| August 27, 2010
Volume 157, Number 8
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| Summer camps see record high attendance
More than 700 students learn more about God’s love and mercy
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
 Students who attended River Camp July 11-15 at H-E-B Foundation Camp in Leakey, walk along the river. More than 700 students attended this year's conference summer camps.
Essential.
It is the place a movement is started— the epicenter. It is the place from which the earth, the communities, the hearts are shifted, shaken, shattered. “It is the epicenter that can determine whether a movement is small or large, whether that movement will move out into the world and carry the word of God with it or not,” said Becky Jackson, Southwest Texas Conference youth events coordinator.
“We look at our camps as an epicenter for the powerful movement of our students sharing the word of God throughout the world.” Themed “Epicenter” and focusing on how youth are the epicenter of the Movement of the Gospel of Christ, this year’s Southwest Texas Conference summer camps set another record high for student attendance at 760 participants. More than 50 churches attended the three summer camps, said the Rev. Rusty Freeman, conference director of youth ministries. Its success, he added, was seen in dozens of first-time commitments, calls to ministry and rededications.
 Students worship during the Southwest Texas Conference Quest camp, held July 18-22 at Mt. Wesley in Kerrville. This year's three camps had a record attendance, leaders say.
“Our summer camps are always amazing and awesome,” Jackson said. “It seems that each year, we are truly blessed more than the previous year— blessed with our volunteers who have real hearts for God and for youth, blessed with speakers and bands who constantly bring their ‘A’ game, blessed with student leaders who work around the clock at the camps to serve God and other students and blessed by the campers, who are constantly seeking and growing their relationships.
“This year was no exception. It was a summer filled with blessings in all these areas.” Lillie Davis, Freeman’s youth intern from First UMC, Lampasas who has attended about 15 conference summer camps, said campers “thoroughly sought God in all that we did” this year, which was “awesome” to watch.
 Students worship at the Mt. Wesley cross during Quest Camp.
Jackson said that while camps differ slightly every year, some constants remain— like camo games and water theme nights and recreation time. Davis said she’s observed in her years of experience with summer camps how much the conference has been “changing to fit the needs of campers.”
“The camps have exponentially grown in every way,” she said. “As the ‘Movement’ has grown around us, the Southwest Texas Conference has kept up so well. We are truly just all in training for what God wants to do in our lives. Jackson said she hopes students will not just take back with them a “mountaintop” experience but will be able to sustain that through involvement in their churches and youth ministries and through “serving and sharing with others.” But first and foremost, she added, she hopes students got a better, deeper relationship with Christ. Beyond that, she hopes they learned more about God’s character. “I pray they learned that no matter what they do in this life,” Jackson said, “our father will constantly wash over them (his) grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.
 Students participate in recreation time.
I know they left with tools that will help them continue (their) relationship with Christ away from a camp setting. I also know they left camp with new friendships that were founded in a Christian environment and will help them in their pursuit of Christ.” “I pray they seek to become a part of God’s movement in the world,” Freeman said. “(And that they know) the body of Christ is living and active and we, too, are invited to join him in his work.” Davis said one of the teachings emphasized during the summer camps was the idea of God’s unfailing love. “It sounds like such a simple thing that a lot of us in the church might even overlook,” she said.
“But many middle school and high school students who go to camps during the summer don’t hear that all the time. Maybe it’s the very first time for them to hear about God’s love.” She and other student leaders tried to talk to participants about how to keep the “camp high” once they returned back home, Davis added.
 Students hang out at Jam Camp.
Sometimes a camper goes home and has no idea how to tell his family and friends about what he has learned,” she said. “We tried to give a lot of examples and suggestions to help with their journey.” Jackson and Davis said they believe students took many different tools back to their churches, schools and communities— like the tools of serving, evangelism and worship.
“I hope that they were able to take the fire that was lit, or refueled, back to their churches,” Jackson said, “and that they are able to become leaders within their churches, communities and schools, not just their youth ministries. Our students are able to achieve a great deal—they just need to be given the opportunity. God used a great deal of young people, as is told to us throughout the Bible, and so we believe that he will continue to use young people today.”
