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Central E-LinkWeekly Newsletter of the Central Texas Conference
March 23, 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
URGENT! URGENT! URGENT! Members of our conference have a tendency for last minute registrations on all events. But a low registration for the Spring Leadership Summit next Saturday, April 1, in Waco is becoming a major concern. The conference has committed major funds to bring several highly respected professionals to Central Texas in order to assist our local church, district and conference leaders in being more effective in their ministries. If you have not yet registered your church leaders for any of the following ministry areas, we urge you to do so.
• Evangelism – How to Share Your Faith & Keep Your Friends • Sunday school — Sunday School: It’s for Life • Singles ministries — Single Adult Ministries: Who, What, When, Where, Why • Understanding and applying the Social Principles — Living the Social Principles
Please send your registration as soon as possible so that the Spring Leadership Summit is not jeopardized. For a brochure with registration form, visit www.ctcumc.org or contact Susan Briles at 817-877-5222, 800-460-8622 or susan@ctcumc.org.
Events this week(end): 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 scheduled 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
Kingswood / Burleson unification — The final worship service at Kingswood UMC (335 SW Thomas St., Burleson) will be at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, March 26, followed by a brisket and covered dish luncheon. Mary Gean Cope, senior pastor at Crowley UMC and wife of Kingswood’s founding pastor Bob Cope (deceased), will be speaking. The unity service for the merger of Kingswood and First UMC Burleson (590 NE McAlister, Burleson) will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 2, followed by a fried chicken and covered dish lunch. All are welcome at both services.
100 acoustic guitars at First Bedford — First UMC Bedford is proud to host Tom Dooley and MasterMedia Ministries as they present "100 Guitars of Praise," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 24. Don't miss this historical event as 100 acoustic guitars lead the congregational singing! Doors open at 6:30, admission is free (love offering will be taken) and no childcare is provided. For more information, contact FUMC Bedford at 817-283-5536, or visit http://mastermedia.org.
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 25. Contemporary music by Open Door and an inspiring message by Davis' own Lay Leader Carlos Baker. 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
Brownwood lay speaking classes — The Basic and Advanced Lay Speaking Courses scheduled on March 25 & 26 at Brownwood Central UMC have been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
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 29—Dr. Tim Bruster — FUMC Ft. Worth April 5—Dr. John Feidler — FUMC Dallas
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.
Mission education opportunity — Greg
Jenks, founder and director of the Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor (ZOE), will
be speaking about his exciting ministry to AIDS orphans in Africa at
First UMC, Fort Worth (800 W. 5th St.) on Sunday, March 26. The
presentation will be held in Wesley Hall at 6:30 p.m. Please join us to
learn about the important work that ZOE Ministry is engaged in and how
you can get involved! Return to Top
News
NOTE CHANGE: Next
Sexual Harassment Misconduct Prevention Training
A message from Ed George, Senior Chaplain for Harris Methodist Health System Thank you in advance for remembering to observe Golden Cross Sunday on May 7. As you know, the UMC has designated the first Sunday of May as Golden Cross Sunday. Historically, local congregations have collected money designated to assist the medically indigent treated in Harris Methodist Hospitals. Last year, we expanded the reach of Golden Cross to address the preventative medicine needs of UMs through the support of parish nursing. Specifically, a portion of the Golden Cross offering is now used to provide parish nursing scholarships to interested churches within the conference. However, the Golden Cross offering is still used primarily to support the provision of “charity care” delivered by Harris Methodist Hospitals.
We are not going to the expense of printing brochures and envelopes for each church this year since a number of district offices have materials from last year. You may contact your district office for materials or present the need and the opportunity to your congregation as most appropriate for your context.
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
Methodist Children’s Home fundraiser features award-winning band
The Methodist Children's Home Boys Ranch
will host "Blazing New Trails," a fundraising event featuring a chuck
wagon-catered meal, silent auction, and entertainment by Art Greenhaw
and The Light Crust Doughboys at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 1.
Coinciding with this event is the release of "Songs for All God's
Children," a tribute album by Greenhaw and the Doughboys, featuring
special guests James Blackwood and the James Blackwood Quartet, Tom
Brumley, Nokie Edwards of the Ventures, and The Jordanaires, famous for
their work with Elvis Presley. The album features 18 songs, and
proceeds from its sale will benefit MCH.
Ministering to Hispanic children
“Bridges” Ministering with Hispanic
Children Workshop- Metro Building Saturday April 8. More information
forthcoming. Visit
http://www.ctxumc.org/hispanic.asp. Ignite 2006 Ignite 2006 is a Senior High Youth Rally for those youth in grades 9-12 and their adult sponsors. The event will take place Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, at First UMC, Mansfield. There are opportunities for large group rally time with a keynote speaker, praise and worship band and an illusionist. Click on the following link more information, workshop options and a registration form.
Christian Youth Weekend at Six Flags Christian Youth Weekend at Six Flags is the weekend of April 14 and 15. Audio Adrenaline and Kutless will be in concert Friday evening. Saturday features Mercy Me. Both concerts begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the conference office for $26 that includes one-day admission to the park and the concert. These are blocks of assigned seating so that large groups can sit together. Tickets must be purchased prior to Friday, April 7. Season pass holders may purchase concert tickets for $8. Contact Lisa McCutcheon to purchase your tickets.
