Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church
TheCircuitRider Quarterly Newsletter
Disaster Response: Hurricane Zeta Update Hurricane Zeta has caused a great deal
more damage in Mississippi than previously anticipated. Right now, teams are still in the process of assessing injury and loss. The immediate goal was to collect 5,000 flood buckets to begin helping people recover. The first efforts towards that goal began recently with 500 flood buckets being dropped off in D ’Iberville. A shipment of 5,000 flood buckets arrived earlier this month at Camp Faith in Saucier from Sager Brown,
March Building Blitz You have an opportunity to be a part of a life-changing event across our state as we come together in March to rebuild and repair homes. We have experienced multiple disasters in Mississippi over the past couple of years that have left families in need of a safe and secure roof over their heads. God calls us to be in ministry together, and when one part of the body is suffering, we all suffer. In a time in which there is so much division in our world, this is an opportunity to build relationships and work together for a common purpose.
a United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) depot in Louisiana. More tarps, wood strips, nails and other needed supplies will arrive soon from the UMCOR warehouse in Decatur, Alabama. Some early response teams (ERTs) have been deployed this past weekend and more ERTs are needed. There is housing for volunteers available. For more information on volunteering and volunteer housing contact George Duffee-Braun via email at georgedb@icloud.com or via phone at 228.861.1874. [Read More]
Watch this video for details about the ongoing work of the Mississippi Disaster Response Team.
November Pandemic Task Team Update Congregational Care and the Coronavirus
IN THIS ISSUE:
Brothers and sisters in Christ, We have now entered our eighth month on this coronavirus pandemic journey together, and the road has been long. We have all given up so much of what we are accustomed to in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors. We are people of faith and of hope and we give thanks for progress with developing, testing and preparing vaccines for distribution, but this news will not impact our current reality in the immediate future. It takes time and
funding to administer vaccines and there are still many unanswered questions like how long the vaccine remains effective. Unfortunately, the data reveals that we are not only not nearing an end, but we are also seeing more cases and hospitalizations at an alarmingly higher and faster rate here in Mississippi. We are all experiencing COVID fatigue and we caution you to continue in fighting this unseen, and sometimes deadly enemy. [Read More]
This Little Light of Mine page 2 | Approaching Clergy Deadlines page 3 | Treasurer’s Report page 3 | Save the Dates page 4 | Employment Opportunities page 4
WINTER 2020
Whether you organize/participate in work teams, prayer teams or fundraising teams (just to name a few) we hope that everyone will be generous with the gifts God has given us. So, be on the lookout for future updates about ways to be the hands and feet of Christ!
Connection News Help UM Students on #GivingTuesday – Miss. United Methodist Foundation This Giving Tuesday, make a gift to our scholarship fund, and we will match it. Over 1,000 students have already received scholarships from the Mississippi United Methodist Foundation. Benefitting students from across the state, these scholarships assist with tuition, books and other educational expenses. Join us, and together we will provide even more opportunities for future scholars! Visit our website to make a gift.
This Little Light of Mine Campaign – Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi The special offering for Methodist Children’s Homes supports the daily operations of MCH. Without your church’s support of the Little Light of Mine Special Offering, MCH would not be able to care for the hundreds of children we serve each year. The Little Light of Mine Special Offering launched on Children’s Sabbath Sunday (October 18) and will continue through December 13. Click here to find ways to promote and give.
Stroke at age 35 – Methodist Rehabilitation If he’d been by himself at Winner’s Circle Park in Flowood, De’Mon McClinton might have overlooked the odd sensation on his right side. But since he was alone with his two young sons, he headed home. Now, he hates to think what might have happened if he hadn’t played it safe on July 22, 2019. Just hours later, what started as a “funny feeling” escalated to a full-blown stroke. Public relations director, Susan Christensen details this 35-year-old’s recover from a stroke here.
Spiritual Reflection Chapel Space Completed – UM-Related Millsaps College When Dr. Rob Pearigen began his tenure as president of Millsaps College in 2010, he expressed a desire for the college to have a chapel space that inspired spiritual reflection and formation, and that enhanced worship and religious life opportunities for all Millsaps constituents. Millsaps College community engagement and communications director, John Sewell has details here.
Communications Resources for Your Local Church United Methodist Communications has aggregated several helpful tools and promotional materials to help local churches with goals ranging from highlighting United Methodist Student Day and Thanksgiving through graphics for social media and Sunday bulletins, to aiding with website development, branding and more. Click here for more information.
