:: Gleanings

 
Advent Strength

Do not fear, O Zion:
Do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, in is your midst...
The Lord will rejoice over you with gladness,
The Lord will renew you in love...
 
Christians launch the liturgical year as the calendar year concludes. December is time of ending and beginning.
 
This Advent, I find this to be another way in which the gospel is mysteriously wonderful. Our life is beyond us. It is a gift.
 
God, wondrously reigning, is with us transforming our weakness into strength, our poverty into abundance, our fears into courage.
 
As we draw near the end of this calendar year, we are awakened to God's possibilities alive in us. 
 
In this year of recession scarcity...

• Several districts celebrate 100% participation of churches in The Advance
• We work and hope together toward apportionment support at 82.2% as churches are faithful at least to the percentage of last year. (If everyone gives in December 2009 as they gave in December 2008 we will reach the 82.2% at the close of this year.)
• Churches are supporting Nothing But Nets in Advent with enthusiasm
• The bishop and cabinet have contributed this fall to date personal offerings of $8,400 to the apportionments
• We have 306 churches that have already paid 100% of their 2009 apportionments. (And, we celebrate 9 churches who have already made payments on their 2010 apportionments.)

We are not afraid.  We do not grow weak. The Lord is in our midst, rejoicing over us in gladness, renewing us in love.
 
With gratitude for your partnership in the ministry of Christ,

Hope Morgan Ward

:: Knock on 9

 
Brookhaven First Shares Food and Fellowship

United Methodists from Brookhaven First, not only knocked on the doors of some 400 people, they fed them as well. On Thanksgiving Day, the church family prepared 850 Thanksgiving meals for the third annual Doug Sullivan Memorial Thanksgiving Luncheon.

Besides the 400 meals delivered, 250 ate together at the church and another 400 were picked up as take-outs. The meal is offered free of charge as a gift to the community.

:: Announcements

 
East/West Districts Schedule Christmas Dinner

The EJA/WJA Christmas Dinner will be held Friday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. at Crossgates UMC. The menu is pork loin, sweet potato casserole, vegetables, and cheesecake. The cost is $5 for adults and children 13 and over.  Retired clergy and spouses, as well as children 12 and under, are free. You can pay at the door, but all persons need a reservation. If you haven't done so, please contact Annie by Monday, Dec.14. 

Upcoming Events at
Camp Wesley Pines

Please make note of the dates for the following events to be held at Camp Wesley Pines. Sr. and Jr. High Retreats at Camp Wesley Pines. Both retreats will be featuring Heavens to Betsy, a band out of Ruston, Louisiana. Senior High speaker will be Frank Haynes, Mississippi Conference Youth Coordinator. Junior High speaker will be Jana Jobe, Crystal Springs Youth Minister. Senior High dates January 29-31. Junior High dates February 19-21. Cost is $80 a person.  Any questions call 601.892.3241 ask for Matt or send a email to campingshaws@gmail.com.

Camp Wesley Pines is also putting on a Confirmation Retreat. This retreat will be Feb 5-7th. Pamela Cameron will be directing this camp. The cost is also $80 a person. For more information you can contact Pamela Cameron at pamela-cameron@hotmail.com or call the camp at 601.892.2341. For more information on Camp Wesley Pines visit www.wesleypines.com.

Holy Spirit Conference at Louisville First

The 34th Annual Holy Spirit Conference will be held Jan. 15-16, 2010, at Louisville First UMC.  The conference is sponsored by Christian World Missions (formerly Cecil Williamson Ministry in Evangelism). This year's theme is Power for Victory in a World of Chaos. Speakers include Dr. Terry Tekyl, PrayerPoint Ministries; Rev. Cecil Williamson; Lee Ann Williamson; Rev. Ghuna Kumar, Gospel Friends, India.  For a brochure on the event click here.

InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church, will become exclusively an e-mail and online information service effective April 1, 2010. At that time, telephone support services will be discontinued.
 
InfoServ is a ministry of United Methodist Communications (UMcom), which announced in August some program and staff reductions in response to a growing budget deficit and a restructuring plan.
 
"In these challenging economic times, we must find ways to continue providing high-quality service in a more cost effective manner," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. "Telephone calls to InfoServ have been decreasing over the past couple of years as more people take advantage of the Web or use e-mail to request information. We're committed to continuing to provide answers quickly and accurately, but technology allows us to do so more economically."
 
Customers will be able to submit questions via e-mail at infoserv@umcom.org. Answers to the most frequently asked questions are also available online at www.infoserv.umc.org. In addition, other customer-friendly options such as live chat and leaving a callback number will be explored during the transition period. Depending on the demand, some limited hours for telephone availability may be offered after April 1.

The Ethnic Young Adults Summer Internship program is designed for young adults between the ages of 18 and 22, representing the five ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church.

Applicants must have an interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy, and social change. Interns must also have a passion for exploring faith and justice issues from a personal, institutional, and societal perspective. Interns will live in a Christian community together in Washington, D.C.

Work weeks at placements will be supplemented by: evening intern led devotions, Friday Seminars on topics of timely social justice concern, area field trips, Sunday worship in area United Methodist Churches.

