Author: Sam Ward (Page 2 of 6)

Heart of Texas Association News – June 2020

June 10, 2020 / Sam Ward

We held our first all online Heart of Texas Association meeting on Saturday, May 16th. It was, of course, with regret that we had to change to this format instead of gathering at Weimar UCC. However, we rejoice that we had 51 attendees representing 17 churches. While we have had more people attend an Association meeting, we had the highest number of churches ever represented, and we voted with joy to welcome Friedens United in Gay Hill back into our Association. Each church gave a short report about their life and activities, which is always a vital and great part of our meeting. I appreciate your efforts to join together at this time to continue our reach across churches for ministry in Christ’s name. We have all learned a great deal very quickly about being the church in cyberspace during the pandemic.

At our spring meeting, we had Ecclesiastical Councils for Kerry Kirtley and Arlene Turner, approving both for ordination. Kerry and Arlene have both come to the UCC from the United Methodist Church. Kerry was welcomed to the UCC by Bethany Congregational in San Antonio. She is a pastor, along with Billie Watts, of the vibrant new congregation Touchstone Community Church, in Boerne. Arlene was welcomed to the UCC by United Christian Church, where she has had many opportunities to serve in ministry during the church’s interim period. We look forward to Kerry’s ordination to her call at Touchstone when that can happen, and we offer our encouragement and support to Arlene as she starts her search for a call to ministry.

At our meeting, we also extended a call until Labor Day to gather supplies for Back Bay Mission hygiene kits or to send in donations to our Association to allow us to buy supplies in bulk for these kits. In early September, we will find a way to pick up any kits our churches have assembled, to buy the supplies most needed using monetary donations, and to transport these out to Biloxi to Back Bay Mission for the homeless folks they serve. If you have kits to be picked up, contact Liz Nash at [email protected] or Linda Coats at [email protected]. If you wish to donate money, send it to our Association treasurer, Joe Ward, with an indication that the gift is for Back Bay hygiene kits. To find out the supply list for the kits and where to send money, go to our website at http://hotaucc.org/index.html and click on “Report on the Spring Meeting” and “Back Bay Mission Hygiene Kit Info.” You will also see Glen Schoeneberg’s extra verse for the song “Pass It On” that he and Dottie sang for us during worship, a gentle and fun reminder about how to pass on God’s love in this pandemic.

Finally, I want to share a word of caution with you. I recently have encountered several “phishing” attempts via email and text — many more than usual. As you may know, “phishing” refers to attempts to commit fraud by impersonating a friend, company, or organization in order to obtain personal information such as your credit card number or to get you to send money or gift cards. These attempts have mainly come as emails or texts that look like legitimate contacts from our pastors, often with church information on them. Others ask you to click on a link. If you receive a message that appears to be from a minister but you aren’t absolutely sure, check the email address or phone number, and also check in a different way with the person who appears to have sent it. Do not click on a link and do not send gift cards, money, etc. if those are requested. Many people are working for the good of all during this time but, sadly, some are not.

Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Association Minister

Slumber Falls Camp is Moving Forward with Camps

June 10, 2020 / Sam Ward

Submitted by Rev. Jeremy Albers, Director of Outdoor Ministry

This past weekend the SCC Board of Directors approved the Decision Tree presented by the SCC COVID-19 task force on Slumber Falls Camp. For the past three weeks the task force took into consideration the many facets of offering or not offering camp this summer. The findings were that a simple Yes or No was not adequate because new information continues to come out and that circumstances outside of our control could have major impacts.

From this came a decision tree that encouraged Slumber Falls to move forward. Support for camps to move forward came from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), American Camping Association and YMCA, state and local health agencies, and the Texas Department of Health which oversees our state licensing as a recognized youth camp.

The decision on whether SFC would move forward was based on recent events, our ability to mitigate health risks, and enact our health and safety protocols if needed. The overall well-being of our youth and the challenges they are facing, as well as our ability to acquire necessary supplies and support from third parties which are vital to offering camp were also accessed. We also outlined the risks to the camp and conference.

Since there is a financial component to offering camps and the fact that we are offering worry free camping this summer, the burden of costs will initially fall on the camp until the camps occur. If camps do not happen, then the camp and conference will bear the burden of covering these costs if an exit strategy is enacted.

