Remembered by God and God's People

 

I will not forget you... See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands...

        -- Isaiah 49:15-16

God remembers us! We will begin Lent together very soon remembering God's love and Christ's mission in unique and wonderful ways:

1. We will host a new play written by Mike Wiley to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Ride of 1961. The play is set in Parchman Prison, where the Freedom Riders were incarcerated and where they enacted a radio show they called The Parchman Hour. I saw the debut of the play in December. It's great! Take a moment now to reserve free tickets through the conference web site for a group from your church -- elementary children, youth and adults.

The Parchman Hour will be presented in a number of venues across Mississippi, including several schools and these free performances:

• Sunday, March 6, at the Jackson Convention Complex
  at 5 p.m.
• Monday, March 7, at the Lee Center at Mississippi State University at 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 10, at Jobe Auditorium at Delta State University at 6:30 p.m.

2. We will host the annual Gathering of JustPeace, the Conflict Transformation Center of the United Methodist Church. The theme of the 2011 Gathering is racial reconciliation and persons from across the United Methodist Church will be in Jackson March 6-8 to experience our journey in racial reconciliation. Leaders for the Gathering will include Gov. William Winter, Jerry Mitchell, Ed King and Leroy Clemonsas the group experiences The Parchman Hour, Galloway UMC, the home of Medgar Evers and Tougaloo College. You are invited to register for the event by visiting www.justpeaceumc.org.

3. We will share together meditations written by laity and clergy from the Mississippi Conference. Each day, beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 9, you will receive a Lenten meditation by email. May you be refreshed and renewed in this holy season!

4. We will share in The One Great Hour of Sharing, the Lenten Offering of the entire United Methodist Church, specified for the Fourth Sunday in Lent or the Lenten time of choice. The One Great Hour of Sharing creates the channel for United Methodist mission giving to go 100 percent to the designated cause. Through The One Great Hour of Sharing, we are in mission together across boundaries and borders all around the world.

God remembers us! May we remember this Lent our particular calling as we learn from our past and embrace the future God is giving.

With gratitude for your partnership in ministry,

Hope Morgan Ward    

 

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

Guidelines for Submitting Reports Now Online

Guidelines for agencies, committees, and organizations affiliated with the Mississippi Annual Conference to submit reports are now online.  Click here to go to page.

All printed reports to be included in the pre-conference workbook are due by: March 31, 2011. Reports should be emailed to Brenda McGloster at brenda@mississippi-umc.org.

If you are unable to submit your report by March 31 you will need to send it as soon as it is available to be considered for printing in the addendum.

Guidelines for submitting resolutions now online

The Committee on Resolutions and Petitions processes all resolutions addressed to General, Jurisdictional and Annual Conferences. Guidelines for submitting a resolution is now available online. Click here to go to page.The chairperson of the Committee on Resolutions and Petitions will consult as needed with the submitter of the resolution and those agencies of the Annual Conference affected by the resolution.

Resolutions must be submitted to Dr. David Beckley, Committee Chairperson; Rev. Roger Puhr, Conference Secretary; Rev. Steve Casteel, Director of Connectional Ministries.To allow the committee time to meet and review proposed resolutions, the deadline for submitting resolutions to appear in the Brochure of Reports is March 31, 2011. If submitted after March 31, the deadline for submitting resolutions is 30 days before the beginning of annual conference. The maker of a resolution submitted after the May 10, 2011 deadline shall be responsible for providing copies of the resolution for all voting members present at the annual conference session.

World Day of Prayer is March 4, 2011
How Many Loaves Have You? 

During the past decade, the ministries of Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), the National Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council and the Pan-Methodist Commission, all partners with the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund (ICF) have expressed a common concern for four major areas -- violence against women, economic justice, racism, and the need for greater participation in the life of the church. Learn more about the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund at www.umcgiving.org/ICF.

Join the 2011 World Day of Prayer Committee in Chile as they invite you to enter a process that draws us into the Bible, into the context of Chile, and into the real situations of our lives and communities. The theme is, "How Many Loaves Have You?." This year's Bible studies come from 1 Kings 17: 8-16 and Mark 6: 30-44.

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. It is a movement initiated and carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions. It is

· Symbolized by an annual day of celebration - the first Friday of March -- to which all people are welcome.

· Brings together women of various races, cultures, and traditions in closer fellowship, understanding, and action throughout the year.

Learn more at http://www.worlddayofprayer.net/wdp11.html.

UMVIM Gathering to Discuss
Nicaragua Connection      

 

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) and the West Pennsylvania Conference (WPA) Nicaragua Partnership will be sponsoring a "Nicaragua Connection April 28 - 30, 2011 at Christ UMC in Bethel Park, Pittsburg, PA. The group is endeavoring to get the word out to anyone who might be interested.

The purpose of the gathering is to identify a procedure to coordinate UMVIM trips from the USA with United Methodist churches in Nicaragua and to establish relationships/partnerships between the United Methodist Church in both countries.

If you have questions, contact Rich Schall at rschall.mschall@gmail.com or Mississippi UMVIM coordinator David Newton at revnewton@yahoo.com.

Early Registration Discounts Available for Wesleyan Pilgrimage 

   

United Methodist clergy and lay leaders who want to be immersed in the practical theology and missional leadership practiced by John and Charles Wesley can take advantage of early registration discounts for a 10-day Wesleyan Pilgrimage in November. Additionally, scholarships are available for provisional members who want to deepen their understanding of Wesleyan missional leadership during the Nov. 7-17 pilgrimage being sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

An early registration discount of $400 is available for everyone until April 29, and a discount of $200 will be available from April 30 through July 31. After Aug. 1, the cost will be $2,395, except for provisional members. GBHEM is making $1,000 scholarships available for provisional elders and deacons.

