 | St. Luke 2:1-20 | | |
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria).
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Feat not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. |
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WAVES
Newsletter of The
Seashore District UMC
December 2011
From the Seashore District Office Staff.... May Jesus always be your joy, your hope, your song. And may this Christmas and each day of the new year be directed by His guiding hand of love! |
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REFLECTIONS
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God....
The story of Advent is one of the most beautiful, and at the same time, most nostalgic stories in Scripture. As Luke tells it, the story captures our imagination and stirs our hearts and draws us deeper into our life with God. God chooses to come to us, to live among us, to teach us, and to call us to more.
The story of the Holy Scripture is a story of rebellion and redemption. Over and over again the Hebrew people broke themselves on God's law. The two overarching themes are bondage and exile. Bondage was the experience from which Moses delivered his people from the chains of the Pharoh. They had no choice other than to be caught in the chains of slavery. Much of the first five books of the Bible tell us that story.
The other theme is Exile. The Hebrew people were victims of their own bad choices and found themselves strangers in a strange land. No one did this to them. In Babylon, they were lost, confused, estranged from God. It was only in remembering and naming who and whose they were that they could come to themselves and be delivered.
Advent is the story of that deliverance as we anticipate God's choice in coming to be with us. These days, it's difficult to sort out the sacred from the secular. In America, we have allowed the secular to overshadow the sacred, and the narratives of giving become clouded.
Michael Slaughter reminds us helpfully, "It's not your Birthday!" in his Advent emphasis. The story is told of three religious persons exchanging with one another their thoughts about God. One was a Hindu, one was a Buddhist, and one was a Christian Missionary. The Hindu said, I believe life is like climbing a mountain. There are a variety of trails, but they all lead to God, who is at the top of the mountain. The Buddhist, said, yes, I agree, but one also must remain mindful and in the present moment as one climbs the mountain. Both turned to the Christian Missionary who was listening attentively. "What do you believe?" they asked. He said, I think there is truth in what you say, however as a Christian, my understanding of God is that God came down that mountain in the person of Jesus Christ, to teach us and show us who God is. God entered into our exiled lives, which were far away. We are continuously invited to leave the exile of our present circumstances and enter into life with God.
The journey we take is not alone. God is with us.
May your journey this Advent season release you from what every bondage or exile you are experiencing and allow the Christ child to enter in your journey.
Advent Blessings,
Bill |
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"Tide"ings from Around the District
Are you having fun yet? We are in a posture of waiting. Waiting to get  out of school, waiting to get out of college, waiting to get out of this job, waiting to get that job, waiting to get our chance, waiting can seem absent of fun. Waiting seems to be our occupation. Waiting is not fun!
I think about Tom Sawyer and the fence painting episode. How can we transform this waiting until it becomes so enticing that we are over-run with those wanting to wait with us? We have the "means of grace" Mr. Wesley would say, and we need nothing else. Oh yes, but he didn't, and he didn't...on and on we can go with all of the things and responsibilities that we have now that those before us didn't have.
We all have the "means of grace." Are you praying? Are you reading your bible? Are you hearing the bible read? Are you worshiping at home? Are you participating in public worship? Are you participating in Holy Communion? John Wesley had this to say in his sermon on the means of grace.
By "means of grace" I understand outward signs, words, or actions, ordained of God, and appointed for this end, to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men, preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace. I use this expression, means of grace, because I know none better, and because it has been generally used in the Christian church for many ages - in particular by our own Church, which directs us to bless God both for the means of grace, and hope of glory, and teaches us, that a sacrament is "an outward sign of inward grace, and a means whereby we receive the same." The chief of these means are prayer, whether in secret or with the rest congregation, searching the Scriptures (which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon), and receiving the Lord's Supper, eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Him. And these we believe to be ordained of God, as the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to the souls of men.
