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Hymn Box Click on the arrow to hear the song
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| Blessed be the name of the Lord |
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| Aqui Estoy (Spanish) - Here we are (English) |
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Here is THE WAVE, the electronic newsletter of Tres Rios Presbytery for MAY 2016. 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.
We also invite you to check our Facebook page "Tres Rios" and our Presbytery Website on these links:
If you have any comment or suggestion about the Facebook Page please email
[email protected]
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ST. ANDREW WEEKDAY CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IN EL PASO
Programa semanal de niños en la Iglesia St. Andrew en El Paso
By Rev. Jayne Ruiz, Pastor
The children of St. Andrew's Weekday Children's Program meet with Pastor Jayne L. Ruiz twice a month. Approximately 50 children come into the sanctuary to pray, sing, and have a time of worship and fun. May 17 was the last meeting for this school year, and the children sang and danced with Pastor Jayne to songs such as "The Jesus Hokie Pokie", "Yo Tengo Un Amigo/I Have a Friend", and "Who is the King of the Jungle?" Each gathering usually introduces a new song with a different theme. The new theme was from the song "If I Were A Butterfly": "
I just thank you God for making me." Take home bags with stickers, the theme, and labels from St. Andrew were given to the children to show their parents.
Afterwards, all went into the Fellowship Hall and had special frozen treats given out by Elder Diana Guerrero.
St. Andrew and Divine Savior churches are holding a big Garage Sale to raise money for mission on Saturday, June 25 at St. Andrew. To donate, please call St. Andrew at 915 598-7577 or call Pastor Jayne at 937 371-9039, We are requesting donations of items such as; children's items, household goods, jewelry, furniture, and more, as well as monetary donations. All funds will go for the new Community Center in Juarez, Mexico, directed by Pastor Roberto Mendoza Cruz from Principe de Paz Presbyterian Church in Juarez. The Center will be funded by Pasos de Fe, Root International, the Mexican Presbyterian Church, and Divine Savior.
A camp for children with learning disabilities, ages 5 to 15, sponsored by the El Paso Council Learning Disabilities Assn. of Texas, will be held at St. Andrew from June 13 to July
1
. Any child is welcome to attend, and the camp is free of charge. The camp is directed by Barbara Lino, Elder Charlie Lino's mother.
The Prince of Peace Christian Fellowship has been meeting at St. Andrew for worship and other activities since November 1, 2015, and their congregants have participated in our Health Fair and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter activities. Individuals from both churches have attended each other's worship services, and the ethnic diversity and synergy between the congregations is energizing. While POP's worship style is much different from ours, it reminds us of the many different ways in which we can worship and praise our Lord.
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THE PRIMARY MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD IN SONORA
El Principal Ministerio de la Iglesia El Buen Pastor en Sonora
By Rev. Lewis Allen, Pastor
When asked to write about the Ministry of The Church of The Good Shepherd, my first response was, "what ministry?" The Church of The Good Shepherd is a shrinking church, an aging church, to all appearances a dying church.
Moreover during the last two years we have been a congregation struggling to determine its relationship wit its parent denomination, the PC(USA); a painful, daunting struggle which consumed most of the little energy we possess.
We take no particular joy or sense of triumph in the outcome of the struggle. But we all, including those members who ultimately chose in faith and conscience to depart from the congregation, did bear profound witness to the Way of Jesus through the process of our deliberations.
As a church family we thought deeply, prayed fervently, spoke graciously and treated one another cordially and respectfully throughout the time of discernment. On the day of decision, immediately prior to the vote, we shared the Lord's Supper together, acknowledging our common dependency upon Christ and our common fellowship in His Kingdom.
Within a world and a nation torn by deep and bitter divisiveness of opinions, promoted through deliberate subterfuge, harsh rhetoric and bloody violence, The Church of The Good Shepherd bore witness to a more gracious way of seeking to resolve dispute. In the end, we were not able to be fully reconciled with one another. But from those with whom we parted, we parted as friends and as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The world at large, nor even this Presbytery will little note nor long remember the struggle of a small congregation in an isolated town of West Texas. But here a witness to the peace of Christ was made, at cost.
At this particular time, this witness has been the primary ministry of The Church of the Good Shepherd.
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HONORABLY RETIRED PASTOR EXPERIENCE
La Experiencia de un Pastor Honorablemente Retirado
By Rev. Jim Longstreet, Honorably Retired
My retirement isn't easy; it can be tough sometimes, but it is so good. Now I go to bed more tired than when I got paid for it, but retirement can be so enriching and fulfilling especially without all the pastoral "administrivia."
In addition to preaching when called upon, I also teach an adult Sunday class wherein I feel like a teenager given the average age of 24 adults which is about 80 years old. I also participate in a weekly men's study and support group.
