Transcript

THE STARKVILLE DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Your Connection to the Starkville District of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church

Friday I October 21, 2016

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CONFERENCE MISSION SHARESWe are so excited to announce that the followingchurches have made significant contributions to thework of the Mississippi Conference and the UnitedMethodist Church around the world through theirMission Fair Shares offerings through Sept. 30, 2016.

100% PAID• Sturgis• St. Peter• Shuqualak• Macedonia• Longview• Military• Bethel• South Union• Mt. Hermon• Piney Grove• Cooksville• McAdams• Tabernacle• Ethel• Center Ridge• Rocky Hill• Weir• Bellefontaine• Mt. Lebanon• Bevil Hill• Macon: St. Paul • Vernon• Noxapater• Dumas Chapel• St. Stephen (WebsterCir)• LaGrange• Salem (Weir-Salem)

ON TARGET 75.0%+ • Drake Hill• Crawford• Caledonia

• Flint Hill• Cedar Bluff• Siloam• Columbus: ShaeffersChapel• Columbus: St. James• Columbus: St. Stephen• Columbus: New Hope• Eupora: First• Eupora: Liberty• Marvin Chapel• Pierce Chapel• Kosciusko: First• Kosciusko: Wesley• Adaton• Louisville: Hopewell• Louisville: MapleSprings• Salem (Sallis)• Mt. Moriah (Macon)• Middleton• Mt. Pisgah• Jones Chapel• Plair• Rock Hill• Palestine• Starkville: Aldersgate• New Zion• Big Creek• Mathiston• Mt. Salem (Weir Circuit)• West Point: First• Flower Ridge

7 Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know thetimes or seasons that the Father has set by hisown authority. 8 Rather, you will receive powerwhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you, andyou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in allJudea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Acts 1:7-8

It is a Glory Sighting to announce that 64.0 per-cent of the 103 churches of the Starkville Districtare “on target” of paying at least 66.6 percent ofthe District Mission shares through August 21,2016. And, if that was not enough encourage-ment, I can share that 60.2 percent of the church-es have paid 100 percent of the District Missionshares through the same day! Thank you forfaithful work and ministry that allows us to con-tinue to bear witness throughout the District,Mississippi, to our neighbors both near andaround the world of the POWER of We!

– Dr. Embra JacksonStarkville District Superintendent

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Students at Wesley Wednesday at the Mississippi University for Women’sWesley Foundation. (Photo submitted)

Wesley Foundations play animportant role in college lifeBy Gwen Sisson

College is an incredibly formative timein the life of a student and WesleyFoundations play a vital role in campuslife.

Hugh Griffith, director of the WesleyFoundation at Mississippi StateUniversity, said college students aregoing to grow and develop in some way-- positively or negatively -- during theircollege experience, so it is urgent andcrucial that students grow and develop ingood and godly ways.

“College students are ‘good soil,’ toborrow the image from Jesus' parable in

Matthew 13,” Griffith said. “There'surgency in the fact not only good seedgrows in good soil, but whatever isplanted in good soil will grow and bearfruit, whether the fruit is desirable ornot. Wesley Foundation sows goodseed--Kingdom seed--Gospel seed-- inthe good soil of college students.”

Gail Griffith, Wesley Foundationdirector at the Mississippi University forWomen (and Hugh’s sister) said collegestudents are making huge decisions thatcould and will effect the rest of theirlives.

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Make plans to

attend organ

clinic and recital Join First United Methodist Church of

Starkville for a special two-day organclinic and recital set for Oct. 29-30.

"Sound Choices for the Organist" willbe a clinic with internationally recog-nized church and theater organist, DanMiller, for church organists and music

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OCTOBER 22• Starkville District Annual UMW Meeting will be heldat Columbus First UMC at 9 a.m. • Calling all youth to a Youth Fall Fling on October 22at St Stephen UMC at 800 Tuscaloosa Rd (across fromDollar General) in Columbus, from 4-8 p.m., with musicby AWOL. An offering will be taken for the band. Food,drinks, and hay ride will be part of the fun! Youth of allages are invited to come and enjoy good entertain-ment and music.

NOVEMBER 5• Starkville District UMW Officers’ Training/UpdateTBANOVEMBER 12 | DEC. 3 • The financial leadership training provides counseland guidance to strengthen the administrative andfinancial abilities of the local church treasurer, financialsecretary, finance committee members and churchbusiness administrators.

CALENDAR

CHURCH OF THE WEEK

Cedar Bluff UMCABOUT THE PASTOR

NAME: Raleigh RichterCHURCH: Cedar Bluff UMC (Rev. Richter alsoserves Siloam UMC in West Point)CHURCH ADDRESS/TOWN: Hwy. 50, CedarBluffPASTOR'S BIRTHDAY: May 8PASTOR'S HOMETOWN: Maben, but original-ly from KentuckySPOUSE’S NAME: ShirleyWHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE CHURCH

YOUR ARE SERVING? What I like about thesechurches is their willingness to try new things, their willingness tominister and be a witness, and their willingness to come together invarious ways such as a monthly fellowship meal and bible study.