I don't bring up the "means of grace" as an alternative to your everyday activities, nor is it offered in lieu of all of the preparations for and the hubbub associated around Christmas. I offer you the "means of grace" as just that, in the midst of all, a means of grace. A way to turn chore into adventure, work into play and life into fun.
Fun is a matter of the soul, not an activity engaged in. This season, drink deeply from the river of grace and be filled with the Spirit of Him who has called you; and let's have some fun. Merry Christmas!!!
Rev. Wayne Napier, Heritage UMC
Pastor Ponderings |
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"Surf"ing the District
Biloxi FUMC will hold a Day of Intention on December 4 beginning with corporate prayer from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. From 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., a small group and service opportunity expo will be set up with information "booths" for each small group, council or ministry area to be on hand to answer questions or talk about ways to become a part of their ministry. A combined worship service will be held at 10:30 a.m., where parishoners will be able to turn in commitment cards pledging their prayers, presence, gifts and service for the upcoming year. Biloxi FUMC will also host their 3rd Annual Lights of Love Ceremony on December 4 at 6 p.m., followed by a chili cook-off, night of jazz, silent auction and dessert sampling. All are invited to participate.
Cedar Lake UMC began a new Bible Study on November 30 entitled, "Christmas Gifts that Won't Break." It is an advent journey with beloved teacher and storyteller James W. Moore, exploring the spirit of Christmas. The children will also have a float in the Christmas parade this year. The parade will be on December 2 at 5 p.m.
The food pantry at Gautier FUMC is collecting donations to purchase gift certificates from Jerry Lee's for their pantry patrons for Christmas. Children at Gautier FUMC are invited to an Ornament Making Party at The Pottery Place on December 10 at 10 a.m. Additionally, kids are invited to a birthday party for Jesus on Sunday, December 11 at 2 p.m. There will be lots of games, prizes, crafts and refreshments. Handsboro UMC will host Buddy Liles in concert at 11 a.m. on December 4. A love offering will be taken. The Children's Christmas Program and refreshments provided by the 4th annual Cookie Bake Off will be held December 11 beginning at 5 p.m. The youth at Heritage UMC will be spreading cheer at Greenbriar Nursing Center on December 16 at 1:30 p.m. The youth will sing Christmas and praise songs for the residents. The youth and children will also be presenting their Christmas play, "This Isn't Carnegie Hall, You Know," on December 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. It is a heart-warming story of a woman putting on a children's Christmas program at her church. All are invited to attend. Long Beach FUMC will be hosting their 2nd annual community-wide FREE Christmas Eve Lunch. The event was prompted out of their calling to live out their faith in practical ways among those in need. The church will invite families in financial need, individuals who may not have family of their own and local military service men & women that cannot be with their families during the holidays. The luncheon will be from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the Christian Life Center.
The Costa Rica Mission Team at Lucedale FUMC will have Ham dinners (dine in or carry out) available after morning service in the CLC on December 4. Price is $7.00. Their next mission trip will be May 19-26, 2012. A community Life Line Screening event will be held on January 5. You can pre-register by calling 1-800-324-1851.
Members at Mississippi City UMC will again be providing needed items for children of Coast Prison Ministry during the Christmas season. Members of the book club invite you to join them for their next meeting, December 16, to discuss Linda Francis Lee's The Devil in the Junior League.
Pascagoula FUMC held a Surviving the Holidays Seminar on December 1. DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays and GriefShare Surviving the Holidays were two of the videos discussed, along with devotional materials, offered to help people in the community survive the holidays and find comfort, strength and healing during a seemingly hopeless time.
The Military Committee at Picayune FUMC is once again collecting items to prepare "care packages" for service members to have during Christmas. If you'd like to contribute, you can call the church office at 601-798-4321 to get a list of articles needed. Children were able to make advent wreaths on Sunday, November 27 and they will have the chance to have breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 3. The Dell Moffat Circle at Trinity UMC (Picayune) will be holding its annual Christmas luncheon on December 13 at Paul's Pastry. The Serenity Circle will also be taking orders for RADA cutlery. Trinity Trotters are collecting toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation. If you're interested in helping, all donations need to be turned in by December 20.