“I hope and pray that each and every camper had one story or experience that they used to witness in their churches,” Davis said. “Whether it was the simple fact that God loves them beyond their understanding, a story about a homeless man’s trial or how Christ changed their hearts, I hope that each camper shared that story and expanded the movement just a little more.
“Maybe they just changed their behavior or action, trusting in Jesus Christ to lead them in spreading God’s word. Whatever it was, I am so honored to be a part of this amazing conference that is just a vessel for God’s work.”
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|  During summer camps, each student has a bag in which peers put encouraging words they have written.
 While Southwest Texas Conference summer camps have evolved over the years, some things stay the same: like water games. Students at Jam Camp, held June 27-July 1 at Mt. Wesley in Kerrville, enjoy the cool of water.
| |  Students at River Camp, one of three Southwest Texas Conference summer camps, enjoy time swimming in the river at H-E-B Foundation Camp in Leakey.
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|  "I hope that they were able
to take the fire that was lit,
or refueled, back to their
churches and that they
are able to become leaders
within their churches, communities
and schools."
Becky Jackson - Youth events coordinator
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| OA + IG ≥ VBS ÷ SCR x 345 = CG in Southwest Texas
Once upon a time a local church lay leader called together 11 older adults (OAs) who were class leaders with influence yet claimed no teaching skills. In obeying the Spirit’s call to an intergenerational (IG) evening vacation Bible school (VBS), they donned costumes, read from scripts, and had fun leading the 12 tribes (classes) through a dynamic and memorable week. Their team ministry was greater than or equal to (≥) the way they’d always done VBS.
Together they did more than any individual could have ever accomplished alone. Many lives became transformed within a culture of growth (CG) in that one blessed summer week. Imagine what God might do through willing leadership if each congregation (x345) committed to OA/IG ministry in indigenous and ingenious, creative ways. More than 55 years of senior Christian retreats (SCR) at Mount Wesley are filled with stories of influence and growth. VBS may be only one example of how SCR retreat participants hear God’s call upon their ministry back in the local church.
In pondering why SCR, a.k.a. September in the Hills, has remained vital, the answer includes centeredness. Focusing on Christ through mind-bodyspirit connection keeps folks coming back, appeals to younger seniors and centers participants on “the one thing needed.” Changes occur in our lives, like losing a loved one, having an accident or losing our memory, and in faith we can meet these challenge head-on.
Retreat Speaker for the 2010 retreat, Barbara Bruce, UM author and Christian educator from New York (www.bbruce.com), has experienced those very changes with her father. Bruce will bring to September in the Hills participants the latest on Brain Fitness and Holistic Approaches to Successful Aging Sept. 14-16 at Mount Wesley. Mark Iberg, certified laughter leader, promises to de-stress by stressing the importance of laughter in life, demonstrating varieties of laughter appropriate to all life’s situations. SCR Bible studies and mini-courses will focus on Mind - Comparative religion, Prayer Experience, Butterflies; Body – Hiking Sticks, Woodworking, Body Recall, Cooking for 1 or 2; and Spirit– Life Keeps Going, Watercolor for Everyone. Registration info is available at www.umcswtx.org/seniorchristianretreat.
With age comes wisdom and an awareness of God’s creative change, dependable provision and abiding love. May the Holy Spirit empower ministry of OAs and IG to be greater than or equal to VBS when dispersing SCR knowledge of body, mind, spirit across our Southwest Texas congregations to create a culture of growth.
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| New leadership elected to Methodist Healthcare Ministries board
Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM)—the largest private funding source for healthcare services to the uninsured and under-served in South Texas and half owner of the Methodist Healthcare System, largest healthcare system in South Texas— has tapped local real estate broker and owner, Richard T. Gilby as chair of the board of directors. Gilby was first elected to the MHM board of directors in 2002, although his service to the San Antonio community has been extensive.
He has served on the board of directors for Morningside Ministries, as president of the South Texas CCIM Chapter, as well as regional vice president of the National CCIM Organization, and as lay leader for the San Antonio District of The United Methodist Church. Gilby also served as chair of the New Church Development Commission for the Southwest Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. His professional affiliations include membership in the San Antonio Board of Realtors, the Texas Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors.
