:: Gleanings

 
Out of Her Poverty

...she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on...  -- Mark 12:44

Jesus describes the treasury four verses previous as a dangerous place for her, a place where widows were devoured. But there she is, serving God in this inhospitable space.  
 
I am fascinated by her. She is like Jesus, who also stands boldly in the midst of those who will devour him and hang him on a cross. Like Jesus, she faithfully worships and serves God in the midst of danger, rejection and distorted values.
 
Jesus is drawn to her. He praises her gift, pointing it out as the best gift of all. It is a gift given against all odds, bold and selfless.
 
She gives out of her poverty.  As we watch her, we realize we can do the same.  Our resumes and bank accounts and influence, no matter how expansive, are puny indeed before the greatness of God. Our wisdom and strength and power are insignificant. Before God, we are always poor.
 
The good news is this:  Jesus blesses the poor.  In our poverty, we can be like this widow. Whatever comes to us is not ours. It is God's, entrusted to us for a season. As we give, we break the power possessions and money have over us. As we give, we turn our lives over again to God.
 
Therefore, in humility, let us seek God's blessing, generously offering all that we are so that we might hear the voice of Jesus saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant..."
 
With thanksgiving for the overwhelming goodness of God to us,
Hope Morgan Ward

:: Knock on 9

 
St. Paul, Ocean Springs to Knock on 900 this Week

St. Paul UMC, Ocean Springs scheduled this week to knock on 900! The youth took the challenge by splitting into nine groups and taking the goal of knocking on 100 each! "We'll be doing it all week, Nov. 9-15, trying  to cover many neighborhoods of Ocean Springs and leaving a door hanger inviting to special events and our regular worship services," says Rev. Sheila Cumbest. "Pray for us!".

:: Announcements

 
Clergy Spouse Retreat to Offer a Time of Rest and Peace

The Clergy Spouse Retreat scheduled for Jan. 8-9, 2010 at Camp Wesley Pines. The theme this year is "We Offer You Peace" presented by Nika Cotton. Clergy and their spouses are invited to come rest, eat, walk, talk, pray, sing, grow and enjoy the Peace of God! Cost of the event is $35 each. Deadline for registration and fees is Dec. 15, 2009. Six scholarships for the $35 registration fee are available for first time attendees. To apply send your request to MS UM Clergy Spouses c/o Sherrane McCraw, 3500 Hubbard Rd., Courtland, MS 38620. Scholarship requests must be received by Nov. 30, 2009.
 

Mountain T.O.P. Announces Spring Breakout

Mountain T.O.P. is an interdenominational service project ministry dedicated to rural life home repair in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. We are currently seeking participants for our Spring Breakout Program. Groups can choose their own dates mid-Feb through mid-April to spend 2 days working on Major Home Repair projects (roofing, remodeling, interior/exterior work) and 2 days helping out on in camp renovations. This option is great for youth groups, college ministries or adult groups looking for a service project during the Spring months. No previous experience is necessary.

Dates: Mid Feb-Mid April
When: Arrive Sunday night, Leave Friday morning
Cost: $200/person (all meals included)

For additional fees, campers can go caving, hiking, and/or through our low ropes challenge course! Feel free to visit our website: mountain-top.org. Check out our calendar for available dates. Please contact sam@mountain-top.org for more information or call 931.692.3999. 

Mississippi's ministers can receive up to $5,000 to strengthen their relationships with each other while developing their gifts for leadership.  Groups of 5 to 12 clergy who come together regularly for spiritual formation, fellowship, support, or study are eligible for the New Wineskins grant program of the Center for Ministry.
 
"A verse from the Gospel of Mark inspired the name for this grant," said Rev. Sherry Johnson, associate director of the Center for Ministry. "The Scripture says 'new wine must be put into new wineskins'. We see this as a call to create space in life for the transformation that comes with spiritual and intellectual growth."
 
The Center for Ministry offers New Wineskins grants through its Pastoral Excellence Project, which is funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. A clergy peer group may receive a grant one time only for an experience that would be out of their reach without it -- for example, travel, going on a retreat, or meeting with a consultant
 
The Center for Ministry offers continuing education and spiritual formation opportunities for clergy and lay leaders from any denomination or faith tradition.
 
To apply for a New Wineskins grant visit www.centerforministry.com or contact Rev. Sherry Johnson at sherry@centerforministry.com or 601.974.1488.

:: Celebrations

Team Joy Walks in Honor of First Byhalia Member 

Ladies from First UMC Byhalia partnered with Citizens Bank of Byhalia and family and friends to come together to form "Team Joy" for the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure held in Germantown, TN on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. The team walked and collected donations prior to the race in honor of Joy Crain a member of First Byhalia UMC who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. They included tributes to many other family and friends that have battled breast cancer. Amery Moore and Elizabeth Crain formed Team Joy and hopes to grow the team and contributions next year.
 

Starkville First to hold 25th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Internationals  

The Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for International students and their families sponsored by the Starkville First will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year on Thanksgiving Day, November 26 at 12 noon in the Christian Life Center. The dinner, sponsored by the Work Area on Missions since 1984, shares Thanksgiving traditions in the international community. This year the dinner will be co-sponsored again by World Neighbors Association and volunteers from the Starkville Multi-Culture Lions Club and other community groups. A traditional menu of baked turkey with dressing, gravy, and cranberry sauce; casseroles of sweet potato, sweet corn, green beans; rolls, drinks, and assorted deserts donated by church members will be served.

