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    

   

UMCOR to Hold Case Management Training           

UMCOR Case Management Training for Long Term Recovery (LTRC) case managers has been scheduled for the following dates. August 15-16 at College Park UMC, Meridian and August 18-19 at St. Luke UMC, Tupelo.  There is no cost for the two-day training. 

Training is open to all persons through their respective LTRCs and Mississippi Conference District DRCs. RSVP is required as classes are limited to 25.

For more information on the Tupelo event call St. Luke UMC at 662-842-6522 or visit their Web site at www.stluketupelo.org. For the Meridian event call College Park UMC at  601-485-5262.

West Jackson District UMW  

to Host Mini School of Christian Mission

   

The United Methodist Women (UMW) of West Jackson District will host the East/West Jackson Mini School of Christian Mission August 13, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central UMC, Jackson. This year's theme is "Making All Things New." Central UMC is located at 500 North Farish St., Jackson.

This year's studies will include the following:

• Geographic: Haiti: Challenges & Hope presented by Sue May of Galloway UMW
• Social Action: Joy to the World/Mission in an Age of Global presented by Kay Barksdale of Galloway UMW
• Spiritual Growth: The Journey of Forgiveness, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation presented by Rev. Kelly Pope of Freeny-Sebastopol UMC

For more information contact Mary Colwell, Vice President West Jackson District UMW at 601-955-7293 or by email at maycol@earthlink.net.

Camp Lake Stephens
Announces Upcoming Events 

    

Camp Lake Stephens encourages participation in the following events. For more information on these and other events visit www.camplakestephens.com.  

• Alumni Picnic, August 27: Camp Lake Stephens will celebrate 65 years of ministry this year!   It will begin at 2:00 pm.  All past and present campers, past and present staff and friends of camp, and alumni are invited to attend.  Please make plans to join us for a day of fun, family, and food.  The camp & trails will be open for you to join us for different activities. Cost is $12 per person.  
• Family Camp -- September 10-11: This will be weekend for families to spend time with one another at Camp Lake Stephens doing traditional camp activities and worship.  We have plenty of spots still available. For more information and a downloadable brochure, visit www.camplakestephens.com.  
• Junior High Spiritual Life Retreat -- October 1-2, 2011 & Senior High Spiritual Life Retreat October 8-9, 2011: Join us for our Annual Spiritual Life Retreats, a time for students to come together to refocus on Christ and their commitment as disciples.   

Filled with worship, fun, and small group time, the retreats are an amazing way to get prepared for the school year to come. Our worship for both weekends will be Eddie Willis & The Narrow Path, and our speaker for Junior High will be Corey Truett, FUMC Tupelo Youth Minister, and our speaker for Senior High will be Rev. Patrick Hutto, USM Wesley Foundation Campus Minister. For more information and a downloadable brochure, visit www.camplakestephens.com.

Camp Lake Stephens is located east of Oxford, off of Highway 334. 

Walden Chapel to Hold Revival August 14-16 

 

Walden Chapel UMC will hold a three-night revival Sunday - Tuesday, August 14-16, 2011. Services will be held at 7:30 p.m. each night and will be centered around the theme: "Refreshing Our Souls -- Renewing Our Hope". Three nights of worship, prayer and praise designed to replenish your spirit and restore your joy are planned! The theme scripture is Isaiah 55:1-3 (Isaiah 55); the theme song: "We Thirst For You."  Sunday evening: Goodman M. Baptist Church will open services. Monday - Tuesday: Rev. Frenchye Magee, pastor of Walden Chapel and John Wesley UMC Charge, will deliver the message.

Everyone is invited to come replenish your spirit and restore your joy! For additional info contact: Annie Williams 662-417-8040 or email annwilliams2@bellsouth.net.

Greer Chapel Youth Invite Conference
Youth and Leaders to Youth Rally

The youth of Greer Chapel UMC in Flowood invite youth and youth leaders across the conference, to join them for "UN Disguised Lights on the Hill Rally." Speakers for the Rally are Rev. Kordell Sims from Greenwood District, Rev. Chris Harper from Tupelo District, and Youth Minister Frank Haynes from the Mississippi Conference office.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in all events, including mimes, dance ministries, choirs and individuals. The Rally also includes refreshments, playing basketball and volleyball, speakers, and rounding off with a DJ.

