I Love to
Tell the Story...

We are God's servant's, working together...

       -- I Corinthians 3:9

I hope that you will contribute to the Mississippi Conference 2011 Lenten Devotional Guide. Each year during Lent, we focus on racial reconciliation. The 2011 Lenten theme is I Love to Tell the Story.

There is a bit of irony in the theme. The stories we seek to gather are stories we have not loved to tell. It is difficult to look back upon what was. It is difficult to know how to speak of it faithfully and truthfully.

We do, however, love to tell God's story! Our stories are invaded by God's light and become part of the story God is telling in the world today. As we speak our stories, God gives us words. In writing of our lives, we hold ourselves like prisms to God's light.

Lent 2011 offers a particular invitation: partner with a person of another generation than yourself, with the more experienced person as the storyteller and the younger person as the writer. In this way, each meditation will emerge from a conversation between two of us.

The youth in a Jackson church were asked to interview their grandparents about racial reconciliation and write a meditation. The grandchild of a one who risked much for justice asked, "Was my granddad a part of that?"

Through the amazing grace of God, the stories we have not yet told may become stories others love to tell.

I love to tell the story, will be my theme in glory, to tell the wondrous story, of Jesus and his love.

With gratitude for your life, wisdom and experience,

Hope Morgan Ward    

 

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

Setting the Theme:
Joy to the World -- Arise! Shine! GO!

GO is an action word, a mission word. The Bible is full of God's directive to GO -- daring, visionary, loving acts of compassion and vision. We celebrate the ways we experience joy as we GO in the name of Christ. We celebrate GO as the command of God, the shared ministry of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The 2011 Annual Conference Session will celebrate the consistent and urgent Biblical GO. Our worship, preaching, teaching and discernment will focus on the commands of Christ to GO.

What is your church's symbols of GO?

This year Annual Conference will be held at Pentecost -- a season "accompanied by signs and wonders" (Acts 2: 14-21.) As we celebrate the birthday of the Christian Church we also celebrate ways the Spirit is empowering each church in the Mississippi Conference to go forth in ministry. Where is your church being led? What direction will you GO? Share this by creating a directional sign to display in the Exhibit Hall of the Convention Complex. The signs will be displayed similar to our doors two years ago. Please be sure to make your sign free standing or bring an easel for display.

  SEJ Changes Dates for 2012 Conference

The dates for the 2012 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will be Wednesday, July 18 through Friday, July 20, 2012, at Lake Junaluska, NC.

The conference will officially convene with worship at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Consecration of the newly elected Bishops is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. This is a reduction of one day in the length of the conference.

The Committee on Episcopacy will sponsor a process for delegations to get acquainted with episcopal nominees on Tuesday, July 17. Specific details about this process will be released by the Committee on Episcopacy at a later date.

The Program Committee and Local Arrangements Committee met by conference call on Tuesday, February 1, to reconsider the duration of Jurisdictional Conference. A recent decision by the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops relaxed a traditional covenant about the duration of Jurisdictional Conferences. The new agreement is for each Jurisdiction to begin conference on Wednesday, July 18, and that each Jurisdiction could conclude their conference session by consecrating Bishops on any day thereafter.

The Program Committee and Local Arrangements Committee agreed to pursue a new electronic balloting process that would significantly shorten the turn-around time between ballots. These details will be completely worked out by August 1, 2011. This will permit a reduction of one day off the agenda.

The SEJ will be able to have a net saving of approximately $30,000 in per diem expenses to them and each Annual Conference will save costs for reserve delegate expenses for one day.

The Program Committee and Local Arrangements Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at Lake Junaluska for more detailed planning for the 2012 SEJ Conference. More information will be shared following those days of planning.

Seashore District Lay Speaking Weekend

 

Seashore District Lay Speaking Weekend will be held Feb 25-26, 2011 at Seashore United Methodist Assembly. The event will be held Friday from 5 - 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The following courses will be offered:

• Basic Course-Learning & Leading led by Vera Thomas
• United Methodist Heritage led by Revs Wayne & Bennie Napier
• Lay Speakers Grow Spiritually Through Daily Discipline led by Rev Elijah & Miriam Mitchell. 

The deadline for registration is Feb 17, 2011.To register call 228 604-2300.

