2015 has been a year of tremendous growth and renewal for our congregation, and with great gifts comes great responsibility.As United Methodists, we have all taken the same membership vows to support our congregation with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and in all ways to make disciples for Jesus Christ.I am prayerfully asking you to consider your service to God and to Three Rivers First United Methodist Church.Perhaps you have never served on a church committee, or perhaps you have a good idea about forming a new committee or work area.Here is your opportunity to work for the Lord!I had a teacher that would say, If you dont participate in the life you want, then you will end up living someone elses dream.As your pastor, I want to rephrase this quote, If you do not participate in your own faith, you may end up living out someone elses salvation.What I mean by this is we are called to participated in our walk with Jesus Christ individually as well as communally.It is not enough to live only for ourselves.Faith development requires our full participation.We live out our faith in community with each other and it is important that each of us do our part in the life of the church.There are many ways to do this.I want to encourage each and every member of our church to consider this question, How can I glorify my Lord and serve His Church?In what way may I become a visible sign of an inward grace?By serving God in everything we do, we enrich the lives of those who serve with us and ensurethat Christian discipleship is ongoing at Three Rivers First United Methodist Church. This is how we glorify God.Youth making a difference at Sea City Work CampPAGE 2The Sunshine Room brings hope to our community PAGE 4One Matters Award Presented to TRFUMCPAGE 5Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open DoorsAUGUST 2015The Call to ServePastors PerspectiveEXISTING COMMITTEES & WORK AREASFinance CommitteeTrustees CommitteeMissions and Outreach Committee Staff Parish Relations CommitteeWorship CommitteeUnited Methodist MenYouth and Childrens MinistryLay LeaderChristian EducationCommunications CommitteeYoung Adult Ministries .. obey the commands I am giving you todayto love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul Duet. 11:13SOURCETHEriverGrace & Peace,. Three Rivers, TexasWHATS INSIDE:If you have any questions about Christian Education, or would like to offer your time and talent,please contact Shirley Jambers at 830.256.4826THEriverSOURCE- 2 -CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONI would like to start by thanking the church, the Methodist Men, the parents, and the SUPER SUP-PER CREW for blessing this trip and these kids with your prayers, your support, your donations, and the amazing supper on Monday night.Without each of you, our young people would not have had this blessed experience.The privilege to share Gods movement through worship and even down time assures me that the youth will never be the same.God was working using their hard work, frustration, laughter, differ-ences, prayers, struggles, sharing, singing, bonding, and worship to help His family through the won-derful service projects, but moreover to fuel the fire of His love and service in the youth who gave of themselves.This amazing group has a special place in my heart and served their God with an open heart, solid labor, and a joyful soul!What a wonderful blessing to not just our community and the surrounding area, but the world as this group grows in Gods love and moves out into His world to do amazing things!Also I would like to thank three young ladies that I am proud to have watched grow up even if they do not think they have.I am honored to have served alongside some wonderful people and am proud to have seen the blessings shared by Lindsey Weber, Samantha Tadlock, and Kourtney Salazar.As adults they served not just as worksite leaders but amaz-ing Christian mentors throughout the evenings and worship service. What wonderful kids our commu-nity has raised.I hope they continue on the path to which God has called them and continue to share their love and excitement for God and His Children.In closing, I would like to say be prepared church, the kids have already told me we are on for Sea City 2016 and they are looking to start up a local project too! So heads up: God is working and so are our kids!,..A few of our young people have shared their thoughts on the week and did a great job sharing the feelings carried out through the week. I would only like to add that the movement of the Holy Spirit did not start or stop at the work site but continued throughout all of the kids mornings and evenings.Im about doing good deeds and we did many of them that week. It showed me how lucky all of us are to be able to help people that need it.It showed me that we are well off enough to be able to donate to Sea City to help a lot, not just the people whose houses we redid. God chose us to experience this wonderful opportunity so we could work through His hands and give back to the people who dont have what we have.Doing a lot of this but also having fun and being able to meet new people at the same time. It meant getting to help the less fortunate and thepeople around you while having fun at the same time. Just being able to do the work of God felt like we were making a miracle happen.SEA CITY WORKCAMP .. .... .,. .sunday schoolcome join us for12345Adult Sunday SchoolChristian: Its Not What You ThinkThis is an 8-week DVD series by Andy Stanley discovering what the difference is between being a Christian and a Disciple of Jesus Christ.Led by Lin and Glenn HennekeNew Faith This class is for young adults who are beginning to build a spiritual foundation.This is a 7-week study by Rob Fuquay designed to explore the