July 24, 2009 Volume 155, Number 64 Bishop visits U.M. ARMY camp in Seguin 450 participants spend week working outdoors in spite of summer heat For more information on U.M. ARMY–SWTX contact Jenny Monahan at (512) 557-0513 or visit their Web site at www.umarmy.org/conference/swtx. By Thomas Monahan Director of Communications Even as temperatures soared above 100 degrees this summer U.M. ARMY-SWTX (United Methodist Action Reachout Mission by Youth Southwest Texas) participants were out armed with hammers in hand, smiles on faces and First Love in hearts. Four hundred fifty high school youth, adults, and college age participants gave a week of their lives to help their neighbors in one of five U.M. ARMY camps offered within the Southwest Texas Conference this summer. As Bishop Jim Dorff; the Rev. Austin Frederick, assistant to the Episcopal office; and Debbie Vest, South Central Jurisdiction Volunteer In Missions coordinator, visited work sites within Seguin, they witnessed the youth hard at work putting in floors in structures that had none, screening windows of homes that had no air conditioning so that residents could open their windows to gain some relief from the heat, and building wheelchair ramps and handrails so that clients could access their homes without the need of assistance, thus providing them more freedom. “U.M. ARMY…the first thing I think of an army is an organized, effective, cohesive group working together to accomplish something,” Dorff said. “Wow…U.M. ARMY is that kind of army, but it’s much more. It’s a vehicle of the Holy Spirit. The youth and adults give and receive blessing upon blessing. The morale is amazing, even in 105-degree heat the U.M. ARMY rolls on. It truly is God’s army doing God’s work in the world.” To view video of Dorff’s visit to the Seguin camp,  click here to view UMARMY video. U.M. ARMY is a place where youth are 100 percent present and actively serving God as well as becoming leaders whose official mission is to provide Christ-centered quality youth work camps that serve people in need and promote spiritual growth and leadership development in youth. “Thank you so much for everything this has been the best mission trip I have ever been on,” said Steven Rector, a high school student from Dripping Springs UMC who attended the San Angelo camp. “I feel like I am actually helping someone.” Youths are leaders each and every day of camp rotating jobs within their work teams as well as back at base camp through worship, fun and fellowship. They return home more confident in themselves and their relationships with Christ. One of the most meaningful parts of the U.M. ARMY experience happens on Thursday evening where the people whose homes have been being repaired are invited to the host church for dinner. The youth who have worked with these clients serve them dinner and the clients are given the opportunity to speak. During the Seguin camp client night, a number of folks spoke about what this experience has meant to them. “I’m 92 years old and having these kids work on my house and then getting to come here and have dinner, this is the happiest day of my life,” said Mrs. Ball, whose home was worked on all week. Ball attended client night.  The Seguin camp was the largest of the five camps this summer with 135 participants, 90 youth and 45 adults, each paying $195 for the privilege to help local residents in the community that don’t have the means to make these much needed repairs to their homes. “Seeing  our youth and adult team leaders working side by side in 100 plus degree heat to  build wheelchair ramps, and replacing porch and kitchen floors was a sight to behold,” Vest said. “The work completed made homes safer for the residences. What stood out in my mind were the relationships built between clients and the workers in a very short time.  The sincere Thank yous and gratitude expressed at the client dinner on Thursday evening will be remembered for a very long time.” Other U.M. ARMY sites this summer were First UMC, San Angelo; First Baptist Church, Kennedy; Mathis UMC; and First UMC, Burnett. “I wanted to thank you for sending us the greatest U.M. ARMY in the world,” said Patti Herndon, pastor of Mathis UMC. “We had such activity around the church and around town that the joy and excitement spread to other churches, other towns and other people we never thought we’d touch.” U.M. ARMY is a 501c3 non-profit that is supported totally by registration fees and donations. Jenny Monahan, executive director of U.M. ARMY-SWTX, said registration fees don’t cover all costs.  “We are trying to keep the cost of attending camp low so as many people as possible can experience what it is like to be the hands and feet of Christ in our local communities,” she said. “Unfortunately that means the fees we charge don’t cover all of our expenses.  Add to that rising fuel, building supplies and food costs, and it becomes a real challenge. We rely on donations to cover these gaps in funding.” U.M. ARMY- SWTX is an approved advance special, number 2026, which makes it a good option for churches looking to help a great mission program and meet their five star goals. U.M. ARMY–SWTX is in its seventh summer hosting camps in our conference. They are also part of a larger national organization that has more than 4,000 participants this summer alone, and is celebrating 30 years of service. U.M. ARMY started in the Texas conference in 1979. For more information on U.M. ARMY–SWTX contact Jenny Monahan at (512) 557-0513 or visit their Web site at www.umarmy.org/conference/swtx.

