WHATS INSIDE:

Youth making a
difference at
Sea City Work Camp

The Sunshine Room

brings hope to our
community

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PAGE 4

One Matters
Award Presented to
TRFUMC

PAGE 5

Three Rivers, Texas

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors

river
THE

SOURCE
The Call to Serve
AUGUST 2015

Pastors Perspective

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 ensure
that Christian discipleship is ongoing at Three Rivers First United Methodist Church.
This is how we glorify God.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Valli

EXISTING COMMITTEES
& WORK AREAS
Finance Committee
Trustees Committee
Missions and Outreach Committee
Staff Parish Relations Committee
Worship Committee
United Methodist Men
Youth and Childrens Ministry
Lay Leader
Christian Education
Communications Committee
Young 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. 11:13

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THE

SEA CITY WORKCAMP

I would like to start by thanking the church, the
Methodist Men, the parents, and the SUPER SUPPER 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, differences, prayers, struggles, sharing, singing, bonding,
and worship to help His family through the wonderful 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 amazing Christian mentors throughout the evenings and
worship service. What wonderful kids our community 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!

Lee Ann Barker

-2-

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.

Levi Stewart

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.

Wyatt Schroeder

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.

Sarah Martinez

It meant getting to help the less fortunate and the

people 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.

Madeline Johnson

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Sunday School begins at 9:30

All Sunday School classes are located in the fellowship hall and the education wing.

Summer Childrens Sunday

School Buzz

Its all the Buzzzzz....Childrens Sunday School has started

its new summer program!

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.

2nd Annual

Community Block Party

come join us for

Wednesday, August 12th at 5:30 pm

Our 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.

Backpack Blessing
Sunday Service, August 23rd

We 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 August
23rd. During Childrens Sermon we will say a special blessing for our teachers,
parents and children beginning a new school year..

Fellowship Meal

sunday school

1
2
3
4
5

Adult Sunday School

Christian: Its Not What You Think

This 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 Henneke

New 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 Valli

Godly Play

Sunday, August 23rd

After 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.

Wear Your Colors Sunday

Sunday, September 20th

On 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.

If you have any questions about Christian Education,

or would like to offer your time and talent,
please contact Shirley Jambers at 830.256.4826
-3-

This 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 Gnuschke

Little Lambs

This is another childrens class designed for 12 months to 3 years.

God loves it when we help each other
Led by Linda Tadlock and Lindsey Weber

Faith Finders

This is another childrens class designed for 4 years to 8 years.

Daniel & the Lions Den
Led by Linda Tadlock and Lindsey Weber

SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY

riverSOURCE

THE

Mission: 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.

Programs for Outreach

January

- Registration for Texas Prevent Child

Abuse convention

February

- Valentines Bags
- Change Sunshine Room inventory
from winter to summer

April

- Child Abuse Month

- Easter baskets for kids

May

- Kool Off the Kids; fan distribution

- Back to School Registration
- Foster Family Appreciation Movie
Night

August

- School supplies/clothes distribution

- Christmas Angels Registration

September

- Change Sunshine Room inventory

from summer to winter

October

- Coat Distribution and Fall Fest Bags

November

- Thanksgiving meal
- Boy and Girls Club Scholarships
- Heater distribution

December

- Christmas Angels
- Inventor the Sunshine Room

I 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

in 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 with
enough 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.

Food Bank

Pastor Valli

On 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.

Work Around the Church

A 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 one
This 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.
-4-

JUNE 2015

news from the

nursing home
ONE MATTERS AWARD GIVEN TO
THREE RIVERS FUMC

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 significantly changed their vital statistics. Vital statistics are
numbers that reflect growth, demographic change and participation
increase. We have shown a significant growth in all three areas.
Our membership is more reflective 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 more
people 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 112
folks worship with us.
The denominations represented
are United Methodist, Lutheran,
Roman Catholic, and Baptist.
Praise be to God !

Our Second Ark

Noah, 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.
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
-5community at a time. It all starts with a gift.

we would love to see you!

Pastor Valli Blairs Office Hours
Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
[email protected]

Church Office Hours

Monday - Friday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
361-786-3217

[email protected]

Sunday

Sunday School 9:30AM

Service 10:45AM

Wednesday

Mid-Week Recharge 5:30PM

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors

P.O. Box 417 Three Rivers, TX 78071