Wanted Part-Time Youth Director and Choir Director

The Groves First UMC (Near Beaumont) has openings for a part-time Youth
Director and Choir Director. We also have a choir scholarship for a
talented college student! Please mail or e-mail resumes to Groves
FUMC, PO
757, Groves, TX 77619.

CONTACT INFORMATION - Katrina Evacuees -

Ru Camp - 713-385-1919
Family Advocate Supervisor ruama@gracecommunityservices.org

Director of Disaster Response
Kathie Mann 713-521-9383
texaspim@methodists.net
5215 Main St.
Houston, Tx. 77002

CONTACT INFORMATION - Rita Evacuees

Katie Beran 409-225-3136
Volunteer Coordinator jkberan@direcway.com

Joe Beran 409-225-3135
Construction Supervisor jkberan@direcway.com

Angela Baker 409-225-4380
Family Advocates Supervisor praypatpers@yahoo.com

SCORE®

To All Not-for-Profits; Faith-Based Organizations; For-Profit Small Businesses; Social Services Agencies; & Churches
“How to Build or Recover a For-Profit Business & a Not-For-Profit & How to Write a Business Plan” Wednesday, December 7, 2005,1:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m.
John Gray Center, Lamar Beaumont campus...more>

Youth Director Position at First United Methodist Church, Vidor

Youth Director Position at First United Methodist Church, Vidor, Texas
Applications are now being accepted for position of Youth Director. Job description will be available in church office at 501 N. Main St. Deadline for turning the applications in is Monday, December 12 th. Position starts on January 1, 2006.
If you have any questions, please contact the church at 409-769-2878.
HEALTH CLINIC

HEALTH CLINIC

Shots will be available on Monday, December 5th from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. for flu, pneumonia, hepatitis a, and tetanus shots. Seniors (65 & up) and youth (up to 18 yrs.) are free. St. Paul UMC, 821 Texas Avenue -P.O. Box 1407 Port Arthur, Texas 77641, phone 409 985.9977

CALL CENTER MOVED TO BEAUMONT:

CALL CENTER MOVED TO BEAUMONT:
The Disaster Recovery Call Center has been moved to Wesley UMC in Beaumont. The phone number for local calls is 409-892-0140. The 877 number will be up and running soon at the Call
Center. Please call for information not only for volunteer team scheduling but also for debris removal from homes.

DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE:

DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE:The Disaster Recovery Team is hard at work organizing projects, sites, caseworker training and handling phones at the Call Center. If a group in your church is looking for an opportunity to serve, workers are desperately needed in East Texas. Trees are still on houses and roads.
Please bring your chain saws if you want to cut trees. Others on the team can drag trash and cut trees to the side of the property to be picked up by the city. The goal is to finish the clean up by January 1 and begin work on damaged churches. Volunteer for one day or more. Work parties can consist of one or more individuals.

Contact Katie Beran - 409-225-3136
Joe Beran - 409-225-3135
jkberan@direcway.com

Port Arthur Area Thanksgiving Feast

Port Arthur Area Thanksgiving Feast - You are invited on Sunday, Nov. 27 th
Friendswood UMC , Friendswood Community Church , Joe's Barbeque Company, and St. Paul UMC join together to celebrate our first Port Arthur Area Thanksgiving Feast on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 821 Texas Avenue. The feast begins at 1:00 pm and continues through 3:00 pm. Let us come together during this time of gratitude and give thanks to God as we share a meal together...more>>

Family Advocate training

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

It’s been almost 2 months since Hurricane Rita devastated Southeast Texas. And although some things have returned to normal, there are many, many families still suffering. Partners in Mission is in the process of training Family Advocates to assist these families. The Christian Family Advocate is a special person acting out of a deep faith whose role is to enable/empower survivors to help themselves as much as possible. The job of the Family Advocate is to identify survivor’s needs and connect them to resources. The Family Advocate works over the long-term with survivors to make an in-depth assessment of their needs in order to determine which are disaster-related, and then help the survivors develop a recovery plan. A Family Advocate must be a good communicator, must be resourceful and creative, persistent, patient and faithful.

Family Advocate training will be held on:

Sunday, November 20 from 2-8 p.m. at First United Methodist,
502 6th St, Orange, TX, (409) 886-7466

Monday, November 21 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at St. Paul Methodist Church in Port Arthur, 821 Texas Avenue -P.O. Box 1407
Port Arthur, Texas 77641 (409) 409- 985-9977

You are only required to attend 6-hour training session. If you have any questions or should you need additional information, please contact Angela Baker, Family Assistance Director, at ambaker@gt.rr.com or 225-4380. Please pray about this opportunity and God will guide you!

