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May 28, 2010
Volume 156, Number 51
Annual Conference session to span June 2-5
 Delegates participate in a business session at the 2009 Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi. This year's annual conference is June 2-5.
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
In less than a week, more than 1,500 clergy members and lay delegates will meet in Corpus Christi’s American Bank Center for the 41st session of the Southwest Texas Annual Conference, themed “Developing Principled Christian Leaders for the Church and the World.” Bishop Jim Dorff’s theme during his tenure is “Creating a Culture of Growth.”
This year’s session spans June 2-5.
Perhaps the most notable logistical change this year is that the doors of Exhibit Hall B, where all business sessions take place, will close 15 minutes after a session is over and will open 30 minutes before a session begins. A guard will be posted outside the doors to keep unauthorized people from entering early.
Those authorized include conference staff members, who will wear photo identification badges to allow them access. If someone needs to enter Exhibit Hall B outside of normal entrance times, they must have a staff member with them.
Leaders hope the change will eliminate unauthorized handouts from sneaking onto delegates’ desks. All materials not included in the delegate packages must be approved by David Seilheimer, conference secretary/treasurer, or placed on a table at the back of Exhibit Hall B.
This year’s conference will begin June 2 with a laity gathering at 1:30 p.m. in Watergarden A and a 2 p.m. clergy member session in the Henry Garrett Ballroom.
At 4 p.m. that day, Conference Lay Leader Jay Brim will lead a session updating delegates on his work with the Call to Action Committee and their recommendations to General Conference 2012. The session will include a question-and-answer period.
The memorial worship service is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 2, and the retirement service will happen at 5 p.m. June 3. Those retiring will be given opportunities to speak during business session, not during the retirement service.
The conference laity awards banquet will be at noon June 4, and the ordination service will be at 7 p.m. that evening. A business session will close annual conference on Saturday, June 5.
For more details about the annual conference session, visit www.umcswtx.org. A link to the annual conference Web site is listed on the main page. The annual conference page includes a detailed schedule of the conference, accommodation information, links for childcare registration, the preconference report and maps and forms.
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Newest UMW unit reaches out to college women
 Eileen Lehmberg, president of the San Antonio District UMW, instates officers for the newest UMW unit, meeting at the United Methodist Student Center at San Antonio College.
Managing Editor
The San Antonio District’s Christian Women on Campus became the first chartered college/university United Methodist Women unit in the Southwest Texas Conference April 16 after a Celebration of Organization service at the San Antonio College United Methodist Student Center.
The group is only the second university unit in the South Central Jurisdiction, which includes 13 states. Only 14 other university units exist in the nation, said Eileen Lehmberg, president of the San Antonio District UMW.
“This group will provide the UMW with critical feedback from the emerging generation of young adults critical to their own vitality as an organization,” said the Rev. John Feagins, director of the United Methodist Student Center. “A campus presence allows the UMW to personally interact with college women and respond to their needs.
“The group will open a new mission field to the UMW—that of our college campuses, and it will allow the UMW more effective means of developing women as principled Christian leaders.”
Lehmberg credits Feagins with starting the group, which now boasts of 14 young women meeting in San Antonio District UMW circles at San Antonio College, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Trinity University.
Feagins said he simply saw a need.
“There was a definite interest and enthusiasm among our female students for a specialized ministry for women,” he said. “Having been a pastor of churches with UMW units, I knew that there were many similarities between the misson of UMW and the work we do in campus ministry.”
 Eileen Lehmberg, president of the San Antonio District UMW, instates officers for the newest UMW unit, meeting at the United Methodist Student Center at San Antonio College.
Feagins approached the district UMW leadership in the fall of 2009 to ask them to speak with his female student leaders. His students caught his vision.
The young women will hold a monthly regional gathering for all the university women but will also conduct “circles” on each of the campuses served by the United Methodist Campus Ministry, Feagins said. Open to college women as well as female faculty members, the group will raise funds for itself and conduct its own recreational outings and mission projects.
