First United Methodist Churches

of Barksdale and
Rocksprings, Texas

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This is the monthly newsletter of the First United Methodist Churches of Barksdale and Rocksprings,
Texas. Check out our web sites: fumcbarksdale.weebly.com & rockspringsfumc.weebly.com
Editor: Rev. Linda ONeal
revlindalee@yahoo.com
1267 CR 411
Home: 830-597-2114
Uvalde, TX 78801
Cell: 979-253-1592
Everyone is welcome to make contributions and suggestions to the publication of this newsletter!
Your input is solicited and most welcome!

Lent BeginsAsh Wednesday Feb. 10

Barksdale FUMC

Rocksprings FUMC

Ash Wednesday Service

Ash Wednesday

12:30 PM

Service 5:15 PM

We will be finished with the Womens

Bible Study and with lunch by 12:30.
People who work can get away to
come at that time.

People who work can come to the

service before they go home and is
before dark. This will be finished by
6:00 PM.

Conversations for Healing and Next Steps Together

The Rio Texas Conference has organized four events specifically designed for clergy and lay
Annual Conference delegates (from 2015 and 2016). Of course, it is open to any who would
expect to find it helpful. The events will address the resignation of our former bishop Mr.
Dorff.
1. Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon at First United Methodist
Church in Victoria, Texas. Hosted by Bishop Janice Riggle Huie .
2. Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. until 4 p.m. at La Trinidad United Methodist
Church in Pharr, Texas. Hosted by Bishop Robert Schnase .
3. Sunday, February 14, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. at First United Methodist
Church San Marcos, Texas. Hosted by Bishop Joel Martinez.
4. Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until 3 p.m. at St. Paul United
Methodist Church in Kerrville, Texas. Hosted by Bishop Mike Lowry. Closest to us.
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FUMC BARKSDALE

FUMC ROCKSPRINGS

BIRTHDAYS in February
4Debbie Stotts
5Kathy Norvell
7Liz Mikulec
8Rosemary Boland
9Carcen Andrew
Jaxcen Preece
Will be 7 years old
13Jan Prather
23Lonny Meadors
26Molly Williams
ANNIVERSARIES in February

BIRTHDAYS in February
5Colton Greene

23Charles and Tena Hunger

NO ANNIVERSARIES in
February
Please correct and add
to these lists!
Thank you!

and
Anniversaries

BARKSDALE
Yolanda Bird
Bob Browns mission trip
Julie Colclasure
Fred Cox
Bobbie & Lowell Jessup
Jaxson Martinez & family
Gail McElroy

Jenna Milam
Schools

Janice Sims
Dorothy Stotts
Peggy Taylor

Gloria Turner

ALL PRAY
Our Pastor

Our Military

Schools
Peace on Earth
Gods Will Be Done

ROCKSPRINGS

Raising teenagers is like

nailing Jell-o to a tree.
*
There is always a lot to be
thankful for if you take time

to look for it. For example, I

am sitting here thinking
don't hurt.
how nice it is that wrinkles

Barksdale FUMC

Tuesday, February 9
Pancake Supper
4:30 to 7:00 PM

Scott Williams
Lorine Brown
Dillon Brown
Ro Clark
Carma Cloudt
Sarah Crenshaw
Janice Edwards
Rhoda Jones
Keith James
Maxine Sorrells
Aubara Fotiades

Tanner Walkermilitary in CO, soon

Afghanistan

Community Fund Raiser

Proceeds go to Nueces Canyon
Volunteer EMS

Donations accepted, no set price

Barksdale News

Worship Sundays at 9:00 AM

Nursery for Toddlers is provided in the back of the Sanctuary every

Sunday morning during worship, which begins at 9:00 AM.

Adult Sunday School takes place every Sunday after church in the Fellowship
Hall. We use the Adult Bible Studies curriculum and people take turns leading the
class. In February we will be studying:
7Passover, Exodus 12:1-14; Numbers 28:16-25; Mark 14:12-26 14
Feast of Weeks, Leviticus 23:15-22, Numbers 28:26- 31; Acts 2:1-36 21
Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:23, 26-32; Numbers 29:7-11;
Hebrews 7:26-28; 9:24; 10:4-18
28Feast of Booths, Leviticus 23:33-43; Numbers 29:12-40;
Deuteronomy 16:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-29; Revelation 14:1-5
Childrens Sunday School takes place every Sunday after church in the
Sanctuary. All ages study together and adults take turns teaching.
Bible Study takes place on Monday nights at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Dinner
is provided. Ron Fulton teaches the class. They are studying The Parables of Paul.
Womens Bible Study takes place on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 AM in the
Fellowship Hall. Those who wish to do so meet for lunch at a local restaurant
afterwards. Cindy Meador is teaching the class. They are also studying The Parables of
Paul.

