Gainesville District Newsletter November 2014

Transcription

1 Gainesville District Newsletter November 2014 Thanksgiving As we move into the month of November, our minds turn toward Thanksgiving. We have this wonderful day our country has set aside to celebrate and give thanks. It is a holiday many of us take full advantage of for the opportunity to gather with family and eat. We Americans (and Methodists) are good at taking advantage of the opportunity to eat. Having a day set aside for Thanksgiving is a good thing, but is it enough? If we truly look at our lives, we have so much to be thankful for. We still live in the best country in the world, we still have freedom to worship, most of us have a roof over our heads, most of us have cars to drive, and we have plenty to eat. This is true 365 days a year. So, maybe, just maybe, we need to celebrate everyday with thanksgiving. My grandfather had a prayer that he would share before every meal. It was a prayer that his children and grandchildren heard so often we had it memorized. I admit, that as a child, I would mouth the prayer as he shared it knowing exactly what he was going to say. This simple prayer went like this: Oh Lord, humble thy hearts with joy and thanksgiving as a blessing from thee. As I have matured a bit over the years and thought of this prayer, I have come to cherish these words and realize the power in these simple words. Our hearts need to be humbled and we need to face life with joy and thanksgiving! We are so blessed! Not because we have done anything, but because God has chosen to bless us and we should receive this blessing with joy and thanksgiving! This should be a practice every day not just on a day that is designated in November. So if you will, please join with me as a part of this wonderful Gainesville District, in taking the opportunity every day in giving thanks and allowing God to humble our hearts. Then, may we live the life of joy that God intends for each and every one of us. Blessings, Richard 1

2 November Chris Laskey 3 Lyndon Eubanks 5 Ron Preuss 14 Leland Bagwell 15 Brad Greene 19 Dean Head 20 Marvin Reynolds 20 Jeff Ross 24 Hugh Cauthen 30 If you are a minister in the Gainesville District, active or retired, and your birthday is not listed during the designated months, please send us your information at gnsv@ngumc.net Christmas is One Language Community Concert Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 7 pm Gainesville First UMC The concert will be followed by a reception featuring the Believers Jazz Band and international foods. 2

3 CLERGY, spouse and family CHRISTMAS DINNER Tuesday, December 2, :00 p.m. Fellowship 6:30 p.m. - Dinner Gainesville First United Methodist Church 2780 Thompson Bridge Road Gainesville, Georgia Again this year we will be offering nursery and activities & dinner for children and teens under 18 years of age. Birth through kindergarten First grade through fifth grade Middle and High School We will be serving cheese and pepperoni pizza. You are welcome to bring your child(ren) dinner if they do not eat pizza. So that we can follow Safe Sanctuary guidelines, please include the name and age of your child(ren) and whether they will be enjoying pizza when you RSVP. EVERYONE PLEASE RSVP by Wednesday, November 19th to gnsv@ngumc.net 3

4 Adventures in Missions is an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipleship. We emphasize prayer and relationships in our work amongst the poor. Since we were established in 1989, we have taken over 100,000 people into the mission field. We believe that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed. We seek to disciple as Jesus did; our vision is that God would use us to raise up a generation of radically committed disciples of Jesus Christ. From family missions trips, youth group trips, to long-term missions, our trips range from 3 days to 11 months, in both domestic and international locations. For more information, please visit us at Family Mission Trips: (ages 6+) Start a new tradition and carry out the great commission in your family; spend four days to two weeks - in or outside of the U.S. Youth Group Trips: 'Adventures Youth' takes Junior and Senior High youth groups on a journey of development by placing them in urban, rural, and international communities. Through ministry with kids, sports outreach and serving local ministries, these students will see the value of their presence and observe firsthand the move of God through their contribution. It's an amazing way for your youth group to be activated together in their faith outside of their normal church environment. High School Students: (ages 14-18): A similar trip experience to our Adventures Youth Program, our 'Ambassador' program is where any student can sign up and join other high-school students from around the US. These international missions trips will take them a little further out of their comfort zones, experiencing life-changing encounters with Jesus. Trips vary from two weeks to four weeks. Adult Mission Trips: (ages 18+)Challenge your small group or go as an individual and spend four days to two weeks serving with our ministry partners all over the world, both domestic and abroad. Church to Church: This program partners American churches with sister churches around the world. These partnerships focus on building long-term relationships to help extend, encourage, and empower sister churches and build unity amongst the worldwide body of Christ. College Students: (ages 18-22): The Passport is Adventures in Missions' program for college-age individuals. Passporters spend 1-6 months securing their identity in Christ, getting equipped and growing, empowered to advance God's kingdom alongside local churches and ministries overseas. World Race Gap Year (ages 18-22): College-aged students spend a year diving deep into three communities on this 9 month journey. They spend three months in three different locations, growing in their faith. World Race (ages 21-35): A journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve "the least of these" while amongst real and raw community. 4

