Newsletter 
The wave

 

Publication of The Presbytery of Tres Rios July 2015

 

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In This Issue
I believe Without Creeds: An Affirmation of Faith From Argentina
1- Eleven years Planting Churches and serving the Communities in Uganda, Africa
2- Synod Symposium for Engament on Climate Change and Alternatives to Divestment
3- Tres Rios Presbytery and First Church in Seminole Transfer Property of Seagraves Chapel to an African-American Church
4- First San Angelo PC(USA), a Remnant that Continues Live
5- Human rafficking Workgroup of the World Council of Reformed Churches Met in El Paso
6- Civil Rights Academy Meets at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in San Angelo
7- "The Mission of the Church in a Changing and Conflicted World" - Bi-National Mission Conference with the Church in Colombia in El Paso on September 23-27, 2015
8- The Advocacy Committee For Racial Ethnic Concern of the General Assembly of PCUSA Met at Menaul Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque, NM

Just a Thought

By Rev. Jose Luis Casal

           General Missioner            

            
"The Big Show"   

"The Pharisees and religion scholars asked, 'Why do your disciples flout the rules, showing up at meals without washing their hands?'

Jesus answered, 'Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull's-eye in fact:

These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it.
They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it.
They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy,

 Ditching God's command and taking up the latest fads.'"

Mark 7: 5-8 - The Message (MSG)

 

In our contemporary society hypocricy is a very dangerous practice that many times is confused with diplomacy or courtesy. While diplomacy is the art of affirm our convictions without offenses or attacks and courtesy is the respectful attitude toward enemies and friends, hypocricy is the poisoned ability to make a big show saying the right things but doing nothing and many times doing exactly the opposite of what the actor is saying with words.

Media teaches us how to run a big show without real commitment and how to use words as a mechanism to produce specific reactions and sentiments on the audience. Unfortunately we see many examples of "big shows" in which the actors accuse people highlighting what they do wrong to reaffirm their personal image and obtain personal benefits. Those actors are the hypocrites. A hypocrite is literally "one who hides behind a mask."  As Christians we have to distinguish the difference between being real and being a mask-wearer.

According to the dictionary, a hypocrite is "a person who pretends to have beliefs or practices which he or she does not actually possess." As used in the Bible, the term comes from ancient Greek theater, where one actor would often play two parts. When saying something humorous, he would hold up a mask with a smiley face; when playing a tragic part, he would hold up a mask with a sad face. A good actor could imitate the speech, mannerisms, and conduct of the character he was portraying.

 Perhaps you've seen the bumper sticker that reads, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven." The Bible never says that Christ followers are perfect. Maybe the secret to be real and authentic is this: instead of focusing on how far people fall short, why not think about how far they've come?

As authentic Christ followers, we experience forgiveness of sin and life-change as we surrender to Jesus on a daily basis. Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." That's why being a Christian gives me hope: God's not finished with me yet. I'm in process. I'm not what I used to be and I'm becoming what I will be.

Unfortunately, hypocrisy is also addictive. And even though Jesus reserved His most severe words of condemnation for the hypocrite, we still seem to prefer that lifestyle to truth and authenticity.

Some people in the church, constantly play spiritual charades but nobody believe them. People can see the hypocrisy and they're turned off by it. In fact, there may be some non-Christians who have written off the church and God because of the way these hypocrites have  been acting. It's time to come clean, Christian. It's time to walk the talk and to live what you say you believe. The way you live your life is important.
Do not continue running big shows! 

 

Upcoming Activities 

August - September 2015

   

July 30 - August 1 (Thursday - Saturday) - BIG TENT - Knoxville, TN


 July 31 (Friday) - Meeting of the Administrative Commission and the Steering Committee of First San Angelo remnant - 5:30 PM


 August 6-8 (Thursday - Saturday) - Mid-Year Meeting of Synod Committees - Irving, TX


 August 11 (Tuesday) - Meeting of the Missional Ministries Team - Presbytery Office - 6:30 PM


 August 16 (Sunday) - Sunday of the Youth in the Church and in the World


 August 17 (Monday) - Meeting of the Task Force for the use of Trinity Legacy - 10 AM - Presbytery Office


 August 17 (Monday) - Meeting of the Missional Resource Team - 2 PM - Presbytery Office.