“Richard ‘Dick’ Gilby has been a key member of the board of directors, helping us to navigate incredible growth and stewarding our transformation of our Wesley Health & Wellness Center which services San Antonio’s South side,” said Kevin C. Moriarty, MHM president and chief executive officer. “The board of directors and I have great faith and confidence that Gilby’s years of leadership in the business community and his service through The United Methodist Church will enhance the way in which we provide services and support our partners throughout South Texas.”
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| On the road again in the Kerrville District
Sugar looks intently and expectantly at me. Her big doe-eyes greet me every morning and every evening as she emerges from the forest behind my house. She’s hungry.
Like Jon, Fred and Bob living before me in this district parsonage I have a congregation that meets twice a day in my back yard. I’ve inherited their call to care for Sugar and her herd of deer friends. My wife, Jody, and I look out on these deer, some axis deer, cardinals, shrub jays, lesser goldfinches, orioles, hawks and more. We are daily reminded of Cecil Alexander’s hymn, “All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.” Watching Sugar nurse her twin fawns only increases our joy and awe in being appointed here to the Kerrville District. Daily walks among “all creatures of our God and King” simply adds to the joy of serving the 49 congregations here.
It is also a joy to walk among and worship with the congregations, “peopled” with faithful servants of God. The distances are great, but so are the opportunities to see old and new friends in worship and in service. I’m making “house calls” these days, hoping to get out and among the pastors and leaders of these wonderful churches. In time I’ll be in each of the churches just for a pastoral call, seeing where and how our faithfulness is lived out amidst the struggles of ministry today.
Every generation of Christians faces difficulties unique to their century or decade. It is no different today. I cannot remember when the Christian faith was challenged in so many ways – by the waning of influence of our witness in culture and the distrust of our intended ministries. The writer of Hebrews says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Yet it is harder …well, it has always been hard to represent “the way, the truth and the life” in this world which rejected Jesus and has rejected his followers every since.
However, I’m excited about going out to see the joy, the hope and the love by which our people are living. Whether “the world” believes or not, we do! Whether or not those around us believe the Good News, we do! Whether or not “God’s pure, unbounded love” is shared by the world with our neighbors, we share! Church or charge conferences are coming. I’ll have a whole lot of driving to do! However, I look forward to this travel and these meetings as much as I do going out to feed Sugar every day. I will host the celebrations of this year’s ministries.
I’ll prompt future dreaming of how we can grow God’s grace in our own lives and in the life of our churches’ ministries in our communities. We have as challenging a mission field as found in the world today. If we can “catch the Spirit” and “fan the flames” of God’s love we can grow in wonder of God’s power and give God glory as we draw others into the fellowship of believers and servers. If…a challenging word! If…a challenge to create a culture of faithful expectations for growing God’s reign of love with our churches!
Much of what we have done in the past just doesn’t work anymore and much of what we are trying will possibly fail. However, I’ll be knocking on the doors around the Kerrville District to discover just how your ministries are working and how I can connect the God-given gifts of the Spirit so we can share all the more how to hear and follow Jesus’ word to St. Peter: “Feed my sheep.” And also, he might say “his dears” all around us, who turn to God’s people with that look of expectancy and hope to be fed daily bread.
Church Conference Schedule
All are called as Church Conferences unless the pastor requests a Charge Conference. If the district superintendent is to attend worship, and your worship times have changed, please contact the District office with the updated information.
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| September
26 Burnet, preach, lunch, meeting, 1p.m.
Kempner, 3:30 p.m.
October
3 Bertram, 10:30 a.m.
Chapel Hill, time TBA.
5 Medina, 6:30 p.m.
6 Hunt, 6 p.m.
10 Eagle Pass, preach, lunch, 1 p.m.
Carrizo Springs, 3 p.m.
Crystal City, 5 p.m.