I Am sayings of Jesus.Led by Pastor ValliGodly PlayThis is our childrens class designed for two years and older. Children are taught Bible stories, how and why we worship, and how to spread His word.Led by Debbie GnuschkeLittle LambsThis is another childrens class designed for 12 months to 3 years.God loves it when we help each otherLed by Linda Tadlock and Lindsey WeberSunday School begins at 9:30All Sunday School classes are located in the fellowship hall and the education wing.It will be team taught by Tim Jambers and Sammie Kohlman.They are using a curriculum called Nest.This series focuses on good old fashioned Bible stories. It begins with a brief animated story and then the lesson is taught with engaging games and discussion.Of course there is a lot of time to do a craft.Remember, Jesus said, Let the children come, for such belongs the Kingdom of heaven.If you have any questions about Christian Education, or would like to offer your time and talent,please contact Shirley Jambers at 830.256.4826Summer Childrens Sunday School Buzz- 3 -Its all the Buzzzzz....Childrens Sunday School has started its new summer program!CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONFaith FindersThis is another childrens class designed for 4 years to 8 years.Daniel & the Lions DenLed by Linda Tadlock and Lindsey Weber .... .Community Block PartyOur community block party is going to be better than ever.This year we will host an event that reaches out to our community in a number of ways.We will have a bouncy house, water balloons, games, face painting, hours shoes,and washers, yard games , snow cones, hot dogs chips and cake walk and door prizes.Pat Jarratt and the Sunshine house will be open for tours and information about the all important ministry will also be available.The Three Rivers PD. will be here to finger print the youngsters and the Live oak County Health Dept. will be here to do free blood sugar and blood pressure checks.This is a great way to end the summer, kick off a new school year .Bring the whole family for fun and fellowship.Wednesday, August 12th at 5:30 pm Backpack BlessingWe will celebrate the beginning of a new school year with the Blessing of the Backpacks!Each child is encouraged to bring their backpack to church on August23rd.During Childrens Sermon we will say a special blessing for our teachers, parents and children beginning a new school year..Sunday Service, August 23rdFellowship MealAfter worship, everyone is invited to a fellowship potluck.We will enjoy our first fellowship meal for the fall and celebrate the beginning of a new school year.Everyone is invited.Sunday, August 23rdWear Your Colors SundayOn Sunday Sept 20th everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite college, or pro football colors and bring your Team to the worship service.Who can stuff the pews with their favorite colors? There will be prizes.of course the greatest prize is the praise and worship of Jesus Christ.Sunday, September 20thI walked into the Sunshine Room in the middle of an unexpected summer shower and interviewed Mary Ann Meeks.She was filling in for Pat Jarratt who was out due to family illness.Mary Ann, who was all smiles when I met her, went ahead of me and simply said Follow me!She was already in the baby room which was full with everything a baby could need; car seats, cribs, toys, clothes, diapers and on and on it went.Do you know what this is for? she asked as we stood in front of a wall packed with toys. These are gifts parents can choose from for their childrens birthdays.Keep in mind these are not extravagant toys. They are what you or I would call dime store toys.But what they represent is a brand new gift.This gift may be the only thing that a child gets all year.The Sunshine Room had humble beginnings and has changed significantly over time.What began as a good idea to help children and disadvantaged families with small children SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAYMission: to improve the lives of children who are adversely affected by poverty, neglect, abuse or severe family problems, so that they may become happy, healthy, emotionally and mentally stronger.Work Around the Churchin Live Oak County has grown to a full fledged 501C3 nonprofit organization.With the encouragement of District Judge Jim Huff, and the help of Blanca DeLeon and Pat Jarratt, the Sunshine Room transitioned from well meaning intentions to positive action.With the heartfelt leadership of Pat Jarratt, the Sunshine Room moved out of the yellow shed behind the church to a beautiful 500 square foot building facing Leroy St. What a difference a couple of decades can make. Here are a few details from their 2014 annual report.Last year they helped 627 people with food, utilities and rent assistance. They also gave assistance through clothing, shoes, coats, heaters, blankets, and fans.Live Oak County Child Welfare, Incs Sunshine Room is supported by generous donations from Valero, the Three Rivers First United Methodist Church, United Way of Coastal Bend, area churches, Conoco Phillips and private donations.Last year the Sunshine Room shared its compassion ministry with Live Oak and McMullen counties.They assisted 637 individuals with clothing, utilities, food, diapers, school supplies, blankest, fans, shoes, under garments, socks and gifts.Another very important ministry is the Christmas Angel ministry.This is how it works.Pat Jarratt will give a volunteer funds to purchase gifts for children.The volunteer is provided withenough information about the child to purchase a gift they would appreciate and then you wrap it and deliver it to them before Christmas.Last year 450 loving volunteers participated in this program.That meant 450 children received something to open on Sunday morning.It may