McLaurin Heights UMC to Host
Southern Miss. Handbell Choir    

 

The University of Southern Mississippi handbell choir, Carillon, will be performing at McLaurin Heights UMC in Pearl. The concert will take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 27 and is open to the public with free admission. A love offering will be received.

Founded in 1985, Carillon is celebrating 25 years of excellence in handbell ringing. Carillon consists of 10-14 ringers selected annually by campus-wide auditions. The ensemble performs 20-25 concerts each year. Carillon has developed a regional, national, and international reputation.

McLaurin Heights UMC is located at 325 Mary Ann Drive in Pearl, Mississippi. For more information, call 601-939-2163, or e-mail, secmhumc@bellsouth.net.

Music and Worship Arts Week at Lake Junaluska  

Make plans now to attend Music and Worship Arts Week at Lake Junaluska, NC: a multi-generational, family-friendly event of music, arts, praise, and renewal in the beautiful Smoky Mountains -- June 19-24, 2011.

Especially designed for those who want to sing, ring, dance, or act all week, as well as for those who lead these ministries in local congregations, the event will be held at beautiful Lake Junaluska Assembly and is sponsored by The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.

There are discounts and incentives for early registration (before March 15) and rates will increase after April 30, 2011. We encourage you to register soon while the rates are still low. For more information (or to register today) please click here.

You may also check out our parent organization's website at www.umfellowship.org and click on the Music & Worship Arts Week link.

Special Appeal to North Mississippi Churches

The North Mississippi National Day of Prayer Conference will be held March 5, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Senatobia First UMC. The gathering is at the request of Debra Brown, Mississippi State Coordinator for The National Day of Prayer who has asked assistance in getting the North Mississippi counties involved in order to have all 82 counties in Mississippi hosting a National Day of Prayer event annually on the first Thursday of May.

The planning event at Senatobia First will be a great time to connect with others and learn more about planning your own National Day of Prayer.

To learn more visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org. A coordinator planning guide can be downloaded. For more information contact Cheryl Denley at the Senatobia District office or email senatobiadistric@bellsouth.net.

Mission Never Stops. 10-Fold Continues

A goal of health and wholeness for all children may seem like a rather unreachable goal. But progress is made every day through the work done at the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) and by dollars raised through The Advance. By becoming an advocate of this project-Children's Health and Wholeness-you automatically raise $1.00 toward the goal. All it takes is one click.

Through education, networking, advocacy and resourcing, Global Ministries supports children struggling with poverty, violence, abuse, exploitation and other challenges. Click here to learn more.
Please join GBGM Thursday, Feb. 10, at 8 a.m. Central Time to hear from and chat with Joseph Bradley, a missionary intern serving and improving the lives of children in Cambodia. Joseph will share stories about his calling and his ministry and how his work directly affects children who are on the street, orphaned or in need of care to become healthy. Visit www.10-fold.org to participate in his webcast. If you miss it, check back later in the day for a rebroadcast of the event.

Don't forget-a click from you makes you an advocate. An advocate equals a contribution. Mission never stops. So please, be counted. Check www.10-fold.org for more opportunities every month.

Evangelism Summit 2011 features Leonard Sweet

Brace yourself as guest speaker, Leonard Sweet sets out to revolutionize our understanding of evangelism April 2, 2011 at Christ UMC, Jackson. The event begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Other locations around the conference will provide live streaming of the event, allowing more people the opportunity to participate .

Sweet describes evangelism as "nudge" -- awakening each other to the God who is already there." Sweet's revolution promises to affect your encounters with others, as well as shaking the very roots of your own faith.

Voted by his peers as "One of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America" by ChurchReport Magazine, Sweet is Founder and President of SpiritVenture Ministries (SVM), preacher, professor and primary contributor to the web-based preaching resource, sermons.com and author of more than two hundred articles, over twelve hundred published sermons, and dozens of books including Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ and most recently Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who's Already There.

A listing of locations throughout the conference carrying the Evangelism Summit will be posted soon.

Rev. Gib Prince, Meridian District, had hip replacement surgery Feb. 2. Please keep Rev. Prince in your thoughts and Prayers.

Rev. Leonard (Leo) Beatty, pastor of Louin and Read's Chapel UMCs in the Hattiesburg District, has been admitted to Baptist Hospital in Jackson. Please remember Leo and his wife Elaine in your prayers.

Rev. Steve Tillman, Hattiesburg District, has an appointment with a surgeon today. Please remember Steve, Marion and Sephen in your 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.