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May 2009
Newsletter of The Seashore District of The United Methodist Church | |
"Reflections"
 Abraham went out not knowing where he was to go...
Last Saturday, we traveled to Mississippi State University where we attended the Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2009. Our daughter Laura completed another passage in her journey. When I am in a restaurant, a grocery store or in one of your churches and I see parents holding a baby, I can't believe Laura, our youngest, will be 22 in July. What happened to the little girl I used to tell stories to at bed time? And where will her journey take her?
Many of you are asking similar questions, if not about your children, at least of your own journey. Many among our clergy sisters and brothers will journey, as did Abraham, to a far country. If not far, it will at least be unfamiliar. You will pick up your stuff, the things that define your earthly existence, load them in a truck of some description, and deposit them in a strange land...a land which will become a place of faithful ministry. There will be goodbyes to say. There will be tears. We will leave the places which have named us and claimed us as pastor, and for better or worse, parsonage family. Spouses will leave jobs and follow us, knowing they, too, will likely seek employment in a new setting, yet again. Children will leave little league teams and neighborhood friends and those social groupings that define them. It will be hard. Yet, the life to which we've said yes is a life which asks us to be nimble and quick, willing to go.
Not only did Laura graduate, in three weeks she will begin a career working as a part of the leadership team at SIFAT(Servants in Faith and Technology) in Lineville, Ala. SIFAT teaches young people and folks from the mission field "appropriate technology" for living and thriving in places of need across the world. Young people come to be challenged to see a world outside the comfort of ipods, cell phones and Facebook. I'm proud of her. She will be stretched. Her faith will deepen. Most of what she learned living this Abrahamic life of a preacher's kid will serve her well. For those things that do serve her well, I give thanks. She would, I think, even say that year we moved her as she was going into the 8th grade was even a good thing, though it took her a year to decide.
In the end, when we move, we discover what we've always known. Our God is a God that calls us. Again and again we are asked to take up whatever cross is before us and carry it well. Again and again we are invited to say "yes" to the faith into which we were baptized and in which our faith becomes concrete and real. And, again and again the Church asks us to go. And in the leaving and in the going, God holds us in the very palm of His hand.
Abraham went out not knowing where he was to go...but he traveled by faith.
Bill |
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"Tide"ings from Around the District |
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Good News! The tomato plants are in the ground and growing. Last year I got so busy that I didn't plant any tomatoes and missed the joy of fresh, homegrown tomato sandwiches. With good weather and God's help that shouldn't happen again this year. Along with the tomatoes, the garden is planted with bell peppers, yellow, pattie-pan and zucchini squash, radishes and a couple of experimental vegetables. Every year at planting time, I am reminded of some of the agricultural references that are a part of our faith. Some of these include:
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The church at Corinth was divided; some claimed to be of Paul and some of Appolos. Paul responded to this division with an agricultural analogy, "one plants, another waters, but it is God that gives the increase." Sometimes our evangelism and witness in the world is like planting a garden; we till the soil, we plant the seeks and water the plants, but we can't make the plants grow and produce fruit. We must trust God for that part. We live the life of love and plant seeds of hope, forgiveness, grace and joy in the lives of these we meet. We invited them into our congregation and study, but it is God who changes their hearts and gives them new life.
- The parable of the sower who scattered the seeds on the good ground and in the path, in the shallow ground and among the thorns reminds us that we are to be generous in spreading God's seeds of love with everyone we meet and let God and the person worry about the fruit produced.
- The mustard seed that is so tiny and grows into a tree reminds us of what God can do with our meager contribution.
- The parable of the wheat and tares reminds us that even when it seems our best efforts are being choked out by the weeds of sin and hate in the world, that God will still bring in the harvest and our labor will not be in vain.
