November, That day, wisdom conquered foolishness, as we turned around and made it safely back down to the canyon floor.

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1 Beauty and Danger November, 2017 Recently, Robyn and I got to spend several days in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was wonderful. The high desert of New Mexico is a thin place for us a place where heaven and earth seem to almost touch where the veil between them feels particularly thin, almost transparent. During our stay, we had the opportunity to take a couple of breathtaking hikes; at Ghost Ranch and at Tent Rocks. About a half-mile into our hike of the Kitchen Mesa trail at Ghost Ranch, we found ourselves on the floor of a box canyon, looking up at one of the most beautiful vistas I ve ever seen. The East wall of the canyon was alive with natural colors brown, red, pink and beige. We traversed the length of the canyon floor from north to south, following a trail marked with green-painted coffee cans on short posts. At the south end of the canyon, the trail began to rise, and then became quite steep. At one point the trail was just a narrow path across a steep hillside a mountain goat trail. Two of our party of six hikers decided not to go further, but I and three others pushed on. At the end of the mountain goat passage, the hike became a climb as the trail wound among and around boulders, pushing ever upwards. One of my friends turned around there, but three of us climbed on for a few minutes, anyway. We were finding the way quite difficult and the trail hard to follow. I wanted to make it to the top of the mesa call it stubbornness or machismo (or foolishness!). But I could hear these words in my head, Pride goeth before the fall. Or maybe I was hearing God answer Robyn s prayer from below: Lord, tell that fool to come back down! That day, wisdom conquered foolishness, as we turned around and made it safely back down to the canyon floor. If you ever get the chance to visit Ghost Ranch, outside of Abiquiu, New Mexico, you should do it. It was the home of artist Georgia O Keeffe, and it s easy to see why it inspired her so. It is a beautiful and dangerous place. I find Christian discipleship to be the same way. It is wondrous to follow the path of Jesus Christ, but it can at times be a steep and rocky trail. Jesus never promised us that the Way would be easy, but the journey is always worth taking, and God is always with us. I hope you find your own thin places as you journey with Jesus. Blessings and peace, Andy

2 Page 2 A Christian Greeting "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24 Recently, I found a book I thought I lost forever. Written by Norman Vincent Peale, the book is called "How to make POSITIVE IMAGING work for you". Translation, "the concept is a form of mental activity called imaging. It consists of vividly picturing, in your conscious mind, a desired goal or objective, and holding that image until it sinks into your unconscious mind where it releases great, untapped energies." The best part to the process is "It works best when it is combined with a strong religious faith, backed by prayer and the seemingly illogical technique of giving thanks for benefits before they are received." Thank you Rev. Peale, you reminded me once again, that mind and body and spirit are one indivisible unit, as the Bible has been telling us all along! More of Him, Less of Me, Gini The light of God surrounds me: The love of God enfolds me; The power of God protects me; The presence of God watches over me; Wherever I am, God IS! James Dillet Freeman Ministry through Administration Consultation Forms: Just a reminder the Pastor Consultation Forms and the Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee forms are available on the District website, in Microsoft Word format or Adobe (.pdf) format. A letter from Andy is also there. Remember these forms are due in the District Office no later than December 1, If you have any questions or if you need to visit with Andy please call the District Office. Year-end Reports: It is never too early to begin thinking about your year-end reports. If you are prepared it is a form that is not difficult to complete. These forms will be sent out in December. I have not been given close out dates yet, but they are normally around the 10th 2017 apportionments are due at the Conference Office and around the 20th the year-end reports will need to be entered online. Let me know if I can assist you! Let s stay connected, Amy

3 November, 2017 Page 3 The Pastors and Professionals Meeting will be Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at First UMC in Mason. We will gather at 9:30 a.m. and begin worship at 10:00 a.m. The cost for the day is $ Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, November 7. Thank you! The West District will host an Open House this year for Christmas! Please join us Thursday, December 14, 2017 from 3:00 6:00 pm (come & go). You are invited to come by the District Office, 1315 S. Abe Street, to share in some wonderful conversation and Christmas goodies. Mark your calendar: Saturday, January 13, 2017 West District Leadership Training First UMC San Angelo Watch for more information: sessions offered as well as guest speaker and leaders.

4 Page 4 The Rio Texas Conference is committed to caring for those who serve and providing benefits that assist clergy and lay employees in optimizing their well-being. As announced at 2017 Annual Conference, a significant change will occur for Rio Texas Conference health care plan participants beginning on January 1, 2019, enabling the flexibility to select from a menu of HealthFlex options that best fit their needs. It s an exciting time to embrace the possibilities this change will provide. The HealthFlex Exchange is tailored with choices to cover the spectrum of health; from those suffering from chronic illnesses to those who are in the best shape of their lives and alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with healthcare expenses. Although 2019 seems distant, clergy and church leadership are encouraged to prepare for the change by taking advantage of learning opportunities and sharing vital feedback as part of a successful implementation. As part of this transition, the Health Benefits Team is holding four presentations this fall across the conference. All clergy, SPRC Chairs, and Finance Committee Chairs are encouraged to participate in one of the events. Other decisionmaking lay leaders are also welcomed. The presentation will provide an introduction to Wespath HealthFlex Exchange, share how the Conference is working to fund health care in the future, and discuss the transition timeline. Since this change will impact church budgeting, it is important that the clergy and lay leadership learn about this healthcare shift, ask questions, and share feedback with the Health Benefits Team. Below is the list of scheduled presentations. Attendees are not restricted to an event within your District; all events are open to all Rio Texas churches. Nov 4: First UMC San Angelo, 10 a.m. noon (37 East Beauregard, San Angelo) Nov 11: First UMC, Beeville, 10 a.m. noon (106 E Cleveland St, Beeville) Nov 14: St. John s UMC, Austin, 7 p.m. 9 p.m. (2140 Allandale Rd., Austin) Dec 2: El Buen Pastor, Edinburg, 10 a.m. noon (705 E University Dr, Edinburg) Please share this with the people in your congregation who will best represent your church in health care and budgeting decisions. If you have any questions, please call the conference office at (210) We look forward to seeing you this fall, Health Benefits Team, Board of Pensions Rio Texas Conference

5 Calendar Nov. 4 HealthFlex Meeting, First UMC, San Angelo 5 Daylight Saving Time Ends 5 Southeast Sub-Group Charge Conferences, 3:00 pm, Mason 7 Doug Hester Class, SA:FUMC, Concho Country Emmaus Community Gathering, Sierra Vista UMC, 6:30 pm 8-10 Andy TMF DS Development, Dallas 9 Gini Off 12 Northeast Sub Group Charge Conferences, 3:00 p.m., San Saba 14 Pastors and Professionals Meeting, FUMC Mason, 9:30 a.m Cabinet Meeting Gini Off District Office Closed Thanksgiving Holiday 27 Shush Free Worship, Sierra Vista UMC, 6:30 pm Dec. 3 Central Sub-Group Charge Conferences, 3:00 pm 5 Doug Hester Class, SA:FUMC, Concho Country Emmaus Community Gathering, Sierra Vista UMC, 6:30 pm 8 Cabinet Meeting 14 DS Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m. 14 Office Christmas Open House 3 6 pm, Come & Go District Office Closed West District Rio Texas Conference United Methodist Church 1315 South Abe Street San Angelo, TX Phone: Fax: s: Andy Smith, District Superintendent asmith@riotexas.org Gini Christian, Director of Programs westgini@suddenlinkmail.com Amy Moore, Operations Manager westamy@suddenlinkmail.com District Web-Page: umcwayoutwest.org