The Shepherd Newsletter El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church Edinburg, Texas

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1 CONTACT US EL BUEN PASTOR UMC 705 E. University Dr. Edinburg, Texas Phone #: For Newsletter Article: Contact: Priscilla R. prispat56@aol.com We re on the Web! OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended Hours on Tuesday thru Friday 2:30-6:30 p.m. Secretary Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 SUNDAY: Sunday School 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon WEDNESDAY: 6:00 p.m. & p.m. EL BUEN PASTOR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH EDINBURG, TEXAS January JANUARY ******************************* Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7* Communion * Culto Unido * 15* FINANCE MEETING 7PM * 10* * Clergy Ethics Training Kingsville Coffee With the Pastor Bible Study 10:00 AM 18 Coffee With the Pastor Bible Study 10:00 AM 25 Coffee With the Pastor Bible Study 10:00 AM 12 13* Trusted Con Confianza Webinar 10am-noon EBP Leadership Retreat 9am-noon 26 Youth Midwinter Retreat Camp Zephyr 27 Youth Midwinter Retreat Camp Zephyr *Installation of 2018 EBP Leadership on 1/7 during worship service. *Rev. Piña and Priscilla Patterson will be in Kerrville from 1/8-1/10 for Board of Ordained Ministry interviews. *Confirmation meeting with Pastor Norma for parents and youth at 6 p.m. on 1/10 in the chapel. *Trusted Con Confianza Webinar Training on 1/13 at 10 a.m. - noon at EBP. *Finance Team Meeting on 1/15 at 7 p.m. *Rev. Piña and Pastor Norma will be in Kingsville for a mandatory clergy ethics training on 1/23. *Church Council meeting on 1/28 after church. *Culto Unido will be at Los Wesleyanos in San Juan at 6:00 p.m. on 1/28. In This Issue: Christmas Eve Cantata & Candleight San Carlos Christmas Outreach Children s Ministry Girl Scouts Children s Christmas Program 2018 EBP Leadership 2018 EBP Leadership Confirmation Safe Gatherings/ Trusted Con Confianza United Methodist Women United Methodist Men Treasurer s Report January Birthdays & Anniversaries January Calendar 12 El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church Edinburg, Texas A New Beginning A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR Many things remind me of new beginning. There are many things I remember of my years in elementary school. One of those memories is the smell of new things at the beginning of the new school year. I remember the smell of new books, new clothes, newly sharpened pencils, crayons, etc. I also like the smell of a new car, a newborn baby and the rain early in the morning of a new day. These are things that remind me of a new beginning. A new beginning! We are beginning a new year and with that new opportunities come along. I believe that God is giving us another chance to make things right or to make them even better. The New Year is the opportunity to leave the old in the past; it s an opportunity to leave everything that caused conflict or pain in our lives, behind or give them to Christ. Just like the hymn This Is a Day of New Beginnings written by Brian Wren, 1978 says, This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that s gone. For by the life and death of Jesus, love s mighty Spirit, now as then, can make for us a world of difference, as faith and hope are born again. Then let us, with the Spirit s daring, step from the past and leave behind our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find. Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new. May your new year be showered with the light of Christ to guide you; may your new year be filled with endless joy that only the Holy Spirit can give; May your new year be filled with love beyond what you have ever known. And if you are facing challenges at this time, may your year be filled with the comfort only God through His Holy Spirit can provide. Happy New Year 2018! Rev. Isidro Piña JANUARY 2018

2 Page 2 Page 11 January Birthdays After months of preparation, our EBP Choir and liturgical dancers blessed us all with the What Kind of Throne Cantata on December 24th! It was a beautiful night for all! Many thanks to Noemi Cantu, the choir, Bianca Cantu, the liturgical dancers, and the A/V team for their faithfulness, perseverance, and generosity in sharing their gifts! JAN 1 JAN 2 JAN 3 JAN 3 JAN 4 JAN 5 JAN 6 JAN 6 JAN 7 JAN 7 JAN 11 JAN 12 JAN 12 JAN 14 JAN 14 JAN 14 JAN 16 JAN 16 JAN 17 JAN 17 JAN 18 JAN 20 MOY C. GARZA AMANDA CHAPA KATHERINE GORENA MEGHAN PEREZ JULIO AVILA RAQUEL HINOJOSA GABRIEL F. GALLOSO GABRIELLA GALLARDO LUCY ALVARADO JAYDEN GARZA MARCELINO OLIVAREZ, JR. RUBEN AVILA BETTY SALDIVAR EMILY ANAYA BRYSON CALDWELL OLIVIA SALAS OSCAR PEREZ VICTORIA GALINDO TITA SIGLER ELMA GARZA HECTOR RODRIGUEZ VALERIE PATTERSON JAN 21 JAN 22 JAN 22 JAN 22 JAN 23 JAN 23 JAN 25 JAN 26 JAN 27 JAN 28 JAN 28 JAN 29 JAN 30 JAN 31 JAN 31 RUTH FLORES ROGELIO GARZA NATALIE FLORES RICARDO BALDERAS CYNTHIA CONTRERAS ALEJANDRO GOMEZ MARCUS HINOJOSA MARIELLA GORENA VICENTE CAPPADONA MAKENNA PARRAS JILLIAN HERNANDEZ DEWEY BRUBAKER ELISA GAYTAN MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ MARISA BETANCOURT MELISSA RODRIGUEZ JD HERNANDEZ RAUL GARZA CIDELIA GORENA RUBEN GARCIA, JR. January Anniversaries 1/3 FRED & CARMEN ESPERICUETA 1/9 DAVID & JUANY LOPEZ 1/12 RUBEN & JANIE AVILA 1/15 JOSE & BEATRIZ ESPERICUETA 1/20 STEPHEN & NORA NECK 1/27 JULIO & EMMY CERDA 1/29 ROGELIO & GLORIA GONZALEZ 1/31 ROBERT & TERRY VIÑA

