October 1, 2020
Clergy News
AWF October Worship Service Now Available
Bishop Graves has requested that all AWF clergy find ways to spiritually, physically, and emotionally care for themselves at all times and especially in the midst of the challenges they have faced this year. One way to do this is to practice sabbath. To assist our clergy in that practice, the conference has produced a short worship service that includes a prayer exercise, musical offering, and a sermon. You may use this service any time during the month of October. We invite you to stream this service on your Facebook page, share with your congregation through email, or stream at your regularly scheduled worship time so that you may have time away. This month's service is focused on laity to coincide with Laity Sunday on October 18, 2020.
Welcome and Prayer Experience: Beverly Maddox, AWF Lay Leader
Message: Celeste Eubanks, Director of Leadership Strategies;
Musical Offering: Liturgical Dancer - Michelle Hamff, Auburn UMC, vocalist - Ashley Wright
Click here for service.
Response Teams in Great Need Along Coast
There are still 3,700 people in need along the coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally. Please prayerfully consider how your church can organize a team to help. A team leader must be UMCOR badged and trained but other team members may work under the leadership of that trained person. If you are interested in sending a team, please complete this online form. Housing is available. Team members only need their personal items and a sleeping bag and any work items they have such as work gloves, rakes, etc. Food will be provided.
Upcoming Trainings for Clergy
Zoom Training Available for Clergy
As you head into charge conference season with your district superintendent, perhaps you still need a brief refresher session with the online platform. On October 8, 2020, Rev. Ashley Davis, Celeste Eubanks and Rev. Bill Kierce will lead this training. Click here for Zoom link.
Advent Resource Review
Rev. Ashley Davis will be holding a one-hour Zoom meeting on October 13th at 10am to walk through available Advent curriculum and resources. She will provide summary of each resource and lift up some of the most creative ideas our there as we approach this important season in the life of the church. Knowing our clergy don’t have time to participate in every webinar or read every article, we will do our best to jump start your planning by parsing through some of the material for you. Bring your ideas/resources to share with the community as well. Click here to register.
Clergy Resources and Tools
Bishop's Time Apart with Dr. John Paul Lederach
As a gift to our clergy during clergy appreciation month, Bishop Graves would like to offer pastors tools for transforming conflict at his Bishop’s Time Apart. We know that within our communities and congregations there are layers upon layers of conflict right now, and our pastors find themselves at the center of navigating and leading in the midst of conflict. Dr. John Paul Lederach will share with us what he has learned through experience in conflict transformation, the biblical basis for this work, and some practical tools for transforming conflict. There will be some time to process our struggles and come up with strategies in small groups. The online event is on October 22nd from 10am-12pm. Click here for Zoom registration link. After registering you will receive the participation link.
World Communion Sunday
Each year, several denominations celebrate World Communion Sunday on the first Sunday in October, which is Oct. 4 this year. For United Methodists and others, the observance focuses our attention on the universal and inclusive nature of the church. In addition to participating in Holy Communion, United Methodists live out this churchwide Special Sunday in concrete ways. World Communion Sunday calls the church to reach out to all people and to model diversity to God's children everywhere. More here.
