From church to church, amen!

AMEN to Wesley Nurses. In their church newsletters this month, our Wesley nurses—Tracy Kneiszel at First UMC, Alice, and Betty Cornelius at First UMC, Kingsville—listed scripture sources and Christian ideals for helping parents continue to parent effectively in our changing world. One idea was to consider using similar standards for our own entertainment choices that we require our children to follow (Titus 2:12).
AMEN to Freer UMC, which had an entry in the city’s “Freedom Fest” parade. The entry included a decorated float flanked by motorcycle enthusiasts. Members presented Koozies decorated with church information to parade watchers.
AMEN to youths at Wesley UMC, Harlingen, who delivered flyers to several areas around the church advertising their Vacation Bible School. With the help of this evangelistic effort, three-fourths of the VBS attendees came from the community, the preschool or were grandchildren of members.
AMEN to First UMC, Mission. It sent 5,000 postcards advertising Vacation Bible School, had a registration social complete with ice cream, involved more than 100 volunteers and saw 16 children ask Jesus into their hearts.
AMEN to Holy Conversations. Using this book by Gil Rendle and Alice Mann as a guide, First UMC, McAllen, has scheduled open gatherings for the exercise of “Finding Our Biblical Story.” “The basic assignment,” says Ray Kiser in his newsletter article, “is for us to come up with the biblical story that best describes this church as it is, where it is, right now. We aren’t looking for right or wrong answers but for helpful and engaging discussion. … (W)e find it helpful to look at our church and ourselves through a variety of biblical lenses.”
AMEN to First UMC, Donna, for encouraging folks to take a midweek break from stresses of the world at its first Taize Service. That’s a meditative candlelight experience with sung prayer and chant, scripture reading and silence.
AMEN to Camp Thicket and congregations that sponsor campers. First UMC, Weslaco, sponsored 10 children and youths this summer.
AMEN to First UMC, Laredo, which was willing to write a grant application. The Lamar-Bruni-Vergara Foundation in Laredo has approved a grant to help the church become a fully handicapped-accessible congregation, upgrade the sound system in the sanctuary, build a playground for children and refurbish the basketball court across the street from the church.
AMEN to Wesley Nurses who are involved in Operation Lone Star, which combines forces with other agencies to provide medical and dental care to needy families in the Valley during July and August.
AMEN to First UMC, Mercedes, for its Mexico Back to School Ministry. The church has collected donations for scholarships for elementary students in addition to getting school uniforms and shoes ready and distributed at Back to School Registration in Nuevo Progreso.
AMEN to First UMC, McAllen, which obeyed Jesus’ words to “visit them in prison” when it sent a team along with placemats on Kairos No. 3 at the Segovia Prison. Placemats were made for “each man in white” by the church’s VBS children. The men were overwhelmed by the love and generosity shown to them.
Do you have an AMEN to share for next month’s edition? If so, contact Mary Howard at (956) 421-3630 or yard23@aol.com.