Who are Methodists?
We are a world-wide Christian movement founded by John Wesley as a place for Christians of all kinds to come together for encouragement and growth in the faith. For over 200 years, Methodists have been sharing the faith, planting churches, establishing schools and hospitals, and doing anything we can to live out the faith. (For more info, see link below.)
What do we believe and practice?
We adhere to the basic truths that almost any other Christian group believes concerning God, worship, salvation, Scripture and sacraments. Our Methodist distinctives are a focus on the ‘grace of God,’ the practice of ‘open communion’ (everyone is invited to the communion table), and a desire to balance the message of God’s Good News with social outreach and ministry. (For more info, see link below.)
Who is our pastor?
Pastor Joe Tognetti has been in pastoral ministry since 2011, and was fully ordained in 2016. He has served United Methodist congregations in Kempner, San Antonio, Lyford, and Edcouch, and feels blessed to now serve Rio First UMC. Acts 2:42 and 1 Corinthians 15:22 summarize Joe’s ministry emphases: sharing the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection on a personal, communal, and global scale. Joe has a passion for discipleship formation and justice/mercy ministries. He is somewhat proficient in Spanish, and is learning more every day. Joe enjoys spending time with his wife (Leigh Ann), reading theology and fantasy, following current events, and playing nerdy games with friends. He passionately roots for San Francisco sports teams, though he also roots for the Spurs and the Cowboys. He met Leigh Ann in college, and they got married on July 31, 2010. They had their first child, Elizabeth, on June 23, 2015, and Leigh Ann is pregnant with their second child (due in early September). She is currently an Assistant District Attorney in the Civil Litigation Division of the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s office.
Pastor Joe greatly appreciates the ways in which Rosa (Church Secretary), Ray (Youth Worker), Sara (Children's Church/Nursery), Yvonne (Custodian), Roxanne (Groundskeeper), and all of the church's faithful members and volunteer leadership enable Rio First UMC to continue to live as the body of Christ in the community & world!
How is Rio First present in the community?
Methodists are found in all walks of life here in Rio Grande City—labor, education, community leadership, agriculture, retail—everywhere. In addition to our congregational life, we periodically provide weekly Bible study opportunities, host a Wesley Nurse and certified mental health Counselor who are available by appointment, take part in community activities, and participate in cooperative ministries such as a monthly Community Men’s Prayer Breakfast. We also host Vacation Bible School, an annual Fall Festival, and our youth praise band, Living Stones, periodically performs for the community. A number of our members are also engaged in evangelistic ministries in our community and across the Rio Grande in Ciudad Camargo.
We are a world-wide Christian movement founded by John Wesley as a place for Christians of all kinds to come together for encouragement and growth in the faith. For over 200 years, Methodists have been sharing the faith, planting churches, establishing schools and hospitals, and doing anything we can to live out the faith. (For more info, see link below.)
What do we believe and practice?
We adhere to the basic truths that almost any other Christian group believes concerning God, worship, salvation, Scripture and sacraments. Our Methodist distinctives are a focus on the ‘grace of God,’ the practice of ‘open communion’ (everyone is invited to the communion table), and a desire to balance the message of God’s Good News with social outreach and ministry. (For more info, see link below.)
Who is our pastor?
Pastor Joe Tognetti has been in pastoral ministry since 2011, and was fully ordained in 2016. He has served United Methodist congregations in Kempner, San Antonio, Lyford, and Edcouch, and feels blessed to now serve Rio First UMC. Acts 2:42 and 1 Corinthians 15:22 summarize Joe’s ministry emphases: sharing the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection on a personal, communal, and global scale. Joe has a passion for discipleship formation and justice/mercy ministries. He is somewhat proficient in Spanish, and is learning more every day. Joe enjoys spending time with his wife (Leigh Ann), reading theology and fantasy, following current events, and playing nerdy games with friends. He passionately roots for San Francisco sports teams, though he also roots for the Spurs and the Cowboys. He met Leigh Ann in college, and they got married on July 31, 2010. They had their first child, Elizabeth, on June 23, 2015, and Leigh Ann is pregnant with their second child (due in early September). She is currently an Assistant District Attorney in the Civil Litigation Division of the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s office.
Pastor Joe greatly appreciates the ways in which Rosa (Church Secretary), Ray (Youth Worker), Sara (Children's Church/Nursery), Yvonne (Custodian), Roxanne (Groundskeeper), and all of the church's faithful members and volunteer leadership enable Rio First UMC to continue to live as the body of Christ in the community & world!
How is Rio First present in the community?
Methodists are found in all walks of life here in Rio Grande City—labor, education, community leadership, agriculture, retail—everywhere. In addition to our congregational life, we periodically provide weekly Bible study opportunities, host a Wesley Nurse and certified mental health Counselor who are available by appointment, take part in community activities, and participate in cooperative ministries such as a monthly Community Men’s Prayer Breakfast. We also host Vacation Bible School, an annual Fall Festival, and our youth praise band, Living Stones, periodically performs for the community. A number of our members are also engaged in evangelistic ministries in our community and across the Rio Grande in Ciudad Camargo.
