| Archived E-Links | ||
Central E-LinkWeekly Newsletter of the Central Texas Conference
January 12, 2006 Welcome! This is the conference’s weekly update to church leaders — lay and clergy — for things you probably need to know. Information to be shared must be submitted to Carolyn@ctcumc.org by 4 p.m. Wednesday in order to be e-mailed on Thursday. Articles should be as brief with active links to websites or contact persons for details. Use this information for announcements, in church newsletters and/or bulletins. The E-Link and the Central Link newspaper are posted on the conference website at www.ctxumc.org. Read them online or download and copy to share with others. To add a colleague or church member to E-Link’s weekly distribution, send their addresses to susan@ctcumc.org.
— Editor: Carolyn Stephens Carolyn@ctcumc.org.
Shortcuts: Top News Events Resources Calendar Needs ______________________________________________________________________________ For worldwide news of our denomination click here! www.reporterinteractive.org
Near-Time Items
Martin Luther King holiday The conference center will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If your congregation is doing something special to recognize the contributions of this Christian leader, please send a brief account of your activities with pictures, if you have them, so that we might build a file of ideas for congregations to use in the future. Send to Carolyn Stephens (associate director for Mission Ministries-Communications at Carolyn@ctcumc.org.
If you live in or near the Fort Worth area, you may want to attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade on Jan. 16th. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. and includes marching bands, floats, cars and walking units. Grab a good viewing spot along Main and Houston streets to watch the procession.
Time Apart/Fellowship of Local Pastors (repeat) Roy M. Oswald of the Alban Institute will be leader for “Sabbath Time, a focus on rest and renewal” Jan. 17-18 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center. This is the conference’s annual Time Apart for church professionals. The focus this year is in several areas: • survival skills – clergy stress and burnout • spiritual development • power-analysis of a congregation • multiple-staff needs
• assimilation &
incorporation of new members • transition skills • start-up training for new pastors • termination and exit training.
A brochure is available on the conference website www.ctxumc.org or by contacting Michelle Reynolds at 254-897-2247 or michelle@glenlake.org.
Sing-a-Rainbow event Jan. 21st “Because We Believe … We Will” are the words that begin the Charter for Racial Justice Policy of The United Methodist Church. Come, join others in an endeavor to celebrate as well as probe the message and the challenge of this policy, and to explore how it speaks to all ethnic groups in our global society.
The discussion is sponsored by the United Methodist Women of the Central Texas Conference as they celebrate the 25th year of being approved by the General Conference of the UMC. The celebration is called “Sing-a-Rainbow.” It will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at St. Andrews UMC (522 Missouri, Fort Worth 76104). Please contact Myrtis Parker at 817-292-3759 or mimp@swbell.net to acknowledge attendance. All participants are encouraged to bring a bread dish for the Bread Feast Lunch and to stay for communion. Attendance is open to one and all.
Is your choir singing at Annual Conference? If you would like to recommend your choir for consideration to sing at the 2006 Annual Conference, please do so in writing along with your contact information and a recording (cassette or CD — no more than 7 minutes) of the choir, and singing musical style of choice. Submit to Choir Selection Committee, c/o Rev. Tom Robbins, 1300 Austin Ave., Waco 76701. The deadline for submissions for 2006 is Jan. 23.
January previews offer
20% discount on VBS resources
(repeat)
Tongan Luau
Return to Top
News
Update on Texas wildfires This week several counties in Texas affected by the recent wildfires were officially declared disaster areas by President Bush, allowing them to receive much-needed funds from federal resources. Several counties in our conference area are included in the declaration. The Cross Plains community and the church are progressing in their recovery. The church lot has been cleared in preparation for rebuilding the church and parsonage, and we have been told that construction should begin in a few weeks. Several conference churches are supporting Cross Plains UMC, and the conference disaster response task force will assist with community relief efforts in partnership with UMCOR. Volunteers in Eastland County, including many United Methodists, are working to serve those displaced by the wildfire that devastated Carbon. The conference will work hard to provide the best assistance possible to all communities affected by these fires. Thank you to everyone who has informed us of the outstanding needs and who have offered assistance to these communities! — Source: Jennifer Coggins, conference director of humanitarian services
McMillan UMC offers appreciation to supporters
McMillan UMC in east Fort Worth was
presented a mission opportunity when Rose Selenge asked for help in
settling her two children in the U.S. The church, the Conference and the
UM community responded, and as a result raised the monies for Rose’s
son, Paul, to travel from Brazzaville to the embassy in Cameroon where
he would apply for his VISA, complete his physical, (and possibly a DNA
test to determine parentage).
