Lenten Clothing Drive Expands Beyond Hill Country District

“Hello, Junior? Don’t head home just yet — I need you to pick up the load in Blanco for us — we don’t have any space left!”

That was what Adventist Community Services driver Gerald Mohr told the driver of the other truck picking up used clothing collections. 21 Central Texas churches participated in the Lenten clothing drive this year. They had just broken another record, over-flowing his 51-foot semi-trailer and still having almost enough to fill the second.

The campaign began in 2011, when the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City partnered with Seventh-day Adventist Community Services in Keene, south of Ft. Worth, to collect used clothing for processing before they were needed for victims of disasters. 

“The problem the Adventists had solved was the window of need for used clothing only lasts 24 to 48 hours after a disaster,” explained Pastor Lee Romero of First United Methodist Church in Johnson City. “By the time generous people can mount a collection campaign and deliver the clothes, the need is long since over, and the clothing becomes just more debris to be cleaned up.”

The Adventists take in donated clothes in advance, sanitize them, sort them, and package them for storage — until a disaster strikes, then they load one of their trucks and drive overnight to be outside a shelter with clean, dry clothes when survivors start their day.

The drive started in 2011 with First United Methodist Church, Johnson City and has now spread to the Hill Country District in 2016, with participation by churches from Austin to Uvalde. 

“We know all too well the value of this disaster clothing program,” explained the Rev. Todd Salmi, Associate Pastor at First United Methodist in San Marcos. 

“When we had our flooding from the Blanco River last year, the Adventists’ truck was here to help our flooded neighbors with clothes donated months earlier by some of these same churches. Now this is our turn to return the favor to people in places that don’t yet know they’re going to need this help.”

In Johnson City this year, the Methodists’ collection partners included the First Baptist Church, Good Shepherd Catholic Church, First Christian Church, Community Church of the Hills and the Friends of the Library Resale Shop.

“We’ve been on board with this program from the start, and we’ve learned no one denomination, much less any one church, can fill that truck by itself, but pulling together we can work a miracle and pack the truck so tight they have to call for help,” said First Christian Church Pastor Ernest Topper.

Mohr's truck had begun its route the day before, picking up the collections at Castroville and Sabinal, then working its way north, while the second truck went down I-35 on the eastern leg. Mohr was supposed to make Johnson City his next-to-last stop, then to Blanco United Methodist Church and head home. 

When it left Johnson City, the big trailer was packed right up to the doors, and Mohr was calling for help to finish his trip.

“What a great way to wind up a donation drive,” said District Super Intendent Rev. Bill Henderson. “Giving so much the recipients couldn’t carry it all. And what a great statement it makes for the people and churches of the Hill Country and Central Texas, responding overwhelmingly to the needs of people they’ll never know.”

But, of course, that isn’t the end. The planners in the participating churches already are thinking about how to make it bigger, better and wider in the next Lenten season.

“[We're] looking forward to next year,” exulted Jodie Claes at Kyle United Methodist Church. “We are already in talks with the Baptist church clothing closet across the street."

Written by George Barnette, Special Contributor 

New Faith Community Distributes Ashes in Unique Way

Rio Texas New Faith Community Cimarron Praise, located on the North East side of San Antonio, distributed ashes to bus stations, a veterinary clinic, and a diner on Feb. 10. They called the event ‘Ashes To Go.'

They first stopped at a couple of VIA Metropolitan Transit Bus Stops and distributed ashes to people waiting for the bus. The church recognized that those individuals riding the bus may not be able to participate in Ash Wednesday services. They also knew that the homeless frequented that particular stop.

Later, the church went to a local veterinary clinic where they blessed some more community members. They worked with Dr. Clint Powell, DVM of Acorn Animal Hospital to promote the event at the office.

They ended their outreach at a nearby restaurant where they blessed their waitress because the pastor found out that she was too busy to attend a service.

“We wanted people in our area to be reminded that God is with us and them all the time and not just when we are in church.  ‘Ashes to Go’ is about bringing Jesus, love, grace and belonging from behind church doors,” said Rev. Dawn Baird. “It’s about bringing the church into the places where we go every day because as a new church start, we believe the church has to step outside the comfort of the building and be in places where the rubber meets the road."

In addition to ashes, the Cimarron Praise gave out “Lent in a Bag” kits to help individuals who want to walk with Christ this Lenten season.

