Vol. 5 • No. 18
September 20, 2006
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In This Issue of The Link:
Conference News
--Dr. Edwin Chase Serves Conference Faithfully for 13 Years
--Search for Conference Pastoral Counselor Underway
--Register Now for November Celebration '06
--Safe Sanctuaries Trainings Scheduled for 2007
--General and Jurisdictional Delegation Elections Process Defined
--United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Training Session
--North Glynn UMC to break ground
--Louisville UMC to hold Homecoming/Revival Services
--Don't Forget to Register!
Connection News
--Survey to help assess 'State of Church' for United Methodists
--UMVIM, SEJ Exploratory Teams for 2006/2007
--EXPLORATION 2006
--2007 Church Musicians Retreat
Resources
--New Resource for Churches: Medicine Box Guide
--New Resource for Churches: Spiritual Care in Disaster Response
--Advent: Expecting the Unexpected
--What's in a Hymnal Name?
Mark Your Calendar
--All Upcoming Events
CONFERENCE NEWS
Dr. Edwin Chase Serves Conference Faithfully for 13 Years
The South Georgia Annual Conference Personnel Committee regretfully announces that Dr. Edwin Chase has chosen to end his appointment as Conference Pastoral Counselor effective December 31, 2006.
“The work continues to be challenging, most fulfilling and my health is fine,” said Dr. Chase. “Not related to this work, I have some projects that I want to complete in the next few years. I am leaving this position, but I will continue my work at The Methodist Home as Director of the Family Institute.”
“The South Georgia Conference has been blessed tremendously by the ministry of Dr. Edwin Chase,” said Bishop Mike Watson. “Edwin's pastoral care and insights have enriched many clergy and laity directly and indirectly. We appreciate all Edwin has offered and we are delighted that he will continue his ministry through The Methodist Home.”
Dr. Chase became the Conference Pastoral Counselor in 1993. In this role, Dr. Chase has offered counseling to clergy, clergy families, and church staff members. He has taught pastoral counseling and self-care skills to new and seasoned clergy all across the Annual Conference. He has been available to help congregational leaders debrief and heal following traumatic events.
“This is the end of a significant era,” said the Reverend Ellis Carpenter, Chair of the Commission on Pastoral Counseling Services. “Many people have grown personally and professionally from Edwin's counseling and guidance.”
“Edwin Chase has been involved in many situations about which most people will never know,” said the Reverend Gene Cochran, search committee member. “The true impact of his work will be known by the few, not the many.”
A search committee has been formed to seek the next Conference Pastoral Counselor.
Search for Conference Pastoral Counselor Underway
The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church is searching for a half-time Conference Pastoral Counselor. Successful candidate should be an Ordained Elder or Deacon (or equivalent) who possesses either a LPC, LMFT or LCSW and preferably is a Member in AAPC. Duties include: offering pastoral counseling to clergy, clergy families and paid church staff; assessing and referring persons to one of a network of counselors; teaching in workshops, seminars, and retreats; responding to traumatic or crisis events in the Conference and in local churches; and other duties as assigned. Click here to view the job description. Click here for the application packet. For more information, see the job description or contact Dr. Brad Brady, P.O. Box 20408, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522. Applications are due by November 3.
Register Now for November Celebration '06
On November 17-19, 2006 the South Georgia Conference Connectional Ministries Office will be sponsoring November Celebration '06. Held at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island, this retreat is intended for 6th – 12th graders.
“A Time for Change” is this year's retreat theme. Change can be both an exhilarating and a frightening experience for teenagers. No matter how we view it though, change is inevitable when we meet Jesus Christ. Throughout the weekend students will hear examples of people's lives that were changed when they experienced an actual encounter with Jesus.
Click here for more information or to register online.
