December 25, 2009
Volume 156, Number 34
Men’s conference expands to Victoria
 Men of Light began its ministry in San Antonio and has had three conferences in the city, where more than 1,700 men have attended. In January, the conference will expand to Victoria.
Men of Light will reignite his city’s men
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
Steve Coker and his leadership team believe that if one man attends the Men of Light Conference and comes to know Jesus because of it, their efforts were successful.
He has a vision, said Coker, an associate pastor of Bulverde UMC and the brain behind Men of Light, a conference that exists to ignite men of all denominations to become the leaders they were created to be. He has seen that one man tapping the shoulder of one of the Men of Light leaders in heaven and saying that he came to know the Lord because of a certain speaker or a song.
He then sees the man turning to a crowd of people behind him, saying, “This is my wife and my kids. And those are the guys I worked with. And this is my brother-in-law who was in rehab. All these people followed my call because of your conference.”
“That’s the picture that drives us in answering this call to offer a conference,” Coker said, adding that all the leaders for the event are volunteers.
That’s why, after three successful conferences in San Antonio, Men of Light, a conference that reaches out to men of all denominations, is expanding to Victoria with a one-day event Jan. 9.
It’s the first conference outside of San Antonio and will be held at the Victoria College Fine Arts Auditorium from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tickets to the event are $20.
Victoria District Superintendent Terrence Hayes invited Coker to bring Men of Light to the area because he was looking for a way to energize his men, he said.
“Men of Light is Christian, it’s spiritual, it’s United Methodist-based even though they’re after men from all denominations,” Hayes said. “It’s encouraging and demanding responsibility from men.
“What we’re hoping to do is balance the leadership of our churches between the men and the women. Men have taken a back seat with leadership roles. We want them to step up to the plate and work side by side. This conference can help do that.”
 The Men of Light conference features times of worship, drama and Biblical teaching from leaders around the Central Texas area. Hundreds of men attended the last San Antonio conference in October.
To date, he’s had interest from Methodists, Baptists, Catholics and nondenominational churches, too.
Last week, Coker said, he went to downtown Victoria for a leadership luncheon that was hosted by Wells Fargo. Twenty-six business community leaders as well as church leaders met to hear more about the concert from Coker himself.
“I feel good about this event,” Coker said. “They just seem hungry.”
While the conferences have been successful in San Antonio and he expects the same from the Victoria conference, Coker said his next step is trying to come up with a catalyst or energizer for the local church to provide some sort of discipleship model for the men who attend the conference.
He’d like to take the conference—with the speakers and the worship leaders—and put it in video format and provide a small-group curriculum so the event can be followed up with a six- to eight-week study.
“Our goal is to drive people back to the local church and get them plugged in,” Coker said. “Ultimately we have to rely and trust that the local church will do that work. You lose control totally when the guys walk away from the conference. All we have left is information and stories, and we feed those back to the church.”
On feedback forms, Coker said sometimes men will specify a particular church they currently attend, but some don’t have a home church, in which case he and leaders will provide the man’s information to the church in the closest zip code to the man’s address.
About 1,750 men have attended the three conferences, most of those from the 35-55 age group. About 43 percent of those men profess to have made a rededication or first-time profession of faith. About 15 percent have indicated they are interested in small groups and 10 percent say they’re interested in leading a small group.
“Those are the real statistics,” Coker said. “But the real measure of success is in the individuals stories of life transformation.”
San Antonio District hosts
‘Farewell Fiesta’ for leader
 More than 240 people attended the “Farewell Fiesta” at Bracken UMC’s Connection Center, which honored Virgilio Vazquez-Garza and his wife, Acacia.
The event was held in the Connection Center at Bracken UMC and included a catered fajita lunch and entertainment by Los Mariachitos de Wesley, a youth mariachi band from the Wesley Community Center. Dick Gilby was emcee.
During the celebration, District Superintendent’s Committee members and the district staff members shared their appreciation of Vazquez-Garza’s and his wife Acacia’s ministry to the people.
Those in attendance watched a slide show, put together by Vazquez-Garza’s son Homero, depicting the highlights of Virgilio’s and Acacia’s life and shared ministry.
Leaders spent some time thinking about a gift that would adequately express their love and appreciation to Vazquez-Garza. They did so through a monetary gift to Manantial de Vida UMC, a church that holds a special place in Vazquez-Garza’s heart, to provide financial assistance for the church’s ministry.
