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BERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH2407 Berkeley Ave.

Austin, TX. 78745

(512)447-6633

Email: bumc78745@sbcglobal.net

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Your Presence Matters!Submitted by Rachel Trudell

We are all most likely aware that our presence in church each Sundaymatters, and for reasons more than church records! Do you look aroundand note whos missing? Wonder where they are or what is going on intheir lives? As a church family, we notice who is missing at the table.As we do at a family dinner table, we might ask, where is X tonight?This curiosity of caring is not snooping! It is community caring. I amfortunate and blessed to have a Sunda y School class and Covenantgroup accept my absences without judgment. They also let me knowthey care if I am gone. I, too, have a responsibility to l et them know myplans to be absent ahead of time. For some time I believed that if I told

anyone at Berkeley I was going to be out, it was overstating my impor-tance. Then I realized in my book clubs and other activities, we wereexpected, and it was appreciated, to let someone know if one could notmake it. Shouldnt that be the case with church-related activities also?

Independence Day, July 4 has always been a favorite holiday of mine. I grew up inthe Philadelphia area, visited Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and ValleyForge more times than I could count, and studied history avidly. I was especially in-trigued to learn that the Liberty Bell had a Biblical inscription, Leviticus25:10. Proclaim liberty throughout the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof. Lateron, during Old Testament Introduction in seminary, I learned the context of thatverse. Every 50th year in the Promised Land was intended as a hallowed Year of Ju-bilee for the people of Israel. There was to be no sowing, reaping, or harvest-ing. Land titles were to be annulled; everyone was to have a fresh start. Scholarsdoubt that the Year of Jubilee was ever actually observed; it seems to have been an

ideal about shared tenancy of Gods property, the land and its riches. The rich were

not to grow ever richer; the poor were not to be consigned to generations of poverty.

The Declaration of Independence was an ideal, too. All men are created equal; theyare endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; among these are life,

liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Virginia slaveholder, Thomas Jefferson,wrote those lines in 1776. Liberty was for some, but not for all. Slavery continued inthe United States until the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the ratification of the

Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

Juneteenth is our Texas reminder that the ideal of liberty took a long time to ar-rive. On June 19, 1865, the Union General, Gordon Granger, landed in Galvestonand publicly read General Order No. 3: The people of Texas are informed thatallslaves are free. Until slavery was abolished, July 4 revealed to the slave, more thanall other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is a constantvictim, noted Frederick Douglass, an ex-slave himself, in 1852. Celebrations onJune 19 every year mark a second Independence Day, not only for descendants of

slaves, but for all of us.

As Christians, as Americans, we know the painful distance between our ideals offaith and freedom, and the reality in which we and others live day to day. We commitourselves daily to doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God and ourneighbors. Our community of faith teaches and energizes us to do what the Lord re-quires of us. I am thankful to serve here.

Your Pastor. Jeanne Devine

P.S. During my vacation, July 8-21, our summer intern, Erica Knisely will serve asyour pastor. I have respect for, and confidence in, her abilities. Be sure to hear herpreach on July 14 and 21. Contact her throu gh the church office or call her at 512-773-8924 if you need pastoral care.

Pastors PerspectiveBerkeley

MINISTMembers of the C

PASTORev. Jeanne

revjeanned@sb

DIRECTOR OVikki Sch

vlschwarz@

PIANISDr. Tyler M

tgmabry@gm

PASTORAL IErica Kn

eaknisely@gm

ADMINISTRASSISTANiki J To

bumc78745@sb

MEDIA MAElizabeth W

CHILDCARE DAllison McG

bumc.childcare@

BerkeleyBUZ

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF

BERKLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

JULY 2013

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Family TV NightsFun for All!Submitted by Polly Aranda

Nothing beats the heat like an evening in the nice,cool CLC to watch old Beverly Hillbillies episodesand discuss their Biblical contexts. Join us onWednesday evenings, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 for a light supper at6pm. The fun and lively discussions will start at 6:30 led by Tyler

Mabry. There will be a signup sheet available in the narthex on Sun-days. All ages welcome! Come join the fun!

Coming in JulyPraying OurGoodbyesSubmitted by Erica Knisely

Loss is an inevitable part of life. Themore time passes, the more losses we

endure. We may lose loved ones,friends, relationships, homes, jobs,hobbies and more. Join me this sum-mer to journey throughPraying OurGoodbyes, by Joyce Rupp. Together,we will explore what it means to be apeople of life, death and resurrection.More details to come on specific datesand times in early July. Please contactErica Knisely if you are interested ateaknisely@gmail.com.