Our scheduled DCYM MISSION DAY November 13

DCYM MISSION DAY November 13

Due to the devastation of Rita the Beaumont District Youth are joining with Partners in Mission to do Hurricane clean-up in Mid- and South- Jefferson County, and at the Wesley Foundation at Lamar University

Our scheduled DCYM meeting on November 13 will be as follows:

2:00 pm Meet at FUMC Port Neches for a short devotional and work site information!
2:30 pm Divide into our work teams and head out to the work sites
5:00 pm Return to FUMC Port Neches for Pizza and any DCYM business
5:45 Return home

ALL adults and Youth are encouraged to come!

You will need to bring:

$5 for anyone who wants pizza
Work gloves
Work clothes (closed toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeve shirts)

Heavy-Duty trash bags
Rakes
Shovels
Bug spray and Sunscreen

ALL Participants will receive a FREE T-Shirt

For questions, Contact District Youth Coordinator Rev. Todd Jordan at toddjordan@trinitybmt.org or call (409)-892-8121 x113

China UMC is currently seeking a youth director

China UMC is currently seeking a youth director. The hours are flexible, must be college age (at least 18), will have adults helping to supervise youth. For more information, contact Betty Edwards at 409-550-8409.

Training for Volunteer Case Managers

I want to remind you that Partners in Mission will hold a training for volunteer case managers on Wednesday, November 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Beaumont. Wesley UMC is located at 3810 Major Drive in Beaumont (Corner of Major and Folsom).

This training will be conducted by staff from UMCOR and will equip volunteers from our congregations and organizations to engage in ongoing case management for 6 to 10 families from this area.

Please share notice of this meeting with members of your denomination or organization who you feel would be interested.

Likewise, please feel free to invite anyone interested in the second meeting of the emerging Long Term Disaster Recovery Committee that will take place on Thursday, November 3 from 1:30 to 2:30 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 32nd & Gladys.

Clay Whitaker

Greetings to our wonderful district pastors in the name of Christ, adn blessings as the Lord helps us in recovering from Hurricane Rita. I wanted you to be aware of some response efforts and developments presently taking place in our region.

1. Our Conference has hired two marvelous people, Rev. Joe and Katie Beran, who will serve as on-site coordinators and resource persons for all incoming teams. If you need work teams in your area, please call them, 225-3135 or 225-3136. Also, if you have work teams coming to your church or area, please keep them in the loop so they can keep accurate records of the big response picture!

2. We have also established a "Call Center" operating from the Methodist Center in Houston. The number if 1-877-774-2700. Volunteers are presently being recruited and trained, and the Call Center is open from 8:30 - 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

3. FUMC, Vidor is functioning as somethings of a distribution center. Thanks to the good folks of First Baptist, Vidor, we have access to a large warehouse and are already taking advantage of that. Presently, we have on hand a good supply of water, diapers, baby food, flood buckets, health kits, bedding pakcs, and school kits. Also, we have 4 generators that we will LOAN to anyone with the need. Any day now, we will receive 24,000 mops and brooms to give away to the folks of Southeast Texas. If you want to reserve some for whoever, please call me ASAP.

4. If there are items you need no mentions in the above list, call me. We will see about acquiring them. If you have items you wish to share with others across our district, we want to hear from you. The more we network together, the better!

5. Thanks to Joe Beran, we have an offer to buy top-quality, $30-per-gallon paint for $2 per gallon. Most of this paint is latex, and the colors will be ordinary, nothing fancy. We can purchase up to 6,000 gallons. Let us know if you're interested and can put forth some money toward the purchase.

6. Transportation for Katrina & Rita Evacuees to anywhere in the U.S.

The State of Texas is providing one-way AIRLINE, BUS or TRAIN TICKETS for Katrina or Rita evacuees whoo need transportation. These tickets are good for anywhere in the continental 48 states. To find out more, call (713) 845-3711.

Clay (409)769-2878 or 291-0027

"Everyone is invited to participte in the Charity Bar B Q Fest being held at Aldersgate Trinity UMC on Oct. 15th. 10am-2pm. The tickets are now for sale. We are asking a donation of $7 per ticket. All proceeds will be donated to 4 area charities by the church. The charities recieving these funds are: Savlation Army, United Board of MIssions, Port Cities Missions and Community Care. There will live music provided by "Second Wind" and there will also be a bike show! The location of the event is on the church parking lot. [ Flyer ]

Location : 3600 Memorial Blvd., Port Arthur, Texas.
Time: Sat. Oct. 15th from 10am til 2pm

Please support this first annual Charity Bar B Q Fest. "Our hope is to pre-sell 1000 tickets for this event. It is our belief that with your help and support, we will meet that goal!" Rev. Joy Richards

Greetings in the name of our Lord from Clay Whitaker!

Greetings in the name of our Lord from Clay Whitaker!

