Gratitude to
Clergy Families

 

  ...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God... 

 

We give thanks today for clergy families -- for those among us who love and support clergy across the Mississippi Conference.

  

Spouses, children, parents, siblings, dear friends are all relationships through which God's strength flows to us all as clergy lead churches. 

 

It is both a blessing and a challenge to be closely connected to clergy!  No one knows this better than Dr. Mackie Norris, who will be here September 16-17 to lead a retreat for clergy spouses at Cabot Lodge on County Line Rd in Jackson.

 

Dr. Norris is a nurse and nursing educator, a wellness advocate, a mentor of clergy spouses, a mother and a grandmother.  She is the spouse of Bishop Alfred Norris and in retirement devotes energy and experience to issues of health and wholeness for congregations, clergy, spouses, and families.  She has been the discussion leader for spouses in districts, annual conferences, and general church settings, including training events for new bishops, district superintendents, and directors of connectional ministries.   

 

Dr. Norris knows our geography as a graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans.  She holds a Master of Nursing degree and a Ph. D. from Emory University where she served as an associate professor in the Woodruff School of Nursing.

 

I hope that laity and clergy will encourage clergy spouses to take advantage of this time apart, well led by Dr. Norris.  It will be a blessed time of sharing, connecting, learning, truth telling, and renewing of spirits.  To register for the retreat send a check for $50 to MS Clergy Spouses, Sheranne McGraw 3005 Hubbard Rd. Courtland MS 38620. THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS AUGUST 24. The $50 includes your room (double occupancy, you may specify a roommate), supper on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.  Registration and check-in begin at 3 pm on Friday with supper at 6 pm on Friday and the program starting at 7 p.m.  "Who Am I and Why Am I Here?"  promises to be a blessing to all who attend.

 

I have served on the Church Systems Task Force with Dr. Norris during this quadrennium and delight in her friendship, wisdom, honesty, humor and strong faith.  It is a delight to welcome her to Mississippi in September.

 

With gratitude to God for those closest to us this day,
Hope Morgan Ward    

   

Don't Miss Message & Media --
Communications for the Local Church          

By Paige Swaim-Presley, Seashore District Communicator

 

Is your church looking for a fun, practical way to reach and retain new people?  Christian Washington, founder of REAL Coaching, offers some great tools for doing just that.   

 

Washington has been coaching a group of churches in the Seashore District for the last year.  His impact there has been wonderful.  From Christmas and Easter to animal blessings and Labor Day lunches, his program achieves visible results.  It's all designed to help your church build on its strengths as you reach out to your community.   

 

And Washington is never boring!  His high-energy teaching style will have you laughing out loud, talking and planning for your ministry before you know it.  Most importantly, he teaches from a Christ-like perspective.

 

On August 12 and 13, Christian will be teaching an events-based growth session at this year's Message & Media conference.   Those in this conference who have worked with Christian Washington and REAL Coaching before strongly encourage you to attend the conference and his session.  You will walk away with a smile, and some great tools for building up your church's ministries.

 

Note:  Message & Media's Friday evening keynote address by comedian Mack Dryden will be the first in a series of events presented by St. Paul UMC, Ocean Springs as they put into practice event-based growth. Click here for more information and to register.

Susanne Gill Named Seashore
Assembly Administrator  

    

The Seashore United Methodist Assembly Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Susanne Gill as its new Facility Administrator.

  

A Mississippi Coast native, Susanne has lived and worked for the past 17 years in Nashville, TN in the areas of marketing, human resources and corporate communications for EMI Christian Music Group.  She has a history with Seashore as both a camper and bringing youth for retreats when she served as Youth Director at First United Methodist Church in Pascagoula. Her position will embody the traditional duties of the Executive Director while also championing the future strategic development and growth of Seashore and its ministries.  

 

The Seashore United Methodist Assembly has served as a Christian retreat center for 139 years.  As we enter into our 140th year of service, we are excited to continue providing space for retreats, meetings, conferences and group gatherings, while also launching new multi-generational programming and serving our community here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

UMW Extends an Invitation to a Briefing on General Conference Issues 

    

United Methodist Women and the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women are planning a briefing on General Conference issues with the purposes of:

1. Informing delegates of legislation related to women in the United Methodist Church
2. Strategizing together ways and opportunities to brief delegates; and 
3. Providing an opportunity to network among delegates.

The proposed date of the briefing is February 17-18, 2012, beginning 2 p.m. on the 17th and ending at 3 p.m. on the 18th in St. Louis, MO, USA.  Live streaming and web-casting is also being planned.

 

Would you go on the following Survey Link:

https://ww2.eventrebels.com/er/Survey/OnlineSurveyPage.jsp?SurveyID=505&Token=WS6R9349L8TACYRB3V5NMUQ6MN

and tell us if you would be 1) interested and available to attend the briefing, 2) able to raise funds through your annual conference for your transportation, or 3) will participate by tuning in on the web only?

 

The United Methodist Women's Division and The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women have plans to fund accommodations and onsite meals for TWO (2) people from each annual conference.  Travel to St. Louis would be on your own or through funds raised by your annual conference or other means.

