Vol. 4 • No. 31
December 12, 2005
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In This Issue of The Link:
United Methodist Year in Review
--For United Methodists and others, disaster dominated '05
Conference News
--Online Registration Now Available for Confirmation Retreats
--LAOS event is just around the corner
--IRS Announces Mileage Rate for 2006
Connection News
--Broadcast of A Christmas Carol sponsored by UMC
--Current Needs at UMCOR Sager Brown
--Hurricane Relief - Where the Money Goes
--Korean church leaders set vision for next four years
--Teenager Sleeps outside to focus Attention on Homelessness
--Pakistan and Kashmir: Earthquake Recovery
--Iraq: Rebuild and Renew
--United Methodists find spiritual riches, tools, in 'Narnia'
--Operation Classroom seeks vocational materials for Ganta
Resources
--50 Ways to Honor Your Clergywoman
--Free Advent resources from Igniting Ministry
--New Year's Eve/Day Planning Helps and Resources
--Resource Uses Bible to Help People Deal with Crisis
Mark Your Calendar
--Upcoming Conference Events
UNITED METHODIST YEAR IN REVIEW
For United Methodists and others, disaster dominated '05
(UMNS) It was only one of 26 named storms in a record-breaking hurricane season, but for United Methodists, Hurricane Katrina packed the biggest wallop.
When Katrina bore down on the Gulf Coast at the end of August, it swept away homes, churches, parsonages, and social service centers in its path. In Louisiana, much of the southeastern part of the state was flooded, including New Orleans. In Mississippi, the towns of Waveland and Pass Christian were wiped out. Hurricane Rita followed a few weeks later, compounding the damage and distress. The death toll from the storms exceeded 1,000, though a final figure is not known.
Natural disasters were a major focus for the church during 2005, but the year also was a tumultuous one for other reasons: the war in Iraq, church court rulings on cases related to homosexuality and clergy authority, relief initiatives in Africa and other parts of the world, and progress in ecumenical relationships, to name a few. More>>
CONFERENCE NEWS
Online Registration Now Available for Confirmation Retreats
Confirmation is right around the corner, and in 2006 the South Georgia Conference will be hosting two confirmation retreats to meet the demands of our local churches. The first retreat will be held on February 10–12, and the second one will be held March 3–5. Online registration is now available. Click here to register.
LAOS event is just around the corner
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.
IRS Announces Mileage Rates for 2006
Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven; 18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, other than activities related to Hurricane Katrina relief. For more information, click here.
CONNECTION NEWS
Broadcast of A Christmas Carol sponsored by UMC
(IM) On December 14 a holiday favorite with a timeless message, A Christmas Carol , will be shared with TNT's cable audience on behalf of The United Methodist Church [ view trailer | other sponsorships ].
This sponsorship is just one "extra" in an Advent TV campaign that will mark the most in-depth Advent campaign ever! United Methodist cable messages will run for three weeks beginning December 5. It will run across 18 cable networks. The commercials in the Advent rotation will include "The Gift" and "I Believe" (you can view all television commercials from the MediaWarehouse).
Current Needs at UMCOR Sager Brown
(UMCOR) The many disasters in 2005 coupled with already-existing needs has placed a great demand on the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager Brown’s relief supplies. The depot needs more supplies to meet needs both in the US and around the world. Won't you help? Assembling kits is a fun way to involve people of all ages. This could be a wonderful Christmas activity to make gifts for others in need.
According to UMCOR Sager Brown interim director, Ted Warnock, school kits, layettes, flood buckets, sewing kits, health kits, and hand towels are in great demand. Click here to find out more about how to assemble and ship these vital supplies. You can also give toward the purchase of these items through UMCOR Advance #901440, Material Resource Ministry.
Hurricane Relief - Where the Money Goes
(UMCOR) As of December the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has received more than $24 million in donations for hurricane relief. Your generosity has allowed UMCOR to support recovery in 13 states that have either been directly affected by this year's hurricanes or are hosting hurricane evacuees. Still, more is required to support the long term response, especially Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Please give to UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005. If you would like to designate your gift to a specific hurricane or region, please note this on your check. Click here to find out how UMCOR uses your gifts to provide relief and recovery in the wake of these horrible storms.
Korean church leaders set vision for next four years
(UMNS) A vision based on "Wesleyan tradition and Korean spirituality" will lead the United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries for the next four years, said the group's new executive secretary. "We need to focus on healthy growing of Korean United Methodist Churches as well as bringing hope to the general church," said the Rev. Paul H. Chang. "I believe this is why the denomination supported the Korean Plan for four more years." More>>
Teenager Sleeps outside to focus Attention on Homelessness
(UMC.org) Bright stars pierce the crisp autumn nights of Minneapolis - great sleeping weather for most residents of this northern city. Casey Robbins, 16, a member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church downtown, is learning firsthand that the cold nights are not so pleasant for the city's homeless. And she wants others to care as much as she does.