I spoke today with Rev. Gerald Richardson who works out of the Louisiana Conference office and is playing a major role in coordinating relief efforts for Methodists. He informed me of 4 locations that are ready for teams right away. They are as follows:

1. Rev. James Mitchell 985-626-3307 (St. Timothy’s UMC, Mandeville) or
   985-624-6158 (home). Scott Adams is the Associate.
2. Rev. Alan Einsel 985-732-2568 (Bogalusa UMC) or 985-732-3148 (Home)
3. Rev. John Williams 985-641-5829 (Slidell UMC) or 985-726-2639 (Home)
4. Rev. Flint Shea 985-792-5255 (North Cross UMC, Madisonville) 985-792-1944
   (Home)
5. Rev. Tim Smith 985-863-7452 (Pearl River UMC) or 985-641-6082 (Home)

If you, or someone you know, wants to lead a team, please publish this information. Team leaders may contact one of the above directly to set up dates and details of your trip. No special training is required for these locations, other than a willing-ness to get dirty and work hard!

I would like to take a team into Louisiana, leaving on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 2, and returning on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The details (location, project, cost, etc.) should be in place by Monday or Tuesday of next week. If you're interested in going, call me. (See numbers in next paragraph)

We do insist - This is NON-NEGOTIALBE! - that all teams representing the Texas Conference be insured through the GBGM program, which is very reasonable (i.e. about .75 a day). If you need forms, contact Kathie Mann at the Conference Office (713-521-9383) or me (409-769-2878 or 2060).

Rev. Richardson needs to be informed of any team representing a Texas Conference UMC working in Louisiana. It's a simple matter of calling the storm center at 1-877-345-5193, and informing whoever answers, even if it's an answering machine, of your trip, i.e., destination, dates, church(es) you represent, and a contact person from your team, including a phone number for that person. This is another non-negotiable. Please follow procedure and inform Rev. Richardson of your involvement in Louisiana.

Here's another exciting opportunity. The Gateway UMC, Clear Lake, has set up a base camp, hosted by the St. Paul's UMC in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Several tents are in place (with air conditioning and showers) that can accommodate 40-60 people. All interested parties need to go to their web site @ katrina-relief.net. Look for a link where potential volunteers can register. If you prefer, call Rev. Randy Hageman at Gateway, 1-713-551-4800.

Our drop-off location at The Woodlands UMC on Saturday, Sept. 10, was a huge success. Many thanks to Fran and Jess Stokely and Christian Alliance for getting that truck in place, to Brother Thone Drawsand who donated his time to drive, and to Brother Pat Curtain and his team of volunteers from The Woodlands who took care of all the loading! You all are awesome!

That huge 18-wheeler was about 90% full. Thone made a pick-up in Vidor, which sent him to UMCOR-Sager Brown with a 100% full load. The delivery was made and Thone has returned safely home.

Beaumont District UMC's are to be congratulated for stepping to the plate big-time! Your generous numbers of health kits, bed packs, flood buckets, and other important items explain why the Christian Alliance truck couldn't get all items here. We will make another delivery to Sager Brown on Sunday afternoon (on our way to the work site), Oct. 2. Please do your best to get all delivery items to 1st UMC, Vidor, by that time.

Clay Whitaker, UMCOR Chair Texas Annual Conference

Why We Need To Raise $1 Million Dollars for Hurricane Katrina Relief and Recovery "Be not weary in well-doing . . ." Galatians 6:9 KJVPraise God that United Methodists in the Texas Annual Conference have responded with such radical hospitality to our neighbors from Louisiana who are our guests as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Praise God also for your extragavant generosity as we are seeking to provide relief andrecovery for all these displaced persons.

What is happening in our local churches and in our institutions is a blessing both to the displaced citizens of Louisiana and the people called United Methodist in the Texas Annual Conference. I am proud of you.

Because so many of our churches are involved in direct services, pastors and key lay leaders are struggling with how much of their offerings to forward to the Annaul Conference and how much to retain in the local church for the people walking in their doors with multiple needs. I want to affirm what every church is doing locally. In fact, the Conference would like to celebrate what you are doing. The Treasurer's Office has prepared a report form so that you can tell us what you have done directly through your church in both cash and in kind services.

As the Reliant Center Shelters and George R. Brown Convention Shelter close down, many of you are wondering whether we still need $1,000,000. The answer is a resounding "yes." As those original needs have diminished, vital new needs have emerged. Here are the short-term and long-term necessities we are facing.Our first priority is to fund our share of the feeding ministry at George R. Brown Convention Cnter. Please know that despite the decrease in the number of persons living in the shelter, we are still feeding
approximately 10,000 people at lunch at nearly 8,000 at night. These are folks who may have a place to live, but have little cash for food. We are currently expecting to underwrite about $200,000 for meals provided in the shelters.

One of the concerns of our volunteers is where these folks will need to turn for meals when the shelters close. We are anticipating that feeding needs will increase in other places. Some of these smaller congregations with large displaced citizen populations will need conference assistance to provide the hospitality they want to offer.

Our second priority will be the special needs persons, staff and
families at Lakeview Conference Center. Dr. Stansell and I visited there yesterday. There are now 201 persons residing there. They are sponsored by Volunteers of America, a small not-for-profit organization serving some of the most physically and mentally challenged persons anywhere.