It is not necessary to be a member of a United Methodist Church to be a member of United Methodist Women, said Sharon Sharp, UMW young woman’s advisor.
“Working with these young women has been a total joy,” Sharp said. “They are so open and welcoming to us it is absolutely heartwarming. They are willing to do everything possible to establish this unit. These are remarkable young women, and we are so proud of them.”
Barbara Arceneaux, the unit’s mentor, said that when she was asked to become the group’s mentor, she thought it would be a wonderful opportunity both for the women involved and for UMW as a whole.
“In our United Methodist Women purpose, we are called to know God, develop a creative, supportive fellowship and be more involved in mission,” Arceneaux said. “As United Methodist Women, mission is our reason for being.
“These women will bring an enthusiasm for mission that young women their age have with a vision for the future to revitalize the organization. I hope that they can open our hearts and minds to new ideas.”
Feagins said the young women are now connected to the largest Christian women’s organization in the world, placing the full resources of the UMW at their disposal. And basing the group on campus allows for the college women from different churches to attend a UMW unit of people in their own generation.
The group also provides the women with beneficial inter-generational relationships with other UMW members, he said.
“It will help our (campus) women develop self-confidence and take on leadership responsibilities in a structured organization,” Feagins said. “The group will deepen a sense of Christian purpose and unity while supplementing campus ministries’ core disciplines of fellowship, worship, discipleship and apostleship.
“And, in our case, the program will be run by the students themselves, giving them a tremendous opportunity to be developed as principled Christian leaders as they give a young adult/college student personality to this expression of the UMW.”
Lehmberg said the campus unit will “instill in the young women the mission work that’s going on in the UMW.”
“It will also give them a faith to lean on,” she said. “All of them are not Methodists, and that’s OK, too. I think this gives them a grounding, a foundation to lean on, and that’s important for girls going to school.”
“These women will bring an enthusiasm for mission that young women their age have with a vision for the future to revitalize the organization. I hope they can open our hearts and minds to new ideas.”
Barbara Arceneaux, unit mentor
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Annual Conference music and worship will inspire
When United Methodists gather at Annual Conference, we come expectant, trusting the Spirit of God to wash over and fill us once more. The Rev. Barbara Dyke, chair of the Conference Worship and Music Team, said “We’re excited about this year’s theme for Annual Conference, Creating a Culture of Growth-Developing Principled Christian Leaders for the Church and the World.”
The team’s work began last fall, planning for five worship experiences and recruiting volunteer presiders for 18 morning communions. They brainstormed what developing Christian leaders for the church and the world might look like in worship. Rev. Dyke shared, “If we are truly creating a culture of growth we need to be rooted in Christ. The imagery in John 15:5 came to mind: I am the vine you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit. As we grow in our faith journey, we are to bear fruit that displays to Whom we belong. The team decided to incorporate the imagery of vines growing and flourishing, connected to the vine.”
At Wednesday’s memorial and opening eucharist (7 p.m.), we will remember saints now departed and receive communion (intinction). We’ll ask God to bless the prayer shawl brought from each congregation having a prayer shawl ministry that is able to deliver it to Wednesday’s laity session. We’ll hear Guest Preacher William B. Lawrence, Dean of Perkins School of Theology. Special music will be offered by the sanctuary and bell choirs of First UMC, Corpus Christi, directed by Brad Kisner.
In Thursday’s retirement recognition (5 p.m.), Abberdein, the praise band of the conference’s newest church plant, Hope Arise UMC, will bring special music. We’ll hear a message of hope from the Rev. Melissa Jenson and witness the Passing of The Mantle. We’ll honor clergy retirees who will have spoken at various times throughout the business sessions and sing them onward accompanied on the keyboard by the Rev. Colleen Haley.
For Friday’s midday worship (11 a.m.), fasten your seatbelt for the Gospel in song, dance and drama by Northeast Community UMC, San Antonio, and dynamic preaching by the Rev. Tyrone Gordon of St. Luke’s Community UMC, Dallas.
