#riotxac

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Transforming Communities and Uniting Peoples

My favorite plenary session of the conference was Saturday afternoon. There were various reports from the people doing good things for the communities they serve. The work these organizations are doing is amazing!

One such group we heard from is Project Transformation. This is the best of the best. The basic idea is that college age students serve as interns over the summer providing a day camps for school aged children at churches in underserved communities. Their time at the camp is not only spent on fun but also helping to provide reading and academic support to bridge the summer learning gap. They are able to effect not only the lives of the children who participate but also the interns and the communities. If you’d like more information here’s their website http://projecttransformation.org/riotx/ The program in the Rio Texas Conference is small right now but it hopes to grow over the coming years.

Woot! This is where it’s at!

Brenda

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Service of Remembrance

Tonight was the Service of Remembrance. It was a very nice service, led by Bishop Dorff, with the (excellent) message given by Bishop Minerva Carcaño. As the names of each of those ministers or spouses who have died in the last year were read, a candle was lit. If present, the family stood. I wanted to stand for each of the others, those who didn’t have anyone there to stand for them. I thought of my grandparents, members of the North Mississippi Conference (now Mississippi Conference). I wondered if anyone had stood for them, especially my grandmother, who had died so far away, in the Oklahoma Conference.

Then, more names. One person started reading a list, then another joined in with a different list, then another, and another, and another until the room was a cacophony of sound, full of names, an accounting of lives. It was very moving, to understand that all these people would be remembered in this way, every year.

Does this happen in every conference? This summer, were my grandparents’ names read aloud, heard by ears that had no idea who they were, but remembered nonetheless? I hope so! But if not, I remember, will always remember.

Isaac Page Box, Senior

Grace Jones Box

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Ready to Come To The Waters #RioTxAC (at Selena Auditorium)

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OHUMC Laity Delegation is in the house! #RioTxAC (at Selena Auditorium)

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Born-again PK reminiscings

When I was growing up, Annual Conference was just a way of life. Just like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, there was Annual Conference. Sometimes it was in the city we lived in or near (variously, Tulsa or Oklahoma City) – those years I had to go and stay in the child care (ugh).  In the years it wasn’t in our city, other arrangements were usually made. Grandparents might come stay with my brother and I, or I might spend the long weekend with friends, or a long-term babysitter might come stay with us. 

My overwhelming impression of conference was that it was BORING. Stupendously so.  Except there was this … dinner variety show called GridIron that my parents looked forward to with great anticipation every year, full of hilarity and fun.  When they’d get home from it late late at night, they were still laughing, and then there would be inside jokes between them and my aunt and uncle (not just a Preacher’s Kid, but a Preacher’s Niece and a Preacher’s Granddaughter, for that matter. And now a Preacher’s Cousin. Maybe someday a Preacher’s Mom or Preacher’s Grandmother?), wait, where was I? Oh, right, inside jokes between my parents and aunt/uncle and their clergy friends. Oh, how I wanted to go to GridIron! But…it was never to be.  

Only recently have I found out the GridIron started as an underground young progressive clergy satire show in much the spirit of Laugh In. I wonder if anyone ever filmed it?  I wonder if RioTexas has something like it?  Would I be invited if I were clergy? Would it be like a secret club? Like the Skull & Bones at Yale? Would there be a secret handshake?  

What would a secret liberal clergy society’s handshake look like? 

- Joye

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull, where are you? #RioTxAC (at Sea Wall Food & Spirits)

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The United Methodists of The Rio Texas Conference are focused on reaching out to the people of South Texas. Some of our churches are located in some of the fastest-growing areas of the country. Others are located in areas where people are struggling with issues of poverty, lack of affordable housing, and a loss of hope. We are committed to providing vital missions, vital congregations, and strong leaders to connect our churches to the people. Los Metodistas Unidos de la Conferencia Río Texas se enfocan en llegar a las personas del sur de Texas. Algunas de nuestras iglesias están localizadas en algunas áreas de rápido crecimiento del país. Otras se localizan en áreas donde la gente está luchando con problemas de pobreza, falta de techo, y pérdida de esperanza. Estamos comprometidos en proporcionar misiones vitales, congregaciones vitales, y líderes fuertes para conectar a nuestras iglesias con la gente.

We are representing our home church, Oak Hill United Methodist Church, at the Rio Texas Annual Conference meeting happening June 11-14, 2015 in Corpus Christi, Texas.  - Joye

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We Are Here!

Brenda and I have arrived in Corpus Christi. In search of beach-y-ness and food all at once, I made a poor decision and we went to a place called Seawall. Beautiful view, and the food LOOKED great. BUT – it was terrible. So, don’t go there. Tomorrow we’re not sure what we’re going to do until it’s time to register. Hopefully not puke up tonight’s dinner. Ugh. I’m thinking g sleep in, catch up on Game of Thrones, then sit by the pool and use our free drink tickets (it pays to be nice!) at the pool bar. We’ll see, though.  - Joye