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6 The GFUMC Missions Market debuts on November 9 th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the church, which is located at 2780 Thompson Bridge Road in Gainesville. This new event at Gainesville First will feature authentic artisan wares with an international flair from each of the countries where its church missions are at work. Sale items will include a wide variety of goods such as hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, blankets and more (one-of-a-kind gift items to kick off the holiday shopping season)! Missions Market will also offer homemade gourmet specialties for sale from the kitchens of its church members. The mission behind Missions Market is to educate and raise funds in support of GFUMC s global missions in five countries around the world: Honduras Bolivia Uganda Romania Serbia To learn more, visit 6

7 The North Georgia Annual Conference will be co-hosting The Upper Room Five Day Academy of Spiritual Formation at Winshape Retreat Center in Rome, GA, February 8-13, The Academy of Spiritual Formation is a program of Upper Room Ministries, providing an opportunity for laity and clergy to deepen their relationship with God through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, learning and reflection. Each day includes teachings by gifted spiritual leaders, periods of silence, along with morning and evening prayer, Eucharist, covenant groups and community time. Time for rest and recreation are also part of each day. Every 5-day Academy has a different focus. This year's focus is on Christian Pilgrimage and the faculty features Dr. Roberta Bondi and Dr. Loyd Allen. Three CEUs are available. The Academy is said to be one of the best kept secrets in the church. Don t let it stay that way! If you re looking to renew your faith and relationship with God, make time to be part of the Five Day Academy! To download the brochure, visit The Upper Room Website: You can register online through the NGUMC Conference Website: For more information, contact Ken Hagler at ken.hagler@ngumc.net Connection Group Charge Conference Schedule 2014 Group #1 Sunday, November 3 pm First Union Group #3 Sunday, November 3pm Cool Springs ALL PAPERWORK DUE AT YOUR CHARGE CONFERENCE Group #7 Thursday, November 7 pm Flowery Branch ALL PAPERWORK DUE AT YOUR CHARGE CONFERENCE Group #9 Wednesday, October 6:30 pm Trinity Group #10 Sunday, November 3 pm Mt. Pleasant, White Co. ALL PAPERWORK DUE AT YOUR CHARGE CONFERENCE 7

8 2014 District Work Fund Paid in Full Alley s Chapel Bethel Bethlehem Center Chattahoochee Chicopee Clemons Chapel Commerce Confidence, Stephens County Confidence, Union County Cool Springs Dillard Ebenezer, Hollywood First UMC of Union County Hickory Flat Holly Springs Homer Lebanon Living Mission Lula Midway Mossy Creek Mt. Bethel Mt. Pleasant, Banks Co. Mt. Pleasant, White Co. Mt. Zion, Alto Mt. Zion, Toccoa New Hope, Dillard New Hope, Gainesville New Liberty, Clarkesville Oakwood Pleasant Hill Providence, Union Redwine St. James, Toccoa St. Paul, Lumpkin County Shady Grove South Bend Tallulah Falls Tiger Union Hill Warren Chapel Wesley Chapel Wilson s Chapel 8

9 2014/15 District Calendar of Events November 2 Daylight Savings Time Ends 2 3pm Connection Group #1 Charge First Union UMC 4 MINISTRY REVIEWS 5 MINISTRY REVIEWS 6 MINISTRY REVIEWS 9 3pm Connection Group #3 Charge Cool Springs UMC 10 CHARGE CONFERENCE PAPERWORK DUE 13 7pm Connection Group #7 Charge Flowery Branch UMC 16 3 pm Connection Group #10 Charge Mt. Pleasant, White Co. December 2 6 pm District Active Clergy, Family & Retiree Christmas Gainesville First UMC District Office Closed for Christmas Holiday January 1-4 District Office Closed for Christmas Holiday 5 District Office reopens 12 Preference Form Package Due in the District Office February am 7 pm dcom Interviews at Gainesville First UMC am 7 pm dcom Interviews at Gainesville First UMC 9

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