Vol. 4 • No. 1  
January 6, 2005
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In eleven countries, hands folded in prayer are already at work.
The loss is as big as any in history. Generations erased. Communities swept away. Destruction almost beyond belief and understanding.

As our sisters and brothers affected by the recent tsunami remain in our heartfelt prayers, the people of The United Methodist Church are putting those hands of prayer to work.

Coordinating efforts with faith-based partners around the world, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is providing food, shelter and medicine to persons in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

United Methodist Generosity Appreciated
United Methodists have pulled out the stops with overwhelmingly generous donations to UMCOR's urgent appeal to assist tens of thousands of earthquake and tsunami survivors in South and Southeast Asia. Look at how the United Methodist Church is responding:

--As of January 5, United Methodists and friends have contributed $1.1 million to the tsunami relief effort through online giving at www.methodistrelief.org . This does not even include gifts that have been made through local United Methodist congregations across the church.

--In response to requests from its ecumenical partners, UMC OR this week is shipping a truckload of health kits that will augment a supply coming from other denominations. Value of the United Methodist kits is set at around $300,000.

--On Monday, January 3, the United Methodist Church sent a message of hope, prayer and action to the world.  A full-page ad was placed in the National and International editions of the USA Today newspaper, providing ways for all people around the world to give directly to the relief effort.  Readers were directed to donate to the denomination's relief efforts by logging on to www.methodistrelief.org . Read the whole story. View the actual ad. Download the ad.

--Representatives of UMCOR, the denomination's humanitarian relief agency, are meeting with response partners in Geneva , Switzerland , to gauge the scope and effectiveness of the disaster recovery so far.

--UMCOR is partnering with church-related alliances such as Church World Service, Action by Churches Together and Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) to provide food, clean water, temporary shelter, and sanitation services from Asia to Africa. The areas affected include parts of India, Indonesia , Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and islands such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

--The General Board of Discipleship has prepared a number of articles, prayer resources, hymns, and other materials to help local churches respond to the earthquake and tsunami disaster. View here.

Your Financial Support is Still Needed
Cash gifts continue to be most meaningful in the initial days and weeks of this response, according to the Rev. Kristin L. Sachen, head of UMC OR's international emergency services. Long term support will hinge on the actions of congregations through special offerings and creative fundraising. UMCOR offers some ideas under the section "Church Resources" on its South Asia Emergency web page at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/southasia.stm .

You can get involved through giving to UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency by donating online at www.methodistrelief.org or by giving a gift through your local church. Credit-card donations may be made by calling (800) 554-8583.

More Bulletin Inserts Available
To help local congregations raise money for the United Methodist tsunami relief effort and provide a message of hope, United Methodist Communications, in cooperation with the United Methodist Committee on Relief, is making the following inserts available.
--Bulletin 1: color PDF
--Bulletin 1: black/white PDF
--Bulletin 2: color PDF
--Bulletin 1: black/white PDF

Churches Can Help Relief Effort with Web Link
UMC.org is making available a Web link that conference and local church Web sites can use to support giving to UMCOR. The link can be placed on church and conference sites, allowing readers to simply click and give. The funds will go directly to UMCOR, which will send the money to appropriate faith-based agencies in the field. To get the link, go to the sign up page here .

New Resource for Pastors
The Connectional Giving Team at United Methodist Communications has developed a new resource for local church pastors called Mission Moments and More.  This electronic resource provides a mission moment for worship, nuggets for the church newsletter and an offertory prayer for each Sunday of the year focused on our United Methodist connectional giving. These weekly resources will focus on the apportioned funds, the six churchwide special Sundays with offerings and the Advance for Christ and His Church.  View the Mission Moments and More for January, 2005 here.

2004 Book of Discipline Now Available
The first copies of the English-language United Methodist 2004 Book of Discipline and the 2004 Book of Resolutions are available in Cokesbury stores now.

Free 2005 Worship and Music Planning Calendar
http://www.gbod.org/worship/2005cal.pdf: This calendar contains lectionary citations, sacred and liturgical days, seasons, civil days, holidays, and observances.