Safe Sanctuaries Trainings Scheduled for 2007
Safe Sanctuaries is the name commonly given by local United Methodist Annual Conferences and local churches to their individual efforts to make conference, district, and local church programs welcoming and safe for children and youth. The Safe Sanctuaries training is a first-step in an intentional effort to protect our young. Below are the current trainings scheduled for 2007. For more information about the training, click here. For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, click here.
--January 27, 2007 at Richmond Hill UMC in Richmond Hill
--February 24, 2007 at Valdosta First UMC in Valdosta
--April 28, 2007 at Pierce Chapel UMC in Columbus
General and Jurisditional Delegation Elections Process Defined
The South Georgia Conference will elect its delegation to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional Conferences during the 2007 Annual Conference Session in Savannah June 3-7. Click here to view details of the elections process.
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Training Session
There will be an UMVIM training session on October 14th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Christ UMC in Warner Robins. Lunch will be served and reservations should be called into the church office at 478-922-0211. The Macon District will be hosting the event this year, and it is for all interested churches and individuals who would like tobecome a "missions" oriented church through participation in short-term missions, local, national and international. For more info, contact Dr. Charles Cravey, Conference UMVIM Coordinator, at DrRev@alltel.net or 912-564-2722.
North Glynn UMC to break ground
Dr. Tony Caldwell reports that the North Glynn United Methodist Church in Brunswick is breaking ground on their new church facility on Saturday, September 23 at 11:00 a.m. at 5029 Highway 17 North in Brunswick. The facility should be completed by next summer. The church is presently meeting in an elementary school gym.
As part of their celebration, written prayers from the members, attendees, and friends of the church will be sealed in individual tubes and placed throughout the foundation, along with sealed Bibles at each entrance and under the stage in the worship center.
Tony requests that pastors from the South Georgia Conference mail in a prayer on church letterhead and these will also be placed in individual tubes and sealed into the foundation of the church. The prayers may be mailed to: North Glynn UMC, P.O. Box 1658, Brunswick, GA 31521-1658.
Louisville UMC to hold Homecoming/Revival Services
You are cordially invited to the Homecoming service and Revival with the congregation of Louisville United Methodist Church . The annual Homecoming service will be held October 8, 2006 and will celebrate one hundred thirteen years of ministry in Jefferson County . Following Homecoming, a Revival will be conducted October 9-11, 2006 beginning at 7:00 each evening. The guest preacher for all services will be Rev. Sammy Clark. Rev. Clark retired from full time ministry in 1998 but remains actively in service for Christ. For more information, contact the church office at 478-625-7669.
Don't Forget to Register!
Registration is underway for the following events. Click the name of the event for more information.
--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
--November Youth Celebration '06, a weekend retreat for 6th-12th graders
CONNECTION NEWS
Survey to help assess 'State of Church' for United Methodists
(UMNS) United Methodists are encouraged to participate in an online survey to help collect information for the denomination's "State of the Church" project. The project is sponsored by the Connectional Table, created by the 2004 United Methodist General Conference - the denomination's top legislative body - to guide mission and ministries. The survey can be found here or by going to www.umc.org. It may be placed on other official denominational Web sites as well, and United Methodist Communications is sending the link to its e-mail lists.
UMVIM, SEJ Exploratory Teams for 2006/2007
UMVIM, SEJ is offering several opportunities for individuals to learn and serve in different projects around the world and to explore possibilities for follow-up teams. For more info, contact the team leader listed.
