Leadership2 - Universal City United Methodist Church

The Communications Ministry Team supports the mission and vision of the church in all of its activities. Our ultimate purpose is communicating the Gospel. We help to do this by trying to make everyone aware of all that is happening in the church and knowing/suggesting the best avenues for people to use for communicating their messages. We view this ministry as facilitative - helping others to determine what and how to communicate, paving the way, and providing helpful guidelines.

Some of our ongoing projects include publicity planning, designing and managing the web site, continuous improvement of publications, church signs, encouraging the sharing of information internally and externally and in as many ways as possible, church decals, bulletin boards, and media use and improvements.

A Note from Communications Ministries about Writing Articles

We encourage all groups and ministries to write information articles for our community about current happenings and needs they have. We're happy to provide advice or editing. Following a few guidelines will make article writing a breeze.

Sunday Saltshaker– Just the facts, please – who, what, where, when, and a contact person. Space is limited, so 50-60 words or less is ideal.
Saltshaker – These can be a little longer, 75-100 words. Explain a little more about the program or event. Tell the story (a short story, that is). Feature articles are for large events and can be longer.

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Evangelism Ministry Team

DO YOU HEAR THAT? GOD IS CALLING YOU TO SERVE HIM!
Helpers are needed on the Evangelism Ministry Team - deliver candy jars, help with preschool breakast, work with outreach ministry teams, make emergency telephone number magnets ... help us Offer Christ to All!! Contact Ed Thorpe,ethorpe@satx.rr.com

Film Canister Project

You too can share the love of Christ with the homeless. We have film canisters with two scripture quotes inside – Matthew 22:39, “Love thy neighbor as thyself” and John 3:16. Pick one - or more – up in the basket in the Narthex, fill each canister with $3.16 and give them away as a Servant Evangelism gift to those who are needy or homeless. That’s sharing the love of Christ with others as we are called to do. We thank Diane Holbrook for sharing her personal evangelism project with us! We also need your old film canisters and small prescription bottles to continue this project (we’ll take the labels off).
We have a collection basket for those too.

National Night Out

The Evangelism Ministry Team held a very successful 1st National Night Out event in October 2008. Folks from the neighborhood and the church attended to get to know each other, enjoy refreshments, and learn about neighborhood crime. Join us next year for this special evening.

Evangelism Ministry

A Dictionary for United Methodists defines evangelism as the winning of persons to Jesus Christ…the proclamation of the gospel to individuals and groups by preaching, teaching, and personal and family visitation….seeking to bring others into a vital relationship with Christ.

First, while we may preach, most of you would not recognize any sermons.

Second, our current teaching efforts include Saltshaker stories on evangelism and articles on exciting, fun, and contagious evangelism approaches. We also involve the congregation in Servant Evangelism projects, and provide them with Evangelism Cards for friends, co-workers, and relatives interested in our church.

Third, David Wagoner has a powerful visitation program with some great volunteers who give candy jars to recent church guests and answer questions about Christ, our church, our church programs, and interest groups. We also visit within the church through our WON In Christ Ministry Greeter Program. Our other Servant Evangelism Projects include door-to-door visits, serving breakfast at Preschool/KDO registration, and providing gifts and information at neighborhood outreach programs.

Finally, we offer to teach, demonstrate and assist any small group wishing to accomplish an evangelism project.

The following are enthusiastic, highly motivated evangelism ministry team members:

Evangelism Ministry Team
	Chair	Ed Thorpe
	Co-Chair	Vicki Helkey
Joan Brown	Ed Thorpe	Alice Tifft	Jim Lloyd
Jim Tifft	Vicki Helkey	Diane Holbrook	Violet Vassell

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Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Ministry

Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Ministry
(SPPR)

This ministry team is responsible for maintaining the appropriate level of staff; counseling with staff and pastors on issues related to their relationship with the congregation; and correcting any conditions that may impede the effectiveness of ministry. It is mandated that SPPR annually evaluate the pastoral staff, and communicate their findings to the SWTX Conference. SPPR also reviews and updates job descriptions of all other employees as needed, and is developing an appraisal system for more accurately highlighting the extraordinary efforts of our employees. We encourage continuing education for staff as well as pastors and their spouses, and prepare a budget for staff and pastoral salaries. Current members of SPPR include:

Staff Pastor Parish Relations Ministry
	Chair	Linda Prater
Class of 2010	Alan Utley	Loren Weidner	Marti Blose
Class of 2011	Jerry Beverly	Linda Prater	Jan Blue
Class of 2012	Jim Talbott	Lenny Dagg	Brenda Meneses

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Spiritual Journey Ministry Team

(formerly the Spiritual Formation Ministry Team)

Spiritual formation is essentially being formed in Christ for the sake of others. Having that definition is helping us to educate ourselves and others about the importance of the journey to be more and more conformed into the likeness of Christ, moving from being self-centered to being more God-centered. Essentially, spiritual formation answers the question of how we find time for God outside of Sunday morning. It's an ongoing process of becoming, being changed by the Holy Spirit.

