​Hi everyone!

My name is Grace Carlson, and I have had the great joy of working at Light on the Hill and KFUMC this summer.

The last 3 months have been full of learning new skills, collaborating with amazing colleagues, serving the community, and navigating through another unprecedented affliction to the area. I am so grateful for the experience I gained and the people I worked with, during joyful days, emotionally taxing days, and everything in between. Having the opportunity to work in the vocational area I am called to was such a blessing, and God made it clear every day that I was exactly where He wanted me to be.

When coming home to Kerrville for the summer, I hoped to get a job in my field of interest, so I reached out to Beth Palmer to find out about any open jobs at LOTH. I tried not to get my hopes up, but she didn’t just offer me a job at LOTH, her and Pastor Monica O’Donnell collaborated to design a unique job that perfectly combined ministry and my social work background. They truly went above and beyond for me, and I spent the summer learning about deaconship from Monica, and serving community members with Beth.

I had the pleasure of working as a Health Navigator at LOTH, where I acted as a resource hub for the community. I conducted needs assessment calls, hosted people at the food pantry, made food and supply deliveries, and assisted with LOTH events. Every person I served this summer touched me deeply, and they showed me what true strength and resilience looks like. I also saw God working in the LOTH staff every single day. Some days are extremely tiring- mentally, physically, and emotionally, but the kind souls that work there always show up again the next day to serve their siblings in Christ. I love them and will miss them all dearly!

I also spent time at the church, where Pastor Monica graciously answered my questions about deaconship, and brought me along to church meetings and her Sunday dinner ministry, The Table. I went out of my comfort zone a few times to deliver the message at The Table, and wrote a few devotionals for the church newsletter. While it was nerve wracking for me at the time, it was a fruitful ministry experience that helped me build confidence in my writing.

Peace and Love,
Grace Carlson

To find out the latest information about disaster recovery, please go to:
 - KerrTogether.com
- RebuildKerr.org

Thank You to the San Antonio Food Bank and Global Empowerment Mission for Providing 50,000 Pounds of Food and for All of the Unpaid Servants Who Showed Up and Shared the Food at the MEGA Food Pantry at Light on the Hill! ​

​ Blessings, Beth Palmer!
[email protected]
830.459.5847

​You're Invited!
Sunday, July 19 at 4:00pm we will gather at Light on the Hill to express our gratitude for our chapel and the many ways the space has served us and how it will continue to serve us moving forward.

The kids enjoyed our team building activities like Shipwrecked, Drift Trikes, Underground Mine, and the 3D Web. Through these we got to learn a little more about each other and how to lean on each other for help. ​

Our high element activities included Super Swing, Sherpa, Rock Climbing, and the Zip 3000. These activities really got our youth to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves to try new things. ​

​Back-to-School Bash is August 1st!
The summer is flying by so fast!

Our interns are working hard at Light on the Hill to get hundreds of backpacks ready with new school supplies for our August 1st Back-to-School Bash!

If you know of some families who could use some help getting their children ready for the start of the new school year, please share our flyer for registration.

We are always excited to support children in our community with a great start in August for back to school!

​Carrying More Than One Story.
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, our community also remembers. We remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the weight that this day now carries for so many.

There is room for both grief and gratitude. We can celebrate the blessings of today while honoring those whose absence is deeply felt. Remembering does not diminish our joy, and celebrating does not erase our loss. Together, we hold both.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18

As Seven Days of Prayer reminded us:
"One of the most healing things we can do after a traumatic experience is to be honest about heartbreak and loss. Grief does not need to be hidden, minimized, or justified. Healing often begins not when pain disappears, but when we feel safe enough to acknowledge it."

Today, may we remember with love, support one another with compassion, and move forward with hope.

​Prayer is a Personal and Powerful Thing
Sunday evening, our community gathered for Prayer at the Park to remember those we’ve lost, pray for those who are hurting, and simply be together. It was a beautiful reminder that even in the midst of heartbreak, we don’t have to go through it alone.

As a church family, we are joining our community in Seven Days of Prayer for Kerr County. Wherever you are today, we invite you to pause for a few moments and pray. Pray on your own, with your family, or with friends. Take this time to lift up our community and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.

Let’s remember those who were lost.

Let’s pray for the families who are grieving, for first responders, and for everyone carrying the weight of these difficult days. Let’s pray for God to guard our hearts and minds as we continue to walk through this together.

As we move toward the 4th, our community will be gathering for a number of commemorative events across Kerrville and Kerr County.

These moments are an opportunity to remember, reflect, and stand together with those who are grieving and those who are healing.

Click below to view the full list of events hosted through Kerr Together and find ways to participate throughout the week.

​MHDD Emotional Support Center:
(830) 955-1745

Crisis Hotline:
(877) 466-0660