have been raining and thundering outside but, the little house I was in was nothing but Sunshine.Thank-you to the Live Oak County Child Welfare Board, the volunteers of the Sunshine Room and especially for the vision and compassion of Pat Jarratt.You are an inspiration to us all. THEriverSOURCE- 4 -Programs for OutreachJanuary- Registration for Texas Prevent Child Abuse conventionFebruary- Valentines Bags- Change Sunshine Room inventory from winter to summerApril- Child Abuse Month - Easter baskets for kidsMay- Kool Off the Kids; fan distribution- Back to School Registration- Foster Family Appreciation Movie NightAugust- School supplies/clothes distribution- Christmas Angels RegistrationSeptember- Change Sunshine Room inventoryfrom summer to winterOctober- Coat Distribution and Fall Fest BagsNovember- Thanksgiving meal- Boy and Girls Club Scholarships- Heater distributionDecember- Christmas Angels- Inventor the Sunshine RoomA couple of our monitors in the sanctuary are being repaired.Hopefully we will have everything up and running in a couple of weeks.Thank you to Happy Coquat for replacing the inside door to the Sanctuary.He took the old door that was splitting and warped off its hinges and is planning to replace it with a brand new oneThis congregation has a wonderful way of quietly getting things done. Thank You to Glen and Lin Henneke for hanging two new flat screen TVs. and Thank You also to the loving souls who provided the TVs.Food BankOn the fourth Saturday of every month you may find some of our faithful congregation sorting and marking cans of vegetables, unloading a semi, or signing people up for food assistance.People line up for assistance long before the doors of the food bank open.I expect the need for this kind of assistance will grow due to the slowing down of the Eagle-Ford-Shale.There are two stages of food distribution.On the Thursday before the fourth Saturday a semi arrives with our monthly load from the Corpus Christi food bank.Volunteers are needed to off load the truck , organize the food, and then rotate and inventory the food.On Saturday, the food is sorted into bags and stations and then given to those in need.If you are able to donate your time as a volunteer through the food bank, please contact the church office for more details.Thank you to those who have helped throughout the years Shirley and Tim Jambers, Linda and Joe Crawford, Happy Coquat,and Tom and Diana Hill.. Each ark represents a $5,000 donation toward animals, plants, clean water, and education for the worlds poverty-stricken.Heifers goal is to empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity.One of Heifers goals is to Give a Person a Hand-Up, Not a Hand-Out. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty.The animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs, and honey can be traded or sold at market.Each familys gift from Heifer comes with the requirement that the family Pass On offspring from their gift to another family in need.Over the past 70 years, Heifer has worked in 125 countries, including the United States,22.6 MILLION FAMILIES have been lifted up due to Heifers work.The goal of every Heifer project is to help families achieve self-reliance.The youth of our church choose which animals and/or projects they wish to assist.We are approximately halfway to filling our second ark.Collections are taken every 4th Sunday of the month.Diana Hills beautiful quilt with animals and plants embroidered on it is a wonderful way for you to impact people in need.Please consider purchasing an animal or a plant on the ark quilt.Your name will be embroidered on the back.The amount of your donation is at your discretion.The Ark Quilt will later be auctioned off at a silent-auction at our church.We can change the world one family and one community at a time.It all starts with a gift.Our Second ArkJUNE 2015 - 5 -At Annual Conference, Three Rivers FUMC and Reverend Valli Blair received the One Matters Award.This award is given through the General Church from the Board of Discipleship, the Rio Texas Conference, and the Coastal Bend District of the United Methodist Church.We were also awarded a monetary gift of$1000.00.One Matters recognizes United Methodist churches and clergy who have signifcantly changed their vital statistics.Vital statistics are numbers that refect growth, demographic change and participation increase.We have shown a signifcant growth in all three areas. Our membership is more refective of our community demographic.In other words, we are beginning to reach and disciple the community around our parish.We have also increased our ministry to children, and young adults.Since 2013, we have taken in more members and baptized morepeople than in the previous decade.To this we give God all the glory and celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ.Partnership works!Our Savior Lutheran Church and Three Rivers United Methodist church have started a weekly worship service at the Three Rivers Nursing home.We have consistently had 112folks worship with us. The denominations represented are United Methodist, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Baptist.Praise be to God !nursing homenews from theNoah, in the Old Testament, built one Ark.Here at First United Methodist Church in Three Rivers, we are working on our SECOND ARK for Heifer International.ONE MATTERS AWARD GIVEN TO THREE RIVERS FUMCOpen Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doorswe would love to see you!Pastor Valli Blairs Office HoursTuesday,Wednesday, Thursday9:30 AM - 12:00 PMvalliblair@gmail.comChurch Office HoursMonday - Friday10:00 AM - 2:00 PM361-786-3217secretary.trfumc@gmail.comSundaySunday School 9:30AMService 10:45AMP.O. Box 417Three Rivers, TX 78071WednesdayMid-Week Recharge 5:30PM