Flood Relief Update and Special Offering

July 4, 2025

Beloved clergy, congregations, and friends of the Rio Texas Conference,

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We are actively assessing the situation as flooding continues to impact communities across our area. We encourage everyone to check on your neighbors and loved ones.

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Please do not self-deploy at this time. Your safety is our priority.

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We will continue to provide updates throughout the day on our social media channels, including ways you can help meet immediate needs. Let us continue in prayer for all who are affected, and for those working tirelessly in response.

Guadalupe Flood Relief Special Offering 

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As we continue to assess the impact of the flooding along the Guadalupe River and surrounding communities, one of the most effective ways you can help right now is through financial gifts.
Bishop Harvey and our Disaster Response Team encourage churches and individuals to contribute to our

Rio Texas Conference Disaster Response Advance #2050,

noting “Guadalupe River Flood” on your gift.

How to give:

• Churches: If taking an offering, please send collected gifts to the Rio Texas Conference office, designated to Advance #2050 — Guadalupe River Flood.

• Individuals: You may give through your local church, or mail contributions directly to the conference office at:
  Rio Texas Conference, 16400 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78248

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Your generosity will support immediate needs in the affected areas. We are also working with UMCOR on securing an initial grant to aid our response.

Please continue to pray, and stay tuned for updates on specific needs as assessments continue.

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A Prayer for Flood-Affected Communities

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As communities across Central Texas face devastating flooding, we join together in prayer for all who are affected. The following prayer was shared by Rev. Adam Knapp, pastor of First United Methodist Church of San Marcos.

We invite you to pray with us:

Lord, we lift up to you all those in the path of flooding along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas. We pray for those who have lost property, stability, security, safety, and loved ones in this crisis. We pray for towns of Comfort, Hunt, Kerrville, Bandera, and many others who are experiencing devastation today. We pray for the children’s camps along the river and the staff who are working to calm and protect many frightened campers.

We pray mostly for the poor and the vulnerable, those with no safety nets who are exposed to the full weight of this tragedy. We pray for those who feel helpless and those for whom helplessness is the struggle of daily life. We pray for the first responders and the churches who are serving as your hands and feet today.

We pray for the hearts of people to be turned to compassion to respond to this disaster. We pray for disaster response teams and organizations such as UMCOR who will labor in these towns alongside the victims to bring dignity and hope. We pray that in the midst of disaster we might see the dignity of all those in need and serve without restraint in the way you have shown us. We pray this in the name of the Eternal and Triune Lord.

Amen.