VOA leadership is currently indicating that they expect to continue to reside there for about six weeks. While VOA will pay what they can, we are expecting care for these persons will require about $200,000 or more. We can all be grateful to Dr. Von Dawson and his staff for receiving these friends of Jesus when there was literally "no room at the inn."

As of this time, approximately 69-80 United Methodist pastors of the New Orleans District have no remaining church building, congregation or parsonage. These pastors will be our third priority. In a series of emergency meetings, Bishop William Hutchinson, bishop of Louisiana Conference, has called on neighboring Episcopal areas to provide housing,
furnishings, travel and a place of ministry for many of these pastors through June 1, 2006. Louisiana will underwrite their salary and benefits.

Because so many displaced citizens of Louisiana are currently residing in our conference bounds, Bishop Hutchinson would like for us to receive quite a large number of pastors - probably 20-30. The number could be higher. A number of these pastors need to be placed in churches who serve neighborhoods with less expensive housing - where many Louisiana
laity are finding housing. These congregations and others will need the entire Annual Conference to help them underwrite these costs. We are estimating that providing shelter and enough new furnishings to help them start a new life will cost in excess of $300,000. Your gifts will help underwrite those pastors.

Finally, our fourth priority will be funding long-term and
reconstruction efforts in Louisiana. We are already working with UMCOR toward that future. I want you to know that UMCOR has been terrific in helping Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. They even sent The Texas Annual Conference a check. Please know that I respectfully de4lcined those funds because our sisters and brothers in Louisiana and Mississippi need it so
much more than we do. As New Orleans dries out, Vidor and other points in East Texas will become a major staging area for UMCOR efforts in Louisiana. All of this effort will require funding.

In my first letter to you, I suggested that this relief and recovery
effort is not a sprint but a marathon. I want to urge you today, "Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at
harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith." (Galatians 6:0-10, NRSV)

Thank you in advance for your extragavant generosity.

God bless yo.
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie

FROM NANCY HINSHAW, Area Provost's Office

The Called Session of Annual Conference is scheduled for November 19 at
Lakeview Conference Center. Registration will be at 9:00 am and the
session will begin at 10:00 am. At that time, the Strategic Planning Team
will present its proposal for consideration. Box lunches will be
provided following the close of the session.
All members and guests who will attend are asked to register by
NOVEMBER 7 in order to guarantee appropriate arrangements.
Register on-line through our website at www.txcumc.org or contact
Rebecca Garcia at 713-533-3719.

Risograph for Sale

The BayVue UMC has a color risograph for sale. They are asking for the best offer but could not take less than $300. For more information about the risograph and its capabilities, you may call Rev. Mark Pedersen at (409) 684-6678.

Kathie Mann - Director Partners In Mission

Dear Friends,

The City is making huge strides in placing our guests from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Reliant Complex into homes and apartments. The goal is to move them out quickly and help them resettle.

This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, as we welcome them into our communities and churches.

Because we had originally scheduled the week of September 14-20 at George R. Brown for Methodist volunteers, we now are having to be extremely flexible. With the possibility of the last evacuees leaving this Saturday or Sunday, I have been in direct conversation with the Second Baptists on redesigning our schedules. Operation Compassion is an Ecumenical project and Second Baptist is trying very hard to fit all of our trained volunteers into the schedule along with other denominations that have trained but not yet served. After long discussions yesterday a plan was agreed upon that will utilize the wonderful gifts of our Interfaith community.

Please disregard the earlier memo that you were not to respond to nemails from Second Baptist as they are now responsible for the scheduling of all volunteers. Using their data base, Second Baptist will send out an email today to the Methodists who have completed their training. The email will give specific dates for our volunteers to serve on a " first come, first served " basis. You must sign up on this email or you will not be able to serve at the Convention Center. If a shift is full, you will automatically be sent to the next available time. If no times are available, then Methodists have filled all allotted spaces.

Please consider giving your time to : Reliant Complex - Go to the lot assigned as "Volunteer Parking", carry only your picture I.D. and proceed to the check-in tables. You will receive a 10 minute orientation before you wait for your assignment. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as lots of walking is involved.

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in the Texas Conference. Please find a shelter near you and lend a hand. Many evacuees are still in our churches and in need of Christ's love.

Houston Food Bank is needing volunteers during week day hours.

Call Red Cross and ask for volunteer opportunities.

May God Bless you as You Bless others!

Kathie Mann

The Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at Lamar University is celebrating over fifty years of service

The Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at Lamar University is celebrating over fifty years of service to Lamar Students, Staff, and Faculty.

The Wesley Foundation on the campus of Lamar University is holding a celebration called “Experience the Wesley” to recognize a great past and a great future. It begins with an “open house” event on Sunday afternoon, September 25^th, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. to give everyone an interactive experience of the campus ministry. “Experience The Wesley” will continue through the week with the Wesley Campus Ministry offering refreshments, special activities, and a cookie giveaway to students. A faculty and staff reception will be on Wednesday, September 28^th from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Wesley Foundation has been meeting spiritual needs in the heart of the educational community of Lamar University-Beaumont for over 50 years. They have a great past and a great future in the heart of Lamar. Everyone is invited to come and “Experience the Wesley”!

