Briefs

Home for Christmas reports to be submitted by Jan. 2
The Rev. William Triggs Sr. dies Nov. 21 in Tyler at 89
Corpus Christi church starts year with Bible reading
Austin pastor writes book about offering in worship
UM bishop to give lectures at Austin seminary Feb. 4-6
UM finance chief decides to leave office Monday
Pastor finds burning cross, suffers mild heart attack

 

Home for Christmas reports to be submitted by Jan. 2
Home for Christmas feedback forms are due Jan. 2 to the Communications and Public Witness Office.
The forms, sent Sept. 6, ask 10 questions about the Christmas Eve outreach campaign. The information goes to the Board of Discipleship.

The Rev. William Triggs Sr. dies Nov. 21 in Tyler at 89
The funeral for the Rev. William A. “Billy” Triggs Sr. was Nov. 28 at Marvin UMC, Tyler.
Triggs, a retired Southwest Texas Conference clergy member, died Nov. 21 in Tyler. He was 89.
Triggs began his ministry in 1954. He served congregations in Agua Dulce, Austin, Buda, Freer, Llano, Manchaca, Oak Ridge, Pharr, Robstown, San Antonio, Valley Springs and Victoria. He retired in 1984.

Corpus Christi church starts year with Bible reading
First UMC, Corpus Christi, is beginning 2008 with a public reading of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation.
The reading, which is expected to take about 80 hours, is to begin at midnight Monday and continue into the morning of Jan. 4.
Some 160 volunteers have signed up for 30-minute reading shifts.

Austin pastor writes book about offering in worship
An Austin pastor has ended 2007 by having a book published.
The Rev. James Amerson, pastor of Simpson UMC, Austin, has written Celebrating the Offering with his brother, Melvin.
Upper Room Ministries, a unit of the General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tenn., has published the 112-page volume. It discusses the importance of the offering in worship.

UM bishop to give lectures at Austin seminary Feb. 4-6
A UM bishop is to deliver one of seven featured lectures during MidWinters 2008 at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Feb. 4-6.
Bishop William H. Willimon of the Birmingham (Ala.) Episcopal Area is to give his three Thomas White Currie Lectures over the three days. The presentation is titled “The Salvation of Jesus Christ.”
All lectures are free and open to the public. Lecture schedule is at www.austinseminary.edu.

UM finance chief decides to leave office Monday
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The chief executive of the UMC finance agency is to retire Monday instead of next June.
Sandra K. Lackore, who is on leave to care for her husband as he battles leukemia, has headed the General Council on Finance and Administration since 1996.
“In the months that Cecil has been ill, it has become abundantly clear to me that I must give my full attention to him,” Lackore said in a Dec. 14 statement to her staff.
Lackore, 63, announced in September she would retire June 30. She had planned to return to work in January after taking a three-month family leave.

Pastor finds burning cross, suffers mild heart attack
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—A McMinnville, Tenn., pastor is recovering from a heart attack after finding a burning wooden cross and noose on his front porch Dec. 10.
The Rev. Robert Utley of Clark UMC, McMinnville, reported hearing someone banging on his door shortly after midnight. When he investigated, he found a small wooden cross burning on his porch. On his gutter a thin white rope had been tied into a noose.
The Rev. Daniel M. Hayes, a close friend, said the shock of the incident sent Utley to the hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered a small heart attack.
Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.