Happy Gardening! Oh God help us to do what you call us to do, to plant the seeds and water and to trust you to do the rest. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
God Bless,
Rev. David Cumbest (Heritage UMC)
Pastor Doodles |
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Doors for Annual Conference |
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Please contact the district office (228-604-2300 or seashoredistrict@bellsouth.net) before May 15 to let us know if your church/charge is decorating a door for Annual Conference. We'd like to get an idea of the number, so we can make the appropriate arrangements to transport them to Jackson.
Remember, no door knobs . After decorating, bring them to our district pre-conference briefing at Heritage UMC on May 26. |
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What Are You "Ghana" Do? |
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Clergy Spouse Luncheon
Saturday, June 13
12 noon
Jackson Convention Complex
Deadline for Registration: May 29
Call Mary Parks at 662-256-9289 or the Seashore District Office if you need a registration form.
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Turner-Duvall Bus Ministry Needs You! |
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Greene County Elders Need your Help
 Every month as many as 40 elderly and handicapped citizens in Greene County depend on the Turner-Duvall Bus Ministry to take them on 250 trips to their local physician, to a specialist out of the area or to do their shopping. Additionally, families in Greene County depend on the bus ministry to pick up donations from the local Food Bank. Thanks to Turner-Duvall, more than 56 people don't have to go hungry.
Government funding for this much needed transportation program has been cut by $21,000 and wages and work hours have been reduced to try and address the shortfall. Even with the cost reductions, the money will be depleted by this summer. If this happens, Catherine Bradley, Turner-Duvall Executive Director, will have to make some tough decisions.
This ministry cannot continue without your help. If you'd like to give to this campaign, please send your donation to: Methodist Senior Serivces, ATTN: Bus Ministry, P. O. Box 1567, Tupelo MS, 38802-1567.
You could save a life just by providing a trip to the doctor. |
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Find-a-Church New & Enhanced |
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The new Rethink Church campaign is up and running. Find-A-Church is a key component of a new web site featured in the campaign. When seekers arrive at the site, they will discover many "doors" through which they can walk to find a church that matches their interests and preferences. However, if congregations do not update their information on Find-A-Church, seekers will not learn much about the "doors" that can lead them into our churches.
Over 300,000 people per month visit Find-a-Church. More visitors are on the way. Are you ready?
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GRACE
NETWORK
Strengthening Smaller Churches |
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
May 31 (2:30 - 4:00 p.m.)
Christ UMC
Indianola, Mississippi |
| Music, Fellowship & Refreshments |
Come and join in this Celebration of GRACE NETWORK--a new ministry to help strengthen the small membership church. GRACE NETWORK will help each pastor or lay person receive training on any given topic pertaining to small membership church ministry. This training will take place at the pastor's or lay person's convenience and can be done at the local church or at home.
Be proud of who you are as a small membership church, because Christ needs you to help with building his Kingdom! |
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District Trip to Nicaragua |
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You are invited to join The Seashore District in working with the Nicaraguan Methodist Church. This year's trip is scheduled for July 25 to August 2.
A planning meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 7 at the UMCOR Katrina Recovery Office at Van Hook Hall (on the grounds of Seashore Assembly) in Biloxi.
Call Rev. David Newton at 228-255-6888/228-216-6567 or email him at revnewton@yahoo.com for further details. |
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New Funding Resources from the Lewis Center |
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The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has a new set of resources to help congregations enhance resources for ministry in challenging times. The 2009 Funding Your Congregations' Vision Resource Package covers subjects such as:
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Preparing a spiritual foundation for giving
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Ways to increase annual commitments from members
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Moving from a "pay the bills" to a "live the vision" mentality
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Having a big enough vision for stewardship
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Best practices for rental income from church facilities
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Expanding ways of giving beyond checks and cash
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Monitoring giving throughout the year more realistically
This resource package includes presentations by Lewis Center Director Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Wesley Seminary President David McAllister-Wilson, as well as a series of PowerPoint presentations, templates, handouts and other resources useful in congregational settings. The presentations are available in audio or video format, with other documents on a CD.