The Parables of Paul

by J. Ellsworth Kalas
The Mens and the Womens Bible Study
classes are studying a book about Paul that
is really about the Metaphors of Paul. He
did not use parables in his letters, but he
used a lot of metaphors to help his readers
understand what he was saying about
Christianity.
J. Ellsworth Kalas, the author, was a United
Methodist pastor for 38 years and is now on
the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary
serving as a professor of homiletics
(preaching).

We are trying something new this year. In the Fellowship Hall there is a sign-up poster for altar flowers. If
you would like to provide fresh flowers for the altar on
any given Sunday in honor or in memory of someone,
please sign up! Let the pastor know if you wish for the
church to arrange for the delivery of the flowers with a
florist, otherwise provide them yourself. There will be
an acknowledgment in the bulletin that week.
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Barksdale News Continued ..

FOOD DRIVE in February
In conjunction with the Childrens Sunday School lessons, we are
having a food drive in February. We are especially asking for
foodstuffs that can be used for the Nueces Canyon Backpack
Ministry. The Food Bank in San Antonio provides the bulk of the
non -perishable foods that are given to children on Fridays. As of
this writing, the ministry is providing week-end food for 43
children in the Nueces Canyon School District. All of the children
in the School District receive free lunches. The District has over
70% of its students who qualify for free lunches, so it serves them
to every student. However, on the weekend many children do not
receive enough nutrition. The District works with the Backpack
Ministry to determine who receives this food and the names of
the recipients are kept confidential. Some foods that are not
provided by the Food Bank but are included in the back-packs
are: 1. small cartons of shelf stable milk 2. single serving
size packets of oatmeal 3. SNACKS like single bags of
microwavable pop corn or granola bars or other nutritious
snacks.
The following article was submitted to the Canyon Broadcaster. The Nueces Canyon Ministerial
Alliance was begun last year, first meeting in April. It meets in the Fellowship Hall of Barksdale
FUMC on the 4th Wednesday of the month. Kathy Norvell makes lunch. Montell UMCs Jeanette
Hammons organized the Nueces Canyon Backpack Ministry and Barksdale UMC contributes to it
with both money and volunteer workers.
Nueces Canyon Ministerial Alliance

This interdenominational group of Canyon pastors, elders, and church representatives meet at
noon on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Barksdale First United Methodist Church
fellowship hall. Their purpose is to discuss community needs and how to address them, as a
concerned group, as well as, support activities and events that are being conducted at individual
churches.
Currently, plans are being made for a community Easter sunrise service to be held at the San
Lorenzo de La Cruz mission site, on Highway 55, in Camp Wood. Everyone in the canyon is invited
to bring a lawn chair and share in this special celebration. Another on-going project is a weekend
supplemental food program for 43 elementary children, originally initiated by the Montell First United
Methodist Church as mission support for our local families. It is also being funded by various church
congregations, businesses, and individuals.
Research shows that one in five children, in the United States, lives in a household marked by
food insecurity: a condition where a family faces uncertainty about providing adequate nutrition for
everyone in the home. This situation can be chronic or occasional. With ever rising food costs and
an unstable economy, unfortunately, our Canyon family members share this problem, as well.
While the San Antonio Food Bank generously underwrites 90% of this program with their food
resources, children receive supplemental shelf stable milk, oatmeal, and an additional snack inside
each weekend pack. Organized by volunteer and distributed each Friday afternoon, to thankful
children, this program allows contributors to share abundance and show care for those with unmet
basic needs. It provides for those children of families that do not have enough, with the offer of
necessities and the hope that a community cares about them. For more information or to make a
donation, please contact
NUECES Canyon Backpack Ministry, C/O Jeanette Hammons,
12 Pvt. Rd. 2760, Uvalde, TX 78801, 830-854-1295 cell, 830-597-4407 home
jhammonshome@yahoo.com
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Rocksprings News Worship 11:00

AM

Beginning Sunday, February 7,

we will be worshiping in the
basement, the Fellowship Hall.