2407 BERKELEY AVE AUSTIN TX 78745

WWW.BERKLEYUMC.ORG BUMC78745@SBCGLOBAL.NET

OFFICE: 512-447-6633 FAX: 512-851-8438

CHILDCARE CENTER: 512-443-3509

It's time for our United MethodistWomen "Cool" Summer PotluckLuncheon. All women and youngwomen of Berkeley are invited!

Where: Fellowship HallWhen: Saturday, July 20,

11:30am-1pmWhat to bring: Yourself and yourfavorite cool sum-mer salad or dessertto share. Beverages,cups, plates, andutensils will be pro-

vided.

UMW Potluck

LuncheonSubmitted by Myrna Cavender

Summer Adult Bible StudySubmitted by Mike Crevier

Group studies will continue that concentrate on changing the worldthrough mission-focused living. Classes will be held on successiveThursday evenings: July 18 and 25, August 1 and 8 from 7-8:30pm in

the CLC library. For more information, con-tact Mike Crevier, 512-784-6320 ormike.crevier@tpwd.state.tx.us.

Many Thanks!Submitted by Betty Barnes

The Board of Trustees would like to thank GregLasley and Cheryl Johnson for their donation of our beautiful new wa-ter fountains in the narthex. They noticed that our old units needed tobe replaced and generously offered to cover the expenses. The Trus-tees did the research and ordered the fountains, which were installed byJeff Cecil and Don Wolfemany thanks to them, too! Wed also liketo express our appreciation to Buddy Cox , who recently arranged forand paid to replace two of the clerestory windows in the sanctuary,which was cracked, after consulting with the Trustees. It is wonderfulto have the support of members as we t ry to maintain our facilities!

If you notice something around our buildings that needs to be replacedor repaired, please notify Forrest Arnold, chair of the Trustees. Someitems are easy to repair or replace, while others wi ll require fundrais-ing. Extra help with mowing is always welcome! Contact Skip Kolter

at 284-9291 to volunteer! Thanks so much for supporting your church!

CHHHURCH HAPPEN INGSRCH HAPPEN INGSRCH HAPPEN INGS

Answered PrayerLord, I Need aSubmitted by Kathy Beth Stavinoha

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

- Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes, depending on my prayer, I can easil y discern the LSometimes its not as clear. Yet at other times, He answers me

ways.

I visited Newfoundland, Canada for the first time in October 2005. A kind lady with the Visitor Infortold me about the East Coast Trails and left some trail maps for me at my hotel. The cab driver who ttrail asked if I had a compass, cell phone, and flashlight. When I answered no to all, he begged me notails, as some of them could be dangerous. I brushed off his warning. My plan was to hike from Blacter of four or five housesto Ft. Amherst, overlooking St. Johns.

The path wasnt too difficult. I paused frequently to take in the spectacular views. Two hours later,

point where the trail had washed away. I asked the Lord to help me find where it picked up as I wanting. I noticed what appeared to be a path. He had answered my prayer! I followed for a distance and wasnt on the trail. Then I spied a s ection which surely was the trail. That wasnt it either. I thoughto the section where the trail had endedbut where was that? Unable to find it, I decided to head inthe highway. I started across the t errain which proved to be too boggy for me. It dawned on me that Iwas winter, and that night would be falling soon. I prayed in earnest for Gods guidance. I also sangand laughed out loud when I realized I was singing Theres a Voice in the Wilderness Calling. Afutes of panic, I felt God instill in me a sense o f calm and a sense of direction. I successfully located twalked double time in the direction from which I had come. I knew that i f darkness fell, I would needthe trail because parts of it were precariously close to high cliffs. I managed to make it off the trail judark to see. But how was I going to get back to St. Johns? I noticed one of the houses was brightly proached it, praying the person would answer my knock. The lady who answered insisted I come in of tea with her after letting me use her phone.

Three years later I returned to Newfoundland properly equipped to hike the trails, although my conficompass skills was somewhat weak. When I felt uncertain, I would ask the Lord for a si gn. I wante

here type of sign. Instead He would show me dog prints alongside boot prints or a ribbon of plasticindicating it needed to be removed for maintenance (a sign I was on the trail). When I really needed ashowed my current location, He would provide it.

I finally hiked to Ft. Amherst and I praise God to this day for not letting me complete it in 2005. It wlenging to hike without trekking poles, compass, and proper attire.

