Intertwined

 

Lo, I tell you a mystery...

-- I Corinthians 15:52

    

May is a poignant month for our family. My father was born in May and died in May. For us, it is a time of life -- new life, abundant life, eternal life. In May, our life is powerfully intertwined with eternity.

May explodes in flowers and resounds with songbirds. God is making all things new. For us here in Mississippi, May is a time of response and recovery -- ministries that witness to our victorious faith.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. The mystery of God's abiding love is the heartbeat of these fifty days of Easter.

The Apostle Paul wrote of resurrection victory and then transitioned at the end of I Corinthians 15 with a concrete exhortation:

Therefore, beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your work is not in vain.

Therefore...a wonderful Easter word for Easter people. Every prayer, gift and act of love shares in the Easter victory as all things in heaven and earth are made new.

Thanks be to God for each of you.
Hope Morgan Ward    

 

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

Kiddie Konference -- Childcare Registration Now Being Accepted

Information and registration forms for childcare are now available online at www.mississippi-umc.org.

Thank you very much for your interest in childcare at the 2011 Mississippi Annual Conference. Childcare for Annual Conference is provided to all members who are attending business sessions of the 2011 Conference, Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12.

Our goal is to provide your child or children with a program they want to attend, while providing you with a "peace of mind" feeling so you can attend Annual Conference.

In order to attend adequately and appropriately to the needs of your children, it is imperative we know how many children will be attending. Pre-registration ensures that we have enough childcare workers on duty. Registration and payment must be received by May 23, 2011. Early bird rates are as follows:

• $15 registration fee per family (non-refundable) ($35 after May 23)
• $20 registration per day session per child (lunch included)

Please refer to your 2011 Pre-Conference Workbook, or the Annual Conference Website for registration forms.

Nudged to GO

You are invited to join the Evangelism Team of the Mississippi Conference as we Nudge our way to Conference. Each week leading up to the 2011 Mississippi Annual Conference you will receive a weekly Nudge in the Circuit Rider along with a specific prayer request for the week. In the Nudged to GO message we will lift our prayers and petitions to God who promises to hear them.

Where he leads me I will follow...
I'll go with him, with him all the way.

--From E.W. Blandy's hymn, Where He Leads Me (1890)

What a familiar hymn with a comforting call. Through the garden, the judgment, and into grace and glory we go. But we do not go alone. The one who goes with us is not just a leader who expects us to follow. He is a nudger, and he wants for us to nudge each other, too.

In his book, Nudge, Leonard Sweet revolutionizes the familiar word "evangelism" into a "nudge." And he renames those who do the work of evangelism as "nudgers." As we approach this year's Annual Conference and this theme of "Arise! Shine! Go!" how might we journey with Christ and with one another to this exciting time together?

Over the next 40 days, let us turn to some of the "nudges" of Leonard Sweet that encourage us to lead and to follow. Watch for emails that will include quotations for Sweet's book. Ponder these words, and search for ways to make them a reality in your life. Going "all the way" with Christ need not be scary for we walk with God and one another. Let us nudge as we have been nudged into a new day of sharing the good news by arising, shining, and going.

Week 1: Prayer Request
May 1 - May 7, 2011 -- Pray daily for all affected by the recent tornados and the response teams.

Gulfport First Support Groups
New Session to Begin May

Gulfport's First UMC announces new sessions of two ongoing community outreach programs. Both programs begin Thursday, May 19 and will run for ten weeks.

The Divorce Recovery Workshop offers support for persons who are going through the upheaval of a divorce or separation. Participants hear local counseling professionals speak on divorce issues, and then spend the remainder of the time in sharing and discussion.

The Grief Recovery Workshop offers a caring environment for persons dealing with the aftermath of the death of a loved one. Participants are given the opportunity to share with one another and to hear speakers on various aspects of grief.

Both programs meet at 7 p.m. at Gulfport First, on the corner of 15th Street and 23rd Avenue in downtown Gulfport. The workshop fee is $30, which includes a book. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, call 228-229-6851. Note: Childcare is not available during the summer session.

Changes Set for Ministry to Young People, Part 2 Conference Coaching Network    

In the past, every district has been allowed to have two to three adult leaders on Conference Council on Youth Ministries, along with its elected student leaders. The District Superintendent in cooperation with the Young Persons Minister of the conference office appoints these leaders. The Conference is creating a structure that will continue to allow for two to three adult leaders, but with one of those being appointed as the Youth Ministry Coach and Resourcer for the District. This is a new initiative created with the purpose of educating and equipping those who work and volunteer with youth.

