Dog Head Fire Update & Thanks

From Vernon Baker, Conference Coordinator for Disaster Response:  The fire is looking much better at this point but possible thunder storms this week can be good or bad.  Concerns of flooding are cause for prayer. I have been working with UMCOR and hope to be approved for a $10,000 Emergency Grant soon. Many animals at the Estancia Fairgrounds are being reclaimed as landowners are allowed to return home.  They expect the needs to diminish rapidly but not go away for some time.  Thanks to Mountainside UMC for receiving donations Mon-Thurs 8:00-12:00. We will continue to assess the needs.  Special thanks to Bonnie Hardesty and members of Estancia church who have given much to meet the needs of their neighbors.  I have received hand shakes and hugs because of your efforts.  As homeowners return to their properties, we will have some opportunities for Early Response Team members to deploy in coordination with out Baptist friends. The next task after immediate help and relief for residents we will begin Long Term Recovery, which will take a long time and require determination to help these families find their new normal.
God Bless, Vernon
A list of thanks:
  • Dru Ann Kuntz and Betty Jean Highland (Asbury UMC) for donation and delivery of food supplies, personal hygiene items and bath towels
  • Asbury Trailblazers Sunday School class for financial contributions to support animal care.
  • Covenant provided two meals on Tuesday.
  • David and Maribeth Dixon (Mountainair UMC) for cooking, on-site volunteer coordination, food delivery, and donation of personal hygiene items.
  • Estancia UMC volunteers Julie Morales, Carolyn Hill, and Markie Sturges & families for several days of Breakfast Burritos and lunches
  • The Estancia congregation for breakfast and Sunday's worship service at the fairgrounds
  • Tammy Seck and the Run for the Cure NM team for a spaghetti dinner
  • Home Depot on Eubank and Renaissance in ABQ for donations of feeding /watering buckets and large animal food containers
  • PetCo on Eubank and Clarks on Lomas in ABQ for donations of a dozen small pet watering bottles & feeders, and 50# each of rabbit and chicken feed
  • The NWNM Emmaus Community for financial contributions - $200 covering the cost of 10 bales of grass hay for cattle and another $150 for general use
  • Don Farris for transporting feed from Bosque Farms to the Torrance County Fairgrounds
  • Vernon Baker for donation of health kits and a lunch
  • Kathryn Arndt (Central UMC) and granddaughter Laura for tireless service assisting in the transport, cooking, and delivery of food and other donations; and personal ministry of presence
  • John and Judy Milholland (First UMC ABQ) and David Wetmore (Covenant) for on-site CERT support (feeding, watering, and gate-keeping)
  • Butch McGee (Estancia UMC) for being Bonnie's eyes and ears on site and communicating needs in a timely manner
Thanks to everyone for lifting up all affected by the fire - Please keep praying.
NM Conference Staff Feeds Lunch to Dog Head Fire Volunteers.
Diane, James, Linda, Cathy & Randall
getting things ready for lunch. 

Next steps - Nifty machine to fill sand bags in case of flooding. Notice the strong guy.
Randall covers the cookies & Linda supervises.
Dru Ann Kuntz checks in with volunteers.
Diana Lippitt made dozens of yummy cookies.

     Members of the NM Conference staff brought a lunch of baked potatoes, fixins, salad, homemade cookies and tea out to the volunteers in Estancia.  All the animals have been sent home but volunteers were cleaning up and filling sand bags.  They said that after 2 weeks of being out there, they were dragging and a good lunch was more than welcome.
    One of the volunteers said that they had 118 head of cattle from one rancher.  She shared that one of the most amazing things was watching 50 cows and calves find each other.  They delivered cows & calves separately, put them in a pen and she said at first, you could only see a cloud of dust and hear the cows and calves crying for each other.  Within 15 minutes, they were all laying down - mom and baby together. They dealt with colicky horses, extreme heat and all sorts of struggles but at the end of the day, all the animals "left standing". 
     Vernon Baker,Conference Coordinator for Disaster Response, has worked tirelessly.  He is now in the process of getting UMCOR funds in place and the process for distributing the funds nailed down.  Once the UMCOR funds are in place, the Conference Office Treasurer, Cathy Anderson will handle distribution.  Cathy said that after the flooding in Ruidoso, she worked for months to help all affected.  There are a number of entities working to help those in need.  It will take collaboration to ensure that the process happens efficiently.  With monsoon season upon us, continued prayers and some proactive measures against flooding are needed.

