__________________________PRAYER CONCERNS_______________________

______________________________BIRTHS________________________________

__________________________DEATHS/FUNERALS_________________________

FROM Kitty S. Key, Pastor St. John's UMC Port Arthu ~
I would like to let those who have served this congregation know that
Alfred "Cotten" Wolfe went home to be with our Lord in the early hours
of this morning. His services will be held at Levingston Funeral Home in
Groves, Saturday, February 25, at 10:00 a.m., with visitation on Friday
evening, February 24, from 7-9.
Cotten was a faithful member who did not miss one Sunday for over 17
years and was loved by many. Thank you for your prayers for this family
of faith and his family and friends.

FROM Rev. Roy James, Faith UMC, Richmond ~
Rev. Susan Jones, Deacon, who had an aneurysm in the brain during
worship Sunday, February 19, has died.
Visitation will take place with the family from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
tonight, February 22, at Faith UMC. The funeral will be held on Thursday,
February 23, 2006, at 11:00 am at Faith UMC.
Faith UMC is located at 4600 FM359 in Richmond, TX 77469. Phone:
281-341-8200.

FROM Nancy Hinshaw, Houston Area Episcopal Office ~
Susie Ragsdale’s father-in-law, John "Norman" Ragsdale, passed away
Sunday, February 19th at East Texas Medical Center. The funeral will be at
Autry Funeral Home on Saturday, February 25th at 2:00 p.m. Autry
Funeral Home is in Jacksonville, TX.


_____________________CONFERENCE INFORMATION______________________

_________________NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS______________________

FROM Calvin Capps~
San Augustine FUMC is celebrating its 44th Mission Conference on March
2-5. The conference begins with a 12:00 noon luncheon on Thursday
March 2, but we will have an evening service each day at 7:00. The Mission
Store will be at the church from 10:00 - 4:00. on Saturday, as well as
the PET Project being demonstrated for the youth at 1:00 on Saturday.
If your church, or youth group would be interested in attending any
of our activities, please call our church at 936-275-2246 or email
dcapps7560@aol.com and she (Dee Capps) will email you a schedule of
events.
Three of our missionaries are from OMS International: David & Carol
Cosby, serving in Venezuela, and Randy Coleman, serving in Ecuador. We
will have the P.E.T. Project team demonstrating the process of
assembling and building P.E.T.s. (For those of you who may not be familiar with
this project, these are all-terrain wheelchairs that are built in
Luling, Tx. and sent by Mercy Ships overseas). We hope to see you at our
Conference.

FROM Don. G. White ~
Marriage Encounter-United Methodist weekend coming up soon---
What would stronger marriages mean for your church and its families?
What if there was a way to significantly drop the divorce rate of
couples in your church?
Marriage Encounter has over 25 years in helping couples enhance their
communication and strengthen their relationships, and there is
documented effectiveness. The National Institute for Family Study reports that
the divorce rate for couples attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend is
just 2% versus the 50% rate as a national average. They also report that
the Weekend experience benefits not only the couple and their marriage,
but also has a positive effect on family communication and parenting.
In our culture some think the word "encounter" implies
confrontation. However, in Spain where Marriage Encounter started, the Spanish word
for encounter means "to come together." The Marriage Encounter weekends
are an enriching experience for husbands and wives to learn more
effective communication in a private, couple-centered atmosphere.
Marriage Encounter-United Methodist is the oldest marriage-related
Affiliate Member of the General Board of Discipleship of The United
Methodist Church and is one of the marriage resources of our church.
Registrations are currently being taken for the Marriage Encounter-United
Methodist Weekend to be held in Houston on March 10-12, 2006. For
information contact: Becky and Nick Munger at 281-360-3646 or e-mail at
bamunger@yahoo.com

FROM Frode Gundersen, Director of Music at Marvin UMC, Tyler ~
I invite you to travel with the Marvin Choir to Europe this summer! The
choir will be traveling to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague June 5-16,
2006. You do not need to sing in the choir to go on this trip. The choir
will be spending equal time in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. To find out
more about this trip, please contact Frode Gundersen directly at:
903-592-7396, x114 or fgundersen@marvinumc.com .

