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October 28, 2011
Volume 157, Number 24
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Worship stirs hundreds of hearts
 Marcia McFee, an innovative designer of General Conference’s worship in 2008 and again in 2012, speaks about blending old with new during the Passionate Worship Conference in early September.
and practical advice for services
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
It was the first large conference of its kind for the Southwest Texas Conference’s Board of Discipleship Worship and Music Team, and leaders say it was a great success.
The Passionate Worship Conference at Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio, in early September drew about 400 people from five conferences in Texas and some even from out of state.
The event featured Marcia McFee, an innovative designer of General Conference’s worship in 2008 and again in 2012; bishop Will Willimon; and Chester D.T. Baldwin, recipient of GMWA’s Best New Artist, Stellar Award and Texas GMEA Organist of the Year.
The Rev. John Wright, who spearheaded the event, said the committee wanted to try something different this year.
“The notion has been, let’s offer a wide variety of things led by in-house talent that we don’t have to pay a lot for,” Wright said. “This time we experimented with narrowing the focus and bringing in two or three people of national and regional prominence that we thought would be more of a draw than just our own in-house workshops.
“I think it was a step in the right direction. I would have liked to have seen a few more of our own pastors of large churches there. There were some, but I would have liked to have seen more.”
Committee members received “a lot of positive feedback,” he added.
Barbara Dyke, the committee chair, said attendees didn’t want the event to end.
“It was excellent,” she said. “All the presenters were excellent. You felt like you were worshiping the whole time and not learning—but you were learning, too. It was renewing for everybody. I know everyone was blessed by it.”
Wright said McFee offered ideas on how to incorporate various styles of worship so a church doesn’t have to be just traditional or just contemporary—which he found to be one of the most helpful parts of the conference.
He also enjoyed a discussion about the influences on worship—the influences that are determining and shaping worship to this day, including the liturgical movement of the 1960s and the contemporary movement of the 1980s.
Baldwin, he added, “provided a lot of emotional warmth to the event,” and Willimon “kept people laughing” with his humor.
Willimon also talked to attendees about what they shouldn’t let happen in the quest to become more relevant and contemporary—not to become that at the cost of becoming less Biblical or making worship “all about me, all about us” rather than about what God is calling them to do.
During the event, Dyke said, an offering was collected for the victims of the Bastrop fire.
One of the feedbacks leaders received, Wright said, was that there was not anything specific about contemporary praise band worship—such as how a small church could organize a praise team or what a middle-sized or large church needs to know about the pitfalls of praise bands or pointers they could take back to their congregations.
“The truth is, you have a limited amount of time, and you can’t do everything,” Wright said.
 Pastors and leaders from around the Southwest Texas Conference and other conferences in Texas fellowship with one another during a break at the Passtionate Worship Conference in early September.
“I hope they took away a season of refreshment for their own souls, particularly lay and clergy who are responsible for leading worship,” he said. “Sometimes you just need to get away and be able to worship without worrying about all the directorial things that need to be done.
“I hope they took away a lot of examples from the worship pieces that Marcia did—an imaginative moment of sparking creativity to say, ‘There are some new ways to do things and new ideas and new visions for what we can do in this worship service.’”
“People were re-energized,” Dyke said. “That helps worship become richer.”
Debbie Durham, a member of First UMC, Victoria, who attended the event, said she gleaned even more than she expected from the two-day conference.
“Even in the areas that weren’t the most meaningful to me, the Lord had something to tell me,” she said. “In particular, I love the things Bishop Willimon had to say. I felt the spirit speaking to me personally about my attitude in worship. I felt challenged by his statement, ‘Passionate worship proceeds from those who are passionate about the living God.’”
Durham added that Willimon shared some things that “seemed to be lit up by neon lights in my heart.”
“Our church is birthing a new worship service,” she said, “and I went to this conference specifically to seek direction and knowledge from the Lord about the process. I don’t know why it should ever surprise me when the Lord shows up and gives direction, but that is what happened at this conference.
