Vol. 5• No. 1  
January 11, 2006
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Happy New Year from the Conference Staff! May the joy of our Savior's birth remain in your heart each day...to refresh your delight in Him...to be the light that shines into the lives of others.
"The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." Isaiah 60:19

In This Issue of The Link:
Feature Story
--In yearly letter to King, bishop remembers Rosa Parks' impact
Conference News
--LAOS: There's still time to register
--Seminar on Terrorism, Disaster, Preparedness and Faith
--Advance Special Renewal Requests Due
--Conference Historical Society to Meet Feb. 7
Connection News
--Human Relations Day this Sunday
--Pakistan/Kashmir: A Place to Call Home
--Music Director Being Sought for 2008 General Conference
-- New SEJ Event Focus on Environment Awareness Training
--Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to be celebrated Jan. 18-25
--SEJ Communicators' Meeting to be held in Hattiesburg, MS
Resources
--Read (or listen to!) the Bible in a Year
--Souper Bowl of Caring to Combat Hunger
--Resource Answers Budget Questions
--Contemplating Time
--Winter Communicator Now Available
Mark Your Calendar
--Upcoming Conference Events

In yearly letter to King, bishop remembers Rosa Parks' impact
(UMNS) Each year, United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White writes a “birthday” letter to the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about the progress of racial equality in the United States. Now retired and serving as bishop-in-residence at United Methodist-related Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, White was the first top staff executive of the denomination's racial equality monitoring agency, the Commission on Religion and Race. King's birthday is Jan. 15, and Americans honor his memory on the third Monday of the month.

Dear Martin:

This year I begin this letter with considerable sadness. Mrs. Rosa Parks' recent death has caused a deep sense of grief. It is surprising to observe how another's death impacts us. You really can never tell how you will respond to death. You simply have to wait.

When I learned Mrs. Parks had died, I was momentarily numbed. Shocked but not surprised. She had been ill for some time, and after all, she was 92. A long and good life. But as the days went on, I found myself falling into a pit of grief that seemed to have no bottom. It was a “silent and alone” mourning. Despite my efforts at self-control, tears came unpredictably. Martin, it was painful. More>>

CONFERENCE NEWS

LAOS: There's still time to register
The new South Georgia Conference leadership development event for laity is just around the corner. Scheduled for January 20-22, 2006 at Epworth By The Sea, LAOS: The people of God called, equipped and empowered will offer training on various aspects of spiritual leadership that will enrich the life of new and experienced local church leaders. Sessions will include emphasis on the spiritual life of the leader, the mission of the church, the partnership laity share with clergy, the best practices for leading meetings that matter, the strategies for leading your congregation forward in God's mission, and the dynamic connection we share as United Methodists. Click here for more information or to download a brochure.

Seminar on Terrorism, Disaster, Preparedness and Faith
The Georgia Christian Council invites you to participate in a Seminar on Terrorism, Disaster, Preparedness and Faith on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM. The seminar will be held at Vineville United Methodist Church (2045 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA 31204). Click here to download the schedule and registration form.

Advance Special Renewal Requests Due
Advance Special Annual Renewal requests are due to the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries by January 31st.   Renewal forms are available on line http://www.sgaumc.org/mission/forms.cfm  or can be requested by calling the Connectional Ministries office 1-888-266-7642 ext 12. 

Conference Historical Society to Meet Feb. 7
The South Georgia Conference Historical Society will gather during Winter Campmeeting on Tuesday, February 7 at 2:00 PM in the Island History room of the Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum.  Our guest lecturer will be Dr. Russell E. Richey, Dean of the Candler School of Theology and Professor of Church History.  The presentation is free and open to all.  Members of the Historical Society will hold a brief business meeting after Dr. Richey's lecture.  Information can be found at www.sgchs.org.


CONNECTION NEWS
Human Relations Day this Sunday
(UMC Giving) Your offering on Human Relations Day, the Sunday before the birthday observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., strengthens United Methodist outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico, encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth. Human Relations Day was established by the 1972 General Conference to promote support for the Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Service and Police-Community Relations programs. Begun in 1968, the three programs formerly had received support from the churchwide Bishop's Fund for Reconciliation. In 1989 the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program replaced the Police-Community Relations Program to respond to the growing population of youth offenders and their need for creative redirection.

If you have not already done so, please order FREE resources for your congregation's celebration of Human Relations Day, January 15, 2006 . Simply call toll free (888) 346-3862 and ask for combination leaflets/offering envelopes, posters, offering banks and other Special Sunday materials. Or you can download resources here. Then encourage your congregation to give generously. Thank you for your support. Your Human Relations Day gifts make a world of difference. Click here for preaching resources from the General Board of Discipleship for Human Relations Day.

Pakistan/Kashmir: A Place to Call Home
(UMCOR) A recent survey by UN agencies noted that there is still a need for some 2.4 million more blankets, 170,000 plastic sheets, and 200,000 tarpaulins to provide adequate winter shelter for earthquake survivors. These were just a few of the material needs identified in the survey results. Nutritional, medical, and psychological needs were also recognized. UMCOR partner, Church World Service is working to alleviate suffering by working in tent communities of survivors, providing shelter, psychosocial care, and food. Your gifts to UMCOR Advance #232000, Pakistan/Kashmir Earthquake, will support their efforts.

