NOTICE: To download a *print-friendly* pdf of "The Circuit Rider", click here.(Available Wednesdays, after 1:00 p.m.) |
10-Fold Continues!  |
Children's Sabbath
October 14-16, 2011 |
Special SundaysMethodist Student Day
November 27, 2011 |
Relief Kit Updates
The Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church is holding a Fall Kit Ministry Campaign to collect Cleaning Buckets and School Bags for UMCOR. The campaign began on Sunday, September 4, with a deadline of Sunday, October 9. The kits will be picked up from the Collection Points the week of October 10.
Print friendly PDFs of the kit contents are listed below. Click on the link to download. · Cleaning Bucket Contents List · School Kit Contents List · School Kit Bag Pattern Please review the lists as they have been revised since our last campaign. As your church prepares kits, please contact Brenda and Rex Hiatt, Relief Kit Coordinators (bhiatt@comcast.net; 601-626-7902), to let them know how many you are sending to the Collection Points. They will also provide the location of the collection point nearest you. Brookhaven Brookhaven 1st UMC 215 W Cherokee, Brookhaven, MS 39601 Contact: Rev. Wayne Webster 601-833-3519 / brofumc@bellsouth.net East Jackson Christ United Methodist Church 6000 Old Canton Rd., Jackson, MS 39211 Contact: Rev. Chuck Meador Greenwood Grenada 1st UMC 161 S Line St. Grenada, MS 38901 Contact: Susan Kane
Hattiesburg
Ellisville First United Methodist Church
202 South Church St., Ellisville, MS 39437
Contact: Rev. John Richardson
Voice: 601-477-8776 Fax: 601.477.2213
jdricha@gmail.com /www.ellisville-fumc.comMeridian College Park UMC 1103 Hwy 19 N, Meridian, MS 39307 Concact: Rev. Kenneth Owen Seashore Nugent UMC 13183 John Clark Rd.,Gulfport, MS 39503 Contact: Rev. Gavin Lance Presley Senatobia Columbus Central UMC 1201 College St., Columbus, MS 39701 Contact: Francis Johnson Tupelo St. Luke UMC 1400 Clayton Ave, Tupelo, MS 38804 Contact: Rev. Rick Brooks 662-842-6522 / rick@stluketupelo.org West Jackson Clinton 1st UMC
100 Mt Salus Dr., Clinton, MS 39056 Contact: Bill Burrows
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Dates to Remember
General Board of Global Ministries
(Bishop Ward serves on the board)
October 10-12, 2011
New York, NY
Convocation of the
Black Church
October 15, 2011 Rust College To Register click here. Children's Retreat October 15-16, 2011 Camp Lake Stephens Click here for more information.
Bishop Ward at Ovett UMC
(Bishop Ward to present sermon)
October 16, 2011 at 11 a.m. Ovett UMC, Hattiesburg, MS UMVIM Gathering
October 22, 2011 at 10 a.m. United Methodist Foundation Ridgeland, MS JustPeace
Annual Board Meeting
(Bishop Ward serves on board)
October 28-29, 2011 Washington DC
Council of Bishops
October 30-November 4
Lake Junaluska, NC Exploration 2011 November 11-13, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri Click here for more information.
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Photo File
Moselle UMW Sends 88 Handmade Dresses to Costa Rica
Members of Moselle United Methodist Women's sewing ministry gathered recently to pack 88 dresses the group made for needy children in Costa Rica. The next mission for the group will be making lap robes for those who use wheelchairs. Among those folding and packing the dresses were from left, DeBeth Hodges, Barbara Cox, Beverly McNeese, Jeanette Smith and Lanell Grayson. Rev. Rodney Smith
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Greetings!
Welcome to your connection for up-to-the minute news and information from the Mississippi Conference. Your Circuit Rider will arrive weekly with announcements, dates to remember, celebration stories from across the conference and employment opportunities. Our hope is for The Circuit Rider to become a tool for building the connection across the conference, strengthening our districts and local congregations as we go forth to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Please e-mail your news and information for us to share with others around the conference to lisacm@mississippi-umc.org.
