B U S I N E S S N A M E. Words of Wisdom from Robin Romans Bible Study

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1 Volume 7, Issue 5 May 2013 B U S I N E S S N A M E Words of Wisdom from Robin Romans Bible Study We will meet every Monday in May to study the Book of Romans together. I hope you will come out and join us. Not only do we gain insight from the Word but we also have great fellowship. Come join us at 9:00 each Monday morning. Robin s May Preaching Schedule May 5th-Christ Central UMC May 12th Wesley s Chapel UMC May 19th-Keener UMC This will be the last service for Keener. The congregation has decided to close. May 26th-Ebenezer(Grove Oak) Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett Supporting Camp Sumatanga United Methodist Camping Ministries have had a major impact upon my life. This is a statement that many clergy and lay leaders across this Annual Conference say with enthusiasm. It is certainly a part of my story. In fact, it was at a place in Kentucky called Aldersgate United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center that I was first nudged in the direction of ministry and later heard a call to ordained ministry. We are blessed in North Alabama with beautiful Camp Sumatanga. Mothers Day, Sunday, May 12 has been designated as Sumatanga Sunday. We will have an opportunity on this day in our local churches to give back to the camp that means so much to many of us. I encourage you and your local church to celebrate Sumatanga Sunday on May 12. There are resources local churches can use including bulletin inserts, talking points and promotional posters available on Sumatangas website at Please consider making a special gift that day. Another way people are supporting Sumatana is through the Seventh Annual Sumatanga Golf Tournament, which will be at Grayson Valley Country Club on May 20. The event was started by members of Trussville First UMC, but has grown each year and gained support from United Methodists throughout North Alabama. Proceeds to the camp facilities, and to the Happy Camper Scholarship fund. You can participate in this tournament either as a golfer or through a Hole Sponsorship. For more information go to As always it is a privilege to serve as your bishop. Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett Pre-Conference/District Conference Meeting Our Pre-Conference meeting for Annual Conference and our Annual District Conference will take place on May 19th at the Rainbow City UMC at 2:00pm. Please come and bring at least five key lay persons with you so that we can share together about what God has done and what we vision that He will do in the year to come. Moving Day Moving day will be Wednesday, June 12. If you are moving out of a church owned parsonage, make sure that a member of your Trustees or Parsonage Committee inspects your parsonage before you move you. Leave it cleaner than you found it! U P C O M I N G E V E N T S 5/6-Circuit Rider s Meeting, 12 noon, Western Sizzlin, 1pm Dist Office 6/2-6/4-Annual Conference, Birmingham Southern 5/13-District Superintendency Meeting, 6pm, Dist Office 6/12-Pastor s Move Day 5/19-Pre-Conf/Dist Conf, Rainbow City First UMC, 2pm 6/16-New Pastor s First Sunday in Pulpit

2 Page 2 Reservations Deadline Reservations Deadline Reservations Deadline Reservations Deadline May 23, 2013 May 23, 2013 May 23, 2013 July 15, 2013 To Make Reservations Log onto the North Alabama Website, and look on the left side of the homepage. You will see Make Your Reservation or Annual Conference, along with the art work above. Click on that, and follow the prompts. Lodging To make a reservation for a hotel contact the hotel directory. Go to for a list of hotels. Questions Contact Registrar Doris McCullers at dmccullers@umcna.org (205) or (800)

3 Page 3 New Appointments From Bishop Wallace-Padgett and Our Cabinet (That affect Mountain Lakes District) Fulltime Appointments (Pastors coming into the District) Alabama City/Guntersville First - Angela Teel Albertville First - Barry Dunn Asbury (Ft. Payne) - David Holmes Hewett Memorial - Bill Brown Skirum/Fairview - Trav Wilson St. Paul/Forest Home - Chip Vann Sumatanga - ATEM Director of Development - Mark Parris Warrenton - David Teel Fulltime Mountain Lakes Pastors, (Pastors leaving the District) Diane Fielder - Carbon Hill Paul Messer - Red Ridge Donnie Patterson - Carrolton Mike Spivey - Northport First Rusty Tate - Langdale Girl Scout Sunday at Cedar Bluff First UMC We are proud of these young women that meet at our church each month. Rev. Tim Kendrick