11 Star/Center City at Center City, 7p.m.
12 Llano, 7 o.m.
13 Lakehills, 7 p.m.
14 Uvalde, 6 p.m.
17 Valley Spring/Cherokee 1 p.m.
18 Sabinal, 7 p.m.
19 Devine, 7 p.m.
20 Highland Lakes/Walnut, 2:30 p.m.
21 Harper, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. meeting.
24 New Fountain, preach, lunch, meeting 1 p.m.
Bandera, 4 p.m.
25 Comfort, 7 p.m.
| November
1 Center Point, 6 p.m.
2 Blanco, 7 p.m.
7 Johnson City, preach, lunch,
Church Conference 1 p.m.
8 Leakey/Montell, dinner 5:30 p.m.,
Church Conference 6:30 p.m.
14 Hondo, 12 p.m.
Yancey, 3 p.m.
21 Cotulla, 1 p.m.
Dilley, 3 p.m.
Pearsall, 5 p.m.
22 Lampasas, 7 p.m.
30 Castroville:Medina Valley, 7 p.m.
December
1 Fredericksburg, 6:30 p.m.
2 St. Paul’s, 7 p.m.
5 Goldthwaite, preach, lunch, meeting, 1 p.m.
Lometa/Bend at Bend, 3 p.m.
San Saba, 5 p.m.
6 Barnett Chapel, 7 p.m.
7 Boerne, dinner 6 p.m., meeting, 7 p.m.
8 Marble Falls, 6 p.m.
Granite Shoals: Grace, 7:30 p.m.
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| Kerrville - District happenings
Boerne First UMC to celebrate Heritage Sunday
Janet O’Day
Program Secretary for Music and Worship
First United Methodist Church, Boerne, TX
Make plans for a trip to Boerne for Heritage Sunday services on August 29th at 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m.! You won’t regret it! You are invited to be a guest of John Wesley as FUMC, Boerne celebrates ‘the people called Methodist” in Boerne and the world!
Pastor Conrad Archer, resident Wesley scholar, will take us on a journey through Wesley’s life as we discover how defining moments brought him to found the Methodist church as we know it. Remember your heritage through drama and wonderful Wesley hymns and readings. Please join us as history springs to life in Boerne! “We learn from the past for the future.”
Harlene Sadler visits with Literacy President
Harlene Sadler, pastor of Eagle Pass United Methodist Church, visited with Debbie Johnson, President of Literacy Texas, Margret Doughty, board member and Dr. Lester Meriwether of Books for the Border, at the Literacy Texas Conference in Austin, Texas August 11. Pastor Sadler is involved with the Eagle Pass Literacy Coailition and on the Board of Directors for Literacy Connect us.
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| Everything I know I learned in Sunday School 1. Everything about God and God’s love was explained on a felt* board.
2. All the cares of the past week disappeared as I shared a glass of Kool-Aid or punch with store-bought cookies.
3. There were no better friends than the ones who shared my faith each and every Sunday.
4. I knew I mattered because my Sunday school teacher was always there eagerly awaiting my arrival.
5. My first Super Heroes were the ones brought to life in the stories from the Bible. And yes, they made their appearance on the flannel board!
6. As far as everyone was concerned we could all really sing and do the motions that taught us about God.
7. When it was time to pray my Sunday school teacher closed her eyes; I knew she believed in the power of prayer and so should I.
8. It felt great to drop a quarter, nickel, or penny into that bamboo bowl each Sunday. The teacher said it went to help in the work of Jesus. That made me feel a part of an important work.
9. Christmas was more special to those of us who got to wear bathrobes and march in a play as we took wrapped cigar and Kleenex boxes to the baby Jesus.
10. Sunday school always seemed to be fun and for a long time, more fun than what followed next.
You could add your own list to the life lessons you learned from Sunday school. I remember with great fondness that small Sunday school room in Kingsville that was in every sense of the word, the happiest place on earth. Unlike a high priced, short-lived Disney vacation, what I learned in that Sunday school room blessed my life in helping mold who I am today. Sunday school was a life-long experience. And it was free.