The other section of the Decision tree contained exit strategies if our current resources and supply chains changed, the government and experts pull their support, or if we do not get a critical mass of registration by June 10^th of 180 campers.

We believe that summer camps are vital to the wellbeing of our youth, but health and safety concerns of our campers, staff, volunteers and families remain a priority. Changes will be enacted this summer to many of our practices and procedures, and we will be asking our volunteers, camper families, and churches to help by following our suggestions for creating a “camping bubble” that minimizes risks. This information is being finalized and will be uploaded to the SFC website and sent to parents with their camper letter.

Parents are encouraged to sign up their campers before the June 10^th deadline. Registration costs this summer are worry free meaning that parents can change their minds at any point. They can move their child to a different camp, roll their registration to the 2021 camping season, donate their registration money to the ministry of Slumber Falls Camp or receive a full refund (including the deposit) this summer. The camp will bear the risks in order to provide our parents a peace of mind. Parents have the choice. More information on worry free camping will be posted online.

Please keep the camp in your prayers, lift us up in your churches, and consider becoming a Friend of the Camp. If you wish to volunteer, please sign up. Slumber Falls is committed to sharing God’s love to all!

From the Paster – June 2020

June 10, 2020 / Sam Ward

Recently President Trump sent National Guardsmen and police to tear gas and use flash grenades to clear peaceful protestors from exercising their constitutional right to protest. This was done so the President could stroll to St. John’s Episcopal Church. He did not go there to pray for the country or George Floyd’s family. He went there solely for a photo op of him standing in front of the church holding a Bible. Once the picture was taken he left. It was later turned into a campaign style video, complete with stirring orchestral music showing him striding past National Guard troops, pumping his fist and culminating in him standing holding the Bible aloft in front of the church.

When Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, senior pastor of the church, was asked about this incident she noted the Presidents earlier inflammatory words and militarized approach to the protests. She went on to say, “He did not pray. He did not offer a word of balm or condolence to those who are grieving. He did not seek to unify the country, but rather he used our symbols and our sacred space as a way to reinforce a message that is antithetical to everything that the person of Jesus, whom we follow, and the gospel texts that we strive to emulate…represent.”

President Trump and the First Lady later posed in front of the shrine for John Paul II in Washington D.C. The Catholic Archbishop said he found the President’s actions to be “baffling and reprehensible.”

When Bishop Budde was asked what the Bible has to say to our current crisis she said, “Our faith has many things to say because it speaks to every dimension of the human experience. And so our texts would offer words of consolation to those who are grieving. Our text would offer words of encouragement for those who are striving for justice. Jesus himself spoke of bringing the kingdom of God, the reign of God, God’s shalom and universal love into human experience. The Bible speaks of God’s demand for us to walk humbly and to do justice and to love neighbor. And so all of those things are found in our texts, and those are the texts that I would point us to as a way of saying that God stands with those who are suffering. God walks with those who feel they are oppressed. And God has harsh things to say to those of us with privilege and power who us that power to be instruments of oppression for others.”

Heart of Texas Association News – May 2020

May 4, 2020 / Sam Ward

As announced earlier, the Heart of Texas Association will be meeting via Zoom on Saturday morning, May 16th. Sign-in begins at 10 am, the meeting begins at 10:30, and we intend to be done at noon or a little after. We will have some extra security in place with a way to sign up to attend through a website link in order to prevent “Zoom bombing” harassment. You will need to sign up to attend in advance so we have the list of people coming, and then you will get the meeting Zoom link. (Sounds complicated but it is easy.) If you do not know how to use Zoom, please email me ([email protected]) before the meeting date so we can help you know what to do or have a friend walk you through it. As primary agenda items, we will be having the Ecclesiastical Councils of Kerry Kirtley and Arlene Turner whose ordination papers are already available on our Association website, http://hotaucc.org/. We believe it will be more important than ever to for our churches to speak about their lives together in this challenging time as we share ideas and lift one another up. We will be posting all of the documents for the meeting, including the agenda, financial report, past minutes, and any other written reports on the Associaton website, and we ask that you download those and read through them before the meeting. (It is harder to read them during the meeting while you are on Zoom.)

