“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” John Wesley

Mission means using our gifts and service to enrich and transform lives in our church, community, country and around the world.  We do this as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We are an outward focused church and we strive to lift the world around us toward God.  We are constantly seeking opportunities to serve others whether across the street or around the world.  We welcome you to connect with our mission life in a way that is meaningful to you and a blessing to those whose lives your involvement will touch. 

*Indicates a budgeted item

Missionaries

*Canyon Lake United Methodist Church maintains a Covenant Relationship with Marsha Gail Alexander.  She is currently serving with Oklahoma Volunteers in Mission/Manos Juntas Mexico in Rio Bravo, Mexico, where she serves as director.

*The Mission Committee selects a Missionary of the Month each month based on their birthday month.  The resource for this information is the Prayer Calendar which is available through UMW.    We send a birthday card containing a note of encouragement and gratitude  and  a $100 donation is sent to the missionary through the conference office.

·     Global Missions (www.gbgm-umc.org)

UMCOR – United Methodist Committee on Relief provides ministries of food, shelter health and peace in the United States and around the world.

World Communion Sunday – Provides scholarships for U.S. and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels.

One Great Hour of Sharing – Assists UMCOR programs not fully funded through the Advance for Christ and His Church.

Orphanage Mission Trip
Hope Circle sponsors a birthday party for the orphanage in Piedras Negras. We furnish gifts and treats and travel to celebrate a day with the children.

Mission Trip to the Children's Orphanage
in Padres Mexico April 2008

Supported Ministries

*KAIROS (Prison Ministry) – Brings Christ’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and to those who work with them.  Also assists in the transition of becoming a productive citizen.  (www.kairosoftexas.org)

*Woman at the Well House – Is a faith based residential community for women coming out of prison.  Woman at the Well House provides a safe living environment with food, clothing, counseling, in-house programs and access to community resources – from education and job training to medical and dental care.  (www.womanatthewellhouse.org)

*Campus Ministries/San Antonio – United Methodist Campus Ministry is an outreach of the Southwest Texas and Rio Grande Conferences.  With on campus registered student organizations at San Antonio College, University of Texas at San Antonio and Trinity University and off campus activities at partner churches, UMCM seeks to unite students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds in Christian community, spiritual celebration and works of charity, mercy, social justice and public witness. (www.saumcm.org) 

Harvest Sunday – Is the Conference-wide offering sponsored by the Conference Board of Global Ministries and approved by the Annual Conference.  Funds raised are designated for hunger ministries based upon the recommendation of the Conference Board of Global Ministries.  Traditionally it is split between international programs and hunger efforts right here in the Southwest Texas conference.

Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio – Serves people experiencing major life transitions so that they may reach their goals and realize their dreams and potential.  (www.mmhome.org)

Hope Hospice of Comal County – Serves those with a life threatening illness and their families and addresses the needs of patients living with chronic illness or pain.  They offer bereavement support activities including children’s grief.  (www.hopehospice.net)

Communities in Schools of South Central Texas – CIS is a campus based dropout prevention program for at-risk students.  They address academic, physical and emotional needs of at-risk students from pre-K to high school graduation.  Our church joins the community in a “Pack the Bus” school supply drive by placing collection boxes throughout the church during July and August.  (www.cisnewbraunfels.org)

Souper Wednesday! – Every Wednesday during the school year, the church bus picks up 60+ children from Startzville Elementary and Smithson Valley Middle School and transports them back to our church for activities which include homework time, a movie illustrating the life of someone in the Bible, craft activity, Bible lesson and outside playtime.  The older children are involved in banner making, skits and constructive Bible study.  A nutritious dinner is served for all to enjoy!  For many of these children it is a rare good meal and their only exposure to Jesus.  Our congregation volunteers to support this mission by being in attendance on Wednesday and interacting with the children in this program, by cooking and serving and by their monetary gifts which purchase additional supplies and supplement food expenses.   Souper Wednesday is a ministry that feeds both body and soul!

