February 2, 2015/Volume 14, No. 2

Conference News

Bishop's Day Apart Registration Now Live

Bishop's Day Apart is Monday, March 2, 2015. Our guest will be Bishop Scott Jones of the Great Plains Conference. Bishop Jones is widely known for his most recent study, The Wesleyan Way. The event will start at 9:00am at St. James UMC in Montgomery, AL. Click here read Bishop Leeland's invitation to all clergy and lay leaders. Click here to register.

2015 Lenten Resources Available

A variety of new and frequently used Lenten resources are now online at www.awfumc.org/2015LentenResources. Click on the title of each listing to learn more. Resources will be added as they are announced to the connection.

Clergy Delegation Interest Form Now Online

The 2016 Clergy General and Jurisdictional Delegation Interest Form is now live on the conference Website under Quick Links. All clergy eligible to be elected in the Alabama-West Florida Conference may complete this form if you are interested in serving as a delegate. The Clergy Delegation Interest List, also under Quick Links, will automatically populate onto the conference Website in alphabetical order of last name. Clergy can be elected without completing the form. The information you share will be public and people from outside our conference may contact you.

Around the Conference

RIOM Group Participates in Discipleship Service Project

The AWF Residents In Ordained Ministry (RIOM) group met in Tuskegee, AL, last week to participate in their discipleship service project. Under the auspices of Alabama Rural Ministries (ARM), and with leadership from Lisa Pierce, they cut and nailed shingles on a house that is being renovated for use by veterans who might otherwise be homeless. It was a wonderful learning experience and a good time of shared ministry. The AWF clergy bring great leadership to all aspects of Christian living! Participants were Steve Warren, Lisa Pierce, Jeremy Steele, Bett Middleton, David Morris, Jean Tippet, Jabe Fincher, Jim Evans, Levi Gardner, Brian Pullin and Nancy Watson.

Mission Trip to Tanzania Welcomes All

The United Methodist Church is growing in Tanzania! God is doing great work there through the leadership of Eric and Liz Soard, missionaries with the General Board of Global Ministries. We are putting together a trip for anyone interested in taking a team to Tanzania, April 23 - May 2. We will fly to Mwanza, Tanzania from Atlanta, GA. Mwanza is on the shore of Lake Victoria and will be our base. We will then travel out to see several work team opportunities. Paulette West, Director of UMVIM, will travel with us and will also be doing team leader training as well. If you are interested in joining us please contact Allen Newton at allen@sjlife.com or 334-481-0739.

Burr & Forman Donates to Children’s Home

(UMCH)- United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH) is one of eight charities that accepted a donation from Burr & Forman LLP. A check for $35,000 was presented to UMCH on Thursday, January 15th in Birmingham. The donation will be used for purchasing new vehicles for three different programs UMCH offers. Click here for full release.

Upcoming Annual Conference Deadlines

There are several upcoming deadlines related to standing rules, including proposed changes to Standing Rules; resolutions and petitions; and submissions for the 2015 Journal. Click here for more information. Also, please consider nominating someone for our annual awards presented at annual conference. Click here for more information about the awards.

Connectional News

UMs and Episcopalians Celebrate Eucharistic Sharing Agreement

(BWCUMC) - The week of Christian Unity became real in tangible and spiritual ways on Jan. 25, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. when Christ set the banquet table and the Rev. Canon Gina Campbell served Communion to the people of God in both the United Methodist and Episcopal churches. Her actions in the sanctuary were hailed by leaders of both denominations as “historic” as she brought the Interim Eucharistic Sharing Agreement to life in a way that “significantly deepens the expression and practice of Christian unity,” said Bishop Marcus Matthews of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church. Click her for full article.

Perkins Offers Certification in Spiritual Direction Program in Alabama

(SMU) – Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, will offer its Certification in Spiritual Direction Program in the North Alabama Conference UMC beginning October 2015. To complete the two-year certification program, participants attend classes Friday evenings through Sunday mornings, three times a year in March, July, and October. Click here for more.

Hinton Rural Life Center Announces Summer Job Opportunities

Hinton Center runs a 12-week Summer Missions Outreach Program in our rural Appalachian community. Teams arrive from all over to spend a week helping with some home repairs and projects. Our summer staff helps run the program and lead our volunteers. If you are interested in working with Hinton Center during the Summer of 2015, please view the different positions available and send a cover letter and resume to missions@hintoncenter.org. Click here for more.

Resources

Imagine No Malaria Offers Valentine's Day Alternatives

This Valentine's Day, give your special someone a gift that brings sweet dreams to life! Imagine No Malaria receives 100% of each purchase. Click here to see more.

United Methodist 101 Training

United Methodism 101 is designed for new church members and anyone else wanting to know more about our history, structure, beliefs, ministries and challenges. You may be surprised at all there is to discover about our denomination. The course includes four web-based lessons, each with many interactive features. Lessons take about 30 minutes to complete. Click here for a course preview. Click here to register.

5 Out-of-the-box Easter Outreach Ideas

(Rev. Jeremy Steele/UMCOM) - As cultures all over the world celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, churches have an incredible opportunity to connect with their communities. To help you do that, we have gathered great outreach ideas from across the United Methodist connection to share with you. Here are four of the best.

United Methodists Eligible for Rental Car Discounts with Avis

The General Council on Finance and Administration for The United Methodist Church recently announced an arrangement with Avis Car Rental that can provide discounted rental rates. The program will benefit United Methodists throughout the connection. This arrangement includes Avis, Budget, and Zipcar services. The program is available to both clergy and laity and may be used for business and personal purposes. To take advantage of the discount, complete a brief online application which is available by visiting umc-avisrental.org and using Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD#) A360800 or visiting umc-budgetrental.org and using Budget Corporate Discount (BCD#) D744200. More here.

Events

Featured Event: 5-day Academy for Spiritual Formation, May 4-9

A program of Upper Room Ministries, the 5-day Academy provides an opportunity for clergy and laity to deepen their relationship with God through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, learning and reflection. Each day includes teachings by gifted spiritual leaders, periods of silence, morning and evening prayer, Eucharist, covenant groups and community time. Time for rest and recreation are also part of each day. The focus of this year's retreat is Psalms for Life: Praying Alone and Praying Together. Click here for more.

AWF Retirement Seminar, February 3-4

Mid-career Retirement Seminar, February 5

Lay Servant Training for Youth & Adults, February 6

Montgomery-Opelika District Lay Servant Training, February 6-7

Blue Lake Winter Retreat, February 6-8

Combined Montgomery Districts Laity Meeting, February 8

UMVIM Team Leader Training: Gulf Breeze, February 17

Confirmation Retreat, February 20-22

Tapestry 2015, February 20-21

UMVIM Team Leader Training: Dothan, February 21

Bishop's Day Apart, March 2

Real Ideas Conference, March 5-6