Lytle United Methodist Church

P.O. Box 608

Lytle, Texas 78052-0608

(830) 772-3345

Lytleumc.com

Facebook.com/lytleumc 19341 Somerset St., Lytle

AUGUST 2018

Emergencies never happen when it’s

convenient. Jesus had a tough week, and all he

wanted was a little shut eye as the boat traveled

from the west shore to the east shore of the Sea of

Galilee. But then came the storm. Responding to

the waves, and the panicked disciples, Jesus stood

raised his arms and said, “Peace, be still.” We

don’t know if he was talking to the storm or to the

disciples, or both, but both calmed down, and the

emergency passed.

This episode speaks to us as disciples. It

reminds us that in the midst of our storms Jesus is

there, but it also reminds us that we are called to

take up our cross and follow the example of Jesus.

Last week our youth leaders got an emergency call from the people running the mission projects up in San

Augustine county. “We have to get some roofs shingled now, can you come?” Even though our youth

leaders were exhausted and wanted just “five minutes more,” they got up, went, and calmed the storm.

That’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus. As Paul wrote: “Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be

strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).

Grace and peace, Scott

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Child/Youth Protection Training

Our church was leading the pack, but now we seem to have run out

of gas. I haven’t handed out one of my gimmicky trophies in months.

Maybe you can be the one to get us going again. All it takes is a desire

and commitment: A desire to help our church be a safe place for children

and youth, and commitment to do what it takes for that to happen.

Step 1 – register on safegatherings.com and provide information for background checks.

Step 2 – do a slide show training you go through on your computer.

Step 3 – do a live training class that can be easily taken on your computer as a webinar,

or at a physical site (a nearby church).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tuesday Morning Prayer Group at the Church

Next gathering, August 28, 9AM to 10 AM

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Our Tuesday Morning prayer group celebrates two years of ministry. It

has been a true blessing to those who participate and to those who are held up

in prayer. You may not consider yourself a “public prayer,” but this isn’t

about public prayer. We gather at 9 AM and share prayer concerns—mostly

from our Sunday prayer list put together from the yellow sheets in the

bulletins. We spend 20 minutes or more just talking about concerns. Then for

the next 40 minutes we pray. Some pray out loud, others simply pray silently.

Please consider being part of this vital church ministry. Pray about it!

Church Schedule

Interactive Dinner Theater to raise funds for military ministry. August 4, Saturday at 6 PM August 5, Sunday at 5 PM

August 6, Monday - Food Pantry Day, 6 to 7 PM.

August 10, Friday - Koinonia Emmaus gathering at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Hondo, starting at 7:30 PM. Come and enjoy the music and worship and fun and fellowship.

August 11, Saturday - Quilt club meets in the fellowship hall.

August 18, Saturday - Walk to Emmaus #5 Team meeting.

August 20, Monday - Food Pantry Day, 6 to 7 PM.

August 26 – Worship/Creative Team Meeting after Sunday School – Everyone is invited!

September 4, Tuesday - Combined In-reach/Outreach meeting at 7 PM.

September 26, Wednesday - MAD (Music, Art & Drama) Club resumes.

October 18-21, Thursday evening thru Sunday - Women’s Walk to Emmaus #5.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Youth Schedule

August 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3

4 Dinner Theater

5:15 pm --

5 Dinner Theater

4:15 pm --

6

7

8

9

10

11

12 U.M.Y.F.

At The Church 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

13

14

15

16

17

18 Trip to

Schlitterbahn Water Park

8:00am – 10:00pm

19

No U.M.Y.F.

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

U.M.Y.F. At The Church

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

27

28

29

30

31

August 18; The trip to Schlitterbahn is back! Meet at the church at 8:00 am. We will return by 10:00 pm

that night. There will be no youth group on Sunday, August 19.

September 2: No Youth Group due to the Labor Day Holiday

First Sunday Breakfast Taco Sales

The youth group continues to feed

the hungry hoards at their “First

Sunday Breakfast Taco Sales.”

They will be selling your favorite

breakfast tacos before Sunday school.

The next sale is on September 2nd.

