| November 27, 2009
Volume 156, Number 30
|
| Conference celebrates 150 years of ministry
 More than 300 people gathered in Goliad Auditorium Nov. 14 to celebrate 150 years of ministry in the Southwest Texas Conference.
gather in Goliad for food, fellowship
 Attendees to the 150th anniversary celebration stand and sing some familiar hymns together during the ceremony.
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
About 300 people from around the Southwest Texas Conference celebrated 150 years of life and ministry in the southern portion of the state Nov. 14 at Goliad Auditorium.
The 150th anniversary celebration kicked off with a true Texas-style barbecue lunch, followed by a speech by Robert Sledge, writer of conference history stories printed in the United Methodist Witness from January to November. Retired minister Jerry Jay Smith emceed the event.
Bishop Jim Dorff reminded attendees of some of the practices the Southwest Texas Conference had in its past—like pastors being responsible for collecting funds for missions (apportionments) and being held publicly accountable at annual conference for the money they had or had not raised.
“Hello,” Dorff said, and the crowd laughed.
Dorff said the United Methodists in the Southwest Texas have a great heritage.
“We have holy conferencing,” he said. “No work is done in isolation. This is a great heritage we share. I give thanks to my God for what he has done through the Southwest Texas Conference, for what he has done for us.
“When I think about how it used to be, I am grateful for the way it is now. Every time I think I have it hard, I remember.”
 Historical information marked tables.
“Today is a great day in the life of the conference,” Dorff said. “It’s a great time of fellowship, when we recommit ourselves to doing what must be done.
“It is simple what God continues to call us to do. We must proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to everyone. Everything we do is not about us. It’s about Christ and what Christ has done in 150 years, in 2,000 years. We must raise people out of those world and into glory. That’s for us, too.”
Dorff said he has a friend, a professor at Perkins Seminary, who, when Dorff told him he’d been appointed bishop of the Southwest Texas Conference, asked him, “How are you going to fix the church?” Dorff asked him what was wrong with the church.
His friend told him that people think The United Methodist Church began its decline after the war. But he thinks, his friend said, that it started way earlier, back in the 1800s, back when people lost their evangelical zeal.
So Dorff said the people of the Southwest Texas Conference need to regain their evangelical zeal.
“I call on you and I call on me to look around us,” Dorff said. “I call on you to be willing to look around. Where are the people who are our mission field?”
|
| New leader appointed San Antonio District superintendent
Bishop Jim Dorff has appointed the Rev. Carl Rohlfs, who has served as pastor of University UMC, Austin, for the past six years, as the new superintendent of the San Antonio District. The appointment is effective Jan. 1.
“I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Rohlfs as the new district superintendent of the San Antonio District,” Dorff said. “His knowledge of the church, his experience throughout the conference, his enthusiasm, his clear commitment to Christ and the ministry of all persons will bring excellent leadership to the district.
“I look forward to his service on the Cabinet. I also look forward to personally working with him as a superintendent.”
Rohlfs began his career as an associate pastor at Plymouth Park UMC, Irving, in 1975. In 1977, he moved to First UMC, Victoria, as an associate pastor and served as senior pastor at Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi, from 1978-1984. In 1984, Rohlfs was appointed to First UMC, Del Rio, as senior pastor and moved on to First UMC, San Angelo in 1988.
He has served at University UMC, Austin, since 2004.
|
| Christian education is sharing Christ in creative ways
We give thanks for the witness of an Ethiopian of high status who asked Philip for guidance in learning about Jesus Christ, then walking with him to the waters of baptism. We’re grateful for saints of the faith who share Christ in ways that are fun, dynamic, reflective, active, challenging to do, beautiful to experience, that serve others and are justice-oriented. That is Christian Education (CE).
