​Congratulations to Katie, Tuesday, Jessica and Val!

​Welcome, Grace Carlson!
Hi! I'm Grace Carlson and I have the pleasure of serving at LOTH and KFUMC as a Health Navigator this summer.

I was born and raised in Kerrville at KFUMC and am blessed to have it as my church home. I had the opportunity to grow up with friends in Sunday School, become a confirmed member of the church, play all-night laser tag at Youth Group, and so much more.

Sermons, mission trips, and worship I observed in this church aided me in my faith journey tremendously, and even though I was terrified to receive a call to ministry my senior year of high school, Pastor David embraced me with open arms and showed me so much support.
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​With a few bumps in the road, I continued my call journey throughout college with the help of my Texas Wesley student ministry pastors. I recently became a certified candidate for ministry and graduated from UT Austin with my Bachelor of Social Work, and I am moving to New York City in the fall to pursue my Master of Arts in Religion at Union Theological Seminary, with the goal of being ordained as a deacon in the United Methodist Church and cultivating an outreach ministry.

I am so grateful for all the experiences I had during college that showed me more of my calling, and one of the most impactful experiences I had was interning at a faith-based non-profit called Community First Village.

​To finish a social work degree at UT, students are required to complete a field internship during their last semester, and there is a list of available organizations to choose from. When I read about Community First Village, it immediately went to the top of my list as my first choice, and I had a truly wonderful experience there.

Community First Village was born as a second program from the organization Mobile Loaves and Fishes, aiming to implement a tiny home community for unhoused people in addition to feeding and clothing them through its food truck ministry. In the last 20 years, the Village has gradually grown and expanded into a community of about 500 people (neighbors as we call them) who were previously unhoused for at least one year and now can have a home for life.

Community First’s mindset is that shelter alone won’t solve homelessness, but community will.

The founders and expansive staff have a goal to “empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the unhoused,” and that is reflected in the physical layout and the culture of the Village. There are community-wide events, a recreation room, art house, community garden, and so much more that aim to bring people together to build connections and relationships.

I made many connections with neighbors and my fellow interns and colleagues at the Village, and I saw firsthand how devoted the staff are to make every neighbor feel equal in dignity and worth to others, because all of God’s children were beautifully and wonderfully made. I had the pleasure of working as a case manager for some neighbors, and we worked together to accomplish tasks such as renewing SNAP benefits, acquiring wheelchairs, finding food and rental assistance, and more.

I will never forget the joy on my neighbors’ faces when they felt joyful and proud of themselves, and that immediately made all the hard work worth it.

There is also a committed group of volunteers that regularly help with food drives, village events, home building, and more.

The neighbors touched me so deeply when I worked there that I returned to volunteer a few times this spring, and I could not recommend it enough.

Whenever you’re in Austin, consider signing up for a volunteer shift at Community First Village, because one day there can completely shift people’s mindsets about the unhoused community. The people at the Village are truly the hands and feet of God, serving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and changing lives for the better every day.

Are you ready to seek out God’s truth?
Grab your fedora and strap on your velcro shoes because Agents of Truth at KFUMC is just around the corner!
Join us for a spy-themed VBS where we’ll go undercover to uncover God’s truth together.

​You can help lead a team of tiny spies as they take on exciting missions during our three-day Agents of Truth VBS! Come join the adventure!

If you’re interested, please contact our Children’s Ministry Director, Tuesday McRorey.

We want to focus on community, connection, and reducing the stigma with the Mental Health America (MHA) theme "More Good Days, Together," emphasizing shared support for well-being.
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Key Themes and Focus Areas for 2026:
 "More Good Days, Together"
(MHA)
This theme encourages reflecting on what constitutes a "good" day, fostering connection, and providing support to make these days possible for everyone.
 "See the Person. Support the Journey"
(SAMHSA)
This initiative focuses on reducing stigma, fostering empathy, and providing resources to support individuals' unique mental health journeys.

Community & Connection
A strong emphasis is placed on strengthening community ties to prevent isolation, acknowledging that "connection is protection."
 Reducing Stigma
Efforts are focused on speaking up against shame and creating open, supportive spaces for conversations.

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Due to the holiday on the last Monday of May, the MEGA Food Pantry provided in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank will be Monday, May 11 from 8am-10am at Light on the Hill.
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​So Grateful!
We are so grateful for all of the unpaid servants who serve our neighbors near and far!
 Costa Rica Team helps Ray Zirkel prepare for Costa Rica Methodist High School Senior Trip to Camp Eagle!

​KFUMC Emergency Response Team / Volunteers in Mission continue to help flood survivors in our community.

​Walking With Our Neighbors Towards Hope

As our church has committed to walking alongside our community as we move forward after the devastation of the July 4th flood, I find myself leaning into learning more about trauma-informed care. Many people carry untold stories of life-altering pain. Trauma, no matter its origins, shapes not only the mind, but also the body, relationships and spiritual life. I recently read some excerpts from Understanding Trauma and Resilience by Evan Marbury, a pastor and counselor. Today, I am sharing some from his book that helped me.

