The Circuit Rider February 2024

The Circuit Rider

2024 Freedom Trail Revival Paints a Portrait

of Racial

Relations

The 2024 Freedom Trail Revival hosted its inaugural worship service at First United Methodist Church of Greenwood on Saturday, February 3. This new worship series unites Mississippians of all races in worship and honors the tireless work of those who fought for justice and equality. The first stop in the revival honored those who fought racism in Greenwood’s past while painting a picture of a new tomorrow. Read More

Central UMC Jackson Uses Grant to Preserve Black History

By Jasmine Haynes, Communications Specialist

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund awarded grants to 31 historic Black churches across the United States and Central United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi is one of those recipients. Central UMC was awarded $200,000 and the funds will go towards the full restoration and repair of the roof and exterior beams to support the building’s integrity and longevity. Read more on how Central is contributing to preserving Black History.

Partnership Blesses Tornado Survivors

Donations from two Mississippi United Methodist Churches helped restore two families whose lives were affected by disaster. Thanks to these generous gifts from the heart and the partnership of

Mississippi Disaster Response, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR, and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, UMVIM, these families could begin the healing process and witness Christian love in action. Read More

Lead Like Jesus Prepares Ministry Leaders to Serve

Assistant director of Faith Community Formation, Rev. Dr. Jason Zebert led a two-day Lead Like Jesus Encounter training for ministerial staff from Crossway Church, a Baptist Church in Vicksburg and staff members from Mississippi Conference benevolence, The Good Shepherd Center were in attendance. The training, filled with lessons on leadership from the Gospels and historical figures, equipped attendees to be shepherds with a servant’s heart. Read More

Matthew Johnson, Connectional Ministries and Communications Assistant

Freedom Trail Revival participants stopped to take a picture after service.

Matthew Johnson, Connectional Ministries and Communications Assistant

Matthew Johnson, Connectional Ministries and Communications Assistant

Non-Delegates Welcome to Attend GC Orientation

Delegates and nondelegates can register for the upcoming livestreamed orientation and briefing for General Conference delegates. The orientation takes place February 29 and March 1 and will prepare attendees for the postponed General Conference of The United Methodist Church taking place

April 23 to May 3 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. Click here for more information and to register. Click here to get more details and updates as they become available. Questions or requests for additional information may be sent to newsdesk@umcom.org or generalconference@umcgc.org.

Is The United Methodist Church Really…?

[PART 11]

The 11th article in the Ask The UMC series addresses questions about the process of voting on disaffiliation in local churches. Click here to read the article and click here to read the entire Is the UMC Really…? series of articles.

Safeguard Your Funds and Apply Now For Scholarships

The Methodist Foundation of Mississippi takes protecting your financial resources seriously. Click here to read a message from associate director, Dr. Todd Marion, about the asset protection measures the Methodist Foundation has in place. The Methodist Foundation works hard to provide scholarships to Methodist students from across the state. Click here to learn more about the Methodist Foundation and General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s scholarships, awards and eligibility for the 2024-25 academic year.

Resources for Lenten Season

Easter is an ideal time to unlock your best outreach strategies and invite people in your community to worship with you. UMC Outreach has the resources you need to break through and make a good first impression. You can order customizable banners, signs, postcards, invitation cards, posters and more in multiple designs. Get $250 off your order by using code UMCEA24. Click here to view the available resources.

Mississippi Conference News

Join the Miss. Annual Conference Prayer Movement

At our called session of annual conference on December 9, 2023, you were invited to join the conference in praying a daily prayer for the Mississippi Annual Conference. Several months ago, the whole conference was invited to submit a sentence prayer, and from those submissions came the Prayer for the Mississippi Annual Conference. Here’s a video from Bishop Sharma D. Lewis reminding everyone to keep praying! You can download the Mississippi Annual Conference Prayer here. You’re also welcome to download and share the white background and black background word cloud with your church and on social media. Find all these downloads at https://www.mississippi-umc.org/MSACprayer

Stay tuned for future announcements on how we can all be united in prayer as we move forward in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Collaborative Leadership Healing Summit Addresses Grief Process

On February 10, the office of spiritual leadership hosted the Collaborative Leadership Healing Summit at Crossgates United Methodist Church in Brandon. The event was focused on equipping clergy and laity with tools to process grief in a healthy way. Author and thought leader, Rev. Romal Tune, was the guest speaker for the summit. Click here to see photos from the event.