A personal gift card also was given to both Acacia and Virgilio to be spent as each might choose.
| Engaging in challenging readings can
take heart, soul, mind to new places
 Conference events
Eric H.F. Law’s Sacred Acts, Holy Change: Faithful Diversity and Practical Transformation, tells how to avert a titanic collision with “the iceberg of culture” in our communities as we strive to be an inclusive church. Law’s work The Wolf Shall Dwell With the Lamb: A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community, is highly recommended for the leader/church serious about offering Christ to all.
Craig Kennet Miller’s Next Church. Now: Creating New Faith Communities, with DVD slides, has been a challenge to new & existing churches wanting to rekindle a passion for ministry in the midst of rapid change. If you like studying Ephesians, this will resonate with your leadership. Miller talks about intimacy levels in group settings, developing a discipleship system, the way we think, matrix thinking, identifying and using a theme and worship as drama.
Deepening Your Effectiveness: Restructuring the Local Church for Life Transformation, by Dan Glover & Claudia Lavy, offers a template on how to structure your congregation to reach people outside the door. You can begin to see the ebb and flow of your own journey, like waves washing up on a shore—not a constant journey in a forward direction, but, as we say in Christian education, more of an upward spiral, circular and repetitive, while progressing. Questions addressed are: why do you seem to backslide, what can you do about it, how can you reach others who are on their journey, and what ministries will reach best.
Equipped for Every Good Work: Building a Gifts-Based Church, by Dan R. Dick and Barbara Miller, is a four-tool process to help you discover and develop the spiritual gifts, spirituality types, interaction styles and working preferences of each person in your congregation. Through self-exploration and discovery, each person can gain new insights about discipleship, and the entire congregation can grow as a faith-forming spiritual community. A special Web site provides access to handouts, materials and helpful aids.
Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice for Congregations, by Gil Rendle & Alice Mann, offers wisdom for issues, context, culture, discernment and planning, with helpful questions leaders continually ask throughout the planning process.
Preparing for January’s Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation, Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith is delighting both my memory of early church and my hope for the future of our church.
Engage your leadership council in perusing these resources, and find yourself on a new pathway to God.
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| Youths at First UMC, Johnson
City debut on the handbells
 The children’s handbell choir made its debut by ringing out Christmas carols as part of the Advent celebration at First UMC, Johnson City. The ringers came together and prepared their program in only a short time when the handbells became available on short notice. The young musicians were pleased with themselves for having made such progress.
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| Good stewardship begins with
clear understanding of who God is
By the Rev. Andy Smith
First UMC, Gonzales
Our nation’s rising debt is a growing concern, but this trend is not limited to the government. Before the current financial crisis, one statistic indicated that a majority of Americans spend 120 percent of their yearly salary. This accumulation of debt is not just an accounting issue, or even a financial issue, but primarily a spiritual one.
This is a sensitive topic, but the Church needs to offer a guiding voice on the subject of stewardship. Stewardship begins with a clear understanding of God. Remember the opening words of the Bible: “In the beginning when God created...” God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and as Creator, everything belongs to God. Stewardship acknowledges God’s ownership of all things and celebrates the generous nature of God. I love the imagery of Psalm 23 verse 5, “You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.” God gives and gives and gives and what God gives is generous and a blessing to our lives. Listen again to the words of John 3 verse 16, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” It is in God’s nature to give.
The purpose of stewardship is to guide our use of all the good and generous gifts God has entrusted to us. Stewardship cannot be reduced to a conversation about money but must also include our talents, time, abilities, relationships and even the resources of the earth. Your life is a precious gift from God; so take a moment to acknowledge to God that the breath in your lungs is a good and precious gift. Be grateful for your life and for all your gifts. Showing such gratitude is the starting point for stewardship.
Developing and living a theology of stewardship serves to guide our use of what God entrusts to us. In his sermon, “The Good Steward” John Wesley affirms that, “He (the steward) is not at liberty to use what is lodged in his hands as he pleases; but as his master pleases.” If what we possess belongs to God then it is not in our right to use such resources solely for our own benefit and personal desires. In practical terms, stewardship is about setting good priorities. It’s about putting God first in what we say, think and do. Stewardship is certainly not an attack on wealth, it is a humble reminder that the world does not revolve around us, nor are all things created for our personal purpose and satisfaction. Practicing good stewardship involves humility, discipline, gratitude and a daily reminder that what we say, think and do should bring glory to God.
The Church needs to articulate good stewardship during this financial crisis and connect our spiritual lives to our financial lives. It is humbling to remember that the world does not revolve around you or me. It is challenging to allow God to have a say so in our daily living. We are all accountable to God for how we use all the good gifts God has entrusted to us.
This article is submitted on behalf of the Southwest Texas Conference Commission on Stewardship for the purpose of promoting stewardship awareness and education in the local church.