Facebook provides online ministry opportunity for leaders By Rachel L Toalson Managing Editor It’s not a new concept, by any means. But members of the Southwest Texas Conference are slowly signing on, literally, to its benefit. Facebook. It’s a social networking Web site that allows users to connect with friends and colleagues by sharing information like upcoming events or personal moods, thoughts and concerns through personal profiles. Danette Howell, pastor of Weimer UMC, said she became a member of facebook back in early 2007 while working with a career coach. She initially set up a profile, she said, to network with other professionals. At the time, though, not many pastors were on facebook, she added. “Since that time, I have spread the word and the word has gotten around form others, and facebook is catching on,” Howell said. “Since I began using facebook, I have noticed folks from all over the country have linked up with me, and I have connected with a much larger community in The United Methodist Church because of that.” Because she also works out of Nashville for UMCom, she’s met people in general agencies and other conferences, and facebook is a way they can easily stay in touch. She’s also begun a group for her church, she said. “I use it as a great means of communication and, much to my surprise, pastoral care,” Howell said. She’s able to use facebook to speak to the few church members who are on facebook but also as a way to connect with people in the community with whom she would have no other point of contact, Howell said. Through her communications with the community, she added, a group has started meeting twice a month at the parsonage for dialogue, comprised of people who aren’t even “officially” connected to the church. The Rev. Cynthia Kepler Karrer, pastor of St. Mark UMC, McAllen, said facebook allows her to catch up with people from whom she’s geographically distanced. “One of the things I realized in those relationships was how difficult it was to ‘catch up’ after an extended separation,” Kepler-Karrer said. “By watching their status change, I caught a lot of the major events in their lives so that we had a head start when we got together again. “It’s a vastly different way to be in community, but I find my ties are stronger, even though it’s a virtual community. It will never replace actually being around others, but it can maintain those bonds between times when we can be truly present to each other.” “It allows me, albeit passively, to watch what’s going on in people’s lives,” Howell said. “I consider my facebook time an important part of my ministry. I reach out to community folks and folks across the nation and even the world. I have found that sharing a status promotes little opportunities for open hearts. I read them, respond to some and just plain laugh at some.” Virgilio Vasquez-Garza, San Antonio District superintendent, said he uses facebook to connect with some old friends. He’s found one in Chile and another in Denmark and “it’s fun to see what is going on” with them, he said. Sometimes, he said, he logs on several times a day. Sometimes it takes him 48 hours to log on again. He admits he’s too lazy to update his profile often. While he doesn’t use facebook to publicize about events in the church, Vasquez-Garza said he does use it to communicate. Howell said she believes facebook is effective in ministry. “I am much more involved in the community because of facebook,” Howell said. “For me, facebook is effective and does hold a great potential for ministry in our communities and our world. We are a connectional church in this way. “I believe John Wesley and Jesus would also have facebook profiles. After all, they set the example of using the language and technology of their day to reach people. Why should we do anything different than use the tools available to us today to do the very same?” Kepler-Karrer said facebook has enriched her prayer life. “I can be far more specific and time current with my prayers,” Kepler-Karrer said. “I find myself caught in a spirit of prayer, even while going about my work, far more nowadays because people and both their joys and concerns are on my mind (the status line is awesome for this).” While not a lot of people from her church are on facebook, Kepler-Karrer said a young woman who visited a worship service a while back found Kepler-Karrer on facebook, and that’s what drew her back. She said her account stays open all day, but she only looks at it about twice a day. She does update her status often. “The status is my way of wanting to be known and to know,” Kepler-Karrer said. “It seems to me that the deep desire that I’ve heard talked about as the mover for relationships of all kinds is that very desire to know and be known. The facebook status line is a way for me to give a kind of mosaic of who I am…and receive pieces in the mosaics of my friends, colleagues and fellow disciples. “When you only get a piece here and there (annual conference, a continuing Ed gathering), it’s difficult to pull together a rich and full picture. But the status updates are helping me to do just that, especially for colleagues in ministry. I see glimpses of their family life, who they are outside of work, and it gives me great joy to be able to celebrate the wholeness of their lives, not just their work or their reputations. As I have parishioners with whom I become friends, I hope something similar will happen.” Visit www.facebook.com to set up a profile.

