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FUMC Humble to Host National Night Out Event
Written: 10/6/2008 3:01:37 PM
First UMC Humble will be hosting a National Night Out event Tuesday Oct. 7, 2008. (This is the scheduled date for Texas, though other states held their events in August)   Designed to be a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, the National Ni...


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Lack of Donations Challenges Ike Relief
Written: 10/6/2008
Dr. Richard Burnham surveys damage at the church parsonage of Bay Vue UMC. (UMNS Photo by Mike Dubose) By Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS HOUSTON - Hurricane Ike's arrival was bad timing. Even though the Sept. 13 storm left behind miles of demolished homes, businesses and churches along the Texas ...


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Shady Chapel Reaches Out to Community
Written: 10/6/2008
  By Ross Hyde   The weeks following the Hurricane Ike, Shady Chapel United Methodist Church was very active in reaching into the community. Starting that Sunday with no electricity candles lined the alter and the church was opened an hour early and left open to allow those in the commu...


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Bayous, Bays and Oceans Sent Waves of Destruction
Written: 10/2/2008 9:26:06 AM
Homeowner Sully Griffin, 73, takes a break from clearing debris at his home in Surfside Beach, Texas, to visit with United Methodist Bishop Janice Riggle Huie following Hurricane Ike. (UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.) Sully Griffin has an even better ocean-side view since Hurricane Ike chewed up the ho...


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Spirit Journey 2008 - Early Registration Pricing Extended
Written: 10/2/2008
Spirit Journey 2008 is October 23 - 25 at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center. Our "early" registration fee is being continued until October 9th due to the impact of Hurricane Ike. If you register after October 9th late registration fees will apply.  “BEing and D...

Fall Clergy Spouse Retreat Cancelled
Written: 10/1/2008 1:11:44 PM
By Jill Krone, TCCSA Publicity   The Annual Fall Clergy Spouse Retreat, scheduled for October 17-18, 2008, is cancelled.  Outgoing TCCSA (Texas Conference Clergy Spouse Association) President, Erin Bunch, announced the decision of the Executive Committee Wednesday, October 1, 2008...

First Methodist Houston Disaster Workday Project
Written: 10/1/2008 10:11:48 AM
On Sunday, September 21 following worship, over 225 volunteers registered with First UMC in Houston and hit the streets to aid in disaster response efforts to help their neighbors. They were each assigned to one of 25 projects that were taking place all over Houston. Kristen Jones, Mission ...


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2008 GHLES - Nov. 8
Written: 10/1/2008
The 2008 Greater Houston Leadership Education School has been re-scheduled for November 8, 2008 at Memorial Drive UMC in Houston.   In 2008, the Greater Houston Leadership Education School is celebrating 30 years of GHLES.  Over these past 30 years, we have encouraged teachers and le...


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Manvel Grace Feeds Multitudes After Hurricane Ike
Written: 10/1/2008
Community volunteers distribute food to Hurricane Ike survivors at a supply center set up at Grace United Methodist Church in Manvel, Texas. (UMNS photo courtesy of Grace UMC) By Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS MANVEL, Texas - With a handful of volunteers, the contents of a small church's p...

Stories of Hope and Healing in Response to Ike's Destruction
Written: 10/1/2008
  In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, individual volunteers and entire congregations have gone out of their way to respond to the needs of their neighbors and surrounding communities. There are many stories that display elements of the Radical Hospitality and Risk-Taking Mission as well as ot...


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Commission on Communications Elects Officers
TAC's Cynthia Harvey Among Those Elected

Written: 10/1/2008
The United Methodist Commission on Communication has elected its officers for 2009-12. Serving as president is Bishop Sally Dyck, who leads the denomination's Minnesota Area. She is joined on the executive committee by Devin Mauney, vice president and finance chair; the Rev. Renita Thomas, record...


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Red Cross Training Opportunity for Houston Area Volunteers
Written: 10/1/2008
The Greater Houston Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is providing training for people willing to help others during major disasters like Hurricane Ike. We are adding to the greater Houston community’s ranks of pre-trained, pre-registered volunteers to be at the ready, so that they can mo...


