August 30, 2007

Central E-Link

Weekly Newsletter of the Central Texas Conference

Welcome! This is the conference’s weekly update to church leaders — lay and clergy. Articles/requests should be submitted to Carolyn@ctcumc.org by 12 noon Wednesday in order to be e-mailed on Thursday. Articles should be brief and include active links to websites or contact persons for details. Use this information for announcements, in church newsletters and/or bulletins. The E-Link and the Central Link newspaper are posted on the conference website at www.ctxumc.org. Read them online or download and copy to share with others. To add a colleague or church member to E-Link’s weekly distribution, send their addresses to susan@ctcumc.org.

— Editor: Carolyn Stephens Carolyn@ctcumc.org

Near-Time Items

[New and/or changed information is printed in blue.]

Special Notice: Response to the Fall Leadership Summit, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8, at Central UMC, Waco, has been swift and gratifying. Unfortunately, space limitations necessitate this event be capped at 500 participants. As of today, registration is at 455. For those who want to attend but have not yet sent in their registration, it is suggested you check on space availability with Susan Briles at 817-877-5222 or susan@ctcumc.org. Due to the holiday weekend, we ask that you call after Monday.

Volunteer Opportunity in Eastland — The Eastland long-term recovery committee seeks volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 8, to help assess the community’s needs after devastating floods earlier this summer. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. for training and will then go out to neighborhoods in Eastland and Lake Leon to talk with homeowners about their continuing home repair needs. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Bryan Patrick at FUMC Eastland: 254-629-1022 or jbpatrick97@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for answering this call to serve!

Ken Medema In Concert — Ken Medema will appear in concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at Aledo UMC. Ken is a nationally known singer and songwriter with gifts that must be seen and heard to believe. He is blind and yet his sight limitations have not kept him from thrilling audiences across the country. He will bring his fresh rythmns, his amazing voice, and his warm witness to all who come to listen...ice cream and a chance to meet Ken Medema and purchases CDs of his music will follow. For further information call us at 817-441-8329.

Heritage Homecoming Celebration at Austin Avenue — Austin Avenue UMC, Waco, extends an invitation to their Heritage Homecoming Celebration Sunday, Sept. 9. Worship begins at 10:50 a.m. followed by the celebration party at 11:50 a.m. Come celebrate Austin Avenue’s heritage, visit with old friends, and discover new friends.

Fall fund raising event listing — Local churches and other ministry groups are invited to send information for the listing of their fall fund raising events. This listing will appear ONE TIME ONLY in the Central Link conference newspaper and then placed on the conference website so that interested persons might visit other churches in their area. The deadline for submitting information is Sept. 7 for publishing in the Sept. 21 issue. Information should include:

• name of church and the event

• day(s) and times of operation

• special activities, features — especially anything out of the ordinary

• food service, entertainment, etc.

• auctions/times

Send information to Carolyn@ctcumc.org or snail mail to Carolyn Stephens, 464 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth 76107 by Sept. 7. As of Wednesday, the following churches have submitted their information:

• Dawson • Taylor • Troy

• Ovilla • Good Shepherd

• Alliance • Lorena

• China Spring • Venus

• Kennedale • Watauga

Christian education/Celebrate the Return — The Conference Nurture Council reminds congregations that Sunday, Sept. 9, is Christian Education Sunday. On that day, all CTC churches are asked to emphasize Sunday school by “Celebrating the Return.” Ideas and resources can be found on the conference website (www.ctcumc.org - click icon on the front page). Please remember to take an offering to support the Christian education ministries of the conference and remit it to the conference treasurer for account 403-010-6.

News

General Conference petitions lost through e-mail

General Conference petitions sent via e-mail before noon Friday, July 27, need to be resubmitted due to technical problems, according to officials with the 2008 General Conference. The petitions were not delivered because of problems with the e-mail address petitions@umpublishing.org. Petitions submitted by U.S. mail to the petitions secretary, as well as petitions submitted through the General Conference website, are not affected, however. “I have been assured that the e-mail address is now functioning properly, and I regret the inconvenience that this situation has caused,” said Rev. Fitzgerald Reist, secretary of General Conference. For future submission, anyone who does not receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of a petition within three weeks should contact the office of Rev. Gary Graves, petitions secretary, at 270-274-4590.

Oct. 26 is the deadline for organizations, clergy members, and lay members of the UMC to submit a petition to the denomination’s top legislative body. The worldwide UM gathering will be April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth. Detailed instructions for submitting petitions are available online at http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2336161/k.1E1C/General_Conference_2008.htm.