In addition, I am a Disaster Assistance Team member with Red Cross which means regularly going out to victims of fire and flood and helping them received shelter, food and clothing. As an active member of the Permian Basin Master Gardeners, I teach vegetable gardening and help people grow their own food. With my heart condition and by growing much of my own food in my sizeable vegetable garden, I have been able to lower my cholesterol from 255 to 141 and thus get off all my heart medications. My wife, Sharon, and I are very active in our support group in Midland for a whole food, plant-based diet which has been a very healthy thing for so many friends and members of our community.
In my retirement I also enjoy fishing but I struggle to find enough time to do everything especially since we also enjoy traveling and visiting family and friends. So I have found that retirement isn't as good as they say it is -- it's even better.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE - EXPERIENCES OF THE PARTICIPANTS
La Iglesia Presbiteriana en un Escenario Cambiante - Experiencias de los Participantes
By Rev. Dr. Gary Dill - Rev. Dr. Jim Miles and Ruling Elder Kay Long
By Rev. Gary Dill - The Synod of the Sun's Leadership Event "The Changing Landscape of the Church" featured a key-note report by Greg Smith from The Pew Charitable Trust. The report focused on the Lilly Endowment funded project America's Changing Religious Landscape which gathered data in 2007 and in 2014 about religious identity, religious upbringing, religious intermarriage, religious beliefs, and religious practices in America. As an independent, nonpartisan "fact tank" with a strict non-advocacy stance, the Pew Charitable Trust study focused on descriptive data that would promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. Extensive information from the study can be found at www.pewresearch.org.
Among the general findings are:
1- Many Protestant denominational families have seen their share of the US population fall since 2007.
2- The percentage of U.S. Adults who identify with the Presbyterian Church, USA, was slightly over 1% in 2007. That number has dropped slightly in 2014 to just under 1%.
3- Members of younger generational cohorts are far less religiously observant than older Americans
4- 35% of Millennials [those born between the years 1981 and 1996] define themselves as unaffiliated with any faith group.
5- People who define themselves as religiously affiliated were about as religiously involved in 2014 as they were in 2007
6- People who define themselves as unaffiliated with any faith group has risen from 16.1% in 2007 to 22.8% in 2014.
In addition to hearing the presentation on this landmark study, it was particularly helpful to engage in conversation with Presbyterian leaders in ministries across the Synod of the Sun who are serving in vibrant and dynamic ways in both traditional and innovative settings. The representatives of Tres Rios Presbytery were encouraged by these conversations and returned from the event with renewed passion to respond faithfully to the challenges facing our presbytery.
By Rev. Jim Miles - For me, the most significant take away from the recent synod event is that the fastest growing group on our religious landscape is the NONES. They are those who list their affiliation as 'none'. Among them are 1)the never again/no way folks, 2) those who simply don't have any affiliation but who may be searching, and 3) the offspring of the above---- who have never been exposed to "church". There are many to be invited. Let us begin together.
By Kay Long - This turned out to be a very informative conference. Greg Smith from the Pew Research Center gave an excellent presentation on the changing demographics and the affect on all faiths and denominations. In particular, we examined the increase in the number of people surveyed who reported no church affiliation (now termed the "nones"), and those in the "millennial" generation, and the impact this has had across the board. We viewed a video presentation by Dr. Lillian Daniel (UCC) who is well known for her writings and work with youth. Some of the resources from the conference are available on the Synod of the Sun website, and I encourage everyone to take a look. Round table discussions and presentations by three pastors in the synod who are working with congregations mostly composed of members who did not grow up in the church and "millennials" were very insightful and encouraging. I think it would be very beneficial to bring this type of presentation to Tres Rios in the near future.
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| SOLVITUR AMBULANDO -- IT IS SOLVED BY WALKING "Solvitur Ambulando" --- Se resuelve caminando
By Rev. Mary Beth Anton, TE Member at Large of Tres Rios Presbytery
In the months since leaving my call at First Presbyterian, Midland I have found that my soul is at best weary. I now
understand why people leave church - for keeps. We live in a time of division and polarization both in the Church and in society. We divide into camps and then divide again. How often in the past several years have I quickly turned my shopping cart down an aisle I'd never planned on entering at the sight of someone with whom I'd rather not speak? It seems far easier to tune out the other rather than to listen; to label rather than to risk an open and honest conversation where one might allow oneself to be changed. And then there are the choices that require a divorce not of one's own desire or choosing. Weary. Soul sick.
Since I have long believed in the phrase
Solvitur ambulando --- it is solved by walking, I have walked almost every day since my tenure ended and the New Year began. And almost every day I listen to a podcast, lecture, book or musical broadcast while I walk. I recently revisited a lecture given by Eugene Peterson at Princeton Theological Seminary in October of 2014. (I was present in Miller Chapel the afternoon of his lecture as it was given during Reunion week and the 25
th anniversary of my class.) Peterson speaks softly so all of us present leaned in to his words.