For more information or to order online, go to their website, www.churchleadership.com. |
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2009 Summer Camps |
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Camp SUMA
July 02 - 05 Senior High
July 06 - 10 Junior High
July 13 - 16 Older Elementary
or call 228-436-6767 for more information.
Camp Wesley Pines
Family Camp May 22 - 24
Younger Elementary June 12 - 13
August 7 - 8
Older Elementary June 8 - 12
June 29 - July 3
July 6 - 10
July 20 - 24
July 27 - 31
Junior High June 22 - 26
July 13 - 17
Senior High July 17 - 19
Music, Art & Drama June 15 - 18
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The Village: Project SafeSpace |
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Happy First Birthday SafeSpace!
Below is a list of immediate needs requested by The Village: Project SafeSpace:
- Churches, groups, individuals to feed on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays
- Reading glasses
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- Ponchos
- Men's shoes & socks (all sizes)
- Men's deodorant
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Paper products; plates, bowls, plastic utensils, napkins, cups
- Towels
- Disinfectants (Lysol, Clorox, Ajax, Air fresheners, etc.)
- Coffee, creamer, sugar
- Drink mixes and bottled water
- Grits, oatmeal, cereal, milk
- Pancake mix and syrup
- Laptop computer for Anna Jacobs
- 8 1/2 x 11 laminating machine
- Mountable LRG television
- 2" folder prongs
- Case of 11x17 white 20 lb. paper
- Case of 8 1/2 x11 white 20 lb. paper
- Post-it notes
- Pronged security envelopes
- Large post office box ($70 for one year)
- Membership to MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
- CTA bus passes (day pass + one-ride tickets)
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District VBS Dates for June |
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Poplarville FUMC
June 1 - June 5
Gadget's Garage
 New Prospect United Methodist Campground (hosted by the United Methodist Churches of the Vancleave area)June 1 - June 5 (5 p.m. light supper; 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.)
Crocodile Dock
Byrd's Chapel UMC
June 1 - 5
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
(Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path)
Ramsay Memorial UMC
June 1 - June 5 (6:00 p.m. untill 8:00 p.m.)
Roberts Chapel UMC
June 3 - 6
Lucedale FUMC
June 7 - 11
Week of June 14
Saucier UMC
June 21 - 26
Pascagoula FUMC
June 22 - 25
Children of the Bible
Wesley UMC (Ocean Springs)
June 22 - 26
Boomerang Express |
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Wesley "News"breakers |
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JD Wesley
Thursday, April 30 was Awards Day at Mississippi GC Community College.  The following students each received a $100 Wesley Leadership Scholarship: Robby Smith, Amanda Runquist, Susy Langston and Natalie Bourque. Students will host vacation bible school at Ramsay Memorial UMC during June, attend a ledership retreat in July and have a family picnic at Flint Creek in August.
Pearl River Wesley
Students at the Wesley Foundation were offered a  class on Finance in April, conducted by Jon Williams of Poplarville FUMC. Jon talked with the students on how to better manage money. Many of the Pearl River Wesley students will be graduating this year.
The Barn - Perk Wesley
The Gospel Choir and Leadership Team from The Barn have been on the  road, travelling to area churches to lead worship and sing on Sundays and Wednesdays. They also participated in the Youth Rally at St. Paul UMC in April, along with the Step Team.
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Crossings: The Seashore District
Confirmation Journey |
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Gulf Coast confirmands have enjoyed participating in Crossings: The Seashore District Confirmation Journey. The journey was designed to be a standalone experience for smaller membership congregations or a supplement to what other churches might already be providing.
Crossings consisted of four core workshops: The Christian Year, Wesleyan Theology, UMC Polity and Gifted to Serve. The confirmands also took part in a service opportunity at El Pueblo/Safe Space, where students were given the unique opportunity to share the story of those that are "residentially challenged." They were encouraged to partner with SafeSpace to help provide warm meals and start a bug spray drive for those sleeping on the streets.
