Consider the Lilies

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these...  -- Matthew 6:29

Driving to Tupelo on the Natchez Trace, I was captivated by the flowering purple, accented by our Creator in the varying shades of spring green.

Such a moment evokes the wisdom of Alice Walker in The Color Purple: What really bothers God is when we walk past a field of purple flowers and do not notice.

Jesus points us to the beauty of creation and invites us to learn within it.  This is the season to consider the lilies, the time when all creation seems to sing "Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed!"

The beautiful lilies adorning our altars and our homes trumpet the victory over sin and death. The trumpet shape of the lily reminds us of the powerful words of Paul in I Corinthians 15:
Listen, I tell you a mystery!  We shall not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed... thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this season of victory, as spring beauty surrounds you, may you experience the presence and the power and the love of Jesus Christ, day by day.

With gratitude for your ministry,
Hope Morgan Ward

:: Knock on 9

 
Haven Chapel UMC Knocks on 91 Doors

The United Methodist Women of Haven Chapel UMC in Meridian District accepted the challenge to Knock on Nine. 

On March 27, they visited the apartments in the George Reese Courts area, located within walking distance of the church.  The women divided into groups of two or three members and set out to visit the people living in the apartments.  The week before the visits, several of the ladies packed goodie bags for each apartment. The bag contained a bottle of water, a bottle of tea and a package of peanut butter cookies.  On the outside of the bag, we placed stickers giving the name of the church, time of services, etc.  We invited them to our Sunday School (we have breakfast) and to our Sunday morning services.  They were also invited to come to our Wednesday evening Bible Study.  A note with the same information was left inside of the outer door if no one was home.  We knocked on 91 doors.  Each group gathered at the church as we completed our work.

All of the women reported they were received graciously.  Many of the people visited seemed grateful that we cared enough to come.
On the following Sunday there were two adults and two children from the apartments.  On Easter Sunday, seven adults and two children were in attendance. We are grateful for the opportunity to make the visits and we are also thankful to God for the beautiful weather.

The pastor at Haven Chapel is Cynthia Ashford Cross and President of the UMW is Annie G. Bohannon.

:: Announcements

 
Evangelism Summit this Saturday
By Jake Wilson

The mission of The United Methodist Church is clearly stated as "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."  This is, of course, a wonderful mission statement.  Unfortunately, it is much easier to state a mission than actually embody one.  

In his book "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations," Bishop Robert Schnase has named five core practices by which God uses congregations to create disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity.  Just a quick look at this list reveals that Bishop Schnase has not re-invented the wheel here.  Most United Methodist laity and clergy would agree that hospitality, worship, faith development, missions, and generosity are essential to making disciples and transforming the world.

These are practices which constitute the Christian faith.  Disciples or churches without hospitality, generosity, or service are simply not all that Christian.  

This Saturday,April 10, Bishop Robert Schnase will lead an Evangelism Summit at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson.  Participants will share the day with the Bishop as he walks us through the power of these five practices to transform our churches.  This Evangelism Summit will open with registration at 8:45 a.m. with a fifteen dollar registration fee.  Bishop Schnase will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude by 3:30 p.m.  Lunch will be provided and 0.5 CEU's are available.  

In the introduction to his book, Schnase states "These practices have taken on a life of their own, and I have been amazed how these simple practices, intensified by strong adjectives, have captured the imagination of church leaders and have pushed them to a higher quality of ministry."  I challenge you to imagine what it would be like if practices such as radical hospitality and extravagant generosity captured the imagination of your church.  

In John 15.16 Jesus says to his disciples "You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last."  Does your church have an intentional plan to increase its fruit bearing?  Is your church living fully into this mission of bearing fruit?  If not I encourage you to join us this Saturday as we explore the work that God is surely doing in our Conference.  

Rethink Stewardship Workshop
Scheduled for May 4

Rethink Stewardship is an emphasis of The Mississippi United Methodist Foundation to provide church leaders with resources to speak more intentionally and directly on faith and money. 