Rio Vista celebrates 100 years

Rio Vista UMC celebrates it 100^th anniversary Sept. 16 with a special worship service at 11 a.m. titled “Celebrating Our Past, Creating Our Future.” Weatherford District Superintendent Jay Beavers will preach and special presentations will be made by former pastor Wade Killough and performance by the Kopperl UMC Choir. For more details, visit http://www.gbgm-umc.org/riovistaumc.

Flood Buckets needed
The UMCOR Sager Brown Depot has nearly depleted its supply of flood buckets in the wake of response efforts in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma storm emergencies. The flooding in those areas severely taxed flood bucket stores and it is of serious concern, especially when the Atlantic hurricane season is still uncertain. For Kathy Kraiza, executive director, the empty racks in the Baldwin, La., depot are a "good news, bad news" situation. "The good news is that we have sent over 3,800 flood buckets to Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma—over half the stock in the warehouse," she said. "But that means we have fewer than 3,000 flood buckets in stock, and we’re only halfway through the 2007 hurricane season."

Increasing the stock of flood buckets is the most recent emergency at the Depot as Midwest communities continue the clean-up process. UMCOR seeks help from UM churches and individuals to shore up response supplies. A list of the contents can be found in the Relief Supply section of www.umcor.org, or gifts of $45 can be made toward the purchase of these items. Checks can be mailed to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write "Material Resources, Advance #901440" on the check memo line and mail to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068.

Events-Opportunities

Happily Ever After … Or Until the 1st Fight

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m., St. John the Apostle UMC (5450 Mansfield Rd. near Green Oaks & South Cooper) will host a 5-week relationship study entitled “Happily Ever After...Or Until the 1st Fight.” This workshop addresses the issues of conflict in relationships. It presents conflict as a normal and healthy part of relationships, explaining how conflict develops. It explores the many faces that conflict takes, offering tips for using conflict to strengthen the relationship rather than creating distance in it. The study, led by senior pastor Steve Langford, is open to all who are interested in building healthier relationships in any area of life. For more information, call 817-468-8484, visit www.stjohntheapostle.org or e-mail Bridget Klug at churchoffice@stjohntheapostle.org.

Two workshops sponsored by Central Texas Methodist Foundation
Date: Saturday, Sept. 22
Location: FUMC Early (1073 Early Blvd. – Hwy 67, Early 76803)
Register for one or both of these workshops: Call 800.333.4096 or email kathy@ctmf.org by Tuesday, Sept. 18

How to Start and Grow a Permanent Endowment Fund Workshop
Saturday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to noon
Be prepared to lead your church through the four simple steps to start and grow a permanent endowment. This is the fastest growing source of income for beautifying, maintaining, and expanding church properties.

Teaching the Good $ense Budget Course in Your Church
Saturday. Sept. 22, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
A review of the course will be offered to lay persons and clergy who are interested in teaching the course in their church. Good $ense is a widely acclaimed course on personal financial management based on Biblical principles. Course participants learn the tools of being a diligent earner, a generous giver, a wise save, a cautious debtor, and a prudent consumer. A fee of $15 is charged to cover the cost of the workbook.

Pastors and Staff Involved in Marriage Ministry

Are you looking for a more intensive and far-reaching program to educate couples in your church who are preparing to marry? Are you concerned that your church is not providing couples with the skills necessary to meet the challenges of marriage? Bethany UMC (10010 Anderson Mill Rd., Austin 78750) is hosting an “Engaged Encounter United Methodist Experience” on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. An Engaged Encounter Experience is a somewhat compressed Engaged Encounter Weekend where a pastor couple and two lay couples lead the group in exploring all areas of their future married lives. This is the first time an Engaged Encounter will be presented in the Austin area. The cost per couple will be $225. For more information and registration, contact Larry Russell at 512-331-7331 or at Larryrussell@Juno.com or visit the Engaged Encounter website at www.encounter.org.

Austin Area Marriage Encounter Weekend

The Fall Austin Marriage Encounter-United Methodist Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 12-14 in Austin. This weekend is a 44-hour experience in deepening communication for married couples. Marriage Encounter-United Methodist is affiliated with the UMC’s General Board of Discipleship. This is a program where couples spend a weekend in a hotel away from the distractions of home, job, children and other activities and experience rediscovering each other. The program is designed to help couples with good marriages make them into great marriages! The weekend will be held at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel at North IH 35 and Hwy 183 in north Austin. It begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, and concludes about 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. For more information contact Carl & Jan Dodd at 512-468-0691 or at Carl-Dodd@People-Velocity.com. Pastors, please note that attendance at a Marriage Encounter Weekend gets you 1.5 CEU’s from the General Board of Discipleship.