From Sept. 15 to Christmas Eve, Casey will spend "100 Nights Outside" to raise funds for the church's Dignity Center, which provides assistance to those needing shelter, transportation, clothing, food and employment. Pledges have come in various forms, some for a certain amount for each night she spends outside, including one pledge giving bonuses for nights dropping below certain temperatures. Several people, including her church youth group, have accepted her challenge to join her for a night. More>>
Pan and Kashmir: Earthquake Recoverykista
(UMCOR) Worsening weather conditions as winter settles in the Himalayans is hampering relief efforts and heightening the urgency for aid. UMCOR is working with Action by Churches Together International partner organizations in the earthquake-affected areas. Church World Service, CASA and others continue to bring in relief supplies such as winterized tents and food. They are also providing medical care to the injured and sick. More help is needed. Please give to UMCOR Advance #232000, Pakistan Earthquake, and lend your support.
Iraq: Rebuild and Renew
(UMCOR) The continuous cycle of violence in Iraq prevents the country and its people from returning to normal life. This situation has led to increased vulnerability, and humanitarian needs that have exceeded to response capacity of the affected communities. These communities are in need of food relief, health care, shelter, counseling and support. UMCOR has worked with ACT International partners to respond to this emergency over the last two years. Much more work is needed to rehabilitate schools and institutions as well as providing food and medicine to help Iraq's most vulnerable people make it through this difficult period in their nation's history. Your gifts to UMCOR Advance #623225, Iraq Emergency, will help the people of Iraq recover.
United Methodists find spiritual riches, tools, in 'Narnia'
(UMNS) When C.S. Lewis published his first children's book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe , in 1950, friends and critics alike feared that the popular theologian had made a poor career move. More than 50 years later, Lion and the six other novels known collectively as "The Chronicles of Narnia" are Lewis' best-known and most widely read works.
With the Dec. 9 theatrical release of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" from Walt Disney and Walden Media, United Methodists are turning to the classic Christian fantasy for inspiration and as a tool for spiritual formation. More>>
Operation Classroom seeks vocational materials for Ganta
(UMNS) Donations of vocational training materials are being sought by Operation Classroom, a United Methodist mission program working in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The materials would be used in a program at the denomination's Ganta Mission Station in Liberia designed to train participants in basic vocational trades of auto and diesel mechanics, electricity rafting, cabinet making, carpentry, building construction, welding and plumbing. More>>
RESOURCES
50 Ways to Honor Your Clergy Woman
(UMNS) Take a clergywoman to lunch. Or honor her with flowers on the altar, create a scholarship in her name, invite her to preach at your church. These are some of the 50 suggestions offered on a poster marking "50 Ways to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Full Clergy Rights for Women" in the United Methodist Church.
The full-size poster, available for purchase, is a joint project of the denomination's Commission on the Status and Role of Women and Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Designed to give local congregations, pastors, Sunday school teachers, youth groups and others ideas on how to mark the anniversary, the poster also promotes awareness of the history and current role of clergywomen, according to M. Garlinda Burton, the commission's chief executive. More>>
Free Advent resources from Igniting Ministry
Free Advent resources (worship graphics, radio, bulletins, etc.), including welcoming tips, are available for download from the MediaWarehouse (where you can also view all television commercials).
New Year's Eve/Day Planning Helps and Resources
The General Board of Discipleship is providing helps and resources to assist local churches in planning New Year's Eve and/or New Year's Day services. Click here to view.
Resource Uses Bible to Help People Deal with Crisis
(UMNS) A new online resource from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship uses Scriptures to help people who are in crisis or recovering from disaster. "Stories for Survivors," a collection of Bible stories with discussion questions created for survivors of disaster, was launched Nov. 20 at www.umcevangelism.org.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Upcoming Conference Events
Keep up with what's going on in the South Georgia Conference!
-- Annual Georgia Day of Prayer for Moral Leadership - January 8
--A January Adventure in Emerging Christianity - January 19-21
-- LAOS (Laity Retreat) - January 20-22
-- Winter Camp Meeting - February 5-8
--Confirmation Retreat - February 10-12
--Macon District Christian Enrichment School - February 11 & 12
--Confirmation Retreat - March 3-5
--Spouses Retreat - March 17-19
--UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat - March 24-26
--UMM Retreat - April 21-23