Older adults creating a ‘culture of growth’ Sept. 15-17 in Kerrville Older adults will join Bishop Jim Dorff Sept. 15-17, for the Southwest Texas Conference September In The Hills retreat at Mount Wesley Conference Center in Kerrville. The retreat creates a culture of growth for participants to hear Dorff speak twice on “Signs of the Times: Where do we go from Here?” Laura Rhodes, dean of the retreat and a former teacher, explains, “Older adults want an arena to grow in faith and to accept life’s story. Their brain, mental and intellectual development is enhanced by self-paced learning, visual images and mental pictures. Life-long learning, significant relationships, and places for friendships and dealing with losses. Older adults need purpose and to feel that life is worth living. This is something that’s true in our congregations as well as the retreat.” Body Recall is an exercise class specifically designed to fit all ages and physical abilities. Hiking sticks are made, personalized, then used as a staff of life. Line dancing, folk dancing and singing in the Songbirds Retreat Choir complete the lineup of physical activities. Other mini-courses include: woodworking, Christmas crafts, book reviews, learning all about God’s creatures, the bats, and safety at home, in town and the world.  Bible studies will “Unravel Revelation” and explore current events in Biblical Archaeology. Older adults enjoy opportunities for continued growth and for sharing their gifts of wisdom, time, endurance, objectivity, life experiences and hope. Scripture theme is from the prophet Jeremiah: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope [Jeremiah 29:11]. When asked what’s so special about a retreat for 50+-year-olds, Wilma Williams stated, “Participants always come away with something they can use in their local church ministry. The Senior Christian Retreat is a light-hearted event that provides a depth of spiritual growth, worship, fellowship, and leadership development.” Williams is currently chair of conference’s Older Adult Council, the sponsor of the retreat. “It also provides spiritual activities that help keep seniors mentally alert, in addition to physical food for our bodies,” she said. “All of this is attainable through great keynote speakers, wonderful worship leaders, Bible Study Leaders, creative mini-courses, games, special entertainment and the spectacular Conference and Mount Wesley staff. Don’t miss it!”

Travis Park UMC, San Antonio, provides electric charging station Travis Park UMC, San Antonio, has provided the first parking lot downtown with a free electric vehicle charging station. It installed the facility a few weeks ago, and the church has begun to undertake a serious focus on sustainability. Travis Park played a significant role in encouraging the establishment of Haven for Hope through its Corazon Ministries outreach program to assist the homeless. Now it’s expanding its focus on long term environmental stewardship.  The recharging station is the first one available to the general public in downtown San Antonio. The church is also investigating the installation of low volume water fixtures through SAWS, the possible addition of solar cells on its roof, and the creation of a downtown bike station (secure bike parking and shower facilities) on its property. The Rakowitz Family from Gando United Methodist Church made it feel like a family reunion at the U.M. ARMY camp in Seguin. Three generations and a total of 10 family members attended the camp July 5 - 11, 2009.