Slipping and Sliding to Schlitterbahn

Join the youth as they travel to New Braunfels to

world famous Schlitterbahn Water Park. This will be

a “back to school celebration” and you don’t want to

miss it. Meet at the church at 8 AM, and return

before 10 PM. Talk to youth leader Diana Jackson

for more details.

Congratulations to Jack Jameson Simons who was baptized on August 5,

and to his parents, Heather and Ian Simons, grandparents Michelle and Kevin

Keith and Diana and Kyle Jackson, and great grandfather John Yorke.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Shipwrecked: Rescues by Jesus Vacation Bible School, July 16-20

Vacation Bible school was a great celebration. We had 73 kids in

attendance plus over 25 youth and adults. We would like to thank all the

adult and youth volunteers; the congregation that prayed and paid for

VBS; and all the parents who brought their children to learn about God.

VBS again consisted of five stations: Bible Discovery, Ship Rec

Games, KidVid Cinema/Music Mayhem, Imagination Station and

Tropical Treats, plus the opening and closing assembly.

Monday – When you’re lonely… Jesus rescues!

Bible Story: Jesus tells parables about lost things. (Luke 15)

Key Verse: “The Lord will hold me close” – Psalm 27:10

Tuesday – When you worry… Jesus rescues!

Bible Story: Martha worries and complains (Luke 10)

Key Verse: “The Lord comes to the rescue each time” – Psalm 34:19

Wednesday – When you struggle… Jesus rescues!

Bible Story: Jesus’ friends try to rescue him in the garden (Luke 22)

Key Verse: “Be still, and know that I am God!” – Psalm 46:10

Thursday – When you do wrong… Jesus rescues!

Bible Story: Jesus rescues a criminal on the cross (Luke 23)

Key Verse: “Take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John

16:33

Friday – When you’re powerless… Jesus rescues!

Bible Story: Peter and John heal a lame man in Jesus’ name (Acts 3)

Key Verse: “This is the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the

dead.” – Ephesians 1:19-20

Our youth and adult volunteers included Chessa Mapes, Kitty Alexander,

Randi Davis, Linda Stewart, Billy Stewart, Suzie Sollock, Garrett Ralph, Cort Haltom, Tiffany Moreno, Deb

Herman, McKinzy Bazan, Marty Bennett, Bill Bennett, Faythlin Warren, Bethel Kay Bateman, Jocelyn

Harris, Nicole LaFond, Wyatt LaFond, Trystan LaFond, Becky Escalante, Michele Brown, Lolly Becerra,

Carmen Swift, Lisa Meyer, Terry Miles, Victoria Hughes, Kaden Moore, Lisa Wells, Cindy Hughes, Romeo

Gutierrez, David Gutierrez, Gloria Johnson, Linda Martin, Kellie Meyer, Maribel Gutierrez, Orlando

Gutierrez, Saydee Warren, Jessica Crouch, Chris Brauchle, Ginger Meyer, Connie Scott, Margaret Duncan,

Emma Keith, Shelle McMillan, Scott Martin, and Robert Hunt.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Emmaus News: Upcoming Woman’s Walk!

The monthly gathering of the Koinonia Emmaus Community will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in

Hondo on Friday, August 10. Mark the date now and be sure to be at the gathering for lots of music, praise

and testimonies, and some fun, food and fellowship.

Women's walk #5 is just 2 months away, at Mt Wesley, October 18-21. Michelle Keith is the lay

director, and several women from our church are on the team. This would be a great walk to attend as a

pilgrim, so talk to the pastor or someone else who has already gone and get your application submitted. If

you would like more information about Emmaus, a very special Christian retreat, call the church office, pick-

up a brochure in the church entranceway, or see the Emmaus bulletin board.

Our Dinner Theater Special Guests

At our Saturday night

performance, we had two

special quests: state senate

candidate Peter Flores and

candidate for Atascosa

County commissioner: Stuart

Knowlton

Be sure to get out and vote!

A Study of Acts

On Wednesday, September 5th, the small

group Bible study that meets at Scott

and Linda Martin’s home will begin a

study of the Book of Acts. We would

love for you to join us – Wed. at 7 PM.

