Don't let your youth miss out on Mission Macon!
Held in conjunction with Annual Conference, Mission Macon will allow youth in grades 9-12 to experience many different aspects of our call as Christians. Youth will participate in and help lead two morning worship services at Annual Conference. Monday and Tuesday, the youth will work in the mission field of Macon, Georgia, separated into different work groups at different work sites, including the United Methodist Ministries of Wesley Glen and Macon Outreach, as well as a few others. Counselors will need to be provided by each local church participating (a 1-counselor per 1-6 youth ratio is requested), as well as provide transportation to the work sites and other areas around Macon. Cost is $80. There's still time to sign up. Register online now or contact Diane Giles at the Connectional Ministries Office for more information (888-266-7642).
‘Disciple' Bible study gets makeover, adds two 8-week classes
(UMNS) In the past 20 years, more than a million people have graduated from a “Disciple” Bible study class. A million is not enough for the editors at the United Methodist Publishing House. They know from listening to their customers that more would have access to the Bible study if a few changes were made.
Among the changes, new eight-week sessions will be offered, and new videos are being produced for “Disciple I.” Training seminars for facilitators are being shortened and will become optional for churches offering the Bible study. Ordering procedures are being simplified, and copies will be available in Cokesbury retail stores. More>>
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Interested in advertising in your community?
Igniting Ministry's Matching Grant office is accepting applications for Back-to-School and Advent 2005 advertising. United Methodist Communications offers $1 million in matching funds annually to local churches, districts and conferences to help establish an advertising presence in their community. Matching funds can be used for placing television, radio, cinema, outdoor media or a combination of these media types. The application period closes June 1, 2005.
The baton has now been passed to your church. Advertising locally presents a great opportunity to live the promise of "Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors." For free media services, call (615) 742-5140 or visit www.IgnitingMinistry.org. To apply online, click here.
Additional Errata for the 2004 Book of Discipline
Page 99, ¶ 161.D: At the end of the printed text add the following text:
It is recommended that methods of mediation be used to minimize the adversarial nature and fault-finding that are often part of our current judicial processes.
Although divorce publicly declares that a marriage no longer exists, other covenantal relationships resulting from the marriage remain, such as the nurture and support of children and extended family ties. We urge respectful negotiations in deciding the custody of minor children and support the consideration of either or both parents for this responsibility in that custody not be reduced to financial support, control, or manipulation and retaliation. The welfare of each child is the most important consideration. Divorce does not preclude a new marriage.
We encourage an intentional commitment of the Church and society to minister compassionately to those in the process of divorce, as well as members of divorced and remarried families, in a community of faith where God's grace is shared by all. Page 654, ¶ 2002: end the sentence by adding the following, "monitoring the practices of the entire church so as to further ensure racial inclusiveness."
Historical Society to Meet During Annual Conference
The South Georgia Conference Historical Society will meet during Annual Conference on Monday, June 6, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the Rumford Center Chapel at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth in Macon. The purpose of this meeting will be to honor the Bass and Vineville United Methodist Churches. Both churches have achieved the status of South Georgia Conference Historic Site. There will be a presentation on the historical significance of each church. All are invited to attend this celebration. For information, call Chris Shoemaker at (229) 683-3319 or email chair@sgchs.org.
United Methodist bishops sharpen focus on making disciples of Christ
(UMNS) The bishops of the United Methodist Church spent their weeklong spring meeting working on their primary focus: Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The bishops adopted the 2005-08 emphasis last fall as their quadrennial focus, one that points directly to the United Methodist Church's primary mission of disciple-making.
The emphasis permeated every aspect of the bishops' May 1-6 meeting in Arlington, Va.-the worship services, business sessions and field-trip discussions. Bishop Peter Weaver, council president, said afterward he sees "a growing unity of this council around this mission focus" and enthusiasm among the bishops for embracing it and living it out. More>>
United Methodist AIDS committee aims to raise $8 million
(UMNS) During its inaugural meeting, the United Methodist Church Global AIDS Fund Committee set aside $50,000 to fund programs to prevent the transmission of the disease from mothers to infants during birth.
The money, allocated from an existing United Methodist Board of Global Ministries account, will be made available to United Methodist hospitals in eight countries. Hospitals in two of those countries—Zimbabwe and India—are ready to implement the program now. Others will follow eventually in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Brazil and the Philippines. In Zimbabwe, existing programs piloted by the United Methodist Committee on Relief will be used as templates for new efforts there and in other countries.
