Sufficiency

 

"Whenever two or more are gathered, something is born in the soil of our having joined in one another's open-hearted company."

I like Wayne Muller's paraphrase of Jesus' words. Whenever we gather, Jesus is in our midst. And where Jesus is, there is always sufficiency.

Compassion and generosity are born from the sufficiency God gives us for all days, all circumstances. There is enough -- enough wisdom, enough love, enough grace -- for us. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I am reading again Wayne Muller's "A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough" -- a book commended to you all some time ago. Building on the themes of his book "Sabbath", he urges deep trust in God that transforms our compulsive perfectionism and frantic effort into strong and gentle connection and fruitfulness in our Christian witness.

Wayne Muller is deeply committed to Mississippi, having led groups here many times, particularly since Hurricane Katrina. He has graciously agreed to lead the annual September spiritual life retreat of the extended cabinet.

I will draw from his work as we gather for district days this fall. I hope you will read -- and re-read -- "A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough" -- and rejoice in the sufficiency that is ours through the overflowing grace of God.

With gratitude for your partnership in ministry,
Hope Morgan Ward    

 

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

   

General/Jurisdictional Delegates Elect Leaders and Set Assignments      

McAlilly

 

Immediately following the 2011 Annual Conference, the elected delegates to the 2012 General and Jurisdictional Conference met to organize and prepare for the business of representing the Mississippi Conference in the 2012 General Conference in Tampa Florida April 24-May 4, 2012. The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will be held at Lake Junaluska on July 18-20, 2012.

Elected to head the delegation is Bill McAlilly, currently serving asSeashore District Superintendent. The delegation also unanimously endorsed McAlilly as our Episcopal nominee. The

Arant

Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will elect five new bishops who will begin serving in 2012 - 2016 quadrennium. At this conference appointments of bishops will be made for the next four years.

Other elected positions include Turner Arant of Indianola as vice chair; David Stotts of Madison, secretary; and Lisa Garvin ofJackson as assistant secretary. The delegates will meet often before General Conference to prepare with the next meeting being in the late summer.

The members and their related committee assignment to date are as follows:
Church and Society 2: Mike Childs

Stotts

and Turner Arant
Conferences: Bill McAlilly and Elizabeth Cumbest
Discipleship: Mattie Gibson
Faith and Order: Connie Shelton and Anne Herrignton
Financial Administration: David Stotts
General Administration: Joe May
Global Ministries: Timothy Crisler
Judicial Administration: Ricky James
Local Church: Martha Scarborough
Ministry and Higher Education: David Beckley and Lisa Garvin

The first three elected delegates for jurisdictional conference will serve as alternates to general conference. Cler

Garvin

gy alternates are Andy Ray, Bob Rambo and Embra Jackson. Lay alternates areBill Smallwood, Mary Ford and William D. Scott III.

Please commit to pray for your delegates from now through the conference as they seek to do God's will for our church.

Official 2012 United Methodist Calendars Now Available!     

 

Your source for:
· Monthly 
   planning
   checklists
· Lectionary
   readings
· Liturgical colors
· Special Sundays information

Place your order:
· Online: UMCOM.org/Calendars
· Phone: 888-346-3862
· Email: csc@umcom.org

The African-American Women's Leadership Conference set for Sept. 15-17, 2011   

The Strong Black Woman:

Poised with Grace-Filled Authority

The African-American Women's Leadership Conference is scheduled for Sept. 15 -17 at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. The conference provides African-American women clergy and laity an opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills for ministry and to promote and practice self-care specifically as it relates to living as African-American Christian women.

Attendees will learn the foundation and importance of having their own program of self-care to form a more solid footing for more excellent ministry whether clergy or laity and will have opportunities to network and build stronger bonds with other women throughout the church.

