Wesley UMC, Austin Hosts Luncheon for Public Servants

Wesley UMC, Austin hosted a luncheon for representatives of the Austin Police Department, Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department and the Austin Emergency Medical Services on June 26. Wesley UMC wanted to honor those who give so much back to their community. 

Rev. Sylvester Chase started the luncheon with an invocation. The colors were presented by the local Boy Scouts chapter. The meal was prepared by members of the congregation and served by Wesley UMC Youth. 

After the meal, each department was presented with a gift basket for their department.

 Rio Texas United Methodist Men’s President Cary Boddeker  presented each first responder with a copy of Strength for Service to God and Community, a daily devotional for those in the service of others in appreciation for their service

First UMC Martindale Hosts Cure JM Texas Mini Conference

The Texas Mini Conference for Cure JM was held at the  First United Methodist Church, Martindale for the fourth year in a row on July 23.

Fourteen church members volunteered their entire Saturday to help feed and host more than 90 attendees from all over Texas that included 20 children with Juvenile Myositis. 

Juvenile Myositis (JM) is a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease that makes the body’s immune system attack its own muscles and tissues. While each child with JM is affected differently and some cases are relatively mild, many children are affected chronically, leading to severe muscle weakness, breathing problems, digestive (GI) tract complications, vasculitic ulcers, and contractures.  If left untreated or not diagnosed quick enough, these cases become fatal. 

Martindale is home to two families with children who have JM.  This year over twenty families attended to hear Cure JM’s executive director Jim Minow, Dr. Ruy Carrasco from Specially For Children, and multiple other speakers.  Topics concerning fundraising techniques, the organization’s rapid growth, and future local chapters were addressed, but the most important aspect of the conference was in providing family support and reassurance and instilling hope.  

Out of one million children in the United States, two to four will be diagnosed with JM each year.   However, because of the growing support and attention, Cure JM is garnering to advocate this disease, research is being funded to try to find a cure at last.  

To learn more about the symptoms of Juvenile Myositis (and to see how you can help) please visit www.curejm.org.

Johnson City Youth Mission Trip to South Texas

Twenty middle-school youth from Johnson City packed their tools and air mattresses and spent last week in Mercedes, in the Rio Grande Valley, making life better for some of the poorest residents in the state.

"Mercedes was much like Johnson City,” said Carrie Anders, youth director at First United Methodist Church, "with people who gave us an opportunity to show God’s love through our service and smiles.” 

The adventure started with mixing the kids from the six different Methodist churches into teams where they had to learn to work with strangers. And work was the theme of the day. Every day.

Some went to the Team House near the border, where mission teams traveling to and from Mexico can spend the night without a motel bill. Paint teams scraped old paint and applied new, then built a new door, and wrapped it up with a decorative cross on the wall — made from prints of their hands dipped in paint.

“The paint project was my favorite job, “recalled Mason Roberts, “because we had a sense of accomplishment when the shed was done.”    

On other days, teams were filling more than 100 backpacks with school supplies or making up hygiene kits of such items as soap, toothpaste and shampoo. The school supplies will go to low-income students around Mercedes, and the hygiene kits will go across the border to poor neighborhoods in Mexico, where those items are luxuries.

When that job ran out, the youngsters filled family-sized bags of rice and beans to be given this week to needy residents.

“We take personal hygiene products and school supplies for granted. This really opened my eyes to how much we have that others may not,” said Aubrey Ockman.

If that was an introduction to poverty, the real course was taught at Mission La Mesa, a small church in a nearby colonia. Colonias are unofficial communities with no city services or utilities, where the poorest residents pay for the privilege of building a home out of plywood, sheet metal, even cardboard. 

In the colonia church, the students led local children in Vacation Bible School, complete with the same sort of crafts, games, play and Bible lessons we’d expect here at home — only in Spanish.

“I was worried about VBS because I'm really not comfortable with little kids,” admitted Luke Whittington, “but they loved the attention we gave them. 

