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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
September 2001 |
Creative possibilities for UM secretaries
The Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS) is sponsoring "In His Image," a seminar encouraging UM secretaries to explore their creative possibilities and identify where God is calling them into action for their church. This one-day seminar will take place at St. Luke's UMC in Kokomo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13. The seminar is open to secretaries from the North and South Indiana Conferences as well as to any woman who would like to explore her talents for ministry. The seminar will be facilitated by Becca Briscoe and Donna Arnold. Cost is $25, which includes all materials and lunch. Call Linda Fight at 219/262-9341 for information or send e-mail to vendikay@aol.com.
'Cultivating Christian Community' resource available
"Cultivating Christian Community," a 112-page book that identifies specific practices that help cultivate Christian community in small groups, has been published by Discipleship Resources, a publishing arm of the General Board of Discipleship. In the book, author Thomas R. Hawkins identifies six qualities of Christian community and offers small-group leaders help as they incorporate these qualities into the life of groups in their congregations. The book is available for $15.95 from Discipleship Resources, 800/685-4370 or on the Internet from www.discipleshipresources.org. It is also available from Cokesbury, 800/672-1789.
15-year loans available to local churches
The United Methodist Development Fund, administered by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, is once again accepting applications for building loans for churches. Loans for new construction will receive the highest priority, followed by loans for remodeling and loans for parsonages. More information is available by calling 212/870-3865.
Book on 'Prayer of Jabez'
During a time of heightened interest in prayer, a United Methodist pastor is recommending a deeper look at the Covenant Prayer made popular by Methodism's founder, John Wesley. In a new book to be released by Paraclete Press, the Rev. Keith Beasley-Topliffe demonstrates how simple, familiar prayers can be a doorway to deeper prayer and transformation. In "Surrendering to God: Living the Covenant Prayer," Beasley-Topliffe shares his own experience of praying and meditating on the classic prayer found today in the United Methodist Hymnal (Page 607) and other worship resources. The book provides a brief history of the prayer and a meditation on each phrase. "Surrendering to God" will be available Sept. 15 from Cokesbury, 800/672-1789.
Bill McKibben headlines 2001 'Whose Birthday is it, Anyway?'
Noted speaker and writer Bill McKibben has written seven biblical reflections for the 2001 edition of "Whose Birthday is it, Anyway?" Designed for individuals, families and small groups, the booklet also includes worshipful ceremonies, activities, an Advent calendar and suggestions for remembering the needy. For over 10 years, "Alternatives for Simple Living" has provided people with ideas to celebrate responsibly in this Advent-Christmas resource. "Whose Birthday is it, Anyway?" is available in quantity pricing as low as 70 cents per copy. A single copy is $3 postpaid. Alternatives provides other resources appropriate for reevaluation of Christmas and for simpler living all year. For a free catalog, call 712/274-8875 or 800/821-6153, fax 712/274-1402 or send e-mail to alternatives@simpleliving.org or visit www.simpleliving.org.
UM Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries
In the fall of 2000, the Discipleship Ministries Unit of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church established the Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries. The center's mission is to provide quality resources and valuable training support to help equip leaders (both lay and clergy) in their ministry of faith development with midlife and older adults. The center provides and participates in workshops, seminars and classes for annual conferences, districts, church clusters and local churches. The center also helps facilitate networking opportunities for conference, district and local church coordinators of older adult ministries and chaplains and staff from facilities, boards and agencies involved in older ministries. For information about available resources, contact Richard H. Gentzler Jr., Director, Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, Tenn. 37203; 877/899-2780, Ext. 7173; fax 615/340-7071; rgentzler@gbod.org.
UM guild forms for Web ministries
Clergy and laity involved in designing or maintaining a United Methodist church, district or conference Web site are invited to join the United Methodist Web Ministries Guild, a new ministry designed to offer technical and spiritual support to those actively involved in Internet ministries.
The guild is looking for volunteers to help it through its formative stage. It is also forming an e-mail discussion group and technical forum to help United Methodist Web ministers share information.
Search the Bible online
The National Council of Churches USA has added a feature to its Web site that allows users to search the entire New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. It is located on the "search" page of the organization's site, www.ncccusa.org. The search engine will find every occurrence of a word or phrase and will produce a list of commentary backgrounds on the passages and show them in context. Users can also use the site to compare the NRSV's working with any of 20-plus other translations. The new search feature is the result of a partnership with crosswalk.com, which is providing the search engine free of charge.
Radio spots available
SHINE!, the latest set of radio spots from United Methodist Communications, is being shipped to 13,000 U.S. radio stations. The spots are being sent on one disc, including 30-second and 10-second versions for all formats. The spots are biblical encouragements to "shine" set to melodies and spoken messages. The spots will only be effective if communicators call stations and encourage them to use the spots; in fact, many stations will not use the spots unless someone calls them. Extra copies are also available for communicators to distribute to stations in their area. Contact Lynne DeMichele, Indiana Area director of communications, for information: 317/924-1321 or send e-mail to Indiana Area Communications.
Executive Search Underway
The board of directors of the South Indiana Foundation announced the initiation of an executive search. United Methodists with professional experience in planned giving, donor development and marketing are invited to submit resumes to: Search Committee, 4000 E. Southport Rd., Suite 250, Indianapolis, Ind. 46237-3229 or send e-mail to patrice@sifumci.org.
New resources on Native American Heritage
The Native American Communication Office, a unit of United Methodist Communications, has produced a "Sharing the Heritage Kit" that contains facts about native people, booklets, cassettes, videos, computer diskettes and other information and materials.
Dancing With a Brave Spirit: Telling the Truth About Native America, is one of the kit's offerings. This publication seeks to clarify many of the widely held myths and beliefs about native people. It includes three sections: questions and answers about native people; native people and United Methodism; and a directory of organizations working with native people.
Another resource in the kit, Seeing Through Native Eyes, was developed to provide culturally relevant tools for Vacation Bible School among Indian people. This is a study of native cultures and includes illustrations designed to strengthen and illustrate Christian beliefs.
A Native American Hymn Preservation program is another on-going effort to document native culture, heritage and songs. Tribal hymns are being digitally recorded to preserve them for future generations. The communications office has recorded hymns from Montana, Alaska, and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. A compact disc featuring hymns recorded live at the 2001 session of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary and representing 11 tribes will be available in October.
Some of the resources in the Heritage Kit also may be found on the Native American Communications Office Web site: www.naco.umcom.org.
For more information about Native American resources send e-mail to naco@umcom.org or call 615/742-5414.
Last updated on 01/14/2004