“This conference was very meaningful, and I am so glad we got to be there.”
She has already begun to incorporate some of the music ideas that McFee shared, Durham said.
Wright said the event was “more ambitious” than the worship team has ever done in the past, and they could not have held it without the “tremendous help” of Donna Streib, an Alamo Height deaconess, and her lay people.
Durham agreed that Alamo Height was amazingly hospitable.
“They did a terrific job,” she said. “The food was great. They made us feel right at home. I am grateful for their sacrifices.”
Linda Keen, conference director of leadership development, said there was an overwhelming response by the churches present for more inspiration, ideas and resources from McFee’s worship design studio. Normally available to individual congregations for $250 a year, the Conference Worship and Music Team has an opportunity to subscribe congregations for a one-time annual fee of $50 per congregation.
The Southwest Texas Conference would expect to split the cost, she said, with the majority of the savings benefiting the congregations. If enough congregations respond to her (lkeen@umcswtx.org) by the end of October that they are willing to subscribe to receive these resources from nationally known worship artists and theologians, they would be informed of the next steps in the process.
Contact Keen’s office at (210) 408-4500 for more information.
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Staff member works to grow healthy disciples
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
Healthy and growing disciples beget healthy and growing churches.
The Rev. Teresa Welborn, executive director for the Southwest Texas Conference’s Office of Clergy Development, has a strategy for developing clergy members into healthier leaders and gradually eliminating clergy burnout and stress—but her new-to-the-conference position, which began in June, has also raised many questions that she’ll be exploring in the next year.
“I have more questions than answers, and so I believe listening is one of the most important things I can do right now,” Welborn said. “I have started connecting with other annual conferences that have a similar position to learn from them.
“Above all, I strive to be faithful in listening to the movement of God’s spirit among us.”
She is building upon the work that the Rev. Sharon Freeto previously did in the clergy wellness area, Welborn said, overseeing the Clergy Wellness Program for the conference. She also interfaces with the Board of Ordained Ministry and works with ministry candidates at the district levels.
Bishop Jim Dorff said leadership in this area has been needed for a while.
“We have long needed a person directing a conference-level office who can make certain we encourage, resource and support our pastors,” he said. “This starts at the district level and continues to retirement.
“Teresa Welborn brings energy, enthusiasm, informed vision, experience and pastoral sensitivity to the task. She is the right person to establish this office. The Cabinet and I are excited about working with her.”
She lives with many questions, Welborn said.
How do we best resource clergy with professional development opportunities that will be truly transformative?
How can we better clarify a sometimes confusing process for our ministry candidates?
What support do our seminarians need from us?
What can we do to encourage clergy to practice good self-care so that stress decreases and the value of vacation and sabbatical time increases?
How can we support clergy when they live through significant transitions, such as a new appointment, the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a life-changing illness?
In spite of the questions, Welborn has identified some very specific goals, including: to provide quality continuing education opportunities that feed clergy and impact local congregations positively; to have fewer clergy members who say they have high levels of stress and to have more of them indicate high energy levels for the work of ministry; to support seminarians in such a way that more and more of “our best and brightest” return to the San Antonio Episcopal Area to serve the churches; and clarity and consistency in the process for candidacy, from call to ordination.
“Clergy need support and resourcing from the time of their call to ministry until the time of their retirement or death,” Welborn said. “I see this office overseeing the breadth of these concerns.”
In addition to connecting with other conferences that have a position similar to hers, Welborn is beginning to meet with district superintendents to hear their ideas on clergy development. Others she’d like to connect with, she said, include the seminarians, candidates for ministry and those in the Residents in Ministry program.
In her prayers for the conference, Welborn said she’s become convinced that God is “telling us to persevere.”
“As United Methodists, we are living in a time of great challenge,” she said. “We see the decline of mainline Protestant churches such as ours. We see reports of clergy burnout and stress. We hear more criticism about the church. Some of that criticism is worth listening to, and I believe we are beginning to listen.
