Connected in New Ways

A week from today, Tuesday, August 3, over 100 members of the District Boards of Ordained Ministry will engage in training together, across the state, interactively, on line.  It is an example of the new ways that we can be connected for mutual encouragement, learning and planning.
 
In the past, our Director of Ministerial Services would have traveled to districts or to district clusters.  Members of the District Committees on Ordained Ministry would have driven to the meeting place.  Today, with careful planning and new expertise, we are conserving time, energy and resources as we move to a new way of being together in ministry.
 
Our Conference Lay Leader, Tim Crisler, convenes a monthly conference call with the eleven District Lay Leaders.  In this way, the community of lay leaders is growing together as a team of learning leaders among us.
 
Moving to new formats and modes of communication and meeting require openness and creativity and mutual helpfulness.  I hope that each of us will continue to explore ways to connect and communicate in our churches, our districts and our conference.
 
It is a new day, springing forth.   May we meet the new day with courage, creativity and growing faithfulness.
 
With gratitude for the life we share together,
Hope Morgan Ward

:: Announcements

 
Journey Toward the Light -- August 4
Remembering the May 1970 Tragedy at Jackson State University

You're invited to gather at Galloway Memorial UMC, Jackson next Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to begin the pilgrimage to Jackson State University for the 40th Anniversary of the May 1970 Tragedy at Jackson State University.

In the Spring of 1970, campus communities across this country were characterized by a chorus of protests and demonstrations. The issues were the escalation of the war in Vietnam and the U.S. invasion of Cambodia; the ecology; racism and repression; and the inclusion of the experiences of women and minorities in the educational system. No institution of higher education was left untouched by confrontations and continuous calls for change. At Jackson State College in Jackson there was the added issue of historical racial intimidation and harassment by white motorists traveling Lynch Street, a major thoroughfare that divided the campus and linked west Jackson to downtown.  On May 14-15, 1970, Jackson State students were protesting these issues as well as the May 4, 1970 tragedy at Kent State University in Ohio. For more information call 601-354-0515 ext. 14 or email Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett at fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org.

'Pray 40,' Campaign for College Students, Campus Ministries, Begins in August

 A nationwide prayer campaign for college students and campus ministries, "Pray 40," begins August 23 when all United Methodists are being asked to pray for students and campus ministries for 40 days.
 
Some 17 million American students head to college and university campuses each fall, while millions more flood campuses worldwide. As they make decisions, learn, and are shaped into the next generation of teachers, accountants, mothers, fathers, doctors, CEOs, journalists, and ministers - among other career choices -- shouldn't it be our prayer that they do so having been shaped by Christ?
 
The campaign will feature 40 prayers written by students, campus pastors, bishops, and church leaders from all over the nation -- and includes prayers from two of our Mississippi campus ministers, Hugh Griffith and Eddie Willis. All of the prayers will be published by The Upper Room and made available in various ways.
 
The Pray 40 effort is a partnership between College Union, The Upper Room, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and the Foundation for Evangelism, with special thanks to United Methodist Communications.
 
Pray for the next generation of Christian leaders! Participate in Pray 40 through one (or more) of several ways. Among them are: receiving an email morning, noon, and evening with the prayer for the day; downloading and sharing a prayer guide; following the effort on Twitter or by text; signing up for a 24-hour period of continuous prayer; teaching about prayer.
 
In order to join this group of pray-ers, please check in regularly at www.Pray40.com. The website has some basic information now, but will officially launch on August 2. Please check back regularly and help spread the word about the upcoming prayer efforts for campus ministry.

Lake Junaluska Peace Conference
Focuses on Children

The third annual Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, Sept. 18-21, will offer a variety of workshops and presentations that explore social issues facing children.

The conference will include a session specifically for children, youth and their adult leaders, led by Jeni Stepanek. Other conference leaders include Marian Wright Edelman and United Methodist Bishop Kenneth Carder.

Early registration is available until July 31. Further information is available at www.lakejunaluska.com/peace/.

Pleasant Hill UMC, Olive Branch Sends 7 Mission Volunteers to Help in Katrina Recovery
By Cynthia Laird, Senatobia District Communicator


Only July 11, 2010, Pleasant Hill UMC held a commissioning service for the group of seven volunteers going to Gulfport to help in Katrina recovery work.  Rev. David Laird began the service with a devotional based on scripture from Luke 10 which speaks of Jesus sending forth seventy to go before Him as communicators preparing the way for His coming. 
 
Each of the seven volunteers had a part in the service as they shared from the scripture, and affirmed their dedication to this mission. The seven sent forth were:  Jan Green, Sissy Sanford, Mike Flowers, Pam Flowers, Scott Moore, Rev. David Laird, and Denise Yates.  Yates was in Florida at the time of the service, but was conferenced in via speaker phone.  After the service, the team left for Gulfport's Camp Love.