My Sunday school teacher that impacted my life the most was Mrs. Flores. She was there as my awakening mind was asking questions about God and life and love, and she seemed to know all the answers. As difficult a week that I might have had, everything seemed right with the world when I was in that classroom for that one hour each Sunday. Mrs. Flores was an imposing figure in the spiritual and physical sense, and I knew of her love for all of us in that one hour of her life that she shared with us. I know she prepared for the lessons, but as far as I was concerned that great hour was a God-send. Little did we know in those days that the economy in those days would change in dramatic ways for all of us.
The Missouri Pacific roundhouse would close and those children whose dads worked there would find themselves moving either to Houston or Harlingen. We were safe for a while as long as the Hygeia Dairy was open there in Kingsville. It closed too soon and my dream of being a milkman like my dad would change as well. My dad tried other jobs and finally found work in Houston, leaving us alone, worried, scared and relying on those lessons of prayer that I had learned at home and at Sunday school. I believe that somehow in all that followed, the closing of businesses and the having to move to bigger or different cities worked for the best in all our lives. Little did I know that those Sundays and the move to Houston would Everything I know I learned in Sunday School lead to God’s call on my life.
I am now a pastor, and in some ways, thanks to Mrs. Flores. She laid the foundation of a faith that at an early age became very real to me, and it still is. She cared enough to study and prepare for our class, to get up earlier than us, and to arrive at church early enough to be the first in the class. That made it easier for us to hear her voice as she said welcome and as she asked how our week had been. Now that I am a pastor I am saddened by the number of children who don’t know the same experiences that I had because their moms and dads don’t take them to Sunday school. I have to confess I had to be taken to Sunday school at first, when I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and at home. Now I know my life is richly blessed because of that one hour I spent, once a week, in the class of Mrs. Flores.
Sunday school in my opinion is the best deal in town where it is still offered. In many churches where there are Sunday school classes for the kids inside, there are laughter, learning, and life-long preparation going on. And that one hour per week spent in a Sunday school is, in every sense of the word, the truly happiest place on earth. Who knows, these same kids will come back to make the earth a more livable place, as we look forward to the “new earth.” Make time to take your children, and yourself, to attend Sunday school. I know there is a class just for you. If you don’t find one, ask about starting one. The blessings and benefits you will receive are out of this world!
*felt boards were folding board with felt cloth on the front. The teacher would tell a story and add felt cloth characters to the board. Both being of felt material, the character would stick to the board. Quite a tool, some would say better than PowerPoint lessons any day!
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| Corpus Christi - District happenings
Linda Morrow
Ministries Director
As you may have noticed the summer is quickly coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. Children and teachers are preparing to return to school. Summer crops are being harvested. Many of the churches in our district are preparing to reach out to the community through pumpkin patches and fall festivals. Plans are being made for new events. Sunday school classes are forming, and preparations are being finalized for the season of Advent. Often times we look forward to fall knowing that we can get back in our old routines. Yet, this year as fall approaches,
I wonder if God is calling us to remember that every season is different and unique. What worked in a previous time may not be appropriate during this season. Maybe as we look at the bountiful harvest and think about the golden colors of those big round things called pumpkins, we need to realize that God calls us to grow ever bigger and stronger in our faith. Maybe we need to ask: What is it Lord that you would have me take on during this season of life? What is it that the Lord is asking me to let go of at this time?
The District is hosting a Spiritual retreat on October 1-2 at the Mustang Island Retreat Center on Padre Island. It will begin on Friday afternoon at 4 p. m. and go through Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. This retreat called “The Christmas Package Marked ‘Return to Sender”. Finding the Silence in Silent Night is designed to allow you to take time to answer these two questions. The cost of the event is $100. per person/double occupancy. Rev. Carol Pifer will be the retreat leader. I invite you to go to the Corpus Christi website for the brochure and registration - www.ccdistrictumc.org fill them out and join others in the district as we seek to prepare ourselves so that we can re-present Christ to our communities.
Other events you may want to put on your calendar: District Celebration (South) September 18 at First UMC, Corpus Christi. 5:30 p. m. Celebrating Disciples in the southern part of the District. Lay Speaker Training – September 25 at First UMC, Portland 8:30am-5:30pm (both Basic and Advanced – go to the website for registration).