Certified Lay Minister Training to Begin in September 
     This year at the New Mexico Annual Conference, nine individuals were recognized and celebrated for certification as Certified Lay Ministers. We now have forty-nine Certified Lay Ministers serving faithfully in our conference. A new training class for CLM will start this September and will be offered in Roswell, New Mexico, facilitated by Rev. Tina and Rev. Laird Cross.
     Who is a Certified Lay Minister? According to the Book of Discipline a CLM is an extension of the historic role of laity in the Methodist tradition who is trained, supported, supervised and accountable for leadership in his/her ministry context. Certified Lay Ministers are vital to the mission and ministry of the church. CLM's are qualified United Methodist laypersons called to congregational leadership as part of a ministry team, having the support and supervision of a clergy person. A CLM may provide leadership in a smaller church or faith community, in a larger church as part of a team, or as a leader in a servant ministry of the church. The certification process prepares the CLM to be an intentional, holistic congregational leader who can preach the Word, provide care ministry for a congregation and assist in program leadership.
     Could you serve God faithfully as a CLM in the congregation you are a member of or one nearby? Are you willing to explore this form of leadership in the United Methodist Church? Consider becoming a Certified Lay Minister and experience what it is like to be faithfully alive to the possibilities of leading the mission and ministry of the church today as part of a ministry team. Each CLM applicant must have a letter of recommendation from their local Pastor and have completed the Basic Course for Lay Servant and one advanced course for Lay Servant (Certificates of completion are required. Please include them in your application packet.) Additionally, each applicant will go through a Background Check prior to admission to training.
     For more information please contact Reverend Pamela Rowley, Conference Coordinator for Certified Lay Ministry, at 575-522-8220 or 575-642-8559. Please return the application form, certificates of completion for Basic Course and Advanced Lay Servant, and Background Check Consent Form to Pam at University United Methodist Church, 2000 Locust, Las Cruces, NM 88001, by August 1, 2016.
  • Module Trainings are in Roswell, New Mexico, First United Methodist Church:
  • Module I: September 23-24
  • Module IIa: October 14-15
  • Module IIb: November 18-19
  • Module III: January 20-21
  • Module IV: February 17-18
  • Module V: March 17-18
Fridays: 6:30-9:00 pm
Saturdays: 9:00-4:00 pm
CLM trainees must attend ALL Module trainings.

Early Bird Discount ends June 30th.  Don't miss this great opportunity!
Click here to Register

 

Live streamed at Morning Star UMC - Las Cruces, NM
     Sometimes as Christians we need a little more than just our small groups, church on Sunday, and our Bibles. Sometimes we need more to set us up for success as disciples of Christ. To set us up for success to make new disciples for the transformation not only for our individual worlds, but for God's world. 
     The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) returns to Morning Star this August 11 & 12 (Thursday & Friday) from 8 am to 5 pm daily. If you were able to attend this event last year, you understand how this event can affect, can change, and can make us better leaders. GLS is an annual training event for church, ministry and other leaders to sharpen their skill. The Global Leadership Summit exists to transform Christian leaders around the world with and injection of vision, skill development, and inspiration for the sake of the local church and our lives as Christians.  
Click here for Registration
     The following groups can enjoy the $89 discount price: 
Military - Active Duty, Reserve, and their spouses - use code - PREMIER16 
Student Organizations - i.e. Wesley Foundations, Young Life, etc. - use code - TGLS16YOUTH 
     All students/faculty - applies to guests with an accredited college/university, or high school - No priority code needed, but you must mark that you are a student/faculty in the indicated place on the registration page AND list your school. 
If you need more information or have questions about GLS, please email Stuart Davenport at connect@mstarlc.church or Diana Goss at office@mstarlc.church.  Thanks, Stuart. 

Church Historian Training
FUMC-Carlsbad
Friday, September 9, 2016, 1- 5:00 pm
St John's UMC, 2626 Arizona NE, ABQ, NM 87110
Description:
This workshop will follow the outline of the Guidelines for the Church Historian available from Cokesbury. (A copy will be provided.) Participants will learn how to create a church archive, how to manage and care for church records, preservation techniques, how to collect oral history, and how to tell your church's story.

Lay Servant Ministries Courses
Lay Servant School - Basic Course
July 15 - 16, 2016
Asbury UMC - Odessa
$35 per person
Register: Charles Cotten - 432-296-2975

Lay Servant School - Basic & Advance Courses
August 26 & 27  (Friday afternoon & all day Saturday)
First UMC - Albuquerque
Contact John Milholland milholland93@q.com

Lay Servant School - Basic & Advance Courses
September 9th (6:00 pm to 9:00 pm) and September 10th, 2016 (9:00 am to 4.00 pm)
St. Paul's UMC - El Paso
$35 - basic; $45 - advanced
Contact: Frances Gonzalez 915-240-1783
Register by Aug. 15th 


The South Central Jurisdictional Conference will be held, July 13-16, 2016, in Wichita, Kansas. The theme is "Rejoice in the Harvest". In addition to the on-going business of the Jurisdictional Conference, the Conference will elect three new bishops for the Jurisdiction and the 2017-2020 Episcopal Area bishop assignments will be announced.  The Conference will be live-streamed. More info to follow.

Conference Highlights:
Thursday, July 14th - 8:00 am - Morning Worship, Welcome & Introductions
Friday, July 15th - 11:00 am - Bishop Bledsoe presides over Conference Session
Saturday, July 16th - 10:30 am - Service of Consecration of New Bishops.
UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES 

>July 13-16 
>July 15-18
>July 15-16 
>Aug. 26-27 
 >Sept. 9-10
>Sept. 9-10 
>Oct 2-5
>Oct 19-21 

SCJ Conference
UMW - Mission U
Lay Servant School
Lay Servant School
Lay Servant School
Heritage Tour
Fall Clergy Retreat
Coaching - Basic Training

Wichita, KS
Sacramento
Asbury UMC-Odessa
FUMC-ABQ
St. Paul's UMC-El Paso
Albuquerque
Sacramento
TBA
 

Classifieds
Conference Calendar
UMC website
 


RELEVANT, PASSIONATE, AND LIFE-CHANGING CHURCHES

New Mexico Annual Conference  

11816 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Receptionist Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

(800) 678-8786 toll free; (505) 255-8786; (505) 265-6184 fax

 Click here to view our staff listing  

 

 

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