________________________THIS WEEK'S EVENTS_________________________

FROM Donna V. Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul's UMC,
Houston ~
St. Paul's School will host a lecture Wednesday, February 22, for
parents of young children on the topic on "Promoting Social and Emotional
Competence."
The presenter is Dr. Diane Roche, clinical psychologist with the
Tarnow Center for Self-Management, who will explain how parents can
support and promote young children's social and emotional growth and set the
stage for later development and competence.
The time is 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. in the Jones Building, Room 204. It
is free of charge, and free childcare is available by advance
reservation to the school at 713-528-6779 or spschool@stpaulshouston.org.
Free parking is available in two lots across Fannin Street from the
church, which is on the corner of Main and Binz.

FROM Donna V. Adair, Director of Communications, St. Paul's UMC,
Houston ~
Stephen Cleobury, the chief conductor of the BBC Singers and director
of music at King's College, Cambridge, will play an organ recital at
7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24 and lead St. Paul's Choir in an
all-Mozart concert at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 26.
The organ recital will feature works of J.C. Bach, Mozart, and
Mendelssohn and the St. Paul's Choir concert will feature Mozart's Dominican
Vesper.
The choir also will perform Venite populi and two of Mozart's Church
Sonatas, sometimes called Epistle Sonatas.
The recital and concert are free of charge and open to the public,
courtesy of the St. Paul's Chamber Music Society.

FROM Mike Fraley ~
Upper Room Ministries presents An Adventure in Healing & Wholeness

When: February 25 & 26, 2006
Where: First United Methodist Church of
Hempstead
Times: Saturday 9am-3pm Sunday
2:30-8pm
Cost: $50 includes 2 meals
Contact: Mike Fraley at mlfraley@ev1.net or
979.826.3727

FROM: Billy Watson, Associate Pastor, St. Peter’s UMC, Katy ~
Digital Storytellers’ Seminar featuring worship media pioneers from
Ginghamsburg and Lumicon, Saturday, February 25, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!! If you would like to attend the Digital
Storyteller’s Seminar at St. Peter’s UMC in Katy this Saturday, walk-up
registrations are welcome (checks payable to St. Peter’s UMC). If you plan to
register when you arrive, please contact Billy Watson at St. Peter’s
(bwatson@stpeterskaty.org or call 281-492-8031, ext. 304) with your
numbers ASAP, so he can plan for food, refreshments, and seminar supplies.
This seminar will be led by Midnight Oil Production’s Len Wilson and
Jason Moore, both formerly of Ginghamsburg and Lumicon. This is the best
one-day media in worship seminar you will find anywhere. Find detailed
information about the presenters and the seminar at
www.midnightoilproductions.com.

FROM Connie Scroggins, Ministry Assistant, FUMC, Daingerfield ~
First United Methodist Church in Daingerfield, Texas will hold an "It's
All About Faith" revival. On Sunday, February 26th, we will begin at
6:00 p.m. with the Wiley College Choir as our musical guests. On Monday,
February 27th, special music will be provided by "Perfect Harmony" at
7:00 p.m. Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. is our youth night. We will have special
music performed by a youth praise band and pizza will be served
afterwards. The Rev. Nick Sholars will be our special guest speaker all three
nights. We would love to have you as our guests!

_________________________MARK YOUR CALENDAR_______________________

FROM Rev. Janet Stilwell, Minister of Discipleship and Spiritual Life
Klein UMC ~
Dr. David Lowes Watson will be presenting a lecture on Covenant
Discipleship on March 4th from 9:30am-Noon. If you have considered a small
group ministry in your church but have not been sure where to start, Dr.
Watson will be discussing how John Wesley established small group
societies during the initial phases of the Methodist movement and how
Wesley's model can be used in our churches today.
A light breakfast will be served, and all are welcome to attend.
There is no cost, but we would appreciate your registration. Please
contact Rev. Janet Stilwell at 281-353-8202, 337 or janet@kleinumc.org to
register.