At Friday evening’s commissioning and ordination (7 p.m.), we’ll participate in high church liturgy and witness the consecration of our newest church leaders. Bishop Jim Dorff will preach, and special music will be offered by the University UMC, San Antonio, sanctuary choir and brass ensemble, directed by Mary McKay.
Saturday’s service of covenant and confirmation of appointments provides the time when pastors move to stand with the receiving congregations. Bishop Dorff will share moments of reflection and fix the appointments. The Clergywomen’s Choir will offer special music to send us forth, directed by the Rev. Lynne Lockett and accompanied by Haley, trumpeter David Baca and the Gruene UMC Praise Band.
Worship is central to our experience of Annual Conference. It’s a time to give thanks and remember from Whom we receive our strength and hope. Let us come before the Lord seeking wisdom and guidance in creating a culture of growth.
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30 candidates to be ordained, commissioned
during special service
Thirty candidates will be ordained and commissioned at a special service June 4 at 6:30 p.m. inside the Selena Auditorium at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.
Bishop Jim Dorff will preach.
Elder candidates for full membership:
- James Daly Austin, 61, Westlake UMC.
- Darlene Elizabeth Boaz, 49, University UMC, Austin.
- Steven William Fieldcamp, 63, First UMC, Corpus Christi.
- Leigh Livingston Gregg, 56, First UMC, Menard.
- Daesub Han, 43, Korean UMC, San Antonio.
- Randall Anthony Hilburn, 56, Liberty Hill UMC.
- Gary “Ryan” Jenson, 29, First UMC, San Marcos.
- Melissa Suzanne Allen Jenson, 28, Lake Travis UMC.
- Larry Lewis McRorey, Jr., 44, First UMC, Alice.
- Michael (Mike) William Morris, 42, Marble Falls UMC.
- Herman “Lee” Romero, 53, Ingleside UMC.
Associate membership candidates:
- Kathryn Vanessa LeVine, 51, Staples UMC.
- Cecil Wilton Pearcy III, 61, San Saba UMC.
- Donald (Don) Lee Snyder, 64, First UMC, Sabinal.
Elder candidates for provisional membership:
- Estella Zuniga Burkhalter, 42, Austin.
- Paul David Dubois, 45, Austin.
- Stephen Gregory Echols, 26, Fentress UMC, Austin.
- Raquel Cajiri Feagins, 35, Laurel Heights UMC, San Antonio.
- Daniel (Dan) Richard Harrington, 35, San Marcos.
- Celia Eileen Kitchens, 33, Lometa UMC.
- Danielle Elizabeth Knapp, 25, Kentucky.
- Linda Karen Morrow, 57, First UMC, Portland.
- Carmen Lynette Perry, 37, New York.
- Steven David Peyton, 51, Robert Lee UMC.
- Diana Kelley Phillips, 46, Colonial Hills UMC, San Antonio.
- James (Jim) Edgar Sweet, Jr., 55, Buda UMC.
- Jerimey Joshua (JJ) Wicke, 28, Elgin UMC.
Deacon candidates for provisional membership:
- Linda Proctor Marceau, 52, San Antonio.
- David Henry Miron, 50, San Antonio.
- Abigail (Abby) Marie Parker, 29, Westlake UMC, Austin.
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2 guest bishops and 2 guest preachers to participate in
2010 Annual Conference session
 Dean William B Lawrence
At the 7 p.m. memorial service June 2, Dean William B. Lawrence from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology will give an address.
Lawrence is dean and professor of American Church History at Perkins School of Theology, a position he assumed Aug. 1, 2002, after spending several years as an associate dean for development and church relations at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Previously Lawrence taught at Duke Divinity School at Wesley Theological Seminary.