“However, there are reasons this time is challenging, and it doesn’t have to do with us in the church. The culture has changed a great deal. It is a time of great challenge, but also a time of tremendous opportunity. I am convinced we have all the resources we need to do what Christ is calling us to do. I believe our best years are ahead of us. We are being called to change in radical ways. And while we don’t have it all figured out yet, all sorts of hope and excitement lies ahead if we remain faithful.”
Welborn said she also hears God telling clergy members, “Thank you.”
“Clergy know from rich experiences that their work has a wealth of rewards and gifts,” she said. “But there are also stresses and pressures that are unique to their work. Demands and expectations are high. The schedule is not always predictable. Self-care often gets put on the back burner.
“So a goal I have is to connect with all of our pastors at some point and say, ‘Thank you. Thank you for the hours you put in. Thank you for the love you give. Thank you for your dedication and faithfulness. You are appreciated. As pastors are busy praying for the congregations they serve, I want to be busy praying for the pastors.”
She believes that clergy development is important, Welborn said, because clergy members can’t assume they learned all they needed to know while they were in seminary.
“Learning is a lifelong process,” she said. “The culture is constantly changing, and we need to keep up. Perhaps more crucial, clergy development is important because in Christ, we are called to grow. Under Bishop Dorff’s leadership, we are becoming more intentional about cultivating a culture of growth.
“I can’t be responsible for other people’s growth. We are each responsible for our own growth. But I want to do all I can to provide the tools clergy need to grow in their professional development. Schedules often fill to overflowing with meetings, visits, programming and worship planning.”
When she served in the local church, Welborn said, she had a “tendency to take advantage” of continuing education trainings.
“Oftentimes, it was well worth the time and cost of the event,” she said. “At other times, my ministry would have been better served if I had taken time for prayer and spiritual retreat. I don’t think I’m alone in this. As clergy, we struggle to keep Christ as the center of our life and work. If we are to grow as disciples of Christ, we must continue to live into that struggle and find time and ways to nourish our own spiritual life.”
Welborn was raised United Methodist and graduated from Southwestern University with a degree in sociology. She received her master’s of divinity from Candler School of Theology. She has served Buda UMC, Lakehills UMC, Manchaca UMC and Smiley UMC.
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New monasticism builds greater prayer life and servant leadership
Nourishment, growth and spiritual challenge in the spiritual life await participants at the Southwest Texas Conference’s 2012 Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation, Jan 8-13. Retreat Leader Kelly Arrendell of Spring Creek UMC, shared, “The Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath, associate professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, speaks practically about our call be who God created us to be and how our response to that calling leads us into the world. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Thangaraj, visiting Professor at Boston University, presents a global understanding of faith experiences, residing both in the (United States) and India. He shares his own pilgrimage in a way that is enlightening and inviting. If you are thirsting for a fresh rainfall for your soul, if you are seeking community on your pilgrimage, or if you simply feel the nudge, a stirring deep within you…now is the time to respond.”
More information and downloadable registration is at www.umcswtx.org/academy-spiritual-formation-five-day.html.
Retreat team member Phyllis Allen, layperson from Oak Island UMC, said, “My Academy experience was like an Emmaus weekend on steroids. I received a spiritual makeover. The Academy changed my heart with its deep community spirit and gave me new ears for listening with its wide diversity of worship music and humble, yet eloquent faculty speakers. It improved my eyesight to see God working everywhere, every day, and I found new opportunities to serve. It gave me a taste for living water, the Word of God and allowing it to transform my life, not just read and study scripture. The highlight of the Academy is to notice so much healing taking place in a variety of ways.”
The Rev. Peter Aguilar, conference Board of Discipleship Spiritual Formation Team chair, said “I have always desired the time to drink deeply from the well and to feast at the table that my soul could be satisfied and nurtured. From time to time I did, but not to the extent that the Academy offers. The Academy experience has helped me to re-connect with my calling and fall in love with ministry once again.”