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| Riviera UMC helps host community food bank
By the Rev. Linda Baumheckel
Riviera UMC hosted the food bank for Riviera Christians in Action on August 13. This coincided with their Friday Free Medical Clinic on the church property. More than 80 families were assisted with their food bank supplies and two food bank clients were helped at the medical clinic that were in urgent need of evaluation.
This was a powerful occasion to be the church in our community with multi generations of hearts and hands helping others. Jack Burdock from Riviera United Methodist Church helps a food bank client take part of their monthly food supply to their vehicle. Yvonne Quarles, Jack Burdock and others put supplies into the food bank client’s boxes. As a result of this outreach to the community, the church is excited to become the regular monthly host for the Food Bank as our congregation enlarges their opportunity to love God and neighbor.
 Eighty families came for assistance with boxes of food when Riviera UMC hosted
the food bank for Riviera Christians in Action Aug. 13.
 Young and old came to help hand out supplies.
Lay speaker training to be Oct. 2 at Wesley UMC, McAllen
By Donald Lantz,
District Director of Lay Speaking
Have you ever wanted to know more about how to lead a Bible study? The Bible is the word of God and anyone who teaches a Bible Study needs to be true to the Word.
The Lay Speaking Committee of the McAllen District will offer an advance course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 2 at Wesley United Methodist Church. The title of the course will be Lay Speakers Lead Bible Study. The Rev Carolyn McGuire, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church will lead the class. This advanced course is designed to help you become versed in how to teach and lead a Bible Study.
Lay Speakers are trained in communication of the word in all forms, not just speaking from the pulpit. All Lay Speakers are reminded that they must take an advance class every three years to keep their certificate as a Lay Speaker. If it has been at least two years since your last training, the Lay Speaking Committee suggests that you strongly consider taking this training. Another advance class will not be offered until 2011 in the McAllen District.
If there are any questions from laity or clergy, please contact Donald Lantz, District Director of Lay Speaking at (956 423-8319 or e-mail him at dlantz@swbell.net as soon as possible.
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| The dog days of summer are here
It’s hot around here in West Texas right now – dead hot. The summer, which began so pleasantly with rain showers, green grass, and trips to the lakes, has bogged down in hot, dry August heat. No one wants to go anywhere; even the lakes are unappealing. Few venture beyond sight of an air conditioner or a glass of iced tea. We’re in the late-summer doldrums, the dog days of summer. Around the church, life is even slower and less eventful. Attendance and giving is always down this time of year. Everybody seems to be in New Mexico or Colorado.
I am reminded of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Hebrews had been plodding along, year after year, waiting for that promised Second Coming. But what had changed? Caesar still ruled; the faithful still suffered and died. Their unbelievable neighbors either ignored them or taunted them, saying: “Where is your God? Why doesn’t your God get busy and do something?” Hebrews 11 contains that memorable roll call of the heroes and heroines of the faith. “Therefore, seeing the faithfulness of these forebearers who have run their race before us, let us now run our race with fortitude” (12:1).
Here, where I live, in these dog days of summer, life drags along uneventfully, I think I am learning, with those Hebrews, what it means to wait. We are fighting the nagging, chronic, ordinary lack of fulfillment of our hope. Such waiting requires discipline, the disciplines of faith which trusts, endures, continues to name THE NAME and tell the STORY even when hope is unfulfilled and the world keeps reminding us that it’s not listening anyway.
Hebrews has it right: “perseverance” is what’s needed in the dog days of the church – stubborn, hard-headed determination, which, after all, may be what the book of Hebrews suggests faith itself really is. The heroes of faith, at least among the gallery which appears in chapter 11 of Hebrews, are not so much the martyrs as the perseverers - the Abrahams and the Moseses who plodded through the wilderness of drab, uneventful, everyday life; with the noonday sun beating down on their backs, but with eyes fixed on God’s postponed future. This “cloud of witnesses” who trudged ahead of us, whose witness was in their perseverance, now sit in the bleachers, cheering us who come after them.
At the point of my greatest weariness, I think I can hear an encouraging shout arising from those seated saints. So I pour myself another glass of iced tea, go back over the District reports one more time, and keep on keeping on.