“I saw God in the joy in their faces, despite their circumstances.”

Although most of the time was spent working, faith was also a major part of the trip, with prayer to launch every day then a praise band and kid-led worship service every night.

“I felt like God was speaking to me in worship,” said Dooley Smith. “I went feeling a little lost and questioning who I was and was going to be as I move from middle school to high school. It was perfect because it helped me focus on who God is calling me to be.”

Between work and worship came fun time — “Olympic Games” you won’t see in Rio, being cool in the pool, and even a neon dance party illuminated by glowsticks.

“I enjoyed the free time because I got to make new friends," said Liesmann.

"My favorite part was meeting students from other youth groups who are Christians like I am,” added Sawyer Lynn.

Darlene Young, one of the six adults who made the trip with the kids, noted that it was the fourth summer mission trip the church has sponsored for middle schoolers.

“It’s such a blessing to see some of our students return summer after summer for these trips,” she said, "and to see the personal and spiritual growth these kids experience."

Special Contribution Written by George Barnette

Watch the Election of Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr. by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference

Letter from Conference Co-Lay Leader: General Conference 2016 - Ten Days of Contrasts

Ralph Thompson, Conference Co-Lay Leader

For ten days, the Rio Texas General Conference Delegation experienced the many contrasts of cultures, ethnicities, ideologies, and theological interpretations that comprise the United Methodist Church.  For ten days, we shared worship and food, entertainment and fellowship, cultures and learning, and, of course debate…debate over issues both mundane and far-reaching. 
 
In many ways, this was like any other General Conference, with five days of legislative committee meetings that addressed the thousands of pages of petitions that are the essence of why we meet every four years, followed by five days of discussion and debate over the petitions that could not be resolved by the legislative committees. 
 
It was obvious that many delegations arrived at Portland, Oregon, with definite “game plans” regarding the subjects of human sexuality, UMC structure, and annual conference/local church affiliations. It was obvious that delegations had their minds set on taking home the “victory” and the “game ball”, after scoring a definitive “win” in Portland. But, I truly believe that God had other plans, as the axiom “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” was proven true in the final days of GC2016!
 
I’ll not waste my final few words recounting what happened in Portland. Instead, I prefer to use this space to share another contrast that was quite evident for the entire two weeks that I was in Portland.
 
One morning, I gave a few dollars to a homeless person who was perched outside the coffee shop. That was the first glimpse of what soon became obvious…Portland’s overwhelming homeless population.
 
A simple Internet search (Portland Oregon Homeless) will reveal what every delegate to GC2016 saw, whether on sidewalks or in alleys, along roadsides or under bridges, in parks or in empty buildings, and in open fields or even right in front of the place where we met: THOUSANDS of people living under tents, boxes, blankets, or just out in the open with no shelter at all…people of all ages, races, cultures, ethnicities, ideologies, and, yes, theological interpretations…those about whom I thought, “But for the grace of God, there go I!”
 
What I want to share is what broke my heart on the flight back to Texas. As I reflected on the events of GC2016, I am certain that it was Almighty God who forced other images into my heart…images of the countless homeless people who, regardless of their politics, sexuality, backgrounds, opportunities, or even their sins hungered and shivered outside, while we argued over who is or is not worthy of God’s salvation through the nurture and ministries of the United Methodist Church.
 
I thought about people who would have been glad to eat from the hundreds of pounds of garbage that we generated every day, while we complained about issues, many of which had little to do with God’s Kingdom, nor HIS plan for HIS Church. As we debated human sexuality, I can imagine that people just blocks away dealing with pregnancy without healthcare, diseases without medications, sexual abuse without defense, and other situations too grievous to mention.
 
My heart wept to think that the Church that reintroduced me to Jesus Christ is debating whether or not to stay “United”, while there is a world right outside our doors that is aching for a relationship that they, themselves, cannot even define. They need a Love that the world cannot give…the Love that we profess to have in abundance!
 