Much prayer is extremely personal, but if you have a story you would like to share, please submit it to t

piece on "Answered Prayer." Sharing answered prayers is a way to encourage each other in our faith jo

as revealing how God indeed works in the details of our lives!

SPIRITUAL GROW THPIRITUAL GROW THPIRITUAL GROW TH

mailto:mike.crevier@tpwd.state.tx.usmailto:mike.crevier@tpwd.state.tx.usmailto:mike.crevier@tpwd.state.tx.us

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Our Honduran StudentSubmitted by Carolyn Brown

This is our third year to sponsor Juan CarlosHernandez. He is now 17 and in the 11th grade.This year he transferred to the teachers school inJuticalpa, which is a 3-hour drive from where helives, in Gualaco. Since our other student, BielkaMarllini Rosales, graduated, we are able to fullysupport Juan Carlos in his new school, includingroom and board.

It is rare for a Honduran student to graduate fromhigh school. Bielka achieved that goal and JuanCarlos is well on his way, as is my personal stu-dent, Karina Ramos (also in 11th grade, picturedbelow). Karina is studying computer science.All three of these students would like to go on tocollege.

It is truly a blessing to be able to help these stu-

dents continue their education.

We received a letter fromJuan Carlos recently.Here is the English trans-lation:

Jan. 24, 2013

Dear Carolyn Brown,

I greet you respectfully hoping that you have successin your daily work and are in good health.

The purpose of this letter is to thank God first for giv-ing us life, health, happiness etc. And for allowingme to have you as my sponsors.

Thank you for the help you are giving me and that isvery helpful in my studies due to my low income.Thanks for the help of God and your support in goingon to my 2nd year of Education Teaching. I hope youcan continue to support me in achieving my dream ofgraduating.

I havent been able to write sooner because the studyperiod was lengthened last year and went until No-vember 23, 2012.

I leave you wishing that God bless and pour blessingsupon you and your family and the people of thechurch.

Sincerely,JUAN CARLOS HERNANDEZ

Austin Free Store UpdateSubmitted by Carolyn Brown

"Lets see how inventive we can be in encouraging eachother to love and help out. - Hebrews 10:24

St. LouiseHouseSummerCookout

The Saint Louise HouseSummer Cookout is July11. This is a wonderfulway to let the SLH resi-dents know that we careabout them. Mark yourcalendar! Outreach will beasking for people to helpon that evening or to do-nate food.

The Free Store is about community. Yes, people receive freegoods, but even more important is the way they can sit down witha cup of coffee and have a conversation. Volunteers have achance to welcome those who come to shop and get to knowsome of them. Every person is treated with dignity. The only wayyou can really understand this is to go there as a volunteer. Vol-

unteer slots are only 2-2.5 hours.

The store is currently open on Tuesday and Thursday from10am1pm. Sorting of donations takes pl ace on Monday andWednesday. Watch the daily BUZZ for the link to the volunteersign-up for July.

Donations of gently-used clothing and household items are al-ways needed. Right now they especially need mens clothing.You can take your items to the store MondayThursday at 1717E. 12th Street, or contact Carolyn Brown at 512-443-2600.

REACHINGOUT

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

110a Womens

Group (9)7p Covenant (9)

26p CongregationalCare (7)

3 4 IndependenceDayOFFICE CLOSED

5OFFICECLOSED

7Communion Sun-day12p UMW Sewing

Kit Assembly4p Tai Chi (FH)5p Covenant (9)

810a Womens

Group (9)7p Covenant (9)7p Worship Team(Sanc)

95:30p Prime Tim-ers (FH)

109:30a UMWWomen in ActionCircle (CLC)6p Family TVNight (FH)

115:30p Cookout forSaint Louise House(CLC)

12OFFICECLOSED

14

4p Tai Chi (FH)5p Covenant (9)

1510a Womens

Group (9)7p Covenant (9)7p Finance (7)

167p Intern Support(9)

176p Family TVNight (FH)

185:308p SaintLouise House(CLC)7pAdult BibleStudy (9)7p Trustees (Sanc)

19OFFICECLOSED

214p Tai Chi (FH)5p Covenant (9)Newsletter

deadline

2210a Womens

Group (9)7p Covenant (9)7p SPRC (7)

235:45p SpiritualCare (9)7p Church Council

246p Family TVNight (FH)

255:308p SaintLouise House(CLC)7pAdult BibleStudy

26OFFICECLOSED

284p Tai Chi5p Covenant (9)

2910a Womens

Group (9)7p Covenant (9)

30 316p Family TVNight (FH)

Pastor on Vacation: July 8-21

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Annual Conference 2013Submitted by Carolyn Brown, Lay Delegate

It was my pleasure to represent BUMC at Annual Conferenceagain this year. Everywhere we looked we saw, You are nowentering the Mission Field on banners, on the cover of printed

material, and on the screen.