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| San Angelo - District happenings
Proud to be connected, for children
Rev. Steve Peyton
FUMC Robert Lee
 First UMC, Robert Lee teams up with St. Luke UMC youth from San Angelo.
Being the pastor of a small congregation has both challenges and rewards. The greatest reward is getting to know people on a one-to-one basis in a short amount of time throughout the whole community; the down side is a limited amount of resources and volunteers. I had the chance to meet with the Rev. Mona Lara, associate pastor, from St. Luke UMC, San Angelo. Since they are about 30 minutes away, she expressed a desire to have several youth from the youth group at St. Luke come and assist in our Vacation Bible School in Robert Lee.
Not only did they show up, but the youth were great shepherds of the children, modeled great worship and participation in all the activities. The greatest gift the youth from San Angelo left us with is awareness that our churches are all part of the same goal, “Offering Christ to All”. Not only did they serve that summer, but returned for a second summer as well! The first summer we had 32 children attend from the whole community, this second year we had over 50!! It is fantastic to be “connected” to St Luke, and look forward to doing activities in ministry with other churches in the future.
Let’s Build an Ark at Veribest UMC
Another Great Vacation Bible School created and coordinated by Janet Phinney, Fran & Geral Cox, and assisted by Pastor Mike and Lisa Thomson, was held at Veribest UMC from June 28-July 1st. 26+ young people learned the lesson of the ARK and proceeded to build not only their own small models but a large scale model with animals made of Playdoh, and Mt. Ararat made of plaster. These pictures are only examples of the fun, fellowship, food, and Bible study done during this week. AWESOME!! ‘Volunteers’ appeared to help with the kids, and provide tools to help with the week’s activities.
Sierra Vista UMC’s partnership with Alta Loma Angels
In February 2009, a very special partnership began with Sierra Vista and Alta Loma Elementary. The school is located in a north San Angelo neighborhood that is characterized by socio-economically disadvantaged families and the Alta Loma Angels have been involved in several events, developed relationships with teachers and parents, created an on-campus Clothes Closet, served as Prayer Warriors and the list goes on. The Angels continue to meet the needs in many other areas including Vacation Bible School.
With the assistance of funds from the San Angelo District Mission Fund, 15 kids from Alta Loma were provided scholarships to attend the weeklong event. Kelly Duke, Director of Family & Children’s Ministries said it best, “Our contact with Alta Loma and its students is on-going, so we hope to foster relationships with these children and follow them throughout their elementary careers, however, as with any VBS experience, the impact can be life-long and permanent.”
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Way Out West
We’re on the Web:
www.gbgm-umc.org/umcsa
Briefs
Story contacts needed for
next few Witness issues
Several articles are planned for the
next few issues of The United Methodist
Witness, but we can’t write them without
you! Please let us know if you have any
contacts for the following themes:
Hunger ministries—focusing on hunger
ministries that are tied to conference
churches, whether it’s a food bank, an
annual food drive, a soup kitchen, or
anything else that helps feed the hungry
of the world.
Pumpkin patches—focusing on the
ministries that are impacted by the funds
raised from pumpkin patches. Let us know
what the money buys and how that helps
take Christ’s message to the world.
Harvest festivals—focusing on open
house-type special events in the fall that
help reach out to communities surrounding
churches.
Thanksgiving—focusing on what
churches are doing to spread the
Thanksgiving tidings.
Giving—Christmas story on what
churches are doing to give to those who
have not during the Christmas season.
We will also be planning some series in
the future, including one on stewardship,
one on the future of the church (Hispanic
ministry, youth ministry, family and older
adult ministry) and one about “ordinary
radicals”—individuals who are sacrificially
giving their lives away to help the poor
needy. We would appreciate any contacts
you might provide in that area. E-mail
Rachel at rtoalson@umcswtx.org or call
(210) 408-4524.
Kerrville District
The Kerrville District staff has compiled
the information to use the space as a
district newsletter.
