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Central E-LinkWeekly Newsletter of the Central Texas Conference
March 16, 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
Events this week(end): Cokesbury Christian Store sale! — There will be a huge spring clearance sale Friday-Saturday (March 10-18) at the Fort Worth Cokesbury Store at 6333 Camp Bowie Blvd. (west side of mall area). Books and gifts 50% off! Contact: Carol Field, manager, at 817-763-9560, toll free 866-784-5674, fax 817-763-8045
First Arlington UMC Lenten lunches/worship — All are invited to join First Arlington at noon each Wednesday during Lent for lunch and an inspiring message! For more information contact Ted McIlvain at ted@arlingtonmethodist.org. March 22—Rev. Ann Stevens — FUMC Poolville March 29—Dr. Tim Bruster — FUMC Ft. Worth April 5—Dr. John Feidler — FUMC Dallas
Open Door Service - Davis Memorial UMC (5301 Davis Blvd., North Richland Hills 76180) invites all to their Open Door Service at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18. Contemporary music by So Far and an inspiring message by Davis' own Lay Speaker Sheryl Jordon. Please come and join us and bring a friend or two. Food and Fellowship afterwards. Contact the church at 817-281-0411 or visit the web site at http://www.dmumc.com
Black Church Studies program/banquet — The Brite Divinity School Black Church Studies Program will hold its 2nd Annual State of the Black Church Summit and awards banquet on Friday, March 24, at Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center at Texas Christian University. With the theme of “Linking Divine Justice to Social Justice,” the event will be an inter-disciplinary exchange involving scholars, church leaders, students, and members of the community. The Summit—including a luncheon, panel discussion, community conversation and book signings—will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The “Council of Griots,” a panel consisting of scholars, the honoree, and keynote speaker, and local pastors, will address topics related to the theme, followed by an audience dialogue. The cost for the luncheon is $15. The awards banquet — from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — will be celebrating the pastoral leadership of honoree Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes and the scholarly insights of keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Robert Franklin plus the awarding of $1,000 scholarships to both a deserving high school senior and a Brite Divinity School seminarian. The banquet includes a reception, catered meal, autographed book, musical tributes, and award presentations. The cost of the banquet is $125 per person, or $1,000 for a table of eight. For more information please contact: Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas at 817-257-7580 or bcs@tcu.edu.
Financing your church building project — This workshop, sponsored by the Central Texas Methodist Foundation, will be held 10 a.m. – 12 noon Saturday, March 25, at Central UMC in Waco (Hwy. 6 and Bagby). The event will cover all the ways a church building project is financed and re-financed. It will also cover how to determine your church’s safe debt level, how much money can be raised in a capital campaign and how to get started for a successful finish. It is open to clergy and lay persons. No charge, but must call to register: 817-332-1394 or 800-333-4096.
Invitation to all United Methodist Women — A Service of Commitment and Celebration for United Methodist Women will be held at 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 19. There will also be an installation of officers with a reception afterwards. Everyone is invited. Call Sue Eubanks at 817-267-1811 if you have questions. Bedford UMC, 1245 Bedford Road -- Airport Freeway & Bedford Road, Bedford, TX • 817-283-5536.
Understanding Spirituality Types & Family Systems — The conference Marriage Ministry Advisory Board event involving worship and marriage will be held Saturday, March 18 at First UMC Corsicana. This will be an all-day event for worship committees and/or all those interested in worship styles, for married couples interested in growing closer to one another, and for those interested in marriage ministry (supporting healthy marriages) within your local church. Contact FUMC Corsicana to register, 903-874-5656.
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News
5 more congregations meet their connectional partnership share
Council on Finance & Administration
Director Harvey Ozmer reports that five more congregations have met
their connectional partnership share commitment for 2006 — 100% during
the month of February. They are:
Hillsboro Church To Celebrate 150 Years Of Service On the weekend of April 28-30, the First UMC Hillsboro will celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of its founding. The congregation has faithfully served the Hill County area continuously since it started in 1856 with only 10 members and a local preacher. The anniversary celebration will include a Friday night event for youth and children, a Saturday night dinner theater and a celebration worship service Sunday with Bishop Ben Chamness presiding. The worship service will be followed by a covered dish luncheon and open house. Historical displays, banners and programs will commemorate the event, and a book tracing the history of the church from 1856 to the present has been published. Former pastors and former members who now reside out of town will receive special invitations. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.