The biggest single item of business was Unification. Last year, the Southwest Texas and Rio Grande Conferences(Hispanic conference) voted to join together into a single new conference. During the past year a Unification imple-mentation Team worked on an interim plan to move the two conferences forward in the unification process. Theyhave proposed a name for the new unified conferenceRio Texas.

This year we voted on a transit ional structure, which provides for a Transit ional Uniting Table made up of 14 mem-bers (7 clergy and 7 laity) from each conference. When they have completed their work, there will be a called con-ference where each conference will vote on their recommendations. The proposed date for unification is January 1,2015, with the first Rio Texas Annual Conference session in June of 2015.

This will not be easy work. We will be asked to look beyond ourselves, for the new conference is not for us today,but for the future.

We were reminded throughout the conference that ours is a culture of growth. A lot of exciting things are going on,and there are signs of transformation throughout the conference. New forms of ministry are emerging; I thought ofthe Free Store in Austin. New church development is active and includes Servant Church in Austin and The Jour-ney in Kyle/Buda. Many churches are involved in the Healthy Church Initiative.

There was one matter of business that affects BUMC. Going forward, each church will reimburse the utilities forthe pastor instead including utilities in the pastors compensation package. This will make pastoral compensationmore consistent from church to church and will reduce the churchs pension payment and the Medicare/Social Se-curity tax (15.3%), the pastor pays on salary and housing. Two of our former pastors, Patty Herndon and Rick

Ricker, retired this year.

The worship services were outstanding - inspirational, and celebratory.

7/02 JAMES HAMILTON

7/02 CAROLYN McCARTY

7/04 PATTI SCHULTZ

7/06 LOUIS THIGPEN

7/08 ADAM WENZEL

7/09 JACKIE GOERKE

7/09 BARBARA LUPO

7/11 LATASHA JOHNSON

7/11 APRIL STARNES

7/13 HUGH MOORE

7/16 KAREN WINSOR

7/18 CAROLYN BROWN

7/18 CHARLES HEMPEL

7/27 SUSAN CURTIS

7/29 JENETTE HAMILTON

7/31 SUE BORDOVSKY

IMPO RTANT TO REPORTMPORTANT TO REPORTMPORTANT TO REPORT

Happy Birthday!

Generosity and BeyondSubmitted by Kimberly Gamble

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards ofGods varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; who-ever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God suppliesin order that in everything Godfied through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

- 1 P

I hope each of you were able to hear Pastor Jeannes Not For Sale sermon on June 16. What a psage! We have the power not be sellouts simply by relying on the ultimate power and goodness

through Jesus Christ. We are all loved beyond our wildest imaginations.

The story of the kind shoeshine man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania inspired the rest of us to be of servderful, shy 71-year old man works two days a week shining shoes at the childrens hospital in Pittpast 30 years he has given over $200,000 to the hospital to aid families unable to pay their hospitalthis money came only from his tip moneyevery lastdime!

Be it major or meager in nature, we each have something we can share to make manifest love for oGods world. Please be generous from your heart through your love for and in Jesus Christ, God a

Spirit.

Special Giving by BUMC in May 2013:

Kingdom KampMission: $499. Former pastor Patti Herndon serves as Dean for this weekenintellectually challenged adults. We give this gift to Mt. Wesley in honor of Pattis retirem

Youth Mission Trip: $450. Three youth spent June 23-28 in San Antonio with the UM ARMY

Work Corner Mission: $50.

Your Pledge to BUMC: Please help keep your giving current. At the end of May, our incomeexpenses; we want to continue strong through the summer. Berkeleys Committee on Stewa

tends a warm thank you to everyone for supporting Christs mission at BUMC.

Want to take care of your giving automatically? Consider online Bill Pay or Auto-draft. It sa

time, checks and stamps. It makes sure your support continues when youre out of town. Con

urer Ray Curtis for how-to information: 280-1313.

Monthly IncomeMonthly ExpensesYear-to-Date IncomeYear-to-Date Expenses

$ 24,497$ 22,173$ 153,873$ 150,743

GIFTS AS OF MAY 30

MAY 2013 YTD WORSHIP 113 121

SUNDAYSCHOOL

32 34

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

*40th Anniversar