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October 22nd, 2010
Volume 157, Number 24
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Pumpkin patches reach beyond church walls
Conference leaders use fund raiser to support local, global missions
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
Colorful decorations and new-season hope for a fall-festive home. Carving party and photo tradition for a time-starved family. New-found home and extended community for a feeling-life’s-pressures individual. Food and time and love for needy children.
Over the years, pumpkin patches at Southwest Texas Conference churches have become ministry opportunities that reach far beyond the walls of the church.
For the Bethany UMC youth group, which benefits from patch sales, that means conducting a Vacation Bible School for children in Brownsville or repairing homes for needy people or doing mission work in El Salvador, said Kellye Noret, pastor’s secretary and organizer of the patch since 1996.
 Hosea Toalson sleeps during his first visit to the Bulverde UMC pumpkin patch. Leaders say many visitors to their church's pumpkin patches have been coming for years, particularly for yearly family photos among the pumpkins.
For the Buda UMC United Methodist Men, which runs the patch and collects the proceeds, that means donating to Habitat for Humanity and offering scholarships to graduating seniors, said the Rev. Teresa Welborn, pastor of the church.
For the Oxford UMC youth, the $12,000 the patch is expected to raise means doing house repairs and offering ministry to needy homeowners in Nashville, Tenn., or repairing roofs and painting and working in food banks in Pharr, said Kristi Forister, program director at the church.
“The pumpkin patch is such a good fundraising opportunity because it makes the church more visible during the month of October,” Forister said. “It gets people onto the church campus. It helps us, the church, get to know our neighbors and our community.
“But it also gives our youth the opportunity to serve. They are the ones who greet the customers, help the customers size the pumpkins. They interact with the families that come to the patch, and they help the customers carry the pumpkins out to their cars. The youth are getting the chance to learn communications skills, job skills and how to start a conversation with a stranger about Jesus Christ."
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Don McAvoy, minister of music at First UMC, Kerrville, which is hosting its first patch this year, said the patch is an important way to reach out to local and global missions.
“Outreach is something that music ministry and missions have in common,” he said. “Serving the church as an ordained deacon and a church musician, I am constantly looking for ways to connect the church and the world. The pumpkin patch allows us to creatively fund our growing music program, impact our local and global missions and bring the community together in a fun, festive, fall atmosphere.”
Some churches use their patches as a way to invite visitors to church.
 We are located on a heavily traveled road that connects to two major highways. Many of the customers we get do not have a church home, and our pumpkin patch is a way for us to reach out to them in a casual, friendly and fun way. - Kellye Noret
Patch organizer, Bethany UMC, Austin
Noret says those who work the Bethany patch hand out a little card with the “pumpkin story” on one side and the church’s address on the other. They also have different brochures about Bethany’s ministries available. “We are located on a heavily traveled road that connects to two major highways,” Noret said. “Many of the customers we get do not have a church home, and our pumpkin patch is a way for us to reach out to them in a casual, friendly and fun way.
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“It’s an ideal way for us to reach out to others and show the love of Christ to all we come in contact with.”
Clark Lyman, who helps run the Buda UMC patch, said some years they’ve had a business card with information about the church that they hand out to visitors. But most of the time, he added, those working the patch don’t broach religion unless a visitor takes the first step.
“If they broach the subject, our people are trained to take it to the next level,” Lyman said. “We don’t really take it to them. It’s like a delicate little dance.”
At Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi, patch volunteers, who man the patch from about 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. every day, specifically talk to visitors about Christ, said Glenda Sanders, who runs the patch.
“Our pumpkin patch is unique in that it is operated in a low-income area and is so much more than a fundraiser,” Sanders said. “It is a ministry and an opportunity for evangelism. It is a place where we are given the opportunity to share our Christian story with the community.”
She tells stories to more than 1,000 children during the time the patch runs, she said.
Preschools and daycares often bring their children to pumpkin patches, leaders said. Children are read stories, taught about the life cycles of pumpkins and normally get to take a pumpkin home with them.
Some patches even offer family photos to their visitors, leaders said.
