Coker United Methodist Church
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
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A mission outreach opportunity is featured each month.March's Mission Focus:Youth Summer 2010 Mission Trips As a body of Christ we are called to live for Christ. That calling comes in living for His name, His purpose, and His glory. The youth summer mission trips provide opportunities to live out this calling. Through service in several different communities in Texas and Georgia, the youth will be the hands and feet of Christ this summer. They will be serving at food banks, children's community centers, meals on wheels, adult community centers, construction sites, and several other places.
Every year an opportunity to financially support these trips is offered to the congregation. March's mission moment is that opportunity. All monies prayerfully given for this month's mission moment will go to send over 180 youth and adults to either McAllen, Texas or Atlanta, Georgia.
The youth will also be sending every congregational member a personal letter in late March sharing why they go on mission trips and how God has used them on these trips. The prayers and support of the Coker congregation are very much appreciated by each and every youth and adult that attends these trips.
Church Connections UpdateChurch Connections is a Coker-supported ministry that repairs Methodist churches in San Antonio. Click here for an update on the repairs they've made this year and the upcoming projects that need volunteers.
Angel Food MinistryMain Menu Package: $30March sign-ups: sign up in the Gazebo between services on Sunday, March 14
March Distribution: Saturday, March 27 from 8:30 to 10:00 AM
For more information on Angel Food, please visit coker.org/angel.
KSAT 12 News in San Antonio recently did a story on Angel Food. Click here to read the story or here to watch the video.
Heart for Guyana
Local Non-Profit Needs VolunteersOur House San Antonio (Our House) needs volunteers to help run its weekly programs. Our House is a non-profit organization that provides a supportive place in which adults who suffer from severe and persistent mental illness can rediscover their self-respect, dignity, and abilities through the opportunity to perform productive work, to belong, and to develop meaningful relationships. Our House is located at 1530 N. Alamo behind the Pig Stand Restaurant. The organization is one of more than four hundred similar programs worldwide, based on the principle that meaningful work is critical in bringing positive change to the lives of those living with mental illness. Our House is not a residential center or a treatment facility and those who participate in our programs are considered “members” rather than patients or clients. The Missions Committee included Our House San Antonio (Our House) as one of the benefactors of Alternative Gift Market in December.
Our House needs people to volunteer to continue their daily programs. Volunteers can choose the day(s) they would like to volunteer and the program areas in which they would like to serve. The work is very rewarding as Our House members need to know they are loved and that people care for them. If you are interested in volunteering your time and talents and would like to tour the Our House facility, please call Beth Smith at 731-9177 or 861-3959. Also visit the Our House website at www.ourhousesa.org. From Coker to Cameroon and Backby Mike Ford
 Then I heard the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for me?’ And I answered, ‘Here am I; send me.’
--Isaiah 6:8
It is a small, thirty-member congregation of blue collar men and women and their children and grandchildren. They meet in an unlocked rented room, without electricity, partially open to the elements, lighted only by sunshine and the members’ spirits, located in Yaounde, Cameroon, W. Africa. In mid-January 2008 six Coker UMC members blended with those saints at Peniel UMC to witness God’s love and grace to Peniel’s surrounding community -- one team, one church. For three full days visitors to eye clinics, dental hygiene classes, and first aid and CPR classes were warmly greeted, respectfully treated, assisted by patient Christian translators, comforted by caring Christian souls, and invited to worship in Peniel Church. Children who could not see a blackboard now can. Grandparents can see their grandchildren’s faces once more. Seniors can again read their Bibles. Mothers can save choking babies. Friends can help save friends’ lives. A community recognizes a loving, active church. Africans and Americans prayed, sang, danced, worshiped, ate, and talked and worked together as sisters and brothers in Christ. Our hearts overflowed with joy and our spirits were lifted high by Peniel’s members. We traveled to answer prayers and to be a blessing. We returned blessed with greater understanding of God’s call to us to be in service to others. Experience the joy. Take the next step on your spiritual journey. It is not as difficult as you may think. All you have to do is show up. God does the rest. The Joy of Serviceby Sharon Ford
May the Lord’s name be praised for all the faithful disciples and kind acts of service lovingly given this year!! Over one hundred and twenty-five new volunteers experienced the JOY of service this past year through opportunities encouraged by the Mission Outreach Committee. Many of God’s children were blessed through this service. To all those who participated, we say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
In Guyana, Amerindians of Capoey received clean water, medicine, eye glasses, and Communion. Ladies at Holy Family Home received new dresses, fresh paint, a garden, music, reading glasses, and friendship. Children of Hope Home and Rumsveldt Children’s Home received medicine, clothing, school supplies, and quality time with Texans who love them. In Cameroon, W. Africa, new relationships were established with missionaries and Penial UMC in Yaounde through an eye clinic and the dental hygiene and CPR demonstrations we conducted. In Piedras Negras, Mexico, we continued outreach to House of Mercy Orphanage through building projects, food, clothing, toys, a swim party, worship, and pizza parties. New ministries were extended to Alleyluia Methodist Church and Casa Bethesda, a home for disabled orphans, where we supplied food, toys, diapers, and school supplies. The Boy Scouts joined us in Piedras Negras, making a big impact with a hydroponic garden at Alleyluia Church so they can feed their congregation and their neighbors.
Locally, Coker disciples worked through Church Connections to paint and tile the narthex at Highland Terrace UMC and support a kitchen shower and yard sale at Manantial de Vida UMC. Coker youth helped paint the exterior of Browning UMC, and adults painted the exterior of Sanford Chapel UMC. Our Angel Food “angels” continued our host site to help feed our community and stepped up to make Coker a regional distribution site. Many had compassion for the paralyzed and traveled to Luling every month to make Personal Energy Transport vehicles (PETs). Once again the faithful came together to build Coker’s fifth Habitat for Humanity house this fall. Others have donated gifts, supplies and money to make all these projects a reality, and they have supported all of the ministries highlighted through our Mission Moments. We truly thank you for your service to the Lord and the blessings you bestowed in the name of Jesus.
If you have not yet joined in the JOY, watch your Courier for new opportunities to experience faith in action in 2009.
The Joy of Serviceby John Estes
I would never have thought that I would find some of the most wonderful Christians in prison! Serving God in prison is one of the most wonderful things that has happened in my life. Having some small part in helping a man turn his life over to Christ and away from crime is just too joyful to explain in words. If you have been thinking of looking for a new place to serve the Lord, the KAIROS ministry needs you, and this might be the perfect place.
95% of our Texas inmates will leave prison on parole or "served time." Around 85% will go back to prison. They will do this by committing more crimes, and they are living in our communities! Less than 10% (in some prisons less than 4%) of those men that accept Christ re-enter prison. The answer is so very simple. When Christ dwells in all of us, we are changed forever. If you are interested in a new opportunity to serve God, please call me (John Estes) at (210) 481-1927. We need you. There is a man behind bars that is waiting to find out about Christian love.
Jesus said, "I was in prison and you came to visit me," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:36; 40)
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Worship With Us:Times & Directions
Our address:
231 E. North Loop Rd. San Antonio, TX 78216-1896 210-494-3455
FAX: 494-8537 |