Divorce Recovery Group Begins at First UMC, Grapevine
Divorce is one of the most painful and stressful experiences many people ever encounter. It can be a confusing time of isolation filled with questions and relational, spiritual, financial and emotional challenges. DivorceCare groups meet weekly to help divorced persons face these challenges and move toward rebuilding a life.
Each DivorceCare session has two distinct elements. One, a seminar with experts: During the first 30ˆ40 minutes of the meeting, each DivorceCare group watches a video seminar featuring top experts http://www.divorcecare.com/about/experts/ on divorce and recovery subjects <http://www.divorcecare.com/about/topics/> . These videos are produced in an interesting-to-watch television magazine format featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies and on-location video. Secondly, each session contains a support group with a different focus each week. After viewing the video, DivorceCare participants spend time as a support group, discussing what was presented in that week’s video seminar and what is going on in the lives of group members.

A new DivorceCare group will be meeting at First UMC Grapevine (422 Church Street, one block west of Main St. in historic downtown Grapevine) on Tuesday evenings, Sept. 18 – Dec.18, from 7 to 9 p.m. each week. The group will be facilitated by Diane Dangelmaier. The cost for workbook is $25 per person. Childcare will be provided. To register, contact Katherine Hunter (katherineh@fumcg.org or 817-481-2559 x122). Questions about DivorceCare? Contact Rick Mang (rickm@fumcg.org or 817-481-2559 x114). For more information about the ministries of First Grapevine, visit www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org or call the church office at 817-481-2559.

GoodNEWS Lay Health Promoter Training/ Health Ministry Development Course

You are invited to participate in The GoodNEWS (Genes, Nutrition, Exercise, Wellness and Spiritual Growth) Lifestyle Enhancement Program. The program is sponsored by the Central Texas Conference Health and Welfare Committee and the UT Southwestern Medical Center Division of Community Medicine. This unique Lay Health Promoter and Health Ministry Development training program teaches the basic principles of healthy living. It is being offered to congregations in the Weatherford, Waxahachie and Brownwood districts Nov. 2-4 at the Glen Rose Retreat Center, and is free of charge to UM congregations. If you are in the Fort Worth or Mid-Cities districts and missed this training opportunity when we were in your area, you are eligible to sign up for the program at this time. Churches interested in establishing or expanding health ministries in their congregations will select up to two persons interested in being trained as GoodNEWS Lay Health Promoters. These individuals do not have to be health care providers. The registration deadline is Sept. 15, 2007. For registration information, please contact: Coordinator J.R. Newton at 214-648-5762 or johnrice.newton@utsouthwestern.edu.

Mark Winter speaker at Gorman UMC

Mark Winter is coming to Gorman First UMC in October & December – All are invited to hear Mark Winter as guest speaker for a 3-day revival Oct. 21-23. On Sunday Dec. 2, he’ll present “Simeon's Dream.” For more details, contact Sharon Bell at grandmabell627@msn.com or 254/734-6475.

Credo Russian quartet to perform at First UMC, Arlington

CREDO (meaning: creed), a Russian Quartet, will be presenting a concert featuring sacred and folk music in the sanctuary of First UMC, Arlington at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. Free admission. There will a love offering to help with the group's travel expenses. A donation of $10 per person is suggested.

Trinity hosts Divorce Recovery Seminar
Trinity UMC (3321 W. Park Row, Arlington 76013) will host a Divorce Recovery Workshop aimed at relational life healing, presented by Licensed Professional Counselor Marty Jeane, PhD. Sponsored by Trinity Singles Connection, this weekend program is for anyone who feels unfinished with the divorce experience, whether just separated, recently divorced or divorced for years. The seminar will begin on Friday evening, Sept. 21, and continue during the day on Saturday, Sept. 22. The $15 fee includes workshop materials, refreshments and a box lunch on Saturday. For more information, contact Cheryl Seese: 817-253-2911, cherylseese@sbcglobal.net or Michael Anderson: 817-313-9931, mpacpatx@yahoo.com.

Save Jan. 22-23, 2008 for Clergy Time Apart

Brochures for the 2008 Clergy Time Apart Jan. 22-23, 2008 at Summers Mill will be available on the conference website by mid-September. Registration will begin with that posting. John Killinger returns in 2008 as the keynote speaker. The cost is $135 for a single room; $100 for a double; and $70 for commuter — all rates inclusive of meals. Credit cards cannot be accepted for registration, and a 24-hour cancellation policy will be instituted.