“Our hope is that when they share these photos with their friends, neighbors and other family members, those persons will come visit our patch, giving us the opportunity to share information about Bethany and invite them to come back for upcoming events,” Noret said.
Besides the outreach opportunities, leaders say the patches benefit the church community as well.
“It allows youth and parents to work together on a common goal, to meet new friends and strengthen Christian bonds and raise money to participate in activities,” Noret said. “For some youth, this is their first exposure to volunteer work. It is a win-win situation for all involved.”
 Youths at Bethany UMC, Austin, unload pumpkins, arrange them and then man the pumpkin patch. Proceeds from patch sales help fund youth misison trips and retreats. (Our pumpkin patch) is a ministry and an opportunity for evangelism. It is a place where we are given the opportunity to share our Christian story with the community. - Glenda Sanders
Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi
“This pulls the church together,” Lyman said.
“This demonstrates the diversity and friendliness of our congregations and gives us a chance to share our faith stories in a low-key, non-threatening way,” Sanders said. “The fundraising aspect of it is not what’s important. The ministry is what is important.”
Many say the patches give churches exposure in the community, too.
“It’s positive exposure in the community,” said John Vinson, director of the patch at First UMC, Cedar Park. “The community exposure is much more important than the actual money raised.”
“The community knows us as the ‘pumpkin church,’” Forister said. “People from our community tell us they have been bringing their children and grandchildren to our pumpkin patch for many years. We get to meet the people in our community and talk to them about what their needs are and how Oxford can help them meet those needs.”
“Our patch has been blessed by God, allowing us to touch Sunday churchgoers and the unchurched in a very approachable way,” said Kristin Myers, pumpkin patch coordinator for Dripping Springs UMC.
“The largest ministry impact of the patch is people-to-people contacts, but the money makes a difference as well,” said the Rev. David Trawick, senior pastor of Northwest Hills UMC, the first church in San Antonio to have a pumpkin patch. “The funds supplement our youth ministry budget. Because of these funds, we can make youth mission trips and retreats more affordable, allowing youth to participate who might not otherwise have been able to afford it.”
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Five practices of fruitful congregation...hmm
By Randall Hilburn
Conference Committee on Evangelism
Recently, I attended a three-day meeting that was hosted by a rather large United Methodist Church located in another conference. Most of the facilities looked new and well maintained, the grounds were neatly groomed and the buildings free of litter.
There were a number of buildings in the complex and upon arrival, I began searching for my committee. I went to a signboard located inside the doorway of a building named “Worship Center.” The building had a large library, classrooms and a very large multipurpose room. I looked at the signboard that noted only an 8:30 traditional worship service, a 9:45 contemporary service and an 11:00 traditional worship service but did not give any locations of the respective services.
I then noticed a multi-colored facility directional chart on another wall that reminded me of the store locator signs found in malls. However, it only gave the formal names of the buildings, such as “Wesley” or the name of some chosen individual but no clue as to purpose of each building.
I asked one janitorial person who, I discovered, had no knowledge of what the various groups on campus were or their locations. I asked a lady I came across who thought the event was already finished and everyone had gone home.
Finally, I found a paper notice taped to a window that referred me to rooms W201, 202, and 203 for my meeting. Assuming that “W” referred to the Wesley building. I began my search in this large building until I heard some familiar sounds that led me to my meeting.
Sunday morning was the last day of our meetings and would culminate in our attending the 11:00 worship service. On my way, I needed to pass a HUGE Roman Catholic Church. As I was driving down a five-lane highway, I noticed some people standing in the turning lane. Seeing signs in their hands, I assumed they were picketing the church. As I came closer, I noticed the police were standing with them in the road.
However, to my surprise, I realized that these people were members of the church with large signs that welcomed people to their church and showed where to park. The surprising thing was the look of absolute joy on their faces as they yelled greetings to everyone who passed. These people were actually enjoying their duties and their faces showed their happiness.
As I slowed down to observe this phenomenon, one man yelled a “good morning” and then invited me to their church. I motioned “no” so he responded with wishing me a blessed day. Wow. I was impressed and apparently so were others because the line to enter the parking lot extended two blocks.