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Bellville Volunteers Send Flood Buckets for Immediate Relief
Written: 10/1/2008
When the missions team of Bellville UMC met on Sept. 17 to plan a response to Hurricane Ike relief efforts, the flood bucket project caught their eye. Team members recalled a previous effort to send school supplies to Iraqi children which had mushroomed and captured significant community suppor...


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Community of Faith Cares for People Hurt by Ike
Written: 10/1/2008
See Additional Photos Following an email message telling of an immediate need for baby care and flood clean-up items, members of Emory and Alba United Methodist Churches moved into action. The communication came from a Hurricane Ike-recovering pastor/friend of Rev. Kelly S. Krone, pastor for...


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Dr. Keith Tonkel Named by Foundation for Evangelism as the 2008 Distinguished Evangelist of the UMC
Written: 10/1/2008
Lake Junaluska, N.C. - The Foundation for Evangelism awards Dr. Keith Tonkel with the 2008 Distinguished Evangelist of The United Methodist Church Award. This prestigious award will be presented at the Foundation's Annual Banquet at Lake Junaluska, NC on November 1, 2008. Dr. Tonkel has a remark...

Jenkins, Bradfield Chapel Prepare Flood Buckets
Written: 9/30/2008 4:52:55 PM
Jenkins UMC received an offering of $75.00 and prepared 2 flood buckets. Bradfield Chapel UMC received an offering of $187.00 and prepared 6 flood buckets. ...

Small Church Responds to Needs of Those Displaced
Written: 9/30/2008 4:51:27 PM
We had 19 people (members and some regular attenders) from Waskom who worked at the shelter at the Scottsville Camp and Conference Center.  We had 101 evacuees from Orange at the shelter for Hurricane Ike.  We worked from Thursday, Sept. 11 through until Sept.22. Most of the members were o...

Clergy Skip Lunch Out; Donate to Relief Instead
Written: 9/30/2008 4:49:14 PM
An interesting thing happened today. I am in Texarkana with a small meeting of clergy – ten or so. We finished and I asked where they wanted to eat. Several named places and then Alex Lupo at Atlanta FUMC said, “Let’s find the cheapest place and send the rest of the ...


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Hurricane Leaves Behind Damaged Homes, Lost Memories
Written: 9/30/2008
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie and Dr. Don Waddleton visit with Vivian Paysse, 99, at her home in Bayou Vista, Texas, following Hurricane Ike. (UMNS photo by Mike DuBose) By Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS  BAYOU VISTA, Texas -Vivian Paysse celebrated her 99th birthday a few days before Hurricane Ike ...


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FUMC Pearland Coordinates Teams to Respond to Area Needs
Written: 9/30/2008
FUMC Pearland member Rody Kuchar cuts a fallen tree on the church's property.   Within two days after Hurricane Ike’s destruction, the First United Methodist Church of Pearland in collaboration with Builders Without Borders of Texas, Inc., jumped into action.   Teams were out in...

Summer Collegium, a Lilly Endowment project
Written: 9/29/2008 11:58:03 AM
Applications are now being accepted for the Summer Collegium, a Lilly Endowment project in support of small congregations.    Twenty-five clergy and their spouses from all Christian denominations will be invited to spend nine days at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Vir...

Kilgore Wesley to Hold Alumni Homecoming Reunion
Written: 9/29/2008 10:39:12 AM
Kilgore Wesley Alumni Homecoming Reunion Saturday, October 18th 12:00 Noon - 2:00pm Did you or someone you know attend wesley activities between 1958 and now? Come to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. There will be music food drinks and hugs. Please RSVP www.kcwesley.org wesley@kcwe...


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The Convocation for Pastors of Black Churches
Written: 9/29/2008 10:31:02 AM
January 6-9, 2009 Westin Galleria Hotel Houston, TX The Convocation for Pastors of Black Churches informs, inspires and encourages pastors of Black Churches and those who support them. Learn from renowned pastors who are recognized for their leadership in Black settings.   D...


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Oct. 5 is World Communion Sunday
Written: 9/29/2008 10:25:58 AM
World Communion Sunday gives Christians a time to share in the sacrament and then to serve God through scholarships for U.S. (racial- and ethnic-minority) and international students. These scholarships enable people from around the world to serve and lead in their home churches and communities ...


