Christians facing difficult life circumstances can find help dealing with them through a new inspirational video study series called Broken to Peace.  Designed for group study, the six-part series features people sharing compelling real-life stories that brought them to their knees and how faith helped them cope.

The video discussion starters follow the journeys of people who have faced difficult issues -- breast cancer, job loss, addiction, loss of a child, depression, and physical abuse -- and found peace through their faith:

• Kathleen, who spent countless nights searching homeless camps and jails looking for her drug-addicted son
• Joyce, who confides she believes God gave her breast cancer as "punishment"
• Charles, who felt "damaged" after losing his job
• Isaiah, whose father beat her with a golf club and called her names
• Bonnie who fought the stigma of depression
• Corliss and Donna, who bared their souls as they share every parent's worst nightmare -- losing a child

You'll hear testimonies about how they were able to rise again with God as their support, one step at a time, and continue their walk towards spiritual healing and human wholeness.

The series features a downloadable leader's guide for facilitating group study. Written by Christian educator and pastor, the Rev. Mark Price, the small-group study guide includes ideas for creating a welcoming place for participants, suggestions for leading group members through the video viewing, guidance for exploring Scripture, exercises for engaging the senses and thoughts on taking action.

Several promotional resources like bulletin inserts, an invitation card and a poster are also available for downloading.

Offered by EcuFilm, an ecumenical film/video production and distribution service, Broken to Peace is available for $39.95.

Orders can placed a number of ways:

• Online at www.umcom.org/orderbrokentopeace 
• E-mail csc@umcom.org 
• Phone 888-346-3862
• Fax 615-742-5494

For more information about Broken to Peace, visit www.umcom.org/brokentopeace.

11 Women Bishops Head to Holy Land

4 Christian Denominations Represented

By Wayne Rhodes, Editor, "Faith in Action"

Eleven ecumenical women bishops from the United States, West Indies and Africa will leave Nov. 12 for a 10-day trip to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. The trip is sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the denomination's Council of Bishops.

Goals of the trip are to stand in solidarity with women from Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions working for peace in the region; gather facts and stories to equip the delegation members as educators and advocates for peace after returning; and to explore partnerships for ongoing education and advocacy to affect positive change.

Four Christian denominations will be represented in the delegation: United Methodist, Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal and Christian Methodist Episcopal.

United Methodist Bishop Deborah Kiesey (Dakotas), president of GBCS's Board of Directors, is leading the delegation. "This pilgrimage will not only inform each of us as bishops regarding the complexity of the region," she said, "but it will also allow us to stand in solidarity with, and work alongside those women who are daily working to bring about peace."

Janet Lahr Lewis, a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries who serves in the Middle East as liaison between ecumenical groups, Israel and Palestine, will accompany the delegation.

Other staff support is being provided by Linda Bales Todd, GBCS Women's Advocate, and Alex Baumgarten of the Episcopal Office of Government Relations.
The women bishops in the delegation are:

• United Methodist: Bishop Violet Fisher, Wilmington, Del.; Bishop Jane Middleton, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Bishop Joaquina Nhanala, Maputo, Mozambique; Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Pasadena, Calif.; and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, Jackson, Miss.
• African Methodist Episcopal: Bishop Sarah Davis, Jamaica, West Indies, and Houston, Texas; Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Jackson, Miss.; and Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Nashville, Tenn.
• Christian Methodist Episcopal: Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Birmingham, Ala., and
• Episcopal: Bishop Laura Ahrens, Hartford, Conn.

The itinerary includes stops in Nazareth, Bethlehem, Capernaum, Haifa, Jerusalem/Ramallah and Gaza. Besides meeting with women working for peace in the region, there will also be tours of Holy Christian sites.

Among many briefings, the delegation expects to meet with Altufula Women's Rights Organization, Israeli/Arab Women's Initiative, Jericho YWCA, Lekiya-Bedouin Women's Project and Wi'am Conflict Resolution Center's Women's Project -- Bethlehem.

The delegation will return Nov. 21.

The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. The board's primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education & Leadership Formation, United Nations & International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City.

Advent and Christmas Around the Conference  

Share your events around the conference. Send to lisacm@mississippi-umc.org. Keep the information brief and include who, what, when and where with a contact for more information.

