Northwest District Office The United Methodist Church 1022B - Second Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31901 Phone 706-561-4541 James R. King, Jr. Bishop Edwin M. (Buddy) Cooper, Jr. Superintendent Volume 1 November 2014 Number 5 RSVP: gailgrantham@aol.com 706-561-4541 Northwest District Ministers Christmas Celebration December 11, 2014 6:00 pm St. Mark United Methodist Church Please make reservations by calling Gail Grantham at 706-561-4541 or e-mailing gailgrantham@aol.com Leadership Team Meeting November 13, 2014 6:30 p.m. (meal) - 8:00 p.m. Americus First United Methodist Church Americus, Georgia Ministry Facilitators: Robert Beckum, Clergy Ministries/SPRC Chris Tyra, Trustee Ministries Mark Renner, Finance Ministries Lynn Meadows-White, Disciple Plan Ministries Mary Claire Reeves, Evangelism Ministries Sue Cheney, Mission Ministries Robert Anderson, Laity Ministries Connie Haugabook, Children s Ministries Gary Turner, Youth Ministries Becky Britton, Women s Ministries Kenny Thompson, Men s Ministries Leadership Team Members Cluster Elders: Howard White, Cluster 1 Billy Kimbrel, Cluster 2 Wes Jones, Cluster 3 John Walker, Cluster 4 Stan Littleton, Cluster 5 Sharon Loyley, Devoted Dozen Rich Wright, Fall Line Reggie Williams, Cluster 8 The Methodist Home Our House at Carpenter s Way & Arabella Our House Give Thanks Luncheon Wednesday November 5, 2014, 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. St. Luke Ministry Center Barbara Dooley, Keynote Speaker For more information and cost contact: Julia Plonk, Special Events Manager, 478-751-2898, julia.plonk@themethodisthome.org
Page 2 November 2014 The Northwest District Website The Northwest District has launched a new district website. The domain name is www.northwestumcdistrict.org. You are invited to visit the website for district news, the district calendar, charge conference dates and the new Discipleship Form. Reminder... New Discipleship Form Due 5 th of Each Month In previous years, each district had an evangelism form and clergy were required to complete this form as instructed by their district office. As we move through transition, all six districts collaborated to develop a form that included the 20.1.5 discipleship reporting and evangelism information. This new form is known as the Discipleship Form. All clergy under appointment are now required to complete a Discipleship Form each month. Here are some important details: To complete the Discipleship Form go to your district website. Instructions for completing the Discipleship Form have been sent to each minister. The Discipleship Form is due on the 5 th of each month. Your first reporting month was September 2014 which was to be complete by October 5. You will not need a username or password to complete the Discipleship Form. For questions, please contact your district office. 2014 CHARGE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE NOVEMBER 2-East Highland-9:00 a.m. 2-Upatoi/Box Springs-11:00 a.m. 2-Woodland Charge-3:00 p.m. 2-Midland-5:00 p.m. 4-South Columbus-6:00 p.m. 5-Epworth-6:30 p.m. 9-Cuthbert-9:00 a.m. 9-Shellman-11:00 a.m. 9-Lumpkin/Georgetown Charge-3:00 p.m. 10-Rose Hill-5:30 12-St. Paul-6:30 p.m. 16-Stephens Chapel-9:00 a.m. 16-Richland-11:00 a.m. 16-Mt. Olive-3:00 p.m. 16-Asbury-5:00 p.m. 17-Bethel/Walkers Chapel-.6:30 p.m. 19-St. Luke-7:00 p.m. 20-Bronwood/Smithville-7:00 p.m. 30-The Ridge-10:30 a.m. Give a verbal Minister s Report, verbal Lay Report, and Verbal setting of the clergy salary. All other reports can be handed in Agenda Forms Convene Call to Order Charge Conference Minutes Hymn (optional) Pastor's Report Business Narrative/Membership Pastor's Report/Celebration Deacon or Diaconal Reports Review of Membership Data Committee on Lay Leadership Committee on Lay Leadership Lay Speaker Lay Speakers Candidacy Candidates (New or Continued) Other items Requiring a Vote Compensation Forms (worksheet and final report*) Setting Clergy Salary Housing Allowance Resolution* Account Reimbursement Accountable Reimbursement* Housing Resolution Retirees and Extension Clergy Reports Insurance Coverage Financial Report Devotional Dr. Cooper ( Knowing and Growing ) Trustees Report Adjournment with Prayer Parsonage Review Continuing Education Report Higher Education Peace By The River December 26, 2014 - January 1, 2015 A post-holiday retreat for pastors. No clock. No agenda. Just rest and relaxation at beautiful Epworth By The Sea. Special rate for pastors. Please call or email Alice Norris for more info and to make a reservation: 912-638-8688 or anorris@epworthbythesea.org.