Central Texas Conference, Mission Ministries, and Jennifer Coggins (conference director of Humanitarian Services); Mid-Cities District Superintendent Connally Dugger; Hurst UMC; St. Andrews UMC; McMillan UMC; Bishop Ben Chamness; Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo; Dr. Chad Duplantis; Dr. Steven Fuqua; Mark Hanshaw; and Waco District Superintendent Clifton Howard.
Armed robbery during worship service jolts congregation An armed gunman interrupted the evening service on New Year’s Day at Mount Zion UMC in Bel Air, Md., where he robbed congregation members of an undisclosed amount of cash and valuables. It was shortly after 6:30 p.m. when the man, wearing a ski mask and dark clothes, burst into the church and began waving a gun around, said Craig McLaughlin, the church’s pastor, who was sitting in the first pew at the time. The gunman seemed nervous and yelled a great deal. He ordered three brothers, ages 6, 8, and 11, and their father to collect purses and wallets. At least eight of the 50 people present were robbed. After ordering the congregation to the front of the church, the gunman fled, and a handful of people called the police on their cell phones. Police estimated that the incident lasted about 10 minutes. An investigation continues.
During the ordeal, McLaughlin prayed for his congregation to remain quiet and calm. The people did just that. “They were mature and godly. They did exactly the right things,” McLaughlin said. “At first, people didn’t know exactly what was going on, but it became evident pretty quickly that this was a robbery, that this was real.” After the robbery and before the police arrived, McLaughlin led the congregation in prayer, asking God to change the heart of the robber. Speaking to local and national media, members of the congregation expressed shock and disbelief and said their church would have provided the man with assistance if he had asked. The church is known in the area for its generosity, tithing at least 30% of its income to outreach efforts and building and maintaining an orphanage in Namibia, along with a variety of other ministries. In March, the church will consecrate a new, larger building for worship.
In the week following the robbery, some UMs in the area have expressed “fear and concern,” said Barry Hidey, pastor of nearby Bel Air UMC. Some churches are taking precautions, like training ushers in security procedures, asking church members to leave valuables at home, and suggesting they make their offerings by direct deposit, if it makes them more comfortable. “The best defense against harm is to have a busy, active church, filled with people who talk to others and meet and talk with people they do not know,” Hidey said. C. Anthony Hunt, superintendent of the Baltimore-Harford District, praised the way the Mt. Zion congregation demonstrated discipleship following the robbery. In a letter to the pastors in his district, Hunt shared that there was also a burglary at a parsonage in Baltimore over the Christmas weekend. — Source: Melissa Lauber, Baltimore-Washington Conference (UMNS)
Conference offering recipients The deadline for submitting requests to be recipient of the 2006 Annual Conference Offering is Feb. 22. Requests must be sent to Dr. Doyle Allen, Mission Ministries Director, at 464 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth 76107 or doyle@ctcumc.org. Requests must include the name of the organization, address and phone, name of person submitting request, a brief description of the mission/ministry of the organization, and a brief yet specific paragraph how the funds will be used.
Bishop Chamness speaks out on Central Conference pension needs The Central Conference Pension Committee (chaired by Bishop Chamness) and UM Communications are launching a 16-week news series to help raise funds for the Central Conference Pension Initiative. The weekly series will raise awareness of the plight of clergy in developing countries who spend their lives in service to the church, only to be left with little, if any, financial support for food and basic necessities once they retire.
One of those servants is the Rev. Karmah Early, a retired pastor in Liberia, who survives on a pension so small that she cannot be sure of getting a daily meal. Blind for the past five years, she lives in a home that is in disrepair. "This is a pathetic situation,” says Albert Barchue, her district superintendent. “Scorpions and snakes can crawl into her room and she will not be able to see them.” Pension plans exist in some of these countries, but the funding is irregular, the benefits sporadic and only a small percentage of the population can participate. The initiative seeks to raise funds through voluntary contributions to help address this dire situation. Without retirement benefits, many lifelong servants of the United Methodist Church will live out their later years in poverty.