Big Daddy & the Butter Biscuits entertain at La Trinidad

Mark Sept. 15 on your calendar for Royce Cooper's Big Daddy & the Butter Biscuits concert at La Trinidad UMC in North Fort Worth (1300 Gould Ave., Fort Worth 76164). This event benefits the Cielito Lindo Children's Project outreach to at-risk youth in Northside Fort Worth. Contact: Dan Flores and Thelma Flores at 817-624-3242.

A Major National Event: GBCS hosts “Living Faith, Seeking Justice”

The General Board of Church and Society will host "Living Faith, Seeking Justice" Nov. 1-4 in Fort Worth, This event provides an opportunity to learn about mobilizing others to engage in advocacy and the work that transforms the world for Christ. The workshops offered will touch on issues such as:

• Gender Justice: Outreach to sex trade workers, AIDS and reducing violence. Learn how this model for mentors and peer companions can work in your congregation.

• Congregational Advocacy for Reproductive Health: Care for the body is central to our faith. Learn how congregations are educating communities in prevention and supporting responsible reproductive health care.

• Understanding Human Sexuality: What Can a Local Church Do? Learn how some congregations are promoting an inclusive vision of human sexuality for the common good.

For more details, visit GBCS at www.umc-bgcs.org or call 202-488-5600.

First Grapevine to host Thelma Wells at Women’s Event
Women of all ages are invited to attend “The Well” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at First UMC Grapevine (422 Church St., one block west of Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine). Thelma Wells will be the guest speaker. With upbeat, joyous enthusiasm, popular author, speaker and businesswoman Thelma Wells offers information, motivation, inspiration and encouragement to help people throughout the world “BEE” their best. She is the author of several books and is one of the featured speakers with Women of Faith ministry. She will be speaking at “The Well on the Women of the Bible” and how their story impacts the stories of women today. Tickets to this event are $15 and include a catered dinner, musical entertainment and the program by Thelma Wells. Advanced ticket purchase is required. Tickets are available online at www.firstmethodistgrapevine.org or by contacting the church office at 817-481-2559.

Renewing Hope Through Mission

“Hearts and Minds for Mission” will be presented at 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 13 at First UMC, Richardson. This is a program to help prepare Christians for ministry in a global context. The workshops will include Isaiah’s Hope for the Nations (Dr. Rich Nelson), The Wesleyan Witness in Mission, Self-Care for Volunteers in Mission (Dr. Jeannie Stevenson-Moessner), Renewing the Local Congregation Through Mission (Dr. Robert Hunt), and New Testament Visions of Mission of Hope (Dr. Robert Hunt). For more details, contact Robert Hunt at 214-768-1374 or globaltheology@smu.edu.

Maximizing DISCIPLE in Your Church

A Workshop for DISCIPLE Facilitators by Bishop Richard Wilke, author of DISCIPLE, and Lisa Buffum, DISCIPLE facilitator. Discuss the Disciple program at your church with other participants and learn ways to use Disciple to perpetuate a movement! Enroll in this workshop to be held September 10-28, 2007! Materials need to be mailed, so enroll as early as possible.
                Worship Space 101: Designing and Renovating a House for the Church
Are you ready to update your worship space? Would you like to explore how to use the space you have? This online workshop for clergy or laity with Daniel Benedict will be held Sept. 24 to Nov. 10,.
                Becoming Perfect: Wesley's Understanding of Christian Perfection
In this workshop led by Dr. Martha Myre, participants will explore in depth Wesley's writings about Christian perfection, and how this doctrine can revitalize their own faith journey. The workshop will begin Sept. 3.
                CEUs are available for all IFD workshops. Visit www.BeADisciple.com for more information or to enroll in a workshop!

Bus to Singles Retreat at Mount Sequoyah
“Sequoyah Singles 2007 - Navigating the Single Life,” a retreat for singles in the South Central Jurisdiction, will be held Nov. 2-4 at Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center in Fayetteville, AK . The retreat features keynote speaker Ed Kilbourne and special musical guests "Sounds of Victory." UMC Singles - Tarrant Area is taking a comfortable, full-sized charter bus to Mount Sequoyah for the retreat. On the ride, there will be fellowship with other area singles, see the Ozarks at the height of fall color, and arrive rested and refreshed at the retreat and back home. The fee for the bus ride is $50, due Sept. 1.

Learn more about the retreat at www.sequoyahsingles.org. To receive a .PDF file flyer with details on the bus trip, email Singles@ctcumc.org, or for more information call Ellen Bauman: 817-564-5595.