Rev. Baird also received a thankful e-mail later that evening that read: “Thank you for serving our community and providing ashes throughout the day at the bus stop.  I stopped by with my father-in-law who had just had eye surgery and he was so glad he was able to get ashes while sitting in our car.  Thank you also for the Lent in a Bag that you gave us.  I am going to use it to teach others in my family about Lent and what Jesus did for us.  Bless you.”            

Do you have a ministry you would like to showcase? How about church event that you’re proud of? Drop us a line at media@riotexas.org

Ash Wednesday Gallery

Here's a look at some Ash Wednesday 2016 pictures from across our conference!

Don't see your church? Drop us a line at media@riotexas.org

Thanks to First United Methodist Church, Johnson City; Bethel United Methodist Church, San Antonio; and El Mesias UMC, Floresville. 

Martindale UMC Soup Kitchen Ministry

Martindale UMC hosts a Soup Kitchen for the people of the Staples, Lockhart and Martindale areas of Texas. Anyone is welcome for fellowship and free food. Learn how this ministry became a core of Martindale UMC's mission.

Do you need help with your outreach mission? Visit the Outreach Vitality Office. 

We want to know about the different outreach programs your church is conducting: Click Here to learn more about the Conference's Ministry, Mission & Outreach Assessment. 

First United Methodist Church, Smithville Launches New Horizons Respite

First United Methodist Church, Smithville has started a ministry for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. Check out the video above to learn how they're making disciples of Jesus Christ in their community!  

Four Churches Host Advent Party for Parker Lane Neighborhood

Four United Methodist Churches from South and Central Texas came together to host an Advent party for the children of Parker Lane neighborhood in Austin on Saturday, Dec. 12. Chapel Hill UMC, San Antonio; Parker Lane UMC, Austin; Shepherd’s Gate UMC, San Antonio; and University UMC, Austin gathered food and fellowship in the spirit of Christmas.

“Children came through the fence from the apartment complex next door,” said Rev. Tina Carter, Associate Pastor for Community at Parker Lane UMC. “People who are training to become Promotoras de Salud (community health workers) and those attending parenting classes at Parker Lane came to receive gifts, make gifts and be welcomed into the Spirit of Christ." 

“We admit working together is more fun than working apart.” 

Many of the families that gathered are Matu speakers from the Chin province of Myanmar. 

First UMC Johnson City Hosts Nativity Pageant

The wise men and women who produce Johnson City's annual Living Nativity Pageant weren’t really worried about a rainout, even with a threatening forecast, because of the show’s new home under the pavilion at the First United Methodist Church.

“We knew the show could go on under cover, even if it did rain,” said director Barbara Hudson, “but some of our cast do have to go out from under it now and then, and rain certainly would have kept the audience away."

The heavens cooperated, though, and the birth of the Christ child was dry — all five times. It was only well after the end of the night’s final performance that the rains came, when the audience already had cleared, and the cleanup crew rolling light wires and sweeping hay could do its work under the pavilion roof.

The four nights of performances already had had their share of near-miracles.

One scheduled angel was recovering from knee surgery and couldn’t stand at all. There was doubt her stamina would let her get through the evening even if she could stand. A quick head-huddle and she was back in the show… in a celestial wheelchair.

Then there was a mad scramble for a replacement when an angel called in absent at the last minute, but one was found. She radiated in her place. The sheep, however, remained only barely cooperative.

“Those kinds of problems we can manage,” Hudson explained. “They turn up every year so we know we have to stay flexible. Weather, however, isn’t something we can fix.”

“Staging the pageant under the pavilion makes us almost weatherproof,” added Pastor Lee Romero. 

“We know a lot of people depend on us. They come in by the busload for a tour of the city lights and our pageant. They come from all over the state…and beyond. They tell us our re-telling of the Christmas story has been a family tradition for years.”

To make sure it remains a tradition for years to come, production jobs rotate to keep a mix of old hands and new blood.

The Holy Family changes every year, of course, depending on who has a new baby for the leading role. The angels start on the rooftop and move up — actually down — to stand in the background of the stable. This year, the light and sound technician was a high school student who trained last year.

Behind the scenes, the same constant turnover happens among the animal, angel, shepherd and baby wranglers who make sure those players are in their positions at the right times.

Even farther from the bright lights are volunteers who greet visitors, bake their cookies, and make supper for the cast, which usually is eaten in gulps between shows.