*Habitat for Humanity Comal County – Is a non-profit Christian housing organization that works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing.  The houses are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.  Volunteers provide most of the labor while individual and corporate donors provide money and material to build the houses.  Partner families must provide 300 hours of labor to help build their homes and the homes of others.  (www.comalhabitat.org)

Seabrook United Methodist Church – Is a sister church located in Seabrook, Texas  - SE of Houston on the Texas coastline.  On September 13^th, 2008 Hurricane Ike destroyed the church.  They are currently rebuilding on a new site and planning to move from their temporary meeting place at the end of the year.   CLUMC designated our June  Communion Rail Offering for the church to help purchase furniture and office equipment.  On May 17^th, our retired pew Bibles were delivered for them to use in their new sanctuary while our Sunday School and Vacation Bible school children will also be collecting coins to purchase items for their children’s program.  Linda Hendricks has been assisting our church with this project.  (www.seabrookumc.org)

Food Ministry

CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) -
By participating in the CROP Walk, usually held in March on Canyon Lake Dam, we support Church World Services commitment to confront hunger and its related injustices by providing tools of hope that empower people to meet their own needs.  25% of the money raised at the Canyon Lake CROP is donated to the Community Resource and Recreation Center Food Pantry (CRRC) and the Smithson Valley Food Bank.  (www.churchworldservices.org)

Crop Walk 2009

*Local food needs - CLUMC supports our local food banks with a budgeted donation during the year.  Church volunteers assist the pantries with periodic food collections as requested.

Our Newest Special Ministry!

First Methodist Church in Transylvania, Romania is a unique mission introduced to our church this spring by Dr. Billy Abraham, Professor of Wesley Studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology.  Pastor Dinu Petrache, is leading this group of spirited believers as they reach out to bring people to Jesus through food, prayers, utility help and more.  Pastor Brad and Dr. Abraham are working on ways to support Dinu and his ministry while members of our congregation have committed to sent monetary support. www.metodista.ro

Adopt – A – Highway

Once a quarter (dates to be announced) CLUMC members and guests clean up a section of Highway 2722 (Old Bear Creek Road). We meet at the ‘rock cut out cliff’ approximately 2 miles south of Startzville 2722 / 2673 intersection to clean up one mile of this beautiful of Hill Country highway. In a labor of love we discover what it means to keep America beautiful. When time and pressure prevent us from serving our community this is a terrific opportunity to give just one hour to serve our country and our God. Many of us pick up treasures and disposables because we enjoy it as well as the wonderful outdoor fellowship, exercise and experience. We marvel at God’s beauty as we look, hear and smell His glory all around us, thus confirming we live in one of the most beautiful places in Texas. If you would like to be part of Adopt-A-Highway please call Joan Platt or leave a message at the church. Meet us at the 2673 ‘rock cut out cliff’ with your gloves and a smile. Water and cookies are provided. See you on the highway!

Church Library

The Canyon Lake UMC library is located in the Assembly Room where are now over 600  books on the shelves waiting to be read…books that meet a variety of needs and interests.  Are you looking for material for a church program or lesson?  Would you like an inspirational, uplifting novel, biography, or daily devotional readings?  Do you want help with Bible study or answers to questions about church practices, beliefs, and doctrines?  Your church library may have the book you need. Most of our books were donated by church members who wanted to share their books with others.  We thank them for their generosity.

Our library is self-service and we are working on ways to make it easier to find the books you want. We do not have fines, but ask that you be responsible and return books in a reasonable time, about a month.  Check out is easy, on the card in the book pocket sign your name (legibly), your phone number, put the date you check the book out and then place the card in the ‘check out box’ on the library table.  When you return the book, put the card back in the book pocket and place the book in the ‘book return box’ on the table. The library bulletin board will give you more information on how to use the  library and library policies.

Many thanks to Sue Davis, Pat Hurley, Loretta Shultz, and Frances Long for helping organize the library.  If you are interested in helping, please contact: Marjorie Van Riper at 899-4082. Open a book…. Open a new world!

Community Blood Drives 

Our Community Churches Blood Drives were started in the early 1990’s and conducted by the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center (STB&TC). Today we have nineteen churches participating in four Blood Drives a year. Our last drive of 2009 will be October 24. We appreciate the continued support Super S in Startzville and Ace Hardware in Sattler have given our community by allowing mobile blood units to be in their parking lots most of the day during the four Saturdays that people come to donate their precious blood. Anyone giving twice between May and September will receive a $20.oo HEB gift certificate. If you cannot participate in our two remaining Blood Drives you can give at the STB&TC in the New Braunfels at Marketplace Shopping Center. Regardless of where you give, please request your blood be credited to CLUMC unless you are donating for a friend. Your unit of blood could save up to four lives. We sincerely thank you for your gift of life. Please Give! Contact person, Irma Feibelman.

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