STATED CLERK'S NOTES - MAY 29, 2025

“What are you doing here?”

            “We’re here for a family reunion. What are you doing here?”

“It’s Maria Vargas’s last Sunday at FPC, Del Rio, and I came to be there for it.”

In a stairwell.

In a Holiday Express.

In Del Rio.

During a fire alarm this past Sunday morning.

Who? Mary Orr, Clerk of Session, Island Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi, in Del Rio for said family reunion, and me.

Mary was beautiful, as usual, all set for the day.

I had wet hair, my face decidedly undone, and had just thrown on some clothes.

You never know where you’ll run into your Presbyterian brothers and sisters.

This has kept me laughing this week, and I just wanted to share it with you.

FPC, Del Rio, and Maria Vargas have done good ministry over the last three years. The love between them was visible, and the gratitude overflowing. The congregation also said farewell to a beloved family, the Mumas, as they move to San Antonio. A family of six! I know they’ll be missed in Del Rio and welcomed to San Antonio. I suggested the churches that are in the general area where they’ll live, so stay alert!

Bobby and Veronique Musengwa are en route to San Antonio from St. Petersburg, Florida. Let’s keep them in our prayers for traveling mercies.

This has us smiling in the office. I can’t say enough good things about the entire Mission Presbytery staff for its good and faithful work every day, but especially in these last six months. And you who have been steadfast on commissions, committees, and task forces–thank YOU. I don’t think anyone missed a beat.

Melody and I are in gear, planning the June presbytery meeting at St. Mark, Boerne. Please see elsewhere in this newsletter for registration information—the good folks at St. Mark have been in full swing as well!

Take a look at the pre-presbytery offerings on Friday, June 20. The Serve Committee has planned a mission service event from 10:00 a.m. to noon – you do not have to be a commissioner to participate. We’ll have two workshops in the afternoon, and I’ll gather first-time commissioners to discuss the meeting and answer any questions you might have.

Holy God,

Thank You for a serendipitous moment in a Holiday Inn Express stairwell during a fire alarm. How cool.

Thank You for the FPC, Del Rio, congregation, and for Maria Vargas as she moves to Fort Worth, and the Mumas to San Antonio. Sustain them all by Your mercy and grace.

Grant safe passage for Bobby and Veronique, and may we all wear our welcome hats with joy!

Thank You for the Mission Presbytery staff–Melody, Jeanne, Caitlin, and Henry. You done good when You created them. 🙂

May Your Spirit fill this presbytery with encouragement, compassion, love, grace, forgiveness, and a sense of adventure.

And now usher us into the next chapter. You’ll write it, and we’ll do our best to follow You instead of beg You to follow us.

Our prayer is in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

peace,

Laurie