Coker UMC, San Antonio, holds ‘Morning Time Apart’ July 11 On July 11, the Spiritual Enrichment Ministries at Coker UMC, San Antonio, chaired by Carmen Thompson, held its fourth annual “Morning Time Apart.” This year’s event was titled “The Deep River of Prayer” and had 48 people registered. The Rev. Sharon Stewart, pastor at Schertz UMC who was formerly at Coker, said she thought a turnout of nearly 50 people was remarkable for a hot, mid-July prayer event. Not all participants are pictured in the photo.

Members of University UMC, San Antonio, read Bible from cover to cover July 6-9 Carter Crews, longtime member of University UMC, San Antonio, reads from the book of Malachi during the non-stop reading of the Bible. The Rev. Ryan Barnett, teaching pastor at University UMC, set up July 6 at 6 a.m. and invited members to join him to read and listen as they read the Bible out loud from cover to cover. Those who joined him finished the reading July 9. To read more about the experience, visit Barnett’s blog at www.upreacher.blogspot.com.

Kerrville District news The cool hot streak of Jesus Christ When you’re hot, you’re hot.  When you’re not, you’re not! Unfortunately for us this has been one hot steamy summer not to be proud of in South Texas. I am still trying to remember when the last time it was so hot. I mean “Capital H – Capital O – Capital T. HOT.” It is sweltering, blistering, bubbling, boiling, baking HOT.  We are about to break the 100 degree hot streak of all time. Wow, what a horrible record to break – most consecutive miserable days. The heat really does sap all the energy right out of you. If you aren’t careful dehydration can set in and make any one of us very ill. This is a hard time of the year. Not only are we suffering, but all of creation in South Texas is suffering under this oppressive condition.  The deer in my back lot are thin and walk around with their tongue hanging out for a lack of water. I do my best to set out extra water for them.  All of life depends on cool, refreshing, life-giving water. How about a cool trend to set for all of our churches in the Southwest Texas Conference? How about going on a hot streak of making disciples for Jesus Christ? How about bringing “cups of living water” for the thirsting in our local communities? How about setting out stations of sustainability? So many are dying of thirst and don’t even know the warning signs of slow death from spiritual dehydration.   What if we decided that we were not  going to be consumed by the “dog days” and refocused on bringing new life and hope to those who are panting by the roadside? We believe in Jesus Christ, the gift of the Father’s unfailing Grace and it is time to live out the faith that we profess with our lips. We need to go now and to return to our basic faith expressions of bringing hope to the hopeless. Let us join hands and go make disciples for the sake of Jesus Christ. Reflections - The meaning of Holy Communion By Bob Moulder Kerrville District Lay Leader In the New Testament, at least six major ideas about Holy Communion are present: thanksgiving, fellowship, remembrance, sacrifice, action of the Holy Spirit, and eschatology.  A brief look at each of these will help us better comprehend the meaning of the sacrament. 1.  Holy Communion is Eucharist, an act of thanksgiving.  As we commune, we express joyful thanks for God’s mighty acts throughout history – for creation, covenant, redemption and sanctification.  The Great Thanksgiving conveys our gratitude for the goodness of God and God’s unconditional love for us.  2. Holy Communion is the communion of the church – the gathered community of the faithful, both local and universal.  The sharing and bonding experienced at the Table exemplify the nature of the church and model the world as God would have it be. 3. Holy Communion is remembrance, commemoration, and memorial, but this remembrance is much more than simply intellectual recalling.  Christ is risen and is alive here and now, not just remembered for what was done in the past. 4. Holy Communion is sacrifice. Christ’s atoning life, death, and resurrection make divine grace available to us. We also present ourselves as sacrifice in union with Christ to be used by God in the work of redemption, reconciliation, and justice.  In the Great Thanksgiving, the church prays: “We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us.” 5.   Holy Communion is a vehicle of God’s grace through the action of the Holy Spirit.  The Great Thanksgiving calls the Spirit: - “Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.”  The church asks God to make them be for us the body and blood of Christ that we may be for the world the body of Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world. 6.  