Another opportunity exists Jan. 11-14 to develop leadership in Christian Education and Formation through the Southwest Texas Conference Parish Christian Educator School. The Rev. Jim Mayfield will lead learners on United Methodist doctrine at Mount Wesley. Space is limited to 20 participants. Registration deadline is Dec 9. Downloadable registration at www.umcswtx.org/pce-school.html. Contact PCE Dean Chrys Baier at cbaier@ucumctx.org or PCE Chair Cindy Chollett at cinderelli102@yahoo.com with questions.
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Kerrville District news
Church conference season begins again
Tis the season again. Not Pentecost, perhaps “ordinary,” but too early for Advent. For the District Superintendents it is “Church Conference Season.” Around the country we “on the road again,” hosting these annual gatherings where the family gathers to celebrate their life together and imagine their vision and mission for the new year to come. For most it is only a routine meeting, but for some it is an exciting time for “show and tell” and “hopes and dreams.”
There is always though the humdrum administrative tasks that any organization must endure - finance reports, nominations, property matters, salaries, etc. And forms! Teachers, doctors, nurses, CPA’s, plumbers, or just about everybody has forms to fill out and they always seem to drain away some enthusiasm about for a chose profession. One dear heart has even written a poem or prayer about this.
A Prayer, By Grady Roe
Lord, if you would please grant immunity,
From what we saints in Wesley’s community
Must must fill in, then recheck, and complete,
And as years go by to repeat, then repeat.
I’d rather stand in a huge hail storm
Than to have to finish one more form.
Who reads these things, one form-- or all?
Did Simon Peter do them, or Andrew or Paul?
Jehovah, do you not know where “documents are stored”
I thought you would know this since you are the Lord.
And what if our rep for “Role and Status of Women”
Is flown by her company to consult in Yemen?
Sigh! Finish these forms I will, I must,
Because I am one servant whom you can trust.
So, I will attack them! I’ll do my best....
Sometime later....for now I’ll go rest.
Can anyone relate to those thoughts? Just most preachers in this season! If you like it you can even sing it. I have an arrangement of this by Beth Watson, Director of Music at NWHills, Austin, sung to “Blessed Assurance,” even with a refrain.
I pray that in these gatherings we can get beyond the busy-ness and get to the mission of our congregation. How can we get off our “Comfortable Pews” and beyond our “Four Cozy Walls” and make disciples for Jesus Christ in the mission field beyond our meeting place? Who is waiting for the Good News that only we can bring because of the needs we see and the compassion we have? Who is unserved by the Body of Christ in our community? Who is feeling unwanted by those people in that church, which happens to be us?
In this season I’m wanting to talk about these questions. We need always be praying about this, but let’s talk! Soon. I’m coming your way if you are in the Kerrville District.
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District happenings
 ): The stained-glass windows of Center Point United Methodist Church were created by 19-year-old Helen Ferne Slimp soon after the church was built in 1911. The church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the current church building on Nov. 6, 2011.
By Adam R. Knapp
CENTER POINT – Mary (Rees) Magill grew up listening to her father tell stories about family history, stories that centered around a little town called Center Point and the Methodist church which started there because of the persistence of Henrietta Rees.
As Magill became an adult and a family historian, she delved deeper into the stories of her pioneer ancestors and the Methodist church at Center Point.
“My family’s history is most definitely linked to the history of the church,” Magill said.
During the All Saints Day service on Nov. 6, Center Point United Methodist Church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the current church building and Magill and two of her brothers will be in attendance. For Magill, traveling from her home in Franklin to Center Point for the anniversary celebration will be like attending a family reunion.
“I love it. I have just a wonderful time at Center Point,” Magill said. “I feel a connection to the church. If I’m in the area, I almost always drive by and look at it.
“It’s a connection to the past. To me, it connects the dots. It’s what makes me what I am and my family what it is.”
More than a building
In 1852, a widow named Henrietta Rees moved from Tennessee to Texas with four children.