Workers are coming to paint the sanctuary and the rooms

around it on the top floor. They will strip the old paint first
from window casings which will be returned to their original
natural wood. The chemicals used to do that are safe but
there is still an odor to them. Also, scaffolding will be
erected to reach the tops of the walls and the ceiling, as
our sanctuary is very tall. We do not know how long it will
take to do all the work. We may be worshiping in the
basement for a while. The piano has been tuned. There will
be no need for a sound system as we will all be closer
together in a room with a lower ceiling. The seating will all
be close to the pulpit. Those who wish to sit as far back as
possible might want to consider arriving earlier. :)
Trustees Meet First Monday of the Month (After First Sunday) at
5:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall, this month February 8.
The Trustees will meet in February on the 8th. Since the last
newsletter, the broken stained glass window above the front door of the
sanctuary has been replaced with one similar to the original. The
window was a memorial window and the new one retains the memorial
designation. The company that made the window could not use the
same glass that was used in the original as some of it is no longer
manufactured. Still, the window is quite lovely and very close to the
original.
At the same time, the front door was replaced. The old one
leaked when we have a hard rain. The facing around the door and the
window above it was replaced with beautiful wood. The wood on the
outside of the new door needs to be weather proofed. When the workers
begin painting the sanctuary, they will do that also. Our thanks to Souli
for taking the men who installed the door and window hunting. That
saved us the labor cost!

Music changes coming!

We are going to try some new things with our music.
Every Sunday we will have one old favorite hymn that
everyone knows. We took a survey a while back of
favorite hymns and we will use that. Let the pastor know
your favorite hymn(s) if you have not already done so. We
are also going to include some contemporary music and
some old favorites not in our current hymnal. Feel

free, PLEASE to let the pastor what you like!!

BARKSDALE First United Methodist Church

Approved Report of the Lay Leadership Committee to the Church Council 9.27.15
Administrative Council Chair: Cindy Meadors
Annual Conf. Delegate:
Cindy Meadors
Alternate Annual Conf. Del.: Kathy Fulton
Treasurer & Church Historian: Ernestine Carson

Secretary: Liz Mikulec

Lay Leader: Kathy Fulton

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES
Committee on
Finance and Audi t
Chair: Lonny Meadors
Ernestine Carson
Charles Carson III
Ron Fulton
Lonny Meadors
Bob Brown

Pastor Parish Relations

Chair: Liz Mikulec
Class of 2016
Jane Brown
Lonny Meadors
Class of 2017
Tena Hunger
Liz Mikulec
Class of 2018
Ron Fulton
Bridget Preece

Lay Leadership
Chair: Linda ONeal
Class of 2016
Kathy Norvell
Class of 2017
Kathy Fulton
Class of 2018
Charlie Hunger

Trustees
Chair: Mark Norvell
Class of 2016
Bob Brown
Vic Mikulec
Class of 2017
Janice Sims
Lonny Meadors
Class of 2018
Mark Norvell
Johnny Preece

AREAS OF SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP

Membership Care
and Nurture
Chair: Jane Brown
Ernestine Carson
Annette Hutto
Kathy Norvell

Worship
Chair: Tena Hunger
Ernestine Carson
Liz Mikulec
Childrens Sermons

Ron Fulton

Communion
Chair: Kathy Norvell
Bridget Preece
Liz Mikulec

Childrens
Ministries
Bridget Preece
Cindy Meadors

Bread Baker
Ron Fulton

Ushers
Scott Williams
R.C. Smith

ROCKSPRINGS First United Methodist Church

Approved by Church Council 12.6.15 Officers for 2016
Administrative Council Chair:
Annual Conf. Delegate:
Alternate Annual Conf. Del.:
Treasurer:

Buddy W eaver
Dora White
Kathy Fulton
Jan Helwig

Secretary: Irene Varga

Lay Leader: Dora W hite
Memorials: Lillie Shanklin

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES
Committee on
Finance and Audi t
Chair: Jan Helwig
Grady Douglass
Bill Mitchell
Lillie Shanklin
Buddy Weaver
Alma Smart
Dora White

Pastor Parish Relations

Chair: Alma Smart
Class of 2016
Kari Cloudt
Sandra Harris
Class of 2017
Terri Eckhart
Patty Sanklin
Class of 2018
Sarah Douglass
Alma Smart