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Gilmer Soules Chapel Aids Recovery
Written: 9/29/2008
The congregation at Soules Chapel UMC in Gilmer has decided to donate the proceeds from their sesquicentennial celebration to aid Ike recovery.   “We have been planning the celebration for months now and the good people here met last night for our regular Ad Council and elected unanimo...


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North Carolina Worship Director Shares
Song, Video with Methodist Churches

Written: 9/29/2008
Stefan Youngblood, Director of Contemporary Worship at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC offers free song for churches and schools in Houston and Galveston. It’s simply an anthem of hope called “We Will Rise.” Written during Hurricane Marilyn, "...

Summer Collegium, a Lilly Endowment Project
Written: 9/29/2008
Applications are now being accepted for the Summer Collegium, a Lilly Endowment project in support of small congregations.    Twenty-five clergy and their spouses from all Christian denominations will be invited to spend nine days at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Vir...

Health Care Advocates Rally at Houston City Hall
Written: 9/29/2008
On October 4, 2008, from 4-6pm. Speakers from over 20 organizations will address the US health care crisis and strategies for reform at Houston City Hall. The rally includes performers, recording health care “horror stories”, tables, exhibits, voter education and registration, musicians,...

Texas United Methodists Need Help Rebuilding After Ike
Written: 9/26/2008
By Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS HIGH ISLAND, Texas -Jerry Harrington has lived on the Gulf Coast of Texas all of his life, but Hurricane Ike finally convinced him to leave. "This is the worst I have ever seen, I'm not going to build it back," he said as he walked around the rubble of his home...

7 Days of Prayer
Written: 9/25/2008
  Pastors of the Texas Annual Conference:   I wanted to invite you to join me in 7 days of prayer for the United Methodist Church on October 5-11, 2008.  Already, tens of thousands of United Methodists across America have committed to pray during these 7 days, and I would love fo...


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Amerson Brothers Sign New Book; Lead Upper Room Chapel
Written: 9/24/2008
Amerson Brothers sign Celebrating the Offering during an "Evening with the Authors," sponsored by Discipleship Resources.   A GBOD Feature NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Revs. Melvin and James Amerson, clergy brothers from Texas, have at least two things in common: they are from the same f...


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Methodist Hospital Chaplains Share Morning Prayers After Hurricane Ike
Written: 9/24/2008
The Chaplains’ Office at The Methodist Hospital has emailed prayers each morning to all hospital staff during the two weeks since Hurricane Ike. They have served as a means of connecting all of us to the personal tragedies of many of our staff, and reminding us of the Source of our strength. O...

UM Pension Board Focuses on Long Term
Written: 9/22/2008
By Marta Aldrich - UMNS Pension leaders for The United Methodist Church are assuring participants that their accounts are well-funded through a diverse portfolio of investments, despite losses of $1.5 billion during 2008. Shaky U.S. and world financial markets have hurt investments of the United ...


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Bridge City Testimony
Written: 9/22/2008
By Patty Prince See More Photos My husband and I returned from our vacation on a Friday night and the next day we were packing for a mandatory evacuation from Hurricane Gustav. It was a crazy time, believe me! We returned from that evacuation and a week later had to evacuate again...


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Texas Conference Staff Brings
Ministry of Presence to Devastated Communities

Written: 9/22/2008
Bishop Huie speaks at one of the affected churches. See Photos from those churches   By Susan J. Meister UMCOR - Domestic Disaster Correspondent   Texas Conference Bishop Janice Riggle Huie was on renewal leave at Duke University when Hurricane Ike roared through her co...

Laporte FUMC has Flood Buckets
Written: 9/20/2008
At 10:00 am Friday morning a truck pulled into the parking lot at La Porte FUMC with 1170 flood buckets, 48 boxes of brooms and 98 bags of mops.  Rev Bill Ramsey and members of the La Porte church were prepared and greeted the truck and work crews that came from Clear Lake United Methodist Ch...

Pasadena Community Ministries Helps Area Residents
Written: 9/20/2008
On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Pasadena Community Ministries, a joint effort of about 20 churches in and around Pasadena, provided 35 family packs of food for delivery to Shoreacres, south of La Porte, where many dealing with water damage and the issues of IKE.  Rev. Jack Womack and wife Kathy, d...

