:: Gleanings

 
From Darkness to Marvelous Light

Early on the first day of the week,
while it was still dark... -- John 20:1

In the darkness, Judas brings a detachment of  soldiers and police.  They come with lanterns and torches and weapons.  
 
In the darkness, Peter warms himself by the fire. "I am not!" he insists when a woman identifies him as a disciple of Jesus.
 
As we move through the events of Holy Week, we enter the harsh spiritual darkness in which Jesus is denied, betrayed and abandoned.
 
As always in the Gospel of John, the images of darkness and light work first on the sensory level: Evening comes, enveloping the world in darkness.  Day breaks, illuminating the world with light. 
 
As we are alert to the scripture, we know the more important spiritual power at work in the images.   Light invades darkness:  Even as Jesus is betrayed and abandoned and tortured, eternal truth shines through him. In his words and his silence, in his prayers and his actions, God's presence, purpose and power is embodied.
 
John begins this Gospel powerfully, giving us the promise of all that is to come:  The light shines in darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.
 
The great victory over death in resurrection comes...while it was still dark...
 
Therefore we know that no darkness in our souls, in our lives, in our relationships, in our world can hold back the power of God.
 
Easter is the proclamation of God's victory!  Easter is the celebration of God's power!  Easter is the reality of God's reign!
 
May your journey to the cross this week bring you to the joy of resurrection light and life as Easter dawns very soon.

Hope Morgan Ward

:: Announcements

 
Message from United Methodist News Service

In time for Easter, United Methodist News Service offers a compelling, behind-the-scenes narrative of the courage and sacrifice shown by United Methodist mission workers trapped in the rubble of the Haiti earthquake. Survivors tell the untold story of the drama that captivated the church and the culture in a three-part series beginning Tuesday, "Into the Fire: Death and Resurrection in Haiti." The narrative, written in a serial style that will have readers anticipating each day's story, tells moment-by-moment a story of sacrifice even to the point of death that ends with the promise of resurrection -- for a people of faith and a nation. On Good Friday, UMNS will offer profiles of three of the individuals who gave their lives in love for others.
 
Each day's story is 1,800-2,000 words in length. The three profiles on Good Friday will be about 800 words each.

Photographs and a logo accompany each part of the series. The series can be found at http://umns.umc.org and www.UMC.org.
 
Please be sure to share each day of this inspiring series with churches and members in your conference.

Easter's First Fruits
By Rev. Darian Duckworth
 
The Easter season is a time of great joy and celebration in the Christian church over the course of 50 days. Beginning on Sunday, the Lenten time of reflection and the Holy Week of suffering transforms to the hope of a bright future. Here as winter gives way to spring, new life springs forth in the world around us. As we see signs of God's creation bursting forth in beauty, our lives are also open to the glory of resurrection in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
The news that "He is risen" is too powerful to keep within the walls of the church. How can we share the good news? As the body of Christ, how may we experience the transformation of resurrection in our congregations? With the enthusiasm and wonder of Jesus' earliest followers, who ran from the tomb to share the good news, we too must work as evangelists to spread the gospel.
 
At the beginning of this season of celebration, on Saturday, April 10, Bishop Robert Schnase will present a practical approach to sharing that news with his "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson. The event will begin at 10AM and conclude by 3:30PM.  Registration is $15, and ½ CEU credit is available.  During this time together, Bishop Schnase will walk us through practices that will energize our work in God's church to carry the good news of resurrection beyond Easter and into the rest of the year.
 
Let us begin these Great Fifty Days with our spirits eager and ready to explore these practices and find new ways to share the message that is unchanging-that he is risen!

Save the Date for Youth Day 2010

This summer, the Mississippi Conference is providing an extraordinary opportunity for our youth, youth workers, and volunteers that will impact them a lifetime.