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:: Gleanings
 Christmas is Not Your Birthday... God so loved the world...
-- John 3:16 October is for us a time of pre-Advent, a time when we start to think about Christmas celebrations in our homes, our circles of friendship, our churches, our communities.
Mike Slaughter's new book has the wonderfully prophetic title: "Christmas is Not Your Birthday: Experience the Joy of Living and Giving Like Jesus."
I commend it to you for use in your church to prepare for Christmas -- as a study book for classes and groups, as discussion starter and sermon-idea-prompter. Many are ready to have their lives and their celebrations re-shaped joyfully as they
* expect a miracle
* give up on being perfect
* love scandalously
* create a Jesus' wish list
* go home by a different road
As we create a Jesus' wish list, the Mississippi Annual Conference will receive an offering during Advent for the health needs of children in our world. The offering will be directed to Imagine No Malaria and the Global AIDS Fund.
May we love scandalously, traveling the different road to Christmas, expecting miracles.
With gratitude for our life together in Christ,Hope Morgan Ward |
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:: News & Announcements
Bill McAlilly is Endorsed
as Candidate for Bishop The Mississippi Conference delegation to the 2012 General and Jurisdictional Conference has unanimously endorsed the candidacy of Rev. Bill McAlilly for the office of Bishop. McAlilly has been a delegate to five Jurisdictional and four General Conferences and will lead the 2012 Mississippi delegation. At a recent meeting of the delegation Rev. Joe May addressed the members regarding the endorsement. "Evangelism is about getting the good news out," said May. "It is our privilege and joy as a delegation to get the good news out about Bill McAlilly." McAlilly has served the United Methodist Church in a wide variety of ministry settings all leading to congregational growth...from a small congregation in the Mississippi Delta to a new church start in the suburbs of Memphis, to a new congregation in Madison, MS where the membership grew from 550 to 1,200 during his six year ministry. Under his leadership as pastor of one of the state's largest congregations, First United Methodist Church, Tupelo, MS, the church expanded its outreach ministry to serve over 5000 people annually through the Helping Hands organization and began the Delta Mission Partnership by helping to revive a small church congregation in the Mississippi Delta. In addition, he led the church in a building program, which included a 36,000 square foot addition for ministry. In 2006, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward appointed McAlilly to the Seashore District to lead in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Through his leadership many homes and churches were rebuilt and restored, and the District created a space for displaced persons giving them hope through ACTS: A Community of Transformation and Service. Working closely with UMCOR, he was involved in improving hurricane preparedness through the construction of buildings to store supplies and to provide housing for United Methodist volunteers. He leads the heart of the church into the heart of mission as evidenced by his call to the MS Gulf Coast and in forming a partnership between Seashore District and the Methodist Church of Nicaragua, now a mission emphasis of the Mississippi Conference. McAlilly has demonstrated an ability to be a calming voice in the midst of tense debate from the local church to the MS Annual Conference to the floor of General Conference. He serves as a member of the Holy Conferencing Task Force leading toward General Conference 2012 and was a contributor to the book, The Gift of Unity, written by Bishop Scott Jones. He was instrumental in designing the Residency in Ministry for Provisional members in the Mississippi Conference and has taught Course of Study in Mississippi and at Candler School of Theology. He has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, chaired the Conference Relations Committee and the Evangelism Committee and most recently has lead New Church Development. Turner Arant, lay delegate from Indianola, MS, has worked with McAlilly throughout his ministry. Together, McAlilly and Arant will guide the Mississippi Conference to General and Jurisdictional Conferences. "I have known Bill for many years. We have worked together on the General Conference level for almost 15 years," said Arant. "He is a man of high character, very good in administration, and an excellent preacher. I believe he will uphold the beliefs of the United Methodist Church. I believe he will enforce the discipline. I plan to support Bill McAlilly because I am convinced he will make a great Bishop." Rooted deep in the heart of Methodism from family origin, the 55-year-old is a second-generation United Methodist clergy who grew up in parsonages across the Mississippi Conference. He was educated at Millsaps College where he received the Pendergrass Medal for Preaching and earned a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. McAlilly is married to Lynn Barkley, a public school teacher. They have two grown children, Chris and Laura. Chris is a pastor in the Mississippi Conference and his wife, Millie, is a social worker. Laura and her husband, Nate Paulk, serve on the staff of Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT), an International Training Center and mission camp in Lineville, AL. They have one grandson, James Thomas McAlilly.