Watch for more personal stories and how the church can remedy this injustice.
Stories of interest from the National Council of Churches and The Reporter Some articles you may enjoy reading on this week’s National Council of Churches website www.councilofchurches.org include: • Final book in trilogy portrays a beleaguered, courageous Martin Luther King Jr. • Congressional scandals bring call for new ethics standards, rules • Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25 • American-born churches-Ancient faith: new NCC study
Among the article is next week’s Reporter newspaper you might appreciate are below. If you do not subscribe to The Reporter, most stories are available online at www.reporterinteractive.org. • The incredible faith exhibited in the midst of the Sago Mine disaster • What UMs learned about violence against church and humanitarian rights workers in the Philippines • A first-person account from a UM pastor about how Americans can invest dollars into New Orleans--by taking a bus tour of the Katrina-devastated areas! • New author-columnist-blogger Tamara Hanson tells about her journey as a cancer survivor in her new series called "Chronic Hope." You can see her blogs at www.umportal.org
Return to Top Events-Opportunities
Mission message from Jennifer Coggins, director of humanitarian services
Sager Brown Trip: The
conference will host a conference-wide mission trip to UMCOR Sager Brown
Depot this spring. We will work in the warehouse to assemble relief
kits that will be distributed across the globe. Date: April 20-23.
Cost: $150, plus one dinner out and meals on the road. Registration
deadline: March 23. Go to
http://www.ctxumc.org/DisasterResponse.asp
to download a registration form, and please pass it along to anyone who
may be interested. Space is limited, so get your registration in soon!
Adult Choir Festival
Ferris Heights presents academy for learning, growing, sharing The Ferris Heights UMC Academy (108 Center St., Waxahachie 76165) will offer a series of programs for learning, growing and sharing between Feb. 1 and March 29. Four-week and eight-week programs will focus on such areas as “How to Read Music,” “Survival Spanish,” “Creative Desserts,” “Creative Writing,” “Computer Basics,” Springtime Craft,” “Digital Photography,” and “Bible Bytes: The Bible in Byte-Size Pieces.” A fellowship dinner is served prior to all classes, beginning at 6 p.m. Contact the church for more details — 972-937-2344.
Children’s Letters to God Genesis UMC (7635 S. Hulen, Fort Worth 76133) will present the first showing in Texas of the production “Children’s Letters to God” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11: and again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. The production is based on the book by Stuart Hample, music by David Evans, and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen. For tickets ($10), reservations and more details, contact the church at 817-292-4551 or 817-263-5424.
Christians, Sex, and
Intimacy
Clergy Council meeting The Central Texas Methodist Foundation will host a Clergy Council meeting for all active clergy on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 10:30 a.m. through lunch at St. Andrews UMC (2045 SE Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington 76018). The focus will be on best practices in ministry with the first session led by Dr. Richard Reed on “Teaching the Tithe,” and the second session led by Dr. John McKellar on “New Insights in Worship.” All active clergy are invited. Lunch will be provided. Call 817-332-1394 or 800-333-4096 to register by Thursday, Feb. 2.
AUM Mardi Gras Auction/Dinner Mark your calendar now to attend Arlington Urban Ministries’ 3rd Annual Mardi Gras & Dinner at First UMC Arlington. This is the sole annual fundraiser for AUM, a Methodist mission that ties together all the Arlington Methodist churches. The date is Feb. 18 starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are limited and sold out last year, so get yours early! If you need tickets or want to donate an item for the silent or the live auction, please contact Sandra Fry at 817-861-8585.
CTCYM Mexico Mission Trip The registration form for the 2006 CTCYM Mexico Trip can be found online at www.ctxumc.org. This trip is July 23-29 and is open to youth completing grades 10-12 in spring 2006 and adults (25 years and older). The deadline to turn in your form and $175 deposit is Jan. 10, 2006.
Hispanic ministry
opportunity
Older Adults Valentine
Luncheon
(repeat)
Spanish Immersion
Weekend
(repeat)
Acts of the Apostles Bible study (repeat) Bobby Baggett, senior pastor at Richland Hills UMC, invites all to come and hear Rev. Dr. David Mosser, present a Bible study on the “Acts of the Apostles” on three consecutive Wednesdays beginning at 6 p.m. Dates for the sessions are Jan. 18, 25, and Feb. 1. Mosser is senior pastor at First UMC Arlington. Call 817-284-9371 for information. Richland Hills UMC is located at 7301 Glenview Dr. in N. Richland Hills 76180.