He serves as SMU’s University Liaison to The United Methodist Church. A member of the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Episcopacy Committee of the North Texas Conference, he has served as a delegate to both jurisdictional and general conferences. In 2008, he was elected by the General Conference to serve as one of nine members of the United Methodist Church’s Judicial Council, the highest judicial body within the denomination. Rev Gary R Lillibridge
Lillibridge was elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of West Texas in 2003. He was consecrated a bishop in San Antonio in 2004 and was invested as the ninth bishop of the diocese in 2006.
Born in 1956, Lillibridge is a lifelong Episcopalian. He was raised in San Antonio, earning his undergraduate degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) in 1978 and a master of divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1982. Tiemann
Prior to being elected as bishop, Tiemann served as co-pastor at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, where he began serving in 1985. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Texas Lutheran College in 1975, a master of divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary in 1979 and a doctor of ministry in preaching degree from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago in 1995.
 Rev Tyrone Gordon
Gordon received his masters of divinity degree in 1984 from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.
Gordon is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and is a member of the North Texas Conference. In September 1988, he was appointed senior pastor of Saint Mark UMC in Wichita, Kansas. St. Mark was considered to be one of the fastest growing African American congregations in The United Methodist Church under his leadership.
In July 2002, Gordon was appointed to St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas.
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Kerrville District
Nothing but joy serving the district
It has been my joy to be the Superintendent of the Kerrville District for the past three years. When I was asked to come and be a part of the cabinet in 2007 by Bishop Martinez it was a great opportunity given to me. It is a joy to be a part of the lives of my pastors and the 49 churches and their countless members. They gave much love and support to me over these three years. I would never have envisioned that I would not have served six years however, I will never argue with the will of God. I look forward to my time of service at First UMC in Kerrville. I know that God has something special in store for Irene and myself. I leave this District with a sense of gratitude , knowing we have created a bond and a connection that will last a lifetime. Thank you Kerrville District for all that you are and will continue to be. I have learned much from each of my churches. I believe the wild flowers this year express the beauty and awesomeness of this area!
I want to take my hat off to all my colleagues on the cabinet. You have been my immediate family. What an excellent group of men and women who give leadership to this conference! Without a doubt, we have the finest Bishop in Jim Dorff who gives us spiritual wisdom and sensitive leadership that follows the mind and heart of Christ. I am the luckiest boy in the whole world to have been a part of such a team and all the glory goes to God for having melded our hearts and minds together. I have learned much about what it means and doesn’t mean to be involved in the appointment process. First and foremost, we do pray when making these life changing decisions. Secondly, we discuss at length about possibilities for the mission field of a given area or community. Who would be the right person for this particular mission field? Thirdly, and contrary to popular belief, we don’t use a dart board.
Bill Henderson comes to take his place in the Kerrville District. He doesn’t come to take my place nor to fill my shoes. He is a wonderful man of God and brings a keen sense of leadership to this Kerrville area. He served as the Corpus Christi District Superintendent from 1995 – 2000, so this isn’t his first rodeo. May God fill him with every good gift to take us into the future. God bless you all! I look forward to continue in service with you as I return to being a pastor in a local church within the bounds of the hill country.
How to make Jesus your best friend, step one
By Robert Molder
District Lay Leader
Today the world is once again facing turmoil and many individuals are facing deep personal crises…..a hard blow….one that calls for a wise, caring, and compassionate friend. The dictionary describes a friend as “One attached to another by feelings of personal regard.” Jesus gives us a standard by which to gauge friendship. (Read John 15:9-17) Jesus asked His disciples to show their friendship to Him by loving one another as He had loved them. Then, He raised the bar. In anticipation of His death on the cross, He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This depth of friendship isn’t merely about doing the right thing. It’s about sacrifice, and it comes out of a relationship with the One who truly did lay down His life for us! Are we showing others that we have been loved by Jesus as He is loved byHis Father ? I would like to review with you, Six Steps in forming a friendship: The First step : Get to Know That Person. Getting to know Jesus is a great experience, because He is the most interesting Character in all of history. Jesus Christ is: The most exciting person who ever lived.
