Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church
TheCircuitRider Quarterly Newsletter
Happy Thanksgiving
from the Swansons
The Swansons Give Thanks for Harvest Bishop and Mrs. Swanson share in excitement about the fruit of the spiritual seeds that have been sowed throughout the Mississippi Conference over the year and why it’s certainly worth giving God Thanks. Watch their message to the Mississippi Conference here.
Toy Drive for Kids Impacted by ICE Raids There are Three Ways that People can Contribute: • Here is a Raid Relief Christmas Gifts 2019 list on Amazon and people can click on the list, purchase the items and have them shipped to the church. • People can send a check for the toy drive to: Morton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 519; Morton, MS 39117 and make it out to ‘Hispanic Relief Fund’ and put ‘Christmas Gift’ in the memo line. • People can also give cash
Methodist Children’s Homes Open House This holiday season, Methodist Children’s Homes will help share the light of the Lord with the community by hosting a Christmas open house and light parade. The Share the Light Open House will be held on the campus of Methodist Children’s Homes. This two-night event will begin December 6 with a special kick-off party from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The party will continue December 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. MCH is excited to share this new holiday celebration with the local community, but they need your help to make this ministry opportunity happen. Please encourage your family, church, organization or business to get involved and help #ShareTheLight.
IN THIS ISSUE:
The Gathering 2020 page 2 | Small Group Teaching Series page 2 | Reflections: Embracing Your Call page 3 | Save the Dates page 4 | Cares and Concerns page 4
WINTER 2019
I
t’s been three months since the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raids here in Mississippi, and hundreds of children and families are still impacted by financial hardships and instability. Help bring a little bit of normalcy to impacted children this Christmas season by donating to the ICE Raids Relief Toy Drive. Just in Morton, there are approximately 496 kids who would benefit from the joy of knowing someone was thinking about them at Christmas. The drive is collecting gifts valued at $25 for kids ages 0 to 18. Some toys have already been collected but around 300 are still needed. The last day to give towards the toy drive is December 8.
Connection News Camp Wesley Pines’ Day of Service Mark your calendars for February 22—any and all adults, children and youth from churches, student ministries, adult Sunday school classes, summer staff alumni or friends of camp are invited to be a part of the Camp Wesley Pines’ Day of Service as CWP prepares to tackle a number of projects on the grounds in preparation for CWP’s 60th summer of ministry. For more information, click here.
Spencer Award Deadline December 31 How do you invite people to support your ministry or special projects? Share your ministry’s story of generosity with the Mississippi Methodist Foundation. For the best stories, the foundation is offering three Spencer Awards totaling $1,500 dollars. The Spencer Award is open to churches, community centers and other ministries of The United Methodist Church in Mississippi. To learn more about this award, guidelines and to see last year’s winners’ submissions, visit our website at ms-umf.org/spencer-awards or contact Melissa Blakely at melissa@ms-umf.org. The submission deadline has been extended to December 31, 2019.
Disaster Response Update: Eagle Lake Eagle Lake is one of many communities impacted by the 2019 Delta Backwater Flood—the longest and most costly flood in Mississippi History. Evacuations began March 8 and Highway 465—which runs through the Eagle Lake Community—was closed March 13 and did not reopen until the waters begin to recede in August. Thorough assessments and partnerships help to “stretch” dollars for maximum impact, but donations are needed. The prime current volunteer need is recovery construction volunteers. Skills needed to help recovery include roofing, flooring, sheetrock and carpentry. There are also other, less strenuous volunteer opportunities which include survivor outreach/phone screening, office management/data entry, meal preparers for volunteers or survivors, drivers and logistics. For more information send an email to disasters@ mississippi-umc.org.
College and Seminary Scholarships Applications Available January 2 The Mississippi United Methodist Foundation awards scholarships through the wise investment of gifts made by generous donors. Scholarship applications will go live January 2, 2020 for college and seminary students at ms-umf.org/scholarships. Eligible students must be active participants in a United Methodist Church in the Mississippi Conference and attend any accredited college, university or seminary. Seminary students must be certified candidates for ordained ministry through the Mississippi Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM). Completed applications are due by April 1, 2020.
How to Start Small Groups Teaching Series One of the gifts the church offers is community, specifically small groups where participants can gather to experience acceptance, belonging and nurture as well as challenge and encouragement for the journey of faith. You and your church are invited to be part of this online course, along with other churches, to enhance your small group ministry. Discipleship Ministries is convinced that small groups are strategic arenas where formation of discipleship happens.
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Mississippi Conference News Reflections: Embracing Your Call ‘Reflections,’ a vlog set to air every two weeks, is an opportunity to commit to regular devotion and discernment on how we can grow as disciples. This webisode is focused on “Embracing Your Call.” Watch this video and reserve some quiet time to reflect on what insights and direction God’s word has to offer. In the future, you can also view past webisodes on the conference website at mississippi-umc. org/reflections.