UM: A Black Church Consultation

“United Methodists: A Black Church Consultation” is a project of the Urban Ministries Committee of the Conference Outreach Mission Council. The program, which will be held Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at St. Andrews UMC (522 Missouri, Fort Worth 76104), will be a time of celebration through worship and dialogue with seven distinguished leaders in ministry including Dr. James Hal Cone, the Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary. The target audience for this event is clergy, laity, seminary students, professors, African-Americans and other church leaders seeking to discern the calling of God for these times for the Black UMC. For more details and a registration form, visit the conference website www.ctcumc.org and click on “Black Church Consultation.”

Texas floods — Urgent need for volunteers!

Volunteers are still urgently needed to help with flood recovery efforts — particularly in the Eastland area. Teams will be needed for some time to help with rebuilding in communities such as Eastland, Gainesville (North Texas Conference) and Marble Falls (Southwest Texas Conference). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jennifer Coggins, director of humanitarian services, at jennifer@ctcumc.org, 817-877-5222 or 800-460-8622.

2008 New Church Start – East Mansfield

Want a hard job? Want a challenge? Would you like being a pastor with no money, no members, no land, no building but a great future and great possibilities? Does the possibility of being a founding pastor and helping set the DNA of a new church in the conference appeal to you? Can you relate to people who are not currently active in any church and to people who don’t have a church home? Do you have a passion for reaching new people for Christ?

Pastors, if this job description appeals to you, s, end your application to allen@ctcumc.org. Applications should state in no more than one page why you would like to be considered by Bishop Chamness, Cabinet and Church Growth & Development to start a new church in East Mansfield in June of 2008. Got questions? E-mail Allen Goss at allen@ctcumc.org or send snail mail to Allen @ 464 Bailey, Fort Worth 76107. Applications must be received before Oct. 1, 2007. Existing churches that feel called to help sponsor the new church start in East Mansfield in June of 2008 may also send applications to allen@ctcumc.org. Applications must be received before Oct. 1.

Items of interest from the Board of Ordained Ministry

The Board voted in February to change the deadlines for Spring Interview paperwork to the following:
• Annual deadline for BOM to send out interview materials — Sept. 1 postmark
• Annual deadline to submit interview materials — Jan. 15 postmark
Application form to request an interview is available on the Board’s website, www.ctcbom.org, under the Policies and Forms and Candidacy Information links.

Seeking Peace and Pursing Justice
A Mission/Study Trip for Adults to Israel and Palestine
February 3-15, 2008
This trip, coordinated by the General Board of Global Ministries, is an opportunity for UMs to engage in mission study and justice advocacy in a “land longing to be holy.” Team participants will hear from multiple voices in the Holy Land, engage in mission work as well as do planning and training on issues of mission, advocacy and education. The process will promote respect for the human dignity of every person as a child of God, emphasizing that upholding human rights and international law are key components for a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel. Cost is approximately $1000 plus airfare from the US to Tel Aviv. For more information, contact Dawne McAlpin at dawne@actonumc.org who will be participating in the trip.

Resources

Study of Ordained Ministry report available online

The report on the Commission on the Study of Ordained Ministry to General Conference is now available on the GBHEM web site. Visit www.gbhem.org; click on ministry; click on enter; click on study on ministry to read the report.

Charge Conference Forms and the Stewardship books
The new Charge Conference forms AND the Stewardship books are on the conference website www.ctcumc.org. For the Charge Conference forms, remember, some MUST be submitted online. (The most direct way to get to the forms is to type in www.ctcumc.org/ccforms.) As of Aug. 13, the new Stewardship Books for 2008 are also available online. You can go to the conference website and navigate to stewardship books, or a more direct way is to type in www.ctcumc.org/districtstewards. You then may print out the number of copies you need for your church. Another great advantage of having this on the website is that if you find you need another copy later in the year, you can simply retrieve one online.

Conference Resource Center

New resources highlighted at the Conference Resource Center this week are described below. There are always new resources; check them out! For these and many more resources, contact Carol Roszell at 817-877-5222 or 800-460-8622.

Lead Like Jesus. In Jesus we have a practical and effective leadership model for all organizations, relationships, and situations. Jesus has asked us to make a difference in the world we live in by being effective servant leaders. This study is designed to be the beginning of a new exciting chapter in your group members personal journeys to becoming effective servant leaders. 8 sessions. DVD and leader’s guide.

