New Things

Behold, the former things
have come to pass,

And new things I now declare;

Before they spring forth I tell you of them.  -- Isaiah 42:9

The 2011 Annual Conference theme -- Arise! Shine! Go! -- is much with us as the star appears, the magi travel, the displaced holy family is amazed and the Christ Child is honored with mysterious gifts.

We celebrate God's mission to all creation, grounded and embodied in Jesus Christ. Two keystone events are planned to help youlead your congregation in evangelism and mission. I hope you will take time now to mark your calendar and to communicate these opportunities to your church family.

Mission Summit: January 22 at Anderson UMC, Jackson from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - a training and resourcing opportunity for laity and clergy featuring Bishop Hans Vaxby of the EurasiaArea of the UMC addressing our Russian Initiative; Dr. Richard D. deShazo with our Health Initiative and Mike Waldman: Executive Director SOSA.

Evangelism Summit: April 2 at Christ UMC, Jackson from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - featuring Leonard Sweet, founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries with web conferencing in each district.
I look forward with great anticipation to these exciting times together with you.

With gratitude for this new year and all it holds for us,
Hope Morgan Ward

To comment, link on the Bishop's Blog page here.

Start Your Plans to Celebrate "Week of Prayer" for Christian Unity, Jan. 18 - 25, 2011

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus "that they all may be one" (John 17:21). The 2011 theme is: One in the Apostles' Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer (Acts 2:42).

Find resources at http://www.geii.org/wpcu_index.htm.

"United Methodists respond to the theological, biblical, and practical mandates for Christian Unity by firmly committing ourselves to the cause of Christian Unity at local, national, and world levels. We invest ourselves in many ways by which mutual recognition of churches, of members, and of ministries may lead us to sharing in Holy Communion with all of God's people." - 2008 Book of Discipline
Click to view Day 1: Prayer and Meditation.

Dr. Beckley travels to Africa
for Black Arts Festival

For only the third time in 50 years, an unprecedented gathering of black artists, writers, filmmakers, academics, scientists and other leaders in many fields will convened in Africa for a historic celebration -- the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures held Dec. 10 - 31 in Dakar, Senegal.

Dr. David L. Beckley, president of Rust College is among more than 200 African-American leaders participating. The group included the National Conference of Black Mayors, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).

The U.S. delegation joined thousands of delegates from 80 countries around the world with notables such as Dr. Julius Garvey, son of writer/activist Marcus Garvey; actor Richard Gant; jazz legend Randy Weston; Professor James Turner, Cornell University; Dr. Johnetta Cole, Director of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution; Professor Leonard Jeffries, City University of New York, Mississippi State Senator Frazier Hillman, New York State Senator Bill Perkins; Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael B. Coleman and others.

Dr. Beckley is past president of the NAFEO Delegation. He is also the current chair of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the former chair of UNCF member presidents.

In a letter to members of the delegation, President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade said he looked forward to welcoming them to the Senegal.

"The African Union has requested that Senegal organize the Festival, which will be the largest global gathering to date, of black artist, writers, filmmakers, intellectuals, scientists and other luminaries, and we anticipate that people will travel from all over the world for the occasion," said President Wade.

While in Senegal the delegation met privately with President Wade and participated in a myriad of Festival activities, which included concerts by Rihanna, Jay-Z, Angeligue Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour, and Baaba Maal; a soccer match between Senegal and Brazil; a visit to Goree Island, designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in commemoration of the painful history of the Atlantic slave trade; and participation in the Forum on African Renaissance.

This is the third World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, following previous festivals in Dakar in 1966 and Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. Former Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor initiated the festivals to highlight the visible and tangible products of African peoples' struggles to win back their dignity in a land that had only recently been returned to African rule.

Pass Christian First Joins Community
in Bringing in Christmas

Pass Christian First UMC actively celebrated the season of Advent within their community.  On Dec. 3 members sang with the community-caroling event kicking off "Christmas in the Pass".

Other members served hot chocolate and manned a dionation jar for the local food pantry. Over $200 was collected. Some of the donations came from people who said they wanted to give back because the pantry had helped them in a time of need.