4 Page 4 Bishop announces new efforts to grow healthy new faith communities and vital existing churches By Danette Clifton, Director of Communication Over the years, the North Alabama Conference has worked to renew and equip existing congregations as well as plant new congregations. While the goals are often the same, the process and strategy to achieve those goals are often different. To that end, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett has announced the creation of two distinct ministry areas: Church Revitalization and Transformation to be led by Rev. Nancy Cole and New Church Development to be led by Matt Jones. Bishop Wallace-Padgett says, Healthy new faith communities and vital existing churches are keys to the North Alabama Annual Conference s effectiveness in making disciples for the transformation of the world. We are fortunate to have persons with the passion and skills of Matt Jones and Nancy Cole leading us in these areas of focus. Church Revitalization and Transformation Church Revitalization and Transformation will focus on helping existing churches become healthy and vital. A comprehensive plan for church revitalization and transformation is being developed and Rev. Cole is working to create an advisory team of pastors and laity in this effort. Rev. Cole says, There is no easy road to revitalization and renewal, but with our trust in the Christ who gave us the Church, we will prevail. I am haunted by a statement made by John Wesley which is proving too prophetic these days, I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out. One of the initial emphases of this new ministry area is small-membership churches. This weekend, the first initiative will be started in four districts. This initiative is called ABIDE. The purpose of work toward church revitalization will be to create leadership teams in smaller churches who are staffed solely by a pastor. This program will be replicated in the other four districts at a later time. Rev. Cole says, I am grateful for the opportunity to further develop and lead a comprehensive process for the renewal and transformation of our existing churches in the North Alabama Conference. Initially, the emphasis of our efforts will be on our small membership churches. Having pastored small membership churches, I have a heart for them. Many of these churches are doing remarkable ministry, but many lack the resources needed to once again become vital churches in the communities they serve. Our goal is to resource and engage the small membership church in a process or processes that will encourage and promote revitalization and transformation. Natural Church Development will remain and important component for the assessment of church health and thus a way to prescribe goals for renewal. I am in the process of putting together a team of lay and clergy that will help lead in this vital work for the sake of the Kingdom.

5 Page 5 She notes that Natural Church Development will remain a vital component in the Conference s church transformation focus. Rev. Cole, reports that 87% of North Alabama churches active in following the NCD process and who have taken two or more NCD surveys have showed an upward trend in attendance. New Church Development Matt Jones, who has been serving as Director of Congregational Development working with both new congregations and existing congregations, will be leading the effort to effectively start new congregations within the North Alabama Conference. Jones, says, "My primary role is currently to determine the most effective way for our conference to plant new churches within the parameters of a large existing system. Planting cannot be considered successful until we have a way for these new churches to have long-term success. Jones notes that long-term success includes successfully navigating new congregations through their first pastoral change, a transition that has proved challenging for many new churches in North Alabama. Jones notes a part of his new role is to work with the Bishop and Cabinet to develop a plan and process for the transition from the planter to the next appointed pastor." National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 2, :15 p.m. There will be an ecumenical gathering of the Greater Gadsden/Etowah Metro Area and beyond at the Mort Glosser Amphitheater 344 South 1st. Street, Gadsden, AL There will be prayer for Government, Church, Military, Family, Education, Media, and Business. Most of all there will be prayer for these United States of America. This gathering will be lead by the Holy Spirit of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. If you would like more information or to be a part of the many aspects of this gathering, call

