:: Gleanings

 
Darkness and Light

The truth must dazzle gradually
Or everyone be blind...

In these early days of 2010, we watch for the ways God is working among us.
 
There was a gloriously full moon over the water as our family gathered after Christmas on the coast of North Carolina.  I called for others to come see the full moon one evening.  Before they could reach the window, fog covered the radiance.  There, and then gone.
 
I love Emily Dickinson's wisdom.  In our humanity, we have glimpses of goodness, light, love, holiness, radiance.  These glimpses are enough for us:  even in the fog, we know the moon is there.  Even in times of darkness, the light persists.  Even in times of scarcity, there is enough.
 
A star guides the wise men to Jesus.  A dream whispers a warning and they return another way.  A voice speaks blessing as Jesus arises from baptismal water.  All the stories of the scripture are glorious glimpses of the ways of God with us.
 
Thank you for your faith and faithfulness in 2009.  Thank you for your partnership as we begin 2010 together.
 
Through financial stress in our communities, God is giving us glimpses of sufficiency.  There is enough.  The light shines.  The truth dazzles.
 
In this new year, may we each be strong and wise to watch for every dazzling sign of God's goodness.
 
With gratitude for you this day,
Hope Morgan Ward

:: Knock on 9

 
Benton UMC Invites Community
to Dinner and a Play

Benton UMC in Yazoo County placed 100 door hangers on houses in the community as an outreach during the Christmas season. The door hangers advertised the church's live nativity play and chili supper.  Families who were home got a visit and a personal invitation to the event.  The live nativity was a success with over 30 visitors from the community.  We thank God for blessing our outreach effort. 

:: Announcements

 
Rethink Missions is On for Jan. 9

Bundle up and join us (if roads are safe to travel) for Rethink Missions, this Saturday at Galloway UMC in Jackson. We promise lots SONshine.

For more information click here.

"Man from Aldersgate" Presentation Canceled

The play, "Man From Aldersgate," to be presented at Forest UMC  and featuring B. J Johnston which was scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, has been canceled due to Mr. Johnston having surgery. It will be rescheduled as soon as he is healed from his surgery. We ask that all pray for his speedy recovery.

UMVIM Meeting Scheduled for Jan. 23

The Mississippi Conference UMVIM meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Jan. 23 at the MS UM Foundation, 581 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland. 

Please bring your UMVIM stories concerning 2009 and trips planned for 2010. Also on the agenda will be a brief report on the SEJ UMVIM board meeting held in Atlanta.

Good News from SEJ -- the number of UMVIM mission teams rose in 2009. Paulette West, the new SEJ UMVIM director will offer team leader training and "train the trainer" during 2010. Spread the word about the meeting to other UMVIM members. 

For more information contact Rev. David Newton at revnewton@yahoo.com.

Identity Theft Workshop to be Held at Heritage, D'Iberville

Heritage UMC, D'Iberville announces the first session of 2010 Heritage "U", a community-wide workshop series held monthly at the church.  The first class is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. 

The Senior Planning Group will present valuable information on the following topics: Identity Theft and Other Scams, Reverse Mortgages, The Three Documents Every Senior Needs; Learn How to Eliminate Taxes on Your Social Security; Deal with 'Low Interest' Rates and 'Volatile' Stock Market and Avoid Double Taxation on Your IRAs.  There will be door prizes.  Make your plans now to attend.

For more information contact the church office at 228.392.4288 or visit www.heritageumc2.org.  Heritage UMC is located at 4322 Popps Ferry Rd., D'Iberville.

Bishop Ward to Lead Group to "Oberammergau2010 Passion Play"



 
The specific goals of the program are to allow church members:

• To experience the Passion of Christ through music and drama.     
• To learn about the roots of Christianity in Europe
• To learn how Europe's history was shaped by the church and vice versa.
• To develop the leadership of the local church.
• To rejuvenate their spiritual life.
• To enhance relationships between church members.

Many pastors across the conference will lead groups from their congregations. The journey is open to church members, their families and friends. The travel/study program has been arranged by Educational Opportunities, a Christian organization whose objective is to provide pastors and church members with affordable, first class learning experiences.

The nine-day travel program departs on August 31, 2010. The per-person New York price begins at $2798. Travel from Jackson or New Orleans for $348 additional, from Memphis for $398 additional (taxes, tips, and Passion Play Ticket, etc., are extra). Due to popularity, space on this departure is extremely limited.

carrhaus@charter.net. You can also contact your local pastor or visit the EO web site at www.eo.travelwithus.com.

A World in Need of Prayer: Native American Ministers' Retreat at Lake Junaluska

All are invited to join SEJANAM for its 9th Annual Ministers' Retreat, "A World in Need of Prayer," February 18-20, 2010 at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, NC.

Kicking the event off is retired Bishop William Morris. Other key leadership speakers include lecturer and author Dr. Evelyn Laycock and Rev. Dr. Garry Revels, Chaplain for Healthkeeperz, as well as Rev. Dr. J. Gordon Henry, with J. Gordon Henry Ministries of Lynchburg, Virginia.