The most lovable man who ever walked the earth. The greatest brain that ever entered into human history, and the most incredible personality who ever came among us. The more we see people getting to know Jesus as a real person who lived and walked among us, the more we find them going to Him. Several reasons: First of all people go to Jesus because He loves them. Do you think anyone loves you like Jesus does? Your spouse loves you, your mother, your father, and your family love or loved you (if they are not now living). But no one loves you like Jesus ! His only reason for coming among us was Love. For God so loved the world…
While on this earth, Jesus never saw a computer, a television, an airplane, or a bomb. Yet, here He is today, the greatest thinker among us, whose message is as true today as the first time it was proclaimed. What is that message? Simply this: An individual is more important than computers, or TV, or planes, or bombs. And Jesus loves each individual; even died for us! That is the greatest thing – That is the ultimate. Another reason people go to Jesus is that we need Him in our human experience. Jesus tells us :
That we are better than we think we are, that we are wonderful, we are children of God, that we should not be sinful, mean, vindictive, prejudiced, or fearful people, because that isn’t the way we were meant to be. That we can be anything we will ourselves to be.
The third reason people go to Jesus is that He gives us the power to overcome any tragedy, any difficulty, any problem in this life. Regardless of the problems you may be facing, turn to Him, and He will give you the power to overcome. There is tremendous power in knowing Jesus, when you really get to know Him. Add power to your life by memorizing this promise…Read John 1:12….membership in God’s family..by grace..a gift of God.
Kerrville District gathers to say goodbye
The Kerrville District gathered on Sunday, May 16th, to wish the Rev. Bob and Irene Allen a fond “Farewell”. A dinner in their honor was held at First United Methodist Church, Kerrville, followed by a “Gentle Roasting” with the Rev. Sam Hunnicutt acting as Master of Ceremony for the evening. The Rev. Randall Hilburn, the Rev. Harlene Sadler, and the Rev. Grady Roe provided the humor and stories at the Rev. Allen’s expense.
The Allens have served the Kerrville District of the United Methodist Church for the past three years and will be moving to their new appointment at First United Methodist Church of Kerrville following Annual Conference. We thank them for their faithfulness and their service and we wish them the best.
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Corpus Christi District
Transitions in the Corpus Christi District
Transition seems to be the word of the day. In fact at this time of the year as annual conference approaches, many churches are preparing for upcoming pastoral changes. Just within the Corpus Christi District 18 churches will say farewell to their pastor one Sunday, while preparing to say hello to their next spiritual leader within the week.
While we know that this is the Methodist way of life, it is not always the easiest thing we are called to do. Yet, during this time of transition, I believe that God calls us to celebrate the ministry of the one who is leaving as we live in expectation of what God will do in and through the work of the one coming.
With these thoughts in mind, we within the Corpus Christi District celebrate the ministry of the Rev. Barbara Ruth as she prepares to take a pastoral appointment with First UMC in Austin at the farewell reception following the District Conference in Beeville. We remember that the Rev. Ruth planted the seeds of Transformation as she brought Church Transformation coached by the Rev. Don Nations to the churches of our District. Every church was given the tools to learn, and to discover new ways of being welcoming, loving, and effective. Throughout her time in the District Barbara sought to help us know and live out our calling to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World” in doing so, she made sure that every age group was represented and had a voice. During her time here an Older Adult Council within the District was formed, the confirmation youth were encouraged, and disciples of all ages, including youth and children, were recognized for their ministry within the church and their communities. As we say farewell to Barbara, we are thankful that she has taught us that transformation is part of who we are and what we are about. After all we are not what we shall be, but we are certainly not what we were.
God has been at work in our District and will continue to work in us and through us as we welcome the Rev. Eradio Valverde Jr. as the Corpus Christi District Superintendant in June. As we say farewell to Barbara, I encourage you to live in expectation for what God will call us to do and be through the leadership of the Rev. Valverde. Please mark your calendars and make plans to attend the Installation of the District Superintendant Rev. Eradio Valverde at First UMC in Corpus Christi at 4 pm on July 11.