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Methodist Foundation Announces
New Inductees for Dickson Order
By Martha Scarborough
Our seminary students face rising costs of education, costs of living, and raising a family. Yet, God continues to call and they continue to respond. They continue to come back to Mississippi to lead us in our Christian journeys, teaching through examples.
It was for the love and appreciation of one of those ministers that answered God's call that The Dickson Order Scholarship Endowment was established in 2002 by W. O.(Chet) and Marilyn Dillard. The Dickson Order was named for its first inductee, The Rev. N. A. Dickson. Rev. Dickson was a friend and mentor to Chet Dillard during his formative years and continued until Rev. Dickson's death. The endowment was later changed to allow for the recognition of lay persons for their sacrifice and efforts to bring others to Christ.  On August 14, 2011, St. Paul United UMC, Ocean Springs, was the setting for a celebration of the Dickson family's faith. Mrs. Mary Dickson was recognized by induction into The Dickson Order by the Dillards for her Christian witness and journey beside her husband. Mike Dickson was inducted into The Dickson Order by his many friends and family for his faithful witness of God's grace and love during his life. On that same day, the pastors of St. Paul UMC, the Reverends Chris and Sheila Cumbest, became the latest inductees into The Dickson Order. The family of Mike Dickson recognized the Cumbest s' tireless efforts to provide comfort and support to the entire family and especially Mike during his courageous battle with cancer. Most of us have at least one particular minister or lay person who we can point to and say, he or she led me to Christ. So induction into the Dickson Order means that minister has been instrumental in leading people to Christ in Mississippi. This endowment provides valuable scholarship assistance to our seminary students.
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James Meredith Shares Thoughts
at Journey Toward the Light
By Cheryl Farr, New Albany District Communicator
On October 1, 1962, James Meredith made history as the first  black student to attend the University of Mississippi. Five years ago, Ole Miss dedicated the Civil Rights Monument commemorating Meredith's historic walk onto the campus as a student. On October 3rd, Bishop Ward joined with others to remember and praise the work of Meredith and others in the civil rights movement and acknowledge the great strides made since the tumultuous times at the college and in our state and nation.
 As I was sitting on the University of Mississippi Library steps waiting for the ceremony at the monument to start, I witnessed the results of the efforts of Meredith, Dr. M. L. King Jr. and other workers who placed their ideals and beliefs above their own personal safety. Students of all colors were walking together and talking and while none paid particular attention to the monument, it played prominently in my view. I was struck not only by the realization of how different we are as a people now but also how far we still have to go. I see the differences among the races in our own denomination that still exist and pray for the day to come when color truly does not matter.
At the reception held at Oxford-University UMC, Meredith explained that his focus is not on the past, but on the future. He feels that public education is currently failing all of our children regardless of their color. "The church must fill in where society is falling down," said Meredith. And since, according to Meredith, Mississippi is the center of the universe and Ole Miss is the center of Mississippi it is only fitting that the Mississippi Methodists be among the first to step up and fill in our societal gaps.
Rev. Warren Black, pastor of Oxford University UMC, made the point at the end of Meredith's talk that while Mississippi is not perfect (yet) there are pockets of hope. Programs such as health and wellness ministries and various ministries aimed at helping the underserved in our population show that our Mississippi Methodists are not only responding to the needs in our communities, but also leading the charge.