The students will participate in confirmation ceremonies at their respective churches and will conclude with a district-wide Confirmation Celebration on Sunday, May 17.
All Seashore District congregations are encouraged to send their students to the final gathering, which will be held Sunday, May 17 from 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Heritage UMC (d'Iberville). This is an opportunity for them to fellowship with others on the same journey and share their stories with each other. For more info on the final celebration, contact Rev. Sheila Cumbest at 228-623-5162. |
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M.O.S.A.I.C.
June 7 - 12 |
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 MOSAIC (Making Our Souls Alive in Christ) is a work mission camp that was created three summers ago and sponsored by Long Beach FUMC. The goal is to reach out to the people of Long Beach and surrounding communities with the love of Jesus Christ and help those that are less fortunate by repairing their homes and helping them to have a better standard of living.
The objective is to provide a holistic work mission camp for Junior and Senior High students. Students will share in a time of focus and devotion on God's word in the morning before heading off to work in the community. In the afternoon they will share in a meal and worship together, as well as, hearing from God's word. There will be times of fellowship, fun and activities, reflection and debriefing of the day's work.
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 "Surf"ing the District
Burton Memorial UMC held Revival May 3-5 with Rev. Scott Carter as the guest speaker. Services began nightly at 6:30 p.m.
Byrd's Chapel UMC hosted the Pearl River Cluster Children's Festival of Praise on April 26 at 5 p.m. Children from churches in the cluster shared special songs with all who attended. They also celebrated their annual Homecoming on May 3 at 11 a.m., with Rev. Allen King as guest speaker.
Diamondhead UMC will host a Youth Summer Program June 1 through June 18. Children and youth will participate in a variety of activities including sewing, theater, painting, crafts, science and much more.
A blessing of the Tike Bikes will be held on May 9 at Gautier FUMC from noon to 3:00 p.m. There will be games, door prizes, a short devotional, bike blessings and food offered for donations for the playground.
Twenty members from Gulfport FUMC are getting ready for a trip to Costa Rica June 6-13. They will help build a Methodist Children's home with missionaries Will & Ella Faircloth. Time will also be spent with children in VBS. Additionally, Divorce and Grief Recovery Workshops will begin on May 14 and last for ten weeks. For more info, call 228-863-0047 or 228-229-6851.
Handsboro UMC will have the BibleTones in concert on May 24 at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Heritage UMC will host a community-wide yard sale May 16 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Besides yard sale items, there will be craft items, bake sale items and the men's group will be selling food for lunch. Tables are available for $20, with setup beginning at 6 a.m. For more info, contact Brenda Tucker-Cassity at 228-697-4574 or Sheila Cruso at 228-388-2544.
Leggett Memorial UMC will have a benefit Yard Sale on May 9 from 8 a.m. until 12 noon to raise money for Sabine Pass UMC in Texas. Proceeds will go toward helping them recover from damages due to Hurricane Ike in 2008. Refreshments will be available.
Fifth Sunday Family Fellowship will be celebrated at Lucedale FUMC on May 31 at 6:00 p.m. in the CLC. Kingdom Kids will present "Down by the Creek Bank." Friends and family are all invited to attend. Bring your favorite dish to share with everyone.
A support team from Main Street UMC will be participating in the religious retreat at South MS Kairos #7 in Leakesville, May 27-30. The congregation is taking part by writing notes of encouragement, praying for the weekend and attending the closing service on Saturday afternoon. Children and youth are participating by drawing and coloring placemats to be used at the Kairos meals.
The Mary Bates Scholarship Committee at Mississippi City UMC is taking applications for the 2009-10 scholarship presented to qualified students who are members of the United Methodist Church and are pursuing a degree in higher education. Call the church office at 228-896-7626 for an application.
