BerkeleyBuzz

Berkeley United Methodist Church

January 2015

BERKELEY STAFF
Ministers
Members of the Congregation
Pastor
Rev. Jeanne Devine
revjeanned@sbcglobal.net
Director of Music
Vikki Schwarz
vlschwarz@aol.com
Pianist
Dr. Tyler Mabry
tgmabry@gmail.com
Administrative Assistant
Liz Smith
bumc78745@sbcglobal.net
Childcare Director
Allison McGillicuddy
bumc.childcare@sbcglobal.net
Church Office Hours
MondayFriday
8:45am to 3:15pm
Closed Daily for Lunch
from 12 noon to 12:30pm

From the Pastor

Many thanks for the kind expressions of generosity which
the staff and I received for Christmas! I pray that you and your
loved ones experienced anew the wonder and joy of God-with-us,
Emmanuel.
In this new year, what does God have in store for us here at
Berkeley? Much that we cannot anticipate, certainly. Gods mercies
are new every morning. I do look forward to new ministry
opportunities for us as we move into Gods future.
First of all, at the end of 2014 our church received a ministry
grant from the Austin District to begin Hispanic ministry here in our
neighborhood. You may know that 40% of the people who live with
2 miles of our church are Hispanic. We have hoped for years to offer
more ministry in our neighborhood, and here is our opportunity! I
am grateful for the leadership of my colleague, Rev. Teresa
Santillana, who retired from the California-Pacific Conference last
June and now lives in the neighborhood. She will undertake
bilingual visitation and Bible study with neighbors who now are not
involved in any faith community. Members of Berkeley can learn
Conversational Spanish, and neighbors can learn English as a Second
Language, in classes we will offer in 2015. Most of all, our church
has the opportunity to see all our neighbors as God does and to
expand our welcome to more people.
We also move forward with the Healthy Church Initiative,
approved by the church council last summer. The weekend of
March 6-8 will be important for us, as the study team spends time
with members and staff, following up on reports we have sent them
about our strengths and challenges. Out
of that Consultation weekend, we will
decide whether to implement the
prescriptions they offer for making our
church even healthier and more effective
for Gods purposes.
I pray that we will be open to
what God is already doing in our midst,
and follow Gods leading every day in
the new year. I am thankful to serve as
your pastor.

Rev. Jeanne Devine

Church Happenings

Berkeley Buzz,
January 2015, Page 2

Anniversaries
Mike and Kim Royal
Kathy Beth & Gary Stavinoha
Forrest & Cindy Arnold
Tom & Suzanne McClanahan

1/5
1/22
1/24
1/26

Birthdays
Aubrey Burnett
Bridgette Reece
Susan Long
Nancy Cecil
Robert Gaston
Rita Littlefield
Matt Potts
Letty Villamin
Kasey Triggs
Fred West
Shirley Williams
Mike Frosolono
John Green

1/3
1/8
1/12
1/16
1/18
1/18
1/18
1/20
1/22
1/23
1/26
1/27
1/29

Calling All Readers

Submitted by Carolyn Brown
I would like to invite you to participate in the UMW
Reading Program.
Books are arranged in 5 categories:
Education in Mission
Leadership Development
Nurturing for Community
Social Action
Spiritual Growth
You may choose your own level of participation by
reading 5, 10, 15, or 20 books during the year. By
choosing a book from each category, you challenge
yourself to learn new things. The books may be
stimulating, challenging, or comforting. You can no
longer read regular print books? Choose large print,
or get audio books. Too young? Choose books for
youth or children. Dont read in English? Choose
books in Korean or Spanish. Cant afford to buy the
books? Check them out from the UMW library, or get
them from the Austin Public Library. Prefer reading
ebooks? Many are available for Kindle or Nook, even
from the library. Not a woman? Read the books anyway. These are great books that will help you grow in
your faith.
For more information or specific program details, see
http://www.umwmissionresources.org/products/
reading-program-catalog-2015 or contact Carolyn
Brown at cbsews45@gmail.com or 512-443-2600.

