Sunday by Sunday

See, I am making all things new.
                             --  Revelation 21:5

 

I thank these churches for the opportunity to preach on Sunday mornings January through April in this year, 2010. 

• Minter City UMC
• College Park UMC, Meridian
• First UMC, West Point
• Andrews Chapel UMC
• Singleton UMC
• McLaurin Heights UMC
• First UMC, Corinth
• Sandy Hook UMC
• New Zion UMC
• First UMC, Grenada
• First UMC, Long Beach
• St. Paul UMC, Biloxi,
• St. Paul UMC, Meridian 

In each place there is warm welcome.  In each place there is unique history.  In each place there is a unique surrounding mission field.  In each place there is a spiritual personality.  In each place there is great love.
It is good to remember that the Annual Conference is the basic unit of The United Methodist Church, existing to strengthen local churches for making disciples of Jesus Christ, connecting them in Christ's ministry.  Unless I am out of the state, it is a priority for me to be with you in your churches, for that is the place where God is working through the Holy Spirit to make all things new. 
May you be blessed in your ministry this week and always,
Hope Morgan Ward

:: 2010 Tornado Recovery

New Albany District will Host UMCOR ERT

Emergency Response Training (ERT) will be offered on May 15, 2010 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Wheeler UMC.  Rev. Wayne Napier will be the instructor. This course equips a person to serve on an Early Response Team.

Orientation as to who makes up a team, when, how, and to what they are deployed in performance of different positions and responsibilities on an ERT are covered as well as general education about UMCOR and how the local church/member works within this world wide effort of United Methodism.  The cost for this training will be $30 which covers ID, background check, manuals and lunch. The training will conclude with an examination and a tabletop exercise.

Graduates will have a working knowledge of team positions, different skills needed for each position, responsibilities of each position, an overview of safety issues, an overview of debris removal, an understanding of what we can and can't do, a discovery that every church member can participate.  

:: Knock on 9

 
Bond UMC Shares "Christ's Light" in Community

Rev. Larry Pickering and members of Bond UMC-Wiggins gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning in April to pair up and be assigned the area of Bond they would visit. One of the members had prepared a flyer with church service times to pass out with nightlights that had a label-Bond UMC Sharing Christ's Light. When the teams returned, they were encouraged from the 50+ doors they knocked on.

Friars Point UMC shares "Key to the Kingdom"

Rev. James Cox shares with us that the members of Friars Point U.M.C. have taken the Knock on 9 concept one step further.  In addition to knocking on many doors church members distributed 400 flyers advertising their first Revival in many years.  This little church on its 2008 Statistical Report averaged 15 in worship. 

During the revival the average attendance was 62 each night, with one adult profession of faith. The church has also started a program they call, "The Key to the Kingdom."  They have designed a brochure that includes a picture of the church, its brief history and worship times.  It also contains the Biblical keys to Salvation and a prayer asking Christ to come into our hearts.  A hole is punched in one corner of the brochure, an old key is attached and each church member gives one to everyone they meet -- to make disciples for Jesus Christ.

:: Announcements

Walden Chapel Holds 2010 Women's Conference

The Walden Chapel United Methodist Women will hold their annual Women's Conference on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Walden Chapel UMC in Goodman.
 
The event opens with Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. and the conference begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration is free.  The theme of this year's event is  "Food and Faith - Come To The Table."  For additional info, you may contact Annie Williams at annwilliams2@bellsouth.netor 662-472-2756 .  

Vote for Camp Lake Stephens! 

Camp Lake Stephens is currently participating in the EBAY Fundraising for the the Environment Tournament, and is in the top 3!  We need Conference Support to push us over the top, so we can win $50,000 to put towards an Environmental Education Program.  Register at www.humanitycalls.organd vote, donate, facebook, email, and tweet your support for Camp Lake Stephens!  For more information contact Russell Casteel, program director at russell@camplakestephens.com.

Can't Make UMW Assembly --
Join Them from Home!

http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/assembly/.
Streaming times (Central Time Zone): 

• Friday, April 30: 7:30 pm-9:30 pm
• Saturday, May 1: 9 am-12 pm
• Sunday, May 2: 9:30 am-12 pm

Not yet a fan or follower? Become a United Methodist Women fan on Facebook (hyperlink: http://www.facebook.com/umwomen) and follow us on Twitter (hyperlink: http://www.twitter.com/umwomen)!

Marvin United Methodist Church, in the heart of downtown Florence, is seeking to fill the position of music director (part-time).  Please send resume to lynettemumc@windstream.net or for more information call Rev. Lynette Little at 601-813-3992

Funeral services for Jerry L. Pettigrew, Sr., former member of the Mississippi Annual Conference, were held April 26, 2010 at St. Luke UMC, Tupelo. Please keep the Pettigrew family in your prayers during this difficult time.
 
Visitation for Rev. John Carter will be Sunday, May 2 at Ott & Lee (Brandon) from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at Shiloh UMC on Monday, May 3 at 11 a.m. Please keep the Carter family in your prayers.
 
Rev. Bryan Carrubba, Ackerman First Charge, will have hip replacement surgery on Tuesday, May 4, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson. Please be in prayer for Rev. Carrubba as well as the doctors performing the surgery.
 
Rev. Phillip Heidelberg has been released from Ocean Springs Hospital and is at home now recuperating.   The family appreciates all of your concerns, well wishes, cards, and calls. Please keep the Heidelbergs in your prayers as he continues his path of recovery.

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has an opening for an Immigration and Criminal Justice Reform intern. The intern will assist Bill Mefford, GBCS director of Civil & Human Rights. This is a paid position for a 10-month period starting in August. The internship is in the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.  Among other duties, the intern will help develop educational resources in the areas of immigration and criminal justice to aid in mobilizing United Methodists for advocacy. The intern will also maintain contact with United Methodist activists. The intern will be involved in recruiting activists in annual conferences doing work with people directly affected by the immigration and/or criminal justice systems. The intern will work closely with grassroots efforts in other faith groups and non-faith groups as well to provide overall coordination.
Qualified applicants will have had experience working within immigrant communities and be fluent in Spanish. Applicants should have theological and/or missiological training and be able to write clear and publishable educational resources and Bible studies.
Applicants should be familiar with The United Methodist Church, the U.S. political process, and a general knowledge of immigration and criminal justice issues.
May 31 is deadline for applications.Beginning date for this position is early August and the ending date is May 31, 2011.
Intern must work a minimum 35 hours per week and will be given appropriate time off during employment. The intern will be paid $1,015 per month for the 10-month internship.
To apply, send a resume with three recommendations, cover letter and writing sample via e-mail to Bill Mefford, (bmefford@umc-gbcs.org) by May 31.
A complete job description is available at Immigration & Criminal Justice Reform Grassroots Intern or go to the GBCS website: www.umc-gbcs.org, and click on Job Openings at the bottom of the home page.