After settling in Center Point, Rees, a Methodist, felt the need to share the gospel in the community.
She wrote to the Methodist Church in San Antonio, urging for Center Point to be included in the circuit for the traveling Methodist pastors called circuit riders.
“She had to be a strong-willed woman to do what she did,” Magill said. “All these people had to be very courageous. But even beyond courage, to lose your husband and continue the journey not knowing the destination, what you would find or how you would provide for your family; it took tremendous faith that God would provide. I don’t think she could have done it without faith.”
Early church services were held in homes, including Rees’ home, when the circuit riders traveled through town on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.
In 1872, land was deeded to the Methodist Church and in 1876, under the direction of Rev. W.E. Pafford and Turley Cocke the first church building was completed using native cypress logs.
 Helen Ferne Slimp, who painted the stained-glass windows of Center Point United Methodist Church, created the two large windows which overlook the sanctuary shortly after the church was built in 1911. Slimp, who passed away in 1995 at the age of 105, acclaimed the stained-glass windows at Center Point as her greatest achievement.
The second building was destroyed by a storm but was rebuilt and continued to be used until 1911.
In 1911, a new building was approved by the church building committee. Two Rees’ were involved in the project, John and Alonzo. John Rees made many of the concrete blocks for the church’s foundation.
Local men aided in the construction, including Magill’s grandfather, Ivy Rees.
Making an impression
According to Betty Burney, who is the great, great-granddaughter of Henrietta Rees and was raised in the church, the Methodist church has become a fixture of the community. Burney, who was born in 1930, has seen much of the life of Center Point United Methodist Church’s building.
She was married to Guy Burney in the church in 1948 and she served as a Sunday School teacher, a nursery teacher and church organist for more than 50 years.
“It’s the only church I’ve ever been (a member of),” Burney said. “It was just like a family.”
One of the most identifying marks of the “family church” was created by San Antonio stained-glass artist Helen Ferne Slimp. At age 19, she created two large stained-glass windows in the sanctuary, one of Jesus knocking on a door and the second of Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying one sheep and leading another.
“I’ve never seen any church with as much beauty as our stained-glass windows,” Burney said. “People have come from far away to see them. I’ve never seen any as good as those.”
Slimp, who designed the windows as a young woman, later called them her greatest work.
Magill recalls hearing stories from her father about growing up in the church.
“He told me, you could tell how long you’d been in church by the way the sun hit the windows,” Magill said. “The windows were so beautiful. They were a visual enhancement of the Bible lessons.”
Sometimes, the windows were a distraction to the lessons.
“Teaching Sunday School was difficult at times because the people were just looking at the windows (in awe),” Burney said.
(SUB) Return of Henrietta Rees
The stained-glass windows were one of the first things Dora Townsend noticed when she and her husband moved to Center Point in 1966.
Her interest in the church grew after she heard the history of the church’s founding and the story of Henrietta Rees.
“I love history,” Townsend said. “I’ve always wanted to live like I lived 150 years ago. I love the way they dressed, acted and the way they lived.”
Townsend blended her love of history with her love of the Center Point church in 1986, the first time she dressed as and portrayed Henrietta Rees during Sunday morning worship. She received such a positive reaction she continues to portray Rees on special occasions.
“It’s my favorite thing,” the 92-year-old Townsend said. “One day I was eating out after service and a young couple came up to me and asked if I was the lady who portrayed Henrietta Rees. I said I was and they asked when I was going to do it again.
“I’ve had many people want me to do that again, especially the Reeses.”
Townsend said she plans to portray Henrietta Rees again for the Nov. 6 service.
For Townsend, the family style love of Center Point United Methodist Church is the center point of its success in the community.
“The foundation of this church is love,” Townsend said. “That’s what kept us alive.”
The Church is out of the building
First UMC, Boerne
First UMC Boerne says,
“Don’t go to church, be the church in action.”