GBOD Review: Worship in Small Membership Churches

By Robin Knowles Wallace and Terry R. Heck

http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=416212&ep_id=1500

http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45191

Lyle Schaller, author and consultant, wrote in the 8-3-07 issue of Newscope that in 2004 there were 169 UMC congregations (0.5% of the total number of UMC congregations) reporting an average attendance of 1,000 or more, and there were 10,976 UMC congregations (32.2% of the total UMC congregations) reporting an average attendance of fewer than 35. This is a book written for those nearly 11,000 small-membership congregations as well as for the thousands of larger small membership churches. The authors believe that small-membership churches are the perfect size for a variety of worship experiences, that each congregation has gifts for worship, and that small membership churches can meet and deal with any challenges that come their way. They make these points while providing a wealth of information and suggestions in many different areas relating to worship, preaching, and music. In this small 80-page book they discuss every topic for church operations. Though intended for small-membership churches, there is much in this small volume to commend itself to churches of all sizes. This book will help your congregation to achieve the primary goal of worship – to bring the people into the presence of God among the people of God. Robin Knowles Wallace is professor of Worship and Music at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. For more information on this book, or to order, visit http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=416212&ep_id=1500.

Nothing But Nets T-shirts available

Cokesbury Bookstore is supporting the Nothing But Nets campaign by offering T-shirts for sale. The entire $20 goes to the purchase of a mosquito net for a family. Please stop by the store and learn more about how you can help save lives.

Jurisdictional Retreat Center opportunities

For the latest program opportunities at Mount Sequoyah, our South Central Jurisdiction retreat center, check out their current newsletter posted on their website at www.mountsequoyah.org.

Depression: Support your own support group

Depression Connection Team now has 11 groups spread out across Tarrant County. By calling Depression Connection at 817-810-9599, people may be referred to an appropriate group. If your church would like to

sponsor a support group, contact Ed Jones at the same number or email depressionconnection@ce-corp.net.

Calendar

Aging in the 21^st Century & Beyond - SCJ Leadership Training — Sept. 3-5 at Mount Sequoyah Conference & Retreat Center, Fayetteville, Ark. (www.mountsequoyah.org or 800-760-8126)

Fall Leadership Summit — Saturday, Sept. 8, at Central UMC, Waco (Contact: Susan@ctcumc.org)

Dick Ramsey’s Financial Peace University — Alliance UMC hosts 13-week video curriculum on Mondays Sept. 10-Dec. 3. (contact: Sandi Mitchell at sandimetchell@sbcglobal.net or 817-281-3741)

Creative Worship and Design Matters Workshops by Midnight Oil Productions — Community of Hope UMC hosts Creative Worship on Sept. 17 and Design Matters on Sept. 18. (http://www.midnightoilproductions.com/seminar/mansfield.php

UMW College Women Retreat — Sept. 21-23 at Camp Hoblitzelle (near Midlothian)

Divorce Recovery Seminar — Sept. 22 at Trinity UMC, Arlington (contact: Cheryl Seese: 817-253-2911, cherylseese@sbcglobal.net or Michael Anderson: 817-313-9931, mpacpatx@yahoo.com)

3^rd Annual National Congregational Health Ministries Conference — Sept. 23-26 at Wichita, KS

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/events/conferences or jftruitt@comcast.net)

Special Pre-GC08 Training for Pastors — Oct. 9 at First UMC, Arlington and Oct. 10 at Cogdell UMC, Waco (contact: susan@ctcumc.org)

Equipping Church Members for Pastoral Care Conference — October date at King’s Daughters Hospital – Harris Community Center in Belton (contact: Vic Killian at 254-771-8699

Globalization: The Challenge of Global Community — Oct. 14-19 at New York City www.primetimers.info)

Senior Adult Retreat — Session 1 – Oct. 15-18 and Session 2 – Oct. 22-25 at Mount Sequoyah Conference & Retreat Center, Fayetteville, Ark. (www.mountsequoyah.org or 800-760-8126)

Thanksliving Offering for “World Hunger/Poverty” — any Sunday in November

Living Faith, Seeking Justice — Nov. 1-4 at Fort Worth (contact: mharrison@umc-gbcs.org

Navigating the Single Life retreat for singles — Nov. 2-4 at Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Ark. (www.sequoyahsingles.org)

Conference Marriage Retreat — Jan. 18-20, 2008 at Glen Lake Camp (contact: Karen Granderson at

817-877-5222)

CTC UMC Men’s Fishers of Men Retreat — Feb. 1-2 at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center

Needs, Resources, Opportunities

NOTE TO LISTERS: Please contact Carolyn Stephens at Carolyn@ctcumc.org to pull your listing when your opening has been filled.

Trinity Bible Study Material

Austin Avenue UMC needs to find copies of the “Trinity Bible Study” by Frank Warden. If you have any materials related to the 10 courses of the study that you would donate or sell, please contact Don Scott at donfscott@sbcglobal.net or you may call 254-754-4685.

