Greetings Manchaca UMC and friends,
It’s now August! We’ve experienced so much grace this year as a church community and there is more to come! “Let’s Connect” is something you will be hearing more about as we go. I invite you to read more here and learn what I’m seeing and hearing of the possibilities.
Recently our church staff and members of the Staff Parish Relations Team welcomed our new District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Marcus Freeman to a Tuesday Staff Meeting at our church. As church staff and SPRC leaders described to him the heart of Manchaca UMC and reported in on all of the wonderful ministries and discipleship opportunities that launch from this congregation, I smiled and quietly gave thanks.
And then I attended our quarterly Church Council Meeting on Monday evening this week to share and discuss ministry reports with elected church leaders as plans develop for the remainder of our calendar year. In all that was said I heard and felt deep in the roots of my communal understanding of being a United Methodist what I refer to as a Culture of Connection.
Certainly we celebrate our connection with other Christians in the body of Christ within this church and beyond its walls. We remain United Methodists who practice a life in grace by staying connected in Christ; and we are connected in love for each other and for all who come alongside to worship, learn, care, serve, and give for the purpose of being disciples of Jesus and transforming our world in love.
More specifically, what I’m hearing in the ministry plans being made for this fall, and even into next year, are fresh ideas and some remodeled ideas for ministry together that connect us with a purpose of building in-person community within our neighborhoods. New ideas from our youth ministry team were shared by Pastor Chansin. A team is already planning improvements for our Christmas tree lot to attract more guests and include more church members. Leslie Piggott spoke of the pairing up of intergenerational writing partners (pen-pals) to share hand written notes of encouragement and grace. Our outreach coordinator Jennifer Bautista spoke about an August church-wide ice cream party, the arrival of Pumpkins on October 1 and a Community Fall Festival on October 21. It’s exciting to imagine new and existing community ministries with a fresh spirit and new breath. Emmett Thomason spoke of a team beginning to plan for our 150 year church anniversary in 2024. Wow! So much to be thankful for in all that is to come.
Friends, it’s August and there is so much happening right now in the life of Manchaca UMC. We invite you to stay connected and to invite others to connect with us. Take a look at our website Event Tab “This Season” to be reminded of what is coming this month.
Stay tuned. Let’s get connected in Christ!
Pastor Paul
Let's Connect! To see what's coming up, click here!
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