Mt. Pleasant UMC will have a church work day on May 9 beginning at 8 a.m. They will also celebrate Confirmation Sunday on May 31.
Pascagoula FUMC is involved with "Save a Baby" Bottles Campaign to support PROMISS, a pregnancy care center in Gautier. PROMISS saves lives by ministering to expectant mothers unprepared for pregnancy. Donations will be accepted through mid-June.
Picayune FUMC will host a High School Senior Breakfast in the Family Life Center on Sunday, May 24 at 10 a.m. Graduates were encouraged to provide pictures, brief statements of accomplishments/achievements and plans for the future.
The Trinity Trotters from Trinity UMC (Picayune) will have guest speaker Pam Booda, R.N. at their luncheon on May 8 at noon. She is the owner of Timeless Grace Assisted Living and will be sharing some valuable information with the group.
The BibleTones will join Poplarville FUMC in their morning worship on May 24. A brunch will be held in the fellowship hall at 10 a.m. prior to the Gospel concert.
Roberts Chapel UMC will have a Bluegrass Pickin' & Jam Session on Saturday, May 16 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come and enjoy an evening of good music!
Sweetwater UMC held revival April 20-22 with nightly services at 7 p.m. Rev. Willie Hill (Summerville - Davis Chapel Charge) was the guest speaker.
Dirty Car? The kids and youth at Trinity UMC (Picayune) held a car wash on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Vancleave UMC will hold a Baccalaureate Sunday service on May 17. A potluck luncheon will follow worship to honor the graduates.
Wesley Chapel UMC (Poplarville) celebrated their annual Homecoming on April 26 at 11 a.m., with Rev. Rodney Smith as the guest speaker. A covered-dish lunch followed the service.
Wesley UMC (Ocean Springs) is having a Building Fundraiser Event on Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Events include a white elephant sale, silent auction, youth car wash, bake sale and bee farm store. A hamburger cook-out and fish fry are scheduled also.
Wiggins FUMC will hold a Baccalaureate Service on Sunday, May 17 during the 11 a.m. worship service. An end of school year party for the youth will also be held on May 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. | |
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Opportunities outside the District |
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Sacred/Liturgical Dance Workshop PLUS
July 8-12
Leader: Mrs. Beth Teegarden  Kern Building
Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center
(Participants will: grow in their understanding of this ministry and criteria for dance in worship; learn a minimum of four dances; explore resources for dance ministry; PLUS experience signing, ballet and other information that will enhance leadership in worship)
1-828-452-2881, ext 656
Sacraments - the Means of Grace ...A seminar for Clergy & Laity
July 24-26
 Leader: Dr. Gayle Felton Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center
(This seminar will span the theological and practical considerations of the sacraments in the spiritual journey of persons and congregations from the United Methodist perspective)
1-828-454-6656
1 CEU
The Norman T. Allers Academy for Older Adult Ministries
August 5-9
Leader: Dr. Paul Chilcote  (To provide training, mentoring and confirmation for the validity of ministry to, for, by and with older adults. One primary objective is to provide UM-GBHEM approved coursework leading to a para-professional certification in Older Adult Ministry. Para-professional curriculum/courses are offered in a three-year cycle for persons - workers or volunteers - seeking to improve their skills in working in the care or ministry for older adults)
1-828-454-6656
2.5 CEU |
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| Prayer Concerns
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- The family of Ms. Eloiuse Caldwell
- The family of Rev. Otis Lewelling
- The family of Mrs. Patsy Dunnam
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Calendar Items
May 12
Clergy & Spouse Potluck and Sending Forth
Seashore District Office
6 p.m.
May 17
Seashore District Confirmation Celebration
Heritage UMC (d'Iberville)
2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
May 25
District Office closed for Memorial Day
May 26
Pre-Conference Briefing
Heritage UMC (d'Iberville)
6:30 p.m.
June 11 - 14
2009 Mississippi Annual Conference
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