I then proceeded to our United Methodist Church. I was able to pull into the parking lot with ease since there was no line to enter this church’s parking lot. The first thing I noticed was the sparse numbers of cars in the large lot. And no one visible to welcome me or provide directions. In fact, there was absolutely no sign of human activity of any kind. I was not sure where to go so I stood in a breezeway to watch for someone to ask.
As I waited, I saw a young person park in one of the six slots noted for “first time visitors.” Upon exiting her car, she sleepily walked passed me and into a particular building which, I later discovered, housed the youth classes. I realized that this church obviously had a smarter and better class of visitors than my church because my first time visitors never have any clue as to where to go or what to do.
After a few more minutes a man came from one of the buildings on his way to another. As he passed, he mumbled “morning” and proceeded on his way. Therefore, I continued standing. After some more minutes, I saw the same man returning so I decided to stand where I could make direct eye contact. Surely he would notice my pathetic and hopeless look. As he exited the building, he noticed my eye contact so he responded by turning his head away from me and staring at a perfectly manicured but empty playground. Later I discovered that this man was a very busy associate pastor of the church. I know this because, in trying to locate the sanctuary, I wandered passed his office and saw him reclining in his office chair, reading the Sunday newspaper.
After our meeting, we attended a beautiful worship service along with (my guess) 400 or so other people. My group took up the first four rows of the sanctuary. Toward the beginning of the service, a different associate pastor greeted everyone and informed the first time visitors that some packets were available for us on a table located somewhere toward the back. Then she gave instructions for everyone to stand, turn around, and greet the person directly behind us. Well, I turned around to discover the back of some woman who was busy greeting the person behind her. Finally, the two people located to her right and left turned around. I extended my hand but then realized that I apparently broke the instructions of greeting the person DIRECTLY behind me because both just sat down having dutifully completed the instructions.
I found it interesting that in the worship bulletin was a printed invitation for people to join the church and join together with them in showing “Radical Hospitality,” then listing the five practices of a fruitful congregation. Hmmmm.
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And now, for the rest of the ‘welcoming’ story
By Ralph Mann
Conference Evangelism Chair
When Randall shared this story with me, it caused me to wonder if we are missing some “Basic Training” aspects of Evangelism. When I attended Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base almost 33 years ago, we were taught basic military skills. We learned skills such as how to salute, how to stand at attention and parade rest, how to march, how to march in formation, how to address people, just to name a few. As I progressed in my military training I learned much more complicated skills, but the basics were still important. I wonder if we have forgotten what it means to welcome people.
Consider these issues: Welcoming doesn’t begin inside the front door; it begins in the parking lot, and maybe even the street.
Consider your bulletin and newsletter. If people were interested in contacting the church can they? Is your phone number and Web site or other contact information printed? If you have a preschool or mother’s day out, do the parents receive your church newsletter? Are church happenings published around the community? Do your church members invite their FRANs (friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors) to church? Do we truly greet people when they arrive? Do we expect them to come back? Is there a “welcome desk” manned by a knowledgeable person that can direct people to church activities? Is there signage stating office hours and worship times? Would a visitor know what door to enter? Do your facilities say “Open for business,” or “Come back later?”
Your evangelism team is willing to share more ideas with you. Send your request to Ralph Mann (ralphm@nctv.com) and someone from the evangelism team will reach out to you.
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Kerrville District news
On the road again, what a diverse district
“One by seeing, three by smell. “ So said Bob Molder , in commenting on the skunks we’ve passed by or nearly ran over. As district lay leader he’s my travel partner “on the road again” to church conferences across the district. Last night we saw or smelled those 4 skunks, passed over a porcupine, a rat, almost hit a fallen deer, and drove along beside a hop-a-longing frog in the rain. We traveled 2 ½ hours north to Center City to meet with members of that church and those from Star. That’s after Jody, my wife, and I had traveled the day before 3 ½ hours south to Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs and Cotulla. Three tanks of gasoline and I’ve traveled the six hour length Kerrville District.