1. Beaumont, TX, September 25, 2005: The Wesley Foundation, a Campus Ministry provided by the United Methodist Church, has been meeting the spiritual needs of students, staff, and faculty for over fifty years on the campus of Lamar University. The Reverend David Porterfield, current Director of the Wesley Foundation, notes that, “The current Wesley Center facility was built a little over twenty years ago. The leadership of Dr. Kemble and the Board of Regents conceived its current location on the Plaza, which is now surrounded by the new Cardinal dorms and the new Cafeteria. The current site was offered by the University as a strategic location for religious life centers.” In its previous location by the Cherry Building, the Center was known as the Rothwell Methodist Center.

2. The Wesley Foundation has been active at the heart and in the life of Lamar since 1953. Director Rev. Porterfield, with the Wesley Foundation Board, is thrilled to be a crucial part of the educational life of the University as it continues to thrive and grow under the visionary leadership of Dr. Simmons. “It’s past time to celebrate,” says Rev. Porterfield, “that the University cares enough for its students to recognize the need for access to places of religious growth along with intellectual and vocational development.” Over her fifty-plus years of presence on the campus, the Wesley Foundation has been a positive influence for spiritual life to all who want to participate. The Center has been a place to develop lifelong friendships, habits of service to others, a haven of hospitality, and an open place to explore questions of faith and life. While offering a view of life that is Christ-centered and grace oriented, the Wesley Center has always been open to people of all beliefs and religions – the entire spectrum of the Lamar University population.

3. The Wesley Center, open from 7:30 in the morning until 10 at night, provides a “home away from home” for quiet study, reflective prayer, renewing recreation, social interaction, and developing an understanding and experience of God’s presence and an authentic spiritual life. The Wesley Center’s Tuesday free lunch, served come and go style each week from 11 to 1, has been a vital expression of her care for the Campus. The motto for the Center is “Open minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors.” Rev. Porterfield says, “We are not only celebrating our great past, but looking forward to a great future in and to the heart of the Lamar campus.”

4. All the faculty, staff, and students of Lamar are encouraged to share in this fifty year celebration by coming into the facility during “Experience the Wesley” Celebration Week (the last week of September) and discovering how their own place in University life can be enhanced by the Center’s facility and programs. “Then,” says Porterfield, “after celebrating with us, let’s make our future at Lamar a continuing asset to your life and goals we all share in common.”

The New Plan!!!!!

The New Plan!!!!!
Public officials and private officials have met and developed a new plan to care for the overflow from the Astrodome.

Displaced citizens will be referred now to the George R. Brown Convention Center and The HP Center. Our feeding ministry will remain basically as I outlined in yesterday’s letter. We still need a million dollars. We still need food service volunteers beginning September 14 and concluding September 20. We believe the number of volunteers will remain constant. Only the location will change.

Bottom line: Please use yesterday’s letter to ask folks for money and people. However, let them know that the location will be different.

Thanks so much for your patience in this matter. No one is prepared for these numbers of people in Houston, and public and private officials are developing the plans as they go.
I’ll see those of you coming to the Monday training event at Second Baptist when Bob and I get trained ourselves.

Blessings,
Janice Riggle Huie

An Episcopal Letter to the Texas Annual Conference Churches

An Episcopal Letter to the Texas Annual Conference Churches
Sunday Morning
September 4, 2005


Dear United Methodist Brothers and Sisters,

Resurrection Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I write to all of you this day to tell you that truly we “have seen the Lord” in caring for our sisters and brothers of New Orleans. A friend commented to me earlier this week, “It is in times like this that one can see the true soul of a people and an institution.” Your souls are surely shining.

Many of you are personally in the thick of caring for displaced citizens. I have the privilege—when I’m not organizing volunteers and caring for folks like the rest of you—the privilege of seeing a larger view of the whole Texas Annual Conference in action. Even my own view is still partial, but I wanted to share with you some of what I know.

Here is a quick picture of the people of the United Methodist Church in action:

* It is my understanding that churches in every district are now directly engaged in caring for displaced citizens. All the churches which were designated Red Cross shelters prior to Hurricane Katrina are at capacity or more. We do not have anything approaching a complete listing, but I am aware that churches small and large have spontaneously opened their doors. Dr. Earl Bledsoe reports that Aldersgate UMC in Bryan has moved out of its Worship Center to fill it with cots; they will worship in their Fellowship Hall today and invite evacuees to join them. Christ UMC is now housing numerous special needs individuals. Dr. Richard Burnham reports that Wesley in Beaumont is housing approximately 50 Hondurans. The list goes on and on. The Conference Office will be working to compile a more complete list by next week.

