| Archived E-Links | ||
Central E-LinkWeekly Newsletter of the Central Texas Conference
October 6, 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
Poolville sending work crew to Sager Brown Poolville UMC (Weatherford District) has a work crew going to the Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA, to help drive delivery vans to outlying hurricane damaged areas from Oct. 12 to 16. If anyone or church group would like to join them, please contact Ann Stevens for details at 817/220-0320. Please be prepared to give your driver’s license classification. The following information was run in last week’s E-Link and is repeated here: “If you can drive or own a truck, and can deliver supplies from the Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., to various areas in need of them, please contact Ronald Johnson at Sager Brown 337-923-6238 (office) or 337-380-7111 (cell). They are looking for individuals who can make a one or two-week commitment.
Divorce Recovery Workshop If you or someone you know has recently divorced, First UMC Fort Worth is offering a Divorce Recovery workshop the next four Tuesdays at 7 to 9 p.m. You can register by calling Marianne at 817-339-5071. There is no charge for the workshop, though donations for expenses are accepted. Please pass the word along to any friends and co-workers who could use a place to talk through the experience and learn how to turn divorce into a time of growth.
McMillan has
21st anniversary
New Testament
scholar at SMU
(repeat)
Preparing for Thanksliving Offering (repeat) While we as a nation have been consumed over the past couple weeks by Hurricane Katrina, people in Africa are facing famine and hunger every day! Isn’t it comforting that while we focus our attention on natural disasters close to home, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is ALWAYS at work in the most needy areas of the world? UMCOR is working to relieve famine in seven countries in Africa where people are dying because of severe food shortages. Niger, where drought killed off last year’s harvest of mostly small millet and pumpkin crops, has been among the more prominently reported African nations. Please urge your congregations to share their gifts in November with UMCOR Advance #101250, All Africa Drought & Famine Relief. A bulletin insert is available at http://gbgm-umc/umcor/print/bulletininserts/niger.cfm to assist in your promotion.
Return to Top
News
UMCOR response Assistant treasurer Thane Arther reports that as of Oct. 5 the conference has received $350,053 designated for response to 2005 hurricanes. As of last week, churchwide contributions to UMCOR for Hurricane Katrina relief totals just over $7 million. That figure includes donations made online, by telephone, mail and remittances. (Hurricanes 2005 Global, Advance #982523)
Return to Top Events-Opportunities
Glen Lake Golf Classic The Third Annual Glen Lake Golf Classic tournament is fast approaching. This year it is being held on Oct. 21 and is honoring the life and ministry of Rev. Terry Nelson. The tournament is being expanded to include both Squaw Valley courses, located just outside of Glen Rose. Squaw Valley is rated as one of the top 10 public golf courses in the great State of Texas. Come join us for a wonderful day of golf, friendship, good food, and relaxation as you help support the ministry of Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center. Visit www.glenlake.org for more details and to register.
First Corsicana’s Allen Edens Memorial Golf Tournament
Attention golfers! Call your
friends and sign up for the Allen Edens Memorial Golf Tournament
Oct. 15 at
Oaks Trail Golf Course in
Corsicana. The tournament is a four-person scramble at
$50/player. All proceeds support the FUMC Corsicana youth’s
mission efforts. For more information or to register, call
903-874-5656. The FUMC Corsicana’s Bus Task Force and UMW members are sponsoring a “Faux Road Show” at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 21, to raise money for a new bus for the church. This “just for fun” event is designed as a community-wide occasion that focuses on antiques. A brunch will be followed by a lively and spirited talk on the topic of antiques by Jo Ann Altenau of Dallas. Guests who would like an appraisal “opinion” by members of the Corsicana Antique Dealers Association (coordinated by Blanche Kevlin of the ASEL Group, Appraisal Specialists) are asked to bring their items to register at 10:30 and enjoy coffee until the brunch starts. These will not be “official” appraisals but, as Kevlin states, “Think of it as a ‘discovery forum’ to learn more about your antique items.” Tickets for the brunch are $10 each, and for each appraisal opinion an additional donation is requested. For more information or for tickets, call 903-874-5656.
Junior High Youth Rally
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. Hurst 3D Youth presents “Pressure Points” 3D Youth First Hurst presents “Pressure Points” at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15. “Pressure Points” helps your students identify the pressures in their own lives. They will learn that pressure in and of itself is neither good nor bad and, let’s face it, it never goes away. But taking control of the pressure in their lives and understanding it can help them grow more than they thought possible. The event is free, but reservations are needed by Nov. 15. It is encouraged that you bring senior high youth and their parents to this presentation. For those that would like to come who aren’t in the Metroplex, locations have been secured for housing groups. An invitation is being mailed to each local church, and you will be able to find information online at www.fumchurst.org.
Messages from humanitarian services director Jennifer Coggins UMCOR Relief Supply Collection Campaign (NEW):
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.
The Central Texas Conference will
be taking a work team to Kirbyville, TX, to help with relief
efforts in the Kirbyville/Jasper area! We will leave at 8 a.m.
Monday, Oct. 24, and return by 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. The
cost will be $100 per person, and work will include clean-up
activities as well as work at a food distribution center—or
whatever else the community needs. More details will be
announced as the trip plans develop, but the deadline for
signing up is Monday, Oct. 17. To sign up 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. Spots on the work team
may be limited, so first come, first serve! 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. 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.
Older Adults
Advent Service
Lay Speaker event next February 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.