Jesus Used a Variety of Teaching Styles—Jesus often taught using movement, noise, emotion, and hard thinking. United Methodist educators, while growing in their own Christian faith, have helped grow The United Methodist Church into one of the most solid teaching/learning cultures in all Christendom. We 21st Century UMs tend not to think about CE in those terms, perhaps assuming that “teaching is for the professional educator.” Yet when it comes to sharing the faith, YOU are my TEACHER. All who delve deeper into God’s extravagant love as made known through Jesus Christ are LEARNERS. Abundant educational resources & a vast variety of tools/methods are only a click away (on the Conference Web site) to empower leaders of your small group, life group, home room, Sunday School class and ministry team.
CE Specialists Bring Experience & Ideas—Specialists listed on the conference Web site are available to congregations seeking assistance for adults, children, children’s chapel, ECA, nursery, puppetry, rotation model, family, storytelling, weekday ministries, youth, curriculum development and planning, Education Beyond the Walls (guidebook), Godly Play, music, hospitality and guest follow up, human sexuality, small groups, Sunday School admin, VBS and young adults. Please contact me if you’re a specialist and not yet listed. Find more information at: www.umcswtx.org/christian-education-specialists.
PCE School Brings Training—Parish Christian Educator School offers intensive study for volunteer and paid lay persons in local church CE. Six topics, offered for parts of four days each in January and June over the course of three years, end in the participant’s commissioning. Coming January 6-9: Administration of CE Programs with Dr. Diana Hynson, the General Board of Discipleship’s director of learning/teaching; June 16-19: The Bible and CE led by the Rev. Judi Mayne, a conference deacon. Find more information at: www.umcswtx.org/parish-christian-educators.
CEF Brings Support—The local chapter of Christian Educators Fellowship is a networking group of volunteer, paid, lay and clergy CEs who encourage self-improvement through reading, study, attendance and participation in conference workshops/gatherings. CEFers recognize the importance of CE, promote cooperation between CEs and the individual groups with whom they work, strengthening the fellowship/networking within CEF National and our area of the UMC. It is a life-giving, life-sustaining group with whom you may want to affiliate. CEF’s Epiphany luncheon will be Jan. 22 at the UM Center with Bishop Dorff. Find more information at: www.umcswtx.org/christian-educators-fellowship.
Group Studies Bring Life—Recent recommendations: If You Know Who You Are, You’ll Know What to Do, by Ron Greer, Abingdon, 2009; Companions In Christ: The Way of Transforming Discipleship, by Trevor Hudson and Stephen Bryant, Upper Room Pub, 2008; Learning On the Run, by Ted Endacott, Discipleship Resources, 2005, gives small group leaders effective, time tested teaching techniques.
|
| Blanco County coalition ramps up local flu help
By George Barnette
Member of First UMC, Johnson City
As the H1N1 swine flu increases across the country—now widespread in 48 of the 50 states—Blanco County’s flu-fighting coalition is increasing its support to local flu victims and their caregivers.
The Blanco County coalition volunteers are running errands for people who have been diagnosed with the swine flu.
A person living alone can’t get up out of bed and run to the store for groceries or to pick up a prescription.
But if the patient or caregiver calls the store and charges the purchase to his credit card, a coalition volunteer can make the pick up and deliver the food or medicine to the door. The volunteer never handles any money or the credit card, and patients stays home.
For a shorter-term need, a volunteer can show up at the door with a bowl of soup and a sandwich.
Volunteers also check by phone on people who live alone and might fall ill without anyone noticing.
“We don’t want to interfere with anyone’s life or intrude on their privacy,” said Sid Spiller, pastor of First UMC, Johnson City, one of the organizers of the county coalition. “But there are times when even the most independent and fiercely private people need a little help, or even just human contact, and we can make sure it’s there when they want it.”
Both errand-running and phone-check services are free to anyone in the county. Contact a volunteer, or become a volunteer, by calling (713) 252-2288.
|
| Oak Meadow UMC holds ‘Cowboy service’
Oak Meadow UMC, San Antonio, hosted a “Cowboy service” Nov. 1. Larry Scharmann, pastor of the church, said it was a “huge success,” with close to two and a half times as many people attending as what would attend on a normal Sunday.
He said the Assembly of God congregation from next door even joined them.
