The Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church has been reorganized. First United Methodist Church is now a member of the new Southeast District headquartered in Beaumont. Our new District Superintendent is The Rev. Richard Burnham. Rev. Burnham hosted a district wide picnic for all of the clergy and spouses on Saturday, June 17 at Wildwood/Mills Village United Methodist Church. The main reason for the get-together was to welcome new clergy into the district. We were officially welcomed as a church transferring into the district. I think this move bodes well for our church. We have a lot in common. One commonality is our blessing from last fall... Rita! Many churches in this district were affected even more than we were. We will miss all of our friends from the OLD Lufkin district, but are warmly welcomed to relate with our NEW friends in the NEW Southeast District. We look forward to our relationship with our new District Superintendent, Richard Burnham and his spouse Melissa. If we can get our new building completed this year, I hope we can host the picnic next year.

We all know what United Methodists (and Pentecostals, Church of God in Christ, Baptists, and most denominations) do when they get together... WE EAT! Well Preachers are no different... except we are specially trained in this event. And the food was great! 

Melissa Burnham welcomes guest to the picnic

Richard Burnham chats with clergy and spouses from the district

You may recognize Ray Nelson, the pastor from the church just South of Bleakwood. His wife Ruby is pastor of St. Paul's UMC in Beaumont!

Just in case you are wondering, we did conduct some business, but getting to know each other and breaking bread together was the main event!