The following topics will be explored and connections with living one's faith demonstrated:

• Addressing Racism, sexism and sexual harassment in church and society
• Women's Health Issues: Stress, Depression and Cardiovascular Disease
• Making Relationships Work: Personal and Professional
• Leadership Styles: Living with Grace-filled Authority

In addition to addressing these issues, this conference will be a time of inspiring and powerful worship led by successful and inspiring leaders such as Rev. Candace Lewis, Rev. Dr. Renita Thomas, Ms. Jennifer Davis, Rev. Dr. Sherry Austin, Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson and Rev. Telley Gadson. Others are to be announced. Women from all over the Southeastern Jurisdiction and beyond are encouraged to be a part of this life-transforming experience. The participants will come away with new insights to help them use their gifts for even greater glory to God and draw even closer to God and to their sisters in Christ.

For registration and additional information, please visit: www.lakejunaluska.com/african-american-women for additional information.

Wesleyanna UMC Summer Revival
July 31 - August 2    

Wesleyanna UMC in Star invites everyone to their summer revival, where attendees will celebrate the household of God, welcome all people to the Lord's table, and venture forth as the renewed family of Christ! Each evening dinner will be shared together at 6:30 p.m., followed by guest preachers from a variety of ministry settings in the conference, and great songs will be sung! Guest preachers will be challenged to tackle the topic "What Does a 21st-Century Revived United Methodism Look Like?" On Tuesday night, the final worship will celebrate Holy Communion, and afterwards, attendees are invited to a post-revival pool party!

Schedule of Preachers:

• Sunday morning, 10:30 a.m. - Rev. Brad Corban preaching on the obstacles and opportunities of 21st-century United Methodism
• Sunday evening, 6:30 p.m. - Rev. Theon Johnson, music minister at Canton UMC and newly appointed chaplain at Jackson State University
• Monday evening, 6:30 p.m.- Rev. Buddy Bayliss pastor of Adaton UMC and Longview UMC in Starkville
• Tuesday evening, 6:30 p.m. - Rev. Emily Sanford, associate pastor at Galloway UMC in Jackson
• Rev. Justin White, associate pastor at Wells UMC, Jackson will be the guest music leader.

For more information email Rev. Brad Corban at bradcorban@yahoo.com.

Rust College and Mississippi Industrial College Celebrate the 10th Reunion of Reunions

July 8-10, 2011 "Remembering, Reflecting, Reconnecting"

         

Alumni of Rust College and Mississippi Industrial College are invited to celebrate and remember their college days during the 10th Reunion of Reunions, scheduled for July 8-10, 2011 on the campus of Rust College.

The weekend is promised to be filled with excitement, allowing alumni to reunite with old classmates and friends. The Reunion of Reunions began in 1983 to allow Rust graduates to reconvene. The event was opened to the alumni of Mississippi Industrial College in 2006. The successful organization of both associations helps in the joint mission to provide continued educational opportunities.

This Reunion of Reunions will kick off Friday, July 8, 2011, with the Celebrity Golf Tournament, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Kirkwood National Golf Course, 277 Palmer Lane in Holly Springs, near Highway 4 West.

We welcome any teams and hole sponsors who would like to participate.
Registration for the Reunion is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the Doxey Alumni Fine Arts Communication Center, on campus. The Gulf Coast Seafood Party and Fashion Show will be held in Shaw Cafeteria, Friday, July 8, 2011, at 7 p.m. This fashion show will feature professional models as well as alumni from Rust College and Mississippi Industrial College.
Several activities have been planned for the weekend including various class meetings, a picnic, and a tour of Holly Springs. The Necrology Service will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011 in the James A. Elam Chapel, at 9:30 a.m., to pay tribute to deceased alumni from Rust College and Mississippi Industrial College.

The Reunion party will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011 beginning at 9 p.m. in the Eddie L. Smith Multi-purpose Center, located at 235 North Memphis Street in Holly Springs.

We look forward to seeing Rust College alumni, Mississippi Industrial College alumni and friends.