 August 18 (Tuesday) - Meeting of the Missional Networking Team - noon - Presbytery Office

 

August 20-21 (Thursday - Friday) - Synod Executive Forum - noon to noon - Irving, TX

 

August 21-22 (Friday - Saturday) - Synod Training Event for members of COMs

 

August 24 (Monday) - Conference Call of the Missional Outreach Team - 11 AM

 

August 25 (Tuesday) - Meeting of the Task Force to design the October Presbytery Meeting - noon - Presbytery Office

 

September 2-8 (Wednesday - Tuesday) - Continung Education Study Travel to Israel/Palestine.

 

September 7 - Labor Day (Holiday)

 

September 9-11 (Wednesday-Friday) National Gathering of Association of Presbyterian Administrators (APA) - St. Louis

 

September 16 (Wednesday) - Meeting of the Missional Nurturing Team - noon - Presbytery Office

 

September 18 (Friday) - Meeting of the Foot Hill overtures Task Force - 10:30 AM - Presbytery Office

 

September 20 - Theological Education Sunday

 

September 23-27 - Mission Conference with the Colombian Church "THE CHURCH MISSION IN A CHANGING AND CONFLICTED WORLD"

 

The Wave of Prayer

      
Intercession Prayers for:      

 

 Rev. Dan Sneider (HR) and his daughter Wendy

 

 Jan McDaniel, former Music Director of Grace Midland 

 

 Rev. Larisa Kwong Abazia, 221 General Assembly Vice-Moderator who was diagnosed with breast cancer

 

Bert Bronaugh (HR) former pastor in Tres Rios continues on dialisis, Also pray for the health of Joyce his wife.

 

 Lawson Allen (First Fort Davis) who continued in rehab after a leg surgery 

  

Cameron Maedgen, son of Karen Bartholomeo (St. Paul San Angelo)
  

Pray for racial justice and reconciliation in our country


 Pray for a just immigration legislation and for the families affected by our actual policies   
 

 Pray for Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt, especially for the Christian community.

 

Pray for peace & justice for Jews and Palestines in the Middle East

 

Pray for the new diplomatic era of relations between Cuba and USA.


 

Pray for our Presbyterian Church (USA). For our Tres Rios Presbytery's pastors, elders and congregations, especially those struggling with decisions about their future. 

 Guiame a la Cruz - Spanish

Relaxing Hymns on Piano 

Only Jesus Can Satisfy

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I BELIEVE WITHOUT CREEDS: AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FROM ARGENTINA 

By Rev. Gerardo Oberman - Moderator of the Reformed Church in Argentina

Translation Katie Fiegenbaum

I believe in the God who lit the first sun,

who made life's heart beat

and who made life so beautifully diverse,

who went out to play, naked, in the gardens of the universe

without fear of time, smiling, waving at the breeze.

 

I believe in a God who made friends

with their creatures,

who hugged the trees and swam with the fish,

who sat down together

with the lion and the lamb

and danced with the birds in the air.

 

I believe in a God who walked with people,

who taught them to dream

and inspired them to be free,

who showed them a horizon of plentiude

of fulfillment toward which to go...

But they did not understand

or did not want it or were afraid.

 

I believe in a God who was imprisoned by prejudice,

who was gagged by concepts and doctrines,

who was locked in dark and oppressive spaces,

who was limited in a capacity to love and to heal.

 

I believe in a God who wants to be freed from such a chain,

who wishes to shake off the dust of the old creeds

and break the structures of forms and dogmas

in order to return to being a inclusive, open, generous God.

 

I believe in a God who seeks to make themselves

present, real, authentic,

in so many other forms of belief, of celebration, of life;

a God who continues self-revelation in the history

of the women and the men that never lost sight of

that horizon, that light, that possible world.

 

I believe in a God who is willing to descend into hell

for the unjustly suppressed,

for the violently marginalized,

for those trapped in webs of deception and death,

for those stigmatized for being different,

for the migrant landless, the homeless,

those who do not receive mercy,

for the maimed, raped, beaten,

for the victims of hate that wounds and kills,

for the silenced, the disappeared, the "nobodies".

 

I believe in a God who wishes to resurrect

and return us to life

from the many forms of being dead,

from the many forms of living without feeling,

without passion and without compassion.

 

I believe in a God who motivates us to be community,

to be body, to meet in solidarity

with one another

to construct alternative spaces with a place

for each human being

spaces of complexity and rich diversity.

 

I believe that in those spaces,

in the bread we share made sacrament

and that the cup that we pass from hand to hand,

without prejudice,

is a glorious manifestation of the power of love

able to transform everything.

 

I believe in a God who has not lost hope,

in spite of everything,

and who, once in a while,

smiles again.