Survivors of Suicide (repeat) A new Survivors of Suicide support group will start on Jan. 24 and go for eight weeks. This is a group for those persons who have had someone close to them commit suicide. The group is limited to 10-12 persons. It is always led by a professional counselor and a person who is a survivor, one who has had someone commit suicide. They meet for two hours. At the close of this group there is a monthly support group they can participate in for a period of two years. This group is endorsed by the National Society of Suicideology. Every three days two persons commit suicide in Tarrant County. This represents immense pain that requires specialized grief support.
Lay Speaker event in February (repeat) Training is planned for United Methodists who wish to become lay speakers and lay speakers who wish to fulfill renewal requirements. Lay Speakers who have not taken a basic or an advance course since February 2003 should sign up for one of the advanced courses. Basic and advanced courses will be available, all held at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center in Glen Rose. Applications can be attained through the district direct of lay speaker ministry or online at www.ctxumc.org.
Friday, 2-24-06 — registration starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, 2-25-06 — all day instruction Sunday, 2-26-05 — check out by 1 p.m.
Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training (repeat) The next Central Texas Conference-sponsored Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training will be March 18 at St. Andrews UMC in Fort Worth at 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is recommended that clergy, local church staff, district office staff, church daycare/nursery workers, staff/parish relations committees, campus ministry staff and all volunteers should attend this workshop if you have not already completed the October training event.
This experience will help people define and understand sexual harassment and misconduct. The presenters will provide information that will help individuals be better aware of issues of power and misuse of power, and be able to identify unethical conduct/potential abusive situations within ministerial relationships. The cost is $25 for the workbook (at least one per five people is recommended) and $7.50 for lunch. If you have questions, please contact Susan Briles at 800-460-8622, 817-877-5222 or susan@ctcumc.org.
SCJ volunteer work at Mount Sequoyah – April 3-7 Mount Sequoyah invites South Central Jurisdiction volunteers to their work week and to enjoy the beauty of springtime at the jurisdictional retreat center. It is an important time of renewal and transformation. Your work will be to enhance the mission and beauty of Mount Sequoyah. Time will be spent repairing buildings, cleaning windows, sealing decks, or making the grounds beautiful. Your carpentry, drywall, maintenance, sewing, cleaning or painting skills will be put to good use. For more details, brochures and registration, visit the website at www.mountsequoyah.org or call 800-760-8126 or 479-443-4531.
Return to Top
Resources
Scholarships for ministerial candidates Scholarships are available for certified ministerial candidates in the Central Texas Conference attending seminary. The application is available on the Board of Ordained Ministry web site at www.ctcbom.org
or can be requested by phoning
817-795-7120 or by e-mail to
board@ctcbom.org. The application, with original
signatures and a copy of a current transcript, are to be submitted to
the Board of Ordained Ministry, P.O. Box 121407, Arlington, TX 76012,
postmarked no later than March 1. Scholarships will be awarded at
Annual Conference for the 2005-06 school year. Heritage Sunday May 21 Heritage Sunday will be celebrated on May 21. The theme for this year is the 50th Anniversary of full clergy rights for women in the Methodist tradition. There will be a feature article in Interpreter magazine, the full text of which will be published on the GCAH website early in this year. Two websites will feature worship resources for the event. They are http://www.gbod.org/worship/50thanniversary and http://www.gbhem.org/clergywomen. Local churches are encouraged to observe this important anniversary. Future themes for Heritage Sunday are the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley (2007) and the centennial of the Methodist Social Creed (2008).
Portion of mission “Resolutions” available online “Guidelines for Ministering to Mormons,” found in the 2000 Book of Resolutions on page 115, was erroneously deleted from the 2004 Book of Resolutions. This and other errata for the Book of Resolutions and the Book of Discipline are posted at www.Cokesbury.com. You can search and find the page for either book, on which may be found a link to the respective errata.
