West District Texas Annual Conference May 29 - June 1. March-April Host Facility/Hotel Hilton Americas-Houston 1600 Lamar Street

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1 March-April 2016 West District of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church March 20 - Day of Prayer April 1 - Clergy Retreat April 18 - Open Forum at Christ UMC April 24 - Pre-Conference meeting 2016 Texas Annual Conference May 29 - June 1 Host Facility/Hotel Hilton Americas-Houston 1600 Lamar Street West District Office 4205 State Hwy 6 South College Station, TX Houston, Texas The conference will be held again at the Hilton Americas-Houston. Make sure you tell them you are with the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to get the conference rate. Office: Fax: Rev. Wanda Bess District Superintendent wbess@txcumc.org Debbie Keim Administrative Assistant dkeim@txcumc.org Mary Terry Office Assistant mterry@txcumc.org Pre-registration for all clergy and delegates to Annual Conference has begun. We ask that all pastors check to make sure your local church delegate is correct. If your church delegate has changed since your nominations at Charge Conference, we ask that you contact the district office TAC Registration Information: Online Registration is for all Clergy and their spouses, and for District and Local Church Delegates to Annual Conference. An containing registration information with a link for registration has been sent to all delegates. Please click on the link then click on Register as a Guest. Guests and laity who are not delegates do not need to register. If you do not have access to the web or , please call the district office and ask us to help you get registered online. For additional information about this year s event, lodging and relevant forms, please go to:

2 PRE-CONFERENCE ORIENTATION APRIL 24TH, 2016 Local Church Pastors and Annual Conference Delegates are asked to attend the Pre-Conference briefing and orientation meeting on Sunday April 24th, at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at A&M UMC, 417 University Dr, College Station. The orientation will discuss key events at Annual Conference, as well as include basic information about the site, meals, etc. Please plan to attend this important connectional meeting in our district. West District Missional Excellence Grants for 2016 District Missions Grants may be requested to support new or expanding ministries of the church, and to assist churches participating with mission trips or projects. Spring/summer grant applications are being accepted NOW! Deadline: April 30, 2016 You can access the forms on the district web site and download them at: Spring Clergy Retreat April 1st & 2nd Save the Date Location: Camp for All in Burton Texas Theme for 2016: Simplicity We will be gathering together to rest, relax and grow together as the clergy of our district. All clergy in our district are invited to attend. More information will be coming soon.

3 An Invitation from the Council of Bishops and Bishop Janice Riggle Huie Date: March 20, 2016 Dear District Leaders, Pastors and Prayer Leaders, to Pray for General Conference As General Conference of the UMC approaches, Bishop Al Gwinn, who chairs the Council of Bishop s prayer subcommittee is asking all of us to pray for General Conference delegates. He says, We hope they will pray that God would give them an understanding and loving heart; that all will have a spirit of humility and a desire to do God s will; and that the fruit of the Spirit would be evident in such a way that all who observe would sense that true Christian conferencing will take place. Bishop Gwinn is calling for a 24-hour, 7 day a week prayer vigil for 131 days. Our Bishop, Janice Riggle Huey, asks the Texas Conference to join together in 24 hours of prayer, as part of the 131 days. She has chosen Palm Sunday, at 12:01am until midnight, for the Texas Conference. Why Pray for General Conference? The United Methodist Church s top legislative body will meet at the Oregon Convention Center, the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, on May 10-20, General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs. What is a Prayer Vigil Believers gather for a designated length of time to focus on one thing: seeking the Father s will and action for a cause, person or event. We make a sacrifice of our time to place the needs of the General Conference, and the worldwide United Methodist Church, above our own. In the process, we grow closer to God, we discern his specific will for our church, and we grow closer to each other in unity. How can my Church participate? Your congregation or faith group can participate with concerted prayers during Palm Sunday morning worship; you could participate in Sunday morning concerted prayer and add an evening one-hour prayer gathering perhaps combined with a meal; or if you feel led, you could devote the entire 24-hour period to the prayer vigil, with your group committing to cover it in shifts. There will soon be a Texas Conference Prayer Vigil Facebook page listing current prayer vigil meetings across the conference (Information will be posted at txcumc.org once that is available.) We have included a prayer for unity, written by this task force, then a rich resource for your congregation s participation in the 24-hour vigil. Do as much or as little as you are able. Keep it simple. This is prayer for the unity and wisdom of the greater United Methodist church. There is no need to do anything but gather and pray, perhaps with a leader and suggested prayers. Prayer can happen anywhere, at church, in homes, or in an individual s prayer time. May the Lord bless you and your congregation abundantly during this important prayer vigil! The Texas Conference Prayer Vigil Task Force, Stephanie Griffin, Conference Lay Leader Brenda Martin, Prayer Pastor, Grace Fellowship UMC, Katy, Founding Pastor, The Great Southwest Prayer Center. Regeana Warren, Director of Supernatural Services and Communications, Windsor Village UMC Rev. Kathy Eason, Founder, Executive Director, Serenity Retreat for Healing and Spiritual Renewal Rev. Cindy Serio, Spiritual Director, *MOSAIC Spiritual Formation Ministry

