Vol. 5 • No. 16
August 24, 2006
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In This Issue of The Link:
Conference News
--Volunteer Work Teams Needed in Sylvester
--Candidacy Mentor Training will be held at Tifton First UMC
--Dr. Loyd Melton to Teach at Comprehensive School for Clergy Leadership
--Childcare will be provided at Safe Sanctuaries training
--UMW will 'Rekindle the Flame Through Harvesting Peace' at Annual Meeting
--Discover God's Call Retreat
--Georgia Day of Prayer for Moral Leadership set for January 7
--News from the Office of New and Revitalized Congregational Development
--Don't Forget to Register!
Connection News
--Convocation for Pastors of African American Churches planned for January
--A Pathway to God Experiential Retreat at Lake Junaluska
--Bishop encourages clergywomen to keep knocking on doors
Resources
--Adobe and Dell available through TechShop
--Making Sense of Praise & Worship Music
--Great Thanksgiving on the Theme of Reconciliation
Mark Your Calendar
--Upcoming Conference Events
--All Upcoming Events
CONFERENCE NEWS
Volunteer Work Teams Needed in Sylvester
Sylvester, Georgia still has a great need for volunteer work teams following last year's hurricanes. If you have a rebuild team who is able and willing to work in the area, please contact Dr. Thomas Latimer at 229-776-3358.
Candidacy Mentor Training will be held at Tifton First UMC
The Conference Board of Ordained Ministry is holding a Candidacy Mentor Training on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at Tifton First UMC. The training will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m. 0.5 CEUs are available for this event. All mentors, including elders, full-member deacons, associate members, and local pastors who have finished the course of study, are encouraged to attend. There are changes that occur with each quadrennium and a refresher course is good for those who have not been to one since the 2004 General Conference. To register, contact John Walker at 912-884-2329 or jawalker_7777@hotmail.com.
Dr. Loyd Melton to Teach at Comprehensive School for Clergy Leadership
The South Georgia Conference Comprehensive School for Clergy Leadership presents "The Leadership Lessons of Jesus in Mark's Gospel" with Dr. Loyd Melton. Dr. Melton is the John Montgomery Bell Professor of New Testament and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, SC. The school will take place September 25-56, 2006 at Epworth By The Sea. To download a brochure and registration form, click here.
Childcare will be provided at Safe Sanctuaries training
Childcare for infants through the 3rd grade will be provided for the Safe Sanctuaries training scheduled for September 9 at Vineville UMC in Macon. This training is intended to help local churches take a first-step in an intentional effort to protect children and youth. The training will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. Dr. Thomas Salsgiver, Director of Connectional Ministries for the Central Pennsylvania Conference, will lead the training. For a registration form or to register online, click here. Continuing education credit will be available for clergy.
UMW will 'Rekindle the Flame Through Harvesting Peace' at Annual Meeting
The 34th Annual Meeting of the South Georgia Conference United Methodist Women will take place Saturday, October 21, 2006 at Park Avenue UMC in Valdosta. This year's theme is "Rekindle the Flame Through Harvesting Peace." Women from all across South Georgia will come together to commemorate the past as they explore the beginnings of what is now United Methodist Women; celebrate the present as they review recent accomplishments; and anticipate the future as they envision things to come. For more information or to download a registration form, click here.
Discover God's Call Retreat
The South Georgia Discover God's Call Retreat will be November 17-19 at Norman Park, GA. The registration deadline is October 6 and the pre-retreat study begins October 16. Mira Barrett will be the inspirational speaker. So... if you've ever wondered what you were doing in church... if you've ever wondered what God wants you to do with your life... if you've ever wanted to spend a weekend singing praises to God... if you've ever wanted to discover God's call in your life... if you've ever wanted to participate in a deeper level of prayer and Bible study... then this retreat is for you. For more information call Karen Jarrell at 404-274-1920 or email Buddy Whatley at cbwhatley@hotmail.com.
Georgia Day of Prayer for Moral Leadership set for January 7
The Annual Georgia Day of Prayer for Moral Leadership is Sunday, January 7, 2007. Sponsored by the Georgia Council on Moral and Civic Concerns, it is a simultaneous, locally initiated day for local churches to pray for their Georgia legislators on the day before the annual General Assembly session begins. No format is required, no restrictions imposed. Local churches may choose how, whom, and when they pray on that day. The Council does encourage churches to invite their local legislators to attend services where they will be prayed for. For more information, contact Dr. Willis Moore, Executive Director of the Georgia Council on Moral and Civic Concerns, at 770-469-3858.
News from the Office of New and Revitalized Congregational Development
Check out the latest news from the Office of New and Revitalized Congregational Development. Click here.
Don't Forget to Register!
Registration is underway for the following events. Click the name of the event for more information.
--Safe Sanctuaries Training, a training event to help reduce the risk of child abuse in the church
--Experiencing the Holy Mystery, a workshop hosted by Sandersville UMC
--A Forum on Today's Issues, a forum on relevant issues hosted by the Georgia Christian Council
--KidzQuest - a retreat designed especially for 3rd - 6th graders
--Black Church Summit, an event designed to help strengthen African American congregations
--Comprehensive School, a two-day retreat for clergy with a focus on leadership
--UMW Annual Meeting, the 34th annual meeting of United Methodist Women
--Holy Spirit Conference, a weekend retreat sponsored by the Brunswick Sub-district
--Discover God's Call Retreat, a retreat focused on discerning God's call in your life
CONNECTION NEWS
Convocation for Pastors of African American Churches Planned for Jan.
A convocation with a "Healthy Connections" theme will be held for pastors of African-American churches Jan. 3-6 at St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas. Sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, the event will be an opportunity for pastors to learn from clergy who are recognized for their leadership in African-American settings; develop strategies to aid pastoral leaders; discover the critical needs for growth in African American churches; and meet with other clergy for prayer and support. Registration information is available at www.gbod.org/pastorsconvo or by calling Deborah Carvin at the board, at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7051.
A Pathway to God Experiential Retreat at Lake Junaluska
The Intentional Growth Center at Lake Junaluska is hosting a Pathway to God Experiential Retreat focusing on "Intimacy with God: Falling in Love with God and Life" October 24-27, 2006. This retreat will get you started with Centering Prayer, a contemplative practice that builds “spiritual muscles” for facilitating the core Gospel movement of dying and rising with Christ. Further, a deeper understanding of lectio divina as a daily practice will be fostered. One practical focus will be on dealing with distractions from prayer. There will be corporate worship with particular focus upon music, chants and movement as a pathway to God. One day, weather permitting, will be spent in Pisgah Forest along a trail near an awesome mountain stream. Click here for more information.
Bishop encourages clergywomen to keep knocking on doors
(UMNS) United Methodist clergywomen attending an international consultation were challenged to be like the persistent, sassy, forever present, importune woman in the Bible who never ceased to knock on the door of the unjust judge. Referring to Jesus' parable in Luke 18:1-8, retired Bishop Judith Craig cited the woman who kept after the judge until he finally gave her justice.
“Is there any woman more worthy of being the great-grandmother of United Methodist clergywomen than that woman?” she asked. She encouraged the clergywomen to not give up seeking what is theirs.
United Methodist clergywomen attending the 2006 International Clergywomen's Consultation Aug. 13-17 celebrated 1956-1976 as the first two decades of full clergy membership rights for women in the denomination, and they marked the 50th anniversary of winning those rights at the church's General Conference. The clergywomen also paid tribute to their sisters who had led the way in ministry and remembered those who've died since the 2002 consultation. More>>
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