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Mississippi Conference News Approaching Training Deadlines Clergy, do not forget! You must complete MinistrySafe and clergy ethics training before December 31, 2020. Find more information on MinistrySafe training here. Find more information on clergy ethics training here.
Treasurer’s Notes Conference treasurer, director of finance and administration and benefits officer, David Stotts compiled a list of tips, reminders and resources to aid congregations with issues regarding taxes, PPP loans, statistical data, mission shares and more. View this list of items your faith community should review before the end of the year. Read more…
Why We Give As we continue to live into a new and different world this year, we must look beyond our doors and ourselves to find those people of God who need our help. Give generously as you provide God’s people the help they need. Let’s make a difference in someone’s life today. Read and respond to four questions about personal and corporate stewardship here. Read more…
Leadership Growth Opportunities Learning to lead is the beginning of revitalization — providing the solid foundation for church revitalization, forming new faith communities and making disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. Explore growth opportunities like coaching, the Lead Like Jesus Encounter and Adaptive Leadership Cohort with faith community formation here. Read more…
Embracing Digital Media Post Pandemic Churches cannot wait and hope for things to “go back to normal” or think that in-person services will bring people flocking back. We cannot assume that the things that worked for us in the past will work for us in the future. Nor can we continue to do church the same way we’ve always done church and expect to get different results. If we can come to terms with that, we can begin to look at ministry with new eyes and look at ways to engage the next generation. Read more…
Winter 2020 | The Circuit Rider Quarterly Newsletter 3
SAVE THE DATES Conference Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving – November 26-27
11:00 a.m. This event will be hosted via Zoom
community developers, community advocacy
webinar. Come and have “Breakfast with
through United Methodist Voluntary Services
the Bishop and Bolsinger” as they discuss
and work with at-risk youth through the
The conference and episcopal offices will be
the importance and necessity of adaptive
Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs.
closed in observance of the Thanksgiving
leadership. Click here to watch Bishop
Learn more about Human Relations Sunday
holiday Thursday, November 26 and Friday,
Swanson talk about this event.
here.
Conference Office Closed for Christmas - December 24 - January 3
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 18, 2021
The episcopal office and Mississippi
The Mississippi United Methodist Conference
Conference staff wish you a joyous
celebrates the inspiring legacy and
United Methodist Student Day Offering – November 29
celebration of the birth of Christ and a
remembers the benevolent service of Dr.
prosperous New Year! The offices will be
Martin Luther King Jr. The conference office
Gifts to the United Methodist Student Day
closed in observance of the Christmas and
will be closed Monday, January 18, 2021 in
offering help deserving United Methodist
New Year’s holidays beginning Wednesday,
observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
students continue their education and
December 23, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. and will
their faith journeys as they strive to make a
re-open Monday, January 4, 2021 at normal
difference in the world and discern what God
business hours.
November 27. We will re-open Monday, November 30, 2020 at normal business hours. Happy Thanksgiving from the Mississippi Conference!
has called them to do. Find ways to promote this special Sunday here.
Human Relations Special Sunday – January 17, 2021
Adaptive Leadership in Times of Change – December 5, 7, 8 and 10
One of the wonderful aspects of The United
We are excited to offer you the opportunity
more together than we ever could do on our
to spend a couple of hours of teaching with
own. On Human Relations Day, we join other
Bishop James Swanson and Tod Bolsinger
UMC congregations in a special offering to
Saturday, December 5, 2020 from 9:00 to
support neighborhood ministries through
Methodist Church is that we can do so much
LOVE
GENEROSITY
JUSTICE
APPRENTICESHIP
Ways to Stay Connected to the Conference The Mississippi United Methodist Conference https://bit.ly/2lbVpLm Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr. https://bit.ly/2jAYVPu
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES As a courtesy to the Mississippi Annual Conference, job announcements from across 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. • Creative director at First United Methodist Church – Lakeland, FL • Director of Children’s Ministry at First United Methodist Church – Bossier City, LA • Director of Children’s Ministry at St. Paul United Methodist Church – Louisville, KY • Director of Student Ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church – Birmingham, AL • Director of Music Ministry at Shiloh United Methodist Church – Pelahatchie, MS
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MS Conference Youth and Families http://bit.ly/2dHPNYc Mississippi United Methodist Conference https://bit.ly/2rpHWD7
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