Scharmann rode up to the church on a horse—“Pooh Bear”—along with his friend and nephew Steve Schulz, who rode a horse called “Jackie.” After saying a few words about God’s love and singing a verse of “Amazing Grace” with his parishioners, Scharmann led them inside the church building and started the service.
The altar was decorated with hay bales and lanterns in place of candles. Scharmann said he used a campfire coffee pot and a cup for communion.
“Grace Notes” music team from Northern Hills UMC, San Antonio, and the Oak Meadow UMC choir provided the music for the morning.
Scharmann said his congregation is already talking about wanting to do the event again next year.
|
| Barbara Dorff inspires conference UM
Women to be ‘Divine Adventurers’
 Sue Sidney, president of the Southwest Texas Conference UMW, and Carol Dukes from La Vernia UM Women make an appeal to all Methodist women, inviting them to attend “Assembly” in April.
Southwest Texas Conference UMW
Communications Coordinator
The Southwest Texas Conference United Methodist Women met in Gonazales Oct. 9 -10 for their 35th Annual Meeting. The meeting was opened with the “Come, Take, The Table is Set” banquet on Friday evening.
Sue Sidney, conference UMW president, welcomed everyone. She thanked the Gonzales United Methodist Men, who were to serve the dinner. She introduced the Methodist Chamber Singers: Bill Meadows, Christina Menking, Shirley Spoon, Ann Keck, Charlotte Wilson, Linnea Cowan, LuAnn Shelton, Clayton Wilkerson and Sammie Massie. They provided musical entertainment during dinner.
The Rev Andy Smith, pastor of First UMC, Gonzales, gave the blessing.
 Barbara Dorff, wife of Bishop Jim Dorff, takes time out from the United Methodist Women annual meeting to pose for a picture with Lois Shaw, Southwest Texas Conference UMW vice president.
Not only did Dorff urge us not to be sideliners, she told us that it is our responsibility to help those on the sidelines to become participants. We all need to share the opportunity to serve—let everyone help, she said.
Dorff also used Zaccheus as an example for us to follow, saying he was a ‘divine adventurer.” He heard God’s call and answered it. She also told those present about a missionary in China that said “If you are not a missionary—you are a mission field.” She told us that the United Methodist Women have a responsibility to serve and enable others to serve and she is proud to be a United Methodist Woman.
Sidney sent the women forth to answer Dorff’s challenge to action.
|
| Kerrville District news
Have you ever jumped into a pile of leaves?
Beauty is all around us in the Texas Hill Country. The foliage is bursting with brilliant colors that literally take one’s breath away. Our hills and river banks are lined with colors that call out the awesomeness of the Creator. It is a joy to walk amongst the fallen leaves and to see shimmering reminders of God’s activity as the wind moves leaves in harmony. Swirling, swirling, ever swirling the leaves move from place to place. It is a privilege to move within the movement of fallen leaves.
When I was a child we would take a rake and stack the leaves up as high as we could and then we would run and jump right in the middle of those leaves, scattering them to the four winds. One of our parents would see our foolishness and tell us to rake them once again into a pile. We would be implored to make small manageable piles that could be easily gathered up and put into garage cans. There is nothing fun about a small manageable pile of leaves. So we would rake and rake and rake until we had a mountain of leaves in the middle of the yard. And then we would take turns diving into the leaves and rolling on the ground, laughing and laughing with a joy that simply could not be explained to a frowning adult. There is something about leaves that stir up something within my childhood memories. I can still smell the leaves and feel their crunchiness under my feet and in my hands. I hope that after you have taken in the beauty of the leaves on the trees and before you turn them into mulch for your flower beds and/or gardens, that you will consider being a kid again and go play in the leaves for a while. When was the last time that you jumped into a pile of leaves? You don’t even have to have an excuse to be a kid, just go be a child of our God Most High.
Worship Reflections: What makes worship vital?
By Robert Molder, District Lay Leader
The worship services of your congregation are meant to be alive and vital with God’s presence and the people’s participation – God calling, the people responding. When worship is alive, you know it! When it is not, you know that too.
Vital or lifeless? Full or empty? What makes the difference? Who in your church can help make the difference?