The registration fee includes 10 nights of lodging, all admission and lecture fees, but not transportation to England.

Up to 20 women and men who are commissioned for ordination as elders and deacons will receive financial assistance provided by GBHEM.

Registration must be completed no later than Sept. 7. For a registration form or more information, go to www.gbod.org/wesleypilgrimage. For questions, contact Manskar at GBOD by phone toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 1765, or by e-mail at smanskar@gbod.org.

St. Paul UMC -- Ocean Springs to Present Faure's Requiem

The Ocean Springs Chorale with the Ocean Springs High School Choir will present Gabriel Faure's Requiem Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul UMC, Ocean Springs. Richard C. Sawyer will conduct the Requiem. Admission is free. An orchestra whose members come from the instrumental music programs of Gulfport and Ocean Springs High schools will accompany the 73-member choir. "As many know, these groups joined together last year to present the Vivaldi Gloria," said Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, music director at St. Paul. "After that very successful concert, I knew we had begun a wonderful new tradition giving adult and student instrumentalists and singers the opportunity to perform great works here on the coast."

St. Paul UMC is located at 800 Porter Ave., Ocean Springs. For more information call 228-875-5278.

The Church Has Left the Building 

Members of Vancleave/Mt. Pleasant UMC charge shared a great experience with different kind of worship recently. The event was called The Church Has Left The Building. Instead of members showing up on Sunday morning dressed in their Sunday best ready for the normal worship service, they came ready to take the church out into the world worshiping God outside the four walls of the church.

Nine teams went out of the church to meet God in the world. After a short gathering time the teams broke up and all headed out to the work sites. Some went to the Upper Elementary and weeded flower beds and pulled up railroad ties. Some worked at the Gazebo in town with their red shirts on where everyone that drove by was sure to ask, "What are they doing?" Two teams shared God's love at a local gas station and grocery store by offering hot chocolate and Valentines from God. A large group of folks stayed at the church and made 350 Valentine cards to share as they visited four different nursing homes. One group built a pump house for a church member, another built a wheel chair ramp and a final group built a privacy fence for some of the UMCOR workers.

After all the work was done members went home, cleaned up and gathered together at a special celebration banquet of chili and potato soup prepared and set up by yet another two teams of volunteers. "It was awesome to hear some of the stories and how the church was out in the world instead of sitting in the building," said Rev. Robbie Murden, pastor of the charge. "We did all this to remind us the church is not a building; the church is a people.

Mrs. Jill Rooney, spouse of Rev. Raymond Rooney (Tupelo District-Tupelo: Wesley), will undergo surgery on Friday, Feb. 25. She expects to be at North Mississippi Medical Center for about a week of recovery. Please add the Rooney family to your prayer list.

Rev. Donnell Cherry (Tupelo District-New Hope-Chickasaw) underwent heart surgery on Monday, Feb. 21. He is in the hospital in Desoto County. Please pray for a speedy recovery.

Mrs. Lena Mae Forrest, mother of Rev. Jimmy Forrest (Starkville District - Liberty UMC) passed away Feb. 21, 2011. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Please remember the Forrest family when you pray.

Kay Reagan, mother of Nancy Ruff wife of Rev. Garry Ruff (Seashore District), died peacefully on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. Please keep Nancy, Garry and their family in your prayers.

Barbara Lowe Mitchell, the stepmother of Rev. Connie Shelton, Galloway UMC, passed away Friday, Feb. 18. Funeral services were held Feb.19, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Picayune. Please keep the Shelton's in your prayers.

Rev. Norman Holliday, retired, died on February 11, 2011. Graveside services were held Feb. 15, 2011, at Antioch Baptist Cemetery, Grove Hill, Alabama. Dr. Andy Brasher of Batesville, MS officiated. Rev. Holliday's last appointment was Como, Mississippi in the Senatobia District.

Rev. Girlee Magee, retired Diaconal and grandmother to Rev. Frenchye Magee (Rust College~Chaplain), passed away Feb. 17, 2011 at St.Dominic's Hospital in Jackson. Please keep the Magee family in your prayers.

Rev. Billy McCord (TUP-Bruce/Shady Grove) had an additional surgical procedure on Feb. 17. Please continue to lift up the McCord family.

Joann Potts (surviving spouse - Senatobia District) has undergone additional back surgery at St. Francis Hosp. in Memphis . Problems have emerged and more work must be done. Please keep Joann in your prayers.

Sam Sugg, father of Laura Pepper, passed away in his home in Eudora. Laura is the wife of Rev. Doug Pepper and the mother of Rev. Wesley Pepper, Senatobia District.

Ellisville First United Methodist Church seeks part-time office assistant (8-12 M-F) for energetic office. Needs: Microsoft Office, 50wpm, high school diploma/equivalent, office experience, flexibility, organization. Salary negotiable. Send resume and cover letter including salary requirements to efumcsecretary@gmail.com. No phone calls please.

Gulf Breeze UMC, a 5,000 member congregation with an average weekend attendance of over 2,400, seeks a Director of Student Ministries for its Fairpoint Campus. GBUMC is located in the Pensacola Metro Area on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. This dynamic, innovative congregation strongly supports its ministry to students and has a vision for developing healthy families and homes through Loving Jesus and Loving Like Jesus. A Bachelor's degree is required. Graduate work in theology and youth ministry is preferred and at least 3-5 years experience working and leading in vibrant, effective student ministry programs. Competitive pay with excellent benefits commensurate with experience and moving expenses for relocation. For more information or to apply visit the website at www.gbumc.org or email gbaer@gbumc.org (Gail Baer, Senior Pastor's Executive Assistant).