April 22, 2013

Bishop Jim Dorff has asked that our conference churches participate in an emergency offering for those affected by the disaster in West, Texas.  We want to be generous in assisting our sister annual conference in their outreach to those suffering from this travesty.

Please send any collected funds to Treasurer, SWTx Conference, ear-marked for West – Conference Disaster Relief Fund.

For UMC news regarding our disaster response go to the Central Texas Annual Conference web site for regular updates.

By Rev. Adam R. Knapp

CENTER POINT – There is a beautiful church in Center Point, Texas.

The congregation was formed by the perseverance and pioneer spirit of a widow named Henrietta Rees.  The foundation stones were laid by the people of the community.  The stained-glass windows were fashioned by a 19-year-old girl from San Antonio named Helen Ferne Slimp.  (The one pictured is of The Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep.”

There is a beautiful church in Center Point, Texas.

But it is a beautiful church in need of renovation.

Built in 1911, Center Point United Methodist Church is a recognized historical landmark, but cracks in walls, problems with the foundation in the fellowship hall and restrooms that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act have become issues that need fixed.

Enter Church: Possible, The Center Point Project.  With help from the Kerrville District Committee on Missions and servant leaders from several Kerrville District churches, including: First UMC Kerrville, First UMC Boerne, St. Paul’s UMC in Kerrville and Gaddis Memorial UMC in Comfort; Center Point UMC is renovating its building and its heart and experiencing first hand that with God all things are possible.

“I think it’s wonderful that we can come together as a District to fellowship, learn from each other about being the hands and feet of Christ, and help repair/restore some of our church homes.,” said Bob Dibble, a member of the Kerrville District Committee on Missions.  (Bob and Pastor Adam Knapp are pictured to the right)

Behind the initiative of the district committee, a project was conceived to assist Center Point UMC in its renovation in order to equip the congregation to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of its community.

“God moves each of us to pick up the phone to make arrangements or pick up the hammer to do the work.  He calls us to help where it is needed, and the 101-year-old Methodist church in Center Point needed us,” said Schatzie Norris, a member of Gaddis UMC and the district missions committee.

The committee voted unanimously to donate time and money to the Center Point project, and Church: Possible was born.

Center Point UMC has matched the district’s donation, but the renovation will require additional funding to complete all the necessary work.

“We need money to pay professionals to do the work that we are not equipped to do and that is where the congregations in the Kerrville District can help.  God will bring that about also,” Norris said.

In addition to pledging money from the district’s mission budget, committee members have worked alongside congregation members to accomplish the handiwork.

“Our congregation is abuzz regarding this blessing God has bestowed on us,” said Marilyn Wiles, the chairperson of Center Point UMC’s leadership board.  “Center Point United Methodist Church is a family to me.  My first memories of church are a small rural church in NE Arkansas, and Center Point reminds me of that, my roots.”

Work began almost immediately.

In late February, servants from Gaddis UMC brought material and labor to build a custom enclosure to surround an exposed air conditioning and heating unit in the fellowship hall.

Congregation members cleared the kitchen, storage room and pastor’s office, and had a sheetrock ceiling installed in preparation for a paint project on March 23.

A unified mission group comprised of servants from Center Point, First UMC Boerne, Gaddis and members of the First UMC Kerrville’s youth group will gather on March 23 to paint and repair cracks inside and repair soffits outside the building.  They also will replace broken concrete stops in the parking area in front of the church.

“More than (the work), it is a feeling of support and help from others,” Center Point lay leader Debbie Grinnan said.  “I knew it an answer to all our prayers.  God (is using) them to help us.  I was overwhelmed with joy!”

Painting and filling in cracks in the walls is stage one of Church: Possible.

According to Dibble, there are three stages to the Center Point project.  The work in the fellowship hall will continue with work to level the floor, especially near the handicap accessible entrance.  This is the second stage of the project and will take place throughout April.

After the floor work is completed, the third stage will be to make the church bathrooms ADA accessible.

