The 163rd Methodist Camp Meeting, hosted annually by the Bend United Methodist Church, has been set for June 10 – 13, 2021 at the Methodist Campground located at 1082 CR 432 in Chappel Community of San Saba County. Services each evening will be preceded by a complimentary meal at 6 p.m., provided by the Bend church. Services will begin each night, June 10-12, at 8 p.m. The camp meeting will end with the June 13th service, at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. It will be led by Pastor Tim Brewer, resident pastor of Bend and Lometa UMC. A covered dish lunch will follow worship.
The camp meeting, established in 1858, has been held every year since then without interruption. While the camp meeting has been held in past years in August, members have decided to move the time of the meeting this year to June for more moderate weather.
Situated on the banks of the Cherokee Creek, the campground is ideally located to bring back memories of outdoor worship, brush arbors, and Christian fellowship during the days when folks came in wagons and stayed for two weeks at a time. Modern cars and busy lives have shortened the camp meeting to four days. But those days are still meaningful, and the messages preached are needed in today’s world. Anyone who is interested in camping may still do so.
The evangelist for this year’s camp meeting is the Reverend Carl Westbrook of John Wesley UMC in Victoria, Texas. Pastor Westbrook was born in El Paso and grew up in Corpus Christi. He has more than 50 years of youth and active pastoral ministry. Although he “officially” retired in 2012, he is still active in ministry. Pastor Westbrook holds an English degree from Southwest Texas State University and an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky.
First UMC in Taylorsville, Kentucky, was his first pastorate, followed by a move to Texas in 1973, where he was ordained an Elder in the former Southwest Texas Conference. Many of the places he has served are familiar to everyone: Los Fresnos, Three Rivers, San Antonio, Kerrville, Port Lavaca, Victoria, and others. He has been closely involved in Christian camping with youth over the course of his ministerial life. He has served several nonprofits: Cathedral Oaks Worship and Retreat Center, Mount Wesley Board of Directors and Oversight Committee, and Mount Sequoyah Conference Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From 2013 – 2018, he was employed by The Upper Room for training laity and clergy in six states for the spiritual formation weekend, “Walk to Emmaus.” He is currently serving in Victoria, Texas.
Reverend Westbrook and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children, a son and daughter. They also have four grandchildren as well as six great-grandchildren.
Reverend Westbrook’s theme for the camp meeting is: “The Post-Pandemic Church.” Following is his plan for sermons each night. You are encouraged to bring your Bible.
• Thursday night – “What Does It Mean to be the Church?” Matthew 16: 13-19
• Friday night – “What Does GOD Offer in the Midst of Chaos?” Matthew 11:28-30
• Saturday night – “Are You Ready?” Acts 1-1-8
Everyone is encouraged to come and be a part of this year’s camp meeting, enjoy fellowship, music, and inspiring messages.