                                              



Here is the new electronic newsletter of Tres Rios Presbytery for  July 2015.  Please, let us know your opinions, comments and suggestions, and forward the newsletter to all who may be interested in the work of our Presbytery.
ELEVEN YEARS PLANTING CHURCHES AND SERVING THE COMMUNITIES IN UGANDA, AFRICA

Once años plantando Iglesias y sirviendo a las comunidades en Uganda, Africa  

By Rev. Walter Thompson - Associate Pastor for Mission at First Midland    

From June 18-30, 2015, a group of 16 members of First Presbyterian Church, Midland traveled to Uganda for a mission trip.  This was FPC's eleventh mission trip to Uganda, where they have partnered with the Presbyterian Church of Uganda to plant churches in Eastern Uganda.  This year, the team worked in a village called Akalabai.  Each morning the team went out walking the roads and trails to visit with people in their homes and share Jesus with them.  Each afternoon, in cooperation with the Ugandans, the team helped to put on a crusade.  The Ugandans led the music and did all the translating while the team shared personal testimonies and a sermon each day.   

Two days of ministry in the village were spent providing medical care to all who came.  The team provided for doctors, nurses, medication and mosquito nets for the people of the area all for free.  FPC's very own Dr. Greg Bartha was on the team and saw patients the whole time.  He has been living in Uganda now as a missionary for over two months.  He has started a rural clinic there and has committed his life to serve God in Uganda.  The team especially felt the Spirit of God as they visited Dr. Bartha's clinic, The Cross Emergency Medical Clinic. 

Several of the ladies on the team organized and led a valuable conference for over 300 women where they taught on several topics that the women could then take back with them to teach in their own churches.  These newly equipped women all walked away from the day-long meeting with smiles on their faces.   

Small teams were also sent each day to minister in local schools and prisons.  The response to the gospel in the village and in the schools and prisons was amazing.  No matter where the team was ministering, people were open to hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.  The team saw God at work everywhere.  Not only did the team get to participate in the blessings God poured out in Akalabai, but the team was also blessed with good health and incredible relationships among themselves.  May God receive all the glory for the wonderful and mighty works he is doing in Uganda! 
SYNOD  SYPOSIUM FOR ENGAGEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ALTERNATIVES TO DIVESTMENT 

Simposio del Sínodo sobre el Cambio Climático y Alternativas a la Des-inversión. 

By Richard Langford - Geologist at UTEP and Tres Rios representative on the planning group

 The following is a report on the results of the community of interest on Faithful Alternatives to Divestment from Fossil Fuel Producers. Recently within the United States there has been a wave shareholder divestment initiatives for a variety of causes directed to non-profit institutions, universities and communities of faith. Most recently, the Episcopal Church has voted to divest entirely from fossil fuels. Within PCUSA, two recent overtures to the 2014 General Assembly, from the Presbyteries of Boston and Southern New England call for the church to divest from its holdings from companies that produce fossil fuels. The General Assembly is the decision making body of our faith, composed of representatives of the presbyteries.   Overtures are requests for changes, submitted by the various presbyteries.

The General Assembly referred the divestment overtures to the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI), committee for study. Many of us, the church members from the Synod of the Sun have associations with fossil fuel producers and believe there are more appropriate responses than divestment. After study and discussion we have achieved an understanding on alternatives to divestment.

Our understanding can be summarized in two points. First, greenhouse gas emissions pose a significant threat to our world that is driven by our actions. Addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse emissions is a moral imperative. Second, Divestment is not the best or most appropriate response. Low-cost energy is necessary for the developing world and restricting access to fossil fuels harms the most vulnerable among us. There also is no connection between and a reduction in greenhouse emissions. Greenhouse emissions are driven by energy consumption, not investment in fossil fuel extraction.

A variety of alternatives to divestment are recommended in the report. The following four paths are proposed in our consultation document ways forward that will be more effective than divestment and better represent our understanding of a faithful response to climate change.

1- We in PC(USA) should remain in dialogue with one another and the world, seeking together to find and represent the will of Christ.

2- PC(USA) should hold in abeyance any steps toward divestment from fossil fuel companies. The divestment program initiated by the 2014 overture does not meet the denomination's long-established criteria for divestment, nor will divestment directly address the true source of the problem - emissions of greenhouse gases. Divestment neither assures protection of the earth nor promotes the economic well-being of the disadvantaged.

3- PC(USA) should advocate for national and international policies to create a consistent, rational price for emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases as discussed in section III.B above, including those policy steps necessary to offset the regressive nature of the pricing mechanism. While concerns remain, both environmental organizations and most of the major oil and gas producers worldwide have supported this approach.