Permanent, Part-Time Childcare Worders

First UMC Bedford seek two permanent part-time childcare workers for the church nursery on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday mornings and evenings, and other occasions as needed. Ages of children range from birth to age 5 on Sunday mornings and up to 5th grade at all other times. Applicant must have

experience and/or training in childcare, preferably with child and infant CPR/First Aid certification. Must be able to nurture children and their parents in a loving manner, as well as be able to work with church volunteers. Caregiver will also be expected to maintain the cleanliness of the nursery facility. To apply or for more information, please contact Laura Roberts, director of Children's Ministries at 817-283-5536, or email lroberts@fumcbedford.com.

P-T Music Director/Pianist
Part-time music director/pianist needed for Church of the Good Shepherd UMC in Arlington. Candidate must be able to direct and accompany choir. Responsible for music selection and leading worship for two services on Sunday mornings. Good sight-reading skills are a plus. Please submit a resume to jonathangeer@sbcglobal.net.

Director of Youth/Young Adult Ministry

Ridgecrest UMC in the 30,000-population Ridgecrest, Calif. community, seeks candidates for director of youth and young adult ministry. Ridgecrest has been in ministry for over half a century in the Indian Wells Valley and is located at the gateway to the rich recreational opportunities of the Hwy. 178 corridor, which stretches from Lake Isabella all the way to Death Valley. It is also home to the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, a unique facility for military research and development. For more details on this position, contact the pastor, Rich LaShure at 760-375-7434, umcrc@verizon.net or visit the website at http://umcrc.us/.

CTC Executive Assistant

The conference director of Stewardship, Finance & Administration seeks applicants to the position of executive assistant. Along with the standard administrative assistant skills, applicants must have exceptional technology skills in Microsoft Office with a working knowledge of database concepts and Access software capabilities; exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multi-task projects; and attention to details. Publishing software experience would be a plus. Resumes will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 31. Contact: Harvey Ozmer, 464 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth 76107, Harvey@ctcumc.org or 817-877-5222.

CTC Executive Secretary

The conference Church Growth and Development Office seeks applicants for executive secretary. The primary role of the executive secretary is to help fulfill the CG&D mission of Church Growth “to grow and develop churches that offer Christ, make disciples and transform the world.” This is a professional position demanding the highest ideals of Christian character, behavior and standards. The highest level of confidentiality and hospitality are expected and required. Duties and responsibilities:

1) Maintain a professional office, general secretarial task including filing, response to telephone calls and emails.

2) Computer skills that include use of, but not limited to, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, website care and maintenance, email, calendar coordination and related programs.

3) Must be team player and able to attend district events.

4) Work with CG&D director on sale of church properties and keep accurate financial records.

5) Receiving and depositing funds from Shareholders and compiling financial statements for commission meetings.

6) Serve as secretary for commission and committee meetings, record minutes of meetings, prepare materials and send notices.

7) Secretarial duties for director of CG&D and missionary for Hispanic Ministries

Persons may obtain a full position description by contacting director of Church Growth, Allen Goss, at 817-877-5222 or allen@ctcumc.org. Resumes accepted through Friday, Aug. 31.

Director of Music

Lakeside UMC, a beautiful new church on the south side of the Richland-Chambers Reservoir, (about 30 miles south of Corsicana) seeks a qualified, forward-thinking, flexible, part-time (approximately 6-8 hours per week) Director of Music to grow and direct our adult choir. Applicants will need to demonstrate a commitment to Christ, knowledge of the flow of a properly conducted worship service, knowledge of both traditional and contemporary music, and a theology compatible with the UMC. Applications or inquiries may be submitted to lakeside_umc@yahoo.com <http://us.f332.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=lakeside_umc@yahoo.com> or by calling Sandra Hippman at 903-599-3040.

Director of Development

The UM Communications Foundation seeks applicants for director of development in Nashville.

External Posting: August 13 – Sept. 7

Closing: Sept. 7

All resumes must be post marked by the closing date.

Any interested applicants should apply to the Human Resources Office, P. O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37203 • 615-742-5137 • fax resumes to 615-742-5428.

Christmas Cantata for Children’s Choir

Laura Hudson, Children’s Choir director at First UMC in Hamilton seeks a Christmas Cantata for their Children’s Choir. If you have one that your choir enjoyed performing and can either loan or donate it to First Hamilton, please contact laura@htcomp.net.

Full-time Director of Youth Ministry
Acton UMC (1,900 members, Granbury area 30 miles southwest of Fort Worth) is currently seeking God's person to give leadership to the ministry to junior and senior high youth and their families. Applicants must have theology compatible with UMC doctrine. Great staff to work with, great separate youth facility, vibrant ministry opportunity. Salary negotiable and competitive. Contact church@actonumc.org or 817.326.4242.

