| November 13, 2009
Volume 156, Number 28
| | Bishop appoints new leader to Episcopacy
The Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza, newly appointed assistant to the Episcopal Office, stands on the dock at Cozumel. Vazquez-Garza and his wife, Acacia frequently scuba dive in the waters of Cozumel. The Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza to take over assistant to Episcopal Office
By Rachel L. Toalson Managing Editor When doctors found a small tumor on his thyroid that whispered the possibility of radiation, the Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza didn’t know for sure if he’d be making the Dec. 20 anniversary trip to Cozumel that he’d planned with his wife, Acacia.
He underwent surgery in late October, and doctors sent him home to rest, a difficult charge for a naturally active person, Vazquez-Garza admitted.
During his “rest” (which amounted to less than a week), Bishop Jim Dorff announced Oct. 30 Vazquez-Garza’s new appointment: assistant to the Episcopal Office.
Vazquez-Garza will replace the Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., who has been appointed as the vice-president for pastoral services for Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, which will take effect Dec. 1.
A few days later, doctors assured Vazquez-Garza that he wouldn’t need radiation.
Dorff said Vazquez-Garza will be a good fit for the position.
“He brings the experience and knowledge we need,” Dorff said. “Virgilio is well prepared to work with me, the Cabinet, staff and other appropriate conference bodies to discern God’s will for our future and help us move in that direction.
“On a personal level, I am certain that Virgilio will represent the Episcopal Office in a manner and approach to our common ministry. Because of his years of effective ministry, pastoral sensitivity, knowledge of our Area and significant experience in several general church contexts, I look forward to a very seamless transition to this new role.”
A native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Vazquez-Garza graduated from the Universidad de Nuevo Leon with a degree in civil engineering. He attended seminaries in Mexico City, Buenos Aires and Argentina before graduating with a master’s in divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.
He said his great-grandfather, Roman Rodriguez, who was an Indian from southern Mexico, started the Methodist line in his family.
Vazquez-Garza was ordained an elder in the conference in 1983 and served as pastor of Zapata UMC for seven years, First UMC, Laredo, for 11 years and St. Luke UMC, Corpus Christi, for five years. He is in his eighth year as San Antonio District superintendent.
He said he is excited and a little scared about his new appointment.
He will miss certain things about being a superintendent, he said. Like working closely with the inner city churches—because he loved seeing the “islands of salvation” become successful.
He’ll miss being in close touch with the pastors—at least close enough to know their hurts and their celebrations.
“But the opportunities here are exciting,” he said. “The new direction that Bishop Dorff wants to go, creating a culture of growth, growing and moving forward, that’s all exciting. We’re in a time when we have to respond to the growth and the changes in our culture.”
In his new position, Vazquez-Garza said, he’s looking forward to maintaining the good relationship with the Rio Grande Conference and the “possibilities that lie” on Interstate 35. He wants to look at ways to incorporate new technology into churches.
“I’m not afraid of new things,” he said. “I’m willing to try new things. But not every new thing is good. I’m willing to try the ones that seem productive, something that will foster better ways of preaching the Gospel.
“We have to remember that we’re in the business of offering Christ. We’re not in the business of maintaining but of creating and fostering new growth in Christ. We are going forward offering Christ in a new language—because the old language is no longer good enough. Christ is still the same, but the way we speak about Christ is different.”
Vazquez-Garza said he hopes to explore ways the Church can offer Christ to a new generation, how it can “tell the eternal truth of Jesus to people who have never seen a goat or a lamb.”
“We have to be in touch with what is going on,” he said. “I hope I can continue in that route, being in touch with what’s going on and adapting to our new reality.”
But most of all, Vazquez-Garza just wants to bring his best to God.
Growing up, he said, his father always told him that the people of Israel didn’t bring to the altar an animal with blemish. They brought their best to give.
“I want to come with that attitude,” he said. “I want to do my best—not for myself but for Christ. I want to offer my best to God to do with it whatever he wants. I’m not giving God what is left over.”
Vazquez-Garza said he’s thankful he didn’t need radiation, that the cancer was small and caught early.
Come Dec. 20, he said, he’ll be scuba diving in the warm waters of Cozumel with Acacia by his side.
| | More than 50 students attend Discovery Zone event
Bishop Jim Dorff told students his ministry story during Discovery Zone Oct. 24 at the Loft Coffeehouse in Spring Branch. By Rachel L. Toalson Managing Editor More than 50 students and leaders from the Southwest Texas Conference spent a chilly but beautiful morning at The Loft Coffeehouse in Spring Branch for the ninth annual Discovery Zone event Oct. 24.
