Joy to the World!

Let every heart prepare him room

Dr. Dana Robert, Professor of the History of Christian Mission, teaches me to think of Joy to the World as a mission hymn!

In this conference year, we live with the theme, "Arise, Shine, Go!"  The 2011 Annual Conference will gather around this theme:  "Joy to the World:  Arise, Shine, Go!"

Today is the third day of 10-Fold, an on-line experience of mission.  I hope you are in the midst of it!  If not, go to 10-fold.org and join the celebration of learning and witness.  Tonight, the on-line offering will be the Consecration Service for New Missionaries where I have the honor of preaching from Isaiah 6:1-8, "Here I Am, Send Me!"

I hope that you will create in your church an experience of study and reflection using Dr. Robert's book, "Joy to the World."  The study opens to us the history of Christian mission with scriptural roots and contemporary implications.  We in Mississippi find ourselves in the book, in the fifth chapter that focuses on mission in Vancleave following Hurricane Katrina.

Christmas is ten weeks away.  May our generosity in the world be 10-Fold as every church in the annual conference participates in mission through The Advance.  In 2009, we went from the bottom of the Southeastern Jurisdiction to the top in Advance participation!  Onward, into these 10 weeks of harvest and thanksgiving and hope and joy.

With gratitude for the unfolding of this time in our lives,
Hope Morgan Ward 
 
To comment, link on the Bishop's Blog here.

Hickory UMC Celebrates 150 Years
of Continuous Ministry

"50 Years of Continuous Ministry 1860 - 2010" is the theme marking the Sesquicentennial Celebration of Hickory United Methodist Church, Hickory MS. On Sunday Oct. 24, 2010 a day of celebration will be held in this historic church.

Former pastor Rev. Edward W. McRae returns to preach the morning service. Rev. McRae served Hickory as his first pastorate in 1960, the Centennial Celebration when over 200 joined together for a time of remembering.

This year in 2010 we add fifty more years of memories from this wonderful church. For a history of Hickory UMC link to the Circuit Rider blog here.

Dr. James Howell to Speak
at Oxford-University UMC

Dr. James Howell, senior minister at Myers Park UMC in Charlotte, NC, will be the guest preacher at Oxford-University United Methodist Church (OUUMC) October 17-18.

He will be the guest preacher Sunday, Oct. 17, speaking on "The Mystery of God's Will." OUUMC will offer two services that Sunday: a special service combing the 8:45 a.m. traditional service and The Journey at 9 a.m. in the Activities Center and a regular 10:55 a.m. traditional service in the sanctuary. On Monday at 6 p.m. in the Wesley Hall, Howell will give a lecture on "Why the Future of the Church Depends on the University"-- a topic especially important for a church in a university town. A brown bag lecture on the same topic will be presented Monday at noon in Wesley Hall.

Howell is the author of 12 books, including "Yours are the Hands of Christ," "The Beautiful Work of Learning to Pray" and "The Beatitudes for Today." His most recent books are "Conversations with St. Francis" and "The Will of God."

The event is sponsored by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, which sponsored Senior Minister Warren Black's Clergy Renewal Sabbatical this summer.

For more information, contact OUUMC at 662-234-5278 or office@ouumc.org. All events are free and open to the public.

Midway UMC to Host Fundraiser for Building

Midway UMC of the Oxford East Charge in the New Albany District is hosting a building fund raiser at The Fishin' Hole on Highway 6 between Pontotoc and Oxford on October 23, 2010 at 6 p.m.

Midway UMC of the Oxford East Charge in the New Albany District is having a building fund raiser at The Fishing Hole on Hwy 6 between Oxford and Pontotoc on Oct. 23, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Featured will be The Fisher's of Men singing group, a raffle for a Butterscotch Peavey Expo Electric Guitar, and various items will be auctioned off throughout the night.

