The second ever Rio Texas Annual Conference is now behind us. It was a spirit filled conference under the direction of Bishop Robert Schnase. I want to extend a big thank you to our lay delegates who sacrificed three days to represent our church. Delegates included veterans Steve Crain and Steve Dillon along with rookies Dr. Steven Foy and Catherine DiSanza. Also, Gabi Dillon and Sydney Ramon served as youth delegates from the El Valle District. Tanya Perales served as our alternate delegate. FUMC was well represented!
A highlight of any annual conference is worship. You get 1200+ United Methodists in a room with wonderful music and preaching and your heart soars in the presence and love of God! The ordination and commissioning service on Sunday morning is especially powerful and moving. Mark your calendars now for Sunday June 11, 2017. Our Rev. Robert Perales is on track to be ordained as an elder at annual conference next year.
As I experienced worship in the role of a participant and not a leader/participant, I was reminded how needful worship is in the life of a believer. Worship not only honors and glorifies strengthens us for living each day as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Think of worship in terms of nutrition, worship is critical to a healthy diet for a follower of Jesus Christ.
We experience a decline in worship attendance here from May through August as do most churches. The decline seems a bit more extreme for us because we have a good number of Winter Texans who worship here four-to-six months a year and others who spend the hot south Texas summer months in a cooler climate or at the beach! These folks have not left our church, they are just not physically here to worship. It’s one of the cultural changes going on in our country, but it doesn’t mean the importance of regular worship has diminished.
Worship is one of John Wesley’s “means of grace.” Do you find yourself worshiping fewer times per month now compared to the past? Over a period of time, the body suffers when we don’t feed it properly. It’s the same for our spirits and souls. How are you feeding your soul? How is your worship life?
See you in worship and around town.
- Ricky