ASP
Location: Brenton, West Virginia
Project: Appalachia Service Project
Dates: March 21-25, 2007
Team Leader: Roy Burris
Contact person: Roy Burris, Burris252@wmconnect.com or (252) 638-8759
Cost: $225 per person
Panama
Location: Panama
Project: Panama City sites 2 days, Camp Espino (on trip to Chiriqui) 2 days Bocas del Toro 3 days
Dates: March 6th- 16th, 2007
Team Leader: Tony Rowell, lolobobo@alltel.net or 803-359-2354
Cost: $1500.00
Bahamas
Location: Eleuthera
Project: Bahamas Methodist Habitat
Dates: December 8-16, 2006
Team Leader: Candy Benson, candy_benson@umvim.org or 404-377-7424
Cost: $1,115 (covers all costs excluding breakfast)
Nicaragua
Location: Leon
Project: El Ayudante
Dates: November 11-18, 2006
Team Leader: Landon Taylor, landon_taylor@umvim.org or 404-377-7424
Cost: $1300.00
EXPLORATION 2006
EXPLORATION 2006 will be held November 17-19, 2006 in Jacksonville, FL. This event is for high school seniors through age 24 who are considering ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. The final deadline for registration is Friday, October 6 and scholarships are still available for student participants. For more information about this event, or to register, click here. Please encourage those young adults you know who may be considering ordained ministry to attend this event. Contact Valerie Ealey at vealey@gbhem.org or 615-340-7431 for questions about EXPLORATION.
2007 Church Musicians Retreat
(GBOD) The General Board of Discipleship is sponsoring a Church Musicians Retreat January 25-28, 2007 in Nashville . For more information or to register, click here.
RESOURCES
New Resource for Churches: Medicine Box Guide
(UMCOR) An updated guide for assembling the Medicine Box is available now from the Service Center. The United Methodist Church has a historic commitment to medical missions. Today, UMCOR cooperates with Interchurch Medical Assistance to distribute essential medicines packaged in the Medicine Box. Your congregation can play a direct role in saving lives. This guide and colorful wall poster, free except for postage and handling, show you how. Order online from the E-Store by clicking here or calling toll free 800-305-9857.
New Resource for Churches: Spiritual Care in Disaster Response
(UMCOR) The TV cameras are gone, and early relief centers have closed. Many hands have removed debris, and the electricity works, most of the time. But for persons directly affected by a disaster, it can take weeks or months for survivors to get a handle on the permanence of their losses. How can congregations help? Here's a start. "Spiritual Care in Disaster Response" is a new collection of resources provided by UMCOR to assist congregations, families and children involved in disaster—as survivors or as people who emotionally support them. Topics include: Basic Trauma Information for Congregations; Where Are You on the Road to Recovery? (Plus: Phases of Disaster); How Can I Expect My Child to React in Disaster?; and Should I Seek Professional Counseling for My Child or Teenager? These materials were adapted for UMCOR by the Rev. Mary E. Hughes Gaudreau, LPC, Oklahoma Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, and UMCOR disaster response consultant. Download for free from the UMCOR website by clicking here.
Advent: Expecting the Unexpected
(GBOD) Expecting the Unexpected is a wonderful new devotional guide for Advent from Upper Room Books. It includes images and reflections for each of the days in Advent as well as prayers and small-group discussion themes. It also includes a different Charles Wesley hymn each week for singing, meditation, and discussion. Use it as a guide for a church staff, a small group, a Sunday School class, a choir, your family, or for yourself. Leader's guide is included. For more information or to order, click here or call toll-free 800-972-0433.
What's in a Hymnal Name?
(GBOD) The United Methodist Church - and its predecessor denominations - has always been a singing church. It's an important element of our worship, and we support it through the publication of numerous hymnals and songbooks. There are frequent questions and confusion over one hymnal in particular: the 1966 hymnal published by The Methodist Church. The confusion arises over the different titles of this hymnal as well as multiple dates. Click here for the story.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
All Upcoming Events
Keep up with what's going on in the South Georgia Conference!
--Black Church Summit - September 21-23
--Comprehensive School for Clergy Leadership - September 25-26
--UMW Annual Meeting - October 21
--Vashti Sunday - October 22
--Eagles' Retreat - November 6-8
--Holy Spirit Conference - November 10-12
--Wesleyan College Sunday - November 12
--November Youth Celebration - November 17-19
--Discover God's Call Retreat - November 17-19
--Georgia Day of Prayer for Moral Leadership - January 7