If there is a Biblical personality with whom I most identify, it is Thomas.  Thomas is depicted, especially in John's gospel, as the disciple who doubted.  He was the one, who, after the resurrection of Jesus, needed a bit of proof to believe that Jesus had, in fact, been raised from the dead.  The other disciples were already on board with the miraculous. Thomas was a bit more measured.

John 14:12    I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father. 

Bill

"Tide"ings from Around the District

Dear Friends in Christ,

Happy New Year!   It is traditional among Methodists to begin each new year with renewal of our covenant with God.  I have always found the time of covenant renewal each January to be particularly meaningful and inspiring.  What a wonderful way to start a new year.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 describes the new covenant that God will make with God's people.  Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord says, "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (v. 33).  This is the covenant - that God will be our God and we will be God's people.  What a wonderful promise!  This is certainly a covenant we need to be reminded of often.

Wesley's Covenant Prayer is one means of remembering and renewing our covenant with God.  It reads as follows:

I am no longer my own, but thine.  Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.  Put me to doing, put me to suffering.  Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for theee, exalted for thee or brought low by thee.  Let me be full, let me be empty.  Let me have all things, let me have nothing.  I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.  And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mind, and I am thine.  So be it.  And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.  Amen.

Each of us entered into covenant with God at our baptism.  Can we sincerely renew that covenant this year?  These will not be easy words to pray.  It will be difficult indeed to "freely and heartily" give all things to God's "pleasure and disposal."  This goes against our very nature.  Nevertheless, it is by God's grace that we are able to pray this prayer and mean it.  May God give to each of us the grace to pray these words and the strength to live them out.  For me, the Wesleyan Covenant Renewal Service is one of the most meaningful services in all of our Methodist tradition.  The blessings of God be upon you in this new year!

In Christ,

Dr. Eric Pridmore, Poplarville FUMC

2012 District Leadership Training

Two workshops will be offered at this year's annual leadership training:

Finance - David Stotts, Conference Treasurer, will be on hand to talk about "all things financial" for churches.

Vital Congregations - The challenge has been made to every congregation in The United Methodist Church to set goals for the next quadrennium that will lead congregations closer to becoming a healthy and vital congregation, living out the mission of the church for God.  Rev. Bill McAlilly will discuss your church's role in building up the community of faith and movement towards health and vitality.  This training is intended for clergy, church staff, administrative council members and church leaders.

All workshops will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the following locations:

February 7

Long Beach FUMC

February 13

Caswell Springs UMC (Moss Point)

Share Your Gifts!

Seashore District Lay Speaking School

February 24/25

Seashore United Methodist Assembly 

Registration deadline:  February 10 

 

• Basic Lay Speaking (required basic course) - led by Vera Thomas
• United Methodist Heritage (advanced course) - led by Rev. Wayne Napier and Rev. Bennie Napier
• Afire with God, Becoming Spirited Stewards (advanced course) - led by Rev. Michelle Bailey and Rev. Dr. Denise Donnell
• From Your Heart to Theirs, Delivering an Effective Sermon (advanced course) - led by Rev. Michelle Shrader

Registration fee of $50.  You must attend all sessions in order to complete the course and receive your certificate.  No refunds except in the case of extreme emergency or class cancellation.  Overnight lodging arrangements can be made by calling Seashore Assembly directly at 228-436-6767.

For more information, contact the District Office at 228-604-2300.

2012 Advisory Response Forms for the

Pastor and Pastor-Parish Relations Committee

are due in to the District Office

no later than March 1, 2012.  

All are invited to attend The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Winter Gathering, which will be held on March 3, 2012, at the United Methodist Foundation Office in Jackson.  The meeting will be from 10:00 a.m. until noon, with lunch following at a local restaurant.

Contact Rev. David Newton, Mississippi United Methodist Church UMVIM Coordinator, at umvim@mississippi-umc.org or 228-875-8900 for more information.

"Surf"ing the District

Vancleave UMC has begun a new Bible study on the Gospel of John on Wednesday mornings.   Additionally, the second annual "The Church has left the Building" returns on February 12 to focus on another year of risk-taking mission and service throughout the community.

A Pre-Marriage Course began at Wesley UMC (Ocean Springs) on January 22, running for five consecutive Sundays from 4p until 6p in the Life Center.  The course is for couples of any age, include those living together in a long-term relationship who are contemplating marriage or a re-marriage.  Cost is $30 per couple.  Also, a Marriage Course began on January 22 and will run for seven consecutive Sundays.  This course is designed to build and strengthen the good marriage in order to make it even better, while also providing tools to help work through issues for marriages experiencing a bit of difficulty.  Cost is $40 per couple.  For more information, call 228-875-2295 or call the church office at 228-875-8900.

The youth at Wiggins FUMC will have a Super Bowl sub fundraiser on February 5 and a Valentine's Dinner in the Family Life Center on February 12.  Additionally, a new Wednesday morning Ladies Bible Study began on January 11.  Beth Moore's "David, Seeking a Heart Like His," will meet weekly on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Family Life Center.  Child care will be provided with advanced notice.  Call the church office at 601-928-4880 to register.  

5th Annual MS KIDS COUNT Summit

 
Mississippi KIDS COUNT is the leading resource for comprehensive information on Mississippi's children and serves as a catalyst for improving outcomes for children, families and communities.  The Summit will be held:

Friday, February 3

8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Christ UMC, Jackson

Featured speakers include Rachel Simmons, Jasmine Murray and Merve Lapus.  MS KIDS COUNT is funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  For more info, www.ssrc.msstate.edu/mskidscount.   

MYAC'12

All of the details, plus important documents or links you need to register, can be found at www.mississippi-umc.org/myac2012. 

When & Where:  March 2-4 at Christ UMC, Jackson

Price:  $60 (includes registration fees, programming and Saturday lunch)

Scholarships Available?  Yes, individuals must fill out the application on the website; awards will be first come, first served and will reduce the price to $40.  Fundraisers and other creative ways of raising funds to attend are encouraged, as scholarship funds are limited.

Who can Come?  Students no younger than 7th grade are recommended.  Also one adult chaperone for 8 students is preferred.  MYAC is open to all students; they can be United Methodist, another denomination or even someone who has never attended church.

Registration forms can be found on the website above.  If you need further info, contact Brenda McGloster or Frank Haynes at the MS Conference Office, 601-354-0515.

Danny Box (Winborn Chapel UMC) lead a mission to trip in December to Condega, Nicaragua.  The group worked on projects at the United Methodist Church, completing a kitchen and classrooms that were located behind the church sanctuary.   The work was physically demanding, but by the end of the trip, all were tired and happy with the results.  Each afternoon, the group held Bible class with the children that included arts and crafts.  An average of 25 children appeared each afternoon.  On the last day, each child received a Christmas gift bag filled with essential items, and it was during this time, that a double rainbow appeared in the Eastern sky. 

Danny is available to speak with anyone about Condega.  He can be reached at danny.box@hotmail.com or by phone at 601-543-3266.