Local church shuts down Sunday services to serve the community! We all want to make a difference but sometimes we just need a little help getting started. The Church has left the building! On Oct. 23rd First UMC, a 2100 member congregation in Boerne, is putting their faith into action by canceling their regular Sunday services to practice very purposeful acts of kindness throughout their community.
Volunteers from both the church and the community will be joining together to clean, paint, rebuild, renew. Over 20 work projects for all ages and ability-levels, some of them intergenerational, will be held over what is being called Faith in Action Weekend, bringing together community members from both within, and outside the church.
“We’re excited about how our congregation has rallied to support this special weekend of service to our community. Many of the people in our work parties are neighbors that don’t even attend our church, but see the value of what we are doing and want to help. We invite everyone to join us,” says Rev. Ricky Burk, Senior Pastor. A worship celebration will complete the day at 5 p.m. followed by a fellowship meal. Come and see...Let’s NOT go to church together!
For more information about FUMC and their Faith in Action Weekend contact Kimberly Burke at (830) 249-2565 or www.fumc-boerne.org. The website has a list of work projects.
New Education Building
First UMC, Boerne
First UMC of Boerne proudly announces the completion of their new Christian Education Building! We are excited about this new facility specifically for children and youth, including a new, state-of-the-art worship center!
Please join us on November 6th following the 11:00 service as Bishop Dorff joins us in dedicating the new building. We also extend a special invitation to you to stay for the 2nd Annual First UMC Chili Cook-Off in the Family Life Center for a sizzling’ good time!
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Corpus Christi District news
District happenings
Lay Speaker Training a success
On October 1, 2012 the Corpus Christi District Lay Speaking Ministry hosted its fall training at First United Methodist Church of Odem. Twenty three people entered the Lay Speaking Program by taking the Basic Lay Speaking class. The following fourteen people took the Advanced Class called “Leading A Small Group”: Donna Satterwhite, Betty Workman, and Nancy Benson from Island in the Son, Emile Bolden and Betty Whiteside from St. Paul’s Corpus Christi, Darryl Edwards from Fannin Steet UMC in Goliad, Brenda Hanus of Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi, Robert Holder of St. Peter’s by the Sea UMC, Michael Meister and Mary Linda Moore of First UMC, Odem, Jimmy Platt from GraceUMC, Corpus Christi, Ann Reimer and Tom Sowell from First UMC, Beeville, and Sharon Steinmeyer from First UMC, Mathis. Another Lay Speaking Class with both Basic and Advanced classes will be held on April 21, 2012 at First UMC, Beeville. If you are interested please contact the Corpus Christi District office at (361) 852-8268.
Linda Morrow
Director of District Ministries
Living in South Texas it is always a blessing when the temperature at this time of year begins to drop. Even a degree or two makes a delightful difference. Yet, with the coming of fall, many churches seem to gear up for the final quarter of the year. There are pumpkins to sell, festivals to run, charge conferences to attend, thanksgiving dinners to prepare, and so many other things that compete for our focus. If we are not careful all these things can drain us of our true desire of honoring God with all that we are and all that we do.
I have found that one of the best ways to keep life from draining me is to ponder on the blessings that God has bestowed upon me. Why wait for the one day people call Thanksgiving? Start today and each day write down at least one blessing that you have in our life. Make it a part of your daily discipline to see God at work in your life and in the life of your family and church. I believe what you will discover is a new sense of excitement. If day by day you write your blessings, I can guarantee that your perspective will change. Seeing God’s work in your life gives us a new perspective, it fills us with deep joy and it allows us to be able tell others of God’s wonderful blessings.
 Josephine Dyer of St. Paul UMC helping with the Mobil Food Bank.
St. Paul UMC will celebrate their 127th Church Anniversary on November 13 with speaker, Rev Linda Baumheckel. This will further be an historic event in that this wil be the first woman and cross racial pastor as they come into this anniversary. The theme is “Standing on Gods Promises”. The service will include an audio visual history of the parish, Holy Communion and an emphasis on “bring a friend, fill a pew” Sunday. A potluck luncheon will follow. Nov. 6th the church will have this service honoring those who have gone before with a candle ceremony. You may donate as well to this memorial with the names of loved ones. Call the church office FMI at 8847056. All are invited!