On June 10, 2010, the Young Persons Ministry Department and Conference Council on Youth Ministry will be hosting Nexus, a fellowship, worship, and training event for youth, and anyone who works with youth. This year's event will feature two nationally known leaders. Mark Oestricher, author and speaker, will be leading our training for youth workers and volunteers.  He will also be speaking during our worship time. The Fee Band will be leading us in worship and concert. During the training portion for youth leaders and volunteers, we will provide a fun time for our youth, which will include games, competitions, and music. This is an incredible opportunity for your youth and those who work with youth, and we hope to see you there. 

For a schedule and registration information click here.  If you have any questions, call Frank Haynes at 601-354-0515, Ext. 28.

Le Bonheur to Host
Consecration of New Hospital

Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, a part of the Methodist Healthcare family, will host a consecration for the new children's hospital on Monday, June 14 at 10 a.m. All are invited to attend. Please join us in blessing the new children's hospital and preparing the place for healing, guided medical care, worship, prayer, community service and fellowship. Tours of the new facility will be available following the event. Visit www.lebonheur.org for more information.

Small Membership Church Workshop
Scheduled for Oct. 16

Lyle Shipley will be leading a workshop for the Small Membership church on October 16, 2010 from 10:00 to 3:00  at Columbia First United Methodist Church; Columbia, MS. The cost is only for the meal. This is a great opportunity to come and get great ideas for your church. This workshop is for clergy and laity, put this on your calendar and when you leave you will have new, fresh ideas to take back to your church.

This is  sponsored by The Small Membership Committee and Grace Network of the Mississippi United Methodist Conference. Contact Reverend Gary Howse 662-207-5620 or email  ghowse_24@yahoo.com.

Scholarships Available for
Caring for Creation Event

On April 8-11, Lake Junaluska will hold a Caring for Creation event. Scholarships are available for racial ethnic Young Adults ages 18-35 years old (no exceptions) to attend. The scholarship includes registration, room and meals for those sharing a double room. If persons desire a single room, there is an extra $36 for the weekend. The lodging is for the nights of April 9 and 10.
 
For more information on the event, go to www.Sbc21.org or contact Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett at fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org.

Change the World/Faith Promise
at St. Paul Ocean Springs

On Sunday, April 18  St. Paul UMC, Ocean Springs will offer the opportunity to
hear the witness of those whose lives have been changed by serving Christ through mission and ministry locally and throughout the world! Learn how you too can change the world through serving Christ!

Special guest speakers include Rev. Cynthia Harvey UMCOR Director of Haiti Relief & Recovery and Andy Collette, Executive Director of Seashore Mission. Harvey will speak at 8:30 a.m. at the Downtown Campus while Collette is speaking at the East Campus. They will reverse campuses at 11 a.m.  Other mission partners will be at the Downtown Campus at 11 a.m.  Hear from other Mission Partners between service times.

Attendees are invited for breakfast at 7:30 am and stay for lunch!

:: Celebrations

 
Tupelo District Comes Through for Haiti

On March 14, the Tupelo District responded to the urgent needs of the Haiti earthquake victims by staging a massive meal assembly event at St. Luke UMC in Tupelo.

As part of its response to the Haiti earthquake disaster, the Bishop and Cabinet of the Mississippi Conference challenged each district to fund and assemble 50,000 meals in conjunction with Stop Hunger Now, a service partner and Advance member organization based in North Carolina with a Sharehouse located in Jackson.

"This response to the challenge from the Cabinet was tremendous" said Rev. Geoffrey Joyner, Tupelo district superintendent, noting that 24 charges in the district participated in the event.  Volunteers ranging in age from eight to eighty participated in the production lines, which involved assembling raw ingredients like rice and soy protein into pre-packaged meals to be boiled with water at the relief site.

Over 200 volunteered for the event. Church leadership issued appeals for manpower and financial contributions and the district actually raised more than the minimum $12,500 necessary to fund the meals.

Before and again after the event, host church St. Luke offered participants the option of sharing a meal just like the ones they were preparing for the earthquake victims. "Not bad" was a common response from the diners.