Whether your congregation is large or small, rural, small town or big city, you know when worship is vital. There is energy in what happens. The power of God’s Word touches the hurts and awakens the hopes of real people. Visitors are glad they came. People participate because the singing, the hearing, the praying, the sharing at the table, and the sending people out are done in ways that say, “This matters.” In vital worship the people are addressed, touched, washed, fed, anointed and strengthened in relationship to God and to one another.
Just what do Christians look like:
What sets their lives apart?
They’re ordinary people
Who love God from the heart -
D. DeHann
God is looking for ordinary people to do extraordinary work.
District happenings
With Halloween behind us, it’s time to get busy on Christmas! Dale Hardy, left, and Butch Philips already have been setting up the stable for the First UMC, Johnson City’s, annual gift to the community and visitors: the Living Nativity Christmas pageant. After almost 50 years, the production already has seen a third generation of performers of all ages acting out the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The pageant’s fame is so widespread that families come from as far as Houston and Dallas -- even Oklahoma -- to make the free pageant part of their own Christmas tradition.
Kerrville District Equipping the Saints and District Celebration
Saturday, Jan. 16,– 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at First UMC, Kerrville.
Classes offered will be PPRC/SPRC, Finance, Trustees, Lay Leader, Rethink Church, Four Areas of Focus, Local Missions Outreach, Serving (not JUST surviving) Through Shared Ministries, UMW, UMM, Volunteers in Mission, FAITH 5 (Faith Acts in the Home), Stewardship, Disaster Response and Imagine No Malaria.
Please mark your calendars for this event. Brochures and registration forms will be mailed out to each church Nov. 30. Lunch will be $12 per person.
Corpus Christi District news
The season of great joy and hope
This is the season of great joy, hope, and expectation. However, many of us miss the greatest treasure as we rush from event to event. Jesus often said that we must become like little children. As I watch the true awe and excitement in the faces of the young ones, I believe that they have the right idea. What would happen if each of us began to live in that type of awe and wonder? Would our excitement build as we prepared for Jesus’ coming? Instead of frantic rushing, I believe Christ bids us to quietly come to Him and look upon his face. I hope and pray that you will take time to embrace the Lord and experience all that Jesus has for you this Advent Season. For I know that when you do you will experience His love, joy, and peace.
The Pumpkin Queen
Grace UMC takes its Scarecrow / Pumpkin Show “on the road!” Kathy Rios, alias “The Pumpkin Queen” and her band of scarecrows take pumpkins and stories to local schools and day care centers who cannot afford to come visit their Pumpkin Patch. The young ladies who accompany the Pumpkin Queen are on the year round school calendar and have the last week of October off; which makes for a perfect team. The group takes pumpkins and gourds from the patch to show the children in the community and always take the weirdest specimens they can find. Stories are read and connection is made for Grace church and Jesus. Over 893 children visited the Pumpkin Patch at Grace this year and another 800 were visited by this special team. What a wonderful outreach to the community. All proceeds benefit “The Amazing Grace Youth Group!”
Church Recycles
 Larry Barker holding one cross he made
Centennial Celebration in Robstown
 Centennial Celebration photo of the members of First UMC Robstown
The service included a reading of a proclamation from the Mayor and city of Robstown, including a key to the city, recognizing the church for 100 years of service to the community, presented by Paula Wakefield, City Secretary. First UMC Robstown has always had an active role in the community, helping to start the Wesley Community Center, Grace UMC, and El Redentor UMC. The current building was constructed in 1924 and is a historic landmark, marked by a historical plaque.
Former pastors and members had been invited to attend the special centennial service. Former pastors that attended were: Rev. Clifford Edge, who served the church from 1973-1979, Rev. Betty Tuttle, who served the church from 2003 - 2008. Other special clergy attending were the Rev. Barbara Ruth, District Superintendent of the Corpus Christi District, Southwest Texas Conference and the Rev. Richard Bates of University United Methodist Church, Austin, who was raised at First UMC Robstown. Other former members who were special guests in attendance included: Nueces County Commissioner Oscar Ortiz, Corpus Christi ISD Superintendent Scott Eliff, Kellam Koffin, grandson of the first mayor of Robstown, John Kellam, and A.J. Veselka, former City Secretary of the city of Robstown.
