person as this. She knows that God and God alone is the only one who can write upon the heart. It is when we yield ourselves as servant, as an instrument of God’s own choosing, that our life is truly complete.
When you spend your entire life doing for others, it isn’t very easy to sit and have others do for you. In these last few days as I have done what needs to be done, she tells me that she wishes that I wouldn’t have to do all this for her. It is as if what I am doing is an extra burden for me to bear. It is not. It is a sacred privilege to serve one another. Serving is in my DNA. My grandmother was a servant . My mother is a servant. For it is in this serving that I am reminded for what is most important in any relationship. I get more joy out of serving another than I do in doing anything else. I would rather serve than to be served. Hence, we come to Irene’s dilemma. It takes an extra ounce or two of grace to allow someone else to be your servant. The ritual of foot washing is a huge test. Most cannot stand to have their feet washed by anyone else. I cannot wait for the bandages to come off of Irene’s left foot. There I will kneel before her and wash her precious foot. For I know that in washing her feet, I will be actually washing Christ’s feet. It is one of the intricate mysteries of servanthood.
Worship Reflections
Worship Refelctions By Robert Molder, District Lay Leader
Who is worship for? Is worship for God? For church members? For those who are now part of your church? Certainly worship is about honoring and praising God. That is the meaning of the word. Keep the focus on God in view. Hospitality and welcome are essential to Christian worship, whatever the style. Many churches are implementing services characterized as “seeker-friendly” or “contemporary worship”. And you may be thinking, “Isn’t worship for the people who already belong to the church?” Yes, worship to God is offered by a particular community of people. Worship is never generic or a commodity to be consumed. It’s context is always a particular group of believers who gather regularly and offer “their” unique gifts and energies to God. You may also be thinking. “But what about those who are not yet part of the church?” Exactly! The Scriptures from the beginning are clear that God’s people exist to be a light to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 42:6-7; Luke 2:29-32). For the moment, think of it this way: If the congregation’s essential work is to do everything in such a way that people are welcomed, changed by God’s story and presence, and sent out to love and serve in daily life, then worship is for all people. Worship is for everyone who longs for God – believers and seekers. In this, God is honored and served. Christian worship is our public work as Christians. The door needs to be open – wide open – so that all people will know they are welcome to explore and search and discover the good news in Jesus Christ.
Reach out in Jesus’ name
With hands of love and care
To those who are in need
And caught in life’s despair
– Sper
Real love puts actions to good intentions.
District happenings
Confirmation Celebration 2010
Bandera United Methodist Church hosted the Kerrville District Confirmation Celebration on April 10, 2010. Seven churches attended and we had over 60 confirmands attend the Yoking Service: FUMC Uvalde, Fredericksburg UMC, New Fountain UMC, Bandera UMC, FUMC Kerrville, FUMC Lampasas and Gaddis Memorial UMC. Thank you to everyone who attended and made this a special day.
VIM Leadership Training
Boerne FUMC will be hosting a VIM leadership training session May 1 from 10am-3pm. Lunch will be provided by Boerne FUMC. Cost of the training will be $30 to cover the cost of the manuals. For more information please contact: Judy Hutcherson, RN, International Volunteer In Mission Coordinator for Southwest Texas UMC Conference 830-685-3562 home or 830-456-7323 cell
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Corpus Christi District news
God’s glory, majesty and care all around
Having just celebrated Easter recently, I am reminded of God’s power at work in our midst. Looking around us there are signs of new life and resurrection everywhere. As I have traveled lately, I have been reminded of how God works through the wildflowers on the side of the highways. These weeds, as some might call them, have laid dormant in the ground and now spring forth in radiant beauty proclaiming God’s glory, majesty, and care. The first time I traveled I saw just a few blooms peeking through the dead looking grass. Individually they were there, but it was hard to see them. On the next trip I found more and more had popped through the earth allowing the highways to come alive with vibrant color. What a reminder these flowers have been. They remind me that God has placed us all here to be part of the Kingdom of God. It is when we all work together that God’s power and new life can be seen. Through out this season I invite you to remember that God has placed you right where you are to bloom as you work with others to show off God’s love and power to bring forth new life.
 Sally and Bennie Belew of First UMC, Beeville with Bishop Dorff and Barbara Ruth.