* St. Luke’s UMC staff and volunteers have been “on the floor” of the Astrodome since before it received it first guest. They are helping to set up the infrastructure to serve a small city. Susan Silvus, director of outreach at St. Luke’s, greeted a young woman carrying a baby when they stepped off a bus. “I asked her how I could help her,” said Silvus. “She handed me a package of diapers and a can of Similac, and that is all she had. All.” My husband Bob reports that more than half the cots seem to be occupied by children.


* Numerous churches are engaged in feeding ministries. Congregation members are working at Red Cross shelters.

* Lakeview Conference Center received 106 special needs displaced citizens of New Orleans. These persons were part of a small group living situation in New Orleans. All require special assistance.

* The Methodist Hospitals are another shining face of the people of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Charles Millikan reported that as of yesterday, the downtown hospital alone had received well over 300 persons. The first 200 arrived beginning at 11pm. Some of the finest doctors, nurses and medical technicians in the world came back to the hospital and worked until every person was properly cared for.

In addition, many individuals and families have been in need of pastoral care. For example, Dr. Millikan told me the heart-breaking story of working with a mother who had gotten separated from her seven children. She believes they might not have survived.

* Methodist Retirement Communities has now received 80 persons into various facilities in the conference. It has been my understanding that they are referrals from The Methodist Hospital. I have no further details here.

* Lon Morris College in Jacksonville has invited displaced students of Dillard University in New Orleans to attend Lon Morris with free room, board and tuition. They are planning to send a bus to Baton Rouge to be able to transport people.

* Volunteers from Houston area congregations are attending training sessions for food service at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Dr. Ed Young reported that 4,870 people from many faith communities attended the first session. They are expecting over 6,000 persons today.

Throughout the Conference, congregations are in the process of raising $1,000,000. I am aware of several congregations dedicating their entire offering today to assist in this relief effort. The people of The United Methodist Church have great hearts. I am absolutely confident that the Texas Annual Conference will reach its goal.

You and I have an opportunity to practice radical hospitality and extravagant generosity in a situation which, God willing, comes only once in a lifetime. We are truly blessed to be called to this time and place to witness to Jesus Christ and to serve our neighbors in Christ’s name.

The words of the Apostle Paul encourage us this day, “Now to [God] who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

God bless you.
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie

John W. Harrington, Beaumont District RJM Coordinator

Demitri Lee Davis, #1301934, Larry Gist State Jail, 3295 FM 3514,
Beaumont, TX 77705.... Release Date Oct. 3, 2005 after released 409
832 8348 or 615 Campus St., Beaumont, TX 77701 He needs job placement aid.
JerMal Williams Sr., 20515 Aldine Westfield #97, Humble, TX 77338 713 991 4279 needs job, trained as a Custodial Technician--Before released
can be reached at: JerMal Williams Sr., Larry Gist Unit, FM 3514,
Beaumont, TX 77705 Ronald Mitchell #1269357,

Larry Gist State Jail, 3295 FM 3514, Beaumont, TX 77705....
Release date Sept. 16, 2005 home address will be 1212 Inwood Ln.,
Pasadena, TX 77502 713 472 8300 Does Sheetrock, Paint and Labor
work(needs job placement).

OTHER CURRENT RELEASEES via Welcome Back and/or Operation Rebound
Jack L. Wood III, 1805 Concord, Vidor, TX 77662 409-779-0065
Thomas Lackey, 1711 Missouri, Orange, TX 77639
Byron "Grace" Bernard, 1105 Cherry St. Orange, TX 77630 409 882 9937
James Walker Jr., 3457 Martin, Orange, TX 77630 409 670 0516 DOB
7/26/81
Phillip Julian, 1105 Burton St., Orange, TX 77630
Lyle H. Allen, 2218 58th St., Port Arthur, TX 77640 409 736 3005
Jerrod Dorrell, 1501 Poole Ave. Apt # 536, Port Arthur, TX 77642
409 960 7292 DOB 8-6-78

Ryan Richie, 1506 Shady Glen, Montgomery, TX 77316 936 447 3588

LADIES BEING RELEASED FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT FACILITIES:
Artie Renee Henry, 2795 Grand St., Beaumont, TX

Sharon Denise Matthews, 1820 East 8th St., Port Arthur, TX 77640 Age 38 attended TAX & NA

Myrna Bolds, 2327 2nd Ave., Port Arthur, TX 77640 409 982 4924
Stella Johnson, 3434 Bluebonnet, Corpus Christi, TX 78408

How is your church helping?

United Methodist Churches across the Texas Annual Conference are doing their part in aiding the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

If your church is an official Red Cross Shelter, we want to add it to our growing list.

If your church has news or photos about the work being done in your area, we want to share it on our Church Response Efforts page.

Send your submissions to: david.mckay@txcumc.org

Clay Whitaker - Here's an urgent update on needs.

Greetings in the name of Christ. Here's an urgent update on needs.