For Christians committed to embodying the compassion of Christ, understanding trauma is not optional; it is a necessary expression of love. Jesus consistently drew near to the wounded, responding with tenderness, protection and truth. To follow him faithfully requires that we become communities where those who suffer are seen and gently accompanied toward healing.

Understanding Trauma 
A trauma-informed Christian recognizes that wounded people are not problems to fix but image bearers whose bodies and nervous systems have adapted for survival. Trauma changes how we perceive safety, trust others and experience God. Without this awareness, churches may unintentionally harm individuals through shame, spiritual cliches or expectations that healing must happen quickly.

Understanding trauma invites us to slow down, honor the pace of the wounded, and cultivate spaces marked by safety, predictability and patient discipleship. It also deepens our theology: Lament becomes a richer practice, the lifeline through which God meets his people in the dark.

The Importance of Resilience
Resilience—the capacity to maintain a God-centered self-directedness—is central to Christian formation. Yet resilience is not merely self-manufactured; it arises through supportive relationships and the presence of God. Understanding resilience helps the church proclaim not only that trauma holds deep impact, but also that God is able to restore, strengthen and rebuild. It shifts our focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you—and how can we walk with you toward hope?”

People that are informed about trauma and resilience become a living testimony of the gospel. We refuse to minimize suffering, yet we boldly declare that suffering doesn’t have the final word. We recognize that healing is often slow, nonlinear and sacred. And we embody the truth that Jesus is near to the brokenhearted, inviting his people into a journey where grace rewrites stories of harm into stories of courage, redemption and renewed life. When Christians understand trauma and resilience, we more faithfully mirror the heart of Christ, becoming a community where wounded people learn not only to survive but to flourish.
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​I was blessed to be able to participate last weekend in a wonderful learning opportunity in San Antonio organized by the Texas Methodist Foundation.

The title of the conference was "Stewarding the Potential."

Throughout the afternoon on Friday, we were reminded of the boldness of John Wesley who proclaimed "What religion do I preach? The religion of love, and the law of kindness, brought to light by the Gospel."

On Friday evening, Bishop Gregory Palmer encouraged us with the reminder that, "We have everything we need to take the next faithful step."

On Saturday morning, we were encouraged by Pastor Richie Butler to "Go big for God!" The capacity and promise of God are HUGE!

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to be ready to show up and fulfill the purposes that God has for every one of us each day. Going big for God is an exercise in faith. And we have "everything we need to share the love, hope and grace of Jesus Christ with a world desperate for it!

Blessings, Beth

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​Thank You!
Thank you to Ray Dunton and David Newberry for their leadership with organizing volunteers to help flood survivors on their road to recovery and with renovations to areas at Light on the Hill.

Last Sunday, unpaid servants helped get the chapel renovation at Light on the Hill kickstand and this week volunteers will be helping at the home of a flood survivor.

If you want to be a part of what this team is doing, contact Ray 210.781.9886 or David 512.663.6998.

Thank you to everyone for making a difference in our community!

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​Two Months Away!
We are only two months away from out Costa Rica Mission team trip!
Please continue to pray for our team as they prepare to go and serve. God has big plans in store for them!

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Empty No More…
I am praying for you this morning…

The cross is EMPTY. The tomb is EMPTY.
And my heart is FULL.

No more wondering…
Will God do what He promised? YES.

No more wondering…
Did Jesus really rise from the dead that 3rd glorious morning? YES.

No more wondering…
Will Jesus promise us Eternal Life with Him? YES.

YES. YES. YES.
Fullness of truth. Fullness of joy. Fullness of life.

God’s gift to us.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13

​We are an Easter People..."We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song" is a famous quote from St. Pope John Paul II. 

It encourages Christians to live with joy and hope rather than despair, emphasizing that faith in the resurrection enables a life of love, even amidst suffering.

​Who Will You Invite To Worship With You On Easter Sunday? He is not here! He is risen, indeed!
We are Easter people.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the gospel.
We believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day.
This is the foundation of our faith and if we want nonbelievers to hear the gospel, Easter is a great Sunday to invite them!

Invite your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors join us this Easter Sunday.
We would be honored to have the privilege of sharing with everyone the promise of the hope in Christ and His resurrection!

 Easter Worship
Sunrise Service 7:00am
Location: The Bolivian Cross at Light on the Hill at mount Wesley
(610 Methodist Encampment.)
*Shuttle bus will begin running at 6:15am at the Light on the Hill parking lot to take people up to the cross. The last shuttle will run at 6:45am.
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You are welcome to walk up to the cross, but please do not drive your vehicles up to the cross.

 Traditional Worship 8:15 & 10:45am
Location: Kerrville First United Methodist Church Sanctuary
(321 Thompson Dr.)

 Contemporary Worship 9:30am
Location: Kerrville First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
(321 Thompson Dr.)