The event is geared toward students aged 12 to 20 who desire to find their call from God and discern in which direction God is moving them. It educates those students about ministry opportunities like pastoral leadership, missionary work, youth leadership and worship ministry.
The Rev. Rusty Freeman, conference youth ministries director, said the event is “going strong.”
“We continue to have both young and older students who show up and express a desire for ministry,” he said.
He said one student, a freshman in high school, has felt a call to be a pastor since she was 12 and attended Discovery Zone to further explore God’s call on her life. Another student, who will graduate from college in December, has been in conference youth ministry for eight years and plans to attend Princeton Seminary to develop his call to ministry.
“Discovery Zone is full of these stories of young people, in all stages of being called forth by God into full-time vocational service in the Church,” Freeman said. Bishop Jim Dorff visited Discovery Zone and spoke to students about his own call to ministry and how The United Methodist Church needs more young people to enter the ministry.
“His words were powerful and inspiring and touched the lives of many of these students,” Freeman said.
The Rev. Bobbi Kaye Jones, Austin District Superintendent, also spoke about responding to the Lord and saying “yes” to opportunities of service that come along their way.
She told them that their response to Jesus’ “Follow Me” is critical.
“Embedded in our love for Jesus is an expectation that we use that love for others,” Jones said. “Feed, attend, love. It’s an action verb every time. We must use our love horizontally, for the least, the last and the lost.
“As you continue following, discerning God, let those words flow through you in all those acts. And we are promised to be met by the one we love.”
Freeman said Discovery Zone is about “offering encouragement to those touched by God” through the conference, the district and local church youth ministry events.
“I think those attending Discovery Zone will know more about the specifics of ministry, but more importantly, about seeing the journey set before them,” Freeman said. “That God is calling each of us, first to a relationship with Christ, and then to be ministers for the Kingdom.”
| | You can invest in the future by becoming a youth ministry volunteer
I hear it over and over again in the church, youth directors struggling to find and keep adult youth volunteers in the Church. Volunteers are needed who will say, “Yes! I will come and invest in the lives of young people.” Just this week, in visits to Harlingen, Fredericksburg and Austin, I heard it from an assortment of youth leaders, “How do we find adults to help us lead our youth?”
Most of our youth directors (paid or volunteer) struggle with this issue. Today’s state law requires we not be alone with students. It takes a number of willing adults to allow the youth group to do anything. The youth leader cannot lead Bible studies alone. He or she cannot take them on retreats alone. They need your help.
And so, I want to challenge you to consider making a direct investment in the future of the church by becoming a youth ministry volunteer. Here are seven steps you can take to consider volunteering in youth ministry.
1. Know that God is calling you. God’s call to serve is not mysterious. I usually find if there is a need in the church then God is calling someone in that church to fill it. We know our youth leaders need help—is God calling you to do something about it?
2. Understand the job description. It may come as a relief to know if you become a volunteer, you are not committing yourself to things you aren’t necessarily gifted in. Consider your gifts then offer them. Can you cook? Then cook. Can you drive a van? Then drive. Can you play basketball? Then shoot the ball. You don’t have to speak, lead a Bible study, pray out loud or lead worship. Discuss your gifts with your youth leader then sign on to those that fit you best.
3. Sacrifice your time. There is always something else you could be doing. If you are retired, but love kids, there is no excuse for not showing up at youth group. If you are a parent but never offer help—then it’s time to get moving. One group I know survives on its retirees. The students love them and the benefits of serving bless everyone involved.
4. Realize the requirements. When you approach your youth leader this week and say, “How can I help,” be prepared for an assortment of questions. Some you should expect will include: Are you growing in your relationship with Christ? Do you have a healthy love for students? Have you completed a criminal background check or are you willing to do so? It’s not just the State of Texas that has requirements, the Church requires faithful, committed and Christ-centered servants.
5. Recognize the commitment. When you sign on to working with youth, you are not doing so for life. Commit to a season or a semester. Make sure they know you are making a commitment but there will most likely be an end as well. Perhaps after a break you may return. What most scares most volunteers off is the “eternal commitment”—never being able to leave once you say “yes.”
6. Expect the Rewards. As you might guess, no other age level brings me as much joy and excitement as working with youth. Not only are they down right fun, they say what they mean, carry much less baggage than adults and have a spontaneous and contagious love for Jesus Christ. When you begin working with students, expect to be blessed beyond compare.