4- PC (USA) should urge individuals, congregations, and institutions to continue or initiate steps to reduce our carbon footprints. We collectively can improve carbon emissions and make decisions about greenhouse gasses less difficult.

The community of interest has produced a background document that can be used as a basis for an overture. This will be available on the synod website, and we will be circulating copies throughout the Presbyteries. We will also be organizing a symposium on engagement on climate change and alternatives to divestment to be held in Houston on Oct 2 and 3 in Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.

TRES RIOS PRESBYTERY AND FIRST CHURCH IN SEMINOLE TRANSFER PROPERTY OF SEAGRAVES CHAPEL TO AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH  

El Presbiterio de Tres Ríos y la Primera Iglesia de Seminole transfieren la propiedad de la Capilla de Seagraves a una iglesia Afro-Americana    

By Elder Dennis Haralson - Seminole 

The Spirit was in abundance on Sunday, June 21st when First Presbyterian Seminole and the Rivers of Life Congregation met in Seminole for a joint worship service.  During the February Presbytery meeting in El Paso, Tres Rios Presbytery voted to sell the former Presbyterian Church in Seagraves to the Rivers of Life congregation who have been nesting there for the last three years.   We started the service with a presentation and prayer to all men of the church by the women's ministry of Rivers of Life Church in honor of Father's Day.  Our children's time was special as our usually three children in attendance swelled to fifteen for Elaine Haralson's children's sermon.  The sermon this Sunday was more of an interactive message with members in the congregation urging the preacher, "to bring it on" and "come on preacher" interspersed throughout the service.  Following worship longtime Elder Dan Calfee a Seagraves resident presented the deed of the Seagraves church to Lee Chavez pastor of Rivers of Life Fellowship during the luncheon.  By getting to know the members of the Rivers of Life church members better we have all found that we have much more in common than we have apart as we plan to meet together again soon.  It also made us realize that God's Spirit continues to work, sometimes in ways that are different and unexpected but just as effective.  Glory be to God. 

FIRST SAN ANGELO PC(USA) A REMNANT THAT CONTINUES LIVE  
La Primera de San Angelo PC(USA), un remanente que continúa vivo. 
  By Bitsy Stone - First San Angelo PCUSA 
It's hard to believe that 6 months have passed since our group of worshippers began meeting- time flies when you are having fun! And we are loving our fellowship with each other as well as welcoming new faces each week. We were sad to say a temporary good-bye to Dr. John Tillery, one of our visiting ministers stationed at Goodfellow AFB. He has been deployed for at least 6 months. But we have "adopted" him and will keep in touch with him while he is gone. Dr. Tillery said that he will let us know of any needs for service men or service women there. He said there are often opportunities to help orphanages, too. So we will add this as one of our mission projects. We also felt called to send monetary support to Nepal for earthquake victims and to Project Dignidad for their urgent needs. We are so thankful to be able to help with these projects. In August we are joining with St. Paul Presbyterian Church (USA) for a garage sale that will benefit Project Dignidad.

Sunday, July 12th, was very special for us as we welcomed Dr. Fran Boggus Shelton to our pulpit. It was a great homecoming! Fran had been in our church for years when she decided to go to seminary and she was sponsored by First Presbyterian (USA) San Angelo. After her wonderful sermon we all went to lunch together and a great time was had by all!

This week we welcome, Dr. Blair Monie, from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary where he is the Louis H. and Katherine S. Zbinden Distinguished Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Dr. Monie previously served as pastor and head of staff at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Dr. Monie has been involved in theological education since his ordination in 1973.

We look forward to Dr. Monie's visit and we are listening very closely to hear what else God has in store for us on our new journey! Each week brings a new bit of excitement to our faithful group of worshippers.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORKGROUP FROM THE WORLD COUNCIL OF REFORMED CHURCES MET IN EL PASO

El Grupo de Trabajo sobre Tráfico Humano del Concilio Mundial de Iglesias Reformadas se reunió en El Paso

By Rev. Jose Luis Casal - Tres Rios General Missioner  

The Human Trafficking Working Group of the World Council of Reformed Churches had a meeting in El Paso at University Presbyterian Church. The international group came from Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, India, Guyana, Taiwan, United Kingdom and USA. They visited the memorial park to the victims of feminicides, Casa Amiga that is a shelter for abused women and the facilities of Pasos de Fe our border ministry in Ciudad Juarez. Thanks to our PC(USA) Mission Co-Workers Amanda Craft and Omar A. Chan-Giron, the group received information about human trafficking and heard testimonies of organizations that work on this area. The group also heard the presentation of Rev. Tony Aja, Moderator of the National Hispano Latino Presbyterian Caucus and visited Project Vida.to learn about the work of these entities. It was very especial the visit to the fence that separates Mexico from US, for all of them this was the first time they the saw the famous fence an we pray together for a world without fences. For the Presbytery of Tres Rios it was an honor to host these distinguish visitors in our bounds. A word of gratitude to our Mission Co-workers Omar and Amanda and to University Church and their pastor John Nelsen.