For more information or to register your attendance contact Glenda Shavers at 601-502-5863 or email to  glenda.shavers1@gmail.com; or Shelia Collier 601-506 1248 or email to  keepJesus@bellsouth.com. Greer Chapel UMC  is located at 925 Flowood Dr., Flowood.

A Dream Comes True for Russian Church

On Sunday, July 31, a dream came true for Revival UMC in the village of Latnaya, Russia, and for people around the Mississippi Conference. Rev. Galina Kolesnikova led her people into their new church building for the first worship service.

In 1999, Pastor Galina started a Bible study in the village about 300 miles south of Moscow. The little group met in people's homes, moving every few weeks to a new location carrying their Bibles, hymnals and cross as they went. They dreamed of a permanent church home.

Through friends in the Rural Chaplains Association and with help from several churches in the Mississippi Conference, an ongoing effort has built the new church. Land was purchased and an old house fixed up for temporary use. Over six years, plans were drawn, legal requirements met, the foundation dug, concrete poured, solid brick walls laid, and the roof installed. Through generous gifts from a number of churches this spring, the windows and doors were installed and the first worship service in the building made possible.

Due to Pastor Galina's leading a Bible study with men in a maximum-security prison nearby, the congregation is made up of released prisoners who have become members of the church, as well as elderly widows and children from the village. Revival UMC is a church where everyone is important and welcomed.

The challenge now is to finish the inside of the building. Having moved into their new home to worship, they don't want to go back, even when winter comes, although the building does not presently have water or electricity and is unfinished on the inside. At this time it is estimated the immediate need is about $5,000 to securely fence the property, $3,000 to roof the area around the entrance room, and $1,000 to finish the stairs inside the building.

If you would like to help, please contact 228-860-4384, write 317 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 39564 or send your gift to Rural Chaplains Association Treasurer, 297 Rosemont Gardens, Lexington, KY 40503, marked to be used for Revival UMC. All gifts go through the General Board of Global Ministries Russia Initiative program.

Our belief is if we all do whatever we can do, God will bless it and we will finish Revival Church's new home.

St. Paul UMC, Hattiesburg District
is a Major Blessing

 

St. Paul UMC started a government-based summer feeding program under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Wayne Bass, pastor and Alonzo William, director, who is a member of St. Paul. The program is now serving over 200 children and youth with a healthy breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday of each week. Aldersgate Mission of the Main Street UMC partnered with St. Paul UMC this summer. 

  

Dr. Bass and Rev. Linda Dixon, executive director of Aldersgate Mission started off by serving Aldersgate's 66 students, in which Dr. Bass stated this partnership is what saved the summer feeding program from closing due to lack of participants. Soon afterward, God blessed the program to serve many more children reaching its maximum to continue their service in the community. 

   

It is through the grace of God that many children and families who cannot afford to feed their families three times a day, are now receiving help, and are saving as they participate in this wonderful blessing.  Meals are free to all school age children.

 

Haven Chapel Shakes it Up at VBS

 

Haven Chapel UMC, Meridian, recently held its annual Vacation Bible School (VBS). The theme of VBS was "Shake it Up Café", where children learn to carry out God's recipe. The average daily attendance was forth-five students. In addition to the students enrolled in the school, there were sixteen adult workers and college students, who assisted each day with artwork and refreshments.

 

The study focused on the scripture, "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new." -- II Corinthians 5:17. The study also included Bible stories and introduced the children to a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

  

We also initiated a carryout challenge to all of the participants -- children, youth and adults. The carryout message: To take the love of Jesus into their homes and the community. A closing traditional worship service of music, Bible Bowl and leader recognition was held. Rhonda Smith directed VBS. Rev. Cynthia Cross serves as pastor at Haven Chapel.

 

James Thomas McAlilly was welcomed into the world on Friday, August 5, 2011.  Proud parents are Rev. Chris and Millie McAlilly.  Proud Poppa and Gran are Rev. Bill and Lynn McAlilly. Welcome Baby Thomas!

James Larry Sisk, 61-year-old father of Rev. Tim Sisk (TUP -- Amory: St. Andrews), died in an accident on the Natchez Trace Friday, August 5, 2011. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when available. Please keep the Sisk 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.

Ellisville First United Methodist Church seeks a PT Music Minister.  To learn more click here.  To apply send resume and cover letter to Rev. John Richardson at jdricha@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.

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.