Deadline for your Response: August 5, 2011 

Centenary UMC McComb to Hold Worship Musicians Workshop  

 

Singer, song writer, and award winning worship leader, J. Brian Hill will highlight the Worship Musicians Workshop at Centenary UMC in McComb, on August 20, 2011. Breakout sessions include Choosing Appropriate Songs for Your Worshiping Church; Sound Advice-Creating the Perfect Sound for Your Service or Event; Prayer -- Preparing Your Heart; Choosing Your Team/Choir or Worship Team -- Is There a Difference; and Writing Worship Songs and Simple Arrangements. Hill will also be performing a worship concert at 6 p.m. the evening of Aug. 20 and leading worship on Wednesday, Aug. 21. For registration information go to www.centenary-umc.net.  For more information contact Christopher Hart, Director of Music and Arts Centenary UMC at 601-684-6698.

Pastors' School 2011: Called to Fruitfulness in Ministry, September 19-21

Those who serve the church as clergy are called neither to success as our culture defines it nor to faithfulness alone. We are called to bear fruit worthy of the gospel!

 

Tom Berlin & Lovett Weems, co-authors of Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results, will be featured at Pastors' School, September 19-21.  They invite pastors: to claim this biblical vocation anew; to examine our contribution as stewards of the church's mission; and to prepare for the abundant harvest God intends

 

Clergy participating in the Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory are already registered for the September event.  Other clergy may register through the Center for Ministry at www.centerforministry.com. Sign up by August 31 for $110; after that the cost is $125.  Please call the Center at 601-974-1488 for more information or assistance with registration.

 

On Tuesday afternoon Lovett Weems will guide those using the LPLI in an interpretative process.  Others can join Tom Berlin for a workshop on "Planning Fruitful Worship & Preaching" or take part in other sessions related to the theme.

 

On Wednesday morning, Rev. Sharma Lewis, District Superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District of the North Georgia Conference will be the guest preacher for closing worship.  Bishop Ward will preach on Monday afternoon.

 

Pastors' School, with its mix of worship, learning, and Christian community with peers in ministry, is a place of vital connection for Mississippi clergy.There is time for sharing meals and conversation, for deepening old friendships and making new ones, for building up the Body of Christ. 

 

Methodists Together in Heritage and Mission

 

We are invited by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church to join with them in petitioning the US Postal Service to issue a stamp honoring Richard Allen.

 

 

Richard Allen was a minister, educator, writer and founder of the AME Church.  He joined the Methodists at the age of 17 and was ordained by Bishop Asbury in 1795.   

 

When the white members of the St. George Methodist Episcopal Church forced the black members to sit in the balcony, Richard Allen led the black members to form a new church where all would be welcomed.   

 

Mother Bethel AME Church is the oldest parcel of real estate in the United States continually owned by African Americans.  

Our history is intertwined with the AME Church, and this is a way to embrace one another in heritage, ministry and mission. Vicki Sizemore-Baldwin, pastor of Court Street UMC in Hattiesburg is a member of the Pan-Methodist Commission and will assist you in any way with this effort. She may be reached by email at vsbaldwin@courtstreetchurch.org.  You may print out the petition, garner signatures in your church and community, and send the petition to Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry who has honored us with participation in our service of ordination at annual conference. All signed petitions should be sent to Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, 5450 Executive Place, Jackson, MS 39206. Petitions must be received in Bishop Guidry's office by November 1, 2011.To download the petition link here.

 

For those in the Jackson area or visiting the Conference Office, a petition is available at the receptionist desk for signing.  

Rev. Lockett Alton Wasson, Sr., retired elder in the Starkville District, passed away last week. Rev. Wasson had turned 100-years-old on January 1, 2011. His funeral will be on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Kosciusko First UMC. Visitation will be on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.at Jordan Funeral Home, Highway 12, Kosciusko and on Thursday for one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Please remember the Wasson family when you pray.

The Rev. Oscar Rogers retired, of the West Jackson District passed away July 28, 2011 while in the St. Dominic Hospital.  There will be a memorial service, however that date is now pending.  When that information becomes available we will inform you. Please keep the Rogers family 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.

Someone turned in a Cokesbury gift card to our display during Annual Conference. If you think this card belongs to you, please contact Louise Jackson at the Cokesbury store. For more information call 601-978-3827 or toll-free at 877-300-7608 or email ljackson@cokesbury.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.

Broadmeadow UMC in Jackson seeks a part-time director for youth outreach and ministries.  Broadmeadow's inner city setting provides a unique opportunity to minister to the city's urban youths as well as those whose parents attend Broadmeadow.  The ideal candidate would be able to: work with the Youth Council to plan programs and activities for junior high and senior high youth; reach out to youth in the surrounding neighborhood; work with young people from racially and economically diverse backgrounds to build a youth ministry that welcomes all; andbe familiar with United Methodist teaching and doctrines. To apply contact the Rev. Rob Hill at revrobhill@gmail.com  or 601-366-1403.