November 2014 Page 3 Northwest District Cares and Concerns Our sympathy to Paul Best on the deaths of his sister, Aggie Reed, sister-in-law Audrey Best, and brother, David L. Best in Iowa. Our sympathy to Ruth and Rich Wright on the death of Ruth s father, Ralph Robinson, on October 25, 2014. The funeral was at Vance-Brooks Funeral Home on Thursday, October 30, at 11 am, with committal in Parkhill Cemetery on Macon Road. Please keep in your prayers: Jane Kimbrel, Annual Conference Worship Chair, Director of Music Ministries at Perry UMC and wife of Rev. Billy Kimbrel, will have surgery on Tuesday, November 4, at Archbold Hospital in Thomasville. Webinars The Connectional Webinar Series is the newest opportunity in training using enhanced technology through the Office of Connectional Ministries. You can enter this virtual, informative, educational, interactive experience from your home or office! All you need is a computer and the Internet. For more information or if you have an idea for a webinar contact Allison Lindsey at allison@sgaumc.com. Please note: Registration will close the day before the webinar. If it is the day of one of the webinars and you would like the information to join the webinar, please email allison@sgaumc.com. Come Away... A Time to Find Comfort, A Time to Find Joy A Three Day Retreat for Mothers Who Have Lost Children November 7-9, 2014 Epworth By The Sea Details: www.epworthbythesea.org or call 912-638-8688 UM Mission Agency To Open 3 Global Offices with HQ In Atlanta Within two years, the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries will permanently vacate its longtime headquarters at the Interchurch Center in New York and move south to Atlanta. That decision was approved in a closed session October 3. The Board of Global Ministries expects to purchase and renovate the large Grace United Methodist Church complex on Ponce de Leon Avenue for its Atlanta headquarters, with the congregation continuing to worship there. In a new configuration for the agency, staff will be assigned to three new regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America. ave the Date! S 2015 Open Door Classic Walk and 5k Run Saturday, March 7, 2015 Conference Center Task Force Receives Challenge Gift To Raise $330k In Six Weeks The South Georgia Conferences Conference Center Task Force has received a challenge gift of $100,000. The gift, which is contingent upon the Conference raising $330,000 by Dec. 15, 2014, will help fund the Conference s planned 8,000 square foot Conference Center. With just six weeks to raise $330,000, Conference Center Task Force chairman Dr. Hal Brady urges all South Georgia United Methodists take part in the campaign. To date, nearly $1.3 million in cash and pledges has been collected. This is a wonderful opportunity to join together to make this a reality, he said. We need the help of all the Annual Conference to meet this initial goal. Before beginning construction, the Conference Center Task Force plans to raise the $433,000 construction costs and then ask the Conference for permission to borrow the remaining $500,000. The loan would be repaid with the $52,650 currently being spent each year in rent for the Episcopal and Administrative Services offices. For the South Georgia Conference to have a home we are asking that individuals throughout South Georgia join us in digging deeper to raise $330,000 by December 15, 2014, Dr. Brady said. Thank you and may God bless our efforts. Visitwww.sgaumc.org/newconferencecenter for more information, floor plans, answers to frequently asked questions, and more. To make a contribution, make checks payable to South Georgia Conference Center and mail to Miriam Hagan, Director of Administrative Services, PO Box 13145, Macon, GA 31208, Macon, GA 31208
Page 4 November 2014 Epworth By The Sea Winter Camp Meeting February 8-11, 2015 The Bishop's Hour: Bishop James R. King, Jr. Guest Preacher: Dr. Buddy Cooper Bible Study Teachers: Dr. Rick Lanford, Dr. Nita Crump and Rev. Chris Ramsey Online Registration is available for this event. Theme: The Teaching Star Slogan: Know & Grow Scripture Lesson: Acts 2:42 Translation: Revised English Bible WHAT THEY DID They met constantly to hear the apostles teach to share the common life to break bread and to pray. WHAT HAPPENED Acts 2:43-47 A sense of awe was felt by everyone, All the believers agreed to hold everything in common One and all they kept up their daily attendance at the Temple breaking bread in their homes, they shared their meals with unaffected joy they praised God and enjoyed the favor of the whole people. WHAT RESULTED Day by day the Lord added new converts to their number Sermon Series HOW ARE KNOWING AND GROWING CONNECTED? Sermon One Do We Know? What We Know for Sure? Sermon Two Do We Know? Who shares the Common Life with Us? Sermon Three Do We Know? What the Rules Are for Being at Table with Others? Sermon Four Do We Know? What Prayer and Praising God Have to Do with Our Growing? Sermon Five Do We Know? What Prayer and Praising God Have to Do with Our Growing? Sermon Six Will We Grow? Do Our Hearts Long for Jesus to Add to Us Daily?
November 2014 Page 5 NEW! East meets West... Confirmation Retreats This year, the South Georgia Conference will be offering two Confirmation retreats on either side of the conference to allow for more participants to be involved. Registration (open in January) for each retreat will be separate and churches may choose one event to participate in. WEST February 20-21, 2015 St. Mark United Methodist Church Columbus, GA EAST March 13-15, 2015 Epworth By The Sea St. Simons Island, GA Designed for students in the fifth grade and above, the Join the Journey Confirmation Retreat will provide churches of all sizes an opportunity to connect with others through worship, study, and fellowship. The event will also include large group gatherings around the church seasons and breakout sessions with topics of grace, United Methodist History and United Methodist lingo as well as a "Holy Club" highlight. Not meant to be the only confirmation youth go through, the Confirmation Retreat should be complimentary to what a church is or will be doing. For more information, please call 888-266-7642 or email Suzanne (suzanne@sgaumc.com) or Allison (allison@sgaumc.com). Daylight Saving Time 2014 Ends November 2 Set your clock back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night Thanksgiving Holiday Office Closing The Northwest District Office will be closed Friday, November 21 until Monday, December 1 for Thanksgiving. In case of an emergency, if you are unable to reach the district superintendent, please call Gail Grantham. She will usually be able to give you the information you need or put you in touch with the district superintendent