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General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
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Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
January 2002 |
Summer camp advanced schedule available
The advanced provisional summer camp schedule is available for download at www.sicumc.org/gocamp/ .
North Annual Conference call for local choirs
A call is going out to all local church choirs and choir directors to participate in two mass choir opportunities for the 2002 Annual conference held at the Elliot Hall of Music, Purdue University. The first opportunity will be Thursday evening, May 30, when the North Indiana Annual Conference will honor retiring pastors and remembering those clergy and spouses who have died this past year.
The second opportunity to participate in a mass choir is the Friday evening ordination service. This is an opportunity to show your support to all of the men and women who are dedicating their lives to serve in the local churches.
The choirs will rehearse both days at 3 p.m.
Those choirs, individuals, and directors interested in participating should contact Chuck Scott at 6004 Reed Road, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46835; 219/485-9681.
Seeking musicians and singers for NIC praise band and vocal team
The North Indiana Conference Session Committee is looking for vocalists and instrumentalists to comprise the praise band and vocal team during the Annual Session. Those interested may submit a pre-audition cassette tape (vocal or instrumental), consisting of two contrasting styles, one slow and one fast. Final auditions will be held at Fort Wayne's St. Joseph UMC. All rehearsals will be held in Ft. Wayne.
Send pre-audition tapes to Chuck Scott at St. Joseph UMC, 6004 Reed Road, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46835. For more information, Chuck Scott at 219/485-9681 or 219/704-4035.
South Conference Historian of the Year nominations
The Commission on Archives and History of the South Indiana Conference is seeking nominations for the Historian of the Year award, which will be presented to a local church historian at the annual conference in June. Nominations should be made to the archivist, Wesley Wilson, at: Archives and Special Collections, Roy O. West Library, DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. 46135.
Nominations must be received by Feb. 1. Nominations may be made by the Area Archives, the local church, self-nomination, another local church or church historian, a district superintendent, or other United Methodist church member who has knowledge of the work of the nominee. The selection committee may conduct interviews and site visits at their discretion.
The award consists of a plaque given to the Historian of the Year and a monetary prize to the local church of the winning candidate.
Hunger No More: Decisions 2002
In 2002, U.S. welfare programs will be reauthorized and the government will make decisions about nutrition programs that will affect hungry people for years to come. These study materials help Christians understand how we can move closer to Revelation 7:16, "They shall hunger no more." These biblical stories and sayings provide a balanced, fact-and-faith-based survey of the pros and cons of vital hunger policies. They include a six-session leader's guide for adults and youth; puzzles, games and activities for children through sixth grade; and fact sheets that can be used as handouts, in bulletins or in newsletters. One complete packet is free; additional packets are $5 each. May be ordered from the General Board of Global Ministries Service Center at 800/305-9857.
New Ministerial Education Fund bulletin inserts
Finances are a constant challenge for today's hopeful seminarians, young in years and young in spirit. The rising costs of education -- even in the spiritual world of theological training -- have far outpaced efforts to generate funds. Many seminary graduates enter the ordained ministry $10,000-$20,000 in debt. These bulletin inserts highlight individual fund apportionment success stories. They celebrate the connection between local church and the Ministerial Education Fund. Order item #842768 at 888/862-3242, or visit www.umc.org/benevol/ .
Web site for church musicians
Cokesbury has launched a web site to help church musicians and congregations learn more about The Faith We Sing, a collection of songs for congregational singing. The web site, www.thefaithwesing.com , provides information and music samples, as well as materials for those wishing to plan their own local or regional workshop around the music.
Steps Toward Wholeness: Learning and Repentance
This 36-page guide is intended to help United Methodist congregations prepare for "acts of repentance for racism" and aid in pan-Methodist conversations on union. The guide was prepared by the UM Commission on Christian Unite and Interreligious Concerns. United Methodists are encouraged to invite members of the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and Christian Methodist Episcopal churches to join them in the six-session study.
A free copy of the guide has been provided to each UM charge. Additional copies can be purchased for $2 each (up to 20 copies) plus postage and handling or $1.50 each for 21 or more copies from the UM Board of Global Ministries Service Center, 800/305-9857. Ask for item 2995.
Human Relations Day: Jan. 20
The UM Book of Discipline says "Human Relations Day shall be observed with an offering, preferably on the Sunday before the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. . Human Relations Day calls the Church to recognize the right of all God's children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other. The purpose of the day is to further the development of better human relations." Contact your conference office for resources.
Churches Uniting in Christ
Jan. 20 will be the inauguration day for Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) to be held in Memphis, Tenn. After 40 years of study and prayer through the UM Consultation on Church Union (COCU), nine churches agreed to stop "consulting" and start living their unity.
The CUIC member churches are: Episcopal, Christian Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, African Methodist Episcopal, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, International Council of Community Churches and the United Methodist Church.
Each communion will retain its own individuality, but each also will pledge to draw closer in sacred things, including regular sharing of Holy Communion and common mission, especially a mission to combat racism together. Each church will also commit to undertaking intensive dialogue toward the day when clergy are authorized to serve and lead worship, when invited, in each of the communions.
For more information visit www.cuicinfo.org or contact Mim Porterfield at 317/549-2209.
Alpha Conference training
St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis will host a two-day Alpha training conference Jan. 17-18. Alpha is an opportunity to explore the validity and relevance of the Christian faith for today. It is a practical introduction to the basics of Christianity with opportunity for debate and discussion. The style of Alpha is informal, friendly and non-pressured.
Alpha is appreciated as much by those who have never set foot in a church as it is by those who once attended and by the regular churchgoer. More information on this non-threatening evangelism tool is available at www.alphausa.org .
Anti-Gambling Sunday
Feb. 3 is Anti-Gambling Sunday. Resources are available to help churches observe this special day. Call Daniel Eckart at 219/722-4375 for information.
Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship
The Judith L. Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship provides a full year of mentoring and on-the-job religion communications training within the United Methodist connection. The goal of the fellowship is to prepare the recipient for a communications career within The United Methodist Church in the United States.
The fellowship is awarded to one recent college graduate each year. The recipient will spend Aug. 1, 2002-July 31, 2003, as part of the communications team in an Annual Conference office and will receive a salary and benefits. The fellowship is sponsored by United Methodist Communications. The deadline for applying is March 15. For information call 888/2778-4862 or e-mail rem@umcom.umc.org . Information is available on the Web at crt.umc.org/rem.
Small grants for local congregations
The Small Grants Program of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations is designed to help give congregations the finances to find and use the best resources available for addressing their challenges and opportunities. Grants awarded from the center can be used for resources ranging from print and digital media to consulting services, educational programs and workshops. The program is open to any congregation in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan and Shelby counties. Applications are accepted only from a local congregation and must be signed by the senior clergy leader and the chair of the congregations' chief governing board or council.
For more information, contact the center at 317/237-7799, e-mail info@conterforcongregations.org or visit their Web site, www.centerforcongregations.org .
Last updated on January 14, 2004