CIVIL RIGHTS ACADEMY MEETS AT ST. MARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SAN ANGELO.

La Academia de Derechos Civiles se reune en la Iglesia Presbiteriana San Marcos en San Angelo.

By Erika Walker - Taken from Standard Times - San Angelo                   

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Fifty-one years have passed since enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but recent events have shown that equality in the U .S. remains a work in progress.

This week (July 12) in an effort to teach the community about the civil rights movement, the Martin Luther King Jr. Association of San Angelo is hosting the Civil Rights Academy. "When it comes to civil rights and the movement, most people only know about one or two major events that took place during that time period," said Craig Meyers, event coordinator and community activist. "This was something that was happening in different ways everywhere. We want to give people the comprehensive nature, timeline and knowledge of every event that happened." The free education sessions take place Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church. Each day is broken up into three sessions covering civil rights landmarks such as Brown v. Board of Education, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington and all events in between. The academy will include narrative overviews, video highlights, personal references and open discussions of the civil rights movement from 1954-68. "We want people to be able to feel what was happening," he said.

Meyers said each session will have a break with music to help bring participants together no matter who they are or where they come from."Music was an incredible way for people to feel a strength together," Meyers said. "It was especially powerful and an important part of the civil rights movement. It's pretty amazing to think about."

The Civil Rights Academy has about 70 participants registered from all around the Concho Valley, including members from NAACP San Angelo. "If we went back to the U.S. Constitution, people would see that the documents are wonderful," said Dudra Butler, publicity co-chair for the Martin Luther King Jr. Association. "It's just that people haven't truly lived up to those ideals. However, it's not that hard, and that is what this academy is there to help teach."

Written material will be provided for personal and pe rmanent study for each student. "I feel as Americans we know where we want to be," said Garland Freeze, NAACP San Angelo president. "To achieve that or get to that point, we have to know the h istory and where we come from." Freeze said attending an event such the Civil Rights Academy is beneficial to everyone. "There have been a lot of civil and racial issues in the headlines lately, and most people don't think something of that nature could happen here in San Angelo," Freeze said. "However, the fact of the matter is that anything can happen anywhere."

"THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN A CHANGING AND CONFLICTED WORLD"

BI-NATIONAL MISSION CONFERENCE WITH THE CHURH IN COLOMBIA 

 GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN EL PASO 

SEPTEMBER 23-27, 2015   

Mark your calendar. For more information Contact Rev. Craig Meyers (325) 949-1515 or Rev. Jim Miles (432) 336-3346

 

THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR RACIAL ETHNIC CONCERNS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PC(USA) MET AT MENAUL PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM

El Comité de Abogacía sobre Asuntos Etnico-Raciales de la Asamblea General de la PCUSA se reune en la Escuela Presbiteriana Menaul en Albuquerque NM. 

By Rev. Jose Luis Casal

I was elected member of the Advocacy Committee of Racial Ethnic Concerns (ACREC) of the General Assembly of PC(USA). The responsibility of this committee is to advocate for the racial ethnic people and issues within the Presbyterian Church USA but also to advocate in favor of the racial ethnic population in the US.  ACREC review and give recommendations on every overture and resolution coming for the General Assembly in 2016. Actually is working with a resolution from the last 221 GA denouncing the discrimination against Haitians descendants born in Dominican Republic who has been denied Dominican citizenship. Also we are preparing proposals on how to honor the Armenian Holocaust and the application of fair salary wages for church's employees. We gave especial attention to the situation of the racial ethnic constituency and the resources available for them within PC(USA). Special attention was given to language translations, racial ethnic presence in committees, commissions and making decision processes and groups in PC(USA). The main idea is how to be more helpful, influential and effective in our church.

If you need more information about the newsletter or the activities of The Presbytery of Tres Rios, please contact

Rev. Jose Luis Casal - General Missioner

[email protected]  -  Ph. 432-682-5297 - office

cell - 432-638-3564