Corpus Christi Mobile Food Bank
Josephine Dyer is part of the new mission outreach team from St. Paul UMC partnering with the Corpus Christi Mobile Food Bank in our neighborhood. We are working three locations in our neighborhood monthly. Our presence has already brought a new disciple into our congregation and more visitors.
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McAllen District news
SOS, Serve Our Schools, happens Sept. 17, is a success
A couple of months ago, I wrote about SOS - Serve Our Schools, an event sponsored by the McAllen District and by the Rethink Church: Impact Community branch of United Methodist Communications. Early last spring, our district missions committee identified the local school districts as the place where we wanted to encourage our churches to reach out, and on September 17, SOS was accomplished, with related work happening on different days as well. Over half the churches in the district participated in one way or another, each with its own twist, based on conversation with local school officials.
 Group from Rove High School in McAllen
The purpose of the day was not just to get United Methodists involved in a mission project, though that would be a good thing. The main purpose was to move outside the walls and serve as a catalyst among people in the larger community, with special priority on reaching out to youth and young adults. We were to do work that mattered but also to focus on forming new relationships and partnerships in the process. (A special word of thanks here to Susan Hellums, our district mission coordinator, for her leadership in this work!)
The day was a rousing success. In Donna, high school student council members worked alongside church members, members of the city council showed up for the closing celebration, and new ground was plowed in the relationship with the Rio Grande congregation one block away. In McAllen, over 300 workers volunteered for landscaping and maintenance duty, including youth from outside the church. Church and school leaders forged new working relationships, based on common interest and personal respect. Much the same happened in Alice, on a smaller scale. In Brownsville, college students made up half of the work team, at one school planting a live oak that will hopefully outlast every one of the workers. In Mercedes, the 1930’s vintage high school was given new polish and a breath of life, as it’s called into service for one more generation. The youngest and oldest worked together and have already been invited back.
 UT Brownsville college students and a church member celebrating his birthday by planting a live oak tree.
There are a lot of possible reasons to make a day like this happen--some might see it as a way to “get new people to come to church.” Maybe that will end up happening. But for me, the best rationale for SOS is that Jesus calls us to be the Body of Christ in the world. His body is always broken open, given away, used to feed hungry bodies and hearts, always seeking out those most in need, always with abundance and grace left over. I truly believe that if we embrace such a role as Christ’s people, God will take care of the increase. It may not look like what we’re used to counting or aiming at, but the reign of God will increase all the same. May we be that kind of servant in the world, in Christ’s name.
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San Angelo District news
Churches come together for CROP Walk
 Area churches get together for the hungry of the world.
CROP Hunger Walk began in 1946 when farmers came together to share crops with people in Europe who were suffering the devastation of WW II. The acronym CROP stands for Christian Rural Overseas Program. The goal is to end hunger, poverty locally, and globally “one step at a time”. Typically, 25% of the funds will assist local hunger fighting initiatives. Local Ministries sharing the benefit from the local CROP Walk this year are Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and Project Dignidad to aid the effort to provide meals and clothes to the needy in San Angelo and surrounding areas. Together we raise awareness and funds in some 2,000 communities across the country. For the last 20 + years, CROP Hunger Walks have raised more than $294 million to assist around the world and locally those struggling to feed their families. Together, we can make a difference.
District happenings
Del Rio Joint Service
Principe de Paz UMC of the Rio Grande Conference and the First UMC of the Southwest Texas Conference both of Del Rio held a joint service on 9/11 at 6:30 PM in the open air of historic Brown Plaza. The service was bi-lingual and attended by about 75 persons equally representing each church. Each pastor preached for 5 minutes (another miracle) and communion was served. Both churches agreed this would not be the last of our worshiping together.