4 Thank you to all the churches for your generous support and hard work relating to the 2015 Report Day and apportionment payments. Churches in the West District went all out in their response to paying apportionments. As in the past, the West District continues its unique tradition of paying 100 percent of conference apportionments. Thank you to the churches that have paid 100% of their 2016 West District Apportionments as February 15, Bays Chapel UMC Bedias UMC Bellville UMC Cedar Springs UMC Chappell Hill UMC Cooks Point UMC Evans Chapel UMC Farris Chapel UMC First UMC Anderson First UMC Centerville First UMC Giddings First UMC Marlin Flynn UMC Grace UMC Bremond Grace UMC Huntsville Kosse UMC Lee Chapel UMC Lexington UMC Lynn Grove UMC Major s Chapel UMC Maysfield UMC McKenzie Chapel UMC Millican UMC Pleasant Grove UMC Brenham Pleasant Grove UMC Dobbin Pleasant Retreat UMC Richards UMC Satin UMC Shiro UMC St. James UMC Bremond St. Matthew UMC Two Mile UMC Wesley UMC Wheelock UMC Yarborough Chapel UMC "Walk By Faith not By Sight" Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7 Camp Fees & Deadlines Early Bird Deadline - April 18th - Postmarked - $ Regular Deadline - May 2nd - Postmarked - $ Final Deadline - May 16th - Postmarked - $ Counselor Fee $

5 WEST DISTRICT CALENDAR 2016 March 3 Thur 9:00am DCOM District Office March 3-4 Thur-Fri Deacons Retreat at Camp Allen March 5 Sat 9:30am DCOM District Office March 7 Mon 4:00pm Clergy Excellence Team District Office March 8-10 Tue-Thur Cabinet Meetings March Spring Break March 14 Mon 10am-12pm Luncheon for SPR Chairs March 20 Sunday TAC Prayer Vigil March 27 Sunday Easter March Tues-Thurs Cabinet Meetings April 1-2 Fri-Sat West District Clergy Retreat April Cabinet Meetings April Fri-Sat Small Membership Church Retreat at Lakeview April Fri-Sun Clergy Family Retreat at Lakeview April 18 Mon 10am-2pm Open Christ UMC Annex Fellowship Hall April 18 Mon 5:30pm Church Building & Location District Office April 24 Sun 4:00pm Pre-Conference Meeting all Delegates & A&M UMC April Wed-Fri Cabinet Meetings May May 29-June 1 General Conference, Portland Oregon Texas Annual Conference Houston Hilton Americas

6 JEWETT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Presents

7 Our Mission To cultivate healing for grieving youth, their families and the community through peer support group programs, training, education and outreach. Grief comes in many forms Grief is the emotion experienced after a loss. The loss can be in many forms including losing a job, a relationship, the death of a loved one or divorce. Sometimes grief can be complicated where people get stuck in the various phases of grieving. Occasionally the grieving process may lead to guilt or depression that may need to be processed through individual therapy. Whatever the cause of the grief may be, we can help. Getting the Help You Need If you or someone you know would benefit from our services, please have the family call the Center. To schedule an intake interview please contact Kay or Tommy at or mhgc.info@gmail.com. Services Offered Grief Support Groups Divorce Care Training & Outreach Individual Counseling Mending Hearts Grief Center is a part of The Hope Center, a Missions Outreach Ministry of Christ United Methodist Church. We are volunteer-driven and entirely supported through donations. Show Your Support Join the Friends of Mending Hearts Grief Center Become a volunteer Sponsor a dinner to a support group Donate items from our Wish List Make a tax-deductible contribution For more information visit our website:

8 The West District Office Of the United Methodist Church 4205 State Highway 6 South College Station, TX Nonprofit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Bryan, Texas Permit No. 55 Return Service Requested Congratulations to Chaplain Buddy Walker. He will be promoted to Lt. Col. U.S. Air force In April. God is using him mightily around the globe. Retired Ministers Monthly Luncheon Notice March 21, 2016 Hosts: Gerald & Pat Atmar China King Buffet 2402 Texas Ave. April 18,2016 Hosts: Bill & Johnnie Jones (TBA) Luncheons begin at 11:30 am unless otherwise noted.