Hill Country District Asks for Donations of Clothes: Lenten Disaster Relief Clothing Drive

Hill Country District’s annual Lenten collection officially began Ash Wednesday, March 6. We invite & encourage your church to catch up. We collect wearable used clothes until our partners, the Seventh-day Adventists, send their trucks to collect our collections. This year, the trucks should come the week of April 8-12 to have your space cleared out before the run-up to Easter. The exact schedule will depend on which churches participate and how much each collects. Yes, they can accept hats, belts, and shoes. No, they cannot take swimsuits or used underwear. 

Once they have the clothes we collect, the Adventists take it to their warehouse at Alvarado where it is sorted, sanitized, packaged, and stored until there is a disaster requiring used clothing, then they load their semi and have it parked outside the shelter door in the morning when survivors wake up. The Adventists are nationally known for this disaster ministry, and they tell us the Hill Country District’s collection gives them the most and highest quality clothing of any they have all year. 

Why not just wait for a disaster to collect? Because by then it’s too late. The post-disaster need for used clothing lasts only 24-48 hours. After that, survivors usually can acquire new. There are exceptions, of course, and the Adventists are prepared for that. There also is a difference between survivors who NEED free clothing and those who merely WANT it. NEEDS are short-lived in this case; WANTS are always there. By the time a local church can decide to launch a clothing collection, and run the campaign, then deliver the bags to the disaster area, the NEED is over, and the bags of mixed dirty clothes are just more trash for the landfill. That way doesn’t work. Ours does. 

More information will be forthcoming. The more churches we have participating, the more good we can do. 

Any church in the Rio Texas Conference is welcome to participate. This is the contact information or you can contact Pam at the Hill Country District Office, 830-896-6400, dispro512@gmail.com. 

Written by Pam Elliott

Ministry Builds Ramps for Disabled Rio Grande Valley Residents

McAllen—28 volunteers came out to serve disabled people in need on Feb. 22-23. Both youth and adults served.  They were joined by students from UTRGV Campus Ministries as well.  Three ramps were built and two others were repaired and painted.  

FUMC McAllen’s CORNERSTONE MINISTRY is a ministry that has evolved over the past 26 years into one that serves primarily physically disabled individuals and their families with wheelchair ramps and other assistance.   

In the past few years, they have partnered with the Texas Ramp Project (TRP) in this ministry who provides us the majority of the funds for the supplies for the ramps.

It is such a blessing to come together in service with our neighbors!  To GOD be the GLORY!

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.  In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God."

-Ephesians 2:19-22

Written by Susan Hellums

Oak Hill UMC Gives Away 300+ Stuffed Animals during Christmas Party

More than 300 teddy bears, kittens, puppies, rabbits, lambs, and two angry birds–were given to Oak Hill-area children at an annual Christmas party hosted by the Travis County Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 8.

Members of Oak Hill UMC led a group of more than 40 volunteers that included social workers, Travis County law enforcement officers, and, of course, Santa.

A total of 115 families with 340 children participated in the event and were given gifts. Gifts also included:

• pajamas for almost 100 children

• 20 gift cards for teenagers

• more than 200 coats for children of all ages

• 200+ bananas and cutie oranges donated by our friends at Central Market

• 240 breakfast tacos

• gallons of orange juice and coffee

• almost 20 dozen sugar cookies

Together, Oak Hill UMC and the local agencies shared a morning of radical hospitality with our brothers and sisters in the community.

Written by Don Kerr

UMW Hosts Climate Justice = Just Energy 4 All

Elizabeth C.H. Lee of UMW

DeeDee Belmares of Moms Clean Air Force

Eloisa Portillo-Morales of City of San Antonio Office of Sustainability

Briauna Berrera of Public Citizen

United Methodist Women and Moms Clean Air Force hosted the Climate Justice = Just Energy 4 All conference at Coker UMC: San Antonio on December 1 to raise awareness and discuss how climate change is impacting the nation and the city.

Activists and Methodists shared ideas and discussed solutions to the ever-changing climate crisis, especially in the wake of the Fourth National Climate Assessment.

UMW Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice Elizabeth Chun Hye Lee wanted to bring the annual meeting to San Antonio because of the health impacts of fossil fuels on communities in Texas, as well as promote the Just Energy 4 All campaign.

“In the United States, we are only four percent of the world’s population, but we emit 25% of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Lee. “There are about 100 companies responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions since 1880. There is environmental pollution. Unfortunately, it’s on the bodies, backs, and livelihoods of communities of color: African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, and poor communities. When we are caring for God’s creation, the Earth, we also need to seek justice.”

UMW is planning on installing solar panels at The Holding Institute in Laredo to help offset rising costs for central air conditioning.

DeeDee Belmares, a Texas Field Consultant for Moms Clean Air Force, works closely with UMW and offers tours of fracking sites. The emphasis on justice is also important for their activism.