TUMCA awards CTC scholarships in 2005/06 The Texas United Methodist College Association (TUMCA) awarded scholarships to 31 students from the Central Texas Conference during the 2005/06 school years. Students from the conference attended all five of the UM schools in Texas that receive TUMCA funds. TUMCA’s mission statement, “Helping Texas United Methodist students attend Texas United Methodist colleges and universities,” expresses a deep commitment to faith-based Christian education. A partnership, which begins with local churches paying their apportionments, also includes the conferences, TUMCA, and the five colleges and universities. This partnership and the resulting distribution of funds, which are used solely for student scholarships, demonstrate to our youth that we care about their educational journeys. These youth are thereby enabled to continue being nurtured within a Christian community while securing an excellent education.
Students from the CTC, the schools they attend, and their home churches, are: Lon Morris College: Elyssa Benoit, Grace, Copperas Cove; Justin Curtis, Trinity, Arlington; Tyler Watson, First, Brownwood. McMurry University: Jessica Barnes, First, Georgetown; Jacob Fields, First, Mansfield; Tabitha Guess, Genesis, Fort Worth; Julie Holleman, First, Eastland; Jason Owens, First, Stephenville; Hank Squires, First, Eastland. Southern Methodist University: Christopher Harris, Oakdale, Stephenville; Michelle Parker, Epworth, Arlington; Colin Rowland, First, Midlothian. Southwestern University: Jonathan Jonse, First, Round Rock; Alyssa McClure, Blooming Grove; Robert Rogers, King Memorial, Whitney. Texas Wesleyan University: Ryan Authier, St. Luke, Corsicana; Amanda Baker, Christ, Fort Worth; Weldon Bomar, First, Watauga; Ashley Brewer, Ridglea, Fort Worth; Danny Chisolm, Arlington Heights, Fort Worth; Amy Collins, First, Mansfield; Zachary Davidson, First, Watauga; Eric Douglas, First, Belton; Adam DuBose, First, Round Rock; Cami Hart, First, Joshua; Kevin Keathley, First, Fort Worth; Sarah Martino, Davis Memorial, North Richland Hills; Ashley Mock, First, Azle; Ann Parker, University, Fort Worth; David Riddile, Overton Park, Fort Worth; Sarah Young, First, Fort Worth.
All of these students, as well as the Board and staff of TUMCA, are profoundly grateful to all the churches of the CTC for their faithful support of the TUMCA apportionment. Bishop Dan E. Solomon, president of TUMCA, commented, “With TUMCA funds being restricted solely to TUMCA scholarships, every congregation in the conference can be assured that their TUMCA apportionment is directly linked to a deserving UM young person.”
CORECTION: Mulch story a hoax Several readers — as well as several news stories — reported that the tainted mulch information in last week’s E-Link was a hoax. This is one more “lesson” that you can’t believe every e-mail, no matter how credible the source appears to be. Thanks to those who contacted us to correct this message.
UM Reporter for this week: Articles on the pages of the March 24 UM Reporter/Central Link edition unveil the new Central Texas Conference theme and logo and the UMR portion focuses on education. If you miss the “Letter to the Editor” section of the old Reporter format, you can still find them online at http://www.umportal.org/ or www.reporterinteractive.org.
JONAH NO MORE: When Doug Wintermute felt the nudge again toward ministry at 42, he obeyed this time. He left his public relations job, moved his family to a parsonage, and became a seminary student and preacher at two rural churches. He’s one of many second-career clergy in the UMC. http://www.reporterinteractive.org/main/Feeds/tabid/116/newsid/830/Default.aspx
GIMME SOME OF THAT RELIGION: Associated Press has a story on how religious studies programs are on the rise at colleges and universities. Experts credit post-9/11 interest for the surge.