This is quite a diverse district! It reminds of a gerrymandered Congressional district. I wonder often just what the border churches have in common with the Hill Country churches. They are so very different from one end to the other it seems. How do I pastor to all these and how do I imagine that “the Kerrville District” makes sense to them, many whom live closer to San Antonio or Austin than they do Kerrville. How do we as a district “do ministry” together or how do we help one another when we are so different?
The same question could be asked by our Bishop about our Annual Conference. Even within the bounds of our Area, from end to end either North to South or East to West we have amazing geographical, political, cultural and theological differences. Our diversity means many times that we are divided! Even within the same congregation. If one were to consider the national or international nature of our church then the differences, the diversity and the divisions multiply. So if I wonder what holds the Kerrville District together in common ministry the questions looms large if we expand the question to imagine what holds the UMC or the broader Christian church together.
Political divisions in our nation compound the divisions in our churches. We have members who cannot imagine that one could be a Democrat and still be a Christian. On the other hand we have those who cannot abide the notion that someone could be a faithful Christian and vote Republican. Mention the name Bush or Obama or Palin and people’s blood boils. Profanity can easily pour forth rather than prayer. We Methodists, like other Christians, are swimming in a culture full of anger, disgust, hatred and fear. I see clearly that we are challenged to find “the tie that binds” us together in love.
Yet that is what we share in common. We are all blessed by the grace of God we know in Jesus Christ. We are growing together in learning how to trust in that love and in finding ways to witness and share that love with others. In a society that is growing less “civil” our churches need to look like grace-filled, compassion driven, forgiven and forgiving fellowships that mirror the Kingdom of God. So many seek a sanctuary from the storms of life raging around them in the world. So many are so hungry in every way.
We share and shape our faith together and help build our common witness. We build and live together in the Kingdom. That, I think, is what we share across the Kerrville District. When we don’t…I smell a skunk.
Blest be the tie that binds us
The unity that is ours in Christ Jesus
The unity that is ours in shared mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Sharing a thought
By Robert Molder
District Lay Leader
The following is an article written in the Kerrville Daily Times (Oct. 2007) by a retired Presbyterian pastor. I kept it and thought that it is worth sharing.
LOVING GOD, SAYING IT OUT LOUD
Evangelism is a good word with a bad reputation. In the minds of many, the word Evangelism congures up pressure tactics, doctrinaire demands, mechanical formulas, the acceptance of which are required for salvation.
But Evangelism is a good word that must be recovered in the more liberal and mainstream churches if they are to be faithful to the Great Commission. Evangelism simply and literally means “sharing the good news”. What then, is the motivation for people of moderate to liberal theology to share the Gospel ? If people are in love with God, and have a real and dynamic relationship with Christ, they will care enough to share that good news out of love for others. If we really believe that there is a God who redeems us and can change our lives, and that it really matters for people to know about it, we will just naturally share the good news.
Evangelists are ordinary garden variety Christians, like you and me, who tell their friends, family members, and co-workers stories about lives that have been changed, people who have been healed, and deep questions of meaning that have been answered. And it’s not their theology that motivates them. It is their love for God, their desire to live by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and their care for others and their willingness to ...say it out loud!!
As Paul puts it in Romans 12, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” How indeed? The answer is, through those of us who love God and say it out loud!!
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3 :15b.
District happenings
District Professional’s Meetings
The Kerrville District will have two Professional’s Meetings for the month of November. There will be a “North” and a “South” location and you may choose which one fits into your schedule. Tuesday, November 9, we will meet at Llano: Lutie Watkins Memorial UMC for the “North” meeting and on Wednesday, November 10, we will meet at FUMC Sabinal for the “South”.
The schedule for both days will be a gathering beginning at 9:30 AM with fellowship time followed by Worship and Holy Communion at 10:00 AM and then the business session.
Lutie Watkins and Sabinal are graciously providing a lunch for these meetings. You are asked to let the churches know if you will be eating lunch that day. This is a courtesy which allows them to better prepare for food.
