Arise, Shine, Give!

 

 ...we love because Christ first loved us and gave himself for us --  I John  

It is my prayer that you are experiencing joy and fruitfulness in your ministry and growing in the grace of generosity.

 

Three opportunities are offered to assist laity and clergy in Christian stewardship and joyful giving:

• Message & Media: Communications Training for the Local Church for laity and clergy (August 12-13, 2011 at St. Paul UMC, Ocean Springs)
• 3-L Academy for clergy (August 15-16, 2011 in Jackson)
• Administry Training for laity and clergy (beginning September 10)  

These three opportunities offer training helpful in communicating what it means to be a church connected in vital ministry.  For more information or to register for a workshop please visit the conference website at www.mississippi-umc.org .

 

I am grateful for our life together in Christ and for all that lies ahead for us together.  As I can be helpful to you and the churches you lead in this focus area of extravagant generosity, I look forward to doing so.

 

With gratitude for God's amazing grace,

Hope Morgan Ward    

   

Register Online for Message & Media
August 12-13          

 

Information and registration is now online for Message & Media: Communications for the Local Church. The workshop will be held August 12 -13 at St. Paul UMC, Ocean Springs. Registration fee is $25 and includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch. 1 CEU is available for full participation in the event or ½ CEU for Saturday only.   

 

Keynote speaker for the event is comedian and motivational humorist Mack Dryden. Dryden, a native of Moss Point  has spent his career making people laugh and having a positive impact on their lives.  He's appeared on numerous TV shows, including  The Tonight Show with both Johnny and Jay, The Guardian, JAG, and the ABC's "Paradise" on which he was a regular for two seasons, and Bill Maher picked him for the writing staff of ABC'S Politically Incorrect. He's a two-time cancer survivor who also survived a harrowing stay in an African prison, and finally "the sharks in showbiz who stab you in the front!"  Now based in Louisville, KY, Mack travels the country inspiring audiences and telling hilarious, moving stories about the challenges he's overcome to reach his goals.

 

For more information and to register for Message & Media click here.  

Mississippi UMVIM Gathering Set for Oct. 22  

    

Mississippi United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) will gather at the UM Foundation Office in Ridgeland on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 10 a.m. to noon with lunch at a local restaurant following the meeting. For more information contact UMVIM Coordinator David Newton at wesleydn@bellsouth.net.

 The Advance Releases 10-Fold Tool-Kit 

   

To help churches share the work of the United Methodist Church across the world the General Board of Global Ministries has released details for this year's 10-Fold online event. With new United Methodist projects being featured and a more streamlined way to become an advocate to help secure support, The Advance wants to reach out to more people earlier and continue to raise awareness of the important work being done around the world. To make things easy, they have created the 10-Fold Toolkit with all the information you need to know about 10-Fold and suggestions for how you can spread the work to your conference, church, family, and friends.

 

While 10-Fold begins on October 10, sharing information about how to be a part of it can start today-in your church newsletter, an email, through social media, or on your website. Click here for a downloadable copy of the Toolkit. To learn more about 10-Fold visit the Web site at www.10-fold.org . 

 

Celebrate a Jubilee Year at Christ UMC

Christ UMC in Jackson is excited to be celebrating its Jubilee Year!  The congregation will celebrate on Sunday, August 14, 2011 at both the 9:30 and 10:50 a.m. services with a church-wide lunch afterwards.  For more information and to reserve a free lunch ticket, please call the church at 601-956-6974.

Interfaith Witness Supports Medicare, Medicaid

More than 50 faith groups issue statement of principles to guide administration, Congress in budget deliberations

More than 50 interfaith organizations sent a statement today that emphatically urges the Obama administration and Congress to protect Medicaid and Medicare in their budget negotiations. The statement from faith leaders representing millions of Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists emphasizes that the two programs provide critical health-care for the most vulnerable in U.S. society.

Medicaid provides comprehensive health coverage to low-income persons, the elderly and people with disabilities. It ranges from paying for nearly 40 percent of births to funding long-term care of seven out of 10 nursing-home residents.

Medicare is the primary source of health insurance for the nation's seniors.

 

Endorsers of the statement represent both national and state organizations. Other endorsers are being sought to add their names as individuals or as organizations to the statement.

 

The faith groups cite "shared" principles they urge elected officials to consider.

 

Each person should be afforded health, wholeness and human dignity.

 

All individuals deserve equal access to quality, affordable, inclusive and accountable health care.

 

The social safety net, including health care, must be maintained to reflect our shared commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.

 

Concern for the most vulnerable is at the heart of our sacred texts and an affirmation of our common humanity.

 

Caring for our elders demonstrates how we value our responsibility to enable living out the fullness of life.

 

"Reducing health-care options for some based on any of these factors is profoundly unjust," the faith groups declare.

 

The statement points out that Medicaid and Medicare address these shared principles and "help fulfill our moral obligation" to the most vulnerable members of society.

 

The guiding principles were coordinated by the Faithful Reform in Health Care Coalition and the Washington, D.C., offices of national faith groups.

 

To read The Interfaith Statement of Principles: click here    

 

To view list of interfaith endorsers of statement to date, link here    

Links to sign on to the Statement of Principles:

Organizational endorsement  

Individual endorsement  

 

For more information, contact: the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care at the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society, 202-488-5636 or cabrams@umc-gbcs.org; or the Rev. Linda .   

Rev Steve Tillman, pastor at Gitano UMC in the Hattiesburg District, was admitted to Forrest General Hospital last week for tests.  Please remember Steve, Marion and Stephen in your prayers.

Christ UMC in Jackson has many children's music books, including complete sets for children's musical programs, which we would like to share with other churches. Please call 601-914-7108 or email missions@christunitedjxn.org for more information.

Shiloh UMC needs a small organ for camp meeting services July 29 - August 7. If someone has one in their home they might rent or sell. The organ we used for this has died! Thanks for your help! Contact Terri Robinson at Shiloh UMC: 601-854-8158 or by cell phone: 601-953-3294.

Minor Memorial UMC in Walls, MS (near Memphis, TN) is seeking a full-time Youth Minister. This person will assume the responsibilities of developing and implementing programs (including weekly gatherings on Sunday and Wednesday night), activities, and mission opportunities for the youth of our church in grades 7-12. This person will also work with a newly created Youth Ministry Team to ensure that certain values established by the church are met. Candidates should be organized and able to effectively communicate with youth, their families, and staff. Candidates should also have a strong personal commitment to Christ and a desire to lead youth to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Salary is commensurate with experience. Please send resumes to Rev. Amanda Gordon, 6120 Goodman Rd W, Walls, MS 38680 or amandaMMUMC@gmail.com.

Oxford University United Methodist Church, located in the historic district of Oxford, Mississippi, with strong ties and commitment to the surrounding community, seeks a Church Administrator. OUUMC is a community of faith that exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ by letting people know they matter to God by showing them they matter to us so that others will matter to them. For additional information on OUUMC, please visit www.ouumc.org. The Church Administrator is responsible for managing the business and administrative operations of the church and its property, and the Church Administrator will work with the pastoral and lay staff members to achieve the mission and objectives of the church community. The person in this position will extend the ministry of the church to our staff, our members and the surrounding community. For a detailed job description along with job requirements, please visit www.ouumc.org and click on the link for Church Administrator Job Posting.

The Seashore United Methodist Assembly (SUMA) in Biloxi, MS is actively seeking an Executive Director. This is a full-time position with on-site housing provided. The Executive Director will act as chief operating officer and staff manager for the assembly. A job position overview is available upon request. Please submit resumes as well as any questions to Rev. Ben Barlow at benbarlow@mac.com.