ABOUT THE CHURCH:NAME OF THE CHURCH: Cedar Bluff UMCADDRESS/TOWN OF THE CHURCH: Hwy. 50 in Cedar BluffHOW MANY YEARS HAS THIS CHURCH BEEN WORSHIPING GOD

TOGETHER? Established in 1860HOW MANY IN REGULAR ATTENDANCE? 25WHAT MINISTRIES IS THIS CHURCH KNOWN FOR? Cedar BluffUMC is known for ministries of compassion, such as the SpringFish Fry, Summer Vacation Bible School, Fall Harvest Festival,Christmas Fruit Baskets and Christmas Choir Musical.

Rev. Raleigh Richter

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CONNECTIONSRESIDENT BISHOP:

Dr. James E. Swanson, [email protected]

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:Rev. Embra Jackson

[email protected]

ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT:

Tammy [email protected]

COMMUNICATIONSASSISTANT:Gwen Sisson

[email protected]

DISTRICT HEALTH COORDINATOR:Carolyn Jackson

[email protected]

LAY ACADEMY DEAN:Rev. Sarah [email protected]

Find us on TWITTER @StarkvilleUMC

Find the FACEBOOK group at

www.facebook.com/Groups/

StarkvilleDistrictUMC/

The Starkville District goalfor the Africa Universityendowment is to raise

$130,000 over a three-yearperiod. We have receivedpledges of $36,820, with

$25,289.39 collected to date.Pledges from the StarkvilleDistrict will go to create ascholarship in honor of

Rev. Byrd and Sarah Hillman.Churches are encouraged topledge a minimum of $1,200.

Make your pledge TODAY!Contact the District Office for

more information at(662) 323-0198.

BACK TO SCHOOL

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St. James UMC in Columbus held a special BACK TO SCHOOL EXTRAVAGAN-ZA in August in support of school children and teachers. (Photos submitted)

directors. Dan will cover a variety of topics including:• Explore creative organ stop and ensemble selectionsfor any worship style;• Learn solutions for record/playback;• Discover useful repertoire including free internetdownloads;• Make me sound good!• Free organ music by Dan Miller will be given to eachparticipant.

There is NO charge for this event, set for Oct. 29 from10 a.m. until noon

On Sunday, October 30 at 5 p.m., the "InauguralOrgan Recital" will be presented by Dan Miller on thechurch's new Rodgers Infinity Series Model 361MV dig-ital organ. Dan Miller is an internationally recognizedorganist, clinician, composer and arranger, specializingin repertoire for classical and theater organ as well asorgan music for the church. An offering will be receivedwith all proceeds going to the organ fund of SFUMC.

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4CHARGE CONFERENCE DATESAPPOINTMENT COUNTY PASTOR DATE TIME CC ELDERAckerman: Mt. Hermon Choctaw Ronald Jefferson 10/24/16 6 PM Jake Adams-WilsonBrooksville Circuit Noxubee Aubrey Mitchell 11/7/16 6 PM Embra JacksonCaladonia-Flint Hill: Lowndes Mark McNair 10/27/16 6 PM Mark McNairColumbus First Lowndes Raigan Miskelly 11/18/16 6 PM Raigan MiskellyColumbus: Covenant Lowndes Gene Bramlett 10/23/16 In Worship Embra JacksonColumbus: New Hope-Wesley Lowndes Sarah Windham 10/24/16 6 PM Embra JacksonColumbus: St. Stephen Lowndes James Black, Jr. 11/3/16 6 PM Curtis BrayEthel/Tabernacle Attala Gene Bright 10/27/16 6 PM Embra JacksonEupora: Bellefontaine Webster Roger Miller 11/6/16 In worship Embra JacksonEupora: First Webster Ron McDougald, III11/20/16 After Worship Embra Jackson