This will be a new addition to our structure and has great advantages to the local churches that are looking to either strengthen their existing youth ministry or looking to start a new youth ministry. The primary responsibility of our coaches will be two-fold. First, their responsibility will be to partner with local churches in the district and the conference by coaching and training youth leader, volunteer or paid. This includes group training and individual coaching. Second, this group will work together in order to create and align resources accessible to all of our local churches for the purpose of ministering to youth.

As this network develops over the next few months, you will receive information on how to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. In the next few weeks, the Conference will make available a list and contacts of the coaches for each district. For more information on the changes please contact Frank Haynes at frank@mississippi-umc.org.

If you missed Part 1 of the Changes in Ministry to Young People refer to the 4-19-11 issue of the Circuit Rider here.

Community Emergency Response Team
Held at Hernando UMC    

By Cynthia Laird, Senatobia District
Communications Coordinator

Hernando UMC hosted a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class presented by DeSoto County Emergency Services, from Friday, April 29 - Sunday, May 1. Approximately thirty students participated, and instructors included Bobby Storey, Tim Curtis, Mike Hancock, and Dicky Storey. Other emergency and safety personnel, communications experts, and several other community service volunteers gave additional assistance. With the loss of lives and storm damage due to tornados and flooding, the presenters had to deal with important matters during their presentations. On Saturday, Tim Curtis even had to stop by the courthouse to administer first aid as he was coming to teach us. Our instructors managed to balance teaching the class while providing guidance to other emergency personnel. Tim spoke about our enthusiasm to learn, and the great need for us to be ready to serve quickly as the reasons the training was not cancelled or rescheduled.

Now that our basic CERT training is complete, we know much more about emergency response, and we also know that there is so much more that we could learn that would help others who are injured or endangered, and those injured or endangered may one day include us and our families and friends. The instructors encouraged us to take a more comprehensive first aid class. They also told us that there is always a great need for volunteers. Volunteering time to help with record keeping, cutting the grass, raising or lowering the flag as appropriate, or helping with other things at emergency offices means so much to those who have dedicated their lives to serve and protect us. If there is an agency that has a special place in your heart, why not contact them to see if there is some way that you can be of service to them. To read the full story link here.

Rev. Rose Mary Williams (Mt. Zion UMC/Seashore District) was admitted Monday eventing to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. Rev. Williams is the spouse of Rev. Theodore Williams (St. Paul, Pass Christian/Seashore District) who shares she is currently in ICU on 5th Floor and scheduled for a range of tests. Please keep the Williams family in your thoughts and prayers.

A special blood drive will be held for Mary Kathryn Broughton 2-year-old daughter of Rev. Scott Broughton, at Mt. Pleasant UMC, 8 Methodist St., Mt. Pleasant, MS on Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the blood drive call the church at 662-851-7301. For updates on Mary Kathryn's condition you may visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/m-kat.

Sammy McDonald, husband of Rev. Cecele McDonald, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and another spot in his right lung of undetermined nature. Please remember Sammy, Cecele and the family in your prayers. Cecele is pastor at Ovett UMC in the Hattiesburg District.

Rev. Curtis Cain, retired elder living in Waynesboro, has received a positive report on two of twelve biopsies for cancer. He has appointments with doctors the next two weeks to get final test results and treatment recommendations. Please remember Curtis and Mary in your prayers.

Rev. Wayne Bass' father, John Marshall Jones, passed away April 28, 2011. Arrangements are incomplete. Please keep the family in your prayers. Wayne is pastor of St. Paul and St. John UMC's in Hattiesburg.

Gavin Freeman, brother of Rev. Glenn Freeman of the Brookhaven District, passed away April 26 ,2011. Services were held at Morton First UMC with graveside services at Mutual Rights Congregational Methodist Church in Avery. Please remember the Freeman family in your prayers.

Wallace Gill, former conference president of the United Methodist Men and John Wesley Fellow, passed away on April 26, 2011. Wallace served as Sheriff of Jackson County from 1984 - 1988. He served Eastlawn UMC in many capacities as a true servant of the Lord. Funeral services were held at Eastlawn UMC on April 30, 2011. Please be in prayer for his wife, Theresa and his daughter, Suzanne. Wallace was also the beloved brother-in-law of Robert Sharp, MS UM Katrina Recovery Coordinator.

Mrs. Peggy Smith, former secretary of the Brookhaven District, passed away April 30, 2011. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 3, 2011 followed by burial in the Wesson Cemetery.

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.