6 Page 6 Donations for inmates at the Etowah County Jail for Impact Gadsden 2013 Soap-Shampoo-Deodorant-Body Wash- Toothpaste-Tooth Brushes-Hand Lotion- Body Lotion-Men's Underwear and T-shirts (WHITE ONLY)-Women's Panties (WHITE ONLY) Donate Items to the Impact Gadsden Food Drive for Backpacks for Hunger* There is a great need for all the items on the list. Please consider donating a quantity of 10, 20, or more of one of these single-serving, healthy food items on the list.) one of these single-serving, healthy food items. Single Serving and individually wrapped items needed: SpaghettiO s (or Beef Ravioli, Lasagna, Spaghetti and Meatballs), 15 oz) Beans and franks Vegetable cans or small packs Chili. 15 oz. Can Applesauce (all natural), 4 oz cup Fruit cups in light syrup or juice (no heavy syrup), 4 oz. cup Pudding cups, 4 oz cup Individual cereal boxes (25g 30 g) Granola bars (No peanuts) Pop tarts (No peanut butter) Fruit snacks Juice boxes (100% juice), 6.7 oz Shelf stable milk, 8 oz carton Backpacks for Hunger Packing Event Saturday, May 18, :00am - 12:00pm meet at East Gadsden United Methodist Church 201 S. 8th St., Gadsden, AL Caring Cards Project Saturday, May 18, :00am - 1:00pm meet at Sweet Home United Methodist Church 218 North 6th St., Gadsden, AL Paint A House (Project 3- ERA House) Saturday, May 18, :00am - 4:00pm meet at First United Methodist Church 115 S. 5th St., Gadsden, AL Paint A House (Project 4) Saturday, May 18, :00am - 4:00pm meet at First United Methodist Church 115 S. 5th St., Gadsden, AL Adams Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00am - 12:00pm meet at Adams Elementary School 919 Raley St., Gadsden, AL C. A. Donehoo Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00am - 12:00pm meet at C. A. Donehoo Elementary School 1109 East Broad St., Gadsden, AL Eura Brown Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00am - 12:00pm meet at Eura Brown Elementary School 1231 Alcott Rd., Gadsden, AL W. E. Striplin Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00am - 12:00pm meet at W. E. Striplin Elementary School 600 Cleveland Avenue, Gadsden, AL Walnut Park Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00am - 12:00pm meet at Walnut Park Elementary School 3200 Walnut Street, Gadsden, AL R. A. Mitchell Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00pm - 4:00pm meet at R. A. Mitchell Elementary School 1501 Noccalula Rd., Gadsden, AL Ray Thompson Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00pm - 4:00pm meet at Ray Thompson Elementary School 236 Goldenrod Avenue, Gadsden, AL George W. Floyd Elementary School Saturday, May 18, :00pm - 4:00pm meet at George W. Floyd Elementary School 601 Black Creek Road, Gadsden, AL Prison Ministry Project Saturday, May 18, :00am - 1:00pm meet at Alabama City United Methodist 2801 Sansom Avenue, Gadsden, AL Register ONLINE to Volunteer: Hosted by Alabama City UMC, East Gadsden UMC, Gadsden First UMC and Sweet Home UMC and sponsored by the Mountain Lakes District and area businesses. Cash Donations may be made on the website. Food and Hygiene items may be dropped off at the Mountain Lake District Office, any of the Host Churches or ERA King Real Estate Company.

7 Page 7 Genesis, a ministry of Guntersville First United Methodist Church, provides a weekly ministry for middle school and high school students called The Landing. It is designed to take teens on a lifechanging journey. This program is based on the beatitudes where Jesus laid out principles for life. It allows teenagers to learn how to live their life in a healthy, God-honoring way. The Landing tackles real life issues. Teenagers are given a safe environment to discuss topics and ask questions. They learn to lean on Jesus to help them overcome life s challenges. The Landing curriculum follows the Celebrate Recovery model. Parents have the opportunity to attend Celebrate Recovery on Thursday nights (younger children can participate in Celebration Station). The entire family can learn how to live their lives in a healthy, God-honoring way. Currently, The Landing meets every Thursday night from 3:30pm to 7:00pm in our youth building. We pick up students from Asbury using our 2 church buses and 1 church van. We average 40 students. By picking these students up at school, they have the opportunity to participate. Many of these families do not have the financial means to drive them to and from extracurricular activities. We also take these students home each evening. Even by using all 4 church vehicles, some van routes still take over an hour and a half. Students who are currently staying at the Ogden House, which is a non profit agency that provides shelter, clothing, food, counseling, mentoring, transportation, life skills classes and much more to youth in need, participate. We are in the early stages of partnering with the Juvenile Probation Department to also provide this ministry as an option for their clients. During the school year, all of these students can participate from 3:30pm-7:00pm. We have an average of 20 adult volunteers that make this ministry happen. There are mission projects, Bible studies, games, dinner, worship, small group time, and so much more. Mission projects have included: packing backpacks for Blessings in a Backpack, serving meals at Celebrate Recovery, visiting nursing homes, filling eggs for the community Easter egg hunt, and decorating posters and placemats for Kairos. Many of the games have taught teamwork, leadership skills, and patience. For the summer months, we will have worship and small group time during the regular hours of Celebrate Recovery for all teenagers. We are in the planning stages of some community events for all the students to stay connected over the summer. This ministry costs on average $250 per week. We provide home-cooked meals, supplies for the various activities, and fuel costs. In the fall, we are hoping to provide this ministry to children at other county schools. We would love to partner with other churches to provide transportation to and from this program. For more information, please contact Andrew Gregg by phone at or by andrew.gregg@gfumc.net.