* Nov. 20 - Concordia Ensemble at Galloway Memorial UMC 

Concordia Ensemble, an a cappella choir of Galloway Memorial UMC, invites you to join us for Seasons and Holy Days at 6:00 PM on Sunday Nov. 20 in the Galloway sanctuary at 305 N. Congress St., Jackson. 
Based on a Lessons and Carols service format, this is a unique opportunity to hear music and scripture that will transport the listener from the season of Advent, through the Liturgical Year, and arriving at Christ the King Sunday.  Anthems, scripture, poetry and hymns of great beauty and meaning comprise the heart of the program. With musical direction by Lynne Pickett, readings were chosen by Concordia member Bishop Clay Lee.  We hope you can join us for Seasons and Holy Days.  

* December 9 - 11: Lake Junaluska's Appalachian Christmas
Join us for the 11th Annual Appalachian Christmas Celebration. Each year, Lake Junaluska brings in seasonal entertainment to ring in the holiday spirit. The weekend kicks off Friday night with a memorable performance by the Junaluska Singers in our historic Stuart Auditorium. Saturday morning will showcase some of the best crafters in Western North Carolina at our Christmas Craft Show, and the entertainment continues with an afternoon concert by the Junaluska Singers with special guests, Voices in the Laurel. Saturday evening features legendary Southern Appalachian Mountains musician and famous storyteller, David Holt.  2-Night Appalachian Christmas packages start at $174 per person, double occupancy. Tickets are also available for individual purchase. Call 800-222-4930 or visit www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas for more information. 

Rev. Chris Cooksey, Pope Charge in the Senatobia District, will undergo surgery on November 17.   Please remember him in your prayer time.

Grenada First UMC seeks a full-time Minister to Children. Our Children's Minister will assume responsibility for an existing Wednesday Night program, launch a weekly Children's Worship during our 10:55 service and, eventually, a Sunday Afternoon or Evening program. Salary commiserate with experience. Please contact Henry Brister, SPR Chair, at 662-417-3936.

National Grassroots Organizers, Communicator Sought for New Initiative
12-month campaign to empower United Methodists on issues of criminal justice, poverty, peace, human trafficking and violence against women.
Dec. 7 is the deadline to apply for positions at the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) to become involved in a one-year grassroots organizing initiative across The United Methodist Church. The initiative is to empower and mobilize United Methodists to make a difference within their annual conferences and jurisdictions on issues of criminal justice, poverty, peace, human trafficking and violence against women.
GBCS is seeking experienced organizers to join the agency either as consultants or employees for this 12-month initiative intended to strengthen local churches and annual conferences in addressing social justice issues.
Position descriptions have been posted on GBCS's Web site for national organizers for "Economic Justice," "Women and Children," and a "National Organizing Team Communicator." Other positions will be posted soon.
National organizers will make contacts in strategic conferences, build existing networks, coordinate grassroots activists and actions, and provide general support to local United Methodists on specific social justice issues.
The Economic Justice National Organizer should have a strong passion and commitment to economic justice. The position is directly accountable to the Director for Economic & Environmental Justice and GBCS's chief executive.
The National Organizer on Women & Children should have a strong passion and commitment to eradicate domestic violence and human trafficking. The position is directly accountable to the directors of Children's and Women's Advocacy and GBCS's chief executive.
The National Organizing Team Coordinator's purpose will be to raise the profile of the GBCS national organizers' work in both the secular and religious press. The communicator will work with communications persons in strategic geographic regions to build media attention and generate interest in grassroots campaigns. The communicator will assist in coordination of media relations and social media campaigns, and provide support to GBCS's Communications directors.
The position is directly accountable to GBCS's Communications directors and the agency's chief executive.
Compensation package for all positions is $45,000 to $65,000, depending on skills, experience, location, and whether employee or consultant.
Complete job descriptions are available at the following:

• National Organizer for Economic Justice
• National Organizing Team Communicator
• National Organizer for Women and Children

To apply for any position, send a cover letter of two pages or less clearly stating your knowledge, experience, skills and gifts enabling you to be a viable candidate for the position. You should include academic vitae and three professional references.
Send your application to: The General Board of Church & Society, Attn: Ms. Frances Roberts, (froberts@umc-gbcs.org), 100 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002; or send a fax to 202- 488-1617.

POSITION AVAILABLE, (July 1, 2011):  Director of New Church and Congregational Development, the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.  The primary focus of this position will be planting, nurturing, and developing new United Methodist congregations and faith communities.  The second focus will be to assist existing congregations in their mission to become more vital and effective.  Send resume and cover letter by December 12, 2011 to Rev. Benton R. Heisler, Director of Connectional Ministries at Benton@wmcumc.org