If you have not registered for the 10th Reunion of Reunions or the Celebrity Golf Tournament, please do so and join us for a great time. For further information, please call Margie Green at 662-252-8000 ext. 4913, Adrienne Phillips at 662-252-8000 ext. 4917 or Dr. Ishmell Edwards at 662-252-8000 ext. 4014.

Mississippi Pastor Named Men's Ministry Specialist  

Rev. Rickey Haynes, a M.Div. graduate of Memphis Theological Seminary and a graduate of the No Man Left Behind Leadership Training Center for Men's Evangelism and Discipleship, has been certified as a men's ministry specialist by the Nashville-based General Commission on United Methodist Men. As a men's ministry specialist Haynes is now available to help Mississippi churches reach men within and beyond their congregations.

Now in his eighth year of service as pastor of the two-point Coldwater Charge in northwest Mississippi, Haynes says, "I have wondered if this heart-felt desire to serve in ministry to men might eventually pass, but over and over again the fire continues to be re-ignited and I continue to really desire to make myself available for service in other areas and venues beyond the local churches I am blessed to serve."

Haynes serves as treasurer of Mississippi Conference United Methodist Men. "I became convinced some time ago that revival and renewal among men is a key to revival and renewal in the church universal, but especially the United Methodist Church," he says.

Certification for the men's ministry specialist takes 12-18 months and is completed with the guidance of the Turner Center for Church Development at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Churches interested in receiving guidance from Haynes, may contact him at rickeyhaynes23@bellsouth.net (cell phone 662-560-3449)

Herman Gibbs, husband of Rev. Anjohnette Gibss, had a successful heart transplant Tuesday night, June 21. He is doing very well, is walking and eating. Anjohnette says "We give God thanks and praise!" I know they covet your continued prayers for Herman as he heals. Rev. Gibbs is the pastor of the Belzoni Circuit.

Chris Taylor, husband of Rev. Barbara Taylor, (Jackson: Van Winkle), was bitten by a dog on the arm causing an infection. He had surgery of the infected area last week. Please keep the Taylor family in your thoughts and prayers.

Because of last minute travel arrangements, LifeBridge Church, a new United Methodist Community in Southaven, MS, is in need of borrowing or renting a 15-passenger van for the week of July 24-30 to transport youth and adults to Orlando, FL for an urban mission trip. If your church has a reliable van to share, we would be most grateful. Because LifeBridge is insured by the conference insurance administered by Gallagher, it is my understanding churches with the same insurance would be fully covered. Please contact Pastor Stephen Bittick at 901-996-1454 or sbittick@lifebridgechurch.net if you can help.

Solid oak church furniture in excellent condition for sale:  Eighteen 12' long and three 10' 8" long solid oak pews with removable seating pads-each pew includes two bookracks; One closed Communion Table; and One Pulpit Podium.

For further information, please call Rev. Dwight Prowell at 601-366-8071 or 601-291-8228.

Fulton UMC is taking applications for full or part-time Youth Minister. Youth Minister will work with youth in grades 7 through 12 and their families. Responsibilities include leading youth studies, activities, and mission projects. Send resumes to Fulton United Methodist Church P. O. Box 907 Fulton, MS 38843 Attention: Youth Minister Search.

Ellisville First United Methodist Church seeks a part-time music minister. To learn more visit http://bit.ly/lRrMnJ. To apply send resume and cover letter to Rev. John Richardson at jdricha@gmail.com.

Iuka UMC is taking applications for full-time youth and program minister. The ministry role consists of working with youth in grades 7 through 12 and their families. Responsibilities include leading youth studies on Wednesday and Sunday nights, activities, and mission projects. The program ministry role consists of working with church work areas in an administrative/ support role. Send resumes to Iuka United Methodist Church, 101 East Eastport Street, Iuka, MS 38852 Attention: Youth/Program Minister Search. Or email to revjonk@bellsouth.net.