September Newsletter
New - Outreach Conversations
In early September we had a strong start introducing Outreach Conversations. We were overwhelmed with the attendance of over 150 people joining us discussing the subject of Human Trafficking - what it is and is not, how to keep your kids safe and what Ransomed Life is doing in our community to help minor survivors of Human Trafficking. If you want Ransomed Life to come and talk to your adult or teen group, you can contact Karen Ryan via email or the Ransomed Life online speaker request.
Get ready for another needed talk on October 20th by our very own Rev. Denise Barker about Violence Against Women and how Magdalena House is positively impacting women and children affected in San Antonio.
On November 24, please join us to hear Emily Kirtner from Christian Assistance Ministry talk about Homelessness.
All Outreach Conversations are on a Sunday morning at 9:30 am in the John Wesley Room. So we can have a good headcount to provide coffee and snacks, please RSVP here.
Become a Reading Program or Mentor Volunteer at Colonies North Elementary School
Mentoring has a tremendous positive impact in the lives of children, their confidence, leadership development, and academic achievement. Reading volunteers greatly increase children’s reading proficiency and help them get to their reading level.
Colonies North Elementary School reached out to us and would like to start a reading volunteer program which will start the first week of November. Volunteers will be working with Kinder & 1st grade students, to help them build their alphabet and reading comprehension skills. Volunteers should have a background in education, either in teaching or volunteering with literacy reading programs. The time commitment is one hour every week, starting this fall through the end of May 2020.
Colonies North is also looking for volunteers for their mentor program. Volunteers will be working with students Kinder through fifth grade. The majority of students who need a mentor are in the 3rd through 5th grade. The time commitment is 30 minutes every week, during the student’s lunch period, starting this Fall through the end of May 2020. You meet with your mentee student to eat lunch together, play a board game, etc.
For both the reading program & mentor program volunteer opportunities, volunteers will need to have identification when serving as well as background check prior to serving. The counselors will also host a required orientation training session at the end of October.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Pauline at or call 210-696-1033.
Serve Those Who’ve Served – Veterans BBQ
Do you want to help serve those who served our country, including their families? Again this year, our church is hosting a Veterans BBQ. On Sunday, November 10 at 12:15 in the McCreless (South) Gym come for food, entertainment and great conversations. We will be serving military and veteran families in the congregation and around our community. If you are interested in helping (serve or support), or you are a veteran who wants to attend, please contact Pauline Rodrigues via email or in the main church office (210-696-1033).
Give a Coat, Blanket or Shoes to Someone In Need
Our Church has a strong partnership with Center for Refugee Services (CRS). This fall, CRS is collecting new or lightly used coats, blankets and shoes for kids to adults. If you would like to contribute, you can drop the items off at the church main office on Sunday morning or during the workdays (Mon- Thu, 8:30am-4pm or Fri, 8am-12pm) between now and October 8. You can also drop them off at the CRS office (8703 Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78240).
Upcoming Outreach/Mission Opportunities
Workday at University
Saturday, October 5, 8:30am to 1pm, outside church office, FMI & Sign Up
Outreach Conversation, Violence Against Women/Magdalena House, John Wesley Room
Sunday, October 20, 9:30am, John Wesley Room, FMI & Sign Up
Veterans' BBQ, McCreless (South) Gym
Sunday, November 10, 12:15, more information coming soon
Church Mission Fair, Atrium
Sunday, November 17, 9am-12:30p, more information coming soon
Outreach Conversation, Homelessness/CAM, John Wesley Room
Sunday, November 24, 9:30am, more information coming soon
Children's Protective Services Giving Tree, South Campus
Saturday, December 14, more information coming soon
Mission Support Opportunities
Senegal Mission Trip
Medical and Special Needs Pediatric PT
October 25 – November 10
Elaina Schnelle - World Race (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina) from Aug 2019 to June 2020
Pray, Follow & Support