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Central E-LinkWeekly Newsletter of the Central Texas Conference
October 27, 2005 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
UMCOR Relief Supply Collection Campaign We will be hosting another conference-wide collection for vital UMCOR relief supplies on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1 to 6 p.m. at First UMC Fort Worth. UMCOR’s top needs right now are: health kits, flood buckets, school kits, new blankets and new air mattresses. To find out what is required for each kit, visit the UMCOR website at www.umcor.org. We will also need volunteers to help unload and load supplies. To volunteer or for more information, please contact Chuck Graff, conference disaster response coordinator, at cgraff@fumcftw.org or Jennifer Coggins, director of humanitarian services, at 817-877-5222 or jennifer@ctcumc.org.
21st Annual Monster Mash Dance (repeat) Richland Hills UMC’s Annual Monster Mash Dance will be 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and feature an inflatable obstacle course, dancing, game room, sodas/food, and a Karaoke room. The cost is $10/person or $8/person in a reserved group of 10 or more. For questions and reservations, contact: Ryan Cazzell at spacemonkey619@charter.net or Michael Baughman at mbaughman@rhumc.net. Costumes are encouraged and all funds raised go to support mission work.
Why settle for a “good” marriage when you can have a “great” marriage You can make the leap from just "good" to “great” on a weekend! Marriage Encounter is 44 hours where married couples can get away from jobs, kids, chores, and phones — and focus only on each other. If you'd like greater depth, growth, and enrichment in your relationship, you'll like the difference a Marriage Encounter weekend can make! The next Texas Methodist Marriage Encounter weekend in Irving is Nov. 11-13. Registration closes in early November, so a quick response is encouraged. For more information or to register, contact Russ & Linda Smariga at 817-337-8979 or e-mail to linda@smariga.com.
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News
New office location for Brownwood District
As of Monday, Oct.31, the Brownwood
District office will be relocated at Pecan Square Place. The new address
is 311 N. Center Ave., Suite 300, located across from the Brown County
Courthouse. The mailing address and phone numbers remain the same:
Brownwood District UMC
Office,
311 N. Center Ave., Suite 300,
PO Box 1665,
Brownwood 76804-1665.
325/646-8223
800/646-8223
325/646-1600 (fax)
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United Community Centers Christmas fundraiser (repeat) United Community Centers, Inc., a national mission institution of the UMC located in Tarrant County, is selling Christmas cards to benefit UCC’s programs for children and families. Each package of 12 cards has inspirational photos of six Tarrant County churches (2 photos each) or you can purchase a package of 12 cards of one church. These churches are First UMC of Fort Worth, First UMC of Hurst, St. Andrews UMC Fort Worth, All Saints Episcopal Church Fort Worth, First Presbyterian Fort Worth, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Keller. $15 per package. To sell or purchase the Christmas Cards, please contact Susie Reyes at 817.927.5556, x115 or sreyes@unitedcommunitycenters.org. To view the cards, visit www.unitedcommunitycenters.org.
Singles book study at St. Barnabas The Singles of St. Barnabas UMC in Arlington will begin a book study at 7 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 10. Single adults in the area are invited to join the group. Free childcare will be provided. The goal is to connect with other singles and form more Christian friendships while growing in our walk with God and others. E-mail Sheila@sbumc.org for more information and to indicate interest in this type of activity.
Dispelling Myths: Building Families
First UMC of Waxahachie (515 W. Marvin,
Waxahachie 75165) will join the Christian Coalition for Adoption
Awareness in co-sponsoring the
Dispelling Myths:Building Families workshop on Saturday,
Nov. 12. The keynote speaker will be nationally known author and
lecturer Dr. Randolph Severson with special guest Brendan Higgins,
Channel 5 NBC news anchor who is an adoptee himself. Registration and
continental breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m. with the workshop ending at
1:30 p.m. For registration information contact Karen Pfeifer, R.N., St.
Joseph's Catholic Church at 972-938-1953.