You may do this by calling:
Lutie Watkins Memorial UMC – 325-247-4009
Sabinal FUMC – 830-988-2535
Equipping the Saints/District Celebration
Please mark your calendars! Equipping the Saints and the District Celebration will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011! More information to come!
More Kerrville District News - http://home.windstream.net/kdumc/
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Corpus Christi District news
How healthy are we as clergy members?
Are covered dish meals the worst meal for pastors? “Who am I to hurt Sister Henrietta’s “King Ranch” Chicken Casserole’s feelings? If I don’t get a double portion of it I’ll never be seen in the same light!” (or the same pants!)
I thank you all for your prayers as Nellie and I traveled to North Carolina for the District Superintendents/Director of Connectional Ministries (DS/DCM) training at Lake Junaluska, the United Methodist camp of the Southeastern Jurisdiction. A good group of new district superintendents and directors of connectional ministries gathered for training and fellowship under the leadership of several UM boards and agencies. Bishop James Swanson, resident bishop of the Holston Annual Conference was the main speaker and presenter in plenary sessions, and among the things we heard is that we as UM clergy are among the unhealthiest of professionals.
On average we are 20% more overweight and suffering from 30% more stress than other professionals. It was also announced, drum roll please, that the covered dish/pot luck/fellowship dinner, is probably the least healthy (okay, the fattest) meal of the week. This in the midst of being served daily three of the finest meals I’ve ever seen in a church camp.
We as a conference are blessed that we have a Clergy Wellness Program in place that has made a difference in our insurance coverage. The main emphasis of the program is for us to take better care of ourselves. I’ll be the first to raise my hand when it comes to having a weight problem. I can’t wait to eat! And I can’t wait until the next meal! But I struggle to remind myself that I eat only to feed my stomach to fuel my body, not the taste buds or my mind that seems to tell me, “If you don’t eat this now, you never know when you’ll have it ever again!” Well, given that the average person eats about 83,000 meals in an average lifetime, chances are that that meal will be repeated.
I know it’s easier said than done, but eat less and move around more. It’s that simple. My own doctor said that folks who have had lapband surgery say before hand, “I hardly eat!” And afterwards, “I only eat 10-15 bites now.” And he added, “If they would only eat beforehand what they know they will eat after the surgery they would not have weight problems!” We know that if we would eat only to get fueled and not full or fat, then we’d be doing better. I’m guilty of all of the above. I want to make a difference and set an example. I’m not perfect and need your prayers as we seek to become a healthy corps of clergy. We look forward to Heaven but we don’t need to rush things do we?
District happenings
Linda Morrow
Ministries Director
Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate!
We as United Methodist’s seek to celebrate God’s presence in our midst as we gather for various events. In this past month the southern half of the district representing 17 churches gathered at First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi to celebrate the work of various disciples within the southern part of our district. We were blessed to have Bishop Dorff with us as we feasted, recognized the work of ministry through various people and groups, and raised up the Imagine No Malaria program. At this celebration 4 of our youngest, 8 youth, and 26 adults were recognized. The District Superintendant’s Award was given to Jo Ann Wilshusen of St. John’s and the Bishop’s Exemplar Award was given to Chuck Votzmeyer of Asbuy UMC. As we gathered and feasted together many ideas for advancing the Kingdom of God were shared.
As we celebrate the Lord’s presence in our midst, it is good for clergy brothers and sisters to meet together. On Oct. 7th at Robstown FUMC the clergy met to worship, to share, and to encourage one another. Five OAK cluster groups (OAK standing for Obediently Advancing the Kingdom) were formed throughout the district. These clusters allow the clergy to meet in small groups, discuss and share. The book Unleashing the Word, by Adam Hamilton will be the first topic of discussion at the upcoming OAK cluster meetings.
Celebrations of ministry continue within the district as we look forward to two My Job workshops in the coming year. One will be held on Jan. 22, 2011 at Three Rivers FUMC and the other will be held on Feb. 5, 2011 at Grace UMC in Corpus. Both events will begin at 9 a.m. and go till 12:30 p.m. The northern part of the District called the Brush Country will have its Awards Banquet on Feb. 16, 2011 in Goliad.