2005 Spouses' Retreat
The 2005 Clergy Spouses' Retreat will be held Thursday, March 17- Saturday, March 19 at Epworth By The Sea. The theme will be “Through It All, Above It All.”

The speaker for the retreat will be Elaine Hopkins. Elaine is an inspirational and motivational speaker who helps people understand working relationships, how personalities interact with each other, and how people can discover their own gifts and graces. She is a bishop's wife who currently serves in the Ohio Area.

The weekend will include four sessions in which Elaine will address several relationship issues including:

If you are a clergy spouse, you are encouraged to come spend time with your sisters in Christ as you learn better how to live through it all and above it all! For registration information contact Laine Randall at Laine@Randall.us or 912-826-2256.

UMW Young Women's Retreat
The United Methodist Women of the South Georgia Conference will be hosting a Young Women's Retreat February 5-6, 2005 . The retreat will be held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park. This year's theme is “Our World, Through Prayer.” Cost for the event is $50, which includes one night lodging and four meals. See your local UMW President or contact Gloria Morgan, Registrar, at 478-272-5320, for more information.

New Resource for Grief Ministry
Journeying through Grief is a set of four short books from Stephen Ministries that pastors, congregations, and lay people can give to grieving people at four crucial times during the first year after a loved one has died. Each book looks at what the person is likely to be experiencing at that point in grief and offers care, assurance, and hope.

Written by Kenneth Haugk--pastor, psychologist, and founder of Stephen Ministries --the books provide a simple yet significant way to reach out to the bereaved again and again, helping them feel valued and cared throughout the difficult first year. Each set is $9.95 and includes the four books, four mailing envelopes, and a tracking card that makes it easy to know when to send each book. Also available is a Giver's Guide with ideas for using the books and four sample letters to personalize and adapt to send with each book.

For quantity discounts, to learn more, or to order, log on to www.grief-books.org or call Stephen Ministries at (314) 428-2600.

Souper Bowl of Caring: Every Dollar on Feb. 6 Will Demonstrate God's Love!
Fifteen years ago a Super Bowl Sunday prayer inspired a group of young people to do something more than celebrate a football game. They created the Souper Bowl of Caring, a youth-led, grassroots movement that is now an international event. Participation helps young people put God's love into action. UMCOR urges local church youth to participate- a bulletin insert at http://www.souperbowl.org/bulletin.php may be downloaded and printed locally-and to designate part of the donations they receive for a local organization battling hunger and part for UMCOR Advance #982920, World Hunger and Poverty.

Cuba: UMCOR Housing Replaces Homes Lost in Storms
Twenty families in Santa Fe, a small fishing town at the west edge of Havana, Cuba, have new housing and another 100 received upgraded water service as a United Methodist Committee on Relief project concluded in early December 2004 with a dedication ceremony. Twelve additional units in the same community were finished several years ago. The dual accomplishment hinged on a unique partnership among Cuban authorities, the municipality of Santa Fe, the Methodist Church in Cuba, and the US-based humanitarian aid organization. To select residents for the new units, Santa Fe officials formed a vulnerable people's organization. To join, community members had to meet criteria such as low income and loss of housing to storms. The organization also established standards to assure a mix of ages and of woman-headed households. Projects like the Santa Fe Housing Development can transform a community thanks to second-mile giving to UMCOR Advance #982450, International Disaster Response.

Igniting Ministry to Announce Expansion
Beginning in 2005, The United Methodist Church will expand its witness to seekers with more "open hearts" messages of God's love. Igniting Ministry, the church's official national media ministry, will provide more advertising and training resources for local churches than ever before.

On Monday, January 10, Igniting Ministry will announce plans for the expansion. On that day, check www.IgnitingMinistry.org for details. The announcement will include plans for:
Advertising schedule
--Upcoming TV commercials
--Packages of official church advertising resources
--Expanded Matching Grant opportunities
--2005 training schedule