Connected Powerfully in Christ

Mike and I give thanks for the partnership in Christ's ministry we share with you and with others in our world.  We are powerfully connected through our Methodist family in mission.

 

On Wednesday of this week, Mike will travel with leaders in the Seashore District to Nicaragua where the work of Stop Hunger Now will be advanced among our Methodist friends there.  The meals you are packaging in local and district settings will reach those in need as a result of our Methodist connection.

 

On Friday of this week, I will join the group from Mississippi for the General Conference of The Methodist Church of Nicaragua.  It will be a great honor for me to lead in the first ordination service where three Methodist pastors will be set part for leadership in this new church in the Methodist family.

 

Later this year, we will all feel the connection of Mississippi and Nicaragua as a Nicaraguan pastor is ordained in the setting of our annual Ordering of Ministry Service concluding Annual Conference in June.

 

Together with Methodist people in Nicaragua, we are sharing the message of God's grace through Christ with the world.  Thanks be to God for this and every connection we have in ministry.

 

With gratitude for your faithful witness and engagement in mission,

Hope Morgan Ward
 

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

 The Mississippi Annual Conference will convene June 10 - 12, 2011 at the Jackson Convention Complex, Jackson. Watch this space for updates and information and visit www.mississippi-umc.org for additional information.

A few highlights:

Our theme -- Joy to the World -- Arise! Shine! GO!

Our teachers and preachers -- Dr. Dana Robert, Rev. Jorge Acevedo, Rev. John Edgar and the All People's Band. Chosen as exceptional exemplars of mission.

Our mission offering -- New Places for New People

Awards -- Information on awards to be presented, such as the Tobias Gibson Award, Healthy Church, Harry Denman, entry forms will soon be available online.

Jurisdictional & General Conference Nomination information link here.

NEXUS, a day set apart for youth and leaders of youth returns to Annual Conference on Sunday, June 5, 2011 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Galloway UMC, Jackson. Nexus will feature a popular speaker, trainer, and band for youth and those who work with youth. Watch the website for details.

 Social Principles Bulletin Inserts
Now Available Online

The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) has developed bulletin inserts featuring individual United Methodist Social Principles. The new resource, designed to be included in church worship bulletins, can be downloaded for free from the agency's Web site. Or by clicking here.

Twelve Social Principles under the Social Community are in the first release of inserts. The inserts highlight positions approved by the denomination's highest policy-making body, the General Conference, on issues such as immigrants, health care, religious minorities, racism and children's rights.

In future releases, inserts will be added to the Web site from the other five Social Principles areas: Natural World, Nurturing Community, Economic Community, Political Community and World Community.

Most inserts are two-sided, offering a Social Principle from the United Methodist Book of Discipline (¶¶160-166) and some background information such as scripture or other resources that influence how United Methodists think about a particular topic. The bulletin inserts are designed in two colors that reproduce excellently in black and white. They are 11 by 8.5 inches.

The Social Principles are an amazing synopsis of who we are as United Methodists.

The first release of Social Principle bulletin inserts comprises the following: Rights of the Aging; Alcohol & Other Drugs; Rights of Children; Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Genetic Technology; Right to Health Care; Persons Living with HIV & AIDS; Rights of Immigrants; Medical Experimentation; Rights of Racial & Ethnic Persons; Rights of Religious Minorities; and Rights of Women.

For more information about this new resource or Social Principles training opportunities, contact the Rev. Neil Christie, assistant general secretary, Education & Leadership Formation, at 202-488-5611.

Central UMC, Meridian to Host
Bible  Scholar April 15 - 17

 

Central UMC, Meridian welcomes Bible scholar Dr. Ben Witherington III as guest speaker for a three-day event entitled "The Gospel of John," April 15 - 17, 2011. Registration for the event is $75 per person - $50 if registered before April 1, 2011 and includes Friday night dinner and lunch on Saturday. Participation in Friday and Saturday events will qualify for 1.0 CEU. Childcare is available for a minimal fee.

Witherington is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He has authored over forty books including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest.

In "The Gospel of John," Witherington will bring his insight and experience to bear on the Gospel of John through a lecture on Friday afternoon and Saturday. In addition, he will speak at two worship services at Central on April 17. For more information or to register visit the church's website at www.cumcmdnorg.

Alcorn County UMC Cluster is Busy for the Lord
Submitted by James Hall, Alcorn County
Cluster Clergy Coordinator

The 11 churches of the Alcorn County Cluster have been busy over the past 15 months, working and reaching, for the Kingdom! The Cluster hosts an annual Fall Festival of fellowship, fun and fundraising! The Fall Festivals in 2009 and 2010, together, yielded $4,126 for the AMEN Food Pantry, feeding the needy in Corinth and Alcorn County. The Cluster's 2010 Spring Revival, held in the midst of storms and flooding in Corinth, sent $1,221 to UMCOR Haiti relief, an offering at the 2010 Cluster Charge Conference sent $200 to Mission Advance support of a UMC missionary serving in Ghana as well as $763 for a Cluster Project to plant a Methodist Church in Ghana, West Africa. November's Cluster Community Thanksgiving Worship Service saw $523 given to help Camp Lake Stephens.