Bill Henderson
Superintendent
dskerrville@texxa.net
Elizabeth Cover
Admin. Assistant
kdumc@texxa.net
Address:
222 Sidney Baker S # 528
Kerrville, Texas 78028
District Office
(830) 896-6400
Program Office
(830) 896-6400
Fax: (830) 896-6407
District Calendar
August
29 - 6 - Lake Juniluska
September
2 - District Youth Professional’s
meeting; FUMC Boerne; 11-2.
6 - Labor Day; Office Closed.
8 - District Building & Locations
Committee; Mt. Wesley Lounge; 10a.m.
14 - Newsletter deadline.
21 - District Professional’s meeting;
FUMC Kerrville; 9:30-1.
28-29 - Cabinet.
October
7 - District Youth Professional’s
meeting; LlanoUMC; 11-2.
12 - Newsletter deadline.
26-31 - Cabinet
Corpus Christi District
The Corpus Christi District staff has
compiled the information to use the
space as a district newsletter.
Eradio Valverde, Jr.
Superintendent
ev@ccdistrictumc.org
Sheila Campbell
Admin. Assistant
ccdistrict@bizstx.rr.com
Linda Morrow
Ministries Director
ccprogram@bizstx.rr.com
Address:
3510 Gollihar Road
Corpus Christi, TX 78415-2750
District Office
(361) 852-8268
Program Office
(361) 852-8268
Fax: (361) 852-3370
District Calendar
August
24 - District Clergy Family Picnic; St.
John’s UMC; 6 pm.
26- 3 - DS Training.
September
2 - Sea City Workcamp at District
Office, 6:30 pm.
6 - District Office Closed.
7 - Pastor’s Reports due.
9 - District Professionals meeting;
Goliad; 9 a.m.
14 - Newsletter Deadline.
18 - District Celebration; FUMC Corpus
Christi; 5:30 pm. Bishop Dorff will
be attending.
25 - Lay Speaker Training; Portland.
28-29 - Cabinet Meeting.
October
1-2 - District Spiritual Retreat; Mustang
Island.
7 - Pastor’s Reports due.
7 - Sea City Workcamp; District Office;
6:30 p.m.
McAllen District
The McAllen District staff has compiled
the information to use the space as a
district newsletter.
Rev. Laura Merrill
Superintendent
lauramerrill@sbcglobal.net
Linda Jewell
Admin. Assistant
umcmcallen@sbcglobal.net
Oralia Sanchez
District Editor
oralia0804@yahoo.com
Address:
1909 W. Harrison St.
Harlingen, TX 78550
District Office
(956) 428-0200
Program Office
(956) 428-0200
Fax: (956) 428-1728
District Calendar
August
28 - Program Ministries Team Meeting;
District Office; 10 a.m.
September
12 - Celebration of appointment for
Laura Merrill; FUMC, McAllen; 4p.m.
14 - Pastors/Professionals Meeting;
Fumc, Raymondville; 9 a.m.
14 - District Board of Ordaioined
Ministry; First UMC, McAllen;
1p.m.
26 - District Superintendency Committee;
FUMC, McAllen; 3:30 p.m.
28-29 - SWTX Cabinet
28 - Youth Leader Dinner; FUMC,
Weslaco; 6 p.m.
29 - DYPS; St. Mark UMC; 11 a.m.
October
1-3 - Clergy Spouse Retreat; Mt. Wesley
2 - Lay Speaking Training; TBA.
San Angelo District
The San Andelo District staff has compiled
the information and uses the space as a
district newsletter.
Larry Altman
Superintendent
sangds@suddenlinkmail.com
Amy Moore
Operations Manager
sangom@suddenlinkmail.com
Gini Christian
District Ministries
Coordinator
sangpd@suddenlinkmail.com
Address:
1315 S. Abe Street.
San Angelo, TX 76903
District Office
Phone: (325) 486-1500
Fax: (325) 482-0033
District Calendar
August
26-31 - Gina; Vacation
September
1-10 - Gina; Vacation.
6 - District Office Closed,
Labor Day.
16 - Pastors and Professionals Meeting;
Veribest.
16 - District Committee on Ordained
Ministry Meeting.
25 - Rethink Worship, St. John’s UMC,
Austin.
28-29 - Cabinet Meeting
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