The Native American Ministers' Retreat will provide a unique opportunity and environment for education and guidance on deepening one's understanding of what is the purpose of prayer. It will also offer participants tools to heighten awareness and understand the impact and belief in the power of prayer from a holistic perspective, and offer ways to better strengthen one's prayer life for healing.

The retreat will also help people understand how to pray in a manner which will accomplish God's will and expand the leadership skills and abilities of our women, men and young adults as Christian leaders.

A special track for our youth has been designed that will focus on spiritual formation and personal exploration. Leading the native youth track is Akwiasdi Revels of the Western North Carolina Conference.

SEJANAM is the advocate for twenty-three Native American congregations and three other ministries in the Southeast Jurisdiction.  For more information about the Native American Ministers' Retreat, visit www.lakejunaluska.com/native-american-ministers.

:: News from Ministerial Services

Celebrating Lay On Site Visitors

Over the next two or three Sundays, eighty-one (81) laypeople across the Conference will visit Aldersgate Community Center, Rust College, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries Winter Meeting and thirty-three (33) local churches.  They will meet with 140+ local church members and observe the leadership of 35 clergypersons in their first two years of ministry. 
 
In each place they will experience worship in unique ways, meet faithful United Methodists, and hear stories of gifted leadership from new clergy persons.  Their feedback offers Residents in Ministry insight into how their gifts are received by the community where they serve.  They will suggest areas for growth as a pastor and they will affirm areas of giftedness.  They will be a reminder to congregations and clergy that we are all called and that we are all growing in grace.
 
Please pray for these faithful volunteers who offer their time and their hearts and minds to listen to the joys and concerns of congregations and pastors.  We give thanks for their ministry that strengthens the United Methodist Church in Mississippi and pray for safe travel and holy conversation.

For more information contact Rev. Lisa Garvin, Director of Ministerial Services at lisa@mississippi-umc.org.

Perkins School of Theology
Waives Application Fee

Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University is waiving its $50 application fee through Mar. 1 for applicants to the Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Church Ministries, and Master of Sacred Music degree programs, as well as for all non-degree applicants.

Mar. 1 is the deadline for submitting an application for need-based grant consideration, while Feb. 1 remains the deadline for submission of applications for merit scholarship consideration.

For more information contact Tracy Anne Allred, director of Student Services, at tallred@smu.edu or 214.768.1480; Herbert Coleman, director of Recruitment and Admissions, at hcoleman@smu.edu or 214.768.2139; or visit the Perkins website at www.smu.edu/perkins.

:: Cares and Concerns

Rev. C.J. Caufield, formerly of the MS Conference, has suffered serious injury to his head and back when falling on a patch of ice in late December. He was placed in an induced coma and has been in that state for approximately 2 weeks. This past weekend an attempt to wean him off of the ventilator was not successful and he has accumulated fluid on his lungs. C.J. and his wife Carrie moved to Tabernacle, New Jersey where he serves on the staff of DeLanco Camp at Lake Agape. Please keep C.J., his wife Carrie, his family and the medical staff at Jersey Shore Medical Center in your prayers. The following link is at the camp where C.J. is employed, here you will find a blog with updates about his condition:  www.delanco.org/blog
 
Mary Caroline Prather, newborn baby girl of Rev. Tim Prather and wife Cheryl, is in NICU at Baptist Hospital in Jackson.  She is doing well, is on a low level of oxygen and hopefully will go home this week.  Rev. Prather is pastor of the Avon-Glen Allan Charge in the Greenwood District.

Pierce Allan Helms, grandson of the Rev. Travis Fulton (Retired), is in critical condition at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, waiting for a heart transplant.  He was born Oct. 26, 2009 and has already undergone open heart surgery to replace his aortic and mitral valves to save his life in hopes of getting a transplant.  He has a Caring Bridge web site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pierceallenhelms.  Please pray for him and his family during this difficult and stressful time.

Rev. Cecil Jones (Retired) is undergoing treatments for a recurrence of cancer.  Please remember Cecil and Jewell in your prayers.

Rev. Ever J. Burt and husband Ben are celebrating the birth of a new grandchild, Daniel Levi Hunt, who was born on Dec. 31 and weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces.  His parents are Ernest and Pamela Victoria Hunt of St. Louis, MO.  Rev. Burt is the pastor of Wesley UMC in Greenwood and also serves as Greenwood District Staff person.

Tommy Hawks, father of Rev. Tom Hawks (Tupelo Dist.), passed away.  Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 8 beginning at 4:30 at McNeese Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.  The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9 at St. Mark UMC in Tupelo.  Please remember Tom and family in prayer as they celebrate the life of Tommy.  

Mrs. Catherine Robinson, mother of Rev. Lindsey Robinson, pastor of St. Paul UMC, Biloxi, Seashore District, passed away December 26.  Funeral services were held Jan. 2.  Please be in prayer for Lindsey and his family.

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.

CFO AND DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE WEST OHIO CONFERENCE - In addition to fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of conference treasurer as defined in The Book of Discipline, this person will serve as the Bishop's chief of staff and provide broad administrative leadership on many matters of the conference, including leadership on implementing our vision, goals and objectives; human resources and benefits administration; and coordination of financial and administrative activities across the various conference and district offices. The position description can be found on the conference website at www.westohioumc.org\CFO. Deadline for applications is January 31, 2010. 

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.