While the work on the church building is important, all those involved are also excited about the work of the Holy Spirit in the people.

“I hope to see our church physically restored. Through this physical restoration of our church building, I hope we, the members of our church, can be spiritually renewed in our service to God and our community,” Wiles said.

Grinnan added, “I would like (the renovation) to be an effective vessel in helping people glorify God and his Kingdom!”

To contribute to Church: Possible, the Center Point Project, contact Center Point United Methodist Church at (830) 634-2320.

We welcome Rev. Tim and Janet Birkner to his new appointment (effective July 1) at Star and Center City (16 miles to the east of Goldthwaite and 70 miles west of Waco, or the appointment furthermost north in our annual conference).  Twenty-five members of the two congregations showed up to meet them on the afternoon of April 14.

Tim is presently serving part-time at Yancey UMC, south of Hondo.

Rev. Laura Green, student local pastor (at Perkins School of Theology) is currently appointed there.  She leaves in June to begin her internship with Rev. Margaret Decker at Trinity UMC in San Antonio.

Rev. Michael Quist finishes up 11 years as pastor at Chapel Hill UMC (located on Hwy 183, just south of Lampasas) on Easter Sunday.  He begins a new chapter in his life as Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Madre (at Port Isabel).  We thank him for his years of service in this part-time ministry that he has conducted while in ministry at a Boys and Girls Club in East Austin.

We congratulate Rev. Donna Shaw on her appointment to serve Cherokee and Valley Spring churches (north of Llano).  She’ll graduate from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May and begin preaching June 30.  She is show with Kayla, Kabe and Dr. Kaleb Shaw and members of the Cherokee UMC.

I’ve had a request from  Mt. Wesley to send out the following links to all of the  local churches.  Please publicize the information about the upcoming Conference Summer Camps at Mount Wesley.  Spread the word!

Link to Children’s Camps

http://www.umcswtx.org/events-umcswtx-childrens

Link to Jr. High and Sr. High Camps

http://www.reachingyouth.org/summercamps.html

See everyone next week in Corpus!

Liz

UMCOR is asking for cleaning buckets. It’s an opportunity for all of us to “pitch” in to help. Each church would contribute by giving one or more cleaning buckets or make a donation of $50 to help put a bucket together. The donation would go to The First United Methodist Church-Boerne, 205 E James Street, Boerne, TX 78006, with the check tagged cleaning bucket. FUMC-Boerne will use the funds to put together buckets in your church’s name. We would like to wrap up the donation by July 17, 2011.
What’s in a cleaning bucket: go to http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/flood-bucket/
the list of supplies: 5 gallon bucket with resalable lid, 2- 25 oz or 1- 50 oz liquid laundry detergent, liquid household cleaner, 12-16 oz , dish soap, 16-28 oz bottle, 1 can air freshener, 1 insect repellant spray,6-14 oz, 1 scrub brush, 18 cleaning wipes, 7 sponges, 5 scouring pads, 50 close pins, clothes line (2-50 foot, or 1-100 ft, 24 roll heavy duty trash bags, 5 dust masks, 2 pair disposable waterproof gloves, 1 pair work gloves. Enclose $1.00 in each kit to help cover distribution costs.
The buckets will be consolidated at the Mt. Wesley Disaster Center and shipped to the UMCOR’s Sager Brown depot. Contact Robert Dibble, (rkdibble@gvtc.com) to let him know how many buckets you will be preparing. Let’s all join hands and demonstrate our faith through action.

Did you know $10 can save the life of a child? Malaria kills hundreds of children in Africa each year, but an insecticide-treated net can prevent that. Golfers among us can help.

Several Methodist Churches in the area are co-hosting a “Golf Outing” on May 12 at Meadowlakes. $35 covers entry fee, golf cart, and even lunch! Donation baskets will be placed I the clubhouse for those who can help support this cause. Whether you are a golfer or not – join us on May 12th for fellowship with Christians from other churches in the Hill Country. For more information contact HLUMC at 325-388-4187.