FROM Debbie Norris ~
"America’s Singing Ambassador’s," the Centenary College Choir, will be
in full voice as it presents a concert at Strawbridge United Methodist
Church in Kingwood on March 11th beginning at 7:30 p.m. The
internationally known choir will be presenting a varied selection of music that is
sure to offer something for everyone.
The 2005-2006 choral season represents a milestone in the unmatched
history and tradition of the choir as it celebrates its 65th
Anniversary of local, regional, national and international performances. The
choir’s fine singing, showmanship, character and visual appeal make this a
concert you don’t want to miss.
Admission is free (an offering will be collected during the concert
to help defray the choir’s travel costs). For more information please
email Debbie Norris at musicadmin@earthlink.net or call 281-360-4500 or
281-216-4967.

FROM Linda Christians ~
Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Houston's Hurricane Impacted
Residents: The Role of the Faith Community. A Workshop for Clergy, Lay
Ministers, and Faith-Based Volunteers. Tuesday, March 21 at St. Anne's
Catholic Church from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., with lunch included.
Participants will be able to describe the mental health and
emotional needs of the survivors in the three stages of disaster, normal
reactions to trauma versus symptoms of mental health problems that may
require treatment, mental health resources for hurricane survivors in need,
the barriers survivors face in terms of accessing mental health care and
how the faith community can help to break down these barriers, as well
as how communities of faith can help build caring and supportive
environments for Houston's hurricane-impacted residents.
The workshop is sponsored by Partners in Healing, a program of the
Mental Health Association of Greater Houston designed to assist clergy
in responding more effectively and efficiently to persons with mental
health needs. To register, call 713-523-8963 or go online at
mhahouston.org

_____________________RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NOTICES__________________

_______________________JOB OPENINGS/JOBS WANTED__________________

Below are the most current openings and job information. Previous job
postings can be located on the conference website: www.txcumc.org. Thank
you

FROM Deana Keller ~
Receiving applications for DIRECTOR of MUSIC and ARTS MINISTRIES
First United Methodist Church, Lake Jackson, Texas, is currently
accepting applications for the position of Director of Music and Arts
Ministries to provide leadership for the church services and music and arts
activities of the church, working with the Senior Pastor. Full-time
position with health and pension benefits. Church membership of 1,500. Lake
Jackson has population of 27,000 and is an hour's drive south of
Houston.
Contact Deana Keller @ ljfumc@swbell.net or FUMC, 404 Azalea, Lake
Jackson, TX 77566

FROM Joel E. Jeffcote, Staff/Parish Relations Chairman ~
POSITION: Director of Music Ministry
DESCRIPTION: This position is responsible for directing the entire
music program for St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Bridge City, TX,
including two Sunday morning worship services, requiring up to 10 hours
per week. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Interested applicants may obtain a job description by contacting the
church office at stpaulumcbc@sbcglobal.net or by dialing (409) 735-5546
CONTACT: David N. Green, Pastor

FROM Nancy Kellond ~
Two part-time positions available at St. Timothy's UMC in northwest
Houston:
Choir Director and Youth Director. The community is multi-cultural and
facilities include a gym and ball fields. Call Nancy Collins,
713-466-5500 or e-mail timcollins@sbcglobal.net.

FROM Bob Green...Church Administrator ~
Seeking a Music Ministries Director...
This Part-Time position will direct the Adult Choir, oversee Children &
Youth Choirs and assist the Senior Pastor with music components of our
Worship services as needed. LANES CHAPEL is experiencing tremendous
growth so we are looking for a person with high energy and a desire to be
part of an exciting Ministry Team. We are receiving resumes at 15475 FM
2493 Tyler, Tx. or E-mail lanes_admin@cox-internet.com

______________________WANT ADS (Items Needed/Wanted)________________

FROM Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church ~
Air Conditioned (Make -International) Church (School) Bus For Sale
Seats 36-40
Excellent Condition
Price: $15,000.00
Price Negotiable
Please contact:
Pastor Andrew Nunley III
713-320-6621 / 713-926-5601
Trille Hawkins
281-459-2079
You can call 713-926-5601 and leave a message and you will be
contacted.