7. Engage the Unknown. Lastly, you never know what you will get when you engage lives of students. Sometimes it’s pain-filled. Sometimes it’s joy-filled. When you build relationships with students you find both brokenness and blessings. So “engage the unknown.” Ask God to help you handle whatever comes your way with grace, love and prayerful understanding.
Our youth are too important to fail them by not offering to help. They need you. Your youth directors and leaders need you. They might not say so directly but I have heard it a hundred times. It’s one of the greatest struggles in youth ministry. Are you willing to help? Are you willing to give an hour a week? How might God use your gifts, your time and your talents to impact the youth in your church today?
| | Student Day Offering blesses United Methodist scholarship recipients financially and spiritually
By Lisa A. Gonzalez Higher Education and Campus Ministry board member
What do Rosalie Bonner, Taelor Young and Collier Jennings have in common? These aspiring young adults were the 2009 Southwest Texas Conference Scholarship recipients.
Young wrote on the conference Higher Education and Campus Ministry blog, “This scholarship has helped by reducing the amount of loans I would have had to take out to pay for my education. This scholarship also blessed me spiritually; it demonstrated that our Father truly is the owner of cattle on a thousand hills, He has provided for me to attend a university that ordinarily would have been a financial stretch for me and my family. I can’t say how much this scholarship has meant to me; it is helping me to continue on toward God’s will for my life, and I can’t thank you enough.”
Much like Bonner, Young and Jennings, there are many students who need a little help in order to attend a Methodist university. Without the continuous support of our congregations, these students could miss out on the opportunity to pursue their dreams. We may never fully realize how much our contributions have helped a student but the Lord will bless us for it.
We have been called as a church to offer up our support and Sunday, Nov. 29 is the designated day for the United Methodist Student Day special offering. However, if the last Sunday in November is not good for your congregation to give to this need, you may choose any Sunday before Dec. 31.
As our denomination continues to work toward cultivating younger clergy, opportunities like this offering show UM students that the church really does care about them and wants to invest in their future leadership potential. This is far more than an offering that will help pay the bills for students; this is a chance for the churches of the Southwest Texas Conference to say we believe in tomorrow’s leaders and we want to be a part of their preparation to lead our communities and the church of Jesus Christ.
I hope you will mark this offering in the life of your church as a wonderful opportunity to invest in God’s future for The United Methodist Church. Information about scholarships and loans for the 2010-2011 academic year is available at www.umcswtx.org/hem-swtx-scholarships.html.
To read more about the gratitude of Young and Jennings visit their blogs at www.swtxcm.blogspot.com/.
The 2009 recipients of loans and scholarships for the Southwest Texas Conference include:
- Eunice Lee, Austin Korean UMC; Syracuse University.
- Sydney Payne, Bee Creek UMC, Spicewood; McMurry University.
- Casey Hess, Decker UMC, Austin; Huston-Tillotson College.
- Katherine Maples, First UMC, El Campo; Southwestern University.
- Erin Murchison, First UMC, Austin; Hendrix College.
- Taelor Young, First UMC, Big Lake; McMurry University.
- Jeffrey Salinas, First UMC, Harlingen; Texas State University—San Marcos.
- Sarah Seibel, First UMC, Kerrville; Angelo State University.
- Stephen Seibel, First UMC, Kerrville; Texas A&M University.
- Spencer Hall, First UMC, Sonora; Lon Morris College.
- Peter Borhauer, Grace UMC, Corpus Christi; Wesley Theological Seminary.
- Brice Sitka, First UMC, Hallettsville; Texas A&M University.
- Carlos Gonzalez, Harlandale UMC, San Antonio; Asbury Theological Seminary.
- Christina Harwell, First UMC, La Feria; Texas State Technical College, Harlingen.
- Gabriel Rios, La Vernia UMC; Texas Lutheran University.
- Brian Hodges, Medina Valley UMC, Castroville; Texas Lutheran University.
- Walter Lengel, Northwest Hills UMC, Austin; University of Texas—Austin.
- Samuel Gorena, Northern Hills UMC, San Antonio; University of Texas—Austin.
- Roberta Parrillo, Northwest Hills UMC, San Antonio; Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
- Marissa Fisher, Parker Lane UMC, Austin; Lamar University.
- Joshua Union, The Rock UMC, Cedar Park; Southern Methodist University.
- Molly Kacal, First UMC, San Marcos; Duke University Divinity School.
