Clergywomen, a Gift
to the Church

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord... and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well. -- Romans 16:1

 
 

• The Black Clergywomen of the United Methodist Church will meet in Nashville, TN, Sept. 6-8, 2010.  Vicki Sizemore Baldwin is the Mississippi Conference contact for this event.
  
  
• The Clergywomen of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church will gather for the quadrennial consultation April 4-7, 2011.  Contacts for this event are Martha Williams (601.483.2032) and Barbara Hite (barbarahite@netzero.com; 601.218.6255). Bishop Kammerer, Bishop Taylor and I will participate in this event.

For more information you may also contact Lisa Garvin at lisa@mississippi-umc.org.
With gratitude for your partnership in Christ's ministry,
Hope Morgan Ward

:: Announcements

 
African-American Clergy Health Summit Provides Education on Self-care and Ministry Renewal

Be renewed in your ministry by attending the African-American Clergy Health Summit at Lake Junaluska, NC, Sept. 27- 28, 2010. Participants will participate in a self-care covenant workshop designed specifically for African-American clergy, which reflects the health summit's theme, "Wanting to Heal and Be Healed," John 5: 1-9.
 
The Self-Care Covenant workshop is an interactive session where attendees can evaluate personal dimensions of health and well-being related to their daily life and work. Each workshop is planned and led by trainers within the annual conferences, and will provide a structured opportunity for individuals to examine their current choices within the areas of mental and emotional health, physical health, social health, and spiritual health.
 
"The continual giving expected of pastors takes its toll over time," said Dr. Carl Arrington, Director of African-American Ministries at Lake Junaluska. "As ministers, we want to reach out and heal others, but we must also take care of ourselves in order to be healers of others. Participants in the self-care workshop will develop a self-care covenant, create a plan for positive changes, and establish an accountability plan. We hope many will participate."
 
The health summit and self-care covenant workshops will be led by The Rev. Dr. Embra Jackson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Mississippi Annual Conference, and Edmond Pienkosz, Health and Wellness Manager of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church.
 
Early program registration is open until August 31. For details about this event and to register, visit www.lakejunaluska.com/health-summitor call 828-454-6656. The health summit is sponsored by the Office of African-American Ministries at Lake Junaluska and the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church.

Lighten the Burden III AIDS Conference
Deadline Sept. 20

 

• Dr. Musa W. Dube, theologian and biblical scholar, the University of Botswana;
• Dr. Pauline Muchina, senior partnership adviser, UNAIDS; Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, episcopal leader of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference; Jeffrey Crowley, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (invited); and
• Rev. Tyrone Gordon, St. Luke UMC, Dallas.

Conference workshop sessions include discussions of:

To register for Lighten the Burden III, go to www.umglobalaidsfund.orgby Sept. 20.

Pleasant Hill UMC, Olive Branch
to Raise Funds for The Hour

Everyone is invited to join Pleasant Hill UMC in Olive Branch on Saturday Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. to enjoy good food, fun, singing and worship to benefit The Hour (formerly The Methodist Hour), the Hattiesburg, MS based television program broadcasts weekly.

Speaker for the event is Rev. Steve Casteel, host of The Hour and music will be provided by bluegrass and gospel group, the Medders Family Band. Barbeque plates will be served and you're ask to participate in a live dessert auction to raise money for The Hour.

For more information cal 662-895-2323.  Pleasant Hill is located at 3787 Pleasant Hill Road, Olive Branch.

Centering Prayer Workshop
at Central UMC, Meridian

Central UMC in Meridian will hold a Centering Prayer Workshop Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The workshop will be led by Father Tom Ward.  Ward is an Episcopal priest who for over thirty years has served parishes in Mississippi and Tennessee. He now focuses on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching centering prayer and leading retreats with special interest in fostering this practice in local congregations.  For the past fifteen years Ward has worked closely with Thomas Keating and Contemplative Outreach Ltd, a network seeking to foster contemplation. 
 
Registration cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. To register, contact Amy Roller at amy@cumcmdn.org or 601-693-1521 by August 13.  Come spend a restful day learning this method of silent prayer.

Grenada First's Operation 206
Brings Mission Work Home

On June 27-July 2 Grenada First UMC was home to over 30 students and adult volunteers from Grenada and Batesville First UMCs, and St. Peters Catholic Church attending Operation 206, a home ministry camp.  The participants were all fired-up and ready to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in Grenada.  Working with Continue Care, a home health nurse organization in Grenada the group was able to help homeowners in their own neighborhood who needed repairs the group could accomplish.
 
The group was able to bless the lives and homes of four homeowners building a covered porch with ramp for one home,  a wheel-chair ramp for another, rebuilding carport post and installing a new front door, scraping and painting the exterior for others.  The final project took several days as the group battled a wasp infestation. Scott Engebretson, a student at Asbury Theological Seminary led worship each evening and music each night was led by Ashley Owens the choir director from Kirk Academy and Larissa Dixon the choir director from Calhoun City.  
 
The name Operation 206 comes from the exit number off of Interstate 55 that takes passengers to Grenada. After traveling to other states for mission trips, Grenada First decided they could put the time and money used for lodging and travel to good use in their own back yard. The first year of Operation 206 could not have gone any better!  The group thanks their church family for all the prayers and support of this new ministry.

To watch a video about Operation 206 click here. 

Please remember Rev. Mike Hicks (Hattiesburg:  District Superintendent) and his family in the death of his mother, Doris Hicks.  Having been in Hospice care, Mrs. Hicks died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning, Aug. 2, 2010.  Her funeral is anticipated to be on Friday in Jackson.

Griffin UMC in Starkville has approximately 50 pews available for $100 each.  These pews are polished oak with cushions in very good condition and will seat approximately 20 people.   For more information, contact Rev. Eddie Lee Jones at 662-324-1060 or 662-617-4177. 
 
Love UMC in the Senatobia District is in need of a piano!  If you have one you would like to sell or donate please contact Wanda Bursi at wbursi@yahoo.comor Cheryl Denley at senatobiadistric@bellsouth.net. They have piano students and a piano teacher and need a newer piano!

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.

St. Matthew's UMCin 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 UMC in 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.