8 Page 8 The Julia Street UMC in Boaz, AL officially opened their food pantry, called The Lord's Table, in March On the first Saturday that we were open we served 20 families by providing them supplemental food. The following Saturday we served 22 families and decided that we would only be able to open one Saturday per month, but with longer hours. This past Saturday, April 21st, people were lined up at 8:00AM waiting on the pantry to open at 9:00AM. We were able to serve 57 families with a total of 143 people receiving supplemental food. As we give the food we find it possible to tell people about Christ and offer to pray with them. Quite frankly we are receiving as much a blessing from being able to serve those in need as those we are serving. James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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12 Page 12 Fair Share Remittance 10% Tithe A Tithe is a Faithful Biblical Response People have asked me everywhere I am, Are we going to be able to keep the tithe system here in the Mt. Lakes District? The answer is yes! We had a very good year as most of our churches were faithful both in promptness and by giving a full tithe. All of our churches participated at some level. The first year of this experiment we were short of where we had been in previous years. This year we exceeded those levels and will finish the year more than ten percent ahead of last year. We are increasing our grants to local church projects from one thousand a month to two thousand a month. It is our goal to put 50% of what the District receives back into local churches. So thank you ahead of time for your faithfulness in If you have been tithing thank you and keep up that faithfulness. If you have been giving but not to the level of a tithe then increase that until you reach that fair share gift. And if you have not been participating to any significant level please know these gifts are making a difference and we look forward to your full participation! FAIR SHARE REMITTANCE RECEIPTS FOR MARCH /02/ Collins Chapel $ (Jan) 3027-Collins Chapel $ (Feb) 3054-Goodsell $ (Jan) 3054-Goodsell $ (Feb) 04/04/ Antioch (Blount) $ Belcher s Chapel $ Bethlehem $ Bothwell $ Clear Creek $ Corbinville $ Cox s Chapel $ Crossville First $1, Deerman s Chapel $ East Gadsden $1, Flat Rock $ Geraldine First $ Gibb s Chapel $39.49 (Feb) 3056-Haygood Memorial $ Henagar $ Hewett Memorial $1, (April) 3066-Joppa $ McNutt Memorial $ Pine Grove (Blount) $ Portersville $ Red Hill (Attalla) $ Samuel s Chapel $ Sand Rock $ (Feb) 3109-Skirum $ St. Mary s $ Sweet Home $ Union Chapel $1, Walker s Chapel $ Wesley s Chapel $ Whorton Bend $ /05/ Trinity (Ft. Payne) $ /09/ Albertville First $3, Blanche $ (Feb) 3013-Blanche $ Centre $ Christ Central $2, Christ Church $ Ebenezer (Grove Oak) $ Ft. Payne First $4, Henryville $1, (Feb) 3062-Hokes Bluff $3, King s Chapel $ Miller s Chapel $ Mt. Carmel $ Mt. High $ Mt. Oak $ Rainbow City First $2, Rock Springs $ (Jan) 3102-Rock Springs $ (Feb) 3102-Rock Springs $ Salem (Cedar Bluff) $ Snead First $ Springville First $2, St. Mark s $ Webster s Chapel $ Whitehall $ /11/ Alabama City $ Antioch (Attalla) $ Brooklyn $ Cedar Hill $ Collins Chapel $ Dutton $ Ebenezer (Cedar Bluff) $ Liberty $ (April) 3074-Marvin $ Morton s Chapel $ Mountain Chapel $ New Oregon $1, Salem (Geraldine) $ The Summit $1,266.55