3 Page 10 Page 3. On December 23rd, EBP delivered many donated Christmas gifts and 9 bicycles to over 45 children in San Carlos. There is so much work to be done! We are blessed at EBP to have all ages helping with outreach work. Adelanté - Cerjio Almaraz

4 Page 4 Our EBP Kidz were quite excited with the month of December. There were many things to look forward to, especially their very much anticipated Christmas Musical-Jingle Bell Beach. We were only able to meet a couple of times for Wednesday and most of the time was spent practicing. Considering all the silliness and over activity that went on, with God s help, they pulled through and delivered an outstanding performance. Lizbeth and I were so very proud of each and every one of them. We also had our Annual Christmas Lock-In, which was filled with junk food, the making of ginger bread slime, some rehearsal time and lots and lots of laughs. Our Girl Scouts Troop 1049 participated in the wrapping and giving of Christmas Gifts which benefited the Edinburg Head Start and the Edinburg Night of Lights Parade. We look forward to what the New Year has in store for the littlest at EBP and the Children s Ministry. In January, we will begin planting in the Community Garden, do outreach into the community and will continue learning and sharing the Word of God. Page 9 Rio Texas Conference United Methodist Women Leadership Team Meeting will be January 12-14, 2018 at Mount Wesley, Kerrville, Texas and Priscilla Patterson and Mary Alice Ponce will be attending UMW Officers Elected Left to Right Sylvia Saldana, Treasurer; Noemi Perez, Spiritual Leader; Yolanda Martinez, Nominating Chairman; Mary Alice Ponce, President; Priscilla Patterson, Vice President; and Maruca Longoria, Secretary Carne Guisada Fundraiser Edinburg Night of Lights Parade-Alyssa,Gaby, Aliana & Lily w/lizbeth Toy Drive Wrapping EventMackenzie, Nadia, Aliana, Lily, Gaby & Madison $4. What better way to start Tri os av 00 a Box 2018 than by treating ailab le on yourselves to some lin Boot h Sal e only. to be yummy Girl Scout es anno Cookies while unce d late supporting Troop 1049!!! r The United Methodist Men raised $2,300 from their carne guisada fundraiser held on December 9th! The proceeds will go toward the painting of the church. Thanks to all who helped through donations, time, and purchases! The UMW met on November 27, 2017 for Arts and Crafts and made beautiful Wreaths.

5 Page 8 Page 5 Christmas Lock-In Fun Too often confirmation has been downgraded to the role of a checkpoint along the faith journey. Confirm treats confirmation as more than a decision. Instead, it is the beginning of a conversation about what it means to be a Christian, living out your faith, your commitment, and God s call. There will be a confirmation meeting for interested parents and youth will be on Wednesday, January 10th at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel with Pastor Norma Pollard. Jingle Bell Beach Christmas Musical New Rio Texas Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adult Safety Policy The members of the Rio Texas Conference approved the new Child, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults Safety Policy at the 2017 Annual Conference. This policy will go into effect immediately following the close of Annual Conference Current Safe Sanctuary certifications are good until then. The Rio Texas Conference has formed a new partnership with Safe Gatherings- an online tool that will help streamline the Safety Certification process for our conference. Safe Gatherings provides screening (references and background checks) and part of the training for the Rio Texas Trusted con Confianza certification process. Anyone interested in working with ministries involving children, youth, and vulnerable adults must take part in upcoming Safe Gatherings trainings under Trusted con Confianza offered by the Rio Texas Conference. There are three steps that need to be taken in order to receive your certification: Last 5 th Grade Performance Making a Joyful Noise The Nativity Scene Special thanks go out to the following persons for their help in this wonderful endeavor as our children shared God s Word: Mrs. Nora Neck for working on our background and props Christopher Garza & Gabriel Galloso for providing and assisting with sound All parents for being cooperative in bringing your children to every practice. 1) Create an account with Safe Gatherings at (There is a $10 fee) 2) After you create your account, fill out the application, and view the online training. 3) Complete the Rio Texas Conference Trusted con Confianza interactive training. This can be completed via participation with the free webinar we are hosting on Saturday, January 13th from 10 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. You must register prior to this event at The Rio Texas Annual Conference is committed to the well-being of every person entrusted to its care as well as those persons entrusted to the care of the districts and local United Methodist Churches throughout our conference borders. Therefore, we will strive to create safe places for all of God's children. Our safety policy and procedures helps us to do this holy and hard work. Contact Pastor Norma or Emmy Cerda for more information.

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