Each morning during the stay at Camp Love, Green and Sanford would get up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare breakfast for the entire group of volunteers for the week.  In addition to the team from Pleasant Hill UMC, there was a group from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and some volunteers from Macon, GA.  Green and Sanford would then spend the entire day cooking, cleaning and serving so that others could help in the repair and rebuilding of homes.  The repair work was challenging due to the 101 to 102 degree temperatures during the day. 

The Pleasant Hill Team helped finish the repairs for the home of James Brown.  Brown worked alongside the team all day every day, and had done so since work began on his home.  Brown had planned to evacuate prior to Katrina's landing, but due to various complications, he had to remain at home.  He prayed that the Lord would let him sleep through the storm, and he recalled dreaming of angels singing all night long. When he awoke after the storm, he discovered that most of his home was destroyed.  Miraculously, he was kept safe in the room where he slept.  He was grateful for the Lord's blessings in his life, and the ministry of Christian's helping with the Katrina recovery. 

The Virginia group worked on the house of Mrs. Faith Whittaker.  Thursday night, Yates prepared Jambalaya for the volunteers at Camp Love, Brown and his sister, and Whittaker.  Although Whittaker only has about one month left to live due to terminal cancer, she was a blessing to the group as she shared her testimony of the love of God.  She sang the hymn "Soon and Very Soon" about going to see the King.

As the Pleasant Hill team shared their experiences with the church on July 18, every one of them was emotional as they spoke of the great witness of the Katrina victims who have been without their homes for the past five years.  These people who had lost so much, did not ask why. Their faith and gratitude was a blessing and a testimony to the workers, and now to others as the experiences and testimonies are being shared. 

Members of Pleasant Hill UMC had provided food items, necessities, and funding to help the mission team in their travel and work.  However, after seeing the simple but inspiring faith and gratitude for life and the Lord of these loving people who have lost so much and have so little, the team decided to cover their own travel expenses, and to use the funds provided to purchase a washing machine, a clothes dryer and a microwave oven for Brown as a special surprise.  On the day these were delivered to his home, he was grinning and clapping for joy.  "Now I can wash my clothes!," said  Brown. "It was truly a blessing to be with you.  May the Lord richly bless you and use you as light and salt".
 
Pleasant Hill UMC is scheduled to send another mission team on October 9 - 15, 2011 to help in Katrina recovery efforts, and the reservation made is for twenty volunteers.

Rev. Homer Peden,  retired elder, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010.  Visitation will be Wednesday, July 28 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. with the services at 2:30 p.m. both at Parkway Heights UMC in Hattiesburg.  Rev. Peden is survived by his wife, Juanice, and his son Rev. Robert H. Peden who is on staff at Central UMC in Meridian.  Please remember the family in your prayers.
 
Rev. Travis and Elizabeth Carpenter are the proud parents of a new baby girl, Aubrey.  Travis is an associate at Hattiesburg Main Street UMC and Elizabeth is a certified candidate for ministry.

St. Matthew's UMC in Madison is seeking to fill an eight-hour per week Worship Leader position for its Sunday, 11 a.m., contemporary service, scheduled to begin October 10.  Applications will be received through August 7, interviews conducted August 8, and the position filled by August 12.  Responsibilities would begin August 15.  Applicants should contact Senior Pastor David Carroll (david@stm-umc.org), Associate Pastor Kim Parker (kim@stm-umc.org), or Director of Music Ministries Tim Rigby (timrigby@stm-umc.org) to secure a complete job description or to submit a resume.
 
College Park UMC is seeking to fill the position of Children's Worship leader.  This individual must be a Christian with a good, moral lifestyle. She/he must know in their heart that God has called them to minister to children; must be at least 25 year of age, and willing to submit to a background check.  This position will require the preparation and leading of children's church service.  Salary is dependent upon gifts and experience. Please mail or email your resume to College Park UMC, 1103 Hwy 19 North Meridian, MS 39307 or email to collegeparkumc@bellsouth.net.

Alta Woods UMCin Jackson is seeking a part-time pianist. Ability to also play the organ is preferred. This position includes accompanying a regular weekly Sunday morning service and a short fellowship service on Wednesday nights followed by Adult Choir rehearsal. Occasionally, this person will play for special services such as weddings, funerals, etc.  Prior church related music service is preferred. Audition required.  Please send resumes to the church at 109 Alta Woods Blvd., Jackson, MS 39204.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.
 
Wiggins First UMC is searching for a Junior and Senior Youth Director. This is a full-time staff position. Candidates should have strong Christian faith and strong Bible knowledge. Salary is based on experience, education and qualifications. Please send resume to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 278, Wiggins, MS 39577.  For additional information please call the church office at 601-928-4880.