Pianist for Worship
Two Fort Worth area congregations need a pianist to help lead worship through music. Worship services are 9 to 10 a.m. at Bethel UMC and 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at Wesley UMC. There is one choir practice per week except in summer. Needed is an energetic, self-motivated, talented musician to play for worship and help the choir learn music. Please call Patti Waser at 817-246-1242 or 817-313-1021.

Youth Director

Western Hills UMC, Fort Worth seeks part time (10 – 15 hours a week) youth director. This position will be supported by a church that provides a healthy atmosphere for young people to grow spiritually and to have a safe and fun place to gather. This location gives provides an opportunity to minister to a multi- cultural community. If you feel that this might be your calling, please email pastor@westernhillsumc.org or call Landy Senter at 817-244-1153.

Part-Time Assistant Children's Director

First UMC Hurst seeks an energetic, creative person who is passionate about ministry with children and families to fill the part-time position of assistant children's director (20-25 hours/week). Good communication and organizational skills are important as this position involves working with children, parents, and volunteers, along with/for the children's minister in an established children's program of over 400 families. Primary responsibilities would be leading preschool children's worship, working with younger children's Sunday school classes and teachers, family ministry activities, along with other projects that involve children and families. For more information, contact Holly Dittrich (formerly Holly Brothers), minister to children and their families, at 817-428-9301, ext. 27 or hdittrich@fumchurst.org.

Full-Time Director of Student Ministries

Stephenville First UMC seeks a spiritually grounded, energetic, personable self-starter with experience in building a strong, dynamic youth ministry. This church of 1250+ members is located in a college town 60 miles SW of the Metroplex, and has a youth program that is ripe for growth. Contact the Search Team at fumc@our-town.com. Salary negotiable and competitive.

Coordinator of Children & Youth Ministry

Aldersgate UMC Arlington has established this new position to better serve their neighbors by rejuvenating their children and youth ministry. The largely Hispanic neighborhood is filled with children of all ages who need direction and encouragement to become part of the church. Building on successful outreach programs such as HOPE after school tutoring and English as a Second Language classes, Aldersgate will now focus on door-to-door recruitment of children and youth in the immediate East Arlington area. This staff leader, under the direction of the senior pastor, will help develop the plan, implement the program and be responsible to carry out the mission. Interested applicants should be a committed Christian, innovative and energetic, and be sensitive to the impact of change on a mature congregation that has responded to this call to mission. Spanish and English fluency is required, as well as a background check. Present funding supports a part-time position (about 20 hrs/week). Contact Pat Reddy, ereddy@sbcglobal.net for an application form and job description.

P-T Music Director/Pianist

Part-time music director/pianist needed for The Church of the Good Shepherd UMC in Arlington. Candidate must be able to direct and accompany choir. Responsible for music selection and leading worship for two services on Sunday mornings. Good sight reading skills are a plus. Please submit a resume to jonathangeer@sbcglobal.net <http://us.f309.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jonathangeer@sbcglobal.net>.

P-T Director of Student Ministries
St. Andrew’s UMC Arlington seeks a qualified person to guide, grow, and nurture their youth program. This is a part-time position, 12-15 hours per week. St. Andrew’s UMC is a multi-ethnic congregation located in South Arlington. Applicants should be comfortable working in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural setting. For questions or to submit resumes, please contact Richard Reed at richard@sa-umc.org or 817-465-3043.

Youth Director

First UMC, Corsicana seeks a full time youth director. Applicants will need to demonstrate a commitment to Christ, a passion for youth ministry, and a theology compatible with the UMC. Experience in providing a dynamic youth ministry is required. Housing is provided as a part of the compensation package. Resumes or inquiries may be submitted to mikea@fumccorsicana.org or by calling Mike Alexander at 903-874-5656.

P-T Youth Director

Eastland First UMC seek a part time Youth Director. Eastland is located 1 hour from Weatherford and 1 hour from Abilene on I20. The congregation is committed to youth ministry and a great deal of potential exists in

building the program. Salary and travel allowance are negotiable. For more information please contact the church office at 254-629-1022 or jbpatrick97@hotmail.com.

Choir Director

Silver Creek UMC seeks a part-time choir director with skills in leadership and team-building. Individuals interested in leading a growing program within a quickly-changing ministry should submit resumes to jason@silvercreekumc.org. Candidates should be available for long-term employment and be willing to adapt and grow with an expanding church.

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