Miss. Conference Clergywomen Venture to Uncharted Territory Clergywomen from across the state traveled to Jacksonville, Florida this week for fellowship, rest, resources and reassurance that God is present with them in their various ministries. Attendees participated in worship, Bible study and plenary sessions on leadership, self-care and best practices for navigating uncharted terrain. The conference also offered workshops on cross-cultural appointments, financial leadership, mentoring and developing leadership skills for working with staff and volunteers.
2020 Licensing School Opportunities January 10-11, 24-25; February 21-22 Licensing School provides basic preparation for pastoral ministry and is an educational requirement for individuals pursuing licensed local pastor ministry in The United Methodist Church. The Center for Ministry at Millsaps College in Jackson administers the Mississippi Conference Licensing School under the direction of the Mississippi Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM) and the office of spiritual leadership.
Retired Elder Receives Honor from Methodist Rehab Rev. Bert Felder was named a “Life Member” to the Miss. Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s Board of Trustees. Felder has served on the MRC board for 28 years, and he has been a pastor in the Mississippi Conference since 1959. The resolution states, “Bert’s numerous contributions to Methodist Rehabilitation Center and the citizens of Mississippi have secured him our enduring gratitude and respect as an advocate and leader whose dedication has been essential to the success and ability of the hospital to carry out its mission; and Bert’s decades of service stand as a testimony for his deep love of God and his neighbors.” Photo from left, Rev. Dr. Bob Rambo (MRC Trustee), Mark Adams (MRC President & CEO), Walter Weems (Chair of MRC Trustees), Rev. Bert Felder and Rev. Vickie White.
Galloway Memorial UMC Now Registered as General Church Historic Site Now listed as United Methodist Historic Site Number 559 by the General Commission on Archives and History, Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church was the beginning of Methodism in Jackson, as well as the first church of any kind in the capitol city. It was founded in 1836, 14 years after the city was chartered. Galloway is the only church which still stands on the original land set aside by the legislature. Galloway has had four leaders attain the distinction of being elected bishop: H.M. DuBose, Charles Galloway, J. Loyd Decell and Clay Lee share this honor.
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SAVE THE DATES Administry Training – December 14 This financial leadership training provides counsel and guidance to strengthen the administrative and financial abilities of the local church treasurer, financial secretary, finance committee members, church business administrators and church trustees.
United Methodist Student day Offering – November 24 Gifts to the United Methodist Student Day offering help deserving United Methodist students continue their education and their faith journeys as they strive to make a difference in the world and discern what God
Conference Office Closed for Christmas December 24 - January 5 The episcopal office and Mississippi Conference staff wish you a joyous celebration of the birth of Christ and a prosperous New Year! The offices will be closed in observance
CARES AND CONCERNS As you pause to pray this week, take time to ask for strength, peace and
of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays
comfort for the families and friends of
beginning Monday, December 23, 2019 at 4:30
those listed below who have joined the
p.m. and will re-open Monday, January 6, 2020
Church Triumphant:
at normal business hours.
Conference Office Closed for Observance of MLK Day – January 20, 2020 The conference office will be closed Monday,
• With heavy hearts, we extend our sympathy and love to the family of Rev. Burnell Newsone, who died November 10, 2019. We give thanks to
January 20, 2020 in observance of Martin
God for his witness.
Luther King Jr. Day.
• It is with sadness that we announce
The Gathering 2020: Time – February 28 - March 1
the passing of Rev. Benjamin Lewis,
The conference and episcopal offices will be
The vision for The Gathering is to create
ashes were interred next to his wife,
closed in observance of the Thanksgiving
a high-energy weekend conference for
Sally’s ashes October 11, 2019.
holiday Thursday, November 28 and Friday,
Mississippi students in grades six through 12
November 29. We will re-open Monday,
to gather and celebrate Christ and grow in
• We extend our love and sympathy
December 2, 2019 at normal business hours.
Him. Our commitment is to create a first-class
to Mary Jo Howell and family. Her
Happy Thanksgiving from the Mississippi
experience featuring the best worship teams and communicators for this generation.
husband, Rev. Hollis Howell, passed
Conference!
has called them to do.
Conference Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving – November 27-28
who died September 22, 2019. His
away Sunday, September 14, 2019. • With heavy hearts we announce that Rev. James McGill passed away
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
September 7, 2019.
As a courtesy to the Mississippi Annual Conference, job announcements from across
the passing of Vetrice Moore
the United Methodist connection are featured in The Circuit Rider. To submit an employment notice, send an email to news@mississipppi-umc.org. Postings are not guaranteed to appear more than once in Mississippi Conference publications. To read
a description of job opening(s) listed below as well as other listing, click here.
• It is with sadness that we announce Williams, who died September 6, 2019. She was the surviving spouse of Rev. Jack Williams.
• Minister to Children and Youth (Part-time)
• Your prayers are requested for the
• Director of Music Ministries (Saint Simons Island, Georgia)
family of Rev. Charles Morrison, who
• Director of Student Ministry (Clearbranch UMC) • Youth Ministries Coordinator at Parkway Hills United Methodist Church • Director of Children, Middle School and Youth Ministries
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died August 31, 2019.