“At this point,” Romero concluded, “we still have last-minute emergencies, but we know we have enough depth of experience in the church that someone will step up to handle it. 

“When it’s the birth of the Messiah, the show really must go on.”

Written by George Barnette

St. Andrew's UMC Members Recognized by School Board

Seven members from St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in San Antonio will be recognized by the North East Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Dec. 8. They will be recognized for their efforts to assist Wilshire Elementary School.

St. Andrew’s held its first annual G3 5K Fun Run on Saturday, August 1. The “G” 3 theme is based on the church’s mission to Glorify God, Grow in faith and Go into the world to serve as the hands of God. Led by Domingo Auces and Kay Osborn, the G3 5K committee hosted an extremely successful event.  

Sufficient funds were raised through the 5K to allow St. Andrew’s to purchase 168 backpacks and fill all of them with requested school supplies.

Classroom teachers were delighted to receive the donations.  As one teacher noted, teachers must often purchase school supplies for the students in their classrooms. They all appreciated the church stepping in to meet the need.

The G3 5K Team members who will be recognized on December 8 are Domingo Auces (co-chair), Kay Osborn (co-chair), Mike Benson, Jennifer Garrett, Bob Rymill, Paul Rohlfs and Rev. Laura Brewster.  Mickey McCandless, representing Methodist Healthcare Ministries, will also be recognized.  Methodist Healthcare Ministries was a key sponsor of the 5K. 

St. Andrew’s has pledged to make its 5K an annual event.  Next year’s race will be held on July 30.

Written by Rev. Laura Brewster

University UMC Worship Service for People with Special Needs

Every Sunday, people with special needs of all ages from all over San Antonio gather for prayer, thanksgiving and worship at University United Methodist Church. Nicknamed "Believers Garden," this one-of-a-kind service is catered for people with special needs. riotexas.org Rio Texas Annual Conference. United Methodist Church. November 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Disaster Response Provides Chainsaw Training

Below is a photo gallery of the Disaster Response Chainsaw Training at Bee Creek UMC on Saturday, November 7.

"Chainsaw Training is important because there are certain disasters where using a chainsaw is critical," said Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Eugene Hileman. "During certain wind events, such as tornadoes in wooden areas, you have to cut out those trees and clear some of the land around the homes." 

The most recent use of Disaster Response volunteers using chainsaws was during the aftermath of the Bastrop Forest Fires. 

Chainsaw training is an advanced training for those who have an ERT (Early Response Team) badge already. 

There will be another chainsaw training to be announced for the Spring. 

National Church Planters Gathering

Last Tuesday through Thursday I was blessed to attend the first National Church Planters Gathering in Orlando Florida. Created by Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church, NCPG gave church planters from around the nation time to learn from each other, grow together, trade stories, worship and play together.

The blessings were immediate and plentiful. Opening worship was filled with inspiring music, preaching and liturgy reminding us of our calling and inviting us to be renewed through the waters of baptism. Water images prevailed throughout the event as leaders encouraged us to address our thirst by being submerged in God’s grace. Trying to take in a plethora of information, wisdom, insights, and processes sometimes felt like drinking from a fire hose. At other times, I found myself praising God for the blessing of time apart to simply worship and be in the presence of kindred spirits who have been gifted and called as I am—with entrepreneurial spirits and hearts on fire to share God’s love and build the kin-dom. Two of those kindred spirits are pictured with me are Kyle Toomire of the Journey UMC in Kyle and Eric Vogt of Servant Church Austin.

Another unexpected blessing was the gift of my roommate. I was a little anxious at the prospect of sharing a room with someone I do not know, but what a blessing Annette turned out to be!  Before we actually met, Annette took a photo of me renewing my baptismal vow at the opening worship service. Once we began to talk that first night, I knew I had met a friend in Christ for life. Annette is a worship leader from North Carolina. Because of her, I felt compelled to show up on time for each worship service, which were wonderful but sparsely attended (entrepreneurial church planters tend to have our own ideas about how to spend our time!). I had not realized how thirsty I was for deeply engaging worship. The music and preaching connected on all cylinders for me, filling me and renewing me in significant ways.