2024 AC Session Hotels

Booking Information

The 2024 Session of the Mississippi Annual Conference is quickly approaching. This year we will gather on the campus of Millsaps College in Jackson June 20 through 22. In preparation for the event, hotel booking information and a draft agenda are now available on the MSUMC Conference app on your smartphone or tablet, or you can click here to view the information on a desktop.

Wesleyan Authored Lenten Studies

Lenten devotionals written by United Methodist authors are available from Market Square Books. Our own episcopal leader, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis is the author of Struggle to the Cross, one of the featured Lenten studies. Click here to see some of the Lenten devotionals available, as well as their description and ordering information.

Collaborative Leadership Healing Summit attendees listen to a presentation from Rev. Tune.

2024 Bible Challenge

In 2024, we are reading and sharing God’s word in a new way. The 2024 Bible Challenge is a chronological dual reading plan with daily scriptures from the Old and New Testament for reading and reflection. January through December 2024 scriptures are available to read. Click here to download the full 2024 Bible Challenge.

SAVE THE DATES

Statewide Wesley Retreat –Feb. 23-24

Mississippi campus ministry students will gather for a weekend of worship, teaching and workshops. The Statewide Wesley Retreat will take place at Timber Creek Camp in Morton Friday, February 23 through Sunday February 25. For more information contact campus ministry coordinator, Allison Willis, at awilliscampusministry@gmail.com

Upcoming Chat & Chew 2.0 with Bishop Lewis – Feb. 24 and 25

Clergy and laity are invited to join Bishop Sharma D. Lewis for a time of conversation and fellowship Saturday, February 24 at First UMC Greenwood and Sunday February 25 at Oxford First UMC. Click here for more information on Chat and Chew 2.0.

Hawkins UMC Disaster ERT Training – Mar. 9

Hawkins United Methodist Church, located at 3736 Halls Ferry Rd., in Vicksburg will host a disaster early response team training Saturday, March 9. The mission of an early response team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster. There is a $40 registration fee to attend. Click here for more information and to register.

UMCOR Sunday – Mar. 10

The offering taken on Sunday, March 10 benefits the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR. Funds raised on this Special Sunday strengthen the church’s global humanitarian response by underwriting UMCOR’s administrative costs. Click here for the UMCOR Sunday pastor and leader kit.

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@mississippi-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

• Executive Assistant to the Bishop, Episcopal Office (Jackson, MS)

• Part-time Administrative Secretary, District 7 (Brookhaven, MS)

• Director of Student Ministries, St. Matthews UMC (Madison, MS)

• Full-Time Youth Minister/Pastor, Anderson UMC (Jackson, MS)

CARES AND CONCERNS

As you pause to pray this week, take time to ask for strength, peace and comfort for the families and friends of those listed below who have joined the Church Triumphant:

• Cheryl Denley, District One Secretary, went to be with the Lord February 21.

• Rev. Keith Hagenson passed away February 1.

• Rev. Dr. John Staggs died January 19.

• Mrs. Joann Potts, wife of Rev. John Potts went to be with the Lord January 16.

• Rev. Ed Saunders finished his earthly service January 16.

• Rev. Francis Davis went to be with the Lord on January 15.

• Mrs. Miriam Roberts, wife of Rev. Eddie Roberts died January 10.

• Mrs. Betty Dunmore, wife of Rev. Clarence Dunmore passed away January 5.

• Rev. Donald Wildmon took his rest on December 28.

• Mrs. Sandra Gordon, wife of Rev. Prentiss Gordon finished her earthly service on December 22.

• Mrs. Bobbie Shell, wife of Rev. Johnnie Shell died December 8.

• Effie Clay, wife of Rev. Henry Clay went to her eternal home on November 12.

• Mrs. Mary Nena Price, wife of Rev. David Price joined the Church Triumphant on November 12.

• Rev. Sue Whitt passed away November 11.