A booklet called “Centennial Memories” was printed, which included the history of the church as well as letters from former pastors and members sharing special memories of the church.
The message by Rev. Barbara Dyke, current pastor at First UMC Robstown, was “A Future with Hope.” Hymns sung included: “Lift High the Cross”, “Victory in Jesus” and “Here I Am, Lord”, with the special anthem by the choir being, “Let’s Have Some Old Time Religion.”
Part of the centennial celebration of the church included a collection of food items which will be donated to the Wesley Community Center in Robstown.
After the service, a group photo was taken on the front steps of the church, which was followed by a delicious pot luck luncheon, where many stories and memories were shared.
McAllen District news
Remembering who’s in charge
“Now to [God] who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Eph. 3:20-21
The Bible verse above is the one that I used to conclude each Church/Charge Conference this year. I chose this passage because it speaks of God’s power, not ours. After an hour of sharing from the laity and clergy in the church/charge conference about what they have done in the previous year and what they hope to do in the next year, it is easy to conclude that the work of the church depends solely on human power.
However, this scripture passage reminds us that it is God’s power that invigorates our mission and ministry. In fact, God can do more than we can even dream about. God has greater plans than we have even begun to imagine. Moreover, God is already at work in your congregation, in your community to put into action God’s dreams about you and the people around you.
So, our response is to join God in the work – and the dreams – that God has already initiated. We are not called to do all the work of ministry by ourselves. We do need to be ready to assist God in the divine work going on around us. We prepare ourselves to be used by God – to be God’s agents – in the world when we keep ourselves open to God’s leadership by regular prayer, scripture contemplation, reflective worship, and Christian counsel with trusted others.
It will be exciting to hear next year at our Church/Charge Conferences how you have found God’s power in ministry in your places of service. Then, we will say together, “To God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!”
Unassuming? Not on your life!!!
By the Rev. C. Sue Huntsman,
First UMC, Port Isabel
We went snorkeling the other day. It is another world. Emet had this great idea, so we went to Wal-Mart, bought the snorkels, masks, fins and sun screen and headed out. Greased up and geared up we walked out into the Laguna Madre. Ducking down, face in the water, we began to slowly swim. (Not having a boat limits your choices.)
At first all I saw was grass, then, slowly my eyes adjusted. Fish were swimming – piggy perch and a few reds glided by. Then I noticed something else, how quiet it was. I could hear my own breathing. I remembered when my son was much younger: we were snorkeling in the same area. He had a close encounter with sea nettle. I was going to stay out of the grass.
I felt a tap on my shoulder; it scared the living day light out of me! It was Emet. He had something to show me. A small stingray was sitting on the bottom in a clear area. It was amazing to watch it move. As we glided through the water we saw sponges, scallops, fish, even one small jelly fish. We knew to be careful and we were. We had a great time.
God’s creation is varied and beautiful. An unassuming place like the public access to the Laguna Madre offered so much variety. It made me think of our FUMC, Port Isable. If you do not know the ministries taking place here, or the people who call FUMC their church home, you might think the same about this church…a quiet little church. But we are NOT.
The church isn’t a building; the church is made of the faithful people who come. The church is the faithful people who give of themselves. The chorus of the hymn, “We Are The Church,” goes: “I am the church, You are the church, We are the church together: all who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes! We’re the church together!”
It’s true. We are the church. There is nothing unassuming about this congregation. Invite your friends, invite the strangers you meet to come and see for themselves.
Leaders from the McAllen District
attend 150th celebration in Goliad
The Rev. Larry Howard chats with a few guests at the 150th Anniversary celebration of what is now known as the Southwest Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Back in 1859 the new conference was known as the Rio Grande Mission conference. The celebration event took place at the Goliad Memorial Auditorium in Goliad on Saturday, Nov. 14. More than 300 attended the event. The first annual conference meeting in 1859 was held in Golidad at the Paine Female College.
|
|
|
|
|