One of the most helpful breakout sessions for me was on Small Group Multiplication. Iosmar Alvarez, pastor of a congregation with 100 small groups gave a powerful presentation on both the process and spiritual principles for multiplying the congregation’s DNA through prayer, spiritual formation leadership development, and a systematic approach to reaching the community with God’s love in Christ. I came out of his session with a renewed vision for reaching new people through our Life Groups. Most importantly, I now have a concrete approach for transitioning Life in the City’s pastor-centric approach to assimilating new people into new places toward a more lay-led assimilation and growth process.

It was encouraging to network with other church planters. I was particularly blessed by the presence of my coach Beth Escott, who introduced me to several pastors who have developed multi-site congregations. I will be following up and in conversation with these new friends. At the end of the day, it was gratifying to break bread with colleagues in Christ and then return to my room, only to find myself drawn both nights to the beautiful hotel pool. Swimming luxurious lap after lap in the drizzling rain one night and under the full moon the next was good for my body and soul.

One of the holiest and most precious moments of the conference was time spent with Bob Allen, Director of Congregational & New Faith Community Vitality for the Rio Conference. I am so grateful that he took the time to affirm my gifting, calling, visioning and persevering at Life in the City. The words he spoke over me descended into the depths of my spirit, providing encouragement and renewed confidence in the dreams and visions God has planted in the hearts and minds of Life in the City. This encounter continued to bless me as I prepared my All Saints message, reminding me of the great cloud of witnesses that surround us and goes before us, cheering us on and encouraging us to persevere.  

The last speaker of the gathering was one of the most impactful, challenging us to innovate and to be constantly vigilant against being a Gutenberg church relying on old paradigms. The ability to create new ways of reaching people living in our Google world is the gift of planting a new church. I return to Austin refreshed, restored, renewed and grateful from this experience. I am recharged and ready for the next stage of this adventure!

Written by Rev. Pastor Valerie Sansing

San Antonio UMC's Engage In Collaborative Ministry

The work of unification in the Rio Texas Conference continues as lay leaders from a cluster of churches within the Las Missiones District, known by the district as the University/Colonial Hills Forum in San Antonio, engaged in collaborative ministry to build each other up in prayer and active ministry. Lay representatives from University, El Divino Salvador, Emanuel, and Jefferson, along with a clergy representative from Colonial Hills, brainstormed ideas for how to support one another's emerging ministries.These ministries include Colonial Hills' monthly contemporary Communion service (next one: October 25), Trunk or Treat at Emanuel on October 31, University's Shindig (Fall Festival) on October 24, Jefferson's Northpole Village community event on December 13, and El Divino Salvador's monthly garage sale (next one: November 21). 

We prayerfully hope that as you read about this collaborative effort, that you prayerfully consider contacting one or more of these churches to assist with these great ministry opportunities. We also encourage you to contact Colonial Hills UMC if you would like to engage in collaborative ministry with this forum or with a cluster of churches near you!
 

This article was written by Joe Tognetti, Colonial Hills UMC Associate Pastor

Commission on Archives and History Begins Work

Freda Barrington, C.D. Barrington: Volunteers; Jean Traster: Former Archivist, South Central Jurisdiction and Central Texas Conference Archivist, Texas United Methodist Historical Society and Polytechnic UMC; Patty Chebultz: Rio Texas Conference Database Administrator & Building Manager; Rev. Valli Blair: Chair, Rio Texas Conference Commission on Archives and History (RTCCAH) Elizabeth Jimenez: Secretary, RTCCAH Frances Long: Archivist of South Central Jurisdiction and North Texas Conference Penny Robbins: Member, RTCCAH Tim Binkley: Archivist, Bridwell Library at Southern Methodist University 

A whirlwind of activity lead by Tim Binkley, Frances Long and Jean Traster guided a team of Rio Texas Conference Commission on Archives and History members and Conference staff in organizing the long dormant Conference Archives. After three days and over 200 work-hours the room was transformed from an unorganized “dumping-ground” to a functioning archives. 

Following the untimely departure of Archivist/Historian, Marta Rose due to health issues, and in the midst of the unification of the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas Annual Conferences, the room became a collection of assorted materials from various donors, closed churches and “space-seekers." This intensive pre-sort effort revealed a considerable amount of duplication as well as items that were not appropriate for an archive - their removal reclaimed much valuable shelf space. It also set the stage for future efforts for more extensive sorting, cataloging and filing of the myriad vital historic documents and artifacts. 

Among the primary goals of the Commission on Archives & History is to make the information available to Conference staff, historians and researchers while preserving Conference history. 
 