Individual members' and churches' offerings, as well as the charge conference offering, resulted in a total $2,280 being raised to fund the plant of a pavilion church, one-year's pastoral support, a bicycle and a study bible for the pastor, for a new Methodist Church which will be planted in Ghana during February by Cecil Williamson and the Christian World Missions organization.

These efforts and results, yielding some $8,333 over 15 months - made possible by and wrought through the enabling and leading of the Holy Spirit -- were celebrated by the Alcorn County UM Cluster in a Mission Celebration Worship Service at Corinth Christ UMC on January 16. Ghana native, Methodist Evangelist and church-planter Joseph Otsin spoke to the Cluster at the celebration service on the last day of his American tour before flying back to Ghana to complete training of the lay pastors who will shepherd the 10 new churches which will be planted in Ghana during February. Another offering was received at the Mission Celebration and has been dedicated by the Cluster toward Ghana Church Plant # 2! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Starkville District Welcomes
New District Superintendent

Sunday, January 16, 2011 Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, the Starkville District Superintendency Committee along with lay and clergy members of the Starkville District welcomed Rev. Embra Jackson as the new district superintendent. Jackson replaces Rev. Giles Lindley, who continues to serve as superintendent of the East Jackson District. Lindley was thanked for his dedication and commitment, as he served as the Starkville District for the past year.

Bishop Ward officiated the Service of Welcome for Jackson, his wife Rosia and three of their four children at Starkville First UMC. Rev. Curtis Bray, chair of the district superintendency committee, Rev. Danny Rowland, pastor of Starkville First, Rev. Larry Haggard, pastor of the Louisville South Charge and various members of the music staff from Starkville First led the music. Jackson's preached from I Samuel 17: 33-37 -- the sermon title, "Go and May God Be With You." A reception was held immediately after the service in the church's Christian Life Center.

Thank You from The Methodist

Children's Homes

Support of the Methodist Children's Homes' (MCH) Advent Special Offering was overwhelming, according to Becky Mercier, public relations director. "We appreciate your sharing this opportunity with your congregation, and we appreciate your congregation's response," said Mercier.

The campus now has a new mailing address: MCH, P.O. Box 66, Clinton MS 39060-0066. "The postal service will forward our mail for just a few more months," said Mercier. "Please help us by discarding any old MCH remittance envelopes that may be sitting around in the church office. We'd also appreciate your putting a reminder in your weekly newsletter or email, if space permits."

The Backpack Project -- A New Ministry at Parkway Heights UMC

Submitted Lisa Hicks, Hattiesburg District Communications Coordinator

Kate Dearman, a high school senior at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, shares how she saw a need and began a new ministry at Parkway Heights UMC in Hattiesburg. The ministry provides children participating in the program with a backpack filled with nonperishable food items to take home so they will have food to eat over the weekend. The backpacks are returned to the school empty and the process is repeated each week.

Link here to read how Kate, in her own words, shares how the ministry came about.

Funeral Services for Jimmy Charles Thompson, father of Rev.Timothy Charles Thompson, Sr., Meridian District Superintendent, will be held at New Zion UMC, Crystal Springs, on Wednesday January 26 at 11am, officiated by the pastor, Rev. Arthur Lewis, Jr. Please send all cards and condolences to the Meridian District Office at 6210 Hwy 39 North, Meridian, MS 39305, as Rev. Thompson will be in an out of the district.

Lee Ann Whitely, staff member and longtime Youth Minister at Crawford Street UMC, Vicksburg, is in critical condition at the University Medical Center. Rev. Cary Stockett and the Crawford Street family request your prayers for Lee Ann.ep the Rickman family in our prayers.

Stop Hunger Now (SHN) is looking for a warehouse manager for the Jackson, MS location. The position is responsible for maintenance of the warehouse and receiving and shipping of all goods. The manager also coordinates meal-packaging events, including training and supervising work of the volunteers. Position ensures adequate supply of materials, cleanliness of warehouse and timely shipment of outgoing food product. Read full job description here To apply send resume to jackson_os@stophungernow.org.
Please include your résumé, salary requirements and cover letter.

Crossgates UMC is looking for a self-motivated leader to fill the full-time position of Director of Children's Ministry. This person should possess a passion for working with children from birth to 6th grade, as well as their parents; be an energetic person who lives out their faith in all they do, and who will teach, encourage, and nurture our children in their relationship with God and one another.
Interested persons should contact Rev. Allison Dickerson at adickerson@crossgatesumc.org to receive a job description and application. The same may be obtained in the office of Crossgates UMC at 23 Crossgates Drive, Brandon, Mississippi (Monday through Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.). The deadline for receiving applications is January 28, 2010.