St. Mary's UMC Holds Gospel Sing

On Saturday, Oct. 30  beginning at 6 p.m., St. Mary's UMC, 3009 Harmony Road, Crystal Springs will present an Explosive Gospel Singing program.  All choirs, groups and soloists are invited to participate. 

You don't want to miss the opportunity to praise and worship God in song. For more information contact Helen Sandifer at 601-813-2768  or Rev. Demario Benson at 601-953-4230.

At the same time, this retreat is designed to provide rest and space for new clergy to be away from the demands of ministry and to connect with the One who called them to the work of making disciples. Tonight at 7 p.m., these 57 residents and their leaders will enter into a time of silence for twelve hours. Please hold them each in your prayers as they seek to draw closer to the Source of Life and Calling. May they return to their ministries revived and renewed and better equipped to lead the People of God.

Benefit Concert Held for
Edwards Street Fellowship Center
By Lisa Hicks, Hattiesburg District Communicator

Dr. Iva Brown and Mrs. Lonette Cliburn

On Oct. 5 the benefit concert "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" was held at the Saenger Theater in downtown Hattiesburg. The proceeds from the concert were for the Edwards Street Fellowship Center. Several hundred people were entertained with special music featuring Clay Gatlin, Melody Drive, Nathaniel Price, The Paperwhites, Spirit of Southern (a men's acapella group), USM Guitar Society, Dr. Nick Ciraldo, the Oak Grove High School Marching Band and the William Carey University Chorale.

Edwards Street is an outreach ministry of the United Methodist Church located in Southeast Hattiesburg. Ministries provided include a food pantry that provides food to approximately 700 families per month, scout troops, Bible Studies, an exercise class for seniors and various programs for children.

Alcorn County UM Cluster Revival Benefits UMCOR Haiti Relief

The Alcorn County UM Cluster held a month-long revival featuring a rotation of church hosts and a rotation of preachers for a month of Sundays. The offering received has been designated to UMCOR for our global Church's efforts in relieving the difficulties suffered by God's created people in Haiti as a result of the earthquake there. "In the midst of our own suffering and struggling to recover from the devastating flooding in our primary city of Corinth, the Alcorn County UMC Countywide Revival has received and the Cluster has sent the entire revival offering of $1,221.49 to UMCOR Haiti Relief," said Jim Hall, Alcorn County Cluster Clergy Coordinator.

Rev. Andrea Kersh Johnson passed away Oct. 1, 2010 at MS Baptist Medical Center. Funeral services were held Oct. 5 at St. Matthew's UMC with burial at Natchez Trace Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to The United Methodist Children's Home.

 

Shirley Cain, spouse of Rev. Bobby Cain, will have open-heart surgery Oct. 14 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.  The surgery is to repair the aneurysm doctors found earlier.  Rev. Cain is retired and serves the Goodman Charge.  Please remember them both in your prayers.

 

Mr. Theodore Dinas, brother of Rev. Johnny Dinas, retired, Oct. 5, 2010 in Memphis.  Funeral services were held Oct. 8 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

 

Mrs. Bessie Barnes, wife of Tupelo District Superintendent Dr. Jimmy Barnes, was scheduled for cataract surgery on Oct. 11.  Please remember the Barneses in your prayers.

 

Mrs. Sandy Murden, mother of Rev. Robbie Murden (Vancleave - Mt. Pleasant Charge) passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, Oct. 10,  in Michigan.   Arrangements are incomplete at this time.  Please keep the Murden family in your prayers.

 

Boz Beam-Ingram, son of Revs. Jim and Alicia Beam-Ingram, will have his tonsils taken out in Columbus on October 22, 2010.  Please remember Boz and the family in your prayers. 

Alta Woods UMC 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.

Mississippi City United Methodist Church is seeking a part time secretary.  Office hours are Monday thru Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  The salary is set at $9984 annually. Duties and responsibilities of the secretary include check phone and email messages, respond in a timely manner; maintain schedule of events; manage correspondence; design bulletins and newsletters, coordinate distribution; perform other duties as requested by pastor.  For more information call 228-896-7626.