Happenings

Berkeley Buzz,
January 2015, Page 3

Reaching Out
Honduran Scholarship Student
Juan Carlos Hernandez

Submitted by Carolyn Brown

We have been supporting Juan Carlos Hernandez in Honduras for the last four years. Because of our
support he was able to graduate from high school last month. Education in Honduras is not free after the
fifth grade, so very few are able to graduate from high school. Juan Carlos is now part of that minority.
His goal is to go to college and become a teacher, and he has asked for our financial support at the university level. He is a bright young man, and seems to have the motivation to reach his goal.
Our special mission offering for January is Honduras. The funds collected will be used to enable a
student to continue his/her education. We would like this student to be Juan Carlos. Unfortunately,
communication is difficult, and so far we have not been able to get in touch with him to get the information HOI requires. We will continue to work on this, but we may not have an answer until the end of
Jan.
If we are unable to support Juan Carlos, we will ask HOI to assign a different student to us.
Susan Curtis and Carolyn Brown will be in Honduras Jan. 24-31. We hope to see Juan Carlos again while
we are there, as well as the other students supported by the UMW, Susan, and Carolyn.

Karina Ramos
I have been sponsoring Karina Ramos in Honduras for
five years. She just graduated from high school and
sent me her first letter in English. I am hoping to visit
with her again on my next trip to Honduras.
~ Carolyn Brown

Berkeley Buzz,
January 2015, Page 4

Making A Difference
REV. TERESA SANTILLANA
The Rev. Teresa Santillana is a retired Elder with the
California-Pacific Annual Conference since July 1, 2013
and moved to the Austin area on July 1, 2014.
She served for fifteen years as a pastor with four
congregations, two of which were start-up ministries
with Latino/Hispanic populations and two were to
revitalize the congregations. From her initial work
developing ministry with Latino/Hispanic groups she
went onto serving a cross-cultural and multi-lingual
congregation for seven years at her last appointment in
her conference.

Rev. Santillana shares her expertise of having served as

a missionary for fifteen years through the Board of
global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. She speaks Spanish, English and
Portuguese. She has served in Peru and Brazil and had also lived in Argentina.
She received her B.A. from Instituto Teolgico Joo Wesley in Porto Alegre, Brazil and
her M. Div. at Perkins School of Theology/SMU in Dallas in 1997.
She is a native of Lima, Peru. Her late husband Fernando of forty-six years was a
retired clergy member of Cal-Pac Conference. Their two adult daughters live in San
Francisco, California and in the Austin area which is also home for Teresas two
grandchildren.
Rev. Santillana believes strongly in John Wesleys phrase of the world is my parish.
She comments: We are very fortunate to live in times when the world is so close to us.
There is no reason why we cannot make friends and build relationships with people
who are different than us, because of culture, language, customs. On the contrary, we
need to become ONE PEOPLE - ONE GOD and ONE FAMILY.

Berkeley Buzz,
January 2015, Page 5

Spiritual Growth
A Look at the Susan Shirley Prayer Room
Submitted by Rachel Trudell

The Spiritual Care Ministry is looking forward to your visiting the prayer rooms open house on Sunday
January 11. For those of you who knew Susan, it will be a sweet time to remember her. For those of you
who did not know Susan, or know how we came to have this lovely gift, the following is the prayer
rooms story:
It was established as a memorial to Susan, who died of cancer in December 1993. She was a devoted
longtime member of Berkeley and of the Sunday night covenant group. Her spiritual gifts included
prayer, contemplation, and encouraging others in their spiritual journey. In every way she could,
Susan communicated the importance of prayer and of having personal prayer time. She believed that our
spiritual growth depended on our time spent with God in prayer; prayer being the avenue for
understanding what Gods plan was for each of us. After her first struggle with cancer, Susan said that
she was grateful for cancer as it brought her closer to God.
Having visited other churches that had private prayer closets, Susan very much wanted Berkeley
UMC to have such a place where each of us could get away from the noise and distractions of everyday
life, to become quiet in order to more easily communicate with God. Unfortunately, she died before
seeing that dream realized. However, in her will, she left funds to start the construction of a prayer room
for our church. The room is intentionally small so that one person, at most two, can engage in deep and
meaningful conversation with our Lord. It is set off to the side of the classrooms and Sanctuary to further
it being a quiet and undisturbed place. It was Susans hope that we each would use the prayer room as
often as we needed to find peace and quiet, spending time with our Lord, talking to Him and listening for
that still small voice, to hear His guidance and comfort.
Prayer is the way that the life of God is nourished in us. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.