Music Director Being Sought for 2008 General Conference
(UMC.org) The Commission on the General Conference is seeking a music director for the United Methodist Church's 2008 General Conference. The deadline for applying is Feb. 1, 2006. The top lawmaking body for the 11 million-member denomination will meet April 23-May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas. The music director is responsible for the overall music program management at General Conference and oversees liturgy and music throughout the assembly, including inviting choirs and worship groups from across the church to participate. Those interested in applying may view the music director position description at http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?JID=2109&mid=287.

New SEJ Event Focus on Environment Awareness Training
(SEJ) A new year brings new challenges for the church, including the awareness of environmental challenges. Caring for God's Creation a new event at SEJ, will train the religious community to take action in environmental care. Climate change, energy use and ecology are among the many topics discussed during the April 20 –22 conference. The speakers are Dr. Tom W. Mann, Rev. Dr. Miriam Burnett, Bishop Kenneth Carder, Freeman Owle and Kim Carlyle. The event will also offer opportunities to tour the Corneille Bryan Native Garden , wetlands tour on assembly grounds and various workshops will be offered. For more information on the event and to get a brochure, click here.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to be celebrated Jan. 18-25
(UMC.org) United Methodists will join with other Christians Jan. 18-25 to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year's theme, “Where Two or Three are Gathered in My Name…” (Matthew 18:20), is intended for reflection on Jesus' invitation to gather in his name and on the meaning such gathering holds for the unity of the church and the renewal of the human community. The United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and the ecumenical officer of the denomination's Council of Bishops are encouraging United Methodists “to enter into this period of prayer and meditation as we seek the unity of Christ's Church.” Materials for the week are available online at http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/wop2006contents.html.

SEJ Communicators' Meeting to be held in Hattiesburg, MS
The Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist Association of Communicators (SEJ-UMAC) will meet in Hattiesburg, MS at The United Methodist Hour building. The workshops and SEJ-UMAC business meetings will be held all day Wednesday and Thursday. Friday the 23rd will be an optional day for a half-day or full-day hands-on mission outreach project. It's for communicators at every level: conference, district, local church, communications committees ... anyone involved with or interested in communications. Click here for a brochure with includes a list of workshops and the full schedule or contact Kelly Roberson (888-266-7642 or kelly@sgaumc.com) for more information.


RESOURCES

Read (or listen to!) the Bible in a Year
South Georgia Bishop Mike Watson has provided an outline for reading the Bible in a year. You can download the outline by clicking here. Valdosta First United Methodist Church has also provided a link on their website that allows a person to “hear” the Bible readings as they are organized by this outline. These audio readings run from Sunday through Saturday and are updated weekly. To listen, visit www.methodistvaldosta.org.

Souper Bowl of Caring to Combat Humber
(UMCOR) As people prepare to host their Super Bowl parties, United Methodist youth and young adults are getting ready for another event on February 5--the Souper Bowl of Caring. It is a youth-led, grassroots movement that is now an international event. Participation helps young people put God's love into action. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) urges local church youth and young adults to participate. Collect canned goods and donations to combat hunger in the US and around the world. United Methodist Churches are encouraged to give a portion of the collected offerings to a local charity and UMCOR's World Hunger/Poverty Advance #982920. For ideas and more information visit www.souperbowl.org.

Resource Answers Budget Questions
(UMC Giving) How does The United Methodist Church build a financial mission statement or budget every four years? The answer can be found in a new resource entitled, How we chart the course of our mission and ministry… (Product # 100431). This product is available from United Methodist Communications. To order, please call Customer Service Toll Free 1-888-346-3862.  Monday – Thursday 7:00 AM- 6:00 PM Central Time and on Friday 7:00 AM- 2:00 PM

Contemplating Time
(GBOD) Out with the old year, in with the new - an opportunity to think about time and how it relates to worship and music. How far does light travel in a second? How long does it take for light to travel one foot? We all know about leap years, but what is a leap second? If we think of God creating our 15 billion year old universe on January 1, on what day of the year does life appear? On what date do we first see dinosaurs? Human beings? John and Charles Wesley? What do the hymns and songs we sing have to say about time -- past, present, and future? Click here to read the answers to these questions.

Winter Communicator Now Available
Click here to view the 2006 Winter Communicator online as well as the 2006 Pastors' Salaries.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Upcoming Conference Events
Keep up with what's going on in the South Georgia Conference!
-- A January Adventure in Emerging Christianity - January 19-21
-- LAOS (Laity Retreat) - January 20-22
-- Seminar on Terrorism, Disaster, Preparedness and Faith - January 25
-- Winter Camp Meeting - February 5-8
--Confirmation Retreat - February 10-12
--Macon District Christian Enrichment School - February 11 & 12
--Breaking 65 - February 23
--Confirmation Retreat - March 3-5
--Spouses Retreat - March 17-19
--UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat - March 24-26
--UMM Retreat - April 21-23