The Earliest-Founded Hispanic Presbyterian Church in the United States of America Celebrates CXXX Anniversary

On May 20, 2007, at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Mexicana of Brownsville, Texas, 616 E. Jefferson will have a special worship service in celebration of its 130th Anniversary.  This church was organized by the Western Texas Presbytery on May 20, 1877.

Throughout the years, the focus of this church has been education and evangelism, creating its own identity whole maintaining its cultural roots and traditions.  For more than a century, the church was a member of the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico.  Due to geographical and bilingual considerations, the church voted to transfer its membership to the Presbyterian Church, (USA) and in July of 2000 became officially affiliated with the Mission Presbytery of the PC(USA).

The Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Mexicana of Brownsville has been served by the Reverends Anthony T. Graybill and Leandro Garza Mora founders.  John G. Hall, Santiago Garcia Vera, Desiderio Cavazos. William A. Ross, Carmen A. Gutiérres, Arquimedes Martinez, Guadalupe Armendariz, Asunción Blanco, Sherwood Reisner, Odilón Flores, Joel Martinez Taméz, Samuel Tun, Jesús Cepeda and its current pastor Joel Martínez López.

The last decade has become a transitional period for the church.  Today, our worship service celebrates Jesus’ redemption through melodies, rhythms and songs that identify the congregation culturally, yet without minimizing the 19th century hymnology.  Men as well as women serve as elders and deacons.  The doors to the community are more open by holding home services and by the invitation to all to hear the Word.  Newer families and generations are leading the mission of the church with a renewed mind, resulting in 40 new members joining the church in the last five years. 

Today, we are creating the balance that Christ envisioned for the church when He said: “Every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of the house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Submitted by Rev. Joel Martínez
Brownsville, Texas

Educational Encuentro

The Hispanic Ministry Council (HMC) is sponsoring an Educational Encuentro for pastors, church leadership and families on Friday and Saturday, August 10 – 11, 2007 at Presbyterian Pan American School.  Our hope is to gather together to celebrate the ministry in our Hispanic congregations, provide support and education to teachers and church officers and to offer new ideas for effective Evangelism. 

This event is offered to persons of all ages and childcare will be provided.  Registration is $25 per person which includes overnight accommodations in the Pan American School dormitory or a Commuter Rate of $15 commuter rate per person to cover meals only – (Friday & Saturday).
 
Leadership will include Rev. Luis Casals, worship, Rev. Dr. Daniel Montanez ,  Evangelism workshop, Rev. Marissa Galvan-Valle - Christian Education workshop and Ruben Armendariz & Susan Penrod - Officer Training. 
Children and youth activities will include a service project and sports activities.    Music will be provided by Rev. Hector Reynoso & Sinai Pres Church.

The Encuentro will begin with dinner on Friday 5:30 PM and conclude on Saturday at 3:00 PM. Registration begins at 4:00 PM on Friday.  The Presbyterian Pan American School is located at 223 N.FM 772, Kingsville.
Get a group together and join us.  Don’t miss this opportunity, no pierden esta opportunidad!

Evangelism Workshops

Annually the Church Development & Evangelism Division encourages congregations and presbytery clusters to submit evangelism outreach grant proposals for consideration by the Division.

This year, Mission Presbytery is partnering with Parkway Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi, in sponsoring several evangelism outreach workshops. In January, 130 people from across the presbytery attended Creating A Magnetic church Evangelism Workshop at Parkway Church. In April, Smoke Signals & Satellites – Media in the Mix Workshop was the second in the series. These workshops are designed to equip laity and clergy to maximize congregation’s evangelism outreach. Be on the lookout for the fall workshop and plan to register members of your church to attend.

Remember, if your church or presbytery cluster has an evangelism outreach proposal; please contact the Presbytery Office or Rev. Fred Morgan, moderator of the Church Development & Evangelism Division - fredmorg@sbcglobal.net

CATCH YOUR BREATH - PW Gathering

The Annual PW Gathering of Mission Presbytery at Mo Ranch took place on March 23-25, 2007. With approximately 282 women attending the group took part in various workshops and worship services in reminder of the Sabbath. Rev. Nancy Drake of Grapevine was our Keynote Speaker for the weekend and inspired us with how to participate in the Sabbath even if it is only in moments.

The offering of $3,760.00 from the Gathering went to Mission Presbytery Disaster Relief.

Workshops ranged from crafts to bible study and even included a tour of the grounds. The epitome of the event was the communion service on Sunday. We were all very moved by the spirit flowing in the auditorium as the group moved forward to join in the Lord’s Supper by intinction with a reminder of our baptism.

Photos are available of our event by following the links on the Presbyterian Women’s website at http://missionpw.tripod.com.  Thanks again to the women of Wimberley Presbyterian Church fro being excellent hosts for this year’s conference.  We look forward to seeing you at Mo-Ranch at next year’s Gathering March 28 – 30, 2008.

Table of Life

by Rob Mueller

…and they shall come from north and south and east and west and sit at table in the kingdom of God…

And so we came…
North Americans
burdened with luggage
lugging our ‘mucho’
into their ‘poco’
Displacing their family’s table
with our sleeping bags, snacks
and symbols of security.
Securing our space
staking our claim
upon the barren floor
swept clean for our arrival.
by these
Southerners…who came…
barefoot and burdened with bundled babies
bright-eyed ‘tamals’ at
a warm brown breast
Tending a Table extended to strangers
spread on a hillside
of freshly-tilled earth.
Welcoming us to Creation’s own Temple
filled with the music of
Heaven’s Beating Heart
permeated with the pulse of
Earth’s Corazón

We sit amid the Rainbow of your Love
(and though we never speak the words)
Our souls remember well
that you are present
recognize your Body and your Blood
as bread is shared
cup is poured and passed
From brown and calloused hands
to softer flesh which willingly receives
this sacramental seed, deep sown
within the furrows of our heart

Here we have become your Body
found the Treasure Hidden in the Field
Held the Holy in our Hands
seen the Face of Christ
This, the Table, overlooked but longed for,
this the love we crave, but cannot find
Yet we were found by it! and unexpected
Here we knew the table of Your Life.