Christian Arab Evangelist Coming to Junction
Samy Tanagho will be the guest speaker at the Junction First United Methodist Church on November 13, 2011. Mr. Tanagho has been sharing the Gospel with Muslims for over 30 years. He speaks on God’s love towards sinners and how to communicate the Gospel effectively to the people we meet, including Muslims.
Samy will speak in Junction at the11 a.m. service and again that evening at 7 p.m. He will also speak at the 9:00 am service at the London United Methodist Church. A reception will follow the Sunday evening gathering. The community is invited to come and hear Samy at any of three services.
Samy was born and raised in Egypt where he studied Islamic law and Islamic religion at Ain Shams University (School of Law) in Cairo, Egypt. He practiced law as an attorney with his father’s law firm in Cairo until his zealousness to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the firm’s clients forced him to leave the firm.
Samy is Chairman of the Board of the Glad News for Muslims non-profit organization. He has been involved in the Ministry to Muslims since 1976. He is the author of two books, “Glad News! God Loves You My Muslim Friend” and “The True Love.” He is currently a frequent guest speaker at various Bible Colleges and churches around the country. He teaches on the topic, “How to Communicate the Good News of the Christian Scripture Effectively to the Muslim People.”
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Briefs
United Methodists Launch Free Mobile App
Nashville, Tenn.—Mobile device users can easily access information about The United Methodist Church on the go with a new free United Methodist application for iPad, iPhone, and Android smartphones. Developed by United Methodist Communications and Music City Networks, the mobile app is now available for free download.
The application enables mobile access to daily devotions, news, videos, photos, social media sites and a searchable index of United Methodist churches by geographic area. The “Ask InfoServ” feature connects users who have questions about the church or requests for resources with church staff who can help.
“We created the app so that we could deliver information about the denomination to people in a way that’s fast, simple and easy to use,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications, the global communications agency of The United Methodist Church. “The features available now are just a start. Our goal is to roll out new offerings over the coming months.”
Hollon said that in early 2012, another new mobile application will be launched that will make it easier for users to connect with the United Methodist General Conference, the meeting of the denomination’s top policy-making body that occurs once every four years.
Kerrville District
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
Corpus Christi district
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
25 Eradio’s Birthday.
25-27 Cabinet Meeting.
November
1 Leadership Development meeting, District Office, 10 a.m.
3 Sea City Workcamp, District Office, 6 p.m.
10 District Professional’s Meeting, Woodsboro.
14 Newsletter deadline.
21 United Campus Ministry meeting, District Office, 6 p.m.
23-25 District Office will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holidays.
29-30 Cabinet Meeting.
December
11 Grace UMC Building Dedication.
12 Newsletter Deadline.
16 Consultation Reports due into the District Office.
16-Jan1 District Office closed for Christmas Holidays.
January
11-13 Cabinet Meeting.
18 Check Out Day, Year End Reports are due.
28 Ministry Workshop, Three Rivers UMC.
31-Fwb.1 Cabinet Meeting.
February
4 Ministry Workshop, Grace UMC.
McAllen District
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
Website:
www.umcmcdistrict.com
San Angelo District
Larry Altman
Superintendent
sangds@suddenlinkmail.com
Amy Moore
Operations Manager
sangom@suddenlinkmail.com
Gini Christian
District Ministries Coordinator
sangpd@suddenlinkmail.com
Address:
1315 S. Abe Street.
San Angelo, TX 76903
District Office
(325) 486-1500
Fax: (325) 482-0033
Wesite:
www.gbgm-umc.org/umcsa
District calendar
October
25-27 Cabinet Meeting.
28-30 Clergy Spouse Retreat.
November
3 District Youth Council, Sierra Vista UMC.
7 Amy, Conference Office.
8 Doug Hester Class, First UMC, San Angelo.
10 Larry, Conference Office.
17 Pastors and Professionals meeting, Mason.
23-25 District Office closed.
28 Women’s Advent by Candlelight.
29-30 Cabinet Meeting.
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