District happenings
Corpus Christi District Conference
The CC District Conference was held at Beeville First UMC on Sunday, May 16th. The meeting was well attended with over 200 in attendance. Rev. David Seilheimer was there to talk about some of the issues coming up at Annual Conference.
After the conference a reception was held to honor of the Rev. Barbara Ruth for her service in the Corpus Christi District. Sheila Campbell and Linda Morrow presented Barbara Ruth with flowers in appreciation for all she has done the past 5 1/2 years.
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McAllen District
Excited by transformational ministry potential
To say that it’s odd to be preparing an article for publication in the Witness does not quite describe my feeling as I write. The idea of becoming the McAllen District Superintendent is beginning to settle into my consciousness as part of my own life, rather than seeming to happen surreally in some other dimension. It is not an appointment I expected, yet God is already at work in the unexpected, and the possibilities ahead shine more and more brightly. I want to share with you some thoughts that originally should have been directed to the Committee on Superintendency in my new district. I met with them in April, and one of the members asked me, “What are you excited about, and what are you nervous about as you anticipate this new appointment?” And I will confess to you that the only part of that question I answered was the second part—what I was nervous about. I talked about my children, ages 8 and 13, finding a church home where their mama isn’t the preacher. I talked about the challenges of time and space and my hope that I won’t have to be gone from home and from the district as much as DS’s notoriously are. And then we all talked schedule and parsonage and set the date of our next meeting. I never got around to the first part of the question, and ever since I drove away I’ve wanted to go back and finish my answer. So the time has come. I would say the thing that excites me most about this new appointment is the potential for transformational ministry I see there. When I was a young adult, I spent three and a half years in Arizona as a missionary with the UMC and the Border Ministry of the Desert Southwest Conference. I learned that a place like southern Arizona (or south Texas) can change people’s perspective on the world. I spent a lot of time in those days with mission teams and other church groups, helping them experience completely new realities and form the most unlikely relationships. Those new relationships changed people’s lives, and they changed the shape of the reality of all involved. So now I look at my new place and anticipate that God will be at work there in the same sort of fresh and surprising way. The context is full of possibility: from the fertility of the earth to the poverty of the colonias; from Winter Texans who bring the nation to our doorstep, to a rich blend of language and ethnicity and culture; from congregations with a grand heritage to new communities of faith, singing a new song—all add up to a perfect place for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. What’s true for the McAllen District is true of our whole conference, in diverse ways; God is at work in our midst, in us and through us and outside us. I am grateful to get to serve alongside you in this new role, as we seek to know what God’s activity will mean for us.
Missing Worship: I just ran out of time.
 Rev Emet Huntsman
Los Fresnos UMC
It is not uncommon to hear someone say as an excuse for missing worship, “I just ran out of time.” Really?
So, I did an exercise once and I would like to share it with you.
There are 168 hours in a week.
Now, allowing myself 8-hours of sleep a night (and frankly, I don’t usually get that many) leaves me with 112 hours of awake time. Using an average 40 hours a week at work and 1.5 hours a day getting ready for work leaves me with 64.5 hours for non-sleep or non-work time.
I have to eat, so if I were to spend 2 hours a day preparing meals (again, I am erring on the side of too much time) I have 50.5 hours remaining. If I spend another 2 hours a day leisurely consuming the meals I prepare , I have 36.6 hours left.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so allowing myself three hours a day recreation time (exercise, TV, reading, etc.) I still have 15.5 hours remaining.
My house needs cleaning – 3 hours a week; and I need to shop – another 4 hours; now I am down to 8.5 hours remaining. My commute from Laguna Vista to Los Fresnos consumes an average 3 hours a week.