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| Corpus Christi District news We wish you a very Merry Christmas!
 Merry Christmas from the Rev. Barbara Ruth, district superintendent; Linda Morrow, director of district ministries; and Sheila Campbell, district administrative assistant.
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| District happenings
Linda Morrow
Director of District Ministries
My Job Workshop is scheduled for January 30, 2010 at Grace UMC, 11222 Leopard in Corpus Christi from 8:45 a.m to 12:30 p.m. The event will provide quality leadership training for Leaders, Committee Members, Trustees, Pastor Parish/Staff Parish Committees, Finance Committee Members, Treasurers, and Volunteers with Children, Youth, and Older Adults as well as anyone who might need ideas and help with ministry at their church.
Two of the sessions will be double sessions: The Finance and the Local Church led by the Rev. David Seilheimer, Southwest Texas Conference treasurer and PPRC/SPRC Roles and Responsibilities taught by Rev. Barbara Ruth, District Superintendant of the Corpus Christi District.
Other workshops include: The Role of the Trustees in the Local Church, Connecting Neighbors – learning how to implement a disaster relief plan for your church, Myths, Realities, and Aging designed to help with Older Adult Ministry, Spiritual Paths, The Missional Church, What do we do about Youth Ministry?, Vacation Bible School- Rockin’ Fun, Crazy Creativity and Sharing Jesus, and Puppets, Puppets and More Puppets!
We hope that you will make plans to attend. This is a free event. Even though it is free registering will help us to have the proper amount of handouts for each session. Childcare is available, however, we will need to know by Jan15th 2010 so that arrangements can be made with Grace UMC.
To register you may use the registration form sent to your church office and your lay leader or visit the Corpus Christi District Website www.ccdistrictumc.org to download a registration form. Registrations can be mailed to the District Office, faxed to (361) 852-3370 or emailed to ccprogram@bizstx.rr.com.
If you need more information contact Rev. Linda Morrow at (361) 215-9970 or ccprogram@bizstx.rr.com.
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| Brush Country awards to be Feb. 24 in Goliad
You are invited to the “Brush Country” Imagine No Malaria at the Awards Celebration on February 24 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Goliad Memorial Auditorium at 925 S. US Hwy 183 in Goliad. The dinner will be catered by Werners in Shiner Texas.
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| McAllen District news These times, they are a changing
I like to collect interesting items from pre-vious eras. I have a “candle stick” phone without a dial, dated 1915. For those who don’t watch old movies, you picked up the ear piece and tapped on the arm that held the ear piece and the operator answered. That phone worked great when there were just a few phones in town and one person could handle the work. As the work load increased, the phone company came up with the rotary dial so the phone would not depend on a person. As electronics improved, the rotary dial was replaced by the touch tone. Then came the cell phone (about the size of a notebook) and the phone no longer had to be attached to a phone line. Now I have a cell phone that fits in my pocket but it is fairly simple and will not do all the texting and internet work that I would like to be able to do. Who would have dreamed that we would go from an operator to texting in 100 years.
The point is that the world does not stand still. The future comes on us whether we are ready or not. Change is inevitable. Will we be ready for it? How will we respond? We can lament that we do not us rotary dial phones or we can figure out how to best utilize the new technol¬ogy to accomplish our purposes. The world is changing around the church. Will we be able to communicate the gospel in a way relevant to people who are quite at home in this new world?
“Boofest” and “Veggie Tales” are two attempts to reach people who might not otherwise even consider church as a possibility. Let’s come up with other ideas and programs. Let’s invite, invite, invite. And be open to where the Spirit might lead us, even if it makes us a little uncomfortable.
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| From church to church, AMEN!
AMEN to Laredo FUMC who baptized twins Ana Alicia and Ana Estela Cardenas.
AMEN to First United Methodist Church Lyford who celebrated their 100th Anniversary on 11-8-09.
AMEN to McAllen FUMC, who celebrated their 100th anniversary, Nov. 8, 2009.
AMEN to La Feria FUMC who celebrated their 100th Anniversary on November 15, 2009.
AMEN to Mission FUMC who celebrated their 100th Anniversary November 8, 2009.
AMEN to Donna FUMC who celebrated their 100th Anniversary in February 2009.
AMEN to Wesley UMC of Harlingen who joined St. Alban’s Episcopal Church for “Trunk or Treat” offering youth a fun, safe and Christian place to celebrate during the Halloween Festivities.
AMEN to Hebbronville FUMC who served and distributed over 200 plates of turkey & trimmings to the employees of EMS, Sherriff’s Department, Fire Department, Nursing Home, and families during their Thanksgiving celebration.