At the Brush Country Awards Banquet Sally and Bennie Belew, of Beeville FUMC were recognized as the Bishop’s Exemplar award recipients and Vicki Riser, of George West FUMC was recognized with the District Superintendant’s Award.
Confirmands from nine of the District Churches gathered together at Island in the Son UMC last Saturday with Bishop Jim Dorff as they worshipped and witnessed to their faith. Each of the groups has found ways to bloom as they raised money to send to Imagine No Malaria. As part of the service, the fishing net came alive with colored ribbons as each group tied a colored ribbon on the net for every $2 that they raised. Through the time and energy of these young people 90 lives were saved in Africa as they sent $918.69 to Imagine No Malaria. Now, these young people challenge the other youth of the District and you to join them as we all seek to bring hope, healing, and new life to the continent of Africa.
District happenings
St Paul UMC
The women of St. Paul UMC in Corpus Christi are on fire as they celebrate their Women’s Annual month of activities. Their theme is “A Woman’s Higher Calling to Live Holy.” found in 1 Peter 1: 15-15 and in Romans 12: 1-2. They held a spirit filled musical on Sat., April 17th that featured artists from across the city. The Annual Day (April 25th) included guest speaker Cynthia Bunton-Gonzales. The St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church were the invited guests with dynamic speaker Rev. Arthur Lane.
A women’s program called “Women Walking Wounded” is planned for May 17th. Women’s issues will be addressed and they will discuss how they can help their fellow sisters to live a more spiritual-filled life in Christ. It will begin with a prayer walk at 6:30 p.m. Please call Selia Simms at 853-3055 for more information.
District Conference
Our District Conference will be held at First UMC, Beeville on May 16 from 3-5 p.m. All Lay Delegate and alternates are urged to attend as we discuss important information about the Annual Conference. A farewell Reception will follow for Barbara Ruth and John Wright.
Save the Date
We will have a Farewell Reception for Barbara Ruth and John Wright at the end of District Conference at 5:00 on Sunday, May 16 at First UMC, Beeville. You do not need to attend District Conference to attend this reception. All lay and clergy are invited and welcome!
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McAllen District news
When is the right time? Only God knows
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thess 3:5
I’ve noticed that whenever I want to do something that I enjoy, it’s easy to find a “right moment” to get underway with my plans. If I want to go shopping, and it rains, it doesn’t take much adjustment to choose an enclosed mall. But if I’m faced with a tough task, I’m inclined to want the perfect circumstances to appear before I begin. I’d go outside and trim those bushes out front, but it’s too sunny; or too windy; or I’m too sleepy. Spiritually speaking, I see my willingness and perseverance affected in the same way. It’s easy to be diligent when things are easy. It’s far harder when circumstances seem to be set against what we most need to do. But then there is the inspiration that I find in the way that Jesus faced his life, and even his death. I can’t imagine how there could have been “a good day” to go the Cross; there was only a “right time.” It was only the right time because he was inspired by faith in his Father’s plans, and he could never let circumstances hinder or stop him. He saw beyond circumstances, into the realm of divine possibilities and potential. I hear that same kind determination and perseverance in the lyrics of the well-known Gaither song, “Because He Lives” ( # 364 in our Hymnal).
The chorus: Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone; because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives. A background piece by Lindsay Terry tells the story of this song. Bill and Gloria Gaither discovered that they were unexpectedly going to have a third child. It was the late 1960’s, that cultural time of “God is Dead,” the Vietnam War, assassinations, racial strife, and drug abuse. Bill was recovering from an illness, their second child was only three months old, Bill’s sister’s marriage had just failed, and a close friend had accused them of using gospel music for nothing more than crass commercialism. It certainly didn’t seem like “the right time” to bring another child into the world. But then, during a prayer with one of their friends, the Gaithers rediscovered the power of the resurrection. They rededicated themselves to the belief that their lives were in God’s hand, and that the future was therefore nothing to be afraid of. In 1970, their son Benjamin was born. Inspired by his birth, Bill and Gloria’s grateful hearts poured out the song, “Because He Lives.”
The story of Holy Week and Easter remind us that “all things are possible with God!” (Mk. 10:27). I pray that this Easter will re-birth within our church the gift of Christ’s own vision and perseverance as we step into God’s future for us, as that is beautifully summed up by Soren Kierkegaard: “If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. What wine is so sparkling, so fragrant, so intoxicating, as possibility!”