First, many thanks to those who have so quickly responded by bringing bottled water to Vidor. Two deliveries will be made. The first load leaves early Saturday morning for Baton Rouge. The second goes Sunday afternoon and will be taken by our D.S., Dr. Richard Burnham, and me. He felt it important, since we are in this for the long haul, that we establish some face-to-face contact with our UMCOR crew who are already on site.

Here's an update on Astrodome needs, which by now, also includes the George R. Brown Center, and perhaps one or two other sites. The vast majority of these displaced thousands are babies, preschoolers, the elderly, and the disabled. They are desperate for these supplies:

Similac baby, nipples, diapers ,baby wipe,s towels, socks
underwear, bottled water, femine hygiene, supplies adult depends,

Pastors, we need you to publish and call attention to these lists for this Sunday, Sept. 4. Early contributors, please get your supplies to Vidor first by 2 PM Monday afternoon. Dr. Burnham himself will take them to Houston. For those who can't meet that deadline, please help collect these items anyway. Subsequent runs to Houston will gladly be made, and the needs for these items will be ongoing.

One last item: our Bishop is requesting that all communion offerings be given to the Conference for Katrina relief. The Texas Conference has committed, for the period of Sept. 14 - 20, to provide meals and volunteers.

The 5 Houston Districts will each be responsible for one day. The remaining two days will be covered by the congregations of St. Luke's UMC and Windsor Village UMC. The best way for the remaining districts to help is with money...one million dollars ballpark!

May God's blessings by yours in abundance! Clay Whitaker

Pastoral Care Opportunity

For pastors who want to offer pastoral care to those dfisplaced by
Katrina, please note the following:

There will be an organizational meeting at Innerfaith Ministries
(Montrose at Westheimer) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. this Tuesday, September 6.
Training will be offered Thursday afternoon; the site is to be determined.

For additional information, contact Rev. David Meeker-Williams at
713-521-9383.

Bishop Huie recalls hurricanes, calls for helping hands

Growing up on a farm in the coastal bend area of Texas, hurricanes were a part of life. My father kept a sharp eye on the weather in the Gulf of Mexico throughout harvest season. A hurricane at that time could mean no crop at all.

I remember my first big hurricane. Carla hit the coastal area of Texas in 1961, when I was a freshman in high school. It was only a category 3 storm, but it brought lots of wind damage.

Just a couple of years before or after, Celia brought flooding. It dumped 25 to 30 inches of rain in just over 24 hours. Areas that had never flooded in the memory of the oldest residents – and haven’t flooded since then – were covered with water. One of my vivid memories is dead cattle, drowned in the fields where they ordinarily grazed contentedly. The economic loss of those cattle made less impact on me than my sadness at the loss of life.

The human damage was much more significant with Carla. After the storm passed, our family drove into town to check on family and friends. Nearly everyone had lost power and phone service. However, there was a big difference in what had happened to the homes. Although most of the brick homes in town were windblown, they were structurally sound.

The poorest part of town was a totally different story. Poorly-built houses were badly damaged or completely destroyed. The area was a mess — unlivable. I must have queried my Dad about the tremendous difference between what we saw on the east side of town and what we witnessed on the “Westside” as it was called. I remember him saying, “Janice, it is always the poorest people who suffer the most.”

After every storm, I remember how neighbors got together and helped each other clean up the mess, repair their homes and re-build their lives. Those acts of compassion and good work are a big part of who we are as Americans, and, more particularly, as Christians.

I’ve been remembering those flood waters, the dead cows and the destroyed homes as I watch the devastation from Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Katrina, of course, is far more destructive than any storm of my childhood. We see human beings clinging to life on rooftops and in trees, not just animals.

Thousands of homes are flooded all over New Orleans, and people will be unable to return for a long time. The loss of life in Mississippi and Alabama is rising hourly as I write today. The economic loss to individual families without homes, belongings, jobs or even a place to apply for work has yet to be calculated.
All of us want to help. After all, we are next-door neighbors to Louisiana. Begin with prayer for everyone involved here. Pray for creation itself, because the earth, its animals and vegetation have been wounded as well.

Some of us may want to consider opening our homes to a refugee family from Louisiana or we may want to volunteer at one of the shelters here in Houston. Once the clean-up process begins, there will be a tremendous need for flood buckets and other supplies. You can learn how to create those buckets on our Web site at www.txcumc.org.

A tremendous re-building process lies ahead. As soon as the waters recede, and sites are available, you will hear from Kathie Mann, who leads our Partner in Mission teams.

Hygiene Kits needed immediately

Written: 9/1/2005

One of the many ways the Houston faith community is responding to Hurricane Katrina is through Operation Compassion, an interfaith undertaking to meet the immediate needs of refugees.

In addition to serving approximately 75,000 meals daily, Operation Compassion will provide a personal hygiene bag to each of the 25,000 people expected to inhabit the Astrodome.

Your help is needed in supplying these half-gallon sized bags that should include the following:

• Toothbrush
• Regular sized toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Wet wipes (travel pack size)

District collection points will be posted as soon as they are appointed. Kits need to reach the Houston central collection point (Second Baptist Church) by Tuesday, September 6, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Please note that the content of the hygiene bags differs slightly from the traditional UMCOR Health Kit.