Fall golf tournament for St. Stephens UMC St. Stephen UMC in Arlington will be holding a Fall Golf Tournament Saturday, Oct. 22, at Timberview Golf Course. The format will be a four-person scramble. Awards will be given for longest drive and closest-to-the-hole along with free food and door prizes. For more information, please call the church office at 817-460-8655 or email ssumc@sbcglobal.net.
St. Andrews to hold benefit Concert for Compassion St. Andrews UMC (2045 SE Green Oaks at New York Ave., Arlington 76018) is sponsoring a Katrina/Rita Benefit Concert for Compassion Oct. 22 opening with Michael Earhart and featuring OneWill music group. Paul Mallory will emcee. This is an open invitation to attend a special evening of exceptionally outstanding Christian entertainment. You will truly be blessed and will experience emotions from great joy, to crying, to even wanting to dance praises to our Lord. For more details, visit www.sa-umc.org. Tickets are bracelets that can be ordered through the church office at 817-465-3043. Advance sales: adults $8; at the door $10; youth (11-17): $5; child (10 and under): free.
Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training (repeat) The Central Texas Conference is sponsoring Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training at two locations this fall and next spring: Oct. 18 at First UMC Hillsboro and March 18 at St. Andrews UMC in Fort Worth — both 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.
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.
Return to Top
Resources
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 Lucy Show Bible Study. No matter how much trouble she got into, she always wound up on top by grace. See mercy at work with Mr. Mooney, see kindness at home with Mary Jane, and see forgiveness in every walk of life with Lucy. Three individual volumes that contain four lessons each. Includes leader’s and participant’s guides.
Return to Top
— Looking Ahead —
Connecting the Pieces: Body Mind & Spirit singles road trip/retreat — Oct. 7-9 at Mt. Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Arkansas Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training — Oct. 18 at First UMC Hillsboro Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center Golf Tournament — Oct. 21 68º Junior High Youth Rally — Nov. 11-12 at Glen Lake Camp Renewal of the Graying Church — Nov. 12 at Central UMC, Waco 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 Spring Board of Ministry interviews — March 27-29, 2006 at Glen Lake Camp
Return to Top
Needs, Resources, Opportunities
Color printing service available If your ministry routinely uses the services of a print service provider such as Kinko’s, please check us out. We have color equipment that allows us to offer great prices on items such as posters, newsletters, brochures, etc. Call Hilarie at First UMC Bedford at 817-283-5536 for more information.
Children/youth music director First UMC Red Oak (600 W. Red Oak Road, Red Oak 75154) seeks a children's/youth music director for an average of 10 hours/week plus VBS/Summer Music Week/special season programs. Choral/handbells/chimes. Positive atmosphere, supportive staff and volunteers. Growing church in growing suburb south of Dallas. 972-617-9100 or e-mail pstpxtn@aol.com.
New pews needed Trinity UMC in Ennis is looking for new pews. If your church is in the process of remodeling and you would like to make a donation, please contact pastor Karen Griffith at 817-645-3361. 20 sections needed -- each 8 ft. 8 in. Thank you!
Christmas
puppet show scripts
Part-time youth minister / children’s choir director Valley Mills UMC (Waco District) seeks applicants for two positions. The youth minister should be an energetic Christian able to translate the Christian faith to youth grades 7 – 12. Responsibilities include creating a viable youth program for Sunday morning and evening between two UM churches. Youth from both churches attend Valley Mills ISD. Send resume to Christie Robbins at fumcvalleymills@netzero.com or P.O. Box 277, Valley Mills 76689. Contact: 254-932-5576.
The children’s choir director’s responsibilities include 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and one Sunday per month to create a children’s choir ministry between two churches. Children through sixth grade from both churches attend Valley Mills ISD. Applicants must be able to direct children’s choir music, teach chimes, and organize volunteers. Send resume to Christie Robbins at fumcvalleymills@netzero.com or P.O. Box 277, Valley Mills 76689. Contact: 254-932-5576.
United Christian Fellowship campus ministry director United Christian Fellowship (UCF) at Navarro College, Corsicana, seeks a campus ministry director to begin Jan. 1, 2006. UCF is an ecumenical ministry supported by the United Methodist, Presbyterian USA, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Roman Catholic, and Episcopal churches. Corsicana is located 1-hour drive south of Dallas.
Navarro College is a community college offering 2 and 4-year degrees with enrollment at 6,200. The UCF serves the campus by providing the opportunity for educational, social, spiritual, social justice and other new and innovative ministries. A new facility is currently under construction and there is a ministry assistant position working with the director. There is a tradition of teaching classes at the university if he/she is properly academically credentialed. Applicants should be committed to ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, and social justice and have skills relating to students and community members without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality or ethnicity. Candidates should have 3-5 years experience working with university students in a campus ministry setting. Preference will be given to applicants ordained in the UMC but consideration will be given to any applicants ordained in a supporting denomination. A M.Div. degree or its equivalent is required. This position will be appointed by the bishop of the Central Texas Conference to serve as campus minister and as pastor of St. Andrews UMC—an intentionally multicultural and progressive congregation of the UMC in Corsicana. The total yearly compensation package is $38,000 to $44,000 plus housing allowance and pension. Salary and benefits to be negotiated according to training and experience. Send application, a letter expressing your specific interest in the position, resume and professional references by Oct. 15 to Waxahachie District superintendent Georgia Adamson at Waxahachie@ctcumc.org (MS Word for letter, resume and references) or mail to P.O. Box 156, Waxahachie, TX 75165. 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 |
||