- Matt Groth, St. Luke UMC, San Angelo; Texas A&M University.
- Monica Burns, St. Paul UMC, San Antonio; University of Texas—Austin.
- Tanya Eustace, Tarrytown UMC, Austin; Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.
- Lou Caroline Bonner, Travis Park UMC, San Antonio; University of Texas—Austin.
- Margaret Rosalie Bonner, Travis Park UMC, San Antonio; Southwestern University.
- Laura Lopez-Silva, Travis Park UMC, San Antonio; Perkins School of Theology.
- Paul Trejo, University UMC, San Antonio; Perkins School of Theology.
- Michael Burton, Wesley UMC, Austin; Prairie View A&M University.
- Collier Jennings, Wesley UMC, Austin; Texas Wesleyan University.
| | Ethnic diversity in the Southwest Texas Conference begins in 1859
In the fall of 1859, the preachers of the Rio Grande Mission traveled to Goliad to hold their first meeting as an independent conference. The Rev. J.W. Cooley, the host pastor, reminded them through the Texas Christian Advocate to report to the Paine Female College for their housing assignments. The practice of conferences in those days was that the preachers would be boarded out in the homes of the local members. Cooley further asked that he be informed in advance if a preacher was bringing along his wife so that an appropriate assignment could be made.
As the Rev. H.G. Horton left his “outside row” appointment at Uvalde for the Goliad gathering, he had to run the gauntlet of isolated territory. He and a companion started out for San Antonio but became separated just before encountering a band of Indians. Horton rode for his life, “whirling my pistol aloft.” He succeeded in escaping, but his erstwhile companion was caught and killed. Most preachers, however, did not suffer such dangers.
At the appointed hour (9 a.m. Nov. 9, 1859), the ministers came together in the main building of the college. After the opening worship, the Conference had to elect a presiding officer. Bishop George Pierce, scheduled to preside, sent word ahead that he was on his way overland from California, but that he was having health problems and experiencing weather delays. In his absence, the conference convened and elected Jesse Boring to preside. If Pierce did not show up, Boring would make the appointments, in consultation with the four presiding elders. The bedraggled bishop, considerably the worse for wear, did finally arrive on the last day.
The third item on the agenda was election of a conference secretary—one of the presiding elders, John Wesley DeVilbiss. DeVilbiss was noted as the man who preached the first Methodist sermon in San Antonio. The secretary of the Texas Conference was present to deliver the appropriate conference documents to DeVilbiss, among them the conference roll, listing 13 members in full connection. The members then nominated and elected six committees. With that, the Conference was up and running and conducted its regular business over the course of the next five days, taking Sunday off for preaching and prayer. In keeping with the Methodist tradition, the agenda consisted of a well-established series of questions and answers (“Who are admitted on trial?” “What traveling preachers are elected and ordained elders?”). One standard question was “Are all the preachers blameless in their life and official administration?” Often there were objections to one or another of the preachers, but this year the answer was “their names were called, one by one, and their characters examined and passed.” Among its non-routine business, the assembly organized a conference mission society and provided for the establishment of two colleges in San Antonio.
Pierce’s arrival on the closing day allowed for the ordination of six deacons and three elders. The session closed with the reading of the appointments. The German district and the Brownsville district were disbanded and the appointments spread through the other three districts, including a new district headquartered at Helena. The new conference was now fairly underway, and lo—is still thriving 150 years later.
| | UMW members at First UMC, Johnson City, start on Christmas project
The bean counters are at it again! Jane Mills, left, and Nina Saxton are two of the United Methodist Women at the First UMC, Johnson City, who are making up jars of beans for mixed-bean soup as a Christmas fund-raiser. Last year, they made up jars with colorful layers of beans, from the familiar red to the odd yellow myocoba to see if they would sell. They sold out, and folks have been asking whether they’d be available again this year. Good news for bean soup-lovers and kitchen decorators: they will be. The UMW ladies are already working on their first cabinet-full of beans now, with a promise of more to come.
| | San Antonio District news Imagine that! No Malaria
Imagine no Malaria… Being a child who has been around this earth for quite some time, I want to put the music of John Lennon’s song to this phrase. But this would be too controversial because the first line of Lennon’s song is “Imagine there’s no Heaven” and I am not willing or ready to discuss that line.
Now that I have your attention: Imagine no Malaria; it is easy if you try. Is your congregation trying? Are you trying? Unless we try, nothing ever gets done.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, tried several things that seemed impossible at the time he was trying. Preaching outside the church? It was a scandal! Taking the Christian faith to the working class? What for? But he tried and he succeeded!