After all that, I still have 5.5 hours of unaccounted time. When we see Sunday as being part of the weekend, then worship is something that often only happens when we have time left over. But, if we see Sunday as the first day of the week and we make worship our first act of the week, what we find is there is plenty of time for everything else in our lives. Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.– Matthew 6: 32-33
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San Angelo District
The Holy winds of spring are blowing
Spring is here in West Texas, where the winds blow and the flowers bloom. What a spectacular spring we are having this year. Recently, while participating in our Confirmation Retreat at Camp Butman, I had time to walk around the campground. Surrounding this camp, owned by the Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, are giant wind turbines belonging to the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Farm – the largest wind farm in the world. With a 732.5 megawatt capacity it consists of 421 giant wind turbines spread over 47,000 acres. NextEra Energy Resources currently owns and operates Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center and 46 other wind farms throughout the United States with an installed capacity of 4,002 MW, which is enough capacity to provide electricity for nearly one million average U.S. homes. (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
While standing in the midst of these giant modern day windmills, I was struck not only with the “clean” energy it produces, but with the mysterious, mighty force of the wind that produces it. Ecclesiastes 1:6 says: “The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns”. Walter Brueggmann in his book, Prayers for a Privileged People, prays this prayer: We hear the story of the wind at Pentecost, Holy wind that dismantles what was, Holy wind that evokes what is to be, Holy wind that overrides barriers and causes communication, Holy wind that signals your rule even among us. We are dazzled, but then – reverting to type – we wonder how to harness the wind, how to manage the wind by our technology, how to turn the wind to our usefulness, how to make ourselves managers of the wind. Partly we do not believe such an odd tale because we are not religious freaks; Partly we resist such a story, because it surges beyond our categories; Partly we had imagined you to be more ordered and reliable than that. So we listen, depart, and return to our ordered existence: We depart with only a little curiosity but not yielding; We return to how it was before, unconvinced but wistful, slightly praying for wind, craving for newness, wishing to have it all available to us. We pray toward the wind and wait, unconvinced, but wistful. May the “winds” of the Holy Spirit convince you in this Pentecost season.
District happenings
Sierra Vista UMC Consecrates Chapel Hall
On May 8, Sierra Vista re-consecrated its original anctuary as the Chapel Hall. Three years after the vision was cast by Sheri and Lloyd Norris, the construction and refurbishing was completed. The Saturday 5:30 p.m. contemporary Worship service has been relocated to the Chapel Hall. A variety of worship services and events are planned for this new space. Sierra Vista specifically honored Sheri and Lloyd Norris for the implementation of their vision, Steve Van Hoozer for his supervision of the project, Mac Hester for his stewardship in the construction phase, and Roy Moon for his expertise in the selection and implementation of the audio-visual component. Templeton Construction and its supervisor, Steve Hall, were especially helpful in the construction. The original sanctuary was completed in 1975 and used as the primary worship location until the present sanctuary was consecrated in 1991. The original space held the memories of many holy moments of the sacraments, weddings, funerals, youth and children events, fellowship times, including meals and staging areas for youth mission trips and ski trips. Significant modifications were made to the building. Renovations included relocation of the HVAC from the roof to behind the building to greatly improve sound quality, analysis and installation of the acoustics, installation of state of the art audio-visual equipment, new furnishings (carpeting and chairs) and renovation of the chancel area.
Happenings at Wesley Campus Ministries
Spring Break 2010 turned out to be an amazing adventure to the border of Texas for Wesley Campus Ministries’ students. We stayed at Edinburgh UMC (thanks for the awesome lodging!) and worked at Proyecto Azteca. Proyecto Azteca builds homes for those who are extremely impoverished in the valley and are living in colonias-living structures made from palates and tarps. We were able to paint, drywall, hammer, sand, install insulation and much more as we helped with the construction of new homes. We also worked at the Rio Grande Food Bank where we sorted and stacked palates upon palates of food for the hungry. The students also engaged in fellowship activities which included a scavenger hunt in the McAllen mall and a closing worship. A special thank you for all who supported Wesley Campus Ministries efforts to make a difference with our brothers and sisters in Edinburgh, Tx.
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