Youth Second Chance
Store at Blooming Grove
Int’l director of Shuba Israel has speaking schedule in Fort Worth Eliezer Braun, international director of Shuva Israel (Return ‘O Israel), will be speaking at four events in Fort Worth next week: March 28 (12 noon to 2 p.m.) at 5001 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth 76133 March 28 (7 to 8:30 p.m.) at Diamond Hill UMC, 3005 Oscar Ave., Fort Worth 76106 March 29 (12 noon to 2 p.m.) at 5001 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth 76133 March 30 (12 noon to 2 p.m.) at 5001 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth 76133
Eliezer Braun was born and educated in America, and immigrated to Israel in 1983 with his wife Ellen and three young children. Their fourth child was born in Jerusalem in 1990. Eliezer served as Israel immigration emissary for the State of Israel between 1994-1998 as part of the Israeli Consulate Delegation in Los Angeles, CA. During that period, he oversaw the immigration of 2,000 American Jews from the west coast of the USA to Israel. He also made his first contacts with Israel-loving Bible-believing Christians. Upon returning home to Samaria, Israel in 1998, Eliezer became director of Shuva Israel. Eliezer represents 35 Jewish communities in Samaria, Israel and provides support for the absorption of 300-400 new immigrants yearly that come to the communities of Shavei Shomron, Einav and Chinanit in the Biblical Hills of Samaria. Contact: Margaret Stratton at 817-626-0620.
Glen Lake Camp Golf Classic (repeat) 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.
Health Fair & Beacon House Thrift Store sale April (repeat) 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
Local assistance for
hurricane survivors: CTC churches have the opportunity
to provide continued support for domestic displaced persons who have
relocated to Tarrant County after last year’s hurricanes. Many of our
guests are still struggling to get back on their feet, and Tarrant
County Human Services anticipates that a number of individuals and
families may be evicted from their apartments and hotel rooms beginning
in April when FEMA discontinues its rent assistance program. Tarrant
County Human Services has agreed to provide half of one month’s rent for
clients who have demonstrated the ability to pay rent on their own after
this first month, and is seeking partner organizations and churches that
might be able to assist with the second half of the month’s rent. TCHS
caseworkers will also encourage the clients to pay what they can toward
the rent, even if it is marginal, so the total that will be requested of
partners may be less that half the month’s rent. This will be requested
on a case-by-case basis. If your congregation still has funds left for
hurricane survivors and would like the opportunity to provide this type
of assistance, or if you would be interested in helping to raise money
for this cause, please contact Jennifer Coggins, Director of
Humanitarian Services. You may reach her at
jennifer@ctcumc.org or 817-877-5222.
Assistance to Louisiana churches affected by Hurricane Katrina: The
Louisiana Conference UMC is providing opportunities for churches outside
of their conference to partner with churches in Louisiana that were
deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina. Partnering churches can commit to
provide prayer support, volunteer support, and various types of
financial support to a local church or cooperative parish. If you are
interested in partnering with a church in Louisiana, you may do so by
going to the Louisiana Conference Disaster Recovery website at
www.laumcstormrelief.com.
You will find a link for “Partnering with Louisiana Churches.” If you
have further questions, please contact Jennifer Coggins at
jennifer@ctcumc.org
or 817-877-5222. Also, we would love to hear stories about
the work you are doing, so please let us know the results of your
partnership efforts. Older youth and adult UM Volunteers in Mission trip: In celebration of a 10-year covenant with the Eastern Mexico Annual Conference, an UMVIM team from the Central Texas Conference will be serving in Reynosa, Mexico from July 23-29, 2006. The trip is open to individuals age 16 years and older. The team will be working on a construction project at a local church and will also lead Vacation Bible School for the children in the community. No experience is necessary, but we would like to have some team members with expertise in tiling, sheetrock installation, and other carpentry. For additional information, contact Jennifer Coggins or Janet Wood at the Central Texas Conference Office. 817/877-5222, 800/460-8622 or jan@ctcumc.org or jennifer@ctcumc.org. Download a registration form at www.ctxumc.org/missions/vim.html.
Mission education opportunity: Greg
Jenks, founder and director of the Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor (ZOE), will
be speaking about his exciting ministry to AIDS orphans in Africa at
First UMC, Fort Worth (800 W. 5th St.) on Sunday, March 26. The
presentation will be held in Wesley Hall at 6:30 p.m. Please join us to
learn about the important work that ZOE Ministry is engaged in and how
you can get involved! Return to Top
Resources
What’s New at the Resource Center 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. New arrivals include:
Bioethics and the Book of Life. VHS. The last few decades have seen astounding progress in the life sciences, progress that raises moral and ethical questions about everything from the treatment of disease to the meaning of human life. What is the role of religion and ethics in grappling with the choices the new genetic knowledge presents? Includes a 24 page guide to the scientific topics covered. 10 sessions. 90 minutes total running time.
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 — 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 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. Client Intervention Specialist / Mission Intern United Community Centers, Inc., a national mission institution of the General Board of Global Ministries, seeks a part-time Client Intervention Specialist (25 hours per week) to work as a mission intern. Duties include working in the emergency food and clothing services at the Bethlehem UCC, 970 E Humbolt, Fort Worth 76104. High School diploma or GED and computer skills required; college degree or hours preferred and bi-lingual (Spanish) preferred. Fax resume to 817-924-3992 or email to probledo@unitedcommunitycenters.org
General Conference 2008
Volunteer Opportunity (repeat)
Hospitality Assistant (repeat)
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. Nursery Attendant (repeat) 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 (repeat) 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.
Nursery Staff
Position
(repeat)
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