Monday Night Guy’s Group

All of the men of the church, and

friends, are invited to a weekly

men’s gathering. It takes place

on Monday evenings starting at 7

PM at the church and dinner is

served. The focus is fellowship

and study as the guys gather to

lift one another up in their daily

Christian walk.

Prayer Concerns • Tim Ahr, Sr—health • Irma Kelly—stage 4 cancer • Raymond Orta—stage 4 cancer, and for salvation • Annie Rhoades—fractured hip. Prayers for husband, Jim, also. • Leo Mendoza—fell, in rehab • Jack Paddie—stroke • Jack Nehr (Ann Van Winkle’s cousin)—near northern California fires • Bobby Sollock—hip problem • Debbie Pruett’s Aunt Lena—having to make changes • Krystal and Wes and new baby, Teagan—new baby in NICU, having difficulty • Martha Calk • Robert Hunt—health • Koinonia Women’s Walk to Emmaus #5 • Ralph Weaver—failing health • Cora Sadler---fell and broke hip • Martha Foster (Shelle McMillan’s mother)—dementia (and for husband, Cozel) • Robert Meyer (Brent and Lisa’s father)—lymphoma • Karen Vance—lung cancer, started radiation • Gay Lynn Muzny (Bethel Kay Bateman’s friend)—stroke, possible cancer • Rose Marie Smith (Connie Norton’s mother)—cancer, started radiation

• Charles and Pam Baker (Bethel Kay Bateman’s nephew and wife)—both on hospice • Felix Escalante—health • Nancy Burns—health • Molly Melton (Malcolm Brown’s daughter)— brain tumor, on hospice • Marsha Boener (Michelle Keith’s aunt)—breast cancer • Jay Bateman (Jack’s son)—mouth cancer • Rose Lynn—health, and for David • Our missionaries around the world and for the persecuted church

• For the church staff and their families • For our president and leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4) • For our military and our veterans • For our nation and for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ Our Church Family Soldiers and Civilians Working with the Military • Ian Simons—Air Force • Brandon Hunt—joining Army Reserves • Ross Moffitt (Chris and Fred Brauchle grandson)—Air Force • William Reichel—Army, in Germany • Forrest Keith—Kevin Keith’s son, Navy • Kyle Pringle—Army • Josh Orbinati—Michele Brown’s nephew, Coast Guard • Craig Wolf—Air Force • Jonathan Heiman—Navy • Jon and Brianna Hartwig—Army, Jill Daggs’ daughter and son-in-law • Joyce Biggs (George Bahlmann’s great-niece)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Miscellaneous News!

Highway Clean-Up – It has now been six years since our church adopted highway 463,

starting from the Lytle water tower and heading out beyond Lake Shore Estates. Our last

pick-up day, July 28, went well, and our next one will take place in October. Thank you

to all our volunteers.

UMW Meeting - The United Methodist Women are taking their normal summer break, and will begin

meeting again in September.

Combined In-reach/Outreach Meeting, Tuesday Sept 4 at 7 PM - At annual conference this year in

Corpus Christi we were blessed by special teaching about doing ministry in the modern world which we want

to share with the in-reach and outreach teams and any interested people in the congregation. The team will

meet together for that purpose, and to plan for the fall, on Tuesday evening, September 4 at 7 PM.

New Address for Belinda Newman – Please taken a moment to write to our church member Belinda

Newman, who moved out of this area several years ago but still is connected and loves to hear from folks.

Her new address is Southern Wind Manor, 618 Quitman St., Pittsburg, TX. 75686.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A big thank you to Ricardo Castillo for all his

electrical work around the church. During VBS Ricardo repaired an electrical line in the kitchen

(the problem going all the way back to the breaker box), and later replaced the outlets with GFCI safety plugs. This week, with the help of Brad Boyd, he performed a major repair on our main electrical panel, replacing main lines that had paper insulation (yes they were that old) that were deteriorated and arcing, with new safe

insulated lines. A big Texas thank you!!!