One of our primary roles as a team is to support staff members and other groups as they develop spiritual formation opportunities. We also encourage people to participate in the many spiritual formation opportunities available, both in the church and throughout the Southwest Texas Conference.

Some of our recent and ongoing projects include preparing Advent and Lent devotional books, sponsoring prayer workshops, supporting Companions in Christ, making contact with less active church members, and promoting the Five Wishes program, a user friendly advanced directive for end of life care.

Spiritual Journey Ministry Team
	Chair	Chivi Dagg
Alison Buck	Bill Bennett	Darlene Bennett	Bob Buck
Carol Collins	Ed Thorpe	Lenny Dagg	Martha Bowden
Myron Ricketts	Sharon Ricketts	Sally Friedli	Anita Springer
Joyce Glessner	Paulette Santiago	Linda Ann Williams	Diane Weidner

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Missions Ministry Team

This ministry exists to present local, national and international mission projects to our congregation for their support and approval. We present a variety of projects to benefit children, disadvantaged families, young adults, overseas missions and the homeless of San Antonio. We welcome your suggestions for Mission Moments to be considered by this ministry. All the members of this ministry are involved in mission work in our community or teaching classes to children or adults. We live what we believe is God’s purpose for us as Christians. The members of the Mission Ministry Team are as follows:

Missions Ministry Team
	Chair	Mark Mueller
Joe Painter	Becky Painter	Phill Swinney	Gail Swinney
Claude Kucinskis	Pat Gregg	Linda Ann Williams	Marty Tillstrom

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Worship Ministry Team

The Worship Ministry Team seeks to create, develop, and enhance a nurturing, personal worship experience for each person worshipping at UCUMC. We strive to create a worship experience that completely captures the essence of the love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through uplifting song, prayer, and scripture.

The ministry team is responsible for obtaining gifts for the congregation for Mother's Day, Father's Day and any other appropriate holidays. The ministry team is also responsible for making sure the correct paraments and banners are in place according to the current church season.

In 2006, we held our very first Live Nativity scene, complete with the characters, animals, music, readings, and refreshments for all of our guests. It was a very moving and spiritually uplifting experience for all involved!

Worship Ministry Team
	Chair	Nancy Flately
Jim Tifft	Alice Tifft	Chris Preston	Myron Ricketts
Phillip Hefner	Ed Thorpe	Betty Syvertson	Kay Talbott
Pam Daniel	Betty Roberts	William Daniel	Barbara Morris
Sue Miller	Shelley Moseley	Chuck Roberts

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Other Minististry Teams

	Chair	Robert Downs
Class of 2009	Gail Swinney	Meem Baumgartner	Dot roberts
Class of 2010	Rhea Haxton	Robert Downs	Margaret Tarlton
Class of 2011	Phill Swinney	Mike Sherman	Stephanie Daniel

UCUMC Foundation

What is the UCUMC Foundation?

The Universal City United Methodist Church Foundation is a Texas non-profit Corporation. It was established in 1989 as a means to provide for the future charitable, educational and religious ministry of our church, as well as for the care of its facilities.

The Foundation receives permanent gifts from individuals and organizations, but only the earnings may be distributed. The principal can never be spent. It is a permanent endowment. The donor, therefore, has assurance that the gift will be a lasting contribution to the church.

Those who give to the Foundation do so to give thanks to God for blessings bestowed, to express their devotion to Christ and to His church, and to honor loved ones whose lives have served as an inspiration.

	Chair	Jim Talbott
	Secretary

Class of 2010	Diane Weidner	Dot Roberts	Robert Downs
Class of 2011	Steve Stinson	BobTarlton	Becky Painter

Annual Conference Delegates

Christian conferencing is a time honored tradition in Methodism. The Southwest Texas Annual Conference meets each year in Corpus Christi. UCUMC sends clergy and lay delegates to the Conference as do all of the other churches. The delegates conduct the business of the Annual Conference, share information, worship together, and learn about new opportunities for ministry.