Lay Speaker Training (repeat) The Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course will be offered in the Waco District Nov. 6, 13 and 19 at Bracks UMC, Waco. For more details on course focus, trainers and how to register, contact the district office at waco@ctcumc.org.
Happily Ever After (repeat) White’s Chapel UMC in Southlake requests the honor of your presence at a special bridal show, “Happily Ever After,” from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. There will be fashions and a wide variety of vendors to help brides in their wedding-related planning. For more details and registration, visit www.whiteschapelumc.org.
Junior High Youth Rally (repeat)
68º is a Junior High Youth Rally Nov. 11
and 12 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center. Registrations were e-mailed
to local churches and can be downloaded from the conference website at
www.ctcumc.org/youth.asp#68_Degrees.
The theme for this year’s event is “Finding God in the World.” Our
speaker is Adam Jungeblut and our music leader is Wayne Kerr, both from
the Houston area. For more information, please contact Doug Vaughn,
director of student ministries, at 800-460-8622, 817- 877-5222 or
doug@ctcumc.org. Messages from humanitarian services director Jennifer Coggins Mission Education Opportunity (repeat): Greg Jenks, director of the Zimbabwe Orphan Endeavor (ZOE), will be visiting the Central Texas Conference during the week of Nov. 13, to speak to churches about ZOE’s ministry through the UMC in Zimbabwe. Several CTC churches have recently begun to support ZOE, including University UMC, Fort Worth, which took a mission team to Zimbabwe in July to establish a new feeding site for AIDS orphans at a Methodist mission school. He will be speaking at University UMC at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. If you would like for Greg to speak to your congregation about how you can support this vital ministry to children in Zimbabwe, please contact Teresa Sherwood, conference UMVIM coordinator, at 817-473-6650 or Jennifer Coggins at 817-877-5222. For more information about ZOE, visit www.zoeministry.org.
Lay Speaker event next 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.
Renewal of the Graying Church (repeat) Renewal of the Graying Church: Is Discipling Elders Worth the Effort? is an event offered by the Central Texas Conference Mission Ministries Nurture Council and the Wesleyan Home in Georgetown. This event is just right for you if: • 25% or more of your congregation’s active membership is 45 or older • your community’s median age is 45 or higher • your congregation’s leaders still long to reach new people for Christ and His church • your congregation’s leaders believe meaningful life does not end at retirement • growing in discipleship is a life-long process • you are clergy or laity • you want to be part of the solution
Dr. Richard Gentzler, director of aging and older adult ministries for the General Board of Discipleship, and Dr. Dan Bonner, vice president for development at Wesleyan Homes, will lead the program from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at Central UMC, Waco. Gentzler’s ministry involves providing resources and training support for leaders of midlife and older adult ministries. Bonner is an experienced pastor of renewing and growing congregations in which elders play important ministry roles. A brochure for this event is available on the conference website (www.ctxumc.org). If you have questions, contact Karen Granderson at 817-877-5222, 800-460-8622 or Karen@ctcumc.org.
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Resources
The church’s brave new worship world http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14978 What happens when a church goes wireless? What will be the impact on worship, choirs, congregational singing, Sunday school, the church budget? Will hymnals disappear from the pews? Find out what happens when satellite-delivered Internet comes to your sanctuary. Source: Dean McIntyre, director of music resources, General Board of Discipleship
UM church lay retirement benefits http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14971 Many of our church workers — musicians, education directors, secretaries, custodians, and others — serve the church without benefits. The local church may pay them a salary, but all too often does not offer retirement benefits. The 2004 General Conference passed legislation directing Pastor-Parish (Staff-Parish) Relations Committees to recommend to the church council a retirement benefit for lay employees. Here are answers to frequently asked questions as well as contacts for additional information. Source: Dean McIntyre, director of music resources, General Board of Discipleship
2005 Advent wreath candleighting (repeat) http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15104 A new resource from Dean McIntyre, director of music resources at the General Board of Discipleship: This set of brief meditations and scriptures may be used in lighting the candles of the Advent wreath in worship at church or home. Each meditation uses one of the 2005 lectionary readings for that day. The readings are divided into sections that may be assigned to various people participating, including children. A suggested hymn from both The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing is provided, as an option, to conclude each meditation.