“Just in Bexar County alone, there are 33,000 cases of asthma,” said Belmares. “The EPA put Bexar County in nonattainment. Local children are breathing air that is not good for their little lungs, and it’s also not good for our senior citizens.”

Eloisa Portillo-Morales, the City of San Antonio’s Sustainability Planning Manager for the Office of Sustainability, highlighted the city’s efforts to adapt to climate change.

“We currently have seven days a year of over 100 degree temperatures in San Antonio. By 2040, we expect to have 30 days a year of over 100 degree temperatures. What does that do to our community?” said Portillo-Morales. “We’re doing this while still seeing a population growth of possibly over a million people by 2040. It impacts everybody, but it doesn’t impact everybody the same way.”

Last June, the San Antonio City Council passed resolutions to support the Paris Climate Accord and to become a compassionate city. The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is being developed with 90+ stakeholders.

UMW is encouraging local chapters to deliver letters to Ford dealerships and urge the company to keep clean car standards, even as the EPA has rolled back those requirements. They are also urging oil and gas companies to reduce emissions. During the event, participants signed letters to Chevron, one of the largest natural gas producers in the world, and their new CEO Mike Wirth to follow through on No. 4 of “Guiding Principles on Reducing Methane Emissions” which Chevron signed onto earlier this year:

Advocate sound policy and regulations on methane emissions: support policies that incentivize early action, drive performance improvements, facilitate proper enforcement, and support flexibility and innovation.

Belmares invited Public Citizen activist Briauna Barrera to present her story about working with public officials and the community.  

“It’s scary, but I also think its immensely hopeful,” said Barrera. “A huge part of my work is building relationships with people so that they know we are not struggling alone. I’m invested in your well-being as much as my own. Once that trust is established, maybe we can redirect that fear toward more focused action with a target or goal in mind.”

Rio Texas Pastor Joins Migrant Caravan in Mexico

Rev. Gavin Rogers, an associate pastor of Travis Park United Methodist Church, San Antonio, recently traveled to Mexico City to join the migrant caravan as they were continuing their journey.

Rogers wanted to get to know some of the people traveling toward the United States, hear their stories, and better understand why they are risking so much to leave their home countries.

Read more in the San Antonio Express-News. 

WATCH KSAT-12 ABC TV News: Rev. Gavin Rogers: Many are Christian evangelicals

Several United Methodist Churches served as voting sites on Election Day.

Churches in Austin used the day as an opportunity to offer radical hospitality to voters. By early morning on November 6, over 70 people were in line to vote at Memorial UMC in northeast Austin.

“We put out coloring pages for the kids and got chairs for everyone to sit in who couldn’t stand that long”, said Rev. Cynthia Kepler-Karrer.

By later in the afternoon the lines were still strong and United Methodist volunteers brought water, food, and snacks for the voters and their children. Down the road at Parker Lane UMC, more lines formed as people waited to vote and pastor Rev. Matt Edison was onsite to offer assistance to the polling workers who needed access to a copier and other supplies.

He reported over 1,100 people came to vote.

By Tuesday evening, Oak Hill UMC continued to receive voters; the humidity brought lots of mosquitoes and so volunteers handed out mosquito spray and refreshments to those waiting outside.

As one worker said, “The election results aren’t in yet but we’re going to go ahead and call the race for ‘the most cookies baked to hand out to voters’ for the Oak Hill UMW!” The church’s communication team also worked ahead of time to ensure information on mission projects and Christmas worship services were available for visitors.

Other United Methodist churches offered opportunities for prayer as a way for persons to find their center in God in the midst of a turbulent election season. Trinity Church in Austin advertised, “If you’d like to pray or meditate on Election Day, our sanctuary will be open Tuesday 9AM - 6PM. Come light a candle and hold voters and candidates in prayer.”

At First UMC, Austin; leaders planned a time of prayer the day after the election. It is advertised as a time of prayer for those elected and those celebrating, for those most impacted by the decisions, and for those disappointed.

In a pastoral letter to the congregation, Senior Pastor Rev. Taylor Fuerst wrote, “If you are angry or anxious, determined, hopeful, or just plain exhausted, God meets you today in the midst of turbulent times. Isaiah’s words are an anchor for me, and I hope they are for you, too: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior - Isaiah 43:2-3)”

Written by Capital District Superintendent Rev. Teresa Weborn

Capital District ERT Teams Assist with Flood Recovery

Dripping Springs umc Certified Lay Minister linda snow

Members and friends of First UMC, Austin; including Rev. Taylor Fuerst and Rev. Cathy Stone; assisted as Early Responders in Kingsland with Rio Texas Disaster Response. 

Members of the Dripping Springs UMC response team, including recently Certified Lay Minister Linda Snow, spent a day in Horseshoe Bay mucking and gutting homes as a part of the recovery efforts.