It is not my place, nor is this the time, to judge who is right or wrong, who God loves most or least, and who is or is not worthy of God’s Kingdom. But I would be remiss if I did not end with one simple question: What meaning of Matthew 28:16-20 is the United Methodist Church called to live out?
 
Ralph Thompson
Rio Texas Co-Lay Leader

Cimarron Praise Serves During Mothers Day

Cimarron Praise UMC, a new church start, visited mothers at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital on Mothers Day, May 8. The members of the church provided a luncheon to both patients and healthcare workers who had to be at the hospital during Mothers Day. 

Lunch included chicken spaghetti, salad, green beans, watermelon, rolls, and cake; as well as homemade Mothers Day cards for all women at the hospital. 

After serving 170 people lunch at the hospital, the church took the rest of the food to the fire departments in Northeast San Antonio. They also served a young family moving into a new home. 

The meal came as a blessing for many families at the hospital. One patient was disappointed because her children had yet visited her for Mothers Day. She received one of Cimarron's Praise's homemade cards from the chaplain. She was later seen asleep clutching the card. 

One nurse said no one had ever done an event like this for the hospital in 16 years. 

"This ministry was important to Cimarron Praise because we truly believe we are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world so it is necessary for us to step outside our building and be the hands, feet and heart of Jesus," said Rev. Dawn Baird. "We are becoming known in the Converse area as 'the church who is always loving on people.'"

Methodist Stone Oak Hospital CEO Marc Strode sent the following email to his employees about the Mothers Day Luncheon:

“Folks,
I want to share an uplifting story with you, and I want to take you back to Mother’s Day a couple of Sunday’s ago. As usual, we had some of our leadership team handing out treats early that morning as people came and went at shift change.

But lunch that day was a really special luncheon. We do things for our community every day. We take care of our community. We heal our community. We serve our community. Well, on Mother’s Day this year, someone payed it forward for us!

Cimarron Praise United Methodist Church near Schertz is actually closer in proximity to Northeast Methodist Hospital, but because of the positive experiences some of their clergy leadership and parishioners had as patients & visitors in our hospital, they wanted to do something special for us(and especially the moms in the building that day!)

It also helps that Rev. Dawn Baird who leads this church, is also a nurse! Not only did they provide homemade casseroles and side dishes to boot, but they also created Mother’s Day cards for our patients and handed those out in particular for those moms who were likely to have no visitors on their special day. All in all, they fed over 150 of our team and other patient visitors!

Some wonderful personal stories came out of the day’s event, including feedback from one of our nurses who said her patient was upset because she likely wasn’t going to get a visit from her children. Later in the day, the nurse rounded on her patient, only to find the patient asleep with her homemade Mother’s Day card clutched closely to her chest.

Another nurse who had recently lost her mom spoke of the emotions that day—her first Mother’s Day without her mom. While she wasn’t working that day, she was at MSOH visiting. She shared how happy she was to hear we were providing these meals, which she was able to participate in for the rememberence of her mom.

Just a lot of thankfulness all around this exceptionally kind gesture. Here you have an entire church parish who could be spending time with their own families, and they chose to be with us for our patients. And speaking of choosing, they could have bestowed this kindness onto any hospital, but they chose us because of the work you do for them!

They received so much satisfaction from the day’s events that we just received word that they are graciously ready to do it again next year. Another wonderful MSOH ( and Cimarron) tradition in the making!

An event like this one can’t go on without the help of a lot of people behind the good folks @ the church. Very special thanks goes out to Daniella in HR for helping to coordinate the day’s events, David our facilities leader for guaranteeing a/c in the classrooms on a Sunday!, our housekeepers for helping to clean us up in addition to all that they do on the floors, and security for being proactive to have badges ready ahead of time for the volunteers who were passing out cards.