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About 200 women attend UM Women annual meeting in Lockhart
By Margaret Gleuck
Vice President UMW Victoria
Southwest Texas Conference United Methodist Women were honored to have Harriett Jane Olson, Deputy General Secretary of the Women’s Division, as our featured speaker at the Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting held Oct. 1-2 at Lockhart UMC. In keeping with the theme “Generation to Generation,” she reminded us that some things remain the same through the generations and we are continually called to serve the most vulnerable in society. We need to acknowledge that some needs have changed, but many social issues, such as urban poverty, human trafficking and immigration, continue into the next generation. Ms. Olson reminded us that the National Mission Institutions of United Methodist Women are still about the same work from generation to generation, meeting the changing needs of women, children and youth around them. She challenged us to think about how a generation of a 15-30 year span can be challenged to re-energize, change and become about re-generation. This is part of our Wesleyan roots.
The 150 attendees to the meeting brought requested mission outreach items to support the Hays Caldwell Women’s Shelter in San Marcos. Almost 200 heard Ms. Olson speak at the Friday night barbecue dinner.
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McAllen District news
A fundamental shift is happening here The signs came across my desk as a printout. It showed graphs charting such district statistics as church membership and worship attendance over a 10-year period. The end of the graph line plunges dramatically, and the message is visually clear: a fundamental shift is happening here.
It’s hard to take in, because we look around in church and see people we love and sing songs we love and do some very good work in the world. But the shift is happening all the same, and in the face of that reality we can choose to respond in a variety of ways. We can put our fingers in our ears and pretend it’s not happening. We can try to work harder at whatever it is we’ve always done. We can panic, circle the wagons and determine that they’ll have to take us by force.
I can’t believe any of these is the option the God of Life would have us choose as we face the future. I believe instead that the signs around us are pointing toward newness and possibility, toward change that just may give life to a whole generation of people. Jesus tells us that when we seek to save our own lives, when we grasp them tightly, we lose them. When, however, we loosen our grip, when we let go and become willing to give our lives away on behalf of the world, we find ourselves abundantly alive.
What if the dramatically plunging graph is a sign that it’s time for the church to give its life away? What if Christ is calling us to find our life as a church by losing it? It is hard to imagine what that new life might look like, hard to trust that we ourselves wouldn’t get lost in the process. Yet this is likely the path the signs are pointing to for us, and it’s one that leads not to scarcity, but to blessing. It’s the path the church has always walked to some degree, here and there, and I’ve seen evidence of it this charge conference season in all sorts of places. I’ve seen hearts filled with compassion and gratitude at work, sharing Christ’s good gifts with people in desperate need of them.
In the midst of the shift, I am hopeful this day, because I believe God isn’t finished with us. May God help us follow the signs, help us commit ourselves to the path of becoming bread broken and cup poured out, the Body of Christ, given for the sake of the world.
Into the wilderness, learning about God
by Pastor Emet Huntsman
Los Fresnos FUMC
In the Biblical context, the wilderness was not just a place where human comforts were non-existent. The wilderness stood for Chaos – a place where the presence of God could not be taken for granted. In the wilderness, bad things can happen; human beings are not at the top of the food chain. It was truly a life or death matter to go into the wilderness. The spiritual aspects were even more so. If God is present, it is because the person going into the wilderness took God with him.
In that sense, a wilderness experience is a test of faith – faith that in the midst of the danger, God is present to deliver. In the wilderness we are forced to admit that, ultimately, we are not in control. In the wilderness experience, we exchange safety for uncertainty, security for risk. We face our finiteness, our mortality. And in the facing, we can meet the infinite and immortal God.
While this group of men will be doing this in the remote deserts of West Texas, that is not the only place people can “go into the wilderness.” Every time we take a step in faith, every time we enter into a situation where we are forced to give up control, we “go into the wilderness.” It may be something as simple as starting a ministry in the church or becoming involved in a church program, to taking on a mission project or committing to tithing – anything that moves us away from self-reliance and toward God-reliance. A wilderness experience is not where God’s faithfulness is tested, but where our faith in God is tested. The true wonder of a wilderness experience is that we come away changed for the better. Jacob at the Jabock River, the Israelites in the Sinai Desert, Jesus following his baptism.