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas hard in 2017. We are still—and will be for a long time—helping survivors recover. Then came flooding in the valley, after that came Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, Hurricane Michael in Florida and just recently the Hill Country Flooding. 

So many people need our help and our love. If you would like to help these folks, consider signing up for the January 12th ERT (Early Response Team) training at Dripping Springs UMC.
Go to https://riotexasresponse.org/ert-basic to register. 

For questions or concerns, please contact Ginnie Street at 512-203-7730 or training@riotexasresponse.org

Camp Awesomeness Calls Tweens to Ministry

During the late days of July 2018 “tweens” gathered at Slumber Falls for Camp Awesomeness for fun, faith formation, and fellowship.

Camp Awesomeness explored how God calls everyone in to ministry for the building up of God’s kingdom. We are all called to the work of building God’s kingdom, and all of us have gifts to help in that work. In our time at camp tweens from the West and Hill Country Districts learned about hearing God call them to work and how to find their paths to answer those callings. 

We had 24 campers from all over the Hill Country and West Districts who listened to God’s call to come and claim the voice God gave them to speak and serve in the Church. We thank God for all who worked hard to plan this camp and to make it work, including: John Paul Spurlock, Leigh Lloyd, Bethany Graham, Cynthia Deaton, Mark Deaton, Glenn Luhrs, Celia Halfacre, Bailey Spurlock, and many others. 

Camp Awesomeness will meet again at Slumber Falls from August 8 – 11, 2019. Our theme will be listening for God and learning about spiritual disciplines. Look for more information about registration soon. 

Written by Rev. Celia Halfacre

Interested in serving on a camp design team or starting a camp in your district? Contact Rev. Dr. Tanya Campen, tcampen@riotexas.org. 

Sierra Vista UMC Children's Camp Learn about "The Jesus Way"

In early August, Sierra Vista United Methodist Church’s Children’s Ministries hosted its annual children’s camp at Butman Camp and Retreat Center in Merkel, Texas. This year, middle-school youth were also invited to participate. As a result, 93 elementary and middle-school kids–as well as 34 staff–enjoyed five days of fun, fellowship, and faith formation in the Big Country.

As a result of the generosity of campers’ families, Sierra Vista’s Finance Committee and congregation, the West District, as well as the campers’ own churches, 59 San Angelo kids, 14 kids from the Kerrville area, nine children from Robert Lee, eight kids from Miles, 2 campers from Bronte, and one from Santa Anna were able to study and learn about living “The Jesus Way.”

Those youth and adults who took off work and dedicated their own valuable time and love to the smallest in God’s kingdom were also pivotal to camp’s success: Kyle Arnold;

Susie Bonner; Amber Bosworth; Tanya Campen; Jan Chitsey; Haley Ditmore; Stephanie Dobbs; Riley Duke; Inga Elliot; Will Felts; Angel Flores; Feliciano Giovanni; Tina Glass; Carson Green; Sandy Harris; Bailey Harvey; Holly Herrington; Holden Kohles; Kendis Leech; Karlee Lindy; Rey Manuel; Caitlin and Caroline Marshall; Gracie McMillan; Jillian Moore; Avery and Jaron Ochoa; Jean Ann Owens; Brandon Sabotka; Stacy Sprinkle; Matt Tafoya; Stan Whites; and Tucker Young. Blessings and thanks!

Also, dates for next summer’s camp have already been set: August 4 through 8. Mark your calendars!

Interested in serving on a camp design team or starting a camp in your district? Contact Rev. Dr. Tanya Campen, tcampen@riotexas.org.

Written by Kelly Duke

UMC congregations are working hard building affordable housing and hope in San Antonio

Windcrest UMC, Universal City UMC, and Colonial Hills UMC are all a part of the Ecumenical Genesis that sponsor a Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio home every year. They come together with other churches and faith groups to fully fund and help to build an affordable home for a family in need. Together they raised $57,000 and all the volunteers for 7 weekends to build right alongside the Olvera family and make their dream of homeownership a reality.

Celebrate and see all that is happening at the Dedication on November 17th at 10 am. All are welcome! Music, food and fellowship will be available as we dedicate 10 new affordable homes. The site is right next to Bethel UMC at 259 S. Acme road.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio, check out our website at HabitatSA.org. If you are interested in getting your congregation involved, call 210-223-5203 x 148 or email FaithRelations@Habitatsa.org.

Written by Trisch Moy, Faith Relations Associate

From TMF: UM Pastor’s Fancy Footwork Grows Congregation’s Spirit and Practice of Generosity

Rev. James Amerson, Senior Pastor at historic St. Paul United Methodist Church in San Antonio, the first African American congregation established in Bexar County, in 1866. And . . . 2018 winner of a Dancing with the Stars competition! If that sounds like an unlikely trajectory, Rev. Amerson couldn’t agree more.

READ MORE FROM TMF