Then there were our awesome MSOH chaplains who helped get the cards to patients: Rev Thomas Peel, Diana Uresti, Chaplain Nelson Arroyo and Chaplain Jaime DeLeon. Lastly, it couldn’t have been possible without the leadership of our Director of Pastoral Care Deana Kirby, who as usual played the role of consummate professional and friend, always lifting our spirits with her positivity in creating this super event! Thank you all!

Here, here to Cimmaron Praise United Methodist Church!

Keep the Spirit,
Marc
”

Colonial Hills UMC Hosts Family Fiesta

Colonial Hills makes disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by hosting an official Fiesta San Antonio event. It is the only Fiesta event that is alcohol and tobacco free for children and families. Rio Texas Annual Conference. United Methodist Church. April 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Northwest Hills UMC Receives Hearing Loop

Dale and Betty Keuhnhof

Thanks to a generous donation from Dale and Betty Keuhnhof (pictured) and the support of its members, Northwest Hills UMC was able to install a hearing loop in its sanctuary. 

Northwest Hills has a number of hearing impaired members, including both Dale and Betty with cochlear implants. The loop will greatly benefit the hearing impaired members in hearing and understanding anything that is broadcast over the AV system. 

Ale is the president of the local San Antonio chapter for the hearing impaired and has participated in numerous studies for hearing. 

Northwest Hills is one of a few churches that has the loops installed. 

Certified Lay Ministers Enhance Ministry at Local Churches

Certified Lay Ministers (CLM’s) are used to enhance local ministry at the Rio Texas Conference. Since 2004, these trained lay members may be serving as “supply” pastors in their local churches while their pastor is taking on multiple responsibilities at numerous churches. 

“These ministers help as bi-vocational ministry associates,” said Outreach Vitality Director Abel Vega, who has sat on the Las Misiones District Committee. “They’re serving in the role of associate pastors. The church community is changing over time. You may have clergy shepherding several churches. These CLM’s are becoming the day-to-day person carrying out the ministry of the church.” 

Tom Kinkead is a Certified Lay Minister at Alamo United Methodist Church in San Antonio. They have a part-time pastor, Rev. George Chambers. Kinkead fills the role as the “daily face” at the church.

“As an assistant to the pastor, I assist in the planning of worship services,” said Kinkead. “I conduct our sunrise service. I also serve as the administrative officer of the church. I have the spiritual gifts of preaching and administration.” 

Kinkead also oversees the day-to-day operation of their local radio station. The radio station is a low-powered FM station with less than 100 watts. They play bluegrass, gospel, contemporary Christian, and old-school Rock ‘n Roll. Their audience is people aged 50-70 who do not attend church. At the top of the hour, they provide brief moments of faith and inspiration. 

“We are not trying to look for new members for Alamo UMC,” said Kinkead. “We are trying to bring people to Christ.” 

In many cases, the CLM conducts the role of the associate pastor. CLM’s are allowed to provide pastoral care, plan worship services, assist with funerals and preach. The CLM is not allowed to consecrate the sacraments, such as communion. Robert Buck, a CLM at Universal City UMC, was lucky enough to perform the sacrament of marriage. 

“I was requested to do a wedding during the Sunday of Annual Conference 2015,” said Buck. “We were at the time of transition, our new pastor wasn’t here yet and our old pastor already left. I sent a letter to the Bishop. He said that I can do it on a case-by-case basis, but I have to request permission every time.” 

Each CLM received a calling into ministry, much like an ordained minister. After speaking with their local pastor, praying and discernment, the lay person receives approval from the District Superintendent and the district Board of Ordained Ministry. They enroll in a five-module course. Then they are certified by the Board to be a CLM. Click Here to learn more. 

Those who may be interested in becoming a CLM should spend much time in prayer, according to Universal City CLM Lenny Dagg. 

“I’ve talked to people about becoming a CLM,” said Dagg. “Look at the Book of Discipline and see what the requirements are. Talk to your pastor. Pray. The most important thing to do is pray and make sure it is your call from God. This is not just another position to fill. 