AMEN to Los Fresnos UMC Youth and Harlingen UMC Youth who met for a day of fellowship, food, and fun.
AMEN to McAllen FUMC who prepared and delivered Thanksgiving Baskets to at least 150 families in the community.
AMEN to Harlingen FUMC Outreach Ministry whose Neighborhood Food Pantry now serves over 700 families.
AMEN to St. Mark FUMC McAllen for their Study Café for Youth.
AMEN to Edinburg FUMC for their Junior High Youth Lounge.
Do you have an AMEN to share about the McAllen District? If so, contact Luvy Carrasco by email. (luvcar_23@hotmail.com)
AMEN to Riviera UMC whose clinic had a porch added by a mission team this summer.
AMEN to Premont FUMC who celebrated their 100th Anniversary on October 4, 2009. Epi Vargas, the President of the Premont Chamber of Commerce presented a plaque to Tommy Teague, the Administrative Board Chair.
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| Kerrville District news
Don’t put Jesus back into the attic
From the very beginning of this season, I find myself staring at the Nativity scenes in the downstairs hall in our home in Kerrville. I turn on the lights and stand there in awe as I imagine myself standing in the scene of the shepherds kneeling before the Christ child. It is awesome and wonderful to use one’s imagination. I have the privilege of visiting different churches each Sunday and it has been a joy to see the wonderment on the faces of boys and girls as they stand around the Nativity Scene in their own church home. Some churches have whole villages laid out on tables. Some are quite elaborate, some very simple. And yet the point of each of the artist’s rendition is to draw the observer in, turning one into a participant and not a mere spectator.
Nativity Scenes stretched out on a table bring memories of yesteryear to this writer. As a boy in elementary school, in the annual Christmas play, I was arrayed in long flowing while robes with tinfoil covered angel wings and a clothes hanger rigged behind my head to hold my halo in its proper place. (I have an actual photo proving that at one time I did indeed have a halo!) In later years, I traded in my wings, wore my father’s stripped bathrobe and held a crooked wooden staff carved by my grandfather as I was promoted to the rank of shepherd. I was a part of the whole story of Christmas.
As an adult, I remember New Orleans where Irene and I had our first child. We were asked to be the holy couple with our son playing the role of the baby Jesus when he was such a tiny infant himself. We dressed our parts and I remember taking our place up front near the kitchen in the warm fellowship hall. It seems like only yesterday when a little girl came up to us and exclaimed, “Momma, Baby Jesus is really, really REAL!” Years later in Cuero, our baby took on the roles of a rooster, an angel, then a shepherd. Our daughter was typecast as an instant angel and bore the image in shiny apparel and golden wings for years to come. I remember standing outside with donkeys and sheep in freezing, cold wintry conditions. My point is this: we allowed ourselves to step inside the story to make it real for ourselves and all those around us. And my friends, just because the presents are unwrapped and the house is a mess doesn’t mean that Christmas is over. It isn’t time to put the crèches away. We are in Christmastide and are rapidly approaching the time of Epiphany. Don’t put Jesus away in a box and put him back into the attic! Celebrate his coming by remaining in the scene yourself.
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| What does worship look, feel,
smell, taste and sound like?
By Robert Molder
District Lay Leader
People are welcomed, honored and cared for.
God’s story, which is our story, is always told.
Jesus is experienced as present in love and power.
The people and the community are changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
People are active in singing, praying, and responding.
There is passion in the singing, preaching, and praying.
Varied ages and cultures are welcomed.
Things (food, water, candles, furnishings, fabrics, vessels) are used generously to point to the presence of God.
Actions (people being baptized, greeting one another, sharing bread and cup) point to the presence of the risen Lord.
Worship space is arranged so the people can be together and see one another.
There are calls and responses: people experience God calling, and they respond.
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, and ever given
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven. ---Wesley
When Christians worship here on earth, The hosts of heaven are worshipping with them.
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| District happenings
 Right: It wasn’t a record crowd, but considering the terrible weather on three of the four nights, it was surprising that more than 1,100 people watched the traditional Living Nativity Christmas pageant at First UMC, Johnson City. The cast shivered and through the 10 performances on the first weekend.
 Left: Linda Nelson was one of the volunteers who supported the Texas Department of State Health Services H1N1 flu shot clinic Monday in Lampasas. Nelson was one of eight representatives of the First UMC, Johnson City, who joined members of the Blanco County Disaster Response Group to help immunize more than 250 Lampasas residents against the swine flu at the old middle school.
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