During the discussion time with Dr. Charles Eagles, professor of History at Ole Miss and author of the book "The Price of Defiance: James Meredith and the Integration of Ole Miss," I could hear children playing outside the church. Their laughter ringing out in sharp discord with the conversation about the past and the riot that broke out at the school over Meredith becoming a student; a riot that left two individuals dead and many others wounded. Eagles outlined the events that lead up to that fateful October day in 1962 and described the isolation and rejection Meredith encountered because of the color of his skin. 
As I left the church, I stopped and watched them play. Black, white and brown children filled the yard and among them, much like the college students observed earlier, there was no distinction made regarding their color. I again was struck, this time with the thought that just as Jesus wanted us to have the faith of a child, how much better the world would be if we had the ability to love as children do.
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:: Around the Conference
Wesley Walkers Team Up
to Walk for Mental Illness
Let's walk where Jesus would walk -- alongside our brothers and sisters with mental illnesses!! Join the Wesley Walkers on Saturday, Nov. 5 to raise awareness and support for people with mental illness. The National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) is hosting a walk at Winners Circle Park in Flowood, with registration starting at 9 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m. You can join the team by going to www.nami.org and clicking on NAMIWalks, then click MS on the map, then click Join team and follow the instructions to register -- you'll be able to select Wesley Walkers from the list of teams. If you don't have access to a computer or would like to make an off-line donation, please contact Renee Sappington at rensappi@aol.com or Justin White at dawgwhite2@gmail.com.
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Seashore District to Hold
Lay Speaking Weekend
Seashore District Lay Speaking Weekend will be held October 28 - 29, 2011 at Seashore United Methodist Assembly, Biloxi. Basic course offered is Learning & Leading by Mrs Vera Thomas. Advanced courses offered are UM Heritage by Rev. Gene Vance and Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Rev. Jeff Pruett & Rev. LaSonya DeBose.
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Walden Chapel Celebrates
144 Years of Ministry
Walden Chapel UMC will Celebrate 144 years of Ministry and Mission on Sunday, October 16, 2011 during 11am Worship Service. Rev. Frenchye Magee, pastor of Walden Chapel will deliver the message. A fellowship meal will be served after service. Come, bring family and friends, celebrate and worship with us to the glory of God. Walden Chapel UMC is located at 308 Franklin Road, Goodman.
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Central UMC to Host Youth 91011 Retreat
Central UMC (CUMC) will host Youth 91011 Retreat November 18 - 20 at CUMC in the Family Life Center for youth ages 12 and up. Registration is $15 per person and includes lodging and all meals. A wonderful time has been planned to help young people grow closer to the Lord and take their rightful place as the leaders of tomorrow. To register, please contact the church office at 601-355-7858. Central UMC is located at 517 North Farish St., Jackson.
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:: Cares and Concerns
Please continue to pray for Rev. Steve Tillman, pastor of Gitano UMC, as he recovers from pneumonia. Please continue to lift up Steve, his wife Marion, and their son Stephen in your prayers, too.
Blake West, 19-year-old grandson of Rev. & Mrs. Donny Riley (TUP-Tupelo: St. Mark), died Wednesday, Oct. 5 in an automobile accident. Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 7 from 4 to 9 at the Dumas Baptist Church in Dumas, MS, with the service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Please be in prayer for this family.
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:: Employment Opportunities Across the Conference
Beauvoir UMC, Biloxi is hiring for two positions; pianist and music director. The two can be combined for the right individual. Expectations include Sunday morning worship, special annual services, and Wednesday evening choir practice. Interested persons can contact PPRC, Beauvoir UMC by calling 228-388-1478 or email to beauvoirumc@cableone.net for complete job descriptions. Beauvoir UMC is located at 2113 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS 39531.
Hazlehurst First UMC is looking to hire a part-time Children's Ministry Director to begin in January 2012. The director will be responsible for developing ministries for children and their families. Salary and job description available upon request by calling 601-894-1709 or mail to Hazlehurst First UMC, P.O. Box 725, Hazlehurst, MS 39083. Hazlehurst First is located at 127 Caldwell Dr., Hazlehurst.
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