INFUSION OF YOUTH: With half of all ordained United Methodist clergy older than 50, the UMC is intentionally recruiting young people to become candidates for ordained ministry. Story by Vicki Brown, with the Office of Interpretation at the GBHEM. http://www.reporterinteractive.org/main/Feeds/tabid/116/newsid/831/Default.aspx
EVEN THE FOOD IS DIFFERENT: Jane Dennis, editor of the Arkansas Annual Conference, says two African students are adapting to U.S. college life, thanks to a university scholarship fund. http://www.reporterinteractive.org/main/Feeds/tabid/116/newsid/836/Default.aspx
EXPLORING MINISTRY: Vicki Brown gives us an advance about the November Exploration conference, which helps young people check out ministry as a career option. http://www.reporterinteractive.org/main/Feeds/tabid/116/newsid/837/Default.aspx
COLLEGE SHAPED HIS VALUES: Retired Bishop Woodie White sings the praises of his education at a Methodist college and seminary, saying he’s still undergirded by the values and principles he gained. http://www.reporterinteractive.org/main/Feeds/tabid/116/newsid/834/Default.aspx
SOME DRIFTING FROM MISSION: Gen-X Rising columnist Andrew Thompson argues that some UM-related higher education institutions don’t really represent the mission of the UMC and should be cut loose from church funding. http://www.reporterinteractive.org/main/Feeds/tabid/116/newsid/833/Default.aspx
Mandatory pension programs General Conference 2004 approved a new United Methodist Pension Program for all eligible clergy … Clergy Retirement Security Program (CRSP). In order to introduce and explain this new pension program and its funding prior to its presentation at Annual Conference (June 4-7), the Central Texas Conference Board of Pensions has schedule an event in each district. These district meetings are critically important for every clergy person and chairs of each local church Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Finance Committee, and business administrator. Put the appropriate date on your calendar and expect to attend: Fort Worth District March 23 – 7 p.m. Edge Park UMC Brownwood District April 2 – 4 p.m. Comanche UMC Mid-Cities District April 20 – 7 p.m. First Hurst UMC Temple District April 23 – 3 p.m. First Belton UMC Waco District April 23 – 6:30 p.m. First Waco UMC Waxahachie District April 24 - 7 p.m. First Waxahachie UMC Weatherford District May 7 – 3 p.m. Aledo UMC
Friendly reminder!!! (repeat) Each local UMC in the Central Texas Conference should have its Safe Sanctuary/ Abuse Prevention Policy adopted, implemented, and submitted to their district superintendent’s office by May 1, 2006. This was proposed and adopted by the CTC Annual Conference at its last meeting in June 2005. For further information and resources, contact Karen Granderson, 817-877-5222, 1-800-460-8622, or Karen@ctcumc.org.
Return to Top Events-Opportunities
Sexual Harassment
Misconduct Prevention Training
Glen Lake Camp Golf Classic Join other golfers (and “phantom golfers”) for the 4th Annual Glen Lake Golf Classic April 28 at Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose. Visit www.glenlake.org for registration forms and sponsor information or contact Grant Harris at 254-897-2247 or email grant@glenlake.org. Registration fee includes green fee, cart and lunch provided by the Ben E Keith Monster Grill.
Exemplary Youth ministry’ event set for April A South Central Jurisdictional training event for youth ministers/directors, pastors and others who lead youth ministries is coming April 27-29 at Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center in Fayetteville, Ark. “Spirit of Youth Ministry: Exemplary Youth Ministry” will explore how congregations can establish faith as a vital factor in the lives of their youth and young adults. Susan Hay, a 25-year veteran of youth ministries and a member of the General Board of Discipleship team, will be featured speaker.
Group sessions will explore effective practices for quality youth ministry, qualities of effective youth ministry, faith assets for youth ministry and congregations, and what congregations with exemplary youth ministries have in common. Costs range from $150 to $180, depending upon accommodations. All meals and materials are included. Registration deadline is April 12. Rod Hocott, Arkansas Conference director of youth ministries, is one of the event coordinators. For more information, contact him at (501) 324-8000 or (877) 646-1816 toll free or rhocott@arumc.org. Registration information is also available at www.okumc.org/youth/home.htm.
Health Fair & Beacon House Thrift Store sale April Martin UMC (2621 Bedford Road, Bedford 76021) will hold their 3rd annual health fair and thrift store sale at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1. There will be free health screening and health information. For more details, contact the church at 817-354-9038 or www.martin-methodist.org.
Sabbaticals for
Christian pastors
(repeat)
Congregational Health & Wellness (repeat) Reserve October 8 -11 for the second annual health and wellness conference sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries Health and Wellness - Congregation Health Ministries team. The focus of this year’s conference, “Empowering Ministries of Health: Transform, Mobilize, Advocate,” promises to provide many “how to’s” for those working for health and wellness in their annual conferences and local churches. For more information, please visit the GBGM website at http://gbgmumc.org/health/congmin/secondnationalconference.cfm.