I was in love with the prettiest girl in my church. I did not think that she would be interested in a guy like me, poor and skinny, politically and religiously weird. She was and is nice, sweet, beautiful, thoughtful, patient and very popular with the guys. I decided to go for it. Hey! We are going to celebrate 40 years of marriage in December. If I had not tried, if I had not said, “Unless I try, I will not know,” my life would have taken a different turn.
Imagine no Malaria; it is easy if you try. Every effort to eradicate Malaria makes a difference. Do not sell yourself or your congregation, short. You are going to be surprised about what God can do with the efforts of all the people. We will make a difference because we have tried.
If you are already trying, PRAISE GOD! If you are still thinking about it, “it is easy if you try.”
| | Farewell Fiesta for Virgilio and Acacia
Virgilio and Acacia Vazquez-Garza On Saturday, December 5th, the San Antonio District will gather to celebrate the ministry of our out-going District Superintendent, Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza, and his wife, Acacia. The “Fiesta” style celebration will be held at Bracken United Methodist Church, in the Connection Center, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will include a catered lunch of fajitas with all the trimmings. Tickets for the luncheon will be $10 per person, and must be purchased in advance due to catering considerations. Seating will be “first come, first seated.” Please contact your pastor or Lay Leader for additional information and for tickets. Come dressed for a fiesta and lots of fun as we celebrate Virgilio’s and Acacia’s more than seven years of ministry and service with us!
“Imagine No Malaria” - Mission Most Possible!
A child looking through a mesquito net. Beginning with “Nothing but Nets” and culminating in “Imagine no Malaria,” the United Methodist Church has embarked on a journey to bring an end to the scourge of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. “Termination” of this deadly and debilitating disease is scheduled for no later than the year 2015. As one of the very first Districts to be given the opportunity to be a part of this momentous achievement, San Antonio UM churches are already in the fray. To date, thirty-two of our sixty-three churches have indicated interest in participating in this unique opportunity to make a profound difference. Half of that group already has their goals and game plan in place. If your church has not already made a commitment to be a part of “Imagine no Malaria” and are interested in how you can participate or would like more information, please contact Terry McCandless at the District Office. It is our hope and our prayer that every UM church in our District will participate at some level. Expenses for the campaign are covered 100% by foundation grants so that every cent of every dollar collected can go directly toward eradication of this disease that kills a child under the age of five years every 30 seconds. E V E R Y T H I R T Y S E C O N D S!
| Austin District news | Holy Ground in a convenience store
The convenience store clerk looked embarrassed and shook her head and pointed at the register, then handed my debit card back to me. In broken English, she explained purchases less than five dollars must be paid for with cash.
With no cash, I stepped out of line, thinking of about what do. I was tired and hot and pregnant and not looking forward to crossing town in five o’clock traffic. Just as I was about to head to the back of the store to find something else to buy, the man who had been behind me in line tapped me on the shoulder. He pointed at the water I was carrying and then put a couple of worn dollar bills on the counter. “For you,” he said. No, no that’s okay, I protested. I can get it myself. But he pushed the bills toward the young store clerk, nodded at me as I offered meager thanks, and then held the door as we left the store together. The minute that I walked into that dank store on the far side of town, I knew that I was out of place. It took longer to realize that I had been standing on holy ground. After all, I was the one with no cash, but means to spare. And yet I felt like I had been offered the means of grace when that stranger—who clearly lived a cash-in-hand life—gave me a gift of living water.
As we continue to participate in the Imagine No Malaria campaign, I think of this incident often. While the needs of people fighting this killer disease in Sub-Saharan Africa are clear, I believe that they are not the only ones to receive a gift from this process. It is easy to think that those people—impoverished as they are—have nothing to offer us. But it is not that simple.
In the last five months, we Austin-area United Methodists who have committed to saving lives in countries like Sierra Leone have also generated a great deal of buzz and attention through our activities and efforts. We have seen our own children, youth and young adults become some of the most engaged participants in this effort. We have been given the opportunity to engage with the world and with our own community in new ways that may make room for new people. And in many cases, we have outdone ourselves in exceeding our goals for the campaign.
We have gotten press. We have gotten creative. We have gotten flexible. We have gotten a renewed sense of the Spirit working in us and among us. It seems to me that while we work to save lives, we receive new life too! Thanks be to God, the true giver of the gift.
| | Austin District happenings
Bee Creek UMC celebrated with a band and their fans of all ages at a Imagine No Malaria event.