Eupora: Lebanon Webster Roger Miller 11/6/16 In Worship Embra JacksonKosciusko Circuit Attala Ronald Thomas 11/7/16 6 PM George BuellKosciusko: First Attala Scott Wright 11/6/16 In Worship Scott WrightKosciusko: Wesley Attala Clinton Gipson 11/1/16 6 PM Scott WrightLindsey Chapel/Plair Oktibbeha Jimmy Forrest 11/9 6 PM Embra JacksonLouisville: First Winston Mike Childs 11/1/16 6 PM Mike ChildsLouisville: Maple Springs-Piney Grove Winston David Malone 10/24/16 6 PM Mike ChildsLouisville: Whitehall Winston Jonathan Stokes 10/24/16 6 PM Giles LindleyMacon: First Noxubee Andy Pearson 11/6/16 After Worship Andy PearsonMacon: St. Paul Noxubee Demetric Darden 11/2/16 6:30 PM Hugh GriffithMathiston-Mt. Moriah Webster Jeep Pepper 10/24/16 6 PM Scott WrightNanih Waiya Winston Becky Smith 10/24/16 6 PM Stacy ParvinNoxubee Circuit Noxubee Rickey Lawson TBA 6 PM Embra JacksonShaeffer's Chapel Lowndes Curtis Bray 11/9/16 6 PM Curtis BrayStarkville: First Oktibbeha Giles Lindley 11/20/16 2 PM Giles LindleyStarkville: Aldersgate Oktibbeha Jamie Bailey 11/9/16 6 PM Jamie BaileyTibee: Jones Chapel Clay Robert Scott 10/27/16 6 PM Darian DuckworthWebster Circuit Webster Nelson Forrest 10/24/16 6 PM Ozell LandfairWest Point: Christ Clay Jeff Shannon 10/25/16 6 PM Embra Jackson

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We need photos ofyour church events!The Starkville Districtwould like to featureevents from every churchin each newsletter. Pleasesend us your events andannouncements to [email protected]. Thanks so much!

NEWSLETTER DEADLINESARE NOON EACH TUESDAY!

Consider sending groupphotos from your church

conference!

• IMAGINE NO MALARIA --The Mississippi Conference of theUnited Methodist Church isfocusing on Imagine No Malaria(INM), a mission to raise aware-ness and money to stop this pre-ventable and treatable disease.Bishop Swanson has set a goal forour conference to provide 100,000mosquito nets by AnnualConference next June.

For more information orresources, go to www.imagineno-malaria.org.

• IMAGINE NO MALARIACHALLENGE VIDEO --See the challenge videos on thefacebook group page or use thedropbox link for iPhone or iPad,you will need to use this link on aMac or PC to download files:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ltppq;fd135qbfu/AAD19wJhF4jFay6ZmkShDWUra/INM?dl+0.

“They are making career deci-sions, choosing lifetime friends,and, many times, deciding who tomarry,” Gail Griffith said. “Ofcourse, another decision is whatrole their faith will play in theirlife. It is important for a Christianpresence to be on the college cam-puses to support and encouragestudents and to disciple them intheir faith.”

Hugh Griffith said his personalmission for student ministry is dis-cipleship. Gail agrees. She said herpersonal mission is “to build rela-tionships with students and disci-ple them so they in turn can buildrelationships and disciple otherstudents.”

”The bottomline is discipleship,”Hugh Griffith said. “Starting wher-ever students are, we strive to helpthem grow in their knowing andtheir following of Jesus.”

This brother-sister team are pas-sionate and “on-fire” for collegestudents in Mississippi.

Hugh Griffith said the campusministry of Wesley Foundationsare an important ministry for theMethodist Church because “cam-pus ministry serves students whenthey are away from home and nolonger receiving the ministry of

their home church like they didduring their growing up days.”

“College students are searchingand they are moldable,” GailGriffith said. “If we don't reachthem while they are in college, wemight not have another chance.While our priority is that theyhave a relationship with JesusChrist, the United MethodistChurch must have a strong pres-ence on the college campuses orthere will be a negative impact onthe church.”

Starkville DistrictSuperintendent Rev. Dr. EmbraJackson said he is thrilled to havetwo Wesley Foundations in theStarkville District --one atMississippi State, and one at theMississippi University for Women.

“Both (Hugh and Gail) are gift-ed in regard to working with col-lege students,” Jackson said.“They have both helped guidestudents toward having a personalrelationship with God over manyyears. They have also helpedguide some of these studentstoward becoming ministers. Inaddition, the Wesley Foundationstudents are engaged in missionson a regular basis. We are indeedblessed by our WesleyFoundations.”

Wesley Foundations throughout

the state need new partnershipswith churches and individuals toprovide funding to sustain theministry they are doing and to sup-port them as they strive to reachmore students with more ministry.It's a little known statistic thatWesley Foundations are not fullyfunded by the Annual Conference.

“We're so grateful for the fundswe receive from the missionshares,” Hugh Griffith said. “AtMSU Wesley, the mission sharesaccount for just 28 percent of ourannual budget, leaving about$150,000 to be received fromFriends-of-Wesley who knowabout our ministry and believe inwhat we're doing. So if individu-als, churches, Sunday schoolclasses, circles or men's groups areinterested in supporting us, wewould love for you to become anew Friend-of-Wesley or aCampus-Church Partner!”

For more information about howyou can impact WesleyFoundations, go to www.mississip-pi-umc.org/higheredcampusmin-istry. For more information aboutMSU Wesley, contact HughGriffith [email protected] orMUW Wesley, contact GailGriffith at [email protected].

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