Now is our “right time” for us to rise to our possibilities!
From church to church, amen!
AMEN to McAllen District Wesley Nurses who continue to educate us in all areas of health issues.
AMEN to FUMC Mercedes, FUMC Weslaco, and Los Fresnos UMC, for inviting their youth to participate as a community of one, in a game of volleyball at the Sonic in Weslaco. They had a great time!
AMEN to FUMC in Alice, who will be offering a 5-week video study that examines, “What does it mean to be a United Methodist” to all who want to attend.
AMEN to FUMC Weslaco, for providing hymnals to FUMC Mercedes as they rebuild from the recent fire that damaged their sanctuary during the Christmas holidays.
AMEN to UMC Riviera, who celebrated their 100th anniversary on March 28, 2010. Christ UMC joined them in celebrating both Palm Sunday and the Centennial.
AMEN to FUMC Brownsville, for releasing butterflies during their Easter service. To commemorate the event, the children learned the symbolism of the butterfly during their Sunday school class.
AMEN to FUMC La Feria, the youth’s participation in the recent garage sale presented their willingness to work towards a better relationship with their Lord & Savior, rain or shine.
AMEN to Wesley UMC in Harlingen, for continuing to grow their library resources, and providing their new ministry guidelines for their committees.
AMEN to FUMC Port Isabel, the Chancel Choir held its ‘First Annual Heart of Gospel’ concert. The concert was enjoyed by all who attended.
AMEN to Los Fresnos UMC for hosting the Living Proof Singers. This is a group of 8 college students who travel the country delivering a Bible-based message aimed towards our youth.
AMEN to FUMC Laredo, for celebrating their 4th anniversary with the Angel Food ministry in March. Thank you to the volunteers who continue to work hard to make this ministry available to those in need.
Do you have an Amen to share about the McAllen District? If so, contact Oralia Sanchez by email at oralia0804@yahoo.com
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San Angelo District news
Every single morning is Easter morning
I read this statement recently, “There is no one, at one time or another, who has not been raised from the dead. The only problem is that most of us do not recognize resurrection when it comes to us.”
I believe that. I know that. I read that in the scriptures. Resurrection. LIFE – new, good, and holy—happens to us. It happened to Jesus. It’s happening in our churches. It happens all the time. It happens when children and youth find a place at church that is warm, accepting and affirming of them. Resurrection happens when a young couple makes vows to one another to begin a new life as husband and wife. It happens when parents see their children mature and blossom into responsible adulthood. Resurrection is real when a family joins the church together after years of absence from church. It happens when an individual finds meaning and purpose in their life through a new relationship with Jesus Christ. Resurrection happens when one is able to move beyond and through illness or hardship to find peace with God.
Resurrection. It happens all the time. It is happening now. It is happening in our District – new life and potential in some of our struggling churches; new possibilities of mission when churches join in cooperative ministry. This coming Conference year will find more “circuits” being formed to bring about more effective witness to our communities. In these tough economic times we must look at these alternatives in light of clergy leadership. Thank you for responding positively to these changes. New life is happening. Resurrection is real! For Every Morning is Easter Morning From Now On!!!
District happenings
District Confirmation Retreat
Thanks to First United Methodist Church of San Angelo and Cheri Brewster, the District was able to change from a Confirmation Rally to a Confirmation Retreat. Cheri graciously invited the other churches in the District to join them on their retreat, and what a retreat it turned out to be. There were 40 youth and 31 adults attending the retreat at Camp Butman. There were folks from San Angelo, Brady, Sterling City, Eldorado, and Christoval.
Veribest UMC Recognized as 4th Year Welcoming Church
Veribest UMC has been recognized by United Methodist Communications as an official “Welcoming Congregation” for the fourth year straight. Veribest is proud to place a high value on radical hospitality as a vital ministry. And we would consider it a privilege to embrace anyone who would like to join us for Sunday morning worship. Although we are a small rural church, we place a high priority on our service to the community. We found that many of the ministries that we are involved with related extremely well to the goals of the Welcoming Congregation program. We believe that “together we can … Open hearts, Open minds, and Open doors.”
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