Spiritual Care invites you to visit the Susan Shirley Prayer Room,
located just off the courtyard, to see the changes brought about
by our very own prayer room angel, Phoebe Newberry. In addition to the lovely quilt hanging contributed by Iris Field, Phoebe
donated blinds and a prayer bench and added other little touches
to create a cozy retreat where you can spend time with our Lord
in prayer. There will be an open house on January 11, 2015, during the Sunday school hour. Members of the Spiritual Care Ministry will be there to teach you the code for accessing the room, as
well as to answer any questions. This precious resource is available to you 24/7, 365 days a year!

Berkeley Buzz,
January 2015, Page 6

Change The World

RETHINK LEADERSHIP
2015
Training for District
Leaders & Congregations

Rethink Leadership is an annual training event that offers workshops and resources for District laity and
clergy. The training event will offer many practical and creative workshops designed to develop leaders
and strengthen congregations. It will take place at St. John's UMC, 2140 Allandale Rd., on Saturday,
February 7th 2015 from 9:30 AM to 12:15 PM.
The following is a list of speakers and general workshop topics that will be offered at the 2015 Rethink Leadership training. Whether you chair or serve on one of these groups, or simply have an interest, please come!

* Mission Work

Rev. Jeremy Basset

* Staff Pastor Parish Relations

Rev. Teresa Welborn, District Superintendent

* Trustees

Rev. Jeanne Devine

* Finance

Mr. Marvin Morgenroth

* Texas Methodist Foundation

Mr. Tom Stanton

* Social Media

Rev. Will Rice

* Rio Texas Annual Conf.

Mission Vitality Center

Mr. Abel Vega

* Justice for Our Neighbors

Ms. Julie Flanders

* Free Store Ministry

Ms. Rachel Wright / Mr. Matt Cardona

* Family-Based Youth Ministry

Ms. Shelly Waters

January
2015

Berkeley Buzz,
January 2015, Page 7

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

3
5:30pm Amen
Austin Church
(FH)

4pm Tai Chi

(FH)
5pm Covenant
Group (9)

10am Womens
Group (7)

6pm Congregational Care (7)

6pm Zumba
(FH)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

5:30pm St.
Louise House
(CLC)

11

12

13

14

15

4pm Tai Chi

(FH)
5pm Covenant
Group (9)

10am Womens
Group (7)

5:30pm Prime
Timers (FH)
6:15pm Child
Care Board (7)

9:30am UMW
Women in
Action (FH)
6pm Zumba
(FH)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc.)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc.)

5:30pm St.
Louise House
(CLC)

18

19

20

21

22

4pm Tai Chi

(FH)
5pm Covenant
Group (9)

MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR DAY
- Office Closed -

7pm SPRC (7)

6pm Zumba
(FH)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc.)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)

5:30pm St.
Louise House
(CLC)

25

26

27

28

29

4pm Tai Chi

(FH)
5pm Covenant
Group (9)

10am Womens
Group (7)
6:45pm Girl
Scouts Executive Meeting
(FH)

5:45pm Spiritual
Care (9)
7pm Church
Council (FH)

6pm Zumba
(FH)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc.)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc.)

5:30pm St.
Louise House
(CLC)

7pm Poetry
Writing Group
(9)

10am Womens
Group (7)

10
5:30pm Amen
Austin Church
(FH)

16

17
7:28am UMM
Breakfast (FH)
5:30pm Amen
Austin Church
(FH)

23

24
7:30am UMW
Women in
Gods Grace
(FH)
9am Trustees
(9)

30

31
5:30pm Amen
Austin Church
(FH)

BERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

2407 Berkeley Ave.
Austin, TX. 78745
512-447-6633
bumc78745@sbcglobal.net

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Volunteers Needed!
Submitted by Kathy Beth Stavinoha.

Austin Partners in Education is very short on volunteers this

year. There are two programs - reading and math. I'm
involved in the reading program which takes me about 90
minutes a week (including travel time). Making a difference
in the life of a child can be very meaningful.
Visit http://www.austinpartners.org/getinvolved for more information.

Average Attendance
November
Worship
Sunday

Gifts as of November 30

2014

YTD

2013

110

115

125

30

35

34

Monthly Income

$ 24,204

Monthly Expenses

$ 28,h670

Year-to-Date Income

$ 262,242

Year-to-Date Expenses

$ 253,885