Refuge UMC is currently constructing a new church building on Highway 63 just south of Lucedale. Throughout the process, God has blessed them abundently through donations and volunteer work of individuals and other congregations. They hope to have their first service in the new facility on Easter Sunday, 2012. If anyone would like to contribute in any capacity, please contact Rev. Harrell Moore at 601-508-8960 or by email at refuge.umc.ms@gmail.com. To keep up with their project, you can visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RefugeUMC or by following them on Twitter (@RefugeUMC).
Members of the UMW at Saucier UMC will be tending the kettles by helping the Salvation Army ring bells during the Christmas season. The children and youth at St. Mark UMC (Pascagoula) will present their Christmas program on Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m. They will also have a Christmas Eve "come as you are" service at 6 p.m. No need to dress up, everyone is invited to just come as you are and worship with the congregation of St. Mark. The music ministry of St. Paul UMC (Ocean Springs) will continue its tradition of presenting a Living Christmas Tree on December 10 & 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the downtown campus on Porter Avenue. The program is free and the public is invited. Eighty voices, a chamber orchestra, hand bells and piano will perform traditional and contemporary Christmas selections, and features "Mystery and Majesty," a cantata by Joseph M. Martin. The United Methodist Women at St. Stephen UMC are hosting a Christmas Fellowship on Saturday, December 10 at 4 p.m. All UMW units are invited to attend. There will be lots of singing, food and fun. Sweetwater UMC celebrated Ms. Mary Wallace at their Membership Appreciation Program that held on November 20. Rev. Calvin Moody from McLain, Mississippi was the guest speaker.
Wesley UMC (Ocean Springs) will have a Community Candlelight Service with drama presented by the Wesley Youth on December 24 at 6 p.m. Christmas morning worship will be held on December 25 at 11 a.m. A Single Parenting Class is being planned for January 2012 at Wesley to help those who are parenting alone find practical solutions and help. |
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What's on the Calendar?
December 6
Retired Clergy Christmas Luncheon
Seashore Assembly (11a)
December 19 - January 3
District Office closed for Christmas & New Year holidays
January 4
Clergy consultations at Distict Office
January 9
Clergy consultations at District Office (8:30a - 12 noon)
District PPRC Training
Cedar Lake UMC (6:30p)
January 12
Clergy & Spouse Epiphany Party
Seashore Assembly (6p) |
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 America's Sunday Supper
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, communities will be hosting Sunday Suppers throughout America to reflect on issues like education, food security, malaria and more. Be a host for America's Sunday Supper (January 15, 2012) and spark conversations that can change the world.
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 Advent Grants
Connectional Ministries will offer Advent grants this year. Applications will be available beginning November 15 and need to be turned in no later than December 15. The applications will be available through the Circuit Rider.
Contact Connectional Ministries (1-866-647-7486) for additional information. |
Stocking Up for Project Safe Space
Help someone less fortunate have a Merry Christmas! Please consider providing stockings stuffed with only the following items:
- Travel size shampoo
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Nail clippers
- Small flashlight with batteries
- Warm socks, gloves or knit hat
- Christmas cookies or candy
- A small surprise of your own choosing
- A kind note wishing someone a very Merry Christmas
For more information contact Rev. Paige Swaim-Presley at 228-265-1106 or deliver them to St. Paul UMC in Biloxi (696 Martin Luther King Boulevard). |
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Nicaraguan Methodist Church Covenant
You are invited to prayerfully consider joining a group from The Seashore UMC District in our continuing covenant with the Nicaraguan Methodist Church. The Seashore District will travel to Estelli, Nicaragua for a mission trip June 22 to June 30, 2012 to work on construction projects and to hold Vacation Bible School. Projected cost is $1,400 per person, including airfare.