The funds can be used to purchase Nevirapine, a drug that is administered once to the mother at the onset of labor and once to the baby after birth. The treatment significantly reduces the risk that the newborn will contract the AIDS virus, according to Linda Bales, staff executive with the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
Created by the 2004 General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, the committee is charged with raising and distributing $8 million over the next four years. Set up as the Global HIV/AIDS Program Advance Special #982345, the fund has generated $120,000 since March 1 and has $32,000 on hand. None of the money will come from apportionments. More>>
Conference UMW Retreat Meaningful to Many
By Mary Virginia Cox, UMW Spiritual Growth Coordinator
“One of the best!” was a frequently heard comment describing the Conference UMW Retreat April 1-3 at Epworth By The Sea. Retreat speaker, Reverend Marcia Cochran, and the musicians, Diane McBride and Judy Fogal, set an extraordinary context for the 230-plus attendees as they explored the theme, “Rock-Solid Faith in a Shifting-Sand Society!”! Even “nature” provided the perfect backdrop during the opening night session as the scripture text from Matthew 7 was read, “Let the storms come, let the rains fall, let the winds blow!”
Throughout the weekend, the participants had many opportunities to grow in faith, through singing, praying, hearing the word, small group discussions, morning watch celebrations, and joyous association with other sisters in the faith. A special feature of the retreat was the opportunity to contribute baby wipes (or money) for Wesley Community Centers in Savannah. Meanwhile, Sunshine Bird, assisted by Billie June Boyd, led planned activities and lessons for those children who had accompanied a parent to the retreat. All in all, everyone came away with a renewed faith in Christ, the Solid Rock!
“Resurrection Women” will be the theme for next year's UMW retreat, scheduled for March 24-26, 2006. (This is a change from earlier published date.) Circle these dates on your calendar and start planning now to attend. Watch various Conference publications during the year for program and registration information.
The Books of the Bible Song
The Books of the Bible Song is available free on The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship worship-preaching-music website. Suitable for summer Vacation Bible School, summer camp, Sunday School, children's choir, worship, or just for fun.
You Are There With UMCOR
Thanks to your prayers and support, that brokenness in the tsunami affected areas is slowly mending. Through unprecedented donations totaling $32.4 million for tsunami recovery, UMCOR is funding work in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Thailand, and India. UMCOR workers are supplying new nets and boats, beginning construction of new homes, and cleaning wells polluted by saltwater that flooded inland in the December 26, 2004 tsunami that caused catastrophic loss of life and damage to countries on all sides of the Indian Ocean. Through these donations you are there with UMCOR, helping people in very practical ways - providing food, water, clothing, shelter and jobs. UMCOR has just published new electronic bulletin insert, "Tsunami Recovery in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Somalia and Beyond". Click here to download, print, and use locally.
Editor of Disciple Bible Study dies at 72
Nellie Moser, who was instrumental in the vision and development of the Disciple Bible Study for the United Methodist Publishing House, died May 3. She was 72. Moser retired from the Publishing House in 2003, after 37 years of service. She had been executive editor of adult resources and also worked on Christian Believer and Jesus in the Gospels. More>>
Study guide promoted as tool for improving Holy Communion
(UMNS) A new study guide about Holy Communion will help local United Methodist churches improve the practice of the sacrament. Developing and promoting the guide is the primary strategy for spreading the message of a 16-page document adopted by the 2004 General Conference as the denomination's official, interpretive statement on Holy Communion. A conference held April 26-28 in Nashville, Tenn., introduced the study guide and served as a discussion, teaching and worship forum for more than 100 clergy and other church leaders.
The 79-page guide includes the church's official statement about Holy Communion as the main text plus commentary and discussion questions. It is arranged in a seven-session study guide format and includes recommendations for many other resources to aid in-depth studies.
The study guide of "This Holy Mystery" is available for $12 per copy from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. It may be ordered at www.discipleshipresources.org or by calling (800) 972-0433.
Digests from Spring 2005 Judicial Council Meeting
Digests from the Spring 2005 Judicial Council Meeting in Arlington, Virginia can be viewed here (taken from Newscope, the Weekly Newsletter for United Methodist Leaders).
Scholarship money declines for United Methodist students
(UMNS) The decline in congregations giving to special Sunday offerings is wreaking havoc on the number of scholarships the United Methodist Church's higher education agency can give to eligible applicants. Last year, the Office of Loans and Scholarships had to turn away 300 eligible applicants. More>>
Georgia State Day at the National Cathedral
Every four years the National Cathedral in Washington, DC presents a Georgia State Day and requests Georgians from all over to come and celebrate our day at this glorious gothic cathedral. The Georgia State Day at the National Cathedral is set for Sunday, July 17, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Churches of many denominations from around the state will be represented and members of our congressional delegations will be in attendance.
The National Cathedral Association (East Georgia Region) is offering a five-day private coach tour to Washington to include several days of sightseeing as well as a Saturday night option to participate in a pilgrimage and labyrinth walk at the cathedral. Basic price is $580 per person, based on double occupancy. For inquiries or to reserve a seat on our coach, contact Brent Taylor (912-634-2685).