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San Angelo District news
Details, details, details; life is full of details
Charge Conference reports, year-end reporting – phones that keep ringing, email that has to be returned, computers that crash, copy machines that jam. We struggle with the details of bodies that don’t work as they should.
Then we go to church on Sunday, and what do we find but more details (especially us Methodists). Worship is filled with hymns and prayers, sacraments and readings, stuff to memorize and stuff to confess. The word “liturgy” actually means “the work of the people,” and our liturgy can seem like a lot of work sometimes.
We tend to think that spirituality means escaping the concern with detail. Spiritual people, we think, live simple lives. They don’t worry about mortgages and dentist appointments and going to church committee meetings. They wear sandals, meditate and feed the birds. But that is not the biblical understanding of spirituality. According to the Bible, the obstacle to our spirituality is not that we pay attention to the details of life, but that we pay too much attention to the wrong details.
There are a lot of details that Jesus ignored.
He didn’t worry about the detail of urgency. Jesus was never in a hurry. He seemed to always take time to pray, to heal, to rest. He was never a victim of the urgent demands of others.
He didn’t worry about the detail of success. Remember the parable he told of the sower who threw his seed indiscriminately? Only some of it fell on good soil. Jesus expects us to be faithful, not successful. Only God gives the increase. Only God grants success.
He didn’t worry about the detail of tomorrow. Remember his words in the Sermon on the Mount? “Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to the span of your life? …So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matt. 6:27, 34).
Details that consume us never crossed Jesus’ mind. And we easily overlook the details he was concerned about. Our souls are dried out because we have tried so hard to save ourselves by controlling the wrong details that we have no energy left for the detail of finding a savior. The Good News is that once we’ve learned to look for Jesus, we’ll find him in every detail of life.
District Happenings
Pastors and Professionals Meeting
The Pastors and Professionals of the San Angelo District gathered for their first meeting of the fiscal year at Veribest UMC on September 16, 2010. Mike Thomson and Steve Peyton provided picking and grinning music for the gathering time as well as during the Worship service. Larry Altman led the Worship service with, “We are a People of Faith, Hope and Love,” and ended with Holy Communion. David Edgar and Ed Engleking provided information on the scholarship fund, “Then Sings My Soul.”
Veribest UMC provided us a wonderful meal of ham and sausage with many side dishes and spectacular desserts. We had 33 attend this time of Worship, Fellowship and business. Some in attendance drove over 2 hours to attend.
The District office would like to thank everyone for their faithfulness and willingness in attending these meetings. We would also like to thank Veribest UMC and Mike Thomson for hosting us for the day.
“Our Golden Resources, district leadership training, celebration.
This year the San Angelo District will be honoring “Our Golden Resources”, the Older Adult Ministries taking place in our churches. We will meet Saturday, November 13. We will have our Leadership Training for our church leaders and those taking over leadership roles in January, from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. and the Celebration will begin at 11:45 a.m. The cost for the day is $10, which includes lunch. The deadline to register for either or both events will be Monday, November 1, 2010 (no refunds available after November 5th). Registration forms can be found on the District website: www.gbgm-umc.org/umcsa, or you can get a form by contacting your church office or the District Office.
Bishop Dorff will meet with the Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committees and the Lay Leaders during the Leadership Training. We will offer other sessions for: Administrative Board / Council; Finance / Treasurer; Trustees; and Worship.
The Cokesbury Singers will provide our entertainment during our Celebration. This is a group of “Older Adults” from FUMC San Angelo. We are excited to announce Casey Taylor will be providing the meal again this year.
The District Ministries Council hopes you will join us this year for a day of learning, fellowship and celebration.