Manchaca offers GriefShare workshop before holidays Manchaca UMC (www.manchacaumc.org) will be offering the free GriefShare workshop “Surviving the Holidays” from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22 and again on Sunday, Dec. 20. “Surviving the Holidays” will offer practical, stress-reducing tips to help those facing the holidays after the death of a loved one. Please call (512) 282-7274 to register and to request child care if needed.
Young adult Angel Campolo organized a benefit dinner for Imagine No Malaria The Austin District continues to find fun and innovative ways of fighting malaria. Congregations across the district have put on a variety of events to benefit the United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria campaign. Not only has this effort garnered us media attention in the Austin area, but we are saving lives in Sub-Saharan Africa!
| | Victoria District news ‘Outstanding’ should be synonymous with ‘church’
I am bored with the AVERAGE Church!! I am tired of the FAIR preaching! I am not completely satisfied with EXCELLENT Worship services. I want to see, feel, and taste the OUTSTANDING CHURCH!!!
Can the local church be OUTSTANDING? Can the local church be OUTSTANDING as a smaller membership church? Can the local church be OUTSTANDING as a medium membership church? Can the local church be OUTSTANDING as a larger membership church? The answer is YES!!!
THESE ARE CHURCHES THAT HAVE TO BE WELCOMING, NURTURING CHURCHES!
There is hope!
1. If there is fresh paint, polish and a good broom. 2. The churchyard will judge the attitude of the people. If the yard is in bad shape, “I ask myself, will I be treated well?” 3. If you want your church to grow, you need to target men, and have them working along side the women.
MEN ARE THE ATTRACTING FACTOR FOR ANY CHURCH! Love the women in your church and nurture them. Honor their faithfulness. Women have always been outstanding.
Women were at the bottom of the cross with Jesus.
Women were at the tomb of Jesus while the Disciples hid in the Upper Room.
It was good that Jesus had mystical powers. The door to the UPPER ROOM was locked.
An OUTSTANDING environment for growth is a place where there is a mix of generations and genders working and playing together.
If you desire your church to be OUTSTANDING in an environment of growth stop talking about it and BECOME OUTSTANDING!!
Victoria District happenings
Flatonia UMC ‘Men on a Mission’ complete Waelder project This past year, the Flatonia Methodist Men’s Ministry team responded to a need at the Waelder Valley Church of Jesus in God served by Pastor Terry Barnes. The church building project included several repairs which were needed to combat deteriorating wood and others which were needed to improve access for handicapped parishioners. The Men’s Ministry repaired the front entrance and doors, added new handrails, extended the sidewalk, and poured a concrete ramp for handicap access. The congregation was most appreciative and brought lunch each day to the Flatonia volunteers. The Men on a Mission included in this project were Mike Branecky, Donn Beatty, Elmer Mott, Craig Campbell, Pr. Rob Clopton and Stuart Raef.
Flatonia UMC offers ‘Baby Boomer Bible Study’ Flatonia UMC has begun a study of the Bible. A 14-week study titled “The Baby Boomer Bible Study’”meets each Wednesday evening in Newman Hall, adjacent to the church at 402 E. North Main Street from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This study book is an excellent resource which gives a panoramic survey of the Bible by use of tables, maps, glossaries, flow charts and other helps. It explains how the Bible was put together so that participants will gain an understanding of Bible background. The study is open to the community and surrounding areas. For information call Rob Clopton or Administrative Assistant, Amy Jones, at (361) 865-2622.
First UMC, Victoria, celebrates Laity Sunday, sends mission team off “Standing on Our Promises” was the message given on Laity Sunday at First UMC, Victoria. Lori Koonce, certified lay speaker and Stephen Leader, challenged the congregation to remember being a baptized people and having promised to support the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Members of the Stephen Ministry assisted in both services by ushering, greeting, reading scripture, prayers, special music, and children’s sermon. All in attendance were blessed by the words, music, and fellowship. After the sermon in the 10:40 a.m. service, Pastor Marilyn Roeder and the members of the mission team from FUMC received a special blessing by Pastor Jarrel Sharp with laying on of hands by the Stephen Ministers. The Mission Team left right after worship for Deer Park UMC, where they will be housed while working in San Leon rebuilding homes. Joining the First UMC, Victoria, are volunteers from Bourne, Shiner, Port Lavaca, New Orleans and Seadrift.
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