Update on Operation Compassion (Revised)

Update on Operation Compassion (Revised)

The leaders of the faith communities learned this morning that we need to plan for significant modifications to Operation Compassion. We still need money and we still need people, but the deployment will be changing.

As you may already know, the Fire Marshall has declared that 12,000 is the maximum capacity for the Astrodome. Public officials also decided that since Aramark has an existing contract with the Astrodome, they will handle all food service there.

Thousands of displaced citizens are continuing to arrive by bus in Houston, and other public facilities will be opened up. Those persons will need food, medical care, showers, etc. It is the current expectation that the faith communities will provide food services.

Bottom line: We still need a $1,000,000 to serve displaced citizens in the Texas Annual Conference. We still need to train people for food service. The dates and locations for food service will change.

As Jim Bankston commented when he called me with this news, "Jesus never said it would be this hard to feed hungry people."

Please stay tuned for updates. We will keep this website updated over the weekend.

Grace and peace,
Janice Riggle Huie

There is an urgent need for bottled water

There is an urgent need for bottled water. These victims are desperate for clean, drinking water. Please bring what you can to Vidor U.M.C. by 8 p.m. on Friday, September 2nd. This water will be delivered to Baton Rouge on Saturday morning.

If you have any questions, you can call the Vidor church. If you see that you will be later than 8 p.m., please let the church know or call Rev. Clay Whitaker on his cell, 409-291-0027, so that someone will be there to receive the water.

Subject: Jobs - Hurricane Clean Up - $10/hr

Subject: Jobs - Hurricane Clean Up - $10/hr

Construction company hiring 1000 people to help with hurricane clean up.
$10/hr, 80-90 hrs weekly, food, lodging, transportation to area. Start immediately, could go on for 1-2 yrs. Anyone interested can call directly to LVI Svcs, 713-991-0480, 10500 Telephone Rd.


Nora Vasquez
Weatherford Int'l
Payroll Department
Ph: (713) 693-4745
Fax:(713) 693-4487
nora.vasquez@weatherford.com

Katrina destroys Gulfside Assembly

Katrina destroys Gulfside Assembly

Written: 9/1/2005 5:52:46 PM

Katrina destroys Gulfside Assembly

So many of us have been so concerned about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Gulfside Assembly.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has confirmed what aerial photos indicate: There is little but rubble left at Gulfside.

An aerial view, located by staff of CIM (GBGM unit: Community and Institutional Ministries staff) on the internet, clearly show where buildings once stood. It may be that parts of some structures are still intact. The entire vicinity of Waveland was very hard hit.

Marian Martin, the director of Gulfside Assembly, and Wila Dunbar, a GBGM missionary assigned to Gulfside, are both safe.

Some elderly employees were reportedly reluctant to leave Waveland. We don't yet know anything about them.

The area is still closed off.

Aerial pictures show that the main building of Moore Community Center in Biloxi is still standing.

Pray for those who mourn and who are hurting in the Hurricane area; be prepared to help as you are led in the relief and rehabilitation.

Rev. Dr. John Edward Nuessle
Executive Secretary

General Board of Global Ministries

Bishop cancels Clergy Gathering

Bishop cancels Clergy Gathering

Written: 9/1/2005 5:56:56 PM

Bishop Huie has cancelled the Clergy Gathering planned for September 19-21 at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center.

In lieu of going to Lakeview, the Bishop is asking clergy to come to Houston and help in relief efforts by serving meals and working in shelters.

More information will be forthcoming.

Job Opening: Choir Director

Job Opening: Choir Director

Wednesday nights - practice--6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Sunday mornings - worship--10:00 a.m to 12 noon

For further information, please contact First United Methodist Church

at 985-5581. Office hours are 9 a.m.-Noon ( Mon., Tues., Thurs.)

9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Wed.)

Rev. Chuck Huffman

The United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur, TX is seeking a full-time Youth Director to lead and expand a comprehensive ministry to youth (6th grade - college age). The Temple is a growing 850 member church family, averaging 325 in worship, with both contemporary and traditional worship services, and with an active youth group now averaging 40-45 in attendance. We are looking for a person who is on fire for Christ, biblically grounded, spiritually mature, and passionate about and experienced in youth ministry. All applicants will be considered, but the ideal candidate should be at least 25 years old, a self-motivated individual who is enthusiastic, creative, organized, and a team player with good communication skills and the ability to recruit, train and coordinate adult volunteers. Music ministry with youth is a plus. Salary is commensurate with education and ministry experience.

Send, fax, or email resume and references to Rev. Chuck Huffman, Senior Pastor. Address: 4101 Highway 73, Port Arthur, TX 77642. FAX: (409) 962-5764. Email: chuck@umt.org The deadline for application is April 10, 2005.

Rev. Chuck Huffman