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EJ District Newsletter - July 2022

July 09 2022

For Immediate Release July 9, 2022

East Jackson Clergy in New Appointments

For this new appointment year, we welcome the following East Jackson clergy who are serving in new appointments in the district.

To view the full list of 2022-23 Appointments click here.

Christ UMC: Eddie Rester

Fannin UMC: Pete Herndon

Freeny UMC & Sebastopol UMC: Larry White

Greenwood Chapel UMC: Chris Cross

Greer Chapel UMC: Robert Cook

Mountain Ridge UMC: Haywood Hannah

Pelahatchie & Gulde UMC & Course of Study Director at Millsaps College Center for Ministry: Beth Miller

St. Matthew's UMC: Beth Feisel (Started Feb. 1st)

2022 Session of the Annual Conference

The 2022 Session of the Mississippi Annual Conference will begin Wednesday, July 13 and conclude Friday, July 15, and will be held at the BancorpSouth Arena located at 375 E. Main Street in Tupelo.

To view the agenda click here.

The Preconference Journal is on the Guidebook App and on the Conference website. If you have not downloaded the Guidebook App, follow this link to access the Preconference Journal https://guidebook.com/g/#/guides/szru0rtedghrgh1/lists/1000900

Pastors - please make sure your Lay Members to Annual Conference receive this information.

Since this year's session of the annual conference takes place after "Moving Day," normal travel expenses associated with clergy attendance will be the responsibility of the current church of appointment. For those unable to attend in person, you can watch the live stream on the conference website or Facebook page.

A Course of Study (COS) School Journey

Brian Johnston, Associate Pastor, St. Matthew's UMC

?The Course of Study (COS) School is a 20-course ministry education program dedicated to the formation of United Methodist local pastors. Brian Johnston is one our local pastors who recently finished this journey which lasted over five years! He completed the majority of his classes through Emory's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta (14 classes) followed by 3 online classes offered through the UMC's General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 2 classes at the Mississippi COS Extension, and one class at Duke University's COS school. Prior to Covid, he would travel on the weekends to Emory to complete classes.This process involved completing precourse work before attending the weekend sessions The weekend sessions would start at 11 a.m. on Friday and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday so pastors could be back at church on Sunday morning. Congratulations to Brian and all of our local pastors who commit to this rigorous journey of preparation for service and ministry.

Generosity Update

Wow! The amazing generosity of our churches continues to humble and inspire. At mid-year (June 30th), you had already paid 53% of annual district mission shares and over 46% of conference mission shares. Your gifts of time, talent and treasure help provide ministry opportunities and services more than you know. To see how your mission shares are at work in 2022 click here.

Clergy Save the Date: Tuesday, August 9th

East Jackson clergy and clergy families are invited for a fun movie night on Tuesday, August 9th. Mark your calendar and details will follow soon.

The Gathering Fall Tour Comes to Madison Aug. 21st

East Jackson District Youth and Youth Pastors! The Gathering Fall Tour kicks off Thursday, July 14, during the 2022 Mississippi Annual Conference. The event will be at the BancorpSouth Arena, 375 E. Main St. in Tupelo, and goes from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The 2nd stop on the fall tour will be Sunday, August 21st at Madison UMC, 100 Post Oak Road, Madison, MS from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit the Youth and Family Ministry tab on the Mississippi Annual Conference website https://www.mississippi-umc.org/thegathering

Ministry Opportunities

First UMC of Magee is seeking a part-time Music Minister to direct a weekly Sunday morning service and a weekly Wednesday night chancel choir rehearsal. Prior church-related music service is preferred. To view this opportunity and others click here. Please mail resumes to: FUMC, P O Box 661, Magee MS 39111 or E-mail to: firstumcmagee@bellsouth.net.

Reminder: Ukraine Assistance Opportunities

United Methodists and others wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.

Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:

Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450
By toll-free telephone: 888-252-6174
By check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #982450-Ukraine” written on the memo line, either mailed and addressed to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068 or given at or through any United Methodist church.

One hundred percent of all Advance contributions go to the designated cause.

The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.

Reminder about Leadership Training Videos

As church lay members (finance, trustees, S/PPRC, lay leaders, administrative/church council members, lay leadership/ nominations) lean into their work, we have training videos for you. These videos are helpful for both our new and continuing leaders to review. If you are reading this, please take responsibility to help ensure your church uses these resources. To view this playlist on YouTube click here.

Reminder: Hearing Your Call Retreat - Saturday, August 6th (virtual)

The Conference's 2nd "Hearing Your Call" Event will be Saturday, August 6, 2022 9am-3pm. This event is open to anyone experiencing a call to ministry (lay people and people in candidacy process). The cost is $35 and can be paid online. Registration ends July 1, 2022. to register click here.

For future newsletters, let's inspire one another. Please share your celebrations and mission opportunities. You can email your information and pictures (we love pictures!) to eastjackson@mississippi-umc.org.