Memorial UMC Collaborates to Host Adult ESL Classes

Memorial UMC has partnered with Austin ISD and Manos de Cristo Dental Center to offer free ESL classes to parents of Harris Elementary School on the East Side of Austin. The elementary school has a 97.6 percent economically disadvantaged population, as well as a large population of refugees from Africa and Southeast Asia.

The partnership came after continued relations between Memorial UMC and Harris Elementary School, located across the street. The church has already been helping the local school with beginning-of-the-year teacher gift bags and school supply donations.

Carol Logan, the church’s liaison to the neighboring school, made the effort to call organizations after receiving a tip from the school counselor that parents have been requesting Adult ESL classes. Logan found Manos de Cristo, a low-cost dental service that has also added citizenship, basic computer, and ESL classes.

Educational Director of Manos de Cristo Karen Green reached out to Austin ISD Department of Adult Education to help provide a teacher for a potential Adult ESL class. Austin ISD agreed to find the teacher as long as the Adult ESL class was free to all participants.

The four organizations came into unity: Harris would find the parents that needed the ESL classes, Austin ISD provided the teacher, Manos de Cristo provided resources and organization, Memorial UMC would provide the space and child-care. A twice-weekly ESL class takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Memorial UMC added language lab using computers loaned by Manos de Cristo so that parents may have extra practice. The ESL teacher uses this lab to track the progress of the students.

Ms. Amanda Pincock Teaches adult esl classes to parents of harris elementary at memorial umc in east austin tuesdays and thursdays. 

Ms. Amanda Pincock was added as the ESL teacher for the language-learning parents of Harris Elementary. She incorporates field trips, which included a recent scavenger hunt at the local grocery market using small group learning. She encourages her students to bring food to share with the group. Her teaching style has been well-received. 

Memorial UMC plans to host a party for the families of Harris Elementary to celebrate the end of the semester. 

“We don’t have trained teachers in our congregation,” said Rev. Cynthia Kepler-Karre of Memorial UMC.  “We knew that the need was present, and so we decided that the best way to respond was to leverage what we did have—interest and space—and walk alongside with others.  We hope that these partnerships might spur our creativity as well in reaching out with evangelistic and discipleship opportunities.  We are dedicated to building relationships with individuals, with families, and with organizations in our mission field.”

Dripping Springs UMC Consecrates The Foundry

Dripping Springs United Methodist Church held a consecration ceremony for The Foundry, an over 15,000 sq. ft. multifunctioning youth center, on March 20 with a blessing from Bishop Jóel Martínez. The Foundry includes five multi-purpose classrooms, a worship area for 300, a food pantry, gathering space with coffee bar, shower facilities, and an outdoor meeting area. 

The two-building facility’s construction, located the southwest corner of the DSUMC property, began in May 2015. Prior to construction, the purchase of 9.5 acres was finalized June 2006 and working with contractors began in 2009. The Foundry is considered Phase 1 of the Master Plan. 

“In January 2013 we began a series of town hall meetings to talk about Phase 1 and continue the conversation among church members, as both Youth ministries we underserved, as well as much needed additional space for other ministries,” said Head Pastor Rev. Scott Bradford. “[The Foundry’s] uses are endless.”

Phase 1 was named The Foundry after the center John Wesley founded in London in 1739. 

The Capital Campaign for the project began in January 2014. They launched the three-year campaign on Palm Sunday. It turned into a $4.9 million campaign. 

The Foundry’s tagline is Youth, Mission, Community. Helping Hands Food Bank will utilize 1,500 sq. ft. of the space. Wesley Nurses will also use the facility for medical missions. A new modern 11 a.m. worship service will start on May 1.

“Dripping Springs has very little space for community activities, other than [Dripping Springs High School], so we very much see that we will easily utilize these buildings for the purpose of youth, mission, and community,” said Bradford.  “We simply give glory to God for casting a vision and taking us towards our future!” 

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