Methodist Food Pantry Ministry

Our workers have been terrific, but we can always use more. Just come at

2:30 PM to help sack the groceries or at 5:30 PM to help prepare for the 6 to 7 PM

rush on the first and third Mondays in August (August 6 and 20). We could also use

help picking up the food from the San Antonio Food Bank. Talk to Billy Stewart or

Kyle Jackson if you are available during the day on Mondays. We will again be

handing out canned goods, as well as frozen meats and fresh fruits and vegetables, to

over 70 families. Thank you for supporting the Methodist Food Pantry.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * School Backpack Food Ministry to Start in September

Our church seeks to help the Lytle school system whenever we can and

starting in September we will again be participating in a backpack food ministry.

Because of our area, many children will have little food at home over the weekend.

Our church will provide a backpack of food for a number of children to take home

on Friday afternoons. On Mondays, the backpacks are returned and our church fills

them again for the next weekend. The children are selected by the school and the

backpacks are handed out by school teachers. Funding for this ministry will come

from our food pantry ministry account. We need help with this ministry—specifically people to purchase

food, help pack the backpacks, and people willing to donate to our food pantry ministry account.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Summer Comedy Dinner Theater To help raise funds for Military Ministry

Our fifth annual

interactive dinner

theater was a great

success with well

attended performances

on both Saturday and

Sunday nights, Aug.

4th and 5th. This event

served at least three

purposes. It was a fund

raiser for Cru Military,

which assists our

military men and

women, including

active duty, Guard, Reserve, veterans, retirees, and family

members all around the world. Cru military helps them by

bringing to them the love, strength and healing of Jesus

Christ. Through “Shoestring Theatre” our church raised

$4,300 for this ministry. This is in addition to the funds in

our regular budget that support Cru Military missionaries Stephen and Karen Dorner.

The 2nd purpose of this interactive dinner theater was to reach people in the community, introduce

them to our church, and share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. To this end we were blessed to

have many visitors in the audience, as well as church members and family. The 3rd purpose of “Shoestring

Theatre” was to bring the church together in ministry, and it accomplished this well, through having the

largest cast yet, plus the numerous people involved in this production behind the scenes. We would like to

thank play director Connie Norton, decorators Kellie and Ginger Meyer, Props person Deb Herman, food

supervisor Diana Jackson and

everyone else who took part.

Children’s Sunday School The Life of Jesus completed – The Bible in One Year begins

Our children’s Sunday school program just completed a one year study on the life of

Jesus and is beginning a new one year study: The Bible in One Year.

Our lesson topics for August are:

August 12 – Genesis: God Creates Adam and Eve (God Created Us for a Reason)

August 19 – Genesis: Adam and Eve (God Lets Us Choose Between Good and Evil)

August 26 – God Tells Noah to Build an Ark (God Gives Us Do-overs)

“Dig In” is designed for great flexibility as the kids experience different activity blocks including: Core

Bible Discovery, Deeper Bible, Talk-about Video and crafts. Be sure to bring your children to

Sunday school, from 10:15 to 11:15 AM each Sunday.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cru Military: a caring community passionate about connecting the global military community to Jesus Christ

As our servicemen and women defend our freedom, they face unique challenges. We recognize they need spiritual support and guidance that addresses their specific needs.

Cru Military works with recruits: Cru Military has developed a series of classes that clearly present the gospel to young recruits. Cru Military staff and volunteers serve with Chaplains to build their foundation in Christ.

Cru Military works with Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists & Veterans: Through small groups, biblical resources, and partnerships with Chaplains, and church-based ministries, Cru Military helps spiritually develop our military men and women through their careers and as veterans. Cru Military provides resources and lay counselor training for recovery from PTSD and combat trauma, as well as resources and seminars to develop and maintain strong covenantal marriages and godly families.

Cru Military works with military families: We provide hope on the home front through our spiritual resources, devotional web-sites, military marriage seminars, small groups, and church-based ministries.

Cru Military works with local churches: Service members and their families need welcoming communities to build them up and when its time, help them transition to civilian life. Cru Military is here to provide churches with training, resources, and strategies.

Lytle UMC supports Cru Military through our summer Comedy Dinner Theater and through our support of

Stephen and Karen Dorner. See more information about Cru Military at crumilitary.org.