Easter People
and Easter Places

 

If then you are raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is...

-- Colossians 3:1

    

As Easter people, we are courageously and joyfully engaged in God's great purpose -- the new creation. Easter celebrates the renewal, redemption and rebirth of all things through Christ. The scriptural landscape for Easter is wide and spectacular -- a new heaven and a new earth!

On our first day in Ireland it rained through the sunlight. The rainbow was glorious. I uttered words of delight, pointing to it. An Irish child passing looked and then said dismissively, "We have them every day."

Let us be alive to the glory of Easter as it comes again, invading our world with victorious hope. Springtime and flowers and butterflies are glorious signs, pointing to holy energy, which cannot be contained. God is the source of a "new creation launched on a surprised world," to use the words of N. T. Wright.

This week I am at work with the Cabinet toward the announcement on Sunday of clergy and churches who will soon be in transition of leadership. This is annual work. It is also Easter work: each church and each clergy leader are called to be living signs of glorious hope. Let us pray for one another, in every beginning, ending and continuation. Christ, alive and victorious is with us!

With gratitude for the joy in Christ we share,
Hope Morgan Ward    

 

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

Mother's Day "Feast for a Queen"
to Benefit Broughton Child

The Brookhaven District will sponsor a fund-raiser to benefit Mary Katherine Broughton on Mother's Day, May 8, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mary Katherine is the two-year-old daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Scott Broughton, pastor of Sandy Hook UMC who was diagnosed with aplastic anemia six weeks ago and is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

The "Feast for a Queen" will be held at the Brookhaven First Ministry Center with the feast being prepared by Rev. Eddie Spenser and his crew. The cost for lunch buffet is $12 per person and includes cranberry glazed Cornish hen, smoked pork loin with roasted apples, catfish etouffee, elegant stroganoff meatballs with Portobello mushrooms and much more.

Proceeds will go to assist the Broughton family with their expenses. For more information contact the Brookhaven District office at brodistumc@bellsouth.net.

The Parchman Hour Headed Back to Mississippi 

 

For those who missed seeing a performance of The Parchman Hour by Mike Wiley Productions, you will get another chance. The group has been invited to present the play for as part of the 50th Anniversary of the 1961 Freedom Rides, marking a pivotal point in the evolution of the civil rights movement.

Over 100 Freedom Riders and their families will travel to Mississippi to reunite with their colleagues and tell their compelling stories about the struggle to eradicate racial segregation in interstate travel that changed the course of American history.

Youth and adults are invited to take part in the inspiring series of events that will take them to historically black colleges; Parchman Penitentiary, where Freedom Riders were imprisoned; the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial; the site of Emmett Till's fateful encounter; houses of worship; community-based organizations; and civil rights legacy destinations. For more information link here.

Columbus St. James UMC
Holds Pre-Easter Celebration     

 

April 16 was filled with laughter and fun at St. James UMC. Columbus First Church in Columbus partnered with St. James to have a pre-Easter celebration, which included an egg hunt, family portraits, a space jump, and lunch. It was fun for everyone when Mother Goose showed up to take pictures with the children and the laughter and squeals could not be matched when the kids started the egg hunt.

Rev. Fred Brown, pastor of St. James, stated he hoped this would be the first of many such gatherings. The celebration was open to everyone in the community and free to all. There was a tremendous turnout with at least 100 children, half of which were just community children.

Rev. Tony Proctor, associate pastor at Columbus First, took the pictures and printed them out to give away on the spot. Even youth from the churches showed up to help hide eggs and paint faces. Overall, this celebration was a great outreach program/celebration for the entire community. Everyone could be seen talking, smiling and just having fun. The churches hope to make this an annual event.

There will be a bone marrow screening for Mary Katherine Broughton at Columbia UMC, Wesley Center on Thursday, April 28 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Ages 18 to 60 are eligible to be tested. There is no cost for the testing and this is great because it usually runs about $30. There is no pain involved, it is a simple cheek swab. Mary Katherine is the daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Scott Broughton and is need of a bone marrow transplant.

Rev. Joe Humphries (retired) died Monday, April 25. The funeral will be held in Eupora on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 11 a.m. with visitation prior to the services. Details regarding location will be forthcoming. Please remember his wife Pat and daughters Robin McDaniel and Beverly Jones when you pray.

Maxine Cumbest Davis, mother of Rev. David Cumbest, Rev. Chris Cumbest and Lisa Cumbest Michiels, director of communication for the conference, is in Singing River Hospital recovering from hip replacement. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

Nobia Hare, wife of Rev. James Hare, Meridian District, is in South Central Regional Medical Center, in Laurel. Mrs. Hare will be undergoing surgery to have both her legs amputated, later this week.Please keep the Hare family in your thoughts and prayers, during this difficult time.

Anderson Chapel CME Church in Holly Springs, is looking for a church musician (organ or piano). If you are interested, please call Pastor Denise Anders-Modest at 662-252-1938 for more information.

Rust College is receiving applications for the campus nurse's position. A RN is desired, but will consider a LPN with experience. Contact Ms. Patricia Pegues, Director of Personnel, at 662-252-2491 or ppegues@rustcollege.edu.

Oxford-University UMC, a vibrant and growing 1,700-member congregation in Oxford, Mississippi, is looking for an energetic and passionate full-time Director of Ministry to Youth and their Families. Building on a current core group of about 50 active youth, the Director will be responsible for leading and expanding an integrated youth ministry. The Youth Ministries mission statement is: We exist to experience God by loving and serving God and one another. The program serves youth and their families from seventh grade through twelfth grade. For more information on O-UUMC, visit www.ouumc.org.
The successful candidate will have at least five years total experience in youth ministry, with at least three years at the last church served. Previous experience should also include employment in a medium (+500) member church and experience in facing the particular challenges of ministry in a college town. A master's degree in Christian Education, Divinity, etc. is preferred. Submit resumes by email to ouumcyouthministries@gmail.com.

Diamondhead UMC is now taking applications for the positions of Worship Leader for our Celebration Service and pianist for our Heritage Service. These positions are part-time and one person could fill both positions. For more information or a copy of the job description contact Pastor Oscar McGough at brothero@cableone.net.

Brandon First UMC is seeking a part-time Children's Program Director to plan, coordinate, and implement ministry for children age 2 through fourth grade. Submit resume to Kminshew@comcast.net.

Rewarding Summer Counselor Spots Available: Young college students looking for invaluable experience in ministry this summer can apply for one of our paid Summer Counselor positions at Seashore United Methodist Assembly's Camp SUMA. Counselors are provided room and board and will be given the perfect opportunity to develop their interpersonal and leadership skills in a loving, Christ-Centered camp environment. Job responsibilities will include facilitating small groups, leading in-door and out-door challenge games, lifeguarding, but most importantly will act as role models to campers by spreading the love of Jesus Christ. Please contact Ginger at 228-806-9853 or ginger.suma@gmail.com. Seashore United Methodist Assembly, "Camp SUMA," is located in Biloxi, MS.