The following sessions will be presented:

• Rethink Culture: A Worldview of Scarcity
• Rethink Biblical Faith: A Worldview of Abundance
• Rethink our Practices: Money and Finances
  According to God's Purposes
• Rethink Christian Maturity: Mature Generosity
  and Generous Maturity

The Mississippi United Methodist Foundation is located at 581 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland. For more information visit www.ms-umf.orgor call 601-948-8845 or 1-800-496-0975.

Generations and Generosity:
Reaching Out to Younger Givers

The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) is offering this 3-day workshop June 22-24, 2010 at the Church of The Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. 

The workshop will cover best practices to help grow generous-hearted living among people 35-years old and younger. Participants will learn from Church of The Resurrection and other congregational models about creating a culture of generosity among young adults.

Plenary sessions will include vibrant ministries and mission with young adults, a panel highlighting effective ecumenical young adult ministries, presentations and discussion of best practices in creating a culture of generosity, young-adult-led worship and translating ministries into our stewardship work back home.
 
Registration is $150 per person (register by May 1, 2010 at $125 per person.) For more information contact Don Joiner at djoiner@gbod.orgor visit www.gbod.org/stewardship.

:: UMVIM News

 
Team Leader Training

Mississippi United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training is scheduled for Friday, April 23, 2010 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ UMC, 6000 Old Canton Road, Jackson.

Cost is $15 for the Team Leader Manual. To register contact Rev. David Newton at revnewton@yahoo.com.

Kit Ministry Schedules Pick-up for April 15


by April 14. 


 
Pick-up Points:

• SEA: Nugent UMC, Gulfport         
• BRO: Brookhaven 1st  UMC
• HAT: Ellisville UMC
• EJA/WJA: Christ UMC, Jackson
• MER: College Park UMC
• STA: Central UMC, Columbus
• GWD: Grenada 1st UMC
• SEN: Sardis UMC
• TUP/NAB: St. Luke, Tupelo

 A Call for Help from North Georgia Conference

It was good to talk with you about opportunities for those wanting to help homeowners in rebuilding their homes following the September 2009 flood west of Atlanta.  Below is some general information that will be helpful as you communicate our needs to others in the MS Conference.

The North Georgia United Methodist Conference is in the process of scheduling rebuilding teams, 2 or 3 per week, from May until August.  The Conference has been rebuilding with teams from the eastern half of the US since late December.  Currently teams are scheduled through May and need teams for the other 3 months.
The preference is to have teams with 8-12 members, though they frequently get as many as 20 on a team and some even larger. 

It is helpful for all the teams regardless of size to have one skilled individual per 6-8 members, because teams are often split.  Construction coordinators are available to get the teams started and go over jobs to be done, but they cannot stay with a team at the job site.  
  
The work that needs to be done for most homes is a complete rebuild of the inside of the house.  Most houses have been gutted to studs and in some cases to the ceiling and floor joists.  Dry wall hanging and finishing, insulation, trim work, doors, painting, cabinetry and some plumbing are the types of work being done.

In some houses need electrical expertise, although most electrical is being done by a locally licensed electrician to avoid inspection failures because of differences in codes. Specific job(s) a team will be doing will be determined closer to the date selected.

Housing is provided through local churches, either gyms/fellowship halls or houses on adjacent church property.  Sleeping is on the floor, so cots/air mattresses are needed.  We are not providing food, but some Churches may have groups that might provide a meal or two.  Cooking facilities are available in all the facilities we are currently using. The homes being worked on are all near Austell or Douglasville, GA.

If you have team(s) that would like to help rebuild homes that were flooded please contact Jim Sampson with the North Georgia UMC Disaster Response at 770-739-9537.

Mrs. Zelda Griffin, 90-year-old widow of Rev. John Thomas Griffin, died Easter Sunday morning. Services will services were held April 7 at the Union Grove UMC near Okolona, with burial in the Union Grove Cemetery. Please keep Mrs. Griffin's family in your prayers.

Rev. Ed Spencer passed away April 5, 2010 at Baptist Hospital, Oxford.  Funeral services were held Thursday, April 8, 2010 with the Reverends Jeff Lawrence, Prentiss Gordon and Smith Whiteside officiating.  Please remember the Spencer family in your prayers.

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: 4/16/10 Contact 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 Churchis 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 herefor an application.