Holy Communion is eschatological, meaning that it has to do with the end of history, the outcome of God’s purpose for the world.  We commune not only with the faithful who are physically present but with the Saints of the past who join us in the sacrament.  When we eat and drink at the Table, we become partakers of the divine nature of this life and for life eternal. Nourished by sacramental grace, we strive to be formed into the image of Christ and to be made instruments for transformation in the world. Worthy is God of our worship, Worthy is He of our praise; Magnify Him with thanksgiving – Gladly our voices we raise.  – Anon. To follow Christ is to take Him as your Savior and your Lord. NOTE: Watch this column each month for words of encouragement, joy, hope, and peace. District happenings Kerrville District Welcome Gathering Attention all Kerrville District Pastors and families. The District will be hosting a Welcome Luncheon on Saturday, August 15th, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the District Parsonage (604 Westcrest). Please make plans to join us that day to welcome all of the new parsonage families in the Kerrville District. All food will be provided by the District office, but we do ask that you RSVP no later than Ausust 10. (830) 896-6400 50th anniversary clebrated with a tent gathering 50 Years of Faith at Lakehills UMC This “Little Church in the Cedars and the Pines” started in a tent in 1959, and celebrated 50 years of faith in the same fashion. On Sunday, June 14th, Lakehills UMC celebrated their 50th anniversary.  Joining them in celebrating was Rev. David Stewart, their first pastor, Rev. Jeanne Devine, their first full-time pastor, and Rev. Joyce Slade, also previous pastor of Lakehills UMC.  Charter member Loy Ed Alanis spoke of her memories of the beginnings of the church, and several members stood up to talk about their experiences attending and worshipping at Lakehills UMC.  To emphasize the present, there was a service for the dedication of a church building free of debt (or mortgage burning), and communion was shared. Rev. Bob Allen, the Kerrville District Superintendent, was the guest speaker.  He gave a wonderful sermon about looking to the future.  He may have even inspired a new church ministry with that sermon! After worship, the celebration continued under a tent in the parking lot with a brisket bb-q meal catered by Nancy MacMillan and live music by the Dyer Family Band. It was a beautiful day, and a great celebration! Corpus Christi District Smiley UMC Consecration Service Sunday, April 26th marked the date of a very important service for the congregation of Smiley UMC.  SWTX conference district superintendent Rev. Barbara Ruth and Smiley UMC pastor, Rev. Dr. Robert Price led the service which included the re-consecration of the building and pulpit and consecration of the baptismal bowl and Lord’s table. It also included a special dedication of the chalice and paten in memory of Mary Carolyn Lessor.  Special guests included Mr. David Lewis (architect), Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Ray, Rev. Elaine Smith, Rev. & Mrs. Rick Hope; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Richardson (son of Rev. Ted Richardson, former Smiley UMC pastor). There were also approximately 140 project benefactors, past and present members, families and friends in attendance. Following the service was a time for gathering and fellowship.  What is your vision of the church? Linda Morrow Director of District Ministries In the heat of summer, especially when everything around us is turning brown from the lack of rain, it is hard to think about taking action.   Yet, stepping outside of the air conditioning reminds many of us how truly blessed we are.   It is easy to forget that there are others in our community and in our world who do not have what we have.   There are many needs, some as close as our own hometowns and others in far distant lands.       How do we reach out to neighbors near and far?   We need new vision.  We need inspiration, and help that inspires us.   We need to be reminded that we are part of the larger body of Christ, which works together providing hope, support, and help.   As churches of the Corpus Christi District, I invite you to come and hear more.  Discover who you are as Christ’s mission outpost in your community.   We will gather for inspiration, encouragement, and advice at the RETHINK CHURCH event to be held on August 8th at Faith United Church in Woodsboro.   The workshop will begin with sign in at 8:30am and end at 2:45pm.  A lunch is included in the day’s events.   The cost is $5 per person for the first six people from your church and no charge of all the others that you bring over 6.  