FUMC Pasadena Offers FEMA Registration Assistance
Written: 9/18/2008 11:27:01 AM
In an attempt to help those affected by the damage to their community, First UMC Pasadena decided to take a different approach to meeting people’s needs during their recovery efforts.   They are making computers available to help people register with FEMA until there is no further...


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Food and Supplies Transported from Texarkana to Pasadena
Written: 9/18/2008
On Thursday, Sept 17, Dr. Danny Wayman and Jonathan Wayman brought a truck with pallets of water, MRE’s (meals, ready to eat) and ice to Pasadena from Williams Memorial UMC in Texarkana. They located at the Golden Acres United Methodist church at about 2:00 PM and with the help of me...

Leaders Tour Hard-hit Texas Areas
Written: 9/17/2008 5:28:08 PM
By Eleanor L. Colvin, Director of Communications United Methodist leaders in Texas feared the worst is yet to be discovered as they began touring churches and communities battered by Hurricane Ike and its 110-mph winds. "The real question is, what is the damage in Galveston?" asked South...


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Flood Buckets Urgently Needed
Written: 9/17/2008
The damage left by hurricane Ike has cause immediate widespread need for flood buckets. We are working on locations where they can be sent. The current list is as follows:  La Porte 9601 W. Fairmont Pkwy La Porte, TX 77571 Contact: Rev. Kelley Sullivan Cell 281-413-4121 Church 281-47...

Follow us on Twitter
Written: 9/17/2008
If you want to follow conference news and updates from your smart phone or pda, you can access our twitter feed at http://twitter.com/txconferenceumc. We will be updating it with information and links so that those without power can still access information and resources wit...


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The Advance - Ways to Help
Written: 9/17/2008
What is the Advance?  US: HURRICANE IKE RESPONSE Hurricane Ike made its devastating landfall in Galveston, Tex., and along the Gulf Coast on Sept. 12, forcing many people into temporary shelters and leaving about 1.5 million people without power. Hurricane Ike caused severe damage to homes,...

A message from Tomsk Russia UMC
Written: 9/16/2008 10:57:54 AM
Dear friends! We are so much concerned about you having heard of the evacuation from Houston again. We constantly keep you in our prayers. Please, let us know how you are and what is going on. With love and prayers, Yelena and all of your friends in Tomsk.  ...

Disaster Response Partnership Opportunities
Written: 9/16/2008 10:54:08 AM
Houston Food Bank They have truckloads of food. They want to deliver palettes to locations for mass distributions. Contact: 713-223-3700   Alliance Ministries Short Term: Change of Clothes Packs (pants, shirt, three pair of underwear. Labeled: adult/child, male/female, size) Long Term...


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Hurricane Ike Response Teams
Written: 9/16/2008
At this time we are planning for groups who wish to aid our region with disaster response. If your conference or church has a response team that is interested in coming here please go to: http://www.txcumc.org/ikevolunteer   We will respond as quickly as possible.  ...


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Churches - Report Damage to Conference Office
Written: 9/15/2008
Damage Reports All churches need to report damage to the conference office as soon as possible.  Contact us at one of the extensions below or e-mail Rick Goodrich at rgoodrich@txcumc.org. Leave a brief message letting us know: The name, city and district of the church Are th...

Affected Churches by District
Written: 9/15/2008
If your church was affected by Hurricane IKE, we are collecting information on the status of your church. The information will be displayed on the following pages:   Please let us know your church’s status here.   To see which churches have been reported as open or closed, see t...

Hurricane Ike Response to Begin in Texas, Louisiana
Written: 9/15/2008
By United Methodist News Service United Methodists in Texas and Louisiana are trying to assess damage from Hurricane Ike and respond to emergency needs along its wide trail of destruction on the heels of Hurricane Gustav. With 110-mph winds, Ike pounded the U.S. coast on Sept. 13, submerging thous...

Conference Office Closed
Written: 9/14/2008 11:09:55 PM
The UM Service Center will be closed until Wednesday, September 17, 2008. ...