VBS Samplers (repeat) Bring your VBS workers and leaders to the 2006 VBS Samplers at 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at one of the following three locations: First UMC Hurst, 521 W. Pipeline, Hurst 76053 Lorena UMC, 205 Bordon St., Lorena 76655 Early UMC, 1073 Early Blvd., Early 76803
Participants will visit activity centers to sample and experience the music, crafts, games, snacks, storytelling and mission ideas for this year’s Cokesbury VBS curriculum, Adventure of the Treasure Seekers: Exploring God’s Promises. To register, contact Susan Briles at 817-877-5222, 1-800-460-8622, or susan@ctcumc.org. Please include how many children attend your local VBS. Be sure to bring your VBS Starter Kits with you.
Parish nurses basic preparation opportunity (repeat) Faith & Health…..Dallas/Fort Worth Faith and Health Collaborative presents Parish Nurse Basic Preparation from the International Parish Nurse Resource Center Curriculum, June 4-9, at the Bishop Mason Retreat & Conference Center in Flower Mound. Space is limited to 20 participants. Registration deadline is May 15 with the initial payment of $300 due by March 31 and final payment of $375 by May 15. For a brochure, application form and additional details, contact conference Health & Welfare chair Mona Bailey at 817-379-0959 or billmona_1@charter.net.
Baylor University School of Nursing will be offering a course in Waco this summer (June/July) on two weekends (Friday-Sunday) and in Dallas on four weekends (Friday-Saturday) so folks can go after work Friday. The dates will be announced later, but the cost is usually $375 (meals and lodging not included). A portion of the Golden Cross Offering is used for the purpose of offering Parish Nursing scholarships to interested churches within the Central Texas Conference, so churches may want to include this in next year’s plans. The offering is still used primarily to help uninsured Methodists who find themselves in Harris Methodist Hospital. But in the spirit of preventative medicine and for the purpose of reaching out to other parts of the Conference, the scholarship program is also in effect.
FUSE celebrates Youth In Mission program (repeat) CTCYM invites everyone in the Central Texas Conference to FUSE (potentially the largest single event) at 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the Heart of Texas Coliseum in Waco. FUSE will be an opportunity for celebration, reunion, and worship energized by the Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission program. The two-time Dove Award winning band By the Tree (http://bythetree.com) will be there leading us in worship and celebration. If you have ever been on one of our CTCYM trips, or have supported those who have gone, put this event on your calendar now! Contact: FUSE coordinator Steve Heyduck at sheyduck@sbcglobal.net or CTCYM coordinator Rachel Giessen at Rachel@ctcumc.org.
Mission messages Mission Opportunities — If your church is looking for mission opportunities within our conference, please contact Jennifer Coggins or Rachel Giessen at 800-460-8622. We are always getting calls for work that needs to be done right here at home. 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!
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Resources
D.E.A.L. Grant available UM students are invited to apply for two $500 grants. These grants will be awarded to an upper classman or returning UM college student. One grant is to be awarded to a student who has a handicapping condition and a second grant to a student who has a declared major in assisting individuals with handicapping conditions, i.e., special education, speech pathology, hearing and visual impairment, social work, counseling, physical and/or occupational therapies. Both grants will be awarded in May 2006 and presented at CTC Annual Conference in June. Applications must be postmarked no later than Apr. 30, 2006. Address applications to: Jane Gates, c/o Central Texas Conference, 114 Rebecca Rd., Moody, TX 76557-3546 Email: jane@pasotx.com Phone: 254-853-2976
If you have a deserving student in your congregation who would benefit from a scholarship, check out the Conference Merit Award scholarship of $500 for first-time students attending a UM-related school or university. New this year is the $1,000 Stephens Scholarship in Finance/Accounting offered to a UM student preparing for a career in finance/accounting. For this scholarship, the applicant is asked to provide a statement on how their education will help to undergird good stewardship in the church today and in the future. Information on these programs and application forms have been e-mailed to all pastors and is also available by contacting Susan Briles at 817-877-5222, 800-460-8622 or susan@ctcumc.org.
Depression Connection support groups (repeat) Depression Connection Team collaborates with churches to develop and operate support groups for people with depression, bipolar disorder, and related conditions. People suffering from these disorders are more likely to achieve recovery when participating in small peer support groups. Presently, we have five groups and we are developing three new ones to begin this month. Would you like to consider having your church sponsor a group? For additional information please contact Tony Campbell at Tony@depressionconnection.org or call (817)-810-9599.