A special 25th anniversary program following the dinner will include international folk dances and a one-man act on the Thanksgiving story. The dinner is free but international students and family members are requested to pick up reservation tickets from the FUMC office. Tickets are also available at MSU Holmes Cultural Diversity Center in the Colvard Student Union and AOCE International Education in Montgomery Hall. For more information, call the Church Office at 662.323.5722), Ruth de la Cruz at 662.324.1424 or Shaz Akram at 662.325.2033.
 
The Thanksgiving Dinner for international students and their families began in 1984 as a regular family dinner in the home of Dr. Armando and Ruth de la Cruz. Originally only Filipino students attended. In the mid-1970s, few other international students were invited to the dinner. Many more began to attend in succeeding years.

In 1984, Armando and Ruth requested that the church help sponsor the dinner as a mission project. The dinner was then moved from the de la Cruz home to the church's Fellowship Hall. Attendance to the dinner was 50 that first year, 75 the second year, and has continued to increase over the years. The Thanksgiving Dinner has, since 1993, moved to the Christian Life Center. Attendance averages between 200 and 300 guests.

Some American students who are in town during the Thanksgiving holiday and many church families who wish to spend their noon dinnertime with the international community have also participated in this traditional Thanksgiving celebration.

A committee of volunteers from the church and community help prepare and serve dinner, decorate and set-up tables and chairs, dine with the international guests, and clean-up. Food and door prizes are donated by church members and friends from the community.   

:: Cares and Concerns

Rev. Roy H. Biggers, retired, is doing well after a liver lesion procedure on Monday, November 9, at University Medical Center in Jackson. Please continue to remember Roy, Emily and the family in your prayers.

The funeral for Rev. J.G. Babb (Retired, New Albany District) will be November 13, Friday, at 10:30 a.m. at Corinth Box Chapel UMC.  Visitation is tonight, Thursday, at McPeter's Funeral Home in Corinth, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and please continue to remember Berneice and family.

Rose Wolf Miller passed away Nov. 6, 2009. Mrs. Miller was the spouse of the late Rev. Harold Miller.
 
Rev. Tommy Murphy [retired], died yesterday in Ethel, MS, after a lengthy illness. Services will be Friday Nov. 13, 11 a.m. at Jordan Funeral Home in Kosciusko.
 
Rev. Jeff Tollison and wife Lacy are celebrating the birth of a baby girl, Ruth. "Ruthie," as she will be called, weighed 7 lbs. and was born at 7:45 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009, in Indianola. Mother, baby (and a very proud daddy) are doing fine. Rev. Tollison is pastor of the Boyle-Linn Charge.

The Rev. Betty Flynn (TUP-Retired) has returned home after surgery and rehab in Memphis. She sends the following message to friends and acquaintances: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your notes, calls, prayers and concern for my wellbeing. I am home sleeping in my own bed, going to rehab three times a week and improving steadily. My goal is to be in New Zealand on March 15, 2010 for the delivery of another grandchild! Keep on praying!"

Funeral services for Royce Edwin Windham, Sr., father-in-law of Rev. Sarah Windham of Wayne Haven and Providence UMCs, were held Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Forest UMC with grave side services at Homewood UMC. Please remember the Windham family in your prayers.
 
Henry Hogan, father of Rev. Gloria McKinney (Weems Chapel UMC) passed away Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. at Union Grove UMC in Nettleton. Please keep Gloria and her family in your hearts and prayers

YOUTH MINISTER - Iuka First UMC is seeking a full-time Minister of Youth and Program. In addition to leading the small but growing youth group, this person would also work with volunteers to coordinate other areas of ministry. Iuka is a small town located in northeast Mississippi close the Tennessee River. Known for its warm hospitality Iuka has excellent schools and is one of the few areas in which employment opportunities are expanding especially in industrial and technical specialties. Please send resumes to iuka_c@bellsouth.net. For more information call 662.423.6097.

YOUTH DIRECTOR /MINISTER - Lucedale First is looking for either part-time or full-time youth director/minister.  Great community to raise family. Salary dependent upon experience. For information call 601.947.8132 or email resume to fumclucedale@bellsouth.net.
 
2012 GENERAL CONFERENCE WORSHIP AND MUSIC DIRECTOR - The Worship and Music Director, an individual with a high level of organizational and communication skills, is responsible for the overall worship and music program management at General Conference. The Director is responsible to the Commission on the General Conference functioning as a part of the staff coordinated by the Business Manager. The Worship and Music Director receives a modest honorarium with transportation, housing, and food paid through the submission of expense reports to the Business Manager of the General Conference. Applicants should send a brief resume outlining their background and professional references with a brief audition video highlighting music leadership abilities in a variety of settings by February 1, 2010 to: Rev. Alan J. Morrison, Business Manager of General Conference, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville TN 37203 - 0029 or email: amorrison@gcfa.org. The position description provides technical requirements for the audition video.

UMM GENERAL SECRETARY - The General Commission on United Methodist Men is seeking a qualified individual to serve as its General Secretary. This person will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission on United Methodist Men. Interested persons should contact Mrs. Martha Davis at 615.620.7266 or email: mdavis@gcumm.org for complete application and job description forms. Forms are also available on the GCUMM website: http://www.gcumm.org.