Lay Leadership
Chair: Linda ONeal
Class of 2016
Lillie Shanklin
Alma Smart
Class of 2017
Dora White
Gretchen Birck
Class of 2018
Vicki Houston
Kathy Walker

AREAS OF SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP

Membership Care
and Nurture
Chair: Sandra Harris
Dora White
Alma Smart
Kathy Walker

Worship
Chair: Dora White
Patty Shanklin
Alma Smart
Sandra Harris

Communion
Chair: Patty Shanklin
Vicki Houston
Kari Cloudt

Trustees
Chair: Souli Shanklin
Class of 2016
Alma Smart
Sam Houston
Dora White
Class of 2017
Souli Shanklin
Grady Douglass
Sandra Harris
Class of 2018
Lillie Shanklin
Buddy Weaver
Jan Helwig
Childrens
Ministries
Chair: Hillary Shanklin
Dora White
Irene Varga
Patty Shanklin

LENT
I am glad to be back in church! I was gone from October 11 to December 27 and came back
the first Sunday in January. I had emergency surgery to repair a large and a small perforated bowel
and stayed in the hospital for a week and a half. Two weeks later I went back in the hospital with
blood loss from the large intestine, unrelated to the surgery. I received 4 units of blood over 4 1/2
days and underwent some testing and was sent home. I am still recuperating in that I am gaining
strength, but I am doing very well. Praise God and thanks to everyone who kept me in your prayers!
This newsletter is being mailed on Tuesday, Feb. 2, Ground Hog Day! If the Good Lord is
willing and the creeks dont rise, the newsletter should be back in business again. I am going to
include what I know about March in this newsletter because I have a grandchild due to be born
February 19. This will require grandma to spend some time in Colorado. The new one has an older
sister, Sandy, who will be 19 months old. It is harder to bring home a new baby when there is
already a child in the home.
Whats been happening in the church? Here are some high-lights:
The bishop of the Rio Texas Conference, Bishop Dorff, resigned and turned in his credentials
(that means he is no longer an elder in the church by his own volition.) He sent a letter to the
Conference repenting of breaking the vows he took 1) upon becoming a bishop, 2) upon his
ordination as an elder, and 3) upon his marriage. This happened in the middle of December.
In January, the South Central Jurisdictional College of Bishops met and assigned four bishops to
serve the Rio Texas Conference in the interim between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1 of 2016. This summer
the whole church will have General and then Jurisdictional conferences. At the
Jurisdictional conferences, new bishops will be elected. We were due to receive a new bishop
Sept. 1 all along. Of the interim bishops, three are currently serving another conference, and the
fourth is retired.
1.Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Annual Conference will be the Interim Bishop of
Record. She will oversee the appointment process. She was the District Superintendent of
the old San Angelo District in the old Southwest Texas Annual Conference when she was
elected bishop. She meets with our cabinet (all the district superintendents) electronically
from her office in Houston. She has also already met with SPR committees and pastors.
2. Bishop Robert Schnase of the Missouri Annual Conference will plan and lead the Annual
Conference when we meet this summer in Corpus Christi. The old Southwest Texas
Conference was his home conference and he was elected bishop while serving as the pastor
of FUMC McAllen.
3. Bishop J. Michael Lowry is the bishop of the Central Texas Conference. He too came out
of the old Southwest Texas Conference. He will oversee the annual conference nominations
process in 2016 and will lead the Clergy Convocation at Mount Wesley February 22-23.
4. Bishop Joel Martinez is retired and came from the old Rio Grande Conference. He will
preach special services, do pastoral ministry, oversee mission, service and justice ministries,
and will sit as the conference representative on various boards and agencies.
Every church is composed of ordinary human beings and everyone in any position from church
member to bishop is prone to sin. We need to pray for each other diligently and tend to the state of
of own souls courageously. We will all answer to God and may we all be able to do so honorably,
as forgiven and sincerely repentant sinners. To that end, may we strive for a holy Lent.
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The First United Methodist Churches of

Barksdale and Rocksprings, Texas
1267 CR 411
Uvalde, TX 78801
Address Correction Requested

Pancake
Supper
February 9
4:30 to 7:00 PM
Barksdale FUMC
Donations go to Nueces
Canyon EMS

February 10
FUMC
FUMC
Barksdale
Rocksprings
Service 12:30 PM Service 5:15 PM
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