Based on the success of the project and depending on the final contribution tally, the district is considering staging another assembly event later this summer.

Information on Stop Hunger Now and how to stage events such as this one can be found at www.StopHungerNow.org.

Elza Pope, mother of Rev. Kelly Pope, pastor of Brandon First, East Jackson District, passed away. Visitations hours are Saturday, April 3, 9 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at the Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home (601-372-5623), 5235 Robinson Road Ext., Jackson with services followed at 11 a.m.  Rev. Pope would like to thank you for your prayers and support for he and his family during this time.  
 
Acka Dolloff, widow of The Rev. Lee Dolloff, sustained serious injury to her right shoulder in a fall at her home in Hazlehurst on December 13. She had surgery and is recovering, but needs several more months for the necessary healing to take  place. Please remember she and her family in prayer.
 
Rev. Roy Everett Bonner, retired local pastor, Meridian District, passed away March 25, 2010. Funeral services were held March 27 at Pleasant Hill UMC in Meridian.

The Bethlehem Center, Jackson is in dire need of a commercial stove. The cost is around $10,000.  The board president has found a local dealer who can get one for $3,000.  With no money in the budget for a storm the Center is has made an appeal for help to cover the cost. If local groups have extra money for missions or are looking for a mission, it would be a real blessing to help Bethlehem Center.  Anderson UMW, Jackson ladies have adopted Bethlehem Center as a project and they have been working in the kitchen.  They report that the stove is almost non-functional.  Send contributions to Bethlehem Center, 920 North Blair Street, PO Box 3522, Jackson, MS 39202.  Checks should have the memo "stove" written on them.  Any amount will be appreciated. 

Getwell Road UMC is seeking a dynamic individual to lead the Youth Ministry (7th - 12th grade).  We are a fast-growing, culturally relevant congregation of 1600+ in Southaven, Mississippi (suburb of Memphis, Tennessee).  Must be able to coordinate programming for 150+ youth which includes Bible Study, discipleship training, missions, music, and recreation. Four-year Bachelor's degree with experience in student ministry required.  Deadline for applications: 4/16/10Contact Information: Getwell Road United Methodist Church; 7875 Getwell Road, Southaven, MS  38672. Web site: www.getwellroad.org.  Inquiries to: careers@getwellroad.org.

The Detroit Conference of The United Methodist Church is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Conference Director for New Faith Communities and Congregational Development.  The position includes pastoring an urban congregation to be developed as an incubator model for congregational renewal, along with conference staff responsibilities.  Primary qualities being sought:  Motivated, team style entrepreneurial pastoral leader; experience and competency working in multi-cultural and multi-ethnic settings; training and experience in development of new faith communities and multiplication of existing congregations. The position begins July 1, 2010.  The conference office and the congregation are in the City of Flint, Michigan.  The compensation/benefits package includes a parsonage, along with health insurance and pension as per the conference guidelines.  The position requires relocation to Flint.
Qualified candidates may download applications and job descriptions at http://www.detroitconference.org/classifieds/detail/138.  Applications, cover letters, and resumés may be sent in .pdf or .doc format to: Rev. Elbert Paul DulworthChairperson, DAC Leadership Team Personnel Committee. E-mail: dacpersonnelcommittee@gmail.com.  Application deadline is April 15, 2010.

Global Ministries - United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) searching for a seasoned community worker to strengthen and maintain relations between UMCOR and the Eglise Me'thodiste d'Haiti(EMH). This person would work closely with the Head of Mission (HOM) and EMH, under the direction of the Assistant General Secretary of International Diaster Response, to collaborate and coordinate the on-the-ground and overall program operations of the UMCOR Haiti Mission Efforts. This person would also be held accountable for clear communication to the United Methodist Volunteers and any volunteer-related activites. The ideal candidate would be independent, resourceful, organized and committed to work with the EMH and the entire UMCOR team in Haiti, as well as Headquarters. Click here for an application.