Rev. Michael Mumme is asking that you please email him at FaithUnited @gmail.com by July 27th include the number coming and your church name. District happenings Stewardship Summit Presented by Texas Methodist Foundation August 29, 2009  9:00am – 2:30pm (Lunch included) Grace UMC, Corpus Go to www.ccdistrictumc.org for more information and to download registration form. Register by August 15th. McAllen District news Question: What are you good for? By Jet Throckmorton Associate Pastor FUMC Harlingen Interesting question. It can be interpreted many ways. When I was growing up, my cousins, who were much older than me, used to ask me that question. My little kid brain inter¬preted it to mean, “What do you like?”, so I would answer, “Green beans.” Made perfect sense to me, but as you can imagine, it became a permanent part of our family folklore, so I would have to endure that question every time we got together. When I got older I understood they were asking, “What are you worth?,” rudely but probably ac-curately implying that I was good for nothing.   Now I know that my worth doesn’t depend on what I do, but on who I am. And I’ve also learned that an object is worth whatever someone is will¬ing to pay for it. Those of us who own stock may be de¬pressed by that thought, but raise your sights. Think about your soul and what Someone was willing to pay for it. That Price doesn’t fluctuate, but remains constant. Galatians 3:13 says that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” I must be worth a lot if Jesus was willing to go to the cross for me. Another way to look at that question is , “Why do you do good things?” Of course, I’m not good. No one is except God. But hopefully what I do, I do for Jesus, because of what he’s done for me. Ephesians 2:10 says that “we are God’s work¬manship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” If Jesus died for me, the least I can do is live for Him. We may retire from working our job someday, but we never retire from serving our Lord. Last week I had the chance to drive up and visit my aunt in Temple. She’s a remarkable woman who turns 97 in August. God has blessed her with good health, so that she still lives in her home, still drives, and still serves the Lord. The Methodist church she belongs to holds worship services in the local nursing homes, and she goes every week to play the piano “for the old people”. She is an inspiration to me, and I hope to have the same attitude toward retirement that she has. It’s not resting or coasting, nor is it re-treating, withdrawing, or disappearing, as my dictionary says.  It’s continuing to use the gifts God has given you to live for Him. So I ask you, “What are you good for?” How can we spread “The Real Thing?” By Aaron Gabriel Saenz Associate Pastor Harlingen FUMC The Real Thing Adapted from a message by Pastor Jentezen Franklin Coca Cola is on overdrive right now trying to get their product into the hands of every person in the world. It’s not enough that millions enjoy the taste of their famous Cola, rather they have set a goal to reach the whole world. Have you ever noticed how many different ways they package their product? Over the years they have packaged their product in aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles. It’s the same ingredients inside the packaging only the “vessel” has changed in order to reach as many with their secret ingredient as possible. So where am I going with this? The reality is that we as the church don’t understand this concept. We see a new way of doing church or we notice a new style of worship and we dismiss it rather than understand it. For many, there is only one way of understanding “church”. The reality is that church is not about the packaging rather it is about the ingredients. If we can wrap our minds around the fact that dif¬ferent styles of worship or different venues of church are merely different packaging, different vessels, then we can understand how packaging the Gospel in different vessels is important to reach an ever-changing world. Glass bottles used to be the better method to present Coca -Cola, but now recycled plastic has become the preferred packaging. In the same way, how we do church should change to be relevant to our times. We don’t complain about the different ways we get our Coca-Cola. We just adapt with the changes as long as the substance doesn’t change. What would happen if we respected different ways of packaging the Gospel? After all, as long as the message doesn’t change we will still receive the same satisfaction. If a secular company cares so much about getting their product into the hands of “all” the world and we as the church are not, we should be worried! Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.” So what are we doing to send Jesus (the real thing) to “all” the world?