More Information About Membership to Discipleship Coaching

Rio Texas clergy met with Dr. Phil Maynard and his EMC3 Team on Oct. 6-7 to learn how to be effective coaches for congregations implementing the program. These coaches will be able to meet with and discuss the results individuals receive in the Membership to Discipleship survey. You can take the Membership to Discipleship survey on the Congregational Vitality webpage. 

Dr. Phil Maynard has spent the last month traveling across the Rio Texas Conference. In partnership with the Congregational Vitality Office, Dr. Maynard presented his "Membership to Discipleship" presentation to lay and clergy leaders in each of the seven districts. 

Dr. Maynard is well-known in congregational transformation. He is the director of the Path 1 Coaching Network, Director of the Church Leadership Training Institute, as well as a coach/consultant for Epicenter. He has two published books: Shift: Helping Churches Back Into the Game of Effective Ministry and Foundations: An Introduction to Christian Principles. His new book Membership to Discipleship will be released Winter 2015.  He spoke during the Rio Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi in June 2015. 

Dr. Maynard focuses on the importance of discipleship to make vital congregations. 

"I am so very privileged to travel in the seven districts [with Dr. Maynard] and to make one-on-one contacts and relationships with dedicated disciples," said Director of Congregational Vitality Rev. Bob Allen. "As you remember we gave out 1,500 copies of Dr. Maynard’s book, Shift, during annual conference.  The goal of Phil Maynard is to help congregations back into the game of effective ministry." 

First United Methodist Church, Bastrop Celebrates 180 Year Anniversary

First United Methodist Church, Bastrop, generally recognized as the second oldest Methodist congregation in Texas, celebrated its 180th anniversary on September 20, 2015. After worship, about 200 members and guests had lunch, sang old hymns and browsed among old church furniture pieces, pictures and vestments. 

The church story began in 1835 when eleven people joined together in a general merchandise store to worship. The pulpit was a barrel and the pews were planks laid upon small barrels or boxes. The congregation has had only occupied two churches during that period. The first was constructed in 1851 and the newest in 1925. The first church featured Venetian stain glass windows that were moved to the new church when it was built. 

The anniversary celebration included a history of the windows and the families who gave them. This presentation by member Robbie Sanders explained the symbols represented in the windows and the colorful stories of the pioneers who graced these buildings with the windows. 

District superintendent Robert Lopez and district co-lay leader Fritzi Simon were present for the celebration. 

This article was written by Mike Helmick

Mission Vitality Center Works with Cultural System Management Inc.

Alberto Garcia-Jurado of cultural system management inc. presents to the Mission Vitality center in san antonio on sept. 22. 

The Rio Texas Annual Conference’s Mission Vitality Center is embracing new processes and procedures to increase cultural competency through Cultural System Management Inc. (CSM), an international consultant for organizations. When the Mission Vitality Center interacts with the mission field and when people from different cultures come together, everyone needs help in understanding their differences in order move forward together. Not only do leaders need to work hand-in-hand and side-by-side with people whose upbringing and life experiences are different, we also find out ourselves reaching out in mission to people with different cultural norms and expectations.

Director of Outreach Vitality Abel Vega, was fortunate to connect with Alberto Garcia-Jurado. Garcia-Jurado is an internationally known expert in Multicultural Collaboration. Members of the District Strategy Teams from the seven Rio Texas Districts had a chance to hear from him at a presentation earlier this year. 

As this work was begun, Mission Vitality Center Executive Director Rev. Dr. Ruben Saenz, raised the question, "How can we, as annual conference staff, lead this work, if we are not working together as effectively as possible?" 

Fortunately, Alberto Garcia-Jurado was ready and willing to help with that as well through his work at CSM. 

His team at CSM has helped small businesses and large corporations like Microsoft become more efficient and effective in their work through collaboration systems that give workers a common language that crosses barriers of culture, hierarchy, and personality. 

Garcia-Jurado recently presented his initial diagnostic of the Mission Vitality Center to the staff. The staff was excited to hear his findings and learn about the next steps for working together as a collaborative team. 

Rev. Will Rice, Director of Communications for the Rio Texas Annual Conference said, "It is incredibly exciting to work with Alberto. His knowledge and experience will enable our conference to greatly improve our effectiveness. His collaboration system model is going to enable us do even more in our mission to empower local churches to reach the mission field through creating vital congregations, raising up vital leaders and engaging in vital missions."