General evangelist Winter goes blogging Now those who wish to follow the activities and teachings of General Evangelist Mark Winter can go directly to his ministry blog for updates. Click www.markwintersonemanshow.blogspot.com to read “All Over the Map,” an account of his latest trip. He has calendar openings in April and May, as well as summer. Now would be an opportune time to schedule One Man Show Ministries for a spring revival, complete with drama, preaching and children’s program called Bible Blast Off. He is also considering a summer revival format that would be shorter than his regular events, but still include drama and children’s ministry. Source: Mark Winter 817-281-2730
A message from
Methodist Children’s Home: Resource Center new arrival New resources highlighted at the Conference Resource Center this week are described below. For these and many more resources, contact Carol Roszell at 817-877-5222 or 800-460-8622.
The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today – Theodore Runyon. This book offers a consistent, comprehensive, and compelling interpretation of Wesley’s own writings, as well as familiarity with recent Wesley scholarship. It provides the starting point for a rediscovery of Wesley’s distinctive Trinitarian understanding of sanctification. It addresses contemporary concerns such as human rights, poverty, the rights of women, care of the environment, and ecumenism. Abingdon Press. 1998. 233 pg.
Return to Top
— Looking Ahead — Marriage Ministries Workshop & Summit — Jan 14 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center Hurst 3D Youth presentation: Pressure Points — Jan. 15 at First Hurst UMC Clergy Time Apart — Jan. 17-18 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center Large Church Initiative & Cokesbury Worship Connection — Jan. 17-19 at First UMC Grapevine United Methodist Women’s Charter of Racial Justice — Jan. 21 at St. Andrews UMC, Fort Worth United Methodist Women’s Legislative Event — Jan. 29-31 in Austin United Methodist Women’s School of Mission Planning Team — Feb. 4 Spanish Immersion Weekend — Feb. 24-25 at First UMC Burleson Conference Lay Speaker Annual Training Event — Feb. 24-26 at Glen Lake Camp, Glen Rose Conference Marriage Retreat — March 3-5 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center Spring Board of Ministry interviews — March 27-29, 2006 at Glen Lake Camp
Return to Top
Needs, Resources, Opportunities
NOTE TO LISTERS: Please contact Carolyn Stephens at Carolyn@ctcumc.org to pull your listing when your opening has been filled.
Music Director Seeks Position Devoted Christian, passionate musician looking for a music director position in a loving church. I have extensive experience directing and performing choral, orchestra, band, small ensembles, and vocal performance. An excellent teacher, I work well with adults and youth, from beginners and novices to accomplished professional musicians. My large skill set allows me to be adept at choirs, orchestras, bands, jazz ensembles, contemporary ensembles and handbells. My 350+ arrangements and 30+ compositions are written for a wide range of ensembles and styles, ranging from contemporary worship to choral/orchestral traditional worship. Collateral skills include computer graphics and marketing/publicity. Contact Tom Burkett at 817-551-7187.
Organist FUMC Waxahachie has an immediate opening for a talented, dedicated organist. Opportunity to play a beautiful, brand new 44 rank Wicks (Opus 6428) pipe organ that was installed June 2005. See: http://organ.wicks.com/display_page.php?p=200&o=3&s=6428. Two Sunday services, 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Approx. 30 miles from Fort Worth or Dallas - 50 from Waco. Please call 972-937-4400 or e-mail office@fumcwax.org for more info. Auditions are now being scheduled.
Praise Team Director FUMC Waxahachie is looking for an enthusiastic, spiritual and committed person to take its contemporary (blended) service and Praise Team to the next level. Experience with a/v a plus. The service is currently at 9:30 on Sunday morning in the Family Life Center. The church is within commuter distance of Fort Worth or Dallas. Please call 972-937-4400 or e-mail office@fumcwax.org for more info. Auditions are now being scheduled.
Director of Development Director of Development, World Methodist Council. Contact: George Freeman, General Secretary, P.O. Box 518, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745..... Music director for the 2008 General Conference. Contact: Alan J. Morrison, Business Manager of General Conference, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203-0029.
Program Director Youth Director
St. Paul United Methodist Church of Hurst
seeks a youth director. The position is 10-12 hours per week. Interested
persons may contact the church at 852 Bedford Euless Road, Hurst 76053,
or email
stpaulhu@airmail.net
or call 817-284-7181.
Glen
Lake Camp & Retreat Center Director (deadline Jan. 20)
Return to Top
If you know someone in your church, district or even outside the Central Texas Conference who might appreciate receiving this weekly electronic newsletter — or to unsubscribe your own listing — contact Susan Briles at Susan@ctcumc.org
|
||