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Briefs
Christmas Eve advertising available
at conference office
Research shows Christmas Eve services are
a great time for folks to try going to church. The
Communications Commission wants to help
churches take advantage of that this Advent
season. The last several years we have worked
with churches on producing 30-second TV spots
for many of our churches with great results. One
of our churches even doubled their attendance
for their Christmas Eve service when they
advertised it. Cable TV advertising is not as
expensive as you might think, and the
Communications Department at the Southwest
Texas Conference office is here to help and even
has money available to assist churches with small
budgets. Please contact Thomas Monahan at
(210) 408-4505 or tmonahan@umcswtx.org for
more information.
Contacts needed for upcoming Witness issues
Several articles are planned for the next few issues
of The United Methodist Witness, but we can’t write
them without you! Please let us know if you have
any contacts for the following themes:
Thanksgiving—What kinds of activities does your
church plan for Thanksgiving or to spread the
Thanksgiving spirit to the needy?
Giving—What does your church do to give to the
poor during the Christmas season?
Advent—What does your church do for Advent?
Send us names and numbers of people in charge
of the events at your church.
Send information, including contact names and
numbers to rtoalson@umcswtx.org or
rtoalsonumcswtx@gmail.com or call (210) 408-4524.
Kerrville District Happenings
The Kerrville District staff has compiled the
information for Page 6 and paid to use the
space as a district newsletter.
Bill Henderson
Superintendent
dskerrville@texxa.net
Elizabeth Cover
Admin. Assistant
kdumc@texxa.net
Address:
222 Sidney Baker S # 528
Kerrville, Texas 78028
District Office
(830) 896-6400
Fax: (830) 896-6407
Program Office
(830) 896-6400
District Calendar
October
26-27 Cabinet
November
4 District Youth Professional’s
Meeting at Fredericksburg
UMC, 11-2 PM
8 SWTC Board of Pensions
Insurance Presentation at Mt.
Wesley, 10am
9 District Professional’s Meeting
(North) at Lutie Watkins
Memorial UMC, Llano
10 District Professional’s Meeting
(South) at Sabinal FUMC
Corpus Christi District
The Corpus Christi District staff has compiled
the information for Page 6 and paid to use the
space as a district newsletter.
Eradio Valverde, Jr
Superintendent
districtsuper@bizstx.rr.com
Sheila Campbell
Admin. Assistant
ccdistrict@bizstx.rr.com
Linda Morrow
Ministries Director
ccprogram@bizstx.rr.com
Address:
3510 Gollihar Road
Corpus Christi, TX 78415-2750
District Office
(361) 852-8268
Fax: (361) 852-3370
Program Office
(361) 852-8268
District Calendar
October
24 Taft UMC, 100 year Celebration,
Bishop Dorff preaching.
25 Eradio Valverde’s Birthday
26-27 Cabinet Meeting
November
4 Sea City Workcamp at District
Office 6:30 p.m.
7 Pastor’s Report due at District
Office
11 District Professional’s Meeting at
Rockport - 9:30 a.m.
15 Newsletter deadline
17-19 Cabinet Meeting
24-26 District Office Closed for
Thanksgiving Holiday
December
14 Newsletter Deadline
16-02 District Office Closed for
Christmas Holidays
McAllen District
The McAllen District staff has compiled the
information for Page 7 and paid to use the
space as a district newsletter.
Rev. Laura Merrill
Superintendent
lauramerrill@sbcglobal.net
Linda Jewell
Admin. Assistant
umcmcallen@sbcglobal.net
Oralia Sanchez
District Editor
oralia0804@yahoo.com
Address:
1909 W. Harrison St.
Harlingen, TX 78550
District Office
(956) 428-0200
Fax: (956) 428-1728
Program Office
(956) 428-0200
District Calendar
October
26-27 SWTX Cabinet
November
9 Pastors/Prof. Meeting 9:00
a.m. FUMC Falfurrias
10 Program Ministries Meet
ing 4:30p.m. District Office
11-14 Women’s Walk to Emmaus
Bayview
16-18 Clergy Women’s Retreat
San Antonio
17-18 SWTX Cabinet San Antonio
24-25 Thanksgiving Holiday –
District Office Closed
30 Camp Thicket Endowment
Committee 6:30 p.m.
District Office
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