Participants must commit to being present at these activities. The deadline  for submitting a program application is December 15, 2009. Detailed information and applications are available on their Website.

If you have questions contact Rev. L. Fitzgerald Lovett, fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org.

:: Celebrations



Music Fills the Air at Brookhaven First 

On Sunday morning, December 6, the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, Brookhaven was overflowing as the Chancel Choir joined with the Concert Choir from Copiah Lincoln Community College and a music faculty instrumental ensemble from the University of Southern Mississippi to present Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria as a part of morning worship. Soloists included Denise Riley, Barbara Tarbutton and Joy Johnson. Brad Johnson directed and Steve Russell accompanied on the organ.

Portland to Host 2016 United Methodist
General Conference  

The Commission on the General Conference has announced that Portland, Ore. has been selected as the site for the 2016 General Conference. The United Methodist Church's top legislative body will meet at the Oregon Convention Center, the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, tentatively scheduled from May 10-20, 2016.

"I believe the Portland area will afford the General Conference a fine experience in West Coast hospitality," said Bishop Robert Hoshibata of the Portland Episcopal Area. "We will do all we can to make it a warm and welcoming place where we can do the work of the church in an atmosphere of grace, as well as sharing the gifts of the Portland area with the wider United Methodist community." He added that it would also be a great experience for United Methodists in the area to be able to see and participate in the event.

The site of the General Conference has traditionally rotated among the church's five geographic U.S. jurisdictions, with the 2016 event to be held in the Western jurisdiction. The last General Conference in the Western Jurisdiction was in Denver in 1996. A request for proposals was submitted to 16 potential sites in the Western jurisdiction. Portland was one of five finalists considered by the site selection team.

Other cities were San Jose, Calif., Los Angeles, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and Long Beach, Calif. A number of factors were considered in the selection of a meeting site, including suitability of facilities, availability of adequate space, proximity of hotel rooms, cost of lodging, meals, airfare, meeting space, and sales and room taxes.

Dr. Randall Miller, Chair of the Commission on the General Conference, said that Portland's hospitality and its "greenness" added to the city's appeal. Portland was named the "Greenest City in America" by Popular Science in 2008.

"Portland not only has a commitment to recycling, but also to green energy," said Dr. Miller. "A lot of the buildings have been designed to take advantage of green energy sources, and the way the city is structured in terms of transportation minimizes the use of cars. In many ways, Portland conforms with the values we have in The United Methodist Church about being wise stewards of God's resources."

Delegates from the U.S., Africa, Europe and Asia will attend the gathering, which is expected to attract up to 6,000 visitors. The economic impact of the event on the Portland area is roughly estimated to be about $7 million.

Portland is a part of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference, which has more than 32,000 members and 213 local churches.
 
Note: The next General Conference will be held in Richmond, VA, at the Richmond Convention Center on April 25-May 4, 2012.

:: Treasurer's Notes

Mileage Rates for 2010:  The IRS has announced the 2010 standard mileage rates.

Many of you are preparing your salary packages for 2010 and your local church budgets. I hope this information will be of value to you. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 50 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

:: Cares and Concerns

Please remember Bishop Eben and Greater Nhiwatiwa of the Zimbabwe Area of the East and West Conference in your prayers.  Last weekend, Greater Nhiwatiwa was in an auto accident in which her mother was killed.
 
Thank you for your continued prayers for Bishop Ward as she travels to Zimbabwe for the East Zimbabwe and West Zimbabwe Annual Conference Sessions Dec 8-22.
 
Mrs. Dorothy (Dot) Laseter, surviving spouse of Rev. Charles D. Laseter, passed away Wednesday.  Visitation is Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday  from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Memory Chapel in Laurel.  Funeral services will be held at Memory Chapel at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 12th. Please remember the Laseter family in your 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.

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.

SALTILLO FIRST UMC CHILDREN'S MINISTER ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCY - Saltillo First UMC, Tupelo District, is seeking a part-time staff member to lead our growing Children's Ministry program. This person will be responsible to the Senior Pastor and the Pastor-Parish Team. The primary duties of the minister will be to nurture the faith development of children from birth to the sixth grade through educational, fellowship and spiritual growth programs and activities as well as administrative duties.  Qualifications and responsibilities are outlined on the attached document. The applicants must be committed to Christ and The Church, be able to work with the church staff as part of a team, and be motivated to fulfill the Mission and Vision of this church.  Send letter of interest, resume and salary requirements to:  Saltillo First UMC, P.O. Box 146 Saltillo, MS  38866   Telephone: 662-869-2956   Or email to: saltillo1stumc@bellsouth.net.     DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:   We see the children's programs of our church as being very specialized and yet a valuable part of the total church. As such, we feel that our children's minister should be just that; a minister to our children, shepherding them as our pastor shepherds the church. First and foremost, our children's minister should have an active, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and be open about it. We also expect the minister to have a secure home life; fresh, new ideas; a vision for the future for our children; to be open-minded to our ideas; family/children ministry minded; open to periodic evaluations; have good leadership skills.