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— Looking Ahead — Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training — March 18 at St. Andrews UMC, Fort Worth Understanding Spirituality Types & Family Systems — March 18 at First Corsicana UMW Service of Commitment & Celebration — 3 – 5 p.m. March 19 at Bedford First UMC ABLC/Extension Ministries annual meeting/luncheon — 9:30 a.m. 1 p.m. March 20 at First Fort Worth Weatherford District Laity Banquet — March 24 at Couts Memorial UMC, Weatherford Resurrection Woman: UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat — March 24, 25, 26 at Round Rock One Great Hour of Sharing offering — March 26 Spring Board of Ministry interviews — March 27-29, 2006 at Glen Lake Camp Conference Spring Leadership Summit — April 1 at Central UMC, Waco South Central Jurisdiction workweek — April 3-7 at Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Arkansas Deadline for CTC Merit Award and Stephens Finance/Accounting scholarship applications — April 15 Sager Brown (Baldwin, LA) mission trip — April 20-23 VBS Samplers — 3-5 p.m. April 23 at 3 locations: First Hurst, Lorena, Early Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training — April 26 at Western Hills UMC, Fort Worth Youth Choir Rally — April 29-30 at Granbury First UMC Changing Lives Through Stewardship training — April 29 and 30 (two locations) Start-Up Seminar — May 2 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center UMW Assembly at Anaheim, Calif. — May 4-7 FUSE – reunion/celebration of CTCYM — June 4 at Heart of Texas Coliseum, Waco Central Texas Annual Conference — June 4-7, Waco Convention Center GBGM Health & Wellness – Congregation Health Ministries (see article) — Oct. 8-11
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Needs, Resources, Opportunities
NOTE TO LISTERS: Please contact Carolyn Stephens at Carolyn@ctcumc.org to pull your listing when your opening has been filled.
General Conference 2008
Volunteer Opportunity
Nursery caregivers Two permanent, part-time child-care workers needed for church nursery on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday mornings and evenings, and other occasions as needed. Applicant must have experience and/or training in child-care, child and infant CPR/First Aid certification preferable. Pay is commensurate with experience/training. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to working closely with the Director of Children’s Ministry, must be reliable and have reliable transportation, be able to nurture children in a loving manner as well as be able to work with church volunteers. Caregiver will also be expected to maintain the cleanliness of the nursery facility. Ages of children range from birth to age 5 on Sunday mornings and up to 5th grade at all other times. Send resume may be sent to Director of Children’s Ministry, First UMC Bedford, 1245 Bedford Rd., Bedford, TX 76021. Phone: 817-283-5536. FAX: 817.868.1964. E-mail: jholston@fumcbedford.com.
Hospitality Assistant
White’s Chapel UMC at Southlake seeks a
motivated individual for a full-time (35 hours) hospitality assistant.
He/she must, first and foremost, possess a heart for ministry and
service. This position will report to director of hospitality and will
assist in the kitchen with food preparation, dining room preparation,
serving, and cleanup. Individual must be available for variable hours
including weekends and some evenings. For more information to apply,
contact Vicki Johnson at
vjohnson@whiteschapelumc.com or by calling
817-481-4147. Choir Director St. Luke UMC in the Haltom City area seeks a part time choir director. Duties include: provide leadership in developing and maintaining a full choir program for all ages; lead congregational singing in morning worship services; direct and develop the chancel choir; originate, develop, encourage, and plan for soloists, duets, trios, and other possible groups out of the chancel choir; work in a team effort with other staff; and lead, plan, and develop the chancel bell choir. Salary depends on experience. Resumes should be sent immediately to: Senior Pastor, St. Luke UMC, 3200 Denton Highway, Haltom City, Texas 76117.
Nursery Attendant Heritage UMC in Grapevine seeks a loving and dependable person to take care of our children under 5 years old on Wednesday evenings and/or Sunday evenings. Applicants must be over 18 years old and must submit to a criminal background check. Please call Lynn Carter at 817-571-1111.
Praise Band Leader First UMC Alvarado has an immediate opening for a Praise Band leader with contemporary worship experience. The right person will play a musical instrument and be comfortable in leading the congregation in singing. The individual will also have responsibility for leading our youth choir. Alvarado is located 20 minutes south of Fort Worth on I-35W. For job description and requirements contact the church at fumcalv@sbcglobal.net.
Yellow school bus for sale Acton UMC (3433 Fall Creek Hwy, Granbury 76049) has a 1992 International Harvester school bus for sale. 60 passenger. Diesel, auto transmission. DUAL A/C, tinted windows. 132,000 miles. $2500.00 obo. Contact: Donna Bursey at 817-326-4242 or donna@actonumc.org.
Nursery Staff
Position
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