Gainesville District Newsletter June Matthew 28:19-20

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1 Gainesville District Newsletter June 2015 Matthew 28:19-20 The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, has been a familiar verse in the church. These words should always be the central reason for every church to be in existence. The reality of many churches is that is far too easy to get caught up in all of the stuff that is always out there. Maintenance becomes a priority. The existing congregation becomes the focus. Fund raising to maintain existing ministry and the facilities takes an enormous amount of energy and time. The matters of faith and spirituality are pushed aside just because these other things take precedence. It is imperative that we as a church don t let this become the case here. In my former church one Sunday, I challenged the folks attending the morning service. I asked them this question, do you think that there is a day that goes by that you do not have contact with someone, a family member, neighbor, or acquaintance, that does not have a church that they attend regularly? They all answered, no. It is always good to ask questions to which you already know an answer. All of us know someone who does not attend church regularly. Each of us should have a heart for these folks. If we truly believe these folks need to know Jesus and need to have a place to have their faith nurtured and fed, then it is our responsibility to invite them to join us in our church fellowship. I challenged those there in the congregation of my former church to seek out those without a church home and invite them. And now, I am challenging the rest of you. The words from this scripture should create a burning in our hearts for those who are lost. We don t have to do this alone. Verse 20 tells us that Jesus will always be with us. The Holy Spirit will lead us to say and do the right things and the Holy Spirit will light the fire in their hearts. Right now is the time to carry out the words of the Great Commission. Too often we try to postpone things during the summer months until things get cranked up again in the fall. June is a great time for new beginnings. May we all have the opportunity to celebrate new beginnings with new friends who join with us in the faith journey. Blessings, Richard 1

2 June Richard Pletsch 2 Richard Hunter 4 Katie Strals 6 Jerome Hamm 9 Richard Puckett 10 Jeremy Lawson 14 Hoyt Allen 17 Dale Dean 20 Ted Keen 24 Phil Williams 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 Annual Conference 2015 June Classic Center, Athens, GA The main business item for the Annual Conference session will be electing delegates to the 2016 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. Handheld electronic voting devices will be used to aid in the elections process. Though typically three-days, the conference has been extended to four days to allow for the voting process. Members of the Annual Conference will elect 11 clergy and 11 lay delegates to the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. An additional 11 lay and 11 clergy delegates will be elected to serve as North Georgia's Jurisdictional Conference delegation. The Conference will also elect several reserve delegates. The Annual Conference Special Offering, also called the Bishop's Appeal, will go toward Imagine No Malaria. (The fund number for the offering collected at Conference is Fund 1500.) Fundraising at churches and districts began immediately after Annual Conference 2014 in June and will continue through Annual Conference. Delegates should be sure to pack their running shoes. Proceeds from the Annual Conference 5K will go to Imagine No Malaria. 2

3 Gainesville District Night at Mossy Creek Campmeeting, Tuesday, July 28th at 8 pm. Our D.S., Rev. Richard Chewning will be preaching. Everyone in the District is invited. Sponsored by host churches Trinity and Mossy Creek. For more information contact Don Landen at or John Moore at

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6 Lay Servant Ministries Gainesville District Director: Don Gregg C or H Lay Servants partner with clergy to extend Christ s message in the church and community through leadership in small groups, stewardship, evangelism, worship, etc. In order to take an Advanced course, you must have completed the Lay Servant Basic course. The Advanced courses listed below are approved as 2 of the 6 required courses for those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Speaker. It is also recommended for Certified Lay Servants as a broadening experience enabling you to better understand your Christian commitment to God s commission, Go ye and to present the Gospel through your life and your service. Advanced Course Leading in Prayer Instructor: Rev. Dr. David Bowen Senior Pastor, Commerce 1st UMC For many people, prayer remains a mystery, and praying in public is a test of faith left to the professionals of the church. This course will help you grow in confidence and skill in prayer, both public and private. Advanced Course Leading Worship Instructor: Chris Austin NG Conference Certified LSM Instructor, Lula UMC This course focuses on the ministry of the Lay Servant who leads a group or congregation in worship. It is also beneficial to anyone desiring greater understanding of the worship process and thereby deriving a fuller appreciation of closeness to God during the worship process. Lay Servant Basic Course (Local Church Lay Servant Certification) Instructor: Rev. Paul Garner, Pastor, Bethlehem UMC, Buford, GA This is the foundation course for all Lay Servant Ministries courses. It offers guidelines for best practices in mission and ministry in the church, community and daily life. This includes discussion of the early Methodist movement, the role of laity and spiritual gifts. The Book of Discipline strongly recommends this course for the local church Lay Leader. Gainesville 1st UMC Saturdays, August 22 & 29 August 9am to 3pm (lunch served) Rev. Dr. Terry Walton - Pastor 2780 Thompson Bridge Road Gainesville, GA REGISTRATION - $40.00 Registration Fee (Mark course) Leading in Prayer Worship Basic Saturdays, August 22 & 29, am - 3pm (lunch served) Gainesville 1st UMC 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA Register ASAP, but not later than Aug 7, 2015! (Advanced classes usually fill within less than 2 weeks of announcement) Name Address/City/Zip: Home Church: Phone: District: Make check/money order payable to: Gainesville District Office Mail to: Don Gregg, P.O. Box 64, Young Harris, GA

7 Lay Servant Ministries Gainesville District Director: Don Gregg C or H Lay Servants partner with clergy to extend Christ s message in the church and community through leadership in small groups, stewardship, evangelism and worship, etc. In order to take an Advanced Course, you must have completed the Lay Servant Basic course. The Advanced courses listed below are approved as 2 of the 6 Lay Speaker courses required for those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Speaker. These courses are also approved for regular Certified Lay Servant status. These courses are solid education for a fuller Christian life experience for all Lay Servants. Advanced Course Method of Our Mission (UMC Polity) Instructor: Janet Sligar North Georgia Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries Why does the UMC do things the way it does? And what does any of this have to do with trying to be a place and a people that embody the Kingdom of God? This course will help you get your bearings and consider the specific structural challenges that face the UMC today and in the future. Advanced Course Living Our Methodist Beliefs (UMC Heritage) Instructor: Mary Williams Atlanta-Roswell (AROS) District Director of Lay Servant Ministries This course explores the relationship of doctrine to the misssional movement of Methodism and its theological influence on the practical structure and discipline of early Methodists; learn about the formation of Methodist denominations as an important part of the history of the United Methodist Church; and explore the Wesleyan understanding of grace, the means of grace, and how practicing the spiritual disciplines leads to holiness of heart and life. Gainesville 1st UMC Saturdays, Oct 24 & 31, 2015 (9am-3pm, lunch served) Rev. Dr. Terry Walton 2780 Thompson Bridge Road Gainesville, GA REGISTRATION - $40.00 Registration Fee Method of Our Mission (UMC Polity) Living Our Methodist Beliefs (UMC Heritage) Saturdays, October 24 & 31, 2015 (9am 3pm, lunch served) Gainesville 1st UMC 2780 Thompson Bridge Road Gainesville, GA Register ASAP, but not later than October 9, 2015! (Advanced classes usually fill within less than 2 weeks of announcement) Name Address/City/Zip: Home Church: Phone: District: Make check/money order payable to: Gainesville District Office Mail to: Don Gregg, P.O. Box 64, Young Harris, GA

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