From church to church, amen!

AMEN to Christ UMC, Kings-ville, which had its first Vacation Bible School in a few years this summer. Many members helped out with the music, food, lessons and recreation for the 10 children in attendance.
AMEN to First UMC, La Feria, for continuing to be involved in missions and outreach ministries. A work team was sent to Rio Bravo to repair the roof and dining hall area of a school damaged by a recent tornado. The UM Women have adopted the Prayer Shawl ministry.
AMEN to First UMC, Mercedes, for fostering positive community feelings. Church members played host to National Night Out festivities for Mercedes in conjunction with the police and fire departments and four other churches. Neighborhood children enjoyed a fire truck tour, a moon bounce, face painting, and cookies and milk. Borden donated milk for the cookie and milk station, and the school district lent a stage for use by three participating bands. One hundred people attended this event on the church’s front lawn.
AMEN to Valley Praise at First UMC, Harlingen. This congregation participated in the National Night Out in Harlingen. Members were grateful to the police department for giving them a chance to spread a message of hope to the community.
AMEN to First UMC, Weslaco, for reaching out to the community with the H2O program. H2O is a chance for church members to offer the water of life to neighbors as they open their homes for food, fellowship and a video designed to foster discussion and sharing faith stories.
AMEN to First UMC, Alice, for working creatively to reach out to the community. Church members have sponsored the Crossbar Coffee House for community youths. The church is serving a greater number of children in Sunday school. A delegation went to the worship workshop in San Antonio for more ideas. As the pastor put it in the newsletter: “We’re beginning to realize that we may not be the church we were 30 years ago, but we hold the key to what the church will be 30 years from now. “
AMEN to St. Mark UMC, McAllen, for introducing the Adopt an Apportionment idea. After describing each apportionment in the church newsletter, individuals and groups were challenged to pick an apportionment that speaks to their heart and pay on it.
AMEN to St Mark UMC, McAllen, for empowering kids. The congregation published St. Mark Today, a publication just for kids, and sent it out with the church newsletter. The kids’ newsletter highlighted the many kids programs and included these words about acolytes: “They are very important, and only a kid can do it.”
AMEN to First UMC, Brownsville, for continuing to reach out to young families. The church has added a children’s choir and a young adult Sunday school class.
AMEN to First UMC, Mission, for offering a contemporary service at 11:30 a.m. to meet the needs of the community.
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.