The South Central Conference Annual meeting will happen online on Saturday, June 13th in order to do the business of the Conference. The SCC will be sending out information on how this will work. Major items on the agenda will include voting on bylaw changes (posted on our Association website); meeting our new Consulting Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Campbell Lovett; elections; budget approval; and perhaps more that I am not presently aware of. Campbell Lovett has already been working with many of us with his wise and caring counsel, helping bring resources on applying for CARES Act money and fundraising to our churches, as well as beginning to be a pastor to us, in this difficult time.

Our Committee on Ministry met by Zoom for the first time during March. The Committee interviewed Kerry Kirtley and Arlene Turner, recommending them for ordination and, as it turns out, giving them a good rehearsal for their online Ecclesiastical Councils. The Committee also voted to license Brett Hart, who is a member of St. Peter’s Coupland and is serving as their minister while Martin Garrison is on sabbatical. Brett has come to the UCC with about 30 years of ministry experience and a similar amount of experience as a high school science teacher. He left his last church position to begin the Serene Disciple Project at the home he shares with his wife at Egret Isle Farm near Coupland. The Serene Disciple project continues, and you can learn about this unique ministry at https://egretislefarm.com/about-us/. We welcome Brett!

As I close, I lift up our churches, ministers, and all who are working in creative and challenging ways to do ministry now. Let’s continue to pray for each other and support each other. I also lift up a giving opportunity. The Christmas Fund, run by the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ, is now responding to many requests for emergency help for pastors and church staff. If you would like to know more or donate, go to https://www.pbucc.org/index.php/art-ma-landing/opportunities-for-giving.

Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Association Minister

50th Anniversary of Earth Day Tree Planting

May 4, 2020 / Sam Ward

The Gossett Family came out to Slumber Falls and helped plant the three trees. To dig a hole they had to use a pneumatic drill! They also had the biggest tree which means they need the biggest hole! A number of you came out to help plant the tree at the church in memory of Ken Triesch.

Our thanks to Jeremy Albers for picking up the trees and inviting us out to the camp! He, Benjamin and Pastor Scott got in on the tree planting as well. We had a perfect day and it was good to get out of the house and get outside.

(These pictures were taken by Sheila Angerer)

National UCC Strengthen the Church Offering

May 4, 2020 / Sam Ward

Please join us in common mission, vision, and purpose by taking up the Strengthen the Church offering on May 31, 2020

We are amid a crisis that is demanding that we remain physically distant at a time when so many need the love and hope of a strong church to walk with them through an extraordinary global emergency. As many of us now present our ministry online, we pray that our love is being felt across technology, reaching those who need us most. Being church in new ways has demanded much of us as we have faced this challenging time together.

As we continue to explore new ways to be the church that people want in this time, your support of the Strengthen the Church offering on May 31 is now needed more than ever. The Strengthen the Church offering builds up the United Church of Christ by providing the financial resources to be a Spirit-inspired and world-changing Christian movement. Funding supports leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation; all strategies needed as we work through this current challenge and beyond. Conferences and the National Setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations.

The Strengthen the Church offering ensures, together, we grow stronger

Strengthen the Church funds ministry that allows us to benefit from best practices, insights, and innovations across the life of the UCC. Because of your support, new churches emerge, congregations are revitalized, and leadership skills are enhanced. Many new and revitalized churches are leading the way now as we adapt to new technology in all our congregations.

Please continue to help the United Church of Christ expand its light by taking up the Strengthen the Church offering on May 31, 2020

Materials for the offering have been mailed to churches. If you have not received your supply or need additional materials, visit UCC Resources at www.uccresources.com. Recognizing that many churches are not meeting in person, we are providing a number of digital resources online. Visit ucc.org/stc for downloadable material.

Thank you for your continued support of your local Conference, the National Setting, and our work together to build the Body of Christ. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jacqueline Owen, Development Strategist, at [email protected] or 216-736-2169.

Blessings,

Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Associate General Minister
Justice & Local Church Ministries

Author: Sam Ward (Page 2 of 6)

Heart of Texas Association News – June 2020

50th Anniversary of Earth Day Tree Planting

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