I was drawn back to Peterson's Princeton lecture after listening to a conversation with Bono and Peterson on the Psalms. I found that conversation healing and hopeful. I found Eugene Peterson's Princeton lecture even more so. Dr. Peterson reminded me of why I am a follower of Jesus in the first place and what Christ's claim and call should look like day in and day out. He spoke of knowing the Gospel story
and learning to pay attention to the stories being lived out by those around us, especially in our congregations.
Individual lives where
Jesus' story is being reworked and experienced...in each one. Reflecting on this I remembered encounters with those with whom I disagree, with those who do not think like me, read what I read, live like me, vote like me, believe like me, or worship like me. Peterson quotes poet Gerard Manley Hopkins:
...for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces...
And then Peterson recites his theme verse from Mark for the pastoral ministry (and for life):
He is risen. He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see him as he told you. What if I were to look forward to each encounter with
the other remembering that Jesus is already there? Remembering too that he is already
with me? For Christ does play in ten thousand places --- in you and in me. Surely this is balm for a weary and sick soul.
Eugene Peterson's Princeton lecture:
The Peterson/Bono Conversation:
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THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLIZ IN SAN ANGELO
Revitalización de Vecindarios en San Angelo
By Rev. Dr. Tim Davenport-Herbst, Pastor of St. Paul Presbyterian Church
Dozens of community organizations helped paint houses in San Angelo in late April.
St. Paul has been a leader in neighborhood revitalization and working with many others paint houses in "target" neighborhoods each year after new siding and (frequently) new windows are installed by the city. Fixing up homes and improving neighborhoods is always a good idea. What makes this one VERY good is that it is not just helping out a variety of people in the community. The Neighborhood Blitz targets entire neighborhoods with the wisdom that once your neighbor's house looks nice, you are more likely to fix up yours. This project has refurbished hundreds of houses over the years in three different neighborhoods. The effect is overwhelming. In one neighborhood, due to the city, community organizations and churches, and homeowners working together, housing has gone from 30% to 70% acceptable in the space of ten years. Living the Love of Jesus means rolling up your sleeves, getting to work, and making lives better for our neighbors.
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DISCOVERING A NEW MISSION FIELD: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Descubriendo un Nuevo Campo Misionero: La República Dominicana.
By Rev. Jose Luis & Mrs.Cecilia Casal, Tres Rios General Missioner
From April 11 through April 18 Cecilia and I had one of the most wonderful mission experience of the last years. We travel to Dominican Republic to lead workshops and Bible studies to train pastors and leaders of the area of Barahona on the southern part of the Dominican Republic, four hours away from the Capital City of Santo Domingo. I led two workshops for pastors, two workshops for church leaders and evangelists, three Bible Studies and preached two sermons while Cecilia led one workshop for treasurers and financial leaders, two workshops teaching crafts techniques and one Bible Study for women's groups. We visited 5 different churches in the area and met with 9 pastors. The lack of resources of these congregations impacted our conscience as we compared with the churches in the United States but the faith, enthusiasm and love of these people is amazing. Unpaved roads and unfinished sanctuaries is the common characteristic of these churches. They need money to finish their churches, but also need Bibles and Sunday School materials in Spanish, guitars and sound systems, the pastors need robes and theological books in Spanish. Not only the church is poor, in this part of the country, the population is also poor, but everybody is friendly, sharing hugs as if we were long-time friends every time we arrived one of these churches. I learn how to work with few resources; how to worship God in a temperature of 98 F without air conditioned when the worship last for 2 hours. I nurtured my soul with the joy and faith of these humble brothers and sisters. This visit was a learning experience; we returned full of joy and with a renewed faith on the unlimited power of our Lord. people, 2 workshops of crafts and one Bible Study for women's groups. We visited 5 different churches in the area and met with 9 pastors. The lack of resourses of these congregations impacted our conscience as we compared with the churches in the United States but the faith, enthusiasm and love of these people is amazing. Unpaved roads and unfinished sanctuaries is the common characteristic of these churches. They need money to finish their churches, but also need Bibles and Sunday School materials in Spanish, guitars and sound systems, the pastors need robes and theological books in Spanish. Not only the church is poor, in this part of he country, the population is also poor, but everybody is friendly, sharing hugs as we were long time friends every time we arrived or left one of these churches. I learn how to work with few resources; how to worship God in a temperature of 98 F without air conditioned when the worship last for 2 hours. I nurtured my soul with the joy and faith of these humble brothers and sisters. Yes, I learned a lot; and this was my continued education trip!
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