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Mississippi Conference UMC - The Amazing Pace
The New Amazing Pace program has kicked off with the state-of-the-art Omron pedometer, brought to you by Amazing Pace and Walkingspree.
The Walkingspree pedometer program will offer Mississippi Pacers additional options for creating teams with friends, a wonderful Food Tracker that will help you become more aware of daily food choices, plus wonderful recipes (the equivalent of 35 cookbooks) that show you nutritional information for each dish.
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"Offshore" Opportunities
Imagine No Malaria...
Since launching in April 2010, your support has helped deliver more than 588,000 bed nets, train 3500 local health workers and create 15 in-country health boards that empower the people of Africa to fight malaria. But the urgency continues. Imagine No Malaria is the One Big Thing we can do together! Your support is a blessing (Advance Special #3021190). For more info, go to www.imaginenomalaria.org.
Grace in Action Weekends...These events (January 20-22, April 20-22, August 17-19 & October 19-21) are designed for pastors, staff and leaders who desire to see and learn about developing a transformational ministry culture in the local church. Grace Church, a multi-site United Methodist congregation and Spiritual Leadership, Inc. are partnering together to "discover, develop and deploy passionate spiritual leaders and teams for the transformation of churches, organizations and communities." Grace Church is one of the largest recovery ministries in America, as well as a ministry to the poor and marginalized that models the Wesleyan balance of acts of mercy and piety in a contemporary setting. For more information, email them at graceinactionweekends@egracechurch.com or visit their website at www.egracechurch.com.
The Evangelism Summit will be held on February 25 at Christ UMC in Jackson. The guest speaker will be Dr. Tony Campolo. The theme is entitled after the book co-written by Campolo, "God of Intimacy and Action." The summit is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. For more info, contact the Conference Office at 1-866-647-7486. |
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Giving Grace -- Conference Seeking Stories of  Redemption for 2012 Lenten Devotional Series
Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. -- Matthew 18: 21-22 (NRSV)
The Communications office is currently seeking devotions for the 2012 Lenten Devotional Series. The theme for this year's online study, Giving Grace, is based on Matthew 18: 21-22. Deadline for submission is Feb. 10, 2012. We ask that your devotion follow the Upper Room format with a scripture reference, brief devotion of 500 words or less sharing a story of redemptive grace, a prayer for the day and the name of the author and who they represent, i.e. Jane Smith is a member of First United Methodist Church, Jackson.
The devotional series will begin Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 and run through the 40 days of Lent, including Sundays and ending Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012. The devotions should be received in the conference office no later than Feb 10, 2012. Email them to lisacm@mississippi-umc.org. |
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 Upcoming District Events
- 2012 Clergy Consultations begin in January. They will be held on an "as needed" basis. However, if you think there is a possibility of your moving, you must make an appointment with the DS. All of the meetings will be held at the district office, with 30 minutes being allotted for each visit. Following are the dates we have set aside: January 4, January 9 (8:30a - 12:30p), January 11, February 8, and February 9 (8:30a - 12:30p and 4p - 7p). Please give the district office a call at 228-604-2300 to set up your appointment.
- The 2012 Annual Pastor Parish Relations Committee Training will be January 9 at Cedar Lake UMC at 6:30 p.m. The event is intended for clergy and PPRC members and will be the only training for the year. Topics include: duties, appointment process, pastoral benefits, helping persons respond to the call to ministry and criteria for effective ministry.
- The database for 2012 Statistical Reporting will open on Monday, January 2, 2012 and close on Friday, January 27 for input. Be watching for e-blasts on how to access the website and for log-in procedures.
- The 2012 District Leadership Training will be held in two locations in the district for convenience of attendees. One will be held on February 7 at Long Beach FUMC and the second will be held February 13 at Caswell Springs UMC. More information will be provided soon with regard to workshops offered, times, etc.
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