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.
Parenting On Purpose
101: The Balance Of Love And Discipline
- An interactive training program for the parent of the 21st century.
Contains eight 25-minute sessions on video and DVD. Includes workbook,
leader’s guide, and instruction guide for planning and preparing.
CROP WALKs help end hunger This fall, tens of thousands of people in communities across the U.S. will be doing something Americans usually do for recreation or exercise. They’ll be walking miles and miles through the streets of their communities to raise money to fund the domestic and international poverty and hunger relief efforts of Church World Service, the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the U.S. For more information about CROP WALK or to locate a CROP WALK in your area, visit www.cropwalk.org.
Cokesbury.com resources (repeat) With the Advent and Christmas gift-giving season approaching, Cokesbury is introducing a number of resources as good prices, most meeting the needs of congregations and individuals during this festive time of the year. Cokesbury invites you to avoid the holiday shopping crunch by taking advantage of a number of online tools and product specials. www.cokesbury.com.
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— Looking Ahead — Hear God’s Voice — Oct. 28-29 at Christ UMC, Fort Worth UMCOR relief supply collection — Oct. 30 at First UMC, Fort Worth UM VIM training — Nov. 5 at First UMC, Mansfield Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course — Nov. 6, 13 and 19 at Bracks UMC, Waco Marriage Encounter — Nov. 11-13 at White’s Chapel UMC, Southlake 68º Junior High Youth Rally — Nov. 11-12 at Glen Lake Camp Renewal of the Graying Church — Nov. 12 at Central UMC, Waco Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor (ZOE) — Nov. 13 at University UMC, Fort Worth Alarga Walk to Emmaus — Nov. 17-20, 2005 event postponed to Nov. 16-19, 2006 at Glen Lake Camp United Methodist Student Day — Nov. 27 Metropolitan Board of Mission “Gift of Love” annual fundraiser — Dec. 3 ( 5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Meadowbrook UMC, Fort Worth Congress on Evangelism — Jan. 3-6 at The Opryland Hotel, Nashville Hurst 3D Youth presentation: Pressure Points — Jan. 15 at First Hurst UMC Conference Lay Speaker Annual Training Event — Feb. 24-26 at Glen Lake Camp, Glen Rose Spring Board of Ministry interviews — March 27-29, 2006 at Glen Lake Camp
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Needs, Resources, Opportunities
Children’s Church
Coordinator
Hispanic Ministry
Coordinator/Youth Coordinator
Youth Director
Mother's Day Out
Director
Volunteer Tutors H.O.P.E. Tutoring Center, Inc. in Arlington is in need of volunteers to commit one to two hours a week to tutor 4th through 8th graders. Interested persons will receive an orientation and may contact Amanda Burns, volunteer-student coordinator at 817-860-7757 or coordinator.hope@sbcglobal.net. For more information about the program, please visit the organization’s website at www.hopetutoring.com.
Secretary/Receptionist
Part-time Organist First UMC in Midlothian seeks a part-time organist. Responsibilities include service playing for two Sunday morning worship services (8:30 and 11 a.m.) and all special services (Christmas Eve, Good Friday, etc.) as well as accompaniment of the adult Chancel Choir on Wednesday evening rehearsals. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications, but will most likely be in the area of $11,000. Please submit resume and any other appropriate supporting documentation to: Organist Search, First UMC, 800 S. Ninth St., Midlothian 76065.
P-T youth director Wesley Memorial UMC seeks an energetic part-time youth director for their existing program. Interested applicants with a UMC background can contact the church at 1200 W. Kilpatrick, Cleburne 76033 or Wesley_cresson_umc@sbcglobal.net for a job description. 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 |
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