13 Page 13 04/16/ Asbury (Albertville) $ Bellevue $1, (Feb) 3014-Blountsville $ (Feb) 3036-Douglas $ (Jan) 3036-Douglas $ (Feb) 3036-Douglas $ (Mar) 3055-Guntersville First $16, Julia Street $ Lester Memorial $7, McCauley s Chapel $ (Feb) 3095-Pleasant Hill (Springville) $ /18/ Asbury (Ft. Payne) $2, Attalla First $ (Jan) 3009-Attalla First $ (Feb) 3022-Centre First $5, Diamond $ Fairview (Albertville) $ Gadsden First $6, Ider $ (Feb) 3065-Ider $ New Hope (Cedar Bluff) $ Pleasant Hill (Gadsden) $ St. Paul (Ashville) $ Steele $1, Trinity (Rainsville) $1, Mountain Lakes United Methodist Men Our next meeting will be at Bellevue UMC on Sunday, May 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to join us. Jeff Prince President May 12th God Bless all of our Mother s on Mother s Day and every day for all you do for us!!! 04/23/ Altoona First $1, Attalla First $ Cedar Bluff First $1, Chaney s Chapel $ Fairview (Dawson) $ Fairview (Centre) $1, Lusk Chapel $ New Bethel $ Sand Rock $ Warrenton $ /25/ Henryville $1, Smith s Chapel $ Valley Head $ /30/ Hebron $ Robertson Chapel $ Section $ Union Hill $529.30

14 Page 14 The United Methodist Women On April 20, 2013, Rev. Dedric Cowser of Sweet Home UMC led our District Prayer Breakfast. Rev. Cowser spoke to us on the importance of prayer and sang. We had 29 to attend and we were all blessed. Our next event is this Saturday. Our Poverty Study will be at Glencoe United Methodist Church on May 4, We will have registration at 9:00 a.m. and the study will begin at 9:30 a.m. The registration fee will be $8.00. Barbara Estes from Leeds, Alabama will lead our study. Hope to see you there. Susan Minton The following Agenda is for the rest of 2013 United Methodist Women. APRIL 20 th MAY 4 th AUG 10 th SEPT 7 th OCT 5 th OCT 19 th Prayer Breakfast at Christ Central Church. Registration begins at 9:00 am Poverty Study at Glencoe United Methodist Church. Registration begins at 9:30am Mini School of Missions at Gadsden First United Methodist Church Registration to be announced Roma of Europe study at Albertville First United Methodist. Nancy Lane is the teacher. Registration to be announced. Annual Meeting at Sumatanga District Annual Meeting at Sweet Home United Methodist Church President: Susan Minton, (256) jmsminton@att.net VPresident: Sheila Billingsley, (256) bbillingsley164@bellsouth.net Secretary: Dianne Fielder, (256) ruthfd@aol.com Treasurer: Dyanne Sterling, (205) Dyanne205@yahoo.com Secretary of Program Resources: Frances Patterson, (256) fpatterson@farmerstel.com Hope this will be helpful in planning your attendance to these events. See you at Refresh and Retreat. God Bless, Susan Minton CHECK OUT OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE AT We are trying new things weekly. If you have things you want on the webpage, call the district office, we will get them on there for you! We would LOVE to hear from your CHURCH!!!!!! What has your church celebrated recently? What has your church done that you would like to share with others in the Mountain Lakes District? We want to hear from YOU! PLEASE your notes to amy@mldistrict.org, fax them to , or mail them to 2804 Wills Creek Rd, Gadsden, AL Thanks! Mountain Lakes District Office of the United Methodist Church, 2804 Wills Creek Rd, Gadsden, AL (256) , Fax(256) rscott@northalabamaumc.org amy@mldistrict.org website: mountainlakesdistrict.org