An Advent message and lighting of the advent candle was presented each Sunday during Advent and the community was invited to join Pass Christian First for a Christmas Eve program, with communion.

Mrs. Edna McBride, widow of the Rev. Huff McBride, Hattiesburg District, died recently. Services were held at Memory Chapel in Laurel on December 20, 2010.

Rev. Joe Pilate, retired Seashore District, passed away December 16, 2010 in Gulfport. Services were held December 22, 2010 at St. Mark UMC (Gulfport), with burial at Biloxi National Cemetery. Please remember the Pilate family in your prayers.

Marcia Wasson, 2010. The funeral was held December 27, at First UMC in Kosciusko. Brother Wasson celebrated his 100th birthday on January 1, 2011.

Percy Mitchell, father of Rev. Doyle Mitchell has passed away. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 at 2 p.m. Rev. Mitchell is retired and serves the McCool Charge in the Starkville District. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Please pray for the family of Rev. Inge Halbert, pastor of New Hope UMC in Columbus. The Halbert's 16 year old grandson, Eric Halbert, recently passed away.

Rev. James (Jimmy) Dabbs, retired elder in the Hattiesburg District, passed away late Sunday afternoon, January 2, 2011. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Please remember his wife, Delia, and the family in your prayers.

Rev. Frank Newell, pastor of Stringer and Old Bay Springs UMCs in the Hattiesburg District, has asked for prayer for his step-mother, Meri Newell, who has recently undergone surgery for cancer at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Please remember Meri and the entire family in your prayers.

Rev. Rudy Herrington, Louise-Silver City UMC, had surgery last week at University Medical Center. Rudy is now home, recovering from the surgery -- his second in a month. His brother has been with him during his recovery, and he has had visits from a home health agency nurse. Please keep Rudy in your prayers as he completes his recovery.

Brandon First UMC has an Allen Organ (2 Manual - Full Pedal Board) they would like for some church to use. It is in working condition. All they are asking is for you to remove it. (IT'S FREE). Call the church at 601-825-5958.

First UMC, Starkville has an immediate opening for a youth director. The primary responsibility is to develop an intense youth program designed to enhance spiritual growth in youth believers.
Activities will be coordinated for youth ages 7 through 12 grades, will incorporate music, scripture and prayer, and will include weekly sessions, mission work and devotional activities. Send resume, cover letter and references to Libba Andrews, Staff Parish Chair, c/o 1903 Pointe Drive, Starkville, MS 39759.

Main Street UMC, a vibrant 1200-member congregation is seeking a full-time Director of Children's Ministry to serve with us as we continue to grow spiritually, numerically, and missionally in downtown Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
We are looking for a person with the passion and creativity to oversee a dynamic ministry with children from birth through sixth grade so that each child will know they are beloved of God in Jesus Christ.
Our vision for ministry with children and their families flows from our church's core values of loving God, growing relationships in Christian community, and serving our world as the hands and feet of Christ. Our Director will have a vital personal commitment to Jesus Christ and to the core values and mission of Main Street United Methodist Church. We seek a Director of Children's Ministry who possesses strong leadership, organizational and communication skills (comfortable with public speaking and writing) and who has the ability to motivate and lead a team.
Experience should include: teaching skills, recruiting and training volunteers, work with children in a mid-size to large church (either paid or volunteer), and working in a team environment.  A Bachelors degree (preferably in early childhood education or children's ministry) and computer skills are required. 
The competitive compensation package for this position is commensurate with experience and training.  Interested persons should submit a resume and personal statement (Microsoft word or pdf format required) via e-mail to patty@mstreetumc.org. 
The personal statement should be no more than 300 words and should address the question: How would you lead the Children's Ministry at Main Street UMC to support and  strengthen our core values of loving God, connecting with one another in Christian community, and serving as the hands and feet of Christ in our world? 
Main Street United Methodist Church is located at 712 Main St., Hattiesburg and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  For further information you may visit our website: www.mstreetumc-org